The Kids Grow Up by Trish Hanan (novel24 .TXT) 📖

to make it up to me?” Harry asked softly. Jake nodded. Harry tilted his head sideways like he always did when he was thinking and all of the kids held their breaths. Then he walked to the refrigerator and opened the door. He pulled out a big orange bowl and set it on the table before Jake. He turned to Cassie.
“Cassie, darling; open that drawer and get a big spoon for your dad would you please,” he asked and curious, she did and carried it over. Jake took it and then Harry opened the lid of the bowl to reveal its contents. All the kids gasped and choked back laughter as they saw it contained green cottage cheese; they all laughingly referred to as ca-ca. Harry nodded to Jake.
“You said you’d do anything,” he reminded him. Jake nodded and he put the spoon in the bowl and pulled out a heaping spoonful and popped it into his mouth. He tried vainly to swallow it whole but he couldn’t so he was forced to chew it trying valiantly not to make a face. All of the boys snickered but Harry glared at them and they stopped and coughed instead. Both girls held their hands to their mouths to hide their grins. When Jake finished his first bite, he bravely went for his second, his gaze never leaving Harry’s. When the spoon reached his mouth Harry’s hand reached up to stop it.
“You’d really eat that whole bowl of ca-ca just for me, honey?” he whispered and tears came to his eyes. Jake nodded.
“I’d do anything, babe, if you’d forgive me and let me come home,” he said firmly.
“You broke my heart when you left me, I couldn’t do that again,” Harry told him. Jake put down the spoon and reached for his love. Harry’s arms came up to his shoulders and held on tight. Jake’s hand went around his waist.
“I know, babe, I promise, I’ll never do that again,” he swore. Harry nodded.
“Now would be a good time to kiss me,” he whispered and Jake’s mouth came down and they kissed. All the kids grinned as the kiss deepened. The kiss went on and on and they all smiled as it got more passionate. Then it seemed as if the old folks had forgotten that they had an audience and they began to pull at each other’s clothes and the kids beat a hasty retreat. Danny rushed back into the kitchen and grabbed the bowl and spoon. Cassie rolled her eyes.
“Just like a man to think of his stomach at a time like this,” she complained. Danny grinned.
“Hey, this is really good ca-ca,” he insisted. All the kids laughed and they locked the door behind them.
When they reached the bed in the bedroom Jake looked at it and hesitated, Harry immediately knew what he was thinking.
“The spare room,” he said and they rushed into the other room that used to be Fran’s old room. They fell on the bed and grabbed out for one another and it was like the first time they had made love. They explored each other’s body like they had never felt them before and used only their hands and mouths the first time and it was wonderful. Harry laughed and felt complete. Jake laughed and felt like a real man, this is where he belonged and who he belonged with; there was no doubt in his mind.
The second time was slower more tender and they both did things that they knew the other liked. Jake nuzzled Harry’s neck and drove him wild licking and sucking on his perfectly round nipples and Harry made Jake insane by scratching the inside of his thighs with his fingernails. It was the best sex either one of them had had in years and they collapsed on the bed and grinned and Jake felt like singing when he saw that glazed look in his love’s purple eyes. He wrapped his arms around him and held him as close as he could and wished that he could crawl inside Harry and spend the next thirty thousand years there.
“Harry, I love you so much, I swear, babe, I’m never leaving you again,” Jake whispered. Harry smiled and traced those lips he loved so much.
“Good because the next time you tell me you’re leaving me, I’m going to knock you over your head and tie you to the bed and make love to you until you change your mind,” he warned him. Jake laughed and kissed him hard.
“You have my permission to do that,” he said and they kissed again. They kissed all night and talked and laughed and Jake looked around about four in the morning and realized something was missing.
“Harry, where are Gertie and Bo?” he asked. Harry giggled.
“There at my mom’s, Mom is trying to mate Bo with one of those yum-yum dogs,” he explained. Jake nodded.
“That explains why Bo is there, by why is Gertie there?” he wondered. Harry laughed softly.
“You know we can’t separate the dogs, honey, they’ve been together too long,” he said and Jake nodded. “Don’t worry, we’ll go get them in the morning and take them for a run on the beach, they’ll love that,” Harry said. Jake grinned and patted his thick belly.
“I need a run on the beach,” he declared then he frowned. “Its November, we can’t run on the beach in November.” Harry giggled.
“So we’ll fly to Hawaii and run, silly goose,” he said and Jake laughed and they made love again and fell asleep.
The next morning Danny milked the cow and brought the milk in and quietly sneaked out and the two lovers didn’t wake up until after nine which made them laugh. Then Harry made a big breakfast and they drove down to his mother’s for the dog. Jake looked curiously at the spray bottle of cleaner and rag that the other man carried. Harry laughed.
“You know Bo’s going to be so happy to see you that he’ll pee himself,” he gently reminded him of the dog’s habit. Jake grinned and kissed him.
“Oh, yeah, the silly dog,” he said and Harry rang the doorbell. Barb opened the door and gasped with surprise.
“It’s Harry and Jake, oh, my God, its Harry and Jake together again,” she yelled and the other three women of the house came running and saw their happy faces. The two men entered the house and Kate frowned when she saw the cleaner her son was carrying. She pointed towards the sliding glass doors that led to the outside.
“They’re in the backyard, greet them outside, I won’t have that dog peeing on my carpets,” she declared and they walked over and walked outside. Jake could see red and gold over by the back fence and grinned.
“Gertie, Bo, come here guys,” he shouted and two flashes raced towards him at lightening speed. They both crashed into him and knocked him to his knees both of them whining and crying excitingly and licking and jumping all over him. And Bo, of course, got so excited he did pee himself but he did it on the grass and a little on Jake’s jeans but the man didn’t care, he was so happy, he felt like singing.
“Gertie, Bo, oh man I love you, I love you, girl, look at you, you are so beautiful, I love you, Bo, you’re the man, yes, you are,” he kept cooing over and over as they licked him and whined. It was a love fest that continued for a half an hour. Kate watched with amusement.
“You do know that if you ever leave them again, they’ll die of a broken heart,” she informed him. Jake shook his head and pulled Harry down to join in on the fun. He kissed him hard.
“Oh, no, I’m not going anywhere ever again, this is where I belong with Harry and my dogs,” Jake said firmly. “Isn’t that right, Gertie, right, Bo, oh, I love you too,” he gushed and Harry smiled and hugged his man.
They took Daisy home with them too and the cow looked happy to see Jake too but then Harry was so happy he wanted everyone to be happy. When they put her in the barn with Bessie it actually looked liked the two cows were saying hello. Harry giggled.
“Think of all the barnyard gossip they have to share now,” he declared and Jake grinned. They loaded up the Elizabeth and headed for Hawaii. Jake had to sit in the backseat with the dogs; they didn’t want to let him out of their sight. Harry giggled and they held hands the whole flight.
When he landed in Hawaii, three figures raced down the ramp, Jake and the dogs raced across the sand and down to the shore, Jake pulling off his clothes as he ran. Harry followed at a slower pace and picked them up and removed his. Then he raced and joined them and all four splashed in the surf and had the best time. Jake ran out of breath quicker but he knew that with morning runs he would soon be back in shape. He grabbed Harry and spun him around.
“Let’s come every morning and run,” he said and Harry nodded.
“Okay, honey, we will,” he promised. They took their blanket to the waterfall and swam in the lake and made love in the water, Harry’s purple eyes half-closed and all sexy slanty and driving Jake wild. He felt like a crazy idiot to have left someone so wonderful for that fake booby Violet. It must have shown on his face because Harry laughed and hugged him.
“Let’s not worry about past mistakes and concentrate on being happy now, Jake, we can’t change the past so there’s no since in dragging it behind us like a big ball and chain, let’s just make each other happy now,” he said and Jake kissed him.
“I love you, babe, you’re right, I can’t say I’m sorry enough, so I’ll just try my best to make it up to you,” he promised and Harry kissed him hard and they made love again.
“You know your dad is probably going to be pissed and fire you,” Harry said later while they were eating the food he had packed. Jake shrugged.
“I’m getting sick of doing my Dad’s paperwork anyway, you wouldn’t happen to have a spare clinic over in Sherwood would you?” he asked and Harry grinned.
“I do, you know I do, and I was thinking, what about if we open a half Veterinarian clinic on one side for you and a holistic healing clinic on the other side for me, that way we can work together too,” Harry suggested. Jake grinned and kissed him.
“That’s a wonderful idea, babe, that way you can protect me from large breasted receptionists,” he teased and they both laughed. Then Harry looked at Jake’s watch and gasped.
“Oh, Lord, honey; I have to get home, I have a date,” he said and Jake looked hurt. Harry laughed.
“I’m going to cancel it, of course,” he assured him. Jake laughed and kissed him.
“Of course, you are, babe, and I’ve got to go and get my stuff from Violet’s house and tell her I’m divorcing her to remarry you. We are getting married again aren’t we?” he asked, suddenly worried. Harry grinned.
“You bet your sweet ass