This was one crazy creature I’d hooked up with.
Back in the ’Stang and headed west, we approached Lamar High School.
“On your left, your soon to be alma mater,” I tour-guided.
“Been there. Seen it. But I didn’t realize we were near here.”
“Hang a right at the light in front of Lamar. That’s River Oaks Boulevard.”
He looked at me with a strange smile.
I took him through River Oaks, where most of the big mansions are. I thought he’d be impressed. Boy, was I wrong.
Failing, I decided we should leave the neighborhood and head back toward the Galleria. “Hang a left on Inwood—next stop.” I pointed.
Again Finn flashed a weird smile at me. What was going on?
He maneuvered the turn and leisurely drove up the street. At about the fourth house on the left, this monstrous mansion with acres of yard surrounding it, Finn halted.
“Why we stopping?”
“Grandma.”
“Huh?” I didn’t have a clue what he was saying.
“Grandma,” he repeated. “That’s her house.”
My jaw dropped. I must have gone by that house a million times. Never did I ever think I would have a personal connection to the person who lived there.
“Just what line of work is Grandma in?” I asked.
That made him laugh. “Work? She inherited it all. Sits in there and collects the interest off her dead husband’s investments.”
“So this is where your mom grew up? This house? How do Berkeley and all the other places fit in?”
“Mom got a wild hair. She met Dad, fell head over heels, and they started their quest to be penniless professors. Of course, the pay’s not so bad now, but when they started off, it had to be a shock to Mom, the River Oaks princess.”
“Is your Grandma mad at her for giving it all up?”
“Nah.” He shook his head. “Grandma’s cool. She was a flower child back in the ’60s for a while herself. She just eventually realized that money is nice, you know? Mom has a trust, but she’s never touched it.”
“Then why was she cool with your grandma giving you all this money now?”
“One word. Guilt. Mom agonized—that’s her word—over ripping me—again her words—away from my senior year in Utah. So she decided that a little cold cash might ease the way for me here. Little did she know that I hated my school in Salt Lake. Too many Mormons. Ugh. What say I introduce you to Grandma? I bet she’s home.”
Thinking rich people might be finicky, I said, “We can’t just barge in, Finn.”
He cut his eyes at me. “Uh, do you wait for an invite to your grandma’s, or do you just barge in whenever you want?”
“My grandma lives in Dallas, so I can’t just barge in.”
“Well, if your grandma is as cool as mine, and she lived here, she’d let you come and go any time you wanted. Come on.” He leaped out of the car, and I followed, wondering what I was getting into. I was pretty sure, no matter what Finn said, you had to be invited into one of these mansions with their locked gates and security people.
We reached one of those locked gates, almost hidden by two giant crape myrtles in full bloom on either side of the drive. A guard stepped out of a guardhouse.
“Hey, Finn. Miz Prentice—uh, Grandma—just came home.” He stepped back to the guardhouse, pushed a button, and the gate lumbered open.
Finn walked through. I was still standing dumbfounded outside the gate. He turned and motioned for me to follow.
We got to the front door, and a striking older woman, stylishly dressed with huge diamond studs in her ears was waiting.
“Come on, darlin’.” She rushed Finn and gave him a hug. Over his shoulder, she looked at me and said, “Who’s your friend?”
“This is my podnuh, Jake.”
Breaking from the hug, Grandma stuck out her hand to me. “Good to meet ya, Podnuh Jake.” I shook her hand, and before I could break away, she pulled me into a hug. “Give me some lovin’, boy. You’re the first person my Finny’s ever brought to see me, so I know you must be special.” And she locked her arms around me and squeezed. I have to say, Grandma gave good hugs.
“Now, come on in here, babies. I want to get to know ya, Jake.”
We stepped into the most enormous front hallway I’ve ever been in. I think it may be bigger than the foyer at my school.
“You boys hungry? I just got back from a luncheon, but I could have Rosa make you some sandwiches.”
“Nah, Grandma,” Finn said as we followed her into the living room, filled with the finest furniture I could ever imagine. Grayson Hotels are pretty posh, but this place put them to shame. “We just had lunch at Chuy’s.”
I figured she might laugh at that notion. I doubted anyone as rich as Grandma would slum it at Chuy’s.
“Did ya chow down on the new bacon-wrapped hatch chili rellenos? Best things I ever put in my mouth,” she exclaimed.
So much for judging. Mom’s always told me that you have to get to know people before you really can figure them out.
“Sit down, boys. Take a load off. Now, Jake, tell me all about yourself. And don’t leave out the part about how my Finny roped you in as his new friend.”
We spent about an hour, beginning with me telling every detail of our poolside meeting, which she laughed at. At one point, she interrupted me in midword with a loud “My grandson here has never been shy.”
With my story over, Finn regaled her with the tale of our Cavender’s expedition.
“Glad my money’s being used in the manner in which I gave it—to make you happy, happy, baby. Nothing’s more important than my grandchildren’s happiness.”
I picked up on the grandchildren thing.
“So, Mrs. Prentice—”
She cut me off. “None of that Mrs. Prentice stuff. Call me Grandma.” I was already thinking of her that way. Like she was my grandma too. She had that way.
“So, Grandma, you have other grandchildren?”
“Just one more. Alex. My son’s child.”
“How is Alex, Grandma?” Finn asked.
“Fine, after all that’s happened.” That sounded ominous. “Be here next week. Gonna live with me and gonna graduate here.” I wondered why that was, but I didn’t think I knew Grandma well enough to ask.
“Here? Wow. Lamar? With me? We’ll graduate together?” Finn was bubbling over. He looked happier than a hog in a giant mud puddle. He looked at me. “Alex and I are the same age.”
“So,” Grandma said, “Alex will be here next week, and I thought we’d have a little lunch on the arrival day. Just me, Alex, and you.” She turned to me. “I’m really not being rude, excluding you, Jake. Alex and Finn haven’t seen each other in a while, and a lot of family stuff has gone on in the meantime, so I think Alex would be more comfortable with just the three of us here on the first day. We’ll ease Alex into Houston, so to speak. Forgive me for not inviting you?”
Like I expected to be invited to a family meal. “Of course—no problem. I’m looking forward to meeting Alex, though, when the time’s right.”
“Good, it’s settled, then.” She stood. “Now, I know you boys want to get on with your shopping, and I have a wire transfer to arrange for that charity I lunched with today.”
Finn and I stood, and he gave Grandma another hug. I was about to tell her I enjoyed meeting her when she enwrapped me in another bear hug. “Now, I know you’re not gonna be a stranger, you hear?”
“No, Grandma. Somehow I think Finn and I will be seeing a lot of each other. And that will include visits to you and this incredible house you have.”
She laughed. “This old thing? My late husband grew up here. If it wasn’t held in a family trust, I’d tear it down and build me one of those tiny houses I keep hearin’ about.”
By that time, we had made our way to the front door. As we stepped onto the stoop, I thought, Yeah, your clothes alone wouldn’t fit into a tiny house.
A
s we hopped back into the Mustang, Finn said, with a Patrician air, “Enough with the grand estates of River Oaks.” Then he switched back to Finn-speak. “Let’s get ahead on to that Galleria place.”
I have never in my life seen someone shop like Finn. Mallory’s pretty good with a credit card, but Finn left her in the dust. Shirts to fill up a closet, enough underwear to last a month, white socks, colored socks, black socks, a couple of Swatch watches—who needs two watches?—an iPod, a Play Station, and new shades from the Sunglass Hut.
We passed by yet another men’s store, and Finn steered me inside. He made straight for a rack of shirts, as if he hadn’t bought enough already.
He grabbed one off the rack, held it up toward me, and said, “This would be great on you. We need to get it.”
I rolled my eyes. “No Grandma.”
“Huh?”
“Well, I have that grandma in Dallas. But she lives on social security.”
He stared at me, a dense look clouding his face.
“No money; no shirt, Finn,” I said.
“Oh.” He punched me and laughed. “No money; no problem.” Then he pointed at himself. “Finn money.”
“No, Finn.”
“But I want to. Gifts are what friends are for,” he whined.
I really liked the shirt, and I really liked getting gifts….
I grabbed the shirt from him and stuffed it back on the rack. “No, thanks, Finn. Mom would kill me if I let you spend your money on me.” Surely he would buy the mom excuse. I couldn’t let him spend his money on me, someone he’d just met.
“Okay, okay. I just wanted to make my new Podnuh happy.” He smiled.
“I’m happy, Finn, I’m happy. Believe me,” I said, thinking you make me happy.
He beamed, then blurted, “I’m starving again.”
In the food court surrounding the ice rink, Finn got a full meal—two cheeseburgers, fries, chocolate shake—while I just had a frozen yogurt.
“Like to eat, huh?”
“It’s amazing.” He slurped through his chewing. “I eat like this all the time and never gain an ounce. Must have a high metabolism.”
I was about to try to top that when I noticed a couple nearby.
This male couple’s lovey-dovey chatter screamed gay. Despite all I knew and how comfortable I was getting with myself, it still made me uneasy seeing such things. The guys in the pool in Philly were okay. But the Galleria is such a public place with little kids running around and everything. They don’t need to see that.
Finn looked over at them and smiled. “I love shopping mall food courts because you’re in the middle of all kinds of people, know whut I mean?”
I wasn’t sure what he meant, but I smiled back. I liked this guy. He could talk to a stump, he never seemed to get embarrassed about anything, he spent money like he passed gas—liberally and unashamedly—he was a tall drink of sparkling water, and he seemed to really like me.
Shopping done, we retrieved the car and headed home.
Finn looked over at me and grinned, a toothy, goofy smile that made my heart flutter. Strange sensation. During all my months of denial, I was disgusted by a guy smiling at me, fearing he was coming on to me. But Finn was different, and I was different. If he were gay, I’d be willing.
“This has been fun,” he exclaimed as he pulled into the complex and parked. “Thanks for hanging with me.”
“Need help with these?” A heap of sacks filled the trunk of his car.
Finn looked down, and then he looked back at me, a priceless look on his face, a sort of “did I do that?” look. “Made a pretty big dent in Grandma’s money, huh?”
We both laughed.
“Yeaaaah.” He drew the word out as he nodded his head over and over. “I reckon I do need some he’p, Podnuh.”
“Once again, Podnuh, Tex won’t fly at Lamar,” I advised as I loaded my arms up.
“I hear you,” he said as he, too, gathered his gear.
I didn’t know a single person who went to Lamar. I had no idea how they talked, how they were, there. I only had preconceived notions about this school in the heart of Houston’s richest community. But I was feeling protective. I had to drive my point across. “Lamar is a baccalaureate school. It gathers the best and brightest from all over. In my experience, brainiacs sorely lack a sense of humor.”
“Point taken. Brainiacs, huh? Alex will do well there.” I waited for more on the topic of Alex, but nothing was forthcoming. And I didn’t ask. He ushered me through the door to his place. “Just put everything on the couch.”
I unloaded my arms and said, “I guess I’ll head home.”
Suddenly he grabbed me and smothered me with an all-encompassing hug, saying, “Thanks, again.”
I was startled, to say the least. I liked it—too much—but I knew Finn was only being friendly. Still, I might need to warn him about that kind of friendly.
Guys in Texas aren’t huggers.
Maybe things were different in Utah.
Chapter 18
ON SATURDAY morning, before the rooster crowed—not that there was a rooster in our little piece of urban Houston—I was awake. It was a glorious day, but it could have been pouring down rain. I didn’t care. Mallory was coming home.
My cell chimed in midstretch from the night’s fitful sleep. The cell phone ban had lifted.
I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and shouted, “Happy Saturday.”
“And a Happy Saturday to you too, guy. And I must say, it warms my heart to hear you so glad to hear from me.”
“Oh, Finn.” My voice must have reflected my disappointment.
“Sounds like you were expecting someone else.”
Just then I heard the beeps that another call was coming in.
“Finn, I’m on the other line. Give you a ring right back?”
“Sure thing. I’ll just be sitting here waiting.”
“Waiting? Get a life, dude,” I joked, then clicked over to Mal.
“I’m on my way home, bestest friend of mine.”
“Mal, I missed you so much. I’ve got so much to tell you, so much to discuss.”
“Likewise. Your speed dial digit awaited as soon as we got our phones back.”
“So come by here before you go home. I want to see you. I need to see you.”
“Tell me about it, sweetcakes. I been pinin’ away for you too.”
I played along. “I been more than pinin’. I been achin’.”
A giggle burst forth over the line. “I love your Dallas twang. And your undyin’ devotion is hot.” She paused. “But….”
“Mal, don’t do it. I don’t want to hear any buts.”
“But,” she continued, “I can’t come by there right now. The parents cooked up a family reunion for this weekend. We’re headed to Galveston this afternoon.”
“Great. I’ll tell Mom I’m going on an overnight.”
“Hold up. When I said we, I didn’t, unfortunately, mean you too.”
“Mal.” I kept my voice steady. I didn’t want to have an argument with her now that she would finally be home. “Why don’t you want me with you? Your folks are used to me being underfoot. And I promise not to do anything to embarrass you in front of your family.” I hoped my humor would loosen her up.
“I fought for you. I really did. It’s my parents.”
“And all this time I thought they liked me.”
“That’s not it. It seems that a longstanding family reunion rule states ‘only blood relatives or those related by marriage.’ Don’t ask me why it’s so, but if you need sympathy, contact my gay cousin Tim.”
If I need sympathy from a gay, I’ll just talk to my dad. That was a can of worms best left unopened right then. Instead I said, “Why would he have sympathy for me?”
“Timmy hasn’t been to a reunion in years because his partner is not invited.”
“So marry me,” I quipped. “It’s either that, or we won’t see each other today.”
“Goo
d one, honeybunch, but not so fast. I have an alternative, a plan not quite as drastic as instant nuptials. I’ve got some laundry to do before I head to the beach. Come over to the house and keep me company while I wash, okay? I might even model my new bikini for you. Might turn you on. Or not.” I used to think if Mal weren’t around to remind me, I might forget I’m gay. What she didn’t know was that my whole world had changed overnight.
“Awesome. I’ll see if Mom can drive me.”
“You still don’t have your license? What have you been doing since you got back from Philly? I figured your first stop would be the DMV.”
I thought of everything I’d been dealing with, the Dad thing, the church thing, the Finn thing—not that Finn was a bad thing—and I said, “Been busy. Mom’s taking me Monday morning.”
“Good. You need to be mobile.” Mal is always good for an opinion. I couldn’t wait to hear her take on the Dad issue, even though I probably wouldn’t like it. One thing I’ve learned from the years with Mal—friends can disagree and still stay connected.
I tossed the phone onto the bed as I ran to find Mom. “Mom, where are you?” I shouted.
She met me in the hallway between our two bedrooms. “I’m right here, Jacob. You don’t have to yell.” She held a towel in her hands, folding it ever so precisely.
“Mal’s finally home, but she has to leave again soon. Can you drive me over to see her?”
“Well, I do have some work at the church, but I need to get groceries later and finish the laundry.” I stood there with my puppy dog look. It got her every time. “Tell you what, let me put some things away, and I’ll drop you off on my way to the church. You can drive. More practice. But you’ll have to ride the bus back home. Okay?”
I pulled her into a hug, murmuring, “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
“If you don’t pass that test Monday, I don’t know what I’ll do. I need you to be independent. And I could also use a good chauffeur.” She laughed at her joke. “Now, I’ll go finish folding what clothes I’ve got washed and dried already, then we’ll get on the road. I hope I can get everything done at the church in an hour, tops, because you know what a madhouse Kroger is on Saturday afternoons. More people than you can shake a stick at.” I was about to burst as she yammered on. I tried to put a sympathetic, loving look in my eyes, but I wanted to push her back to the laundry room. “Now don’t forget, there’s a meeting tonight to make signs for the rally.” She smiled. “I’m so glad you joined our movement, baby. Praise the Lord.”
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