Letter Found in a Desk - 4. Chapter 4 - Vic Reconsiders

During the community orchestra’s mid-rehearsal break, Vic and his friend Brian, the “gay string section” as they called themselves, sipped coffee in a corner. Brian brought up their usual topic of conversation by asking, “So what’s new in the romantic life of Our Miss Vicky?”

“Oh, the usual ‘I sure can pick ‘em’ drama.”

“Well, that sounds juicy. So give me some T to go with my coffee.”

“This one’s weird even for me.”

“Don’t keep me in suspense! Spill.”

“Well – I met a man who, as it turns out, was at one time involved with a relative of mine. Years ago. Call him Larry. And we’ll call my relative Malachi. And apparently Larry thinks I look a lot like Malachi.”

“Is this story going to involve Larry dressing you up like Malachi or bleaching your hair? ‘Cause I should warn you that Hitchcock already did that movie.”

“No, no dressing up. But Larry seems to have been carrying a torch for Malachi all this time.”

“How is he in the sack?”

“Great. Shut up. Not the point. Anyway, yes, we did have sex at one point. And at, um, a critical point in the proceedings, Larry called me Malachi.”

“Oo. Ouch.”

“Yeah. I didn’t react well. I ran out of there and I haven’t returned Larry’s calls.”

“So he did call. Was he trying to apologize?”

“Yes. But I’m just too freaked out.”

Brian thought for a moment. “Do you like him? Do you want to see him again?”

“Well, yeah, I do. But I don’t want to be Lou – Larry’s imitation substitute Mar-Malachi.”

“Loo-Larry, huh?” Brian sipped his coffee. “Was Malachi the love of Loo-Larry’s life or something?”

“More like a love that never quite came together.”

“Well, what if Malachi was never the once-in-a-lifetime love? What if Malachi was just the prequel, the practice run, and you’re the real thing?”

“It’s difficult to come to that conclusion if Larry screams Malachi’s name during sex.”

“Jeez, you are so unforgiving. Cut the guy some slack. You remind him of Malachi and he got carried away. Give him a chance to show he’s sorry.”

“I know he’s sorry.” Vic threw his empty coffee cup in the trash. “I’m just afraid that I’ll never be to him what he is to me.”

“I see. So you’ve got it real bad for Loo-Larry.”

“Shut up. I meant to say, what he could be to me.”

“I repeat: you’ve got it real bad.”

“And I repeat: shut up.”

“Why in the world would you pass up a chance to get your heart broken?”

The lights dimmed briefly.

“Break’s over,” Vic said. “Time to get back to Wachet Auf with its extremely boring viola part.”

“We violins let you play along during ‘Zion hoert.’ What more do you want?”

“Oh, so kind of you. Thanks for the crumbs. Story of my life.”

**

Shortly after noon about a week after Vic’s disastrous attempt to visit Loup during the full moon, he got a call.

“Hi, Vic. This is Logan, Loup’s friend.”

“Yeah, I remember you. That’s why I answered.”

“I figured.”

“Did he ask you to call me?”

“No, I asked him for your number so I could call you. He doesn’t want to bug you.”

“So the job has fallen into your lap.”

“He told me what happened. I guess you already know how sorry he is.”

“Yeah, I know. And you’re calling on his behalf.”

“Well, I’m calling because I know him pretty well, after many years. I think I’m calling on your behalf as well as his. Can I ask you, how do you feel about him?”

“I don’t know. He’s unsettling. Unnerving. He’s very attractive, and very weird. I like him. In fact, I like him so much that it kind of scares me.”

“He told me that you came over to his place during his down time, but you didn’t come up.”

“I – um, I kind of freaked out. I thought I heard some weird noises and I lost my nerve.”

“Well, he was there, and he knew it was you, but he can’t talk during his down time. I’m surprised that he managed to work the intercom, more or less.”

“Maybe it would have been better if he hadn’t.”

“Vic,” Logan said. “Of course, if you want to ghost him, that’s your option. But Loup is a good guy, an unusually fine human being, unlike me, and I think you’d be doing yourself a disservice to cut him off because he made a mistake. A big, bad, glaring mistake, but seriously, it was one mistake.”

“Well, do you think he’s really interested in me, or am I just an echo of Marty?”

“Oh, he’s interested in you.”

“Maybe our mistake was jumping into sex too soon. Maybe if he got to know me better, he wouldn’t confuse me with my uncle.”

“Yeah? Am I detecting that you’re willing to give Loup another chance?”

“Maybe if I saw him again in a non-date context. Like, lunch, with more people than just the two of us.”

“I think he’d jump at the chance.”

“Just make it clear that it’s not a date. I’ll bring a friend along to make it less date-like. I mean, if this happens.”

“And I’ll come along to make it even less date-like. How about Saturday?”

“I can do Saturday. I’m just starting a new contract for the company I work for, but Saturday’s fine.”

“One o’clock?”

“Yeah, one is fine. Let me know where.”

“It’s a date.”

“No, it’s a non-date.”

“Got it.”

**

At the modest pizza joint, Vic and Brian sat on one side of the booth, and Loup on the other. Loup had greeted Vic with a kiss on the cheek but otherwise held back from physical contact. For Vic, it was an effort to keep from touching Loup.

Brian quietly said to Vic, “So Loup is Secret Agent X, cover name Larry. Can’t wait to find out Malachi’s real name.”

“So glad you could join us, Brian,” Loup said.

“I would not have passed up a chance to see who has Vic so bewitched, bothered and bewildered,” Brian replied.

Vic elbowed him soundly. “Brian and I have been friends since college. Right up until this very moment. Now we’re sworn enemies.”

Looking through a menu, Brian added, “And we both play in Ars Nova. It’s a community orchestra. But we’re not bad. We’ll be the orchestra for Wachet Auf at First Lutheran, second Sunday in December, if you want to hear us. The price is right – it’s free. But you have to endure the regular service.”

“What instruments do you play?”

“I play violin. Vic plays viola. He’s excellent in supporting roles.”

“Supporting roles? What about the sixth Brandenburg?” Vic protested. “And there are plenty of concertos for viola.”

“I love the sound of viola,” Loup assured him. “So rich and warm. You’ll have to let me hear you play some time. Solo.”

Logan showed up and joined them. As he exchanged a few words with Loup, Brian said to Vic, “Well, Loup is good-looking in his way, but who is this guy? You didn’t tell me meat was going to be on the menu.”

“What are you talking about? Loup is the sexiest human being ever born. Logan is a distant sixth in a field of five.”

“To each his own. More for me.”

“Remember, you’re here to chaperone.”

Loup introduced Logan as his doctor. Brian, obviously impressed, said, “A doctor! What kind of practice?”

Logan replied, “Emergency medicine. Loup here is an exception. Other than him, I don’t have patients I see regularly. I like the emergency department. I go in clean, I get out clean, I solve problems as best I can. I get to avoid the disappointment of patients who don’t follow instructions after I see them.”

Brian was almost batting his eyelashes. “Do you find everyone disappointing?”

Logan tapped Brian’s forearm. “I’m still waiting for the one who isn’t.”

Brian and Logan paid almost no attention to Loup and Vic. Orders were taken, pizza arrived, pizza was devoured. Logan and Brian’s flirting got heavier. Eventually Logan excused himself to go to the restroom, and Brian followed him.

Loup and Vic sat for five seconds in thoughtful silence before looking at each other, mouths open.

“Do you want the rest of your salad?” Loup said, pointing at Vic’s unfinished plate.

“Nah, I lost my appetite.”

“Not me. Suddenly, I’m really hungry again.” Loup grabbed the remains of Vic’s salad and dug in.

Vic began feebly, “Um, this is going to sound weird.”

“What is?”

“What are you doing for Thanksgiving? My mother asks me every year if I’m bringing anyone. I never have. But, if you’re not doing anything, we could sort of pretend that you’re my boyfriend. If you want. I mean, it would be one way of getting to know more about me. Possibly too much about me. Probably not very fun for you, dinner with a bunch of strangers. Stupid idea. Forget I said anything.”

Loup popped a cherry tomato into his mouth. “I think pretending to be your boyfriend might be my greatest acting challenge. And I think I’m up for it.”

“Really? But just to be clear, we’re not boyfriends. This is just a way to get to know each other. Right?”

Loup reached over for a stray bit of pizza crust from Brian’s plate. “Of course. Or we could just say we’re friends.”

“No, then there would be even more questions. Especially from my mother. ‘Is he just a friend or is he a friend friend?’ That kind of thing.”

“We can’t have that.”

“How should we say we met?”

“We don’t even have to lie. Tell them I knew Marty.”

“Right. Of course.”

Brian and Logan returned to the table at the same time. Vic hissed at Brian, “Did you just do what I think you just did?”

Brian dabbed at the corners of his mouth with a napkin. “What’s that, my dear?”

“Hooking up in the men’s room at lunch? Seriously? You’re supposed to be here to curb my sexual impulses.”

“Exactly. Yours, not mine.”

“Well, don’t hope for anything more with Logan. He’s strictly into casual sex.”

“Did I ask for anything more?”

“Slut.”

“Jealous.”

“Cum-breath.”

“Spinster.”

“I am not a spinster!”

“Sounds like that hit a nerve.”

Logan took out his wallet. "Well, I've got a shift starting in not too long. I'd better get going." He reached across the table. “Vic, great to see you again.” Seeing Vic’s hesitation, he said, “Don’t worry. I washed my hands.”

“As you always do, I’m sure,” Vic replied, shaking Logan’s hand.

After Logan and Loup wrangled over paying the bill and Vic insisted on separate checks for everyone, the lunch party broke up. Brian took off on his motorcycle. Logan headed for his car. Loup declined Vic’s offer of a ride, preferring to walk.

“So, Thanksgiving,” Loup said to Vic.

“Yes. Thanksgiving.”

“You’ll give me the particulars?”

“Of course.”

“And we’re telling them that I’m your boyfriend, but I’m not really your boyfriend.”

“That’s correct.”

“How very exciting. You’ll have to let me know if we break up.” Loup pecked Vic on the lips and left.