“No. He didn’t tell you?” I scowled at my lover. “You didn’t tell him? We went down to see those miserable pieces of shit in Naples.”
“Who?”
“Grandma Josie and Grandpa Greg, Dad.”
“Oh, God. What happened?”
“They threw him out. He brought that witch lilacs, and she threw them onto the porch like so much garbage. I know they were your Mom’s folks, Wills, but I’m never going to forgive them for what they did to you.”
Jack looked unhappy. “I take it they didn’t react well to the knowledge that their first grandson is gay.”
“No. And I don’t think it’s likely they’ll be coming to the wedding.”
“That’s a given,” I growled. “Apparently he’s no longer their grandson.” Would Wills realize I was throwing his grandparents to the wolves in an effort to divert his father’s attention from the incident at the bus depot?
“They said that to you?” Jack pulled out his cell phone. “Dammit, I don’t have their number in this phone. Do you have their phone number?”
“Here.” Wills gave him his, and while Jack made the call, Wills sidled up to me and whispered, “Later, when we’re in bed, I’m giving you the world’s best blowjob. Thank you for sidetracking Dad.”
Jack had walked to the other end of the room, and I took the opportunity to kiss his son. “That’s my job,” I murmured against his lips.
There was a knock on the door. “Who…? Oh, Uncle Pete. I’ll go get it.”
“Babe…” I caught his arm. “How are you feeling?”
“Okay. Better.” He seemed surprised.
“Okay, go answer the door.”
I brought the coffee things into the dining room. Jack was still on the phone, and he didn’t look happy.
I heard him say, “What difference does that make?”
I went back to the kitchen to get the soda and pretzels for Wills.
He was leading his uncle and another man to the dining room.
“Hello, Pete.”
“Hi, Theo. This is Dave.” He introduced his partner. We’d never met, but it was easy to see he’d been a Marine at one time.
“Hello, Dave.”
He grinned at me, and we shook hands. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you, Theo.”
“Thank you. Babe, would you mind taking this? I’ll get another cup and plate for Dave.” I handed him his Coke.
Hmm. I’d used the twelve-cup pot. Would that be enough? Should I make another pot? Well, it would never go to waste. I rinsed out the basket, put in a fresh filter, ground the beans and added them, then filled the reservoir and put the percolator on the stove above a low flame. With that done, I glanced around the kitchen before taking a cup, silverware, and plate into the dining room.
Just in time to hear Jack say, “If your sister were still alive, you’d be breaking her heart.” Abruptly he yelled into the phone, “You’re a goddamned son of a bitch, Sabatini. You have the nerve to—well, fuck you and the horse you operated on this morning.”
“Whoa! What was that about?” Pete asked Wills.
“I went to see Grandma Josie and Grandpa Greg, and when they realized I was marrying Theo, they told me I’m not their grandson anymore. Well, Grandpa did.”
“Jack was too easy on that shit. But Wills, he didn’t want to see me about that, did he?”
“No. He found out I know a few judo moves.”
“You’re in for it now, Pete,” Dave said, sotto voce.
“Hey, you showed him how to do that thing with the flat of his foot. Jack’s going to tear a strip off both of us for teaching you, Wills.” He lowered his voice. “Does he know about the knife?”
Wills shook his head, and both Pete and Dave seemed relieved.
Knife? What knife? If Wills hadn’t been sick, I’d have poked him.
“Pete, I want to talk to you.” Jack slapped his phone shut. “Oh, Dave. Nice to see you again.”
“Same here, Jack.”
“Jack, every man needs to know how to defend himself.”
“What? Oh, sure. Never mind about that. Apparently I overreacted. I’ll have to have a talk with Patrick. I thought he’d gotten over that exaggeration phase. Can you believe the gall of that son of a bitch?”
“Patrick?”
Dad frowned at Pete. “Tony. All those years of friendship, and they’re down the toilet.”
“I hate to be the one to break it to you, Jack, but that friendship went down the toilet when—” A barely noticeable pause, and he changed his words. “Years ago.”
“You don’t have to sugarcoat it for me, Pete. When Sophe died.” Jack scrubbed a hand over his face. “Yes. It’s…it’s just—”
“Come on, everybody.” No one else noticed, but I saw the desolate expression on Wills’s face. Was he thinking of that bastard Michael, and how he’d distanced himself from the man who was supposed to be his best friend? I wished I’d been in Michael’s apartment when he’d decided to scarf. I’d have kicked the chair out from under him with pleasure. Meanwhile, I didn’t want Wills upset. “Coffee’s ready.”