Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
At eleven-thirty Wednesday morning, Wyl and Rod arrived at the conference center for the GMIT Symposium. They stood at the back of the room surveying the layout. It looked like forty tables for six set up in the rectangular space, each with a white tablecloth and a decorative flower centerpiece.
Standing behind his husband, Rod placed his strong hands on Wyl’s shoulders and massaged, kneading out the tension. “My turn to ask. Are you nervous?”
“Not really, but I’ll give you seventy-five years to stop that,” Wyl closed his eyes as the warm sensations from Rod’s hands flooded him.
“You have a bit of tension.”
“I had a bit of tension, but you rubbed it out.”
Rod snuck his arms around Wyl and leaned close to whisper, “I’ll rub something else later.” He flicked his tongue against Wyl’s lobe.
Wyl chuckled and leaned his head to the side. “Stop it. You’ll make it hard for me to give my speech.”
“Making it hard is kind of the point.”
“Okay, I get it. You managed to dispel all my angst.” Wyl turned his head and gave Rod a light kiss. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, babe.” Rod released his embrace. “Let’s walk down and see what the room looks like from the stage.”
“Good idea. I think our table is up front somewhere.” They walked through the sea of round tables, each with six places. The waitstaff scurried around, adding plates of salad to each setting. The cold of the air-conditioned room chilled Wyl’s hands, so he rubbed them together as he walked.
They climbed the short stairs and strolled across the stage to the podium. Rod stood aside and watched as Wyl acclimated himself to the view from where he would give his talk.
“This room is wide,” Wyl said. “I’ll have to make sure I look to each side while I speak.”
“How many presentations like this have you done?” Rod asked. They had never discussed Wyl doing this type of thing.
“I led several sessions for military personnel,” Wyl said. “Military audiences are challenging, but this is an academic audience. I have no clue what to expect. You know me. One semester toward an associate’s degree before one of my professors turned me into his love slave.”
“Lucky fellow. Do I know this professor?”
“No. He’s my bit of crumpet on the side,” Wyl laughed.
Rod laughed out loud. “Where did you learn that word?”
“What word?” Wyl asked. “Bit? Side?” Teasing Rod.
“Crumpet.”
“Oh, that. I heard it on Monty Python once.”
“You watched Monty Python?”
“No, I was in the studio audience.”
“Um…you aren’t old enough to have been in the studio audience for Monty Python.”
“Uh-huh. Am too.”
“You would have been…like…not born yet.”
“Maybe I heard it while in the womb?”
Rod gave Wyl that REALLY look.
“Damn…but I had you going there for a minute.”
“If you can charm audiences as easily as you charm your husband, you’ll be a hit with this audience. Academicians are a boring bunch.”
“I know at least one who is not boring.”
“Ah, yes, but I have you fooled.” Rod grinned.
“Maybe I let you think I was fooled,” Wyl smirked.
“If we weren’t dressed in suits and preparing for a presentation, I would tickle you senseless for that.”
The rear doors banged open, and attendees began filing in.
Wyl and Rod stepped down from the podium and found their seats.
Tables filled, and people chatted. By noon, each attendee raised their voice to be heard above the others.
Joining Rod and Wyl at a table in front were Dr. Liam Riordan, President of GMIT and host of this conference, and Commissioner Seamus Kane.
Mrs. Riordan and Mrs. Kane rounded out the six.
Introductions progressed around the table.
The six chatted casually until noon when Dr. Riordan rose, walked up the stairs to the stage, and approached the podium.
“Welcome, everyone,” his strong voice boomed over the speakers in the hall.
The crowd hushed as all heads turned toward him.
“I am Dr. Liam Riordan, President of GMIT. On behalf of the institute, I would like to welcome you to this luncheon. Our keynote will begin in approximately thirty minutes. Meanwhile, please enjoy your lunch. Thank you.”
Dr. Riordan returned to his seat, and the crowd resumed chatting as plates of hot food arrived at the tables. Silverware clanking against ceramic filled the air as diners began enjoying the delicious hot roast beef and gravy lunch.
“So what brings you to Ireland, Wyl?” Mrs. Riordan asked as she finished her salad.
“Rod and I married last February, but decided to wait until fall for our honeymoon. At the time, Rod still held his administrative position at the college in Blackfield so he couldn’t break away. We had a busy summer, but we took advantage of our presentations in Ireland to enjoy a honeymoon.”
“Oh…I didn’t realize two men could marry in the States,” Mrs. Kane said.
“Gay marriage is legal in all fifty states, and recognized by the federal government,” Wyl said.
“Ireland is considering a referendum on our constitution this year,” Dr. Riordan said. “The institute is looking at options for accommodating gay couples should the referendum pass.”
“The Catholic Church is opposed,” Commissioner Kane added, “but An Garda Siochána has long recognized the rights of gay officers. It takes guts to come out as a gay couple.”
“Wyl, how do you wish I introduce you and Rod?” President Riordan asked.
“Rod is my husband, Dr. Riordan. But if you are uncomfortable with that term, the word partner is fine,” Wyl looked to Rod. Rod smiled and nodded.
“If you are okay with husband, so am I,” Dr. Riordan smiled. “Rod, how would you like to be addressed?”
“I have a Ph.D. in musicology, so how about Dr. Rod Bonner Sterling?” Rod winked at Wyl. “My Ph.D. is in the name of Bonner, but my married name is Sterling.”
“Perfect!” Dr. Riordan exhibited a confidence that seemed second nature to him.
“General Steinburg spoke very highly of you both,” Commissioner Kane said. “He assured me he was sending his best men to Ireland.”
Heat rose in Wyl’s cheeks. “Thank you, Commissioner Kane. Rod and I are honored to meet you, sir. General Steinburg also spoke highly of you.”
“We try to run a tight ship here in Ireland,” he said. “But sometimes we require expertise we don’t have on the Emerald Isle. I’m glad we can count on our comrades in the States to lend a hand.”
“We are happy to do so, sir,” Rod said.
“Have you two met Dr. MacGowan?” Dr. Riordan asked. “He’s the top man at GMIT in terms of computer technology. He graduates approximately twenty skilled students each year. By succeeding in his program, they are guaranteed top jobs with some of the best firms in the world.”
“Rod and I happened to bump into Dr. MacGowan and his partner Declan Knowlan when we visited the Galway Tr…uh…Racecourse on Saturday,” Wyl said.
“Quite by accident, we sat with them at lunch and had a delightful conversation. Knowlan is quite the expert on betting the horses,” Rod said.
“Ah, yes, Declan Knowlan,” Commissioner Kane said. “Interesting fellow. Quite a dicey history, but I think he adapted well to his role at the university.”
“Commissioner, rest assured, we know the situation and will do our best to alleviate the concern.” Wyl looked directly at Commissioner Kane.
“I appreciate that, Mr. Sterling. You have my support.”
“So you two own a ranch in Texas?” Mrs. Riordan asked.
“Yes. The ranch has been in my family since the 1800s,” Wyl said.
“Oh, tell us about the ranch,” Mrs. Kane said.
“We have 6,400 acres in West Texas, about 150 miles east of the New Mexico border.”
“That is quite a large ranch, is it not?” Commissioner Kane asked. “6,400 acres is about ten square miles.”
“A hair shy of ten square miles, Commissioner,” Wyl said.
“How big is Texas, Wyl?” Dr. Riordan asked.
“The State of Texas covers over 268,500 square miles or around 172 million acres, Commissioner,” Wyl said. “So, if Ireland is roughly 32,500 square miles, that makes Texas approximately eight times the size of Ireland.”
“We did some comparisons,” Rod said. “The northeastern point of Northern Ireland, southwest to the southwest town of Dingle, is approximately 350 miles. In Texas, the northern Panhandle town of Dalhart is approximately 900 miles from Brownsville, located at the southern tip of Texas. We have a rhyme to poke fun at our state: The sun has riz, the sun has set, and we ain’t out of Texas yet.
Dr. Riordan laughed. “Well, that certainly puts things in perspective.”
“If you ever come to the States, Dr. & Mrs. Riordan or Commissioner and Mrs. Kane, please accept our invitation to stay a few days at our ranch. We’ll put you on horseback and show you a real, functioning Texas cattle ranch.”
“We’ll definitely take you up on that offer,” Commissioner Kane smiled.
They finished the meal in relative silence. At twelve-thirty, Dr. Riordan asked, “Wyl, are you ready?”
“You bet, Dr. Riordan.”
Dr. Riordan stood and climbed the steps to the dais, taking the podium. “I hope everyone enjoyed that wonderful lunch. Let’s give a round of applause to the waitstaff and caterers for their attention to our needs.” He began applauding, and the audience joined him.
“It is my privilege today to introduce Mr. Wyl Sterling. Mr. Sterling has an unparalleled reputation as a computer programmer, having worked in cybersecurity while serving in the United States Marine Corps. He retired from the Corps almost eighteen months ago and has since married and settled down. He and his husband, Dr. Rod Bonner Sterling, own a large ranch in West Texas, a ranch we learned at lunch is roughly ten square miles in size. No wonder they use horses in Texas.” Dr. Riordan laughed, and the audience joined him.
“Dr. Bonner has his doctorate in musicology, and if I’m not mistaken, he was the featured speaker at the symposium on the university campus yesterday. Rod, stand up so the audience can see you.”
Rod stood briefly, and the audience applauded as he waved to the crowd.
“Ladies and gentlemen, without further delay, I give you our esteemed guest speaker, Mr. Wyl Sterling.”
The audience applauded as Wyl approached the podium and shook hands with Dr. Riordan.
“Thank you, Dr. Riordan,” Wyl nodded to his host. “As we planned our trip, my husband shared a humorous story about one of his previous trips to Ireland. Although this is my first time in the Land of the Shamrock, Rod has been here twice before. On one trip, he and his friends sat in a bar in Galway, enjoying an afternoon drink. When the barman brought the glasses of foamy Guinness, one of his friends commented, Oh, look, a clover in the foam.” Wyl paused while the audience chuckled uncomfortably.
Rod had explained to him that the Irish prefer the term shamrock when referring to their national symbol.
“Deportation proceedings began immediately, Gardaí were called in, and the group of friends had to fight to stay in Ireland.” The audience roared with laughter.
With that, he had them in the palm of his hand.
He took what could have been a boring topic and made it enjoyable, even to an audience that was already familiar with his subject matter.
Rod admired his husband as he engaged the audience.
Animated in his speech, Wyl frequently strolled the stage and used his hands to emphasize points or focus the audience's attention.
He was a masterful speaker, full of confidence, and able to engage the audience.
Rod wondered how he had missed this side of his husband.
As Wyl finished his presentation, the audience leaped to their feet and applauded. Dr. Riordan once again took the podium.
“Thank you, Mr. Sterling, for the in-depth look at computer security and for keeping cyberspace safe. I think the audience will agree that your presentation is the highlight of our symposium so far. Folks, let’s give another round of applause to the Sterlings for being here with us today.”
The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause. Introducing Rod as Wyl’s husband cemented their relationship with outsiders and validated their reason for being in Ireland. And the presentation further increased Wyl’s potential value to one attendee at a table in the back of the room—Ailbe MacGowan.
* * *
Ailbe and Declan met on Wednesday for their usual afternoon drink at O’Connell’s Pub.
“You should have heard Wyl Sterling give his presentation at the symposium luncheon today, Declan. He is much more gifted than I realized. His bio in the campus newspaper article about the symposium did not begin to reveal the depth of his knowledge and experience. We need to make every effort to become close friends with the Sterlings. I need Wyl.”
“What about Rod?” Declan asked. “To get Wyl, you need Rod. Wyl will likely cooperate more if we have Rod as insurance.”
“Good point. Those two are inseparable. That article in The Advocate didn’t begin to cover their relationship. I never saw two guys so committed to each other. If we have one, we will have the other, giving us a tremendous advantage.”
“Is that an evil gleam I see in your eyes?” Declan said.
“Success is ours, Declan.” Ailbe raised his glass of Bulmers in a toast.
Declan raised his glass, clinked, and they sipped a self-congratulatory taste.
“Let’s ask them to meet us at Wilde’s tomorrow evening for dinner,” Declan suggested.
“James Pearson will be performing. By getting Rod to talk about music, he will relax and feel part of the social interaction we are trying to create. We’ll find out their plans, so we can strike when the time is right. ”
“Good idea, but how do we reach them? We don’t have phone numbers or email addresses.”
“Relax. The luncheon handout provided a brief biography and noted that the Sterlings had taken a flat at Citypoint in Eyre Square. We can call the apartment manager’s office and ask that a message be delivered,” Declan said.
“I like the way you think. Can you make that call? I’ll be busy with a class in the morning and won’t be able to do it first thing.”
“Leave it to me,” Declan said.
* * *
Early Thursday morning, Declan called the Citypoint management office and asked that a call-back message go to the Sterlings. The flat superintendent graciously agreed and took the information.