Michael wasn't surprised to find the block packed full of cars when he turned up Warren Avenue. The sun had begun to fade behind copper and yellow leaves of maple and cottonwood trees, and he could spy shadows in the living room window as lamp lights began to come on up and down the block like Christmas lights.
Pulling the jeep up to the curb , he got out and slammed the door following the sounds of soft country music , up a set of cement stairs were mustard seed and ivy spilled over from rock beds. Laughter died to a faint murmur as he approached the front door, waiting a moment before he knocked, contemplating turning around, getting in his Jeep and driving away. As he closed his eyes and thought of the people on the other side , a few he would know well and most he hardly new at all , he realized one of those people cared about him with all of his heart and even though Michael despised what was about to conspire he had to do it for that one person. Finally turning his key in the lock he made quite a show of the simple affair of entering his house, a light flickered on in the living room and at least twenty people yelled surprise, Michael smiled back and played along as a tall broad shouldered man with soft brown hair and eyes to match, came to him and kissed him across the mouth.
"Are you surprised?"
Michael laughed.
"Of course I had absolutely no idea."
"You're horrible you know that."
"I know thank you though."
Michael kissed him back and squeezed past a few people and more than enough congratulations.
"So how does it feel mister big lawyer man?"
Michael nearly jumped out of his skin as he crossed through the kitchen and into the hall that led to his bedroom , belt in one hand he was halfway out of his slacks as he pushed the door open. Terry smiled at him from her seat on the bed.
"Sorry cell was dead Richard said I could use the land line it was more quite in here ..."
Michael shut the door behind him.
"That's fine you just scared the crap out of me ...."
Terry chuckled.
"So a night away from the boys....glad to know I'm good for something?"
Michael smiled and chucked his shirt into a nearby hamper he turned to Terry, she crossed her legs and leaned back on the bed.
"Well go ahead I'm enjoying the show..."
He tossed his belt at her and came over to the bed he sat down and flopped back onto the mattress she touched his forehead in a motherly way.
"You hate all of this don't you....?"
Michael sighed.
"It's just Richard's way...."
"But tonight was not about Richard..."
He looked at her and squeezed her hand.
"I know, but he loves me I know were its coming from."
"You did work hard for this , getting yourself back in and through law school and know the bar , I'm happy for you ... I still miss you on the job but I'm happy if your happy."
"Thanks for the sentiment....want to sneak off and grab a drink somewhere; we can tell Jeff and Richard we were off having a hot dirty affair."
Terry laughed out loud, Michael noticed she was wearing a dress which was a rare occasion with her, it ended at her knee and was cut at the top to show of her gorgeous long neck, the navy color accented her soft brownish blonde hair, her face was freshly scrubbed and makeup less as it always was. They had met on the police force and there had been a time when they had know each other well , some circumstances a couple years back had forced him to resign his position. Michael had opted to finish law school and take the bar an ambition he had put on hold.
"It's a nice thought ... but there's something far more interesting waiting on the back deck for you, so get changed I'll meet u outside."
She flashed him a mischievous grin and left the room , he followed her , shortly after getting into a pair of jeans and a black tee shirt , no shoes no socks the weather was still pleasant enough.
"Hey I was wondering were you wandered off to ...."
Richard met up with him in the kitchen with a glass of wine and a kiss.
"Had enough of being crammed in that suite all day ...."
He kissed him back lightly on the mouth taking a sip off the wine , white and a sweet white at that , he set it back on the counter as Richard led him outside a few more faces he had met only in passing , Richard kept a black book for dinner parties the way people kept black books for lovers. The smell of frying sausages assaulted his senses as he stepped onto the back deck.
"You know me wanted to call the best caters in town, but a friend of yours insisted you would like this better I have to agree he's pretty damn good...."
Michael let go of Richards hand and looked up, behind a thin line of smoke he saw a face that left him cold, a face he had sworn he would keep in contact with, but over the last few years had failed to do so, they had seen each other maybe twice a year talked on the phone maybe four times customary holidays and brief hello's and a lunch or to when he had come to check on a rental property or the weeks Michael had spent at the ocean. It was a failure on both there parts and as Chris's gray green eyes locked with his he new why , that same old feeling he couldn't quite shake, but he was to far past into something else to begin to question it so they did a quite dance around each other the last couple of years both trying to keep the lid on it so to speak, this time had been the longest time almost ten months and only two phone calls.
"Hi Michael ..."
He smiled.
"Didn't know you were back in town ..."
"Sort of a last minute thing , hope you don't mind was in the area stopped by to see if you were home ... "
Chris waved the spatula around.
"One thing led to another...."
"No its fine it looks great, I've been meaning to call you."
A few more tense smiles he felt Richards arm around his waist his soft breath against his neck; Chris's eyes slip across them both.
"I think I'm going to go grab Jackie and pick up another bottle of merlot...."
"Sure ..."
Richard politely asked if anyone wanted anything and then left the balcony , the clouds had shifted over a and the light had begun to fade slowly leaving a chill in the air , the few people on the deck headed inside , Terry smiled and taped his shoulder, she whispered in his ear.
"I'll leave you two alone..."
He gave her a jab to the rib she smiled and snuck away, the deck was so quite they could here the floor board's creek and every bird bug and dog barking three miles off.
"Got some great coronas back here private stash...."
Michael smiled Chris was not a wine drinker by a long shot he popped the top on two closed the lid on the meat and sank down to a lounge chair; Michael sat across from him and took a long pull off the neck.
"Thanks ..."
"For?"
Michael laughed.
"Everything, you always now when to save me ...."
Chris chuckled.
"Was wondering what you had turned into with your new law degree...."
"I just passed the bar, this is Richards idea of fun, sitting around with a bunch of people who like to talk about art openings and grapes and other high society things, Richard had those connections in L.A always invited to some of the best parties it was very fascinating when I was twenty three it lost its charm rather quickly."
"Yet somehow here you are?"
"Yes and here you are ....?"
Chris raised the bottle and took a long swallow off the neck.
"My last renters gone, decided not to look for a new one ..."
Michael chocked on the liquid in his mouth but managed to swallow it before he looked like a complete fool.
"What about the shop..."
