Priorities - Book Two

(A Crossover with Still Another Chance)

[Author’s Note: To avoid unnecessary repetition, the reader will need to read the corresponding chapter in STILL ANOTHER CHANCE] to get all the interactions between the various characters.]

 

As the boys, except for Phoenix, got off the coach they tried to decide what to do. Roger got an idea and presented it to the group.

"Why don't we go kick my Papa out of the kitchen and prepare lunch. All of us working together could do it easily and it would be kinda cool too, what do you all think?"

Since they were at the Boys' Home at that time, they sat in the dining room to plan things out. Roger knew that Henri would want to know his plan before he agreed to it.

Roger looked at the boys he had available. Besides himself there were, Trevor, Alex, Nigel, Jared, Colt, Patrick B, Scott, Jake, Patrick H, Austin, Jacques, Robert and Eric. After a moment of thought, Roger stated. "Ok, there's probably a lot of leftover beef from last night. Has anyone besides me and Trevor ever made bread from scratch?" Robert, Jared and Eric raised their hands. Roger thought and said, "That's perfect. I have an idea, let's go talk to my Papa."

The Brat Pack, as Jackson had nicknamed them, minus three, moseyed over to the party barn to speak with Henri. Phoenix was absent due to his orientation, Eric Pressman and Garrett Radcliffe were visiting Garrett's cousin, Brock VIII. Alex's and Nigel's new brothers, Colt and Jared, joined the group. Roger only hoped to catch his father before he started preparing lunch.

As they approached the party barn they saw Henri about to enter. Roger called out to him and he turned, stopped, and smiled.

"Are you boys enjoying your day? The tours were magnifique, don't you think?"

"We do, Papa," Roger stated before continuing, "we have an idea."

Henri had a notion of what their idea was and asked, "You do? What is this idea?"

"Papa, we'd like to prepare lunch."

"I could use the help with Ange and Joe not here, but I'm not sure I need all of you though."

"Papa, we want to do it ourselves, you can either watch or go relax."

Roger explained his plan and Henri thought about it for a moment, and finally said, "If you think you are ready to run a brigade, I will not stop you. I will be nearby if you need to ask me anything. I am certain you will be fine though."

Roger led the boys into the kitchen then, realizing this kitchen was just a smaller version of Chez Henri, he assigned jobs to each boy. Jared, Eric, Robert and Trevor, he assigned to make 12 loaves of bread that they will slice for the bottom of the sandwiches. Henri interrupted, "You can use the dough that I made this morning and left to rise. Just make a fresh batch of dough to replace it so I can use it for the dinner."

He assigned Jared and Alex to get the rest of the beef from the previous night from the refrigerator, they were then to slice it up. He assigned Jacques, Jake and Austin to portion the meat into quarter pound portions. Henri told them there was about 80 pounds left and he'd need about 50 pounds for the Hunter's stew he was going to make, they were free to use the rest. Jacques spoke up, "That means we make 120 portions, forty each."

That left Nigel, Scott, and the two Patricks. They would first peel then start some potatoes cooking as well as the ears of corn. While they were cooking, he would show them how to make the gravy. He told everyone that if they had any questions, they should ask him. Everyone got to their assigned tasks. Henri, who had been listening to his son, couldn't be more proud.

Meanwhile two of the bread makers were portioning the dough and getting it into the oven, while the other two made a fresh batch of dough to replace what they’d used. Once that was completed, they asked Roger what they should do until the bread is ready to come out of the oven.

"The potatoes will be ready to be mashed right after the bread comes out of the oven and the bread needs to cool before being taken out of the pans. While it's cooling, can you please drain the potatoes, and use the ricer; that’s the device that looks like a basket with little holes in it. There are two handles on it." When the boys looked and couldn't find it, Roger calmly went over and got one out of the drawer.

With everything underway, Henri left the kitchen and was sitting in the dining room. It was a few minutes after noon when Jim walked up with a boy Henri hadn't ever seen.

"Henri? Is lunch already finished?"

"No, the boys are making lunch; my own son kicked me out of the kitchen," Henri laughed.

Jim and the boy laughed, then Jim introduced the boy, "Henri Duchamp, This is Xander. He's going to be joining the Boys' Home."

Henri put his hand out to shake but the boy ignored it. Jim gave Henri a look that told him to let it drop so Henri lowered his hand. Jim told him they were going out to see the horse barn before lunch.

At about 12:45 Roger came out with a plate of food. He placed it in front of his father. Henri looked at the plate and smiled. He turned to his son and said, "This is very well presented, but how does it taste?"

Henri took a forkful of the mashed potatoes and tasted it; there was something different. He looked at Eric who had joined them and was smiling widely. Eric said, "We were just going to make normal potatoes, but I saw some white cheddar cheese in the fridge, so I suggested we grate some of it into the potatoes as we were mixing it."

Henri kept smiling. He had actually planned on making these exact potatoes for lunch today. He tasted the meat and bread. The meat was succulent; if Henri didn't know better he'd never believe the meat was left over from last night's dinner.

"Roger, please call out your brigade."

"Sorry Papa, they're still plating the food, if you want to talk to them you can come into the kitchen."

Henri put his arm over his son's shoulder as he walked into the kitchen. "Boys, if I could say something," Henri paused as the boys looked up from their tasks. Once they were done, Henri continued, "The lunch you boys prepared today was restaurant quality, you should all be very proud. Why don't we let everyone know lunch is prepared?"

The boys had prepared every plate and placed it where each person would sit. Once every place was ready, Henri rang the dinner bell and it seemed like people were coming out of the woodwork. Everyone took a seat and Zac stood on the stage; he whispered, "Come here Xander, so I can introduce you to everyone.”

Looking like Zac just asked if he wanted a blindfold and a cigarette, Xander stated, "I would rather not.”

Zac shook his head, "Fine, but if you want to start making…” Zac stopped when he saw the fear in Xander’s eyes. Jim was watching the boys’ reaction as Zac tried to introduce Xander. Something about Trevor made him focus more on him.

Everyone was enjoying the lunch and Joe told Henri that he outdid himself. Henri said, "Merci, but it wasn’t me. The boys made lunch today.”

Zac sat beside Jim, who was across the table from Xander. "Is everything alright, Xander? Why didn’t you want Zac to introduce you?”

"Look, I’m here,” Xander stated. "This dump seems better than that group home, I just want to do my time and get out of here.”

Jim was a little offended, "Xander, this isn’t a prison; you are not doing time. We are here to provide you with a safe place to live and a better opportunity to take care of yourself when you turn eighteen. And we won’t kick you out as soon as you do. We will help you get established in your own place after you turn eighteen and finish school, but you will always, always be a part of this family.”

Xander leered at Jim and said, "Whatever… Do I really have to eat this slop?”

"No,” Zac replied, "you can choose to go hungry.”

Xander then took his fork and made the comment, "Fine then, I’ll eat this shit."

Zac shook his head, "Xander, we're happy you decided to try it, but please think about what you're saying. Cursing isn't necessarily bad, and the word you used is mild, compared to some, but, if you want to succeed in life, you need to think not only what you're going to say, but also how you say it."

On the outside, Xander blew off Zac’s comment, but on the inside he smiled and thought, ‘Even when they tell me I did wrong, they didn’t put me down, they actually tried to help me understand.’

After lunch, the boys decided to head back to the dorms to relax. They knew they'd be going to Yellowstone the following day.

Shortly after they got to the dorms, Eric decided it was time he had that talk with Trevor and Roger he'd tried to have the day before. He walked to their room and this time he knocked.

Roger answered the door wearing his boxer briefs. Trevor was still fully dressed. "Hi Eric, come on in."

Eric entered and Roger took a seat next to Trevor. They told Eric he could sit wherever he liked. When Eric sat, he looked over at the two, but didn't say anything. Roger asked, "Would you be more comfortable if I put on a pair of sweats?"

"No, you look fine just as you are." Eric replied. "I, umm, I'm just not sure where to start or what I want to say."

Henri and Marine, for only the third time in their marriage, were arguing. It seems that Marine and Henri had a difference of opinion when it comes to the food for the wedding. Henri insisted that it was his area and the decorations were hers.

The conversation was getting a bit loud when Nate walked by. He came in and saw Ange sitting off to the side trying to be unseen, aside from what was going on, neither Henri nor Marine noticed his entrance, then he smacked a hand down on one of the stainless steel tables, causing a very loud noise. Both stopped their arguing and turned to see what the source of the noise was.

"If I didn’t hear it with my own ears I’d never have believed it. You two, arguing? There has to be a good reason, I’m sure. Care to share? Maybe I can help,” Nate offered to two of his closest friends.

Henri started, "Nate, before we left we agreed that I would have complete control of the food for the wedding, right?”

Nate agreed so Henri continued, "Marine came in because the decorators won’t be here tomorrow and decided to question what I had planned. I tried to tell her that I do the food, she does the decorations, but, non, she’s bored sitting in the hotel!”

Nate shook his head, "Marine, is this true?"

She considered what Nate had said, and realized she was in the wrong. She turned to her husband and said (in French), "I'm sorry, my love. You were right, I do not know what came over me. Can you forgive me?”

Henri took her in his arms and kissed her. "Of course I forgive you,” with an evil grin he continued, "do you remember the last two arguments we had? Do you remember how we made up?”

Marine just giggled and kissed her husband. Nate motioned over to Ange and the two left together.

Trevor smiled over at him, "Why don't you just say what you're feeling."

"Well, Patrick said the two of you really helped him come to terms with being gay, and I think I am," Eric stated.

"I'm not saying anything doubting you by this, but why do you think so?" Trevor asked.

"Well, when Patrick was showing me the images of celebrities, I enjoyed looking at the boys more than the girls," Eric admitted, "and then when I met..." He stopped, afraid to continue.

Roger compassionately asked, "Phoenix?"

Eric just nodded his head, tears starting down his cheek.

Roger said, "Look we're here to help you understand what you're feeling, not to make you feel bad. Tell me about your attraction, is it more physical or emotional?"

Trevor then asked, "Would you like me to move next to you so you have a shoulder to cry on, or would you like me to get Phoenix?"

"I don't know," the boy cried, "I just know, I like the way he looks, and then last night when he was comforting me, I enjoyed his touch." Then to answer Trevor, Eric added, "I want Phoenix, but what if he doesn't like me the same way?"

Trevor smiled, "If I read him correctly, he does as much as you do, but I think he's afraid of the same thing."

"It's harder for a gay boy than a straight boy. A straight boy, while he might be nervous, isn't afraid he'll get beaten up just for asking a girl out. But a gay boy worries about asking the wrong person. Eric, you have found someone you know is gay... ask him. Talk to him."

"Seriously?" Eric questioned, "You honestly think I should just walk up to him and ask him out?"

Roger chuckled, "Why not?"

Trevor added, "If you'd like, we can invite him here and be here when you ask."

"Because he is so perfect," Eric averred, "and I am far from it. Even the man who donated sperm to create me didn't want me."

"And Eric... Phoenix's mother killed his father because she didn't want him either."

Roger then said, "If you want my opinion, you two can help each other."

"Well, she was an idiot," Eric debated. "I mean, who wouldn't want such a perfect boy."

Trevor then winked and said, "If I didn't have Roger, you'd be pretty damn perfect in my book. Remember when we talked on Skype? I said you're better in person than in the picture? Well, now that I've met you in real life, you're better in real life than on camera."

"No, I'm not..." Eric argued, "I'm a mess."

"We all have our flaws," Roger started, "Trevor is always forgetting to lock the door..." this caused a round of laughter before Trevor picked it up, "And Roger is always... damn I can't think of a flaw in him..."

"Over sexual?" Eric threw out.

Roger got up and sat next to Eric, not unexpectedly, Eric's eyes shifted down until he realized what he was doing. Roger took his hand and said, "You're not a mess. You've been through an event that nobody should have to go through. Phoenix has as well. You two could very likely be the reason for one another to get over things."

Trevor added, "Love is a powerful healer."

About that time there was another knock on the door, again Roger went to answer it in his boxer briefs. Not unexpectedly, it was Phoenix. Phoenix looked at Roger and asked, "Can I talk to you and Trev... Oh, I see you have company, I can come back later."

"Actually, why don't you come in," Roger replied.

Slowly entering, Phoenix, not sure what was going on, headed toward Eric and saw his tears... "Eric, are you alright?"

Eric responded, "I was just talking to these two. They were trying to help me figure something out."

"About what?" Phoenix was curious.

"I'm not ready to tell you, not right now."

Phoenix put his arm around Eric, and whispered, "OK, whenever you are, I will be ready to listen, and help you as best I can. You know, I like you a lot, and Jim thinks we can help each other. I really didn't understand why he thought that until you told us what happened to you."

Trevor looked at the two, and then said to Roger, "I think they need to talk, maybe Phoenix would like to tell Eric what happened to him. Why don't we give them some privacy?"

"But it's our room, and I wanted a nap," Roger chuckled and then added, "but their friendship means even more."

As the two boys stepped out into the hall, Patrick and Scott were heading to their room. Scott looked at Patrick and asked, "Doesn't he ever wear pants?"

Chuckling, Patrick commented, "You should see when we go swimming."

Roger shot back, "You don't wear any more than I do."

Patrick said, "And, those boxer briefs are almost like pants compared to some of the stuff he wears."

"Yeah, I saw that last night, remember," Scott replied.

Trevor and Roger headed back into the room, hoping Phoenix told Eric what he needed. Upon entering and seeing the boys crying on each other's shoulders, their arms wrapped around one another, Trevor stated, "You know I'm always available to talk to you guys... even after I go home. You both have my Skype info."

Phoenix looked at Eric and suggested, "Why don't we go back to our room and talk. Roger does need a beauty nap."

Trevor said, "That's a good idea. I better leave too or he'll never get any sleep. I'm going to take a walk."

When he left the room, Trevor walked out of the dorm. Something he’d seen when Zac was talking to the new boy piqued his sense that something wasn’t right. He walked around trying to find him. He’d walked almost all the way to the horse rescue then back toward the barns but hadn’t seen him. He felt as if he needed to find that boy and talk to him.

As the van got closer, Ricky started scooting forward on his seat, to the limits his seatbelt would allow. As they turned a bend, Ricky shouted out, "There it is!"

Maurice smiled at Ricky and his excitement. He remembered when he was that age, how he wished he could be as open as Ricky and his Nephew were; but now all that could change.

They turned into the road leading to the ranch, they passed the sign and started the six mile drive to the Boys' Home. When they arrived, Henri was talking to his wife and Ange, François' wife. Trevor was walking around since Roger was taking a nap. Trevor had noticed the expression on the new boy's face and it bothered him. He left his room as Roger slept and went looking for the boy, but unfortunately he was nowhere Trevor looked.

When the van came to a complete stop, Ricky bolted out of the side door in the back. He ran over to Trevor and wrapped his arms around him. "Thanks for calling my folks and asking them to let me come early. You saved Mom's life so they really couldn't deny you a simple request like that.

"I was happy to do it. Robert has been moping around, just going through the motions. Let me take you to his room. I'll even get Jacques to 'help me' with something so you can have a few minutes of privacy."

As Trevor led Ricky to the dorms, Henri was talking to François (of course they were speaking French…), "So he finally told you, that's good. It's better you know so he can be more himself. You brought everything I asked you to?"

"Everything except for the fresh produce. We didn't think it would make the trip."

"You're probably right. I called a friend who recommended a couple of small farms here in Cody, I'll check with them to see if we can get what we need, if not, there's always Walmart."

François turned up his nose at the mention of Walmart. Marine had gone into the office to ask Chris if he could arrange two men to help unload the food and get it into the kitchen in the Boys' Home.

Fifteen minutes later the trailer was empty and ten minutes later, François and Maurice had everything put in its proper place. Henri was in the dining room on his phone. He'd found everything they needed at one farm, they agreed that the farmer's son would deliver the produce in the morning.

Trevor led Ricky to the room and had him knock on the door as he stood on the side. When Ricky knocked he heard, "Come on in."

Trevor motioned for him to knock again. After the third time, Robert opened the door in a huff, "I told you to come… Oh mon Dieu! You're here! I wasn't expecting you till tomorrow! Come in!"

Trevor followed Ricky into the room. Jacques was sitting on his bed playing a handheld video game. Ricky and Robert were hugging. Jacques looked up for a moment, shook his head and went back to his game.

Ricky finally broke the kiss he was receiving from Robert. "Trevor made it happen. He said he saw how sad you were."

Robert walked over to Trevor and hugged him, He had tears in his eyes when he said, "Thank you. I know I didn't make a good impression on you when we first met, but…" With that, Robert broke down. This was a very emotional time for the boy who had hormones raging in his body.

Trevor turned to Jacques, "Jacques, let's go see if Roger is awake, then we can go to the common area and play some XBox."

 

Jacques smiled and said, "Going with you is better than seeing them get all mushy and do the sex stuff. If you ask me, it's gross."

Trevor replied, "You're ten, in a couple of years you'll think differently."

The pair walked into Trevor's room. Roger was awake and wearing a pair of boxer briefs. He looked over at Trevor then glanced at Jacques.

"Jacques is going to teach us some stuff on the XBox, get dressed," Trevor enthused before continuing, "Robert and Ricky are showing each other how much they missed one another."

 

Zac gathered all the boys he could. He explained, “Guys, I’m sure some of you have been wondering who I have been showing around. This is Xander, he will be staying at the Home along with Phoenix.” Then Zac started explaining who was who to Xander. Trevor walked up to Xander and asked if they could talk in private.

Xander looked over at Zac, who nodded, "Normally I wouldn't, but since Zac says it's okay, sure."

“I can understand your feelings,” Trevor then continued, “Why don’t we have a seat in the dining room so you don't feel in any way trapped.”

 

Xander was happy that this kid was concerned about how he felt. The two sat and Trevor explained who he was and how he came to be where he is.

The two seemed to hit it off and before long Xander couldn’t believe that he was opening up to this boy, this stranger, about his past. He didn’t leave any detail out. He even lifted his shirt so Trevor could see the scars that Xander’s father had left, if he didn’t “please” the man good enough. Trevor had tears running down his face when he said, “Nobody should ever have to go through what you did. I want you to know that if you ever need anything, you can contact me. Here's my Skype info. You can ask Patrick, Eric, Phoenix or Scott, they'll tell you more about me.”

Xander put his hand out for Trevor to shake. The two shook hands and Trevor went off to find Roger, while Xander went back to his dorm room.

Trevor walked back into his room just as Roger was waking up. Roger saw the tear-stained face of his boyfriend and immediately became concerned. "What's wrong, babe?"

Trevor wrapped his arms around Roger and cried into his shoulder. When he regained some of his composure he told Roger basically, without any real detail, what Xander had told him.

Roger joked, "At least your heart is bigger than your ego, and far bigger than…" He never got a chance to finish that statement as Trevor's lips attached themselves to his. As they kissed, Roger knew that he wasn't hearing the end of this matter. They continued to cuddle there just absorbing the love from one another until it was time for dinner.

Down the hall Ricky and Robert were making up for the two days they didn't see each other. They were laying naked in the bed Robert had slept in the night before.

"You know that I really love you, right?" The fear in Ricky's eyes that Robert didn't feel for him as he did was evident.

Robert didn't answer immediately which caused some level of anxiety for Ricky. A moment later, Robert smiled and said, "You should know I love you more than anyone, why do you always ask?"

Robert wasn't yet mature enough to know how insecure his lover was. That was something that only time will tell. The two snuggled up and fell asleep in each other's arms.

 

François and Henri were just completing preparations for dinner. They'd given Maurice the rest of the day off. François and Ange would be in the hotel, but Joe Archer-Bolt was kind enough to provide a room for Maurice at the Boys' Home.

Maurice was walking around when he came across his younger nephew, Jacques. Together they played in the common room on one of the video games until dinner was ready.

After everyone had dined on Henri's famous Hunter's Stew, knowing they had a very full day going to Yellowstone the next morning, everyone decided it would be a good idea to just spend the evening in their rooms watching television or… whatever.

Maurice was sitting on the bed he'd been given in the Boys' Home. It was the room that would eventually be used by the person who would be there for the boys if they needed anything. As he thought to himself he wondered… now that he was out to his brother, maybe it would be time to find himself a boyfriend.

Across town the son of a farmer was sitting down for dinner with his parents. He was now twenty-years-old and still couldn't find a way to tell his parents he liked men not women. As he sat there at the table his mother turned and said, "For Pete's sake, Brian, so you know, the fact that you like guys instead of girls won't be news to your father and me. We've known since you were fourteen."

Brian looked upon his parents with a look of utter surprise. "You knew?"

Brian's father softly said, "We were waiting for you to be comfortable enough to tell us on your own. But your mother and I had a talk about it and decided you'd never say anything for whatever reason. We both love you, and will love you regardless… as long as you don't fall in love with a tractor, I'm happy as long as you're happy.

Brian walked over to his mother and gave her a big hug and a kiss on the cheek, then went to his father and offered to shake the man's hand. His father looked at him like he had two heads. "Doesn't your old man deserve a hug too?"

Brian hugged his father, a huge weight removed from his shoulders. The family meal was far tastier than it had been for Brian in a very long time. They asked him if he had any prospects of a boyfriend.

"Honestly, I haven't even looked. I was too afraid of you finding out the wrong way. But I promise you this, I'll be keeping my eyes open from now on!"

 

[to be continued]

 

 

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