Black Hearts Dance

by Gerald Lopez

  I laughed. “Who have you suddenly been possessed by?” I said.

  “Methinks I had one too many glasses of wine or champagne,” Shannon said. “Normally, I don’t drink very much.”

  “Nobody would blame you for overdoing it slightly after everything that happened,” Alex said.

  “I’ll let you in on a secret, Shannon,” I said. “Alex can be very aggressive too in the bedroom—I just love it when he makes me his little bitch.” I stopped at a stop sign, looked back at Alex quickly, winked at him, then drove again.

  It had taken Shannon a moment to fully digest what I had said and she was now laughing her head off.

  “Oh my God, I so deserved that,” Shannon said, then turned around in her seat to face Alex. “And you know what, Alex, I totally and completely believe everything Layton just said. I’m gonna have to buy you two a fire extinguisher to keep by your bed… you’re liable to burn down the court with your lovemaking.” She laughed some more. “I definitely had too much to drink and I’m going to need a cold shower to sober myself up before I spend the night at the main house.”

  MISS MARIBELLE, Mrs. Carson, Elise, and Lucky were on the front porch with Rory when we arrived back at Carson Court.

  “It’s about time you folks got back,” Rory said, from where he was leaning against a post. “Everyone’s been waiting to hear what happened at the home of the artiste.”

  “Well, hello to you, too,” I said. “Where’s your friend?”

  “My friends, left earlier today,” Rory said. “You jealous, boss man, cause I can always use another friend?”

  Rory and I both laughed and I patted him on the back when I stepped onto the porch.

  “Oh shit,” I said. “I hope you had more fun than I did tonight.”

  “That bad, huh,” Rory said.

  “It was certainly different,” I said.

  “Don’t just stand there yapping,” Miss Maribelle said. “It’s past my bedtime and I’m anxious to hear what went down at Nathan’s place.”

  Lucky caught sight of Alex and ran to his side.

  “I’ll walk Shannon to the guesthouse, while you fill everyone in on what happened,” Alex said.

  Alex and Shannon left with Lucky and I told everyone about the evening, leaving no details out, except for my discussion in the courtyard with Forrest.

  “So much for you and Alex thinking of me first,” Rory said, then he slipped his foot out of his flip-flop and scratched his leg. “Hell, I know Forrest has got the edge over me… nah, I’m not going to go there. I love my big brother, and he’s got to be one confused, sad pup right now.”

  “He’s not necessarily the only one,” I said.

  “It’s gotta be tough on Forrest, though, because he seems so lonely sometimes,” Elise said. “Then he feels and goes through all these emotions because of some ghost. It really wasn’t nice of Nathan to put Forrest through that.”

  “It wasn’t nice of Nathan to do a lot of things… like keep me in the dark about my brother having been alive in France,” Mrs. Carson said.

  “He did give me the OK to tell you about him,” I said. “According to him your brother was very concerned about your safety as well as Miss Maribelle’s should the truth come out about things.”

  “I know,” Mrs. Carson said. “I mourned him once… I won’t do so again—I’m too old for that sort of thing.”

  “We both are,” Miss Maribelle said. “And we cried plenty for him back in the day. I am glad to hear he had a happy life.”

  “Yes,” I said. “Nathan said he would like to pay you a visit soon, Mrs. Carson. In order to discuss things regarding your brother properly.”

  “I appreciate that,” Mrs. Carson said. “Maribelle, let me know when you have a free day and we’ll invite Nathan for tea in the garden, if that’s alright with you and Alex Layton.”

  “Alex and I grant our tenants free use of the grounds… and the main house when you need it,” I said, then smiled at Mrs. Carson. ‘Are you OK with the news about your brother.”

  “Yes,” Mrs. Carson said. “It’s just a bit of a shock of course.”

  “Grandma, why don’t you stay with me at the guesthouse tonight,” Elise said. “You’re welcome to stay too, Miss Maribelle.”

  “I need the comfort of my own bed, but I’m so wide awake after the news about Richard that I think I’ll visit with you a while, if you don’t mind,” Miss Maribelle said.

  “We don’t mind,” Mrs. Carson said. “I think I’ll be up for a while myself.”

  “I’ll make us some tea when we get to the guesthouse,” Elise said. “You know, Miss Maribelle, you should come to Hawaii with Grandma and me. We plan to go before I start school.”

  “Are you gonna stay in the new place right on the beach—the one you traded for with Alex?” Miss Maribelle said.

  “Yes, Ma’am,” Elise said.

  “I would like to see the house,” Miss Maribelle said. “It looked so pretty in the pictures that came out in that magazine.”

  “Well, c’mon then, we can discuss details at the guesthouse,” Elise said. “I’ll send Alex back this way, Layton.”

  “I’ll be here,” I said.

  When they’d gone, I sat in a rocking chair. Rory turned a rocker to face me, then sat in it with his leg over the arm. The shorts he wore were baggy and I could look straight up them and see he wasn’t wearing underwear.

  “You’re not even pretending not to look up my shorts, Detective,” Rory said.

  “I’m male, gay, and human,” I said. “I also consider you a friend, so why pretend I’m not looking?”

  He rubbed his chin with his hand, then ran the same hand through his hair. “Fuck, man. Why’d it have to be Forrest? And I’m not saying that for the obvious reasons. If it was you, me, and Alex, we could fuck and still be friends. It’d be no big deal.”

  “You’re not giving Forrest enough credit for understanding what’s happening,” I said. “Are we still friends, Rory?”

  “Yeah, why wouldn’t we be?”

  “You called me ‘detective’ with a certain tone in your voice that made it sound like we’re now enemies. And I wouldn’t like that.”

  Rory lowered his leg and rested his elbows on his knees. “It’s not like that, Layton. I’m sorry, I was just trying to act tough for a moment trying to protect my brother.”

  “Alex and I are doing our best to protect him too,” I said.

  “Yes, we are,” Alex said, walking up the front steps to the porch. “I ran into Elise and the others on my way back. What are your concerns, Rory?” Alex looked at Rory, then sat in the rocker next to mine. Lucky lay down in front of him.

  “Forrest doesn’t show it a lot, but he feels things very strongly,” Rory said. “I was seriously frightened for him after the last guy did what he did to him. The guilt Forrest carried over what that bastard had done to other people—like dealing drugs and shit, ate him up inside for a long time. Not to mention how stupid he felt for not seeing the truth.”

  “Forrest is OK now, Rory,” I said.

  “I know,” Rory said. “But that guy he dated was scary. The way he manipulated people was unreal and I was scared Forrest would do something… to himself.”

  He was getting shook up and had covered his face with his hands. I got up from my rocker, walked over to Rory, hunched down in front of him, and pulled his hands away from his face. There were tears in his eyes.

  “I swear to you, Rory, Alex and I will look out for Forrest,” I said.

  “We genuinely care for him,” Alex said. “It wouldn’t be a lie or supernaturally induced for us to say we love him.”

  “Yeah, but what kind of love are you two talking about compared to what my brother must be feeling. He’s falling for you, I’m his brother and I can tell.”

  “Which one of us is he falling for?” I said, then smiled.

  “Shut up,” Rory said, and a smile began to form on his lips. “You idiot, you’re making me want to laugh and I’m
trying to be a good brother here.”

  “You don’t have to try so hard, when it’s clear you are a good brother,” I said, then gave Rory a hug. Alex joined us.

  “You two really are good guys,” Rory said.

  “Did you ever doubt it?” I said.

  ALEX AND I were stripping down to our boxers in our bedroom with Rory.

  “Thanks for not making me go back to my place to get pajamas,” Rory said.

  “We’ve seen you in your boxers before,” Alex said.

  “And less,” I said. “Alex and I are going to put on tank tops, do you want to borrow one?”

  “I’m cool,” Rory said. “At my place I usually sleep in the nude.”

  “Well if Shannon wasn’t coming and there weren’t ghosts to worry about, then—”

  “Layton,” Alex, said in a mock scolding tone, then smiled and tossed me a tank top he’d retrieved from the dresser drawer.

  “Yeah, Layton,” Rory said in jest. “Isn’t one brother enough for you?”

  “I’m insatiable,” I said, then chuckled and put on my tank top. I took a minute to really look at Rory’s body again. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Rory, but you’re no slouch in the looks compartment compared to your brother.”

  “Thanks for that,” Rory said. “I kind of tend to disappear in people’s eyes when big bro is around.”

  “Those sound like pretty stupid people to me,” Alex said. “I agree with Layton, you can hold your own against Forrest.”

  “And so often I am left ‘holding my own’ when Forrest is in the room,” Rory said, then chuckled. “Hell, I’m just playing with you two now. I used to work out with Forrest, but my body doesn’t develop the same way his does.”

  “It’s fine,” Alex said. “I could work out with Layton for years and not develop a beefy body like his. Mine would go from slim to fat.”

  “I like yours just the way it is, Alex,” I said, then kissed his cheek. “I like yours too, Rory.” I kissed his cheek, then smiled.

  “You guys are a hoot,” Rory said. “So, when is my bro getting here and what’re the sleeping arrangements?”

  “I don’t know… and I don’t know,” I said.

  “Shannon can take the chair and put her feet up on the bed,” Alex said. “I guess you and Forrest can sleep in the bed with us. The two of you can sleep with your heads at the foot of the bed and your feet facing the headboard.”

  “Luckily I don’t have a foot fetish or anything,” I said, sarcastically.

  “Let me rephrase what I said a second ago,” Alex said. “Forrest can sleep next to Layton, I’ll sleep below Layton and you can sleep below your brother, Rory.”

  “Sounds good to me,” Rory said. I wouldn’t imagine anyone wants to sleep alone in another room with ghosts hanging around.

  “Have the ghosts made an appearance here tonight?” Alex said.

  “Not yet, but I’ve got goose bumps already,” Rory said.

  Chapter 41

  Late night Entertainment

  RORY, ALEX, and I had just gotten comfortable in bed when there was a knock on the door.

  “Hello, it’s Shannon. Is everybody decent inside?

  “Yes… unfortunately,” Rory said.

  “Come on in,” Alex said

  Shannon entered carrying a blanket and a pillow. She was wearing her robe over pajama pants and a pajama top. She walked to the bed and looked down at us.

  “Don’t you boys look all snug and comfy,” Shannon said. “But, I only count three of you.”

  “The fourth one’s right here,” Forrest said, as he walked in carrying an overnight bag in one hand and his police uniform on a hangar in the other. He was dressed in the same clothes as earlier. “Sorry I’m so late, everyone. I’m just going to change in your bathroom real quick.”

  While Forrest went into the bathroom, I pointed out the chair to Shannon and she situated herself on it and stretched her feet and legs out next to me on the bed.

  “This isn’t too bad,” Shannon said. “Don’t worry, Layton, my socks are clean and I did just shower so my feet don’t smell.”

  “That’s OK, Layton’s into feet,” Alex said, then rubbed his bare foot against the side of my face and laughed.

  “Hey now,” I said, and jokingly bit his toe.

  “And here I thought Layton was just into men’s feet,” Shannon said, then giggled. “And what are you into, Alex—besides turning men into your little bitches?”

  Say what?” Rory said.

  “Have you been drinking again, Shannon,” Alex said.

  “Nope, but it does feel sort of like a sleepover,” Shannon said. “Tell us something kinky or secret about you, Rory.”

  “Hmm,” Rory said. “You already know I’m a nudist. Let me think—I did lose my virginity to identical male twins when I was nineteen and they were twenty-eight. Does that count as kinky?”

  “That doesn’t sound very kinky,” Alex said.

  “And technically you could’ve only lost your virginity to one of them,” I said.

  “Not so, boss,” Rory said. “They did a good job preparing me for entry, so to speak.”

  “Good Lord,” Shannon said. “Two at a time… that is kinky.”

  “And fun,” Rory said, then grinned.

  “You did it with the Martelli twins?” Forrest said, from the doorway of the bathroom, as he turned off the light.

  “Y’up,” Rory said.

  “They were the best looking guys in our neighborhood,” Forrest said.

  As Forrest walked toward the bed, I couldn’t help but stare. He wore a thin tank top cut low on the sides and extremely thin cotton shorts. With every step he took, it was evident he wasn’t wearing underwear. I turned away right into Shannon who silently mouthed the word ‘impressive’. We both laughed, as I pulled back the blanket so Forrest could get in bed next to me.

  “Shannon’s getting off scot-free,” Alex said. “Tell us something about yourself, Shannon.”

  “OK,” Shannon said, then smiled. “I once posed nude for an artist in France and even attended the gallery opening where my painting was displayed.”

  “That was brave of you,” Forrest said.

  “It’s not as if anyone would’ve recognized me,” Shannon said. “It was an extreme closeup of my lower lady bits.”

  We all laughed.

  “Your turn, deputy,” I said. “Tell us something kinky about yourself.”

  “You don’t think I have anything to tell, do you?” Forrest said, then smiled.

  “He’s giving you the opportunity to surprise us,” Alex said. “Go for it.”

  “Alright,” Forrest said. “When I was trying to save for a new car, I visited a friend in Canada. He took me to work with him for three weeks, during which time I made enough to buy my car using all cash.”

  “What kind of job did you do?” Shannon said.

  “Yeah, bro, what did you do?” Rory said. “I remember that car of yours and it was a beaut.”

  “The job was legal in Canada and I’d known my friend a long time,” Forrest said.

  “Oh, this is gonna be good,” I said.

  “Anyway,” Forrest said. “We put on a show in an adult nightclub for an all-male clientele. The show involved an inflatable pool, whipped cream, and two naked men—my friend and I. The rest I leave to your imaginations.” He laughed and ducked under the covers when we started doing cattle calls.

  “Holy shit!” Rory said. “I never knew that.”

  “No wonder Forrest knows how to strut his stuff,” Shannon said.

  Forrest peeked out from the covers and Alex rubbed his nose with his foot.

  “You’re a naughty boy,” Alex said, then chuckled.

  I grabbed hold of his foot and covered it in kisses, then Forrest took hold of it and bit it softly. Everyone laughed. We were being silly, when something popped into my mind.

  “Canada has French people like in Paris!” I said. “Paris is in France… why all the connections
to France?”

  “Huh?” Rory said. “Have you lost it, Layton?”

  “I see what you’re getting at, Layton,” Shannon said. “Nathan lived in France as did Richard and Frederick. Even before all of that, the Carsons sent money to France and a woman claiming to be Javina came back here from France. Those are a lot of coincidences.”

  “Too many for my taste… and my friend in Paris hasn’t gotten back to me yet,” I said.

  “That is interesting,” Forrest said, then moved to face me.

  His heavy cock flopped onto the side of my leg when he turned. He was definitely freeballing. I hated to think of someone as a sex object, but—

  There was a loud cry and all of us jumped. The first cry was followed by a second, even louder one.

  “What was that?” Alex said, sitting up.

  “It could’ve been a cat, they can sound like crying babies sometimes,” Forrest said. “Let’s all just try to get some sleep.”

  I shut out the light on the bedside table, then got startled when I heard a woman’s scream.

  “That wasn’t a damn cat,” I said.

  “I can’t take it anymore,” the woman’s voice said, then the ghostly figure of Veronica entered the room. Her hands were covering her ears as if they hurt. She yelled in pain.

  “Everyone stay back from her,” I said.

  “Layton, this isn’t the same thing as when you were ghost bit,” Shannon said. “You dismissed the ghost of Veronica from the house before, remember.”

  “It sure looks like her ghost again to me,” Rory said.

  “It’s merely a past event playing out in front of us,” Shannon said. “We need to pay close attention to what happens.

  Veronica was dressed in white and writhing in pain. Mr. Carson’s ghost walked through the bedroom door and went to her side followed by a black man dressed in overalls and wearing a large straw hat.