Chapter 1
The Nation’s Top Male Model, Mark Antonious Richfield, returned to his son, actor Alexander Mark Richfield, and Alex’s husband, Lt Billy Sharpe’s home in Bel Air, California.
It was Christmas Day and he had just dropped off his two young sons, Isaac Milton Richfield, who was nine, and Jacob Bentley Richfield, who was eight, at his ex-husband’s home in Sherman Oaks.
Mark and his ex shared three children together, their two boys, and a daughter, Lily Hayden Bergman who was six.
Since the young children had the week between Christmas and New Year’s off, Mark allowed Isaac and Jacob to spend three days with their young actor father, Stan Bergman, and then on Wednesday evening, Mark was going to fly back with his sons, and Lily, in his private Learjet to Paradise, California, where he owned a sprawling estate with a large manor house.
Driving a rental sedan his present husband, Steven Jay Miller, had acquired for their stay, Mark parked the car on the street. Seated beside him was Mark’s nanny, former-LAPD fireman, Blake Hughes. Blake wanted to see Lily, whom he adored, and give her her Christmas gift.
As Mark shut off the motor of the car, he noticed several vehicles in the driveway of his eldest son’s home, recognizing many.
It appeared their friends decided to spend the day here.
Alex’s home was large, but hardly large enough to accommodate this many for any type of formal dinner.
Blake said, “Looks like the gang’s all here.”
“Indeed.” Mark exited the car and was able to see inside the home through the front window. His son’s dog, Lady, a white Saluki-mix mutt, barked at them through it.
Before he entered, Mark checked the time on his watch. It was near four pm, and the plan for the men living at the manor house was for a five o’clock departure.
Mark held Blake back on the front stoop of his son’s home. “I scheduled the pilots to be ready to leave Burbank Airport at five.”
Blake also looked at his watch. “That’s fine. We still have time.”
Nodding, Mark touched Blake’s arm and they entered the house.
“‘bout time, Richfield!” former lifeguard Josh Elliot shouted from the living room.
The open-planned home was packed with men eating off of paper plates.
Lady sniffed at him and Blake, her fringed tail wagging.
Mark noticed Jack Larsen, his best friend from college, who now worked for him in his clothing manufacturing firm, Richfield-Miller International, gazing at him from the kitchen. He did not look pleased.
As Mark removed his leather jacket, he spotted his husband, Steve, glaring at him… a beer in his hand.
Steve had successfully given up alcohol for years and suddenly this holiday weekend he changed his mind? Why?
Mark tossed his jacket on the bed and shut the bedroom door.
~
