by A M Huff
“Would you like another drink?” Harrison offered when Justus pulled away from Douglas’ hug.
Justus nodded.
“I’ll make it,” Douglas said.
Justus sat down. “So now what?”
“What do you mean?” Harrison asked.
“What do I do now? Who arranges for the funeral?”
“Well, you do.”
“Me?”
“Yes, as his executor it’s left up to you. But Doug and I will help you with whatever you need. Won’t we?”
“You bet,” Douglas answered when he handed Justus his drink.
“Thank you,” Justus said and set the mug down. “I have no idea what I’m supposed to do or what Marcus wanted.”
“Have you looked at the will?”
“No. I can’t right now,” Justus admitted. He looked behind him at the counter. The manila file folder sat next to the telephone.
“May I?” Harrison asked.
“Be my guest,” Justus answered.
Harrison walked around the island and picked up the folder. He returned to his stool and sat down. Opening the folder, he appeared to scan the papers.
Justus watched him and took a drink from his mug.
“It says here that Marcus wanted to be cremated and his ashes are to be buried in a cemetery to be determined later.”
“Cremated? How do I do that?”
“You don’t. The mortuary does it all,” Douglas answered.
“Oh.” Justus looked at the dark liquid in his mug. He watched the tiny ripples move across the surface while he wrapped his hands around the sides of the cup. “When do we have to do that?”
“Tomorrow we can check to see when the coroner will release his body, and then we can find a mortuary. Don’t worry about the financial part yet, I’ll take care of it and we can settle up when we find out if he has any money in the estate,” Harrison answered.
Justus nodded. Even though he could rely on Harrison and Douglas for help, he still felt overwhelmed.
Harrison closed the folder and left it sitting in the middle of the island.
Chapter Fourteen
Rain poured down while Harrison parked the Honda CR-V in the driveway. Justus sat in the passenger seat, his arms wrapped around a polished wooden box. He stared at the dashboard.
His ears kept ringing with the words of the coroner.
Your friend died from a cardiac arrhythmia. There were traces of amyl nitrate but whether or not it was a contributing factor was inconclusive. His medical records reported he had coronary artery disease. So using it at all was risky for him. In fact, it’s risky for anyone to use it.
“Are you okay?” Harrison asked and put his hand on Justus’ arm. “You haven’t said a thing all the way home.”
Justus heard the words but it took a while for them to register. He forced himself to look away from the latch on the glovebox. He looked at Harrison.
“Yeah, I’m okay,” he answered even though he knew inside he was not. He looked at the box on his lap. It was hard for him to imagine that it contained what was left of his friend, reduced to ashes.
“Come on,” Harrison said, breaking the silence. “Let’s get inside. I know someone who could use a drink and you probably could use one as well.”
Justus sat for a moment, unable to move. Finally, he forced one of his hands to let go of the box long enough to open the door. He stepped out of the car and protectively hunched over the box to shield it from the rain. He closed the car door and made a run for the backdoor.
Inside, Harrison was already pouring them a drink, a glass of wine for himself and a glass of something stronger for Justus. Justus walked over to the counter by the phone and hesitated a moment before finally setting the box down. He returned to the island in the middle of the kitchen and pulled a stool out from under the ledge. Harrison slid the glass across the marble countertop.
“So, do you know what you are going to do with the ashes yet?” Harrison asked.
“No,” Justus answered and took a sip of his drink.
“Maybe the guys can help you decide.”
“Yeah,” Justus agreed.
“I know it’s not Friday, but why don’t you give them a call and go have a drink with them?”
“I’m not really in the mood,” he answered and took another sip from his glass. Whatever it was that Harrison had poured for him burned his throat.
“Nonsense,” Harrison said. “You haven’t been out of the house for a week except to deal with this.” He motioned at the wooden box across the room. “You need to get out among the living again and have some fun. All of you need to.”
“I don’t know.”
“Hey, Marcus wouldn’t want you all to wither up and hide away. He’d want you to get out there and enjoy life.”
Justus did not look up from his glass. Deep down he knew Harrison was right. Still he felt numb inside and all he wanted to do was crawl in a corner and disappear.
“I can’t,” he finally said and shook his head before slugging back the last of his drink.
“I know everything seems pointless and like nothing will ever be the same as it was,” Harrison said while he pulled out the other stool and sat down at the end of the island. “But trust me on this, it will get better but you have to try.”
“I’ve never known anyone who died. I mean, sure I knew my grandparents but they were old, they weren’t young.”
“I know,” Harrison answered.
“How did you go on after your parents died?”
“I don’t know. I just did. I would wake up every morning and all I wanted to do was roll over and give up, but then I thought about Dani. Her life was ripped apart too. She needed me to be strong. So I forced myself to get out of bed and even though it felt like I was going through the motions, I kept living. In time it got easier and I started feeling again.
“Justus, Dale, and especially Scotty need you now. Be strong for them.”
Justus let Harrison’s words sink in. What Harrison had described was exactly how he felt, hollow and empty inside like a chocolate Easter rabbit. He glanced at the calendar on the wall beside the hall archway. The Easter party was Saturday, only a week away. The tickets had already been bought. If the gang was going to make it to the party, they should venture out before then. He looked at Harrison.
“So, does that mean you’ll come too?”
“I can’t tonight,” he answered, sounding disappointed though Justus knew it was an act. “Doug is coming over. We’re going to watch some TV and have a pizza.”
“Sounds like a date,” Justus said without hesitation.
“It’s not a date,” Harrison said dryly.
Justus saw Harrison’s jaw tighten slightly which made him smile inside.
“Oh, it’s simply dinner and a movie,” he said and nodded, not even trying to hide the sarcasm in his tone.
Harrison opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. He closed his mouth and pursed his lips. “It’s not a date,” he answered firmly and stood up. “Go call the guys.”
Justus smiled. He stood up, slid the stool back under the island’s ledge. He walked over to Harrison.
“I love you,” he said and wrapped his arms around Harrison. He felt Harrison’s body tense for a moment and then his arms return the hug. Justus held the embrace just long enough to feel Harrison become uncomfortable. He let go and headed for the stairs. When he reached the archway to the dining room he thought he heard Harrison whisper, “I love you back.” Justus smiled and kept walking.
It took a lot of begging and several phone calls back and forth, but Justus and Dale finally convinced Scotty to join them at Stumptown. The music was loud and thumping as normal. Dale was already seated at their usual table when Justus walked through the door. He made a quick stop at the bar to grab a drink before he headed across the semi-crowded dance floor to his table.
“Any sign of him?” he asked while he sat down.
“Not yet, but I texted him
and he said he’s on his way.” Dale answered.
“Good.”
“So, how’ve you been?” Dale asked.
“Okay.” Justus felt his mood start to sink. “Let’s not talk about this. I wanna have some fun tonight.”
“Okay,” Dale agreed. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine.” Justus took a sip of his drink.
“Hey, that’s not rum and Coke!” Dale nearly shouted when he saw the contents of Justus’ glass.
“No. It’s Jack Daniel’s.”
“Wow, and I thought I was the wild one of the bunch.”
“No, you’re a bad influence,” Justus teased. “Hey, he’s here.”
Scotty had his head ducked down and his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jacket. The two watched him make his way around the edge of the dance floor to the table.
“You made it!” Justus said and gave Scotty a hug.
Scotty did not hug him back. He pulled out the chair between the two guys and sat down, keeping his hands in his pockets.
“You doing okay?” Dale asked and looked concerned.
Scotty did not look good. It had only been four days since he learned the news about Marcus, but he already looked as if he had lost weight. His face seemed thinner. There were dark circles around his eyes. He nodded his response.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Justus told him. “We need to get back to normal.”
Scotty looked at him. “Normal?” he said in a raspy voice, unlike his normal cheery pitch. “We’ll never be normal. First Jack, now Marcus.”
“Well, hi there,” the shirtless server greeted them, interrupting. “I haven’t seen you guys in weeks. Where have you been?”
“We’ve been checking out CC’s,” Justus answered before either Dale or Scotty said something to bring everyone down.
The server pulled back a bit and eyed them. “Checking out the competition?”
“There is no competition,” Justus assured him. “This is the only real club in town.”
“Glad to hear it. So, what are we drinking tonight?”
“I’ll have another appletini,” Dale ordered.
“Oh, good choice, Mario is fabulous at making those. How about you?”
Justus drank down the rest of his Jack Daniel’s a little too quickly. It burned all the way down, but he was determined not to let on to the others. “I’ll have another Jack Daniel’s on ice. Make it a double, please.”
“Okay?” the server eyed him curiously and then turned a bit to look at Scotty. “A Coke for you?”
“No,” Scotty spoke up. “I’ll have what he’s having.”
“A Jack Daniel’s?” the server said, his tone registering the shock that was reflected on both Dale’s and Justus’ faces.
“Yes,” Scotty said firmly.
“All righty then, be back in a flash.” The server disappeared in the crowd.
“A Jack Daniel’s?” Justus and Dale said in unison.
Scotty looked at them. “What? This is a bar and I’m over twenty-one.”
“Yeah, but you don’t drink,” Dale said.
“Well, the people I love aren’t supposed to drop like flies either.”
Justus looked at Dale to see his reaction to what Scotty had just said, but there was none. It was as if Scotty’s public confession was old news. Justus put his hand over Scotty’s and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“You’re right,” Justus said and nodded in agreement. “So, let’s enjoy the music and the scenery, okay?”
“Fine with me,” Scotty said.
Justus glanced at Dale who sat looking confused yet concerned.
The music was great. The DJ had put together a lineup of retro-disco and dance music from when Stumptown first opened. The server called it Flashback Friday. Justus was in heaven. He loved the music and it was the perfect thing to lift him out of his funk. Justus’ enthusiasm, or perhaps the liquor, elevated Scotty’s woe-is-me mood. He stood beside Justus at the edge of the dance floor and bopped in time with the music.
Justus took another sip of his third Jack Daniel’s of the night and looked across the dance floor. A handsome man with light-colored hair, a nice smile, and a killer bod was looking at him. Justus felt a stirring inside. Just what the doctor ordered. The man started to make his way over to him. Justus felt the excitement of anticipation bubbling inside him. He smiled and watched the man make his approach. Justus took a quick sip of his drink to wet his dry mouth.
“Hi,” the man said in a wonderfully deep, masculine voice and held out his hand to Scotty. “My name is Aaron.”
“Scotty.” Scotty took his hand and Justus’ heart sank.
“I was watching you and thought you might like to dance?” Aaron continued.
“Sure,” Scotty said. He gulped down the last of his drink and handed the glass to Justus before letting Aaron lead him to the center of the dance floor.
“Wow!” Dale said when he took Scotty’s place beside Justus. “Our little boy has grown up right before our eyes,” he said in a fake, teary voice.
“Not funny,” Justus answered and returned to their table. Dale followed.
The server came rushing over to them. “Have you heard?” he asked.
Justus and Dale exchanged confused looks.
“Heard what?” Dale asked first.
“Another person has gone missing,” the server answered in a melodramatic tone.
“Missing? Who?” Justus asked. He felt his heart pound faster, silently hoping he would not say Marcus’ name.
“A guy named Barry.”
Justus’ breath caught. The image of Barry talking with Dean flashed in his mind so vividly he thought it was real.
“What?” he nearly shouted. “When?”
“The last anyone saw him was at the party we had last month.”
“The Saint Paddy’s Day Bash?” Dale asked.
“Yep.”
“But we were here that night,” Dale said. “I don’t remember seeing anything.” He looked at Justus and his eyes widened.
“Does anyone know what happened?” Justus asked. His hands trembled when he started to raise his glass to his lips. He quickly put it back down on the table.
“Someone said they saw him leave with an older gentleman.”
“Were they arguing?”
“No, I don’t think so. The guy said they were practically making out.”
Justus felt confused. When he had seen Dean talking to Barry, they had been far from making out. In fact, Dean had looked as though he had been ready to punch Barry.
“That makes four,” Dale said. “Alexander from Embers, Cody from CC’s, Jack and now Barry from here.”
“Crazy isn’t it,” the server said. “I better make my rounds. Can I get you another?”
“Sure,” they both answered.
Once the server was gone, Dale leaned across the table. “What was that about?” he asked, glancing at Justus’ hands gripping the glass.
“I think I know who Barry was with,” Justus answered.
Dale looked surprised. “You do?”
“Yes. I saw Dean talking to Barry that night. They were standing at the end of the bar. Only, they didn’t look like they were making out. More like Dean was ready to fight him.”
“Did they leave together?”
“I don’t know. I slipped out first. That’s the night Scotty went off with that Andy guy who bought him a drink. Only when I was leaving, I ran into the jerk coming back in.”
“Have you heard back from that Curtis guy about the picture?”
“No.” Justus shook his head. He tried to take a drink again but his hand continued to tremble, rattling the ice cubes against the sides of the glass. He put it back on the table before he splashed it on everything and everyone.
“Oh my God!” Dale gasped.
“What?” Justus looked at him.
Dale was looking at the dance floor with wide-eyed shock. Justus turned to see for himself. His jaw dropped. In the center of the
dance floor Scotty and Aaron were locked in an embrace, kissing like lovers.
It was two in the morning when Justus walked into the house. A night out had sounded like a good idea but it had quickly turned into one surprise after another. The image of Scotty and Aaron making out on the dance floor and the voice of the server telling them that Barry had disappeared kept running through his head, making him dizzy, or was it the alcohol?
“Have a good time?”
Justus jumped and spun around, the front door nearly slamming shut. “Don’t sneak up on people,” he snapped. “You could give them a heart attack.”
“I wasn’t sneaking. I was getting a glass of water.”
Justus looked at Harrison and realized he was standing in the middle of the dining room wearing a pair of sleeping shorts holding a glass. “Oh,” he said. “Where’s Doug, in bed?”
“If you must know,” Harrison answered back.
Justus felt his jaw drop. “Really?” he gasped, suddenly sober.
“No!” Harrison answered with a laugh followed by a disapproving crease that formed between his eyebrows. “I’ve told you, he has a lady friend and besides, we are not gay.”
“Keep telling yourselves that,” Justus teased.
“So how was your evening?” Harrison asked.
“It was eye opening, to say the least.” Justus’ head began to throb and he needed to sit down. He walked over to the dining room table and sat down in his usual chair.
“Really? How so?” Harrison looked confused. He pulled out a chair and sat down.
“For starters, Scotty now drinks in public. He also makes out with strange men in the middle of the dance floor.”
“Really?”
“Yep. But there’s more. He admitted that he loves, loved Marcus.”
Harrison did not comment. He simply nodded and looked at his water glass.
“There’s more.”
“More?”
“Another man has gone missing and this time I’m positive I know who is behind it.”
“What?” Harrison’s tone reflected his shock. “Who?”
“Dean.”
Chapter Fifteen
Monday had become the new Friday, at least that was how Justus felt. He dreaded weekends the way most people did Mondays. Weekends had become the time bad news was shared, destroying any hope for fun.