Oliver Bennett vs. Adrian Graham

Pix of Donna's magical garden

Enjoy!

***

For a moment, Oliver thought he'd stepped into a page of a fairy-tale. The garden was simply magnificent. The perfectly preened hedges, the unprecedented wealth of spectacular floral displays planted in endless varieties, the slick modern landscaping alternated with the beautiful works was so breathtakingly beautiful it actually kept Oliver stunned for some time. He could see peacocks proudly prancing around. A soft splash drew his attention to a beautiful fountain to his left but a gasp tore out of his throat when he saw the man-made waterfall further up the huge garden. The sound of the splashing water attracted different types of birds, bringing life and motion to the whole setting and in effect, connecting a human to nature.

Though the superb well-executed, integrated design of the garden made it look effortless, it was obvious that a great deal of immense skill and razor-sharp attention to detail had gone into its construction. The passionate serenity of that garden soothed and calmed Oliver so much so that he totally forgot all the dread and apprehension that had made him feel sick on his way to Adrian's house.

"Calm down, Oliver." Adrian had kept telling him as he drove them towards his house. He'd held Oliver's hand throughout the drive.

Unlike Oliver, Adrian was okay with the meeting because he had the advantage of knowing Donna and what she wanted to do. Oliver didn't have that luxury. When they entered the gate of the large estate, Oliver's eyes had widened in shock.

"Dude, this is not a house. It's a villa." He'd gasped, making Adrian laugh. "Just how wealthy are you?"

"I guess I was rich even before I was born." Adrian chuckled. "My filthy rich grandfather died when my mother was pregnant with me. He willed all his wealth to his unborn grandchild. So..."

Adrian drove them into the large compound of the outstanding fifteen-bedroom villa. The residence oozed luxury and glamour, its exteriors alone revealing exquisite tastes and sophisticated facilities.

"It's fabulously magnificent." Oliver breathed.

And when Adrian drove him to the back of the house, right into that big marvelous garden, Oliver's jaw had dropped. And even as he led him to the beautifully displayed outdoor rattan tables, chairs and recliners on the black limestone patio, Oliver had still not been able to utter a word. That was how overwhelming the garden was. It took your breath away.

Oliver sat alone, taking in the beautiful scene as he waited for Donna. Adrian had asked him to wait whilst he went inside to fetch his wife. Oliver looked down at himself, hoping he was dressed okay. He'd changed his outfit about four times before finally settling on blue jeans, white Henley shirt and black boots.

"You look totally hot." Adrian had murmured huskily when he'd come to pick him up.

"Shit, that's not the look I was going for." Oliver had moaned worriedly.

"Hey, no matter what you wear, you look hot." Adrian had drawled. "So don't bother." He'd tenderly pushed back the strand of hair falling in Oliver's eyes. "You don't have any idea just how sexy you are, do you?" He'd whispered, leaning forward to kiss him.

So there he was, in a simple jeans and top, sitting on a stylishly classic patio, smack in the most beautiful garden he'd ever seen, waiting for his boyfriend's wife to come and hand him his arse. And Oliver was absolutely calm. One of the peacocks attracted his attention by opening its beautiful colourful tail wide into a splendid fan, and showing off by doing a complex dance. The shimmering tail vibrated, making a rattling sound. It was enthrallingly to watch. Oliver was so engrossed in the spectacle before him that he didn't even hear the sound of the electric wheelchair till it was close to him.

"Hello Oliver." Oliver heard a sweet voice call out and tore his eyes off the peacock to look at the beautiful redhead in a wheelchair. Donna. "Show offs aren't they?" Donna nodded towards the peacock.

Oliver chuckled. "What can I say? If you've got it, flaunt it." He turned back to look at the peacock as both of them laughed.

"I read that the female peacock usually chooses the male with the most impressive tail. They admire the eye markings on their tails and are said to mate with the male who has more 'eyes'." Donna said. "The more the better."

"Typical." Oliver turned to look at Donna who burst into laughter.

"I know right. Come on, let's walk." She said, and then promptly gave a sheepish smile. "Well, you walk and I...you know what I mean."

Oliver fell into step beside Donna. "You have a beautiful home Donna." Oliver said. "I'm in love with this garden."

"Thank you." Donna chuckled. "I love being here. It gives me a sense of peace."

"How are you doing?" Oliver asked softly. "Adrian said you've been sick."

"I'm better today because I bullied my doctor into giving me a super energy shot. Don't tell Adrian. He worries too much." She chuckled. "I mean look at me. I'm enjoying this again." She threw her hand up indicating the garden. "I've been too weak to come down here in a while. Those killjoys." She said in a voice that was so funny Oliver burst into laughter.

"Seriously this garden is really cool." He said. "Love, love, love the waterfall."

The two of them went around admiring the colourful birds and talking about general stuff. It was obvious they enjoyed each other's company. It almost felt as though they'd known each other for a while.

"So how's work?" Donna asked at a point. "I hear you're an IT genius." She chuckled.

Oliver blushed, grateful she hadn't called him a nerd like most people did. "Work is okay. It's fun so I enjoy it."

"There's nothing like enjoying what you do." Donna said. "I've always had this impression that all you IT people do is...play games." She laughed when Oliver burst into laughter. "Educate me Oliver."

"I can understand why you'd think that." Oliver laughed and then went ahead to tell Donna exactly what his work entailed. At a point, he crouched in front of Donna and used the buttons on her wheelchair to describe a process. "This electric wheelchair for instance is controlled by a handle, a joystick, a motion sensitive tube and a computer screen controller. Just like a video game." He laughed. "The controller is a computer interface which is responsible for speed control and..." He trailed off when he felt Donna's soft palm against his cheek. He looked up at her.

"You're gorgeous." Donna said softly. And when Oliver blushed, she grinned. "And so adorable. I see why he loves you. You know he does right?" And at the shocked expression on Oliver's face, Donna sighed. "You don't. You men are so dense at times. Do you love him Oliver?"

Oliver swallowed audibly. Was that a trick question? If he told her yes would she rain curses on him? Should he lie and say no? What was the appropriate thing to do?

"I don't know how to answer that." Oliver whispered.

"Then say yes. 'Cause I need you to love him, Oliver." Donna said softly.

"Yes. I do." He whispered the truth. "I'm sorry..."

"Hey, you don't have to be." Donna snorted, cutting him off. "You fell in love. There's nothing wrong with that, hon. You shouldn't be sorry because there's nothing criminal about loving someone. You didn't kill anyone. Nothing to be ashamed of." She rolled her eyes, making Oliver chuckle. "Besides, he's very easy to love." She added softly. "And I'm so happy you do."

"Are you really okay with this?" Oliver asked with eyes filled with incredulity.

"You have no idea just how much." Donna gushed. "You're shocked." It wasn't a question. "My relationship with Adrian is more like that of siblings now, Oliver. You have nothing to worry about. I know you feel guilty. Probably ask yourself what kind of person would be with a man when his wife was dying." Donna watched as shame and embarrassment filled Oliver's eyes. "Don't. I admire your strength."

Oliver nodded, understanding that Donna wasn't judging him. "I was afraid to come." He said quietly.

"I know." Donna chuckled. "I'd be scared too. I've thought about you a lot, Oliver. And I must confess I actually liked you though I hadn't seen you. Weird don't you think?"

"Very."

"I'm happy Adrian has you." She said softly. "I'm sure he already knows you care about him. But you have to tell him you love him, Oliver."

"He knows." Oliver said. At Donna's raised brow, he explained. "Well, I blurted it out by mistake when he told me you wanted to see me." He watched as Donna's mouth widened with a grin. "I told him you'd probably take just one look at me and know that I'm in love with him. I could have bitten off my tongue after I said that."

Donna burst into laughter. "Oh my God, that must have been painful. What did he say?"

"Nothing."

"The silly man." Donna muttered.

"I did apologize though. It hadn't been my intention to drop it on him like that."

"I need a favour from you Oliver."

"Anything Donna." Oliver said before he could check himself.

"I don't know whether Adrian has told you the seriousness of my illness. I don't have much time. That is why I wanted to meet you. I need you to do something very important for me after I'm...hey it's okay." Donna said, noticing Oliver's eyes well up with tears. "I'm at peace with it. Everyone's going to take that trip. I'm just taking it earlier." She shrugged.

"What do you want me to do?" Oliver asked shakily, wiping at his eyes. He'd never felt as sad as he did at that very moment. "I'll do anything."

"Adrian doesn't deal with grief well." Donna said quietly. "He just doesn't. He's going to push you away. Don't let him, Oliver. Because he's going to need you more than ever then. He can be very stubborn and headstrong when he wants to be. If you don't take a firm step and stay strong for him, force him to live, he'll hide himself in a cocoon of grief and refuse to come out."

"I'll take care of him Donna." Oliver said quietly. "I promise."

"It's going to be difficult. But you love him and he loves you right back so you can do it. The kids will need him. But he won't be able to be there for them if he's busy grieving." Donna furiously wiped at the tears on her cheeks. "Shit, sorry. I'm usually not so emotional. I just...I want to know that my family will be okay. And you're the only person who has the power to do that, Oliver. I'm sorry if... Oh God..." Donna paused and covered her eyes with her left palm, which was the only limb that actually worked. Tears leaked out from beneath the hand covering her eyes.

Donna didn't feel it when Oliver's arms wrapped around her waist but she heard his sobs and removed her hand from her eyes to look at him. Oliver's head was in her lap and he was crying his heart out.

"I'm so sorry Oliver. I know I'm putting a lot of burden on you and that is selfish of me but...you're my only hope. I don't have the luxury of being tactful at this point. Please love him like you've never before when the time comes. Please Oliver..."

At that point Oliver was sobbing so hard he couldn't even speak. Donna cupped the back of his head with her hand and cried too. Anyone witnessing the spectacle would think something really terrible had happened... And that was exactly what Florence, Donna's nurse thought when she decided to check on Donna by looking at her patient and her visitor on the surveillance monitor.

***

"Doc.?" Florence burst into Adrian's study where he was going through some files. "I th...think something's wrong." She stammered, her eyes filled with worry.

"What is it Florence?" Adrian shot out of his chair.

"It's Mrs. Graham."

"What's happened?" Adrian was already rushing out of the study past Florence.

"I'm not too sure but she and her visitor..."

But Adrian wasn't even listening. He ran as fast as he could towards the garden. His heart was pounding. What was going on, he thought as he ran. He shouldn't have left them alone, he silently berated himself.

Adrian came to a halt when he rounded the corner and saw the most heart-tugging sight ever. If it wasn't for the fact that they were both sobbing, he would have taken out his phone and captured that image. How was it even possible to love two totally different people so much and at the same time, he wondered. But he acknowledged the fact that though he loved them both, it wasn't the same. Somehow what he felt for Donna wasn't romantic at all. Clearly, they'd grown out of such feelings for each other. They acted like siblings who were very fond of each other. What he felt for Oliver on the other hand was the kind that made his heart pound, caused butterflies in his stomach and made him hard as rock.

Adrian leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss against Donna's hair when he got to where they were. He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped her face. Then he kissed her forehead.

"It's okay Don." He murmured. "It's okay." At Donna's nod, Adrian gently pulled Oliver off her and into his arms. He kept crying. Adrian didn't stop him. He watched as Donna gently rubbed Oliver on the back and smiled at her, mouthing an 'I love you' to her. She mouthed it right back.

When Oliver eventually quieted down, he stepped back from Adrian and accepted the handkerchief he held his way. "Thanks."

"Feeling better?" Adrian murmured as he watched Oliver wiping his face.

"Much." Oliver croaked and turned to look down at Donna with eyes filled with tenderness. "Thank you Donna." He bent down and kissed her on the cheek. But before he straightened up, he whispered in her ear. "I promise to do my best. But if he gives me shit, I'm gonna kick his arse."

Donna burst into laughter despite herself. She laughed even harder when her eyes landed on Adrian's comically confused face. And when Oliver saw Adrian's expression too, he couldn't help but join in the laughter.

"Err...care to share the joke?" Adrian asked as they all started towards the house with Donna riding in their middle. And when they both answered, no at the same time, he growled and gave a mock scowl, making them laugh even harder.

And at that moment, Adrian couldn't help but feel he was the luckiest man on earth.

***

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