I have had some medical training and after checking the kid out and determining there were no broken bones or other major injuries, Jake and I got him up in Jake's arms and he carried him into the house and set him down on one of the couches in the Great Room, while I put the car in the garage and brought our dinner bounty into the house and put it away.
"How is he, Jake?" I asked and Jake looked at me and nodded in the affirmative.
"I think he is just tired and sleeping."
"I wonder what we should do now," I mused aloud.
"First honey, we let him sleep it out. The poor kid looks real done in."
I looked at the tousled-haired dusty blonde kid laying on the couch and then back at Jake and nodded. We sat. I suddenly felt really tired and rightfully so as it had been a long day for both of us.
Jake came over and sat down next to me, and before I knew it he was running his fingers through my hair and nuzzling my cheek. Felt really good and I was about to hint at going upstairs when I looked over...and went OK, NOT A GOOD IDEA.
Jake suddenly wrapped his arms around me and kissed me and at that moment, I decided I would let him. Felt good. REALLY good. For a moment I kinda got all lost in the feeling. Ever felt like that?
"Where am I?"
We heard a definitely male but weak sounding voice inquiring.
Jake got up and went over to the other couch where our newest resident was partly sitting up. I followed.
"Hey sport, Jake said to him.
"Hi. Who are you? Where am I?"
"Well, my name is Jake McAlester and this hottie hunk of almost manhood is my friend Dylan Le Maire. Who are you?"
I damn near laughed. I knew I hadn't better, but it struck me funny.
"My name is Beau," the kid said with what sounded like tremendous effort.
"Nice to meet yah, Beau," Jake said...taking the lead.
My funny bone suddenly fainted, remembering there was little to laugh about in this sad tale of a human being so lost so young.
I leaned in to him and said..."He is probably hungry," and Jake nodded.
"You hungry Beau? Dylan here is a pretty good chef.
We saw a small smile on Beau's face and I knew we had hit paydirt.
"Ok, then. You stay with Jake and rest Beau, and I'll holler when it is ready...and with that I headed over to the kitchen
I busied myself making a small dinner for our new friend, while Jake set about trying to make Beau comfortable...AND pumping him for information. I damn near laughed again.
I could hear bits and pieces but I knew I would be filled in later...and I got real busy making a nice big bowl of soup, couple burgers with the trimmings, steak fries, and some homemade potato salad. Chocolate Silk pie for dessert. Yum, and it would have made me hungry except for the fact that we had already pigged out earlier.
When I finished I went over to the archway into the great room and said...
"Soup's on," and with that Jake got Beau up and maneuvered into the breakfast nook, where Beau ate like he hadn't eaten in weeks (and who knows), and my heart broke watching. i could see Jake was being really affected by this poor kid too. We just sat the three of us and there wasn't much talking for a bit.
To be honest Jake and I were too tired and Beau was too busy eating...but, eventually he seemed to get his fill and kinda settled back in his chair.
"Hey little one, good thing you slowed down. Your tummy may not be ready for so much so fast," Jake cautioned...and I silently laughed. Beau nodded.
"Yeh, ok. You prolly right, man," and with the dishes cleaned clear down to their design and the silverwear still smoking, we made our way back to the great room. I left Jake and Beau for a bit to go upstairs and make sure we had a bedroom made up and ready for guests. We did.
As I re-entered the room, I heard Beau talking and I stopped...wanting to listen.
"He never cared about me, kinda never wanted me really and after mom left he made it clear I was just always a burden. She hadn't ever wanted me either."
Good God.
"How old were you when she left, Beau?" I heard Jake ask.
"Seven, or so."
"Where did she go, do you know?"
"Nope. We never heard from her again. Pop said she ran off with some trucker dude she met at the truck stop. She worked there."
Quiet.
It got really quiet.
I knew Jake was processing all that he had heard, and frankly so was I.
Finally, I heard Jake ask....
"So, how old are you now?"
"14. Almost 15. 15 in August."
Fourteen, Fourteen, Good God.
Fourteen and all alone, lost...a real lost boy. My heart sank even further. He had no mother from what I had heard and although I hadn't heard much I gathered there was no father in evidence...or at least not one that wanted him. Geezus. What a way to start life.
I couldn't help but think back myself to MY earlier years. Affluence to be sure. I ALWAYS had everything a kid could want...computers, games, toys, horses and dogs and cats and whatever else. Huge antique billiards table which I still have. Video game machines in an arcade built for fun to be sure.
But, was I so different in the things that really matter. THINGS I HAD, LOVE, not so sure. My parents were busy and engaged in so many things, had more than enough money to support an international life style, and did. For as long as I could remember, it was either my maternal grandparents until they died (and I got a lot of money and stuff from the will God knows), and then a couple of nannies which I didn't like. I kinda liked just being on my own with my solitude and I said so when I was about 10, and so that is what I got. Worked for me, worked God knows for my parents, and that was that. We lived in a very rural part of the county and owned hundreds of acres so there were no neighbors. I was taken to school and picked up until I was old enough to drive myself, and kept to myself a lot. That began to change when I got to college to a certain degree, and now of course I do have a lot of friends mostly from the two big cities near me. But I still prefer to be alone with my animals, and my writing, and my curiousity, and....now, Jake.
He is the love of my life and the center of my universe and I think that somehow I knew that the minute I laid eyes on him the year before. Year before, good God. Really, seems like only yesterday...and yet,
After the last nanny was let go...from then on I rarely saw my parents cause they rarely came home, and often lived separately from each other too. Mostly in Europe in places like Monaco and Switzerland and London. Ireland a lot too for mother, Ireland and Scotland/Wales. Our ancestral homes are Scotland and Ireland. I never quite understood that seeming need to be constantly on the move, but...
There was always money at my disposal. I had my own checkbook, savings, and credit cards. We had a family attorney/financial guru who handled things and who tried to look after me. But I was usually two steps ahead of him.
I went to college young (14) , finished young (19 with a masters degree from Stanford), came back and got handed 3 businesses to run which I took and turned into powerhouses pretty quickly. So. my life of plenty of money and things continued. I never talk about my wealth even with myself, LOL, but...I will never starve God knows.
But love? No. Never had it and mostly was convinced I never would either. No clue why, just the way it seemed to me.
Oh I knew my mother loved me in her own way. She just wasn't much for maternal instincts and dad was barely into marriage let alone fatherhood. He liked being the bon vivant and dashing from one adventure to another and mother followed or she went off on her own to do her variety of adventures of which I knew NOTHING. To this day I know from nothing about what either of them do or even what they have done, except live off their wealth and wander around the planet. I don't know really how I didn't turn out the same way but I didn't. I love to travel too yes, but I am also mostly a homebody. Now with Jake in my house and life I am reveling in it. Love...is really incredibly amazing.
LOVE.
As I said, I just never really experienced love...UNTIL JAKE and I was so not prepared in HOW to love back, but I really tried and keep trying cause to be honest he means so much to me and did from the gitgo...and I keep learning. But yeh now there IS Jake, and now Beau too. Talk about a crash course in LOVE 101. LOL.
Ok, back to reality, I thought and...with that I went on into the room and sat on the couch next to Jake who turned to look at me with what I sensed was a look of relief as he put his hand on my leg and kinda leaned into me. I think it was not only hearing Beau's story, but maybe reliving a part of his own that was suddenly a bit much for him and I could feel his needing me close. I was only too happy to oblige.
Two lost souls. TWO, in a relatively short period of time.
I put my hand on Jake's and squeezed a bit. He smiled a bit and squeezed back and then turned back to Beau.
"So how did you wind up here? In the driveway, Beau?
Yeh, I was wondering the same thing.
Well we were about to find out.
CLICK HERE FOR CHAPTER IX
"First honey, we let him sleep it out. The poor kid looks real done in."
I looked at the tousled-haired dusty blonde kid laying on the couch and then back at Jake and nodded. We sat. I suddenly felt really tired and rightfully so as it had been a long day for both of us.
Jake came over and sat down next to me, and before I knew it he was running his fingers through my hair and nuzzling my cheek. Felt really good and I was about to hint at going upstairs when I looked over...and went OK, NOT A GOOD IDEA.
Jake suddenly wrapped his arms around me and kissed me and at that moment, I decided I would let him. Felt good. REALLY good. For a moment I kinda got all lost in the feeling. Ever felt like that?
"Where am I?"
We heard a definitely male but weak sounding voice inquiring.
Jake got up and went over to the other couch where our newest resident was partly sitting up. I followed.
"Hey sport, Jake said to him.
"Hi. Who are you? Where am I?"
"Well, my name is Jake McAlester and this hottie hunk of almost manhood is my friend Dylan Le Maire. Who are you?"
I damn near laughed. I knew I hadn't better, but it struck me funny.
"My name is Beau," the kid said with what sounded like tremendous effort.
"Nice to meet yah, Beau," Jake said...taking the lead.
My funny bone suddenly fainted, remembering there was little to laugh about in this sad tale of a human being so lost so young.
I leaned in to him and said..."He is probably hungry," and Jake nodded.
"You hungry Beau? Dylan here is a pretty good chef.
We saw a small smile on Beau's face and I knew we had hit paydirt.
"Ok, then. You stay with Jake and rest Beau, and I'll holler when it is ready...and with that I headed over to the kitchen
I busied myself making a small dinner for our new friend, while Jake set about trying to make Beau comfortable...AND pumping him for information. I damn near laughed again.
I could hear bits and pieces but I knew I would be filled in later...and I got real busy making a nice big bowl of soup, couple burgers with the trimmings, steak fries, and some homemade potato salad. Chocolate Silk pie for dessert. Yum, and it would have made me hungry except for the fact that we had already pigged out earlier.
When I finished I went over to the archway into the great room and said...
"Soup's on," and with that Jake got Beau up and maneuvered into the breakfast nook, where Beau ate like he hadn't eaten in weeks (and who knows), and my heart broke watching. i could see Jake was being really affected by this poor kid too. We just sat the three of us and there wasn't much talking for a bit.
To be honest Jake and I were too tired and Beau was too busy eating...but, eventually he seemed to get his fill and kinda settled back in his chair.
"Hey little one, good thing you slowed down. Your tummy may not be ready for so much so fast," Jake cautioned...and I silently laughed. Beau nodded.
"Yeh, ok. You prolly right, man," and with the dishes cleaned clear down to their design and the silverwear still smoking, we made our way back to the great room. I left Jake and Beau for a bit to go upstairs and make sure we had a bedroom made up and ready for guests. We did.
As I re-entered the room, I heard Beau talking and I stopped...wanting to listen.
"He never cared about me, kinda never wanted me really and after mom left he made it clear I was just always a burden. She hadn't ever wanted me either."
Good God.
"How old were you when she left, Beau?" I heard Jake ask.
"Seven, or so."
"Where did she go, do you know?"
"Nope. We never heard from her again. Pop said she ran off with some trucker dude she met at the truck stop. She worked there."
Quiet.
It got really quiet.
I knew Jake was processing all that he had heard, and frankly so was I.
Finally, I heard Jake ask....
"So, how old are you now?"
"14. Almost 15. 15 in August."
Fourteen, Fourteen, Good God.
Fourteen and all alone, lost...a real lost boy. My heart sank even further. He had no mother from what I had heard and although I hadn't heard much I gathered there was no father in evidence...or at least not one that wanted him. Geezus. What a way to start life.
I couldn't help but think back myself to MY earlier years. Affluence to be sure. I ALWAYS had everything a kid could want...computers, games, toys, horses and dogs and cats and whatever else. Huge antique billiards table which I still have. Video game machines in an arcade built for fun to be sure.
But, was I so different in the things that really matter. THINGS I HAD, LOVE, not so sure. My parents were busy and engaged in so many things, had more than enough money to support an international life style, and did. For as long as I could remember, it was either my maternal grandparents until they died (and I got a lot of money and stuff from the will God knows), and then a couple of nannies which I didn't like. I kinda liked just being on my own with my solitude and I said so when I was about 10, and so that is what I got. Worked for me, worked God knows for my parents, and that was that. We lived in a very rural part of the county and owned hundreds of acres so there were no neighbors. I was taken to school and picked up until I was old enough to drive myself, and kept to myself a lot. That began to change when I got to college to a certain degree, and now of course I do have a lot of friends mostly from the two big cities near me. But I still prefer to be alone with my animals, and my writing, and my curiousity, and....now, Jake.
He is the love of my life and the center of my universe and I think that somehow I knew that the minute I laid eyes on him the year before. Year before, good God. Really, seems like only yesterday...and yet,
After the last nanny was let go...from then on I rarely saw my parents cause they rarely came home, and often lived separately from each other too. Mostly in Europe in places like Monaco and Switzerland and London. Ireland a lot too for mother, Ireland and Scotland/Wales. Our ancestral homes are Scotland and Ireland. I never quite understood that seeming need to be constantly on the move, but...
There was always money at my disposal. I had my own checkbook, savings, and credit cards. We had a family attorney/financial guru who handled things and who tried to look after me. But I was usually two steps ahead of him.
I went to college young (14) , finished young (19 with a masters degree from Stanford), came back and got handed 3 businesses to run which I took and turned into powerhouses pretty quickly. So. my life of plenty of money and things continued. I never talk about my wealth even with myself, LOL, but...I will never starve God knows.
But love? No. Never had it and mostly was convinced I never would either. No clue why, just the way it seemed to me.
Oh I knew my mother loved me in her own way. She just wasn't much for maternal instincts and dad was barely into marriage let alone fatherhood. He liked being the bon vivant and dashing from one adventure to another and mother followed or she went off on her own to do her variety of adventures of which I knew NOTHING. To this day I know from nothing about what either of them do or even what they have done, except live off their wealth and wander around the planet. I don't know really how I didn't turn out the same way but I didn't. I love to travel too yes, but I am also mostly a homebody. Now with Jake in my house and life I am reveling in it. Love...is really incredibly amazing.
LOVE.
As I said, I just never really experienced love...UNTIL JAKE and I was so not prepared in HOW to love back, but I really tried and keep trying cause to be honest he means so much to me and did from the gitgo...and I keep learning. But yeh now there IS Jake, and now Beau too. Talk about a crash course in LOVE 101. LOL.
Ok, back to reality, I thought and...with that I went on into the room and sat on the couch next to Jake who turned to look at me with what I sensed was a look of relief as he put his hand on my leg and kinda leaned into me. I think it was not only hearing Beau's story, but maybe reliving a part of his own that was suddenly a bit much for him and I could feel his needing me close. I was only too happy to oblige.
Two lost souls. TWO, in a relatively short period of time.
I put my hand on Jake's and squeezed a bit. He smiled a bit and squeezed back and then turned back to Beau.
"So how did you wind up here? In the driveway, Beau?
Yeh, I was wondering the same thing.
Well we were about to find out.
CLICK HERE FOR CHAPTER IX
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