"C'mon Jim! Put your back in to it!" I said, watching Jim use the tool to drive the fence post in to the ground. I continued "Drive that pole in deep."
He stopped suddenly, looking over at me, a smile on his face. We were both working on putting in the fence, shirts off, a sheen of sweat on our bodies. Jim wiped his brow and went back to pounding in the post. In a few minutes Cassie came out to us with a pitcher of ice water and two cups.
"I thought you boys might be hot." She said, "But you are making great progress. You should be done by the end of the weekend."
I filled my cup, drinking deeply. The cool water was refreshing on my throat. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Jim drink half his cup, pouring the rest over his head. The water dripped off his hair and down his chest. Jim put down his cup and started on the next post.
Cassie walked up to me to take my cup and said, "Can I talk to you about something?" nodding her head to the side to indicate she wanted to walk a few feet away.
I followed her into the yard and she said "Listen, Neil. Gina-Marie and I had coffee the other morning when you guys went to Home Depot. She told me. I wish I had heard it from Jim, but..." she bit her lip a little, debating on whether or not to say anything else. She continued "...well, it's just that... I... don't mind. In fact, I am glad. Jim has been lonely, and you seem like a great guy."
I didn't know what to say. I was a little taken aback that Gina-Marie didn't tell me about the conversation, but she probably forgot. I said "Cassie, I'm...."
She cut me off "Don't be. Don't be sorry. I'm glad. I was hurt at first, because nobody likes secrets, but seeing how you two get along so well, I'm glad."
I looked at her for a moment and said "I was going to say, I'm glad you know. I don't like secrets. Does Jim know that you know?" I felt silly saying a sentence like that.
She nodded, saying "We talked about it. It almost became an argument. But I wanted to talk to you about something else." At that moment Jim walked over, and Cassie glanced at him saying "Hey honey, I was just telling Neil about our guest."
Jim nodded at her and she continued "My long-time friend, Veronica is coming to stay with us for a few weeks."
I shrugged, not knowing where this was going.
"Veronica..." she paused for a moment, looking at Jim, then back at me "used to be Tom. Before she transitioned, Tom and I were lovers for years."
I looked at Jim to gauge his reaction, but the lack of one made me realize he knew this already.
"Veronica is coming to stay with us for a few weeks. I just wanted you to know. She is arriving in in a few days." She said.
"Absolutely, no problem." I replied. "We will make her feel welcome. Maybe we should have another BBQ? You know, to celebrate finishing the fence, once Veronica is here."
As I finished saying that Gina-Marie came out of the house, walking towards us. Jim and I walked back towards the fence, while Cassie walked over to meet Gina-Marie. I picked up the tool, pounding in the last fence post.
Jim said "Sorry buddy, I didn't get a chance to warn you. We had it out the other night, and everything came out."
I kept hammering in the post.
He continued "It got heated for a bit, but once we were both done crying, and screaming, we had a great conversation. A heart-to-heart. I think it was a release for her to hear it. To hear everything. She knew, but never wanted the details. Last night, she was interested in hearing about it."