GOOD RIGHT REVEREND

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

LOVE IS NOT JEALOUS OR BOASTFUL OR PROUD    

Donovan pulled into the carport behind Brocus mom's car as he'd been directed. He popped the trunk and gave Darius instructions to get their beach bag out of the car. The celebration was a pool party and he'd packed the kids swim suites and he and Brocus had their trunks in a separate bag. Donovan rolled down the car window. "Go on in Darius and ask Grandma Julia to help Kiva put on her swim suit we'll be in give us a moment.

"Ok Dad, come on Dunkin," Darius replied. Donovan smiled as Kiva ran behind her brother to keep up.

Donovan turned to Brocus and grinned. "You ready to party Babe?" He asked.

"You're not going to call me that in there, are you?" Brocus asked nervously.

Donovan wrinkles his forehead. "Babe, not if you don't want me to I told you that you can tell your parents at whatever time you need. You've never put any demands on me and I would never do that to you, I hope you know that."

"It's just we haven't been to one of my family gatherings together in a long time and I just didn't want to spring it on them, ya know? I want to tell them babe I promise just give me a little time."

"Oh, Baby take as long as you need after all it has taken me twenty-seven years," he admitted smiling. "Come on, let's go get some food I'm hungry" Donovan squeezed his hand and turned to climb out the car. He waited at the front of the car as Brocus retrieved their bag from the trunk.

Brocus walked into his parents' home to women screaming and laughing about his arrival and they became even more excited when Donovan entered the room behind him. Brocus stood aside as they all gathered around Donovan and took turns in giving him hugs. In all including his mother, Julia there were about thirty women in attendance and all at some point in their life held a crush for Donovan. Apparently they still adored him regardless of his marriage that they'd all pretty much witnessed or at the very least sent a gift in lieu of their attendance. Brocus rolled his eyes as they giggled and clung to him, he became jealous as a woman hung on each of Donovan's arms. "Good Lord, let the man breathe," Brocus announced loudly.

They all turned to him with grins spread across their faces. He doesn't come over that often so we have to smother him with love when we see him. Julia said, walking over to him and wrapping Brocus in her arms. How's my baby? She asked.

Fine Mom, Happy Birthday. He mumbled while returning his mother's embrace.

Thank you Baby, I got your flowers, they were beautiful. Come on let me get you some food. His mother released her embrace and tugged at his hand to lead him to the kitchen.

"Let us change into our swimsuits, first mom?" Brocus asked.

"Okay Babe just meet me in the kitchen when you're ready," Julia answered.

"Julia, are my kids out by the pool?" Donovan asked, smiling.

"Yes, I couldn't get them to eat either," she laughed. "Too many kids and too much excitement happening. The minute I got Kiva's suit on she ran out the door."

Donovan grinned and said a silent thank you because Brocus had talked him into getting her into swimming right away. He'd argued that Donovan needed to get her lessons because so many small children drowned. Donovan at the time didn't live in a house with a pool, but was really happy that he'd listened because the following year when the church purchased the parish house it came with a huge pool.

Donovan followed Brocus up the stairs to his bedroom and they began getting undressed. Brocus didn't pay much attention as he tried to put on his swim trunks as quickly as possible. When he turned and saw the Speedo briefs that Donovan was wearing his jaw dropped. He hadn't looked at them when Donovan had tossed them into the bag. Brocus stood in his knee length trunks and shook his head. "No way you are wearing those out there," he announced.