Twin Firs, page 15
“Have you said 'I love you' yet?” Stef asked.
“Not in those words.”
Stef snatched Leo's phone off the table.
“What are you doing with my phone?”
“Cutting to the chase.” She swiped his phone open and sent a text to Ethan. 'I'm in love with you.'
The Human Resources office for the Cascadian Western Resort was buried in a maze of business doors and hallways in a Mountain Air warehouse. The public façade was a Victorian painted lady three-story house with all the curlicues and details you'd expect to see in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district. Guests marveled at the mini-mansion's ornate foyer and asked questions at the Visitor's Desk. They ignored the door past the bathrooms marked 'Private' which admitted employees to the inner workings of the resort.
Ethan followed the industrial signs and arrows through the catacomb to the Human Resources waiting room. “I have a meeting with Gary at 10:15.”
The blonde haired receptionist twink looked up from his computer screen. “Hey Ethan. Gary is finishing up a phone call. Can I bring you a coffee or water?” Ethan wondered what the receptionist brings Gary. And then promptly chastised himself for making the assumption that a pretty boy-toy receptionist puts out for the boss.
“No, thank you. Nothing for me.” His mind was racing uncontrollably. At least if he's getting fired, they're being civil about it. He studied the regulatory Equal Employment posters on the wall for a few minutes until surrendering to an ergonomic waiting room chair. He thought about how he was going to get out of this. Kelsey's idea of being surprised wouldn't work; it was a lie he couldn't pull off. He can't 'pull the gay card' because nearly everyone at the resort was a sexual minority. Claims of discrimination based on his sexuality would be laughed at. He could profess to rampant alcoholism and go into treatment; he didn't even finish yesterday's beer. He was just going to have to face the firing squad with as much dignity as possible.
“Gary's off the phone.” The twink smiled and said, “Go on in.”
Ethan took a deep breath and decided to lie his ass off after all. He had nothing to lose.
A model railroad dominated the room. It looked more like a basement railroad club than an office. Gary sat at a small desk tucked in the corner. Ethan noticed the names Bakersfield and Mojave engraved on the model railroad's control panels and knew immediately it was a model of California's Tehachapi Loop, a popular subject for railfans.
Gary swiveled around in his chair and stood up to shake Ethan's hand.
“Have a seat.” He pulled a seat from underneath the model workbench and turned it to face his. “Did you ever have a train setup?”
Ethan glanced at the massive layout. “No.” That was his first lie. Gary nodded.
Gary pointed to another smaller workbench with parts strewn about for a model locomotive. “A lot of guys don't talk about it because of the whole 'foamer' image but most of us had train sets as kids. I never outgrew it.”
“I never got into it,” Ethan said evenly. Gary replied, “You were probably more interested in science.”
“Yeah,” Ethan said. He had pulled it off; Gary believed him. He started feeling more confident about the upcoming lie. This meeting was not the situation Ethan expected. He wondered if it wasn't a termination meeting, if he wasn't about to be fired. A little voice in his head said 'Or maybe this is a trap.'
Gary reached for a folder on his desk and kept it closed in his hand. “I was waiting with everyone else in South Timber Valley Sunday night during the derailment. Were you assigned to work the depot?”
Ethan broke into a sweat. What if Gary overheard him tell the bitchy customer to take a hike? Maybe this wasn't about Leo. Maybe it was about a customer complaint. He braced himself for being written up.
“Uhhh, no. I took someone to see the show. I was heading home.”
“I overheard a conversation you had with one of our guests.”
Ethan felt droplets of sweat streaking down his ribs. “Uhhh, about that....”
Gary cut him off. “We're all upset that Caleb was injured in the accident. I know you went with Amélie to see him in Portland. How was his mood?”
Ethan was totally off balance. In less than a minute the conversation jumped from hiding Leo to customer complaints to Caleb's disposition. His brain couldn't keep up. “Caleb. Caleb is doing okay. He misses his cat.”
“Amélie told me you're feeding him. We really appreciate you looking out for your co-workers. Kip tells me you dog-sit for him all the time. I guess it comes naturally with your veterinarian background.”
Ethan also feeds Sylvia and Sylvester though he wasn't about to mention another rules violation. Enough was enough.
Gary waited a moment for Ethan to respond. “Uhhh, thank you.”
“Caleb won't be able to return to work for several months. We're promoting you to full time conductor. You have a firm approach with our clients without being rude and we need that."
“Uhhhh....” Ethan couldn't comprehend this sudden reversal of fortune.
Gary continued without acknowledging Ethan's hesitancy. “Our market base is primarily men who have experienced insults, discrimination and harassment but succeeded no matter the odds. Many of them had to fight to exist. Which can make some of them demanding and particular.”
Ethan's mind began focusing on Gary's words and assembling them into comprehension. “I never thought of it that way.”
“At CWRR the customer is always right. Except when they aren't and in that case they can go fuck themselves.”
Ethan blinked. Gary's blunt honesty was shocking.
“However,” Gary said, “you can't tell them that. You have enough wit to get the message across without expletives.”
“I don't know that I do.”
Gary put the manilla folder he was holding in a desk tray marked 'Out.' Ethan noticed there was a pile of folders. Gary was talking to a lot of employees.
“Trust yourself,” he said. “We do.”
“I'll do what I can.”
“And I liked the costume you were wearing with the cogs and such. Get a conductor hat from Wardrobe. You can add pins and things to your uniform to personalize it. Just no politics.”
Ethan nodded. “Sure. Yeah. Okay.”
“Good. Your new shift begins tomorrow afternoon. Go out today and enjoy the sunshine, if the smoke isn't too bad.” Gary stood to signal the end of the meeting.
“Uhhh... thanks. You too.” Ethan reached for the door handle.
“One more thing,” Gary said. “Your paperwork listing Leo as your partner got misplaced somehow. I backdated the records so he can come and go as he pleases. Give Mark at the receptionist desk Leo's address so we can mail his ID card.”
Ethan stepped into the smoky sunshine and felt an entirely new life beginning. The first person he wanted to tell was Leo. He pulled out his phone to text. 'I wasn't fired.'
Leo replied immediately. 'Great! Are you still angry at me?'
'I'm not angry with you.'
'You seemed upset when you left.'
The moment of honesty had come. He couldn't lie to Leo. 'You shot me down when I said I'd move to be near you. I don't fit in with your life.'
Ethan stood on the porch of the Victorian. An older couple climbed the steps, admiring the 'historic' building. Leo's reply didn't come for a couple minutes.
'It's complicated. I'd rather explain in person. At the moment I can't afford the fees to see you again.'
Ethan typed furiously. 'Funny thing. HR listed you as my partner. They backdated it so I wouldn't get in trouble for last weekend. You can come whenever you want and stay as long as you want.'
'Does that mean I can come see you?'
Ethan hesitated. He must have imagined the whole break-up in his mind. Except Leo was texting that it's complicated and he wondered what that meant. He didn't know how to respond.
Leo texted again. 'Ethan?'
He took the plunge. 'Yes. Come if you want.'
Leo replied immediately. 'I'll be there tomorrow.'
CHAPTER 19 - The Evil Ex
The Wardrobe Department was hidden in the basement under Levi's Tailoring. Ethan crossed the bricked street from the Victorian administration building into the posh clothing shop and walked to the rear stall in the fitting room. He pulled open the swinging door which revealed an elevator. Ethan glanced toward the customers in the shop. No one noticed him. When the elevator door opened he stepped into an industrial sized plain metal box which lowered him to the wardrobe department.
Stepping into the basement illuminated by fluorescent lights he saw an army of mannequins lining the walls dressed as costumed service workers. Every employee in the public eye wore uniforms created in this warehouse. Even the theater costumes were designed and sewn here. The room smelled of musty fabric; bits of lint floated in the air.
Thursday morning was fairly quiet in the waiting area. The only other 'customer' was the body-builder Two-Ton Tony, sitting in his wheelchair as a seamster measured his chest and biceps. “You've gained another inch, Tony.”
Tony flexed. “Inch and a half.”
The seamster measured again. “We don't have any shirts that will fit you anymore. You've outgrown everything.”
“I'm not wearing tank tops this winter.”
“Give me a list of what you want and I'll work on it. I have to costume two shows opening in August. After that I'll make yours. What about pants?”
Tony looked at his numb legs. “No change.”
Ethan had walked past Tony's gym but never entered. In the evenings it was more crowded than a Friday night bar. He'd heard George and the others gossiping about the lusty locker room. Every time Tony's gym came up in conversation someone sighed at the tragic circumstance that put Tony in a wheelchair followed by a devious grin extolling how fortunate it was that his huge equipment still worked.
As Ethan watched the seamster kneel before Tony to 'measure his waist' he remembered even George had alluded to using Tony's equipment. He caught his own image in the mirror and by comparison to Tony's muscular upper body he felt less attractive than ever. He sucked in his waist but it was no use. He'd never have a chest like Tony's, or washboard stomach. He was born into a nerd's body. He couldn't comprehend why Leo was attracted to him.
After the seamster finished, Tony rolled to the elevator. “You're Ethan, right?”
Ethan was startled he knew his name. “Yeah.”
“I've seen you around. Come by my gym sometime. We can work out together.”
Ethan didn't know if he meant work out or 'work out' but neither appealed to him. He smiled flirtatiously anyway. “Sure. Yeah. I'll do that when I get a chance.”
Tony's elevator door closed and the seamster turned to Ethan. “I got your uniform order this morning from Gary. New hat, new shirts. Do you need new pants? He also wanted you to try on some more vintage looking jackets. I pulled this one from the back. It was actually a costume from a play several years ago. I think it will fit you.”
It was a black pea coat with numerous pockets. It looked heavy. “I'll burn up in this.”
The seamster held it open for Ethan to try on. “It's faux wool. It breathes.” He slipped it up Ethan's right arm and then circled around to his left. Standing behind him he patted down the shoulders and back. “It's the right size.”
Ethan turned to face him. “Feels okay.”
The seamster grinned. “Very handsome. This jacket is you. I know what you'll be doing on your layovers.”
Ethan actually felt his face grow hot. He'd gone years with hardly anyone paying attention to him and in a week he suddenly had a gorgeous twink telling him it was love, a hugely muscled fitness instructor possibly coming on to him and now his tailor hitting on him. Even Gary's receptionist had been overly friendly.
“No, I... uh, I'm seeing someone.”
The seamster pulled his marking chalk from behind his ear and drew an X over his heart. “Mark me jealous.” Without waiting for Ethan to respond he disappeared behind the fabric roll racks. “I'll be back with your shirts in a minute!”
When he opened the door to his house Tricos jumped on the clothes bag hanging over his arm. “Tricos! Sit! Stop barking.”
Tricos sat on her back haunches and extended her one front paw.
“She never does that for me,” Kip said. He was lounging on Ethan's couch, flipping through an old edition of The New Yorker.
Ethan laid his jacket and shirts over a chair. “You're back.”
“You'll make a good father.” He dropped the magazine on the side table. “I've brought over her leash and toys.”
“She has a leash here.”
“I can't keep her,” Kip said matter of factly. “Turns out she's the reason I'm having an allergic reaction. So I'm giving her to you.”
Tricos dropped off her hind legs and settled with a whomp beside Ethan. “What are you talking about?”
“That's what they said at the Swedish Immunology place. They scratched my arms up and nothing reacted till they tried dog dander. You'll take her, won't you?”
“She's your dog, Kip.”
“I found her. But she's bonded to you.” Kip was putting on airs of bravado. “It's okay. I'm gone too much anyway.”
Ethan could hear the heartbreak underneath yet said nothing.
Kip stood up. “I already put her dog door into your sliding glass. You won't have to let her out anymore.”
Ethan watched his neighbor pretend to be tough and didn't buy it. “Are you sure about this?”
“If I ever hear you're mistreating her I'll come over here and beat you up.” He pulled Ethan into a bear hug and whispered in his ear. “Thanks, buddy.”
He reached down and rubbed Tricos behind her ears. “Be a good girl.” Kip's voice started to break on the last syllable. He looked away. “Gotta go.”
Ethan watched Kip close the door, leaving behind his child. Tricos looked at the closed door too, but then focused on Ethan.
She really was Ethan's dog even though no one had admitted it before.
They walked into his bedroom and both sat on his bed contemplating the new living arrangement. “I guess you're with me all the time now. I wonder if you'll like Dexter if he comes for a visit.” Tricos circled the bed a few times and then sprawled along the pillows. Ethan commented, “Please. Make yourself at home.”
She had.
From his closet Ethan pulled out his Steampunk chest to look for accoutrement to augment his uniform. Opening the lid he saw the clothes Leo wore to Moulin Rouge and lifted the vest to smell it. It faintly carried Leo's scent. He felt a flurry of tingles thinking about everything that had happened that day and what could happen when Leo returns tomorrow.
Tomorrow.
Ethan realized he'd be working twelve hour shifts the next three days. He would be completely exhausted when he finished. How would he possibly have the energy to sleep with Leo tomorrow night?
He reached for his phone. He didn't know what to write because he didn't want Leo to think he was unwelcome. But he figured if Leo came and was ignored that would be worse.
Just as he started to send a text his phone chimed. With a message from Leo.
'Just thinking about you.'
Ethan wrote back. 'Odd. I was about to text you.'
Instantly Leo wrote. 'Creepy. Maybe we're communicating on another plane.'
Ethan: 'No. I work on a train.'
Leo: 'LOL. Are you this witty on the train?'
Ethan: 'That's George.'
There was a break in communication. Ethan sat on his bed waiting for a response that seemed to take ages to appear – even though it was less than a minute.
Leo: 'You're funny too. I kid around with my kids. They pay attention better.'
Ethan: 'I'm not teaching boring lessons.'
Ethan hit send and immediately regretted it. He didn't intend to insult Leo's teaching. He felt a droplet of sweat escape from his underarm. Leo replied rapidly.
'They aren't boring because I tell jokes. Duh. I'll come up with some for you'
And then a moment later Leo continued - 'If you want.'
Ethan exhaled. He got away with saying something stupid. Again. He knew at some point he would unintentionally say something so insulting Leo would break it off. It was just a matter of time.
He responded. 'Sure. If you want.' And hit send. Then he launched into the breach, 'Srsly I work next three days crazy hours. Maybe better you come Monday?' Before Leo could respond he added, 'I won't be home to let you in my house tomorrow.'
He stared at his phone waiting for the answer. What he got instead was a text from his mother. 'Caleb wants to know how his cat is doing.'
Ethan typed furiously. 'His cat is fine.' And then said aloud. “Why don't you ask how I'm doing?”
Amélie texted again. 'I'll tell him. He appreciates this a lot. I'm coming in tomorrow night. See u Saturday lunch.'
There was still no text from Leo.
Ethan wrote, 'Schedule changed. Can't do lunch anymore.'
Tricos farted.
“Really? Is it going to be like this now??” Ethan glared at the dog, his dog. She tilted her head to look at him but didn't move otherwise. “I take it that's a 'yes.'”
His phone chimed. It was Leo. 'I'm pretty handy with a crowbar.'
Ethan: 'LOL'
Leo: 'Unless you don't want me to come.'
Ethan: 'I DO.' And then he added, 'But I won't be here.'
There was another pause. Ethan went to the bathroom to piss.
His phone chimed.
Amélie: 'Je t'aime fils.'
Ethan: 'Je t'aime maman.'
He decided that was enough for now. He'd tell her about his promotion later. He flushed the toilet.
Leo finally texted. 'I could watch Tricos.'
Ethan relented. 'COME. Jesus. I'll hide a key for you.'
Leo's reply was instant: 'YEAAAAAAA.' And then, 'Can I bring Dexter?'
Ethan laughed. Tears welled up as he replied. 'Yes. Just fucking move in why don't you.'
