Greeting Cards

by Tinnean

  “But—”

  Jason scooped up the messenger bag that contained his notebooks and textbooks, strode to the student parking lot, and drove home.

  He could do some research, he supposed, but he wasn’t in the mood for it. And since the cake and coffee had left him stuffed, he had no desire to make dinner. He turned on the television and found a rerun of Bones.

  But before he could get comfortable, the doorbell rang. This was a quiet neighborhood, and usually the only people who stopped by were parents whose kids were selling things for school. He always ordered something, even if he didn’t really need hand sanitizers or candy or candles; he remembered how he’d had to scramble for sales when he was in middle school.

  And of course there were the Girl Scout cookies, but he’d have to wait until next year to restock his supply of those.

  He checked who was at the door—yes, quiet neighborhood, but it still paid to be careful.

  It was the woman who lived on the other side of the white picket fence that surrounded his property. He opened the door.

  “Hi, Linda.”

  “Hello, Jason.”

  He looked around. “Andy isn’t with you?” She had two kids: Andy, who was in kindergarten and was her virtual shadow, and Gabe, who was in fourth grade.

  “No. Oh, you mean to sell you something?” She smiled. She had the nicest smile, and if he wasn’t gay, and if she wasn’t married…. “No, actually, I wanted to give you this. Cherry must be on vacation.” Cherry had been their mailperson for the two years that Jason had lived there. “We’ve been getting everyone else’s mail this week.”

  “Oh?” It was a card. Of course it could be from Jen, but maybe…. He stole a peek at the return address—it would be rude to do more than that—and he wanted to push Linda out the door. It was from Ben! “Well, thank you so much for dropping this off,” he said, taking a step toward her to encourage her to leave.

  “You’re welcome. I have to apologize for that. Andy brought in the mail a few days ago and then got involved with one of his shows and forgot about it. I only realized half an hour ago that the water bill hadn’t come in. Fortunately, Andy did remember where he’d left the mail.”

  “It happens. Thank you again.”

  “Just to let you know, Gabe’s class will be selling magazine subscriptions.”

  “Stop on by.”

  “Thank you.”

  “The kids doing anything special for you for Mother’s Day?” Gah! Why was he making small talk?

  “Yes. They’ll make me breakfast in bed.”

  “And you’ll spend the rest of the morning cleaning the kitchen?”

  “No, Jess said she’d do that.”

  “She doesn’t get breakfast in bed?”

  “No, the boys will make dinner for her.” She chuckled softly. “Mac and cheese.”

  They really were a great family.

  “Well, I need to get back. We’ve promised the boys they could watch Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

  “I always liked that one best.”

  “Me too. Good night, Jason.”

  “’Night, Linda. And thanks again.”

  “You’re welcome.” A last smile and wave and she stepped away from the door and bounced down the steps.

  Finally! He closed and locked the door.

  He didn’t want to take the time to run down to his study for the letter opener or to dash into the kitchen for the scissors in the junk drawer. Instead, he slid his thumb under the flap and tore it open, doing a pretty good job of mangling the envelope.

  This card had a dog sitting on the roof of his doghouse, wearing the goggles of a World War I flying ace. “I was so glad to hear from you!”

  Dear Jason,

  As the card says, I’m so glad to hear from you.

  No apologies are necessary. I really don’t understand how I could send Rick’s card to you not once, but twice. I can be such a bonehead! The guy I got Rick’s address from told me I must have transcribed the numbers.

  Transcribed? Oh, he must mean transposed. His brother Eddie used to get those two confused when they were little.

  It’s interesting that you mentioned Look Alike Day. The day this came in the mail, I was doing my grocery shopping—I’m so domesticated, it made Rick want to puke.

  Jason frowned. He wasn’t happy to have Rick dragged into the message, but even more, he didn’t like the way Ben so casually mentioned the way his boyfriend put him down.

  I was in the frozen food aisle, and somebody started a conversation about Lean Cuisine. When I turned around to look at him, I thought for a minute it was you! Well, you’d sent me that photo, remember?

  Yes, he remembered, but never mind that! What happened with the guy?

  We made a… I guess you could call it a date.

  Oh shit.

  I met him at the Hunky Monkey on Saturday night. That’s a club in Greenedale. I found out it used to be the Black Leopard. Mostly the younger guys go there. It was fun, and the band was really rocking, but you know something? He wasn’t you.

  What did he mean by that?

  And not only that, he has a boyfriend who was working late and couldn’t go dancing. You wouldn’t go looking for another guy if you had someone at home, would you?

  Nah, you’re too nice a guy.

  Jason, I’m enclosing a picture of myself, as well as my phone number.

  What? Where? There was nothing in the envelope, and he looked around on the floor. Ah, there it was!

  Oh! Ben had curly brown hair and light brown eyes, the cutest turned up nose, and a mustache! He was wearing a pale-green plaid shirt with the sleeves torn off, revealing a pair of awesome guns! And lower down, around Ben’s hips, Jason could just see a tool belt. A drill was in its holster, giving Ben a look of the Wild West.

  Jason was so in love!

  If I haven’t scared you away, maybe you can give me a call, and we can do something? I’d really like that. I know it’s a long drive, but I wouldn’t mind making it.

  I hope to hear from you soon.

  Always,

  Ben

  PS Yesterday was East Meets West Day. Maybe that’s a sign?

  Jason was already reaching for the telephone.

  Chapter 13

  WELL, as his dad would say, that was a fine how do you do. Ben was now out of a job. But that was the least of his worries.

  He’d blown it; he just knew he had. Jason should have gotten the card by April 30, and here it was May 4, and not a single word. If Jason didn’t want to talk to him, he could have sent a card.

  And whatever had he been thinking to send Jason a picture of himself dressed like that? Rick always hated those plaid flannel shirts Ben wore for work in the winter, and he’d cut off the sleeves and put on his tool belt. If he could have gotten a good distance shot, he’d have worn a pair of shorts and his work boots. Jesus, his brains must have been out to lunch for him to show off like that.

  What was wrong with him? Why did he fall for guys who were super brainy? First Rick, then Jason….

  If there was one thing Rick had taught him, it was that smart guys were happier with other smart guys. But goddammit, intelligence was so sexy!

  Well, at least Jason was too nice a guy to kick him to the curb. He’d just—

  The phone rang, interrupting his depressing thoughts. Which was just as well. It was probably the union with another job for him.

  “Hello?”

  “B-Ben?”

  “Yes.”

  “I wasn’t sure you’d be home.”

  “Excuse me?” Was this some new ploy by telemarketers? Dammit, he should have let the answering machine pick up. “Who is this?”

  “I’m sorry, I should have…. This is Jason… Jason Prescott.”

  All Ben’s irritation disappeared. “You called!”

  “Of course I called. Why wouldn’t I?”

  “Well, it was so long….” Ben wanted to hit his head with his hand. It was only a little more than a week.
“I’m sorry—”

  “I just got the card. The mailperson delivered it to the wrong house. Ben, I’m so glad you want to meet!”

  “You are?”

  “Yes! When?”

  “I’d love to spend the weekend with you. Would that be okay?” Ben’s dick hadn’t been this interested in anyone since Rick had left.

  “This weekend?”

  “Yes?” Was he pushing things? Maybe Jason would be more comfortable getting used to the idea gradually.

  “Works for me.”

  Ben felt like wriggling like a puppy. “I’ll make a reservation at the Wooster Marriott—”

  “No, you won’t! You’ll stay with me.”

  “I don’t want to put you out.”

  “You won’t, I promise you! I’ve got plenty of bedrooms. Oh. Unless you’re worried I’ll come on to you?”

  “You mean you won’t?” As Ben hoped, that made Jason laugh. “I’ll start first thing in the morning….”

  “Ben, it shouldn’t take you longer than an hour and a half, two hours at the most to make that drive. Why not come over this evening?”

  “Oh, babe, I’d like nothing better, but I need to get my condo squared away.” Oh shit, the “babe” had just slipped out. How was Jason going to react to it? Rick had never particularly liked pet names; he’d put up with Ben calling him “sweetheart” once in a while, but mostly he preferred “buddy” or “dude”.

  “All right. What time should I expect you?”

  “Well, what’s good for you? Before lunch, after?” And okay, being called “babe” didn’t seem to bother Jason. Ben was smiling so broadly, he thought his cheeks would split.

  “Oh, definitely before. I want you here for as long as I can have you.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s been a long time since anyone said something so nice to me.”

  Jason growled something that almost sounded like “If I ever get my hands on Rick, I’m going to kick his ass.”

  “Jason?”

  “I should have asked—is this a good time? Can you talk for a while?”

  He’d like nothing better! “Sure.”

  “I have to say I wasn’t sure I’d get you at this time. I was… well, to tell the truth, I was so excited to get your card that I didn’t even think you might be out, maybe with that guy Mark.”

  “Not a chance of that. He’s got a partner, and I….”

  “You don’t date guys who have someone at home.”

  “Well, I don’t want that done to me, so I won’t do it to anyone else.”

  “Do you know how wonderful you are?”

  Ben could feel a blush start at his chin and go up to his forehead. He cleared his throat. “How was your day?”

  “Let’s just say I’m glad it’s Friday.”

  “I hear that.”

  “Oh? What happened?”

  “It’s been the week from hell.” Ben found himself telling Jason about the carpenters and how he’d kicked a hole in their sheetrock.

  “You did? Really?” Jason was laughing so hard Ben thought Jason wouldn’t be able to catch his breath. “I’m sorry. I know it’s not—”

  “Yeah, it is funny.” Now. “I really did like working at Howe.”

  “You work at Howe? What a coincidence! My—”

  “Worked, Jason. I’m on the bench now.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “My boss laid me off.”

  “Why, that—”

  “Oh, not because of what I did to the sheetrock.”

  “Then why?” Jason sounded pissed, and Ben found that endearing. Rick had never cared about what went on at work.

  “Kevin—the kid who’s replacing me—is the boss’s nephew. He took over the job, but he’s fresh out of his apprenticeship and thinks his shit doesn’t stink. He did the terminations wrong. The whole job failed, and the company was so pissed about that they threatened to cancel their contract with Acme Electric.”

  “But why would your boss blame you?”

  “Kevin’s dad disappeared when he was a couple of years old, and he and his mom moved in with my boss, who kind of feels responsible for him. Well, you know what they say about blood being thicker than water.”

  “But it wasn’t your fault!”

  “Thanks, Jason.” It was nice to have someone stick up for him. Only once before had Ben been out of work, and Rick had bitched the whole time.

  “Ah, Ben, I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do?”

  “No, it’s okay. I’m union. I’ll collect unemployment while I wait for them to find me another job. As a matter of fact, that’s who I thought was calling.”

  “Can I… do you need money? A loan?”

  “No.”

  “I didn’t mean to insult you.”

  “You didn’t. I appreciate the offer.”

  “Okay, look. My brother’s a lawyer. Well, he’ll be a lawyer as soon as he graduates next year and takes the bar. Want me to ask him to talk to his professors about this?”

  “No, I’m good. But thank you.”

  “All right, but if you change your mind, let me know.”

  “I will. Now what about you? How was class? Is that professor still bugging you?”

  “I think he’ll leave me alone now. I told him I’d lodge a complaint otherwise. Wooster is really good about taking action if their students are harassed.”

  “That’s good to know.”

  “Yeah. But you know what ticks me off the most? If I didn’t have the IQ I’ve got, Putnam wouldn’t look twice at me.”

  “Well, smart is the new sexy,” Ben teased. Why did “Putnam” sound familiar?

  “You think so?”

  “Absolutely!”

  “In that case, I’ll make sure I leave my diplomas and certificates and whatnots lying around.”

  “Whatnots, hmm?”

  “Oh yeah. Oh, I have to tell you—I loved the picture you sent.”

  “Really? Rick—”

  “What else were you wearing?” Jason interrupted him.

  “Oh… er… you know. Just regular work clothes.”

  “Tell me.” Jason’s voice had gotten husky, and Ben shivered and swallowed.

  He couldn’t tell him he wore cutoffs. “Jeans. Work boots.”

  “Yeah? I wish the pic had showed me.”

  “You do?” Ben’s voice was so faint, he was surprised Jason didn’t ask him to repeat himself.

  “I—” Jason cleared his throat. “So, uh… what did you feel like doing this weekend?”

  Now that was a loaded question. What would Jason think if he said “fool around”? He didn’t—his momma had raised him right—but his dick wanted to know what Jason thought about that too.

  Jason must have realized how that sounded. “I mean….” He sounded flustered.

  “I know, Jason.” So instead of suggesting what he really wanted to do, Ben mentioned a number of other things, and they weighed the pros and cons of the movies, bowling, dancing, or just going for a ride around Wooster.

  BEN went into the kitchen to get a bottle of water from the fridge, his phone tucked between his ear and his shoulder, still talking to Jason. He happened to glance at the clock on the wall.

  “Oh shit, do you realize how long we’ve been talking?”

  “Three hours,” Jason said comfortably. “Do you need to get off the phone?”

  “I’d better if I want to have myself together for tomorrow.”

  “I’ll let you go, then. I have some things I need to do also.”

  “Oh?”

  “Well, I want to dazzle you with my spotless house.”

  “Don’t wear yourself out.” Ben waited for Jason to hang up, but he could tell the line was still open. “Jason, I’m not hanging up until—” he started to say.

  “Ben, wait! You need directions.” Jason sounded panicked.

  “No, I don’t.” God, he felt like he could walk on air. “I’ve got your address. I’ll
put it in my GPS. You’re on East Walker Run, right?”

  “Bend.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “East Walker Bend.”

  Ben shook his head. “Got it.”

  “Great. Tomorrow, then?”

  “Yeah.” It couldn’t come soon enough. “Good-bye, Jason, and thank you for calling.”

  “Thank you, Ben.”

  “What for?”

  “For sending that first card. That reminds me—Happy National Candied Orange Peel Day.”

  “And a very happy International Tuba Day to you.”

  Ben hung up. He felt like dancing, and so what if he was out of a job? An old Leo Sayer song ran through his mind, and he began boogie-ing across the floor. He was going to see Jason tomorrow!

  Chapter 14

  BEN was coming!

  Jason hung up and rubbed his ear, which was sore from having his cell phone held against it for three hours…. Three hours! He’d never talked to anyone that long.

  He checked the time. It was only a little after nine.

  He really did have to straighten the house, but before he started rushing around making sure his home looked perfect, he had another phone call to make.

  “Fred? It’s Jason.” Because he and his twin sounded so much alike, even to family, they both made a point to announce who was on the phone.

  “Well, hello, Jase. To what do I owe this pleasure?”

  “Can’t I just want to talk to my favorite brother-in-law?”

  “I’m your only brother-in-law.”

  “Yeah, this is true. Okay, I need a favor. A friend is out of work. You mentioned something about a position in maintenance opening up. Can you do something so Howe will hire him?”

  “I’d like to, Jase, but someone is already slotted for that spot.”

  Shoot. “Oh well. Thanks anyway.” It was a good thing he hadn’t said anything to Ben.

  “Don’t hang up. Your sister wants to talk to you.”

  “Jason? I’m glad you called. Have you bought anything for Mom for Mother’s Day?” Before he could say yes, no, or maybe, she hurried on. “Hold on a second. I’ve got Eddie on the other line.” After a moment she asked, “Okay, guys?”

  “Yes, Jen,” Jason and Eddie answered in unison.

  “Okay, I’ve got the best idea!”