Monday, December 4, 2017

'Til Death Do Us Part - Part 48

Roger shuffled in rhythm with the crowd as they ambled toward the door leading into the reception hall. He had fidgeted his way through the wedding ceremony, fussing at his collar and tie. He could feel the cool breeze flowing in from the double doors which ushered the crowd out of the stale, hot air of the church.

Roger stepped out into a cross breeze, flanked by his three friends. The cool air weaved through the quartet as they walked toward the stout brick building ahead of them. The sun, hanging low on the horizon, peeked out from a cloud and smiled warmly down on them, a nice change of weather compared to the cold damp weather they had been having in Chester over the last week.

“What a lovely day for a wedding!” Shirley Sue said as she craned her head backward and looked toward the sky.

“Ya, it’s too bad they couldn’t have it outdoors,” Sarah chimed in.

Roger passed through the door and glanced around the room through the crowd passing in front of him.

“Look!” Sarah said, pointing toward a table in the back of the room. “It’s Rob and Shawn.” On the other side of the room sat the two gentlemen seated at one of the round tables. Rob was waving at the four of them.

“Save me a seat,” Shirley Sue said, veering off from her friends. “I need to freshen up for a moment.”

Sarah plopped down into one of the eight gray, padded chairs surrounding the table. “You two are looking sharp.”

“You’re not looking bad yourself,” Rob said with a wink. “I just love how those shoes look with that dress, very well put together.”

Roger took the seat next to Sarah. He watched as Rob flirted with Sarah for what seemed like an eternity. As he listened to the pair, a pang of jealousy hit him squarely in the chest. He glared at Rob and Shawn as the pair continued their small talk with Sarah and Buck.

The four of them were laughing when Shawn paused mid sentence. “Is everything alright Roger?”

“Is everything alright?” Roger heard himself repeat back. Roger felt all four pairs of eyes on him. “No, everything isn’t alright. We know about your dirty little secret.”

“Secret?” Rob said, his cheeks flushed.

“Ya, and it’s high time the rest of the town found out about what you’ve been hiding.”

“I’m not sure I understand...”

“Shirley Sue and Buck heard you arguing when they were stranded at your place. Hell, they even saw the photo and we pieced it all together.”

“Rob’s face turned a dark shade of crimson. “Ah, that was just…”

“Give me a break Rob, it’s nineties,” Shawn blurted out. “So what, we’re gay. That’s what we’ve been hiding, albeit poorly, from you and from everyone else all this time.”

A few heads turned toward the table and several of the tables around them grew quiet.

“Oh my,” Roger said with a raised eyebrow, tugging at his tie. “That wasn’t what I...” Roger trailed off.

“What I think he is trying to say is...” said Buck, trying to dodge the glances being shot at them from the surrounding tables. “Well, he just thought you were killers… not that you were gay. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Being gay that is, not killing, of course.”

“The way people avoid the Greasy Hog, you wouldn't think that,” Shawn muttered under his breath.

“Hey Buck!” Shirley Sue’s voice broke through the chatter that had rekindled at the tables surrounding them.

Buck cleared his throat. “Hey Shirley Sue.”

“I’m grabbing a drink, wanna join me?”

Buck stood up and took Shirley Sue by the arm. “Duty calls,” he said, leaving four of them stranded in the uneasy silence.

Roger watched as Shirley Sue and Buck disappeared into the crowd. He turned his attention back to his companions sitting at the table.

“Um… Sorry for accusing you of murder. I guess I just got a little carried away.”

“No problem,” said Shawn. “I guess I got a little carried away myself.”

“Too bad we’ll have to kill you now, since you know our real secret,” said Rob with a dead pan tone.


Roger’s eyes bulged out of his head for a moment as he met Rob’s stony gaze. The four of them burst into laughter. The awkwardness of the situation melted away into good natured conversation.

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