by Bill Orton
Gina kept her hands in place, and held her head bowed, as Larry sat silently, unmoving. “Oh,” said Larry, “uh, amen.”
Gina slid her hands from the table and smiled to Larry. “Thank you,” she said. “Most people don’t go for it when I ask to say ‘Grace.’ Your grandmother says I am a loon.”
“My grandmother thinks everyone is a loon,” said Larry, lifting a silver dome, revealing a steak dinner. Gina uncovered ravioli. They switched platters. “I’m really grateful, by the way, that you’re helping take care of her. I mean, not at the moment….”
“It feels like the right place to be,” said Gina, offering Larry the basket of bread, which he took. “It’s charming living as the tutors did. And you’re very generous for what little work I do.”
“You spend whole days with her,” said Larry. “I couldn’t have someone who doesn’t like being with my grandma... or who she didn’t like.”
“No, I like her,” said Gina, accepting the bread basket back from Larry and offering him a plate of butter. “It truly does not feel like a job.”
Larry smiled. “I don’t feel the same… pressure... like when it’s with other people,” he said, pouring milk into a glass.
Larry took up fork and spoon and methodically cut a ravioli in half, ate both halves, and then moved on to the next. After consuming a quarter of the serving, he put his cutlery down, wiped his mouth and looked to Gina, who had cut her steak into squares.
“I don’t believe in pressure,” said Gina, “If something is right, it’s right. The couple will know.”
The two ate in the silence of candlelight, in no rush, each looking to the other.
Gina extended her fork, several steak cubes skewered on it. Larry stood and leaned that he could bite the cubes off. A few moments later, Gina guided Larry to a spot on her plate to deposit a serving of ravioli, soon joined by several more deposits.
.
Larry and Gina leaned into one another as they sat on a wide, leather sofa. Gina raised the remote, flipping channels on the big screen unit mounted across the room, over the crested wooden mantle above the video fireplace.
“That’s ‘Little Big Man,’ ” said Larry, and Gina set the remote in her lap as Dustin Hoffman smiled. She leaned into Larry’s chest, as Hoffman, and his native-American wife, obviously made love under the watchful eyes of her two sisters, who expressed with giggles the expectation that Hoffman service the women of the family.
“Maybe something else?” said Larry, as Dustin Hoffman groaned.
Gina reached for the remote, and handed it to Larry. “I’m not a prude, you know,” said Gina.
“Wha-t?” said Larry. “I didn’t say....”
“I don’t believe in sex before marriage, but I’m not a prude.”
“You… don’t...?”
“Most guys can’t take that,” said Gina. “Like Ed. So unable to handle it.”
“Why marriage?” asked Larry,
“Marriage means you chose well and you both got lucky,” said Gina, cuddling into Larry. “Two people who want to give themselves just to one another are set free in marriage. They belong to one another. The husband and the wife perform their duties as a gift and free to find out what it all means and feels like. But some people are just in it for the sex.”
“And, so, you, like, have… never…”
Gina nodded.
“Ever?”
“No, ever.”
“Wow,” said Larry, as Gina’s body slid into a more natural fit against his.
“We can touch each other and give pleasure to one another,” she said, lowering her head onto his chest, and resting her fingers on his arm. “That’s the gift we can give and we each can receive. We just wait for the big stuff.” Gina kissed Larry’s neck.
Larry wrapped his arms around Gina, and she burrowed into his chest.
Larry’s phone vibrated. “LORI,” read the screen, visible on the table in front of the couch. Larry looked to the phone and let it ring.
“She means a lot to you,” said Gina.
“She means everything to me.”
“Did you two ever have sex?”
“No,” said Larry. “Not like sex.”
Gina said nothing.
“… The summer before our senior year in high school…. We would… go… driving.”
“It’s okay,” said Gina, picking up the remote. “That was a long time ago.” She flipped past a psychic line, a phone sex service, a golf match showing a close-up of Tiger Woods, before stopping at a black-and-white film.
“Please,” said Larry. “I gotta tell someone.”
She lowered the remote and put her hands on his shoulders.
“I would drive, and, uh… she would, cuz, you know, the car was the only place we could..., the only place we… could…. That’s the only times I… with someone else… got….”
“Excited?” said Gina.
“W’ull, hard, yeh,” said Larry. “I guess it’s my heart.”
Gina sat up. “What about your heart?”
“Oh, um, it beats in a not-regular rhythm, and so I take two pills each morning for the rate and the pace, and my doctor says my heart is big because of it, but I am lucky that it is just two pills and so I’ve been diagnosed with a big heart… and a-tree-ul fib-ru-la-tion,” said Larry.
“What about all the coffee and soda you drink?” asked Gina.
“I’m not supposes to, but... I haven’t felt like anything mattered, so I let that go” said Larry. “There hasn’t been a lot to stick around for.”
“What about, Lori?”
“Oh, she eats good stuff,” said Larry.
“Right,” said Gina, “don’t you want to be around to see her grow old? And maybe... other people?”
Larry took a moment to answer. “I don’t want to go before my grandmother. That’d be rude. And I don’t want her to cry. But, otherwise, I don’t know….”
“It’s okay about when you and Lori were kids,” said Gina. “That’s pretty innocent.”
“The accident wasn’t,” said Larry.
“What accident?”
“We were in San Francisco and as I was driving, Lori was going to work on me and, it had happened before so I knew what was coming, but... you know... it was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in this life.”
“The orgasm?”
“And the incredible pain when I crashed. I drove off the road. It was so bumpy going down the hill that Lori got thrown from the car.”
“Oh my God!”
“I smacked into a tree. Lori had to pull me out. I stopped driving. And so when Lawrence and Lori got married after that, I never went looking. Just sort’a, you know...”
“Oh, Larry,” said Gina, reaching for his hand. “Let’s go lay down.”
“No, really....”
Gina looked directly at Larry, leaning in close so their eyes were only inches apart. “Larry, I’m tired, and we’re going to lay in bed, as a couple, and fall asleep. You’ll be okay.” She looked towards the table. “Do you want to call Lori back before we lay down?”
“No. It’s okay.”
Larry allowed Gina to lead him into the bedroom. “Stand still,” said Gina, who then proceeded to undress Larry, leaving him standing in just his boxers. “Now you undress me.” Gina stood still, moving only to make it easier for Larry to remove her top, and to step from her skirt. She stood in a bra, panties and stockings before him. “What you see is the outside, Larry. It will change with time, and you will find out what is inside. First, we each learn about the outside.
Larry stood, motionless.
“Do you like what you see, Larry?”
“You have an amazing body,” said Larry.
“Thank you,” said Gina, smiling. Gina reached behind with both hands, before turning, and with a glance over her shoulder, said, “Unfasten me.” Larry unhooked the two fasteners on her bra, and she smiled to him before removing and folding her bra and setting it on the clothing placed on a v
alet at the foot of the bed.
“Let’s go to bed,” said Gina.
Long minutes later, with Gina’s head on his chest and his left arm wrapped around her, Larry lay, whispering, “… something larger….”
.
“Why does this always have to happen in my room?” asked Larry, as Ed, December, Lena and Tres filed in to the foyer. Larry closed the door.
“Cuz you’re the one with da big suite,” said December.
“To those to whom much is given, more is expected back,” said Ed.
“… ‘much is expected,’ yes?” asked Lena.
“Huh?” said Ed.
“The quotation from President Kennedy, yes?”
“Oh, I have no idea,” said Ed. “I thought it was from ‘Wall Street.’ ”
Gina emerged from master bedroom, in a flowing cotton dress, with a sunflower pattern, carrying a golden yellow Dior bag.
“Good morning,” said Gina.
“You look beautiful, Gina,” said Ed.
“That is very kind of you to say,” said Gina.
“Looks like you two are having fun playing house,” said December.
Larry looked downward, slightly, and smiled.
“Yeh,” said Ed, flatly. “He’ll find out pretty quickly.”
“Oh, c’mon, Ed,” said December. “Be happy for ‘em.”
“Where’s the camera?” asked Larry.
“Ralphie packed it,” said Lena. “He says to arrive in Denver tonight, we should be on the road in exactly two hour.
“Today, breakfast is on me,” said December.
“She won $1,700 playing poker last night,” said Tres. “Really amazing.”
“It helps that the table was full of dopey men,” said December.
“What is the way for saying it? She… is skilled.”
December laughed, as she studied the room service menu.
“The girl’s got skills, fer sure,” said Ed.
“… she’s got skills… fer sure,” repeated Lena.
.
The Emperor’s Suite was well-appointed for hosting banquet guests, with a main dining table that comfortably sat eight, with ample space for platters, goblets, heavy cutlery and tankards. Looking out from where I sat, next to December, near the head of the table, to Larry, Gina and Ralphie, at the other end, was to gaze upon mountains and plains of platters, plates, pitchers and vases. Larry was surrounded by glasses of iced decaf, milk, V8, and several juices, creating a wall around him, whereas Gina had two small vases of daffodils on either side of her, creating the aura of a sunrise, and Ralphie was where the valley smoothed out, with his single cup of coffee and a thin pair of motorcar gloves folded, resting atop a clean, dry saucer.
“December,” called out Larry, from across the plains and mountain peaks. “I know this is your meal you are sharing with all of us, but could I ask something?”
“Sure, hunny, what is it?”
“May Gina say ‘Grace?’ ”
“Dat would be beautiful, hunny,” said December, looking then to Gina. “Do you want to say it now?” On Gina’s nod, December asked, “wit’ da hands?” On a second nod, December tapped a glass with a knife. “Hey, everyone, someone took my spoon, but put out your hands and hold with the person across from you... Ralphie, you come here with me, okay?”
Ralphie stood and walked, standing at December’s shoulder, lightly resting both of his hands atop her left hand, which she set on her right shoulder. “Okay, hunnies, you go ahead.”
Larry extended his hands, palms up, and Gina covered his lightly, as it was across the table; Lena and Tres, me and Ed, and Ralphie holding December’s hand with both of his.
What seemed like a genuine sneeze — a deep, retching, wet sneeze – sent Ed’s hand ripping out of mine, and despite his effort to capture it in his hand and to turn his head, instead, from his angle and hand placement, I caught a spewing mist of droplets for several seconds after the sneeze.
“Quiet, my sweeties!” said December. “Okay, hunnies, go ahead....”
“Merciful and compassionate God,” began Gina, “we thank you, that you have blessed us with this beautiful meal, for there are so many, God, who are wracked by hunger….”
“... got dat right,” whispered December.
“… and you have blessed us with one another, God, when around us are so many good people, the displaced, whose biggest desire is that they, too, can offer a meal like this to friends and family.”
“... amen, sister...”
“… and God, as You alone know all destinies, please, in Your mercy, God, give these good souls together tonight more than houses in which to live, but homes where their lives are full and rich, God; with family who hear them, love them, and embrace them; and friends, true and caring… that You would hear us, God, and comfort us, God, it is in Your glorious name that we ask these things… Amen.”
On Larry’s whispered, “amen,” Gina looked up to him and smiled warmly, before she delicately removed her hands from the table.
Hands and arms across the table whipped and returned, as Ralphie gently gripped December’s hand, with a smile, as he returned to his chair, next to Gina and Larry.
“Dat was nice,” said December. “Okay, baby, it’s time to eat!”
.
Larry and Gina each smiled warmly to Ralphie, as he returned to his seat.
“Enjoyed your prayer words, miss,” said Ralphie. “Well-spoken and heartfelt.”
“Thank you, Ralphie,” said Gina.
“Glad you came up to join us,” said Larry.
“A kind invitation, and since they assigned security to watch the Lincoln…,” said Ralphie.
.
Ed leaned forward and, as the two women on either side of him engaged in a systematic survey of food on the table, he drew his chair closer to mine. Spoons and serving forks scooped and grazed the feast. Across the table, Larry was eating a piece of fruit and staring into space.
“Man,” Ed whispered to me, leaning his chair slightly towards December for better broadcast. “Dude!”
I moved slightly toward Ed and leaned in.
“Dude,” said Ed. “Do you, like, figure it’s like brainwashing?”
“What?” I said.
“I mean, you know the dude.”
I slid my chair towards the head of the table. Ed met that movement and moved a second time, which I met. December, spoon in hand, looked at each of us sternly, as she continued her table survey.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “What?”
“We gotta look out for the client,” said Ed, “and, okay, we all choose our squeeze toys, but we should be asking whether this obvious power she has over the client causes him to act in deleterious ways? on trusts? legal obligations? on the conduct and solvency of the operation?”
.
“If there was just one place in the whole world you could go...,” said Gina, a slice of toast with jam held in her fingers, as she gestured. “Where would it be?”
“If I didn’t have to drive?” said Ralphie.
“Anywhere.”
“Then it’d be Heaven,” said Ralphie.
Gina’s face twisted in the glow of delighted surprise.
.
“Why don’t you boys get behind me,” said December, caught in a pincer move, as me and Ed had shifted their imperial thrones to her end. “I got eatin’ ta’ do and yer cramping my style.” December turned to Ed. “Move it, Big Boy,” she ordered, and he scooted his chair behind hers.
.
Ed had just moved his chair behind December, to sit next to Lawrence, as Ralphie answered Gina’s delighted exclamations, of “Why?”
“What if I never make it otherwise? Sure would want to see it at least once and not just drawings or travel-agency pictures. After that, oh, I don’t know. Never been to our nation’s capitol. Hear Washington is pretty in April.”
.
“I think we ought to at least talk about this with Emily,” Ed said to me, in a
hushed tone.
“And I think you’re crazy,” I told Ed. “Go back over there,” I commanded, pointing with my pencil.
.
“Do you suppose they’re dancing?” asked Gina. Ralphie and Larry pointed towards Ed, who had been smacked across his shoulder, as he pulled his chair past December.
“He does do a lot of dancing,” said Larry.
“He always is dancing,” said Gina.
“No, I mean he goes out dancing a lot… he did with December and Anekee,” said Larry.
“The girl with the big chest, from Italy?” asked Gina. “Why does this not surprise me?”
“Well, right now, it looks like someone lost,” said Ralphie, reaching for his gloves, as he stood. “I will be with the vehicle.”
.
Ed made his way back to his spot at the table and though he had been smacked, he recovered by refilling his plate, emerging with several strips of bacon and a bowl of corn flakes.
Larry stood and looked straight ahead.
“Everyone,” bellowed Larry, and the entire table quieted. “If you gotta sneeze, Ed, go ahead… do it….” said Larry. Ed vigorously shook off the question. “Okay, then, Ralphie’s waiting downstairs…. Lori’s waiting for us to pick her up today… let’s all stand up, get up, and all of you – let’s get moving,” said Larry. “Okay? Get up, get up... c’mon.”
Surprisingly, Larry’s effort to lead and inspire appeared successful, as everyone marched their way out of Larry’s suite, to checkout and, finally, to the Lincoln, in short order.
Soon, Ralphie was closing the door to the passenger cabin.
Gina sat on the jumpseat adjacent to the two refrigerators, unbagging a variety of beverages and placing them in the coolers.
Lena got into her seat and Ed passed very close to her as he got into his, next to the window. “My God, Ed,” Lena whispered. “You must be incredibly well endowed.”
Ed chuckled, as I took my seat, next to Lena.
“Movieman,” December said to Tres, “you sit over dere,” pointing next to me. “I’m sitting with the hunnies. More room over here.” By the time December had reached for a diet Coke and sat back down, Ralphie had pulled the Lincoln onto the strip.