Sand and Water

Home

Disclaimer: I own no one.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Bob Orton met him in the terminal of the St. Louis airport. John slowly made his way up to the older man. He sighed softly.

"John, did you bring Rhiannon?" Bob asked. John shook his head.

"Just brought Randy home," he replied. "He was searching for his way here for so long. He always wanted to see you again," The more he spoke, the more his tone of voice dropped.

"We didn't know he was so ill," Bob said. John shook his head. "We would have come," John gritted his teeth, trying to control his rage.

"You never saw Rhiannon," he said. Bob nodded.

"You're right. That was why we were hoping you'd bring her," Bob murmured. John stormed away from him. He couldn't take the lies anymore.

The Orton family had disowned Randy when they had learned of his homosexuality. That had been seven years prior. In that span of time, they hadn't been to Randy and John's commitment ceremony, seen Rhiannon, or even went to the New York funeral.

Through it all, Randy had remained optimistic about seeing his family again. They couldn't hold a grudge forever, he said. They would want to see Rhiannon, he said.

He had been wrong.

His immediate family hadn't even attempted to be there at his deathbed.

John sighed. He couldn't understand why Randy had insisted on being buried in St. Louis.

When I die, I want to go home. Do whatever you can, John. Get me home,

John sighed, searching for his luggage. He shook violently. He hated life. He hated life without Randy.

"I can't do this," he muttered. He left the airport. He needed sleep, above anything else.

John had never been to St. Louis with Randy. He hadn't seen it with the man who had loved this place. Randy's soul resounded through the streets.

"I hate this," he said, staring at the bright city lights. He reached into his carry-on bag and came up with an envelope.

What? he thought, baffled. He slit it open. In the back of the cab, he began to read.

12/15/09

Dear John,

As I write this, you have gone home to take a shower. About time, Hon!

Home, what a concept. You helped me find a home. After my family disowned me, you took me in and showed me the meaning of love.

Home, Rhiannon will always know the meaning of the word. It may seem strange but she already knows where home is. A place of love.

You may find it strange that I want to be buried in St. Louis, the place where my family disowned me.

That is home. I was born there. I lived there until eight years ago. That was home.

The lesson I was trying to teach Rhiannon was simple.

When you lose your way in life, you'll always have a home to go to.

I lost my way eight years ago. When I lost my way, you found me and helped me find my way to a new home. We had a beautiful baby. I loved you.

It took eight years and my death but I finally made it home.

Love,

Randy

John was stunned. How did Randy manage to do it? Everywhere John looked, he managed to find a letter from his dead lover.

Tears filled his eyes.

"Babe," he murmured. "You're home,"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I don't know how many more chapters this story will be. There will possibly be a sequel.

JenLea

Read, Review but most of all... ENJOY!