The Visit

Chapter 6

“Reid, I’m so glad you were able to take time to have lunch with us.”  Luke kissed Reid chastely, but Reid wasn’t settling for a mere peck. 

He pressed his lips to Luke’s, pushing his tongue inside.  Feeling Luke respond, Reid wrapped his arms around him, holding him close.  He knew it was an obviously possessive gesture and an overly demonstrative move, but Reid didn’t care.

The two finally pulled apart when they heard a round of applause from the other customers in the diner.

“Wow!  That was some greeting, although I didn’t plan on giving a lunch show at Al’s.”  Luke’s cheeks were as red as his lips.

“You know how much I love shaking things up in this town every once in a while.  It just seemed like another great opportunity to let the little people see what they’re missing.”

Luke threw his head back and laughed out loud.  It was a great sound, and always warmed Reid’s heart.

Before he was able to enjoy the moment with Luke any further, Noah spoke up.  “Reid Oliver-Snyder, I’d like to introduce you to Mason Jarvis.”

Reid’s eyes widened when he heard Mason’s full name for the first time.  “You’re kidding, right?  Nobody would do that to their kid.”  Reid shook the offered hand but looked directly at Noah who just shrugged.

“Glad to meet you, Reid.  I’ve heard some flattering things about you from some doctors I know in L.A., and Luke seemed to only have good things to say about you this morning.”

“It’s Dr. Oliver-Snyder, and if Luke was talking about me I would imagine you didn’t hear good things, you heard great things about me.”

“Of course Luke spoke extremely highly of you.”

“The same as I always speak of him.”  Reid was glad to see Mason’s smarmy grin diminish.

The four men sat at a table for six near the back of Al’s to allow space for the twin’s stroller.  Both children were asleep.  Reid was glad neither would get to witness the lunch show if it turned less than pleasant.

Mason was the only one who glanced at a menu, the other three were familiar with all the diner had to offer.  “I see the menu hasn’t changed much since I was here last.”

“No reason to fix it if it isn’t broken.”  Reid took a sip of the water Janet placed in front of him. 

“I’m sure you’re right.”  Mason nodded and placed his order, as did the rest of the group.

Noah looked at Reid.  “Have you seen Mark this morning?”

“Your better half is removing a brain tumor quite adeptly as we speak.  I checked in on the delicate procedure before I left to come here.  I would have stayed if he needed support but, as usual, he has everything under control.  He was my first hire at Memorial, and I’ve never regretted it for a minute.”

Smiling, Noah played with his fork.  “Neither have I.”

Mason huffed.  “Noah, you seem to be enjoying your return to provincial living.  Don’t you miss all the opportunities Hollywood has for a talented young man like you?”

Reid watched as Luke visibly held his breath, but Noah handled himself better than expected. 

“You know, Mason, when I left Hollywood I was hurt and disappointed.  I went out there with a lot of big dreams, most of which were unrealistic, including our involvement and where it might lead.  Returning to Oakdale has given me more opportunities than I would have ever dreamed of.”

Luke quickly chimed in.  “I assume you noticed the two Emmys in Noah’s office?”

“I did.  Regional Emmys.  Very nice.”

Reid didn’t like Mason’s patronizing tone of voice.  “Mr. Jar, just exactly how many Emmys have you won?”

“None, but I don’t limit myself to work in television.”

Nodding, Reid continued.  “I see.  So you must have at least one Academy Award on your bookshelf.”

“Well, I haven’t actually won, but a team I worked with was nominated.”

“And we all know it’s such an honor to be nominated.”  Reid snorted.

Janet came out of kitchen with their food and quickly placed it on the table.  “You know, Luke, one of these days you’ll bring those babies in when they’re awake so I can have a little fun.”

Reid grinned.  “You’re welcome to babysit any time, and we won’t even ask you to pay for the privilege.”

Everyone at the table laughed except Mason.  “Do you always act in such a snide manner toward people who are supposed to be your friends?”

“I always act like myself.  I don’t hide behind a camera or a professorship to get what I want.”

“I see my earlier reputation precedes me.”  Mason grinned.

“Mr. Jarvis,” Reid purposely stretched out Mason’s name to accentuate the serious nature of what he was about to say.  “Mr. Jarvis, I have never, nor would I ever take advantage of someone who needed me to further his career, whether in or out of school.  While you had little compunction about insinuating yourself between Luke and Noah many years ago, don’t flatter yourself about your powers of persuasion.  Their relationship was already going down the toilet; they were both too young to admit it.”

Luke bit his lip.  It was obvious Luke wanted to deny Reid’s brief overview of his relationship with Noah, but he and Reid both knew Luke had long ago admitted his relationship with Noah was a youthful first go-round.  Reid did, however, expect Noah to interject, and he didn’t disappoint.

“You know, Mason, there was a time I hated Reid.  I thought he stole Luke from me.  I even foolishly hit him once out of inappropriate frustration and jealously, but I know better now.  Thanks to Reid I can see clearly; and thanks to a lot of years of growing up, I can also see things I wouldn’t admit in my early twenties.”

“I assume there’s something in your statement that’s a reflection on our involvement.”

“That’s just it, Mason.  We shouldn’t have had any involvement.  You were supposed to be my teacher, but you made it quite clear you wanted more.  What I didn’t realize was you just wanted to win.  You wanted to win me from Luke, and once you did you wanted to win the best of my film skills and then throw me away when I was no longer of any use to you.”

“Noah, you weren’t a child.  I never hid the cut throat nature of the business from you when you came to California.”

“No, you didn’t.  But my youthful need to be loved led me to believe we had more than that between us.”  Noah huffed.  “Maybe, in some ways, you did teach me a few important lessons, but none of them related to the film industry.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way.  I do have an opportunity I was going to offer you and I believe it’s right up your alley.  In fact, it might win you a coveted statuette on the national television level.”

“Oh really?”

Reid sat back and watched the mature version of Noah.  This man wasn’t falling for Mason’s line.  He sat back and smirked.  It was a refreshing change from what Reid had feared might occur.

“Yes, really.  It’s a powerful documentary and follows the lives of several people all of whom need surgeries similar to the type you received to save your sight.”

Now Reid took notice, as he saw Luke do as well.  “Where the hell are you going to find surgeons willing to let you follow and film this delicate process?  There are only four doctors, one of whom is me, in the United States who are willing to even consider performing the procedure.”

“Exactly, Reid--” 

Reid glared at Mason.

“Dr. Oliver-Snyder.  I want to have these needy people admitted to Memorial, under your care, and that of your neurological team, including Dr. Jenkins.  We’ll follow them from preliminary treatment to successful surgery.  That is, if you still think you can do it.”

Leaning forward in his chair, Reid was about to get up and leave, disgusted with Mason’s arrogance, until he felt Luke’s hand on his knee.  Taking a deep breath, Reid looked directly into Mason’s eyes.  “I am not a TV performer, nor do I ever want to be.  My hospital is not a set, nor would I ask my staff to place themselves under these kinds of conditions.  It’s obvious to me you came here because you thought I would agree to this if Mr. Mayer was the director, producer, or whatever the hell you want from him.  Mr. Mason Jar, you are way out of your league.”  Reid sat back in his chair.  “I am now going to finish my lunch and go back to work.”

Taking the last bite of his burger, Reid chewed slowly, watching the expressions on the faces of the other three men at the table.

Luke squeezed Reid’s knee as he spoke.  “Noah, you’re very quiet.”

Noah sighed.  “You know, Mason, if it were anyone but you, I might just try to use my influence with Mark or Luke to convince Reid to go for this idea.  But the one thing I’ve learned is that you always have an ulterior motive.  You can make an appointment with my secretary at WOAK if you want to discuss this concept honestly and tell me what’s in it for you.”  Noah squatted down and kissed both babies on the forehead, neither one moving as they continued to sleep peacefully.  “Reid, Luke, thank you for joining us for lunch.  I imagine, Mason knew he would somehow get to meet you through me, Reid.  I’m sorry.  It seems I still can’t read a user, even if I was one myself.”

“Mr. Mayer, I only fixed your eyes, but I have a feeling you see clearer and clearer every day you live with Mark.”

“Thank you for that, Reid.  From you it means a lot.”  Noah walked out of the diner, leaving half his lunch behind.

Luke smiled at Reid and then turned to Mason.  “Mason, you hurt people when you were here last.  You hurt Noah when he was trying to become something in L.A.  You’d be hard pressed to find people who trust you in Oakdale.”

“Luke, what makes you think I haven’t changed as much as the rest of you obviously have?”

“That’s easy.  We can tell you’re still not being straight with us.” 

Reid couldn’t have been more proud of Luke.  He loved seeing his husband stand up for himself in a powerful way.

Luke stood up.  “Reid, I’m taking the kids home.  I want to get some writing done before they wake up and Ethan gets home.”

“See you later.  I’ll be home for dinner.  How about I cook tonight?”

“Sounds ideal.”  Luke wheeled the babies out of the restaurant.

“It’s just us, doctor.”  Mason looked directly at Reid. 

“Well, Mr. Jarvis, now how about cutting through all the bullshit and telling me what this is really all about.”

“Don’t you have to get back to the hospital?”

“I’m the Chief of Staff, but I bet you already knew that when you researched your proposed project.  I don’t punch a time card.  Spill.”  Reid sat back and folded his hands in his lap.

[TBC]

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