Hang on.” He muted the call, staring at Andy, who had instantly grasped what was going on. “T-day dinner. In Escondido, with the whole family. He wouldn’t ask us if he thought it would be weird for us.”
Andy knew that was true. He also knew this was big for Victor. “I’m game. Can we bring Molly?”
Victor un-muted the phone. “Hey John, I’m back. Could we bring our dog Molly? Yeah, you met her last time. Great. That’s really nice. Thank you. Are you sure? Because we could bring something. Oh okay, pink champagne.” He laughed. It sounded professional, if not quite forced. “Yeah, it goes great with turkey. Looking forward to it. We’ll see you then. Bye.” He
disconnected, stared at the wall for a few seconds, then met Andy’s gaze.
“Twenty-five years later.”
“What did you do those first two years?” Andy’s voice was soft. Victor had come to California after getting out of the hospital. After the stabbing.
When he left Mexico, his father had given him a place to live, in a finished apartment over the garage, formerly occupied by each of his half-siblings.
John spent those first two Thanksgivings with his wife and their kids.
“I knew it was a thing for Americans. I didn’t really feel like an American. Told myself I didn’t mind. It was just another day, and there was a parade to watch, and football.” Victor looked away again, rolled his shoulders, sighed. “Those guys really resented my existence at the beginning.
His wife knew all along, but they didn’t. After I was eighteen I said look, I think it would be better all around if I wasn’t right here. He asked me what I wanted to do. I asked him to stake me for a year in L.A. I’d already gotten some little things, local things. He apologized.”
“For what?”
“For not telling them earlier, so they could get used to it. But you know I never blamed him.”
“I know you didn’t.”
“He might be thinking, with Ronnie going this year, time to work it out.
The other kids, well, you know. We haven’t had a bad relationship, exactly, but we’ve never been close. Probably never will be. When he dies, though,”
Victor stopped, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“He wants to make sure you’re cool before that happens. It’s a good thought. A good thing to do. Come here, baby.” Andy got a hand around Victor’s arm and tugged. Victor lay down next to him and Molly, sharing that comforting hug. Molly licked his nose, then his face. They stayed there without speaking until there weren’t any more tears.
Victor was fine by the time they left for the beach, and more than fine after an hour spent walking with Molly. He and Andy flopped down on the hotel’s loungers. The breeze was cool, but they were comfortable in their wet-to-the-knees jeans and windbreakers. Andy pulled out his phone as Victor reclined and closed his eyes. “I’m going to check in with Dana. See what kind of buzz there is.”
“Don’t even want to know. Wake me when it’s time to go inside.”
“Okay, dinnertime then.” Victor snickered. Andy patted his thigh and thought this was a good idea. They did this a few times a year, and every time they did, it was great. They were at a hotel in Oxnard, one they’d been coming to for a long time. It wasn’t in an obviously-touristy spot, it was way out of the usual celebrity-hunting areas, and the hotel management pretended not to notice when people took their dogs out on the beach. It also had good security and a fondness for repeat customers. They might have hit an L.A.
beach today, but after that phone call Andy had suggested Oxnard. And after that phone call, Victor had been easy to convince. Oh my God so many messages. Andy had no intention of listening to voice mail. He worked his way through the texts, saving Dana’s for last: Hey big brother that shit was EPIC and you are breaking the internet again Hey cutie. We aren’t looking. Brought Molly to Oxnard for a little overnight escape
How sandy is she?
We’re not even going to try to wash her, it’s kind of chilly out here for a middle-aged lady. She’s in the sun now. We’ll let her get good and dry and then brush it all out
She’ll be back in the water tomorrow anyway Probably so
Glad you’re taking a day. Wanted to ask if you had plans for T day, seems like everyone is going out of town
Andy had gathered that, from chitchat at the dress rehearsal. The B side are going to NY to see Vicky’s family. We got an invitation to Escondido Well that must have been unexpected
Very much so, but welcome. An understatement, for both parts. Victor had always been kind of stoic about that situation, but after getting to know Andy’s parents he’d let a few things slip. What are you two doing?
We’ll be at Dmitri & Patrick’s with Kenji & Michelle. D asked me to check in with you
I’ll tell him thanks for the invitation. Last year was great, you should have been there
Eh you know. A year in San Diego for Rory’s parents, a year in Savannah for mine, a year for us
LOL We’ll check in when we’re back in town. I might convince the boy toy to stay two nights
Might as well. Have fun OXO
OXO. Andy disconnected and glanced over at Victor, confirming that he was already asleep. Molly was too. Andy decided he might as well try for some of that himself.
Chapter 16
December 2019
“Jesus, it’s as big as a house.”
“Well, you’re the one who wanted a bloody thirty by forty.” Reggie helped heave the crated painting onto the luggage cart. Then he took a minute to recover, studying
