It was the first of December, and not much had changed—except for the date, of course. Dana had a full week of Adrian’s father and enjoyed his company much, but after he left just couldn’t bear to be in the apartment alone, so he moved into Adrian’s vacant room. He and the rest were studying hard. Exams were upon them, and they took tests very seriously. Dana went to the hospital to show Adrian the prints and models of what he was doing for his project. They were in the same class, actually doing this joint project—a model of a mall—but Adrian went into the coma right when they started to build. Dana was merely showing it off before he took it in. He then went on to campus gossip and friend-talk.
“So how’s the broccoli today?” Raul asked as he walked into the room.
“Green.”
“Funny, Dana. Funny.”
“You asked. So you’re watching him tonight then?”
“Yeah. Someone’s gotta be here when he wakes up. One of us has to be the first to see him open his eyes. We’ll appreciate the experience more. What you going to do?”
“Dunno. Go down to Liza’s, chill at the bar.”
“You’re drinking a lot lately,”
“Let’s not talk about that.”
***
It was six a.m. and Jason was just getting in from work. Davon was taking a shower just getting ready for work. He came down to the kitchen just in time for breakfast, as usual. He sat down with a glass of o.j., then dug into his meal.
“You don’t have to make me breakfast when you work. You can rest.”
“I don’t mind. Besides, I sleep as soon as you leave. It’s only a few minutes, and I like mornings with you. Besides, you make me breakfast when you have time. It’s only fair.”
“If you insist. I’m not gonna argue. It’s not every day I get a Mediterranean-style breakfast. When did you come to the country anyway?”
“About a month or two after Dana did. We just happened to go to the same middle school and hit it off well. Both of us only knowing enough English to get by, we shared common ground. I didn’t even know he was a rich boy, let alone a mob prince, for over a year. He spent a lot of time at our little two-bedroom house with my older brothers. Then slowly we started spending time at his cousin’s houses, and that’s when I started to get suspicious. Money was one thing, but these guys seemed a little more than your typical rich guys.”
“I bet they did.”
“So I just asked. Apparently, I was the only one who didn’t know. His mom had hired my mom as a professor at the college. My mom said she had to talk to his mom when he first started spending time over my house. You know how parents are. Well, she was surprised to know that, that was his mom. She’s from here too—up north, but she moved to be with my dad before she had me. They didn’t even get married till we were back in America. So our moms became close friends, I kinda became his brother and that’s how I got all in this organised crime mess.”
“What did your mom have to say about that?”
“Nothing, really. Just took it in stride. Once you’re in, you’re in. As long as whatever I got into didn’t get out of control by affecting me or my family, she was cool. The only thing that did get her was when I decided to go become a bartender and not do architectural design like Dana,” he said with a smile, and Davon laughed.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes, she went on and on about how I had the brains to be a doctor a lawyer, anything. How could I just serve drinks for a living? Just complete and total hysterics.”
“Wow. So what did you tell her? 'Cause here you are, managing the bar at the club.”
“Well, I just said I’m part of organised crime. She could have her pick of crimes from murder to robbery to assault to handling illegal substances to be mad about, but being a bartender? Didn’t she think that was a little bit ridiculous?”
“You didn’t.” Davon was putting his empty plate in the dishwasher and downing the last of his juice.
“I did. She said she can’t blame me for an ill-spent youth. Teenagers are all allowed to experience everything life has to offer in order to make solid adult decisions.” Davon couldn’t get enough of this story. He was laughning almost to hard to hear it. “She even told me about some of the drugs she experimented with in her youth. And said it like she was telling me she used to sniff tape, to which I said, ‘But you’re still a pot head.’ She brushed that off. So I threatened to become a career criminal.”
“Okay, now she had to be mad at that.”
“Nope. She said that I had many years’ experience at that, so she knew I’d be successful and had no problem with that choice.”
“Your mom sounds like a character.”
“Yes. So I told her to come out to the bar where I was being trained and let me make her favourite drink. If it was about proof, then I’ll give her some.”
“You worked at a bar.”
“I was a porter when I wasn’t riding around with Dana. Actually, he had done the same when he wasn’t with his family. So she comes in and she brings my dad and my two older twin brothers, none of whom have ever had a drink from me. So I make them all a drink. And then a second. That was approval enough. The proof was in the glass. One to stand by her theories, she said it was okay for me to pursue my dreams.”
“What a mom.”
“So when do I get to meet your brothers?”
“You’ve met three,”
“Come on, it’s not every day you meet a quin. And what’s wrong with brother number five?”
“Well, he never really took to my lifestyle. And what was it? Three years ago when the love of my life just up and left. Disappeared. I was so broken up I had to talk about it, otherwise I’d fall apart. So I decided to come out and so started my slow decline into alcoholism. I lost all my friends, except for my best friend and some coworkers. And he treated me the worst out of all my longtime friends. The other brothers fucked him up a bit—broke one of his legs during the fight. So there’s been a rift in our quin set for a while. It’s not easy being one of five identical siblings. I never quite got over it. And after a string of boyfriends who said I was just unlovable, I started to believe it. And that’s when I found you, working an extra shift at another bar for cash.”
“I was filling in for a friend.”
“Yeah.”
“And now you’re all mine. Loved and cleaned up.”
“Well, I gotta run. And you should watch Dana. He’s starting to get like I was.”
“I know. But the love of his life may die. It’s going to be a lot harder to stop him from drinking.”
“True,” Davon said, and then gave him a goodbye kiss.
***
“Good day, Mr. Jones,” The receptionist on his floor was always nice to him, but today Davon thought that she was a little too chirpy. And as he walked through the cubicles to his office, the greetings got even peppier than usual—something he would’ve normally thought impossible. Most of them didn’t know he was gay. Merely because of a recent business merger, he had only just moved into this building, along with a few others. The staff here seemed abundantly more lively and perky than the people at his old office. Still, they weren’t usually singing like morning birds as they were today. He knew why when he walked into his office to find a large bouquet and a big, soft, stuffed dog, with floppy ears. Davon read the attached card:
“I can do more than just make drinks. Happy Birthday!”
His best friend walked in just in time to hear him as Davon sat at his desk. Jamie was situated two doors down from his.
“Damn, he got you a dog.”
“Correction. He made me a dog.” Before he could reply, Janet, the file/mail girl, came into the room. Other than file and deliver internal mail, the girl didn’t do anything except pick up on job gossip—on every floor, for that matter—which could be informative and annoying all at the same time.
“So who is this amazing woman? The whole floor is buzzing.”
“Floor? This is a big building. How do the other sections of this floor know what’s going on?”
“Hey, when one of the new guys gets a handcrafted dog, news travels.” Davon knew that to mean she blabbed during her early morning mail rounds. For all he knew, the entire building knew, or at least the floors she worked. She also wanted Jamie in the worst way. He, however, was dating his on-and-off fiancé. Truthfully, they had no intention of getting married. She just liked wearing the ring so she could throw it at him and make a scene when either of them initiated another temporary breakup. She was short, chocolate, with hair in tight black curls, and petite beyond reason. She had a smile for days. They called her “Mouse.” Jamie was a chocolate kinda guy, and Miss File Girl was too caramel for him. Still, she loved his white ass.
“Who the person is, is for me to know.”
“Sure. I’ll figure it out, birthday boy. There’s a lot of jealous women up in this place. Margo baked a cake, Sarah’s breasts are starving for oxygen, and Milton is still convinced he can turn you gay. Me, however, I’m cool. This honey-brown delight has got eyes for only one man.”
“I’m dating someone.”
“Please. There’s a lot of cheese out there. Let her go mouse around somewhere else.” Jamie ran away with her hot on his heels. It was a pretty stressful morning. Lots of meetings with people who acquire money purely by the luck of the draw and have no idea how to make their millions work for them. The type of people who only use the word “invest” when they make a purchase and not in anything that had the potential to bring them more financial stability.
“Milton.” Milton was about five ten, brunette, and had green eyes and one of those faces that took good pictures. Not drop-dead gorgeous—he just happened to take amazing photos. But who cares? This is about Davon anyway.
“Just thought I’d pop in and say Happy Birthday.”
“Thanks for the stuffed cow.”
“A hunk of beef for a hunk of beef. It seemed appropriate.”
“You don’t quit, do you?”
“Nope, and I talked to your assistant and she informs me the rest of your day is free, so I’m not taking no as an answer.”
“What’s the question?”
“Don’t be a smart-ass. We are going to lunch.”
“Look, I am seeing someone.”
“Obviously, but that doesn’t mean I can’t check you out. And what the hell does that have to do with lunch? And who is he by the way?”
“Why you ask?”
“I like to size up the competition.”
“His name is Jason. So are we going to do lunch or not? I don’t have anything to do either,” Jamie said as he entered the office. The three of them set off to the nearest restaurant.
“So how is Jamie Jr. doing?” Milton asked as they placed their order.
“Fine. He’s just glad mom and dad are having sex again. He claims we get cranky when we aren’t doing it.”
“He said that,” Milton replied with a laugh.
“Yeah.”
“That boy’s gonna be a real heartbreaker.”
“Tell me about it. After the last phone bill, I had to put on the breaks. I told him if he had to be a playa, then he could fund his own operation. So he got a job. Just like that. If I knew that was all it took, I’d have flushed the damn phone ages ago.”
“So how’s he doin' now that he’s got a job?” Davon asked.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you. The boy who keeps no sexual secrets from me somehow managed to start dating. Me and Mouse were shocked. But we overheard him say ‘I love you’ and that was it. End of convo, so we’ve been waiting for hard evidence.”
“Well? Did you find any? Is it a boy or a girl?”
“Shit, Milton, put on the brakes. It’s a boy. And I blame Davon.”
“Me?” he feigned innocence.
“Yes. You encouraged him to be open to all possibilities.”
“Isn’t this supposed to be about your newly dating son? The one who vowed never to date ever?”
“Yeah. Well, it’s Jackson.”
“Jackson. You mean Davon’s nephew Jackson or another one?”
“No, that’s the one. His brother’s number has increased a lot on the cell bill over the past eight months or so. I accidentally open it from time to time out of habit.”
“Well, you can’t say the boy doesn’t have taste. But you know that’s the other brother. Difficult.”
“Difficult how?” inquired Milton.
“He’s got issues with alternative lifestyles.”
“So how did you find out?” asked Milton, deciding not to delve any further into that area.
“Well, he couldn’t get him on the cell phone so he called the house. No harm done. It wouldn’t be the first time. They are friends after all.”
“Hold on, did you say you opened his bill? By mistake?” Milton raised an eyebrow, he wasn’t buying this story.
“I only opened a few by mistake. Not nearly enough for hard evidence, Milton. And it’s his fault for not upgrading to estatements.”
“And you wonder why kids are so traumatised these days.” He wasn’t convinced they were mistakes and neither was Davon.
“Can I just finish my story? So I answered the phone…”
***
“Oh, Mr. White. Uncle Jamie.” Jackson was a little stumped to hear a voice other than Jamie, Jr. He’d gotten so used to him always answering immediately.
“Jackson. How you doin’?”
“Good.”
“I’ve seen your number on the phone bill a lot lately.”
“You and my dad are friends. I’m pretty sure I didn’t make all those calls.”
“That doesn’t explain why my son is always holding up the phone.”
“Well, I can’t call his cell all the time. He doesn’t make that much money.”
“So it is you?”
“I have my own phone. Why would I call from the house phone?”
“Oh, I forgot to mention, I see your cell number more often now too.”
“Look, is this going somewhere? Me and Jamie just talk a lot is all. No big deal.”
“He’s two years younger than you. What could you possibly have so much to talk about that you can’t talk about with your friends?”
“Look, Uncle, why the interrogation?”
“Just tell me if you’re dating my son.”
“Please don’t make me answer that.”
“I knew it.”
“How did you know?’
“That last night when you brought him home and stayed over. There was just something in the way you looked—or didn’t look—at each other.”
“Really?”
“That, and we saw your cell number on his cell bill.”
“We? You and his mom spied on him?”
“Think of it as private investigation. And don’t you dare tell him. He thinks we’re the best parents ever.”
“I’m sure he knows you’re the type of parents that would do that. I doubt he’d be shocked.”
“Be that as it may, there’s no need to give him solid evidence of our treachery. And look who’s just getting in.”
“Dad, my phone died. I get any calls?”
“Jackson’s on the line.”
***
“…And that was that. He ran up to his room and locked himself in—was on the phone all night. That was two weeks ago, so technically he never told us. Shit, look at the time. We got to go back to work, if only to show our faces before we go home.”
When he came back, the office was just buzzing with people. The end of day was usually busy 'cause no one wanted to stay late, so they tried to finish everything fast. Davon walked into his office to see a picture of him and Jason on his desk, and a few more strategically placed around the room.
“Looks like someone’s marking their territory. Cute too.” Before Davon could comment, his assistant was buzzing him back out the office. Once out, he saw Janita wheeling in a huge cake while singing a soulful rendition of “Happy Birthday.” Jason was walking beside her. After she was done, she laid her gift on the table and was gone. Even the big boss came down from up top for some wine and cake, but really just to see who brought his top employee out of his depression.
Davon hugged and kissed Jason, the pizza arrived, and the party was on. Jamie and Martin were told to keep him away long enough for them to get there and fast enough to beat the pizza. They did good. Things were going well for a few hours until Jamie got a phone call.
“What? All right. Just breathe. We’ll be right there.”
“What was that?”
“Guess you were right about your brother. That was my son.”
***
“Hello.”
“Jamie. It’s me.”
“Uncle Davon. Jackson was supposed to be giving me a ride to work, but his dad came home early and caught us kissing. He kicked me out and attacked Jackson. So I called Dad. I’m not trying to be late.”
“Why you didn’t call your mom?” Davon immediately realised how stupid that was.
“They work in the same building. I thought I was the one that needed help?”
It took them about thirty minutes to get to Davon’s brother’s house. His sister-in-law let him in, and Davon went through the house to Jackson’s room. Jackson didn’t look too bad on first glance, but under the shirt he was all bruised up. Davon forced him to pack and took him outside to the car. Even with all his faults, Davon’s brother treated his wife like gold. His son—now that was a different story. Jackson had gone out ahead of him as he stopped to talk to his sister-in- law and that was when he heard the commotion.
He walked out just in time to see Jackson get hit by his father in an attempt to stop him from leaving. Davon would’ve been on him fast, but Jason had him pinned to the ground and Jamie was holding Davon back.
“Get in the car, Jackson. Now!” Davon got in the car and Jason started to drive. Jamie and Mouse were in a separate car with their son. After Davon relaxed, he started talking with his nephew.
“So how long has he been hitting you?”
“Never before today.”
“I know my brother. We all came from the same egg, remember.”
Jackson cracked a little smile at that comment and took a deep breath before continuing.
“He caught me jerking off to men’s magazines when I was twelve, and he’s been hitting me ever since.”
“Does your mom know?”
“No. He never hits my face or anywhere that could be seen. He’s very careful in how he goes about it. He only just recently started getting careless.”
“You should’ve told me.”
“He’s my dad. And I didn’t think anyone would believe me. And I couldn’t let my mom know.”
“But he was—”
“He’s my father. He’s the only father I have. I couldn’t just change the way my mom saw him. And it was only me, not any of my brothers.”
“How can you stick up for him when—?”
“Let it go, Davon. The boy’s crying.” Davon remained silent, but he just couldn’t let it go. After they got into the house, he immediately called his brothers and told them what had happened, and they agreed to go back to the house and give him back what he gave Jackson.
“Don’t I get a say in this?”
“Jackson.”
“He’s my father.”
“We can’t just let him get away with this.”
“Fine then, go on and fuck him up. And do what he did to me. That’ll only make you just like he is, and I’m not living with anyone like that anymore.”
Jackson walked away and locked himself in a room. Davon followed and called him, calmly.
“You’re right. We won’t do it. I just don’t see how you can still care, though.”
“I’m not gonna just stop loving him because he’s an ass. He’s my father, regardless of he’s a good one or not.”
“Okay. That must be Jamie at the door. His mom said she’d bring him over,” he said as he heard the bell.
Davon went into the living room and squeezed himself in behind Jason on the couch. He had full intention of having a few relaxing moments and falling asleep with him on the couch, but there would be no such luck. He forgot he had two teenagers in his presence. Jamie was already popping in a DVD and then wrestling with Jackson on the floor as the previews played.
“So you guys hungry? They make some good pizza down at the club,” Jason said.
“But we ain't twenty-one.”
“Shut up, Jackson. You know we’re starving. And your dad is out to kill us, so it could work to our advantage to be in a place with security. Besides, don’t you want to tell your friends that you got into Incognito?”
“Okay, I guess you’re right.” Jamie was clearly a bad influence on him.
:***
“Wow, this is the coolest of cools. We are in the hottest night club in the state. It doesn’t get any better than this,” Jamie said as he walked in. Davon wasn’t gonna have his quiet night in any case. He had forgotten Jason was working. He did stay home for the night so quiet alone time would have to do.
“Don’t do anything crazy. I’d hate for your dad to think all my hard work turning you into a good boy was wasted,” Jackson said.
“Come on, you got to let me have one drink.”
“You could get Jason’s license revoked.”
“Come on. Let’s just go to the bar.” Jason was working the upper-level bar so he could keep an eye on them.
The club was pretty uneventful, and the two of them turned out to be more tired than they thought, so Jason called Dana to take them home. Of course they made sure to get a dance or two in before leaving. Jamie did wear down Jackson’s resistance and got at least three drinks. Once home they stayed in the living room and started the movie they didn’t watch earlier, falling asleep before it was done.
***
It was the next morning and Jackson was just waking up to see his Uncle Damon, the second to be born. Not sure how that’s relevant, but since we’re going down this road, Davon was born last. Ten minutes separated him from the previous brother. Jackson was a little surprised to see him there, and disappointed that Jamie had already left. He was even more surprised at the news he had to give him. Meanwhile, Davon and Jason were in the kitchen, talking over breakfast.
“So how is Dana keeping up?”
“He’s officially a drunk.”
“Guess it must be hard. I’m pretty sure I’d start drinking again if I thought I’d lose you.”
“Yeah. It’s hard to watch, though. The only good habit he still has is going to the gym. Other than that, he doesn’t work anymore, doesn’t go to the courts, no more walks on the beach. If he’s not sitting by Adrian, he’s at the house withering away in Adrian’s room.”
“That’s got to be hard. I mean, from what I’ve learned about him, he doesn’t seem like the type of guy that lets things get to him like that.”
“He’s not. No one knows how to deal with this—having to use every word carefully 'cause you don’t know what might set him off or make him worse. Before, it didn’t matter if you got him mad, angry or depressed. He’d just bounce back, but now?” Jason shook his head. “Anything could happen. As a result, he’s practically suicidal and keeps dreaming of how Adrian wakes up, and they live happy forever. Then he wakes up to find him still sleeping in the hospital bed.
“He has these dreams at the hospital?”
“Always. So he goes from bliss to distress in seconds. It’s not healthy, how this is playing on his psyche. But no one can persuade him to spend less time there, and after exam week he may start living there.”
“He’s not going to be able to let go if this turns out bad. Not if he won’t accept the fact that it could indeed happen.”
“We know. We all know, but he can’t be convinced that Adrian will never come out. Apparently, death is not an option. When anyone brings it up, he either gets angry and defensive in an aggressive way, or the same except more emotional and desperate.”
“Guess the only thing to do now is to just let it run its course, then.”
“Why does it have to be that way? How does it come to that? These things happen all the time, and people survive. Why out of all the people that can’t seem to pull through does it have to be my friend? Why can’t I fix it? Just let it run its course. What is that? That’s like saying he’s a lost cause and saying that I’m a bad friend, that I don’t care enough to help him.”
“It doesn’t mean that, and you know it. Just breathe. You know all people are made different. Not everyone is as strong or confident in practically everything like you are.” Jason had to smile at that comment. “Did I say something funny?”
“Nah. It’s just that he’s always telling me how everyone one isn’t as self-assured as I am. Now that I think of it, this is probably why he didn’t want to fall in love. He wasn’t sure how he’d handle it. But he has such a strong personality, and a will and drive to an extent even greater than mine. I just can’t understand how he’s always so vulnerable, emotionally.”
“Everyone has their weaknesses. You seem to have this inability to accept that things are complicated, that some things just can’t have an immediate fix. It drives you insane when you’re faced with something that can’t be expeditiously resolved. Much like now. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you fall apart before, but the circumstances are forcing you out of your comfort zone.”
“Well, you’ve just got it all figured out, don’t you?”
“Nah. I’m just a lot older than you.”
“But how can I just do nothing? Everything has to be solvable.” Jason took a moment to think. “I guess you’re right. I do hate when there just isn’t anything I can do. But how do you sit back and watch someone fall apart?”
“Well, you said it yourself. He’s got the strongest personality you know. You got to trust he’ll pull through. Maybe he and Adrian aren’t so different there. Both are strong and confident in practically everything, but when it comes to their emotions and others’, they kinda fall apart. Adrian sees suicide as the best option to end other people’s pain, and Dana—well, he likes to keep it all to himself for the same reasons. That part of them was bound to affect their outward personalities, as is evident from them fighting that day at university.”
“So basically you’re saying their outward appearance may not be quite whole due to what they are hiding inside.”
“Not entirely, but they’re just not as strong as they appear is all. Look on the bright side. At least now you know another thing about them, and another thing to know about yourself, considering how you’re reacting.”
“True. So what is your brother doing in there?”
“Well, he and Jackson’s mom had a fling before she dated his dad. She got pregnant, and later on when they tried to have kids Jackson found out that he couldn’t. Damon decided to let him raise Jackson as his own. He never thought that he’d abuse him or that Jackson would hate him so much. Forcing himself to continue to love him based on the fact that he was his father.”
“Which he really isn’t. I wonder how he’s taking that.”
“Hopefully it should prove easy enough. Once Damon realised Jackson was growing to hate him, he started to do all those things a father should do.”
“So it shouldn’t be much of a transition then. Sounds like they’re leaving now. No shouting. Must’ve gone well,” Jason said as he heard the car leave.
“So since we are here alone—”
“I’m tired. I was up working while you were sleeping. Besides, I already had some at the club.”
“When are you gonna be all mine?”
“Soon enough.”
“I’m a selfish man; I don’t want to have to hurt nobody.”
“Oh stop it. You know you’re not the jealous type.”
“Okay. I’ll just pout like a little boy and go work and mope around all day because you wouldn’t give me any. And when everyone asks why I’m in a bad mood, I’ll say it’s because of you. The next time you come in the office you’ll be hated.”
“Me? No one could hate me.”
Davon just laughed and gave him a kiss. “Bye, Jason.”
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