Change Partners (The L.A. Stories)

by Alexandra Caluen

  Tony asked for another interview in early November. He’d been following Elena and Mateo’s campaign, which unavoidably wove into and around Mateo’s work with the Underground Cabaret and the summer pro shows. This time Tony wanted to ask Dmitri about those. “If Michelle had not done that first routine with Vince, would you have become involved with the Underground Cabaret?”

  “No,” Dmitri said definitively. “I have more open mind now. But then, even though Rory and Dana were involved and they were my friends, I saw pole dance and striptease, I saw the lyra and the silk, and it did not speak to me. Was entertainment, not dance. I know better now.”

  “When did you first see that dance? The first one, with Vince and Michelle?”

  “After Vince and Kelli came to me for coaching. Their friends Vicky and Sharon were my students. I saw other things Vince did, other things Kelli did. They are very good couple now. The things before were,” he shrugged, “social. This thing with Michelle was,” he searched for words for a second, settling on simply, “a change.”

  “And did you think then of dancing with Michelle?”

  “No. Not until she comes to me and says, could we try this. Almost as a favor to Vince, I agree. So we try, and she learns so fast. Nothing I ask is too much. Nothing she suggests is wrong. After the performance, I ask her to train with me.” He thought for another moment. “We speak the same language, in dance. She was my last chance.”

  Anyone would know what he meant. Dmitri’s hair was going gray, and he’d never interfered with his face. He was still a handsome man, but clearly a fifty-something man. Even the most dedicated athlete couldn’t keep it going forever. “I have spoken with colleagues of yours. The judges, other competitors. Everyone has such admiration, that you were able to do what you did with Michelle.” Tony let that sit for a second, noting Dmitri’s pleased expression. “Do you think she will succeed with Vince?”

  The new partnership was not yet official; Vince and Michelle had only spoken of it. Dmitri was confident that they would proceed when the time was right. “Yes.”

  “Will this be difficult, for Kenji, for Kelli?”

  Dmitri stared at him - not at the camera - for a minute. “Is always difficult. Is my job, as friend, as coach, to … defuse. They are both very physical.” Tony knew he meant Vince and Michelle. “They are both also very aware. They have love. They do not wish to lose it.” He paused to think. “The role of the partner who does not dance is more difficult. That person must watch and wait. Must worry,” he added. “As you know. Elena works hard. She is tired, perhaps in pain, perhaps frustrated. Every dancer.” Tony nodded ruefully. “And all the non-dancing partner can do is look for an opportunity to show support without distraction. To offer help without criticism. To seek connection without demanding time the dancer cannot spare. Patrick,” he had to pause again, this time to control his breath. “For eleven years. Eleven years.”

  “And he never faltered.” Tony was taking the lesson, one that Dmitri might not have intended as such.

  “Never. Was different, of course, from what Kenji and Kelli face now. My partners, there was no temptation. There was still absence, distance, fatigue. He knows what dance is to me. Never once did he suggest, perhaps it is time to stop. With Michelle he said, she is the one.”

  “Knowing how hard it would be.”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you think he was ever tempted? To ask you to give it up?”

  “I would have given it up if he asked.” Dmitri almost smiled at Tony’s astounded expression. “He knows. That is why he never asked.”

  January 2016

  After attending a Power Is On party at Andy and Victor’s no-longer-a-bomb-site, Dmitri and Patrick left L.A. for a chilly (and occasionally wet) but relaxing ten days in wine country. They stayed over the new year, saw a show in Santa Rosa, and otherwise did little aside from eat, drink, sleep, and make love. Their hotel room had a fireplace, their cell phones had lousy reception, and it was great.

  Before they left, Dmitri was busy giving his theater-arts couple Mike and Paula a bit of coaching for Mating Dance: Movie Magic. They were going to re-create the iconic Astaire-Rogers number ‘Cheek to Cheek.’ Sam and Mateo were doing something incredible with the paso doble from Strictly Ballroom, Vicky was doing a jitterbug with Rory to ‘Footloose,’ she and Sharon were doing a twist/swing mashup to ‘You Never Can Tell,’ and Patrick was truly looking forward to dress rehearsal. He was also looking forward to the next two months in general, because Dmitri wasn’t planning any performances.

  He had a little work to do with Mateo and Elena. Julia and Ray, on the other hand, were doing fine without him. Julia might have guessed that Dmitri was ready to step back a bit more, or she might have decided that finding a different coach for Latin could be advantageous. In any case, she’d done that. He saw them dancing rounds, noted the new material and style that the coach had given them, and minded his own business.

  Patrick actually asked him about it, one night when they were at home reading in the den. “Do you mind that Julia and Ray went outside?”

  “No. She was my student a long time. A fresh pair of eyes is good. And Latin,” he shrugged. He knew how to dance it, coach it, and judge it, but it wasn’t his first love.

  Patrick was smiling. “Is that why you gave Sam and Mateo to her?”

  Dmitri took a minute to consider the question. It had a lot of layers. “Mmm, in part. Julia had experience as pro-am instructor. They were her first amateur couple. She needed that experience. I know she talked to outside dancers then as well.”

  “About how to coach amateurs? Because your approach works for you, but it might not work for her. Huh.” Patrick thought about it. The thing about accounting was, math was math. But there were so many different ways to dance. Which reminded him. “What’s the latest on Michelle?”

  “She approached Vince about a partnership.”

  “Ah. I thought she would. He’s so much like you. What did he say?”

  “He said, can we talk after we,” he paused, “hatch.” Patrick laughed. Dmitri knew he would. He looked over, smiling. “Kelli, this pregnancy, it is difficult. Vince is focused on her. As he should be.” He regarded his husband (that word still made him shiver sometimes) for a moment. “Kelli is to Vince as you are to me. A perfect partner.”

  Patrick blinked, swallowed, took a quick breath. “It kills me when you say things like that.”

  “I know. Embrasse-moi, mon cher.”

  Chapter 10

  April 2016

  Andy said, “Check out our cupboard under the stairs. We do not have any young wizards to put there, but once Vicky and Sharon get moved in with Simka, there’ll be one on their side.”

  Patrick and Dmitri were over at the Faux Chateau, getting the tour. It was a big duplex in Mid City, formerly a four-plex that had become available after a vacancy-precipitating fire. Andy and Victor weren’t quite moved in. It was good enough to host a dinner, and pretty soon they’d be out of the studio unit over the garage. This was the first time anyone had been invited over since the Power is On party in December. Both men were working full-time on ‘L.A. Vice;’ Patrick and Dmitri had hardly seen them for months. Neither had Rory and Dana, who wanted to see the unit next door.

  “Sure.” Victor led the way across the center hall and into the second unit. It was structurally a reversed twin of their own. He took the group upstairs to the master suite. “I have to show you the turret.”

  “Oh my God yes, the turret.” Rory went into the closet and squealed. Dana laughed. “Who has a turret in their fucking closet?”

  “Well, it used to be a bedroom.” Victor sounded amused.

  “And besides, every princess needs a turret. I wish I had one. That is so smart,” said Patrick, after taking a look. “Closet on the street side means quiet bedroom. Windows up high for light with privacy. Come on honey, let’s see this master bath.” He took Dmitri’s hand and they went in. Dana and Victor followed. “Holy crap! Is y
ours like this?” He stuck his head back out. “Andy, really. Your idea or Sharon’s?”

  “Sharon’s. You like it?”

  “I would fucking live in here.” Patrick disappeared again. “This sunroom! Fuck you!” All the others laughed.

  “Well we had to have an exit to the back yard, with stairs,” Andy said. “And you don’t want to have an exit door right there in your bathroom.”

  Patrick was sincerely envious. The palatial bathroom was one thing; the sunroom was something else again. “Now I can’t believe we never did anything with our house,” he said to Dmitri.

  “We have everything we need.” Dmitri also sounded amused.

  “Yeah, but that shower.” Victor and Dana were snickering. “Shut up.” He roamed around, inspecting all of the fixtures. There was a mini fridge tucked under a counter at one end of the bathroom, with a GFCI outlet above that was clearly intended for a coffeemaker. “Don’t we want a coffeemaker in our bathroom, honey?”

  Dmitri ran his hand up Patrick’s back and into his hair. “Is good to go downstairs first thing.”

  “Why, because then it’s too much trouble to go back to bed?”

  Dana said, “I’ll be honest, once we’re down the stairs from our loft the day has well and truly started. There is many a day when I wish we could have our coffee up there.”

  “See?!”

  They heard Andy say, “Hey guys, Rory and I are heading downstairs to start dinner service. Come on down when you’re ready.”

  Patrick was still bitching enviously about the bathroom when they went downstairs. Dmitri was amused, Dana was laughing, and Victor was looking for Andy.

  “We need to get moved over here and stop for a while,” he said as they all sat down. “Andy’s done such a phenomenal job, but he needs a break.” Rory gave him a sideways look, noting his almost-but-not-quite-masked anxiety. Then she glanced over at Dana, who made a what’s-up face, and made her own tell-you-later face in return.

  Dana nodded slightly. After a pause for food she said, “So what do they have you doing for sweeps this year?”

  “Three guesses,” Andy said, expressionless, “and the first two don’t count.”

  Dana nearly did a spit take. “You are shitting me. A love scene? Are you naked?”

  Victor snorted. “Close enough.” Dmitri and Patrick exchanged a glance; so did Rory and Dana. “I know, the whole cast had to vote on it. I’m still not sure why we agreed to do it.”

  “Well, it’s our big thing,” Andy said, smiling a little. “Somebody has to. Might as well be us.”

  Rory said, “I saw what happened on social media after your big reunion. If they offer you extra security, for fuck’s sake take it.”

  “Oh, we will. I don’t want anything happening to this guy.” Victor leaned over to bump his shoulder against Andy’s.

  Andy bumped back. “Likewise. But enough about the stupid show. What’s up for the Cabaret in June?”

  “I will be in the audience,” said Dana, “and Rory’s doing a jazz thing with Ann and Bonnie. They’ve been working on it over in Hollywood, at that studio near Mike and Paula.”

  “Are those two doing anything? I mean, obviously we’ll try to get there anyway.” Andy served himself another helping of potatoes au gratin, slanting a look at Rory. She gave him a thumbs-up and he laughed. “More short ribs for you?”

  “Yes, thanks,” she said, handing him her plate. “Mike and Paula are doing something, I don’t know, it will probably be insane.”

  “Their stuff always is.” Patrick served himself a scoop of roasted root vegetables. “Anything for you, sweetheart?” Dmitri was busy with some salad, and shook his head. “I think this guy is doing something in June. Not sure what. To me that Mirrorball theme just said ‘disco.’”

  Dmitri swallowed a mouthful of wine, then said, “Yes. ‘Dancing Queen,’ with Michelle.”

  “Jeez, I should have guessed that,” said Rory. “Okay, one last thing about dancing and then let’s move on to Patrick’s wonderful tax season.” Patrick laughed. The last thing he wanted to talk about was taxes. “We all saw the ‘Carousel’ show, right? I know you guys had to see it on DVD.” Victor nodded. “What about that apache number? Was that the sickest shit you ever saw?”

  “Very well-rehearsed,” said Dmitri. “Very dangerous. Students are asking about the style. I tell them no.”

  Andy set down his wine glass. “That was totally sick. I couldn’t believe Julia put that in the lineup. I mean it was dope, but so sick. I’m still feeling that song though. ‘Love is Blindness.’”

  Victor’s eyebrows went up and he said, “Not a lot of subtext there, sweetheart.” Andy and Dana laughed. “You and I could do that sometime as a tango.”

  “I would totally do that.” Andy looked across the table at Patrick. “Not to shit on tax season, but we do actually have something fun coming up.” Patrick made a please-go-ahead gesture. “We’ve been invited to do a benefit up in NorCal. It’s for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. One night only, all-male concert of ‘Grease.’”

  Rory blinked. “Okay, not a lot of subtext there, either.” She had to wait a minute for her audience to compose itself. Even Dmitri was laughing. “When and where, because this I gotta see.”

  Dana put her hands together in prayer. “Tell me one of you is Danny Zuko.”

  “No, a local opera guy is doing Sandy and this out pop star is flying in to play Danny,” Victor said, smiling. “I’m Rizzo, Andy’s the malt-shop angel.” That seemed to meet with approval, especially when Andy sang the first few lines for them. “See? As smooth as Frankie Avalon. You know ‘Beauty School Dropout’ is the best song in the whole damn thing.” Victor gave them all the date and location. Dana promptly put it in her phone’s calendar, then sent it to Patrick.

  Rory said, “Are you gonna shave off the mustache?”

  Victor laughed. “What, you don’t think that’s the right look for Rizzo? I always do on hiatus. They don’t want it for the movie, anyway.”

  Patrick looked at the clock on the wall. “One last question and then I’m going for that bottle of orange muscat I saw on the counter. When do our baby mamas move in?”

  “August,” said Victor. “And I’ll be nagging them to get their shit together so Andy doesn’t end up doing all the work again.” Andy started to say something and Victor shot him a look. “They can organize painters and movers. They can do their own shopping for rugs and drapery and whatever the fuck else they need.”

  “They can,” Dmitri said. “We will help.”

  “Yes we will,” said Patrick. “Maybe they’ll let me use their bathroom.” He stood up and went for the muscat. When they finally left – crossing the big backyard with its new, perfectly-level paver patio and its mature pepper tree – he waited until they were in the car before saying, “Is Andy way too thin or is it just me?”

  “He is.” Dmitri glanced over from the driver’s seat. “Rory spoke to him.”

  “While we were in that princess bathroom, yeah. Well, if anybody can nag a person into eating, it’s Rory. I guess their hours are kind of awful. I wonder how bad the media stuff actually is. They always wave it off.”

  Dmitri shook his head. He never paid attention to social media except for the studio. One thing he did know, though, was that Andy did not love acting for TV. He also knew the story arc, the gay romance, was still controversial. Victor’s character on the long-running cop show fell in love, while undercover, with a bartender in a gang club. The show’s producers recruited Andy to play the bartender in late 2014. A four-episode initial arc culminated in the first man-to-man kiss on a primetime network drama. To the denizens of West Hollywood, it was a case of ‘finally.’ To much of the rest of the country, it was an outrage. “We are lucky,” he said after a while.

  “Yes, we are.” In so many ways, Patrick thought.

  May 2016

  Dmitri and Patrick left L.A. the week after the Emerald Ball for an overdue trip to Europe. It was a good tim
e to go. Mateo and Elena finally had their first-place results in Rising Star Rhythm, Dmitri’s routine with Michelle for the Underground Cabaret’s June show was in good shape to leave for a while, and the worst of tax season was over. There was always more to do, but after a not-very-long discussion they agreed to let someone else do it. Dmitri hadn’t seen his family in Ukraine for years. They would make a multi-week European vacation out of it.

  They left the studio in the hands of Julia, Michelle, and Elena. They left their house in the hands of a new almost-friend, a tango dancer named Tomás Calderón. He was a longtime friend of Rory, temporarily at liberty between tours of a recurring engagement. Dmitri’s regular Argentine tango instructor, Vince, had alerted him to imminent unavailability. His wife Kelli was in the last weeks of a difficult pregnancy, and Vince needed to not be committed at the studio. When Rory called Dmitri in April to say ‘there’s this guy I know,’ the timing seemed ideal. Tomás came to Los Angeles; spent an hour talking things over with Dmitri; did an hour-long audition; and the decision was made. Rory promised to supervise the situation and let them know instantly if there were any issues. She also promised to turf Tomás out of their house entirely if necessary. Tomás was over a foot taller than Rory, so Patrick was still giggling about that mental image when they boarded their flight.

  First they went to Paris, then to Italy, and finally to Odessa. This was the first time Patrick had been there. He knew Dmitri’s sister Daria, her husband Vasily, and their daughter Mikhaila through email, the matriarch Kateryna as a voice on the phone. Dmitri always put it on speaker, even though his mother spoke no English and Patrick only a few words of Ukrainian. They knew Patrick from Dmitri’s semi-annual letters home, and occasional emails. He had all the usual anxiety that went with meeting a partner’s family, in person, for the first time. Plus there was the extra anxiety that went with who they were.

  As they flew over the mountains of eastern Europe, Dmitri told him not to worry. “My mother, since I was eight she knew. She said concentrate on your dancing. Be strong, be skilled. Only performance matters. Later she says, the girls, some will be disappointed, because you are handsome boy.” He gave Patrick a sly glance, almost laughing at his husband’s ‘well, yeah’ expression. “She says, some will be glad, because other boys try to take too much.”