A Balance of Harmonies: Rights

[frogs_of_war]

It turns out that one of the customers who does a lot of special orders at our store (flowers, steaks, lobsters), but never shows up when he says he will (he said Thursday afternoon but came on Saturday), is the founder of a worldwide company and a multimillion- (or even billion-)aire. So I guess the answer to “if you could live anywhere…”, at least for one man, is my little neck of the woods.

And the end is in sight for Harmonies. It will have about 150 chapters depending on how many side/pictures stories and epilogues it has after it. If you have something you’d like to see let me know.



Title: Rights
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter one hundred thirty-six of about 150
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: dinner, interruption, argument, a quick escape, waking, tears, worry, homecoming, comfort, breakfast, dizziness, hunger, getting help, fixation, a disagreement, interrupted
Length: about 3,000 words
Summary: Kurt gets an urgent call. Peregrine has an idea. Emil argues.

Master list


Kurt smiled at his dad across Clara’s table. The cousins were off doing their own thing, so it was just the seven of them at dinner. Todd talked about his new job and how much he’d liked the new city. Dad gave him tips on what neighborhoods to look into. Clara thanked him because she still hadn’t found the chance to research schools. She worried about moving the kids during the school year even though only the eldest was in school. Dad promised to watch over Clara and the kids if Todd moved before the rest of the family. “I’m still their grandfather, no matter what happens with your mother.”

“Thanks, Dad.” Clara touched his arm. She got up and took her empty plate to the kitchen. Dad gathered the kids’ plates. “Who wants to play horsey?”

Both the older two jumped to their feet. “Me! Me!”

“Let’s get those faces washed.” Todd picked up his youngest.

The doorbell rang. Clara sighed. Their mother’s voice rang down the hall, chastising Todd for locking the front door. She could have let herself in.

She pranced into the kitchen and her eyes lit when they fell on Kurt. “Kurt darling, I found the nicest young lady for you to have dinner with.”

Dad put both his hands on the back of the chair in front of him. “As you can see, Pamela, he already had his dinner.”

“Then he can have dessert with her.”

“He didn’t come to visit with your friends and their daughters. He came to see us. We have the right to his company as much as you do.”

Kurt’s mother stood up straight and stared at Dad. “You don’t have any right to him at all.”

Clara crossed her arms. “Just what does that mean?”

Kurt knew what it meant. Dad had to as well. Dad put a hand on Kurt’s back. “You are my son. Clara, I’ll go now. Otherwise your mother and I will fight and I don’t want your kids to see that.”

He kissed her cheek. She nodded to him without taking her gaze from her mother. “I am still waiting.”

Their mother shook her head and sat down. “What was for dinner? Maybe I’ll take some.”

Clara got out a plate and put spaghetti noodles and sauce on it. “The garlic bread is all gone.”

Mother twirled noodles on her fork. “There is no neat way to eat spaghetti.”

“You asked for it.”

Mother stood up. “No, maybe next time. Kurt, come.”

Clara crossed her arms. “Kurt isn’t going anywhere.”

“Kurt?”

He’d spent too long in his mother’s company already. “You had me all afternoon.”

“I can’t believe you would rather spend time with slobbering kids than with refined adults.”

She didn’t know a lot about him. Her version of refined left a lot to be desired.

Clara put her hand on their mother’s arm. “Mom, what did you mean about Dad not having a right to Kurt?”

“Do I have to spell it out?”

“Yes.”

Kurt didn’t want to hear it. Maybe a walk around the block would be a good idea. Kurt’s niece pouted. “Grandpa left because Grandmama came.”

Kurt got down on his knees. “Did he say that?”

“No.” She twisted in place. “But it’s true.”

“Kurt.” His mother stood in the doorway. “We are going.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“Then they can come here.”

Clara looked ready to kill.

“I don’t want these women or any women. I’m gay. I have a boyfriend. He’s not going to let you take me from him twice. I wouldn’t go anyway.” He’d just had a wonderful dinner with his loving family, but… “I’d rather be in Portland at this very second than here.”

“Ku-urt?”

He wasn’t going to change his mind.

“Mom, what did you mean?”

“Clara, just drop it.”

“No.”

Kurt’s phone vibrated. Peregrine. “I have to take this.”

He stepped into the entry way. He’d never been more glad for a call. “Peregrine.”

“He’s… I…” Peregrine sobbed. “I… It was almost too late.”

“What? Emil?” Who else could Peregrine be talking about?

“I almost killed him.”

Todd raised an eyebrow. Kurt covered the mouthpiece. “I have to leave now.”

Todd nodded.

“Peregrine, tell me what happened.” Kurt could live without everything he brought. Only would the airlines let Kurt on if he didn’t have any luggage? He hurried to the family room.

“He…”

“Are you at the hospital?”

“Yes.” Peregrine voice was weak and trembling.

“And he’s getting help?”

“We are still in the ER. He’s getting a CAT scan while we wait for a room.”

“Do they know what’s wrong?”

“He’s…” Peregrine swallowed hard. “A kidney infection. It could have killed him and I didn’t even notice. How long must he have been sick? I was so busy in my little worthless world. I went to look for him and he’d passed out.”

Kurt stuffed clothes in his bag as Todd handed them to him. “But you found him in time.”

“But if I had noticed earlier he only would have needed antibiotics. He would have just been uncomfortable for a few days or even hours. But I didn’t. Maybe he won’t get better.”

“No. You did the right thing.”

Todd touched Kurt’s back. “Give me a minute to get the kids in their coats and I’ll get you to the airport.”

Kurt nodded. He didn’t have a car. He didn’t trust himself to drive anyway.

“I always knew I should be a better boyfriend, someone as good as you. But I may never get the chance.”

Kurt had to believe the doctors could cure Emil. “You will get the chance. You will.”

“But what if he doesn’t get better? I killed him. I did. You would have noticed. Anyone would have noticed. Emil didn’t even trust me enough to tell me he was sick. I should have taken him to the doctor days ago.”

“But you got him to the hospital. That’s what matters.”

“That isn’t enough.” Peregrine sniffed. “He’s back in the ER. I need to go to him.”

“Yes, do. I love you. I’m on my way.”

“Kurt, where do you think you are going?”

Kurt turned away from his mother. The kids were in shoes and coats. Hopefully some plane would be headed in the right direction.

“Kurt?”

“I’m going home to my boyfriend.”

“Mom, you can’t just say that and walk away.”

Their mother turned to Clara. Kurt picked up his nephew. Todd led the way into the garage. They had the kids strapped into the car and were getting in themselves when Kurt’s mother got to the door.

Todd pulled out of the garage and pressed the button to close the garage door. “Take a deep breath. I’ll get you there.”

Kurt rubbed his forehead. “Thanks.”

“Nothing I wouldn’t do for any of my brothers. Why didn’t you look up flights?”

Kurt wouldn’t get home until morning, no matter the flight, but if he was willing to switch planes a few times, he’d get home before the sun. He paid for the tickets. Now all he had to do was wait. The hardest part of all.

--

Emil woke as someone prodded his arm. Again. The nurses should just let him sleep. Sleep was supposed to help him get better, wasn’t it? He was feeling better, a little, but he needed sleep. The band squeezed his arm. Two, three, four… The band let him go and so did the nurse.

Peregrine rubbed Emil’s hand. “I’m sorry. So sorry.”

Why? None of this was his fault.

“I should have… I should have noticed. I should have spent that time with you.” Peregrine was crying.

Emil squeezed his fingers. “I’m better.”

“No you’re not. You could have died.”

“But I didn’t.”

“But you could have while I wasted those precious moments in the studio. I’ll never paint again.”

“Don’t say that.” Emil’s brain still wasn’t working right. Why couldn’t he think of a good response? “Promise that you’ll paint me when I get home.”

“My art is what got you in this mess.”

“Trying to treat this myself is what got me here.” He should have just gone to a doctor.

“But if I was around, I would have noticed.”

That might be true, but it still didn’t make any of this Peregrine’s fault.

“Just give me my way.”

“Anything.”

“And kiss me.”

Peregrine touched his lips to Emil’s hand and shoulder and forehead and finally his lips. “I love you.”

Emil smiled and closed his eyes. “I love you too.”

Now he just needed sleep so his brain would work again.

--

Peregrine tug the blanket back over Emil. His fever had broken and he was sleeping peacefully. He was getting better. No thanks to Peregrine. He didn’t even deserve to be called a boyfriend. He’d told the nurses that Emil was his roommate and that Emil’s boyfriend was on his way back from family on the east coast. It was better this way.

The nurses smiled at him and shook their heads and told him what a good friend he was, but that he needed sleep too. Only Peregrine wasn’t a good anything. Emil could have died. How could a friend have let that happen? How could a lover?

He should have at least gone to bed. He would have noticed Emil’s fever. He would have noticed something. He should have noticed. He wasn’t even human. He might as well be a robot churning out paintings in a factory somewhere.

The sky had turned from coal to dark purple. The nurse would be back soon to check Emil’s vitals and tell Peregrine to sleep.

The hospital room door opened. The nurse walked in, but behind her was Kurt. Peregrine stood up. He needed Kurt’s arms around him, but he didn’t deserve them. “He’s getting better.”

Kurt set down his bag. “I didn’t know what to expect.”

“He’s recovering nicely.” The nurse took the cuff off Emil’s arm. “He’ll be home in no time.”

“Thank you.” Kurt nodded to her.

Then she finally left.

Peregrine threw himself in Kurt’s arms. “I…”

But all the words backed up in his throat and this time the tears wouldn’t stop. Kurt sat down in the chair with Peregrine on his lap. “It’s okay. I have you now. Rest.”

Maybe the tears didn’t have to stop. Maybe in Kurt’s arms he could express his heartbreak, pain, and despair without saying a word.

--

Kurt rubbed Emil’s fingers. Emil smiled sleepily. Breakfast was coming soon. Emil didn’t look awake enough to eat it. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“I’m glad I’m here too.” Kurt had gotten four maybe fifteen minutes naps during the short hops on the long trip home, but he’d made it. And he was more awake that Peregrine, who hadn’t even opened his eyes when the nurse came in to get Emil ready for breakfast.

“It’s not his fault.”

“I know.”

“But he blames himself.”

Kurt could understand why.

“He wants to stop painting.”

Kurt looked down at their sleeping lover. “We can’t let him do that.”

Emil nodded then put his hand to his head.

“Are you okay?”

“Dizzy.”

Getting him up to use the bathroom wasn’t going to be very pleasant if that kept up. “Have you told the doctor?”

“Maybe it’s normal.”

So, no, he hadn’t.

Someone came in with a tray and put it on Emil’s bed table. He smiled at Kurt. “That upholstered chair in the corner converts to a bed.”

Kurt stood up. “Could you show me?”

With quick efficient motions the man made a space for Peregrine. Kurt set him down and the man shook out a folded blanket and handed it over. Kurt tucked Peregrine in. “Thanks.”

“Anytime.”

Kurt sat down by Emil. He’s was going to need to eat here soon. Yesterday’s supper was not enough to keep him going.

Emil lifted the cover off the biggest plate. “That guy was flirting with you.”

“Too bad for him I’ve already got two wonderful boyfriends.” Could he send for some food from the cafeteria? Maybe someone delivered to the hospital. His stomach was rumbling just smelling the eggs and toast. Kurt forced his mind off his stomach. Emil had stopped eating. “Does it bug you? Should I have handled it differently?”

Emil speared egg bits with his fork and shook his head. Then he sat the fork down and leaned back.

“Dizzy?” Kurt was going to need to get to the bottom of that quickly.

“It will pass. Ignoring him was fine. Only…”

“It happens with Peregrine too?”

Emil lowered his head, but then leaned back and closed his eyes. This was not good. Kurt stood up. “You eat. We’ll talk when I get back.”

He went straight to the nurses’ station. “Is being dizzy normal with his condition?”

“The patient’s name?” asked a nurse. The other pointed to the screen. “Bonsa-Faie, right?”

“Yes. He’s so dizzy that eating is difficult.” Talking to Kurt seemed to be the difficult thing.

“It’s not unknown. We’ll let the doctor know when she comes by, but make sure to say something too. We can’t treat symptoms that we don’t know exist.”

“But you can treat this?”

“Vertigo? Yes. I’ll bring him a pill. He needs to eat to get better.”

That was true. Kurt stepped back into the room. “The nurse is going to bring you something. I’m going to run down and get breakfast.”

Emil grinned. “Feed that growling belly. And then come right back.”

Kurt planned on it. With his men was where he wanted to be.

--

Emil picked at the last of the fruit in his bowl. “What’s with your sister and her fixation on marriage?”

Kurt had been talking about his trip home as the three ate lunch. Dad had brought takeout for Kurt and Peregrine, so they wouldn’t have to leave Emil to eat. Kurt had practically swallowed his first sub whole. “It’s not just marriage. Once she sinks her teeth into an idea, she never lets go.”

“But why marriage? It’s not like we could get married anyway.”

Peregrine put down his sandwich. “We could.”

He was crazy. “Not even in states or countries that allow gay marriage.”

“No. We could.”

Kurt rubbed his fingers down Emil’s arm. “Let’s hear him out. Peregrine?”

Emil crossed his arms. “I know I’m not going to like this.”

Peregrine had come up with some crazy idea to punish himself over Emil’s illness.

“You should marry Kurt.”

“No!” Peregrine was insane if he thought Emil was letting go of him that easy.

Kurt laughed. “Even though gay marriage isn’t recognized by the feds, I don’t think marrying different people in different states is legal.”

Plus it would be expensive as well as useless and Emil’s medical bills were high enough as it was.

Peregrine frowned. “Just listen.”

“Then talk some sense.”

“Peregrine?” Kurt ran his hand along Peregrine’s leg. “I don’t think I understand. Are you trying to get rid of us?”

He better not be or Emil would get out of his bed despite the vertigo and give him what for.

“No!” Peregrine eyebrows furrowed. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Good!”

“I just…” His breath caught and he buried his face against Kurt’s chest.

Emil rubbed his face. “He thinks this is his fault. I can’t make him understand.”

Kurt took his hand. “It just happened to happen.”

Emil nodded. Exactly. “And isn’t likely to happen again.”

“But it could.” Peregrine spun around. “I take such dreadful care of you.”

“What has that to do with any of us getting married?”

Peregrine wiped his eyes on his sleeve. “Nothing. But if something happens…”

“I have you both taken care of if something happens to me.” Kurt set one hand on Emil’s and the other on Peregrine’s knee. “I want you two to do the same. That’s one reason I retain Mr. Zawadzki’s services.”

“I owe him paintings.”

See, Peregrine couldn’t stop painting even if he wanted to.

Emil leaned over and grabbed Peregrine’s hand and put in on top of Kurt’s. “We belong together.”

“I want us to be together too.” Peregrine sighed. “But I want you to be protected.”

“We will be.”

“No.” Peregrine straightened his shoulders. “I want you on Kurt’s medical insurance.”

“We don’t need to be married to do that.” Kurt rubbed Peregrine’s back. “I could put him on today. Maybe I should have a while ago.”

“I have insurance.” Of course his deductable was so high, he’d never get this hospital bill paid. It had to be in the thousands.

“But not Kurt’s high class insurance.”

“Like I said, I can add him.”

“Without marriage or a domestic partnership or anything?”

Kurt grinned. “I’ll need his full name and social security number.”

Emil recited those. “See, we don’t need any of this marriage stuff.”

“You don’t understand!”

“You aren’t making any sense!”

Kurt threaded his fingers through Emil’s. “We might want to calm down before the nurses come to investigate.”

Peregrine got up and stared out the window.

A nurse popped in. “Mr. Bonsa-Faie, you should try walking around. Is the dizziness any better?”

Emil shook his head slowly. “Yeah. The room isn’t moving on its own.”

The nurse lowered the side of the bed and Kurt helped Emil up. Peregrine came over with a robe and helped him into it. Their discussion wasn’t over.