Almost Perfect
Chapter 1
“Hey,” Gus murmured as he pushed on Ray’s shoulder.
“G’ wy,” Ray mumbled and rolled over.
“Fine with me but don’t you have a mid-term, oh, in about an hour and a half?” Gus said as he gazed at the watch on his wrist. He stood next to their bed watching his boyfriend snore.
“Fuck!” Ray suddenly sat up.
“Did that last night, but now it’s time for all good little law students to get their fine but stinky assets out of bed and into the shower.”
“Why didn’t you wake me?”
“I tried, several times, but you ignored me. How did you ever make it this far? Were you always this difficult to wake in the morning when you were a kid? You didn’t have this problem in Florida.”
“That was vacation. I’m always up on a vacation.”
“Don’t I know it,” Gus smiled. “Be that as it may, go shower while I find something relatively clean for you to wear. Wasn’t it your turn to do the laundry?” Gus asked as he rummaged through their closet. Gus grimaced as he pawed through Ray’s clothes.
“You call yourself a gay man?” Gus grumbled to himself. “You certainly did not get your fashion sense from your father.” Gus rolled his eyes and sighed in a too close imitation of another Kinney expressing similar comments regarding his own partner’s fashion choices.
“I know, I know,” Ray said around the toothbrush in his mouth. “You’re the one who works from home, you’d think you could do the laundry,” he complained as he spat into the sink.
“Uh, uh. We have an agreement,” Gus reminded Ray as he suddenly appeared in the bathroom making Ray jump.
“Shit! Wear a bell, why don’t you,” Ray shouted as he took his startled self into the shower. “Damn, I hate it when you do that. How does a guy so tall and with big feet make no noise when he walks,” Ray groused as he showered.
“It’s a gift,” Gus smirked to himself as he went to make a fresh pot of coffee.
Springtime 2023, the boys had been living together for a few months in their apartment in the city. Their parents had offered to help with the rent as the boys established themselves. Ray was finishing up law school and while the boys really wanted to do it all on their own, it wasn’t very practical. Ray worked part-time with his dad downtown and interned at a small firm uptown. When he did make it home, it was all he could do to study, gobble down something then collapse into bed.
Gus was faring a little better. His website was taking off and he freelanced for N’rgy. He decided that if he was going to accept the financial help his parents gave him he’d be as conservative as possible then invest the rest so he could pay his parents back. Gus’ pride could make him do no less. His dads had surprised the boys by showing up on their doorstep with some of Gus’ possessions and with their blessings just after Gus made it to the city. Brian still held onto the hope that Gus would eventually take over Kinnetik and the loft but he knew Gus had to find his own path. Besides, Gus’ website designs were gaining a following. Brian and Ted were trying to find a way to join forces to help him but not make it look like a handout.
“Coffee!” Ray demanded as he tried to dress his still somewhat damp body and get his act together. “I’m not going to make it.”
“Yes, you will,” Gus assured him as he handed Ray a to-go cup of coffee prepared just like Ray preferred. “There’s a cab waiting downstairs.”
“We can’t afford it.”
“Yes, we can. Now go be brilliant because when you’re this hot-shot lawyer and making a gazillion dollars you’re going to keep me in the style that I richly deserve.”
“With pleasure,” Ray said with a smile. He leaned up to give Gus a kiss. “Thank you, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Me neither. I’ll see you later. Love you.”
“Love you too,” Ray said as he headed for the door while making sure he had what he needed for his day. “I’ll call you later.”
“You better,” Gus said with an arched brow.
Ray chuckled then scurried out the door and down the stairs to the waiting cab. Gus just shook his head, poured himself another coffee and got back to work.
`*****
“Mom?” Gus said into his phone several hours later, when his saw the caller ID.
“Hi, Lambskin,” Lindsay greeted her son. Gus rolled his eyes at the nickname. What was it with his family and nicknames, he thought.
“Is everything okay?” Gus asked slightly worried as he stretched out the kinks in his body. He had been hunched over his computer for hours.
“I’m fine, sweetheart, I just called to find out if you can join me for lunch.”
“Lunch? You’re here?”
“Yes, on gallery business. I was wondering if I could tear you away from your work long enough to join me for lunch. My treat.”
“I’m a growing boy and I never turn down a free meal. Where do you want to meet?”
“MOMA?”
“Ooooo! I haven’t been there in a while. Sure, let me make myself presentable and I’ll meet you there in about an hour?”
“Works for me and then maybe I can get your opinion on an idea for a new exhibit at the gallery,” Lindsay said with a smile in her voice. She loved that she and her son had similar tastes.
“Cool! See you soon.”
*****
“Mom!” Gus called when he spotted the stately blond that still turned several heads as she walked toward him. They hugged and kissed. Lindsay stared for a moment.
“What? Do I have something sticking to my teeth or something?’
“No. I just can’t get over that I’m the mother of a college graduate with a masters, no less. I’m so proud of you,” Lindsay gushed. She reached up to ruffle his hair.
“Oh Mom.” Gus blushed a little, but it made him feel good to hear his mother was proud of him.
“How goes it with Ray?”
“We’re good, if only he could remember to do the laundry,” Gus teased.
“You do work from home; there’s no reason why you can’t do the laundry,” Lindsay said.
“Yeah, there is. First off, we split up the chores. He agreed to do the laundry. If he wants to renegotiate we can but the point is I work during the day. I may be on the computer in our apartment but I’m working. If I take time out to do the laundry I lose business. I need my wifi connection and I can’t get that stuck in the laundry room,” Gus explained.
“I understand, sweetheart. Just try to be flexible. You two are just starting out. I’d hate to see a relationship break up over a silly thing like laundry.”
“I know, Mom. We’ll work it out. How are you doing?” Gus asked as they got their lunch and found someplace to sit to enjoy it.
“I’m fine. The gallery is doing very well. We have exhibits from all over the world. I still have your fractal movie running.”
“You’re kidding. That thing’s so last decade.”
“Maybe but a day doesn’t go by when I don’t get a question or two about it. It’s still an interesting piece of art,” Lindsay declared. Gus decided he wasn’t going to argue.
“How is Chaaarles?” Gus teased, using his father’s pronunciation of the name.
“He’s fine.”
“So am I going to get a British step-dad any time soon?”
“No, I don’t think so. He’s fun, brilliant at what he does and certainly very charming, but long distance relationships don’t work, not for me, and I don’t see myself married to him. I don’t see myself married to anyone.”
“But I thought he made you happy.”
“Lambskin, don’t worry about me. I’m very happy. I’m in a good place in my life.” Gus nodded but he was concerned that his mother was lonely. “Would it bother you to know that Mel and I have been seeing each other occasionally?”
“Mom, I love Momma but...”
“I know. But we’ve made peace. I like having lunch with her and we do have a lot in common.” Lindsay gave Gus a poignant look. “Besides, she needs some support.”
“Oh please don’t tell me that Pop’s been giving her a hard time.”
“No, on the contrary, he’s been very supportive. You should see how the renovations of Kinnetik are going. Your mother now has a very impressive office, as does Ted. Although it took some convincing to make him believe that he deserves it. Ted likes to be in the middle of things.” Lindsay smiled. “It’s Michael.”
Gus rolled his eyes.
“Be nice; he is your sister’s father.”
“I know and I love Uncle Michael but he can be an ass sometimes. I understand why Pop distanced himself from him. What I don’t get is why he built that cabin for him.”
“It wasn’t just for Michael. It’s for Ben too. And you know how loyal your father is. When Ben asked, your father didn’t hesitate. I regret that Mel and I didn’t do the toll house cottage justice. I’m so happy that Todd and Tom are doing well there.”
“Yeah, me too. They’re so cute together. But why is Uncle Michael giving Momma a hard time?”
“Because she’s taking JR’s side in her relationship with Jacqueline. And he’s still angry that Mel moved away in the first place.”
“But she’s back … and to stay. I know she is. She loves her apartment and her job,” Gus exclaimed. Lindsay nodded as she shrugged her shoulders. “I spoke to JR yesterday, Mom. She’s happy with Jacqueline and she still loves working at the shop. But Uncle Michael is giving her the cold shoulder. It’s hurting her.”
“I know. I wish there was something I could do but there isn’t.”
“Maybe Dad…?”
“No, he’s on Michael’s shit list too.”
“Grandmaw Deb?” Gus suggested.
“And Ben. When I go home, I’ll call Debbie. Let’s enjoy the rest of our lunch.” Gus smiled as he dug into the other half of his sandwich.
*****
JR reorganized the comic books in the Superhero bin. The last customer had managed to make a mess of them. She checked that all the Superman ones were behind the tab that said Superman.
While she worked she kept an eye on her father who was rearranging the toys behind the counter. He would glance at her occasionally then frown and go back to what he was doing. JR was keenly aware of his silence. They were both doing similar tasks but they might as well be on separate planets. The gulf between them felt like a million miles wide.
JR pulled out her cell phone. She hit Jacqueline’s number and waited for her to answer.
“Hey, Babe” Jacqueline said cheerily. “What’s up?”
“Could you come over and shoot my father,” JR pleaded.
Jacqueline chuckled. “As much as I would love to oblige, I’m in Philadelphia.”
“Philadelphia?” JR asked surprised.
“Yeah, there was a crisis of sorts at the Philadelphia store.”
“What kind of crisis do you have at a bicycle shop?”
“The kind where someone smashes the front window and steals some bikes.”
“No!” JR gasped.
“Yeah, the police are still here.”
“That’s awful. When will you be able to come home?”
“Good question,” Jacqueline said with a sigh. “I think I’m going to grab a room somewhere and stay overnight. I have to get the window replaced and see how we can beef up security. And god knows when the police will be finished here.”
“So, you won’t be back at the loft tonight?” JR asked with a tremor of worry.
“You can stay there without me,” Jacqueline tried to reassure her. “You have your key.”
“I know,” JR conceded. “It’s just that I’ve never stayed there without you. It will be … strange.”
“It’ll be fine, but if you think you won’t like it, maybe you could stay with someone else,” Jacqueline suggested.
“Um … I guess my father would let me stay in my old room,” JR said. “But I really don’t want to ask him. He’s been so … crusty with me.”
“What about your mother?”
“She only has one bedroom, but … I guess I could crash on her couch.”
“What about your other mother?”
“I think she’s still away, but … her house would be empty. I should check into that.”
“JR, why don’t you want to stay at my place … alone? Aren’t you happy there?” Jacqueline asked.
“I’m very happy, but as you said, it’s your place not mine. I would just feel funny being there without you.”
“I don’t like that you feel uncomfortable. Maybe we should look for a place that the two of us choose,” Jacqueline offered.
“What? That … that sounds so permanent.”
“I thought we were kind of permanent.”
“Um…”
“I don’t think I like that ‘um’.” Jacqueline felt her heart rate speed up. She didn’t like the sound of this at all.
“It’s just that…”
“Just what?”
“I … I sort of jumped into this thing in a big hurry,” JR stammered. “No, that doesn’t sound right. I wanted to be with you, I didn’t jump into anything,” JR backtracked. “I … oh I don’t know what I’m trying to say.”
“You know I haven’t forced you into anything you didn’t want to do.”
“I know. You’ve been great.”
“This was a big step for me too, JR. I’ve never asked anyone to stay at my place before,” Jacqueline said.
“This is big for me too,” JR conceded. This wasn’t going at all the way she wanted it to. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll figure something out.”
“Or just stay at my place,” Jacqueline said. Shit! She’d said my place again. She had to stop doing that.
“It’s okay. I’m sure I can work out something. Come home soon,” JR said.
“I intend to,” Jacqueline replied. “I’ll call you tonight. I want to know you’re in a good place.”
“Okay,” JR said before she cut the connection. She hoped they were in a good place together. That whole conversation had turned weird.
*****
About an hour later JR walked into her grandmother’s house. Debbie had prepared them a light lunch and sent her husband out on a make work errand. She knew from JR’s phone call that something was wrong, and she thought it would be easier for JR to talk if it was just the two of them.
“Hi, sweetheart,” she called out to her granddaughter. “Sit down at the table. Lunch is ready.”
Debbie ladled up the pasta salad she had made and added some chicken breast from last night’s dinner. She figured whatever was wrong had to do with her son and that woman that JR was living with. She wanted to get to the bottom of the story. She carried the plates over to the table and kissed the top of JR’s head as she set the plate of food in front of the girl.
“Thanks, grandma,” JR said as she picked up her fork. This looks great.”
“Easy as pie,” Debbie said as she sat down. “That’s getting to be the way I cook. If it ain’t easy, I don’t make it.”
“It’s delicious,” JR said with her mouth full.
Debbie let her eat for a few minutes. The girl looked like she could use a little more meat on her bones. When they were about half finished with the plates of food, Debbie decided it was time to get to the nitty-gritty.
“So, what’s going on?” she asked.
JR hesitated, wondering how much she should tell her grandmother. She remembered the dinner at her Uncle Brian’s. Debbie had come in like the tornado she usually was, and she had given Jacqueline the third degree. She thought her girlfriend had handled Debbie pretty well. They had been civil and had left the party on good terms. She hoped that was still the case, hoped that her father hadn’t turned Debbie against them. “Um … I was wondering if I could crash here tonight,” JR said.
“Crash … here … tonight?” Debbie repeated. “Did that girl hurt you?” Debbie’s eyes narrowed and JR realized that Jacqueline was lucky not to be there at the moment.
“Jacqueline didn’t hurt me,” JR said quickly. “She had to go to her store in Philadelphia. It was broken into, and she has to deal with the police. She wants to talk to some companies about adding new security so this doesn’t happen again. She has to stay there tonight and maybe for a few days to get everything straightened out.”
“Oh, that’s too bad. But why do you want to stay here? Can’t you stay at her place without her being here?”
“Of course I can,” JR informed her. “But … I feel kind of funny being there without her.”
“It’s still Jacqueline’s place,” Debbie said knowingly. “You don’t feel like it’s your place.”
JR nodded. “Yeah, I never realized that until this happened, but I don’t feel like it’s my home. We haven’t made any formal commitment or anything.”
“I see,” Debbie said thoughtfully. “Maybe it’s time you did.”
“Yeah, maybe it is time,” JR admitted.
“So, if you want to stay here tonight or any night, then you are certainly welcome. You know I love spending time with you.”
“Thanks, grandma. Tonight for sure.”
Debbie squeezed JR’s hand across the table before taking a bite of her salad. After some more food Debbie knew what had to be said. “So, why aren’t you going to spend the night in your old bedroom at your father’s? Is he still being an ass?”
JR gulped and almost choked on her chicken. “Grandma…” she said when she cleared her throat.
“I know that son of mine. He has the biggest heart in the whole world, and then something grabs him that he sees as an injustice and he becomes the most judgmental fucking asshole that ever existed. It’s nothing new. I know he doesn’t approve of you and Jacqueline, and there seems to be no reasoning with him. He was like that about Carl when we first got together.”
“Carl? Carl’s so nice. What didn’t he like about Carl?”
“Carl was a policeman. Policemen were homophobic bastards as far as Michael was concerned. “Therefore I shouldn’t have anything to do with him.”
“What made dad change his mind?”
“It’s kind of a long story that I’ll tell you some time, but right now I want to know if he’s still giving you a hard time about Jacqueline. I’m assuming that’s what it is, or you’d be staying at his house tonight.”
JR nodded as she felt tears well up in her eyes. “He barely speaks to me at work and if he does you can hear the disapproval in his voice. I’ve tried a couple of times to talk to him about this situation. But, he just crosses his arms on his chest and gets that look on his face.
“I know that look oh so well.”
“And I know there’s no point in trying to continue, so I just give up.”
“Probably the best thing you could do,” Debbie admitted.
“Could you talk to him for me, grandma?” JR asked in a tiny voice.
“I’ll give it a try,” Debbie said, “but don’t count on anything changing. Michael is one of the most stubborn people I’ve ever met.”
“Don’t I know it,” JR said.
“Don’t let him cause trouble between you and Jacqueline,” Debbie advised. “I know it’s hard when he’s in one of these moods, but if you love her, stick to your guns.”
“I intend to,” JR stated. “I should get back to the store.” She wiped her mouth and stood up. “Thanks for the advice and I’ll see you tonight.”
“Damn right you will. Be strong.”
Debbie gave JR a hug before walking her to the door. She shook her head as JR went out into the cold. She would have to think of some way to bring Michael around, but that would be no simple task.