Friends and Lovers (14 page)

A few months afterwards, Jack ran into Tom’s momma in the
Kash & Karry
.

“I hear you’re gonna be a daddy, Jack. How is Reba?”

“Good, thanks, Miz Honey. I’m here to buy her some pickles and ice cream.”

“I remember those cravings. When I was carrying Tom and Lizzy, I had the strongest yen for anchovies, bananas, and Bosco.”

“Yum.” He swallowed and gave a weak smile.

“Yes.” She chuckled, a warm, pleasant sound.

“How… uh… how is Tom, Miz Honey?”

“He’s doing pretty good, although for a time there he seemed so down. I thought it would be good for him to visit my daddy in Florida.” So that was why he hadn’t seen him. “I miss him, you know.” Her expression was sad. “He decided to stay, and so he transferred to Florida State University.”

“But… He only had a few more months. I thought he was going to get his chem degree at Pulaski and Jasper here in Savannah.”

“He changed his mind. Didn’t he tell y’all  about it?”

“No, he didn’t.”

She gave him a look. “You’re his best friend, Jack.”

“I guess Tom didn’t tell you we… well, we kind of …” For some reason he wanted to say ‘broke up,’ but they were two guys, and while Tom was gay, Jack was not. “We’re not friends any more.”

“So that’s why…” Her mouth tightened and her eyes narrowed, and Jack felt about two inches tall. “I have to go now, Jack.”

She went to the checkout and left Jack standing in the aisle with the olives, pickles, and condiments.

It was eight years before he ran into Tom again; it was on Abercorn Street as he was leaving his lawyer’s office, and it was as if those years in between had never been.

“Tom! Buddy!” Jack hugged him, right there in the middle of the sidewalk.

Tom held onto him for a moment, then stepped back, flushed.

“Hey!” Jack couldn’t seem to take his eyes off his face. “You’ve got a moustache!”

“I needed something to make me look older than the kids I taught.”

“Right. Yeah.” He’d heard through the grapevine that Tom taught chemistry at Florida State University, the same college he’d graduated from. “It’s been a long time. I’m … uh… I’m  surprised to see you here.”

“Why? I come back to Savannah every year to spend Mom’s birthday with her.”

“Every year?” Jack suddenly felt as if he’d been kicked in the nuts. “And you never called me?”

“You’d told me you didn’t want to be my friend.”

“But… But you were. Even when you weren’t here, you were my best friend. You should have called me.”

“I was only doing what you wanted, you know.”

“I’m sorry. I was wrong. I was trying to do the best thing for all of us, and it was wrong, and I missed you, and…” Jack’s voice hitched in his throat, and for a second he thought he was going to bawl like a baby, right in the middle of that busy street.

“Jack. Take a breath” Tom’s hand was on his shoulder.

He did.

“I tried calling you the first year, Jack.”

“You did?”

“I did. Reba answered. When I asked to talk to you, she said, ‘You want to talk to Jack, my husband?’ I didn’t want to make trouble for you, so I never called again. Jack, what’s wrong?”

He could feel his face twist in a grimace of pain. “Reba and I’re getting divorced.” He waved a hand at the building behind him. “I was just seeing my lawyer.”

“Oh, buddy! I’m so sorry. I’d heard things weren’t going well, but I didn’t realize they were this bad!”

“How – ”

Tom blushed and looked away. “Mom keeps me up with what goes on with my friends.”

Jack was glad that Tom still considered him his friend.

“I can understand why you’re so upset.”

“No, you- It’s not- They’re all siding with her!”

“Huh? Who?”

“Daddy. Momma. Sarah and Chuck.” Although where that asshole brother-in-law of his got off thinking he had any say in the matter – 

“Your family?” It was gratifying to see his friend so shocked.  “I can’t believe they’d do that to you! They’re supposed to be on your side. That’s what families do!”

“Not mine.” Not if they considered you a godless heathen. Jack drew a deep breath, hoping it would steady him, but he was afraid it came out sounding almost like a sob.

His friend had seemed to be calming down, but now he looked pissed again. “They all deserve to have their asses kicked!”

That made him smile for the first time since he’d realized Reba was serious about divorcing him.

Tommy was feisty for all he was so short, and Jack could imagine him adding, ‘And I’ve got the size nines to do it!’

He fumbled in his pocket for a handkerchief and said gruffly, “Damn allergy.”

Tom patted his shoulder. “You ought to take something for that.”

“Yeah.”

“C’mon.” Tom took his arm and led him toward his car.

“Where are we going?”

“To the
Prince Albert
. I think you could use a drink. Or ten,” he muttered.

“That does sound like a good idea.” Jack had been devastated that his family was willing to cut him off – he’d really thought – but he was thankful Tommy was here for him. In spite of everything.

His friend never did hold a grudge, he thought with relief.

And after that fifth Jim Beam, he started to think that maybe divorcing Reba wasn’t too high a price to pay if it meant having Tom back in his life.

But Tom wasn’t really back in his life. He had responsibilities back in Florida and after another day had had to go back.

It was almost eight months later when he saw Tom once again, this time in front of the
Kash & Karry.
Jack was leaving as Tom was about to enter.

“Tom!”

“Jack! How’s it hangin’, buddy?”

He shrugged. “You… uh… you know my divorce is final now?”

“Yes.” Tom patted his shoulder, and for a weird moment, it almost felt like a caress. “I’m so sorry. Is your family still treating you like dirt?”

“No.”

“Well, that’s good!”

Jack just shrugged again. They’d realized if they wanted to see his children, they’d have to tolerate him. It wasn’t the best solution, but he figured they’d eventually work their way back to accepting him again. After all, he was still their son. That hadn’t changed.

“What do you say we go somewhere and have a glass of wine?”

“I’d… I’d really like that, but Teddy’s Little League team has a game, and I’ve got to go. I promised to bring the oranges.” He held up the sack with the bag of fruit. “It’s something for the kids to snack on between innings.”

“Yeah, sure. I understand.” Was Tom disappointed? “Tell Theodore I hope his team wins.”

“Why don’t you come with me and tell him yourself?”

His face lit up. “You wouldn’t mind?”

Jack would have teased him not to be such an ass, but Tom had every reason to tread warily around him. He’d been the one to cut short their friendship.

“I wouldn’t mind at all, buddy.” This time Tom hugged him. “But… you were going food shopping?”

“It’s okay. I was just going to pick up some coffee. Mom was running a little low, but it can wait until tomorrow. Where’s the game? I’ll follow you there.”

“Pulaski Park.”

“Great. I’ll be right behind you, buddy.”

Teddy’s team won.

“Come on over, Tom. I want you to meet him.”

“You do?”

“Sure. He’s heard me talk about you plenty of times, and he’ll be tickled to finally meet my best friend. Teddy!”

“Daddy! We won! Did you see me snag that fly ball?”

“I sure did, son.” The ball had seemed to be aiming directly for his head, and Jack’s heart had been in his throat when his son had lowered his mitt, revealing a bloody nose. Teddy hadn’t cared that blood was dripping onto his uniform, he just waved the ball triumphantly. “You did great! Your whole team did great.” Why was he so nervous? “Teddy, this is my friend, Tom Hansom.”

“How do you do, Mr. Hansom. It’s nice to meet you.” Teddy extended his hand.

Jack was so proud of his boy’s manners.

“It’s very nice to meet you too, Theodore.”

“Teddy Boy! Just look at your face!” Reba appeared out of nowhere, fussing over him. “And the knees of your pants!”

“Reba, where’s Cath? Is she all right?”

“She’s fine, Jack. She’s with your sister. Girls have no business at a baseball game.”

“I wish you hadn’t…” Jack felt tension band his forehand. Cath had really wanted to be at this game, and Sarah always found reasons to fault his daughter. He’d have a talk with both his ex-wife and his sister. Meanwhile, “Reba, you remember Tom Hansom, don’t you?”

“Yes.” Her mouth got that pinched look that Jack really didn’t like. It reminded him a lot of her mother. “You’re back, are you?”

“Just for a few days.”

She sniffed and went back to picking and brushing at Teddy’s uniform. “Such a mess. Let’s go home.”

“Reba, I was going to take Teddy out for an ice cream to celebrate.”

She glanced at Tom, then put a protective arm around Teddy’s shoulders. “Not today, Jack. I want to get Teddy to Dr. Jacobs. He could have a concussion, or his nose could be broken, or…”

“Aw, Momma…”

“Besides, his uniform will need to be soaked before that blood sets. It’ll be hard enough getting the grass stains out of it. The knees, the front, the backside... Why he has to slide…” She spoke as if he wasn’t there. Teddy flushed and seemed to shrink. “Besides, ice cream will spoil his dinner. You can spend Saturday with him.”

“You know I’m getting married on Saturday, Reba.”

Her expression became smug and pious. “I guess it’ll just have to wait until after you come back from your honeymoon.”

“No.” His hand was on Teddy’s shoulder, but he was staring at her. “I’ll pick him and Cath up from school tomorrow, and we’ll have ice cream then.” His voice was hard.

She bit her lip, looked away, and nodded reluctantly.

“Tomorrow, son. Make sure you let your sister know.”

“Okay, Daddy.”

“Come along, Teddy Boy.”

“It was nice meeting you, Mr. Hansom.”

“Same here, Theodore. You played a great game.”

Reba huffed and dragged Teddy away.

“I’m sorry about that, Tom. Reba’s always been… I don’t know.” Jealous? No, that wasn’t the word he was looking for. Maybe… Threatened? That was even worse. Jack pushed the thought away.

“I know she’s never liked me, Jack. I’m sorry.”

“Why should you be sorry?”

“You could have spent time with Teddy if I wasn’t here.”

“No, she would have insisted on taking him to Dr. Jacobs anyway. Besides, I’ll see him tomorrow. I barely had time to see you last time, and we’ve got a lot of years to make up. Would you… Would you still have that glass of wine with me, Tom?”

“I’d like that.”

“Great! Let’s go. I’ll drive. I know this little place on Bull Street.”

“Sounds good to me, buddy.”

Jimmy’s
was dim inside, and because of the time of day, not crowded at all. Jack found a table in a corner, and they sat across from each other.

Before either one could say anything, a waiter approached them. He put coasters down in front of them and smiled at Tom. “What’s y’all’s pleasure?”

“I’ll have a Zinfandel,” he told him.

“I’ll have the same.” Jack waited until the waiter left, then looked across the table at his friend. “What, no Manischewitz?” he teased.

“Very funny.” But Tom seemed happy.

“I’ve missed you, buddy.”

“I’ve missed you too.”

“Tom, will you ever move back to Savannah?”

“I don’t know.” He moved the coaster back and forth on the table. “My grandpa is in Jacksonville, and while it’s about a two hour ride from Tallahassee…”

“
Ride
?”

“I keep a Harley in Florida, Jack.”

“Wow. You’re a wild man.”

Tom gave him a look he couldn’t quite decipher. “Anyway, I like being close to Grandpa. He’s been so good to me.”

“I don’t think I ever met him, Tommy.”

“No, he moved to Florida when I was about ten. I stayed with him for a while when I was fourteen.”

“Will you at least let me know when you’re in town next time?”

“Sure I will, buddy.” He continued to fiddle with the coaster.

The waiter brought their wine. He put Jack’s in front of him with no fanfare, but fussed with the coaster in front of Tom before placing the glass on it.

“Anything else Ah can get for y’all?” Jesus, was he batting his lashes at Tom?

“No thanks, we’re good.” The corner of Tom’s mouth curled in a grin, and the waiter blushed.