Your Forever: The Eight of Wands

by Jenna Jones

  After an hour or two Jeff moved from near the outboard motor to the end of the boat where Del sat. He cast his line and watched the lure bob, and waved off the beer that Del offered him. “So,” Jeff said eventually as the boat rocked and small waves slapped against the sides.

  “So,” Del said. “What do you think of your last day of unmarried life?”

  “It’s not bad.” He stuck a toothpick in his mouth to chew on. “Can I tell you something?”

  “Always.”

  Jeff wore a cowboy hat to keep from getting sunburned, and he took it off for a moment to sponge perspiration from his forehead with his arm. He resettled his hat back on his head. “I am... a little weirded out at how not worried I am.”

  “You have no reason to be worried.”

  “No, I know. I’ve been waiting for cold feet to hit and it hasn’t. I hope this doesn’t mean Marianne is the one who’ll get scared.”

  “Marianne’s put up with a lot from you over the years,” Del reminded him. “If she were going to leave she would have done it already.”

  “I don’t know, man, things change when people get married.” Jeff shook his head slowly.

  «I’d get married in a second if I could,” Del said.

  “It’s just a matter of time,” Jeff said. “People will come around.” They were silent a while as the lake lapped around them. “Would you, really, if you could?”

  “If I met the right guy, of course. I don’t know if that’s ever going to happen.”

  “It will. It would happen faster if your standards weren’t so high.” He leaned past Del to look at Theo. “Though there’s no explaining him.”

  “He’s gorgeous,” Del said patiently.

  Jeff held up his hands. “No details, please. I guess I'm surprised that's all you need.»

  Del tugged his fishing rod and said, “It’s just a weekend. It’s just for fun.”

  “Okay,” Jeff said. “So you’re not thinking about--”

  “Oh, good God, no. We just met.”

  “I was worried for a second.” He pulled in his line and recast. “It’s a scary thing, marriage. All this meaning and history and shit, and nobody knows how to do it right. My parents divorced, Marianne’s parents are divorced, two of her sisters are divorced, Theo can’t--” He glanced over his shoulder.

  “Theo can,” Del said, glancing back, too, but Theo appeared to be sleeping on, unaware of the discussion about him. “He was with the same guy all through college. Did you know that?”

  Jeff was quiet a moment. “No. We didn’t talk much then.”

  “You should have,” Del said. “You’ve missed out on a lot with him, starting with the fact that yes, he could have a long-term relationship despite the family history.” He recast his line, unhappy with the lay of the lure.

  “Yeah, I guess.” Jeff’s line jerked, and he reached behind for a net. “I got something, I got something!”

  Del laughed and put the net in his hand, and Theo woke at the commotion and cheered him on, and proudly held the cooler open when Jeff caught the fish in the net and brought it into the boat.

  ***

  Around ten they all came to shore. Two of the chefs from Jeff’s restaurant cleaned the catfish they’d caught while the rest of the men started a fire and got to work on the meal: cobbler in a Dutch oven, potatoes wrapped in foil, onions and peppers sliced and peeled to cook with the fish. Theo was assigned most of the slicing, and amused himself with singing songs Del remembered from elementary school himself: “John Henry” and “Darling Clementine” and “Down by the Bay.” The others nudged each other and smirked at him, particularly when he sang about polka-dot whales, but stopped after Del, and then Jeff, joined in.

  Del had been assigned prepping apples for the cobbler, and he was nearly done peeling and slicing them into a big, plastic mixing bowl when Carson sat on the log beside him with the dry ingredients in tiny Tupperware containers. “This was a great idea, Del,” Carson said. “This is the most fun I’ve had at a bachelor party in years.”

  “Good,” Del said and pushed the bowl toward him. “This is ready for you.”

  Carson took the bowl and started mixing in cinnamon and sugar. “I like campfire cooking,” he said. “It’s like cooking at its most stripped-down. If this was the restaurant, there’d be candied pecans and a caramel sauce, at the very least. And every cobbler would be baked in its own ramekin, with a dollop of whipped cream mixed with cinnamon on top.” He paused and looked at Del. “I should suggest that to Jeff.”

  “It sounds delicious,” said Del. “Just completely unlike Jeff.”

  “Sometimes even the most sophisticated palates want something simple,” Carson said with a shrug. “Like a turkey dinner with mashed potatoes. No rosemary, no garlic, just turkey and gravy.” He looked up again. “How’d you end up with Jeff’s brother? I thought he lived in Texas.”

  “He does,” Del said.

  “So, how did you meet him? I didn’t think he visited that often. Jeff’s never mentioned him coming until the wedding.”

  “Did I slice the apples thin enough?” Del said.

  Carson gazed at him, his head tilted. “Oh, Delany... you met him last night, right? And now you think you’ve started something you’re not prepared to deal with.”

  “I think he’s a nice kid and I like him,” Del said and gathered up the corners of the plastic sheet that had caught the apple peels and cores. “I think I’m going to enjoy myself with a hot guy.”

  “And when his being hot isn’t enough,” said Carson, “you’re going to dawdle and reconsider, and ask yourself a thousand times if he’s the right one, and by the time you decide he is, he’ll be back in Texas with another guy.”

  Del clenched his jaw. Across the campsite, Theo was watching them, an onion and a paring knife dangling from his hands. “It’s just a weekend,” Del said finally. “We both know that.”

  “I don’t know, Delany. The way he’s been watching you, I’d say he thinks it’s more than that.” Carson picked up the mixing bowl and took it to the fire where the Dutch oven was warming in the coals.

  Del stared after him, then crossed the campsite and dumped the leavings from the apples into a big, rusty metal garbage can. He smiled at Theo when the other man joined him with his own collection of peels. “Hey.”

  “Hey. You two fighting?” Theo jerked his head toward Carson.

  “No. He was telling me like it is.” He looked to the trees and sighed. “If I weren’t the best man I’d suggest you and I skip the rehearsal tonight and find something more interesting to do.” He slanted a look at Theo. “Wanna... go for a walk instead?”

  “I would,” Theo said and hooked an arm around Del’s neck as they ambled off into the trees.

  They hiked for quite some time, until they passed through a grove of pine trees to a green meadow. “This is my favorite place around here,” Del said and Theo turned to take in the view: the gray granite mountains across the lake, the serene waters below, the sturdy, fragrant pines.

  “I can see why. It’s gorgeous.” He looked at Del and then kissed him, holding him by the shoulder. Del held Theo’s face and kissed him back, and then kissed Theo’s neck, which tasted like coconut from his sunscreen and was warm from being out in the sun all day. He pulled off Theo’s baseball cap and raked a hand through his hair so he could grip the back of Theo’s head and kiss him again.

  He whispered, “You’re so gorgeous, Theo, so sexy and sweet,” and Theo laughed again, soft against his cheek.

  “So’re you, Del. Delany.” He pulled back and looked at Del with fond eyes. “Jeff’s lucky to have a friend like you.” He wound his arms around Del and pulled him close. “They’re all lucky, and I bet they have no idea.”

  “Stop it,” Del said, hiding his face in Theo’s neck. “You’re making me blush.”

  Theo held him and patted his hair, chuckling. “Nope. I like you. I’m not going to stop telling you anytime soon. I bet there isn’t a thing about
you I won’t like.”

  Del rocked his head against Theo's shoulder. «Don't say that. There could be a dozen things.» He looked up at Theo. «But I like everything I know about you.»

  Theo tilted Del's face up and kissed his forehead. “One more thing to like. You’re so sweet.”

  “I’m not. Not really. I’m a mess. I have no idea what I’m doing with you.”

  “You’re having a good time.” Theo regarded Del thoughtfully. “I wish I’d thought ahead enough to bring a condom so you could fuck me here.”

  Del shivered at the image of Theo beneath him on the grass. “There’s plenty of time for that.”

  “Promise?”

  “Oh, I promise,” Del said softly. They stood there a moment, and Del was sure Theo was picturing the same thing he was: the two of them on the grass, naked in the sunshine. Del said, “We should get back to the others. The food’ll be ready and I want to try that catfish.”

  Theo took his hand, and they wound through the trees back to the lake.

  ***

  They all left the lake after they’d eaten and cleaned up the site, and went their separate ways to meet again for the rehearsal that evening. Del let Jeff and Theo have the showers first -- his own in the master bath and the one in the tiny guest bathroom -- and when he came out of his own shower later, they both were watching ESPN companionably on the sofa. They weren’t talking, but they weren’t arguing either, and Del figured that as good as he could hope for.

  “Are you two packed?” he said, and they both started guiltily.

  “Mostly,” Jeff said and got up from the couch. “You’re picking up the tuxedos on the way, right?”

  “Yes.” He asked Theo, “Who do you want to ride with? Jeff and I are taking separate cars.”

  “Oh, um--” He glanced from one to the other.

  “Better go with Del,” Jeff said. “I’ll have stuff for the wedding in the truck.”

  “Okay,” Theo said. “Can we stop at a pharmacy on the way? There’s something I’d like to pick up.” He gave Del a look from beneath his lashes.

  Del smiled at him, unable to stop himself. “Okay.”

  “And on that note,” said Jeff, “I’ll be on my way. See you guys up there. Don’t forget the rehearsal starts at six. And don’t forget the guitar,” he added to Theo, who nodded.

  “Don’t worry. See you there.”

  Jeff left, his bag under his arm, and Theo kicked back on the couch, his long legs stretched out. “I wish we could stay here a little longer, but I guess there are responsibilities.”

  Del sat on the arm of the sofa and put his hand on Theo’s shoulder. “’Fraid so. But after we get up to the lodge and all the wedding stuff is over, I’m sure we can find some time to ourselves.” He rubbed a circle into Theo’s shoulder with his thumb.

  “Hey,” Theo said softly, “c’mere,” and pulled Del off the arm of the sofa onto his lap. He kissed Del, his hand warm on the back of Del’s neck, and Del rested his palms on Theo’s chest and kissed him slowly.

  He pulled away reluctantly, even though Theo’s lips were as succulent and tempting as ripe strawberries. “Let’s not start anything we won’t have time to finish. I have errands to run.”

  Theo sighed but stood anyway when Del got off his lap. “You’re the responsible friend, I see.”

  “Yup. I’m always the designated driver. Get your bags, let’s hit the road.”

  They packed their luggage in the trunk of Del’s Bug, and Theo put the guitar case in the back seat. Their first stop was the pharmacy as Theo had asked, and he came out with a small paper bag and a big grin. After that they got tuxedos from the rental shop, and then Del turned the car to the mountains outside Tehachapi for the drive to the lodge where the wedding would be held.

  Theo was quiet as they got out of the town and took a road that wound through wind farms and apple orchards. He said finally, “I’d forgotten how varied California is.”

  “I love it here,” Del said. “It’s not like the rest of the state, even. It’s like its own world.”

  “Since we moved, the only times I’ve been back was to go to Disneyland. L.A.’s like its own world, too, really, but not like this. Not like stepping back in time.” He paused. “Not a place you could put roots down in and stay a while.”

  Del swallowed hard. “That’s why I stayed. But wouldn’t you miss Texas?”

  “I was born here. Maybe I’ve just been waiting for a reason to come back.”

  That reason's not me, Del thought, but couldn't bring himself to say it out loud.

  ***

  The lodge where the wedding would be held was on a mountainside, overlooking the valley and Tehachapi below. Del and Theo checked in, and after he dropped off the tuxedos and his luggage in his room, Del had a peek at the patio where the chairs and decorations were set up for the wedding. The lodge would provide most of the décor for the wedding and reception, but all the personal touches were provided by Marianne’s family: the little bouquets on the tables, the flowers thrust into the bows tied to each chair, and the white filigree arch with more flowers woven throughout. There were photographs of Jeff and Marianne on each table, dating back to when Marianne was only eighteen and a new waitress at Jeff’s restaurant, standing stiffly with the rest of the staff, right through to a recent family portrait.

  “They did a great job, didn’t they?” said Jeff from the doorway to the dining room. Del went to him and hugged him quickly.

  “It looks great. It looks like a garden.”

  “That’s the look my girl wanted,” Jeff said. “I think this is exactly what she wanted down to every detail. Weird, huh? Getting everything you want, I mean.”

  “Wouldn’t know,” Del said and patted Jeff’s back. “Come on, let’s dole out the tuxes.”

  They went up the stairs to Del’s room. On the way they passed Theo’s room, where the door was open. Theo sat on the bed, practicing on the guitar for the next day. “Hey, Jeff,” he said as they passed.

  “Hey,” Jeff said, and when Del nudged him he added, “That sounds really good.”

  “Thanks,” Theo said.

  “If you see any more of the groomsmen, will you tell them to come to my room?” Del said. “I want to get the tuxedos out to everyone before rehearsal.”

  “Okay,” Theo said, bobbing his head. “I will. When does it start?”

  “Six o’clock,” Del said and checked his watch. “Not much longer.”

  “I’m going to get my tux,” Jeff said to Del, and Del gave him his room key. When Jeff had gone on Del sat cross-legged on the bed beside Theo, and then lay back and put his arm over his eyes.

  “Tired already?” Theo said, still playing.

  “Yeah. I was up half the night entertaining a guest.” He removed his arm to look at Theo. “How are you holding up?”

  “Fine, I guess. Marianne's sisters have all come by to say hi, and Marianne wants me to watch Jesse during the rehearsal.”

  “See?” Del said. “You’re part of the family already.” He touched Theo’s back and sighed. “I should go do best man stuff. Come to my room if you get bored, ‘kay?”

  “Can I come even if I’m not bored?” Theo grinned at him.

  “You can come for any reason you want,” Del said and gave Theo’s back one more caress before he left.

  ***

  Theo managed to keep Jesse quiet during most of the rehearsal with a combination of toys and half-whispered songs, but the moment Marianne and Jeff walked up the aisle, Jesse wiggled down from Theo’s knee and ran to them. Jeff picked him up and carried him out to the dining room on his arm, the rest of the wedding party following.

  Del was last, and excused himself from the matron of honor -- Marianne’s just-younger sister -- to help Theo clean up Jesse’s toys. Marianne came back after a few minutes and said, relieved, “There you are! Theo, thank you so much. I know he’s a handful.” She knelt on the floor to gather up the last of the fabric blocks and a stuffed turtle.

/>   “He’s two,” Theo said. “They’re supposed to be handfuls at that age. By the time I get them, they usually have all their teeth, though.”

  Marianne laughed. “I think I’m going to like being your sister.” She glanced at Del, and then stood and touched both their shoulders. “Come on. Food. The roast beef is supposed to be excellent.” She picked up Jesse’s bag and went back into the dining room.

  “Do you ever get the feeling,” Theo said, “that people have been talking about you?”

  “All the time,” said Del.

  They went into the dining room, and at first Del couldn’t find his place card. Theo waved to him. “Del! You’re here.”

  Del sat in the chair at Theo's side. “Did you do this? It was next to Marianne’s mom earlier.”

  “I didn’t,” Theo said, shaking his head. He added quietly, “I think it could have been any number of people here. Matchmakers, the lot of them.”

  Del smiled back and then swallowed hard. “Weddings do that to people,” he replied just as softly. “Makes ‘em a little crazy.”

  After the meal and the toasts and speeches, there was music and board games in the lobby. Del begged off from them, though, and took his wine glass outside to the lodge’s garden. There were tiny, white Christmas lights strung in the trees, and they softly lit the way to a footbridge that arched over a small creek. He went to the middle of the footbridge and looked over the handrail to watch the water and think.

  His life was not an exciting one, but it was stable. Lovers, his job, his friends -- these were all things he considered slowly and carefully. If this meant loneliness, then he dealt with the loneliness. If this meant missed opportunities, then he moved on. He rarely had one-night stands, and certainly not one night that stretched into two or three. And Theo was a stranger, even if he was Jeff’s brother. Jeff hardly knew him.

  “What are you getting yourself into, Delany?” he muttered and drank some champagne.

  There were footsteps on the wooden bridge and Del looked up, a practiced smile on his mouth that turned genuine when he saw it was Marianne. “Hey, bride-to-be.”

  “Hey, best man.” She joined him and he slipped an arm around her waist. “Why aren’t you in at the party?”