Four Grooms and a Queen by John Simpson Read Free Book Online Page A

up.
    At work, Pat and Hank closed out a homicide that resulted from a domestic and cleared their calendars of anything that had to be handled within the next twenty days. They were getting ready to leave the office early so that they could catch the six p.m. shuttle to Boston when the sergeant came into the office.
    “I just wanted to wish you guys good luck tomorrow and to tell you I wish I could be there to witness your marriages. I should be there as well as the rest of your buddies on the force, but we both know it will be some time before we see that kind of brotherhood will on the force. Just know that I’ll be thinking of both of you.”
    He pulled out two envelopes and handed one to each man. “That’s something for you to open tomorrow, not now. Look, you cleared that Baker homicide, so get out of here, take off and enjoy your honeymoon—wherever the hell you’re going,” he said with a laugh. He shook their hands and left the office.
    “Well, the boss just said to get the hell out of here, so let’s go!” Hank said to Pat.
    As they reached the parking lot, both men were calling their fiancés to let them know they were off an hour early. They waved at each other and headed home to change for the airport.
    When Pat walked into his house, he found their bags sitting neatly by the front door and a drink on the coffee table. Dean had the entire day off, as he never used all of his annual leave.
    Pat smiled at how well everything was organized and ran up the stairs to find Dean in the bedroom. They kissed and hugged each other for a minute before separating.
    “I’ve got everything ready to go. The tickets and passports are in my carry-on bag. All you need to do is shower and change. We can take our time a little now that you got home early.”
    “You’re a champ, honey; what would I do without you?” Pat asked seriously.
    “Jerk off a lot, that much I know.”
    “Ouch! Do you always have to tell the truth?”
    “You bet! Now, get your shower, and no, I’m not joining you. We have a plane to catch and plenty of time over the next ten days to play with that thing between your legs.”
    Pat laughed and hit the shower. He couldn’t help saying another prayer of thanksgiving for having found this man. He had changed too since they had first met. Dean was a very proper, slightly uptight guy who never really let loose and had any fun—especially when it came to men.
    Slowly over the months, Dean opened up like a flower and came into his own gay self. Dean was never happier and Pat was pleased that he had a role in his beloved’s coming out. Pat got out of the shower and talked to Hank once more on the phone, telling him to be ready when he and Dean picked them up. He got dressed, and then he and Dean were out the door and on their way to Boston and the beginning of a new life.

Chapter Seven
     
    They had all gotten to bed late after landing in Boston, having drinks with the Father Mark at a mini-rehearsal and finally crawling into bed. Shawn and Dean were the first up and ordered a room service breakfast.
    “Honey, wake up; breakfast is here,” Shawn said to Hank.
    Hank moved, stretched, farted, and opened his eyes. “Damn, it’s time to get up already?”
    “I’m afraid so. We need to eat, and then get into our tuxedos; so don’t dawdle.”
    Hank mumbled as Shawn went back into the other room where the breakfast cart waited with their coffee, orange juice, bagels and cream cheese. Shawn heard the rustle of the covers and knew that his sleeping bear was getting up. He smiled and poured the coffee as Hank sat down as naked as he was when he went to bed.
    “Well, you could have at least put on shorts, dear,” chided Shawn.
    “Why? I need a shower before I put on clean shorts.”
    Shawn decided not to belabor the point.
    In the other suite, Pat was a little more awake when he got out of bed to the smell of coffee. He kissed his beloved on the cheek and sat down to drink his orange juice in one big