Mr Right
Language: English
Summary: AU_AU. Ennis is a successful horse breeder and Jack is a bon vivant, hopping from job to job, dreaming of a rodeo career. They both meet each other by a sequence of (un-)fortunate events.
Parts of this story are told by Junior's POV and I try to write a lighthearted story since I seem to need some distraction from all the sadness from the last weeks and months...
Special Thanks: As always to my lovely friend tizi17 who translates this story with never ending enthusiasm - and I'm so grateful that she still likes to do it - and to poppyhoney_67 for her proof reading.
Dedication: This story is dedicated to tanzmaeusi for giving me this plot bunny.
Prologue: http://mel0804.livejournal.com/70851.html
* * * * *
April 2008 (part 1)
Dad as suitor... Yes? Or No?
Thank God!
My Dad is back going steady. Was about damn time. That being solo wasn't quite right for him and I'm afraid that cozy little family joy of Ma and Munroe just finished him off. I personally think he was at the edge of a depression - nobody's asking me anyway, so I do my share of thinking... and discuss everything profoundly with Kayleen and Karen. I have to let some steam off somewhere...
But for several days now...
Since the first time he met her I have the impression he's on the road to recovery. Yesterday he went to the stables whistling.
WHISTLING!
My Dad!!
I washed my ears carefully in the shower because I don't know how the hell long its been since I heard that...
That because of her? Kayleen says yes.
She's got to know. She's an expert in love things. She's continuously in love - and sometimes quite bad. When she's in such an extreme phase of romantic feelings one has to be very patient with her... it may happen then that she laughs and cries in one and the same sentence. That's quite heavy - but what can I do? She's my second best friend and we are there for each other - even if it's asking a lot sometimes.
I also have the suspicion that I am going to get on her nerves quite a lot in the near future - so it's good to know that during all those years I've prepared in advance...
With all that family to and fro, with an old man running around whistling in love and a Ma who thinks at the age of forty bringing a rugrat into the world is the perfect wonder remedy against early midlife crisis, one can just have kittens...
Be that as it may... to satisfy my basic curiosity I think my Dad could talk a little bit more about his actual conquest. I want to celebrate achievements, too - ultimately all that hooking up thing grew on me. A bit more thankfulness would suit him...
I just would like to know what she looks like, that Lureen...
But I fear there won't be any official get to know right now... my Dad is leaving for the weekend...
Yeaaahh... will wonders never cease...
Where he goes to and with whom... I have no damn clue. No one's talking with me. I have my own thought on that matter.
Shit!
That's how gossip grows, Dad...
* * * * * * * *
“Hi Ennis...,“ she says with a husky voice, opens the door for him and the heavy scent of Chanel No 5 mingles with the clear spring air of a Saturday morning.
A little kiss to the right, a little kiss to the left. Breathed - without a chance of being returned.
“Come in...“
And before you know it he is standing in a spacious entry hall, laid with white marble that shines nearly unnaturally and makes him hesitate to put his - cleaned - cowboy boots onto the white stone.
He looks around furtively. The walls are painted white, and across the entrance door a sprawling staircase winds up to the first floor where Ennis imagines the private rooms.
To the left there is the living room, to the right a modern kitchen. Everything shiny in a way that would make any cleansing stuff ad blush.
He looks down on himself secretly.
His long legs stuck in clean jeans, he wears the - cleaned - new boots he got himself as a Christmas present in a rare attack of a spending spree, his shirt is ironed... Thank you darling, I know I owe you one... and spotless as far as he can see, sure his Barbor jacket has seen better days but hey... those jackets HAVE to look worn otherwise they don't look cool - at least that's what his daughter says... and he relies more on her in questions of taste than on himself.
He's glad when he finds two same coloured socks in the semidarkness of a morning.
Nonetheless he feels a latent sense of unease in this nearly sterile surrounding and he wishes right now that she had picked him up for their weekend trip. After all those years as a married family father he feels grown out of a cavalier's role - and considering emotionlessly, he realizes in that not so discreetly luxurious entry hall that it's easier to meet the opponent on familiar ground...
Not that he would put Lureen on the enemy's side so shortly after meeting her, but she is a woman - and he is a burnt man. It would seem right to him to exercise a bit of caution here - if there wasn't his mother...
Her and her moral concepts of a perfect date that had not vanished into oblivion despite the drifting year's at a woman's side - his wife's side... pardon ex-wife...
And just at the outrageous thought to be picked up by Lureen he can feel his mother's post mortal gaze burn in his neck as he bows his head trying to see his face in the mirror of the white floor...
“Damn,“ he ponders and doesn't sense Lureen watching him quietly. “What do you call it nowadays when you go out with a woman and you're not married... uhm... not having any official status? We don't even have an affair... Oh God... I didn't even think about that when she asked me if I accompanied her to... She expects it maybe? Oh shit... I don't know if I'm ready yet for that... No idea if I still manage to... So long ago... Do I have condo...?“
“Hey Ennis, are you dreaming?“ Lureen interrupts his thoughts and snaps impatiently her manicured fingers in front of his eyes. “Want something to drink before we leave?“
“Uhm... yes, please...,“ he answers with sticky tongue and realises just now that his mouth is completely dry.
She nods content and turns towards the kitchen as a desperate cry sounds.
“Mommy...! I dan't find my dars...,“ Ennis hears and can feel the panic about lost toys nearly himself as a little boy with wafting black hair arrives running, sliding dangerously on the slippery floor, keeping up on his two feet at break neck speed, managing to stop right in front of his mother's leg - docking little hands like suction pads to his mother's white ironed trousers who begins to totter due to the sudden weight to her leg.
“Bobby!“
Two strong hands keep her from falling and suddenly Ennis looks across into obnoxiously light blue eyes watching him more curious than startled.
“Who's that, Mommy?“
“That is... uh... that's Ennis, honey...“
“Ennis? What a strange name. Why you called Ennis, Ennis?“
Ennis smiles. “No idea. Guess because my parents liked that name.“
“Why they like that name? And why you here? You want to sell somethin' to Mommy?“
Ennis, startled from all that question bombing, takes one step back and musters the little boy in front of him, laughing a little. “No idea. Because your Ma asked me to - and no...,“ he finally answers, after some thought, to all questions at once, wonders about the boy's happy grin and Lureen's irritated set up smile.
“I like that one, Mommy...,“ Bobby declares self-confident and turns to his mother who seems a bit strained right now.
“Fine, honey... Have you packed your things? Daddy will be here soon...“
“No, 'dause I dan't find my dars...,“ his face grimaces again in sorrow and Lureen sighs up in surrender. “Ennis, take something to drink from the fridge. I'll be back in a minute. If Bobby doesn't have his cars he declares strike in seconds. ... And also...,“ she adds sourly and looks at her former white trousers, “also I have to change again. Damn, Bobby what was that brown stuff on your hands?“
“Cho-late...,“ Ennis hears him reply satisfied as he walks to the kitchen, laughs a little and regrets not to be able to take the boy on their weekend trip.
The moment Ennis finally manages to get to the glasses through all of Lureen's design cupboards the door bell rings.
Startled, Ennis drops the glass and it bursts with a noble chink onto the white polished marble floor.
“Oh shit...“
Ennis bows with red face to pick up the shards - not without calculating roughly what that glass might have cost - as Lureen shouts from upstairs:
“Ennis, please open the door. That's Bobby's dad...“
“Uh... ok... ok...,“ Ennis calls back, stuck for a second on what to do first - pick up shards or open the door, stalks to the door after a short internal fight over the shards and to the door, the crunching of little glass under his boots an awkward sound to his ears.
And the first thing he sees as he opens the entrance door carefully is a pair of shock blue eyes looking curiously at him; second thing the man standing in front of him, white tank top and torn jeans, feet in blue Chucks tapping up and down impatiently, a hand running through tousled black hair.
“Oh... howdy! Lureen's new friend, Ennis del Mar I suppose? Jack Twist. I'm here to pick up my son.“
And the same hand that had been in the hair now swaying expectantly in front of Ennis, and reluctantly he grabs it, completely thrown off by this friendly greeting and the fact that the other one knows his name - he would have expected resentment and rejection, exactly what he had towards Monroe... On good days.
The hand gripping his was warm and strong.
“Uh... co-come in... Lureen is... is... Well, I don't know exactly where Lureen is but Bobby can't find his cars and...“
“Ah, the usual kickup,“ Jack declines unaffected. “I found a car in my riding boot recently. Shit, one of those cranes with pointed things on. The little shit... Still have bruises on my palm...,“ he says grimly but his eyes sparkle with suppressed fun.
Ennis smiles and takes one crunching step back to let Jack into the house, not able to ignore the other's questioning look.
“I... hmpf... I just dropped a glass...,“ he explains and feels the blush creep up his cheeks.
The other's dark eyebrows dart up amused, “Wow, that's what I call a perfect debut. From which series was the glass?“
“Se-series? No idea...“
“Oh man, you haven't been around here much have you?“
“It's... the first time today...“ and if it goes on that way might be the last...
“Let me see...,“ Jack offers helpfully and Ennis follows him to the kitchen, noticing with wonder that Jack's presence and his easy chatting brings liveliness to the house that soothes his own discomfort in those four walls.
“... she's got several... Swarovsky... some Tiffany crap and some baroque thing from Italy. I have no idea what she's up to with all that shit. I always told her to buy some strong glasses from the supermarket. With a child in the house you can't collect art objects, that's my honest opinion - but she insists... Says only a polished drinking vessel gives the last touch to a well decorated table... Rubbish...,“ he laughs out loud and continues bluntly.
“Lureen's old man sells combine machines. Stay away from him man - my amicable advice to you... Anyway if he sits at Lureen's clothed table, the damask napkin crouched under his chin, trying to take the elegant glass stem with his plump sausage fingers, I could laugh my ass off, inwardly... worlds apart and it literally hurts in your eyes... Proverbial brutalizing art that is... But maybe you will see that yourself... So, let's have a look which of Lureen's collectibles it was this time...“
Expertly he bows and Ennis follows as if remote-controlled - completely overwhelmed by the chatting and the many details about a woman whom he had met only once before and an ex whom in this short time he nearly believes to know better than her.
“Ahh... Ennis... not good... not good at all... Unknowingly you grabbed the most expensive one she has in the cupboard... Swarovsky...“
“Ohh...,“ Ennis says with weak voice and starts to collect the shards with trembling hands.
“Hey. Take it easy...,“ says Jack and encouraging he grabs Ennis' hand. “Try to see the good in it. If she really likes you she's not gonna brawl. Works better than any test in one of those fucking women's magazines, believe me...“
Jack grins at Ennis and Ennis just has to reply that grin shyly - somehow and unexpectedly wrapped up by this man's charm who he - and he has to admit it, wondering - likes straight off.
“Hey, Jack... hands off! Ennis is my date...,“ it sounds from the door and both men jump as if surprised in sin.
As expected, Jack is the first one to find his voice again. “Glad to see you too, Lureen. And be nice with me, I'm helping Ennis to take care of a little mishap here...,“ he adds smirking, ignoring thick-skinned Ennis' angry look.
Lureen raises her plucked eye brows. “Oh...,“ she says dully. “How nice. What series was it this time?“ - and Ennis starts to realize that in the Newsome-Twist house you moved on thin ice when talking about glasses.
“The enterprise with the swan...“
“Oh...,“ she said again, this time much more impassible, and Jack looks at her, astonished. “They're imitations...,“ she declares and a slight triumphant smile plays around her well lipstick mouth.
Jack laughs out loud. “Guess she changed her tactics...,“ he whispers to Ennis conspiratorially and both men laugh in unison.
“So you two seem to get along real well. Already declared brotherhood in my absence or what...?“ Lureen asks sourly, bends down to the men - keeping her beige trousers carefully away from the floor - and collects shards with pointed fingers.
“I think she still likes you...,“ Jack murmurs to Ennis, winking and laughing a little as he hears the other one mumble unintelligibly.
“Where's Bobby?“ Jack changes topic and looks at Lureen.
“Still upstairs...,“ she answers and rolls her eyes. “Looking for his crane... He doesn't want to leave without it.“
Jack grunts amused and takes a deep breath.
“BOBBY!!“ he yells without a warning and Ennis startles while Lureen just sighs slightly nerved. “Your crane hasn't survived its last effort... Stop searching and get down asap. Your mother and her friend want to leave...!“
For a split second panic rushes through Ennis and he nearly catches himself to plead Jack not to leave - his presence being so... so normal and not complicated. With him nearby he feels less displaced, and with slight horror he thinks of the trip that lies ahead of him, those many hours a weekend can unfold - and not for the first time he thinks that this hadn't been such a good idea after all...
Little feet tap down the stairs and Bobby appears in the door, dragging a little suitcase behind that rattles noisily.
“STOP !“ Ennis and Jack shout at the same time and Bobby and Lureen look up in surprise.
“The shards...,“ Ennis mumbles.
“The remaining of your imitations...,“Jack declares at the same time, and Lureen rolls her eyes - a frequent habit as Ennis states en passant as he watches from the corner of his eyes how Jack gets up to go to his son, taking him in his arms tenderly smiling.
And in seconds that carefree exuberant man changes to a caring father.
“Hey my sweetheart...,“ he says with tender voice. “How are you?“ he asks and smacks a kiss onto Bobby's forehead.
“Fine...,“ Bobby replies and throws his little arms around Jack's neck - without letting go of the little suitcase that bangs painfully against Jack's ribcage.
“Ahh... Bobby, what are you carrying around with you there? Stones in your suitcase?“
“Noooooo... dars...,“ Bobby declares with a content smile.
“So many cars? Need all of them?“
Bobby nods and wiggles in Jack's arms. Carefully Jack lets his son slide down who goes towards Ennis - well guided around the shards by him - opening up his suitcase.
“Lood, Ennis.. my dars...!“
Ennis bows over the suitcase in interest, and for a few minutes he lets Bobby advise him about the secrets of his little collection, listening smiling patiently and sometimes mumbling to what Bobby has to share with him in his still clumsy language.
Neither of the two notices the unnatural silence of both parents. Lureen who watches the blonde man near her son with hidden joy - and Jack who has the same scene in front of him, feeling a sudden urge of melancholy and being shut out.
He clears his throat. “Bobby, come on... Let's go now. Say bye to Ennis and Mommy...“
“Oday, Daddy...,“ Bobby answers obediently and helps Ennis collect the cars and close the suitcase.
“Bye, Ennis... bye Mommy...,“ a fleeting kiss on Lureen's cheek and Bobby hangs like a little monkey on his father's left arm who lifts him up laughing and carries him to the door, swaying half a meter above ground.
“Jack...,“ Lureen calls behind and gets up, followed closely by Ennis. “We're back on Sunday night. You call me if there's anything... And don't forget to brush his teeth carefully...“
“Lureen...,“ Jack turns around unnerved. “I know all that... Bobby's with me every weekend...“
“Yeah, yeah... Just saying...,“ she waves her hand impatiently. “By the way, how's Justin?“ she adds - and for the first time Ennis sees irritation flash up in Jack's eyes that make his face suddenly change to hard, making him older for his years.
“No idea... Ask Brian...“
“Who's Brian?“
“His ex-ex...“
“Oh...“
“See you Sunday!“ Jack calls with any further explanation and Ennis and Lureen hear Bobby ask in concern:
“You need a new boyfriend, Daddy?“
“No sweetie... Don't worry. I got you, that's enough for me...,“ and with Bobby's happy laughter in their ear they watch them drive away seconds later - a reddish dust cloud drawing behind them.
Lureen sighs out and looks at Ennis with an insecure smile. “The two of them gone makes the place seem dead quiet, right?"
Ennis laughs a little and nods - secretly agreeing to the sudden feeling of abandonment. “Who... who's Justin?“ he suddenly hears himself to his own astonishment, inwardly squirming about being interested in things that don't concern him - don't have to concern him.
But Lureen doesn't seem to mind his curiosity. “Justin is... was... Jack's boyfriend...“
“B-boyfriend?“
“Yep... Jack's gay... Didn't I tell you?“
tbc
Summary: AU_AU. Ennis is a successful horse breeder and Jack is a bon vivant, hopping from job to job, dreaming of a rodeo career. They both meet each other by a sequence of (un-)fortunate events.
Parts of this story are told by Junior's POV and I try to write a lighthearted story since I seem to need some distraction from all the sadness from the last weeks and months...
Special Thanks: As always to my lovely friend tizi17 who translates this story with never ending enthusiasm - and I'm so grateful that she still likes to do it - and to poppyhoney_67 for her proof reading.
Dedication: This story is dedicated to tanzmaeusi for giving me this plot bunny.
Prologue: http://mel0804.livejournal.com/70851.html
* * * * *
April 2008 (part 1)
Dad as suitor... Yes? Or No?
Thank God!
My Dad is back going steady. Was about damn time. That being solo wasn't quite right for him and I'm afraid that cozy little family joy of Ma and Munroe just finished him off. I personally think he was at the edge of a depression - nobody's asking me anyway, so I do my share of thinking... and discuss everything profoundly with Kayleen and Karen. I have to let some steam off somewhere...
But for several days now...
Since the first time he met her I have the impression he's on the road to recovery. Yesterday he went to the stables whistling.
WHISTLING!
My Dad!!
I washed my ears carefully in the shower because I don't know how the hell long its been since I heard that...
That because of her? Kayleen says yes.
She's got to know. She's an expert in love things. She's continuously in love - and sometimes quite bad. When she's in such an extreme phase of romantic feelings one has to be very patient with her... it may happen then that she laughs and cries in one and the same sentence. That's quite heavy - but what can I do? She's my second best friend and we are there for each other - even if it's asking a lot sometimes.
I also have the suspicion that I am going to get on her nerves quite a lot in the near future - so it's good to know that during all those years I've prepared in advance...
With all that family to and fro, with an old man running around whistling in love and a Ma who thinks at the age of forty bringing a rugrat into the world is the perfect wonder remedy against early midlife crisis, one can just have kittens...
Be that as it may... to satisfy my basic curiosity I think my Dad could talk a little bit more about his actual conquest. I want to celebrate achievements, too - ultimately all that hooking up thing grew on me. A bit more thankfulness would suit him...
I just would like to know what she looks like, that Lureen...
But I fear there won't be any official get to know right now... my Dad is leaving for the weekend...
Yeaaahh... will wonders never cease...
Where he goes to and with whom... I have no damn clue. No one's talking with me. I have my own thought on that matter.
Shit!
That's how gossip grows, Dad...
* * * * * * * *
“Hi Ennis...,“ she says with a husky voice, opens the door for him and the heavy scent of Chanel No 5 mingles with the clear spring air of a Saturday morning.
A little kiss to the right, a little kiss to the left. Breathed - without a chance of being returned.
“Come in...“
And before you know it he is standing in a spacious entry hall, laid with white marble that shines nearly unnaturally and makes him hesitate to put his - cleaned - cowboy boots onto the white stone.
He looks around furtively. The walls are painted white, and across the entrance door a sprawling staircase winds up to the first floor where Ennis imagines the private rooms.
To the left there is the living room, to the right a modern kitchen. Everything shiny in a way that would make any cleansing stuff ad blush.
He looks down on himself secretly.
His long legs stuck in clean jeans, he wears the - cleaned - new boots he got himself as a Christmas present in a rare attack of a spending spree, his shirt is ironed... Thank you darling, I know I owe you one... and spotless as far as he can see, sure his Barbor jacket has seen better days but hey... those jackets HAVE to look worn otherwise they don't look cool - at least that's what his daughter says... and he relies more on her in questions of taste than on himself.
He's glad when he finds two same coloured socks in the semidarkness of a morning.
Nonetheless he feels a latent sense of unease in this nearly sterile surrounding and he wishes right now that she had picked him up for their weekend trip. After all those years as a married family father he feels grown out of a cavalier's role - and considering emotionlessly, he realizes in that not so discreetly luxurious entry hall that it's easier to meet the opponent on familiar ground...
Not that he would put Lureen on the enemy's side so shortly after meeting her, but she is a woman - and he is a burnt man. It would seem right to him to exercise a bit of caution here - if there wasn't his mother...
Her and her moral concepts of a perfect date that had not vanished into oblivion despite the drifting year's at a woman's side - his wife's side... pardon ex-wife...
And just at the outrageous thought to be picked up by Lureen he can feel his mother's post mortal gaze burn in his neck as he bows his head trying to see his face in the mirror of the white floor...
“Damn,“ he ponders and doesn't sense Lureen watching him quietly. “What do you call it nowadays when you go out with a woman and you're not married... uhm... not having any official status? We don't even have an affair... Oh God... I didn't even think about that when she asked me if I accompanied her to... She expects it maybe? Oh shit... I don't know if I'm ready yet for that... No idea if I still manage to... So long ago... Do I have condo...?“
“Hey Ennis, are you dreaming?“ Lureen interrupts his thoughts and snaps impatiently her manicured fingers in front of his eyes. “Want something to drink before we leave?“
“Uhm... yes, please...,“ he answers with sticky tongue and realises just now that his mouth is completely dry.
She nods content and turns towards the kitchen as a desperate cry sounds.
“Mommy...! I dan't find my dars...,“ Ennis hears and can feel the panic about lost toys nearly himself as a little boy with wafting black hair arrives running, sliding dangerously on the slippery floor, keeping up on his two feet at break neck speed, managing to stop right in front of his mother's leg - docking little hands like suction pads to his mother's white ironed trousers who begins to totter due to the sudden weight to her leg.
“Bobby!“
Two strong hands keep her from falling and suddenly Ennis looks across into obnoxiously light blue eyes watching him more curious than startled.
“Who's that, Mommy?“
“That is... uh... that's Ennis, honey...“
“Ennis? What a strange name. Why you called Ennis, Ennis?“
Ennis smiles. “No idea. Guess because my parents liked that name.“
“Why they like that name? And why you here? You want to sell somethin' to Mommy?“
Ennis, startled from all that question bombing, takes one step back and musters the little boy in front of him, laughing a little. “No idea. Because your Ma asked me to - and no...,“ he finally answers, after some thought, to all questions at once, wonders about the boy's happy grin and Lureen's irritated set up smile.
“I like that one, Mommy...,“ Bobby declares self-confident and turns to his mother who seems a bit strained right now.
“Fine, honey... Have you packed your things? Daddy will be here soon...“
“No, 'dause I dan't find my dars...,“ his face grimaces again in sorrow and Lureen sighs up in surrender. “Ennis, take something to drink from the fridge. I'll be back in a minute. If Bobby doesn't have his cars he declares strike in seconds. ... And also...,“ she adds sourly and looks at her former white trousers, “also I have to change again. Damn, Bobby what was that brown stuff on your hands?“
“Cho-late...,“ Ennis hears him reply satisfied as he walks to the kitchen, laughs a little and regrets not to be able to take the boy on their weekend trip.
The moment Ennis finally manages to get to the glasses through all of Lureen's design cupboards the door bell rings.
Startled, Ennis drops the glass and it bursts with a noble chink onto the white polished marble floor.
“Oh shit...“
Ennis bows with red face to pick up the shards - not without calculating roughly what that glass might have cost - as Lureen shouts from upstairs:
“Ennis, please open the door. That's Bobby's dad...“
“Uh... ok... ok...,“ Ennis calls back, stuck for a second on what to do first - pick up shards or open the door, stalks to the door after a short internal fight over the shards and to the door, the crunching of little glass under his boots an awkward sound to his ears.
And the first thing he sees as he opens the entrance door carefully is a pair of shock blue eyes looking curiously at him; second thing the man standing in front of him, white tank top and torn jeans, feet in blue Chucks tapping up and down impatiently, a hand running through tousled black hair.
“Oh... howdy! Lureen's new friend, Ennis del Mar I suppose? Jack Twist. I'm here to pick up my son.“
And the same hand that had been in the hair now swaying expectantly in front of Ennis, and reluctantly he grabs it, completely thrown off by this friendly greeting and the fact that the other one knows his name - he would have expected resentment and rejection, exactly what he had towards Monroe... On good days.
The hand gripping his was warm and strong.
“Uh... co-come in... Lureen is... is... Well, I don't know exactly where Lureen is but Bobby can't find his cars and...“
“Ah, the usual kickup,“ Jack declines unaffected. “I found a car in my riding boot recently. Shit, one of those cranes with pointed things on. The little shit... Still have bruises on my palm...,“ he says grimly but his eyes sparkle with suppressed fun.
Ennis smiles and takes one crunching step back to let Jack into the house, not able to ignore the other's questioning look.
“I... hmpf... I just dropped a glass...,“ he explains and feels the blush creep up his cheeks.
The other's dark eyebrows dart up amused, “Wow, that's what I call a perfect debut. From which series was the glass?“
“Se-series? No idea...“
“Oh man, you haven't been around here much have you?“
“It's... the first time today...“ and if it goes on that way might be the last...
“Let me see...,“ Jack offers helpfully and Ennis follows him to the kitchen, noticing with wonder that Jack's presence and his easy chatting brings liveliness to the house that soothes his own discomfort in those four walls.
“... she's got several... Swarovsky... some Tiffany crap and some baroque thing from Italy. I have no idea what she's up to with all that shit. I always told her to buy some strong glasses from the supermarket. With a child in the house you can't collect art objects, that's my honest opinion - but she insists... Says only a polished drinking vessel gives the last touch to a well decorated table... Rubbish...,“ he laughs out loud and continues bluntly.
“Lureen's old man sells combine machines. Stay away from him man - my amicable advice to you... Anyway if he sits at Lureen's clothed table, the damask napkin crouched under his chin, trying to take the elegant glass stem with his plump sausage fingers, I could laugh my ass off, inwardly... worlds apart and it literally hurts in your eyes... Proverbial brutalizing art that is... But maybe you will see that yourself... So, let's have a look which of Lureen's collectibles it was this time...“
Expertly he bows and Ennis follows as if remote-controlled - completely overwhelmed by the chatting and the many details about a woman whom he had met only once before and an ex whom in this short time he nearly believes to know better than her.
“Ahh... Ennis... not good... not good at all... Unknowingly you grabbed the most expensive one she has in the cupboard... Swarovsky...“
“Ohh...,“ Ennis says with weak voice and starts to collect the shards with trembling hands.
“Hey. Take it easy...,“ says Jack and encouraging he grabs Ennis' hand. “Try to see the good in it. If she really likes you she's not gonna brawl. Works better than any test in one of those fucking women's magazines, believe me...“
Jack grins at Ennis and Ennis just has to reply that grin shyly - somehow and unexpectedly wrapped up by this man's charm who he - and he has to admit it, wondering - likes straight off.
“Hey, Jack... hands off! Ennis is my date...,“ it sounds from the door and both men jump as if surprised in sin.
As expected, Jack is the first one to find his voice again. “Glad to see you too, Lureen. And be nice with me, I'm helping Ennis to take care of a little mishap here...,“ he adds smirking, ignoring thick-skinned Ennis' angry look.
Lureen raises her plucked eye brows. “Oh...,“ she says dully. “How nice. What series was it this time?“ - and Ennis starts to realize that in the Newsome-Twist house you moved on thin ice when talking about glasses.
“The enterprise with the swan...“
“Oh...,“ she said again, this time much more impassible, and Jack looks at her, astonished. “They're imitations...,“ she declares and a slight triumphant smile plays around her well lipstick mouth.
Jack laughs out loud. “Guess she changed her tactics...,“ he whispers to Ennis conspiratorially and both men laugh in unison.
“So you two seem to get along real well. Already declared brotherhood in my absence or what...?“ Lureen asks sourly, bends down to the men - keeping her beige trousers carefully away from the floor - and collects shards with pointed fingers.
“I think she still likes you...,“ Jack murmurs to Ennis, winking and laughing a little as he hears the other one mumble unintelligibly.
“Where's Bobby?“ Jack changes topic and looks at Lureen.
“Still upstairs...,“ she answers and rolls her eyes. “Looking for his crane... He doesn't want to leave without it.“
Jack grunts amused and takes a deep breath.
“BOBBY!!“ he yells without a warning and Ennis startles while Lureen just sighs slightly nerved. “Your crane hasn't survived its last effort... Stop searching and get down asap. Your mother and her friend want to leave...!“
For a split second panic rushes through Ennis and he nearly catches himself to plead Jack not to leave - his presence being so... so normal and not complicated. With him nearby he feels less displaced, and with slight horror he thinks of the trip that lies ahead of him, those many hours a weekend can unfold - and not for the first time he thinks that this hadn't been such a good idea after all...
Little feet tap down the stairs and Bobby appears in the door, dragging a little suitcase behind that rattles noisily.
“STOP !“ Ennis and Jack shout at the same time and Bobby and Lureen look up in surprise.
“The shards...,“ Ennis mumbles.
“The remaining of your imitations...,“Jack declares at the same time, and Lureen rolls her eyes - a frequent habit as Ennis states en passant as he watches from the corner of his eyes how Jack gets up to go to his son, taking him in his arms tenderly smiling.
And in seconds that carefree exuberant man changes to a caring father.
“Hey my sweetheart...,“ he says with tender voice. “How are you?“ he asks and smacks a kiss onto Bobby's forehead.
“Fine...,“ Bobby replies and throws his little arms around Jack's neck - without letting go of the little suitcase that bangs painfully against Jack's ribcage.
“Ahh... Bobby, what are you carrying around with you there? Stones in your suitcase?“
“Noooooo... dars...,“ Bobby declares with a content smile.
“So many cars? Need all of them?“
Bobby nods and wiggles in Jack's arms. Carefully Jack lets his son slide down who goes towards Ennis - well guided around the shards by him - opening up his suitcase.
“Lood, Ennis.. my dars...!“
Ennis bows over the suitcase in interest, and for a few minutes he lets Bobby advise him about the secrets of his little collection, listening smiling patiently and sometimes mumbling to what Bobby has to share with him in his still clumsy language.
Neither of the two notices the unnatural silence of both parents. Lureen who watches the blonde man near her son with hidden joy - and Jack who has the same scene in front of him, feeling a sudden urge of melancholy and being shut out.
He clears his throat. “Bobby, come on... Let's go now. Say bye to Ennis and Mommy...“
“Oday, Daddy...,“ Bobby answers obediently and helps Ennis collect the cars and close the suitcase.
“Bye, Ennis... bye Mommy...,“ a fleeting kiss on Lureen's cheek and Bobby hangs like a little monkey on his father's left arm who lifts him up laughing and carries him to the door, swaying half a meter above ground.
“Jack...,“ Lureen calls behind and gets up, followed closely by Ennis. “We're back on Sunday night. You call me if there's anything... And don't forget to brush his teeth carefully...“
“Lureen...,“ Jack turns around unnerved. “I know all that... Bobby's with me every weekend...“
“Yeah, yeah... Just saying...,“ she waves her hand impatiently. “By the way, how's Justin?“ she adds - and for the first time Ennis sees irritation flash up in Jack's eyes that make his face suddenly change to hard, making him older for his years.
“No idea... Ask Brian...“
“Who's Brian?“
“His ex-ex...“
“Oh...“
“See you Sunday!“ Jack calls with any further explanation and Ennis and Lureen hear Bobby ask in concern:
“You need a new boyfriend, Daddy?“
“No sweetie... Don't worry. I got you, that's enough for me...,“ and with Bobby's happy laughter in their ear they watch them drive away seconds later - a reddish dust cloud drawing behind them.
Lureen sighs out and looks at Ennis with an insecure smile. “The two of them gone makes the place seem dead quiet, right?"
Ennis laughs a little and nods - secretly agreeing to the sudden feeling of abandonment. “Who... who's Justin?“ he suddenly hears himself to his own astonishment, inwardly squirming about being interested in things that don't concern him - don't have to concern him.
But Lureen doesn't seem to mind his curiosity. “Justin is... was... Jack's boyfriend...“
“B-boyfriend?“
“Yep... Jack's gay... Didn't I tell you?“
tbc