When Gary got home from work that Friday, Bill and Lee were sitting on the sofa watching TV. He leafed through the mail he'd picked up, discarding the junk.
Lee saw him look at one letter and his face changed, then look at another and his face looked even more confused.
"Shouldn't you guys be getting ready for your big weekend?" Lee asked.
His father opened the first envelope and read the letter, then said, "I'll be right back, I need to talk to Robert." He went out the back door and disappeared.
"What was that about?" Bill asked.
"I don't know, let's go find out." Lee replied.
They got to Bill's deck door and saw both fathers sitting on the sofa as Robert read the letter.
"You guys are still going to your concert aren't you?" Lee asked.
"Yep. Nothing's changed." Robert replied. "But your dad has something to tell you first."
Gary looked at Robert, discomfort evident on his face and he said, "No big deal, it can wait till Monday."
"No, it can't wait. Do you want us to leave?" Robert asked him.
"I'd rather you didn't." Gary replied. Robert moved over and draped his arm around Gary's shoulders.
"Lee, you know that your mom hasn't been around much lately..." he began.
"Or ever, that I can remember." Lee said.
"Well, that's what I need to tell you. We've gotten a divorce. We filed a couple of months ago and I just got the papers today saying it was final. I had hoped that your mom would show up so that we could tell you together but she's says she's too busy."
"You mean she just dumped us?" Lee asked, incredulous. "She didn't even bother to call me on my birthday and now you tell me she divorced you without even telling me?"
"You know she has a demanding job..." Gary started to say.
"And a new boy toy that she's been shacking up with for who knows how long." Lee finished.
"You know about him, huh?"
"I'm not dumb, dad. Wait a minute, does that mean she got community property?"
"Um, yeah. She got a lot. But, don't worry; we're still comfortable, just not as comfortable as we were. I had to buy her out on the house and everything else, plus she got half of my retirement account. I made sure that your college fund is safe and we can live here till you decide to sell."
"I'm sorry; dad, but you married a real cunt." Lee said.
"I know I'm supposed to tell you not to talk like that about your mother and all of that good father happy horseshit but in this case, you're right. She is a cunt."
Robert stroked Gary's shoulder and held him closer.
"So, what's the other mail that made you act funny?" Lee asked.
"More cuntiness, I'm afraid." Robert said.
He tossed a thick brochure across to where Lee and Bill sat facing them. It was an advertisement for an art exhibition-not very good art, by any stretch.
"What is it?" Bill asked.
"That's the boy toy." Gary replied. "Look at the top of the front."
Lee read the sentences and said, "Wait, MOM is sponsoring this?"
"I guess that's why she needed the money." Gary replied.
"But this is really bad." Bill said. "It looks like stuff Keith Haring was doing in the 80's only without the talent."
"Yeah, a few years ago she wanted me to buy some of his stuff and I told her I thought it was crap. She didn't take it well."
"So she shook us down to support her boyfriend." Lee said. "Look, don't let this spoil the weekend for you guys. You've been looking forward to this forever, get ready and hit the road. I'm okay and I can deal with it."
"Your mom was the best and the worst thing that ever happened to me." Gary said. "The worst because she's a conniving bitch but the best because I got you out of the deal." he said to Lee.
Everyone was quiet for a moment and then Bill said, "Aw, that's so nice. Pardon me while I go throw up."
"And I have to tell you that you're really adopted." Robert said.
Bill sat forward, his eyes wide and then noticed that Robert and Gary were both grinning. Soon they and Lee were all laughing.
"Fuck all of you." Bill said. "Don't you old codgers need to get on the road? I know the concert isn't until tomorrow but you senile old coots may get lost between here and Palm Springs and miss seeing your geriatric idols fall down and break a hip."
"We do need to get going." Robert said, turning to Gary. "I reserved a room with a hot tub whirlpool."
Gary said, "I guess I won't be getting much sleep tonight."
"I have something better planned." Robert replied, nuzzling his neck.
"Enough with the gay True Romance shit." Bill said. "Get you asses in gear and hit the road."
* * * * * *
Robert and Gary had departed about an hour before. Bill and Lee were lounging on the sofas in their Speedos and Bill was looking at the gallery brochure that had come in the mail.
"Did you look at this thing?" he asked Lee.
"Not really, why?" Lee answered, sitting down next to him.
"It gives his studio address and says he's open from 9 to 5 on weekdays."
"So?"
"So, we could go scope him out." Bill said. "Has he ever met you?"
"Of course not. Is there a photo of him?"
Bill handed the brochure to Lee, turned to the last page and Lee examined the photo.
"He's not that cute, he must have a really big dick." Lee said.
"We could find out. We do have our summer project to work on."
"You mean turn my mother's boyfriend out? That would be really cruel." Lee said. He thought for a minute and then said, "They deserve it."
"Damn right." Bill said. "Let's see where this place is."
He fiddled with the screen on his phone, and then fiddled a little more.