"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but there's no room at the inn."
"Now I think we're just mixing up holidays." Adam added. Haley then came running in with a couple of menus in her hands.
"Peterson and DuBois? Your tables are ready." She called out and two couples separated and went with Haley.
"Two down." Mike said under his breath. The crowd thinned a bit and Ken and Adam were able to relax at the bar.
"You guys seem to be kind of strung out here. Weren't you ready for the Valentine's rush?" Ken asked.
"I suppose we would have been if I had remembered it was Valentine's Day in the first place."
"You forgot?"
"Pardon me. I've been busy with other things. Besides, it's not like this holiday ever meant that much to me to begin with."
"Oooh. Now that was bitter."
"It was realistic." Mike said then one of the customers came back up to the bar with his empty glass.
"Top me off?"
"Sure. What the hell." Mike said as he filled his glass and he went back to his girlfriend.
"But you forgot a major holiday. I mean, I'm not Jewish, but I know when Hanukkah is."
"I can live with it. Looks like it's going to be a good night. Just as long as I can keep all these folks so buzzed they won't care they had to wait an extra hour for their table. So, since your plan to scam a meal out of me fell through, what's your back up?"
"Well, I was thinking we could go back to my place and I could just cook you something." Adam said as he slid his arms around Ken's waist.
"You? Cook? For me?"
"Of course."
"What are you going to make?"
"I'm not going to spoil the surprise."
"A surprise?"
"Yes. I have a few tricks up my sleeve still." Adam said with a wink.
"I'll just bet you do." Ken said as he turned to face Adam and their lips met in a deep kiss.
"Okay, guys. You're spiking the sweetness level in here. I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
"Fine. We're going. Have a good night." Ken said as they headed for the door.
"Don't you worry about me. I'm right where I want to be." Mike said.
Just as the evening was about to tip into all out chaos, the tide began to turn and Mike and Haley managed to wrangle the place into order. It was getting close to nine so the stream of incoming customers stopped and before long, the dining room was nearly cleared, save for a few lingering couples who were lost in each other’s eyes as they nibbled at their desserts. In light of the break, Haley and Mike adjourned to the bar where they kicked back with a small glass of wine.
"That was an ordeal." Mike said as he lifted his feet up on to the bar stool next to him.
"I cannot believe you forgot today was Valentine's Day." Haley said as she started on her second glass.
"Between working here and the many attempts to block out all remaining memories of Ivan, I kind of lost track of the calendar. You're telling me it didn't slip your mind for a moment either?"
"Of course not. Why do you think I'm drinking?" Haley said as she tipped her glass up to her lips. "It's just kind of sad. I mean, even the most bitter of us remember this day if only so that they have a reason to go out, get smashed and bitch to anyone who'll listen. To just forget it all together. I think you're crossing over into dangerous territory."
"Maybe. Or maybe I'm evolving beyond all of you others."
"Whatever. Oh. Incoming." Haley said as she indicated to an older looking couple approaching the door. Mike recognized them and ran to greet them.
"Mom! Dad!" He said as he ushered them in.
"Happy Valentine's Day, sweety." His mother said as she kissed his cheek. Haley came over and held out her hand to Mike's parents.
"Hello. I'm Haley Braxton and you're Mike's parents?"
"Yes. Ross and Lila." Ross said as he took Haley's hand.
"What are you doing here? Isn't it kind of late? Especially for you two?" Mike asked.
"We had finished a lovely dinner when your father suggested we come out and try one of your wonderful desserts."
"Well, I just thought it was about time we came down here and saw what you and Haley here were doing with your lives." His father said with a heaving laugh.
"I think I can find a place for you. Come on." Mike said as he led his parents on into the dining room.
Mike found a nice table in the corner of the room and seated his mother and father down.
"I'll go get the dessert cart and then..." Mike began, but his father raised his hand which Mike knew to mean that he should stop talking and start listening.
"We'll get to that soon enough, but right now your mother and I need you to have a seat with us." He said. Mike felt a cold rumbling in his stomach as he grabbed an empty chair from a nearby table and settled down between them.
"Is this about your wills? I really don't want to talk about your wills."
"No. No. Nothing like that, honey. Your father and I were having a discussion this evening and we just decided that based on the decision we reached, we had a responsibility to tell you."
"This isn't making me feel any better so if one of you could spit it out, I'd be very grateful."
"Your mother and I have been married for a long time. We're due to mark our forty third anniversary this year. We have loved each other for a long time and there's not a price in all of Heaven that anyone could give me to trade that all in."
"You're getting a divorce," Mike yelped. "After all this time you two are splitting up. That's it, isn't it?"
"No, dear."
"Yes! It has to be! This is the divorce talk. Look, I know I'm an adult and this shouldn't affect me, but now that it's happening, it does affect me!"
"Your father and I are not getting a divorce. We are happily married and shall continue to be so for the foreseeable future."
"Then what is all this about?"
"After two people have been together as long as your mother and I, there are certain realities they need to face. For instance, while I love your mother, the physical aspect of our relationship has deteriorated. We've just grown very accustomed to each other." Ross continued.
"Very accustomed." Lila added.
"Oh god. I really do not want to sit here and talk about your sex life. If you're still going at it, great. Good for you. Just don't feel the need to share."
"No, Mike. What we're trying to tell you is that your mother and I are opening up our relationship."
"What?"
"We're going to try an open-marriage." His mother chimed in. Mike looked back at his mother and father. They were older but still rather well preserved. His father still had a full head of hair, although most of it had turned gray. His mother was still pretty, but the lines and creases of time were a little more evident than they once were. They both looked healthy and vibrant.
"So you two are going to be swingers?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes." Ross said. The words echoed in Mike's ears for what seemed like an eternity. Visions flashed through his mind. Images of his father in a silk robe with gold chains around his neck walking through a room of naked old people popped up. He saw shag carpeting and could practically smell the cheap body oil.
"Could we turn things back to when I thought you were getting a divorce?" Mike said at last.
"We've given this a lot of thought, honey. This doesn't change how your father and I feel about each other. We just felt at this stage of our lives, it was time to try some new things."
"Couldn't you have started with Thai food? Work your way up the ladder."
"We've done our research and we think this could be good for us."
"And why are you even telling me? This is bringing up shit that I don't need to think about."
"Mikey! Watch it with that gutter talk!" Lila said sharply.
"We just felt you should know in case you saw or heard something you didn't understand. We're not sure where this is going to go and we don't want to scare
you."
"Way too late for that."
Chapter 5
Eye Of The Reviewer
Jason had printed out the entire manuscript of his book and was staring at it. It had a total page count of over four hundred and was at least a full inch thick. He just sat at his desk glaring at the thick stack of paper. He would sometimes flip through the pages and marvel at all the pages of words he had written. On some level, he felt as though it had been something he had passed out of his body, like a child or a kidney stone.
His trance was broken by a knock at his door. He got up and ran to answer it. It was David and his arms were loaded with a couple of bags that smelled like deliciousness.
"Thought I'd drop by with a little Chinese." He said as he walked in.
"Wow. Thanks." Jason said as he shut the door.
"You sound surprised."
"Because I am. I can't remember the last time anyone has ever surprised me with dinner like this."
"Well, you should be surprised more." David said as he kissed Jason lightly on the lips. He was about to step away when Jason pulled him back and kissed him again.
"I think dinner can wait for about twenty minutes. Don't you?" Jason asked. David picked up the cue and set the bags down on the table.
"As a matter of fact, I do." He said with a smile.
A half hour later, Jason and David were tangled up in each other on Jason's bed. David was tracing his finger through the hair on Jason's chest.
"Dinner's going to be cold." Jason said.
"We can nuke it." David replied.
"True. What possessed you to come by tonight? I mean, I'm happy you did, of course, but why?"
"You really never had someone do this kind of stuff for you, have you? I just knew you'd be home, as you normally are, and I figured we could just have dinner together."
"What if I had been out? What if I was in a bad mood and didn't want to see you?"
"I just knew you would be home. You told me you don't like going out on work nights, and I don't think there's a mood bad enough that you wouldn't want to see me."
"Okay. You got me there."
"I know you, sweety. I love you."
"I love you too, and I think I've worked up an appetite. Let me wash up and I'll get dinner ready." Jason said as he slid out of bed and padded into the bathroom. David readjusted himself on the bed and looked up at the ceiling as the shower came on.
"So what were you up to?" David asked.
"I was just contemplating my book." Jason called out from the shower.
"What?"
"I printed it out. It was kind of weird seeing it there. Physically."
"You printed it out? You have it?"
"Yes. It's in the living room."
"Let's have a look." David whispered to himself as he got up and dashed out to the living room.
He looked around and almost instantly spotted the manuscript sitting at the computer desk. He slinked over and picked it up. The heft was impressive, he thought. He held it up and opened it up to a random page and started reading. He was about to flip to the next when a wet hand shot out and snatched the manuscript from him.
"And what do you think you're doing?" Jason asked in a stern tone, despite the smile on his face.
"You said I could read it." David said.
"I know."
"So?"
"I just don't know if it's ready. This is like the third version. I was going to go over it tonight and make sure it was perfect."
"I could do that for you. It might help to get some fresh eyes on it."
"Maybe."
"Please?" David begged.
"Don't judge me harshly." Jason relented.
"Yes!" David said triumphantly.
"Now why don't you go take a shower and when you're done, dinner will be ready."
"Good idea." David said and then headed to the bedroom.
"Taking the book with you?"
"I'm just going to put this with my stuff. In case you get any ideas about changing your mind." David said as he disappeared around the corner.
David emerged from Jason's bedroom wrapped in a robe and with a head of wet hair. He saw that the food he had brought had been heated and was sitting out on the table on some plates.
"Feel better?" Jason asked.
"Clean and ready to get dirty all over again." David said as he pulled Jason toward him.
"After dinner, okay?"
"Deal." He said. Then both then sat down at the table and began eating. Jason helped himself to a good portion of the orange chicken while David took a little bit of each dish he brought.
"You took a bit longer in the shower than I thought you would." Jason said as he took in a mouthful of chicken.
"I started reading the book. At least a few pages. I have to admit, I got hooked in."
"Really?"
"Yes. I mean, I might be biased because I have a personal interest in the subject matter, but even still, I liked what I read so far."
"Thanks. When I was looking at it, I was kind of amazed. I don't think I've ever written so many pages before. I can hardly believe I managed it."
"Well, you did and I'm proud of you. A lot of people don't even get that far. Even if nothing happens with it, you should be proud that you finished it at least." David said. Jason then set his fork down and the color drained out of his face.
"What do you mean by that? You don't think I'll be able to get it published?"
"I didn't say that. I just meant that if you don't, you can at least be proud that you completed your book. I'm sure you'll get it published."
"How can you say that? You've only read a few pages!" Jason barked.
"But I liked what I read. Look, I'm trying to say good things to you. Why are you grilling me?" David asked. Jason looked back at him with a remorseful look. He then got up and hurried to the computer desk and retrieved some papers from it and returned with them and offered them to David. "What are these?" He asked.
"Read." Jason said. David looked down at the papers and he saw that they were letters. Short letters. Short rejection letters. "I actually sent a few queries before I finished the book. I knew I was going to finish so I didn't see any harm in at least testing the waters first. I got these earlier this week."
"These are just a couple responses. Rejection is a sad reality of the industry. Even I know that."
"I know that in my head, but my heart isn't as quick on the pick up."
"I'm sorry you got these, but you have to be ready to get more. I had a friend who was a writer and I swear; he could wall paper the White House kitchen with all the rejection letters he's gotten."
"But eventually he got published, right?" Jason asked.
"He's optimistic."
"How long has he been doing this?"
"Three or four years. Maybe closer to five. Six. Actually I think it's more like seven."
"David."
"Ten years. He's been trying for ten years."
"Ten years? I could be trying to get this published for ten years?"
"Jason. Come on. You've been writing for a long time now. You said you were screenwriting before this. You had to know this was how it was going to be."
"Honestly, I kind of thought it would be easier. Look at all the books that come out. I figured there was a better statistical chance of selling my work because it's a bigger market. Besides, books don't come with the same huge budgets as movies."
"True, but it's still a challenging field with lots of competition."
"So, I'm back at square one. I'm starting all over again, just in a new medium." Jason said. The reality was beginning to hit him and his memories of his struggles in the film industry flooded back to him.
"You can look at it like that, but you can also see it as chance to really find your strength. Every rejection gets you closer to an acceptance. It's all in your point of view." David said. Jason picked up the rejection letters and tossed them to the floor.
"You're right. I know you'r
e right, but I just can't help but feel the weight of a long uphill battle on my shoulders. I guess it was foolish of me to think this would be any different from everything else I've done."
"It's going to be a lot of work, but I know you can do it."
"Yeah. Me too, because I've already done it. I just have to do it all over again."
"I wish I could make this work out for you, but the only one who can do that is you."
"I know. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring this all down on you."
"Let's just finish dinner and forget all this book stuff tonight. I think you just need to relax, get away from it and get some perspective."
"You're right. I've just been going a little crazy since I got those letters. Seems like when you see the rejection on paper, it hurts more."
David and Jason continued their dinner being careful to avoid talking about any subject that might have led to the subject of writing. They discussed topics for David's sermon. They also touched on their plans for Saturday when Jason was to bring David to the bar to meet his friends. Jason had been trying to put it off for as long as he could. It wasn't that he didn't want the others to meet David, he was just apprehensive of taking him to the bar. There were a lot of predators there who didn't care about any relationship status and as much as Jason trusted David, he knew that he still was a man. A nightmare scenario of David being seduced by some drunken mess echoed in Jason's head.
"I've been to bars before, Jason." David said.
"I know, it's just this one can be kind of sleazy."
"So, you go to this sleazy bar without me and I'm supposed to be okay with that? Maybe I want to go and just check it out. Make sure you're not getting into any trouble."
"You know I would never."
"And neither would I. Besides, I'm anxious to meet your friends. I've heard so much about them already."
"Well, I think they're going to have my head if they don't meet you soon."
"So you're okay with this?"
"I will be. I've a week to put it in perspective. We leave when I say so, right?"
"Absolutely."
When they were done eating, they reached for their fortune cookies and opened them together.
"What does yours say?" David asked as he chomped down on his cookie.
Beautiful Days (Jason Of The Valley Book 5) Page 3
