by Ryan Field
"I only read part of it,” Molly said. “I couldn't bring myself to finish.” She sat down in a chair across from the fireplace. She'd never seen Marco this upset before.
Marco slammed the magazine with his fist and said, “Ah well,” he said, “it only gets better and better. Harris goes on to say I'm well past my prime and I've had my day. He says I should think about stepping down to allow new young talent like Yves Marisano to have a chance. He even said, ‘it's time the supermodels like Marco Denny started thinking about sharing the wealth.’”
"I don't know what to say, Marco,” Molly said. She leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees, hoping something wise and calming would come to her so she could try and calm him down.
"Share the wealth?” Marco asked. “What does he think I am, the United States government? And he knows how I loathe being called a supermodel. He knows how it makes me cringe. He used that word on purpose. He wrote this column to ruin me."
"I'm so sorry, Marco,” Molly said. She wanted to hug him, but she knew it wasn't the right time to get sentimental. When Marco started talking about hanging someone up on a meat hook, smart people stepped back a few feet so they wouldn't get in his way.
"And did you happen to read what Mr. Yves Marisano said?” Marco ranted, banging the magazine against the fireplace with one hand and shaking his fist in the air with the other. “There are a few direct quotes from dear, shy Yves in the column. Yves told Harris, ‘I think it's time the wonderful older models like Marco Denny stepped down and made way for younger models like me. We have new things to bring to the table, and at the end of the day, the public wants something different.’” Marco kicked the chair and a table fell over. “Oh yes, that Yves is certainly something special,” Marco said. “He's just one cliche after another. And no one saw it coming but me."
"I can't believe Yves would say something like that,” Molly said, frowning. “And I can't believe he'd be part of a column like this with Harris, especially after all you've done for him."
"I'd like to know how Harris Wolfe and the rest of the media knew about Yves standing in for me that night,” Marco said. “It all happened at the last minute. Is he goddamned psychic, too?"
"Maybe it was one of those social network things,” Molly said, “where they make announcements on those Twitter and Facebook things.” She knew nothing about social networks. She was just reaching for an explanation.
"I'll bet that fucking slithering snake oil salesman called everyone he knew,” Marco said. “I wouldn't put anything past Yves Marisano. But he's not going to get away with this kind of slander. If my attorney can't sue, I will go after both Yves and Harris Wolfe and I'll grab Yves by the back of the head and shove him right up Harris Wolfe's wrinkled old ass."
Molly was about to speak. But when she opened her mouth, Frazier jogged into the living room. He stopped at the entrance and stared at Marco. Frazier been down in Atlanta for the two weeks. He'd been working on getting his new line ready for the first live segment on home shopping television. He'd opened a showroom down there to make it easier. Molly knew Marco and Frazier hadn't seen each other since they'd argued the weekend before Marco went to Vermont alone. Marco had told Molly they'd spoken on the telephone, but Marco was still mad at Frazier since they'd made Yves Marco's back-up model.
Frazer stared at Marco for a moment, then said, “I flew back the minute I read the column this morning. I would have been here sooner but there was traffic coming into the city."
Marco turned fast. He crossed to the living room window, lowered his head, and closed his eyes. From where Molly was sitting, she could see a single tear roll down the left side of Marco's face. She'd known him well, and for a long time, and in all those years she'd only see him cry twice: when his mother died and when his brand-new puppy had been run over by a car. Molly pressed her palm to her throat and sighed. For someone like Marco who had always lived for his career, it must have been devastating to be mocked in public this way. In all the years Marco had lived his life in the public eye, there had never been a scandal or a negative word. Marco had always based his image on being a normal, unpretentious guy. Most of the thousands of fan letters he received each year, Molly knew, were from young gay men who told Marco he was their role model because he was openly gay and he was just like everyone else.
Frazier jogged up to Marco and put his arms around Marco's body. When Frazier hugged him, Marco turned and rested his face on Frazier's chest. Marco didn't sob; he didn't cry out loud. But Molly suspected there were tears in his eyes.
"I'm here now,” Frazier said. “I love you so much. Everything is going to be okay. I'll take care of it all."
Molly sniffed back and smiled. A tear fell from her right eye and she wiped it with the tip of her ring finger so her makeup wouldn't run.
Then Frazier, still holding Marco in his arms, turned to Molly and smiled.
She stood up from the chair and said, “I think I hear my husband calling me.” She didn't want to intrude any longer. Marco had Frazier now and that was all he needed.
Frazier laughed, trying to let her know in a polite way it was time for her to leave. “Is that what I heard in the distance?"
Molly smiled and nodded, then turned around and headed for the front door to make a quiet exit. On her way out, she took a deep breath and smiled. Though Harris's vicious column would scar Marco for a long time, making him even less willing to trust people than he already was, at least it had brought Marco and Frazier back together again. Molly had been worried about them. She'd never seen them go so long after an argument without talking, and though Frazier had come running to Marco's rescue just in time, Molly was still worried about how they were going to survive what Yves Marisano had done to their lives and to their wonderful relationship.
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Chapter Fifteen
"It's disgraceful,” Jasper said, holding a copy of Menswear Monthly up to his face.
"It's the worst piece of rubbish I've ever read,” Molly said. “I'm shocked at Yves.” They were having cocktails at home, and Jasper had been reading Harris Wolfe's column about Marco.
"I'm talking about the way Harris twisted poor Yves's words around in his column,” Jasper said. “He made it look like Yves is on a mission to ruin Marco's career."
Molly sat back in her armchair and smoothed out her cocktail napkin. “He twisted Yves's words?” she said. She didn't sound sarcastic, just curious. She wanted to see Jasper's reaction.
"Yves stopped by to see me this afternoon,” Jasper said. “When he read the column he was devastated. He had no idea Harris would write those things. He even cried. I felt so bad for the poor kid."
Molly rolled her eyes. Evidently, Yves had been clever enough to notice the soft spot in Jasper that Molly had always loved so much. When Molly and Jasper had first met, it had been Jasper's sense of decency and morality that had attracted her the most. Jasper had told her on their first date that he was bisexual and he'd always been attracted to both men and women. No one else knew this about Jasper; he'd kept it a secret all his life because he'd never felt the need to share it with everyone. But he'd wanted to be honest with Molly from the start. It was this absolute honesty and strong moral fiber she'd fallen in love with. She'd already been attracted to his dark good looks and his slim athletic body. But when he'd told her his deepest secret the first time they'd gone out, she couldn't resist falling in love with him.
"That's interesting,” Molly said. “I can't imagine why Yves would want to see you.” Now she sounded coy.
Jasper stood up and put his hands his pockets. “He wanted to apologize about the column,” he said. “He said he couldn't face Marco anymore."
"What a shame,” Molly said, smiling because she was curious about what else Yves had said.
"He cried so hard he trembled,” Jasper said. He walked to the window and looked out down.
Molly raised her right eyebrow. “I'll bet you had to hold him in your arms to calm
him down."
Jasper ignored her and said, “You know, I've been thinking about the new home shopping project that's coming up. I think it might be a good idea to ask Yves to model the North collection on television."
"Oh, you do,” Molly said, gulping. She almost choked on her martini.
"When this reality show is over,” Jasper said, “Marco is going to be busy with the new spring show that's coming up and he's not thrilled with doing the home shopping thing anyway. This might be a good chance to help poor Yves get a break in the business."
"Have you mentioned this to Yves?” Molly asked.
"Actually, he mentioned it to me,” Jasper said. “But Yves would never ask to do this outright. He's much too shy about that sort of thing."
Molly rolled her eyes. Her tone became serious. “Yves Marisano isn't as shy as you think, Jasper.” She'd heard enough.
Jasper ignored her snide comment. “Just once I'd like to see the North collection be displayed by someone young and vibrant and exciting like Yves,” He said. “I own half the company and I should have some say in who is going to model the clothes."
"Hold on,” Molly said, rising from the table. “Marco Denny is one of the most famous faces in the world. He's worked hard all his life, compromising and sacrificing, so he could do justice to the Frazier North collection. I'm not going to stand around and watch anyone stab him in the back, especially not one of his best friends."
Molly's fists were clenched. She and Jasper rarely argued, but when they did it was always about something important.
"No,” Jasper said, moving toward her, “you hold on a minute. The poor boy apologized for everything."
"And I'll bet he did it on his knees,” Molly said. She felt like kicking the table.
"It's not fair to blame him because a vicious old queen like Harris Wolfe decided to go after Marco,” Jasper said. “Yves is just a young boy with limited experience."
"I'll bet he has plenty of experience,” Molly said.
"Now you sound like Harris Wolfe,” Jasper shouted, his face turning red.
Molly turned and pointed at him. But just as she was about to open her mouth, the telephone rang. They stopped arguing and Jasper reached for the phone. When he answered, he said hello to Marco. It wasn't a long conversation. Molly took a deep breath, trying to calm down, while Jasper spoke. Jasper nodded and smiled, then mentioned a time.
When he hung up, he said, “That was Marco. He wants to meet for dinner tonight at the Celebrity Room after his live show and I told him we'd be there."
"Interesting,” Molly said. She knew how Marco hated going to places where he'd be recognized, especially after such a scathing column had just been written about him. “The only thing that would surprise me more would be if Marco to meet us for dinner at a fast-food restaurant in New Jersey."
Jasper smiled and lowered his voice. “I'm glad everything is okay with Frazier and Marco again. I was worried about them."
"Marco couldn't survive without Frazier,” Molly said. Her tone grew placid and she smiled when she spoke about Marco and Frazier.
Jasper crossed to where she was standing on the other side of the room. “Molly,” he said. “I didn't promise Yves anything. I told him I'd think about it and I'd mention it to you first. But if you're so against Yves modeling on television I won't bring it up again."
Molly smiled and adjusted her husband's lapel. She gave him a peck on the lips and said, “Thank you.” She tapped his arm and kissed his cheek. “From now on, please refer all of Yves Marisano's requests directly to me. I'll take care of them personally."
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Chapter Sixteen
While they were having dinner in the Celebrity Room that night, it seemed to Molly as if every pair of eyes in the room was staring at their table. And when Yves Marisano and Harris Wolfe walked into the room, Molly was certain everyone was staring at Marco. The Celebrity Room attracted the sort of clientele that followed the fashion industry and read magazines like Menswear Monthly. Molly suspected almost everyone around their table had read Harris's column about Marco and Yves and they were all waiting for a reaction from Marco.
But Marco didn't flinch. When he saw Yves and Harris enter, he turned his head and smiled at Molly. Marco seemed unusually calm and quiet, as if he'd found an inner piece that made him see the world in a different way. He only had one drink; he didn't raise his voice once. He completely ignored Yves and Harris and talked about how he was looking forward to the season finale of the reality show and how he wanted to spend more time at home working on his own projects. He even admitted he'd been working on a new project he was planning to announce very soon. Molly knew he was talking about his new book. She smiled and winked at him, keeping his secret safe. Frazier and Jasper knew nothing about the book. They begged Marco for more information but he refused to say a word.
After dinner, while they were sipping champagne, Molly watched Yves get up and leave the dining area. Marco saw him leave, too, and he nodded at Molly.
"I heard that my back-up model, Mr. Marisano, has given his two weeks’ notice,” Marco said. “I can't understand why he'd want to leave our company this way, and so fast."
"I'd like to make a toast,” Frazier said, gazing into Marco's eyes with an adoring expression. He tilted his head and nodded. “Even though we can't legally get married, Marco and I are planning to celebrate our love in a small ceremony next summer out in the Hamptons. I've asked Marco if he'll marry me and he's accepted.” Then he lifted his glass and clicked it against Marco's glass.
Marco smiled and looked into Frazier's eyes. “We're finally going to be a married couple,” he said. “And we're not going to wait until it's legal. We want to do this before we're old and gray, and we want our two best friends to be there with us."
Molly clapped and said, “This is so wonderful. I'm so happy for you both. And I don't give a damn about whether it's legal or not. The only thing that matters is you'll be celebrating your love together."
Jasper reached for his glass. “Hear, hear,” he said. “Of course we'll be there. Molly and I wouldn't miss it for the world.” The he lifted his glass and said, “To best friends, if we're lucky we only get maybe one or two best friends in a lifetime. Each of us has three right here at this table."
Molly raised her glass and smiled, proud of her husband's toast. “That was beautiful,” she said, gazing into his eyes.
After they toasted, one of the waiters brought a small piece of paper to their table on a silver tray. He handed it to Molly and left quickly. When she opened the piece of paper and read the contents, her eyebrows rose and her jaw dropped.
"Not very well done,” Jasper joked, referring to the note. “Your secret lover should be more discreet."
"Jasper,” Marco said, “don't be jealous. Love is everywhere tonight. No one is safe."
"I'll say,” Molly said. “No one is safe."
"What is it?” Marco asked.
"You'll never believe the balls this guy has,” Molly said. “This is the best I've seen yet, and I thought I'd seen and heard it all in this business.” Then she handed the paper to Marco.
Marco took a quick breath and read the note aloud. “I'm so sorry for interrupting what looks like such a happy celebration. But I have to speak with you. It's very important. Please, please meet me out in the lounge. Yves."
Marco crushed the note in his palm and tossed it into the middle of the table. He lifted the bottle of champagne and looked in Harris Wolfe's direction. “I'd like to go over there and crack this right over his pointy little head."
"Maybe Yves just wants to apologize,” Jasper said. He shrugged his shoulders.
"I couldn't care less,” Molly said. “I'm not meeting him anywhere.” She still felt responsible for the little trick she'd played on Marco. She was still mad at herself for bringing Yves into their lives in the first place. If she hadn't brought him backstage that rainy night, none of this would have happened.
"I don't know what he could say anymore,” Frazier said.
"I'm kind of curious,” Jasper said. “You should go meet him just to see what he has to say."
Molly looked back and forth between Jasper and Frazier. She didn't want to go. She didn't want to say another word to Yves for as long as she lived.
Marco grabbed her arm and said, “We've known each other for years and years and I've never asked you to do anything furtive or out of character. But now I am. I have to know what that creepy, vile, backstabbing little cunt is thinking about now. I'll explode if I don't find out."
Molly took a deep breath and sighed. Then she reached for her handbag and stood up. On her way out to the lounge, when she passed Harris Wolfe's table, Harris stood up and nodded at her. Molly kept her head straight and her eyes focused on the exit. She walked past Harris and snubbed him as if he were the invisible man. Harris blinked but she kept walking. So Harris turned toward Marco's table, smiled, and raised his glass. When he smiled at Marco, instead of smiling back, Marco squared his shoulders, made a fist, and rubbed the tip of his nose with his middle finger.
Yves was standing in the lounge with his hands folded in front of his waist. When he saw Molly enter, he reached to shake her hand and said, “I didn't think you'd come."
Molly held her handbag with both hands, refusing to shake Yves's hand. “I almost didn't come."
Yves gestured to a sofa. “Can't we sit down and talk? I have so much to say and it's hard for me, so very hard.” He sounded timid, as if he had trouble speaking above a stage whisper.
Molly was surprised to hear his humble, shy voice again. She would have guessed he'd be more confident and brazen now that he'd managed to embarrass Marco so publicly. She didn't want to sit, but she figured it was the best way to get this over with once and for all.