by Jerry Cole
Bernice had once been a raging beauty, but time, a penchant for chocolate eclairs and too much exposure to the sun had withered her once ethereal presence. “Loretta, how charming of you to invite us to your little evening.”
“It’s all my pleasure.”
“Loretta, swell evening, eh?” Thornton greeted.
“Please, everyone inside. Champagne is in the den,” Loretta announced to all the guests.
Melissa and her girlfriend, Brandy, led the way and made sure everyone was served. Brandy was a very attractive black woman with a militant lesbian agenda. She had a shaved head and tended to dress in military style clothing—Che Guevara meets Angela Davis. But she had toned down her style for today’s occasion.
Loretta, champagne in hand, excused herself and nodded to Melissa on her way out. Melissa turned to Brandy. “I have to speak with Loretta about something important. I’ll be right back.” Brandy nodded.
Loretta was waiting in the kitchen, conferring with the cook about serving the first course when Melissa came in. “Ah, Melissa, you said you needed to speak to me?”
Melissa went over, and speaking low, said, “While you were gone I finished my research into Thornton’s board proposals. Won’t go into detail now, but if he brings the subject up, either stonewall or say outright none of the candidates are suitable.”
Loretta looked shocked. “Really? Are you certain?”
“I believe he’s trying to stack the board with subversives.”
“My, that’s a bold statement,” Loretta said, frowning.
“I’ll explain it all later, but he might well try to bully you into accepting his candidates this evening. I wanted to warn you ahead of time.”
Loretta put her hand to her cheek and stared out the kitchen window. “Very well, I’m sure I can handle that. I’ll just say we’re not making any decisions until Darren returns.”
“Great.”
***
At dinner, Loretta was at the head of the table. Bernice was to her left and Thornton was to her right. Bernice had been warbling on about the Boca Raton winter season, and who’d been seen cavorting with whom. Loretta’s eyes were beginning to glaze over, but fortunately, the gentleman to Bernice’s left engaged her in conversation. Loretta was released, but Thornton, seeing an opening, leaned forward and asked, “Have you heard from Darren?”
“Yes, indeed. His sailboat was delayed so he’s spent several days in Athens, and I believe a day or two on Crete with his new boyfriend.”
“Hmm. It seems irresponsible to me to be gallivanting around Europe when there’s so much to done on your project.”
“We’re managing nicely, and he deserves a break like any of us. He has a full load at college, a gifted son that needs advancement, and our new project.”
“Yes, and all the more reason to be responsibly at home.”
“And how much of the year do you spend at Boca Raton?” Loretta asked devilishly.
That silenced Thornton for a moment. “That’s different.”
“And how is that?”
“I have an office there. I can be as engaged at Boca as I can in New York.”
“And I believe Darren can do the same wherever he is. It’s a different world we live in, Thornton. We can always be connected, wherever we are. And, I might add, this is the first vacation Darren’s taken in about ten years.”
“Maybe… maybe…”
“Oh, and Thornton, I want to thank you ever so much.”
“For?”
“For suggesting candidates for our board.”
Thornton brightened. “Why yes, a splendid group. I’m glad you approve of them. They will serve you wonderfully.”
“Well, they will certainly serve someone, but not us, I’m afraid.”
He looked taken aback. “Why ever not?”
“Oh, I’m sure they are splendid, but as a matter of principle, we’ve decided to seek advisement from the Coalition for Water Preservation. I’m certain we can obtain wonderful board members under their direction.”
Loretta could see Thornton scrambling for a suitable response.
“I wish you’d reconsider,” Thornton babbled. “I’ve gone to great trouble and expense to find you the perfect board members. And they are well placed in the financial world and would be active in raising funds for you.”
“Be that as it may, we are working on our own fund-raising event which we expect to be wildly successful. In fact, we’ve already secured agreements for worldwide broadcasting. I hope you’ll watch—and donate.”
Melissa was sitting next to Thornton and had eagerly caught the entire conversation. When Loretta turned to her, Melissa winked.
***
Thornton and Bernice exited the party as soon as dinner was over, citing Bernice’s splitting headache. Loretta, however, suspected that it was Thornton who had the headache.
After the last of the other guests had left, Melissa drew Loretta aside. “I heard most of your conversation with Thornton, but I was unaware you’d contacted the Coalition for Water Preservation. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of them.”
“Pure invention.” Loretta laughed. “I made up the whole story. I didn’t want to give him the opportunity to bully us into accepting his candidates, so I preempted his spiel and cut him short with a load of malarkey.”
“Brilliant. You would make a splendid politician.”
“Oh, heaven help us.”
“But no. Actually, you’ve hit upon a perfect strategy. Let me do some research and find a reliable organization which can do exactly what you suggested. With their help, I’m sure we can develop the perfect board.”
***
“It will just have to wait,” Ness said on the phone to Philippe. “Because I need to see my friend off at the dock… I know it’s important, but so is this. Once I’ve said good-bye I’ll be all yours… I’ll tell you all about it when I see you… It’ll be about nine… yes, nine o’clock this evening… I’m sorry if they have to go back to the U.S. tomorrow, but I’m not giving up my day today. I’ll see you at nine.” He ended the call.
“You haven’t told him about us?” Darren asked as he folded his shirts and put them in his suitcase.
Ness shook his head. “There hasn’t been the right time. But it needs to be done.”
“It sounds like Philippe needs you, Ness. You don’t have to go with me to the dock.”
“I know. But I need to. Philippe will soon have my full attention and you won’t. I don’t know when I’ll be able to see you again, and I’m not giving up these last few hours with you.”
Darren went over and took Ness in his arms. “Maybe you’ll find some time to join me on the cruise. Certainly, in the two months, you’ll be able to find some time to join me—even if it’s only for a long weekend.”
“We’ll see,” Ness said, disengaging from the hug, “But it looks like I’ll be going to New York soon. How funny. I’ll be where you live and you’ll be where I live.”
Darren finished his packing. They’d had a late lunch served in the room, and he went to the table to pour another cup of coffee. “Any more for you?” Darren asked.
Ness shook his head and turned to look out the window at the park across from the hotel. Darren went up to him and put his arms around Ness from behind. “It’s going to be okay. We can talk every day, if there’s reception. And maybe you’ll be able to join me. It sounds like your career is really taking off now and I’m sure you’ll be back and forth to the U.S. all the time. We’ll see each other then, for sure.”
Ness turned in Darren’s arms and held Darren tightly to him. He rested is head on Darren’s shoulder. “This is torture.”
“I know.”
“Why don’t you stay here?” Ness asked brightly, looking at Darren for a response.
Darren smiled faintly. “I can’t, Ness. I would just distract you from what you need to be doing now for your career. You know how important that is, and I know that as well. This is the time to give sing
ing your full attention so you can be a big star. It’s what you want and what you deserve. Don’t back away now when you’re so close to achieving your goal.”
Ness nodded. “Yeah.”
“Come on, it’s time.”
Darren picked up his bag and stood at the door waiting.
Ness looked over to him, tears rolling down his face. He wiped them away, picked up his bag and guitar, and headed for the door.
***
Darren made a point of showing Ness his fine cabin on the boat.
“It’s not huge, but it’s comfortable. Plenty of room for both of us,” Darren said. “I expect to be an expert sailor by the time you join me. And I’m sure the Captain will have you climbing the riggings before you know it.”
Ness nodded, but he was not convinced.
The Captain appeared at the door. “Five minutes, gentlemen. All hands on deck. We’ll be casting off shortly.”
Ness had to bite his lower lip. This was too much. He should have realized that coming would make it more difficult to let go.
“Shall we?” Darren asked.
They’d said their good-byes at the hotel, and Ness didn’t want to go through that again. They left the cabin and went up the steps to the deck.
Darren took Ness’ hand and led him to the gangplank. He looked deeply into Ness’ eyes and nodded. Ness let go of his hand and walked to the dock.
“Cast off the stern,” the Captain shouted. A crewmember cast off. “Cast off the bow,” he instructed again, and the boat was free. The Captain used the engine to back the boat into the harbor and maneuvered it to take them out to sea.
Ness stood on the dock, watching the boat slowly disappear. He saw Darren, standing at the stern, give a brief wave, and then the boat disappeared behind a dock with warehouses.
Part Two - Chapter Ten
Darren spent the rest of his summer in Philadelphia, at his mother’s. He and Melissa had been working around the clock to prepare for the concert. In only two weeks he would need to be back at the college for the beginning of the new term. He was doing all he could to get Melissa and Loretta up to speed so they could handle all the rest of the details by themselves.
The library had turned into a war room. They’d taken on several temporary staff members to help with the logistics of organizing such a large event. Darren also had insisted they hire Linda Spencer Events, a concert promoter who knew all the right people to contact to get things done expeditiously. It was no small matter, synchronizing a worldwide televised concert and coordinating and housing their list of finicky A-list talent.
The concert was scheduled for October first, and that meant Darren would once again see Ness. No matter how stressful all of this was, this was the one thing that kept Darren sane and focused. Of course, Darren and Ness had spoken or Skyped, but it was not frequent enough because of their busy schedules. And even when they did connect, it was, more often than not, a quick hello-goodbye.
Fortunately, Darren had been able to speak regularly with his old buddy, Reggie.
“Don’t you dare,” Reggie squealed on the phone.
“But I have to. I have no other choice,” Darren insisted.
“But she’s atrocious. She can’t sing Bicycle Built for Two without drooling.”
“But she’s a living legend and a grand supporter of environmental issues. How could we not invite her?
“Well, I may take exception to your characterization of her as living. I hear they have to prop her up against the scenery or the furniture every time she performs.”
“Oh Reggie, you don’t know that. You just make these things up to be scandalous.”
“Well, maybe just a little.” He giggled. “But tell me, have you spoken to the boy?”
“Only occasionally, I’m afraid. We’re both just swamped. He’s traveling everywhere these days. We were so lucky to book him early; if we tried to get him now, he’d be booked solid.”
“I can’t wait to meet him. Will he come up to Sanderson for a visit?”
Darren sighed. “I hope so. Every time I try and pin him down to a commitment he hedges. It seems he has no control over even his personal schedule anymore. Everything has to go through his manager.”
“I’ve seen his website and his Twitter feed. That man is outrageous. He has more followers than God in all his incarnations.”
“It worries me, Reggie.” Darren sounded perplexed. “He seems to be changing, and I don’t know what that means. I saw him in a video clip he’d posted and, to be quite honest, he seemed like a little snot.”
“Oooh, Darren. Beware. Fame and fortune can be corrosive handmaidens.”
“Handmaidens? Really? Come on, Reggie.”
“Well, the twenty-first century version of same.”
“I will take that under advisement, and be certain not to pursue too much fame and fortune.”
“Oh come now, child. You are the very embodiment of, if not fame, then certainly fortune. I should set up an endowment just so you can contribute to it.”
“Remember, I’ve seen you in the shower. It would be a very small endowment indeed.”
“Ohhh, cat-ty.”
“Sorry about that. Couldn’t resist.”
“Only partially forgiven. So, when are you coming up?”
“I really need to spend some time with Tyler before he goes off to the academy. I’d like at least a week with him, so I’m aiming for mid-Septemberish. Thought maybe I’d take him fishing.”
Reggie chucked. “Fishing? Tyler? Come on. All he’d want to do is take the reel apart and put it back together again.”
“But it’s what my father did with me,” Darren protested.
“Yes, but Tyler’s an even bigger nerd than you were.”
“You make no sense.”
“Yes, but I’m lovable.”
“Gotta go, some intern’s waving papers at me. Say hi to Diane for me.”
“Call when you get back. I need a fencing bout and all the others are louts.”
“You’re on.” Darren ended the call. He turned to the intern. “Yes?”
***
Ness was on a flight from London to Mexico City. He traveled everywhere by charter plane these days, with his band, crew, and equipment; it was actually a savings from flying commercial. And it was a lot more relaxing as well.
“We need to buy one of these planes for ourselves,” Ness addressed Philippe. “It’s fuckin’ horrible flying without a bed, even in first class.”
“One of these days, Ness. We’re not quite there yet. Maybe after the Water Unlimited gig. That’s going to finish putting you on the map worldwide.”
Ness played footsie with one of the road crew sitting opposite. He hid his little game from Philippe, who was sitting across the aisle Ness leaned forward and whispered to the young kid, “Join me in five.”
Ness got up and stretched. He pulled his silk shirt out of his pants. “Gotta get a little shuteye. We were so late leaving the theater last night, and I was so to totally wired, I hardly got any sleep. Be back later.”
“Okay, but don’t forget, we’ve got to work on the charts for the new song.”
“I won’t.”
Ness moved toward the front of the plane, bracing his hands against the sides of the plane to walk himself to where there was a small room with a bed. It was just for him.
Shortly, the roadie got up and headed up front as well, but he went into the lavatory opposite Ness’ room. Then, after waiting several minutes he peeked out the door and, seeing that all was clear, he scooted across the aisle and into Ness’ room.
***
“What are you going to do about your classes during the days leading up to the concert?” Loretta asked Darren at the breakfast table.
“I’ve got someone covering for me. I explained to the Department Chair that it was a one-time deal. He understood, but I don’t think he liked it very much.”
Loretta buttered her toast and took a spoonful of raspberry jam. “I don’t see
why you insist on still teaching, Darren. You’re needed much more on our project. We simply can’t do without you.”
“I know, Mother, but I really enjoy teaching, and I love the quiet and solitude of upstate.”
“Well, you should have thought about that before we decided to launch Water Unlimited. You must have known it would be a big deal, and I can’t handle this all by myself.”
“You’ve got Melissa.”
“She’s an angel, but she’s not family and it’s our responsibility, the two of us, to administer our holdings. I think it’s time you re-evaluated your position.”
“But Mom, my family’s up there,” Darren said, dipping a piece of toast into the last of the egg on his plate.
Loretta scowled. “Tyler’s going to the academy and Mia, bless her heart, is divorced and creating a new life for herself. You can’t expect her to be as involved with you as she used to be.”
“I know. You’re right.”
“And what about that lovely Greek fellow? Isn’t he your primary focus these days?”
Darren rubbed his forehead. He let out an abrupt sigh. “I wish I knew. I need to see him. We talk, occasionally, and it’s only superficial. I know we’re both busy, but it’s like I don’t know him anymore. There’s a harsh impatient quality to our conversations, and I don’t like it.”
“Then go to Greece for a few days and see him,” Loretta said as she folded her napkin and sat looking at her troubled son.
“It’s not that simple. First, I’m needed here right now. Secondly, Ness is all over the place, and I never know where he’s going to be from one moment to the next, and third, it’s just a few weeks until the concert, and I’ll see him then. He’s promised me some time alone after, and I thought I’d take him home to meet Tyler, Mai, and my friends at Sanderson.”
“Well, I hope you’ll give some serious consideration to your future, Darren. Our lives change, and often times we need to change and adapt to new circumstances. I really think you would find more satisfaction working with us than moldering away up at a small upstate college like a retired hermit.”
