The Village

Seth’s Perspective

Petunia and I went back down to the office to work for a bit, BA was just getting ready to call it a day when we walked in. I thanked her for all her help (damn, how did I survive before she started volunteering at the office?). I went into my office and read through my emails and the pile of snail mail on my desk. There was a package for me from Benji, one of the brothers we had helped a couple of weeks prior. It was three burner phones, three Visa cards, and the uniform shirt Marilee had loaned him accompanied by a thank you note that read ‘Thank you for everything you did for us. We can never repay your kindness. Here are the phones and Visa cards you gave us, plus one more of each to help the next guys. Forever Grateful, Benji. P.S. Please give this back to Marilee for me. I noticed a small envelope with her name on it tucked into the shirt pocket. There was another letter folded up inside the card, it was from his brother Joel thanking us for helping him get back to school and making sure Benji was taken care of. He wrote that Benji was applying to the same school he was attending in Atlanta and they planned to live together next semester. Zach was working with their uncle on the discrimination case against the state, so we had been getting updates on them, but it was good to hear from them personally. I had to admit that I felt damn good about the work I was doing for The Village. I was proud of it.

After another hour or so, Petunia and I left the office and went home. Zach was still at the office so I slipped out of my fancy duds and got more comfortable before going into my perfect kitchen to scrounge up dinner. I couldn’t help but admire how beautiful the room was with the gleaming stainless steel appliances, cement countertops, new light fixtures, and newly stained cabinets. I slid open the barndoor that led to the pantry and examined the shelf for options. I decided to keep it easy; spaghetti and (frozen) meatballs. The water was boiling, the sauce (out of a jar) was simmering, the (can of Pillsbury) rolls were in the oven, and I was making a salad when the front door opened and Zach yelled “I’m home” from the living room.

“In here!” I yelled back from the kitchen. He came up behind me and put his arms around my waist as he kissed my neck.

“Damn, it feels good to be home” he said with a sigh.

“So, did you learn anything more about getting Colton guardianship, or did you have to do paying work when you got back to the office?” I asked.

He let out a little scoff into my neck as he said, “I’m lucky the partners are understanding. As for Colton, since Ella’s a minor we have to deal with a whole other level of legal insanity, but everyone seems to think it’s doable given his dad’s behavior and record.”

“What are next steps?” I asked as I continued to chop the salad.

He let out a heavy sigh, “We need to call CPS and get them involved. I called the hospital and it sounds like Ella has at least one more day there. Pop Nicholls and dad suggest that Colton call CPS and get them to go see her and check for signs of abuse while she’s still there.”

“Would they release her to him?”

“It’s not that easy. My boss suggests that we find her an existing foster home first while Colton fights to become her legal guardian.”

I jumped in “We have room here.”

Zach was ready with his answer, it was clear he had thought about it too, “In order to be a foster parent in North Carolina you have to go through thirty hours of training, background checks, and several other things… it’s not anything that we could do quickly.” He grabbed a beer out of the fridge as he continued to talk. “You have to be over 21. So that lets Colton out.”

“There’s gotta be someone in our network who’s a foster parent” I said thinking out loud. “I can send out an email to the network asking if anyone knows a foster family.” We talked through everything while dinner cooked. Zach ran upstairs to change and then we sat down to a quiet meal at home in our beautiful kitchen. “Oh, I got a package from Benji and Joel today” I said as we ate our salad. Then told him about the phones, cards, and letter.

He smiled then let out a sigh, “I’m so glad things are going well for them.” He was proud to be part of their rescue. As we ate our simple dinner, Zach talked about his day at the courthouse in Raleigh. He was so animated and excited about his work, and damn it was nice with just the two of us in our new home (well three if you count the four legged furball sitting on the floor between us waiting for scraps to drop). The house was so perfectly us… it was home.

The week that followed was insane as Zach worked with his network of lawyers to formulate a plan for Colton in between working on the discrimination case against the state and all his other cases. Meanwhile, I put out an email to my network of Village Elders (my new term for volunteers, board members, sponsors, donors, etc.) trying to find a foster home for Ella. Max responded and copied his friend Mrs. J ‘Mrs. J can help.’ She responded almost immediately ‘Yup. Mrs. J can help. Give me a call and let me know what you need’ then she added her phone number. Mrs. J and Max had taught together for a couple of years, she had since retired and had a farm close by where she blissfully tended to her gardens and bees. I had met her a couple of times but didn’t know her well, I gave her a call and explained what was going on. She and her husband were certified foster parents, she also had a network of others. She knew Colton from the period when he lived with Max and Brody and wanted to help him, she checked with her husband and called me back a few minutes later.

“We’d be happy to take her in while Colton fights for guardianship.” She chirped. She said it had been a while since they had taken anyone in and she was looking forward to it. We talked logistics for a few minutes. I had dealt almost exclusively with clients over 18, this was the first time dealing with a minor and the process and legalities were drastically different but Mrs. J knew the lay of the land and walked me through what needed to happen… it was a great education for me. I hung up with her and called Zach to let him know we had a place lined up for Ella… that was all he needed to know to set everything in motion. Zach had Colton get CPS involved and petitioned the courts or whatever he had to do on behalf of Colton. Frankly, I didn’t understand the legalities, but Zach and those helping him did and getting Ella and Colton together became their top priority. By the end of the week Ella (with her arm still in a cast) was moved into Mrs. J’s. Meanwhile, Colton moved into the one bedroom apartment on the third floor, he bought a beautiful futon with a great mattress that folded into a bed for him to use when Ella moved in. He was determined to build a life for the two of them. Principal Simmons (one of the board members for The Village and Max’s old boss) was able to place Ella in a nearby school. Our Village came through for Colton and his sister.

There were other changes happening around us too. Taylor moved out of Harrington House, had a week of the new job under his belt and was loving it. On top of that, Rodney had moved into his parent’s place and was ready to hit the ground running Monday morning. Meanwhile, Riley was moving in with us and starting her new job on Monday too. Eli drove with her from 
Phoenix to get her settled and was flying back on Sunday. Zach was working in the yard, and I was on the ladder adding more paint to our lady when they rolled up in a beautiful Mercedes droptop and parked it next to old The Green Dragon.  “Who’s freaking car is that?!” Zach asked before they even exited the vehicle.

“I needed a car for work” Riley said as she took her sunglasses off and stepped out of the ostentatious ride. My brother Eli just smiled at the woman he loved and rolled his eyes.

“How the hell can you afford that?” my husband asked his little sister as we both covertly shifted our eyes from my 30 year old Buick to her brand new Mercedes, then shook our heads subtly at each other… ugh, Riley.

“I have a new job, besides it’s a lease and the payments aren’t.” Riley retorted in a half-assed attempt to justify her extravagance as a necessary expense. The look on Eli’s face told a different story. I just laughed inside as I compared the two siblings. Zach was so sensible and practical (that was one of the many reasons I loved him) and Riley was so damn impulsive and high-maintenance (which was probably one of the many things Eli loved about her). We helped her and Eli unload all the luggage they had squeezed into the little red car and move it all into her room. Our village was growing.

Saturday night turned into an impromptu housewarming party as Gina and Dylan, Max and Brody, Harris and Terrance, BA and Daddy, and all the dawgs and kids that came with them all came over for a cookout to welcome Riley to town. We also invited Mrs. J because she had been curious about our place; she came with her husband and Ella. Colton came along too so he and his sister could spend some time together. At last minute I decided to invite Rodney too so he could get to know our growing community. It was a great time! Gina was so excited to have so many girls to hang with, she was usually the token among all the gay guys but that night there was a gaggle of women. Riley convinced them all (including BA, Ella, and Mrs. J) into manicures and pedicures on Sunday. Like I said Gina was excited to have more estrogen around… and Colton was happy that he was reunited with his sister and she was fitting in.

Zach and I were just excited to show our place off. No one had seen it since we unpacked all the boxes and put everything in its place, the reaction was great as our friends oooooo’d and Ahhhh’d over the renovated farmhouse and its unique touches. The outside just needed a couple more hours of attention to finish the trim and we’d be done. The landscaping around the house and the rest of the clean up on the property would have to wait until spring. While we were all talking, Daddy went out to the barn with Zach to get the old riding mower running. “She just needs the old gas drained out and a tune-up and she’ll give ya several more years” he told Zach who just stared blankly having no clue how to do anything Daddy just suggested. “I’ll come bye with my trailer tomorrow and pick ‘er, take ‘er to the shop and get her set up for you… y’all just pay for parts. How’s that sound?”

Zach smiled wide “Thanks Daddy.” It made me laugh to hear my husband call somebody daddy. Well, long story short we emptied the beer fridge that night and everyone had a great time as Ella settled into her new situation, and we got to know Rodney. Our new home was perfect for entertaining, everyone seemed so comfortable there. I was so proud of what we had created.

With Riley there the conversation turned to her (as it usually did) and the wedding. Dylan was taking it all in, then he looked over at Zach and said, “lemme see if I got this right, y’all.” Then he motioned to Riley and Eli with his beer-holdin’ hand, and a thoughtful look on his face as he stated, “when y’all get married, yer sister will be yer sister in-law too.” Then he looked at me and said, “and yer brother will also be yer brother in-law?” I nodded with a grin on my face. “Hail, don’t y’all never call me a redneck again” Dylan said as he shook his head in amusement.

Then Brody held up his beer bottle and said, “Welcome to the south y’all.” We all had a good laugh.

As the night went on, things started to quiet down and our guests left in waves, The J’s, Ella, and Colton were the first to go, then Rodney exited about the same time as Gina and her family, then BA and Daddy went leaving just the neighbors. Brody had us all talking about Christmas lights (it wasn’t quite October yet). He had us all psyched up about it and planning our lights displays. We hung out on the patio laughing and joking, just having a great time. When the neighbors finally left, Eli and Riley went up to their room and Zach and I went up to ours.

We were both a little buzzed as we lay on top of the still-made bed. Zach reached over and grabbed my tool; I returned the favor as we both lay on our backs stroking each other and our heads turned so we were facing each other. We inched our faces together until our lips touched and we kissed. Our kiss turned into a passionate make out session (as tended to happen with us). As we were fondling and lightly playing with each other, Eli let out a loud moan from their room down the hall. Zach burst out loud laughing into our kiss, “Oh my god you and your brother make the same sex noises.” He thought that was hilarious!

“Shut up” I said as I squeezed his cock harder.

He started stroking and kissing me again when Eli let out another noise, and then with a smile and a chuckle Zach said, “C’mon baby, moan like your brother.”

I smacked him on the shoulder and let out a “ew” sound. Zach was giving me shit and loving every minute of it. I pushed my lips tight against his and shoved my tongue down his throat to shut him up. Our light touches became heavier as we explored each other’s bodies and our tongues intertwined. I repositioned myself on top of him with my ass on his face and my lips level with his unparalleled specimen of virile perfection. I licked his masculine wonder from tip to base and back again as his soft, dewy tongue teased at my pink fold making it gape and contract in enthusiastic response.

I slowly took him all the way down my throat until his hardness met the back of my throat. The contrast of his hard cock down the gorge of my throat and his soft tongue exploring my dank passage was incredibly erotic and instilled a need for more. I bobbed up and down his magnificence as my tongue promenaded around the girded shaft and my warm hand manipulated the jizz factory inside his silky pouch. His moans sent unimaginable vibrations into my hole creating an earthquake in my being as my body shook and convulsed with excitement. I ground my firm, yearning backside into his face sending an engraved invitation for him to explore my depths. His hand grasped my buttocks firmly and he pulled me down harder and pushed himself in deeper.

I choked and gurgled on his cock unable to get enough of him. My right hand moved up and down the rigid, life-giving cylinder begging it to feed me his essence as my left hand massaged his delicate sac as added encouragement. I sucked, slurped, and stroked trying to get Zach to release what I yearned for. It didn’t take long before long, powerful spurts of his white delicacy found their way up his shaft and down my welcoming throat into my gullet. I swallowed every drop of his nectar then gratefully licked him clean. His body contorted underneath me as he continued to eat my hole.

Once I had swallowed his final pearl I flipped around, touched my purple, straining manhood to his soft, supple lips and offered it to him. He opened his mouth and stuck out his tongue accepting my gift. He shifted himself so he could accept me fully down his throat. His warm mouth felt amazing and I couldn’t hold back. I gently face-fucked him moving in and out at a pace that allowed me to savor every sensation and sent tingles through me. It didn’t take long before Zach was choking on the payload of my masculinity. He gulped and swallowed as I rewarded his efforts with shot after shot of silky manbrosia. He thanked me by cleansing me with his tongue and our little romp ended with us laying side by side, kissing each other good night and sharing the taste of each other’s sex. We slept like babies.

I was up early Sunday morning (as always) letting Petunia out and making breakfast for our guests’ it was fun cooking in my own kitchen. Eli was only in town for a short time, he’d achieved his goal of getting Riley safely to North Carolina and was flying back to Phoenix in the afternoon so he could tie up loose ends. In a few weeks he’d pack everything up and move east to join the rest of us. Me and Zach decided to take a day off from the house to just hang out with my brother. Riley had plans to hang with the other ladies of the village and make Ella feel at home. I was making an egg casserole that Kevin used to make when I was living with Brad and Scotty. Eli smelled it baking and came downstairs in his briefs with his hair askew; he was yawning and scratching himself as he entered the kitchen.

“Is that Kevin’s brunch casserole?” he asked through his yawn.

“Yup” I answered as I poured him a cup of coffee. “Breakfast will be ready in about ten minutes. I think I put it in too early, you’re the only one up.”

“Riley will be up in a minute”

“Yeah, sounds like you guys had a night” I said with a chortle.

“Were we loud?” Eli asked.

“Loud enough for Zach to notice that we make the same sex noises” I said with a grin. Eli turned red, then laughed.

“Shit, it’s gonna be a long couple of months living together, aint it?” He laughed.

“Seriously, I am so excited that you’re moving here. How are things going with getting certified in North Carolina?” Eli was an electrician and was doing all the paperwork to get certified in NC.

“North Carolina doesn’t reciprocate with Arizona, so I need to retake the exam here. I have to do it in person so I can’t get certified until after I move. Bubba hooked me up with a guy I can work with until I complete everything” he answered. “He seems like a good guy and has a lot of work, but it feels like I’m taking a couple of steps back.”

“Yeah, but it will be worth it” I said trying to be positive. We continued to talk as breakfast baked in the oven.

Zach and Riley made their way down into the kitchen, “It smells good in here” Zach said as he came up behind me at the counter and kissed me on the neck like he always did. Damn, I loved that.

Riley wasn’t as enthusiastic, “You got coffee?” She asked with sleep in her voice. Without hesitation, Eli stood up, pulled a chair out for her, and poured her a cup. He was whipped! They say that in most relationships, one person is the flower and the other the gardener. In our relationship Zach and I were equal partners who took care of each other. But Riley was definitely a delicate orchid that required a lot of fucking attention and Eli was just the gardener to give it to her. They were opposites but worked as a couple. “I’m still on Phoenix time… I’m three hours behind.”

“God knows you need your beauty sleep” Zach chided his younger sister.

“Shut up” Riley groaned back at him. “I’m meeting all the girls at 10:00 Mani’s and Pedi’s. What are you guys gonna do?”

“I was just gonna hang on the patio and drink coffee” Eli said as he looked at her adoringly.

“We’re taking the day off from house stuff, to hang with him” Zach said.

“Bro time” Riley said, “cute.” The four of us ate breakfast, talked, then Zach and Riley went upstairs to take showers while Eli and I cleaned up the kitchen together like old times.

Eli confided in me that he was afraid that Riley was more high maintenance than he could afford… the car, the clothes, the manicures, “I love her, Seth. But damn, that girl can spend.”

“Are you having money problems?” I asked my big brother.

“Not yet, but if she keeps it up...” he said in frustration, “A mother fucking Mercedes?!” He scoffed.

“Well, why didn’t you talk her out of it?” I naively asked.

“C’mon Seth, you know her. She got online and bought it then had me drive her to the dealer to pick it up. I had no clue… the last car she showed me was a used Kia.” Eli’s tone was this weird “I love her but she frustrates me” kind of mixture.

“How’s she paying for it?”

“Well, she’ll make the payments, but that puts pretty much the rest of our living expenses on me” Eli said with a sigh. “How do you guys manage your finances?”

“Everything is joint and we talk about all of it” I said definitively. “All the guys in Phoenix, and Mom and Dad Hall set us up with an investment portfolio for our engagement and we saved that all through school and used it for the down payment on this money pit. Man, we almost emptied that account about a hundred times over the years but every time we thought about touching it, we sat down and talked about our priorities… we wanted our own house so we saved it.”

“They did the same thing for us… Brian and Olivia too. Brian and Olivia still haven’t touched theirs they want to save it for retirement.” Eli said.

“What do you guys want to do with yours?” I asked.

“I want to buy a condo or townhouse or something that’s ours… Riley wanted to use it for her car, then an over-the-top expensive wedding dress, shit she’s always thinking about cashing it in but I won’t let her.” Eli said as he wiped down the cement countertops. “She’s young and spontaneous. I love and hate that about her at the same time” he chuckled. “The good news is that she listens to me when it comes to money, but damn. I have to watch her like a hawk… but she’s hot so I like watching her” he laughed.

“Just don’t let the little princess “hot” you into bankruptcy” I laughed back. We all loved Riley but we all know she was a materialistic, high-maintenance princess who got what she wanted and Eli was a fun-loving, down-to-earth guy with a heart of gold. if he didn’t pay attention, she could put him in the poorhouse.

“I know, don’t worry little brother I know what I’m dealing with” Eli said with a smitten grin. He didn’t care, he loved the spoiled little brat… we all did.

I decided to change the subject, “So are you sure you’re good just hanging here until your flight?”

“Definitely. It’s nice to just hang out at home after a couple of days on the road” he replied. “Plus, I have a huge workday when I get back tomorrow.” Yup, he and Riley were opposites, but it worked. We got to talking about how nice the house was turning out, and then took our coffee and walked outside and around the house. I showed him the progress we made with the painting. “Man, you’re almost done” he said in awe.

“Yeah, we just need a few more hours” I said as I looked up.

“Let’s do it” Eli said.

“We’ll get it after your leave, let’s just hangout today” I replied. But before I knew it, he and I were up on the ladders painting. Riley came outside, shouted her goodbye up to us as she sped away in her status symbol. Zach eventually grabbed a paint can and joined us. By the time Riley got back from her spa day with the girls, our old lady was painted!

Brody and Max came over and we all celebrated with a cold beer on the patio. The place looked Amazing. That afternoon, Riley took her fiancé to the airport then came back to her new home for dinner. Little by little our village was growing.

 

To be continued…