Chapter Four: Secrets
It was cold on the streets of New York and the Christmas bustle made it hard to get around. Marilin had stars in her eyes. She kept turning her head to get a look at every window. Ryo being the mother hen that he is wouldn't let go of her hand, so she could not spend as much time as she would have liked Looking at the windows at Macy's. She was still acting a little cold towards him.
Ryo noticed her holing back for the fifth time since they had gotten off the subway. She was staring at one of those old fashion metal toy trains. It was circling a huge Christmas tree that was taller then the two story Macy's window. Ryo knelt down so that they were on the same level.
"Did you have a train like that at your house?" Ryo Asked. "My Aunt and Uncle had one like that; I really liked it when I was your age. We would always send Christmas Eve at there house. My dad kept saying that he was going to take me on a trip on a train like that just the two of us, but then I grew up and we ran out of time." 'Man, Christmas is always so full of bad memories. I wish I could have at least one happy Christmas, but I guess that all depends on Dee.' "Hey you know what I should ask my uncle if I could borrow that from him." Ryo said as he stood up and brushed off his knees.
"Oh look we'd better hurry or were going to be late." Ryo took Marilin's hand and they disappeared back into the crowd.
"Ryo you back yet?" Dee hollered into the clearly vacant apartment. Dee dropped the videos on the coffee-table and plopped down into the sofa. "ugh, where is he?" Dee asked to no one in particular as he checked his watch.
'What did he say he was doing? Oh wait more errands. What is he up to? I know it's something. Drake was saying some really weird things about Ryo and someone, he did not really want to talk about I, but it didn't sound like anything big at the time but … Ohmigod what if there's some one else. Oh god that would make perfect sense. I was his first guy. Now that he's comfortable with his sexuality why would he stay with me? I'm good looking that's for sure, but Ryo's safisticated and I'm not I can't even say the word safisticated right. Why would he stay with me he could have any man or woman he wants? Ryo's a nice guy we did move in together pretty quickly what If he's just having a hard time saying good bye because he does not want to hurt me. And what Cheating on me is not going to hurt me. Wait Dee, listen to yourself. Ryo cheating on you. He loves you he's told you he told you this morning. Ryo could never say that if he didn't mean it. It took him two year to say it the first time. Besides he took Marilin with him that would make no sense if he was going to go see his boyfriend. That is if he has another boyfriend, witch he does not.' Dee began rapidly pacing the living room. He knocked the phone off in his haste. He made to put it back on the hook when he dialed their voicemail.
'If Ryo was seeing some one there would be evidence, a series of hung up calls or maybe if the guy was risky an actual massage.' Dee tapped his foot while the cordless rang. The voice machine came on and he hit '1' before the automated voice finished speaking.
"So here we are"
The bell tinkled as they walked through the door to the Fifth Av. Jewelry store, 'Adam's Jeweler.' The store was small. It had light blue walls and was lined with glass cases. The store Keep was showing a collection of ruby and diamond earrings to an elderly couple. Marilin was looking in the nearest case. There was a collection of diamond tiaras. Photos in the back of the cases showed models wearing them on there wedding day. Ryo went to stand behind her but she moved to go sit in an arm chair by the door when she heard him there.
"Good day Mr. and Mrs. Linseik, I hope I'll be seeing you again." The Shop keep waved as the elderly couple walked out with a pink bag tied with white ribbon clearly happy with their purchase, or at least Mrs. Linseik looked happy.
"Hello Mr. Mclean you're here to pick up your ring right?" the Shop Keep said as he walked into the back room.
"Yes I made it just on time I had a harder time getting a way this morning then I thought I would." Ryo said walking over to the glass case in the back of the room.
"Here we go a size ten white gold wedding band with the initials FM & KM and the initials RM & DL." He said as he opened the box and handed Ryo the ring. "Might I ask who this little trinket is for it's quite an exquisite piece?" He asked looking up at Ryo. He had to hold his side to keep from falling over in laughter. The old man's spectacles made his eyes appear three times they're regular size and he looked like a cartoon character looking up at him and blinking like that.
"It was my fathers ring. My sister … Rachel is proposing to her boyfriend and she asked me to send this out to her, she lives in Colorado. I had the band engraved as a wedding present to the both of them." Ryo said looking down at his feet. That was a pretty good lie for him maybe he was spending to much time with Dee, but Ryo didn't get the impression that this old man would approve of his proposal to Dee.
"So sure he'll say yes."
"Well they have been together for a while so I don't see why he wouldn't. There good together … At least that's the way I see it." Ryo said maybe a little too shaky. He was not much of a liar and he was beginning to feel uncomfortable. He paid the bill and took Marilin (by the hand) and walked out of the "Adams Jeweler." "Hey Marilin" Ryo said why the bell tinkled behind him, "I bet your hungry. Why don't we go pick up some Japanese take out and bring it home to Dee. He finally learned how to use chopsticks, but I think he still needs more practice. We'll have to help him.
There are no messages in your mail box the voice said through the speaker.
"Ugh" 'I knew Ryo was to smart to fall for that.' Dee walked into their bedroom in a huff or at least what he use to consider their bedroom it didn't feel like it was his any more. He pulled open the draw to Ryo's night stand. 'Nothing! Why would there be? Ryo's not dumb enough to let him leave a message why would he leave anything lying around the apartment. He wouldn't not where I could find it. Where would I never look? Where, Where? think Dee think!
Dee flopped down on the bed in defeat. He ran his hands through his hair. Biting his lip he promised himself he was not going got cry. 'I have no proof I'm just being paranoid. Ryo spends all his time with me anyways. When could he find the time to cheat on me? You have nothing to worry about Ryo loves you and you know it.' Sighing Dee went in to the Kitchen to make some coffee and wait for his, his lover.
The Japanese restaurant was one of Ryo's favorites. The place always smelled of grilled chicken and beef and of course fresh fish. The aroma does not seem appealing, but with Narako cooking everything smelled good. "The Japanese Market's" door was in the side of an ally way it always appeared strange to tourist to see the long line of New Yorkers Business men and bums alike lined up to get an order of Narako's famous cooking.
Ryo couldn't stop thinking about Dee. That shopkeeper had really gotten to him. He had been so sure Dee would say yes, but then again Dee never seemed like the type of person who would want to settle down. Looking over at Marilin he thought 'then again …'
Ryo leaned against the brick wall and slid down to Marilin's level. He pulled the band out to look at it. "You know this really was my fathers ring. There are their initials my Mom's and Dad's" He said to her pointing them out to her. "I even had that man back there add mine and Dee's on, see there." Ryo pocketed the ring and looked over at her. "You think he loves me don't you? because I really love him. I mean I know Dee's a bit of a goof but he's my goof you know what I mean."
"Order up for Mclean" Narako called from over the counter.
"Thanks Narako." Ryo said taking the bag of food.
"No problem, it is my job after all. So you and Dee have a romantic afternoon planed or something?" Narako asked laughing.
"No, today we're playing the role of babysitter, nothing romantic in that." Ryo said pointing wit his head down at Marilin.
Narako leaned over the counter to get a better look at her. He laughed and handed her another Fortune cookie apologizing for over looking her. He was still laughing as they head out back in to the cool afternoon air.
Ryo picked Marilin up and put her so she was sitting on his shoulder. "I have the whole thing planed out, how I'm going to propose that is." He said leaning his head back a little making her giggle. "I tell you but you have to pinky swear not to tell" he said holding his pinky up. She took intertwined it with her own and shook. "Okay now that I know your trust worthy, you are right?" she took his head in her hands and pushed it up and down in a nodding motion. "Alright then just checking, so where was I? Oh yah proposal plans. I'm going to pop the question real smooth" He said dragging out his words.
"Picture this Christmas eve. Were in bed, Bikky, that's my son by the way, will be over at Carols her aunt already invited him. Some bubbly will be close at hand, we'll be full from a wonderful meal I'll have prepared myself, and hopefully it'll snow we've had white Christmas's the past couple of years so I'm really counting on snow. I'll pop the question when Dee's least expecting it and if all goes as planed He and I'll will be spending Christmas as each others Fiancée." A younger girl made a rude noise from behind them and sped up to pass them, apparently she did not at all pleased that Dee was a he or that such a romantic evening and perfect proposal was going to be 'wasted' on two guys. Marilin watched her walk off and Ryo could feel her eyes following her. "You just can't pay any attention to stuff like that some people are just naive." Ryo said squeezing her legs a little. 'I had just reached a good place with Marilin. I hope she has not just ruined that.' but it seem quite the contrary Marilin just leaned over so that her head was resting on the top of Ryo's and wrapped her arms around his neck.
