"What kind of house is this, Mom?" Chris asks as he, his brother Adam and Mom, Cindy leave the lawyer's office.

"It's a beautiful Victorian style home that was built back in the 1800s by your great, great, great, grandfather Rupp." Cindy answers.

"But who are these residents that grandma said not to evict in her will?" Adam asks as they get into their car.

"Honey, your grandmother was a very loving and caring lady. She had a heart of gold." Cindy smiles. "Through the past several years, she opened her home to four homeless men all disabled in some way. She loved these guys and treated them as her own sons."

"Have you met these guys?" Chris asks. A little weary about the beggars living inside his and Adam's new home.

"Yes, I have. They're very sweet and they thought the world of your grandmother." Cindy smiles as they drive toward the home. "They all just fell on hard times and ended up on the streets. They're good guys that just couldn't move forward because of their disabilities. Too many cold hearted people in this world."

"So who are these guys and how long have they lived there?" Chris asks.

"Tim has lived in the house for about ten years. He's been blind from birth. He was a teacher at one time. Teaching braille. But the school closed and he, like I said, fell on hard times. Then there is Chance. He's been at the house for about eight years. He's mute. Because of some medical reason, he's unable to speak. He was an orphan and when he turned eighteen, he ended up on the streets. Then there is Austin. He's been there about seven years. He's deaf. When he was nineteen he was diagnosed with some kind of deteriorating disease that claimed his hearing. His parents were killed in an automobile accident a short time after and he was then homeless. Then lastly, Rob. A resident for four years. He was in a car accident about nine years ago and was paralyzed from his waist down. A few years later, his wife divorced him and kicked him to the streets. They are all sweet guys that just couldn't get a break in life. Not to mention, they are all very cute." Cindy smiles.

Cindy knew that both of her sons were gay. Chris and his boyfriend, Nate had been dating for around five years. But Adam had yet to find a serious relationship.

"Really?" Adam asks with a smile. Chris chuckles and rolls his eyes.

"Yep, but I think Austin and Chance may be in a relationship together." Cindy says as they drive up into the driveway and park behind a white van.

"Wow, this is beautiful." Chris comments as they get out of the car.

"Who's van is that?" Adam asks.

"Your grandmother bought it after she took in the guys." Cindy answers.

"Are any of them able to drive?" Adam asks as they make their way toward the house.

"Yes, she taught Austin and Chance how to drive and helped them get their driver's licenses." Cindy replies as she opens the door.

Chris notices a small plaque by the door that read 'Betty Lou's HELPING HANDS'.

As they walk into a large entrance hall, a television could be heard coming from the parlor to the left of the hallway.

"Hey, Guys?" Cindy calls out.

"We're in here, Ms. Rupp." A bass voice calls out from the parlor.

Adam's jaw drops as he hears the deep voice.

"Who the heck was that?" He whispers.

"That's Tim." Cindy giggles.

A large white dog trots out of the parlor and begins to wag his feather duster tail when it sees Cindy.

"This." Cindy says, squatting down to pet the large dog. "Is Satchmo, Tim's seeing eye dog." She giggles as Satchmo licks her face.

"Is he friendly?" Chris asks, one who has always had a small fear of dogs.

"He's a big baby." She laughs. "Until you try to hurt his owner or one of the others."

Cindy walks into the parlor, followed by her sons.

"Guys, I want you to meet the new proprietors of 'Helping Hands'. My sons, Chris and Adam." Cindy smiles.

A tall guy with long reddish-brown curly hair and a boyish face smiles as he walks up to them.

"Hi, I'm Austin." He says with a smile. "Glad to meet you." He says as he shakes their hands. He turns and motions to a bearded man with a round face and short hair wearing a baseball cap. "This is Chance, my boyfriend, he can't talk."

Chance smiles as he shakes the hands of Adam and Chris.

"Pleased to meet both of you." Chris smiles and Chance nods a hello.

Adam could not take his eyes off the man sitting on the couch. His long brown hair hung down to his shoulders. His beard was not quite as thick as Chance's but fit his face perfectly. He smiles in their direction although his beautiful brown eyes stare at emptiness.

"I'm Rob." The bearded man in the wheelchair waves. A very friendly smile could barely be seen under his bushy beard. The twinkle in his eyes and his slightly overweight body gave you the impression of a cuddly teddy bear.

"So you must be Tim?" Adam asks as he sits down on the couch next to the blind man.

"I am." Tim says in a low voice as he turns his attention to the voice beside him. "And you are?"

"I'm Adam." Adam answers with a smile as he stares at the handsome man.

"Very pleased to meet you, Adam." Tim smiles as he holds out his hand.

"Likewise, Tim." Adam says as he shakes Tim's hand.

Cindy smiles and looks around at Chris, both knowing that Adam seemed very interested in the brown-eyed man.

"So what're your plans for the place? You're not going to kick us out are you?" Austin asks in a worried tone.

"Oh, no." Chris chuckles shaking his head. "Our grandmother gave us strict orders that you guys are to stay and to always have a home."

"That's good to know." Rob chuckles slightly. "Cause we really ain't got anywhere else to go."

"Will yall be living here too?" Tim asks. "There's definitely plenty of room."

"Yeah, we thought it would be a good idea." Chris answers.

"That's good. Cause we kinda need help at times." Tim says with a nod.

"Especially me." Rob says with a smile.

"There are three more bedrooms on the second floor and the third floor is an attic that Betty fixed into a large lounge area." Tim says.

"Cool." Adam smiles.

Chance taps Austin on the arm and then says something with sign language.

"Chance said that Ms. Betty said it was our man cave." Austin chuckles.

"How are you able to get up there?" Chris asks turning to Rob.

"Elevator." Rob nods.

"Cool." Adam says with a smile.

Tim chuckles and hangs his head, silently hoping that Adam has a larger vocabulary.

************

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