An Unexpected Gift Read online

  After finishing the list, neither of us were in the mood to cook so Isaac ordered pizzas. A meat lover’s version for him, and Hawaiian for me. For some strange reason, ham and pineapple together appealed to me. Once we finished stuffing ourselves, I placed the leftovers in the refrigerator and we stretched out on our nice, deep sofa, my back to Isaac as he hugged me close, watching an episode of ‘McMillan and Wife’, admiring how Rock Hudson was still so handsome in middle age.

  *****

  Even though Isaac was only a paralegal, he was working longer hours at the legal clinic and at home. There was an increase in clients needing help with discrimination cases; from housing to work. He still made time for us, but several evenings a week he was busy. To keep myself occupied until Harvey's campaign was well underway, I resumed my volunteer work at Angel House in the Tenderloin, a rather unsavory area. It was a shelter for gay, and other at-risk youth. I was rather adept at simple clerical work and also volunteered as a monitor for the dorms.

  I had gotten my driver's license last year at Isaac's insistence. He talked me into our buying an old Volkswagen Beetle, with a stick shift of all things, and named it Betty. It was bright orange and in excellent condition. But it was a stick shift! I had to admit it was cute, but a stick shift! The Tenderloin was very congested at night and it was difficult to find parking so I resigned myself to taking taxis home after my shift. My friend Ryan, ever the practical one, wouldn't consider driving his classic Jaguar that Leland had bought him in the Tenderloin so he bought a used Volvo station wagon for tooling around the city. There was a garage half a block away, and Leland insisted they rent a space for when Ryan volunteered at Angel House. Leland was a benefactor of the shelter and sat on the board of directors. On the evenings Ryan and I were both there he always offered to give me a lift home afterward. We would stop for a drink at the N'Touch or a neighborhood bar in the Haight on the way home. Even though he lived in the opposite direction, he always insisted in dropping me off.

  It was in late August that the reality of how the city was changing confronted me. It was near the end of our shifts for Ryan and me, and I volunteered to stay by the door while the security guard took a break. The shelter was preparing to close the doors for the evening as it was almost curfew when I noticed a young boy, I guessed no older than sixteen, approaching the door. He was wearing a purple jacket with a gold scarf and red boots. It was his red hair that stood out, and he looked familiar, but I didn't recognize his face. As he got closer, I saw that it was bloody, and he was limping, holding his arm close to his body. Overcoming my shock, I opened the door and ran outside to help. The young boy went limp in my arms. It was then I recognized it was Andy, one of our regulars. "Ryan! Somebody! I need help. Somebody call an ambulance!" People swarmed into the lobby and Ryan took one look at the boy and ran to the front desk to call an ambulance. Derek, the guard, appeared a moment later and kneeled beside us.

  "I was a medic in the army. Let me look at him." A small crowd was forming and someone placed a rolled-up jacket on the ground as I lowered him so Derek could look him over. "The kid is hurt bad. His arm may be broken, and he may have a concussion from the marks on his head. He could have a fracture from the way his eye looks, too."

  Leaning over him, I forced myself to stay calm, keeping my voice steady. "Andy. Can you hear me?"

  One of his eyes was swollen shut as he tried to look at me. "They kept kicking me."

  "Who did this Andy? Who hurt you?" I held his hand trying to quell the anger building inside.

  "Some guys. They were in a car and when they saw me, they jumped out and chased me. They were laughing and saying 'Let's show the faggot he ain't welcome here.'"

  My voice was shaking as I turned to the surrounding crowd. "Will someone call the fucking police? Now!"

  When the ambulance arrived, I told Ryan I would go with Andy since he doesn't have a family that we know of. He said he would meet me at the hospital. The ride to San Francisco General Hospital in Potrero Hill felt like an eternity, and I did my best to stay my emotions and not cry in front of Andy. I needed to be strong and give him support. I knew Andy in passing, and little of his story, only that he was on his own. Most of the kids at the shelter were runaways or throwaways from families who would not accept a gay child, or they were abused.

  Waiting while they wheeled him into the emergency room, I craved a cigarette. I gave them up a few years ago, but right now I needed one. I felt like I was suffocating and told them at the desk I would be outside. A short while later Ryan pulled up in his little wagon. "I called Isaac and let him know what happened. He's on his way. Leland is grabbing a taxi and should be here soon. Have you heard anything?"

  "No." I went inside to find out if there was any news. The nurse behind the counter asked if I was a relative, and then she asked a litany of questions to which I had no answers. What was his full name, did he have insurance, where were his family? When she asked his blood type I had enough. "I don't know his blood type. He has been living on the streets and no one seems to give a damn about that. Christ Almighty! I want to know what is happening!" The waiting area grew quiet as I realized I had been shouting, and Ryan came to my side, putting an arm around me. "I'm sorry. I volunteer at Angel House and Andy… I don't know what his last name is, stays there some nights. As far as I know he has no family or relatives in the area. He is living on the streets so I doubt that he has insurance. Please make a note that I will cover his medical bills. My full name is Sebastian Montgomery." After I gave her all of my information, I let out an exhausted sigh and rubbed my eyes. "Miss. All I want to know is how he is doing?" Where was Isaac? I needed Isaac before I lost it again.

  Realizing my distress, the nurse remained calm and professional. How, I will never understand. "Sir, now that I have your name, I will call you as soon as I have information."

  Ryan guided me to the waiting area and sat me down. "As soon as she knows, the nurse will tell us. Take a deep breath. How about I get us some coffee?"

  He returned a few minutes later and handed me a cup.

  "Do you have any brandy you could put in it? I could use a drink right now." Trying to smile, I failed. Between the wait and the endless questions from the nurse I was a wreck. Taking a sip of the hot brew I hung my head, but Ryan's next comment caused me to snap my head up.

  "Andy was really lucky it happened where it did. If it had happened anywhere else in that neighborhood people might not have noticed or simply ignored it. The other issue is they're afraid to seek medical help. Clinics that aren't close by but that they can get to ask too many questions, or require stuff those people don't have. You know, things like identification and insurance, or they require them to fill out forms they don't understand. Simple things like where do you live or your telephone number. Things that most people take for granted. Those are things they can't answer. The main hospitals around there don't want to deal with them and make it so difficult they don't bother."

  It wasn't right. I knew there was a hospital right up the hill, and several others nearby, yet they had to take Andy all the way across town to General. Another seed was planted for me to think about.

  I don't know how much time passed, but Isaac came barreling through the emergency entrance calling my name. "Isaac, I'm over here." Ryan scooted down so Isaac could sit next to me. He immediately pulled me into his arms. I was lucky my coffee cup was empty.

  "Oh baby, I'm so sorry about what happened. How is he?"

  That was all it took. The tears flowed, and I was sobbing into his shoulder, my body shaking. "We are still waiting to hear. You should have seen what those bastards did to him. He is only a little guy and they beat him senseless. They could have killed him."

  Lifting my head, I opened my eyes to see the worry in his face. "I'm here. I won't leave you. Whatever you want, I'm here."

  "I don't want to leave. He has no one. He's just a young boy. I don't understand…" He sat back in his chair and I placed my head in his lap. What was this worl
d coming to?

  *****

  I must have dozed off, because the next thing I heard was Ryan talking on the phone. When I opened my eyes, Leland was pacing next to him. A nurse called my name, and I bolted from Isaac’s lap. “You paged me?”

  It was a different nurse from when I arrived. “Your name, sir?”

  "My name is Sebastian Montgomery. I arrived in the ambulance with a young boy named Andy."

  She smiled and pointed down the hall, “He is in bed four. Down the hall and to your right. The doctor is with him now.”

  I started down the hall and then remembered. “Isaac!” I turned and slammed into him.

  When we arrived at his bed, the curtain was open and a doctor was making notes on a clipboard. Andy appeared to be asleep. From what we could see, they had cleaned up his face but the bruises where they struck him were clearly visible. One eye was swollen shut, the other was closed. He had a cast on his arm, and his red curly hair was matted about his head. The doctor was a young Indian woman about my age, and when she saw us her expression was guarded. “Are you family?”

  “Andy has no family here. I volunteer at the shelter where he stays. I came in the ambulance with him. Andy is…, I am a friend.” I felt Isaac’s hand on my shoulder and he gave it a light squeeze.

  She relaxed and offered her hand. “I am Doctor Anand. Andy has suffered a broken ulna in his left forearm, a concussion, extensive bruising, and a fractured rib. He also has a severe sprain to his left knee. It was heavily bruised, and I believe they tried to break it. Even though there is extensive swelling, from what we can tell right now, there appears to be no permanent damage to his right eye. It will take time for him to heal from all of his injuries. I would like to keep him under observation overnight to monitor his concussion. Is there a place he can stay when he is released?”

  Isaac gave my shoulder another squeeze, “Yes. He can stay with us.” I reached up and placed my hand over his. I loved this man.

  Andy opened his good eye and saw me with Isaac. He tried to speak but his voice was gravelly, and the doctor retrieved a glass from his tray and held it for him while he sipped from a straw.

  “Wonderful, you can expect him to be released tomorrow afternoon. He needs his rest, so only visit for a few minutes."

  “Thank you, doctor.” Isaac pulled a chair next to the bed, and I sat down, placing my hand over Andy’s. It was cold, and he looked so lost. “They want to keep you overnight. Tomorrow you will come home with us if you want”

  “I thought they would kill me until the old man at the corner market came out and chased them away.” A tear ran down his one good eye.

  Isaac leaned over my shoulder. “Is there anyone you want us to call?”

  Andy tried to shake his head and groaned. “Nah. My parents were going to throw me out when they found out I was gay. They said I could stay if I would go to this camp where they would fix me. My family is Southern Baptist.” He looked at Isaac and then me. “Is he…”

  I smiled as Isaac chuckled. “He is my boyfriend, lover, my everything. You will come home with us. We have a spare bedroom, and we will take care of you.”

  “I want that someday. Someone to love me. Thank you.” He yawned and his eyelid fluttered and closed.

  I gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “Rest, Andy. We will be back tomorrow.”

  When we returned to the waiting room Ryan was dozing on Leland’s shoulder. Leland patted his leg. “How is he?”

  Ryan stretched, “How’s Andy?”

  I turned to Isaac and nodded.

  He knew I was exhausted and took over. “Andy is coming home with us tomorrow. They want to hold him overnight. He was pretty beat up, and has a broken arm, concussion, and a cracked rib.”

  “Jesus!” Ryan shouted. The waiting room turned their attention to us, and the nurse at the desk gave him a stern look.

  Leland remained calm and controlled, his professional demeanor taking over. “If there is anything we can do, let us know.”

  “Thanks, Leland.” Ryan stood, putting his arms around me. Once we were outside, I noticed the sun coming up as we headed to the parking lot in silence. Ryan and Leland got into their Volvo Wagon and we headed to Betty. Isaac had left a message at the clinic stating that he would be out, and he made me promise to call out sick when we got home. All I wanted was to crawl into bed and hide from the cruelty of the world while Isaac kept his arms around me.

  *****

  I woke in the early afternoon to the sound of an irritated Isaac explaining to someone how we had a family emergency and he would be in tomorrow. When I put my robe on and went to find him, he was in the spare room with fresh linens stacked on the bed grumbling. "What’s wrong?"

  He turned around and pointed to the phone on the nightstand. "Marguerite wasn’t in and the new receptionist told no one about the message except that I wouldn’t be in. Janice, the other paralegal called, wondering why I wouldn't be in. I told her it was a personal matter, and I would explain it to Marguerite when I came in." I let out a laugh and Isaac stared at me. "What?"

  He was adorable. “I love it when you get frustrated. You are so cute.” I grabbed his chin with my hand and gave him a kiss. “Shall we make the bed?” When we finished, we headed to the kitchen and Isaac made coffee. He handed me a mug. “Just what I need.”

  He poured the coffee and added cream and three sugars. “You need more than that. You haven’t eaten for quite a while. Let me make you a sandwich. Turkey and Swiss cheese on sourdough bread?”

  “Definitely! No red onion. I want to stay kissing fresh for you later.” This was what I needed. Some normalcy. There was also an idea I wanted to discuss that popped into my head this morning. “Can I ask you something?”

  Setting down the knife and mayonnaise he turned and leaned back against the kitchen counter. The way he looked at me, I had a feeling he already knew what I was about to ask. Sitting down at the kitchen table I wrapped my hands around the warm mug. “I’m not saying now, but…, depending on how it is with Andy here, maybe we could let him stay? I… I’m not saying right away, but depending on how he adjusts and how we feel, maybe we could sort of sponsor him?”

  We had talked about how if we ever had the opportunity, we wanted to have kids and give them a real home, not the kind that Isaac or I had. One where they would be loved and given every opportunity to grow. To know they could be whatever they wanted. To never be afraid of who they are.

  Isaac came around the table and kneeled next to me. “This is one of the many reasons I love you. Let’s give him the chance of a real home. When the time is right, we can talk to him about getting a copy of his birth certificate and school records from wherever he is from. You have a big heart, Sebastian Montgomery.”

  “So, you don't just love me for my sexy ass?”

  He stood and kissed the top of my head and returned to the counter. He looked at me with a serious expression before giving me a grin. “Well, I took that into consideration. Now, do you want mustard on your sandwich?”

  We spent lunch time discussing what Andy might need. The more we talked, the more I realized how little we knew about him, other than the cruel way his parents discarded him. We didn’t know his age, his last name, or where he was from. I was sure the hospital had information by now, and we could find out from them, but we decided it would be best if Andy told us. Until he knew us better, and we him, none of our ideas would be shared with our young visitor.

  Isaac and I did a final walk-through of the guest room where Andy would be staying. When we finished, I heard a heavy sigh and turned around to see Isaac, eyes wet and his lower lip quivering. “Honey? Hey, everything will be all right.”

  “That poor kid has been through so much.” I wrapped my arms around him and held him close.

  “And he will have a better life from now on. People that care about him will surround him, and we will give him the support he needs.” My mind was reeling at how that could have been Isaac if his life had worked out under
different circumstances.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Our House Guest

  Isaac

  We were locking up the house when Abigail caught us on the front stoop. "I'm just being nosy, but heard you boys coming home this morning, and now you're taking off again. Having a lazy day for yourselves instead of working?" She was grinning and holding a foil-wrapped plate in her hands. Abigail is our friend and upstairs tenant. When I first met her, she described herself as a retired teacher, artist, and only mildly eccentric.

  I looked at Sebastian and he nodded. "We're on our way to the hospital. Someone attacked a street kid yesterday, and we took him to the hospital. Now we're bringing him home while he recuperates."

  "You boys have such big hearts. Here." She was about to hand us the plate and stopped. "You can pick this up when you get home. I made my special brownies for you. Just so you know. They are also good for pain. They helped my late husband, Albert, deal with his cancer. If I can be of any help, just let me know?"

  I was about to head down the steps when Sebastian grabbed my arm. "Abigail? Would you mind checking in on him while we're at work? I don't want him to be alone all day."

  She gave us a big grin. "Make sure the boy has my telephone number in case he needs anything right away. Call me when you want me to meet him so the poor child won't freak out by my showing up."

  "You are an absolute darling!" Sebastian leaned down and gave her a kiss on the cheek and then we were off.

  Even though we had a garage, it was small and full of things Sebastian hadn't decided if he could part with. Betty was relegated to sitting in our driveway. I offered Sebastian the keys. So many things were running through my mind I wasn't sure I could drive. I put on a smile and jangled the keys. "Would you like to drive?" I watched him scrunch his face. "If you don't practice, it won't get easier. If I can't drive, you need to be able to get around." I jangled the keys again, giving him my best puppy dog eyes.