“The usual. Cleaned my apartment, did laundry, food shopped. Sunday I went to the park with George.”
“Who’s George? You’re latest boyfriend?” Kev wasn’t certain he liked that idea, even though it could be the cure for Neil’s problem with Zeke.
Neil grinned. “Nope. We’re doing ‘Sunday in the Park with George’ in a couple of months, so I was reading the script.”
“Smartass.”
“Yep. I’d ask how yours was, but since you worked, I know.”
“I did, and I didn’t plot murder and mayhem on any of the customers. Oh, I got the weekend of the reunion off.”
“Great.” Neil paused to thank the waitress when she brought their wines. “The reunion committee finally put up the list of events on the website.”
“Oh boy, do I want to know?”
“Maybe? For the class of twenty-thirteen, that would be my class, on Friday night there’s what they call a Welcome Home happy hour and barbecue on the Quad. Saturday there’s a breakfast, followed by meetings and lectures for all the classes, which I for one have absolutely no interest in. In the afternoon there’s an ice cream social and carnival. That’s for everyone who comes to the reunion.” Neil rolled his eyes.
“Hey, that could be fun, I guess.”
“I suppose. Saturday night is the dance. Ours is in the Student Center.”
“Do we have to dress up for it?” Kev asked, hoping they didn’t.
“They suggest suits and afternoon dresses, but that’s optional. No jeans though. I was thinking about breaking out my little black dress and pearls.”
“Neil, tell me you’re kidding.”
He laughed. “I am. I figure slacks and a nice shirt will be fine.”
“Whew. What do you want to bet Mister…what is his last name?”
“Hale.”
“Okay. What do you want to bet he comes to the dance in a tux and his wife in an evening dress, to show off?”
Neil shrugged. “It’s possible, although I think he’s smart enough to check first and decide not to flaunt that he’s done very well since graduation.”
Yeah, right. He will want to flaunt it. Kev almost voiced his thought, then chastised himself for feeling snarky about a man he’d never met. He could be very nice, if you discount the fact he was a player in college and didn’t have the guts to come out—and still hasn’t, apparently.
“If you say so,” Kev said aloud, moving his wine glass so the waitress could set his dinner in front of him.
For the next few minutes they concentrated on eating. Then Neil said, “I wonder if we’ll be the only gay couple there. Well, apparently gay, since you aren’t.”
“From what you’ve told me, you weren’t the only guy who was out when you were in school. I don’t see why some of the others wouldn’t come with dates or partners.”
“I hope. Then I won’t stand out like a sore thumb.”
Kev laughed. “You stand out no matter where you are. It’s the innocent look. It makes people wonder what you’re hiding.”
“Deep, dark secrets of death and damnation,” Neil intoned, wriggling his fingers at Kev.
“You make a lousy demon…or whatever.”
“Well, hell.”
They went back to eating, topping their meal off with take-out cups of gelato which they ate on the way back to their cars.
“When shall we two meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?” Kev chanted when they got there.
“First off, it’s supposed to be three. We’re missing one,” Neil replied. “Secondly, according to the forecast it’s going to be hot and dry for at least the next week.”
“I hope so. It would put a kibosh on the reunion barbecue if we had storms.”
“That’s only for this week. Then they’re predicting floods.” Neil ducked when Kev took a swipe at him. “What about hitting up another movie next Monday?”
“No can do. The tradeoff for having time off for the reunion is I work all day Monday to make up for missing Saturday and Sunday.”
“That sucks.”
“Yeah, it’s going to be a hell of a long day, but it’ll be worth it.”
“So we probably won’t see each other again until…oh, by the way, which one of us is driving to the reunion?” Neil asked.
“You. I’m your date. The asker always has to provide transportation.”
Neil snorted. “If you say so. If I remember right, the barbecue starts at five. I’ll pick you up at four-thirty?”
“Works for me. I’ll wear my bib-overalls and a straw hat.”
“Don’t. You. Dare!”
Kev laughed, promised he wouldn’t, then told Neil to call if there were any changes in their plans. Like he chickens out at the last moment, though I don’t think he will.
“Okay, will do,” Neil replied. “See you next Friday.”
* * * *
Ten minutes after Zeke arrived at work on Wednesday morning his uncle let him know he wanted to see him in his office “This second.”
Now what? Zeke ran over the cases he was handling as he hurried down the long hallway to his uncle’s office suite. As far as he knew, they were all going as they should.
His uncle’s secretary greeted him with a whispered, “Zeke, your uncle is not in a good mood, so be careful.”
He nodded. “I got that impression.”
The moment he stepped into Franklin Hale’s office, his uncle got up from his desk. He was glowering as he looked at Zeke, holding out a manila envelope. “This contains a copy of the divorce papers from Eileen that her lawyer sent over. They came to me because we’re friends and he thought I should know about it. Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”
Zeke looked at the envelope but didn’t take it. “Maybe because this is the first I’ve heard of it? Her lawyer is supposed to serve them to me, not you,” he said tightly.
“You’re telling me you didn’t know she planned on divorcing you?” Franklin scowled as he sat again, putting the envelope in the center of his desk. “Sit.”
“I’d rather not.” Zeke remained where he was, his hands clasped behind his back. “We haven’t been getting along recently but I didn’t think she’d take things this far.” A lie, but he wasn’t about to admit he’d been hoping Eileen would keep the promise, or threat, she’d made after their last big argument.
“You had better have a long talk with her. Make her change her mind. You are a junior partner in my firm. I do not look lightly on the possible scandal or bad publicity this might cause.”
Zeke stared at the older man. “In case you don’t know, getting a divorce is about as popular as getting married in the first place. No one thinks anything of it these days.”
“Why is she doing this? Have you stepped out of line, had an affair? Are you no longer intimate? God help me, if you’ve been abusing her…” Franklin glared at Zeke.
“None of those. Okay, not quite true. Every time we argue she sleeps in the guest bedroom but that’s her choice.”
“What do you argue about? Money?”
“No,” Zeke replied sourly. “I give her enough to keep her in fancy clothes and the jewelry she insists on buying.” He finally sat. “The big problem is her drinking.”
“So make her stop. Insist she go to a clinic if necessary. That is hardly a reason for a divorce.” He pushed the envelope toward Zeke.
Zeke opened it and scanned the divorce papers, shaking his head. “She’s using the age-old reason. Irreconcilable differences.”
“Then you’d damned well better reconcile them, Zeke.”
“Don’t you think I’ve tried,” Zeke spat out, lying through his teeth.
Franklin pointed a finger at him. “Try harder. Fix this, beginning with not going to that foolish class reunion next weekend. Use the time to work out your problems with Eileen.”
“I’m sorry but that’s not happening. The marriage is over. If she hadn’t moved first, I’d have filed to divorce her.”
“Ezekiel…”<
br />
“It’s the truth and there’s nothing you can do about it.” He stared directly at his uncle. “You may be my boss while I’m at work, but you cannot tell me how to run my personal life.”
For a second it looked as if Franklin was going to debate that. Then he clenched his jaw, saying between gritted teeth, “If there is even a breath of scandal connected to this I will ask you to leave the firm. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir. Are we finished now?”
“For the moment.”
“Thank you.”
Zeke resisted stalking from his uncle’s office. He’d almost made it to his own when a man approached him.
“Mr. Ezekiel James Hale?”
Zeke knew what was coming next. Holding out his hand, he said, “Serve me.”
Looking a bit surprised, the man did and then left. Zeke continued to his office, putting the papers in his top drawer. He opened the folder pertaining to the next case on his agenda, then closed it moments later. He was so furious at Eileen for going behind his back—because that’s exactly what she’d done—that he couldn’t concentrate.
He took out his phone and punched in their home number. He was certain that at this point she wouldn’t answer if he called her personal number. The phone rang three times before it was picked up by the housekeeper.
“Please tell my wife I want to talk with her.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Hale. She’s not here.” There was a short pause. “When I arrived this morning she was packing her clothes. She said if you called I was to tell you she had moved out and she would be by later today with some friends to get the rest of her things.”
“Consider the message delivered, Marie. I’m sorry she put you in the middle of this. Please don’t leave until after that’s happened.”
Again, she paused then asked, “Am I going to be terminated?”
“No. I’d like you to stay on at least until after the divorce. Good housekeepers are hard to find and you’re one of the best.”
He could picture her blushing as she replied, “Thank you, sir.”
“Thank you for being there. I’ll talk with you later.”
He was still angry with Eileen for having her lawyer send the papers to his uncle first before serving them to him, but the thought that he was finally rid of her put a positive slant to things as far as he was concerned.
Now I can live my life the way I want to and the hell with you, Uncle Franklin. Step one, the reunion—and Neil, if he’s there.
Chapter 3
Neil paced nervously, rubbing his hands on his hands on his thighs. “Why am I doing this?” he asked under his breath.
It was Thursday afternoon. He’d made it through tech rehearsals the previous week and the new show had opened to rave reviews. Now, he had the designs for the next production ready to show Ben, the director, but all he could think about was the reunion, which would begin in a little over twenty-four hours. He stopped at his drawing table, staring at what he’d come up with. This sucks.
He jumped when he felt someone touch his shoulder and turned to see Ben standing there.
“You’ve outdone yourself,” Ben said. “This is exactly what I was looking for.”
“You’re sure?” Neil asked doubtfully. To him the designs looked mundane at best.
“Of course. I wouldn’t have said so if I didn’t mean it.” Ben cocked his head in question. “You aren’t satisfied with them?”
Neil lifted a shoulder. “I guess it’s the mood I’m in.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“Not really.” Neil immediately contradicted his words. “It’s…this damned reunion I’m going to this weekend.”
“Why go if you don’t want to?”
“That’s a good question. I suppose because if I don’t I’ll regret not catching up with friends from college in person. Also, I promised someone I’d do it. He’ll kill me if I back out.”
Ben chuckled. “Take it from someone older who’s been there, done that. Never make promises you don’t want to keep.”
“Well, he did sort of dare me. Okay, not quite true. He volunteered to come with me and he’s a good friend, so I couldn’t say no.”
“A new boyfriend? You do seem to collect them.”
“No, just a friend. He’s straight.”
“Does he realize people might think he isn’t when they see you together?”
Neil nodded, smiling. “According to him that’s the idea.”
Ben shot him a knowing look. “Someone’s going to be at the reunion that you used to know and you want to show him you’re doing fine without him.”
“Damn, how did you get so smart?”
“Like I said, I’m older and debatably wiser, too. For your sake I hope your plan works. I don’t want my favorite designer sinking into—” Ben paused dramatically, hand to his chest, “—the depths of depression because this other guy doesn’t notice you’re there with someone else, or doesn’t care if he does notice.”
Neil laughed at his actions, if not his words. “I promise I won’t. I guess I just want to close the book on that part of my life once and for all. I’m sure when I see him I’ll wonder why the hell I cared in the first place.”
“You’re not a good liar, Neil,” Ben replied with a bit of amusement. “Still, with luck that is what will happen. The fact you’re willing to face your demon says you’re ready to try.”
Crossing his fingers, Neil said, “I think I am.”
Now I have to convince myself that’s the truth.
* * * *
“I’m going to regret this, I know I am,” Kev told his reflection in the mirror late Friday afternoon as he tried to make his hair behave. “I should have kept my big mouth shut. On the other hand, if I had, Neil would be walking into the lion’s den without any backup.”
What do I do if the bastard…Okay, stop thinking of him like that. He’s just a man, and married to boot. There’s nothing he can do when it comes to Neil without blowing his carefully built cover as a loving husband.
Kev knew in his mind it had to be the truth. The problem was, he didn’t know how he’d handle it if Neil didn’t accept that Zeke was unavailable. Or worse yet, if Zeke was up to his old tricks, having men on the side no one knew about.
If he comes on to Neil I swear I’ll punch him out right there in front of God and everyone. Yeah…not. If I did it could blow our friendship big time. Best case scenario, Neil would think I was an ass for stepping in. Worst case? He might realize there was more to it than my being a friend standing up for him.
“Damned if I do, damned if I don’t,” he muttered as he went into the living room to wait for Neil.
* * * *
“At least you didn’t break out the bib-overalls,” Neil said with a grin when Kev got into the car.
“I did consider it, but since I don’t own any…”
Neil laughed. “Damned good thing. You look quite presentable,”—which he did, in Neil’s opinion. Kev was wearing tight jeans and a red shirt with the sleeves rolled up, making him look very sexy. Now where did that come from? He mentally shrugged. Even straight guys can be sexy, if unavailable. God only knows I’ve had crushes on a few, including him when we first met. Hell, I still do, sort of, even after all this time. If he was gay…
“Are you planning on starting the car so we can get to the barbecue before everyone eats everything?” Kev asked, breaking into Neil’s thoughts.
“Oh, yeah. That would help.” Neil did, pulling out into traffic.
He felt his tension ramp up the closer they got to the college. Maybe so many people will show up there won’t be any parking and we can go home. He knew that wasn’t likely, as at least half the attendees were coming in from out of town, according to the roster the reunion committee had emailed him—and everyone else, he was certain. It’s how he’d found out Zeke would be there. With his wife. Remember, he’s married. That should help me stay cool and on track.
“Where are you at?” Kev a
sked.
“Huh?”
“You were off in your thoughts again, I think.” Kev gripped Neil’s shoulder. “It’s going to be fine. Relax.”
Taking a deep breath, Neil replied, “I’m trying.” He saw the entrance to one of the lots designated for the reunion and turned in. It took going up and down the aisles but he finally found a parking space.
“You look as if you were heading to your execution,” Kev said after they got out of the car. “Try smiling. It works better.”
Neil pasted one on his face. It turned real when Kev put an arm around his shoulders asking, “Where are we going?”
“This way.” Neil began walking toward the Quad, a large, grassy, tree-lined area straight ahead of them bisected by brick paths. He could smell food and hear the noise from multiple conversations the closer they got.
“Looks like everyone and their brother turned out,” Kev commented when they entered the area.
“No kidding.” Neil heard his name called right before two people, a man he recognized from one of his theater classes and a woman who was vaguely familiar, came up beside him.
“Damn,” the man, Greg, said. “You haven’t changed a bit. I’d have recognized you anywhere.” He looked at Kev. “You, however…”
“This is Kev. Kev, Greg Riley,” Neil said by way of introductions.
“And this is Jan. You remember her,” Greg replied. “We’re married, now.”
“Congratulations. Are you in the theater too, Jan?” Kev asked.
She shook her head. “I never was, and Greg got out of it soon after I got pregnant.” She smiled at her husband. “He’s in sales for a large company back home and I’m juggling taking care of our twins and working at a dress shop.”
By then several other people had joined them, some who Neil remembered, others he didn’t recognize, which wasn’t too surprising given the size of the graduating class of 2013.
“See the guy over there,” Neil said when he got a chance to get Kev alone for a moment.
“Which one?”
“In the blue cutoffs and black T-shirt.”
“Uh-huh. And?”
“That’s Tyler. He was one of Zeke’s conquests. The guy Zeke dumped me for.”
The Reunion Page 2