"What's up? I think I'm the last one in on something that is making you all smile like you have some big secret."

"Daniel, can't you guess who we want to manage Mama Sasy's from now on? It's someone we trust and believe in and feel will do a wonderful job in furthering what Mama Sasy started. We think he will even make it a more wonderful program." Nick was smiling, looking at him like he thought he would just spout out a name any second.

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"Uh, Boddy?" That was the only name he could come up with, since they were all waiting, expectantly.

"I'm a cook, Daniel, just a cook."

"You're more than that, and you know it," Daniel said.

"True, but still I'm just the cook in this case. Come on, Daniel, think." Boddy laughed.

Daniel felt like he was taking a test. Everyone was waiting for him to say the name of someone who would be good at running Mama Sasy's, someone they trusted and felt like would do a good job. It dawned on him then why they all had those s.h.i.t-eating grins on their faces.

"Oh, good Lord, me?"

Suddenly they were all applauding like he'd pa.s.sed the test and graduated.

Daniel looked around at all of them, even Easy and Mano had come back in and were standing with Boddy.

Franklin and Ba.s.s were behind them. Everyone was smiling and looking at him expectantly.

"You have to be kidding! I haven't even graduated from high school. How can you trust me with something this big?" Daniel couldn't believe they were serious.

This just didn't happen.

Daniel looked from Benny to Mama Sasy, and finally to his dad. His eyes filled with tears and he sat there as they rolled down his cheeks. His dreams were being handed to him. He just had to step up and take them, accept them, and build on them. Finally, still unable to speak, he nodded.

Benny hugged him and wiped his eyes with a napkin he took from the table.

"We're not leaving you to run things on your own, son. There will be a long transition period, like I said, during which time you will learn everything you can from Sally Ann and Boddy. You'll get your GED and Take It Slow 244.

your diploma. You'll take over and eventually this place will be yours, pa.s.sed down from me to you. You can't deny that this is what you want to do with your life. This way, Mama Sasy's continues as it has been and maybe even better with you and Benny running it. Benny can get his degree and take over what I've been doing. I'll groom him in what he needs to know to help the boys like I have. I'll introduce him around so he knows some of the same people who have been able to help me. This isn't going to happen tomorrow, but over the next few years. So, now what do you think?"

It was a party then. Easy pulled a table up to the edge of the one on the booth and everyone took a seat. Boddy went to the kitchen and made a tour around the room making sure the few people left in the diner were all set, then came back to join them. Daniel noticed he sat by Mama Rosa and their shoulders were touching.

"I can't believe this. I was going to talk to you both to see if you had any ideas on how I could start a program like Mama's. Now I don't have to. I can step in and work here, where I love it, and where we already have a good reputation. Hey, do you think we could expand if we need to? We could add another floor on the top of the warehouse, couldn't we? We could help more people that way. We'd never have to turn anyone away. Have you ever had to turn anyone away, Mama Sasy, because you didn't have enough room? That would be, like, really bad. I'm getting so many ideas--" Daniel wound down when he saw the looks on the faces around the table. Okay, so he was rambling and not just a little bit excited.

"Sorry," he mumbled, embarra.s.sed.

"Don't be. That's exactly why you'll be great at this.

We know how much it means to you, and it will flourish under your guidance. It will just take a while, Daniel.

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First, finish school and learn about the GED program since you're going to have to help others with it. College isn't for everybody. It was something that was in your future before, but you're a different person now, huh, with different goals, needs, and life experience? If you want to continue with that, you know that option is always open to you. We do like for our boys to have at least the high school diploma. If they want more, we try to find a way, a sponsor or something. If not, then a job doing what they like." Mama smiled at Daniel as she spoke.

"What if somebody doesn't know what they want to do yet? Like, if they don't have any skills?" This came from Ba.s.s, who'd been quiet until then.

"Honey, you're just fine. By the time you need a job, you'll probably know just what you want to do. Until then, you can get your education and work part time here to earn spending money. We'll find out later what will make you happy. Don't you worry." Mama always knew what to say to make her boys relax and feel accepted. Daniel knew he had a lot to learn from her.

It said a lot for Ba.s.s that he was worried about being able to help out and have a future. He looked relieved, but Mama went a little further with her explanation.

"We've had a good run lately with our boys. Mano has a fantastic job at a dance studio, Franklin got one at the garage he wanted to work in, and Jeff and Robb weren't here very long before they were off to model for a magazine. That's got to be the strangest thing yet.

They've worked steadily and seem to like what they're doing, and according to the last phone call, they're good at it. They said that one photographer told them that they were going to be the next best thing, whatever that means." Mama Sasy smiled as the others nodded as if they knew exactly what it meant. "Now our Daniel and Take It Slow 246.

Benny have their future planned. It sounds like things go smoothly all the time but don't believe it. We'll do everything in our power to make sure you find out what you want to do with your life and then try to help make it happen." Mama settled into Nick's shoulder as he put his arm around her. She finished with her speech.

"Sometimes, boys are here for a long time before they find what they want, and that's fine, really. You are to consider this your home, Ba.s.s. We're happy to have you here."

Ba.s.s looked around the table and seemed to find what he needed to believe that his lot in life had indeed changed for the better. He gave Mama Sasy a small grin.

"I'll be glad to help around here. I'm good at cleaning stuff. Do you have someone, like a janitor, who cleans the dorm place and in here?" Ba.s.s asked.

"Actually, we don't. We all just help out. If you would like to take on that job, we'll pay you for it. We'll keep your hours low, so we don't break any laws. How about school, hon? I guess you haven't been going since you left home. How about starting in January? We'll help if you have any problems." Mama Sasy made it sound like an offer, but everyone knew it was more like telling him what would happen.

"Um, thanks, but I don't have any trouble learning. I was ahead of my cla.s.s. I always made straight As. Not that the old man cared. Mom thought it was cool, and I liked that it made her happy. I guess I kind of miss it."

Ba.s.s looked embarra.s.sed when everyone looked at him with wide eyes. "What?" He sounded like he was afraid he'd said something wrong.

"Maybe you'll end up helping some of the boys with the GED so they can get their diplomas. If you're that smart, you should be able to get a scholarship to do anything you'd like to with your life. You'll figure it Take It Slow 247.

out." Nick sounded impressed with the new development.

Boddy got up to go back to the kitchen, rolling Mama Rosa with him. Easy and Mano got up, too, and said they had to go show how thankful they were to have each other. Everyone laughed when Mano took off running and Easy sprinted after him, out the front door and around the side of the diner. Franklin and Ba.s.s got up and headed back to the dorm, leaving Benny and Daniel with Mama Sasy and Nick.

"I can't tell you how this makes me feel. It's what I want to do more than anything. This is just unbelievable."

Nick reached into his pocket and put his hand across the table toward Daniel. Holding out his hand, Daniel accepted the keys that Nick placed in it.

Nick smiled and said, "The apartment is finished, and I had the men move in most of the furniture. I thought you two might like to check it out, maybe move in over the weekend."

"That's great. I didn't know it was that close. We haven't been over there in a couple of days." Daniel was thrilled. He and Benny had both been feeling like they were ready, more than ready, for more in their physical relationship.

"Sally Ann helped me stock the cabinets and refrigerator so you're ready to move in. We'll see how it goes with commuting from there to here. If needed, Boddy's room will soon be available if you have a reason to stay here. Sally Ann will move in with me after the wedding next week. Everything is going to change, but after the first period of getting used to the new set up, we think it will be wonderful for all of us."

Nick finished his speech by turning to give Mama Sasy a peck on the cheek.

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"I think so, too, Dad. I really am happy for you, and now Mama Sasy will be Mama for real. I hope Easy's okay with having a new brother, sort of..." Daniel wasn't making much sense, but he was a little fl.u.s.tered.

"Silly. He's thrilled. He's so caught up in Mano, he wouldn't care if we adopted a bunch of Chilean monkeys." Mama Sasy looked surprised when they all laughed at her words.

249.

Chapter Twelve.

"Did you know about this?" Daniel couldn't help but ask Benny as they headed down the hallway to the dorm.

"No, but I think it's great. Wait, don't you? I mean, really?" Benny stopped and leaned his back against the wall, pulling Daniel into him. Daniel took the moment and rested against Benny.

"There was just this look between you and my dad, and I thought something was up, but couldn't figure it out." Daniel nuzzled his nose into Benny's neck and settled more comfortably with his arms around Benny's shoulders, holding on.

"Oh, I figured it out before you, but the look was just two people who love you enjoying the moment. I can't believe you got the keys. Do you think that's yet another way for him to show you how he accepts you now? I mean, he's almost been throwing us together, finding ways for us to be alone and now this." Benny nuzzled right back, sliding his cheek along Daniel's. Daniel leaned his whole body in, letting Benny know that he was very appreciative of the thought that they'd soon be able to really be alone and together in many new ways.

"I'm so ready to do this." Daniel said, his hips rubbing against Benny's. He had to stifle the moan that wanted to erupt at the intensity of feelings that ran through his body.

"We've waited a long time, huh?" Benny said, rubbing right back.

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"I'm sorry." Daniel automatically felt it was his fault.

His apologizing was a habit that had become ingrained while living with Jack Basham.

"Hey, stop that. That wasn't an accusation. It will be nice to get to know each other a little better, all interruptions aside, huh? Hey, I wasn't ready at first, either. This is the perfect time for us. We're gonna be great, Daniel. If we'd rushed it, we might not even be a couple now. And, Daniel, we are definitely a couple, for the long haul as far as I'm concerned." Benny tightened his arms around Daniel and held his head still on Daniel's shoulder, waiting for a response.

It wasn't long in coming. Daniel wouldn't leave Benny wondering. He just chose to not use words. They were out of sight of the rest of the dorm, and Daniel took the opportunity to kiss Benny the way he'd wanted to for a long time. He took Benny's mouth like he hadn't seen him in months and was starving for just a taste.

Slipping his tongue inside, he shivered as Benny met it, and they both sighed at the same time. Instant internal combustion! Yeah, they needed to take this somewhere private. His mind was telling him he had to stop, had to pull back, ease up, but he pressed his hips tighter to Benny's and continued mapping the inside of Benny's mouth. His breathing was becoming labored and he could hear Benny trying to breathe through his nose. He finally had to admit defeat and give up. They could not finish this here. He slowly eased back a little, pulling his tongue back, using it to lap Benny's moist lips now, bringing them both down a little, or trying anyway.

"Gotta stop, honey. Can't do this here." He wasn't really ready to talk in full sentences.

"Need you." Evidently Benny wasn't, either.

They stood there for a long time, pressed together and letting their breathing and their painfully hard c.o.c.ks Take It Slow 251.

calm down a little. Daniel found that he enjoyed this just as much as the kissing and the frottage. Holding on and feeling the same things, knowing that they both wanted more and that they were close to getting it made this embrace all the sweeter.

"So, we're moving to the apartment this weekend, huh? I think a stop at the drug store is in order. You and I," Daniel pulled back enough to look into Benny's eyes, "have a date Sat.u.r.day night. We'll probably have help moving, not that there's that much to move, but then we're going to be alone, Benny, really alone. G.o.d, I can't wait."

"I love the way you speak my mind," Benny mumbled, eyes staying on Daniel's in the muted light of the hallway.

"Speak your mind? I thought it was the way I speak my mind," Daniel was confused.

"Nope, you just said exactly what I was thinking, so you were speaking my my mind. I've noticed it happening before, a few times. I think something, and you say it out loud. It's kind of cool, really. Just more proof that we're perfect for each other. Let's go to bed, roomie, not that I'll be able to sleep." Benny slid his hands up and down Daniel's back as he said this and Daniel shivered again, loving the feel of Benny's hands on him. mind. I've noticed it happening before, a few times. I think something, and you say it out loud. It's kind of cool, really. Just more proof that we're perfect for each other. Let's go to bed, roomie, not that I'll be able to sleep." Benny slid his hands up and down Daniel's back as he said this and Daniel shivered again, loving the feel of Benny's hands on him.

"That's all right. Just resting in your arms is better than sleep anyway. Come on." Daniel took Benny's hand, and they headed to their bunk. Daniel's mind was running a mile a minute. He was going to manage Mama Sasy's. Well, eventually he would, but how perfect was that? And he was finally going to get to make love with Benny. In a matter of minutes, he was wrapped in Benny's arms, and he had no doubt that there would be no nightmares, if he even made it to sleep.

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Daniel was exhausted, and if Benny's dragging feet were any indication, so was he. He was smiling, though.

They'd done it. They were completely moved in and set up in their new home. He was pleased to find out that his dad had worked with the carpenters to arrange both an outside and an inside entrance to the apartment over the garage. There was room in the big garage for their car, so they could park there and use the new stairs in the back corner to get to their place. The outside stairs were still there and would be used in the warm months, but he was pleased to find they wouldn't be going up and down on icy stairs.

He opened his arms as he leaned back on the kitchen counter. "Come here, baby. You look like I feel. Why are we so tired when we didn't have that much to move?"

"Mmm," Benny said, against his neck, "lack of sleep, excitement, forty trips up and down the stairs, which are great, by the way. Are you as hungry as I am?" Right on cue, Daniel's stomach growled and they both chuckled.

"Want to see about ordering pizza? We might need to get them used to this address. I'm not much of a cook yet, but I've learned some things from working with Boddy. You?" Daniel asked, easing over to reach into one of the drawers to find where they'd put the phone book that his dad had given them.

"I can do the basics. I think it would be fun to learn how to cook some more things. I know we can always eat at Mama Sasy's, but I'd like to have some meals here, just the two of us. We'll learn together, how about that?"

Benny turned and they looked through the book, looking for a pizza place that was close.

Before long, with the order in and directions given to the apartment, they went to the living room, which was decorated in shades of green, from olive to forest. The Take It Slow 253.

couch was big and soft with big pillows. It and the two recliners were a gift from his dad. There'd been a lot of gifts from his dad. Daniel and Benny felt bad taking so much from him, but Nick wouldn't listen to any of their protestations. He'd said only that it was his right to spoil his son, so they'd have to just get used to it.

Mama Rosa had thrown in a big beautiful afghan for the back of the couch. Daniel could picture Benny and himself snuggled under it watching TV -- or not. Mama Sasy and Boddy had pitched in and gotten them a nice set of dishes and cookware. Easy and Mano, besides helping with the moving, had chosen to give them a large, oak entertainment center, complete with TV, audio equipment, and shelves that Daniel and Benny looked forward to filling with their favorite movies and music. The floors were hardwood but covered by several really nice rugs. It was a home. They were truly blessed, Daniel thought.

Daniel had no doubt that Nick would be here now, but he and Mama Sasy had gone out to dinner, at Benny and his urging. They wanted this night, this time together. He smiled as he thought of his dad and Mama Sasy.

"What's the smile for?" Benny asked, as he raised his arm for Daniel to slide over to him on the couch.

"Thinking about Dad and Mama Sasy and how sweet they are, trying to act like they don't want to be alone.

They're cute."

"You're cute." Benny just left that out there.

"Cute? Me? Yeah, I'm cute." Daniel didn't think so at all.

"Okay, cute may be a little too young. You're more like gorgeous." Benny tightened his arm around Daniel's neck and pulled him until he was forced to turn into Take It Slow 254.

Benny. Deciding to follow the action through, Daniel straddled Benny's lap. "s.h.i.t."

"Now that's romantic," Benny teased. "s.h.i.t, what?"

"Gorgeous, my a.s.s. You're crazy." Daniel said, looking into Benny's eyes. For some reason he needed to see into Benny's heart to know he wasn't making fun of him.

"What's wrong with you? You do look into mirrors, right? What makes you think you're not good looking, like really good looking?" Benny's face was an open book. He meant what he said.

Daniel didn't treat the conversation lightly. He thought for a bit and answered truthfully. "I used to think I was all that, you know. Then for a long time, vanity was the farthest thing from my universe. I just wanted to live, to eat, to not hurt, to not be raped. I saw myself occasionally in mirrors then and didn't know myself at all. I can't get used to thinking any other way.

I'm sorry."

"Daniel, sweetheart, that part of your life is over, gone, done. You weren't as gorgeous when you first showed up, I'll give you that. You were thin and pale, and your hair was darker and not as healthy as it is now.