Chapter Twenty-Three #3
“I’ll consider it,” he said. Emma and Lizzie looked at each other, both of them letting out little excited shrieks, and then Arthur threw Charlotte a wink that was not the least bit subtle. “As long as Charlotte wouldn’t mind entertaining Miss Hawthorne for the length of her stay.”
Charlotte’s cheeks turned even rosier. “No, I wouldn’t mind that.”
“Alright, well, I’ll speak with Lizzie’s parents, then.”
Fondness swirled in Jesse’s chest. He loved the way that Arthur never stopped taking care of the people he loved, even when behaving with the practiced savoir faire of his upbringing.
“Let’s head over to the Midway,” Arthur said. “We wouldn’t want to run out of time before we have a chance to see the bulk of it. I promised Lizzie’s parents that she’d be home for dinner.”
Arthur led them toward the Midway Plaisance.
Overall, Jesse liked the little he had seen of it during his past visits to the fair, especially the ice railway.
Some exhibits, though, that they’d briefly passed by, had made him uneasy, mostly because their intent seemed to be to reinforce current societal hierarchies.
He could imagine how othered some folks might feel when seeing them.
Still, though, Jesse was excited to explore the Midway Plaisance some more, especially since there was so much that he hadn’t seen yet.
Only a few short moments later, they arrived.
Stepping onto the Midway felt a little like being transported from Arthur’s stuffy neighborhood on Prairie Ave to Jesse’s home in Bridgeport, only the change was instantaneous.
Curiosity and excitement bubbled in Jesse’s chest as they began to explore, the contrast between the pristine white buildings of the fair behind them, especially those in the Court of Honor, and the mismatched buildings and booths lining the Midway fascinating and exhilarating.
While walking past the imposing World’s Congress of Beauty—some sort of huge costume exhibit—Jesse’s eyes scanned the horizon and settled on the half-finished wheel in the distance.
Even without being complete, it was enormous—the highest part of the steel cage rising high above every other part of the fair.
Slowly, Jesse began to wander toward it, letting the fantasy of braving the unknown take over his thoughts. After a while, Giuseppe came up behind him and clapped him on the shoulder, pulling him back to the present.
“I’d sooner die than ride that thing,” Giuseppe said. “Thank the Lord it’s not finished. Anyway, Patrick and I want to see the Irish castle.”
Patrick’s voice cut in. “Excuse you. It’s Blarney Castle.”
“Yes, right, Blarney Castle,” Giuseppe said, a teasing lilt in his voice. “So, we’ll find you and Arthur later?”
Jesse looked to his left, only then noticing the stone entrance to the Irish Village.
He’d been too transfixed on the half-finished wheel to see it before.
Still a little lost in thought, he nodded half-heartedly in response, and then Giuseppe clapped him on the back once more before rushing off with Patrick.
Next to Jesse, Arthur chuckled. He must not have been trailing far behind.
“Are those two becoming friends?” he asked.
“Shockingly enough, I think they might be,” Jesse said, finally coming back to himself.
Arthur and Jesse exchanged tender smiles.
“Well, the ladies went to the costume building,” Arthur said, thumbing over his shoulder. “So, it seems like the two of us have the chance to spend some time together. Have you spotted anything that’s of interest to you?”
“Besides the wheel?”
“Oh, the wheel!” Arthur let out a big sigh. “Heavens, I wish it was finished.”
“I think I’m a little terrified to ride it, to be honest, but I still want to try.”
“I feel the same way.” Arthur leaned in close and whispered, “Terrified, but oh-so-tempted.”
Arthur’s flirtatious words made Jesse’s stomach tumble, and he blushed.
“Arthur,” Jesse whispered back in a warning tone.
Laughing, Arthur straightened his posture and held up his hands in mock innocence. Jesse rolled his eyes.
“Alright, well, besides the wheel, no, I haven’t spotted anything of interest yet,” he said, still reeling a bit from Arthur’s comment. “Should we keep walking?”
“Yes, let’s.”
Together, Arthur and Jesse continued to explore the Midway.
First, they stopped at the Nursery Exhibit, where there were beautiful shrubs and trees and even a cranberry marsh.
Admiring the plant life, Jesse walked slowly through the paths on either side of the exhibits.
He’d have stayed for a long while had it not been for the fact that he knew there were so many other interesting things to see on the Midway.
Fragrant and colorful, the Nursery Exhibit was an oasis; it reminded Jesse that though the Columbian Exposition was wondrous, nature itself possessed a type of beauty completely separate from the well-crafted structures that now occupied Jackson Park.
Over the next hour, the two men ventured toward the unfinished wheel.
On the way, they stopped at a log cabin and a miniature model of the Eiffel Tower.
Arthur’s constant and continued enthusiasm throughout was both endearing and heartening.
It truly felt as though something had changed, like perhaps Arthur had only just finally managed to let go of some worry or sorrow that had been plaguing him all this time.
After the two watched a glassblowing demonstration, Jesse pulled Arthur aside.
“Did something happen recently?” Jesse asked. “Other than me reassuring you that I’m not bothered by the money you’re spending on this visit.”
Arthur’s brow creased. “No. Why?”
“You seem . . . happier today.”
“I’m always happy when I’m with you.”
“Yes, but this is . . . different somehow.”
With a crooked smile, Arthur shrugged. “Just entranced by the fair, perhaps.”
Jesse wasn’t sure if he believed him, but he supposed he’d let it go for now.
Claire and Charlotte came over just then anyway, their presence necessitating the end of Jesse and Arthur’s conversation. They were soon joined by Emma and Lizzie, both of whom had been trailing a few feet behind.
“Do you think we have time for one more thing?” Charlotte asked.
Arthur fished out his pocket watch and clicked it open to check the time.
“Perhaps,” he said, putting it back. “What is it?”
“We wanted to see the moving sidewalk,” Charlotte said.
“Actually, we wanted to ride it,” Claire said excitedly, her brown eyes wide and eager and playful. “We heard a few women talking about it, and we think it sounds rather fun!”
Arthur and Jesse looked at each other. Arthur arched an eyebrow as though silently requesting Jesse’s permission.
But Jesse had no problem with them seeing the sidewalk a second time.
Despite the fact that it was the place where they had encountered Percy, which had been both a little terrifying and a lot humiliating, Jesse could only look back at that moment with fondness.
Because it had led to the most wonderful, most healing night of Jesse’s life.
Sometimes, it seemed, the most beautiful things sprouted from the most acrid soil.
Jesse nodded. “Yes, that would be fun.”
“Wonderful,” Arthur said, looking at Jesse with unbridled tenderness.
It made Jesse’s stomach swoop.
Arthur took out his map of the fair and began to look it over.
“If we take the railway back, we could make it in no time.”
Jesse looked around. “Where are Patrick and Giuseppe?”
“I saw them sharing a cider and some sort of snack near the Irish Village,” Charlotte said.
Claire sucked in a fast breath, looking scandalized. “Sharing, hm?”
Jesse nearly chortled. He knew what Claire was implying. But Giuseppe had never liked anyone. Had never and would never. He’d said so himself.
Just then, Patrick and Giuseppe came into view. Both men were walking toward them, smiling and laughing and . . . sharing a beer?
Jesse quirked an eyebrow as they came close.
“Don’t worry, we’ve only had two,” Giuseppe said, and Patrick immediately elbowed him for it. “Alright, three. But we’re fine.”
“Somehow, Mr. Caputo here knows how to hold his liquor,” Patrick said.
“Of course I do. Back when I lived with my parents, I’d sneak sips of my papa’s homemade grappa here and there. I’ve been enjoying the finer things in life since I was a kid.”
“Finer things. I’m not sure you know the meaning of those words,” Patrick teased. Giuseppe stuck out his tongue, and Patrick shook his head. “Thank you for proving my point.”
“Enough silliness,” Arthur said, holding up his hands. “If we want to have time to enjoy the moving sidewalk, we have to leave now.”
“Moving sidewalk?!” Giuseppe asked.
“Oh, there’s no reason to fret, Mr. Caputo. I’m sure Patrick can hold your hand if needed,” Arthur said with a flippant flick of his wrist.
Jesse covered his mouth with his hand to hold in a laugh, but he still snorted loudly enough for Giuseppe to notice. Giuseppe crinkled his nose while Patrick snickered.
Smiling wryly, Arthur turned and started back toward Jackson Park, motioning for everyone to follow.
“Jesse?” Arthur asked as Jesse came up beside him.
“Hm?”
“I think you’re right. I have been happier today. I’ve been having a sinful amount of fun.”
Jesse smiled up at him warmly. “I’m really happy to hear that, Arthur. I know how much the fair means to you.”
“You mean a lot to me, too. Everyone I brought with me here means a lot to me.”
“Even Giuseppe?” Jesse chuckled.
Arthur chuckled too. “Even Giuseppe. Who else might remind me in such a brutally honest manner not to behave like the snob I no longer wish to be?”
“I thought maybe I filled that role.”
“Oh, but you are never so brutal in your honesty.” Jesse cocked an eyebrow in silent protest, and Arthur huffed a laugh.
“Alright, almost never. But my point still stands. I love every single person whose World’s Fair ticket I purchased.
Being here with everyone has been nothing short of sublime.
I feel so free and happy and, well, I want to keep feeling that way. ”
“I want that for you as well.”
“Good, because that means you might say yes to this probably-terrible idea I have.”
“Which is what?”
“I want you to come to my home and eat with my parents sometime. I want to flaunt our friendship a little. Or, well, if not flaunt, then at least not keep hiding it. I still feel so terrible that you were worried about me leaving you someday because of the risks associated with our being together. And I never want you to feel as though, because of my family name, we must keep even our friendship to ourselves.”
“Are you . . . sure? Won’t your parents—”
“Think that I’ve lost my mind? Oh yes, I’m positive that they will.” He shrugged. “But they’ve thought that for years, Jesse.” He shook Jesse’s shoulder a little. “So, what do you think? Will you come by to have dinner with them? Maybe even in one week’s time?”
“Uhm, sure,” Jesse replied slowly, his stomach flip-flopping as the words tumbled out of his mouth. “I’ll be there.”
Jesse’s stomach continued to churn from unease as they made their way through the crowd. And he prayed to God that Arthur knew what he was doing.