To say that I felt like everyone’s eyes were on me and Austen the moment we climbed out of the limo was an understatement.
I felt handsome in my simple black tuxedo and tie, but Austen was downright dazzling. Her hair was pinned up, her makeup was flawless, her lips were a sparkling red, and that black dress was something that could’ve been worn by Halle Berry or Kerry Washington on the red carpet Oscar night.
The event was held at the Field Museum on the lakefront.
Beneath the high ceilings, ice sculptures, balloons, and champagne fountains, we stood among the busts of Roman emperors and ancient columns.
A full band of musicians dressed in matching tuxedos, complete with horns and stringed instruments, played beautiful, uptempo, big-band jazz.
Austen and I spent most of our time walking arm in arm among the hundreds of other well-dressed, well-paid professionals.
I had bumped into more old friends, associates, and former coworkers than I had expected. Upon seeing Austen on my arm, they all smiled brightly, hugged me, or shook my hand and asked who the gorgeous woman was.
After about half an hour of that, I leaned in to Austen and asked rather loudly, in order to be heard over the band music, “You doing okay?”
She smiled and said, “I’m having a fantastic time.”
As I continued to walk about the museum, smiling, laughing, talking, and drinking with Austen and my friends, I experienced something I never had before. I wasn’t sure what it was, but it felt like a strong sense of pride for simply being seen with this beautiful woman. As if simply having Austen by my side made me a better, more confident man.
When I introduced her to other men as my fiancée, they seemed to look at me in a different light. Before some of the men walked away, they would nudge me with an elbow, and whisper from the sides of their mouths, “Fine-looking woman,” or “Dude, she’s a ten,” or “You’re a lucky man, Winslow.”
I wondered if this feeling of manliness had been something my father experienced when out at some function with my mother. And as I stood gazing at Austen, I wondered if this feeling, this moment, was what my father so desperately had wanted me to experience.
He had to have known that forcing me to marry a woman would never change me from gay to straight, but I was beginning to wonder if that had even been his intention. Could he just have wanted me to see what I had been missing all my life?
“What?” Austen said, noticing the trance I had fallen into. She was truly beautiful. Gay man or not, I was not so blind I couldn’t see that.
“You are beautiful,” I told her.
She looked surprised, blushed a little, then leaned in and gave me a peck on the cheek. “And you are one of the most handsome men I have ever met.”
I instantly inflated with pride, grabbed her hand, and was about to lead Austen toward a couple of friends, when someone grabbed me by the arm. I turned and was shocked to be looking directly into Tyler’s smiling face.
“You’ve been gallivanting around here all evening and can’t even stop to say hello to your old friend,” Tyler said. Kennedi was standing at his side, looking beautiful as always.
“And who is the mesmerizing woman standing beside you, Cobi, you old dog?” Tyler said.
“Tyler, Kennedi,” I said proudly, “please allow me to present Austen Melrose Greer, my fiancée.”
Kennedi cupped a hand over her mouth, then said, “Oh, no. Where have you been keeping this beautiful woman locked up?”
“He has a special cave under the basement, where I do all the dishes and laundry,” Austen said, stepping around me and Tyler to give Kennedi a hug. Tyler gave me an approving nod. Kennedi whispered something to Austen, then rested a hand on Tyler’s shoulder. “I’ll be back. I’m going to the ladies’ room.”
“I’ll go with you,” Austen said. “Give these guys some time to talk.”
Austen grabbed my hand, squeezed it before leaving, as if we were a real couple. When the two ladies left, I felt strangely alone, even though I was standing right beside Tyler, the place I had wanted to be for so long.
Tyler looked left and right at all the people in the museum, then took one step closer to me. “She’s wonderful, Cobi. Sissy did a great job.”
“Well, you know Sissy,” I said, not looking at Tyler. I ran a finger around the rim of my wineglass instead.
“You’re doing the right thing, you know. I’ve been watching you. I’ve seen the reception you’ve been getting from everyone, and I know you have to have noticed yourself. Do you see the difference that a woman can make?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied, knowing full well now what Tyler meant.
He laughed, still knowing me better than I’d like him to. “Play with me if you want,” he said. “But once you get married, you’ll see what I mean. More professional opportunities will start to present themselves, friendships, more powerful alliances will be made, all because of that woman.” Tyler moved closer to me, looked directly into my eyes. “And maybe some old relationships can be rekindled.”