A Magnetic Couple Dilemma (Unfinished Liaisons Series)
Read A Magnetic Couple Dilemma (Unfinished Liaisons Series) Online
Authors: Naaju Rorrete
A MAGNETIC COUPLE DILEMMA
By
Naaju Rorrete
Copyright © 2012 by
Naaju Rorrete
All rights reserved.
Except for some quotes used in reviews, this book may not be
reproduced in whole or in part by any means, today known or invented in the future,
without written permission from the author.
This book is fiction. The characters, names, events and
places, are the product of the author's imagination and utilized fictitiously,
so any resemblance to actual persons, alive or deceased, or to any business, is
entirely coincidental.
Cover Copyright ©
2012 by Naaju Rorrete
The images depicted in the book cover are used under a
non-exclusive license granted by Scarlett O'Hara Photographics S.L. All models
were over the age of eighteen years at the time of the creation of such
depictions. All appropriate records, including model release and photo ID's are
kept in the office of Scarlett O'Hara S.L. Apt 29, 03580 Alfas Del Pi,
Valencia, Spain.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Issa, whose impressive prompt urged me to write
this story, one that had been lurking in my mind for a while, but I avoided
writing until now, due to the emotional investing it meant to me. I'm glad I
finally did it. The warmest thanks to Stacy Jo, who generously dedicated
countless hours to copy-edit this book. I want to show my deep appreciation to
Barb and Jackie for their excellent work proofreading this book. Also, lovingly
thanks to Pat, who, besides being my cheerleader and always believed in me,
provided professional insight about the HIV environment too.
My eternal gratitude to the staff of the Goodreads M/M
Romance group, for holding the 2012 "Love is Always Write" event,
where this book originated, as part of a collection of a hundred and fifty free
M/M short stories, novellas and novels. Joining the group will allow you to
read all those stories and much more, but mainly, you will find like-minded
friends. Extra special thanks to Jen, who has been so understanding with me
during the whole process of creating this book.
And last but not least, to my beloved Fernando, who died of
AIDS in 2009. I will always remember you for being the kindest soul I've ever
met, and my only regret is not having spent more time with you. This one is for
you.
Esteban pulled the letter from his frock pocket for the
countless time and skimmed over it until finding those paragraphs that, no
matter how many occasions he read it, were hard to disregard and have affected
his life forever.
It was as if Mauricio whispered the words into his ear.
"Esteban, if you are reading this, I'm already dead. It was my final wish
that you receive this letter as soon as I passed away. In truth, I hoped to
live many years, but this illness is treacherous and there is a trap every step
of the way."
Shaking his head, Esteban grimaced. God! Mauricio was dead.
He had been dead for nearly a year, but Esteban couldn't
accept his loss. It was so hard to imagine his wayward friend gone. This last
letter came as a total surprise, because Esteban had visited him while Mauricio
was still alive, and thought everything had been said between them. Their peace
settled, no regrets, apparently. Even though Esteban had many, he acted as if
there were none for his beloved friend's benefit. Now, there was not even a
tomb to pay his respects, because Mauricio arranged to be cremated and his
ashes scattered at sea.
Only his letters, especially this one, were his comfort and
his torment.
Avoiding the sentimentality that overcame him every time
he'd read the letter, he reread his favorite part. "Don't feel sorry for
me, I'm leaving at peace without any regrets, because I've lived a fulfilled
life during these years. I experienced the greatest pleasures, happiness, and
adventures. If I could turn back time, I would once again choose to live only
twenty-two more years after leaving the seminary, rather than sixty as a
priest. Yes, I'd rather die today knowing there was nothing I didn't experience
once, than living until my nineties keeping those stupid vows."
Pausing, Esteban inhaled deeply before he kept reading, and
then he skipped to the last part, which had worried him since the first time
he'd read it. "My only concern is not having taken better care of Javier.
I gave him this virus unaware of doing so, and even though he is still healthy,
that could change overnight if he doesn't take care of himself.
Please, Esteban, look after him. He could lose his mind
after my death, even try something terrible, because he doesn't know how to
live without me. I taught him everything he knows. He'd left his overprotective
family to move in with me, so he doesn't have any idea of how to live by
himself. I already asked my brother to help you in being sure Javier is okay,
but Diego has too many people under his responsibility. I know you are also
busy, but this might be a case of life and death, and Javier is too young to
die."
A shy knock on the door jolted Esteban, he'd barely had time
to hide the letter before Sister Lupe entered the room.
"Father, I know you said not to bother you, but your
brother, the one that looks like a gangster, is outside."
Before Esteban could reply, said brother announced himself
behind her. "I heard that."
She jumped, and got closer to Esteban, who remained seated
at his desk.
The six feet plus of Raul Hidalgo invaded his office,
dressed in an expensive but tacky leather suit, even a humble girl like Lupe
could see as such. She associated him with the kind of dark men she'd known in
her native Mexico, maybe because Raul had the same arrogant expression and
impertinent eyes.
Esteban told her, "It's okay, Sister Lupe, I asked him
to come over."
Raul looked down at her. "I don't deal drugs, but if
you switch careers, I could have a dancing pole ready for you."
When she scowled and lifted her head as if he couldn't scare
her, he added, lowering his voice, "I'd personally train you."
After that, she managed to hasten out of the room.
"Raul, please!"
"What? She called me gangster and you said
nothing."
"If you stop dressing like that maybe she wouldn't call
you names."
"She would look great on a dancing pole, you
know."
"She's a nun, Raul, stop being nasty."
"What have you done this time, Esteban?"
Raul dropped the newspaper over the desk while citing,
"Archdiocese expels stellar attorney Father Hidalgo."
He paused, and when Esteban didn't say anything asked,
"What happened, man?"
Esteban frowned, and picking up the paper, read some of the
printed words.
"It's only baloney. I've not been defrocked, and they
know nothing about it."
Afterward, he tossed the paper inside the wastebasket, where
he was putting the stuff he had cleared from his desk.
"Well, I'm asking you, because you sure know,
right?"
Esteban met the gaze so similar to his own, an unusual dark
green that most members of the Hidalgo family had.
"I withdrew as counselor and asked for a few days leave
of absence, but in the last few hours, I decided that I'm leaving the
priesthood. So, my voluntary request to be laicized has been sent."
Raul looked at him speechless for a few seconds, and Esteban
went back to finish cleaning his desk while waiting for his brother to process
the news. Raul combed his short hair with both hands, still looking at his
brother in awe.
"Oh, man. I didn't hear that. Well, at least, I'm not
the one telling the family."
The tradition in the Hidalgo family was that the firstborn
male joined the Catholic Church, while the second son ran the diverse family
businesses, which had never been all legal. Knowing he would feel miserable
representing certain aspects of those businesses, Esteban begged Raul to switch
with him since his brother enjoyed the power and the thrill, of running the
thin line between crime and legality.
Raul and he were so different, but his twin brother had
always been protective of him, even when he'd disapproved of his choices.
"There is no need, Raul, I will tell them when I'm
ready. I'm telling you now, so you don't waste your time trying to change my
mind."
"Why, Esteban? If you didn't want to represent the
church in this case, you could have asked Uncle Rob to bail you out."
Uncle Rob was also known as Cardinal Jose Roberto Hidalgo,
their father's older brother, who already had an office at the Vatican, and who
Esteban had always respected, but whose influence he didn't want at the moment.
"It's not only this case, and it's not the church, it's
me. Speaking of our Eminence, you have to convince Dad not to call him until
there is nothing he can do about it."
"Phew! He's Uncle Rob for me, I don't care if he wears
a black and red dress. I remember he's cool."
"Then your job is easier—keep him out of my
business."
"Easier said than done, by now Dad called him for sure,
next thing you will be sent to one of those Jesuit seminars, and will come back
more papist than the Pope. It happened every time you tried to quit."
Esteban considered for a second telling Raul about the way
Mauricio's death affected him, but it would have meant telling his brother
about Mauricio's sexuality, something he had hid from Raul until his death.
Instead, Esteban told him.
"Not this time."
"The archbishop called Dad, and they had a long talk in
Spanish; you know what that means right?"
"It's simply politics; besides, if you knew what
happened why are you asking me?"
"Not really, all I heard is you beat the hell out of
the defendant you were supposed to represent."
"I didn't hit him."
"Dad said that the only reason the man didn't file
charges is because he didn't want more press. Come on, tell me what got into
you?"
"From the start, I pleaded to our Excellency not to
include me in the defense team, but he insisted that I do, at least, the
depositions."
"And?"
"While recording some of the testimonies, I have no
doubt the plaintiff is telling the truth. The priest we've been ordered to
represent is guilty, and I can't defend that man. Besides, I'm sure the jury
will perceive the same I did."
Raul stirred both arms in the air.
"Jesus, Esteban, you might be a lawyer and a Jesuit
priest, but you are also the most naive person I've met in my whole life. Even
Lupe would guess it."
"Leave Sister Lupe alone. Guess what?"
"There has been a fucking conspiracy going on for
centuries, so there was a cover up. You are part of a team that must defend the
church's money. That's the bottom line, idiot. Money!"
"I know that. It was the reason I would have rather not
been part of the team."
"The archbishop gave Dad the choice to talk to you
first, before they exile you somewhere out of the spotlight. I didn't tell Dad
that you want me to pick you up. So what should I say to him now?"
Esteban thought for a few seconds, and shrugged.
"There are two cardinals, four bishops and a myriad of
priests and nuns in our genealogical tree. Tell Dad, and the whole family, that
I won't be their pope."
"Esteban, all you have to do is to apologize."
"I'm not doing it either."
"What's wrong with you man? Wait a second did anybody
mess with you too?"
"No, Raul. Sometimes I feel survival guilt, nobody
would dare to mess with a Hidalgo, you know that, but I met a couple of kids
back in the seminary that were abused. The plaintiff reminded me of them, and
later during a meeting with the defendant, this despicable person compared
himself to me, so I lost it."
"Damn it! He is really sick, eh?"
"How could he dare to compare himself to me? Next thing
I knew is I cleaned the table with him. I didn't hit him, but I pulled him over
to my side along with the glasses of water, paper and everything else."
"Fuck, Esteban. I wish I had been there."
"No, you wouldn't. If the other counselors wouldn't
have stopped me, I'd have beaten him. Do you see now, why I don't want our
Eminence getting involved in this? I'm responsible for my own actions."
During his friend's convalescence, Esteban had long
conversations with Mauricio, and recognized what was really missing from his
life, and the longing increased. He'd still controlled it; if there was
something he had in spades, it was strong will, but when that bastard tried to
compare himself to him, he lost his patience.
"Raul, I know discipline, and how hard it is to resist
temptation, so being compared to someone who knows nothing of these things, and
didn't have any qualms in abusing a minor, made my blood boil."
"Oh, man, now I understand your rage. So, are you
finally leaving the church, marrying some nice girl and having kids?"
"Never."
"Never to which part?"
"I'm not getting married to anybody or having children.
You have enough progeny. Why do you keep insisting on that?"
"Because, I'm afraid that you will leave the church and
go all gay and everybody will believe I'm the same."
"Oh, selfish as usual, aren't we? Don't worry, as long
as Dad is alive, I will never come out. Besides, I'm a man of God. I probably
will transition into the Episcopal Church."
"Those clergy can get married."
"What an obsession with marriage you have, Raul. For
someone who recently got divorced that's pretty weird."
"I'm tired of seeing you lonely with only women like
Lupe around you."
"Raul. Which part of gay didn't you get?"
Esteban didn't wait for an answer that would never come.
Raul seemed speechless for a few long seconds. Esteban knew that his brother
didn't like it when he referred to his unwanted homosexuality, because wanted
or not, it was part of him; a part that shamed Esteban as much as it shamed the
members of his family who knew about it.
"Esteban, are you ready?"
"Yeah, I only need to make a quick phone call and we
can leave."
"Okay. Do you want me to take anything to the car while
you change?"
"Yes, please take those boxes, I'll be right out."