by Joel Skelton
Seconds passed before Earl’s mind caught up. When it did, he picked up the bill and surrendered it.
“We’re up to our elbows in alligators trying to get these cabins open. It’s taken a big chunk out of our savings, but you know what?”
Nobody seemed to have an answer for him. Harper chuckled to himself. Hands down, the face wearing the most lost look was Ian’s. Keep going, you’re nailing this one. “Audrey, let me see the bill you just picked up off our table, please.” Audrey handed it over. “Thank you.” Okay, seal the deal. Bring it home. “Guys, despite the fact we are up to our necks in bills right now, breakfast is on Ian and me. Audrey, we very much appreciate you offering to pick up our tab this morning, but we’re all here to make a buck. Enjoy the rest of your day, guys. I look forward to meeting you again. By the way, I’m Harper. Harper Callahan. And this is my partner, Ian. Ian Burke.” Part of sealing the deal was walking around the table and shaking the hand of each one of these douchebags. The Callahan personal touch. Addicting.
“Come on, Ian. We’ve got a hell of a lot of work to do today. Audrey, let’s you and I settle up at the cash register.”
“Well, that was pretty amazing.” Ian hadn’t said a word until they were just about to the car.
“What’s even more amazing”—he stopped to make his point—“is the restraint you showed back there. I’m very impressed. In the back of my mind I was waiting for the detonation to go off.”
“I guess I was just surprised by the whole thing. Shocked.” Ian shook his head in disgust.
“I was shocked too. The Smacker feels like home.”
“When I finally recovered and felt the anger beginning to surface, Audrey appeared.”
“Here’s the deal. I give what I did back there a better than fifty-fifty chance of working. Hopefully, we just smoothed over some of their rough edges. Now, they could be even stupider than they look, which, frankly, is really hard to imagine, but if they are, then they’ll still want us out of their playground. Let’s hope for the best.”
Chapter 11
HARPER crawled out from under the office desk where he’d been connecting cables to the new POS system. “There! Try it now.”
Alex powered up the server. The screen blinked a few times before the system began to load. “Looks like that did it. Are you sure you want me to go through the training on this?”
“Positive.” He knew he didn’t want to give up time hanging on the phone while a sales representative located in God-knew-where walked him through Reservations 101. “You’re going to be the point man at the desk most of the time. I want you to be the expert. Get to know the folks we bought this system from, and then you can train me, and probably Ian, as a backup on it in a language he and I can understand. Neither of us is terribly technical.” Like I’ll ever find the patience to plow through that owner’s manual. Yikes!
“That’s cool. I get into this stuff.” Alex fearlessly paged through the manual.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” Harper picked up his trusty legal pad and browsed through the notes he and Ian had made at breakfast. “There’s a photographer coming by sometime this afternoon to take photos for marketing. Ian’s all over that, so if he’s not around or out working the gardens, call him on his cell. The guy charges by the hour so we don’t want to keep him waiting around.”
“Got it. I plan on being here all day.”
“We need to talk about your schedule too. Have you finalized your hours at the Smacker?” He and Ian wanted Alex to be involved in the business as much as possible. Knowing that waiting tables at the Smacker had been a reliable source of income for him in the past, for at least this season, they’d work around whatever schedule he came up with.
“I was hoping to work just here, if you thought there would be enough for me to do. Ian mentioned he’d have his hands full gardening and could use help keeping the grounds up. The Smacker’s great, but I’m ready for a change.”
“That’s exactly what we hoped. Let me talk to Ian, and we’ll work on putting together a salary package that includes health insurance. Which brings up something else I want to talk to you about. Any chance you have an extra Dew in there? Let’s sit down for minute.”
Alex had spoken on several occasions about heading west. There hadn’t been much talk of it after his dad had made off with his money. He and Ian thought the timing might be right to see if they could get a more solid commitment out of him. If he was amicable to their little industry, they’d make it worth his while.
“Oh yeah, sure. Be right back.”
Harper sat down at the small table across from the front desk. We need some art in here. That’s it! Maybe we can feature local artists and have a revolving gallery. We could sell their work.
“There you go.” Alex popped the top on a soda and handed it over.
“Thanks. I don’t drink soda that often, but I like the caffeine rush I get from this stuff. Makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.” Harper took a long pull from the frosty can.
“I went to the dentist this winter. I have to find something else to drink. This stuff is lethal. He told me I’d wake up one morning and my teeth would be on my pillow.” Alex laughed.
“Are you serious? He actually said that to you?” Wow, he’s using the scare tactic big-time. “So, Alex….”
“Yeah, what’s up?” Alex had relaxed considerably around both him and Ian. At first, the young man had seemed on pins and needles when they were together. It was nice to see him act naturally.
“Let’s talk future. Any idea what your plans are going forward? You mentioned you’d at one time thought about heading west. You still noodling that one?”
“Naw, not really.”
Harper was surprised to see his comfortableness fade a few notches. Alex fidgeted and broke eye contact.
“Look, we love having you around. You’re a great guy, and we need a right-hand man around here who gets what we’re trying to accomplish. Unless you can tell me otherwise, we think we’ve found him.” Come on, Alex, what’s on your mind?
“I like being here, being around you guys. It’s just that….”
“I’m not going to judge you. I’m an attorney at heart, so you might hear an unsolicited opinion or two, but like Ian’s learning to do, just ignore it.”
“Harper, can I ask you something?” Alex resumed eye contact. A good sign.
“Sure.”
“How did you and Ian meet?”
“I hired him to landscape my backyard.”
“Huh?” Alex laughed, not understanding.
“I saw this landscaping commercial late one night, and this stud was in it who turned out to be Ian. I called the next day and he came over to discuss my yard. We’ve pretty much been a team ever since.” This didn’t appear to be the answer Alex had hoped for. “Hey, wait a second. Are you seeing someone? I’ve noticed Zits has been gone several nights lately.”
“I wish.” Alex was back to staring at his soda can.
“You on a bowling team or something?” He was happy to see a smile back on the young face. “If you’re seeking out ‘finding the right man’ advice, I’m sorry, but I’m the last person you should be talking to. I wasn’t even trying to meet someone when Ian walked into my life. It just happened.”
His last comment wiped away the smile. Hopefully not for good. What is going on with this kid? Confident there wouldn’t be any more clues forthcoming, he forged on. “Look, you’re a handsome, charming dude. I can’t imagine there aren’t guys your age just waiting in line to date you. Are there places you can go to meet other gay dudes?”
He’d never thought about it. It could be a whole different ballgame meeting guys up here. He couldn’t be sure about this, but there probably weren’t the opportunities for Alex that guys his age had back in the Cities.
“I’ve been hanging out at Norbert’s more.”
“Yeah, so? I don’t get it.” Norbert’s, what the hell did that have to do with meeting guys? It was a t
acky convenience store.
“I’ve met a few guys there.”
“You meet guys at Norbert’s? How does that work?”
“There’s a magazine rack in the back of the store. Every now and then someone will stand next to me. I just stand there for a few minutes pretending I’m reading. Then I put the magazine back and walk out. If they’re interested, they follow me and we hook up.” Released from his apparent burden, Alex once again looked up. “We get in the car and—”
“You do what?”
The look of horror displayed on the young man’s face at Harper’s reaction was, in all likelihood, a mirror image of what Harper’s own face displayed. “Alex, I’m sorry, but do you mean to tell me you get into a stranger’s car and you go somewhere and diddle each other?”
“Sometimes they get in my car, but not very often.”
“I think this is the first time I’ve ever had my parent gene kick in. Wow! Sorry.” It was his turn to look away. The idea of Alex getting into a stranger’s car, the risk involved, was more than he could process at the moment. “I’m not judging you. You’re likely doing what you have to do, or need to do. I’m just more than a little freaked at the reality of it all.”
“It sucks.”
He didn’t need to know any more details. Sipping his soda, he stared out the window. Ian had positioned a rock garden just a few feet away from the office entrance. Although the plants were small, many of them were blooming. It was soothing. His heart ached for Alex. Here was an amazing young man who hadn’t been given a single break his entire life, as far as he could tell, who was still out there smiling, working, keeping himself up. The alternative—Donnie McPherson came to mind. The spoiled snot son of the senior partner who had been handed everything in life didn’t have a speck of the drive and character the young dude seated across from him had. What a shame. What can I do? Can Ian and I do anything?
A redheaded woodpecker landed on a stately pine about ten feet from where he was sitting. It immediately started pecking away. “Hey, look at that. Can you believe how red the head is on that bird?”
Alex leaned over the small table to get a look. “Wow, they’re so cool. We have the large ones up here too. I think they’re called pileated woodpeckers or something like that. They’re huge. Somebody, it might have been a teacher at school, told us they’re endangered or close to being endangered. I’d give money to save them.”
They sat for a few moments in silence. The woodpecker circled the trunk of the tree and then, after looking around, flew off. Hell, I’d give some money to help Woody out too. I’d give some money to help you out.
That’s it! “Alex, I feel the old Callahan genius kicking in. And when that happens, look out, dude! I’m unstoppable.”
“Okay.” Alex laughed nervously.
“You’re looking for a safe, respectable way to meet guys up here your own age, right?”
“Yep.”
“The first thing we need to do is check around the area to see what, if any, organizations exist for men only. I have no idea, but your problem is universal, and I can’t help but hope others before you may have made an effort to lessen the burden on other young dudes coming up the ranks. So, first, we check out the area for healthy, safe groups you can latch onto for socializing. Curious, have you ever looked into what is already out there for gay men?”
“Not really. I know the bars sometimes have underage nights, but I usually find out too late. And before I wasn’t sure who I wanted to know I was gay. I don’t give a shit about that anymore.”
“The other thing I’m thinking about….” Harper had to figure out a way to introduce his idea without giving away the fact that he had substantial wealth and, for tax reasons, a motivation to find a charitable organization he felt good about being the benefactor of. This is the perfect fit. “If the Palisade Beach Cabins are a success, and the community turns out to be supportive, accepting, Ian and I would like to give back to it in some way. We’ve talked about a couple of ideas. Ian’s gardening skills and knowledge are substantial. Maybe create, fund, and manage a public space that everyone around here can enjoy. That’s Ian’s thing.”
“We used to have something like that next to the gas station in town, where the vacant video store is now.”
“Nice.” Nothing’s as soothing and enjoyable to look at as an abandoned video store. “My thing, something that would interest me, would be to help out the gay community in some way.”
For the next hour, and another round of Dew, he and Alex took his sliver of an idea and built on it. The area would benefit from a men’s center. Perhaps starting with gay men, but most certainly adding gay teens. A safe place to meet others. It would be a place where there would be gay-orientated events. Maybe dances. He’d heard about a similar men’s center in the Cities. Ian had told him about it. They sponsored all sorts of activities. Biking and hiking groups, a variety of events where men could enjoy the company of one another and meet others. Forge friendships, and from there, relationships. Or, like he and Ian, go right into the relationship thing and bypass the friendship phase.
“Wanna do this with me? Is this something you could see yourself being interested in?”
He hoped Alex would respond positively. If he didn’t, Harper would understand. He had learned a long time ago that his ideas, his views, weren’t always shared by those around him. Sometimes his physical attractiveness had worked against him when it came to garnering support. For the wrong reasons, people agreed to things only because they were swept up by his looks and apparent charm. The concept didn’t have a home in their hearts like it did in his. Whether they knew it or not, their motives were insincere. By nature, he wanted to give his ego a good thrashing for thinking his very being had this kind of influence on people. But it was true. He’d watched it happen many times. And it’s not my fault, dammit!
“I would kill to have something, a place to meet guys like that here. Very cool. It’s a great idea, Harper.”
Yes! Baby steps. That’s the way to go.
“In all likelihood, Ian’s going to be gone a few nights a week during the summer playing baseball. Let’s team up on our idea and take a night during the week to work on this. See what we can come up with.” He was charged. Just like Ian, who could visualize so clearly the landscaping when they first toured the cabins, he could envision bits and pieces of his men’s center.
“Sounds great. Sure, I’ll do that.” Alex appeared to be pumped for a minute, but like before, the joy suddenly vanished from his face. Harper had lost his young friend to some dreadful thought.
“Dude, you’re looking at your soda can again. What are you thinking about? Talk to me. I’m prone to hollering, but I don’t bite. Promise.”
“I was thinking about Norbert’s. I’m….”
“Hang on. It’s me that has a problem with you luring innocent men into your web of passion. Wow, did I just say that?” Harper giggled.
“That’s some shit.” Alex laughed along with him.
“Do what you have to do. Be safe. Use your head. I mean the one on your shoulders, and hopefully, you’ll have an option or two to replace cruising the magazine rack at Norbert’s soon. Maybe there’s something already around here we don’t know about. We’ve got our work cut out for us, my friend. Now, go learn how to use that reservation system so when our first guest checks in, we can look like we know what we’re doing. I have to head into Duluth to pick up some bathroom fixtures we ordered for the cabins.”
“I’ll get cracking on this software. Hey, Harper?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Thanks. I really appreciate all you’re doing for me.”
“It’s our pleasure. Alex, Ian and I really enjoy having you around. Besides, haven’t you figured it out yet? You’re a better investment than the cabins. We think you’re going places. And I’m not talking about out west, either. Later, dude!”
“DID you git ’er done?” Ian looked up from the computer screen. His “checking a guest i
n and out” lesson was just concluding. Alex had the patience of Job.
“Yep, Mater. We are… open!” Harper flopped the plastic tarp they’d had covering the new sign onto the desk and went along the room accepting high fives. “I can’t believe it. And you guys, the grounds look great. Walking back from the highway, it’s like you’re strolling into the land of Oz or something. You’d never guess this place would look as cool as it does. I like that surprise element. Hey, let’s celebrate. Alex, do you have plans tonight?”
“Of course not.” Alex flipped a page in the manual he’d had his head buried in.
“This kid has been hanging around us too long, Ian. He’s starting to sound like we do.”
“Like you. He sounds like you. I’m always bright and cheerful.” Ian patted Alex on the shoulder.
“Remember that one, Alex. We can use it as ammunition down the road. Anyway, I was thinking we should go into Duluth for dinner. Find the biggest and best steak in town. Whattaya say, fellas?”
This is going to be good. It hasn’t sunk in yet. Walking over to the tarp on the counter, Ian picked it up and handed it to his partner. “Here.”
“Huh.” As expected, Harper appeared clueless.
“Put ’er back on, Mater.”
Alex, hovering over the computer, chuckled. He got it.
“Oh.” Deflated, Harper sat down in the chair with the tarp on his lap. “We’re open, I get it.”
“Yep. Life’s going to be a little different from here on out.” Ian moved from behind the desk and took Harper by the hand. “Come here, Binky. We love you.” Wrapping his arms around Harper, he held him in a tight embrace. “You should have seen the look on your face. It was priceless.”
“Binky wants steak, a big, juicy steak with mushrooms,” Harper sniveled on his shoulder. “And a baked potato. And wine, Binky wants wine.”
“But Binky is an innkeeper, or cabinkeeper, now. And he’s subject to a whole new set of rules. There, there, we’ll get through this together.” Ian gave Harper’s ear a gentle tug.