Second Chances

Chapter 33

Following their visit with Mr. Scribner, Sean and Alex began the return drive to Des Moines. Once they’d were well south of the Twin Cities Metro, Alex asked Sean, “Would you mind if I called Jesse?” “Not at all, Alex. I thought you were getting a little antsy, and I’m not too surprised that the reason was the desire to call your man.”

Alex asked Siri to “call Jesse.” The phone was answered as soon as the call went through.

“Hi Jesse! Is this an okay time to talk?”

“Of course. And you sound like you’re in a good mood, so I’m taking that as a good sign.”

“First off,” said Alex, “I’m with Sean, and you’re on speaker.”

After quickly exchanging pleasantries with Sean, Jesse asked, “So, how’d it go?”

Alex and Sean relayed their conversations with Peter Scribner. Jesse was relieved to hear that Alex still had a job but was shocked about the allegations against both Jenny and Judy. “Now, Jesse,” commented Alex, “please keep details of our conversation with Mr. Scribner to yourself. Not that I think having you telling others about what happened would get back to Judy or Jenny somehow, but I really don’t want to take that chance.”

“What are we going to tell our friends, though?” asked Jesse. “Most, if not all, of them know about your sudden firing. Rhys and Ian know you were planning on confronting your boss today. I think Andrew and Robbie know that, too. I’m sure they’re going to want to know how everything went.”

After a brief silence, Sean responded. “I think if anyone asks for details, just say that Alex met with the company president, and everything’s up in the air at the moment. Completely true, just not the whole story.”

“Okay, I can do that,” said Jesse. “When do you expect to be back to Des Moines?”

“Let’s see…it’s already 3:30. We’re nearly to Albert Lea, so about 5:30, wouldn’t you say, Sean?” Sean nodded in agreement.

“Okay, then,” said Jesse. “Are you planning on hitting the Y tonight, or should we celebrate instead?”

“Well, I of course like the idea of celebrating,” Alex responded, “but I kind of think it would be good to get back into our regular evening routine. Let’s hold off on the celebrating until I’m actually back to work. And Sean needs to be a part of that celebration, not just the Four Horsemen. Andrew and Robbie, too.”

“Meaning to change the subject,” Sean interjected, “are you guys going to the Ranch on Friday night?”

“Wow, I’ve been so down the past few weeks that I didn’t even realize it was karaoke night already.”

“I imagine you’re not planning on singing on Friday, are you, Alex?” Jesse asked.

“Well, I obviously hadn’t even thought about it, but maybe I should. I’ll have to come up with a song pretty quickly, though, won’t I?”

Once they ended the call with Jesse, Alex was silent for several minutes. Sean finally broke the silence. “You’ve turned quiet, Alex. What’s up?”

“Oh, uh, sorry, Sean. I was trying to think about what song I’d like to sing. It needs to be something happy.”

“How do you pick the songs you choose to sing, Alex?”

“Well, the most important thing is to find a song that’s fun to sing. But I also try to choose a song that fits my current situation. For instance, the first song I sang was a response to people who only saw me as old.” He then added with a smile, “You know, there aren’t too many songs about being excited about getting your old job back. This one might be tough.” Sean chuckled in response.

Shortly after crossing the state line into Iowa, Alex suddenly exclaimed, jubilantly, “I’ve got it!” Sean glanced over to Alex before he elaborated. “Okay, it’s a fun and positive song, so it fits the mood. It has nothing to do with employment status, though.” He then quickly added, “And no, I won’t tell you what it is. You’ll just have to find out on Friday night like everyone else.”

-----

On Friday evening, Jesse picked up Alex, while Cameron and Charlotte followed in Cameron’s car. Not yet 21, Charlotte would return home in Cameron’s car alone after dinner rather than accompany the others to The Ranch. Cameron had offered to stay home with Charlotte, but she insisted that he accompany Alex and Jesse. “My friend Allie is coming over tonight. We’re going to have a girl’s night.”

“What does that mean?” asked Cameron. “A sappy love story movie, pints of premium ice cream, and painting your toenails?”

“Something like that,” was Charlotte’s coy reply.

Though Alex had said he wouldn’t celebrate getting his job back until he officially returned to work, he really felt as though they needed to celebrate, anyway. The four headed to Hessen Haus, where they met Sean, Ian, Rhys, Andrew, and Robbie. Jesse and Alex had asked Rhys and Ian to join them for dinner when they met at the Y on Wednesday evening. Both Rhys and Ian were sure something was up, based on Alex’s suddenly jubilant mood, and Alex became tongue-tied when they’d pressed for details. Jesse, however, came to the rescue. “We just wanted to take you two out on Friday night as a thank you for your support since Alex lost his job. We both really appreciate it and wanted to share our appreciation with you.” Alex was better prepared with an explanation when he contacted Robbie to invite him and Andrew to dinner.

Once the group had been seated, Alex turned to Robbie and said, “I feel a little guilty inviting you and Andrew to dinner on a karaoke Friday, since you won’t be able to attend the after-dinner festivities.”

“Alex,” Robbie chided, “I turned 21 two weeks ago. This is going to be my first trip to The Ranch. I am very much looking forward to it.”

“Awesome!” exclaimed Alex, before adding in a much more somber tone, “I’m sorry I didn’t remember your birthday, though.”

“Don’t worry about it, Alex. Quite honestly, I don’t know that I ever told you when my birthday was.”

“Well, then, consider dinner tonight to be a birthday celebration,” Alex said. “Enjoy it, though,” he continued. “This is the last good birthday you’ll ever have. It’s all downhill from here.”

“Oh, my God, Alex!” exclaimed Robbie. “Could you be a little more of a downer?”

“Sorry, I really don’t mean to be. But when you’re as old as me, you kind of look at a birthday as being one year closer to death.”

“Alex, I know you’re unhappy with your age, and you really do need to stop it. When we, uh, ‘were intimate,’ as you like to say, I was doing so with someone who was just a little older and wiser than me. I was most definitely not ‘intimate’ with a senior citizen!”

Alex’s face began to redden. He quickly glanced to his left, worried that Charlotte and Cam may have overheard a sensitive portion of his conversation with Robbie. Fortunately, they appeared to be engrossed in a conversation with Jesse and Rhys.

After ascertaining the conversation had not been overheard, Alex said, “Thanks, Robbie. You really do know how to make me feel better, you know?”

“Well, glad I could help, Alex, since I certainly won’t be complementing you on dick size,” laughed Robbie.

“Hey!” yelled Alex, turning a slightly darker shade of crimson. “That’s not very nice.”

“It’s also a joke, Alex. I had no complaints.”

“Neither did I.”

Following dinner, the group made their way to The Ranch. They found parking for their vehicles next to one another in the bar’s rear parking lot. As Alex was exiting Jesse’s Corolla, he heard his name called. He glanced to the right and was surprised when he saw Ben.

“Hey, Ben!” exclaimed Alex. “I wasn’t expecting to run into you tonight.”

“Well, you suggested I get a little more involved with the group back at your party a few months ago. I finally decided to follow your suggestion.”

After exchanging greetings with Jesse, then saying hello to the others, Ben joined Alex and the rest of the group as they walked to the front entrance.

“Ben, before we head in, let me introduce you to my son, Cameron.” Ben and Cameron shook one another’s hand and said hello. Cameron then rejoined the conversation he was having with Jesse. Once Cameron was a few steps away, Alex leaned over and said to Ben, “don’t get any ideas about Cameron. He’s straight.” Alex then noticed Ben wince.

“Ben,” said Alex, “Shit. I’m sorry, that probably came out sounding accusatory, and I didn’t mean it that way. The first time Cameron came to The Ranch with us, Jesse and I practically had to pull Eli off Cam. When he was told that Cameron was straight, Eli still thought he might have a chance to get Cam to agree to ‘a little experimentation.’ I’m just letting you know so you don’t waste your time pursuing him. I’m sorry if you thought I was, I don’t know, irritated with you or judging you, or whatever.”

In response, Ben simply nodded his head in understanding. While Ben had accepted Alex’s apology, it was clear to Alex that his words had bothered Ben nonetheless. “Damn it, Alex,” he muttered under his breath. “Could you be more of an idiot?”

Ben turned to Alex. “What happened?” he asked.

“Hmm, what was that?”

“I heard you say, ‘damn it.’ I just wanted to know what happened.”

“Oh,” replied Alex. “First, I suggest you get out of your shell and go to more activities with the group. You actually take me up on that suggestion, and the first thing I do is say something that upsets you. You know, the thing that I want to help you get past in the first place.”

“It’s okay, Alex. I’m used to it.”

When they reached the front door, Alex and Ben stopped while the rest of the group entered the bar. Cameron, the last to enter, held the door open until Alex motioned that he should go in.

“No, it’s not okay, because I saw you were stung by what I said. And you most definitely should not be used to being hurt with words.”

“Let me rephrase, then,” said Ben. “Yes, I admit the words stung a little, but you apologized, and you also explained more of why you said what you said. Part of my problem, I think, is I anticipate people are going to say hurtful things to or about me. I’m ready for a snide comment, even when one hasn’t been made.”

“In the future, I need to be more careful in choosing words, too. It’s at least partially my fault.”

Ben again nodded, smiling and saying “Thanks” as he did so.

“Come on, then,” Alex said as he put his hand on Ben’s left shoulder. “I know where our group will be sitting, so let’s just head to the bar first. I’m buying the first round.”

Alex’s turn to sing came about three-quarters of the way through the evening. He trotted up to the stage. When he reached the microphone, he said, “Here’s a fun little Petula Clark song from the 1960s, though the music accompaniment tonight is a version by Dolly Parton from the 1980s.”

After singing the first portion of the song standing behind the microphone stand, Alex pulled the microphone from the holder and walked around the stage. He moved back and forth across the stage until the song came to completion.

Alex returned the microphone to the stand, waved his thanks to the crowd for their polite applause, then returned to his seat. As he sat down, Ben leaned over and said, “I know you didn’t sing that song for me, but it really spoke to me anyway. Thanks.” When Alex gave a look of confusion, Ben added, “You know, when you’re alone and feeling lonely, go Downtown. If you’re feeling alone, go to where the people are. Don’t wallow in self-pity. Be social.”

Alex nodded and replied, simply, “I’m glad you liked it.”

Two songs later, Alex and the rest of his friends were caught completely off-guard when the next singer was announced.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm round of applause to our next performer, Jesse Shaw!”

Jesse walked up the stage, took the microphone from the stand, and said, “It’s my first time doing this, so I’m a little nervous. I chose this song because it’s one of my boyfriend’s favorite songs. I really have no idea why he hasn’t sung it before, but here it goes.”

Like his boyfriend had done earlier, Jesse waved his thanks to the audience before returning to his seat. Still clapping enthusiastically, Alex asked, “Why on earth haven’t you sung before?” as Jesse approached their table. “That was great!” he quickly added.

Jesse was unable to hear Alex’s question over the clapping and cheers from his other friends, however, and Alex was forced to repeat the question once Jesse had returned to his seat.

“I just never thought I was much of a singer,” was Jesse’s reply, once he’d heard Alex’s question.

“Well, I think you just proved that notion was false.”

Leaning over the table, Rhys added, “So now two of the four horsemen are bona fide singers, eh? Don’t worry, I won’t become number three.”

-----

On Monday afternoon, Alex was puttering away at home. He was still forbidden from returning to the office and wasn’t sure how much longer his unexpected time off work would continue. He’d agreed that he’d not set foot back in the office or work on any projects until things had been sorted with Judy and Jenny. However, Peter Scribner did make good on his suggestion for Alex to head to California for a “working vacation.” Alex would be flying into Burbank the following day. He was scheduled to take Phil Bowers and his wife to dinner on Tuesday evening. He had dinner scheduled for Wednesday with George Ramirez and Brittany Gipps – Schneider from American Real Estate Investments, followed by lunch on Thursday with Bonnie from Western Restaurant Group. He’d have the rest of Wednesday and Thursday to do as he pleased. Alex would then return to Iowa on Friday.

Alex spent much of Monday morning continuing the purge of possessions in advance of Jesse’s impending move, with occasional interruptions to complete other ongoing chores like loading and emptying the dishwasher, vacuuming, and dusting. After a break for lunch, Alex returned to his housekeeping tasks. He was just hauling a basket of clean towels up from the basement when he heard the doorbell ring. Alex set the basket of towels on the floor before proceeding to the front door.

Alex opened the door to find an extremely handsome and well-built man with a perfect tan and perfect clothes to match. Opening the screen door, he said, “Hi. Can I help you with something?”

“Yes,” replied the man, smiling. “Is Jesse here?”

Alex looked at the man with a bit of confusion. “Jesse?” he asked. “No, he’s not here right now. May I ask who is looking for him?”

“Just an old friend of Jesse’s,” was the man’s uninformative reply.

“Why would you think Jesse might be here?” Alex inquired.

“Oh, just a hunch. Do you know where I might find him?”

“Well,” responded Alex, “he’s currently at work. If you’d let me know your name, I’d be happy to let him know you stopped by to see him.”

“Do you expect him back this afternoon?” the mystery man asked, ignoring Alex’s question.

Alex was now rather uncomfortable in addition to confused. More questions began to fill his mind. ‘Who is this man? Why does he want to see Jesse? How would he have known to come here to find Jesse? Well, two can play at the vague response game,’ he thought.

“I am not sure of his schedule today, so I don’t know when I’ll see him again.”

Alex then thought to himself, ‘Shit. Did I willingly volunteer too much information? Should I even have acknowledged that I know Jesse? Too late to deny it now…Why on earth is this guy hunting down Jesse, though? Jesse’s not in any legal or financial trouble, is he? And why would he look here for Jesse?’

After a brief silence, the unknown man again spoke. Perhaps realizing that Alex would provide no additional information, he finally revealed who he was.

“Well, if you see Jesse, could you please let him know that his old friend Ryan was looking for him?”

So, this was Ryan. Handsome, built, perfect smile, impeccably dressed…he should’ve known the minute he laid eyes on this man that he was Ryan.

Alex was certain that Ryan saw his reaction, even though he tried to be nonchalant. Certain that Ryan noted that the color had drained from his face. Certain that the panic in his eyes was obvious. Certain that he realized that Alex knew exactly who he was.

Alex managed to stammer out a response. “Yes, I…I will let him know you were looking for him.”

“Thank you,” was Ryan’s simple reply. “You have a nice day.”

Instinctively, Alex replied “you, too,” though he really didn’t mean it. He watched as Ryan turned away to head back to the BMW that was parked in the driveway. Alex thought he heard Ryan say, “Wow, Jesse’s become pretty desperate,” as he stepped off the front stoop.

Alex watched until Ryan’s Beemer had pulled out of the driveway and headed down the street. He then sat down on the couch. So now he had a face to go along with the name. Ryan. Ryan, the man who broke Jesse’s heart. Broke his spirit. Abandoned him without even saying ‘goodbye.’ Nearly destroyed Jesse. Ryan, the man who had the power to control Jesse as though he were a puppet. The man who Jesse hated. The man who, despite all the heartbreak, all the lies, all the mental cruelty, Jesse feared he might not be able to refuse should he return to his life. And here he was, trying to do just that…return to Jesse’s life.

Alex’s stomach felt as though it had been tied in knots. He felt as though his heart was racing. Alex sat on the couch for several minutes, processing the realization that Ryan was back. With all the worry and upset that Alex had felt over his work situation, he’d all but forgotten that “Ry-Ry” had called Jesse a few weeks prior. Clearly, there was no longer any doubt who Ry-Ry was. Ry-Ry and Ryan were, indeed, the same person.

As he sat on the couch, Alex replayed the brief conversation with Ryan several times, hoping to find something…some clue, some sort of answer. Why was Ryan suddenly back, trying to insert himself once again in Jesse’s life? What was his intention? The more he thought about it, the more worried he became. Alex could clearly see what attracted Jesse to Ryan. Ryan was, well, beautiful. Perfect. Who wouldn’t be attracted to Ryan? ‘But,’ thought Alex, ‘he may be perfect on the outside, but he’s anything but perfect on the inside.’ Words that Betty Shaw had used when she relayed the sad story of Jesse’s life when Alex first had met Jesse’s parents came to mind. Smooth operator. Charlatan. Snake.

Eventually, Alex managed to calm himself, at least enough to evaluate his next steps. What should his next move be? He concluded that he needed to talk to Jesse. He was going to meet Jesse at the Y following the end of the workday. Should he wait to talk to Jesse there? No, Rhys and Ian would be there as well. It maybe shouldn’t wait that long, either.

Alex fished his phone out of his pocket, wondering if he’d manage to get hold of Jesse. Alex had texted Jesse several times that morning but had received no response. ‘Busy with work, no doubt,’ Alex had thought to himself. ‘Maybe in a big meeting or working on some rush project that just couldn’t wait.’ He scrolled until he found Jesse’s number in his mobile phone, then pressed send. He then heard Jesse’s phone ring. Ring in stereo, in fact. He glanced toward the end table next to the couch he was sitting on. Jesse had left his phone at Alex’s place the night prior.

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