Undercover Lies

by AnDerecco

  DENNIS

  Will you marry me?

  JACOB (giddy)

  Yes! Yes!

  They exchanged hugs and a kiss. A few patrons in the restaurant cheered and clapped. A man in his mid-50’s stood with a woman that was sitting at the table across from Jacob and Dennis. They galloped to the concierge. From the looks of their behavior they were upset by Dennis and Jacob’s actions. The concierge picked up a phone and spoke to someone. Quickly a woman came from the back and spoke with the man. The man handed her cash then he and the woman left.

  The woman came over to Dennis and Jacob’s table and apologized for the actions of that couple and congratulated them on the proposal.

  LIV

  The next evening Jacob invited his friends Senator Karell Watson and former Senator Herb Espy over for wine and cheese. Karell enrolled in the School of Law at the University of North Mississippi. While in law school, he won an award for having the highest scholastic average in the first year class. He was selected for membership in Phi Delta Xi, honorary legal fraternity; served on the editorial board of the Law Journal; argued before the Mississippi Supreme Court as a moot court finalist; and was elected Chairman of the Honor Council.

  Karell became the first black openly gay man elected to Congress in Mississippi. He immediately set out to make a difference for Mississippi families. His district in south central Mississippi represents part or all of seven counties in urban, suburban and rural communities.

  In Congress, he has been an outspoken advocate for universal health care and he’s pushed for common-sense health care solutions. He has also been a vocal supporter of protecting and restoring Mississippi’s environment so future generations can enjoy its natural beauty.

  Karell has been a national leader on civil rights and equality issues, especially LGBT equality. He is continually fighting to see that all Mississippians receive equal rights and protections under the law.

  Herb was elected to the Mississippi Senate as a black Republican defeating his Democratic opponent in a landslide. He served for two terms, and was defeated 2008 senate election.

  Karell is now on the Appropriations committees and Herb was on the Ethics committees in the senate.

  Jacob wanted to make his announcement about his and Dennis engagement. He wanted to share his happiness with his closest friends.

  JACOB

  Let me refill everyone’s glass.

  KARELL

  I am not trying to get tipsy.

  JACOB

  You will be alright.

  Jacob poured everyone’s glass. He stood up and asked everyone to stand with him. He stood beside Dennis and grabbed his right hand.

  JACOB

  I, well we have an announcement.

  HERB

  Don’t tell me you pregnant. I am too young and look to good to be an aunt.

  KARELL

  Do you need help getting off the couch granny?

  HERB

  Go to hell.

  JACOB

  Y’all are crazy. But anyway – Dennis and I are getting married. DRINK!

  KARELL (screaming)

  Congratulations!!! Have you set a date?

  DENNIS

  Yes. We are thinking about in a few weeks.

  HERB

  This bitch is pregnant and don’t want to be showing at the wedding.

  That statement caused Karell to laugh and spit out his wine. Dennis passed him a napkin from the coffee table.

  JACOB

  We are going to the Biloxi to have it.

  HERB

  That should be cute. On the beach. I think I have a new blouse I haven’t worn. I am going to plan this. This is will be great. I am thinking about…

  Everyone stood and stared at Herb.

  HERB

  What are you all looking at?

  DENNIS

  I see now why you were defeated in the election.

  HERB

  Baby, I promise you, when I stood before the senate I was all man. Even laid a couple of the interns and some of the members.

  DENNIS

  It’s a lot that goes on behind closed doors that we the public don’t know about isn’t it?

  HERB

  I will never tell.

  JACOB

  Tell us Karell, what goes on?

  KARELL

  I don’t know what you are talking about.

  JACOB (turning to Dennis)

  They have their own little secret society.

  Everyone took a seat.

  JACOB

  Anyone tapping their foot in the stalls cruising?

  HERB

  Now you know that wasn’t true. He is not gay and never been gay.

  JACOB

  Yeah, whatever. I heard that those pages are solicited by members of the Congress all the time.

  HERB

  Can we get back to the wedding?

  LV

  IAN (breathless answering his phone)

  Hello.

  DEACON

  What are you doing?

  IAN

  Nothing. What’s up?

  DEACON

  Just giving you a call. I need to see you.

  IAN

  For what?

  Jeremy got out of the bed to clean up. He gave Ian a slap on the butt.

  IAN (smiling)

  Stop!

  DEACON

  Who are you talking to?

  IAN

  Dog you are nosey.

  DEACON

  Did you give that nigga my pussy?

  IAN

  What are you talking about?

  DEACON

  You know damn well what I am talking about. Don’t make me come over there because you know I will.

  IAN

  Look I have got to go.

  DEACON

  OK. I will see you in a few.

  Ian made sure that the door to the bathroom was closed.

  IAN

  Look don’t come over here. I don’t want to see you. What we did was wrong and it’s over.

  DEACON

  I will see you in a few.

  Deacon ended the call. Ian put the phone on the nightstand and went to join Jeremy in the shower.

  Twenty minutes later there was a knock at the door. Jeremy had on a pair of basketball shorts when he went to open it. As soon as opened it he slammed it. Deacon knocked again. Jeremy opened it with a vengeance.

  JEREMY

  Why are you at my house?

  DEACON

  Oh I can’t visit friends?

  JEREMY

  You don’t have any friends here.

  DEACON (holding up a bag)

  I brought something to drink.

  Jeremy snatched the bag and told him “thanks” and slammed the door.

  IAN (walking up front)

  Who was that?

  Jeremy turns around and his face was not pleasant.

  IAN

  Who was that?

  JEREMY

  Your boy…he claims that he brought something to drink.

  IAN

  Ooooookkk. Who is my boy?

  JEREMY

  Deacon.

  IAN

  Oh.

  Ian turned to walk into the kitchen. Jeremy followed behind him.

  JEREMY

  Are you still talking to him?

  IAN

  No.

  JEREMY

  Don’t lie to me, please don’t lie.

  IAN

  He called when you were in the shower and said that he was coming over. I told him not to come here.

  JEREMY

  Why did you answer the phone? You want to talk to him.

  IAN

  No I don’t. (Sternly)

  JEREMY

  Cool. Call your cell service and have your number changed.

  IAN

  What?!

  JEREMY

  OK…I will do it.

  IAN

  Why are you…

  Ian knew that he has h
ad that number for over ten years. At first he didn’t see the need for that measure to change his number. But he wanted to make his marriage work.

  IAN

  OK. I will call them now.

  JEREMY

  Thank you. Give me the number when you get it.

  LVI

  Jacob and Dennis drove to Biloxi along with Jeremy and Ian.

  IAN

  Is Monique coming for the wedding?

  JACOB

  She said that she was. You know she and Shawn are trying to get adjusted to each other.

  JEREMY

  That’s my girl. I told her that she needed to be with someone.

  JACOB

  Yeah.

  IAN

  How is she and Ellis doing? Is she open to …giving…him…a chance to get to each other?

  JACOB

  I think so. They went to Las Vegas together a few months ago.

  JEREMY

  How did that go?

  JACOB

  I think that it went well. She texted me some pictures they took together.

  JEREMY

  Dennis how do you feel about all of this?

  DENNIS

  I am cool with it. You know…he is her dad too.

  IAN

  That’s right… “TOO.”

  The drive from Jackson to Biloxi was everything that they needed. They laughed, sung, talked, and shared new ideas with each other.

  Their first stop upon arriving in Biloxi was the venue Jacob found on the internet. He remembered emailing Kathy Donaldson, the event planner for Beach Biloxi.

  Dennis parked the truck in the lot on the side. They all exited the truck and looked around. The breeze from the beach was cool and pleasant.

  JEREMY

  You can’t tell that Hurricane Katrina came through here.

  IAN

  Yeah they have done so extensive work.

  They walked to the front of the building. When they entered the building a lively petite white woman greeted them at the door.

  KATHY

  Hi I am Kathy. How may I help you?

  JACOB

  I am Jacob Gibson. I spoke with you about holding my wedding here.

  KATHY

  Yes. Yes. How was your drive from Jackson?

  JACOB

  It was relaxing.

  KATHY

  Well come into my office and let us talk about your ideas.

  They walked into the office and sat around her desk.

  KATHY

  If you don’t mind me asking…where is your bride?

  JACOB

  There is no bride.

  This took Kathy by surprise. She looked around at Dennis, Jeremy, and Ian. As she gazed over the gentlemen her left eyebrow lifted.

  KATHY

  Jacob. Jacob. Jacob. I know that this man (pointing to Dennis) has got to be the lucky one then.

  They all broke out in laughter.

  JACOB

  Why do you say that?

  KATHY

  Because these other two don’t look like they are ready to get married.

  IAN

  Excuse me but we have been married going on two years now.

  KATHY

  Really? You must have gotten married in high school.

  DENNIS

  Actually they did.

  KATHY

  Ahhh. Young love. Make it work. OK. So when do you want to have the nuptials?

  JACOB

  We were thinking this weekend.

  KATHY (looking at her calendar)

  Wow! Let me see. What do you know? We have Friday and Saturday open. How many people are you inviting?

  DENNIS

  No more than forty.

  KATHY

  That’s right, keep it small. I love small weddings. They are much more personal and intimate. Colors?

  Jacob turned and looked Dennis.

  KATHY

  That’s ok. I will take care of all of that later.

  DENNIS (whispering to Jacob)

  What about Herb planning this? You know that he is going to have a fit.

  JACOB

  Ms. Kathy…

  KATHY

  Just Kathy.

  JACOB

  Kathy we have a friend that wanted to plan our wedding. Is it ok if you two worked together?

  KATHY

  Oh yes. How long have you known this friend?

  Strange question they thought.

  JACOB

  About three years.

  KATHY

  Great. We can work together and you two can just enjoy the coast until the event.

  Enters from the back - Monique and Aretha. Jacob was surprised to see them. Especially Aretha. They all rose from their seats and exchanged hugs and kisses. Jacob took a break to introduce them to Kathy.

  JACOB

  Kathy this is my daughter, Monique and my aunt, Aretha.

  KATHY (extending her hands for handshakes)

  Oh it is so great to meet you.

  ARETHA

  Papadopoulos have you all toured the venue yet. It is really nice on the outside.

  KATHY

  Well we can take the tour now.

  They walked out of Kathy’s office.

  KATHY

  Planning a romantic wedding day at Beach Biloxi Hotel & Suites, Biloxi's only beachfront resort offers an extraordinary gulf view and terrace ideal for ceremonies and receptions. Ideal for your wedding and reception, our flexible banquet rooms and tropical poolside location accommodate up to 200 guests. We are the only beachfront hotel to offer guests our terrace level facility featuring the most unique and breathtaking panoramic view of Biloxi's beach and coastline. Serving your wedding reception on a grand scale with a spectacular setting.

  Our catering services feature delicious menu choices designed just for you. Elegant suite accommodations are also available for your out of town wedding guests. You can trust the most important day of your new life together to the caring wedding team. We will attend to each detail. Your special day will include experienced support, peace of mind and magical memories.

  Jacob was giddy about the place. He looked at Dennis and winked. Dennis smiled and said, “let’s do it.”

  KATHY

  Do you have a minister or justice of the peace that will be performing the ceremony?

  DENNIS

  No. Not yet.

  KATHY (reaching into her pocket)

  Well this is a friend of mine. He is a minister and very gay-friendly. You can give him a call. I am sure that he would love to meet with you.

  Dennis took the card and studied it.

  DENNIS

  We will go visit him.

  KATHY

  Great, I will call him and let him know that you all are coming.

  LVII

  KARELL (on his cell phone)

  Wake up!

  JACOB

  It is 6:23 in the morning.

  KARELL

  I got today’s paper and want to read you something.

  JACOB

  This better be good.

  KARELL

  It is because I am fighting to make this legal in our great state.

  JACOB

  What?

  KARELL

  Gay marriages. Listen:

  “Congress is in session with a bill that would allow same sex couples in Mississippi create something close to marriage. While the Mississippi constitution bans same sex marriage, using domestic partnership law to form a quasi-marriage would be the next best thing. You may not even need a lawyer if you’re finances aren’t complicated. And the proposed domestic partnership law shows that the trend is for more for Mississippi cities to enact domestic partnership registrations.

  Most other states in the country ban same sex marriage too, so domestic partnerships in those states are important in the same way they are in Mississippi. Looking at what happens in one state can help predict how things happen in another.

  A Mississippi domestic partnership un
der this law can mean many things, but overall there’s three ways to set one up:

  1. Make a contract.

  2. Register with a city or county.

  3. Register at work.

  The most comprehensive Mississippi domestic partnership is through a contract. You’ll see these called many things: domestic partnership agreements, prenuptial agreement, a living-together agreement, a joint property agreement and so on.

  In case you’re wondering, the court case that made domestic partnership agreements more widespread is called Marvin v. Marvin. It was about a man and woman who weren’t married, Lee Marvin and Michele Marvin (Michelle used Lee Marvin’s last name anyway). In that case, the California Supreme Court said:

  The fact that a man and a woman live together without marriage, and engage in a sexual relationship, doesn’t in itself invalidate agreement between them relating to their earning, property, or expenses. Neither is such an agreement invalid merely because the parties may have contemplated the creation and continuation of a non-marital relationship when they entered into it.

  Other courts later on applied the same logic to unmarried gay couples.

  Each particular city or county in Mississippi that offers domestic partnership registrations will have its own set of requirements. Take a look at each law that allows the registration to see which requirements apply. However, the registrations generally have the following requirements:

   Being 18 years old.

   Not being part of a civil union or marriage in Mississippi or anywhere else.

   Not being related to your partner.

   Living with your partner in the same house or apartment.

   Agreeing to take care of each other financially.”

  What do you think?

  JACOB

  Sounds good but I think that it is too early in the morning. I can’t focus on it right now.

  KARELL

  Well I will text you the link where you can read it later.