Read Alma's Will for Free Online Page B

on?" he asked.
    "Heir; there's only a daughter. That the old woman had become senile. That Jay and his partner talked her into something against her principles. That everything she owned she'd inherited from her husband, and he'd turn over in his grave if it were used that way, which is right enough."
    "How can you know that?"
    "Because I know what people are like down there," Cameron said with more vehemence than was called for. "I was the local faggot, remember?" Suddenly calmer, he continued, "How soon can you leave? Do you need time to reschedule your appointments?"
    "Don't worry about my appointments. I'll phone the secretary at home."
    "Then I'll see if I can book us a flight, if not for tomorrow, then the day after. Whatever's available. I've already called Jay Franklin, one of the guys she left the house to, and he says they have a spare room where they can put us up."
    Cameron's haste only deepened Ed's concern, but he kept it to himself. "Why impose on them?" he asked. "We can stay at a hotel."
    "I'm going to need all the moral support I can get."
    "Look, if it's going to be that hard on you, why don't you just refuse? Surely they can find someone else to send if the case is that easy."
    "You're not listening. I have to go. I could wrap it up in five minutes."
    "I am too listening; it's you who aren't making sense," Ed objected, nearly at his wits' end. "I'm trying to be supportive, but how can I be when you're holding something back?"
    "I'm sorry. You're very supportive. I just can't bring myself to talk about the things that happened to me then. I want to, but I can't."
    "Just blurt it out."
    "Not now. Later, when I've calmed down some."

    * * * *

    For the rest of the evening Cameron kept his emotional distance, so it surprised Ed when he snuggled up to him as soon as they were in bed. Though Cameron usually took the dominant role, he made it clear by his movements that he wanted Ed to penetrate him that night. Lying underneath him, he pulled Ed's arms around him and hung on to them. He sucked on his fingers, pushing back into him and whimpering, "Make love to me, Ed. Fuck me hard and long."
    When Ed rolled off him, they lay panting for five minutes or so till Cameron again set about caressing him, nuzzling him, running his fingers up and down his body. Then he put his hand on Ed's penis and said, "Let's do it again."
    Startled, Ed looked at his lover. "Now? So soon?" he asked dubiously. "Didn't I satisfy you?"
    "It was wonderful. You were wonderful. But I need you in me." He sounded not so much aroused as desperate. "I feel safe with you pressing down on me, covering me, holding me in place. Do you think you can get it up if I go down on you?"
    "This is about that Georgia thing, isn't it? That's what has you so upset. Really, Cameron, I don't think you should go."
    Cameron sat up in bed. He spoke nervously, without looking at his partner. "I didn't want to, but Marc insisted I jot down Jay's phone number, and I said I'd think about calling him. Then I did, and he gave me his address. That decided me."
    "What decided you?"
    "The address. It's right next door to where I grew up."
    "Jesus! But that doesn't necessarily mean… I mean, how can you be sure they didn't sell the house long ago?"
    "No, it's my mom's will. I knew it couldn't just be a coincidence, so I asked for her name. And the woman fighting it must be my little sister, Livvie."
    Ed put his arms around him and held on tight. Cameron was trembling and had broken out in a cold sweat.
    "That's why she's leaving us the house. Because they threw me out of it. Maybe she's been looking for me all along. I should have tried to contact her."
    "Don't start blaming yourself. You did nothing wrong." Like the kids this afternoon , he thought. The hurt never goes away .
    "I'm so scared, Ed, just like the day they threw me out."
    Ed had lived through the same trauma. Just remembering it was enough for the panicked child to rise up inside him, too, and with him the