February 1921
Blaine
Blaine joins Finn and Kurt at an old table at Westerville's. The workmen have just left for the weekend, and it's time for their formal weekly meeting. While they consult each other every day about what's happening, Kurt insists that the meetings are necessary to make sure that nothing slips through the cracks. If Blaine is honest with himself, when Kurt runs the meetings and goes into no-nonsense business mode, he finds Kurt really sexy. And if Kurt takes care of his stiffies once Finn has left, it's nobody's business but their own.
"We finally finished the demolition work this week," Finn reports.
Kurt smiles. "Thank goodness for that. The dust and mess have been unbelievable. I've needed to shower every day after work."
"What's up next?" Blaine asks.
"We'll start repairing the existing walls, and creating the partitions you wanted in the kitchen," Finn replies. "Now that I can see the bare structure, it's going to take longer than I had thought."
While Kurt examines his detailed schedule, Blaine wonders if he can add a very detailed and intimate inspection of storerooms at night to the list.
Kurt looks up. "I think opening the restaurant at the end of March is too optimistic. Realistically, it'll be more like the end of April or even the beginning of May."
Finn nods in agreement. "I thought as much. I've already warned Rachel that the opening might be delayed. She's willing to wait for her money to be repaid. She'd rather have the place be perfect than rush the opening."
Blaine's body sags with relief. Rachel provided most of the money to purchase the building and she is paying for the renovation costs. They'll start paying her back once the restaurant opens. Finn has been a great middleman at keeping Rachel up-to-date on what is going on.
"How are Jakub and his relatives working out?" Blaine asks.
"They are incredibly hard-working. I can tell that they used to build houses in Poland; they know more about things than I do. Jakub's uncle is sort of the head of the crew because he has the most experience."
"But you're still in charge," Kurt reminds him.
"Yes, I know, but it's easy to be the boss when they know what they're doing." Finn turns towards Blaine. "I still need help when the city inspectors come around. I always feel tongue-tied around them."
"I'm happy to help with that," Blaine replies.
Blaine knows that Finn feels uncomfortable negotiating inspections with city officials. He's been brought up to take orders from people whom he perceives are in authority. Finn is doing a great job managing the work crew, and hopefully, that will build his confidence to eventually handle the inspectors. But for now, he's more than willing to help, even if he doesn't always understand the details of plumbing, electricity and whatnot.
Kurt interrupts his thoughts. "Speaking of the Poles, we were chatting after English class last night. Apparently, there's a restaurant in Greenpoint that is closing down after Easter."
"Where is Greenpoint?" Blaine asks.
Finn answers, "It's in Brooklyn. It's also known as Polish Town. It's where they all live."
Kurt continues, "Anyways, the restaurant owners will need to sell all their fittings and fixtures at the end of their lease - tables, chairs, linens, cutlery, kitchen utensils, that sort of thing. I was thinking that we could have dinner there one evening and take a look at things. If we like them, we could probably get the stuff for a really good price before it goes to auction."
"That's a great idea. Why don't you put that down on that schedule of yours," Blaine teases.
"Joke all you want about my schedule, but we need it for such a big project."
Blaine places his hand on top of Kurt's. "I love your schedule, my love; and how you always have your eye on the big picture. I couldn't do any of this without you."
"I couldn't do any of this without you, either."
Kurt leans over and captures Blaine's lips in a kiss. Blaine sneaks a hand behind Kurt's neck to keep him there while he deepens it.
"Guys, I'm still here! Can you save it for after I've left?"
Blaine reluctantly pulls away. "Sorry, Finn."
"Can Rachel and I come to the Polish restaurant, too? I want Rachel to taste napoleonka for herself."
Their conversation is interrupted when they hear loud knocking on the restaurant door. Blaine gets up to see who is there, and Finn is protectively hanging behind him.
"Hello, shnookums."
"Beiste! Come on in. I haven't seen you in ages," Blaine replies, holding the door open.
Beiste sets a bag down on the table and pulls out a bottle of red wine, a corkscrew and glasses. While she takes off her winter coat, Kurt quickly gathers his schedule and papers and turns them face down on the table.
"I'm interrupting you. Should I come back at another time?"
Blaine places his hand on her shoulder. "No, we were just talking about the merits of napoleonka. Finn, I'd like to introduce you to Beiste. She's the sous chef at Healy's. Beiste, Finn is married to my cousin. He's in charge of the renovations."
"I'm also Kurt's brother," Finn adds. "How do you do?"
After shaking hands with Beiste, Finn taps Blaine on his shoulder. "Is it okay if I leave? I'm taking Rachel out tonight, and I want to spend some time with Carole first."
"Sure thing, Finn. We'll see you on Monday morning."
Blaine sits down and accepts a glass of wine from Beiste, and they clink their glasses together before taking a sip. Blaine appreciates that this wine was produced before the Great War. "This is a mighty fine wine. Where did you get it?"
"The Healy brothers' private wine cellar, of course."
"You stole it?" Kurt asks.
"What do you take me for, pumpkin? They gave it to me to drink with you."
Kurt narrows his eyes. "They sent you to spy on us!"
Beiste holds her hands up in surrender. "Busted! But I'm not going to tell them anything, at least not anything that is important."
Blaine appreciates that Beiste doesn't really want to spy and decides to use the situation to their advantage. "How are things at Healy's Tavern these days?"
Beiste shakes her head. "I'm going to need more wine if you really want to hear the story."
Once Blaine has topped up Beiste's glass, she continues, "The Healys were such fools to kick you out of the tavern last December. New Year's Eve was a complete disaster. We couldn't serve the food fast enough, and we didn't take care how it was presented or if it was hot."
"I'm still miffed that they walked us out like criminals," Kurt huffs.
"It's gone downhill ever since. Gordon hasn't introduced anything new to the menu, and many of our regular patrons have stopped coming. Turns out Gordon has quite the temper. He's a foul-mouthed bully who swears at the staff, and they are leaving in droves. The Healy brothers are strapped for cash and replace them with cheaper staff who have no idea what they are doing. I plan to leave myself, before Gordon gets fired and I'm expected to fix the mess. I don't want to be around when that ship sinks."
"We aren't ready to open for business yet, as you can see," Blaine says, waving his arm at the bare space. "However, when we do open, I'd love to have you as my sous chef."
Beiste smiles. "I'd love that, pumpkin. I've missed working with you."
"Of course, my partner has the final approval of any staff that we hire," Blaine adds, trying to backtrack to include Kurt in the decision.
Beiste and Blaine look at Kurt, who is deep in thought and tapping his finger on his chin. After several minutes, Kurt says, "If Blaine thinks that you are qualified to be his sous chef, then I'm all for it. However, there is something you need to know before you make your decision. Blaine and I, well..."
Kurt looks at Blaine for approval to tell her about their relationship. Blaine nods, indicating that they can trust Beiste with their secret. "We're together... In a relationship. We love each other. We keep things private, but we think our closest staff should know."
Beiste chuckles. "Do you think you're telling me anything I didn't know already? Pumpkins, I could always see your heart-eyes from a mile away. You are actually quite sweet together. I have no problems with that."
Blaine says, "We don't have the cash to pay you until the restaurant opens in…"
Kurt interrupts, "When it's ready. I have an idea. Why don't you stay at Healy's Tavern, and we can give you misleading information to tell the Healy brothers? They have threatened to destroy us and the restaurant. We would prefer our opening date to take them by surprise."
Beiste slaps her thigh. "Like a double agent spy? I love it! Where do I sign up?"
They update each other on what's been happening in their lives for the past few months. When the last drop of Bordeaux wine is drunk, Beiste stands up. "I better return to Healy's Tavern. They are expecting me to report back."
Kurt sits up straight. "What are you going to say?"
"The truth. The restaurant is a dark, dank, dusty shell. Oh, and that you plan to put napoleonka on the menu. That will get them thinking that you're absolutely crazy."
Once Beiste leaves, Blaine is delighted by the turn of events. He knows that he needs a sous chef who is experienced and can handle the kitchen on his days off, especially when he goes to Europe this summer. Beiste is the perfect second-in-command, and he has been thinking of asking her to join their team. However, he feels very guilty that he hasn't discussed it with Kurt earlier.
He takes Kurt's hand in his. "I'm sorry. I should have spoken to you before offering Beiste the job. I got caught up in the moment of having the perfect person as my sous chef right in front of me."
Kurt's smile calms Blaine's nerves. "I can understand why you offered her the job, but going forward, perhaps we can discuss things first to make sure we're on the same page?"
"I was just so excited that there is someone I could leave in charge whom I trust when we go to Germany and Westerville."
"I've been thinking about that, too. It's not great timing to open a restaurant and then leave for six weeks for Europe. I'll need to find a head waiter that I can both trust and leave in charge when we're away."
They switch off the lights and leave the empty building, each man knowing that the next stages will be tough, with many decisions still left to make, but they'll work together to build their dreams.
The next Saturday
Blaine stands up and assists his granny back to her chair when she returns from the powder room of Delmonico's Restaurant. Once the waiter has served them coffee, his grandmother gets down to business.
"What are your thoughts about Delmonico's?" June Dolloway asks.
After taking a sip of coffee, Blaine replies, "I've learned some very interesting things. They have managed to take traditional basic fare and turn it into something to be famous for. Take the steak, for example. It was merely a grilled steak that any decent restaurant could turn out, but by combining several cuts of beef, they are able to create the Delmonico steak. It's the same with the mashed potatoes. Add some grated cheese and breadcrumbs, place it in a grill to brown, and they now have Delmonico potatoes.
"At Delmonico prices," June adds. "It might serve you well to create a simple dish to be famous for."
"I agree, although I don't want to charge exorbitant prices. I want ordinary people to be able to afford it as a special treat, too."
"We'll see how ordinary your clientele is when you open," June huffs.
Blaine continues, "When we entered the restaurant, I also noticed that they host the New England Society of New York's annual meeting. It could be interesting to have clubs meet at my restaurant during the times it's not busy, like on Mondays."
"Those are all good ideas, Blaine."
Blaine looks around. "The last thing I've noticed is that a lot of customers are staring at us."
June Dolloway waggles her head as she smirks. "Most New Yorkers are snobs. They like to be seen in restaurants where they can rub elbows with high society. They'll be talking about my very handsome and very eligible grandson for days."
Blaine blushes furiously. "I doubt that very much. I'm quite content with my life as it is. I'm busy with the restaurant and planning my trip to Europe next summer."
After June Dolloway has settled the bill, they leave Delmonico's and agree that they will try a different restaurant next month. Once his granny's chauffeur has collected her, Blaine hails a taxicab and instructs him to drive to Tompkins Square in the East Village. When they arrive at the destination, Blaine pays the driver and heads to the six-floor building that houses the Boys' Club of New York.
Earlier in the week, Blaine met with Ernest Coulter's assistant to find out more about the Big Brothers program. The more he had learnt about the program, the more certain he'd been that he would volunteer for a fatherless lad. They could meet anytime, anywhere, and decide how they wanted to spend their time. Saturday afternoons would be perfect, because the lad wouldn't have school and Kurt would be at the airfield. The assistant suggested that Blaine would be well-placed to mentor an immigrant, who might have different needs, and that there were plenty of fatherless boys in the Boys' Club of New York.
He joins the tour of the premises and is surprised at how many amenities the building has - lecture rooms, a library, a natural history museum with butterflies, and a movable stage. Why, it even has a newly-built indoor pool on the roof. The tour ends at the indoor gymnasium, where boys are kicking soccer balls to each other. They are boisterous and obviously having a good time.
Blaine spots a young lad in the corner, sitting by himself. His drab green sweater is two sizes too large, and Blaine can tell it's a hand-me-down. The boy is reading a book, but he's secretly eyeing the others kicking the balls. Blaine suspects that he's too shy too join in. It reminds Blaine of his days attending Westerville's village school. Thank goodness he had Sam to encourage him to join in the games. Maybe he could be that person for the young lad.
When the boy sees Blaine approaching, he quickly shuts his book, places it behind him, and looks down.
"Hi, I'm Blaine. Do you mind if I sit down next to you?"
When the boy doesn't say a word, Blaine slowly sits down on the gymnasium floor. "I'm pretty good at sports. Do you want to kick the ball around with me?"
The boy merely looks away.
Blaine decides on another tactic, and takes a nickel out of his pocket. "The side that has the Indian is the head and the side that has the buffalo is the tail. When I toss it up in the air, you call out heads or tails. You get a point if that side is facing up when it lands, and I get a point if it doesn't. The first person to reach ten points wins the coin."
Blaine makes a fist and places the nickel on top. When he flicks his thumb, the coin flips high in the air.
"Heads!" the boy shouts.
Fortunately, the coin lands with the Indian facing up. They continue to play until the boy has reached the ten points. Blaine flips the coin so that it lands in the boy's lap. "You won the coin fair and square. What's your name?"
"Hans."
"How do you do, Hans? How old are you?"
"Nine."
Blaine had detected a slight accent when they were playing heads or tails. "Where are you from?"
"Münster, Germany."
A chill flashes at the back of Blaine's neck. The POW camp where he was detained for two years was near Münster. "You're a long way from home."
"We moved to America when Papa died."
"And how long have you lived here?
Hans counts on his hands. "Fifteen months."
"Your English is very good after just fifteen months."
"Mama was an English teacher in Münster," Hans replies and then looks at the boys playing ball.
"I'm sorry, do you want to play with the boys instead of talking to me?"
Hans shakes his head. "They don't like me. They say I'm the enemy."
Blaine's breath hitches. He thinks of Germans as the enemy, too, but it's impossible to blame a young child for the events of the Great War. It's really time to let the scars of war heal and mend fences.
"It must be difficult for you. I'm sure you won't believe me, but it will pass with time. People will learn that you are just like every other boy, no matter where you come from."
Hans gives Blaine a glare that conveys his disbelief that this will ever happen. Blaine decides to change the topic of conversation quickly. "I'm away from home, too. I'm from England. I miss my family and my home. I have a horse named Firebird. I used to ride him to this very special place by a lake and spend hours daydreaming. Is there anything you miss from Germany?
"I miss Oma and her Apfelstreuselkuchen."
Blaine shakes his head in laughter. He's spent enough time walking through Germany after the war to know that Apfelstreuselkuchen is a tasty apple streusel cake. "It's a good thing that I'm a chef, then. Would you like to come to my house next weekend? We'll make an Apfelstreuselkuchen, and you can tell me if it's as good as your grandmother's."
Hans licks his lips and nods.
"Very well. I'll talk to the Boys' Club counselor and your mama to get permission, but I doubt there will be a problem."
When Blaine leaves the Boys' Club, he whistles while walking to the subway station. He didn't expect to connect with a young boy today, especially a German. However, Hans seems to be a bright lad and very much in need of a friend. Blaine suspects that he'll learn a thing or two from Hans, too - empathy and forgiveness spring to mind.
Later that evening
Blaine sets down his book and heads to the kitchen to put the remaining Beef Wellington in the ice-box. It's already 11 PM and Kurt isn't home yet, which means that he probably went out with the lads from the airfield for dinner. Again.
He wishes that Kurt had telephoned him earlier that he wouldn't be home for dinner. Kurt knows that he was making a special meal for the two of them tonight. And there is so much that Blaine is bursting to tell Kurt. He wants to replay the lunch with his granny at Delmonico's and discuss various ideas for their restaurant. He wants to tell Kurt about meeting Hans and brainstorm various things that he could do with him. He wants to make plans for what they'll do the next day.
But he's alone. Again.
Once the kitchen is tidied up, Blaine sits in an armchair in the living room and reads more of the book by Sigmund Freud. He still can't figure out how his dreams about torture represent a penis. Blaine sets down the book, and he's not sure how to fill the time until Kurt comes home. He puts another log on the fire and looks around the room, smiling when he sets his eyes on the piano.
Blaine opens the piano bench and pulls out the new sheet music he purchased this week. He chuckles to himself when he sees the score for the new Bessie Smith song. He must have had a premonition when he bought it. After he does his usual warm-up exercises, he sets out the score on the music rack and begins to play and sing.
I've got the blues, I feel so lonely
I'll give the world if I could only
Make you understand
It surely would be grand
I'm gonna telephone my baby
Ask him won't you please come home
'Cause when you're gone
I'm worried all day long
Baby won't you please come home
Baby won't you please come home
Blaine stops playing when he hears a ruckus outside the front door. He goes to the window and pulls part of the curtain so that he can take a peek. His eyes open wide when he sees Kurt swaying in place, fumbling in his pockets, presumably to find his keys. A car is leaving, filled with men who are waving and shouting goodbye to Kurt.
Blaine opens the front door and Kurt staggers in, giggling his head off. He sits down on the bench to take off his boots, only to giggle some more.
"Where have you been?"
Kurt slurs, "After flying today, a bunch of us decided to go out on the town. I thought we were going out to eat, but we ended up at a nightclub in Harlem."
Blaine notices that Kurt's eyes are glazed, and he's having difficulty focusing on him. Kurt certainly is having problems untying his boot laces. "Have you been drinking alcohol?"
Kurt giggles some more. "It's called moonshine, Blaine. I might have had a drink or two."
Or three or six… and it's usually 150 proof! Blaine kneels down and takes off Kurt's boots for him. When they stand up, Blaine can smell the sour reek of moonshine and cigarettes. "Who's idea was it to go to Harlem? Was Elliott with you?"
"Elliott was with us, but he had to leave early to catch a train back to the base."
Blaine catches Kurt before he falls.
"Elliott's got a tattoo on his back. It's a rose, and it's really swell. Elliott thinks I should get a tattoo, too."
"What!"
Blaine can't even imagine something as vulgar as a tattoo on Kurt's creamy porcelain skin. And how did Kurt see Elliott's tattoo on his back?
"Don't be such a killjoy, Blaine. It won't be any place where anyone can see it. I'm thinking of having a plane tattoo on my butt. Elliott said it would really look good on my butt. Elliott thinks I've got a nice butt."
It's even worse than Blaine originally suspected. "Elliott saw your butt?"
Kurt giggles. "No, silly. Nobody gets to see my butt except you. And I want to see your pretty butt right now." Then Kurt firmly squeezes Blaine's buttocks as if to accentuate the point.
Blaine gently pushes Kurt's hands away. Normally he enjoys being groped by Kurt, but not tonight.
"There's lots of things I could do with your pretty butty butt butt. Let's go upstairs and do it right now. I'm horny."
"Absolutely not!" Blaine replies. He can't help but feel cheapened, especially when Kurt has been out with the lads, talking about butts.
"That's not what you said last Saturday night, mister. When I came home, you were quite happy to have sex. Now that I'm the one who wants it, you're acting like a prudish school girl!"
Blaine clenches his fists by his side. "Why are you yelling at me? I don't want to have sex on a night that you spent out with other guys, talking about how cute a tattoo on your butt would look. I have never felt less like being intimate with someone, and either you can't tell or you just don't care."
Kurt's skin pales to the point that his face almost looks green, and he promptly throws up on Blaine's feet. Blaine can feel the hot slippery mess seep from his slippers onto his feet, but he stays still and rubs Kurt's back. When Kurt has finished, he slumps on the floor.
Blaine goes to the toilet room to clean his feet. He should have anticipated that Kurt was going to vomit just by the way he was swaying. When he returns to the entrance with a towel and a pail of water, he cleans up the majority of the mess while Kurt sits with his eyes closed, groaning. Blaine lifts Kurt up, slings him over his shoulder, and slowly carries him up the stairs. Kurt is like a dead weight, but at least he's stopped talking about sex.
When Blaine sets Kurt out on the bed, he immediately begins to snore. Blaine makes quick work of undressing Kurt and placing a blanket over him. After changing into his nightclothes, Blaine looks at Kurt, who is mimicking a starfish sprawled out on the bed.
"Mmmm… love you," Kurt slurs, and settles back into sleep.
"I love you, too," Blaine whispers, and kisses him on the forehead.
In spite of everything, Kurt looks so peaceful and beautiful.
Blaine switches off the light and heads to the guest bedroom. After slipping under the cold sheets, his mind whirls. He doesn't want to act like a parent, telling Kurt what to do. However, he also knows that something has to change.
Author's notes
The song that Blaine plays on the piano is "Baby Won't You Please Come Home" performed by Bessie Smith (1919).
Thank you Klaineship2 on Tumblr for advising me on the German dessert.
Many thanks to my fantastic betas- Fearlessly, Lilyvandersteen, Dblmalfunction. I made the last-minute edits and performed the final proofreading by myself, so all mistakes are mine.
I'm HKVoyage on Tumblr.
Next up: Kurt's POV on the subject.