Chapter 26 #3
The helicopter landed close to the house. He was out the door, running to the copter with his head ducked low before his security team could even surface to find out what was going on.
=?=
A plane waited for Austin as he landed at Dallas Executive Airport.
There was little time to spare. Seth, who was the most metrosexual, most un-cowboy kind of guy, arranged for a stylist to be on the plane, along with a hairdresser and makeup artist. When Austin questioned it, Seth’s exact words were, “Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately? You need this.” The entire time they worked on Austin, he was on the phone with Seth, Julie, and all of his attorneys trying to find any other feasible alternative out of this mess.
No one came up with anything to stop the pending photo campaign from going worldwide.
Immediate injunctions would stop the United States publications, but it was a global world now.
Kitt would be plastered all over the entire world.
It would easily seep into the United States even without a United States entertainment company featuring the story.
None of Austin’s staff, other than Seth, could understand why this had Austin so worked up.
To them, this was nothing more than another round of the same rumor that had plagued him for years.
No one got how much Austin changed since meeting Kitt.
He’d become honorable. This landed squarely on Austin’s shoulders, and he wouldn’t slink away from it.
He should have deleted those pictures. Hell, he shouldn’t have even taken them, and no way would he leave Kitt to deal with this on his own.
Once it became clear that no amount of talking would sway Austin, Julie became a dog with a bone helping him, with exactly the right words to say as he spoke to Donnie Cliffs tonight.
Austin’s whole game plan came down to him getting the word out first. Maybe no one would care about Kitt’s photos if he was honest with the world.
If Austin was lucky, it might only be a passing interest as to who the guy was that finally caught his eye.
After a four-hour flight, and a whirlwind of activity, Austin was back to having solidly blond hair again.
His dark tan didn’t need any sort of spray refresher, but he was plucked, clipped, cut, manicured and pedicured all before being outfitted in a tailored, classically cut, modest, yet expensive as hell, suit.
Austin was late getting to the Late Show.
Donnie stood on stage, already doing his opening monologue as Austin arrived in the studio, well after eight.
It gave Donnie’s staff very little time for edits before the program aired.
Donnie had held the show as long as he could, well past the point of anything safe, just to get Austin on as his guest tonight.
There was no time for them to talk first, or for him to prep Donnie before he took the stage. Tonight, they’d wing it.
It wasn’t ten minutes after Austin came to the theater that he walked out on stage, waving his hand to the audience, his sexy signature grin in place.
He casually shook hands with Donnie, waved at the band, and then the audience again.
They went wild, having had no idea he was planned for the show tonight.
Several minutes passed with the audience standing and applauding just for him.
He waved, bowed, smiled, and Donnie stood beside him trying to get control of the audience.
Nothing worked until they got it out of their system and were ready to sit again.
It was the standard late-night talk show setup: a desk for Donnie with a couple of chairs to the side for the guests.
Austin took a seat to Donnie’s right. He sat casually, hoping he pulled off the calm exterior of a man with easy confidence, not showing the reality of his heart frantically hammering in his chest. Internally, his focus centered on Kitt, but he kept the outward calm like he’d been trained to do.
After the first couple polite pleasantries, Donnie just looked at Austin, not sure what to say.
Donnie was a trained comedian, his timing perfect, and he got a big laugh from the audience as the two of them sat in silence, staring at one another.
“So…whatcha been up to since we last saw you, oh, eight months ago?” Donnie finally asked.
“Well, I’ve been farming. I bought a farm in Texas.
” Several Texans from the audience whooped and hollered at the mention of their home state.
Austin could tell Donnie hadn’t been expecting a truthful answer, and was now trying to piece the right questions together to get to exactly why Austin sat before him.
“Really now? Farming. Aren’t you from Texas?”
“Yep. I bought some land where I grew up. It’s a little secluded out there, but about the same area.” Austin crossed his leg over the other, making a show of getting comfortable. He looked at Donnie like he was a simple, simple man. It caused another round of laughter from the audience.
“And after all these months of looking for you, no one thought to look out there?” Donnie asked in his way of making the press and media look like a bunch of dumbasses.
“Nope, haven’t had a single incident.”
“Those paparazzi aren’t nearly as smart as they think they are. Wish they couldn’t find me. So is that the reason you and Cara broke up. She wasn’t into becoming a farm girl?”
“No, I think she took to the farm really well. Seth hasn’t at all, but Cara enjoys her time there.” Austin nodded, understanding he was being purposefully vague.
“Okay. Since this is only an hour-long show maybe after this break you could fill us in,” Donnie said, and waggled his eyebrows, turning to the cameras.
He made another comment, something Austin didn’t pay attention to, and they went to commercial break.
He was off the spotlight, both figuratively and literally, for only two minutes.
Austin took a long drink of the vodka, not water, sitting behind his chair.
Donnie leaned in whispering to him as the cameras panned out.
“I don’t know how far you want me to take it.” They were both smiling, giving the audience a visual they were sharing something personal as they spoke.
“Just lead me into how my life’s goin’, and I’ll tell you.
You won’t need to fish around for it.” The camera crew counted off again and Donnie sat back to take his position and to reintroduce Austin to the television audience.
After a moment he turned back to Austin.
“So, as I asked, whatcha been up to on that farm of yours? Raising chickens?”
“Mainly horses and cattle. It’s a cattle ranch, but I’m also dabbling in some purebred horses.”
“And you’re just on the farm playing Old MacDonald?” Donnie asked and the audience laughed, even Austin laughed. He supposed he’d done everything Julie told him to do. He’d drawn out the speculation, come off as relaxed and as in control as he possibly could. Now he needed to get to the point.
“A little more than that. Donnie, I came out here tonight—”
“It’s about damn time you got to the point!”
“—I’ve decided on putting something out in the world on my terms for a change. Not let the media spin it out of control. I’m just gonna be truthful. I’ve met someone—”
The audience cut him off as they stood and gave him applause. Austin grinned, waved his hand and bowed again, but Donnie quickly got control of them.
“Sit down! I don’t think he’s finished. Sit. Down!” Donnie stood using his hands to lower everyone back in their seats. “Now go on. You’ve what?”
“Like I said, I’ve met someone, who I want to spend the rest of my life with.” Austin grinned at the more sedate, yet still very sincere clapping.
“Well, that’s great, Austin.” Donnie said it more as a joke, rolling his eyes as if that wasn’t really a big bomb to drop, certainly not big enough to rework his entire show around. Again, the audience laughed, and finally, Austin lifted a finger silencing everyone.
“Well, I think your scoop comes in the fact that I’m gay. My forever love is with a man. A man I’ve known most of my life, but just recently reconnected with. It’s him that drives me here now. He’s an honorable, good, hard-working man who wants his privacy just as badly as I want mine.”
Donnie stared at him in silence. Austin had no idea if the audience clapped, if they made any noise. His whole focus centered on keeping his features passive as his heart hammered violently in his chest.
“Well, good for you! I’ve known you for many, many years, and I couldn’t be happier for you, Austin.” Donnie seemed genuinely sincere in his words and actions, and Austin let out the pent-up breath he was holding. “Is he here?”
“No, and he doesn’t know I’m here. He’s a real farmer, working with the school this week. It’s gonna be a surprise to him that I'm here.” Austin finally came back into himself and had no way to judge the audience except they were quieter now.
“Well, we all know how much people like surprises…” Donnie leaned back in his chair, tucking his hands behind his head. “How’s he gonna feel about all this?”
“Not too happy, I suspect.” Austin grinned, looking a little sheepish at the laughing his response evoked.
“Then why are you here? Probably not the best relationship move to go against your partner.”
“I’ve been ready to shout it from the highest mountain for so long.
I’m so in love, but he’s kept me quiet. I had my private email hacked last night.
I wanted to get my side of the story out before they can make it something ugly and sinister, because it’s not that at all.
I love this man with my whole heart. He’s everything to me, and I believe he feels the same way about me. ”
A small grin spread across Austin’s lips, and he looked down for a second thinking about Kitt.
All the worry and negativity left him as thoughts of Kitt filled his soul.
His smile grew bigger as peace settled in.
A moment of silence followed. The entire studio audience sat quietly.
This was the freest moment of Austin’s life, and it felt great.
The only thing that might have made it better would be for Kitt to be here with him.
He wanted to share this moment with him.
Looking up, Austin realized he’d even silenced the seasoned pro Donnie Cliffs.
“I’ve lived for years with the paparazzi and tabloids trying to twist and turn everything in my life.
There’s nothing to manipulate here. I love this man with all my heart.
He loves me. That’s it. There’s nothing more to say. ”
“I’m glad to hear it, Austin. We need to take another break. Will you be able to stick around, answer some questions?” Donnie asked. “We might even be able to take it out to the audience.”
“Sure, I’m always ready to talk about my Kitt.”
With that, Austin announced Kitt’s name to the world.
Relief was strong as he realized he’d taken the story away from the tabloids.
He’d come out, done it on his own terms, and he refused to let the worry about what Kitt might think concern him right now.
He’d worry about that after he left this stage.
For now, it needed to be game on. Happy go lucky, man in love wanting to tell the world.
But, he did say a little prayer as he took another long swallow of vodka.