The Gus Diaries

Part 158

Marry Me? III

We walked into the diner less than an hour after we ended our phone conversation with Matt.  As planned, he was waiting for us.  Matt was seated at the booth all the way in the back, stirring his coffee and looking desolated and like he was down to his last dollar.  I started to feel guilty for being angry with him for screwing up part of my Valentine’s Day with Jeff.  I couldn’t imagine my parents giving me any kind of ultimatums about my future, especially where relationships were concerned, but I had never forgotten the pain and torment Jeff went through when his father kicked him out for being gay and loving me.

“Gus!  Sweetie!  I’ve missed you so much.  I hardly ever get to see you, except when your fathers bring you over for dinner on your rare visits home from that big time college you’re attending.  My little genius!”  Grandma Debbie stood right in the middle of the diner practically yelling and then she held her arms wide open.  “Come give your Grandma a big hug and a kiss.”

Gazing around, I could see that every fag in the diner was silent, their eyes fixed on me.  Although it could have been completely humiliating, I figured, what the fuck.  Haven’t they ever seen a loving grandmother before?  Besides, it wasn’t like I was out to impress anyone.  I already had my V-Day lover, and partner, and he knew Grandma Debbie better than anyone else in the room, apart from me.

I stood up tall and walked right into her arms.  While she squeezed me with all her might, and she’s a strong woman, I gave her a tight hug back.  “I love you, Grandma.  It’s great to see you.  Happy Valentine’s Day.”  Knowing she would be at the diner, I picked up a rose on the way into town and presented it to her in front of everyone.  I glanced at the guys at the tables.  “What are you all looking at?  Haven’t you ever seen a grandson showing how much he loves his grandmother?”

Without missing a beat they all cheered.  I laughed and Grandma Debbie exclaimed, “Now that’s more like it!”

After our public display of familial affection, she turned toward the back of the diner.  “Your friend looks pretty fucking down in the mouth.  Hopefully you can help him.  I gave him some breakfast on the house.  Make sure he knows he doesn’t have to pay me back, he seemed pretty damn uncomfortable.”  Grandma glanced toward Matt.  “He just doesn’t know me well enough.  He’ll learn.”

“We’ll help him, Mrs. Horvath.”

“You do that, honey.”  She patted Jeff on the cheek and gave him a quick peck.  “You’re a good boy.”

“Order’s up, table four!” the cook shouted from the kitchen window.

“Keep your shorts on, I’m coming!”  Grandma smiled and shrugged.  “Back to work, kiddos.  You two take care of your friend and then have a fabulous and hot Valentine’s Day.”  Grandma took a moment to gesture at the walls and ceiling.  “See all the decorations I chose.”

“The rainbow hearts make the place, Grandma, especially the matching one you’re wearing on your new T-shirt.”

Grandma Debbie smiled broadly.  “I’m so glad you like it, honey.  I had it made especially  for today.”

I nodded and Jeff thoughtfully squeezed my hand to keep me from laughing out loud at the gaudy decorations and shirt.  “Come on, Newbie.  Let’s go see what we can do for Matt.”

Jeff and I looked at each other as we slid into the booth opposite Matt.  I’m not sure Jeff should have said anything, but he truthfully spoke for both of us.  “You look like shit.”

Matt huffed.  “Thanks.  At least I look the way I feel.”  He sighed.  “I don’t know what the hell to do.”

“Your parents really kicked you out until you can come up with a way to show them you’re ready to be the steadfast, family-man head of a household that they expect you to be?  That’s archaic.”  I couldn’t wrap my head around parents who could be living in such an isolated world with such an obsolete philosophy of life.

“Look, you guys.  I think this is their way of trying to force my hand, as well as other parts of my body, towards women only.”

I wasn’t sure what to make of that statement and Jeff looked equally as confused.  Matt must have sensed this and continued to explain.  “They figure if they force me to marry, it’ll have to be to some girl.”

“They do know same sex marriage is legal in a shitload of states right now, don’t they?”  Jeff voiced my exact thought.

“Of course they do, but they don’t think I’ll be able to find a guy willing to marry quickly enough to seal the deal, so to speak.  They’re making this all about me and the family business.”

I chimed in.  “Rather than about you and the family’s timeline you would really rather nurture and create when you’re ready.” 

“You got in one, Gus.”  Matt looked at both of us.  “So what the fuck am I supposed to do?”  Matt pressed the heels of his hands to his forehead.  “Marry some unwitting girl, maybe someone from high school who’s still in town and fuck around on the side, or leave home and all that I should rightfully get from my family behind.”

Although, theoretically it sounded like the answer should be easy, when you come from a loaded family, like Matt’s, I could understand how hard it would be to turn your back on everything and walk away not knowing where your next meal would come from.  Living a life without any worries about money now, or in my future, I could understand his predicament.  It would be hard to turn away from Dad and Pop and all they have to offer financially.  I’m just lucky that I get more from them in love and support than all their monetary worth put together.  I couldn’t imagine ever being in Matt’s screwed up position.

“Can you guys think of something?  I don’t know what to do.”

“Are you dating anyone seriously right now?”  Even though I knew the answer, I asked the question anyway.  We hadn’t seen Matt in a couple of months.

He tilted his head and frowned in response.

“I guess that would be a no.”

He nodded.

Jeff looked at Matt.  They’d been friends since they met in kindergarten.  It was obvious he was feeling Matt’s pain both for his friend, and remembering what it was like to be given no real choice but to leave his own family behind.  Fortunately, mine welcomed him with open arms.  “I want to do anything I can for you, buddy.  It’s just hard to think of something that will fix this and not hurt some innocent girl or leave you without your family and the business.”

“I’ve been thinking a lot about this while Debbie’s been pumping me with coffee and food.  There’s only one thing I could come up with but it’s crazy.”  Matt shook his head and took another sip of coffee as Grandma came over and plunked two more cups down on the table, filling one for Jeff and one for me, then leaving us with a plate of donuts and lemon squares.

Jeff and I glanced at one another.  He looked back at Matt.  “Nothing could be crazier than what your parents are demanding of you to stay in your family.  We’ll back you up no matter how insane the idea seems.”

“You may think twice about that support when I tell you.”

I offered Matt a supportive smile.  “Go ahead.  Give us your best shot.”

“Okay, here goes.”  Matt looked directly at Jeff.  He took a deep breath and held Jeff’s hand in between both of his.  “Marry me.”

 [TBC]

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