Page 18 of Throuple Next Door

“How can you be so blasé about this?”

“Because your mother is going to be here for two days. She can think what she likes, but after that, we’ll take her to the train station, and she’ll go home. And her opinions and views will go with her.” Austin sometimes had this way of looking at the world that surprised him. Because he was the newest member of their relationship, Austin was sometimes a little insecure about his standing with him and Weaver, but then maybe things were changing for all of them. “It only matters what we think and what the three of us want.” He kissed him. “And now I need to shower so I don’t go to my runway walk class looking like a ragamuffin. I have somehow got to teach these people not to walk like truckers.” He grinned slightly. “Actually, they’re improving a great deal.”

He zipped into the bathroom, and Randy wanted to follow him inside, but he kept to his task. Austin was right, and his mother coming for a couple of days was just a blip on their radar.

Austin cracked open the bathroom door, sticking his head out. “I got tickets for the show for all of us and your mother. And on Friday, we have the neighborhood get-together. So we’ll be able to keep your mother pretty busy. Just stop worrying. There is nothing that your mother can do to hurt Weaver or myself.” He came out, stark-naked, in all his warm-skin glory. “The only person she has the power to hurt is you, and only if you give her that power.” He stroked Randy’s cheek. “I love you, Randy. We don’t say things like that all that often, but I do, and nothing your mother says or does will change that.” Austin patted his cheek and then turned, his amazing ass drawing him toward the bathroom, until the door closed.

Randy knew that Austin was right; he usually was about this sort of thing. Still, he couldn’t help worrying about what his mother had up her sleeve. He got the feeling that there was something more to this visit than her just coming to see him. His mother didn’t leave Brooklyn all that often, and for her to decide to travel to the “wilds” of central Pennsylvania, there had to be a reason.

“Stop worrying.” Austin said through the bathroom door. “And go out back and help Weaver. He’s in the middle of a big project and could use the help.” The water started a few seconds later, and once again, Randy was tempted to join him, but changed into jeans and went to the back yard, where Weaver was talking over the fence with their neighbor. She waved as he came out and then excused herself to go inside.

“I didn’t mean to scare her off,” Randy said softly.

“We were talking for a minute. She’s a writer and is on a deadline, so she was taking a breather before returning to her article.” Weaver grabbed the shovel he’d leaned against the fence.

“So what are we doing?”

“Well, the previous owners had the area for their son to play back here, and I’ve decided to turn it into a shade garden. But there are some drainage issues, so I got some large rocks, and we need to line this channel with them. Then we can fill the rest of the area with the new soil, level it out, and then plant.”

Randy rolled his eyes. “You make it sound so easy.”

“I already have the stuff in the back of the truck, and Austin helped me gather the rocks out of here. So do you want to line or spread?” Weaver asked.

“I don’t suppose neither is an answer?” he asked with a smirk.

“No. We have a number of great things out here, but I want to make the yard even better, so we can spend time outside. This is the first house I’ve had with space like this, and I want it to be really nice.”

“Okay. I’ll spread the soil. That way you can place the rocks how you want them.” Randy went to the back of the truck and began unloading the bags of topsoil, while Weaver set down the pea gravel and then arranged the larger rocks to keep everything in place. After an hour of hauling bags of dirt, his arms ached, but Randy finished with the topsoil, getting it spread.

“Looking good,” Austin called as he strode their way, every inch the high-fashion model. He walked tall, almost gliding as he moved toward them.

Randy set down the last bag of dirt, grinning. “I’d say you were the one looking damned good.”

“I thought I’d dress to impress. Let them see what they can look like and maybe teaching them to walk and present themselves will be easier.” He carefully kissed both of them. “Don’t get your dirty hands on me,” he said before adding in a whisper, “You can both do that once I get home.” Then he sauntered away and out to his car, leaving both Randy and Weaver completely hypnotized. Between the work and Austin, he had completely forgotten about his mother… for now.

Chapter Eight

Randy had been called into a last-minute faculty meeting at the college, and Weaver was at the law school apparently filling out enough paperwork to buy three houses, so it was up to Austin to pick up Louise at the train station in downtown Harrisburg. Traffic had been a nightmare, and he sat at the light just around the corner, checking the time yet again. The light changed, and he made the turn, went the two blocks, and pulled into the station just as the clanging bells indicated her train pulling in. With a sigh to himself, Austin got out of the car and went inside, meeting Louise as she came down the station toward him.

“How was the ride?” he asked with a smile, refusing to let any of the trepidation that churned inside show. Louise could sense fear, and he was not about to give her anything to jump on.

“It was okay. The seat was lumpy, so I moved, and that seat was lumpier. And what I wanted most was a cup of coffee, but there was no food on the train.”

“Well…,” Austin said, lifting her bag. “Let’s get you in the car, and we can stop and get you coffee or something to eat along with way.” He led her out of the station and to his car, then put her bag in the back.

“This is fancy,” she said.

Austin grinned. “I needed a car, unlike in the city, so I got to buy my first one.” He grinned. “Can you see me in some sedate sedan or SUV? No way. I needed something with style.” He held the door for her and then opened his door and slid into the plush seat, waiting for Louise to settle before setting the engine to purring and pulling around the circle and out of the station. “How are things in New York?” he asked, trying to come up with a question to keep the conversation going.

“The usual. Brooklyn is fine. It’s home.” She looked around. “I don’t understand how Randy can choose to live here. It’s….”

He kept himself from rolling his eyes. “Wait till you see our town. It’s smaller and quite pretty, and you’re going to love the house and our street. There’s a neighborhood get-together tonight, and everyone is anxious to meet you.” He looked over and caught of glance of her expression, like he was completely crazy. “They get together every Friday for wine and nibbles.”

She humphed softly under his breath, and Austin ignored it. “He could have had that in New York. People are friendly there, especially if he were to come home. If he wanted a change of scenery, Randy could have returned to Brooklyn. There was a nice house just a few streets away.” She seemed determined to make her point. “I blame Weaver and you for this. He had those gyms and a great business, and now….”

Austin tuned her out as he reached the freeway on-ramp, concentrating on driving in afternoon traffic. “Randy got a new job that he’s really excited about, and he sold at a good time.” He and Weaver had helped him, and Randy had gotten an amazing price for the health clubs. And since he owned most of the buildings, he was now collecting rent each month from the national health club chain, because he hadn’t wanted to sell the real estate. It was a great deal that would only ensure that Randy retained the assets that were likely to appreciate in value.

“But it’s not home,” she said, determined to make the point, at least in her mind.

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