'What was his reaction?'
'He said he didn't know much about gay people, but if I knew who I was, then to hell with everybody else. 'Go live your life, son,' he said. 'Some folks'll hate you, some folks'll love you,most folks haven't made up their minds. It's up to you.' '
'Sounds like Rake.'
'He gave me the courage, man. Then he convinced me to open this place, and when I was sure I had made a huge blunder, Rake started hanging around here and word spread.Just a second. Don't leave.' Nat loped away toward the front where an elderly lady was waiting. He called her by name, in a voice that couldn't have been sweeter, and soon they were lost in a search for a book.
Neely walked around the counter and pouredhimself another cup of the brew. When Nat returned he said, 'That was Mrs. Underwood, used to run the cleaners.'
'I remember.'
'A hundred ten years old and she likes erotic westerns. Go figure. You learn all sorts of good stuff when you run a bookshop. She figures she can buy from me because I have secrets of my own. Plus, at a hundred and ten, she probably doesn't give a damn anymore.'
Nat put a massive blueberry muffin on a plate and laid it on the counter. 'Dig in,' he said, breaking it in half.Neely picked up a small piece.
'You bake this stuff?'Neely asked.
'Every morning.I buy it frozen, bake it in the oven. No-body knows the difference.'
'Not bad. You ever see Cameron?'
Nat stopped chewing and gaveNeely a quizzical look. 'Why should you be curious about Cameron?'
'You guys were friends.Just wondering.'
'I hope your conscience still bothers you.'
'It does.'
'Good. I hope it's painful.'
'Maybe.Sometimes.'
'We write letters. She's fine, living in Chicago.Married, two little girls. Again, why do you ask?'
'I can't ask about one of our classmates?'
'There were almost two hundred in our class. Why is she the first you've asked about?'
'Please forgive me.'
'No, I want to know. Come on,Neely , why ask about Cameron?'
Neely put a few crumbs of the muffin in his mouth and waited. He shrugged and smiled and said, 'Okay, I think about her.'
'Do you think about Screamer?'
'How could I forget?'
'You went with the bimbo, instant gratification, but in the long run it was a bad choice.'
'I was young and stupid, I admit. Sure was fun, though.'
'You were the ail-American,Neely, you had your pick of any girl in the school. You dumped Cameron because Screamer was hot to trot. I hated you for it.'
'Come on, Nat, really?'
