El Muerte

By Debel

David woke in the morning with his head on Antonio's stomach. He smiled and pressed his lips against the warm belly and rose up on his elbows. Antonio squirmed and David savored the intimate moment.

Recognition dawned in the sleepy eyes as they opened to David's face above them. Antonio lifted his hand to the face that seemed so unashamedly full of love, gently touching it with his fingertips. "I'm sorry about last night, Rubio." His voice was as gentle as his touch.

David pressed his lips against Antonio's. "Why sorry?" He asked with a grin. "I'm not." His grin broadened.

A smile tried to show itself on Antonio's lips. "I beat on you and then cry on your shoulder. It seems to me you need protection from your bodyguard."

David shook his head vigorously and flopped heavily atop Antonio. "No! Absolutely not! I need to enter into enemy territory today and try to see my father; so I'm going to need all the protection I can get. In fact, I need to find out if you're up to the job." He began to slide down Antonio's body, slipping under the sheet and devoting his full attention once again to the warm belly.

Antonio squirmed and laughed. "You're wrong. You don't need a bodyguard. I do!"

A muffled reply came from underneath the sheet as David's head moved lower and Antonio's laughter turned to a moan. They hardly had time to register the soft knocking on the door when it was opened and Stephen walked briskly into the room. He stopped with the heavily laden breakfast tray in his hands and quirked a delicately arched brow at the bed. "I brought breakfast, but I see Rubio is already having his!" Stephen's face was beaming with a childish delight.

David's disheveled hair and flushed face poked itself from under the sheet and Stephen winked at him as he set the tray down on the bench at the foot of the bed. David tried to give him his best Tom Cruise smile then licked his lips as he said, "I'm on a high protein diet."

Antonio burst out laughing as he shifted himself into a sitting position. David moved up to join him and they both watched like spectators in an audience as Stephen calmly poured coffee.

"This *really* wasn't necessary Stephen." Antonio said, trying to sound firm, but not quite keeping the smile out of his voice.

Stephen's eyes lingered on Antonio's naked chest. "Still take yours black, Antonito?" he asked.

David smiled sweetly at Stephen. "I like mine with cream and sugar, please."

As Stephen handed David his coffee he murmured with a shake of his head and a glance at David's flat stomach, "You really should watch your fat intake, sweetheart." He placed himself as close to Antonio's thigh as he could without actually sitting in his lap and said, "We had a visitor to the club last night who bore a striking resemblance to our friend Rubio."

Antonio felt David's body tense beside him. He took a sip of his coffee and asked, "And what can you tell us about him, Stephen?"

Stephen traced a finger along the sheet that covered Antonio's thigh, blissfully ignoring David's pointed stare. "Just that he was throwing money around and not being too shy about it. He had an entourage with him, all male. He arrived and left in a limo. I can give you the tag number if you like." Antonio shook his head in the negative and took another sip of his coffee as Stephen continued. "You must already know his name." He smiled at David and said, "Jonathan Addison. Any relation to you?"

David reached over and lifted the slender hand off Antonio's thigh and dropped it on Stephen's own narrow one. "My brother," he said between gritted teeth.

Stephen's mouth formed a delicate moue and he was just about to say something, but Antonio decided his position between the two of them had become far too dangerous and shoved his coffee cup into Stephen's hands. He threw the sheet aside and said, "That's all we need to know, thanks, Stephen, for the information and the breakfast, but I'm sure Mother will be needing you and I wouldn't want you to keep her waiting on our account." He gently but firmly eased Stephen off the bed and toward the door. But Stephen was none too eager to leave. He stood in the doorway, still holding the cup as Antonio tried valiantly to close the door. "Just one more thing, Antonito," he pleaded enticingly.

Antonio said, "What's that?" But he didn't stop closing the door.

Stephen smiled at Antonio and said, "Don't stay away so long next time."

Antonio paused and returned the smile. "I won't," he said and then closed and locked the door. He turned and smiled broadly at David and snapped his fingers as if he'd just performed a magical disappearing act. He stood, naked, looking down speculatively at the contents of the breakfast tray. "You see anything of this you want, Rubio?" he asked, picking up a slice of toast.

David patted the empty spot beside him and said with a grin that would have made a cat happy, "I see exactly what I want. Just put it right here."

Antonio looked up and smiled and David for just a moment felt his world shift because he recognized the smile. He had seen it for the first time on the face of the Antonio in the photo.

~~~

There really are palm trees on the island of Palm Beach, a lot of them and there seem to be even more of them on the sprawling oceanfront Addison compound; but perhaps that's because there is just more of everything on the Addison estate.

Antonio and David had not been welcomed by any of the family members, only the servants seemed to smile with true warmth when David appeared. Antonio glanced at the handsome profile beside him as they walked along the portico of the Mediterranean-style mansion. He had grown to read David's emotions easily, it wasn't difficult with such an open face, and there was definitely tension written over every line of it now. But it had been a long time since he had let himself get close enough to someone to be able to do this. He had promised himself he never would and then David appeared and opened the door on all the pain, but he brought trust with him too and it felt good to finally feel that way about someone again.

A sun filled tropical garden lay to their right. Manicured to look natural and full of vibrant blooms. It was almost decadent in its lushness as if the blooms themselves were satiated with an excess of all the nutrients that nature's bounty could provide. The water from the fountains overflowed the hand-painted tiles in a never-ending display of abundance.

David suddenly grabbed Antonio's wrist and pulled him through an arched doorway, "This way!" he said. David's familiarity with the place took them quickly along a hallway and then abruptly he stopped in front of a large, heavy door. "He's usually in his library at this time of day, but since his illness he's not been able to use it for a long time. Anyway, I wanted to show you something first before we see him." He opened the door onto a room lined in books to the ceiling. It was a room meant as a retreat and a place to be comfortable. A clock's workings chimed rhythmically somewhere as David closed the door carefully behind them. David slowly walked to the wall opposite the door, to stand beneath a large portrait hanging there. Antonio followed and stood by David as they both gazed up at the oil painting.

David whispered, somehow in this room it seemed appropriate to do so, "My father."

The middle aged man that stared out at the world with a bold confrontation was handsome and Antonio could easily see the resemblance between father and son. It was quite a good portrait. It captured a certain vibrancy that seemed to spring unhindered out of the man and then Antonio noticed the signature of the artist. He moved closer to peer at it and then David's voice murmured from behind him, "Yes, it's mine. It's one of the very first portraits I did." He smiled awkwardly and shyly at the look on Antonio's face. "I do it professionally now." His voice took on a note of pride. "I've gained a bit of a reputation. My fee has increased considerably."

Antonio gestured to indicate all the wealth around them and said, "Why? Surely you don't need the money?"

David stepped forward and ran his fingertip along the bottom of the frame. "I didn't want his money. I just couldn't do it. Spending my time going from the golf course to the next party to deciding which I preferred to drive that particular day, the Porche or the Rolls. I needed to find my own way." He shrugged and turned to look at Antonio. "I can't explain it. When I'm painting it's magic. It's better than all the money in the world."

Antonio glanced one last time at the eyes in the portrait, eyes that seemed so alive and then he turned his gaze to the blue ones beside him and found the same appealing light. He bent his head and reached out and took David's hands in his and said, "Nicky said almost the same thing to me about his writing. Only he didn't get a chance......"

David stopped the words with a kiss. This time it was David who said, "Don't." He pulled Antonio close and closed his eyes in contentment at the way they fitted so naturally against each other, as if they belonged together. He pulled back finally and said, "My father's bedroom isn't far from here. He should be there now."

But they didn't find him in his bedroom, they found him instead under an arbor in the small garden close by, amongst the orchids. He sat in a wheelchair, a blanket across his lap despite the heat and humidity. He faced away from them, supervising a man as he worked with the delicate, vibrantly colored blooms. As they came closer, David said, "Hello, father, any new acquisitions?"

James Edward Addison turned to face them and Antonio tried not to gasp out loud. It was the same man in the portrait most definitely, at least the eyes were the same, bright blue eyes trapped in parchment skin pulled much too tightly over the fine bones and hair that had gone white and limp.

David sank to his knees and pressed himself as closely as he could, his father's weak arms trembling visibly as they tried to hold tightly onto him. "My son." James Addison's voice was only a whisper, but it held a great deal of warmth and beauty, like his surroundings.

They pulled back and Antonio could see the love between them. The dying man held his son's face cupped in his hands and smiled at him as he said, "You've changed since I saw you last. Why is that? What has happened in your life, David, to put this sparkle in your eyes?"

David covered his father's hands with his. "It's only that I'm happy to see you, father. It's been too long."

James Addison shook his head. "No, it's more than that. I can see it clearly."

David turned his head to look at Antonio. "Father, I'd like you to meet someone. A good friend of mine, Antonio O'Bannon."

Antonio stepped forward and held out his hand to take the frail one and was surprised at how firmly it grasped his. James Addison's bright eyes assessed him quickly and thoroughly with a lifetime of experience and smiled brightly up at him as he said, "You are as beautiful as one of my orchids, young man."

David blushed and exclaimed reprovingly, "Father! You're incorrigible!" But Antonio only chuckled and bowed gracefully. "You flatter me sir. I have been called many things, but a beautiful flower has not been one of them."

James Addison laughed in return. "One good thing about dying. I can get away with telling the truth."

A female voice cut through the heavy air of the garden in a soft, lilting accent, "Did I hear someone mention 'truth'? A very interesting subject in this family." All eyes turned, startled, to find a woman of indeterminate age standing with her arm through that of Jonathan Addison's.

At the sight of Jonathan, Antonio instinctively moved closer to David as he stood to greet his mother. Cecile De Latte Addison was small and trim and had obviously been a great beauty, much of which had been remarkably preserved. Her fair skin and great, dark eyes were still lovely and her black hair was elegantly coifed. She moved forward and David held her shoulders as he kissed her cheeks. The easy warmth Antonio had noticed between David and his father was not visible now.

Jonathan stood back and lit a cigarette, his hooded eyes on Antonio. "And we have the pleasure of David's new friend, mother. You remember I mentioned him to you just this morning."

The dark eyes, their blackness impenetrable, alighted on Antonio and he felt an odd coldness touch his skin. "Oh yes," she said as she gracefully glided forward. She stretched out her hand and Antonio held its coolness only briefly for she slipped her arm easily around his and pressed it closely to her side, enveloping him in her heady perfume and presence. "Antonio O'Bannon, I believe, isn't it? You will call me Cecile, please?" She looked up at Antonio like a bright bird and smiled.

Antonio nodded and smiled politely at her in return then glanced at David, who had moved beside his father almost as if he were in a protective stance. Antonio murmured softly, "Cecile, it's a pleasure to meet you. David's spoken at great length about his family."

Cecile gazed at her son, a speculative look on her face and then she laughed. It rang too loudly in the closed space of the garden. David shifted his feet uncomfortably and placed his hand on his father's shoulder. "I'm certain he has," she said and then she looked up at Antonio again. "Why don't we have a nice chat, too, just the two of us. You seem like a very interesting man. Perhaps I can fill you in on any family details which David may have left out." She looked at David. "I'm sure you wouldn't mind my stealing your friend, would you, dear? After all, I'm sure you want to spend some quality time with your father."

Antonio tried to ease out of Cecile's grasp and make any excuse to stay with David. He glanced uneasily toward Jonathan and Cecile caught the look. She spoke sharply to her other son, "Jonathan! Speak with Daniel about the champagne tonight. You know what I want. Make sure we get it this time."

Jonathan made a great show of bowing at the waist. "But of course, dear heart, your wish is my command."

Antonio watched closely as he disappeared into the house, but he still hesitated until David nodded and said, "It's okay, Antonio. I would like to speak with my father."

"We won't be far." Antonio said and then looked down at the woman who stood so closely beside him. "We won't be far, will we?" he asked.

"Of course not, darling." She moved him along a garden path away from David and his father. Like the rest of the garden, the tropical foliage was dense and grew close to the wide paths. It offered shade, but also cut off any cooling breezes from the ocean.

"My goodness!" Cecile reproved him softly as she snuggled closer. "You act as if it's dangerous to leave David alone with us!" She stopped and peered at him in the dappled shade. "I can just imagine the nonsense that David has been filling your head with."

"He's not been filling my head with any sort of nonsense. He invited me to come along with him to see his father. He's been very upset about his condition and I want to be there for him, that's all." Antonio answered her easily, shrugging as he did so.

"How very thoughtful you are. I'm happy my son has such a devoted friend. You know he's not been well himself lately." Cecile reached out and pulled a leaf from its branch and began to slowly shred it.

"He hasn't? I wasn't aware of that." Antonio said as he watched her well-manicured fingernails tear at the delicate greenery.

"Uhmm, yes. I'm afraid so. He was always such a highly imaginative boy. Very fanciful at times, really. It didn't pose a problem until recently when his other friend, Tom, left so unexpectedly. It seemed to have a terrible impact on his emotions. He became delusional and we were forced to seek professional help. I'm afraid it's been a recurring problem in his life." She looked up at Antonio and he was reminded of a reptile's face peering out of the jungle growth. "We took him to a facility where he could get the attention that he needed and he is much better, but he still suffers from one major difficulty."

"And what's that?" Antonio asked quietly.

Cecile opened her dark eyes wide as she whispered, "Why, darling, our poor David is a pathological liar."