Page 3 (conclusion)
DeAnna Zankich
Sequel is | The Second Day
Summary: Stuart ends up a bit gun shy emotionally after being left alone by Vince and it takes him a little time to get "back in the swing of things". Kate comes to visit for the engagement party.
Warnings: None
Author Notes: Bibliographic notation: This title is a line deeply embedded in the Molly Bloom soliloquy, otherwise known as the chapter "Episode 18: Penelope" of James Joyce's Ulysses. As we all know, Mr. Joyce is also an Irishman.
By nine o'clock, the flat was full of people. He stood behind the
kitchen counter which was serving as a bar and buffet that night and
looked around at all the guests.
Alexander and Dane were entertaining a small group of people from
Stuart's office over in the lounge, regaling them with tales of
debauchery on Canal Street. Stuart's colleagues were listening
politely but it was clear they were just this side of horrified.
Hazel and Romey had been sitting with Margaret for half an hour and
Hazel had instructed one of the bar staff to keep Margaret's glass
full. She caught Vince's eye as he was looking in her direction and
they smiled at each other.
Clive and Lisa had been circulating together, stopping at every
cluster of conversation and mixing themselves into it with ease.
Vince had never realized how similar their senses of humor were and
he found it very interesting to see them get on so well. Lisa looked
lovely in a soft green dress and pearls and she decorated Clive's arm
with class and innate grace.
Kate had been carrying Alfred around ever since Romey and he arrived
and Vince smiled to himself at how natural and at ease she looked
with a child. He figured he'd keep that observation to himself,
though. At least for the time being. She looked more like Nicole
Kidman that night than ever with her long cranberry dress and high
heels, her hair swept up in an elegant twist with a delicate diamond
studded clip holding it in place. She walked into the kitchen with
Stuart's son and parked him on a clear space on the counter.
"Phew," she said, rubbing the small of her back with her
hands. "You're heavy for a little one," she told him.
Alfred grinned at her and his blue eyes sparkled just like daddy's.
"He really likes you," Vince said.
"It's very mutual. I need a drink. Do you mind keeping an eye on
him for a second."
"'Course not," he said, giving Alfred a wink.
"I'll be right back, you little cutie," she told the child, then she
kissed Vince's cheek and went off to the nearest mini bar.
Vince reached over the counter to a plate of fruit sitting there and
picked up a slice of fresh peach. He offered it to Alfred who took
it with interest and began gnawing it. Standing close to the boy and
placing his arms on either side of his little body protectively,
Vince continued to survey the room.
A burst of laughter from over near the dining room table caught his
attention and Vince turned to see Bernie and Sandra sharing a joke,
slapping each other's shoulders and doubling over in near hysterics.
He chuckled to himself. Whatever it was those two thought was so
funny, he had the feeling he didn't want to know.
The intercom buzzer rang and Vince looked around for his lover. Not
seeing Stuart anywhere, he picked Alfred up and carried him over to
the white phone near the door.
"Hel-loh?"
"Vince? It's Nathan and Donna."
"Oh, hiya. Come on up." He pressed the button that unlocked the
door then he went back to the kitchen and replaced Alfred on the
counter. The little bugger was getting heavy in his old age.
Kate crossed the room in his direction, carefully balancing a martini
with both hands as she walked precariously in her high heels. She
sipped it before she entered the kitchen, then she came back over to
where Vince stood.
"I should have had him make me two," she said. "Did you miss me,
honey?" She kissed Alfred's forehead leaving a vague pink lipstick
print on his skin. "Where's Stuey? I haven't seen him in twenty
minutes."
"Maybe he snuck out," Vince offered. "Can't say I'd blame him."
She socked him in the arm playfully. "I think his folks are nice."
"Yeah," he agreed. "I rather like his father. Always have. And
Margaret's sweet, she's just . . . she's . . ."
"Old fashioned," Kate finished.
"Right."
"I hear his sister is divorced, God forbid. How did Mom take that?"
"Not well," Vince said, recalling all the terrible tales Marie shared
with them while she and Robert were going through their
separation. "Clive did his best to keep the peace, but Margaret
wouldn't let up about the failure of it all. It was quite rough on
Marie."
"Will I like her? The sister?"
"I think so. She's quite frank. Speaks her mind, like you."
"Hm," Kate said. "That could be a recipe for trouble. Is she
anything like your mom?"
"No . . . not really. Marie and Hazel are different sorts of frank."
"I LOVE your mom," she said. "But she's so suspicious of me. What
does she think, I'm fucking Stuart or something?"
"No," Vince said, laughing at the idea. "She's just . . . I think
she was concerned that you might be a bad influence on him."
"Bright lady," Kate grumbled, sipping her drink.
Vince shrugged. "Well, she's just a bit on the protective side. Of
both of us. She wants us to be happy."
"We all do, sugar." Kate kissed his cheek again, wiping off the
little smudge of lipstick. "So, when are you going to make the
announcement?"
"Not everyone's here yet. And, I think Stuart wants to tell his
parents privately. Before we say it outloud to everyone else, you
know."
"Right. Most people know, anyway, don't they?"
He shook his head. "No. I think only Romey and Lisa. You and
Hazel. That's it."
The knock on the door startled him a bit, having forgotten Nathan and
Donna were coming up. "Right, excuse me a minute."
Vince walked over to the door and pushed it open, smiling at the two
young people as they came into the party. Donna was always adorable
and she was in a powder blue, shimmering cocktail dress with big,
chunky shoes and tiny ribbons in her hair. She held a beautifully
wrapped gift out to him, then she kissed his cheek cheerfully.
"I'm not sure why, but I thought I should bring you a present," she
almost sang. "It's nothing, really, it's just something I thought
you would like."
"Well, thank you, Donna. That's very thoughtful of you. Please come
in. There's food and drinks everywhere. Make yourselves at home."
Nathan offered him a tense smile then followed Donna into the party.
"Nathan," Vince said and the boy turned around. "All right?"
"Yeah," he said. "Thanks for inviting us. It's really nice o' you."
He smiled as politely as he could. "Well, I'm glad you could join
us. Go on, then. Get Donna a drink." He took her gift and brought
it to the bedroom where they had placed the few other "host" gifts
guests had brought. Vince glanced around in there for Stuart, but
the bedroom and bathroom were both empty. "Where have you got off
to?" he said under his breath as he went back downstairs.
Stuart:
He sat up with an annoyed frown as Alexander opened the guestroom
door.
"Ooooh," he said. "Shitface, what're you doing hiding in here?
You've got a house full of guests."
"What do you need?" he asked crisply.
"I was looking for your second loo. The main one is occupied and
nature is calling."
"In there. Mind Kate's things."
"Of course." Alex walked through the room and closed himself into
the guest bathroom.
Stuart lay back down on the bed, sighing. Through the open door he
could see their little cocktail party in full swing and he wondered
if his sister was there yet. He didn't hear her voice or see the
kids running around, so he assumed she hadn't arrived. His head
throbbed and his stomach was doing flips and all he really wanted to
do was run screaming out of that party and never look back.
Alex came out of the loo, drying his hands delicately on a towel. He
looked at Stuart through the doorway. "What's wrong with you,
anyway?"
"Gotta headache."
"Take a pill. You've got guests. Get off your lovely arse and come
join us." He stepped forward and reached for Stuart's hands,
hoisting him up to a standing position.
They stood toe to toe looking at each other and Alex batted his big
blue eyes. "Mr. Jones," he said with his most camp
inflection. "Don't tell me you're scared of your mummy."
"Fuck off," he said and then he forced a sarcastic smile. He walked
out of the room, taking a deep breath before he made his way over to
where his mother was still sitting with Romey and Hazel.
He and Hazel made eye contact and Vince's pretty mother gave him a
nod. Apparently his own mother was suitably lubricated with alcohol
and ready to embark on this very intense conversation.
Stuart sat on the arm of the chair his mother was in and she smiled
up at him.
"Oh, there you are, luv," Margaret said. "That color is lovely on
you. You should wear it all the time."
"Hazel said that once, as well," he said, smiling over at her. "Mum,
can I steal you for a minute?"
"Of course," she said. She got out of the oversized chair carefully,
holding her wineglass out so she wouldn't spill it.
Stuart led her toward Kate's bedroom and closed the door after them.
Instantly the room seemed twice as small and twice as quiet and
Stuart swallowed, hearing his dry throat click.
Margaret Jones looked around the room before she sat down on the end
of the bed. "My, you've got a lot of space in this flat. Every door
leads to another big room."
"Yeah," he said. "We use it all, too." He took a deep breath and
walked over to the bed, sitting down beside his mother.
"Is something wrong, Stuart?" she asked, placing her hand on his knee
lightly.
"Um . . . no. Actually, it's . . . something good. I just . . .
don't know how to tell you. Don't know what you'll say."
"Should we get your father?"
"No," he said, looking right at her. "I want to . . . tell you on
our own. I don't think it'll be as difficult for Dad."
"You said it was something good," she pointed out, her brow knitting.
"It is."
"Then why will it be hard for me to take, luv?"
She was trying to be a supportive mother, like she always had been
when he was growing up, but the more she did that, the worse he
felt. He figured it was best to just blurt it out.
"Mum . . ." he swallowed hard again. "Vince and I are . . . well,
you see, we're going to . . ."
"Get married?" Margaret said softly.
When he looked at her then, her eyes were smiling at him and he
almost fell off the bed she looked so calm. Not just calm, but she
wasn't at ALL bothered. This was not what he'd expected.
"Yeah," he said. "Well, it's actually a commitment ceremony. We got
engaged when we were on holiday in Scotland a few weeks ago."
She patted his knee with the hand she'd had resting there and then
she leaned over and kissed his cheek very softly. "Stuart, you know
I adore Vince."
"Everyone does."
"And you know your father and I are very happy that it was him you
decided to . . . be with."
Stuart just nodded.
"Well, I think it's wonderful that you're going to make such a
commitment to each other. I really do. I wish you all the happiness
in the world." Margaret put her arm around his neck and hugged him,
kissing him again before she moved away. She was more than a little
drunk which he felt certain was working in his favor.
"Thanks," he said, completely astounded. "I was . . . afraid
you'd . . ."
"I can tell," she said. "Stuart, after the initial shock of you
telling us . . . about yourself-well, I think anything that follows
will be . . . well, easier. This, however, was even expected. And I
am truly happy for you. Have you set a date?"
"Yeah, just. June second."
"Oh, lovely!" She sipped from her glass and kept the smile in her
eyes.
Stuart figured since she was doing so well, he should forge on. "And
we were hoping that maybe . . . we could have it . . . at yours. In
Dad's garden."
"Oh!" Margaret said, her expression going wistful. "That would be
lovely, wouldn't it? Your father will be so happy to do that for
you."
"Do ya think?" Stuart said, again utterly shocked by her reaction.
"Of course! You know, he always knew. About you. You did know
that, right?"
"I had a feeling."
"Well, he was-needless to say-very helpful to me initially. Helping
me grow accustomed to it all. Your father is a wonderful man when he
wants to be."
She and Stuart both laughed knowingly. Then, after a moment Stuart's
mind registered what his mother had just said.
"Wait, what do you mean he `always knew'? When did he find out?"
Margaret took a deep breath and looked off thoughtfully. "I think he
first mentioned his suspicions when you were about nine or ten. One
night he said to me `I believe Stuart might fancy blokes' and I just
threw a pillow at his head. Called him a daft git. You know me,"
she said, offering a self-deprecating smile. "Always the last to
know."
"Did I do something that tipped him off?" he said.
"Oh, I don't think so. Your father is very perceptive. And he loves
you and Marie so much. Such a `kid person', your father. It's
likely he just had a sense of it."
A light knock on the door made them both look up. Vince cracked the
door and poked his head in, smiling apologetically.
"Sorry to disturb you," he said. "Just wanted you to know Marie's
here."
"Vince!" Margaret stood up suddenly and walked over to him, throwing
her arms around his neck. "Congratulations! Stuart just told me!
I'm so happy for you."
Vince looked at him over her shoulder with wide, bewildered eyes.
Stuart just shrugged and spread his hands. He was still stunned and
had nothing coherent to say.
"Uh, thank you," Vince stammered. "Thanks so much, really. Yeah.
It's all pretty . . . overwhelming, but it's nice. I'm quite pleased
of course."
Margaret looked at him, sweetly. "Vince, my son couldn't be more
fortunate."
"Aw," he said, blushing like mad. "Thanks."
"What's all the ruckus back here?" Marie pushed the door open the
rest of the way and stepped into the room. "Having a private party
at your private party?"
"Stuart and Vince are engaged!" Margaret chorused. "Isn't that
wonderful? They're getting married June second, luv," she told her
daughter. "We're having a wedding!"
Marie looked at her brother and lifted an eyebrow. "You're joking."
"Nope."
She turned to Vince and gave him a playful nudge in the
ribs. "Bloody fool. You'll be sorry." She laughed and kissed his
cheek. "Congratulations, Vince. Although I'm half certain most of
the congratulations should go to my little brother for keeping you
all this time."
Stuart rolled his eyes, glad to have Marie in the mix and also
thankful for her levity. There was something strange and
disconcerting about his mother's reaction and he didn't think it had
much to do with her being tipsy.
He got up and let his sister hug him, then he walked over to Vince
and gave him a kiss on the lips. He'd never done that in front of
his family before and Vince looked at him with slightly surprised
eyes. Before he could say anything, Margaret had shouldered passed
them in the doorway and had burst out into the party clapping her
hands to get the attention of the guests.
"Uh oh," Marie said, bolting out after her mother. "Mum! Mum, be
quiet. It's the boys' news. You should let them break it." She put
her arms around Margaret and smiled sheepishly at the guests who were
watching them.
"Oh, you're absolutely right," Margaret said, slurring slightly. She
turned back to Stuart and Vince and gave them a bright smile, her
eyes twinkling with emotion. "Please, you two. Tell your friends
the good news."
* * *
Vince:
Placing his arm around Stuart's waist, they walked out into the
middle of the floor. His heart was hammering away in his chest and
he looked around anxiously for Hazel.
Right on cue, she appeared at his side with three glasses of
champagne. A waiter stood behind her with a tray full of the
delicate flute glasses and he circulated around until everyone had a
drink.
Hazel leaned in to whisper to them. "Is she all right?" she asked,
casting a glance to Margaret.
"I'm . . . not sure," Stuart said. "I thought she was but . . . I'm
just not sure. How much wine did she have?"
"Just a few glasses," she said innocently.
"Maybe she's just a bit drunk," Vince suggested, looking at Hazel
with disapproval.
"Even so . . ." Stuart frowned at his mother as she continued to call
the other guests to gather around.
"I'll go find your father just in case." Hazel made her way through
the crowd who were converging on the couple to hear their
announcement.
After a moment, she returned with Stuart's father in tow. She
brought him to Margaret and Marie and then she returned to Vince's
side.
"Right, then," she said. "You lads are on. It's now or never."
The room had gone quiet as everyone waited with their champagne
glasses poised. Vince looked at his lover with wide eyes, hoping he
would be the one to make any necessary speeches.
As though he'd been rehearsing for that moment his entire life,
Stuart raised his chin and smiled graciously at their guests and then
he began to speak-his voice bright and clear as a bell.
"Well I'm sure most of you won't be at all surprised by this
announcement, but I reckon there are the odd few that are still
holding out hope that Vince and I won't actually stay together." He
smiled directly at Nathan who looked down shyly.
A genuine laugh rippled through the crowd from those few guests who
were in on the joke.
"But for some completely mad reason, this fine gentleman here has yet
to abandon me." He looked at Vince with those mysterious, deep blue
eyes. "I know I don't hardly deserve him, but Vince has asked me to
marry to him."
That laugh went through the crowd again but louder that time and a
few people shouted humorous remarks about the likelihood of THAT ever
happening.
"No, really," Vince said, finding his voice. "I DID ask him.
Really."
The crowd let out a warm, collective "aawwwww" and then the glasses
started to raise.
Vince lifted his glass and smiled at his lover. "We would be most
pleased if all of you would join us on the second of June when we're
actually going to exchange vows."
"Oh my God!" Sandra squealed, stepping forward in the
crowd. "Stuart, I can plan parties `til I'm blue in the face, but a
WEDDING is a far more complicated matter! We'll have to get a
coordinator!"
Everyone laughed again and congratulations were offered all around.
The guests moved in close to give the boys hugs and kisses and wishes
for happiness.
Vince reached down and squeezed Hazel's hand during all of it, hoping
she wouldn't leave him on his own. Stuart stood close by his side
and they weeded through the well-wishers with big, genuine smiles,
but all he could think of was when they would be alone together.
When they could be warm and naked and quite in their bed again,
thinking about the moment they were in just then and talking about
how it felt. Taking a deep breath, Vince held that thought in his
mind and then he gently let go of his mother's hand so he could shake
the hand of Stuart's father.
* * *
Stuart:
Sitting off on their own in the lounge, Stuart and Clive were
drinking whiskeys and exchanging nervous, polite smiles. Kate had
put on some music and a few people were dancing. Lisa and Romey were
attempting to enlist some of the guests in a line dance, but they
weren't having many takers.
"Is she really all right?" Stuart asked as they both glanced at Marie
and Margaret in the kitchen. The women were both drinking coffee and
chatting with Alexander. The conversation seemed congenial enough,
but Stuart had his doubts. God only knew what Alex was saying to his
mother.
"Oh son, your guess is as good as mine, I'm afraid," Clive said.
Stuart had always loved the sound of his father's voice-the soft lilt
of his accent was a secret source of comfort to him.
"She said you knew about me since I was nine," he said, looking
sidelong at Clive.
The older man shrugged and sipped his whiskey. "There around."
"You never said."
"What's to say?" Clive asked. "It was nothing to do with me. It was
personal. Yours. I figured if you wanted to talk to me about it,
you'd make your way to me."
Stuart sighed, looking down uncomfortably. This sort of emotional
exchange was always awkward between him and his father, but he felt
it was necessary to carry on.
"I'm . . . sort of . . . sorry I didn't," he said. "Talk to you
sooner, I mean."
Clive nodded speculatively, looking down into his drink as he swirled
the brown liquid around in the glass. "Well, I am, too," he replied
softly. "Vince is a good lad."
Stuart offered a cheeky grin. "He's not THAT good."
Laughing genuinely, Clive said, "For your sake, I certainly hope not."
Stuart blushed from having spoken so plainly with his father and he
shook his head. "Are you really sure about the garden?"
"Oh, absolutely," Clive said. "It'll be my pleasure. Give me an
excuse to get off me arse and clean up out there."
"Clean up?" Stuart said. "Dad, your garden could be in a bloody
magazine."
"Well, not now," he said. "But, definitely by the second of June.
That's next year, right?" his blue eyes twinkled playfully.
"Sorry. You've got less than two months."
"Ah," Clive said, waving his hand dismissively. "No problem. It'll
be just what you want."
"It's what Vince wants. I just want . . ." He looked down, trailing
off and his eyes scanned the room for his lover's eyes.
Vince stood in the center of all the activity out by the kitchen, the
guests chattering to him in excited tones and the servers milling
around refreshing everyone's drinks. He looked radiant and beautiful
and the tiny white lights hanging around the flat flashed in his
eyes.
"Seems you've got what you want," Clive said softly. "You behaving
yourself?" His eyes fixed his son's and the two men stared at each
other.
Stuart shifted uneasily but said nothing.
"Well, you are MY son," Clive said. "Just thought I'd better ask."
"Oh," Stuart said, laughing. "Now what does THAT mean? Christ Dad,
you're not saying . . ."
"I'm not saying a bloody thing," he said, grinning. "Only that the
Jones men are traditionally . . . how should I put this . . . quite
successful in love."
They both laughed outloud and it was the first time in ages Stuart
could recall doing that with his father. The sound of their sudden
laughter made Vince and Marie look over at them and Stuart caught
Vince's eyes for a second. He saw so much emotion in those pale blue
eyes that he actually had to look away.
Marie wandered over to where they were seated and perched herself on
the arm of her father's chair. "Listen to the two of you," she
said. "Laughing like school boys. You were talking about sex,
weren't you?"
They laughed even louder and she shook her head. "Men. You're all
the same."
Nathan and Donna were dancing near the lounge and Clive nodded toward
them. "Christ, do you two remember having that much energy? I
certainly don't. Can't think where it all went."
Stuart and Nathan glanced at each other and the boy offered his
characteristic bright smile. Stuart smiled back.
"How do you know that lad, then?" Marie asked.
Clearing his throat, Stuart said, "he stayed at Hazel's for a bit.
We got to know each other."
"Oh, is she still taking in lodgers?" Clive asked.
"Yeah. Alex is staying with her now. And her friend, Bernie."
"I met Bernie," Clive said. "Quite a card, that one."
Stuart chuckled. "Yeah."
Donna went off to get another diet Coke and Nathan sauntered over to
where Stuart sat.
"Hiya," he said cheerfully.
"Hey, Nathan. Have you met my sister and my dad? This is Clive
Jones and Marie Threepwood. Nathan Maloney."
They all shook hands and exchanged greetings and Stuart squirmed in
his seat.
"Nice to meet you both," Nathan said. Then he turned his attention
to Stuart. "Well, just wanted to say congratulations and all. Quite
something, all this."
"Sure is," Stuart smiled and rolled his eyes. "Who'd have thought?"
"Right?" Nathan laughed nervously. "So, you're doing the ceremony
on June 2nd?"
"Uh huh. At my parents' house. Should be nice."
"Yeah. Well . . ." Nathan smiled again, then suddenly he stepped
forward and put a kiss on Stuart's cheek. "Congratulations. It's
brilliant, really."
"Thanks, Nathan." He took in an unconscious breath when the boy was
closest to him and he licked his lips.
Offering a shy wave, Nathan turned around and went off to where Vince
was standing-most likely to say much the same thing to him. Stuart
watched while Vince received the younger man's good wishes and then
Nathan surprised him by also kissing Vince's cheek.
"He seems sweet," Marie said, her sharp eyes connecting directly with
her brother's. "His girlfriend is adorable."
"I think they're just friends," Stuart said almost under his breath,
not wanting to appear to know TOO much about Nathan Maloney.
Vince glanced over at Stuart as Nathan moved off to find Donna
again. Excusing himself from the cluster of people he'd been talking
to, he crossed the crowded room to where the Jones' were seated.
Vince sat himself down on the couch between Clive and Stuart, letting
out a long sigh.
"Quite a night, eh?" Clive said, smiling at him.
"I'll say. Clive, are you absolutely sure it's all right if we use
your garden?"
"Don't mention it again," he said. "You and I will get together next
week and sketch out some plans. Do you know how many guests you'll
have?"
"Around fifty, I imagine."
While Vince and his father talked, Stuart's eye caught his mother
walking out of the kitchen and making her way through the crowd to
get to their bedroom door. Stuart watched her walk up the steps and
then close the door after her.
"Be right back," he said, finishing his drink and then starting
across the room.
"Do you need me?" Marie asked, apparently having clocked their
mother's movements as well.
He glanced back at her a bit helplessly. "Dunno. I'll . . . stick
my head out and yell for help if I do, yeah?"
"I'll wait here." She gave him a wink and he headed off to the
bedroom.
He knocked gently then opened the door to find Margaret sitting on
the edge of the bed with her face in her hands. Stuart stepped into
the room quietly and closed the door after him. For a moment he just
stood there, completely uncertain what he should do or say. Then he
took a deep breath and walked over to the bed, sitting down beside
his mother.
He put his arm over her shoulder gently but awkwardly and she looked
up at him. Her eyes were wet and rimmed with red.
"I thought you were being a bit too easy going about it all," he
said. "I'm . . . Mum, I don't know what to say. Of course I don't
want you to be upset, but I understand . . ."
Margaret sniffed and wiped gingerly at her eyes, taking care not to
smear her mascara. "I'm so sorry, Stuart. I don't know what's wrong
with me. I'm acting like a lunatic."
"No you're not," he said. "You're being completely normal. You're
acting just how I thought you would. Well, now you are. Before you
were sort of scaring me with all that joy."
She laughed and placed a hand on his leg. "Oh, luv. I really am
pleased for you and Vince. It's just so much to . . . take in. I
think I've only just got used to the idea that my only son's queer
and now . . . you're getting married. Can two men actually GET
married?"
"Not exactly. It's just a ceremony, you know. Promises. Vows. The
saying of it all."
"You are planning to look after him, though-financially," she said.
"'Course I am. If he'll let me, that is. Vince is very proud about
that sort of thing. I want to add him to the deed on the flat but I
know he'll balk at it. I've already got life insurance and all that
with him as beneficiary. But he doesn't know about any of those
policies yet. I did all that when he first moved in here."
"Did you?" she said, looking in his eyes. "What made you so certain
it would last?"
Stuart shrugged. "Didn't really matter if it didn't. I would have
done all that for Vince anyway, just because he was my Vince for all
those years. My best mate. I've been trying to look after that
proud bastard-and his even prouder mother-ever since I started making
money. Those Tylers have bloody hard heads. He probably won't even
let me set up a joint checking account."
Margaret leaned into her son and rested her head on his shoulder.
For a long time they just sat like that, rocking very gently to the
beat of the music playing outside the door. Van Morrison's "Tupelo
Honey". It was one of Vince's favorite songs and he figured Hazel
must have selected it.
"This song reminds me of when you and Marie were kids," she said
softly. "Your father and I danced to it once in the kitchen at four
o'clock in the morning after you'd both been up all night with some
terrible stomach virus."
Stuart smiled. "Christ, I remember that."
"You were barely two," she said incredulously.
"So? I still remember. Every time Marie threw up, I threw up."
"And vice versa," she said and they both laughed. "Oh, you poor
little darlings. We felt so badly for you. But you finally fell
asleep and there we were-exhausted and wrung out, dancing to this
song on the kitchen floor in that tiny house we had in Dublin. Do
you remember that house, Stuart?"
"A little. I remember the garden and the big tree. And the stone
walkway." He stood up and held out his hand to her. "May I have
this dance, Mrs. Jones?"
Smiling at her son, Margaret stood up and stepped into his arms.
They danced gently in the small space beside the bed, her forehead on
his shoulder. Van Morrison sang that sweet song and the sound of
conversation and laughter filtered through the glass.
"I suppose all this makes me feel old," she said after a while. "Old
and out of touch."
He said nothing, just lead their movement gently and let her carry on
with her thought.
"Are you happy, luv?" Margaret looked up into his eyes. "Is he good
to you?"
"Always has been," Stuart said. "Vince is excellent. I'm quite
lucky."
"So, you're happy?" she repeated.
"I am."
She smiled then lowered her head down onto his shoulder
again. "Well, I certainly can't complain that you won't give me
grandchildren."
He laughed softly. "I'm pretty sure there's just going to be the
one, though."
"That's fine," she said. "Alfred's wonderful. All my grandchildren
are boys," Margaret mused. "I wonder if that means something."
"Yeah, it means you'll never have to buy anyone a bra. Well, at
least I HOPE not."
They both chuckled and then she stopped moving and looked at him
seriously. "I hope you know that I'm trying really hard with all
this."
"I know, Mum. I'm sorry it's so difficult." He looked back at her,
his mind flooded with troubled memories of last Christmas and all the
strain of coming out to his parents for the first time.
She seemed to read his expression and offered a slightly pallid
smile. "Like I said, it all just makes me feel so bloody old."
He sighed and kissed her forehead, slowly beginning to dance again.
Kate:
Alfred is looking very sleepy so I ask Romey if she wants me to put
him down on my bed, since it's the furthest away from the party. She
agrees and I carry him back to my bedroom.
I lay him down on the bed and cover him up with a soft blanket, then
I just sit there for a minute and watch him sleep. He's the perfect
mix of Romey and Stuart-at least at this point in his life. He'll be
a year old next month. Romey's letting his curls grow wild and
they're already forming into ringlets just like Daddy's. His
eyelashes are so long, they touch his round pink cheeks and his lips
look like they were painted on with a really tiny brush. He's
beautiful, no doubt about it.
A light knock on the door precedes Romey coming in.
"Hiya," she says, smiling in that sweet way she has. I like Romey.
She's the real deal. "Is he all right?"
"Perfect," I say. "He's so beautiful, I just want to take him home
with me."
She stands by the bed for a second and looks down at her son with
that expression only new mother's seem to have-adoration, awe, hope,
overwhelming love and fear. I wonder at what age the adoration and
awe drain out of mother's expressions because you rarely see that
look on the maternal parent of a teenager.
"Lisa and I are going to be leaving soon anyway," she says. "Is it
all right if he rests in here `til we're ready."
"He can stay all night if he wants," I say.
"Thanks, Kate. I'll be right outside."
"No worries."
She leaves, closing the door carefully after her. The party's not
that loud, anyway. It's just the chatter and the CD player. Harry
Connick, Jr.'s first. I haven't heard that record in ages.
In fact . . . the last time I heard it, I was with Brian at his
parent's house. It was their parents' wedding anniversary and my
best friend had bought that CD for them as a gift. We danced to it
all night.
Glancing at my watch, I reach for the phone and dial his house.
"Yeah?"
"It's Kate."
"Hey. You all right?"
"Yeah, I'm just being quiet. I'm babysitting."
"Stuart's kid?" he asks. I can hear him light a joint then suck in
his breath as he hits from it.
"Yeah. God, Bri. You should see this baby. He's so beautiful you
just want to puke."
"Looks like Dad, I presume." His voice is strained from holding the
smoke in his lungs.
"He does. His mother is really pretty, too, though. Kid's got all
the advantages. What are you doing besides getting stoned in my ear?"
"I'm not getting stoned. It's an appetizer. Gotta meet Mikey at
eight for dinner."
I take my shoes off and lie back on the bed, taking care not to move
too much and wake the baby. "Have you seen the little teenage dish
this week?"
"Leave him out of this, will you?" he groans and I grin. I love to
rip on him about that kid, Justin. Just makes me laugh like hell.
"Well, HAVE you seen him?" I press.
"Didn't I just say I don't want to talk about it?"
"Party pooper."
"Speaking of parties, how's theirs?"
"Nice," I say. "Their friends are really cool. Vince's mother hates
me."
"Can you blame her?"
"Fuck off, stretch, she hates me cuzza you. In her eyes, I'm the
bringer of the Evil Brian Monster. She'll never forgive me. At
least not in this lifetime."
"Whatever. Vince and Stuart are grown-ups. They make their own
decisions. Did they announce the engagement yet?"
"Yeah. About an hour ago. It is sweet, actually. Stuart's mom
birthed a small heifer, but she seems okay now."
"What's she like?"
"Um . . . old fashioned," I say, repeating the description from my
earlier conversation with Vince. "She's nice and all, but she
doesn't look she has much fun. Now, his dad . . . that Clive is
another story. I like him. He's got these twinkling, mischievous
eyes."
"Just like Stuart's," Brian says.
"Ick. Listen to you. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were
carrying a torch."
Brian just breathes a laugh. He can't be bothered to comment on
that. "Where are the boys now?"
"Out at the party. They liked your gift, even though they wouldn't
tell me what it was about. Will you?"
"Keep it a secret . . ." he says and I can't help but grin. I love
it when he dishes.
"Okay, hit me."
"Our sweet little Stuart and Vince have a couple of interesting kinks
among them. Vince has a thing about Stuart's hair. He's all
possessive of it and shit. Like-he wouldn't even let me touch it
when we were all fucking. If he'd have been a pit bull, he would
have bit my hand off."
"Woooowwww," I say, giggling. "Our Vince is a bit of a dark horse,
isn't he?"
"I think it goes way deeper than he's letting on, but that's just my
opinion," Brian says. "I can see it in his eyes. Vince has done
some shit in his life."
"So . . . how does the hand mirror come into it?" I say, getting him
back on track.
"They have this fancy silver brush they like to use for . . . well,
you can imagine. When we were all together, Stuart and I were doing
Vince-we were both licking his ass and-"
"WAIT JUST A FUCKING MINUTE," I whisper loudly-but not too
loudly. "You did WHAT? God, gay men have so much fun in bed. I'm
so jealous."
Brian chuckles. "You have no idea, honey. Anyway, like everyone I
know, they have a pretty healthy goodie drawer by the bed. While
Stuey and I were doing our thing down there, I asked them if they had
a mirror so Vince could watch us. They said they didn't and I just
logged it in my brain. But I wanted it to match that brush so I had
to look around." He takes another hit and I have to wait while he
holds in the smoke. "Katherine, I've seen some hot shit in my life,
but watching Vince take that brush to Stuart's ass . . . man,
listen. I won't soon forget that."
I can't help blushing because the idea of it gives me such a hot
flash. "Oh my God . . . he never told me he liked to be spanked."
"I'm pretty sure he only likes it from Vince. I can't imagine he'd
ever let ME do that. Vince fucking wailed on him, too. You should
have seen. His cute little ass was welted like all hell."
Now I'm giggling uncontrollably and I roll onto my back to try to
keep quiet. "God," I say. "That's so hot. I knew it had something
to do with that. These boys . . . I'm telling you. Just never know
what they'll come up with next. You should have heard them having
sex last night."
"I've had sex WITH them. I know what they sound like."
"Yes, I know, and I'll be forever jealous of you because of it.
Butthead."
He chuckles. "Gay sex is too messy for nice girls like you," he
says. "Too many smells and body fluids that would gross you out."
"Please," I say. "I'm not some candy-ass wimp."
"True, you're pretty sturdy for a straight chick. But I know you,
Kate. Gay sex-at least, raw sex like we had-would even push your
limit. You'd be grossed out."
"Fine. Whatever. I should get back out there, anyway. I don't want
to miss nothin'. I just wanted to say hello cuz someone was playing
Harry Connick and I've had too many cocktails so I needed I was
feeling like the odd Yank out. Needed to hear a familiar American
twang."
"Eeewww," he groans. "Harry Connick is SO a soundtrack for an
engagement party."
"I'm going," I say. "Love ya. Call you when I get back."
"When's your flight?"
"Tomorrow night."
"Okay. Call me. Love you." He hangs up and I hang up, crawling
across the bed carefully so I don't wake Alfie. I put the phone back
then just lay there for a few minutes looking at that sleeping little
angel.
Just as I'm about to get up, the door creaks open and Romey's
girlfriend comes in. Lisa is so pretty, she radiates. I want to
tell her that, but I don't want her to think I'm coming onto her so I
just smile.
"Hi," I say.
"Hi. We'll get him out of your hair now." She walks over to the bed
and gently picks Alfred up, cradling him against her chest. "Thanks
for looking after him."
"It was so my pleasure," I say. "I'm really glad I got to meet him."
Lisa watches me for a serious moment and I start to feel a bit
uncomfortable. Just as I'm about to ask her what gives, she smiles
and shakes her head.
"I'm sorry," she says. "It's just that . . . I suppose I'm curious
about you. Stuart doesn't exactly make friends easily and the two of
you became close so quickly. I wish I'd had a chance to talk with
you more this evening."
"Everyone keeps telling me that," I say. "About Stuart not making
friends easily. Well, if that's true, then who are all those people
out there?"
"His friends, Vince's friends. His family. I didn't mean that he's
unlikable, although he and I certainly have our differences. I just
meant that he keeps to himself mostly. He's not easy to know, Stuart
Jones."
"Hm," I say, slipping my shoes back on. "I had no problem at all.
He spilled his guts on day one of our acquaintance."
Lisa smiles again, but her pretty face is still puzzled. "Neither
did Romey, or so she says. They hit it off instantly to hear her
tell it. Maybe it's just me." She carries the baby over to the
door. "Anyway, it was lovely to meet you, Kate. Hope to see you
again soon."
"Next time I come, we'll have lunch," I say.
Lisa nods. "I'd like that. Have a safe journey home."
"Thank you." I watch her through the door as she carries the baby
out to where Romey is waiting with their coats. They look great
together, those two, and I find myself very curious about how they
met.
After a moment, I drag myself off the bed and decide I need just one
more cocktail. I need to find Stuey and ask him to dance with me.
* * *
Stuart:
Clive and Margaret left soon after Romey and Lisa and Stuart walked
them down to their car.
In the cool night air, Margaret looked up at the spring stars and
sighed. "Well," she said. "Quite an evening I'd say."
"Mm," Stuart said, nodding. "You all right, then?"
"Oh, yes. Actually, it was lovely to spend a few minutes alone with
my son." She smiled and raised up on her toes to kiss his
forehead. "We'll have you and Vince over for dinner next week so we
can talk about what you want done in the garden."
"Okay," he said. "Thanks for coming. I'll call you in a few days."
He helped her into the passenger seat then closed the door for her.
Walking around to the driver's side, Clive gave his son a slightly
cheeky smile.
"You've always been a handful, Stuart."
He chuckled and shook his head. "I do my best. Thanks for coming
tonight."
"My pleasure," Clive said. "You've got help to clean up that mess,
don't you?"
"Yeah, Vince and Kate arranged all that."
"Ah, that Kate's quite a card, as well," he said with his blue eyes
twinkling. "She wouldn't have got too far out of my sight thirty
years ago."
"She's married, Dad. And I think I've made it clear I don't fancy
girls."
Clive laughed good-naturedly. "Oh well. She's a fine lass. You're
quite fortunate with friends, son. That's a gift. Be happy about
it."
"I am," Stuart assured him.
Clive pulled his son into a hug and gave him a good squeeze. "We'll
see you next week, then."
"Yeah. Drive safe." He waited while his father got in the car, then
he waved and smiled as they pulled away from the curb.
Stuart stood outside on his own for a moment, looking up at the
lights in the windows of their flat. He could hear the music playing
faintly-Kate Bush's "Hounds of Love" album. One of his favorites.
Back in school he and Vince would lie on the bed in Stuart's room and
listen to that record over and over. As he started back into the
building, he hummed the chorus of that first track to himself.
If I only could . . . I'd be running up that hill . . . with no
problems . . .
Stuart almost tripped over Nathan who was sitting on the stairs just
above the landing. In fact, he sat in the exact same place he was
sitting that night Stuart came home drunk from having martinis with
Hazel. That night he lied to her about having seen the kid just so
he could take Nathan inside and shag him.
"What is it about you and this stairwell?" he said, leaning on the
railing just below where Nathan sat.
The boy smiled sheepishly. "Dunno. I wasn't waiting for you,
honest. I was just sitting."
"Too much excitement in there for you?" Stuart teased as he sat down
one step below.
"It's a nice party. Really. I guess I just wanted . . . to be on my
own for a minute. Donna's having fun, though."
"Good," he said. "I like your friend Donna. She's sweet."
"Yeah." Nathan looked down at his hands that were folded in his
lap. His smooth brow wrinkled slightly in thought. "Stuart?"
"Hm."
"Do you think . . ." He looked up and his large blue eyes were full
of trepidation. "I mean, do you think there's any chance . . ."
"Nathan, what are you on about?" he said as gently as he was able.
Nathan's expression and his hesitation were suddenly annoying Stuart
to no end.
"I was thinking about that night I saw you with that American bloke
down in the village."
"What about it?"
Nathan looked down again and his expression became even more
serious. "I . . . saw you and him. In the Jeep. Vince rang me on
my mobile that night and asked me if I'd seen you and I . . . had. I
was looking right at you while you shagged that bloke in your car.
I . . . didn't say. I never told Vince I saw you do that."
Stuart's jaw tightened. "So, what-you want some sort of reward for
that? That whole night was a mistake, Nathan. Vince and I were
having a bloody awful row, I was drunk and I was acting like a
lunatic. You SHOULD have told him you'd seen me. He knew where I
was and who I was with, anyway."
"It didn't seem like he knew. On the phone, he didn't sound like he
knew. But I knew. I saw you."
"And?" Stuart almost snapped.
"I just . . ." Nathan sighed. "Wanted you to know. That I lied for
you."
"You shouldn't have." Stuart stood up and started up the last few
stairs. "I deserved to be caught, Nathan. Most likely tried to be.
I never asked you to lie for me. So don't expect to be thanked or
anything." He continued across the landing to the front door of the
flat.
"Stuart?"
Turning back, he grit his teeth so he wouldn't start screaming at the
kid. "What?"
"I still love you."
"Nathan," he sighed, shaking his head. "You NEVER loved me. You
just thought you did."
The boy's blue eyes lowered and his voice grew rough. "I'm afraid
not," he said sadly.
Stuart just turned around and went inside.
* * *
Vince:
By midnight, the crowd had dwindled down to just a handful of
guests. Alex and Dane were getting on their coats to leave and Hazel
was making sure they had taxi money.
Vince sat on the couch with his feet up on the coffee table, a glass
of red wine balanced in his lap. He watched Kate pour herself some
ice water then she walked over join him.
She sighed as she plopped down on the couch and slipped off her very
high-heeled shoes.
"How the bloody hell do you walk in those things?" he said, taking
one of the shoes and holding it up to examine. "It looks like some
sort of nicely upholstered torture device."
"Makes your legs look good," she said. "And that's really all that
matters."
"Is it?" he said, grinning.
She took the shoe back and dropped it on the floor beside its
mate. "It is. Ask any woman who's ever dumped a month's rent at
Manolo Blahnik." Kate sipped her water then turned to smile at
him. "Nice party, Vince."
"Yeah," he said. "It was. Sorry you have to go back so soon."
"Oh, thank you. I love it here, I really do. And I'll be back in
two months." She looked in his eyes then more pointedly. "You don't
hate me, do you?"
"What, are you mad?"
"Your mother does."
"She doesn't," Vince said. "She's just . . . well, blunt. She
doesn't hate you, really."
Kate sighed, resting her head back on the cushion. "Ever since I was
little, I'd freak out if I thought someone didn't like me. I'd do
anything in my power to try to win them over. So pathetic. I've
never had any self esteem."
"That's a surprise," Vince said. "You seem very confident."
"Confidence and self-esteem are very different. I have confidence in
myself, but I don't believe in myself. I never believe anyone when
they give me a compliment. It's crazy. Drives my therapist crazy,
too."
"You're in therapy?" he asked, and then wondered if the question was
too personal. "I'm sorry. That was rude."
Kate just waved her hand. "Everyone in Manhattan is in therapy," she
said. "Or should be. I first started going before me and Richard
got married. I had to. It was a deal breaker."
"Why?" he said.
"Richard is a friend of my father's," Kate said. "Haven't I told you
that?"
"I think you have, yeah. So, what's that got to do with anything?"
"It's just that I've known him since I was six years old and he and
my father were very close. It's . . . a little incestuous and it
caused some ripples early in our relationship. The truth is, I've
been interested in Richard since puberty. He was married then, of
course. Wife Number One who he'd been with nine years and had three
kids with. He divorced her when I was fourteen and married Wife
Number Two almost immediately thereafter. That only lasted about a
year, gold-diggin' bitch. She's still lurking around causing drama.
Anyway, for the whole time, I was into him. My father thought it was
just some little girl crushy thing. But when I turned nineteen and
Richard was still available, we started dating."
"How old are you now?"
"I'll be 33 in August."
Vince raised his eyebrows. "Wow. That makes you Richard's longest
marriage. That says something."
"Yeah, it says we've got a wicked pre-nup." Kate laughed.
"It also says he's the love of your life," Vince said, nudging her
with his elbow. "That's a surprise, as well. The way you talk about
him is like you barely even like him."
"Well, I wouldn't want anyone to think I was all lovestruck or
anything," she said. "That would be terrible for my image.
But . . . yeah. Richard is the love of my life. Hence why I'm in
therapy."
Vince frowned. "I don't understand."
"It's complicated," she said. "But I guess I have some issues with
the age difference that I never really worked through. Father figure
things. My therapist thinks I'm acting out because I have so many
gay male friends. She thinks it has something to do with Richard and
me being from different generations."
"And do you agree with that theory?" he asked.
Kate shrugged. "Therapy is an excavation," she said. "We're still
digging, but so far all we've got is some broken pottery and a few
bone chips that might be rocks. No ancient ruins as yet."
He chuckled, then his eye was drawn across the room to Stuart. His
lover walked from the kitchen to the bedroom, removing his jacket
along the way. Some fallen pink streamers lifted gently in the
breeze as he passed, fluttering on the wood floor like ethereal
snakes. For a moment he disappeared up the steps then he came back
down in just his shirt and trousers. He looked a bit weary but calm
and much more relaxed than he had before the party began.
Stuart wedged himself between the two of them on the couch, slouching
down so he could rest his head on Vince's shoulder. "Is it over
yet?" he said softly.
"Yeah," Vince told him, placing a kiss in the soft curls on top of
his head. "You did all right. Bet you surprised yourself."
Stuart had no reply.
"So the wedding's on in your father's garden?" Kate asked.
"Yeah," the brunette said, lifting his head to look at her. "He was
almost excited about it."
"I like him."
"He liked YOU. Said if you'd been around thirty years ago, he'd have
had you."
Kate laughed genuinely. "Cool! At least I could have done one of
the fabulous Jones men. Oh, speaking of that-I talked to Brian
tonight. He wanted me to say hi."
Vince felt his heart gallop at the mention of Brian's name. Neither
of them said anything in response, but he knew Stuart was feeling the
same thing he was.
Hazel came to the lounge and stood with her hands on her hips. "I'm
done," she announced. "I'm off. Stand up and hug me."
The boys stood up and Vince folded his arms around his mother,
squeezing her tightly.
"Thanks for everything, Mum," he said. "Really. You were brilliant."
"Oh, I didn't do anything." She kissed his left cheek then pinched
his right like someone's elderly aunt. "Congratulations, luv."
"Thanks."
She turned to Stuart and lowered her chin. "Hugging me or not?"
He put his arms around her and gave her a good strong hug. "Thanks,
Hazel. We'll continue our earlier conversation later in the week,
yeah?"
"Fine," she said. "Right. See you lads. Come on Bernie, we're off."
Bernie and Donna were sitting at the dining room table, deep in
conversation with Sandra. Nathan was sitting there as well, but he
appeared to be hardly listening to his companions. He sat looking
down with a distant expression on his face, picking at the edge of a
cocktail napkin.
As Bernie was saying his good-byes, Kate suddenly approached Hazel.
She took her arm and smiled a bit shyly.
"Hazel, may I walk you to your car?"
Hazel blinked at her and then she laughed slightly. "Of course you
can, luv."
Kate looked quickly back at Vince then she started out the door with
his mother and Bernie.
Stuart handed her the key to the front door in the lobby, giving her
a curious smile. After they'd gone, he turned to Vince with his
hands spread.
"What's that about?"
"I'm not sure," he said. "But I think Kate means to try to win my
mother over."
"Oh," he breathed a sarcastic laugh. "Fat lot o' good that's gonna
do." Stuart walked up to Vince and slipped his hands around his
lover's warm neck. Touching their foreheads together, Stuart smiled
in his eyes. "Are you as knackered as I am?"
"Probably not," Vince said, batting his eyes a little. "I think I
can find some energy."
Stuart giggled. "Oh, really?" He stepped forward and pressed his
body against Vince's, softly nipping his bottom lip. "I'll hold you
to that."
"Please do," Vince whispered, covering Stuart's mouth with a hot kiss.
* * *
Hazel:
"Bernie, get in," she said, handing him the car keys. "I'll be right
there."
Bernie took the keys and gave Kate a quick kiss on the
cheek. "Lovely to meet you, Kate. Have a safe trip home."
"Thanks, Bernie. See you in two months."
He waved as he let himself in on the passenger side of Hazel's battered Nissan, pulling the door closed after him.
Hazel leaned against the driver's side door and took out her
cigarettes. "What is it, luv?" she asked trying to be as congenial
as possible.
Kate hugged herself against the slight chill of the Manchester
evening and she took a deep breath. "I don't want to keep you,
Hazel, but I did want to make sure we were . . . okay, you and me. I
get the feeling you don't care for me and I'm not sure what I've done
to deserve that."
Hazel blew smoke into the night air. "It isn't that, luv. I like
you just fine. It's just that Stuart . . . well, he doesn't need any
help getting himself into trouble, does he? And I have the feeling
you might not be that good for him is all. It's nothing personal
about you, really. It's mostly about him. All he needs is an excuse
and he's off-not much of an excuse at that."
Kate looked down and her brow knit. "I know," she said. "I never
should have introduced him to Brian."
"No, you shouldn't have," Hazel said. "Bloody hell, that was a
forest fire waiting to light. I never really got a look at your
Brian, but I've heard enough about him to know a thing or two." She
waited until the younger woman looked at her again. "Those two
blokes are far too alike and they will damage each other if they
spend any more time together. Stuart Jones can be quite toxic to
those who love him and he's even more poisoned when he's tempted."
Hazel watched her closely for a moment. "Your Brian likes his
challenges, doesn't he?"
"You could say that," Kate replied.
"And what greater challenge than a dishy tart like that Irish bastard
who's just got engaged! Kate, I can see that you care for Stuart.
My advice is to be a real friend to him and keep your American boy
away. Don't instigate anything else between them."
"I never-" Kate started to defend herself, but Hazel cut her off.
"I'm just saying. Have you got any influence with your Brian?"
She sighed. "No one does. Well . . . his friend Lindsey, maybe."
"Well, if you can't convince Brian to stay away then maybe this
Lindsey can. Someone has to. He's trouble for them. My son is
giving up everything he's ever had to be with Stuart and I won't see
him hurt over some preventable temptation. Do you understand what
I'm saying?" She knew she was being cross to this young woman, but
Hazel Tyler didn't care. She'd been given the opportunity to speak
her mind and she was bloody well going to take it.
Kate rubbed at her bare arms again but Hazel guessed it was more from
frustration than being cold.
"I'll do what I can, Hazel, but they're both adults. I can't mind
them like school children."
"They may be grown," Hazel said. "But I have yet to meet any man I
would willingly call an adult." She laughed crisply and tossed her
cigarette away. "Nonetheless, I appreciate you coming down to talk
to me. Don't mean to have a go. You're a nice girl, Kate. Stuart
adores you. Just look after him if he gives you the chance and take
it seriously if he does." She stepped forward and put a firm kiss on
Kate's cheek. "Good night, then. Have a safe trip back to the
States."
"Thanks," Kate said stiffly. She tried a smile as she turned to walk
back to the building but there wasn't much happiness in it.
Hazel felt a bit badly for how she's spoken to the girl, but then she
knew she'd been honest. Knocking on the window so Bernie would
unlock her door, she got in the car and started the rickety engine.
* * *
Stuart:
Kate had been quiet ever since she came back upstairs but he'd been
too busy saying goodnight to the last of the guests to speak to her.
She and Sandra hugged at the door and then Kate let her out, turning
the lock after her.
Stuart stepped up behind his friend and turned her by her shoulders
until she was looking at him.
"What?" he said.
"Nothing. Vince's mom just really packs a wallop."
He breathed a bitter laugh. "Yeah. No shit. Wanna talk about it?"
Kate frowned then she stepped into his arms and hugged him tightly.
She stayed there for a long time and he felt her petite body
trembling.
"Katey, what?"
"Do you blame me?" she said against his chest.
"What do you mean?"
"For Brian. Do you blame me for introducing you guys in New York?
All the trouble he's caused since then . . . do you think I started
it on purpose?" She looked up at him with her big green eyes
imploring. He'd never seen her look like that before and the
expression broke his heart.
"Is that what Hazel said to you?"
"That's what she thinks. I want to know what YOU think, bunny.
You're all I care about."
Stuart sighed unhappily, mentally adding yet another thing to the
list of rants he was going to throw at Hazel Tyler next time he saw
her.
"That's not what I think. In fact, I'm positive there was nothing at
all you could have done to keep me and Brian apart. Nothin'."
"But . . . do you think I put you TOGETHER on purpose? Like, for fun
or whatever. Like I'm some sort of . . ."
"Shhhhhh," he said, pulling her against him. "Hazel does this to
people. She spouts a load of really harsh accusations and then
leaves you to stew in it. Just don't worry. I love you, Katey-
girl. You know that. If I was angry at you about Brian, I would
have said by now."
Her slight frame was trembling even more then and he added more
pressure to his hug.
"You should get some rest," he said softly. "You've got to fly
tomorrow."
Kate sniffed and looked up at him again. "Yeah. But, do you promise
you're not angry?"
Holding her pretty face in his hands, Stuart kissed the tip of her
nose gently. "I am not angry. Brian was going to
appen no matter
what you did. You had no way of knowin' how intense that would be
between us. It couldn't be LESS your fault and don't you dare let
that Hazel and her flappin' tongue cause you to worry. All right?"
She smiled weakly. "If you say so."
"I do. Now, off you go. Get some sleep." He kissed her nose
again. "Put your ear plugs in," he said smiling. "Friendly word of
advice."
Kate chuckled genuinely and squeezed his hand before she turned to go
off to her room.
"Good night, Vince," she called as she passed their bedroom.
"Oh, good night, luv. Thanks again for everything. Sleep well."
She smiled and gave him a wave and then she disappeared into the
guestroom.
Stuart turned off the light in the kitchen then went up to the
bedroom, closing the door after him. Vince was already undressed and
under the comforter, snuggling down in the pillows. His hair looked
golden in the soft light from the bed table lamp and he offered
Stuart a sexy smile.
"Comin' to bed?"
"Oh yes." Stuart walked over to the wardrobe and began to undress,
tossing his dirty clothes into the hamper. When he was down to his
shorts, he closed the wardrobe doors and turned to his lover there in
bed. "Take these off?"
Vince grinned, sitting up and reaching for Stuart's hips. He gently
tugged the soft cotton Calvin's down over his lover's lean legs and
Stuart stepped out of them.
"Come closer," Vince whispered. "I want to kiss your thighs. I'm so
into your legs this week."
Stuart giggled, leaning one knee up on the mattress and offering his
thighs for kissing. Vince's warm fingers stroked the fine hairs
along the backs of his legs, teasing that sensitive soft bit behind
his knees. Stuart loved to be touched there and he sighed with
pleasure.
Vince kissed his lover's legs softly at first-little fluttering pecks
along the skin and delicate brushes of his nose over the silky
hairs. Then he traced the defined muscles with the tip of his
tongue, outlining each long cord with a line of saliva. Next his
teeth opened over the tender fleshy part where Stuart's legs met his
ass. Vince bit down gently at first and then with more force, taking
a deep breath as he buried his nose against Stuart's pubic hair.
The bite hurt in a delicious way and Stuart groaned, reaching for his
cock with his right hand. He played with the head, teasing the
tingling slit by stroking the pad of his thumb up and down it, around
and around on the head, under the ridge that lead to that big vein.
He shivered as Vince's tongue slipped between his ass cheeks and
licked hungrily at his anus.
"Ooooohh . . . Christ, you're driving me mad, Vince . . ."
Chuckling deep in his throat, Vince scooted a bit closer to his lover
on the bed and continued stroking Stuart's thighs while he lapped at
his balls and at that soft patch of skin between them and his
pucker. Stuart's fingers wrapped around his stiff shaft and pulled
on it, smearing his slippery pre-come along its length. He started
wanking himself quickly, his eyes closed in bliss.
"Oy . . ." Vince grabbed his lover's pistoning hand and stopped it,
looking up at him with his pretty blue eyes twinkling
devilishly. "What's this? Stop it."
"It feels so good . . ." Stuart protested.
Shaking his head, Vince pulled his lover down onto the bed and laid
him on his belly on the mattress. "Hands out here," he instructed as
he arranged Stuart's hands at his sides. Leaning over, Vince gently
spread Stuart's buttocks with his fingers then he licked the
sensitive crack from top to bottom. Stuart groaned like he was being
tortured.
"Don't you dare come," Vince warned playfully. "You won't get
anything else tonight if you do."
Stuart chuckled, wiggling on the bed. "Lick me, then. Go on."
Vince wet his tongue again then lowered down to return to his
ministrations. Swirling around the wrinkled circle of flesh and
nerve endings, he nipped it with his teeth, then soothed it with warm
licks, then slid his tongue inside-rubbed it in and out a few times-
then licked all the way up to Stuart's tailbone again. Vince bit the
skin over that bone softly, travelling up his lover's spine with tiny
bites and primal little growls.
Stuart squirmed and giggled and rubbed his erection on the blankets
under him, just riding the pleasure and enjoying himself. He loved
it when Vince bit him. Loved for him to leave marks. It made him
feel like he'd been devoured completely-loved on every physical level.
When he reached the top of Stuart's spine, Vince nuzzled the curls
there, breathing in and kissing them adoringly. Then he reached over
Stuart's shoulder and into the bedside table drawer. Stuart turned
his head on the pillow to see what his naughty lover was up to.
"Toys?" Stuart asked.
"No . . ." Vince was rummaging in the drawer for a second, trying to
find something by feel because he couldn't lean over far enough to
actually look inside.
"Are you sticking something up my arse?"
"Oh, THAT's assured, luv. Would you like a rubber toy? A vibrator?"
"Either your tongue, your fingers or your cock," Stuart said. "Save
the toys for later."
"Right." Vince took out the little silver-backed hand mirror and
wiggled down on the bed. He spread Stuart's legs and laid between
them, stroking his sensitive thighs lovingly. He held the mirror
between his teeth while he did this, gently teasing the skin around
his lover's anus with a feather-light touch.
He put the mirror in Stuart's right hand. "Can you see me?"
Shifting a bit on the bed, Stuart opened his legs wide then tilted
the small mirror in his hand until he found Vince's
reflection. "Gotcha."
"Keep watching . . ." Vince said, grinning. He held Stuart's cheeks
apart with his fingers then he dabbed at his anus with his pointed
tongue.
Stuart tilted the mirror a bit higher until he could see everything
Vince was doing. The visual stimulation of it was almost too much-
feeling it AND seeing it happen at the same time. No wonder Brian
thought this was a good plan. Stuart held his breath while he
watched.
Slowly, Vince drove his tongue inside that hot, tight hole and
stroked it in and out like a tiny, wet cock. His eyes were closed
and he was moaning softly, the slight vibration from his voice
titillating Stuart's anus even further. Then he backed up and
slipped his first two fingers into his mouth, coating them with
saliva. While Stuart watched, he inserted both fingers at the same
time into that willing opening and gently massaged the tight canal.
The tips of his fingers reached in and up slightly, rubbing his
prostate in a slow circle.
Stuart closed his eyes and the mirror dropped on the bed. He came
hard, shuddering all over and groaning like he'd been hurt. His
nipples itched and burned and his cock pulsed thick semen all over
his belly and the comforter. And then he felt Vince's teeth dig into
the flesh of his left ass cheek, biting hard, definitely leaving an
imprint. Stuart sighed and lowered his head down on the pillows,
sated, pleased and tingling everywhere from that perfect combination
of sensations.
Next thing he knew, Vince had turned him over onto his back and
lifted his legs up around his shoulders. He kissed Stuart's thighs
again, licked them, nipped at them, stroked them with his hands. He
smiled into Stuart's heavy-lidded eyes.
"Get us the lube?" he whispered.
Stuart reached under the pillow and handed his lover the little
bottle.
Vince prepared his cock quickly then he slid it up inside Stuart's
relaxed anus, rubbing in and out, wiggling his hips slightly. He
moaned and closed his eyes, holding onto Stuart's hips as he
administered a swift, purposeful fuck. Vince wanted to come and he
wanted it badly and he didn't seem the least bit bothered about being
selfish. Stuart grinned at him, tightening his internal muscles to
give Vince more sensation. He felt empowered by not needing his own
orgasm just then-it made him feel generous as well as in control. He
loved the look of bliss on his boyish lover's face and he lifted his
hips up into Vince's thrusts, giving him more and more pleasure.
Groaning and gasping, Vince threw his head back and came with three
deep forward pumps. Stuart felt himself filled with hot fluid and he
moaned from the delicious sensation.
Lying down on Stuart's belly, Vince sighed deeply. "Blimey," he
breathed. "That was lovely."
"Mmmm . . ." Stuart's fingers played in his lover's soft hair as he
felt the first pull of fatigue working on his muscles. He was dead
tired after that day and knew he'd be asleep in no time.
"Your mum all right, then?" Vince asked, speaking softly against the
skin of Stuart's belly.
"She'll be fine," he said sleepily. "I'm not so sure about your
mother. Might have to strangle her."
He chuckled lazily. "I'd pay to see that."
Stuart ignored the remark, shifting on the bed so they could spoon
together and get under the blanket. Vince covered them, then draped
his arm over Stuart's waist, gently nuzzling the back of his neck.
"You're a fantastic shag, you know that?" Vince whispered, placing
one last kiss on Stuart's neck.
Languishing in the warmth of his lover's body, Stuart smiled as he
fell into a deep sleep.
Home Page