FanFiction Reconciliation - part 30
Reconciliation - part thirty
New York City continued
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Reconciliation - part thirty
---
Ennis looked about as uncomfortable as Jack had ever seen him - not that he didn't look good - he looked… edible in his new dark gray suit. Jack was almost grateful that Lureen could be such a pain in the ass. When he'd driven them to the airport after her last visit she'd told him that while she was at the mall she'd stopped by that store that sold menswear. She had the audacity to pick out new suits for both of them and set them aside, sending them in for fittings and of course to pay for them. Ennis had at first flat out refused to go but the damn woman had got him on the phone and teased him mercilessly. Truth was they'd each had only one suit for weddings and funerals both of them over five years old. Lureen had nattered on slyly, implying that in addition to their upcoming trip to New York they might both need a reason to look presentable. Jack didn't like getting all dressed up but Lureen had been right, the kids would be graduating soon, Junior this year and Bobby next and with all the young people Bobby'd brought into their lives the weddings might start to out number the funerals.
Jack had taken a glimpse out at the partygoers and thought that they'd have both felt far more uncomfortable in their ill-fitting old suits among all these fashion conscious New Yorkers. Jack tugged at the sleeves of his dress shirt until they just peeked out from the dark blue suit which Lureen had insisted would look absolutely wonderful with his eyes, and damned if Ennis had said exactly that, in exactly that her exact tone of voice when Jack had pulled on the suit jacket. Ennis had followed up his joke with a kiss, while copping a feel so maybe he really did like the way he looked.
Dragging his attention away from disturbing thoughts regarding his ex-wife's new tendency to treat both him and his lover as oversize Ken dolls, Jack marveled that despite all the performances he and Ennis had come to see this was the first time they were seeing it from the band's point of view. Instead of coming in with the public and waiting for them to go on, he and Ennis had come along with them in through a back entrance and followed as they were ushered down a back corridor to a small curtained off alcove. From this point they could see the backs of risers assembled to elevate the band stand. The party was held in a vast open atrium of some sort of museum. Heph had cussed, muttering something about acoustics and gone off to talk to a bearded, long haired fellow behind a bank of sound and light equipment.
Jake, who was down on one knee, strapping a couple extra sets of drum sticks to one leg with a Velcro strip looked up and said, "It'll be fine." Jack wasn't sure if it was him or Bobby he was trying to reassure but appreciated the sentiment.
As he stood back, watching Bobby, Jack wondered if he should go over, put an arm around him and tell him that it wasn't too late to go home. Of course it was too late and remembering how important his own pride had been at that age he wasn't sure that coddling the boy wouldn't damage the fragile sense of manhood that had been building in his son. At that age Jack'd sometime held on to his own masculine pride with nothing but gritted teeth and blind cussedness and the Lord knew he never wanted the boy to feel his father of all people didn't think he was man enough to handle a challenge - Jack knew only too well how such things ate at a man's confidence.
Only a half an hour ago Bobby had been empting his stomach in their shared bathroom. Trying to dismiss it with an off-handed remark about how much better it had all tasted the first time, he'd waved off Jack's offer to get him some Pepto-Bismol. Now Bobby stood in the curtained off area behind the bandstand, pale as a corpse with beads of sweat on his forehead and upper lip. Even though said upper lip actually looked like it could use a shave - finally, Jack still thought Bobby was too young to put himself under this kind of pressure. But there he stood, feet braced apart in his new cowboy boots, wearing dark blue jeans, a black tee-shirt and the off-white Stetson that Ennis had given him, gripping his guitar like one of those kung-fu fighters he was so fond of held their swords. Bobby took a couple deep breaths and then let out the last one slow, rolling his shoulders and shaking loose from neck to hip to knee. Jack flashed back on doing the same thing before climbing into the shoot and wondered how his son had picked up that move; surely he hadn't done it himself since before the boy was born.
Merc stepped up behind Bobby's right shoulder, like a wing-man from an old war movie. He seemed in contrast, completely relaxed his guitar slung to the side and held loosely. Nothing about Merc looked 'country', his jeans were obscenely tight and faded almost white, Jack knew the boy had pants without holes in and wondered why there were rips over one knee and the other thigh. The jeans ended in what looked like Heph's old Doc Martins and were topped with a red tank. When Ennis had mentioned it was winter, Merc had just shrugged at that and said it was hot under the lights, Jake however had laughed and said Merc wasn't going to spend all those hours working on his shoulders and not show them off to the models.
Heph had been the biggest surprise when they had all come down to ride over to the venue. Jake looked much the same as he did whenever they saw him play at the Tumbling Dice, black jeans and a white tee shirt but he also sported an unusually smug smile, probably as a result of Heph letting him do something to his hair. Heph wore the same jeans, thermal undershirt and open flannel over shirt he's worn for their day out with Melissa, but instead of his usual loose braid, Jake had done something to tightly pull his hair back, giving him the appearance of short hair from the front and emphasizing the resemblance between the brothers. From the back you could see the hair was braided tightly, doubled up and wrapped with a strip of pale blue cloth, which looked to have been until recently the bottom boarder of the thermal undershirt he wore.
Heph stepped up to the other side so that the Owens' boys flanked Bobby and said, "Ready, boss."
Bobby clenched his jaw, nodded once and uttered the same words Jack used to say in the rodeo, "Let'er go."
Jake brought up the rear as they walked as one on to the stage and then he mounted the extra few steps to where the drums were while the others plugged in. When the stage manager had asked how they wanted to be introduced, Merc had declined for Bobby stating that they'd take care of it after the opening number. Jake counted out four beats in high, stick against stick, clicks and they launched into a hard driving, shit-kicking song about Saturday nights in a small town.
Looking out across the assembled stage, his eyes at about the level of the boys' feet, all Jack could see was a blinding wall of light. Surely that wasn't all they saw while out on stage, he thought.
"Don't seem so nervous now," Ennis said, or rather that's what it looked like he said since it was far too loud to actually hear.
Jack smile and nodded in the direction of way they'd come. The stage manager had showed them how to get out from behind the stage and given them pass cards so that they would be let back there again should they leave.
By the time they wandered out into the midst of the party the crowd had gotten over its initial shock. Pretty young girls were everywhere, quiet a few were throwing themselves around the dance floor in time to the driving beat with little heed to what kind of music it was or whether they had partners or not. Occasionally as Jack and Ennis made their way further back from the stage they overheard comments on how hot this or that member of the band was or about the music not being what had been expected but all-in-all a nice change. Waiters circulated with platters filled with champagne glasses and buffet tables over flowing with hors d'oeuvres were scattered around the edges of the room. Despite the season, glass doors opened on to stone terraces which were filled with small tables where people congregated and mingled. Square heater positioned against the surrounding banister banished the worst of the chill while still offering blessed fresh air.
The band played three songs back-to-back, each one driving faster and harder than the one before. And then, Bobby introduced himself and each member of the band. After thanking the audience for the opportunity to play for them they jumped right back in with one of Jack's favorites, a song about a series of events each setting off the next with an improbably and humorous conclusion.
---
Later, Jack and Ennis circled the room at a slow pace, taking in the sight of all the glitter and glamour. They were able to get a couple beers, some import they'd never heard of, at one of the small bars stationed in the back and wandered around doing more looking that eating. The boys were going strong on stage and hadn't slowed down. Ennis had commented that Jake was likely to pass out if they didn't slow it down a mite, but then they'd noticed several strategically placed guitar solos which let the overworked drummer grab a bottle of water from the cooler near his kit. The younger crowd seemed to love it and several of the Mylar balloons formerly part of the spangled room decorations were being batted around the dance floor.
Ennis was the one who turned to look when a man's voice called out, "Jack! Jack Twist!" He expected to see the Cypress boy but two strangers came weaving threw the crowd the taller and older one leading the way. Ennis elbowed Jack and jerked a nod in their direction when he got Jack's attention.
"Ron? Hey, how're you, doing?" Jack said, turning a winning smile and reaching to shake hands. "What a surprise."
"Small world and all that," Ron laughed. "You are the last person I'd expect to find here - how often have I tried to get you to come to New York?"
Jack gave an 'aw shucks' sort of shrug and then started and said, "I'm sorry, where are my manners. Ennis this is Ron Helton, he's spoken at more conventions that I can rightly remember. Ron is meat in New York City. Ron, Ennis Del Mar."
Ron's friend snorted at Jack's introduction and laughed while they shook hands. Ron shook his head and after the 'pleased to meet yous' said, "Kevin, these gentlemen run the Brokeback Ranch, and whether they know it or not are worshipped by any chef looking for their fifth star. Gentlemen, this is Kevin Kellen, he's one of those chefs."
---
Bobby lifted his hat and wiped sweat off his brow. Replacing it, he bent over and picked up the water bottle to take a swig. At the sound of several shrieks he prayed that Merc was doing something obscene with his guitar and they weren't doing that over his ass. Not that it wouldn't be flattering - it would, but he really could have lived his whole life without thinking about his ass. As he drank he looked over the crowd. They were having fun and that always made it better. The set was longer than their two combined when they played the Dice and it was exhausting, but this was the life. Playing the outdoor summer concerts was his favorite but this was a close second. It was a treat having stage hands who made sure iced coolers of water sat just off stage or behind the drum kit. They'd come in and found all the equipment set up, and even Heph hadn't complained about how it was done and he was a perfectionist.
He scanned the crowd looking for Melissa and Menthu, and hoped they were looking out for Daddy and Ennis. Bobby had thought it would be easy to spot her since Melissa had mentioned wearing a red dress tonight, but it looked like half the women here were in red. Neither Ennis nor his daddy was wearing their hats, which would have made them much easier to pick out. He'd been shocked out of his stressing over their performance when he'd seen them in their suits looking like strangers. It had only been a moment and passed once Daddy had smiled and Ennis had blushed and shrug and somehow blamed Mama for it all.
He owed them big time. He was racking his brain for something good to get for Christmas to show them how much he appreciated all they did for him. He may like playing the star on stage but he really wouldn't have wanted to make this trip with just the guys. He often wondered if Daddy and Ennis thought fondly of the times before he'd come to stay. Maybe it was the layout of the ranch but they really only had privacy in their bedroom and he had kind of taken over the place with his friends coming and going all the time. He'd never asked them about it because, well, he really didn't want to know if they did have regrets about him coming to live with them.
---
Melissa's dress was a deep vivid red, off the shoulder it flattered her ample womanly figure and proved that couture could do sizes larger than two. Menthu's smug self-satisfied look as he gazed at the girl on his arm excused his complete lack of attention to the rest of the room. They were almost on top of Jack and Ennis before he realized they were there and flashed them his practiced grin. Menthu's suit was much trendier than the older men's. It was a metallic dark gray with thin lapels and almost no collar. His tie was thin as well and matched the color of the suit over a crisp white shirt the only color was a red swatch of fabric in the breast pocket which matched the color of Melissa's dress and had thin pale gray stripes.
"Well," Jack said with a grin. "You look like the cover of a movie magazine." He followed up his complement with a kiss to Melissa's blushing cheek and shook Menthu's hand and introduced both of them to Ron and Kevin.
Kevin seemed to be quite a fan of Menthu's and Jack was getting the impression that Ron and Kevin were, well… Ron and Kevin. Before Ennis figured that out he made a strategic exit by asking Melissa to dance.
They'd danced a few times at the Tumbling Dice; it was where he'd taught her to two-step. As they circled the dance floor they drew admirers and imitators. When they passed the bandstand Jack nodded to the boys. "They sure are having fun," he said to Melissa. "Hope you know how much we appreciate you setting all this up."
"Oh, Mr. Twist, I've got more than a passing interest in this band," she said. "Besides, it's not like they're not good enough to get bookings like this on their own. As soon as we got here, Menthu was taking to a man from M-TV who wants to produce some more videos for them."
"Didn't really think they were M-TV material," Jack said. "And I should be an expert since it's been on non-stop since we got it - the boy is powerful fond of Joan Jett."
Melissa giggled and said, "The new network for country music is launching in February."
"Yeah, Lureen mentioned coming up for a premier party for it at the Tumbling Dice," Jack said.
"I thought she was more of a fan of your son, than Country music in general," Melissa said.
"She had dinner with Jeff when she was here last," Jack said. "Bobby doesn't know yet, I get the impression Jeff's kind of sweet on her."
"R.J. and Jeff are good friends," Melissa said.
"There are friends and then there're men who date your mama. Maybe you have to be male for that to make sense, but I'm leaving it up to Lureen to tell him," Jack said.
---
The band played for over two hours before the boys came out into the party. They had ended their show about twenty minutes ago and Melissa had seen to it that cold bottles of water and an abundance of food was waiting just off the stage so that when the band emerged into the party they didn't need to assault anyone out of hunger. It was a good thing too since the moment they appeared they were mobbed by young women, who all seemed to be trying to look disinterested as they not so subtly moved themselves closer. They all smiled, nodded and focused on the ones who took the initiative and came up to talk to them. Heph was the only one who looked truly uncomfortable and Ennis wondered if it were because he was trying to keep them all moving through the crowd or because he was afraid that he'd step on them.
Bobby and Merc were pulled out onto the dance floor, now that taped music was being piped in over the sound system, but Heph and Jake bowed out and started toward the back of the room. Heph's height gave him an advantage when he was looking for people in crowds, so did Menthu's loud piercing whistle and wave. A man from Houston who was connected to M-TV had joined them at Menthu's invitation and sat with them at their tables just outside one of the glass doors. Jack and he had been trading Texas stories, although it sounded like neither of them had been back there much recently.
Ron and Kevin had gone off to socialized but Jack had told them to come back and meet his boy before they left. Ennis was feeling pretty slow at the moment, having not picked up that they were together until Kevin dragged Ron out on to the dance floor. He tried to imagine ever doing that with Jack and figured that they'd most likely end up in a fistfight over who got to lead. Jack did like to dance though and had looked mighty fine spinning Melissa around the dance floor.
Heph and Jake sat down and once the introductions where made Menthu launched into one of his elaborate plans for the next video. Heph silenced him by saying, "Talk to the boss - and get me a beer."
When Mike, the guy from Houston, asked what he'd do if 'the boss' got him into something he didn't want to do.
"Will do? I was just minding my own business, in my back yard, and this fast taking kid from Texas asks for a minute of my time. Next thing I know I'm on stage, in a recording studio and making a video…. I'm just along for the ride, you try saying no to him."
Mike laughed and Jake said, "You said no yesterday about singing lead on that new song,"
"I can't sing about a girl's ass with a straight face," Heph said and after a beat then added, "and yes I meant that to come out like that."
Jake laughed while Jack asked, "he wrote a song about a girl's ass?"
"Not, just any ass," Jake and Heph said together.
"Apparently, this one's special," Heph added, "with… special powers."
Ennis said to Jack, "That's you're boy."
---
By about two the party was pretty much breaking up. The boys had been approached several times about going out to various after hour's clubs but had politely declined. Melissa had used her pull and coffee had been delivered by someone as they sat out on the terrace while the catering staff was clearing up in the main room. The woman who owned the catering service had joined them and she and her husband were chatting with Melissa at another of the small tables.
Mike had left and Ron and Kevin had re-joined them and been introduced around. Bobby sat at their table on the other side of Jack. Ennis sat next to Jack but sort of between the table with him and the one nearby where Merc and Jake were grilling Menthu about some place he was thinking of buying in Hell's Kitchen. He was startled when Melissa raised her voice and said, "Don't bring those near me."
Looking over he saw Heph coming out of the main room. He'd been, according to Bobby, off checking on their equipment being packed up. It was all going to go directly to the train station, ever Bobby's guitars. Now, Heph carried a stack of large foil trays with two inch sides, topped with what looked like a dessert platter. Ennis laughed as Heph kissed the top of Melissa's head as he passed and dropped one of the foil trays on each of the three tables and set the desert platter in front of Jake.
"I love you, man," Jake said.
"Anything for you," Heph said. He snagged one of the metal chairs. Placing it back-to-back with Jake's, he sat down or rather slumped, resting his head back against the back of Jake's shoulder and putting his feet up on an empty chair next to Melissa's and closed his eyes.
Ron and Kevin exchanged a look and Kevin who had been discussing cooking with Bobby lifted an eyebrow and cocked his head in their direction. Bobby, answered with a shrug and said, "I know. They're adorable, but to be fair they're not nearly as bad as Merc and Junior, who are, and I quote 'precious'."
"We are not," Merc said, intercepting the tray Melissa was trying to hand to Bobby. "Ooooh, look more of those puffy things, find out how to make these."
"Just Filo dough with lobster and a lot of butter with a touch of cayenne," the caterer interjected.
"Are you all gay?" Kevin blurted.
"Why does everyone think I'm gay?" Bobby asked Jack who laughed and shook his head.
Ennis answered for him, "Well you do kiss a lot of boys."
"Junior's my girlfriend, you shouldn't judge people by their names," Merc added. "But I realize I have a built in name-bias so maybe I'm a bit sensitive.
"A lot implies way more than two," Bobby said.
"I can't sleep if you keep laughing like that," Heph's attempt at a whisper to Jake set Melissa off. She had a very infectious laugh and it carried.
Jack mentioned the time and how early they had to leave in the morning, but Menthu interjected that the best way to do something early was to stay up all night and once again suggested going out clubbing. Kevin, however, suggested going to his restaurant and letting Bobby show off some of his cooking skills. Menthu and Melissa bowed out and left with the caterer and her husband. The boys however were excited about a cook-off so they all ended up taking a limo to the darkened restaurant. They filed past the plush front of the house and all sat out in the kitchen.
Kevin made steak and eggs and Bobby threw together the corn pancakes with cheese he'd picked up from the street vendor the day before. They decided to declare Kevin the winner but Ennis could tell Kevin had been impressed with the boy's skill, especially when he found out Bobby had never made them before.
Kevin asked Bobby if he was thinking about cooking professionally and Bobby looked startled, as if it had never occurred to him. "No. I'm a songwriter, a musician. I love to cook but… I cook for people I love, to take care of them and… you know? I don't think I'd just… want to cook for just anyone." Ennis watched Jack when the boy said that. He thought of all the meals that they'd had, even some of the really odd ones and how it always seemed to be so important that they like it. Jack blinked a couple times and looked down, cleared his throat a bit he looked over at Ennis and smiled.
Merc, looking very like Menthu with his video pland, started detailing a cooking completion where chefs were given all the same ingredients and amount of time and then judged on the results. He said it could be televised, like the NFL and chefs from one coast or another or from one style of cooking or another could compete and they could have elimination rounds all year and like a cooking Supper Bowl instead of Super Bowl. Heph pointed out several reasons why it wouldn't work and Jake said he wanted to get in line now to be one of the judges.
Ennis found himself watching Merc more and more. The boy, like Bobby, had shot up over the past year. He was slowly filling out, both boys lifted weights religiously and it showed in a broadening of their chests and thickening of their arms. When Junior visited last he'd been struck at how tiny she'd seemed when they'd caught them dancing in the stables. Merc was nearly six foot and Junior looked to have inherited more then just Alma's name. Francie was about as tall as her already and would most likely keep on growing. Junior's eyes were level with Merc's chest now and Ennis would bet that while Merc would never reach the height town legend attributed to his father that he would keep growing whereas Junior probably wouldn't.
One of the reasons he'd always felt so protective of Alma and the girls was how small they'd seemed. He'd felt so big and strong - and yes, occasionally awkward, next to Alma when they'd been courting. Before he met Jack he'd assumed that that was love. That the way she'd made him feel, as if he could stand between her and the world, he had thought that that was what it meant to be a man. Jack had shattered all those assumptions irrevocably. Jack had held on to him and left bruises and could let himself be held without seeming weak. Somehow, that made it okay and not a sign of weakness for Ennis to want to be held.
Their years together, shoulder-to-shoulder, it was a whole different feeling altogether than what it had been like with Alma. Not that he didn't feel protective at times but he made damn sure to hide it. Jack Twist's stubborn pride was like a brick wall at times and not something Ennis wanted to face if it was wounded. Jack would be the first one to point out that while it might not be by much Jack was probably the taller of the two of them. And though he'd never have the words to tell him, Ennis liked that. He liked the solid feeling of Jack's strong body, he liked that Jack was an equal partner and could take anything Ennis threw his way.
They sat around swapping stories until dawn. A crowd favorite was the story of how Bobby came to live with them. Jack still got indignant over the old fool who threatened his boy. Bobby seemed surprised that Jack was still upset but Ennis just nodded at him and said, "It’s a father thing, you know you get about your Mama? Same thing."
Somehow it came out Jack and his father didn't talk. Ron mentioned that his dad had died of cancer before they'd ever resolved their differences and that he envied Kevin, who despite a rocky start had worked things out with his father and kept in touch. Ennis shared a look with Jack, they'd spoken before about how he felt responsible for some of the hard feelings between Jack and his father and he wouldn't air that in this crowd but he could tell Jack was thinking about it when he said to Bobby, "Ain't right. I ain't worried about L.D 'cause that old fool brings on grief to himself, but I don't want you haven't regrets like Mr. Helton boy. Tell you what, you make an attempt to lay the bad blood between you an old L.D. to rest and I'll give it a go with patching things up with my old man. Don't have much hope, but the spirit of the season and all… what say?"
"I want to Daddy," Bobby said. "Mostly for you… I feel the same way, I don't want you feeling poorly when your daddy dies 'cause of things left undone… or unsaid. But… I don't know what I'd say, or if he'd even give me a chance to say anything."
There was a moment of silence while they all reflected on that and Ennis said, "you're good with words… why'n you write him. He can't interrupt you or shout at ya if'n it's all written."
"Yeah?" Bobby looked over, seemed to think about it and added, "yeah, I can do that - then if he don't bother to read it, well I done my best." He reached over and shook Jack's hand as if sealing a deal.
---
End - part thirty
New York City continued
Disclaimer & Cast List
http://wordsmithslash.livejournal.com/46253.html#cutid1
Previous Parts
http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=wordsmithslash&keyword=Reconciliation&filter=all
Reconciliation - part thirty
---
Ennis looked about as uncomfortable as Jack had ever seen him - not that he didn't look good - he looked… edible in his new dark gray suit. Jack was almost grateful that Lureen could be such a pain in the ass. When he'd driven them to the airport after her last visit she'd told him that while she was at the mall she'd stopped by that store that sold menswear. She had the audacity to pick out new suits for both of them and set them aside, sending them in for fittings and of course to pay for them. Ennis had at first flat out refused to go but the damn woman had got him on the phone and teased him mercilessly. Truth was they'd each had only one suit for weddings and funerals both of them over five years old. Lureen had nattered on slyly, implying that in addition to their upcoming trip to New York they might both need a reason to look presentable. Jack didn't like getting all dressed up but Lureen had been right, the kids would be graduating soon, Junior this year and Bobby next and with all the young people Bobby'd brought into their lives the weddings might start to out number the funerals.
Jack had taken a glimpse out at the partygoers and thought that they'd have both felt far more uncomfortable in their ill-fitting old suits among all these fashion conscious New Yorkers. Jack tugged at the sleeves of his dress shirt until they just peeked out from the dark blue suit which Lureen had insisted would look absolutely wonderful with his eyes, and damned if Ennis had said exactly that, in exactly that her exact tone of voice when Jack had pulled on the suit jacket. Ennis had followed up his joke with a kiss, while copping a feel so maybe he really did like the way he looked.
Dragging his attention away from disturbing thoughts regarding his ex-wife's new tendency to treat both him and his lover as oversize Ken dolls, Jack marveled that despite all the performances he and Ennis had come to see this was the first time they were seeing it from the band's point of view. Instead of coming in with the public and waiting for them to go on, he and Ennis had come along with them in through a back entrance and followed as they were ushered down a back corridor to a small curtained off alcove. From this point they could see the backs of risers assembled to elevate the band stand. The party was held in a vast open atrium of some sort of museum. Heph had cussed, muttering something about acoustics and gone off to talk to a bearded, long haired fellow behind a bank of sound and light equipment.
Jake, who was down on one knee, strapping a couple extra sets of drum sticks to one leg with a Velcro strip looked up and said, "It'll be fine." Jack wasn't sure if it was him or Bobby he was trying to reassure but appreciated the sentiment.
As he stood back, watching Bobby, Jack wondered if he should go over, put an arm around him and tell him that it wasn't too late to go home. Of course it was too late and remembering how important his own pride had been at that age he wasn't sure that coddling the boy wouldn't damage the fragile sense of manhood that had been building in his son. At that age Jack'd sometime held on to his own masculine pride with nothing but gritted teeth and blind cussedness and the Lord knew he never wanted the boy to feel his father of all people didn't think he was man enough to handle a challenge - Jack knew only too well how such things ate at a man's confidence.
Only a half an hour ago Bobby had been empting his stomach in their shared bathroom. Trying to dismiss it with an off-handed remark about how much better it had all tasted the first time, he'd waved off Jack's offer to get him some Pepto-Bismol. Now Bobby stood in the curtained off area behind the bandstand, pale as a corpse with beads of sweat on his forehead and upper lip. Even though said upper lip actually looked like it could use a shave - finally, Jack still thought Bobby was too young to put himself under this kind of pressure. But there he stood, feet braced apart in his new cowboy boots, wearing dark blue jeans, a black tee-shirt and the off-white Stetson that Ennis had given him, gripping his guitar like one of those kung-fu fighters he was so fond of held their swords. Bobby took a couple deep breaths and then let out the last one slow, rolling his shoulders and shaking loose from neck to hip to knee. Jack flashed back on doing the same thing before climbing into the shoot and wondered how his son had picked up that move; surely he hadn't done it himself since before the boy was born.
Merc stepped up behind Bobby's right shoulder, like a wing-man from an old war movie. He seemed in contrast, completely relaxed his guitar slung to the side and held loosely. Nothing about Merc looked 'country', his jeans were obscenely tight and faded almost white, Jack knew the boy had pants without holes in and wondered why there were rips over one knee and the other thigh. The jeans ended in what looked like Heph's old Doc Martins and were topped with a red tank. When Ennis had mentioned it was winter, Merc had just shrugged at that and said it was hot under the lights, Jake however had laughed and said Merc wasn't going to spend all those hours working on his shoulders and not show them off to the models.
Heph had been the biggest surprise when they had all come down to ride over to the venue. Jake looked much the same as he did whenever they saw him play at the Tumbling Dice, black jeans and a white tee shirt but he also sported an unusually smug smile, probably as a result of Heph letting him do something to his hair. Heph wore the same jeans, thermal undershirt and open flannel over shirt he's worn for their day out with Melissa, but instead of his usual loose braid, Jake had done something to tightly pull his hair back, giving him the appearance of short hair from the front and emphasizing the resemblance between the brothers. From the back you could see the hair was braided tightly, doubled up and wrapped with a strip of pale blue cloth, which looked to have been until recently the bottom boarder of the thermal undershirt he wore.
Heph stepped up to the other side so that the Owens' boys flanked Bobby and said, "Ready, boss."
Bobby clenched his jaw, nodded once and uttered the same words Jack used to say in the rodeo, "Let'er go."
Jake brought up the rear as they walked as one on to the stage and then he mounted the extra few steps to where the drums were while the others plugged in. When the stage manager had asked how they wanted to be introduced, Merc had declined for Bobby stating that they'd take care of it after the opening number. Jake counted out four beats in high, stick against stick, clicks and they launched into a hard driving, shit-kicking song about Saturday nights in a small town.
Looking out across the assembled stage, his eyes at about the level of the boys' feet, all Jack could see was a blinding wall of light. Surely that wasn't all they saw while out on stage, he thought.
"Don't seem so nervous now," Ennis said, or rather that's what it looked like he said since it was far too loud to actually hear.
Jack smile and nodded in the direction of way they'd come. The stage manager had showed them how to get out from behind the stage and given them pass cards so that they would be let back there again should they leave.
By the time they wandered out into the midst of the party the crowd had gotten over its initial shock. Pretty young girls were everywhere, quiet a few were throwing themselves around the dance floor in time to the driving beat with little heed to what kind of music it was or whether they had partners or not. Occasionally as Jack and Ennis made their way further back from the stage they overheard comments on how hot this or that member of the band was or about the music not being what had been expected but all-in-all a nice change. Waiters circulated with platters filled with champagne glasses and buffet tables over flowing with hors d'oeuvres were scattered around the edges of the room. Despite the season, glass doors opened on to stone terraces which were filled with small tables where people congregated and mingled. Square heater positioned against the surrounding banister banished the worst of the chill while still offering blessed fresh air.
The band played three songs back-to-back, each one driving faster and harder than the one before. And then, Bobby introduced himself and each member of the band. After thanking the audience for the opportunity to play for them they jumped right back in with one of Jack's favorites, a song about a series of events each setting off the next with an improbably and humorous conclusion.
---
Later, Jack and Ennis circled the room at a slow pace, taking in the sight of all the glitter and glamour. They were able to get a couple beers, some import they'd never heard of, at one of the small bars stationed in the back and wandered around doing more looking that eating. The boys were going strong on stage and hadn't slowed down. Ennis had commented that Jake was likely to pass out if they didn't slow it down a mite, but then they'd noticed several strategically placed guitar solos which let the overworked drummer grab a bottle of water from the cooler near his kit. The younger crowd seemed to love it and several of the Mylar balloons formerly part of the spangled room decorations were being batted around the dance floor.
Ennis was the one who turned to look when a man's voice called out, "Jack! Jack Twist!" He expected to see the Cypress boy but two strangers came weaving threw the crowd the taller and older one leading the way. Ennis elbowed Jack and jerked a nod in their direction when he got Jack's attention.
"Ron? Hey, how're you, doing?" Jack said, turning a winning smile and reaching to shake hands. "What a surprise."
"Small world and all that," Ron laughed. "You are the last person I'd expect to find here - how often have I tried to get you to come to New York?"
Jack gave an 'aw shucks' sort of shrug and then started and said, "I'm sorry, where are my manners. Ennis this is Ron Helton, he's spoken at more conventions that I can rightly remember. Ron is meat in New York City. Ron, Ennis Del Mar."
Ron's friend snorted at Jack's introduction and laughed while they shook hands. Ron shook his head and after the 'pleased to meet yous' said, "Kevin, these gentlemen run the Brokeback Ranch, and whether they know it or not are worshipped by any chef looking for their fifth star. Gentlemen, this is Kevin Kellen, he's one of those chefs."
---
Bobby lifted his hat and wiped sweat off his brow. Replacing it, he bent over and picked up the water bottle to take a swig. At the sound of several shrieks he prayed that Merc was doing something obscene with his guitar and they weren't doing that over his ass. Not that it wouldn't be flattering - it would, but he really could have lived his whole life without thinking about his ass. As he drank he looked over the crowd. They were having fun and that always made it better. The set was longer than their two combined when they played the Dice and it was exhausting, but this was the life. Playing the outdoor summer concerts was his favorite but this was a close second. It was a treat having stage hands who made sure iced coolers of water sat just off stage or behind the drum kit. They'd come in and found all the equipment set up, and even Heph hadn't complained about how it was done and he was a perfectionist.
He scanned the crowd looking for Melissa and Menthu, and hoped they were looking out for Daddy and Ennis. Bobby had thought it would be easy to spot her since Melissa had mentioned wearing a red dress tonight, but it looked like half the women here were in red. Neither Ennis nor his daddy was wearing their hats, which would have made them much easier to pick out. He'd been shocked out of his stressing over their performance when he'd seen them in their suits looking like strangers. It had only been a moment and passed once Daddy had smiled and Ennis had blushed and shrug and somehow blamed Mama for it all.
He owed them big time. He was racking his brain for something good to get for Christmas to show them how much he appreciated all they did for him. He may like playing the star on stage but he really wouldn't have wanted to make this trip with just the guys. He often wondered if Daddy and Ennis thought fondly of the times before he'd come to stay. Maybe it was the layout of the ranch but they really only had privacy in their bedroom and he had kind of taken over the place with his friends coming and going all the time. He'd never asked them about it because, well, he really didn't want to know if they did have regrets about him coming to live with them.
---
Melissa's dress was a deep vivid red, off the shoulder it flattered her ample womanly figure and proved that couture could do sizes larger than two. Menthu's smug self-satisfied look as he gazed at the girl on his arm excused his complete lack of attention to the rest of the room. They were almost on top of Jack and Ennis before he realized they were there and flashed them his practiced grin. Menthu's suit was much trendier than the older men's. It was a metallic dark gray with thin lapels and almost no collar. His tie was thin as well and matched the color of the suit over a crisp white shirt the only color was a red swatch of fabric in the breast pocket which matched the color of Melissa's dress and had thin pale gray stripes.
"Well," Jack said with a grin. "You look like the cover of a movie magazine." He followed up his complement with a kiss to Melissa's blushing cheek and shook Menthu's hand and introduced both of them to Ron and Kevin.
Kevin seemed to be quite a fan of Menthu's and Jack was getting the impression that Ron and Kevin were, well… Ron and Kevin. Before Ennis figured that out he made a strategic exit by asking Melissa to dance.
They'd danced a few times at the Tumbling Dice; it was where he'd taught her to two-step. As they circled the dance floor they drew admirers and imitators. When they passed the bandstand Jack nodded to the boys. "They sure are having fun," he said to Melissa. "Hope you know how much we appreciate you setting all this up."
"Oh, Mr. Twist, I've got more than a passing interest in this band," she said. "Besides, it's not like they're not good enough to get bookings like this on their own. As soon as we got here, Menthu was taking to a man from M-TV who wants to produce some more videos for them."
"Didn't really think they were M-TV material," Jack said. "And I should be an expert since it's been on non-stop since we got it - the boy is powerful fond of Joan Jett."
Melissa giggled and said, "The new network for country music is launching in February."
"Yeah, Lureen mentioned coming up for a premier party for it at the Tumbling Dice," Jack said.
"I thought she was more of a fan of your son, than Country music in general," Melissa said.
"She had dinner with Jeff when she was here last," Jack said. "Bobby doesn't know yet, I get the impression Jeff's kind of sweet on her."
"R.J. and Jeff are good friends," Melissa said.
"There are friends and then there're men who date your mama. Maybe you have to be male for that to make sense, but I'm leaving it up to Lureen to tell him," Jack said.
---
The band played for over two hours before the boys came out into the party. They had ended their show about twenty minutes ago and Melissa had seen to it that cold bottles of water and an abundance of food was waiting just off the stage so that when the band emerged into the party they didn't need to assault anyone out of hunger. It was a good thing too since the moment they appeared they were mobbed by young women, who all seemed to be trying to look disinterested as they not so subtly moved themselves closer. They all smiled, nodded and focused on the ones who took the initiative and came up to talk to them. Heph was the only one who looked truly uncomfortable and Ennis wondered if it were because he was trying to keep them all moving through the crowd or because he was afraid that he'd step on them.
Bobby and Merc were pulled out onto the dance floor, now that taped music was being piped in over the sound system, but Heph and Jake bowed out and started toward the back of the room. Heph's height gave him an advantage when he was looking for people in crowds, so did Menthu's loud piercing whistle and wave. A man from Houston who was connected to M-TV had joined them at Menthu's invitation and sat with them at their tables just outside one of the glass doors. Jack and he had been trading Texas stories, although it sounded like neither of them had been back there much recently.
Ron and Kevin had gone off to socialized but Jack had told them to come back and meet his boy before they left. Ennis was feeling pretty slow at the moment, having not picked up that they were together until Kevin dragged Ron out on to the dance floor. He tried to imagine ever doing that with Jack and figured that they'd most likely end up in a fistfight over who got to lead. Jack did like to dance though and had looked mighty fine spinning Melissa around the dance floor.
Heph and Jake sat down and once the introductions where made Menthu launched into one of his elaborate plans for the next video. Heph silenced him by saying, "Talk to the boss - and get me a beer."
When Mike, the guy from Houston, asked what he'd do if 'the boss' got him into something he didn't want to do.
"Will do? I was just minding my own business, in my back yard, and this fast taking kid from Texas asks for a minute of my time. Next thing I know I'm on stage, in a recording studio and making a video…. I'm just along for the ride, you try saying no to him."
Mike laughed and Jake said, "You said no yesterday about singing lead on that new song,"
"I can't sing about a girl's ass with a straight face," Heph said and after a beat then added, "and yes I meant that to come out like that."
Jake laughed while Jack asked, "he wrote a song about a girl's ass?"
"Not, just any ass," Jake and Heph said together.
"Apparently, this one's special," Heph added, "with… special powers."
Ennis said to Jack, "That's you're boy."
---
By about two the party was pretty much breaking up. The boys had been approached several times about going out to various after hour's clubs but had politely declined. Melissa had used her pull and coffee had been delivered by someone as they sat out on the terrace while the catering staff was clearing up in the main room. The woman who owned the catering service had joined them and she and her husband were chatting with Melissa at another of the small tables.
Mike had left and Ron and Kevin had re-joined them and been introduced around. Bobby sat at their table on the other side of Jack. Ennis sat next to Jack but sort of between the table with him and the one nearby where Merc and Jake were grilling Menthu about some place he was thinking of buying in Hell's Kitchen. He was startled when Melissa raised her voice and said, "Don't bring those near me."
Looking over he saw Heph coming out of the main room. He'd been, according to Bobby, off checking on their equipment being packed up. It was all going to go directly to the train station, ever Bobby's guitars. Now, Heph carried a stack of large foil trays with two inch sides, topped with what looked like a dessert platter. Ennis laughed as Heph kissed the top of Melissa's head as he passed and dropped one of the foil trays on each of the three tables and set the desert platter in front of Jake.
"I love you, man," Jake said.
"Anything for you," Heph said. He snagged one of the metal chairs. Placing it back-to-back with Jake's, he sat down or rather slumped, resting his head back against the back of Jake's shoulder and putting his feet up on an empty chair next to Melissa's and closed his eyes.
Ron and Kevin exchanged a look and Kevin who had been discussing cooking with Bobby lifted an eyebrow and cocked his head in their direction. Bobby, answered with a shrug and said, "I know. They're adorable, but to be fair they're not nearly as bad as Merc and Junior, who are, and I quote 'precious'."
"We are not," Merc said, intercepting the tray Melissa was trying to hand to Bobby. "Ooooh, look more of those puffy things, find out how to make these."
"Just Filo dough with lobster and a lot of butter with a touch of cayenne," the caterer interjected.
"Are you all gay?" Kevin blurted.
"Why does everyone think I'm gay?" Bobby asked Jack who laughed and shook his head.
Ennis answered for him, "Well you do kiss a lot of boys."
"Junior's my girlfriend, you shouldn't judge people by their names," Merc added. "But I realize I have a built in name-bias so maybe I'm a bit sensitive.
"A lot implies way more than two," Bobby said.
"I can't sleep if you keep laughing like that," Heph's attempt at a whisper to Jake set Melissa off. She had a very infectious laugh and it carried.
Jack mentioned the time and how early they had to leave in the morning, but Menthu interjected that the best way to do something early was to stay up all night and once again suggested going out clubbing. Kevin, however, suggested going to his restaurant and letting Bobby show off some of his cooking skills. Menthu and Melissa bowed out and left with the caterer and her husband. The boys however were excited about a cook-off so they all ended up taking a limo to the darkened restaurant. They filed past the plush front of the house and all sat out in the kitchen.
Kevin made steak and eggs and Bobby threw together the corn pancakes with cheese he'd picked up from the street vendor the day before. They decided to declare Kevin the winner but Ennis could tell Kevin had been impressed with the boy's skill, especially when he found out Bobby had never made them before.
Kevin asked Bobby if he was thinking about cooking professionally and Bobby looked startled, as if it had never occurred to him. "No. I'm a songwriter, a musician. I love to cook but… I cook for people I love, to take care of them and… you know? I don't think I'd just… want to cook for just anyone." Ennis watched Jack when the boy said that. He thought of all the meals that they'd had, even some of the really odd ones and how it always seemed to be so important that they like it. Jack blinked a couple times and looked down, cleared his throat a bit he looked over at Ennis and smiled.
Merc, looking very like Menthu with his video pland, started detailing a cooking completion where chefs were given all the same ingredients and amount of time and then judged on the results. He said it could be televised, like the NFL and chefs from one coast or another or from one style of cooking or another could compete and they could have elimination rounds all year and like a cooking Supper Bowl instead of Super Bowl. Heph pointed out several reasons why it wouldn't work and Jake said he wanted to get in line now to be one of the judges.
Ennis found himself watching Merc more and more. The boy, like Bobby, had shot up over the past year. He was slowly filling out, both boys lifted weights religiously and it showed in a broadening of their chests and thickening of their arms. When Junior visited last he'd been struck at how tiny she'd seemed when they'd caught them dancing in the stables. Merc was nearly six foot and Junior looked to have inherited more then just Alma's name. Francie was about as tall as her already and would most likely keep on growing. Junior's eyes were level with Merc's chest now and Ennis would bet that while Merc would never reach the height town legend attributed to his father that he would keep growing whereas Junior probably wouldn't.
One of the reasons he'd always felt so protective of Alma and the girls was how small they'd seemed. He'd felt so big and strong - and yes, occasionally awkward, next to Alma when they'd been courting. Before he met Jack he'd assumed that that was love. That the way she'd made him feel, as if he could stand between her and the world, he had thought that that was what it meant to be a man. Jack had shattered all those assumptions irrevocably. Jack had held on to him and left bruises and could let himself be held without seeming weak. Somehow, that made it okay and not a sign of weakness for Ennis to want to be held.
Their years together, shoulder-to-shoulder, it was a whole different feeling altogether than what it had been like with Alma. Not that he didn't feel protective at times but he made damn sure to hide it. Jack Twist's stubborn pride was like a brick wall at times and not something Ennis wanted to face if it was wounded. Jack would be the first one to point out that while it might not be by much Jack was probably the taller of the two of them. And though he'd never have the words to tell him, Ennis liked that. He liked the solid feeling of Jack's strong body, he liked that Jack was an equal partner and could take anything Ennis threw his way.
They sat around swapping stories until dawn. A crowd favorite was the story of how Bobby came to live with them. Jack still got indignant over the old fool who threatened his boy. Bobby seemed surprised that Jack was still upset but Ennis just nodded at him and said, "It’s a father thing, you know you get about your Mama? Same thing."
Somehow it came out Jack and his father didn't talk. Ron mentioned that his dad had died of cancer before they'd ever resolved their differences and that he envied Kevin, who despite a rocky start had worked things out with his father and kept in touch. Ennis shared a look with Jack, they'd spoken before about how he felt responsible for some of the hard feelings between Jack and his father and he wouldn't air that in this crowd but he could tell Jack was thinking about it when he said to Bobby, "Ain't right. I ain't worried about L.D 'cause that old fool brings on grief to himself, but I don't want you haven't regrets like Mr. Helton boy. Tell you what, you make an attempt to lay the bad blood between you an old L.D. to rest and I'll give it a go with patching things up with my old man. Don't have much hope, but the spirit of the season and all… what say?"
"I want to Daddy," Bobby said. "Mostly for you… I feel the same way, I don't want you feeling poorly when your daddy dies 'cause of things left undone… or unsaid. But… I don't know what I'd say, or if he'd even give me a chance to say anything."
There was a moment of silence while they all reflected on that and Ennis said, "you're good with words… why'n you write him. He can't interrupt you or shout at ya if'n it's all written."
"Yeah?" Bobby looked over, seemed to think about it and added, "yeah, I can do that - then if he don't bother to read it, well I done my best." He reached over and shook Jack's hand as if sealing a deal.
---
End - part thirty