The Move

Co-written by: Mel and LJ


Hayden entered the house through the kitchen doorway, carrying another stack of pristine cardboard packing boxes, rolls of bubble wrap and packaging tape. He was still shaking his head at the fit Todd had taken when he’d brought home boxes from the grocery store. Apparently no belonging of theirs was to ever be placed in a box that had onceheld multi-packs of toilet tissue or canned soup. Then there was the look of horror on his husband’s face when Hayden suggested using newspaper to wrap things in.

Even though the cost of purchasing new boxes from the moving company was not an issue for them, Hayden had always believed in the principle of not wasting money on things if you could get a perfectly good substitute for what you needed, for free. He’d even tried using the environmental issue of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. But that was quickly shot down when Todd explained that they would donate all their used boxes to the food bank and the children’s Christmas toy drive; both charities being in need of sturdy packaging materials.

However, nothing prepared him for walking into the living room of their home and finding if devoid of the sofas, chairs and tables that used to be there. He deposited the boxes and things on the living room floor and made his way down the hall to the front entrance where he could hear both Todd’s voice and the voice of a stranger.

Todd stood there smiling and talking to a large burly man who was dressed in a jacket with the word ‘Goodwill’ emblazoned across the back. Hayden couldn’t believe his ears when the man thanked Todd for his donation of all that nice furniture and said that some very deserving people would benefit from his generosity. The man had walked out the door before Hayden could find his voice.

“Todd William Pierce, how much of our furniture did you just give away!?”

Todd was startled by his full name being shouted from behind him and lost his grip on the door, causing it to slam shut. He saw Hayden’s eyes narrowing and pointedly informed him. “That was your fault, Hayden. You shouldn’t sneak up on a guy.”

He gave his husband a wide smile of innocence. “I only gave away things we won’t need in our new home. After all, having decided to downsize from ten rooms to six, we don’t have enough space for all this old stuff. Beside, we’re moving to the country and I plan to decorate accordingly. I’m thinking along the lines of Early American or maybe even a bit rustic. So you can see where all these Provincial pieces just wouldn’t work.”

He paused for a moment and rubbed his hands together in pure joy at the thoughts of all the shopping they would have to do. “And another plus, my love, is that there will be less heavy furniture to move and that will save us a lot of time, money and energy.”

Seeing that Hayden didn’t yet look impressed with his reasoning, Todd continued. “I didn’t give away our bed or any of the antiques you inherited from your grandparents as I’m sure I can make them fit in the new décor. Unfortunately, there is no way I can camouflage that huge ultra-modern desk of yours. I thought a roll-top would be a great deal more suitable.”

Todd’s eyes widened when he saw Hayden’s face turning red. “I don’t like the way you’re looking, Hayden,” he commented and began backing up as his husband approached. “Ohh….” he squealed as he turned on his heel and headed towards the staircase. He only got as far as the bottom step.

Hayden took hold of his fleeing husband by wrapping his strong arm around Todd’s narrow waist. He used the convenient stair railing to lean him over and applied several sharp swats to the up-turned bottom, before he pulled him back upright. “Assuming you have not given away the couch in your discipline room, you may go up there and take a seat. If the couch is gone, you can stand in the corner there until I calm myself enough to discuss this situation with you.”

Hayden turned Todd around and gave him a good swat of encouragement to move quickly. He stood and watched as Todd made his way up the staircase. The younger man glanced back at him once but scurried the rest of the way when he saw the glare Hayden gave him.

Hayden walked down the hallway to his office, his personal sanctuary, and stood in the doorway, furious at the sight that greeted him. His desk, the matching credenza, even the leather couch, were gone; all that remained in the room were boxes which he assumed were filled with the contents of the missing furniture and the leather desk chair Zack had given him last Christmas.

As he turned to exit the room he was stopped by the sight of the family photographs which covered one wall. The photo of he and Todd sitting in the living room of this very house; Todd was holding Zack in his arms as Hayden looked over his shoulder. It was the day they brought Zack home from the hospital. They were both so proud and happy and young, he thought with a laugh. Pictures of the three of them through the years as Zack grew from precocious child, through challenging adolescence, to University student, and the most recent one of Zack in front of his own Pharmacy, every bit the grown man.

The largest photo was a professional portrait of him and Todd on their wedding day five years ago. The joy they felt at finally having legal right to marry with all the rights and privileges afforded any heterosexual couple. But what was most evident on their faces was the love they had for each other.

Hayden sighed as he touched the picture. “I do love you, my darling, but right now I’m in the mood to string you up by your pedicured little feet.”

He walked back down the hallway, peering into the box-filled but furniture-less dining and living rooms and then the half empty family room. He climbed the stairs and looked into the near empty spare bedroom. He was relieved to see Zack’s old room with its’ furnishings still intact. Todd was sentimental that way. He wouldn’t dispose of their son’s things. Heck, the boy’s baby crib was still in the attic, carefully preserved.

Finally he entered their bedroom and shook his head at the spaces where several pieces of furniture had stood, but at least the bed and antique armoire were still here. A door in the far corner of the master suite led to a small room which was touted as a nursery/study by the designer when they’d built the house, but right from day one they had dubbed it Todd’s discipline room. It was a private quiet place where they could maintain the discipline aspects of their relationship away from the curious eyes and ears of their growing son.

He quietly opened the door to find Todd sitting on the small upholstered sofa, legs crossed and head held in the air; the picture of indignant displeasure.

‘Humph! He kept me waiting long enough,’ Todd griped to himself, looking up at Hayden’s entrance. He squirmed uncomfortably under his Top’s glare of disapproval and slowly let go of his own feelings of irritation. Todd almost groaned out loud at the thought of having to account for his actions. How could he explain something he himself didn’t fully understand? He watched Hayden cross the floor to take a seat beside him on sofa.

“Before I say anything, Todd, I’m giving you the opportunity to explain just what you were thinking.”

Taking a deep breath, Todd hesitantly began to enlighten his partner and hopefully himself in the process. “It has all happened so fast, Hayden. I had barely come to grips with my health problems and us giving up our practices, when our home was put on the market. Who thought it would sell so fast or that we’d so quickly find a new one? I felt like I’d been run over by a freight train and I just really needed to feel as if I had at least a smidgen of control over something. Even though I intended to talk thinks over with you, the timing never seemed to be just right,” he muttered, picking absentmindedly at the nail on his left thumb.

Todd glanced up to see Hayden patiently listening, his silence offering encouragement. “I love our new house, Hayden, and I am looking forward to moving to Jade Heights; truly I am. And I distinctly remember telling you I’d be redecorating before we take up occupancy. Of course, there’s a good chance you don’t remember as it was one of those time when I was kind of verbalizing my thoughts and you were pretending to pay attention while allowing yourself to be distracted by something less important. Don’t deny it; it happens.” Todd smiled cheekily at his husband’s sigh of long-suffering.

Warming up to the subject, Todd continued. “I also mentioned the need to get rid of a lot of this old furniture due to downsizing and figured donating it to Goodwill was the best way to go about it. And you know, come to think of it, I don’t recall you disagreeing with the plan. I got rid of a lot of my stuff too, Hayden; like that lovely chesterfield set I had in my first apartment. There’s no need to roll your eyes!” He glared indignantly at the man beside him.

“As far as your desk is concerned, I’ve heard you complain on numerous occasions that it was cumbersome and took up a lot of space.” Leaning in closer, he softly assured his husband. “I kept all the most important things, Hayden; all our pictures and mementos of our life together.” He paused to gather his thoughts in order to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything; that he’d covered most his bases. He heaved a heartfelt sigh and reluctantly conceded. “But good intentions aside, I should have taken the time to make sure we were on the same page, right?”

Hayden pulled his husband into a hug and planted a kiss on top of the slightly graying head. “My love, I know things have been moving very quickly and despite what you think, I do pay attention to you when you talk. However, telling me you plan to redecorate and suggesting we give some things away to the Goodwill is quite different to calling them to come and pick up over half the furnishings we own without even discussing what they would take or even warning me when they were coming.”

He paused to ensure his Brat was looking at him while he said this next bit. “Neither has it escaped my attention that you conveniently called me when I was at the meeting with the financial adviser and asked me to go out and purchase more packaging materials before I came home; thus giving the men time to finish hauling out everything before my return. That kind of behaviour is unacceptable in our home and you know it.”

Hayden could feel Todd shift uncomfortably in his arms and knew his talk was having the desired effect of getting through to him. “I am sorely tempted to turn you over my knee and give you a spanking you won’t soon forget. However, I’ve decided to go another route; one that will remind you that I am your partner in all things, whichincludes what possessions we own. So for all purchases related to our new home, you will have to have my approval and you will be on a budget. A budget I might add, that will not exceed the gross national product of this country. And I will not listen to any arguments on this subject, you brought this on yourself.”

He placed a deep kiss on Todd’s mouth to silence the argument he could see coming, then added. “I love you, Todd, too much to let you get yourself in such a state over this move. I am going to be with you every step of the way. We are together in this as in everything.”

“That’s just perfect; or not!” Todd griped, crossing his arms and lowering his eye brows to glare at his husband. Unable to maintain his feigned annoyance, he shifted to straddle Hayden’s lap and wrap his arms around his lover’s broad shoulders, then linked his fingers behind his neck. Grinning broadly, he merrily concurred. “So in order to guarantee my following your edict, it will be necessary for you to come shopping with me. You know I have a tendency to forget and get carried away when I get into Ethan Allen. And then there’s Pier One. Prepare yourself, my love, I already have a long list of shops we need to visit.”

Before Todd could launch into a lengthy description of his plans, he found himself hindered by a large hand being clamped across his mouth, and it wasn’t his hand. Sparkling blue eyes gazed passed Hayden’s glasses and into loving hazel eyes. Todd nibbled playfully at the hand that had silenced him and when it was removed from his mouth, he leaned forward and amorously kissed his husband. He deepened the kiss and was reward with the evidence of his beloved’s arousal.

Gradually ending the kiss, Todd softly nattered. “You know what’s wrong with this picture, darling? We’ve got too many damn clothes on.”

Hayden momentarily mourned for the loss of a younger man’s knees that would have simply allowed him to stand and carry Todd to their bed. However, what he lacked in youthful agility was more than made up for by skills and knowledge that only experience could provide. He slid his hands under his husband’s buttocks and gently began to pinch and tickle while allowing one hand to slide deeper to tease the cleft. As expected, this teasing brought Todd up onto his feet laughing.

Hayden stood and led his lover into the bedroom divesting him and himself of pieces of clothing as they kissed and groped before falling onto the bed in the heat of passion. After the difficult time they’d had, Hayden felt the need to exert his dominance. He pushed Todd against the bed firmly, had him lubed and was sliding deeply inside him within moments. “Mine!” Hayden growled possessively.

Todd hissed at the sudden intrusion but was soon moaning in pleasure.

The love making was rough, yet filled with mutual pleasure and passion. Thirty-five years together gave Hayden knowledge of the body beneath him, better than he knew his own. He knew every pleasure spot, every movement that could send Todd into ecstasy and employed most of them; finally bringing his husband to a rapturous climax. Hayden took another couple of minutes for his own pleasure before joining Todd over the edge.

He collapsed, pressing his perspiring body against that of his husband. They lay together regaining their senses until Hayden rolled them over onto their sides, still holding Todd tightly in his arms.

“Love you,” he whispered. “You belong to me and I will not let this move or the changes in our lives to build up inside of you. You are to talk to me and you tell me whatever is bothering you. No more stewing or hiding your fears by sublimating them into unacceptable behaviours. Am I clear?”

Todd lay depleted on the bed, concentrating more on his own thoughts than on his husband’s voice. He took a few moments to simply relish in the safety net provided by his Top’s domination.

“Huh?” Glazed eyes gazed up at Hayden. Todd smiled as the older man’s words registered. “Yes, my love, I get it.” He snuggled against his lover. “I love you, Hayden, with all my heart. You’re my hero and my world. Sometimes I don’t think I tell you often enough.” He reached up and kissed Hayden’s chin before reluctantly stretching and getting up to locate his clothing, with intention of washing up in their en suite.

“Up you get, Hayden. We have to get back to our packing. God knows it’s not going to get done itself,” he reminded his husband and tossed over his trousers and boxers.

Hayden groaned and rolled his eyes. “There is nothing worse than a bossy Brat,” he said as he climbed out of the bed and took hold of Todd’s hand before he had a chance to begin dressing. “Come and join me in the shower. When we’re clean, we’ll do more packing.” He pulled his unresisting husband along to the en suite.

Three hours and countless boxes later, Hayden had finished packing all the glassware from the wet bar cupboards. As he was labeling the last carton, he heard a loud crash and screech coming from the kitchen. He tore down the hallway to find Todd smacking at the ceiling with a broom. The light fixture lay shattered on the floor, obviously the victim of the wildly swinging weapon in his husband’s hand. Hayden froze for a moment, trying to understand what had caused Todd to begin an attack on the kitchen ceiling. As the ceiling was again targeted, Hayden spotted a small brown spider scurrying away.

Hayden moved quickly around the shards of broken glass and grabbed the broom stick from Todd’s hand. “That’s enough!” he said as he tossed the broom aside and pulled Todd carefully away from the debris, grateful to see that he was wearing slippers. His husband’s arachnophobia was well known in the family, but this was too much!

Once they were out of the fallout zone, Hayden wrapped a badly shaking Todd tightly in his arms and applied a single sharp swat to his bottom. “Calm down,” he ordered. “You are done packing for today.”

“Did you see it, Hayden?” A breathless Todd asked, clinging to his husband. “It was huge; I’ve seen smaller mice.” The man did have a tendency to exaggerate when frightened.

Todd gradually calmed as ordered and let go of his death-grip on Hayden’s shirt. “You’re right. We’ve done enough for today. But I really don’t feel up to preparing a meal in all this upheaval. What are the chances of you talking me out for supper?” He grinned audaciously at the love of his life. “I suddenly have a craving for fish and chips, but first I’d like a good stiff drink” He made his way around the mess on the floor to the kitchen cupboard. “I’ll sweep that up shortly and call an electrician to see about having it replace in the morning.” Taking down a bottle of brandy and a couple of small glasses, he thoughtfully inquired, “Can I get you one, love?”

Hayden moved swiftly and wrested the bottle from Todd’s hand. “Thank you no, my love. I don’t want a brandy and neither do you. You know what the doctor said about combining alcohol, diabetes, hypertension and an empty stomach. However, I will happily take you out for a nice dinner. You go upstairs; wash your face and change while I sweep up this mess.” He guided a sputtering Todd past the broken glass for a second time in the last few minutes and patted his backside to send him on his way. “No arguing, just go. And while you’re up there, decide if you want to go to Andrea’s or Moby’s for your fish and chips.”

“Moby’s!” Todd hollered out as he scooted for the stairs.

********************

Two weeks later, Hayden and Todd stood on the veranda and watch the moving van pull away. In it was almost all the household furnishings and items they valued most, while being pulled behind was Todd’s prized possession; a silver VW bug with a bright red interior and matching hubcaps. The two men would be making their final trip to Jade Heights in Hayden’s more comfortable BMW.

Together they walked back into the house and gazed around the empty rooms. Todd stepped over to the archway and took in the walls marked only where pictures had hung. He glanced at the indentations on the carpet where furniture had once been. He sadly acknowledged that every room in the house would have a similar appearance of barrenness.

This had been their home for over thirty years. It was here that he and Hayden had laughed and sometimes cried together, here was where they had talked and dreamed together, and it was in this very room that they had danced and made love in front of a roaring fire.

Todd closed his eyes and a kaleidoscope of memories played across his mind, causing him to smile at the imagined sounds of a little boy laughing and running while his Dads chased him; of a slightly bigger boy racing in to share some exciting news with his parents; of a hyper teenager dealing with raging hormones; of a young man dressed in his graduation gown; of a son leaving home to start a life on his own.

Opening his eyes, Todd blinked back tears brought on by an overwhelming mixture of emotions. He looked to Hayden for reassurance that their recent decisions were right, but saw that his beloved husband was also re-living moments of the past and dealing with his own emotions.

Todd quietly closed the distance between them and gently wrapped his arms around the bigger man and rested his head on Hayden’s shoulder. While his tears soaked into the front of his husband’s shirt, Todd felt strong arms enfolding him and his lover’s tears falling on his head. Todd so wanted to tell Hayden that no matter what house they lived in, to him Hayden’s arms would always be home, but he was too choked up to speak.

“Hey, honey, we’re okay you know.” Hayden planted kisses on the side of his husband’s tear-stained face. “We’re leaving behind one phase of our lives and moving on to another wonderful one. We’ll have our boy near us; we even have a new, not quite son-in-law to get to know."

Hayden guided them towards the front door. They had one last look back and walk out of their former home for the final time.

Five hours later, they drove past the ‘Welcome to Jade Heights’ sign.

“I still think we should be staying at the Trillium Inn until the renovation crew and painters are finished with our new house,” Hayden commented softly. “But I wouldn’t want to hurt Zack’s feelings by turning down his invitation to stay with him and Rene. And I am anxious to meet Rene; though anyone who has our boy sounding as happy as he has recently, has got to be pretty special.”

They pulled up in front of the Zack’s Pharmacy and Hayden merrily announced, “Well, my love, we’re here! So starts the beginning of a new life in Jade Heights.”

The End