Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
At seven, the phone rang. Wyl asked security to send Stewy and Matthew up.
“Hi, guys,” Wyl and Rod greeted them at the elevator. “Welcome to our home away from home.”
Matthew grabbed Rod’s shoulders and gave him air kisses on each cheek, then did the same to Wyl. Rod caught a ‘what the?’ expression on Wyl’s face as he led the group into the living area.
“We brought a bottle of Grey Goose and a jar of stuffed queen olives appropriate for a gay gathering.” Matthew raised the bottles and wiggled his butt, emphasizing the word gay. “Martini’s anyone?”
“Hell yes,” Rod responded. “But let us introduce you to Tito’s. Not that we don’t appreciate the GG. It’s a great vodka. But you must try Tito’s.”
“I’ve not heard of it,” Matthew said.
“They do have it out here,” Wyl said. “We were served Tito’s martinis at Harvey’s the other day.”
“That was yesterday, babe,” Rod chuckled.
Wyl shook his head. “Did we just meet you guys yesterday?”
“Yes, and all Stewy has talked about since the Advocate came out is Wyl this and Wyl that,” Matthew said. “I couldn’t believe he knew you, Wyl. I was eager to meet the two cowboys now known wherever the Advocate is distributed.”
Matthew joined Rod at the bar. The well-stocked bar included an ice maker, so they busied themselves chatting and preparing the martinis.
Stewy and Wyl stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing out at the spectacular vista of the city before them.
Wyl turned to Stewy, the sound of ice clinking into glasses behind his words.
“Stewy, you need to call your dad. I talked to him earlier this month, and he and your mom are hurt that you disappeared without a trace.”
“I know, Wyl.” Stewy studied his own feet and stuffed his hands in his jeans. “I figured they would be so disappointed in my lifestyle that they would reject me.”
“Listen, both Rod and I have strong family support. Before Walt’s accident…”
“Wait a minute.” Stewy tugged a hand out of his pocket and grabbed Wyl’s shoulder. “Walt had an accident? Is he okay?”
“Stewy, Walt died last November. His horse got spooked by a snake and reared. Walt fell and hit his head on a boulder. We disconnected life support the next day.”
Stewy bit his lower lip and looked at Wyl. “Wyl, I’m so sorry,” he muttered softly.
“It’s fine, Stewy,” Wyl said. “Rod didn’t leave my side for a full week. It was his strength and support that guided me through my sorrow.”
Stewy let his hand fall and shoved it back into his pocket. “You’re lucky to have him.”
Wyl gazed out the window and chuckled at the words, “Boy howdy.” He looked back at Stewy.
“He’s the love of my life, and Walt could see it.
He brought Rod and me back together when I struggled with the man-man relationship.
He knew I needed Rod in my life. You might be surprised at your folks.
Lefty was entirely accepting of Rod and me. ”
“Really?” Stewy’s head jerked up. “Dad knows about you two?”
“We live in Blackfield. Of course, he knows. When I talked to him, his exact words were, ‘Surprised the fuck out of me, but whatever swings your lasso, I always say. I hope you’ll bring him by the house. We want to meet him.’ We didn’t have a big wedding.
In fact, we went to Santa Fe to get married.
We didn’t advertise our marriage, but we also didn’t keep it a secret. Word gets around.”
“And he seemed okay with it?” Stewy asked, surprised.
Wyl chuckled. “He was more than fine with it.”
Stewy gazed at the panoramic view, deep in thought. “Maybe I was wrong about them,” Stewy whispered like he was talking to himself. He faced Wyl. “I’ll call them tonight.”
“What’s going on, you two?” Matthew walked up and handed Stewy a martini on the rocks.
“We’re talking about my dad.” Stewy reached out and pulled Matthew to him, taking his martini.
“Matthew shared how much you two enjoyed the event last night.” Rod took a sip of his martini. “I hope the program helped a lot of gay couples.”
“You two are an inspiration. Everyone wants to find love and happiness, and you two brought such warmth to the stage that it drew the audience in and made us want that too.” Matthew lovingly tugged Stewy’s goatee, then sipped his martini. “I know this is vodka, but it sure doesn’t taste like it.”
Stewy sipped his. “If I didn’t know better, I would swear this was something else.”
“That’s the Tito’s for you,” Wyl said. “It’s our favorite.”
“Babe,” Matthew said. “Let’s look for Tito’s the next time we stock the bar.”
“Look for the copper cap,” Rod said.
Wyl leaned over and kissed Rod’s ear. “As for us being an inspiration, we don’t have any magic formula. My husband is a pretty special cowboy, and I’m fortunate he is a part of my life.”
“You made the first move, as I recall,” Rod said.
“What’s this?” Matthew’s eyes widened. “We need the details you didn’t share last night.”
“A story for another time,” Wyl said. “Stewy, why don’t you help me with the steaks?” Wyl thumbed toward the balcony. “We should be able to eat in about ten minutes.”
“Sounds like a good plan to me.” Rod drained his martini. “Matthew, follow me.”
Rod led Matthew into the kitchen. He set the plate of steaks on the counter, and Stewy and Wyl took them out on the balcony to the hot grill.
Stewy closed the balcony door as Wyl opened the grill and placed the four steaks on it. Smoke rose as the steaks sizzled.
“I gotta tell you, Wyl, I think I was in love with you in high school.”
Wyl jerked his head up and gawped at Stewy. “Really?”
Stewy nodded. “Just like I didn’t have the guts to come out to my parents, I didn’t have the guts to tell you how I felt. Then you went one way, and I went another.”
“I felt that loss, Stewy. You were my best friend. But anything more than that never entered my mind. Back then, I didn’t experience urges for men, or women, for that matter. You know I never dated in high school.”
Stewy reached out and touched his shoulder. “You’re a very handsome guy, and I could still go for you in a heartbeat.” He leaned closer, “You want to see what you missed back in high school?”
* * *
Inside, Rod and Matthew put the potato wedges in the oven to roast and spooned the broccoli salad into a serving bowl. They took the plates and silverware to set the table.
“I wonder how the steaks are doing?” Rod asked. He glanced out at Stewy and Wyl and gasped. Matthew glanced too. Stewy and Wyl stood in a lip-lock, with Wyl’s hands on Stewy’s shoulders.
Shock jolted through Rod like he’d been stuck with a cattle prod. Silverware clattered to the table as he dropped everything and ran for the elevator. “Matthew, I’m sorry,” his voice broke. “But I need to leave.” He rushed into the open elevator and repeatedly pressed the lobby button.
* * *
Out on the balcony, unaware of the witnesses, Wyl shoved Stewy away. “Stewy, stop! I don’t like you that way and am not interested in a tryst. Rod is my whole life, and he is all I need.”
The balcony door slid open, and Matthew poked his head out. “Wyl, we both witnessed your kiss. Rod left in a hurry.”
“Shit!” Panic flooded Wyl. “Stewy, watch the steaks.” Wyl’s voice shook. “Matthew, watch anything in the kitchen.” Wyl’s voice broke. “I gotta go after my husband!”
Wyl ran to the elevator and pounded the call button repeatedly with his fist. It took an eternity for the elevator to arrive and even longer for it to descend to the lobby. The doors finally opened, and Wyl raced to the security desk. “Did Rod Sterling go through here?” Wyl asked.
“Yes, sir. He went out the main doors. I think he walked north.” The security guard noticed the panic in Wyl’s expression. “Is everything okay, Mr. Sterling?”
“Everything is fine. I need to find him,” Wyl shouted as he ran for the doors.
Outside, Wyl ran down the circular drive and scanned the street to the left, hoping to see Rod.
No Rod anywhere. He searched in the other direction.
No Rod. Gasping for air, he fell on his back onto a bench in front of the building.
Bending his knees, he closed his eyes and steadied his breathing to ease the hyperventilation.
Calm down. You’ll find him. Calm down. Calm down.
As the panic subsided, he stood unsteadily, steadying his legs before turning to walk north.
Maybe Rod went all the way to Market Street.
Tears clouded his vision at the thought of Rod, overwhelmed by emotional stress over something he witnessed that differed from how it appeared.
He broke into a trot down to Market Street.
At the corner, he looked both ways but didn’t see Rod.
He remembered Rod pointing out the Civic Center as they rode the bus from Pier 39 and mentioning a large, grassy mall.
He ran in that direction and found the plaza.
A lone figure sat on the grass in the center of the plaza.
He broke into a run, smiling through his tears.
Nearing Rod, he could see his shoulders heaving.
He breathed a sigh of relief as he dropped to his knees before his husband. “Rod? Baby? I’m glad I found you.”
Rod glared at him with red, wet eyes. “Go away,” he shouted through a sob, shoving against Wyl’s shoulder with a fist. “I saw you and Stewy. You pulled him into a lip-lock. You forgot to tell me you still carried a torch for your high school boyfriend!”
Rod’s anger stabbed Wyl through the heart. He reached out, but Rod’s arm flew up to block, blades of grass flying. “Leave me alone.” Rod choked out words as loud as his emotional state allowed.
Wyl huffed out a sigh. “It’s not what you think. Stewy forced himself on me, and I physically pushed him away. He told me he loved me back in high school and tried to talk me into a tryst, but I rejected his advances.”
“Seriously?” Rod cocked an eyebrow, sniffling the word. “It certainly didn’t look like you rejected his advances. I saw your hands on his shoulders!”