by Bryan James
A few people came by but when they saw the sign on the door, or tried to pull it open and it didn’t work, they walked away without much of a struggle. She sat like that for an hour as she thought over everything that could happen. There was some consolation in knowing that she ran the place and that people knew her and that he hadn’t killed anyone. A DWI in this town wasn’t a big offense. It was too common, too easy, but then she thought of her father who probably had it coming. He was a danger to people and a danger to himself. Would he end up in jail? No, probably just a fine and have his license taken away for sixty days, and he’d have to stay sober, go through drug tests. She didn’t like the idea of living with him as he cleaned up. But in the meantime, she told herself, there was a business to run. She retrieved a tablet and pen from behind the counter and made a list. She would have to start cooking with him even temporarily in jail.
She decided she’d change the menu for at least a day or two, make simple things so she didn’t have to bake and work all through the day, eventually she decided she could just be open for breakfast and lunch if she had to do it. She also decided breakfast would be over by the time she would get her act together so she had to get ready for lunch. She took a deep breath and felt renewed, like she had a plan.
Chapter 11 - Saturday Helper
Saturday morning, Kevin walked to Thad’s photography studio located on Main Street. He was dressed in a pair of slacks, button down shirt with tie, and sweater, but he wore sneakers. Thad hadn’t told him what he needed help with but he wanted to look professional. He imagined it would be a lot of getting babies to look in specific directions, maybe a couple family portraits. He pulled open the front door and stepped inside to find a teenage boy, obviously younger than himself, sitting patiently in the waiting area but there was no one at reception. There never was, Thad said he couldn’t afford to hire someone, and that’s when he made the obvious connection. He looked to the door that led into the photography area, held up his finger to the young man, and walked to the counter where he saw a sheet with a list of names and times.
“Are you Bryan?” Kevin asked.
“Yes, I’m early.”
“No problem, I think I’m late. Just let me check with the photographer.”
The photographer? God, he was overdoing it to sound professional, especially in this town, he thought. Kevin put the list back on the counter and opened the door, looked back to Bryan who winced with anxiety, and left him there. There was a small hallway, a door for the printing room, another for supplies, which he passed until he was in the actual studio area, a large space that had been converted from a general store. In the middle of the room there was all of the equipment needed for portraits and Thad in the middle of it, slightly panicked.
“Oh good you’re here,” Thad said.
“Yeah,” Kevin said before stepping closer.
“There’s someone out in the waiting area, they’re early. Could you deal with it?”
“No problem, I’ll tell them ten minutes.”
“Perfect,” Thad said.
Kevin watched for a moment as the normally calm man double checked everything before turning away and walking back to the waiting area but this time through the door to the receptionist area where he turned on a light. The small area was suddenly illuminated but it only made it look sadder as there was little there, shelves and surfaces were empty. He grimaced at the sight before looking out to Bryan who looked back at him expectantly.
A year or two younger, with glasses and acne, Bryan could have been his friend in high school. If Bryan had been in the theater department, he thought, even then he probably would have worked on the set. He probably wouldn’t have believed in himself enough to try for a part. Even now, as he sat there staring back there was an air or desperation about him, an uncomfortable presence. Gay or straight? Kevin thought he would be straight and slightly homophobic because everyone, even relatives, assumes he’s gay because he talks more about computers than girls. Kevin suppressed a laugh at his own joke and cleared his throat.
“The photographer will be ten more minutes. I guess you’re early after all. He has to let the lights warm up.” Was that a thing? He shrugged his shoulders, it had to be something he overheard Thad say sometime. “I might be able to find something for you to read if you’re bored.”
“No, that’s okay,” Bryan said before pulling his phone from his pocket.
Kevin looked away to the chair and the desk. He could tell easily that the chair would need to be adjusted if he wanted to use the desk. He shook his head. There were intentions. And disappointments. He turned the chair, dusted it with his hand, and sat. He looked up at the backside of the counter and he could barely see Bryan’s eyes on the other side. He groaned and stood, looked down to the chair, to Bryan who was preoccupied with his phone, to the list, the phone, and back to the chair.
“This is going to be a long day,” he said.
********
“So how was it? Senior class pictures can be a bit of a drag but it’s good money. I bet you’re feeling like I owe you more than a piece of pizza and twenty bucks.”
The sweater in his lap, Kevin looked back to Thad who was putting away the equipment and sighed. His instinct was to say something sarcastic but he stopped himself. It had been a long day but strangely rewarding. For once he looked at the people younger than himself, the high school students, as something outside of himself, something he could no longer identify with because he didn’t worry about the same things, have the same desires or expectations. They worried about how they looked and that this image would be so meaningful, a measure of their life.
He didn’t have those worries, not exactly. He had been through a year of college, had an internship, was saving money, and there was Thad. He was working with these high school students as a photographer’s assistant, maybe if he did it a few more times, asked some questions it could be something he put on his resume. But there was something else, their secret. They were lovers of a sort, a couple. Were they a couple, he asked himself. No, there was no commitment there, just limited options.
“It’s not like I had anything better to do,” Kevin said.
Thad looked to him.
“No that’s not how I meant it. I’m sorry, it’s just kind of weird being your assistant. You know, working for you. And they’re all from my high school. Some of them probably know who I am even if I don’t know who they are.”
“You’re that famous?”
“Well, when you beat the hell out of three football players in a locker room... but, I’m not one to brag.”
“Three?”
“It’s a long story,” Kevin said.
“You’ll have to tell me someday,” Thad said. “Sorry if it was boring but thanks for helping me. I had quite the night and I was running late this morning.”
“No problem,” Kevin said. “I was guessing who was gay and straight all day.”
“I used to play that game.”
“So why were you late anyway?”
“Oh, uh, no big deal, just my ex-boyfriend called me last night. His father died and it was kind of a surprise. No one really expected it. We just got to talking.”
Kevin felt his stomach sinking as Thad talked. He wasn’t sure if he regretted asking Thad the question or if he should dismiss somehow, forget about it.
“It’s kind of crazy when you get to talking with someone and you realize it’s been years. I hadn’t really thought about it for some time. I mean it’s like I enjoyed everything about getting older but then someone dies, an ex calls, and it’s like bam, this is life. But, anyway, it’s not something to really talk about right now. Where do you want to eat? Or do you want to go back to my place?”
“Let’s go back to your place,” Kevin said.
“Really?”
“Yeah sure,” Kevin said.
Together they closed the studio and walked out the side exit, down the alley to the parking lot where they got into Thad’s car. Kevin looke
d around but there was no one to see him, to see them. He had been known as the town queer since high school and his very public outing but for Thad a reputation could be ruined. Would those high school guys feel comfortable with a gay photographer? Would their parents? It’s not like he was in the closet but there were no rainbow flags, no visibility.
They drove to Thad’s home, a Victorian style house that looked too big for one man, too expensive. Anywhere else, Kevin told himself, but this town is going down the tubes and property value with it. He probably got it for a steal, he thought every time he saw it. He pushed open his car door and looked back to Thad who seemed to have everything he needed in his hands. He followed the man up the stairs and to the front door. Thad stopped to check the mail. Kevin looked back at the other houses, up and down the street. He saw some children in the distance riding bicycles, trying to live out the last hours of the summer break when the sun always seemed to linger just on the horizon. He heard Thad put the key in the door and it snapped him back to the moment, to Thad who smiled back.
“Come on inside,” Thad said.
Kevin followed after him into the house where he instantly felt at ease. He half expected a dog to be there but Thad told him before that he had too many dogs in his life already and he wasn’t going to get another one until he was an old man. The home was comfortable, lived in. He smelled vanilla and something else. Thad walked around the house and turned on the lights to the living room, the hallway, and the kitchen. He looked through his mail, set it on the counter, and opened the refrigerator door.
“I think we should order in.”
“There’s only one place that delivers,” Kevin said. He walked to the kitchen and stopped on the other side of the refrigerator door.
“You don’t like their food?”
“It’s fine. It just sucks that there’s only one place.”
“God, I used to order from like five different places when I lived in the city. Thai, Japanese, and real Italian food, my favorite was Japanese.”
“Well here we’re going to have to settle for pizza,” Kevin said.
They looked each other in the eye, both of them were tired but they wanted something else. They didn’t want to eat. Thad closed the refrigerator door. He moved to Kevin and took hold of his belt with one hand, the other went to Kevin’s face. They kissed, deeply and passionately. They pulled at each other’s clothing and dropped it to the floor. Kevin began to step back and pull Thad with him. They broke from their kiss.
“What about the food?”
“Forget the food,” Kevin said.
Chapter 12 - Making Friends
Simon felt like he was on a mission as he walked into town with his satchel bag over his shoulder. He wore dark brown dress pants, a yellow button down shirt, black tie, a sweater vest, and black dress shoes. It was a long walk in such formal attire but he wanted to look his best. He had read about Heather’s father in the local newspaper the night before as he sat in the parlor surrounded by all of the butterflies and stuffed animals she had found so fascinating. He decided then that she needed a gift.
His head down he was careful of where he walked but also aware of anyone else that might be around even though the streets were mostly empty. He passed the familiar buildings, walked along the sidewalk, store front after store front until he reached the coffee shop. He smiled at the memory of Conrad dragging him there only a few nights before and how he hated the idea, didn’t want to go inside. He had seen Heather there behind the counter and he thought she was attractive but he tried to keep her from his mind, tried to lock her out so that she was just another form, another talking object, someone he could interact with but didn’t have to feel anything for. It almost worked until she showed up at his doorstep.
He stepped to the door and took hold of the handle but stopped himself when he saw Conrad inside talking with her at a booth. Conrad had no interest in her. He was only interested in that other boy. It was probably harmless, he told himself, but then he thought about his past, their past and how Conrad liked to talk. What story was he telling her? He tightened his grip. He wanted to put an end to it but he also wanted to run away, leave it all behind.
That’s when she looked up to him and waved him inside. Conrad turned in his seat and waved as well. He let out a sigh before pulling open the door and going inside where he walked to them, put his hands in his pockets. Conrad slid over and patted the seat next to him playfully. Simon shook his head with disgust before he sat and attempted to make himself comfortable with the bag at his side.
“We were just talking about you,” Heather said.
“Yeah, I was just saying that despite being cousins we haven’t seen each other in years.”
Simon looked to Heather who smiled back at him. He wanted to stop it. He wanted to tell her the truth but he decided it could wait. He nodded instead, pulled his hands from his pockets and rested his elbows on the table.
“Heather told me about her friend Kevin who was doing a report about the town. We agreed that your house would be a good subject. Her friend Kevin is the one from the other day that was in here. She thought he might like to walk out to your place and take a look. What do you think?”
“Really? Well, uh, yeah, I mean I guess. We could look around a little. Mother is out to church today for Sunday Mass. She usually stays out most of the day.”
“Great,” Conrad said. “Why don’t you give Kevin a call and we can all go out to Simon’s place?”
Heather picked up her phone and dialed Kevin. When he answered she pressed the phone to her ear and got up from the table. She started to walk back towards the kitchen door. “Hey Kevin, it’s Heather. I was just talking to Simon and he said if you’re interested that we could go out to his place.” She pushed open the door and kept walking until the door swung back and closed giving her some privacy.
Conrad looked to Simon before reaching out his arm and wrapping it over Simon’s shoulders making him moan from the contact. Simon looked down to his hands then to Conrad who grinned at him.
“So what are you doing here?”
“I just came for some coffee,” Simon said.
“Liar, you came here for her.”
“Keep your voice down,” Simon whispered.
“She’s nice.”
“How long were you talking to her?”
“Long enough, just relax.”
Heather pushed the kitchen door open and walked to them at the booth.
“He said he can pick us up in his car. He said he’s been running errands all day. He’ll be here in a few minutes. I’m going to close up.”
Heather walked to the door where she turned around the sign then went over to an old couple, the only other people in there and told them she was closing early. They smiled and finished their coffee before leaving. She picked up their dishes and carried them back into the kitchen.
“What do you think is going to happen?” Simon asked.
Conrad pulled on him by the shoulder trying to force some camaraderie between them but Simon remained stiff and fixated.
“I think we’re going to make some new friends,” Conrad answered.
Conrad noticed the dishes on their table and signaled for Simon to get up. He picked up his cup and Heathers and carried them to the kitchen. Simon followed. They stepped inside to find her spraying off the dishes by the sink. Conrad took the dishes to her and set them down. She thanked him and washed them off. Simon put his hands back in his pockets and looked around. The place was surprisingly clean and modern looking. He had expected the place to look at least a little run down.
“Come on guys,” she said before leading them out of the kitchen, out of the shop. She turned out the lights, locked the door behind them.
“Aren’t you worried about someone breaking in? Don’t you want to take the money out of the cash register?” Conrad asked.
“Normally but this is Sunday. There weren’t many people. If I leave it until tomorrow then I’ll have change to start
the day.”
She looked up and down the street, pointed out into the distance and said she spotted Kevin’s car. Almost every parking spot in front of the store was empty so she decided they should wait. Conrad looked with anticipation. He wanted to confirm how gay he was just by the car he drove. There wasn’t any traffic behind him so Kevin stopped in the street and unlocked all of the doors with a touch of a button. Heather started to go for the passenger seat but when she saw Simon looking away she invited Conrad to sit there and moved to the back door where she ushered Simon inside from the sidewalk. He got in and slid across the backseat. She followed and sat beside him. They all buckled up and Kevin began to drive. He knew the way to the Winter’s Estate.
No one talked until they reached the house when Simon told Kevin where to park. They got out of the car at nearly the same time. Heather and Kevin looked around with delight while Conrad studied them and Simon made his way to the front door. He unlocked it and invited them inside. It was all too familiar for him.
Once they were all inside Simon invited them into the parlor where they sat and he explained to them a brief history of the house.
Chapter 13 - Escape Plan
After Simon had explained to them about the house they separated almost naturally. Simon and Heather went out to the back porch where she could smoke. She went to the stairs and sat. At first Simon was confused as he had wanted to invite her to sit on the chairs there but quickly moved to sit a few feet away from her. She let out a sigh and pulled her knees to her chest. She was exhausted, drained. He looked to her and he knew he wanted to say something.
