Chapter 27

Three more years of the status quo passed uneventfully. Leo’s Sunday magazine was starting to win press association awards regularly, and Jay was next in line for the weekday weather slot as soon as Kirk Rodgers, a New Orleans icon with decades of experience, retired in six more months. The AIDS crisis was starting to ameliorate a bit, and those with HIV were no longer automatically viewed as the pariahs they once were, although they were hardly celebrated. The televangelists and other clergy members were still stirring things up, which hardly improved the overall picture. However, nothing made up for the death toll the country—indeed the world—had experienced, even if progress was being made on the glacial side. Fortunately, George Kinsey was the only member of the Coalition who had come down with AIDS and passed away. Both Leo and Terrence liked to think that all the articles and advisories issued by the CDC that were the subject of many a Coalition gathering were at least partly responsible for that happy statistic. Members had evidently listened and played it safe.

Through it all, Leo had never abandoned his impromptu concerts on the spinet for his Coalition friends. Nor for just Jay and Gabe and Susie Landry, coming up from downstairs as was their custom. In fact, he was at the end of a sparkling performance singing and playing an R&H medley of “Younger Than Springtime” from South Pacific, “That’s For Me” from State Fair and “Do I Love You?” from Cinderella when Gabe and Susie motioned to him from their spots on the sofa next to Jay.

“We have a proposition for you,” Gabe said, licking his fingers as he finished up the last of Susie’s batch of Napoleons.

As Leo moved to join them, Jay switched to his favorite easy chair to make more room, and Gabe continued. “Here’s the deal. Susie and I have an invitation to move in with our daughter Gabriella, now that all our grandchildren are grown, married or moved away. She’s been a widow now for a while, and she thinks the house is just way too big for her to putter around in. We’re thinking of taking her up on her invitation. We’re not getting any younger, and we kinda like the idea of having someone around to keep an eye on us.”

Susie picked up the story, oozing with her usual, unrestrained excitement. “So, we wondered if you two boys would be interested in buying this camelback from us. Believe me, it’s easy as pie to make the note. All you do is rent the upstairs like we’ve been doing, and that pays it for you. Helps pay the taxes, too. Believe me, it’s the best investment we ever made shortly after we got married. It’s never let us down.”

Leo and Jay exchanged surprised glances. “Wow,” Leo said. “I know I didn’t see that coming.”

“I’m sure,” Susie said. “You don’t have to decide right away, of course. Now, we do have some friends that are interested as well, but we wanted to give you sweet, hard-working boys the first refusal. That only seemed right to us. You do such a good job with your articles and your weather forecasts.”

“Fair enough,” Leo managed. “Did you have a figure in mind?”

Gabe reached into his shirt pocket, unfolded a piece of paper and handed it over.

“This seems quite reasonable,” Leo said, after a quick glance. “I would have thought you would ask much more.”

“We went with our appraiser’s figure. He said it was what the market would bear,” Gabe added. “We’re not looking to gouge anyone, especially fine young men like you two.”

“Jay and I will give it serious consideration,” Leo told them. “Thank you for thinking of us first.”

Susie winked and then gave each of them a final hug before leaving. “Think nothing of it. We’ve gotten to where we think of the both of you as family.”

In bed that night, with a full moon spilling through the window to give an extra dimension of drama to their conversation, Leo said, “Do you want to pay our mortgage or someone else’s? Because that’s what it boils down to. Susie Landry made some good points.”

“You’re assuming we would qualify for a loan,” Jay said, propped up against his pillows and playing the devil’s advocate.

“Why wouldn’t we? We both have excellent credit, and we have a respectable amount in our savings accounts as collateral.”

“True enough.”

“Isn’t owning a home part of the American Dream?”

Jay practically snorted. “Are gay people supposed to be included? Last time I looked, we weren’t really a part of the equation.”

“Yeah, I know. Sometimes it feels like we’re not. But we don’t have to accept that naysayer’s vision of us. We do have the wherewithal to pull this off, if we both agree.”

Jay went silent for a while. His tone was light-hearted when he finally spoke up. “You know there’s a big full moon out. Perhaps we’re under its influence even thinking about doing this.”

“You mean you think we’re crazy?”

“Maybe.”

Leo’s tone grew more serious. “There’s only one thing I’d have to insist upon if we did this.”

“What’s that?”

“We’d stay upstairs and rent the downstairs.” Leo could clearly see the frown on Jay’s face in the moonlight.

“Why’s that? The downstairs is bigger. We’d have more room.”

“But we could charge more rent to our tenants for that very reason.”

“Good point.”

“But that’s not the real reason I’d want to stay upstairs. I wouldn’t want to disturb my baby.”

Jay’s forehead filled with even more creases. “What baby? Do you know something I don’t know?”

“You should know by now what I mean. My spinet, of course. It practically took the National Guard to get it up here when I first moved in.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

“Not by much. I was so worried about scratches or any kind of damage that I was a nervous wreck. I don’t want to go through that again. I’m even thinking getting my baby downstairs will even be harder than it was getting it up. I have this vision of it being lowered on wires and something breaking and it being smashed into a zillion pieces. That would break my heart, and I don’t think I could go on living without my black and white keys and my sharps and flats. That was the first piece of real furniture I ever owned.”

Jay was laughing now. “I’m assuming you won’t bring any of this up when we go to the bank. It’s probably not the sort of thing a conservative banker wants to hear.”

Leo chucked him lightly on the arm. “I beg to disagree. It will show him how seriously I take my ownership of very nice, material things. People like that generally pay their mortgages on time. So, are we agreed? Do we want to look into buying this house or not?”

Jay leaned over and kissed Leo gently on the lips. “Okay, let’s go for it. Let’s start paying our own mortgage and take part in the American Dream.”

It did not hurt Leo and Jay one bit that Porter Kincaid, their by-the-rules banker, had long been an admirer of their writing and forecasting. Nor were their combined assets anything to ignore. They were therefore easily approved for the home loan, and the Landrys were delighted to accept their offer. True to his word, Leo insisted that he and Jay rent out the downstairs while keeping his “baby” safe and secure in its upstairs loft.

When the first Coalition meeting took place after the Landry’s had moved out, Leo made the announcement to the group at Terrence’s place.

“We wanted all of you to be the first to know that Jay and I are renting out the spacious downstairs of our camelback in the Carrollton neighborhood, and if any of you are looking for new digs or know of anyone who is, we are willing to negotiate on the rent. So, spread the word.”

Phil Junkin raised his hand immediately. “I’m actually looking. I’m tired of Metairie and would like to move in closer to work downtown.”

“Our place would fill the bill then. Plus, you can take the streetcar whenever you want. Jay and I both do when the spirit moves us.”

“When can I get the grand tour?”

“How about right after this meeting breaks up?” Leo said.

Phil agreed, and soon Leo and Jay were showing him around the downstairs with its two bedrooms, two baths, living room, dining room, spacious kitchen and screened porch with a ceiling fan to ward off the New Orleans humidity.

“Well, what do you think?” Leo said when the tour was completed. “Is the rent to your liking? What about the damage deposit?”

Phil nodded enthusiastically. “It all seems reasonable to me. I’ve been saving up for a move, and this is not that much more than I’m paying now, but it has a lot more space for all my stuff. Sometimes, I feel like I’m living in a closet.” He caught himself with a faint gasp and smirked. “I see I’ve made a pun. Of course that phase of my life is over in a very real sense.”

“Then let’s head on up, and you can sign the lease,” Leo added, patting Phil on the back.

Upstairs, the three men topped things off with a toast—Jay and Phil with their glasses of Merlot and Leo with his usual club soda with lime—and then Phil said, “There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you fellas, if you don’t mind. It doesn’t have anything to do with my moving in, though.”

When they had all settled in around the living room, Phil continued. “I need your advice on my… well, it’s about my personal life. Things are fine at work. I don’t know how everyone feels personally about my coming out a good while back, but no one’s said anything to my face. Anyone can talk behind my back, I suppose, but life goes on, and I’m doing well in my career.”

“That’s good to hear,” Leo said.

“But I need some advice about my private life. I think you guys are just the two to ask because…well, you happen to know the object of my affection. Only, he doesn’t know.”

Jay spoke up with a sly grin on his face. “Ah, the old secret crush. Who among us in Gay World has not had one?”

“You read me just perfectly.”

“So who is it?” Jay added.

“It’s… Terrence Dennery. He’s completely oblivious to me at the meetings, and he’s always talking to so many people before and after. I just can’t seem to get a word in edgewise. Well, I suppose I could if I tried harder, but that’s why I’m asking your advice.”

Leo’s face lit up. “So you fancy our Terrence, do you? I couldn’t be happier to hear this.”

“Yes, I do fancy him, and I’ve never felt this way about anyone. Do either of you know if he’s seeing anyone?”

Leo gently shook his head. “That would be a big negative. I think I know Terrence pretty well, and he’s under the impression that he’s not particularly loveable because of his weight and his age. There’s a slice of the gay world that puts a premium on that, of course. I think they need to grow up, but that’s not for me to control. I know he comes off as forceful and determined because of the way he handles our meetings, but the truth is, he’s rather shy and introverted when it comes to the dating scene. He’s been hurt a time or two. Hey, we all have.”

“Well, that’s some information I didn’t have before,” Phil said. Then he took a deep breath and started rambling. “I can’t exactly explain why I’m attracted to him. Maybe it’s the red hair and the red beard. Sometimes I find myself thinking of him as a warm, fuzzy pirate. I keep wanting to go up to him and call him Redbeard and say something like, ‘Arrggh, matey!’ Is that ridiculous or what? Talk about your lame approaches. I clearly need some help.”

Both Leo and Jay were laughing now with definite abandon, and Leo said, “Who can ever explain these attractions? With Jay and myself, it was a discussion of oldies-but-goodies that got us started, and we took it from there. So, let me understand this. You haven’t said anything to Terrence ever about your interest in him?”

“Nope. I feel like such a buttoned-down, stockbroker wallflower. You’d think I could finally find a moment alone with him just to tell him I’d like to go out with him. But it looks like I’m as shy as he is.”

Leo looked thoughtful for a brief span and said, “Well, I think maybe we can do something about that. Why don’t Jay and I have you both over for dinner one night? We’ll play matchmaker and tell Terrence you’d like to get to know him better. The rest will be up to the two of you. I think he’d be delighted to hear that. Of course, there will be no guarantees the two of you will click. We don’t do this for a living, you know.”

Phil looked like he was ready to take off and fly out the window up into the skies. “Would you really be willing to do that?”

“Sure we would,” Leo added. “That is, if you’re willing to put up with my one culinary specialty—”

“It’s baked spaghetti, Greek salad and garlic bread,” Jay interrupted out of the corner of his mouth.

“Sounds wonderful. But maybe you could leave off the garlic in case everything goes well?”

Leo pointed his index finger playfully in Phil’s general direction. “Done. Fingers crossed for you, then.”

*

The game was on. Leo could see it clearly in their eyes. Sitting next to each other and sampling their food here and there, Terrence and Phil were definitely making a connection. Occasionally, Leo would shoot Jay a furtive but approving glance at the growing rapport.

“It was highway robbery,” Terrence was saying in between bites of Leo’s spaghetti.

“They say she lost by seven votes,” Phil responded emphatically.

Terrence put down his fork and exhaled noisily as the debate continued. “I’ve seen both films I don’t know how many times. There is just no justification for giving Grace Kelly the Oscar that year over Judy. A Star Is Born will forever be her masterpiece, whereas I don’t think The Country Girl was close to Grace’s best work. I think she did a much better job in Rear Window. Of course, Jimmy Stewart makes everybody look good.”

“Rear Window came out the same year, and so did Dial M For Murder,” Phil added. “I really think the Academy gave Grace Kelly the award for her body of work that particular year. Two Hitchcock films put her over the top, even though she wasn’t nominated for either one. Isn’t that the way of the world?”

“You may be right, but all you have to do is watch Judy singing The Man That Got Away early in the film to realize that it was still highway robbery that she didn’t win. What a classic it’s become since then, whereas no one really remembers Grace Kelly dressing down and looking frumpy in a housecoat in The Country Girl.”

Phil busied himself twirling spaghetti strands with his fork and said, “I wish somehow we could go back in time and correct that injustice. I think it would have made a huge difference in Judy’s career. She mostly backed away from movies after that, but she did turn out some blockbuster concerts, including the one at Carnegie Hall.”

Leo stepped in after a sip of his club soda. “Well, it looks like you two gentlemen are up on the subject of Hollywood injustices, particular when it comes to the Oscars.”

“Oh, I guess we have been leaving you two out,” Phil said. “So sorry.”

“No, no, that wasn’t what I meant at all. Jay and I have been enjoying the exchange. The old adage is that you can’t be gay and not like Judy. So far, I haven’t found anyone who doesn’t fit that description. Plus, the woman had extraordinary talent that doesn’t come along that often.”

“That adage is harmless enough,” Terrence added. “But I think we all have to admit that as a group, we are the victims of stereotypes galore. I mean, we’re all supposed to be hairdressers and decorators and closeted actors and barflies and also incapable of long-term relationships.”

“Jay and I are proving them all wrong,” Leo said. “And so are you two. All of us are on the cutting edge, coming out the way we have and asking to be treated with respect.”

Over a dessert of bakery-bought tiramisu, the conversation had somehow drifted onto the subject of the disco years, now well in the rearview mirror, and Phil was holding forth. “I am one of those white men without a sense of rhythm. I can wear business clothes well because I’m tall, but that’s it. If I had been married to anyone back then—man or woman—seeing me on the dance floor would have been grounds for divorce. I had the incredible ability to send limbs going off in different directions at the same time. Like there was an invisible puppeteer above me on drugs.”

Leo laughed and spoke up next. “I liked working out back then to the hot groups and solo artists—Earth, Wind and Fire, Donna Summer, Kool & The Gang, The Village People—”

“Ah, The Village People,” Terrence interrupted, the picture of amusement. “Half the country didn’t even get what was going on in songs like ‘YMCA’ and ‘In The Navy.’ I was no dancer, but I got a chuckle every time I heard those tunes on the radio. I think there was a conservative backlash of sorts when the gay sensibility finally got outed, so to speak.”

“No matter what, it’s still a big deal, though,” Phil said.

Leo cocked his head. “What’s a big deal?”

“Having to come out. Making the decision yea or nay. Whether to risk your job or your friendships or your church membership or a host of other things. It’s something straight people never have to face. They have the luxury of testing out the dating waters and making mistakes and being supported when they do. Gay people are not even supposed to be out there trying.”

“I’ll go one step further. We’re not even supposed to exist,” Jay added, after finishing off the last of his wine. “A lot of people think of us as glitches in the scheme of things. That we’re not a part of the universe which, by the way, we understand so very little about anyway.”

“Well, we four are here to put our feet down and declare that we belong, no matter what obstacles we face,” Leo said. “And correct me if I’m wrong, but I think the gay world just welcomed a new couple into the fold tonight.”

Terrence pointed to himself and then to Phil with his best smile. “You talking about us?”

“Who else?”

Phil leaned over and gave Terrence a kiss on the cheek, which was immediately returned.

“And there,” Leo added, puffing himself up, “is the irrefutable proof.”