Levi Samuels spent his day working on his case. The meeting with Dr. Jasper Rogers had been for lunchtime but because of the information about Nolan Lancaster, Levi rescheduled that for the afternoon. Nolan was the priority. Then the doctor had to reschedule and so now it was after business hours and Levi was walking into the clinic from the back of the place. It was a converted apartment building, not unlike the building his law office was in. The glass door that served at the emergency room door was currently locked, so Levi knocked. He was still wearing his immaculate business suit, looking every inch the high priced attorney he was, despite the N95 mask.
Jasper Rogers heard the knock as he had been listening for it, knowing the time of his rescheduled meeting with the lawyer. He had been near the emergency desk checking some charts and making notes. He stood up from the work station and walked to open the door. He was wearing a pair of black neatly pressed dress pants with a black leather belt. He had on a charcoal colour dress shirt with purple pin stripes. The shirt was perfectly tucked in but he had the top button undone and no tie. He had on a pair of Doc Martin style Oxfords in the same polished black leather as his belt. As he was about 4 feet from the door he waved and held up a finger. He slipped on a black N95 mask after sanitizing his hands and then sanitized them again after. Then he took the few steps forward and unlocked the door and opened it. “Mr. Samuels, hello. Come in, please. “ He noticed the man’s suit and admired the cut of it on him. His deep blue eyes then crinkled at the corners “Glad we could figure out our schedules.” Jasper had a deep and even voice and he spoke with very precise enunciation.
Levi watched the doctor through the door and, once it was open, he came through. He headed for the sanitizer himself and, setting his briefcase between his feet, sanitized his hands and replied. “Thank you, Dr. Rogers. I’m glad you were able to reschedule this meeting.” he picked his briefcase up and waited to see where they were headed.
Jasper nodded “Happy to help. I’m sure you’ll be one of two legal teams so I am prepared. This way please.” He will lead him down the hall to the back stairs and desend down to the basement. Then into the first office with 2 desks and a sofa. He gestures to the sofa and picks up a file from the desk and pulls the office chair around to face the sofa at a safe distance “What information do you need from me Mr. Samuels? I’ve done a lot of work in the legal system. My residency was as at a penitentiary hospital.”
Levi follows him to the elevator, which betrays the buildings sort of patchwork design. He seats himself and opens his briefcase, taking out his legal pad and opening it to a fresh page. “Yes, I know about your residency,” he replies casually. “I wanted to check and see how the patient is progressing. Naturally, I won’t be interviewing him right now, but I’d also like to know when you expect he will be able to write as of course, speaking isn’t an option at this point.” he uses the word ‘patient’ as Brett Lancaster is both accused and victim.
Jasper looks impressed and his eyebrows briefly go up and then relax “Alright then. Brett is still highly medicated for pain management. So I am not sure his cognitive state will be fit to write for a few more days. So far he’s responsive and cooperative to treatment. He’s had no visitors which is not always ideal for his mental health but I am aware of what he’s being accused of so I know it’s complicated. The physical healing is progressing. We’re about to shift from IV to tube feeding. That will increase his energy as well, both mental and physical. I can provide you with my full diagnosis as well as xrays. As you know those will be featured in the prosecution of Mr. Mendoza.”
Levi begins to take rapid notes. “Yes … I’m ... “ he hesitates a moment. “I’m not sure about who will be visiting him. I’ve spoken to both his mother and brother. ‘Complicated’ may well be the understatement of the year.” he nods a bit about what will be used in the prosecution of his client, Dante. But that brings up another question. “I also represent Mr. Beaulieu. Is there a way you could tell me which injuries happened in which order? For example, did Mr. Beaulieu get in some tentative punches while Mr. Mendoza did the bulk of the damage? Mr. Mendoza did attack Mr. Lancaster with a dislocated left shoulder, after all.”
Jasper hands over some documents from the file “These are copies.” He nods about the visitor issue. It was not uncommon with certain crimes “It might help to get him talking. But I understand. Sometimes we have to work with options like volunteer support groups, clergy, rabbis, elders in the cases of Indigenous suspects. But I will take that up with prosecution if they can’t get him to open up.” He opens up the file again looking at his own original charts “I can’t specify the order since the time frame was so condensed. But we did take measurements of Sasha and Dante’s hands and also the bruising on Brett’s facial injuries. I can tell you that Sasha’s wider fist span shows up around the eye and bruising of the cheekbone.” He pulls out a marked photograph that is brutal but labelled. Sasha’s blows were...defensive and designed to distract Brett in my opinion so possibly his sister could get away. I know how the law views it.” Then he looks a little grave “Dante’s were not in that category and that’s something you’ll have to figure out in your defence.” He circles the jaw which is a mess “The break on the jaw on the left side corresponds directly with the skull fracture at the base of the skull on the same side. The fist span is narrower, Dante’s. And it’s a miracle it wasn’t fatal. I will say honestly the nose could have been either of them because it couldn’t be measured. But breaking a nose is still considered defensive. The ribs were lower ribs and from the pattern of the breaks, I think those were done by Dante’s foot. I’m aware Brett was kicked as Dante was pulled away. Again he’s lucky. He just missed lacerating the spleen or kidney and that kind of internal injury can be quickly fatal.” He looks almost sympathetically at Levi “I don’t envy you this defence. Especially for Dante.”
Levi takes the documents and looks at them while listening to Jasper speak. “That and, from what I have gathered, Mr. Lancaster’s family isn’t going to be hiring him an attorney. He’ll be assigned one from Legal Aid.” while his voice is neutral, Jasper will probably know that this works more for Sasha and Dante than it does for Brett. “I suspect that Sasha was trying to get Brett off of Genevieve. Dante was meting out punishment.” he sighs softly. “The kick isn’t in question. There were plenty of witnesses to who did it.” he reads a bit more. “Lucky indeed.” he glances up at Jasper. “Well, it isn’t going to be easy … I won’t deny that. Currently, Sasha is being charged with assault … as an adult and Dante with attempted murder.” he blows out a breath. “Should I assume that in your expert opinion as not only a doctor but as a doctor that had had dealings with violent offenders, that you would testify that whoever dealt the blows to the head was trying to kill Mr. Lancaster?”
Jasper looks a little surprised “The Lancasters are not hiring him legal representation? Wow. That also might affect his state of mind.” He nods about the kicking and the witnesses and then gives Levi a knowing look “I will have to answer yes if asked to testify so I will say yes to you now. Not that I sense it’s any shock.”
Levi nods. “That might. It also tells us his family’s state of mind. Mr. Lancaster’s brother called 911. Gave a statement to the police that doesn’t put his brother in the best light and now his mother decides against getting him a private attorney.” he shrugs. “She does want to get him some psychological help, but … and maybe I am just cynical … but it seems a bit late for that.” he shrugs a little bit. “I figured as much.” he looks over the notes as well and scoffs slightly. “You mention a dentist. I hope you can find him someone on the mainland…”
Jasper blows out a breath into a bit of a whistle “That’ll be interesting when he’s lucid.” He sighs “Whether I like what they do or not I have a duty of care. And yes, he will need a dentist if he doesn’t simply wish to chew on his right side for the rest of his life. I’m aware now that the town dentist is Dr. Beaulieu so I won’t be suggesting a referral. If he ends up serving time for attempting to rape the Beaulieu girl then it’s possible he can apply for dental care through his detention officers and social worker there too. Time will tell I suppose. Prison dentistry is….varied.” He chuckles a bit because he can’t help it.
Levi snorts very slightly. “Yes. He has a long road ahead of him.” he watches
Jasper. “I will do my best not to make your work for naught.” he shakes his head. “I’m hoping to get my client sentenced to an alternative facility. There only two Juvenile detention centers in BC, as I’m sure you know. My hope is to take away any chance that these two young men wind up placed in the same facility thanks to some computer error.”
Jasper looks alarmed at the thought “Oh I really hope you’re successful Mr. Samuels. I’ve seen that before and it never ends well. That’s the number one cause of prison homicides, prior connection, be it something like this, gang affiliations, sometimes they’re even related. I mean with Covid you probably can’t even request a provincial transfer right now.” He groans “The world. Welcome to the island by the way. I’m fairly new as well. Dragged my three teenagers into the move with me. So far no major resistance. Any family with you?”
Levi nods with raised eyebrows. “Hopefully it will only take explaining to a judge the logic of such a sentence. We’ll see. I will start arguments next week, I expect. There should be a lawyer assigned to him by then.” he sighs. “Covid is changing everything. And thanks. You have kids? I have a cousin acting as my legal assistant and paralegal, but she isn’t living with me. Don’t let these last few days ruin you on the whole island … which is what everyone is telling me. I came here thinking I’d be bored. But I’m not defending the rich and privileged anymore, so … “
Jasper listened and then nodded “Well as life worked out, they ended up with me after the divorce. But it works. We’re happy. Hell she’s happier too. And no, this island is far from boring. So if your cousin is your legal assistant is the firm a family business? Is the lady lawyer like a sister or something?” He muses about not defending the rich and privileged. “In this case, you may be unseating one….not to assume too much about the banker and her family. Though she’s not pretending he’s an angel that’s for sure.”
Levi listens fascinated. “A custodial father. You don’t see those much…” and he looks even more fascinated as Jasper makes it sound like an amicable divorce. “Mozel tov, then.” he sort of nods a bit. “Mostly a family business. Samuels and Sons. I’m one of the sons. My cousin, Louise, is currently in college. So she may yet become a lawyer in the firm. The lady lawyer is Natalie and she is … “ he seems o consider. “Family in all but blood and law. She was the first non-relative hired by my father’s firm. The men are quite …” he pauses again and a shadow passes, albeit quickly. “Old fashioned and traditional” he then moves on to the banker and her family. “I may be … and I expect that her eyes will be opening wider, once I get young Brett’s record. He may have fooled his mother into thinking that the move from the big city was straightening him out when it didn’t make one iota of difference.” he blows out a breath. “I have to admit … This case is challenging. I think my colleague will have an easier time of it. But her client never need testify, I hope.”
Jasper gives a little mock bow about the custodial father comment and then laughs and listens. “So you’re less old fashioned and traditional?” He nods “Maybe working here with Natalie will be a good thing, and the cousin?” He sighs about Brett and his mother “I can’t imagine her pain. I have two boys; Duncan and Romeo, nothing like him...thank goodness. And a daughter; Miranda. I hope that young lady can have as little hassle as possible with the case. Again, duty of care. I don’t have to like my patients.”
Levi grins. “Yea … far less old fashioned and traditional. And … my father told me about this office and I jumped at the chance to work here. So yes … a good thing. And Louise… I hope so. I think if we make it to the synagogue one Friday a month we’ll still be forgiven. Even virtual synagogue.” he listens to the names of Jaspers children. “Romeo … well .. I wish I’d had that kind of leg up when I was a teen. Or do you just have a thing for Shakespeare?” he grins and then it fades a bit. “Duty of care … I very rarely like my clients … this is an exception. I get where they were coming from … and if things go bad I will avoid rolling my eyes and play the old stereotype card on my clients behalf … and I hope it doesn’t come to that.”
Jasper smiles but you can only see it in and around his eyes “Well that’s the good thing about Covid I suppose, virtual services? Meetings? Whatever else people want to do more on their own terms.” He laughs about his son's name “He wears it well, little charmer. Miranda and Duncan are also from Shakespeare. Bea, my ex, she’s from Stratford, Ontario. It’s the Shakespearean centre of Canada. It’s best we named them from her city’s inspiration. I'm from Drumheller, the dinosaur place in Alberta. Romeo is a better option than Triceratops.” He looks curious about the stereotype comment. He treated Brett and all he saw of Sasha and Dante were the hand measurements. He was trying to make a guess from the names though without straying too far into it in his head. “Well whatever you do, I wish you the best.”
Levi grins. “I must confess I’ve been to virtual synagogue with a shirt, tie, boxer briefs and bare feet.” and then he grins. “But Triceratops rule .. however … I have to agree. My name is plain and simple Hebrew. The family New York jew to Toronto Jew to Vancouver Jew.” then he notes the confusion on the doctor’s face and actually looks curious in his turn as if he had expected him to get the reference. “Thank you. Sasha’s case will be easy as pie. I expect he’ll get a couple of months probation and be able to get on with is life. Dante … I’ll be earning the money Mr. Beaulieu is paying me.”
Jasper cracks up a bit at the top only appropriate for the online synagogue practices and then briefly his eyes sweep up and down Levi before he inhales and gives a nod “Sounds like your family is pretty spread out. Dr. Beaulieu is paying for both? Well I’m glad he likes the boyfriend that much. That’s two sets of legal fees…..wow.”
Levi notes the look, but simply smiles as Jasper continues. “Yes... it’s quite a large firm, my father being in charge of the Vancouver branch, one of his brothers of Toronto and yet another in New York. I have enough older brothers married and pushing out little lawyer kids, I don’t have to worry too much about pressure from that direction.” and he nods. “Yes. Dr Beaulieu bailed both boys out and is paying for me to represent both. Sasha’s will most likely be done by next week. Dante’s will take a bit longer.”
Jasper gives a little nod and says Dante’s surname “Mendoza? Ok….hard to say.” He had heard all the family stuff, including the marriage and kids pressure comment. “I think people can’t choose for their kids, no matter what. But I’m glad if they try to get you, your family. Sorry I can be a bit forward.” He laughs “And you’re charging the dentist by the hour for this so I shouldn’t be prying into your life. I haven’t met many people here outside of this clinic and maybe the odd person in line at the grocery store. I hope my young people are having better luck with more time on their hands.”
Levi nods. “Yup. Mendoza. He’s Guatemalan, Indigenous. If what I’ve seen in court, I will have to be smarter than I’ve ever been before to keep him from facing multiple years.” He has never represented a minority unless Jewish counted and in his experience, it didn’t. “And … in my family you can absolutely choose for your kids. Especially boys. But with the opening of older Jewish minds, they are now free to pressure the girls to become lawyers and reap the benefits of nepotism.” he holds up a hand. “Be forward with me always, please. It’s refreshing. As long as you don’t mind my occasional dry sarcastic comments about my family. I’m told it is because I am so far down in the line of succession I may as well be Prince … whatshisname … the one now living in California.” he laughs. “I am charging him billable hours and a relaxing conversation is not billable so pry away. Right now I don’t have any friends since I haven’t gone grocery shopping yet. So hopefully this is the start of something new. Hopefully, we have more in common than a teenager with a broken jaw.” it’s a bit of gallows humour.. possibly an occupational hazard with both of them.
Jasper nodded and it looked like things were aligning in understanding in his mind about Dante. He laughs about the Jewish lawyer pressure only because of how he’s wording it. “Well I unintentionally met my parents expectations then by becoming a prison doctor for quite awhile. They both worked in the Drumheller Institution. They didn’t pressure me, it just looked like interesting work. And it was….not easy...but nothing is.” He laughs “You mean the royals that quit and Canada was too boring for them? What’s the use of a constitutional monarchy if they can’t lord it over us? I’m good with sarcasm. And those grocery folks are fun...the butcher’s a little grumpy it seems but maybe it’s the job. And I suspect you are much more than just your work Mr. Samuels...can I call you Levi? Since we’re trying to make friends. And if so please call me Jasper.”
Levi arches his brows. “No pressure parents … I’ve heard of those.” he laughs slightly. “I can only imagine its not easy, but I also imagine that would be a lot of what is happening right now but all the time. I’ve never had a client sent to Drumheller Institution, but I came close once.” he admits. He snaps his fingers. “Yes! Those royals. I can’t help but find it amusing they would up in America … the spoiled brat that ran away from home to get away from Mummy and Daddy. So yes … more sarcasm, please.” his eyes twinkle as he smiles. “Well I have my moments and yes. Please call me Levi, Jasper.” he shrugs. “I shoot birds … with my camera, of course. It sort of gives me something to do when I am walking and thinking over a big case.”
Jasper chuckles as he listens and nods “Birds huh? I like birds, Levi. Modern day dinosaurs. What do you do with the photos? Do you have one of those bird calendars every year? Hey it’s a hobby. Aren’t we supposed to be doing more of those to stay sane with Covid?” He shrugs “I probably don’t have enough. My daughter tells me Wii bowling doesn’t count anymore. When did I get old?”
Levi smiles. “Precisely. OK, I do not have my own bird calendars, but I make them for aunts and uncles and, of course, my parents and ex stepmothers from both before and after my own mother.” he nods. “We all need hobbies. Mine is half good and half bad .. as long as I stay away from humans.” he grins. “Well, if you need a bowling pal, give me a call. And I’m NOT old.” he pauses and tilts his head. “Your daughter might disagree, but maybe if you make me sound cool like … I have a friend that photographs raptors … “ he suggests.
Jasper blinks at the range of family both blood and steps and ex steps that Levi makes calendars for “That sounds like a lot to keep track of. And I did used to do real live bowling but they closed all the lanes….maybe they’re opening a few now. Just not here as far as I know.” He gives Levi the sweep with his eyes again. Not meaning it to be inappropriate or intentional “You look a little younger than me so you’re likely much cooler, and yes the raptors. But no one’s cool enough for Miranda. I swear she was born bored. But I will take you up on that.”
Levi smiles. “It is, and it helps that the family nepotism gives me a legal secretary who can keep track of who gets what calendar in exchange for not forcing one down her throat.” he grins. “I used to bowl. I have a long straight area in my apartment … might make a decent bowling alley. If not for the real deal then like Nerf. Anything to stave off the boredom, right?” he takes a closer look at Jasper now. With no complete facial expressions, he could be simply looking for signs of ‘old’. “I’m thirty-one.” he admits. “Getting a bit long in the tooth to be running around single with no children .. so sayeth the mother and grandparents.” the N95 mask does nothing to hide the rolling eyes. “I doubt I am cooler. The little Jewish kid whose only saving grace was 20/20 vision and a normal-sized nose?” he laughs. He isn’t short, but he is shy of the 6 foot mark. “Please do … we will bowl together, by hook or by crook.” his eyes snap playfully.
Jasper laughs “Home bowling! Yes!” He scrutinizes him a little again “Thirty-one is hardly long in the tooth. I’m 45. Your mother and grandmother forget that children are vicious. It’s not for everyone and that’s ok. I’ll have to take your word about your nose while we’re all still in disguise though.” He’s a bit taller so when he stands it might be obvious again “By hook or by crook.” He starts to extend a hand to shake and then sighs and pulls it back “Sorry….I’ve been good about that one. Guess we just got too chummy and I let my guard down.”
Levi chuckles. “It is when you’re from the Jewish family trying to out birth the Catholics.” he rolls his eyes. He shrugs. “I doubt they forget anything, but they choose to ignore everything.” he motions to his mask without touching it. “My cousin Ezra can’t wear the mask because of his nose, so he’s not taking any clients. Personally, I think it’s both sad and hilarious. He’s one of my favourites. We share the name .. I’m Levi Ezra and he’s Ezra Levi.” He stands as well and seeing Jasper’s hand move, his does as well. “Yea … me too. Someday when this is all over we can shake hands again. And bowl in my hallway.” he groans a little. “It will be over someday I hope. My grans are back on the misinformation highway, so I hope so.” he looks a little awkward but begins to pack his briefcase, realizing he’s been delaying leaving.
Jasper looks surprised about the nose and the mask “Must be quite the nose he has. Ezra Levi...Levi Ezra...that’s funny. I go by my second name. My birth certificate says David Jasper Rogers. Just never felt like a David or a Dave. I don’t know why I’m telling you all this…” He laughs. He seemed to be sharing a lot of bits of himself with this Levi, for just meeting the man. But since he knew Levi’s middle name it seemed logical. “It seems better here Covid wise but this could be the calm before the storm. That party this whole case sprung from. They’re starting to test people….” He sighs. “What’s the misinformation highway? I mean there’s a lot out there but what specifically?” He steps back so he’s not blocking Levi because the man is packing up.
Levi sets his briefcase on the couch and faces Jasper again, now knowing more about him. “I told you about me and cousin Ezra, so … it’s only fair you share your David with me?” he offers. “Yes … I was told the island was effectively Covid free until this little Covid party. Hopefully, it’s nothing.” he groans when asked about the misinformation superhighway. “Oh that’s when my grandfather tells me not to worry about him because Jewish people can’t get Covid-19 because bats are not kosher. Because … I guess … everyone who gets Covid doesn’t keep kosher? I just tell myself that he is probably going senile … or smoking crack … or something that might excuse that.”
Jasper smiles and then nods gravely “I really hope it’s nothing too. My kids are that age group. They’ve gotten a daily social distance lecture from me since I heard that. Yes make friends but outside and no one comes over…..” He has to laugh about the bats and then shakes his head “Well as long as it’s kosher crack right? Good luck with that. And the case. I’m sure I’ll see you soon or call you about bowling.” He winks at Levi and then gulps hoping it’s not coming across too flirty. Even without seeing his whole face, he found Levi attractive and very interesting and fun to talk to.
Levi nods. “Apparently there are more masks being worn now than a week ago. We’ll just have to see. I’m seeing my client with N95 masks and that may continue through to court appearances.” he shrugs about the bats. “Thanks. I need all the luck I can get.” Jasper winks at him and, above his mask, Levi’s eyes sort of shudder, his eyes widening as if in realization then going back to normal and then lifting again. It could be seen as him being offended, but he then nods. “Please. Definitely call…” he asks, knowing the risk he is taking, yet unable to curb himself as he usually would.
Jasper nods about the masks “I am seeing more masks and it’s good. Be as safe as you can for you and your clients.” Levi’s reaction to the wink makes him inwardly kick himself. Too flirty. The guy was probably straight and in no way receptive. But then he says please definitely call and Jasper inhales and looks hopefully at Levi “I…. definitely...will.” He bites his lip but it’s under his mask and then steps safely back again to let Levi exit “Have a good night Levi. Thanks for coming in.” Almost as an afterthought he asks “The number, your cell that I have, is that your work line or…because I just have the one…..that you ...have...already....” He’s hinting that he wants to be able to call after work hours.
Levi nods as he prepares to leave the office. He is about to pass when Jasper asks about the number on his business card. For a moment, Levi just looks at him and then moves to the desk and pulling out a small sticky note from the desk, writes down a phone number. He turns and offers it to Jasper. “In my line of work, it helps to have two phones” he moves out of the door, but it is close and Levi brushes against Jasper. Nothing intimate, but it’s far from social distancing. Probably alright with the masks and right after, Lefi does sanitize his hands. He just wanted hopefully, to let this doctor know he was interested in … more than just business talk.
Jasper feels like he’s messed it up again at the hesitation but then Levi comes back in and writes down another number. He can’t stop grinning as he takes it, careful to just touch the edge of the paper. But then Levi brushes past him and he freezes and stares at him intensely stumped on a reply “Two phones...yeah.” He watches Levi sanitize his hands and pockets the number and then exhales “OK you told me to be forward. Have dinner with me Levi. Yes, I’m asking you out. If I’m reading it all wrong, forget I ever said it. And if the conflict of interest means no but I’m not reading it wrong, then raincheck?” He feels like he’s holding his breath now and he might be.
Levi turns as Jasper reminds him that he told him to be forward. He considers. “You aren’t reading anything wrong. I’d love to have dinner with you.” he looks at as much of Jasper’s face as he can. “I don’t think there’s any conflict of interest.” he pauses. “When? Where? Here? I mean … this island?”
Jasper exhales for a long time in obvious relief. He sees Levi trying to look at his face and laughs “Ok we’re far enough apart that I’m not risking you…” He pulls his mask aside and gives Levi a real proper grin “I know I just asked you out and you didn't even know what I looked like.” He then puts the mask back and takes a squirt of sanitizer from the desk. He looks like he’s thinking “I’m out to my kids. It’s why Bea and I split. Well it was both of us. She’s a lesbian and she moved away with the love of her life to England. Bea’s still my friend….and my kids are who I’d worry about. But they’re supportive. But I understand if you’re not out to people. I remember that. My coworkers don’t know but from everything I’ve heard about Alexandra I’m not as worried about backlash here…..maybe I’m being overly optimistic. And it is just dinner after all….” He winks again and this time he’s not shy about it “So up to you.”
Levi sees Jasper’s face and chuckles. “I won’t lie … I didn’t even have to see your face to know I wanted to go out with you.” he takes his own mask out. “But fair is fair. Here’s mine.” After a moment, he returns the mask, goes into his suit pocket and gets his own hand sanitizer. He looks at his hands as he sanitizes them. “My father knows. And that’s about it. When I offered to come here, he told me I didn’t have to hide and I told him it was okay. He won’t tell. And if I ever meet ‘the one’ I will come out to the whole of Canada for him. But .. yea .. Alexandra seems very open and caring … and Natalie loves it here .. and her opinion means the world to me.” he looks up at the wink and smiles, his eyes shining again. “Well, since we met here, we may as well start … whatever we’re starting here, right?”
Jasper laughs lightly at the admission that he wanted to go out with him before he saw his whole face. And then replies in kind “I feel the same…” But then the mask comes off Levi and he blinks a bit “But fuck...you’re cute…” He blurts out and then laughs again. He listens to Levi’s degree of out with his father. “You know I’ve stalled on telling my parents everything. I don’t think they’re homophobes….my brother and sister know. So I should just do it. It’s not the whole of Canada….maybe just about half of Drumhellar with their friends.” He grins “Natalie sounds like a good person. And I’m good with here. Where do you want to go? Are you strictly Kosher? I confess you’ll have to educate me about it if you are but I’m a quick learner.”
Levi murmurs. “You're pretty cute yourself.” even as he laughs that Jasper thinks he is cute. He settles down a bit. “Well my family is probably a quarter of Canada’s Jews .. or it feels like they are. I feel like it might go over well if I could tell them I was in love.” he nods. “Natalie is great. She is the first female lawyer and she’s damn good at her job.” he looks around the basement as if there is a list of menus around. “I’m not terribly strict.” he amits. “I lie to my grandmother a lot, but one of the cops is the same kind of jew as I am and he tells me it is possible to keep kosher here. The Deli might be. The Greek place would have lamb, which is kosher … and would feed my lamb addiction quite nicely. And of course, there’s the vegan place.” he glances at his watch. “It could be Meatless Monday, if you practice such things. But I could teach you to eat Kosher. There’s worse diets.” he admits and then shrugs. “In other words I don’t really care, as long as I can go with you.” he blinks and clears his throat. “Yea … that’s subtle Levi .. real subtle.”
Jasper smiles big enough that it’s completely obvious when Levi also calls him cute. Then he listens and nods “Good, all good.” He starts gathering his things to leave right from the office. He has a laptop case and he slides a file into one side of it and then checks that another desktop computer has been shut down, all the while listening. Finally he walks towards Levi and flicks off the office lights and pulls the door shut behind him. He takes out a set of keys and locks up and then turns to Levi “I like food….I like you….don’t be subtle. I’m forward remember?” He sort of teases “How about the vegan place? I haven’t tried that one yet.” He begins to usher Levi to head up the stairs and out “Cleaning staff are around somewhere so I don’t need to set any alarms down here and the night nurses above. Fair warning, we’re usually on call in a town this size….”
Levi nods and swallows as Jasper states all of the things he likes. “I remember.” he nods. “Neither have I, so let’s go.” he nods and smiles. “I understand. Small towns and all. For dinner it probably won’t annoy me.” he teases, suggesting there may be other times it might annoy him .. or them. As they begin to walk, he looks around the place. “Well, we’ll be able to see each others faces quite a bit while eating.” he grins. “So that’s something.”
Jasper walks with him up the stairs then down the hall. They pass a nurse by the station at the front and he waves “Night Milo.” The almost albino looking nurse waves back “Night Dr. Rogers.” And then they’re through the front door and Jasper answers Levi “Yes, chew slowly…” He jokes “I like your face. So what kind of birds are you looking for?” He looks around up at building tops and trees being supportive of Levi’s hobby and head jts at a black bird “Raven or crow? How do you tell?”
Levi chuckles as they leave and he’s told to chew slowly. “If that’s what the doctor wants, it’s what the doctor gets.” he follows his gaze and sees the black bird. “Good eye.” he notes, as the sun is setting. “That’s a common raven.” he explains. “And at the risk of running you off with too much information …” he grins under his mask. “It’s found across the Northern Hemisphere, it is the most widely distributed of all corvids. There are at least eight subspecies with little variation in appearance. It is one of the two largest corvids, alongside the thick-billed raven, and is possibly the heaviest passerine bird.” he watches as it flies out of sight with another. “When they’re young, they travel in flocks but later mate for life.” he glances at Jasper as they turn the corner onto Central and then clears his throat. “I … well .. the difference …” he stammers, kicking himself for innuendo before they even get to the dinner part of the first date. “Ravens are larger, the size of a Red-tailed Hawk. Ravens often travel in pairs, while crows are seen in larger groups. Also, watch the bird's tail as it flies overhead. The crow's tail feathers are basically the same length, so when the bird spreads its tail, it opens like a fan.” he stops as they near Sprouts. “Yea … too much information Sorry .. I can go all night.” he blinks and bites his lip under his mask turning a bit darker in the darkening evening.
Jasper smiles and then very patiently listens to all the details about the raven and ravens in general. He wiggles his eyebrows when Levi says mate for life. Then he comments about crows “Ah...hence the murder of crows?” He stops and looks at Levi when he says he can go all night and then chuckles “Well I’ll do my best to keep up. Shall we?” He opens the door and holds it for Levi. As they walk in, his phone rings and he looks at the call display and answers “Romeo?” He frowns “What do you mean have we got any food….I shopped. And yesterday I made two lasagnas…..uh huh….well then you and your brother and sister will have to cook something else. I’m out tonight….I think you guys can handle it. Bye now.” He hangs up and sighs and then laughs.
Levi nods as he gets it about the murder of crows and blushes at his promise to try and keep up. He walks in and looks at the menu while Jasper takes the phone call.. He grins and glances when Jasper laughs. “Did they eat it all or is it one of those things where the fridge is completely full, just not with anything they feel like eating right this minute? He asks, grinning himself.
Jasper snorts “They ate it all...but we do have a fridge and cupboards full. It’s just things they need to prepare. They’ll live I’m sure, especially if they’ve already consumed an entire lasagna.” He looks at the menu board now “Well it all sounds delicious. I might do the black bean and avocado burrito and a B prepared smoothie. Yep….that’s the plan.”
Levi laughs. “That sounds like my younger brothers. God! That teenaged appetite. Dad says he can never retire and claims he is done with kids after Rachel.” he looks at the menu. “Make it two … Let me get this one. You have to buy a whole new bill of groceries.” he offers.
Jasper nods “Oh it’s nonstop. So you mentioned steps and ex steps, hence the age difference with siblings?” He concedes with a smile “Thank you Levi. I’ll make you a lasagna sometime but we might have to fight for our portions of it.” He laughs and nods to the person behind the counter confirming they’re ready. Then he gets a text and his phone chimes. He looks at it and groans “Miranda now….where are you? Romeo says you said I’d cook.” He’s reading “Oh that cheeky little shit…” He laughs and texts back.
Levi nods. “Yes. I have .. well technically only two step mothers, since my mother was the one in the middle, but I send the two exes before her stuff mostly just to be an ass, I admit.” he laughs at the idea of fighting the kids for the lasagna. “I’ve already decided you’ll make it at my house. I shared enough with all my siblings.” he watches the texting, then orders from the young blond clerk for both of them since Jasper is clearly busy.
Jasper hears him even though he’s texting. He looks up a few times “Sorry….” And then grins about making lasagna at Levi’s place “I accept cooking you dinner in your kitchen.” After the order goes on he says “Thank you for taking care of that. Do we wait and collect it or do we sit and come back for it?” He’s not sure about the procedure since he’s new to the restaurant. He looks curiously at Levi “What do you mean you sent stuff to the exes? What kind of stuff? I’m assuming you don’t mean bird calendars….”
The teen at the counter has rung them up already and looks at them a little uncertainly. “Um .. you can dine in as long as there isn’t already someone here, because its small here and I’m supposed to encourage you to eat at home … or someplace not here.” she blinks over her mask.
Levi smiles at the idea of Jasper cooking in his kitchen, the looks at the clerk. Then he looks at Jasper. “Would you like to see that kitchen tonight? Or we could eat by the lights in the park. I hear its totally safe. Anyplace but yours .. no offence but I am not up for being mugged for my burrito by a pack of starving teenagers.” he holds up his finger to the waitress. He’ll answer Jasper once they figure out where to eat .. there or elsewhere.
Jasper nods at the clerk “Oh of course. We’ll take it to go.” He looks at Levi “I am good with either of those options. You know where I work but we’re very careful there and I haven’t yet had a Covid patient in my care. We do check everyone’s temperature coming in for...well even an infected hangnail. So your home, your comfort with whether you feel I’m a risk to it.” He looks truly open to every possibility.
Levi nods. “To go it is.” and the clerk goes back to prepare. He turns to Jasper. “The exes but not step mothers … I actually do mean bird calendars. And cards on their birthdays, Mother’s Day, Haunnacha, Yom Kippur, Christmas and Groundhog Day. Mostly because they were always real snide to my mother, especially as the marriage laster longer than any of his others and my mother is the one he never divorced.” he shrugs and moves towards a table to sit. “So basically my older brothers and I don’t really get along so much, but I get on well with my younger siblings.” he chuckles. “A lot of the reason is I was sometimes more parent to them than either of their parents.”
Jasper sits and listens and looks amused “Groundhog day?” He has to snicker and then he frowns “That sounds not so nice of them.” He starts to put it together “Exes and steps….but your parents didn’t divorce. Your mother passed away?” He looks sad about that if he’s got it “And that makes sense about your younger siblings with the age difference. His phone chimes again and reluctantly he looks at it and then looks up sheepishly and sends a quick text. Then he goes to put his phone away and it rings “What now…” He mutters and answers “Miranda….I will tell you later. Oh how the tables have turned. Yes I’m on a date. Go cook for your brother….” A shriek can be heard through the phone and Jasper is laughing. “An axe murderer? You think I’m going out with an ax murderer? Well I suppose anyone could be….Mandy, he’s a lawyer…...oh now it’s boring. I’m going to go now…..” He hangs up and looks at Levi “I should have just let her think you were an ax murderer.”
Levi shrugs. I sent the first wife a card on Justin Trudeau’s birthday because she hates him. My grandmother found out the date for me .. so I come by my Jewish passive-aggressiveness honestly.” he nods. “Yes. Cystic fibrosis when I was ten. I was her only child.” then the phone rings and he is clearly not fussed about all of the interruptions. He laughs when he is apparently labelled an axe murderer and then looks dramatically offended when he becomes boring again with the truth of his profession. “I haven’t even defended an axe murderer,” he confesses. “I’ll understand if you want to go home now.” he chuckles. “But seriously … it would be worse if it weren’t Monday … it’s my ‘day off’ so I don’t get mobbed with calls. You’ll see when the clan calls me on any other might … I turn my phone on at 6pm if I’m not in court usually. I have threatened to sue my father for child support. He just laughs. His lawyers are too good.”
Jasper laughs hard “Wow Justin Trudeau’s birthday. So if I get a card from you on some obscure holiday….then I know I need to make up or something?” He teases. Then he sighs “I’m very sorry about your mother. Ten….oh that’s young...but old enough to know it all.” He smiles “I’ll stick with the plan. Hey I’ve worked in the prison system and I can’t name a single ax murderer from Matsqui. I think it’s a fairly inefficient way to carry out the deed really.” He snickers “See you take it all on for him. He better appreciate you.”
Levi nods. “Precisely. I try really hard not to be that boyfriend who expects you to be psychic, so no worries about that. I communicate pretty well. My parents did, so maybe I picked it up from them.” he chuckles. “Ax murder is not something you can really just .. get away with. You’re right about that much.” he grins about his father. “Dad loves his kids, but tends to hide from his wives at work.” he pauses. “I already explained that I’m from a pretty large family.” he glances up to see the waitress coming with their food. He takes the bag and stands. “I think I can get through the whole cast and crew by the time we get to my place…” although the frown above his mask suggests it might be close.”
Jasper smirks as Levi uses the word boyfriend. They just met but for some odd reason that word seems happy and comfortable, it all does. “Communication is key.” There are still the two smoothies as well so Jasper takes those and then is ready to head out. He shifts them to open the door and hold it as he thanks the waitress and then as they go through he says “OK, story of the Samuels time. Will I have to pass a test after?”
Levi smiles pretty obviously at the use of the word communication. He goes through the door and begins to walk. “I … doubt it. I’ve never brought anyone home for them to meet so … I don’t know if they expect to be remembered.” he laughs. “But my father is Joseph and my mother was Talia. That’s the most important to remember because my father still loves her to this day.” he can’t help but smile. He wants something like that someday. “Now … never mind the mothers right now. Let’s just talk about my siblings. I am number four of nine. Above me are Yosef who is 40, David … yes, David … who is 37 and Natan who is 35. He was 4 when I was born and I think he had thought he would be the youngest.” he rolls his eyes and turns onto 2nd from Central on his way back to his place. “And I, of course, am 31 .. I’ll be 32 in August.”
Jasper titles his head and takes it all in “I actually meant you testing me on names but I understand that too. Joseph, Talla, Yosef...kinda like Joseph but with a Y? David I’ll remember of course. Natan?” He gives a little nod “When’s your birthday Levi? And hit me with the younger ones.” He smirks “I have a good memory.”
Levi chuckles. “Well, not for the older ones. But yes. He is named after my father but gets to avoid the Junior. My birthday is easy to remember. Eight, Eight Eighty-eight. The night the lights went on at Wrigley Field. So you know why my father will sometimes call me Sport. My mother liked the Cubs .. loveable losers. She wasn’t’ a die-hard fan and didn’t understand baseball at all. She just loved how they were loved no matter what. That, she said, and the ivy. She loved the ivy.” he shrugs as he laughs. “And the younger ones …..” he pauses and looks as if he’s about to undergo a task.
Jasper nods and then looks delighted by the eights “That’s cool. Like one of those pizza places where you just dial a number over and over and eventually get pizza? And baseball, yes…” He gets a sweet look on his face when Levi talks about his mom “Your mom sounds like she was really good hearted.” He knows he’s supposed to social distance but finds himself stepping closer to Levi without thinking. Then he chuckles “The marathon continues.”
Levi turns onto Water street and passes the clinic, heading for the law office. “Yea … SO no excuses forgetting my birthday …. And what is yours, so I can put it on my calendar with all the proper reminders leading up to it?” he nods. “She was great.” he notes Jasper getting closer and does nothing to stop it. “Ahhh yes. Well, my mother is the only one my father didn’t divorce … and so there’s 13 years between me and my next brother Immanuel. That’s with an I, by the way. He’s 18. Mordechai is 17 and Elazar is 15.” he passes the dentists closed office and then the Breakfast nook. “Daniel is 13 and last but definitely not least is my sister. Ruth. She’s 10.” he stops at the door of the law office and looks up. “I live on the second floor.”
“All the 8s. I’ll remember. And you’ve got some time on mine...June 2nd.” He tunes in carefully and then repeats back the next names “Immanuel with and I, Mordechai...same age as my Duncan. Elazar? Did I say that right? Boy or girl? Daniel, close to Romeo who just turned 14. Not an easy age. And Ruth.” He smiles and then looks up “Huh same architect get around here. It’s a good building design though.”
Levi grins. “Maybe I’ll get you a much belated birthday present.” he half promises, half offers. “And You said it right. He’s a boy. Ruth is the only girl.” he gets out his keys and unlocks and opens the door. “Top of the stairs..” they are relatively narrow stairs, just like the clinic. “We don’t have an elevator … then again we don’t really need one.” he heads up just before Jasper and unlocks his door, opening it and motioning his guest in first. His apartment is neat and minimalist with pictures of owls and people all over everything … some even on the walls. Clearly he has not finished unpacking.
Jasper goes in and heads up, following Levi. It all feels oddly familiar because of work. “Better for our health to walk. I also usually take the stairs at work, good exercise and it limits exposure, especially right now.” He walks in after the gesture “Thanks…..” He looks around “Simple….” He nods approvingly and then sets down the drinks briefly to remove his shoes “Where can I wash my hands?” Always the first thing he does when he walks into a home, his or others.
Levi nods his agreement. In the apartment, he slips out of his mask and shoes then heads for the kitchen. “Bathroom is right there.” it’s attached to his bedroom. His bed is a queen and neatly made up with a colourful large eyelet crochet comforter on it. Levi is clearly a neat man. The bathroom is quite simple and neat as well. Bot a sloppy bachelor. He sets the food down and moves to wash his hands in the sink. Afterwards, he will set the table for when Jasper returns, setting each bag of food centred on its plate.
Jasper nods and smiles “Thanks.” And goes to wash up. He’s both a doctor and a surgeon so his hand washing is by nature, thorough. He had snooped at the bedroom as he passed it. Tidy and a homey comfy looking bed. He scrubs and looks at his masked face in the mirror and then, removes the mask since he’s about to eat, pockets it, scrubs again and rinses. Then he dries and comes back to a set table with his face revealed “Oh you’re so prepared. And you don’t need to give me a birthday present.” He laughs “You just bought me dinner and agreed to go out with me tonight….that’s a gift to me….believe me.” He looks at Levi with his full and proper smile again and enjoys seeing all of his face looking back at him too.
Levi smiles as Jasper comes out with his whole face revealed. “I suppose not. Gives me damn near a year to think of something … not that I am projecting.” he looks at him and nods to one of four chairs at a small dining table. “Unless you’d like to eat int he living room watching a movie or something. My living room is a half unpacked mess, but I’m doing pretty good for having kept up with the place myself. You know no maid or cook or anything. I’m actually pretty damn impressed with myself.”
Jasper chuckles “Projecting is alright by me. I think I’m more of a let’s do something special than a present person myself.” He looks towards the living room “I think if we sit here we’ll talk more and I’m enjoying getting to know you. Are you joking about the maid and cook thing? Or did you grow up with that?” He holds up a hand “I won’t judge either way, just interesting….”
Levi smiles and motions to the chair, taking one himself and sitting. He opens up the bag with the burrito and nods to himself, then looks over at Jasper. “No .. I’m not joking. Mia has been with my family since my Dad’s first marriage. Her cousin Catalina has been my housekeeper and cook since I graduated college and started law school.” he shrugs. “Both of them have been helping me since Natalie initially helped with moving furniture and everything. I was a little worried about Cat, because with Coid, I didn’t want her to be out of a job, but my Dad hired her on as a tutor for the younger kids, so thats a load off. They both tell me I’m better than they thought I would be. Of course they’re teaching me in the time of Covid-19 so when the pandemic is over I’ll have the cleanest apartment in Canada thanks to them.” he laughs softly and a little self deprecating. “I come from a long line of very expensive lawyers.”
Jasper takes it in stride and sits down opposite Levi “Well it sounds like they’re family more than hired help...even though they do work or your family. So if they’re tutoring the kids is the family thinking of ….like homeschooling? I honestly get a little nervous about my kids going back to school right now. I think the older two could just study on their own. They did well when it all went online. Romeo is a bit too easily distracted.” He shrugs and smiles “Well hey it’s what you were born into so it is what it is. I come from a short line of prison doctors? Not anymore mind you and my parents retired. Now they just sit on the step and look at the T-Rex. If you’ve ever been to Drumheller...we lived on THAT street.”
Levi nods. “Yea … well Mia is. I think if it came down to it, he could let Cat go, but I’d hope he could always find something for her to do.” he begins to dig into the burrito. “I suppose. But isn’t homeschooling when parents teach their kids, not when people come in to do it? I don’t know, I’m not a parent. Maybe an island is safer? Well, maybe not with the ferry bring anyone who wants to come to the island, but still.” he grins. “I’ve never actually been there, but I’ve seen pictures. Does that count?”
Jasper had been eating a bit of his burrito and pointed at it “This is really good. I think homeschooling is schooling at home with whoever you have teaching. I haven’t homeschooled my kids before but my sister Patty does. She works from home so that does help. But they’ve also had tutors and signed up for classes outside the house. They’re happy kids my nephews; Lake and Skye, they’re kind of hippies but whatever floats your boat right? Hopefully this island is safer, even with the ferry. I know they closed it off before with the early wave here.” He smiles “A picture doesn’t totally do it justice but I’ll accept that. Someday when we’re not in a plague, I’ll maybe take you with me…” He realizes he’s making assumptions on the first date. “Now I’m projecting.” He laughs.
Levi nodded as his mouth was full. When he swallowed, he agreed. “Great choice, for sure. And … I suppose. I did the private school thing, but I suppose now even its closed. If you have the time, it could make you closer to your kids I’d think.” He laughs a bit at the names of his nephews. “I love those names.” he listens more and smiles. “I’d like that. Project away.” he laughs. “I don’t usually date a lot. A lot of reasons. I was never really in the closet but never really out of it, if that makes sense. Either way, I think I’d love seeing where you grew up.”
Jasper can’t help but grin “It could yeah, closer to your kids. That’s been pretty easy for me. We just connect. I know I’m lucky. Some people can’t get through to theirs, especially teenagers. Skye and Lake are great fun, so are Patty and Roy. She’s an accountant and he runs a recording studio and record label. My younger brother Sheldon is a paleontologist. Never married but thought he was going to marry every woman he ever went out with….sad, he’s a good guy. Just hasn’t worked out for him.” He nods “I get it. I really didn’t date in high school, girls or boys. Then I met Bea and it all felt like an interesting experiment and suddenly we had kids. So we did the expected thing and married. We were always more friends than lovers. I just didn’t identity it for a long time...until she came out to me after having an affair with a woman. Then we had sort of a secret open marriage where we covered for one another. I know it’s bizarre. Even then I didn’t date a lot. There was one guy I was with for over a year and I fell madly in love with him. But he was a corrections officer and he died breaking up a fight between two prisoners.” He looks down and swallows and then looks up “It’s not recent…...his name was Warren Nesbitt. My first I guess? Then after a few years I had this sort of free love phase, I mean carefully because I’m a doctor and responsible. But I wasn’t fully out then either so it was on weekends in Vancouver while I lived in Abbotsford still pretending to be a good husband to Bea for our family and neighbours. Then she fell madly in love with an English woman and moved away to London. And now we’re here….” He laughs “That was a big info dump there.”
Levi ate as all of this information was given to him. Between bites he interjected a little bit. “See .. my family is simple. My brothers are lawyers. Carry on.” he laughed and then shrugged. “My father has been married five times and is on his fourth divorce. Apparently that’s another problem in my family. My older brothers have all been married and divorced multiple times. They aren’t really close to me, so I don’t know their kids as well as maybe I should. I’ve never married … or even got so close I was willing to bring anyone home. My excuse is that I don’t want to bury myself in work and neglect my family, which my dad totally got. He told me to marry for love or not at all … even when he found out I was gay.” he smiles softly. “My younger siblings .. I sort of hope they can live by my example … well .. provided I fall in love and marry that is. Basically I’d like them to be like my mother was with my father. They’re good kids .. the whole army of them.” he pauses and then looks over at Jasper. “I can’t imagine that feeling. I’m … I’m sorry about that loss. Really, I am.”
Jasper chuckles about the lawyer simplicity and then asks “Well are they at least divorce lawyers? I suppose that would be efficient….Bea and I hired a mediator….we confused a lawyer first by being too helpful to one another. Being an uncle is great. You can give them ice cream and candy then send them home for the sugar crash. And I agree. People should marry for love. I had a rare relatively good experience but I know it’s not normal. And I do still love Bea, just not that way, and well it’s ...well it’s what it is.. You parents had a good impact on you, i can tell.” Then he sighs and smiles sadly “Thank you Levi. I’m through it...just sad to talk about and think about sometimes.” He pauses “So you’ve never brought a single partner home? Do you get bugged about that?” Now he eats the rest of his burrito.
Levi grins around another mouthful. Once he swallows he shakes his head. “We’re mostly ‘jack of all trades’ lawyers. My brothers tend to handle each other's divorces. My father uses my grandfather’s divorce lawyer. This time around it might not help a lot, because he is 60, his wife is 40 and Ruth is 10. So ageism might become a factor in the divorce. But also … after my mother, the wives started looking like my mother. I think my Dad was trying to get that back? I’m a lawyer, but a shrink.” he nods about Jaspers mourning, but moves on. “Not one ...well … not so my family thought of them as a partner.” he finishes his burrito. “There was one off and on … but he’s deeper in the closet now than he was when we were quote end quote best friends.” he finishes his drink. “If I ever come out of the closet … I’ll lose him as a friend.” he shrugs. “Gavriel .... the Hebrew form of Gabriel … also known as Rabbi Dreyer.”
Jasper listens about all the complications of divorve in the Samuel clan as he sips his drink. He looks sad about the women who looked like his mother after his mother “Oh….that’s kind of heart breaking.” Then he nods “Oh the friends thing….yeah common.” Then he raises his eyebrows “He would shun you for your choice even if you don’t out him? That doesn’t seem very spiritually enlightened for a Rabbi.”
Levi sits back. “Yea. I’m hoping my dad just sort of … accepte my Mom is gone.” and he blows out a breath. “Shunning me is what he feels he would have to do as a rabbi.” he shrugs. “I mean … we were each others first. Learned about sex and when we’d get back together after a while in college would sort of teach what we’d learned.” he chuckles and then sighs Believe me, it was very interesting laying naked in bed with this beautiful man and arguing about how his calling was higher than his cock.” he rolls his eyes. “And its been sort of strained since he became a rabbi. I think he’s afraid I will out him. I won’t … it’s not my place. But he’s afraid if I ever come out people will figure out we have been lovers off and on for fifteen years.” he bites his lip.
Jasper looks sympathetic. “Were you in love with Gavriel...or are you?” He looks a little hopeful the answer is no “I mean we just met so I uh...I have no claims.” He chuckles lightly. He nods a bit about their…..what sound like extensive experiences together. “15 years is a long time to be connected, even if and maybe especially if some of it was bittersweet. It sounds like Gavriel has a bit of a selfish view of it all. I mean it’s more likely he’d be seen as an ally. And also, is it forbidden for Rabbis to be gay? They can marry women...why not men? I’m betraying my ignorance of your religion here I know.”
Levi shakes his head. “I was, but … after a while I dropped the emotional investment? Does that make sense? It became more … I was horny and he made himself available?” he bites his lip. “The last five years we’ve been together once. He .. got married .. and not to a man which is not a thing in Judaism. I was supposed to be his best man, but I couldn’t. I checked myself into the hospital with a laundry list of the vaguest symptoms known to man the night before the wedding. And three months later we got together, he begged my forgiveness and demanded my understanding, we got drunk and fell into bed. Since then .. things have cooled. Significantly. We still talk but … I get it. He’s afraid of harem … censure … the Jewish equivalent to excommunication.” he sighs. “So .. yea … he’s not exactly my bestie anymore. I have one but he’s all straight and shit.” he tries to make light.
Jasper again looked sympathetic “That must have really hurt. Both of you I’m sure but I don’t know or care about him. So Judaism is halfway between some of the Christian mentalities on same sex relationships. Makes more sense now why you haven’t felt safe to come out.” He sighs “Does your straight best friend know? I used to think Bea was my best friend. I have never had a male best friend. Just the path of life stuff.”
Levi nods. “For a while it did, but I got over it a while ago .. it was like … permanent when he not only got married, but wanted to have an affair with me still.” he snorts. “Yes … it’s just as bad.” he smiles. “Yea. Ira knows. Thanks, alcohol.” he laughs. “Well Ira has his own challenges. Hes in love with a gil with some issues. And for some reason he agreed to quarantine with her … no sex … just roommates. I think he’s a bit of a masochist.”
Jasper sighs “Gavriel was really insensitive in his expectations. I’m glad you distanced from that.” He leans forward a bit and slides his hand close to Levi’s “I want to take your hand but I don’t want to assume you feel safe about contact.... “ He laughs “I could have brought gloves if I had been thinking ahead. Ira sounds like he likes a challenge? I mean if it’s meant to be it will be I suppose.”
Levi nods. “I am too. At first it was alright because I was happily in the closet. Now I sort of have a food out and he’s gone to Narnia.” he sees the hand and takes it. “You wouldn't be in my apartment if I didn’t feel comfortable with contact with you, Jasper.” he reminds him. “And … gloves … “ he can’t help but laugh. “I’m fine with condoms until we’re established … but … a full body condom thing … I can’t even picture it without laughing.” and he blows out a breath about Ira. “Yea … can you imagine being in love … that person being right there …” he squeezes Jasper’s hand. “And not being able to?”
Jasper feels Levi’s hand in his and the connection between them feels almost like a little hum in his awareness. He squeezes the hand back and looks at how their fingers are together. He chuckles a bit “I was kidding about the gloves and noted about the condoms. I didn’t bring any of those with me either. “ He admits “And I have definitely never sought out a full body one. I don’t even want to think about that.” He nods about Ira “That would be torture. But maybe he’s being respectful of whatever her issues are? I mean it’s none of my business but I could see if she’s survived a sexual assault or trauma then he would just be there for her and not suggest they get physical?”
Levi looks between their clasped hands and Jaspers face. “That’s OK … we can take it slow … even though I DO have condoms. But … yea … Lets take it slower. Do you ever have a night off like I do? If you ever do let me know and I will change mine if I have to.” he sighs. “No … she .. um .. He said she’s an actually diagnosed hypersexual. She’s in therapy but … she doesn’t want .. well he said nether of them want it to be a cheap fuck. But how would they know? It confuses me, anyway.”
Jasper smiles “Slow is good. Although I will likely try to kiss you before the night has ended.” He admits. Then he thinks about the hypersexuality “That’s a complicated condition. I have seen it in patients but those I refer because my knowledge is very basic. Sometimes it can be part of a bipolar disorder and that’s even more challenging. I think it’s wise they’re holding off until she’s gotten some help. It could be really hard to separate a meaningful interaction from the additictive behaviour.” Jasper continues “By night off do you mean from kids or work? Both just require a little communication but I can do that.”
Levi nods and bites his lip. “I was sort of thinking the exact same thing.” he admits and then blows out a breath. “I don’t envy them.” he grins. “Yes. I mean both. A night when we have at least a 75% chance at being alone for a few hours … barring someone needing emergency medical services or a lawyer not now but right now.” he rubs at Jaspers hand with his thumb. “My siblings know if its a real emergency first dial 911 and then call my service which will then call me on the business phone.” he can’t help but chuckle. “And I had to add the 911 part because I’ve also gotten calls where my brothers thought it was an emergency because Mia decided it was a good night to introduce them to asparagus.”
Jasper grins and nods “My kids are older so that helps. And when I told Miranda earlier that the tables had turned it’s because I have grilled her a few times on her choice of dates. She goes for the bad boy type. It’s cliche. So far they’ve really been just full of shit and posturing but I worry. I don’t want to be some kind of misogynistic control freak father.” He sighs “But maybe me talking about you will get her to stay more open with me. I just want them to come to me if there’s trouble. And if we all have healthy boundaries then yes I get nights off.” He enjoys the thumb caressing and sighs at Levi, standing up and tugging on his hand “Let’s go check out that couch. I promise to help you tidy the food stuff later.” And if he can he will lead Levi to sit and switch which hand is holding his while he gets a little closer and puts an arm around Levi’s shoulders if he can “Before you get any asparagus emergencies.” He laughs “Fussy eaters?”
Levi laughs. “Well, I’m not a bad boy … but my partners fiance is a cop, so if you ever need to get in that threatening position you can always say Marcus will arrest him for jaywalking and I WILL convict.” he teases and moves willingly to the couch. He leans into the arm turning his torso to face Jasper. “They aren’t so much fussy as spoiled .. or want to be spoiled. Dad will let them get away with murder. Mia .. not a chance.” he moves a bit on the couch. “Comfortable couch.” he searches his face. “Might be the company, tho …” he leans in. “Jasper … can I kiss you?” he breathes, holding himself back from just doing it. Wanting to be sure.
Jasper laughs “Wow, backup for Dad cred. I love it. I will let you know. Sounds like they need Mia.” Then Levi’s eyes search his face and he locks on their gaze as Levi asks to kiss him “Oh hell yes...” he whispers and leans his face in to meet Levi’s. His hand lets go of Levi’s and slides up his upper chest to cup the side of his face as his lips just brush Levi’s lightly on the first pass. But even the tiny brush sends a little jolt and Jasper immediately catches Levi’s lips fully in his and presses into what could be a fairly intense first kiss. His arm around Levi pulls him tighter.
Levi gets permission and leans in for the first kiss. And its like he’s glued to the man, and he loves it. It feels like it’s the hundredth kiss, not the first. He moves his hand to the back of Jasper’s neck and plays with his hair as he deepens the kiss. Moving back, he breaks it just long enough to turn his head and go in for another kiss from another angle.
Jasper feels like their lips know each other and their patterns just match up. He’s never had this happen with anyone. Levi’s fingers through the back of his hair make him shiver and as the kiss deepens, his tongue moves with Levi’s in a way that causes him to let out a little moan. As they pull back and come together for more Jasper feels the electricity between them again and both his arms go around Levi’s mid body, holding him tightly.
Levi is enthralled. He is being kissed as if Jasper knows exactly what he wants; what he needs. It’s mind boggling. A moan escapes him and he presses closer, then backs up a bit. “Fuck you’re intense…” he breathes. He kisses him again, then pulls back again. “Soon … soon .. not now … we can’t….” they literally just met. They are two responsible men. COndoms or no condoms, he feels they should wait .. Jasper has kids to get home to and if they keep kissing, that won’t happen anytime soon.
Jasper grabbed the back of Levi’s shirt and bunched it in his fingers at the moan. This was the sweetest hottest kiss of his life. Then Levi pulls away and says soon can’t and not now. Ok boundary. Ok down boy. Jasper backs off breathlessly “So are you. Oh...” he exhales “I’m sorry if I pushed you. I’ll stop...” He kisses Levi’s cheek and then just holds him “You feel so right to me it’s unbelievable...”
Levi is breathless after the kiss. “No …’ he is nearly panting. “I just thought … you had to get home.” he searches Jaspers face. “You feel … right to me too … so right …” and he leans in for another kiss. Just one more … maybe two.
Jasper grins into the next kiss and then murmurs in between kisses “I can stay longer.” He kisses back again a little hungrily and then says into Levi’s neck “I probably shouldn’t spend the night but I can stay late.” He senses the no messages were concerning his need to go and on his next kiss he will try to gently ease Levi onto his back and half lay on top of him kissing him deeply and relentlessly.
Levi returns the kisses. His body is responding, even before Jasper says he can stay longer. When he is pushed back, he lays and responds to the deeper kisses, adjusting his legs so that Japer is laying on him and between his legs. He knows his excitement is obvious. Levi wants this man; to touch him, to taste him, to be touched and tasted by him.
*****WARNING*****Graphic sexual content below. Reader discretion is advised.
Jasper is all over Levi now, kissing his mouth and his neck and rolling a bit. As he sort of lands a bit between Levi’s legs he presses himself against Levi, letting his own body’s reaction be known as he feels Levi’s too and audibly moans “Oh god...” He murmurs. He lets his left hand roam Levi’s body over his clothes as he starts kissing him again. He caresses up and down his chest and gently presses against him again as he undoes his tie, leaving it just loose and open and then starts unbuttoning his shirt if he can. If he gets to the bottom he will untuck it and caress the bare chest under and then slide his hand down the outside of Levi’s pants and grip the growing hardness of him.
Levi can feel that he is not the only one excited. He starts to unbutton Jaspers shirt, lissing his collar bone and shest as it appears. Pulling the shirt out of his pants and reaching for the belt. “Jasper … God.” he arches up into the gripping hand. “Jas…” he moans, shrugging out of his shirt, leaving his chest bare.
Jasper shudders a little at the kisses on his collar bone and chest. He feels his belt being undone and moans. But his focus is on Levi’s cock in his hand. The shrugging off of his shirt makes him take in Levi’s body and pant out “You’e so fucking gorgeous...” he covers Levi’s bare chest with kisses and moves down his body adding a long drawn out lick from his belly button to the top of his pants which he tries to undo quickly. He had to let go of the cock and desperately wanted it back uncovered and in full. He wastes no time and just opens the pants and pulls him out of his underwear wrapping his fingers around it. He looks up at Levi “Let me please you?” He gently rubs his hand up and down.
Levi drinks in the compliment. He works to undo Jasper’s pants and as Jasper undoes his own, he feels bare fingers on his cock and Jasper asks to please him. “Yes. God .. yes, please Jas…” he moans. He’s never wanted to feel another mans touch like this. It’s an ache.
Jasper wants nothing more in the world than to make Levi cum. Levi’s enthusiasm makes him grin and simultaneously grunt before moving down Levi, licking his abdomen from his belly to his pubic hair and then moving his head up to close his mouth around Levi’s cock. He slowly moves his hand and mouth up and down together while sliding his free hand lower to caress Levi’s balls. He lets his head and mouth get into a rhythm but then changes it up every now and again by pulling back and just licking up and down and around the tip with his eyes on Levi’s face before going back to the original pattern faster and harder. He starts moaning into his movements up and down eventually and explores further back than Levi’s balls eventually, not invasively fingering but just teasing a bit at his anus, ready to do more or be redirected as Levi wishes or instructs.
Levi’s body feels charged as Jasper touches him. When the mouth closes over him he thinks for a second that he will cum right them, but his body relaxes and he moans in both pleasure at the feel as well as gratitude that he didn’t cum instantly. He throws back his head and arches his hips, reaching down to caress Jasper’s hair as he sucks at him. Feeling the finger behind him, his hips arch more, welcoming the touch. “Jas … yes …” he groans. The pleasure is intense and the stimulus is nearing its plateau, but he wants that final touch. Needs it. Needs Jasper.
Jasper was still going strong with his mouth sucking and hand jacking. Levi’s cock was beautiful and delicious to him. As Levi gives him enthusiastic consent for more he slides his finger into Levi’s ass thrusting it gently but deeply in time with what his head and hand are doing. He feels like he’s holding this incredible pleasure between his hands and mouth and finds it intensely erotic. He moans again and carefully slides in a second finger wanting to take Levi to the edge and over.
Levi begins to breathe more heavily as the first finger is put in his ass. He looks down his own body at Jasper and then feels the second finger. “Jas…” he groans and begins to shudder. He geels his balls tighten and he can only give an ecstatic grunt as he begins to cum hard in Jaspers mouth, his hips lifting and the hand in Jaspers hair dropping to the couch and gripping a cushion hard. It’s a decent load and as it ebbs, Levi drops to the couch panting hard, but smiling wide. “God, Jas.”
Jasper feels Levi’s orgasm explode and tastes the rush of his juices as they pulse out of his cock. He swallows several times but loves it and grunts. Then he starts to back off as Levi’s body relaxes. He pulls his fingers out and is aware there’s some clean up required but holds the hand up and out, resting the wrist on the top of the couch so he can move up and give him a sweet kiss and not break the spell with such details yet.
Levi pants slightly as he comes down from the orgasm. He takes the kiss and then sighs looking into his eyes. “Sorry … I … didn’t plan this well … I didn’t plan for this at all …” he admits. “If you want a quick wash, I’d love to return the favor …” he bites his lip and wonders how squeamish the good doctor is.
Jasper grins “I didn’t plan for it either but I am loving it.” He gives him one more kiss and gets up “I’m just hyper bacteria aware.. not offended by anything your body has to offer.” He does go and wash his hands and then comes back “I would never want to cause you any kind of infection or any discomfort. But I really really like making you cum.” He lies down with him, kissing him again with his shirt and pants just open.
Levi actually laughs a little bit over the explanation and when Jasper comes back he’s laying down. He hadn’t said anything before Jasper went to wash and now, with him laying with him, he finally addresses it. “In this day and age I should be happy you didn’t want me in a Hazmat suit.” he smiles and pulls him into another kiss. “But … to set the record straight… I’ve been top and bottom. It depends on my partner and the vibes I feel from him. With Gavriel … I was strictly the top..” he caresses Jaspers face. “But you … when we can do some forward planning I am definitely looking forward to feeling you inside of me.” he searches his face. These conversations always risked being offensive, but he always had them … and more than once had wound up in a cold shower and cold bed because if it.
Jasper kisses back when he’s pulled in and looks very open to the conversation. He leans into the caress on his face “No hazmat suits. I’m very happy you want to talk this through before. I’ve also been both. To be honest I prefer the top. When I was new to making love with a man Warren gave me both options so I could see what I enjoyed. The penetration doesn’t feel bad to me but I think it’s more of a psychological turn on than anything. The idea that someone wants to take you and do it to you is undeniably hot. But I would love to be in you. There’s an emotional intimacy there for me I can’t explain and I want that with you.” He wraps his arms around Levi “To be honest there’s already an emotional intimacy with you I can’t explain so...” He breaks off not knowing what will happen when they fully have intercourse. Will he just fall completely in love with Levi? Because it’s not inconceivable.
Levi smiles softly and leans into the caress. “I … get more on the bottom. Maybe it’s because in my job I have to be the aggressor. The one who comes out … on top. And being with someone I want in me is just … better for me. More … erotic.” he snuggles a moment into Jasper’s embrace. I feel it too and if I could explain it, I would. But we’re on the same page, for sure.” he kisses Jasper softly and then begins a trail of kisses down his body. Levi slides to the floor, kisses Jaspers belly and begins the removal of his pants. “Do you want to keep laying or sit up?” he murmurs, looking at him and stroking as he exposes the doctors groin.
Jasper gives Levi a look of understanding about the role of on top in his work and wanting intimacy and a different role in relationships. Jasper smiles at him “That makes sense. And be sure Levi, all I want is you...” As he feels Levi’s kisses down his body he shudders in anticipation. His hips lift to help Levi take off his pants and underwear. He had calmed a bit as they had been talking but now the build up was happening and as Levi strokes him his cock responds immediately, rising and hardening to greet the offering of attention and pleasure. Jasper grunts a bit and then runs his hand over Levi’s hair “Whatever’s more comfortable for you. I guarantee it will all feel great to me.”
Levi grins as Jasper's body is revealed to him. He kisses the pubic line and then licks his way up the stiffening cock. One day he vowed to get this beautiful man's cock in his mouth completely flaccid and feel the transition from soft to hard. “So beautiful.” he murmurs and looks up at him. “All of you.” he inhales deeply and is rewarded with the scent of the man. He closes his eyes and licks at the shaft again, pausing at the tip to run his tongue around the head. Finally he opens his mouth and takes the cock in, wetting it liberally with his own spit. Then he grasps and, letting the saliva lubricate begins to jack and suck, looking into Jaspers eyes if he can.
Jasper was looking down and smiling. He chuckles and enjoys being called beautiful. Then he sees Levi inhaling and enjoying him and bites his lip. This man was very good at making him feel both aroused and adored. The licking makes him squirm and grunt and when Levi takes him right in his mouth and wets him he groans loudly “Oh fuck yes...” Then as he starts up and down while looking at him his eyes widen and he thrusts up with his hips and looks like he’s losing his mind from the pleasure. Levi was doing exactly what he wanted and needed. He caresses his neck and shoulder and smiles at him before another sensation makes him grunt and thrust again.
Levi loves watching Jasper react to him. It’s as if they’d been lovers for a decade. He slips his free hand between Jasper’s thighs and moves his fingers, hefting the balls he feels, while he continues to stroke and suck. Thinking of the man he is with he gives a groan of pleasure as he tastes a bit of precum. Just a taste but a glorious taste. He sucks a bit harder while increasing the stroking of hand and lips. Another deep inhale and he goes back to watching this beautiful man in the throws of pleasure, just driving it up bit by bit knowing his reward.
Jasper’s moans got closer together after Levi played with his balls and ramped up the intensity. He hit the edge and gripped the couch as his face contorted and he panted and cried out, cumming hard in Levi’s mouth “Levi!” He practically screamed his name and then came back with a softer breathy “Levi...oh god....” He smiled as he ebbed and stroked Levi’s hair now very intimately like they were very familiar because it felt that way.
Levi was ready and swallowed every precious drop he was given. The sound of his name from Jasper’s lips made him shudder in his own right and after a stroke or two of his hair, he climbed back onto the couch and kissed him. “Damn this has been a fantastic evening.” he breathes and grins. “Every unbillable second of it.” he quips, as this is not what he had expected when he walked into the clinic. He caresses Jaspers face and finds he is perfectly content right here in this mans arms Yet there was going to be more and they both knew it. And he expected that moment would push them … certainly him, over a cliff he’s never expected to fall down.
Jasper kisses back and holds Levi tightly “Fantastic...and no billing those poor French people.” He laughs “Do you really want to try to explain what are we going on 4 or 5 hour meeting to get my medical opinion on injuries?” He teases. He leans into the next caress and then snuggles into Levi’s neck “I completely adore how affectionate you are.” He breathes into him happily “Hell I completely adore you.” He admits freely.
Levi laughs as he shakes his head. “No thanks. I’ll bill him an hour and keep the rest to myself.” he snuggles in. “Good … because you bring it out in me. And I adore you too.” he inhales and exhales slowly. “Someday you might see me in court and wonder .. who is that man? That's me in court. Not the man who is your lover. Although I hardly rant and rave in court.” he stretches. “We definitely need a guys night out. Just you and me. Be it dinner or a movie or making love … or all of the above.” he licks his lips. “Once a month? Once every two weeks?” his own preference would be once a week, but that might be asking too much.
Jasper leans back and beams when Levi says he adores him too. Then he kisses him lightly and acknowledges what he says about being different in court “We are who we need to be for our jobs. This clinic is more me than the prison though. But I definitely put on being a tougher guy when I had to for both those patients and coworkers. Helped that I could drink the corrections meatheads under the table. Don’t ask me why. Just a bizarre superpower.” He laughs “Guy’s night? Are we allowed to call it date night? I feel like you’re asking me for beer and wings and a round of darts. Which I can do but I still want to take you home after and make love. And more often. Once a week at least if we can. And....” He kisses Levi like he’s trying to warm him up to something “I want you to meet my kids. Maybe not tomorrow but soon.”
Levi looks impressed that Jasper can drink meatheads under the table. “I’m not sure I can outdrink you. I stopped getting drunk when I told Ira I was gay. Just … too dangerous.” he smiles. “You can call it whatever you want. I like date night, but I have no idea how good I am at darts. And as long as we can go home and make love, I will give it a try.” he smiles at once a week and arches his brows at meeting Jasper’s kids. Were they there? He nodded slowly. They were. He could feel it. “Fair. And … if my siblings come by, I want you to meet them.” he smiles. “Well, we can work on a good night. I’m pretty open, not having kids here. Sometimes I get called away at night, but that’s more the exception and the case I’m on now I don’t expect anything like that.”
Jasper chuckles “I was teasing you about calling it a guy’s night. Darts are not required. Nor is a drinking contest. Curious that it’s a truth serum for you, and I get that’s stressful.” He snuggles back into Levi “We’ll figure it out week by week. I mean I’m guessing your work varies the schedule more than mine. I have shifts but I do get called in for emergencies. I also crash hard if I’ve ended up on for a day and a night or a night and a day so that sometimes makes me less fun. I will happily meet your siblings though.” He stretches a bit into Levi “I wish I could sleep here with you all night..” He lets his fingers trace across Levi’s back.
Levi laughs. “Now you know. If you want the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, just get me drunk.” He looks a little doubtful. “Well … it depends. If I have a lot of research or files to go through I can pull all nighters too. I haven’t lost sleep on this case … yet. But I have my concerns, so it may still be something that keeps me up at night. Hopefully your job at the clinic will be nice and light with only the occasional having to work late with a truckload of patients coming in all at once.” he holds onto him. “I wish you could too … and maybe someday you can just tell the kids we’re having a sleepover.” he chuckles. “Are they old enough to be left alone? I mean legally they are but … you know .. I mean …” he stammers a bit and chuckles. “And that was my impression of being 16 all over again.”
Jasper smiles and listens and then looks serious about the work stuff for both of them. “I can’t imagine it being as stressful as Masqui, ever. One of the reasons I started looking elsewhere was, honestly threats, occasional violence, nothing severe but after what happened to Warren it could be. And with Bea living in London I’m it for Duncan, Miranda and Romeo. I mean it wasn’t always the prisoner’s fault, lots of trauma, mental health stuff, coming off addictions, just terrible lives and stories. The whole fallout from residential schools replaying in the prison system.” He shakes his head “The system is fucked basically.” He laughs “Am I making you nervous Levi?” He kisses him sweetly “I do know what you mean. They’re old enough but I’d prefer it if I know Duncan is home. He’s like a bridge between Miranda and Romeo and they both look to him. Maybe a bit unfair in terms of pressure but he deals with it ok.” He looks thoughtful “I think Duncan was out tonight. That’s why I got calls about food. He’s been out a lot and not telling me tons about it. I probably need to check in on that…..and yes eventually I will just tell them when I plan to sleep over but I’m not sure how well that would go if I did it tonight. “
Levi nods. “Yea, I know how bad the prison system can be. The prisons are the residential schools now, except for all ages.” he sighs and then grins. “No, I wouldn’t say nervous so much.” he returns the kiss and listens. “Well, if Duncan is anything like Mordechai … it’s someone he’s interested in. Or Immanuel. But seventeen is that age between high school student and grown man. I remember the occasional phone calls from Mia saying he snuck out.” he nods. “When you’re ready, my bed awaits. With me in it.”
Jasper grins back “So not nervous...then what?” He looks curious but then does answer on the rest. “I have considered maybe he met someone here. I’ve been on all their cases about social distancing but….well look at me now.” He laughs “But I trust you. And yeah it’s a tough age. Last year of school and we just moved. Maybe I was being unfair to them. The Covid thing and the isolation of this island made it appealing too.” Then he gives a little grunt “Levi if you’re hoping to say goodnight, you’ll never get rid of me with an offer like that.” He slides his hand up Levi’s outside thigh to his butt and gives it a little squeeze.
Levi looks at Jasper’s curious face. “Then teetering on a precipice…” he clears his throat. He wants that time to be … if not perfect … then close to it. He chuckles. “Marcus … Natalie’s fiance … says that things are … intensified here.” he purses his lips. “I have to admit … I had my doubts.” he caresses Jasper’s face. “Now … not so much. But I also hear its a good place. A little strange and intense at times and I’m told if I didn’t believe in strange things, living here would change that.” he feels the hand on his leg and butt. “I .... will try and be good … this time …” he winks and kisses him again.
Jasper kisses Levi back, intensely for a few minutes but the words were curious and as much as he felt a stirring to start up again physically he pulled back and looked at Levi, pausing in that idea “I feel like I need more information. I know my feelings for you are insanely intense for just meeting you today...but what are you saying about Marcus and what he’s said? And strange things….mostly because I’ve noticed a few strange things but I was just thinking I was acclimatizing to the town culture.”
Levi looks at Jasper when he pulls back and asks for more details. “Well first let me say that my feelings are the same as yours.” he begins. “But Marcus and Natalie met on June the first. Now they are in love, engaged and expecting a baby. Both of my clients are in unusually intense relationships.” he can tell him that without breaking privilege. “Marcus also tells me that it works the other way, as well. I haven’t researched it myself, because I haven’t had time, but apparently in October the crime rate spikes. He says passions of all kind are … intensified here. And he says its not just this town, but at least one other.” he shrugs. “The man is a history buff.” he pauses. “And he stopped short of telling me something else about the town. He was very smooth about it, but I’m … sensitive to people keeping things from me. I don’t know if its good or bad, but I think he would have told me if it was something bad I needed to know.”
Jasper kisses Levi’s forehead when Levi again confirms their feelings are the same. “Good, unexpected but wonderful.” He raises a brow about Marcus and Natalie’s timeframe “OK, fast but….hmmm….” He tunes in “October? Great….so we’ll both be run off our feet if that’s true. I mean there are patterns in crime, seasonal even.” He tries to logic it out “You get a little spike before winter because people who could have been homeless for a cold season break into somewhere or vandalize something so they have a roof over their head and meals…..maybe it’s like that. I mean they’d be shipped off…..ok I’m finding holes in my own quest for logic.” He exhales “There’s stuff at work that doesn’t make sense. Clerical stuff. For example we have three years worth of paper filing. Paper? In the age of the internet? The whole federal prison system has one medical database with servers. But not this tiny clinic….or it seems to be a recent catch up. And to be honest I’ve been told about some pretty violent crimes that have affected the clinic and patients...for a small town. And then my coworkers just exchange this look and stop talking. Just like you’re saying about Marcus. I don’t like secrets either. Let’s get them all drunk Levi?” He half jokes. “I’m an open book to you by the way. I won’t hide things from you. Hell you pretty much know it all now.”
Levi listens and grins as Jasper notes the holes. “Yea … I don’t know what it is. I asked for Dante’s criminal record and was given paper files and some bullshit about having computer problems … for three years damn near.” he blows out a breath. “We're honest with each other and I love that. This morning it never occurred to me I’d meet someone I’d want to introduce to my family.” he pauses. “And have you noticed the gardens around here?” he asks. “There’s a greenhouse behind the clinic, and next to the chili place that's filled with all the levels of peppers and whatnot. I mean … they have gardens like everyplace around here. I mean .. fine .. gardening is a great hobby but .. this island is self sustaining, Jas. SOlar, wind power, water purification, a farm and gardens every other house. I mean … am I just that politically incorrect that I missed something?”
Jasper thinks hard about it all “See there’s that three years thing again in the criminal records just like the medical records? What’s the deal there?” He gives Levi a tender look at his words about not expected to meet someone he’d want to introduce to his family “I know. It’s mutual. Strangely fast, but mutual.” Then he nods about the gardens “I would say it’s a Covid trend but yeah with all the greenhouses….it’s not new this year. And when you put all the alternative energy stuff in alignment with the rest, yeah they’re not just hard core environmentalists. I mean that’s what I thought at first. It’s interesting, very interesting. Because with other places...I mean say Salt Spring Island where they are very eco conscious….you see it not just in the alternative energy stuff but in the culture, and these islanders….well I wouldn’t call them hippies like that island. I mean they’re…...there’s a resilience here. If that makes sense.”
Levi tilts his head. “Yet overall the people seem pretty happy.” he leans into Jasper. “I like it, though.” he grins. “I might even get into some of this back porch gardening. It’ll either relax me or send my blood pressure to new heights.” he grins. “Any preferences?”
Jasper laughs into the side of Levi’s head as he snuggles him “Preferences about your blood pressure? I’d like it to stay nice and healthy. If gardening helps that then plant away. I’m not much of a gardener. I’ve been meaning to get a few house plants though for air quality. I’m hoping that garden center has some indoor plants too.”
Levi grins. “I’m pretty mild mannered, so my blood pressure has always been decent.” he tells him. “I was thinking maybe a small tea garden. I’d have to look into it in my 4 or 5 free minutes.” he again looks thoughtful. “The garden center … it has a lot of concrete planters, which I found interesting.” he shakes his head. “I need to not be obsessed with the mystery of this place.” he grins. “I just hope the island likes me, cause that could be the difference between a happy life and a not so happy one.” he’s almost joking.
“That's good to hear.” Jasper casually runs his hand up Levi’s arm and over his shoulder “I won’t subject you to a full check up tonight. Tea garden? So chamomile and mint? Herbals teas I’m assuming in this climate. Concrete planters….well maybe for businesses to have flowers?” He shrugs a bit and then looks at Levi “Did you feel like you weren’t liked in Vancouver? I mean it’s a big city so it can feel a bit impersonal. That’s not the case here.”
Levi rubs Jaspers arm. “Yea .. chamomile and mint and …. What else goes in tea?” Clearly he is a novice. “To calm my mind when he goes badshit crazy and I can’t sleep.” he shrugs about the planters, but comments on Vancouver. “Well no Maybe I am giving this island too much personality. My grandmother can be very suspicious. Not the one that thinks we can’t get covid because we’re Jewish … My biological grandmother is on my mothers side. The bat grandmother is Yoseph’s mother’s mother. Yes, I wound up calling a bunch of people ‘Gran’, but Saba and Savta are my biological grandparents on my mother and fathers sides.” he snorts. “My family tree looks like a primordial forest.”
Jasper thinks about the tea “Rose hips? Lemon balm? I’m no expert and I probably drink too much coffee for my own good. So do you mean suspicions about the mysteries we talked about?” He smiles “Your family sounds very delightfully complex. I’m one of three and I had three so it’s kind of a stuck on repeat in my case. Very typical childhood, parents stayed married, although that’s not really typical. Two sets of grandparents, all passed away at this point but in expected natural ways. I may have to make some cheat notes to remember how all your people connect.” He teases.
Levi looks interested. “Rose hips … and yea … I definitely drink too much coffee for my own good.” he then nods. “Yes. I’ll ask Saba. She’ll know.” he laughs. “Complex is a bit of an understatement and delightful … it depends on who you’re dealing with. Your family sounds normal to me. Not all of the step grandparents are still alive and I am biased, but I think mine are the best.” he hugs Jasper. “Make a set for me, because sometimes I get it wrong … granted I get it wrong on purpose a lot because … my father and his divorces. Maybe I can just stay here on this island. You don’t have to worry about my ruining your three child tradition. I’m not likely to get pregnant.” he winks. “But sometimes I think of my littler siblings as kids… well they are. It can get strange. People think I am their father sometimes. But that makes some sense since I am 13 years older than Immanuel.” he stops and looks at Jasper. “I tell you everything. No holds barred. That’s … not usually something I do. He blows out a breath. “If this is what this island does to me when it comes to you, I’m all for it.” he kisses him and then sighs. “Do I want to know what time it is?”
Jasper listens and then laughs hard about the pregnancy comment. “That would be a miracle of science if I wasn’t fixed. Different era of my life…” He nods about Levi seeing his siblings as his kids “Well it sounds like you parent them a lot so that’s not surprising.” Jasper visibly melts a bit at the no holds barred “I’ll take it. I love it.” He kisses Levi back and then groans about the time question “Nooo….no time….grrrr…” He sweeps his hand down to the floor and grabs for his pants knowing his phone is in the front pocket. He fishes out the phone and frowns “My 5 hour estimate was wrong….it’s 2:03 am. Shit….” He presses back into Levi and sighs “I need to go home and count my teenagers and hunt down any missing from the crew. But we’ll set another time to connect very soon Levi. I want more of you...much much more.” He leans in to kiss Levi goodbye and goodnight and knows at the beginning of their mouths connecting that he won’t be leaving until at least 2:30, and there will indeed be more.
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