CHAPTER 20 - FOOD FOR THOUGHT
LINDSAY
I break out in a cold sweat as Matthias leads him up to the front door, I dash to the lounge to try and calm down. What the hell do I do now?!
“Lindsay?!” Matthias calls out as the door opens. “We’re back!”
“In the lounge!” I reply, and brace myself.
“Great. Just put your things there, let me introduce you to Lindsay.” I hold my breath as they come in and wait for his reaction. “Lindsay, this is Carlton, Carlton this is Lindsay.”
“Hi, nice to meet you.” He smiles then frowns. “You don’t want to shake my hand then...got it.”
“Oh, I am so sorry!” I babble, snatching it quickly. “Nice to meet you too!”
“Great. Uh, where is Michael, didn't he say he would be back by now?” Matthias sighs.
Michael is the last person that needs to be here! “I am not sure. Said he was going for comics after he had a bit of business to deal with.” I can feel my heart rate slowing, and, quite frankly, am feeling peeved. He doesn't seem to recognise me!
“Have we met before, Carlton?” I tap my chin whilst looking thoughtful.
“Where in the hell would we have met before?” He laughs. “Unless you've spent the last two years dressing as a man and in jail!” He looks me up and down. “OK, you could’ve gotten away with the figure, but not that face!”
“Uh…” I gasp.
“I mean you are too pretty to pass as a man with that face!” He adds quickly. “I think I might need to go to my room before I put my foot in it further.”
“Yeah, good idea! Take your stuff up and turn left, wait for me there as it is locked.” When it is just the two of us, Matthias pats my arm. “I apologise on his behalf. During his incarceration he missed the socialisation class.”
“Clearly. Well, I shall leave you to integrate him into this society…”
“Will you still help me with settling in the lady?”
“Of course. His ill manners are not your fault. When is she coming?”
“Tomorrow morning now. She seems nice.” Again he squeezes my arm. “Will you meet us here about nine?”
“Of course.” I lean across and kiss his cheek. “Thank you for the apology, see you tomorrow.”
MATTHIAS
I see her to the front door, then wait for her to hail a cab. It takes less than five minutes. “Dude!” I bellow and Carlton comes down, his face creased with laughter. “How the…” The full the hilarity of the remarks hits me and I snicker. “...she looked so outraged!”
“Mom told me a few things about her, how she thinks she is all that!” He giggles, wiping his eyes. “She prides herself on her figure!”
“What was it like with her, actually with any woman?” I have always been curious about this.
“You’ve never been with a girl?” He looks stunned.
“Nope. Lionel straight off the bat.”
“Wow. Well, it’s different. Not as tight, and…”
“You’ve, you’ve been with a man?!” I gasp, not seeing him as gay at all.
“Couple of times. Last time was straight after her.” He snickers.
“Oh, you and Brian have to compare notes!”
PETERSON-MARCH RESIDENCE - EVENING
MASTER BEDROOM
LYNETTE
“Stop it, I am trying to pack!” I snort as Oliver makes faces at me in the mirror, the same faces that Shrew and Dickwad were making the entire time they were here…
Start of flashback
LOUNGE - FOUR HOURS EARLIER
LYNETTE
“So, Kimmy, what do I call you?”
“Whatever you want.” She grins at me and raises her glass.
“Well, I think Mom is perfect.”
“Then Mom I shall be, the best Mom you ever had.”
“Excuse me, but what is that about?” Shrew, as in Nancy Shrew, as I now think of her, demands.
“What are you going to call him?” Kimmy points at David.
“Not sure, but not Daddy or Papa, those two are taken. Definitely not Dad. Far too close to my age for that to be comfortable for me. I am sure I can think of a suitable moniker. As for the about, Daddy and Kimmy are getting married.”
“Married?! Are you mad? Ronald, you are far too old for that!”
“Uh, Nancy, you are older than me by two years. Shouldn't that have been a pep talk you should’ve given to yourself?”
“She is older than you?!” Oliver gasps. “I mean, she looks it so it makes sense, but she said that she was five years younger when we first met!”
“Speaking of meeting, haven't we?” Casper looks at Dickwad. “You have a look about you, a stench of familiarity, but maybe that's your aftershave.” The doorbell going stops his answer. “Shall I get it?”
“Please, Casper.” I smile, and wait for their day to get a whole lot worse.
“Food’s here!” Casper calls out. “And delivered by my favourite lady!” I bite the inside of my cheek as Casper comes in holding two bags, and Slick comes in holding the other four. “Are these from Ems?”
“Yep.” She grins, putting them on the low table. “Sandy, my sweet, how are you? You’re getting both?”
“Wonderful and yes. Oh, we have to have a puppy party!” Sandy exclaims. “Do you think Brian and Justin will bring Baggie and Baloo?”
“Absolute...what are you doing here?” Slick zeroes in on Dickwad.
“I am in my stepdaughter’s home, what does…”
“Uh, no, you do not have a stepdaughter here.” Oliver interrupts. “You are in the home of a lady who was once birthed by your wife. Completely different.” I smile as his eyes flash and she sniffs in annoyance. “How do you know him, Slick?”
“She does my car.” He answers quickly.
“Really?” I frown. “Why? It's not as if you need his meagre custom, not now you have the country club on account.”
“The country club?” Shrew looks stunned.
“Yes. Elspeth and Sandy presented the idea to the board. They saw the merits of it, and…”
“What idea? I don’t remember reading a thing about Ms Phoenix being…” Shrew begins.
“Mrs Miller-Fox. That is her name, kindly use it.” Philip orders.
“My apologies, no offence meant.” She grimaces.
“Not accepted, and lots taken.” Slick retorts. “Enough of society bullcrap, let's plate up.”
Shrew and Dickwad get up and head to the dining room. “Lynette, where are your place settings, etc? I have taught you better than this, you should’ve had the table set in readiness.”
“It is, we are eating in here. If you two want to eat there, then I can set it for you. Actually, why don’t you since it would give us more room? Darling, can you help me, please?” Oliver comes in, quickly we set two places. “There, perfect. We will bring in your food as soon as we have served our guests.” She opens her maw to complain, but the arrival of Twinkle stops her. “What do you want, Twinkle?”
“Grimm wants some Barolo, please.”
“Which year, 2011 or 2008?” I press my lips together at her hiss, for I know those are her favourite years. “Let me get both, go and sit back down.”
“Okay.” Twinkle replies, then pauses. “You know. I think you and I have met before too. Ever been to Meathook?”
Dickwad goes slightly pale. “No. Since I would never be at a place of that repute.”
“Oh, okay…” Twinkle smirks, but again pauses. “...but if you would never be at that place, how do you know its repute? Seems odd for a man of your supposed stature to have been mistakenly seen in.” Dickwad is now red. “Sorry, Nina, to explain Meathook is a BDSM club.”
“My name is Nancy!”
“Twinkle!” Grimm calls out. “Come and sit down before I make it difficult for you.”
“Coming!” He chirrups, and scampers out with Oliver hot on his heels.
“One of each food choice for you both?” I smile.
“Please.” She grits out.
I head back to the lounge and close the heavy curtain behind me. I almost drop to the floor as to the one, those who are still in the room, are trying to stifle their laughter. The rest have escaped to the garden and are trying and failing to hold it together.
Slick and Sandy are the only ones who look remotely composed. They help me sort out the food, but ever so often there is a snicker-snort from Slick, which Sandy smacks her for whilst holding onto her country manners for dear life.
“Will you stop it!” I demand, then snort myself as Slick reverse snicker-snorts and a booger flies out her nose landing on a piece of lobster. I put it on her plate with a smile. “Can you hack up one more? Would hate for one of them to go without.” I hold the lobster under her nose. She blocks one nostril and blows hard. “His.” I smirk, whilst Sandy gags.
End of flashback
OLIVER
I wrap my arms around the love of my life and smile. “Where are we going first?”
“In New York?” I nod. “Well, the Bliss store. Have you seen the list Grimm gave us?! Then Lush for Casper and Trey. I can’t believe they ran out of soft coeur here…what? What is that look for?”
“It’s my fault.” I sigh, she frowns before turning in my arms.
“Oliver, what is you fault?”
“That they ran out. I bought every bar they had. It smells beautiful on you.” She is stunned. “They said they can be chilled and frozen, so…”
“Well that explains the new fridge in the bedroom. I thought that was for champagne.” Her blushing is so cute it makes me love her more.
“The champagne is in the other fridge.” I murmur in her ear. “Want me to move the flight to tomorrow afternoon?”
“Absolutely.”
TEN MINUTES WALK FROM EMMETT’S CABIN - NEXT MORNING
EMMETT
“Baggie! No!” I scream as he galumphs towards a hiker at top speed. Luckily he turns around, but unfortunately does not get out of the way. There is a shriek, a thud, then silence. I pray for no broken bones as I rush towards the pile of mastiff, backpack and human. “Oh shit me! Are you okay?!” I yell, trying to pull Baggie off.
“I would be if I wasn't being licked to death. Get him off me!” Comes the muffled response.
“I am trying!” I gasp, and again tug at Baggie’s collar. “Baloo! Help!” I order.
“WOOOOOOF!” Baloo bellows. Everything goes quiet. Baggie goes still before slowly getting up and slunking towards an unimpressed Baloo. He growls at him, Baggie hunkers lower then with one final telling off, they head back to the cabin.
“Are you okay?!” I turn my attention to getting the hiker up.
“I am fine.” He laughs as I help him right himself. “Although I did enjoy the brief moment of warmth his immense bulk afforded. It is quite chilly. I forgot my...are you alright?”
“You are bleeding.” I whimper, point at his leg then pass out.
GEORGE’S CABIN
GEORGE
It has been two hours since I carried him in. For a man of his length he is remarkably light.
The groan from the sofa tells me he is coming around. “How are you feeling?” I ask as I approach with sweet tea laced with brandy.
“Confused.” He mumbles as he slowly sits up. “Where am I and who are you?”
“My name is George. George Schickel, this is my cabin. And who would you be, my hero?”
“Hero? How am I...oh, Baggie. Your leg! Is it alright?”
“It is fine and bandaged. No permanent damage will be caused.”
“How do you know? Brian will be so horrified!” He exclaims.
“Excuse me, please calm down! I am a doctor. You need to take deep breaths for thirty seconds. Do you understand?”
“Doctor…”
“Breathing.” I order sternly, and for the next minute or so, I get him to calm down. “Now drink this, it is sweet tea.”
“Thank you.” I notice the tremble in his hand and frown. “What?”
”Pardon the intrusion, but when did you last eat? And again, what do I call you?”
“Emmett, Emmett Honeycutt. And as for eating...Thursday evening. I have a fundraiser, two weddings, and a pain in the ass to deal with. I don’t have time to…” I briefly stop his chatter by pressing my finger to his lips. “Um, Dr Schickel...I don’t know who you are used to dealing...Schickel as in at Montefiore Hospital?”
“Yes. Now please, Mr Honeycutt, finish your tea.” I get up and head to the kitchen. “I shall make you a sandwich. It won't compare to your masterpieces, but it will fill the void.”
EMMETT
I am not getting a psycho vibe off of him. I sniff the cup warily. “You can come and make a fresh one if you prefer, would that get it drunk?” I blush at being caught. “Please come and make it. You are much too light for a man of your frame.”
“Light, how do you mean light?” I get up and make my way to the kitchen.
“I carried you down here when you fainted.” George explains. “Tea, brandy, kettle, mugs.” He indicates, and five minutes later, the tea and brandy is warming me up, he hums as he cooks. “How do you like your eggs…” He grins. “...apart from, judging by that grumble, quickly!”
“Just set, please.” I grin back and ten minutes later I am happily eating the sausage and two egg sandwich.
“Who is Brian?” He asks, smiling as I eat.
“One of the owners of the behemoths. The other one is Justin.”
“I thought you called Baloo?” He sips his tea. “Must have misheard under all of that…”
“Justin…” I chuckle. “...is Brian’s husband. Baloo is Baggie’s brother. You didn’t mishear.”
“Do you need to get back to them after that?” He gestures at my almost empty plate.
“No. They will have got back to the cabin buy now, it's fine. Should imagine that Brian is chomping at the bit to have them back.” I snicker. “Let me explain…”
EMMETT’S CABIN - TWO HOURS LATER
EMMETT
I close the door and watch George disappear from view. It was very sweet of him to drop me off. For the first time in ages, I am feeling relaxed and full. I look around my little huntsman haven, feeling pleased that Brian all but ordered me to buy it myself or he would buy it for me over a year ago. Whilst I bought it, I didn't have time to do anything with it. I had one weekend free and had been buying stuff, and sending the links to Justin to see if they fit the aesthetic. When I told them when I was going to be down, they said they were going to be in New York. I was disappointed, but should've known better. The night I arrived the lights were on, and inside were Brian, Justin, Slick, Lindon, Ted and Blake. Between them they had bought everything, with some Kinney-Taylor tweaking, set it up and we had a lovely dinner. It was so good to reconnect.
And now I have a nice neighbour in the form of George. We’re meeting on Tuesday to discuss the fundraiser, well, he said that amongst other things. What other things?!
I am startled by my phone beeping. My heart sinks as I read it. Michael is demanding an audience!