THE NEXT MORNING I still had not heard from Daniel. I considered calling him again, but thought I would let him make the next move. As Ruby and I finished breakfast, the phone rang. I almost knocked Ruby off her chair getting to it. "Hello?" I answered the ring.
"Hi, Derek." Valerie's greeting disappointed my ears, which were tuned for the tenor of Daniel's voice. "Do you have a suit to wear for tonight?"
"I only brought the one I wore to the funeral. It's a little dark for a retirement celebration."
"Oh, that will be fine," Valerie assured. "I was a little nervous about getting you and Mother in the same room, but this morning it seems like a great idea."
I felt a devilish smile creep upon me. "It's a perfect idea."
"I'm going to get my hair done for tonight. I'll stop by and let you and Ruby see the transformation later this morning." She seemed almost giddy with excitement.
"You're wound up about this party, aren't you?" I asked.
"It's for Dad. It's his night. He's worked all his life to make a better life for us, and I'm happy he's finally going to get time to rest and enjoy himself." Right, as always, she knew the base reason for any event, and that was what she focused on. It could have been the sinking of the Titanic, and Valerie would have talked about the passengers who made it to New York; she never focused on the distractions. I guess that single-mindedness makes a good accountant. I, on the other hand, loved the sub-layers that flow under the surface. My mind couldn't stay focused on the main point. I couldn't wait to see Gladys the Bitch's face when I walked in, or how Mark would react with both Kathleen and me there, or if Tim would behave himself after a few drinks.
"You're right, Val," I said. "It's Dad's night. I'm glad we'll all be there."
I hung up the phone and decided to call Daniel. The phone rang until the answering machine picked up. "Hey, Daniel, it's Derek. I just wanted to say 'Hello," and see if you wanted to get together sometime. I have a party to go to tonight, but I would love to see you this afternoon or tomorrow." Running on too long, I summed up, "Anyway, call me; I-"
"Hello? Derek?" He picked up the phone. His voice sounded hoarse.
"Well, I knew if I talked long enough, you would eventually get home."
"Just getting out of the shower," he explained.
The mental image of him naked and dripping on the other end of the line made me feel uncomfortable in front of Ruby. Of all the campy things that went through my head, all I came back with was: "Need any help?"
He laughed. "Yeah, come on over."
"You serious?"
His husky voice purred in my ear, "I'll leave the door unlocked, come on back to the bedroom."
"I’m on my way."
The phone cord hadn't stopped swinging before I grabbed my keys and opened the door. "I'm going over to Daniel's to help him with a project," I called to Ruby as I slammed the door shut.
HE LEFT HIS front door unlocked as promised. I walked into the front room; the closed window shades allowed a few rays of sunlight to stream through, but for the most part, the house was cool and dark. I stayed quiet, playing into the mood he had set.
I glanced around the room; the quiet stereo, the blank television, the still computer, the folded Saturday Observer appeared as if no one was there. The dark hallway beckoned me with the enticement of Daniel at the other end.
I pulled my shirt over my head and unzipped my jeans when the thought hit me: Was that really Daniel's voice on the phone?
A shiver slid up my body. Dark visions of the Observer's morgue invaded my brain. Had I seen his car out front? My mind blurred. A rustling sound came from the back bedroom.
Without taking another step down the hallway, I tried to look into the room. Shadows shrouded everything beyond the doorway. Sweat trickled down my chest, chilled by the cold breeze of the air conditioner.
Pulling my shirt back on, I inched closer for a better look. Someone lay in the bed, covered with a sheet; his face, turned away from the door, didn't give me the opportunity to identify him as Daniel or not. How horny was I? Enough to risk the possibility that this was the scratchy-voiced man waiting to ambush me?
I moved forward. Far enough away to run, I ventured calling out to the person, “Daniel?”
He rolled over onto his back and pulled the sheet off. Yep, that's Daniel. I smiled at the silhouette on the bed.
"SO, WHAT PARTY are you going to?" Daniel handed me a glass of tea and crawled back into bed.
I leaned against his shoulder and sipped the iced tea. "My father's retirement party. Oh, do you have a tie I could borrow? The one I brought for the funeral is too gloomy."
"Sure, I have a closet full. I was thinking that maybe we can get together tomorrow," he offered. "I thought we could drive up to Asheville for the day."
Sunday. For some reason, I felt I had an obligation. My life, my job, San Francisco… "My return flight is tomorrow. I changed it from last Wednesday to tomorrow." I didn't want to leave, not just yet.
He sat up. "Can you change it again for later in the week, or maybe next week, or…"
"Cancel it altogether?" I finished the idea for him.
"Well, yes, I don't want to put pressure on you." He thought for a moment. "No, forget I said it. You do what you need to do."
"We could e-mail each other, talk on the phone, visit…" I knew if I left, that would be the end of this relationship. He seemed to realize it, too.
I wanted more time: time to really know Daniel, time to reconnect with Valerie and Ruby, time to find out if Vernon had helped lynch a man, and if so, stop him from becoming a senator.
"I've got more vacation time," I said. "Where's the phone?" I crawled over him and grabbed the phone book and phone. Extending my return trip a week wasn't difficult, but we both knew it was just delaying the inevitable separation.
VALERIE ARRIVED TO pick me up for the party at 7:30. Her dark hair framed her face in soft wisps; her make-up took ten years off her appearance, and her simple cobalt dress showed off her shapely figure.
"You look amazing," I yelled.
Her cheeks bloomed with color. "Miracles can happen, that is after $130 for hair and make-up and $120 for a new dress."
"Stop being an accountant," Ruby teased. "You look great, just say thank you."
"Thanks," she beamed. "Derek, you look pretty good yourself. New tie?"
"Borrowed," Ruby answered for me, "from his young man."
My turn to beam. "Yes, this is Daniel's tie." I had picked a yellow silk with a pattern of pale green vines and burgundy grapes.
Ruby grabbed her camera and stood us against the fireplace for pictures.
WE ARRIVED DOWNTOWN and took the elevator from the parking deck to the fortieth level. The executive dining room covered half the floor; a podium towered on a stage with long tables flanking its sides. I whispered to Valerie, "Hope we're not up there on the stage."
"No, I think the executives and Dad and Mom are up there. Let's find our name cards." She guided, me through the small crowd.
"Looks like there are more tables than people," I said.
She glanced around. "Supposed to be about eighty people; it's still early." We found the place cards: Valerie Mason and Guest.
Tim and Laura's place cards were at our table too, along with several other names I didn't recognize. I scanned the room for Mark.
Kathleen appeared first. She held herself with the air of royalty, gliding from group to group like an experienced hostess. In a corner, I spotted Mark talking to his brother Mike and sister-in-law Sheila; they laughed and sipped their drinks. No sign of Dad or Gladys the Bitch. Knowing her, she would keep him out of sight until everyone had arrived so she could make a grand entrance.
"Derek," Kathleen called as she crossed the room. She slid up to us in a whiff of Neiman Marcus' Eaude. "I'm so glad you made it." She hugged me with strong arms. "Valerie, you look fantastic. Where did you get that dress? It's beautiful."
Valerie giggled at the attention. "Belk at Southpark."
"I'll get us some drinks." I excused myself from the girl talk. I wanted to avoid Mark, at least for now. Tim and Laura arrived, so I made my way to them.
"Squirt," Tim laughed. I walked up to him, and his bear hug gripped me again.
I smiled at Laura; she looked as if she had just caught the scent of a sweaty Frenchman. "Hello, Laura, good to see you again."
"Derek," she acknowledged. She looked around, saw something apparently very interesting, and walked away.
"She's so warm and friendly," I winked at Tim.
"I want a girl, just like the girl that married dear old Dad," he sang.
"So, it's not just me?" I asked.
"Nope, Laura and Mom are two of a kind. Where's the beer?" Hepulled me toward the bar.
Mark caught my eye as Tim and I ordered drinks. He smiled and started toward us. He had the confidence of a man who knew the room belonged to him; as he moved through the crowd, people shook his hand and slapped him on the back like he was the politician, not Vernon. I turned back to Tim. "You and Laura are seated at our table."
"You brought a date?" he asked.
I felt Mark's hand on my shoulder. "No, I came with Valerie."
"Hey guys." Mark, between us, had his other hand on Tim's shoulder.
This time, it was Tim who smelled the sweaty Frenchman.
Mark continued, "This is a wonderful evening for Uncle Thomas and Aunt Gladys; all the executives are here. He has been such a big part of the company; we'll really miss him."
"Another twenty-five years and that will be me." Tim chugged his beer.
I felt Mark rub my shoulder under his grip. "Tim, let me steal your little brother; I want to introduce him to a few people." Mark led me away.
"I need to drop this drink off with Valerie."
Mark followed me to Valerie and Kathleen; their group had grown to include Mark's mother, Irene. Kathleen grabbed Mark's arm as we joined the circle. "Mark, I have been looking for you for ages-Mom's wearing the pendant we brought her from Paris."
We all leaned in to look at Aunt Irene's chest. A hummingbird of multiple rubies and emeralds sparkled from her left tit; I immediately thought of the nipple rings popular in certain circles, and imagined Aunt Irene proudly modeling the hummingbird drooping from her nipple for a leather-clad Vernon.
I turned away to stifle a laugh. The women resumed their conversation. "I need another drink," I told Mark and headed back for the bar.
"Hold up, I'll go with you."
"You're sticking to me tonight. What's up?" I asked.
"I'm surprised you're here." He turned and shook hands with a gray-haired man as we passed.
"It is my father's retirement party; why wouldn't I be here?" I stopped to look at him. "Maybe, because I wasn't invited?"
"I didn't realize you would still be in Charlotte. Walterene's death has all of us forgetting our social graces. Forgive me for not getting you an invitation."
''Cut the sarcasm, Mark," I snapped.
His head bowed. "Sorry, I'm just feeling a little nervous with you here. I do better when we're alone. I'm sorry you're leaving tomorrow."
I smiled at him. "Leaving? No, I'm staying another week."
His face blanched. "I-I thought," he stammered, "you were flying out tomorrow."
"No, babe," I slapped his ass, "I'm staying for another week. At least."