by Andrew Grey
“All right. Johan will load the luggage, and I’ll check everyone in as you get on the bus. Then we can go.”
The group all gathered around him, with a few grumbles that they should have gotten something to eat first. Robin, prepared for that, pulled granola bars out of his bag and passed them out.
The bus door opened, and Johan stepped out. Robin’s mouth went dry and he looked longer than was necessary, but he couldn’t help it. Gone was Cousin Itt with the beard and superlong hair. Hello clean-shaven, black hair flowing down to his shoulders, god among men. Robin had no idea what the hell had happened, but one thing was for certain: all the guys, and Lily, turned and gaped as Johan strode off the bus.
“Are you ready for me?” he asked in a soft voice, and it took Robin a second to get his mind out of the gutter.
Robin nodded and swallowed once again. “All the luggage is tagged and ready to be loaded.” He pointed to the line of bags, and Johan nodded, walking over to heft two bags to the bus and load them into the luggage compartment underneath. Robin turned away from where Johan worked and stood by the door to the bus. No one moved, the guys enthralled by Johan, watching him work. Robin cleared his throat, and they seemed to come back from whatever fantasies had gripped them. Not that Robin didn’t understand. He suddenly found himself with his own fantasies, and they weren’t professional in the least.
One by one, Robin checked off each of his tour members as they got on the bus. Javier got on first, half leaping into the bus, then pausing at the top with a sigh as Oliver climbed in more slowly. The ladies all followed, and then the others filed on, with Kyle and Billy bringing up the rear, chatting a mile a minute.
“Will we be stopping at any clubs and things?” Kyle asked, Robin repressing a smile as Billy rolled his eyes from behind Kyle.
“We have plenty of free time for things like that. Robin doesn’t have to act like a wingman.” Billy zipped past Kyle and got on the bus.
Kyle shook his head and followed.
“Is that everyone?” Johan asked from where he stood near the luggage compartment.
“Yes.” Robin sighed. “We might have another joining us in Würzburg tomorrow evening.”
Johan nodded and closed the luggage door.
“Shoot,” Robin muttered and hurried into the office. He grabbed his own suitcase, then returned. Johan took the bag, his fingers brushing lightly over Robin’s, sending heat along his skin. Robin pulled back more quickly than was necessary. Hopefully Johan hadn’t noticed. “Now we can go.” Robin followed Johan onto the bus and they were off.
“Guten Morgen. I’m Robin, and I’m going to be your tour guide for the next eleven days. I’m sure you’re all familiar with the itinerary, and as far as I know, there aren’t any changes that we are expecting. Our driver, Johan—” He paused, and Johan waved quickly before merging into traffic. “—and I will be here to make sure you get where you need to. At any time during the trip, I will be happy to answer questions. Now, for most of our day trips, Johan will lock the bus, so you can feel free to leave your things in the overhead compartment, or we can put them in the locked compartments.”
“Even my laptop?” Grant asked, his hand shooting in the air.
“Yes. Your laptops, sweaters, jackets… all of it. We don’t recommend that you leave things on the bus overnight, because Johan will need to park it and he’ll be at the hotel with us.” Robin gazed out at the faces all looking back at him expectantly. “The drive to Würzburg is going to take about two hours with traffic, so I thought I’d give you a little overview of the country we’re going to be seeing. The country we know as Germany didn’t always look the way it does today. Up until a hundred and fifty or so years ago, it was many different sovereign states—Prussia, Franconia, and Bavaria, to name a few of them. They each had their own rulers and royal lines. You may have heard of some of them.”
“What about East Germany? Was that one of them?” Billy asked, and Kyle nudged him sharply.
“No. That’s because of the war,” Kyle interjected.
“What we know or knew as East and West Germany resulted from World War II. East Germany was the part controlled by the Russians. Germany was reunified in 1990.” Robin took a deep breath and continued. “We are going to see palaces, castles, and Roman ruins, taste wine….”
“And get drunk…,” a couple said together, and everyone laughed.
Robin tried to laugh along with them, but failed, waiting them out instead. Kyle and Billy started talking about beer, and the conversation took off on its own. Popping and hissing sounds followed, and both Kyle and Billy sipped from cans, offering them to others as well. Soon almost everyone was drinking, and Robin wondered how they’d gotten that much beer on the bus right under his nose. He was going to have to keep an eye on those two. Giving up on imparting any more information, he sat down and let the group talk while they rode.
“It is okay,” Johan said from just in front of him. “They need to get to know one another, and this is a good time for them to do it.”
“I suppose. I usually have get-to-know-each-other games,” Robin explained, and Johan snorted. “What?”
“I remember those games. The beer is better.” He returned to his driving, chuckling under his breath. Robin wanted to smack him, but as he turned to look at the rest of the group, he had to agree that the beer was better. They were having a good time, talking and laughing. Robin faced forward, watching the road and scenery out the front window as they entered the Autobahn. He opened the file and reviewed it once again, needing something to do.
AS THEY approached the outskirts of Würzburg, Robin stood up, holding on to his seat back. “As we come into town, we’re going to park near the restaurant for lunch. Then you’ll have the afternoon to look around. At four, we’ll meet at the hotel to check in and have dinner. The evening is on your own, and tomorrow we have a guided tour of the town and the Würzburg Residence, the Prince-Bishop’s palace, which is truly amazing.”
“Should we take our things with us?” Javier asked.
“Take your handheld things. The rest will be safe until we get to the hotel. It’s a short walk to town from the bus park, so you probably don’t want to trek back.”
Johan parked the bus in the lot and turned off the engine, and Robin got off the bus, directing everyone into the nearby restaurant.
“Lock up the bus and join us.”
Johan nodded. “Save me a seat?” He smiled, and Robin’s belly did a little flip of excitement.
“Sure.” He grabbed his bag and left the bus, walking briskly to catch up.
Inside the restaurant, he gave the hostess their information, and they were seated at a long table against the far dark-paneled wall. Soon drinks and salads were brought out, followed by plates of schnitzel with fries. Robin made sure everyone was seated and had food before taking his place at the one end. Johan came in and sat at the other end of the table, where a plate waited for him.
“How long have you been driving buses for tours?” Grant asked from next to Johan.
“About four years,” Johan answered, his accent a little thicker than it had been earlier. Maybe Johan was a little shy when it came to talking about himself?
“How old is this town?” Kyle asked.
Johan set down his fork and swallowed but didn’t get a chance to answer.
“The first cathedral was built in 788 and it was consecrated by Charlemagne. The current one dates to the eleventh century. So the town is over 1300 years old at least.” Grant sounded like one of the tour guidebooks he’d been reading.
Robin took over when Grant ran out of steam. “It’s beautiful, with buildings of all styles. Take a walk through the cathedral—it’s breathtaking. Germany’s most famous wood-carver, Tilman Riemenschneider, was also the mayor of the town. So you’ll see plenty of his work. Look for pieces in the cathedral itself. Otherwise, look through the shops and markets. Enjoy yourselves and be at the hotel between four and five to get your rooms.”
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br /> “Where is it?”
“The Hotel Charlemagne is just down the street toward town, about two blocks from here,” Robin explained. “If you walk into town, you can’t miss it. Have fun for a few hours.”
They all finished their lunches, and the tourists left the restaurant in small groups until only Robin and Johan remained with Lily and Margaret, who sat at the other end of the table, speaking quietly. Then after a few minutes, they stood as well.
Robin pulled out the chair next to him. “You can join us if you’d like. We’re just finishing up.”
“We wanted to see some things, but….”
Lily and Margaret moved closer and sat across from Johan.
“Is there something I can help you with?” Robin asked.
“I didn’t know this was a gay tour, and….” She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “Margaret thought I understood, but I didn’t know, and I feel really out of place.” She reached for a napkin and wiped her eyes.
“You know no one is going to mind at all,” Johan said, and Robin nodded his agreement.
“But I’m not gay,” she said softly. “What if I do something wrong?”
Margaret put her arm around her friend to comfort her. “I’m sorry. I thought you knew. I booked a tour so you wouldn’t have men bothering you.” Margaret met Robin’s gaze with steel in hers. This was a strong person. “She and her husband—”
“Margie,” Lily said softly.
“There’s nothing he can do to you now. You know that.” Margaret held her tighter. “Do you think I’d let that ass get within a hundred feet of you?” Robin supposed that was Margaret’s way of comforting and it seemed to work, surprisingly. “Her husband….”
“He cheated,” Lily said and sniffed. “A lot.”
“This is a safe place,” Robin said. It sounded lame to him, but it was true. “You don’t need to worry about any of us. You’re safe, and gay or not, we’ve got your back.” Damn, this wasn’t the way he wanted to start the tour.
A server approached the table, and Robin asked for a glass of water. She brought it and continued on her way, and Robin passed it to Lily.
“What do you want to do?”
“Kick the bastard in the nuts and….” She drank from the glass and wiped her face. “I think I want to get out of here and have some fun.”
“That’s the spirit,” Margaret told her. “Don’t let the ass win.” She got up, and Lily did as well. “Let’s go see some fun stuff.”
Lily nodded, and Robin watched them both go, feeling like shit. He sat at the table for a while, resting. There was plenty of time, and he knew he needed to take advantage of a couple hours of quiet. Robin pulled out a paperback, ordered another drink, and let the group explore a little and get to know each other on their first day.
“Are you ready to go to the hotel?” Johan asked, and Robin realized he’d been lost in his own thoughts and wondered if he’d been staring at something embarrassing instead of his book. As he feared, from where his gaze seemed to have drifted to Johan’s chest and the way it filled out his shirt so… completely.
“Yes.” Robin pushed back his chair and verified with the hostess that the charges had been covered. Then he and Johan went back to the bus. He sat, watching out the front window, as Johan slowly navigated the bus through the narrow street and up to the front of the hotel.
It was a family-run place. The last time Robin had stayed here on a tour, the couple’s fourteen-year-old son had actually checked them in. The half-timbered exterior was exactly what he thought of when he imagined a German hotel. The inside was as quaint and, well, as old-fashioned as the exterior. Not that there was anything wrong with that. It just didn’t always meet the expectations that some Americans had for their European holiday.
“Guten Tag,” the lady behind the counter said, then smiled. “Robin, you are back.”
“Yes,” he said, delighted that she remembered him. “I need to get the room keys for my tour group.” He handed her the sheet with the details, and she looked it over, nodded, and handed him the keys in an envelope.
“You stay two days?” she asked, and Robin nodded.
“We have one more person joining us tomorrow,” he explained, and she nodded as she checked her book.
“We’re full tonight, but, ja, I can give you the key then.” She smiled again, and Robin returned it.
He then sat down with his sheets and keys to make sure everyone got what they paid for. The deluxe room was easy—Oliver had paid for that. It had its own full bath and a small sitting area. The other rooms he assigned and came to the end with only one room left. Robin checked again and groaned. He pulled out his phone to send Albert a message, and received a reply that the number of rooms was incorrect.
“What’s up?” Johan said as he carried in the last of the luggage, placing it in the currently unused breakfast room.
“We’re a room short,” Robin said. “It looks like you and I will have to share.” Robin wondered if Albert had planned things like that for the entire tour.
“Okay. It is no big deal,” Johan said, and left without another word.
Robin gaped and then pulled his attention back to his records and off Johan’s retreating ass. Groaning, Robin wiped his face, then reviewed the room arrangements again, making sure the room he and Johan were in had two beds. Not that he’d mind sharing a bed with Johan, but they worked together, and….
Robin rolled his eyes at himself for the thought. He knew he wasn’t the most handsome guy on the planet, and his ex had certainly made that clear in their last conversation-slash-fight, so it only followed that, gay or not, Johan wasn’t going to be interested in him. There were certainly guys on this tour who were better-looking and a lot more fun than he was. That was, if Johan was into guys and got involved with the people he drove, and…. Jesus, even his thoughts were rambling. He needed to put a stop to it.
His phone vibrated, finally pulling him out of his circular-running thoughts, and he pulled it out, expecting it to be Albert, but it definitely wasn’t. “Hey, Mom,” he said with as much happiness as he could muster.
“You’re alive,” she teased.
“I called last week, and I’m on a tour right now, but everything is fine,” he rushed to reassure her, maybe too quickly.
“Are you sure?” she asked, and Robin groaned.
“Yes. I’m taking my pills and watching what I eat as best I can. I always do.” He kept his voice light. After years of his mother taking care of him, worrying over him, and then coddling him, or trying to as he got older, he should be used to this routine by now.
“I worry. Why can’t you come home? We love you, and you can work with your father and me. Your dad is always saying that he wants to slow down, and if you came into the business, then he could pass some of what he does to you.”
“I know you worry, but I’m fine.” Robin spoke softly so he wouldn’t be overheard. “Really. I like it here, and I get to see parts of the world I never could otherwise. And I get to use my language skills.”
His mother cleared her throat nervously. “But what are you doing? Leading tourists around when you could be here with your family where we could help look after you?” Old habits were hard to drop, and his mother was finding letting go extremely difficult.
“I need to be on my own. I’ve told you that.” So much of his life had involved his mother watching him like a hawk, getting ready to rush him to the hospital at the first sign of a cough or fever. Robin had been surprised when his mother had let him actually have a boyfriend. Both his parents had been supportive and caring. That wasn’t the surprising part. They had both backed off during the relationship. But as soon as it had ended, they’d returned with the same nearly intrusive care, just like before. “Just let me be. I call, I stay in touch, and I can take care of myself.”
She sighed loudly, followed by a small whimper. “You’re special, and you can’t do all the things other people can. You know that.” Robin could imagine her
wiping her eyes. “You have to be careful, and I worry about you all the way over there without anyone looking after you.”
Robin rubbed the back of his neck, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. “You’ve told me all this before, and yes, I know that I’m probably not going to live as long as most other people. But I want to have a good life and enjoy what I do have.” And unfortunately for his parents, that didn’t mean his sitting behind the counter of the family restaurant, taking people’s money, spending the rest of his life perched on a stool so his family would know where he was. “I don’t know why you’re so wound up all of a sudden.”
His mother heaved another sigh, and Robin waited for some sort of explanation, but none was forthcoming. His mom would wait out an ice age if she wanted to, and she clearly didn’t intend to spill whatever was bothering her.
“Mom, I need to go. I have to finish getting my tour checked into the hotel, see them to dinner, and then I can rest for the night.” He could almost feel his energy being sapped away by this conversation. Not that he didn’t love his mother—he did, truly, and Robin knew she loved him a great deal. But being on his own was what he needed so very much. “I’ll call you later in the week, and we can text if you want.”
She groaned. “You know I can never use that thing.” His mother and technology didn’t seem to go together.
“Maybe if you let Dad get you a new phone,” Robin offered.
“But then I’d have a new number and no one would be able to call, and I’d have to tell everyone and….” She went on, and Robin waited until she wound down a little.
“You can keep the same number,” Robin told her, and she paused. “You’d also have an easy way to send messages, instead of using that old flip phone.”