I turned back to the front, surprisedso many people had come from all over the world, even a couple ofpro-GLBT legislation Facebook friends the two brides had never evenmet in person.
The ceremony was short and very, verysweet. I roamed the massive buffet tables in the reception roomlooking for Chinese food. I had to content myself with a chickenkabob. My cherished and adored Francois leaned against a wall,talking into his cell phone, Lars was nuzzling my mom, Ferricdanced with the little kids in the middle of the dance floor. Andeveryone knew about the Repco boys’ bicycle.
I would never live it down.
The floor cleared longenough for the two brides to waltz to an old Hawaiian mele. Well, they didn’t somuch waltz as they pawed each other in dirty-dancing style. Ilonged to dance with Francois, but he wasn’t much of the dancingtype. Unless you counted nighttime maneuvers guaranteed to keep youhot and bothered for hours. If I couldn’t dance with him, I wantedsome fast and dirty time with him. I glanced at him. He wasfrowning, making notes. Whatever case he was working on at themoment seemed to keep him frustrated.
Somebody putDisco Duck on the speakersystem as the band took a break and I watched Ferric throw back hishead and laugh as the two brides whirled him around the dance floorwith a lot of wing-flapping moves. I brushed an ant off the bambooskewer in my hand, courtesy of the hibiscus flowers decorating thetable. Ants adored hibiscus.
The music got me thinkingabout Peking duck. I wondered if, when all this was over, Francoiswould indulge me with some Chinese takeout. We were staying downthe road in a new motel and would be there another couple of days,thanks to the new case Francois had picked up since our arrival. Iwatched him pace. I wondered if the fried rice in Hartford,Connecticut, came with pineapple pieces the way it did back homeand all of a sudden, I missed my Hawaii. I missed our home. I missedwalking out and looking at our spectacular chunk of beach atWaimea. I sure missed theocean.
Ferric came over to me and I put my armacross his shoulders. I could feel the heat of Francois’ stare. Hewas keeping an eye on us.
“You want something to eat?”I asked Ferric.
“I want Chinese food,” hesaid. “I don’t know why, but I do.”
“Me, too.”
“Grandma likes Lars,” hesaid, picking up a buffalo wing.
“He likes her, too, Ithink.”
Ferric picked up a napkin and wiped hisfingers as he chomped his chicken.
“He has to be better thanthe last one, right?” he asked.
The last one had been Douglas DenverDavenport, a complete head case who thought he was the heir to thethrone of Hawaii. He’d spent significant time in jail and had printed and spreadcounterfeit money across the islands from the second bedroom of mymom’s house. I still had a sneaking suspicion that Ferric, whomDouglas had anointed as his crown prince, was disappointed to havelost a potential grandfather and this future throne.
“I’m not sure,” I said. Itried never to lie to Ferric.
“You know,” Ferric said,picking up a third wing, “I adore Grandma, but does she kinda…havecrappy taste in men?”
“You can say thatagain.”
That made him laugh and I thought hisnow-orange teeth from the buffalo sauce didn’t go so well withlavender.
I changed the subject. Lars was nowdipping my mother in a series of dance moves guaranteed to give hera herniated disk.
“Ferric, as soon as we can,we’re going to leave here and get you a new Game Boy.”
“Oh, Dad, we don’t have todo that.” But I could tell he was pleased. I had no idea howFrancois and I had landed such a sweet-natured teen, but sinceFerric had come to live with us several weeks before, it seemedlike we always had him in our lives. He fit in with us, loved ourcrazy friends and family and never once gave us smart talk aboutwhat his mother had or hadn’t allowed him to do back inFlorida.
I had to admit, I also loved that he’dtaken to calling me Dad. For some reason, it meant a lot to me. Iloved Ferric already, as if he’d always been mine.
“Mingo!” I looked across theroom and Benny Leonard was shuffling in too-big shoes towardus.
“My boyfriend Martin pickedup the wrong pair for me, can you believe it?”
I wanted to roll my eyes.Had he come all the way over here to let us know he was nowa deux? He gave a littlefinger wave to his man who waved back and disappeared into thecrowd.
“He’s hopeless at shoesizes, but sooo good at other things.” Benny let out a laugh thatsounded like a donkey bray.
“Yeah?” Ferric asked. “Likewhat?”
He wore a benign expression on hisface, but Benny slapped his arm playfully.
“I’ll tell you when you’re afew years older. Say, you’re gonna be home in time for gold nextFriday with my dad, right?”
Ferric glanced at me.
“Yes,” I said.
“Great. Because he’s sore ashell about missing his golf game this week. How do Ilook?”
He straightened his crooked bowtiewhich went crooked right away again and before I could respond,zoomed off in his silly shoes. He skidded back to me.
“Weird how much Martin lookslike Kaolin, right?”
He slid away again and I felt Francois’big arm move around Ferric and me as he came to join us.
“What’s going on?” He kissedmy head.
“I just told Ferric we’dreplace his Game Boy as soon as we leave.”
Francois nodded. “Absolutely. I have ataste for Chinese food for some reason.”
“So do we,” I said. “Ireally want some fried rice and egg rolls.”
“I want Peking duck,” Ferricsaid, reaching for another buffalo wing.
Dang, the kid and I had some kind oftelepathic food craving thing going on. I’d noticed this withFrancois, but it delighted me that Ferric tuned into the foodiewavelength, too.
“No problem,” Francois said.“I’ll ask Lars where we can find some good eats. Ferric, I want youto stay close to him and Grandma for a few minutes.”
“Why?”
“I’m taking Mingo to themen’s room for a little…talk.”
Ferric grinned. “I’m so sorry Iasked.”
“You can hold my taser,”Francois said. “In fact, I’d feel better if you did. As soon as weget back
