Black Hearts Dance

by Gerald Lopez

  Rory and Shannon were at my side watching what was taking place. Forrest bent Alex over and got ready to fuck him… only their figures looked hazy. It wasn’t Forrest and Alex anymore— it was Frederick fucking Richard, then it turned into Richard fucking Frederick. Rory, Shannon, and I looked on silently. Suddenly we heard a new voice.

  “Boy, what in God’s name are you doing?” Edmond Morelle appeared, but not through me or using my throat. He was like the ghosts we’d seen in the living room—like an actor in a movie.

  Shannon tapped my shoulder and whispered to me. “You were right about him being gone. This is just a projection from the past.”

  Frederick and Richard stopped what they were doing, stood, and looked at Frederick’s father. They were scared to death. In the blink of an eye Edmond had punched Frederick in the jaw hard enough to knock him to the ground unconscious. Edmond then grabbed hold of Richard and twisted Richard’s hands behind his back—no, he was tying Richard’s hands behind his back with a rope.

  “I won’t let you ruin my boy,” Edmond said. “You’re gonna hang like a black man tonight, Mr. Richard.”

  The ghost of Edmond disappeared and Richard fell to the ground. Surprisingly the ghost of Richard disappeared. The ghost of Frederick sat up, shook his head, and stepped out of Forrest’s body.

  “They’ve gone to the hanging tree,” Shannon said.

  “I’ll stay here and keep an eye on Alex and Forrest,” Rory said.

  Shannon and I walked back toward the hanging tree while making sure to stay hidden.

  Richard’s ghost appeared with a noose around his neck and hanging from the tree with his feet resting on a wooden crate. The ghost of Edmond appeared next to him. Then Frederick’s ghost appeared and ran toward Edmond. The two men fought until Edmond was knocked to the ground by Frederick and hit his head on a ghost rock. Frederick turned his attention to Richard. He helped Richard get free of the noose and down off the crate, then they walked to Edmond’s limp body. Frederick checked the body for a pulse then felt the back of his father’s head. When Frederick looked at his hand again he saw blood on it and wailed loudly.

  “I killed my father,” he said.

  The boys looked down in horror at Frederick’s body, then another ghost appeared.

  “That’s Mrs. Carson’s father,” Shannon said.

  “What’s going on here? I was taking out the trash when I heard shouting.”

  “Dad! Dad, it wasn’t Frederick’s fault!” Richard said. “Mr. Edmond tried to hang me.”

  Mr. Carson looked at his son and Frederick, who were both still naked and seemed to have forgotten that fact, then he spoke. “OK, you two need to get dressed, but listen to me carefully first.”

  “Yes, Sir,” Richard said.

  “Richard, you need to go back to the main house and pack some clothes for you and Frederick to wear for what will probably be a long while. Then Frederick’s going to drive my car to where we catch the boat for France. Don’t say any names out loud. You’re going lay low in that city until you can get two tickets on the boat, then you’re both to go to our house in Paris. Stay there until I contact you in person.”

  “But, Dad,” Richard said.

  “This is serious Son, I need to think. I’ll come up with a convincing tale to tell the sheriff. He’s a good man and he knows Edmond was a bad one. Together we’ll come up with a good story, but, Son I’m not sure you and Frederick will both be able to return back here.”

  “Please, Dad, whatever it takes so Frederick and I can be together—I’m willing to do it.”

  “You don’t know what you’re saying, Richard,” Frederick said. “You can’t risk your life and your future for me.”

  “Yes, I can,” Richard said, then walked boldly up to his father. “I love Frederick, Dad, above everyone else in this world and I always will. I’m sorry if that disappoints you, Sir, but that’s the way it is. And we can both really use your help.”

  “At the very least, you’ll have to stay in Europe with some sort of new identities,” Mr. Carson said. “You’d never be able to come home again. Not without risking your life and maybe even ours for helping you.”

  “It’s too much for you to do,” Frederick said. “I can’t let you do it, Richard.”

  Mr. Carson looked at Frederick and spoke. “Do you love my son, Frederick? Tell me the truth, it’s OK.”

  “Yes, Sir,” Frederick said, then looked down.

  “Then take good care of him for me,” Mr. Carson said. “Money won’t be a problem, but I might not be able to look out for him personally without giving you both away.”

  “I understand, Sir,” Frederick said. “I’ll take very good care of him, you have my word, Sir.”

  Mr. Carson hugged his son, and spoke. “I love you, boy, never forget that. Get dressed, but make sure nobody’s around when you come out of those bushes—and I mean nobody. Then you go to my office and get all the emergency cash out of my safe—you know the combination. Get all of it… and the money in the cookie jar. After that, jump in the car and head out. Remember to stay hidden while you’re waiting for the first available boat to Europe, then make sure you’re both on it.” He turned to Frederick and shook his hand, then the ghosts disappeared.

  “Mr. Carson was one hell of a father,” I said. “And he sure can think fast on his feet.”

  Rory was calling to us in a loud whisper and we ran back to where he was. The ghosts had taken over Forrest and Alex’s naked bodies again.

  “Shhh,” the voice of Richard emanating from Alex said. “I hear the neighbor Mr. Phelps talking to Dad.”

  “That’s what happened, Phelps,” the voice of Mr. Carson said. It was only a voice—his ghost didn’t materialize again. “I’m only gonna trust you and the sherif with the truth of things. I was gonna make up a story to tell the sheriff, but he’s my boy’s godfather, so he won’t say a thing.”

  “Well, I can believe things happened just like you say,” the voice of Phelps said. “But no court would let Frederick go free, that’s why the boy can’t go to trial. But, people around here knew how much Edmond hated his son and nobody would blame Frederick for what happened here. Edmond always had nothing but disgust in his eyes when he looked at his boy. I truly believe that man hated Frederick.”

  “That’s enough,” Mr. Carson’s ghostly voice said.

  “Sorry. Hey, I think I’ve got an idea that might help. It wouldn’t take much to convince people Edmond killed both boys and that when he got found out he was hung by angry folks. The ropes already there in place and the sheriff would back us up. Nobody in town would care enough to snoop around and it would give Frederick and Richard a chance in life.”

  “But we’d need dead bodies to show,”

  “Not if we say Edmond threw their bodies on the wood pile behind the brick playroom and burned them. All we got to do is pour some gasoline on those old wooden tables and chairs and set them on fire. Nobody would argue with us. There’s a couple of folks we could probably even tell the truth too. Then, as long as Richard and Frederick never returned to Carson Court, they’d be safe.”

  The ghostly voices went away and we could hear Frederick speaking to Richard.

  “My dad hated me—he hated me, Richard. And I killed him… my own father. How can I live knowing that? How can I love you when I killed someone?”

  “Look at me, Frederick, I love you,” Richard said. “Kiss me.”

  “I can’t,” Frederick said.

  “Make love to me.”

  “I can’t, Richard. I’m not worthy to love or be loved by anyone now.”

  I knew then that the time had come for me to say something, but would the ghosts hear me. They had to be able to hear and understand me.

  “It’s alright,” I said to them, but they didn’t respond. “Hello, Richard… Frederick.” Nothing—no response at all. Shannon touched my arm.

  “They’re on another plane of existence,” Shannon said. “You’ve got to reach them through this
earthly realm.”

  “Through Alex and Forrest,” Rory said. “Can you do this, Layton?”

  “I need to do this,” I said, then walked into the clearing and looked at Frederick and Richard. “Alex, Forrest come back now.” They appeared again and the ghosts were gone. Both of them looked confused.

  “What happened?” Alex said.

  “How did we get here?” Forrest said.

  “What’s important is that you listen to me,” I said. “We haven’t got much time. The ghosts of Frederick and Richard are using the two of you to do what they need to do, but only I can give my permission and what’s more… my blessing.”

  “I don’t understand,” Forrest said.

  “Alex, love Forrest wholly and completely and let him love you,” There’s no more time left to end things here the right way.”

  Forrest looked hesitant and concerned, but Alex looked at me like he completely understood, then he kissed Forrest. A minute later they were passionately making out. I looked at them with nothing but love in my heart.

  “I love you both no matter what,” I said.

  “Make love to me, Forrest,” Alex said.

  When Alex uttered those words, the ghosts of Frederick and Richard took over again and Alex and Forrest disappeared. I stood silently and watched them make love until they both achieved orgasms and lay back spent in each other’s arms. Then the ghosts began to rise up into the air, they turned to face me and the others, and I thought I heard them say thank you before disappearing. I walked back to Shannon and Rory who smiled at me.

  “You did a good thing, boss,” Rory said.

  “A very unselfish thing,” Shannon said. “I think I now understand why straight women like watching gay porn,” She smiled, and so did Rory and I.

  “Did I actually hear the ghosts say ‘thank you’?” Rory said.

  “I definitely heard it,” Shannon said. “And that’s a new thing in my book.”

  “I’m glad I wasn’t the only one to hear it,” I said.

  “I’ll go back to the guesthouse and have them warm up dinner for us,” Shannon said. “I’ll give you what—twenty minutes? Or do you anticipate any problems?”

  Chapter 57

  Awakening From Love

  “TWENTY MINUTES is fine,” I said. “I don’t foresee any major problems.”

  Shannon kissed my check, then left. I walked back into the clearing and stood looking at Forrest and Alex. Rory walked over and stood next to me.

  “They look beautiful together, don’t they,” I said.

  “Yeah, but they’re going to be mighty embarrassed when they wake up,” Rory said.

  He was right and it took both of us to get them up, dressed, and back to the guesthouse. Forrest couldn’t stop apologizing and Alex kept asking for details. During dinner, Rory, Shannon, and I took turns discussing what we had seen. When we were done, Mrs. Carson stood and gave Forrest, then Alex kisses and hugs.

  “You both helped my brother and Frederick find peace,” Mrs. Carson said. “It wasn’t the two of you that made love but them. And I, for one, thank you for helping them.”

  “Neither one of them, meaning present company, is hearing what you’re saying, Isabel,” Miss Maribelle said. “They’re stubborn and I think at least the one who goes by the name Forrest, likes feeling bad sometimes.”

  “I don’t like it!” Forrest said. “It’s just the way it is sometimes.” He stood and began pacing.

  “My back is hurting me too much to think about what happened,” Alex said.

  “Forrest is the best person around at giving massages,” Rory said.

  “You’re good too, Rory,” Forrest said.

  “Maybe, but I’m not gonna do it. You look like a big strong man, why don’t you try acting like one and not run away from your ‘situation’? Hell, you’re forty years old so grow up. Alex and Layton aren’t like those two exes of yours—they won’t fuck with your mind. They honestly care about you, I can see it in their eyes when they look at you. It’s not the same looks other people give you… and you know it.”

  “Yeah, I know,” Forrest said. “That’s why I don’t want to screw this up.”

  “We won’t let you, Forrest,” I said.

  Elise put her hand on Forrest’s shoulder, smiled, then spoke in a low, gentle tone of voice. “Trust them, Forrest. Maybe this will be a healing time for you.”

  “Alex won’t be able to sleep without a good massage,” Mrs. Carson said. “We’ll be here and Rory will be at his place, so the main house will be empty except for the three of you. Don’t let the beautiful thing that happened tonight destroy what could be the start of a wonderful friendship.”

  “I’m still hungry,” Forrest said. “Did you ladies make dessert?”

  “Honey, would we have made dinner and forgotten dessert?” Miss Maribelle said.

  We ate strawberry shortcake for dessert, then Rory, Alex, Forrest, and I said good night and left the guesthouse.

  “You four can stop looking like condemned men any minute now,” Mrs. Carson said, from the doorway of the guesthouse. “Life is for the living and only the living now at Carson Court, thanks to all of you. Keep that in mind as you’re walking to the main house—a beautiful ghost-free mansion and not the gallows.”

  “Grandma, come inside,” Elise said.

  “You know,” Mrs. Carson said loudly toward us, “if I were a young gay man, I’d probably set up a big old orgy room and do all of you—you’re all such beautiful things.”

  “Grandma!”

  I heard the door slam shut behind me and Mrs. Carson and Elise fussing… and it made me smile. When we got to the front of the main house Rory said good night and gave us all a hug and kiss.

  Alex, Forrest, and I walked up the steps to the porch and Forrest sat in a rocker. Alex and I sat in rockers on either side of him.

  “My kid brother is great,” Forrest said. “He has such a way with people—it’s amazing… a real gift. The teacher at the class we took with Linus told Rory that he was gifted.”

  “Rory idolizes you, Forrest,” I said. “In his eyes you’re the perfect big brother and I think he feels like he’s living in your shadow sometimes.”

  “That’s bullshit,” Forrest said. “I believe you, but Rory’s dumb to think that.”

  “He loves you,” Alex said.

  “I know that, and I love him,” Forrest said, then turned to me and looked me in the eyes. “When the ghosts were doing what they did I could feel everything and I liked it, Layton. I enjoyed the sensations of being with Alex, even though it wasn’t actually us.”

  “It’s sex,” I said. “Of course you enjoyed it.”

  “You don’t understand, Layton!” Forrest said.

  “I was there, I saw it,” I said. “It was beautiful and loving… and yes, sexy. It was what it was.”

  “But feelings carry over sometimes,” Forrest said. “I can’t help it and I’m trying as hard as I can to not let that happen.”

  I looked at Alex and saw the same concern for Forrest I felt. The man was in true pain. There was a sadness inside him that touched me. A deep consuming pain and… loneliness, that reached out to me.

  “I can’t do this,” Forrest said, then turned away from me and looked at the floor.

  I got up from my rocker, knelt on the floor in front of Forrest and put my hands gently on either side of his face.

  “What’s going on inside you, man?” I said.

  “I’m not one-hundred-percent sure,” Forrest said. “That last guy I was with fucked with my brain so much it’s all I can do to think straight sometimes.”

  “Then something’s unfinished there,” I said. “Something you can’t figure out on your own—and I’m not talking about a love thing or even sex. As a soldier and a detective, I know what you’re feeling. There’s something you need to get to the bottom of and I can help you.”

  “You’re right!” Forrest said. “And I’m not a good enough cop to figure it out.”

>   “Maybe it’s out of the realm of what a cop can do and a detective who deals with the supernatural is what’s needed,” Alex said.

  Alex’s comment hit a nerve inside me. It really could be something supernatural. “He may have a point there, Forrest,” I said. “His comment kind of pinged something inside me. I’ll help you, I promise.”

  “‘Pinged’, huh,” Forrest said. “Hell, I guess even cops go by their gut sometimes—if that’s what you mean by ‘pinged’.”

  “Excuse my choice of words there with ‘pinged’, Forrest, but you got what I was saying.”

  “Yeah, I got it,” Forrest said.

  “What else is bothering you, Forrest?” Alex said.

  “What happened tonight couldn’t have happened unless I already had strong feelings for you, Alex. That’s what drew the ghosts out or in— whatever the right phrase is!”

  “Mrs. Carson was feeling emotional about her brother tonight, she said so herself,” Alex said. “That was about the time Layton and Rory said my eyes changed color.”

  “The emotions Mrs. Carson felt were a part of it,” I said. “But, I think Forrest is right and that it works both ways.”

  “What?” Alex said.

  “It’s time to be completely honest,” I said. “For Richard’s ghost to come to you, then it means you must have strong feelings for Forrest.” I looked into Forrest’s eyes and he looked away turning his head upward. “Isn’t that true, Alex?”

  “Don’t do this,” Forrest said.

  “Alex, answer me,” I said.

  “Please, don’t,” Forrest said.

  “I love Forrest,” Alex said. “But I love you too, Layton.”

  “I know,” I said.

  “You don’t get it,” Forrest said.

  “Then explain it so I do ‘get it’,” I said, then stood.

  “OK, I will,” Forrest said, then stood and looked at me. He took one step forward pulled me to him and kissed me hard on the lips for what felt like forever. When he stopped I just stared at him. “I’m in love with you, Layton. You are everything I ever wanted in a life partner. And I also love Alex.”