The Visit

Chapter 8

Noah threw his head back and laughed out loud.  Mark stared nervously at his partner, looking completely lost as to what his reaction should be.

“Maybe I should give him a complete neuro screening?”  Reid looked at Mark and then to Luke.

“Noah.”  Luke slowly approached his friend as the small group sat in Reid’s office.  “Are you okay?”

Stopping his laughter long enough to look at the three men staring at him, Noah focused his gaze directly on Luke.  “Luke, I can’t begin to tell you how relieved I am. This whole fiasco has, without a doubt, shown me that Mason is the biggest, most manipulative and self-centred asshole on the planet; and not only that, it also proves I have a shit-load more talent than him. He can only dream of having my talent.  That goddamned leech wanted me to bail him out of his production commitments again.”

Mark looked directly at Noah.  “Again?”

Wrapping his arms around Mark’s shoulders, Noah stood facing his spouse.  “When I lived in California, the last straw for me, as far as Mason was concerned, was when he took all my directing advice for a project he got some local critical acclaim for, and gave me no credit at all.  He always made sure he was at his most caring and affectionate when he wanted me to do something to bolster his career.” 

Reid noticed Mark wince as Noah uttered the word affectionate in relation to Mason.  Boy did his friend have it bad for Mr. Mayer.

“Wait until that jerk sees the project I have planned.  He’ll wish he had an in with me, and you, Luke.”

Luke glanced from Noah to Reid.  Reid shrugged, completely unable to follow Noah’s train of thought.

“I’ve been thinking of a project proposal to make to a national cable company, with the possibility of simulcasting on WOAK.  Luke, I was planning on asking you to write the documentary’s outline and co-produce it with Katie.”

“You’re kidding?  Why didn’t you mention it?”

“I was going to after Mark and I had a due date for our first child, but then got blindsided by the miscarriage and then Mason’s email.  Both things really messed me up.”

Mark pressed his lips gently against Noah’s.  “I haven’t been feeling too great either.  Guess I threw myself into my work and forgot how much you were hurting too.”

“It’s okay, Mark.  Neither of us knew how to deal with the miscarriage, but I think we just have to hope the next try will be successful, and we’ll soon have our own baby.”

Reid huffed.  “Then you two get full time diaper duty.”

“Reid.”  Luke tilted his head.

“Hey.  Wasn’t that you calling me on the phone with a stream of curses from here to eternity over baby crap and crying?”  Reid smirked as Luke’s face reddened.

“But it’s worth it, isn’t it?”  Luke’s insecurities still rose to the surface on rare occasions.  Reid shouldn’t have been surprised Mason’s presence, coupled with drama in Noah’s life, brought them out.

“Every damn minute of wiping baby puke, changing diapers, cleaning drool, and handling our teen, and his day to day dramas, is worth it.  Don’t ever doubt how much you and the kids mean to me.  One thing Mason was right about, I gave up a lot to stay in Oakdale with you, but what he missed was how much I gained -- no contest.”  Reid cupped Luke’s cheeks drawing him into a deep, hungry kiss.

“Excuse me, Reid, but we’re still in the room.”  Mark smiled.

“Then you’re free to leave.”

Chuckling, Mark took Noah’s hand.  “You don’t have to tell me twice.  I think it’s time to take my husband home.”

As Noah and Mark began to near the office door, Noah turned and looked back over his shoulder.  “Luke, I’ll call you with the project details.  We can develop a treatment for the pitch to the cable company.”

“Sounds great, Noah.”  Reid starting kissing Luke’s neck and nipped at his earlobe.  “But it won’t be until morning.  I have a feeling I’ll be fully occupied once we get Ethan, Bobby, and Miri to bed.”

Noah laughed again.  The sound wasn’t too bad.  Reid had to admit that Mr. Mayer was actually becoming more and more bearable as time passed.

*~*~*

Reid watched the widescreen TV set up at WOAK along with a myriad of the friends he had unexpectedly acquired during the past decade.  It had been six months since Noah had revealed his idea for a documentary following the lives of four gay men and how they found happiness and success in a small Midwestern community.

After shopping his idea around to the two largest cable networks, it was grabbed by Showtime.  The contract permitted secondary rights and co-sponsorship deals with LOGO and WOAK.

Lost and Found’s premier was scheduled far enough in advance that Reid was able to arrange for both he and Mark to have the night off to join the group viewing at the local station.

As the final scene faded to black, Reid read the words that followed, 

“Dr. Reid Oliver-Snyder continues to be a world renowned neurosurgeon.  His acclaim has brought other brilliant physicians, in all areas of medicine, to Memorial Hospital in Oakdale, Illinois where Dr. Oliver-Snyder holds the respected position of Chief of Staff.  When Dr. Oliver-Snyder is not working he spends time with his husband Luke Oliver-Snyder, and their children.

Luke Oliver-Snyder has written several documentaries based on some of the fortunate and unfortunate dramatic experiences that have touched his life and the lives of those he loves.  He proudly holds the title of CEO of World Wide Industries, a position he shares with his grandmother, Lucinda Walsh.  Mr. Oliver-Snyder loves his work but continues to thrive on time spent with his husband and children. 

Casey Hughes, Esq. recently achieved the title of Associate Partner in his law firm.  His life in Oakdale has become more stable since meeting and establishing a life with his partner, and their teen foster son. 

Noah Mayer continues to enjoy producing and directing local television productions.  He has expanded his goals significantly during the past year by co-producing and directing this documentary.  Mr. Mayer is surprised to admit, while he loves his work, he is much more content with the life, and family, he has created with his husband.  They are currently expecting their first child by surrogate less than two months from the first airing of this program.

All four men admitted, during separate interviews, to living exciting and eventful lives prior to meeting their spouses or partners, but none would trade their current family situations for anything else.”

Reid sat silently staring at the screen watching the credits begin to roll, as everyone in the room began to cheer and pat each other on the back. 

It didn’t take long for Luke to appear by Reid’s side.  He began to gently brush his hand over Reid’s hair.  It felt good; it felt comforting; it felt intimate.  Leaning into the touch, Reid let his head fall against Luke’s shoulder.

“Was it too revealing for you?  Are you sorry you agreed to be one of the subjects of ‘Lost and Found’?”  Reid could hear the concern in Luke’s voice.

“I don’t regret one admission, or one moment working with your team.  It’s just very strange realizing how important you and our family are in my life.  In one encapsulated two-hour viewing, it sunk in that I would actually give up medicine if I had to choose between you and playing doctor.”

“You do far more than play doctor.  I would never ask you to choose.  Being Dr. Oliver-Snyder is part of what makes you the man I love.”

Reid nodded, unable to find his voice.

“So you don’t regret participating?”

“How can I regret participating in something that will clearly bring in national recognition?  Noah will finally have his big-time Emmy.”

“That’s not why he made the documentary.”

Reid looked into Luke’s eyes.  “It doesn’t matter why he made it, but I’m actually glad he did.  It’s a great work, written by a brilliant writer.”

“Thank you.”  The blush rose in Luke’s cheeks, and a smile lit up his face.

“HRC will probably be over the moon about the exposure of positive gay role models.”

“Another side benefit of the piece, but not why Noah did it.”

“I know, Luke.  Mr. Mayer really did this out of love for his family -- a family he worked hard to find -- and to share how it can happen to anyone, anywhere.”

“I love you, Reid.”

“I love you too --”  Before Reid could say Luke’s name, their lips were pressed together, only to be separated by Ethan patting them both on the shoulder.  He was thrilled to have made the final cut of the film with Andy, playing an original piece on their guitars.

[The End -- for now]

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