CHAPTER SEVEN: Thanksgiving and Palm Beach
Their time together sped by. In what seemed like days, the months of September, October, and much of November had passed. Billy read from a letter from his mother that he was required to attend a family function for the Thanksgiving holiday. Tommy remembered his promise to join his aunt and uncle. Both realized that they had not been apart for more than half a day since they had met. Both felt the pain of separation days ahead of their actual parting.
The day before Thanksgiving, Tommy and Billy took a cab to the train station. They sat in silence, holding hands, looking out opposite windows, afraid that should their eyes meet, each might break down. They shared a seat on the crowded train, making small talk in the very public place, their eyes saying what they dare not say aloud.
In time they came to Tommy's stop, they embraced, then Tommy left the train, struggling to contain his tears. He turned, tried to smile and waved to Billy as the train pulled out of the station.
He walked the short distance to his relatives' house. He was warmly greeted by his aunt and uncle, but asked to be excused to lie down. In time he collected himself, cleaned up and joined his aunt and uncle in the living room. They had never spoken much, respecting each other's privacy and in a way the grief over the deaths of Tommy's parents.
On this evening, Tommy told of his time in college, breezing by the details of his personal life. His aunt and uncle participated in the conversation happily, unlike earlier times. Tommy went with his aunt to the kitchen to help with making dinner. Their conversation continued and time passed quickly.
Just as dinner was about ready, the sound of screeching tires came from the front of the house. Headlights glared at a crazy angle through the front windows. Tommy's uncle called to them that "some fool has run all over the front yard." Tommy joined his uncle peering through the front window. "Do you know anyone fool enough to be driving a convertible with the top down – in November?"
Tommy tried to see past the headlights. The dark form of a man sprawled in the front seat of the car. There was something familiar about the shape of the man's head. Oh no, Billy. Tommy raced out of the house and up to the car. A very drunken Billy turned toward him, tears streaming down his cheeks. He was inarticulate with drink, sobbing, a mess. Tommy opened the door and pulled him out, then embraced him. Billy clung to Tommy. He kept talking about "monsters" and how he had to run away. Tommy escorted him into the house and sat him on the sofa. Billy slowly calmed down and related the awful scene at his parent's home earlier in the evening. Billy's large extended family had gathered for a cocktail party.
Billy explained that he had little use for most of his relatives, detesting their snobbery and superiority. Failing to join in the conversations brought all attention on him. A cousin made a hateful remark about 'fags' that was followed by a number of other taunts at Billy. When his father and mother turned their backs toward him, Billy was crushed by all the cruelty. He had already been drinking heavily and took two quick shots and fled the house. He took the red convertible he had been given as a graduation present from the garage, the top still down from its last use in summer. He went to the nearest bar and continued drinking. He collected his wits enough to use a payphone to find Tommy's aunt's and uncle's address. He got directions from the bartender – who tried to talk him out of driving – and then sped to find Tommy. And here he was, confused, drunk but free of the 'monsters' that were his blood relations.
Tommy's aunt and uncle stood and looked at the scene, Billy crying, Tommy trying to comfort him. Billy gratefully accepting a box of tissues from Tommy's aunt.
"Tommy, you better move that car into the driveway." Tommy's uncle said.
Tommy reluctantly left Billy's side and went out of the house. In the few minutes it took Tommy to move the car and put up the top, the scene in the house had utterly changed. Tommy's aunt was perched on the sofa next to Billy, herself in tears, but caused by laughter. Tommy's uncle sat across the room in his easy chair, joining in the fun. Billy was entertaining. As Tommy came in, he heard Billy's shameless flattery of his aunt, delighting the woman. Tommy could only stand and smile, again amazed at Billy's winning ways. Here were two people Tommy had rarely seen smile in near hilarity.
Tommy's uncle rose and indicated that Tommy should follow him into the kitchen. Over the years he had lived with the man, Tommy and his uncle had exchanged few words. Now Tommy faced a conversation that might also be a confrontation.
"I take it you know this man?" Tommy nodded.
"There's no girl, is there?" Again Tommy nodded.
"He's some rich kid, isn't he?" Tommy looked into his uncle's face, unsure how to read the expression. "It looks like his own family has treated him pretty badly. I just can't see it, why anyone can treat their own like that. And he's such a pleasant young man. I have never seen your aunt so charmed and happy, laughing out loud. Even in the face of the ugly time he's had." Tommy stood nonplussed.
"Your aunt and I, well we've never been too much on talking or showing feelings. And after your parents died, well, she was so upset at losing her sister, we just thought it would be best to be as peaceful as we could. I'm afraid we might have neglected you, not tried to reach out to you. But, son, we've always loved you, always wanted what's best for you. We were so proud of you when you got into that college. No one, not one of our whole family had ever gotten into college before. And now you'll graduate this spring. You've done your parent's memory right."
Tommy stood facing his uncle finding it difficult to believe that this rough and normally silent man was saying these things. His uncle cleared his throat, seeming to struggle with the next words.
"Does he love you? Does he treat you well?" The older man's face was all concern. After a pause, he asked, "Do you love him? No need to answer, I know from how you look at him. I never gave much thought to how you'd turn out. I always thought you had a pretty level head – said so. I figure if this is where your life leads you, well then, it's what you've got to do."
Tears now streamed down Tommy's face. He suddenly felt the years of quiet affection and care of his aunt and uncle. He was amazed at the quiet dignity being expressed by a man he never realized was sensitive and respectful. Tommy raised both arms to hug his uncle. The older man bridled and extended his hand to shake hands. As they turned to go to the living room, Tommy felt his uncle's reassuring arm around his shoulders.
Tommy's aunt was still perched on the sofa like a little bird. She drank in Billy's unending stream of chatter, gossip about famous people he knew, tales of places he had visited. For his aunt, this was like a supermarket tabloid come alive. And to think, this was someone her nephew knew so well.
"Tommy, this boy is just a wonder. I might have known you'd find the most fascinating people at that college. And he's so good looking, too. My, my, I don't know when I've had such a time." His aunt was more animated than he had ever seen her. "You must tell us how you met and all you've been doing all these months. I had no idea you had found someone special, someone for your life."
Billy shrugged his shoulders in innocence to Tommy's questioning eyes. "I haven't said anything," he pleaded.
"You boys don't have anything to tell me. I saw the way Tommy looked at you when you came in the door, and just now how you looked at him. I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be happy for one of my relations to be, well in an unusual relationship, but I was wondering what had happened in his life that was so good. It shows all over him. He talked non-stop all evening. I believe he spoke less than that old man, and he never opens his mouth at all. And now, conversation and stories. Nothing to hold a candle to you, Billy. I've never heard of such a life."
Billy faced Tommy, taking his hands in his. "Tommy, I know you've only just gotten here, and you're lovely aunt and uncle deserve your company, but I've just got to get away, far away from here, from my family. And I really have to be with you."
"Don't say another word," his aunt interrupted.
