A Better Idea
Chapter Twenty-One
Ennis and Jack walked in the front door to hear the telephone ringing. As Jack picked up, he heard a dial-tone. "Guess we got here too late, Oh well, they'll call back if they want anything important." Jack said.
"Well I can think of something pretty important, that I want." said Ennis putting his arms around Jack, "Let's go upstairs, bud."
"You bet." said Jack, "Just let me grab a hunk a that cherry cake that mama made, and a glass a milk. You want some too, Ennis?"
"Yeah, and water, too. Hey, where's your mama keep her trays? Or a cookie sheet will do to carry all a this upstairs." Well laden down, Ennis headed up the stairs and Jack decided to get two forks and napkins. Might as well act like I got some table manners, he grinned to himself.
As Jack turned toward the stairway, the phone began to ring again. He put the items he was carrying on the dining table and went to answer the phone.
"Twist Residence."
"It always just gets me, to hear you say that." said Lureen. Jack swung around to check the clock. 2 p.m. Uh, oh. "Hey Lureen," greeted Jack, "what's up, honey?"
"A lot, Jack. A lot is up. Don't even know how to start. Hey, you got a few minutes, Jack? I really need to talk to you."
"Sure, I do, Lureen, though I do need to let everyone know I'll be a minute, and then get me a chair. Ok? Wanta hold on a sec?" As soon as Jack got that much out, he ran upstairs remembering to bring the forks and napkins, and told Ennis that Lureen was on the phone with something on her mind, and he'd be back as soon as he could.
Ennis was lying on the bed, naked. Jack stopped in the middle of the room to feast his eyes, and thought, That woman has some bad timing. He strode over to the side of the bed and kissed his man thoroughly, "I'll be right back, don't start without me." he grinned and loped down the stairs.
Settling himself backwards on a wooden chair, Jack grabbed the phone and tucked it under his chin on his left shoulder. "Okay, I'm back, Lureen. Sorry about the wait." His long fingers were fiddling with the coiled cord, while his heart pounded, wondering what she had on her mind.
"Jack, uh, first, I think it's best if you cancel that flight you made for Bobby for the end of this week. And you'll see why, when I finish telling you just a little bit of what's going on here. You wouldn't believe it Jack, I been thinking my head would split wide open with it all."
"Okay, I will cancel the flight." Said Jack. He did not add that he had intended to anyway.
"Well, there's so much happening, everything's changing all at once. But one of the first things that happened is we got an offer from some big New Mexico outfit to buy Newsome Farm Machinery & Equipment. It's a good offer, Jack! I talked this over with our accountant, Dean Lewis, and he thinks we ought to take it, or even counter a little higher."
"Wow" is all Jack could say. He never expected to hear this kind of news.
"Then there's mother. You know, since daddy's been gone two years now mother has been learning that she has all kinds of interests and has started wanting to travel, you've seen all that. How she's changing, right?"
Actually, Jack had noticed. And he'd liked his mother-in-law more every time he talked with her lately. "Uhhuh," he said cautiously, wondering what was coming.
"Well, the upshot of all this is, mother wants to sell their house and move back to Denver where she's from. Daddy gone, she's kind of homesick for her friends and family that's still up there. She wants a fresh start."
Good thing Jack was sitting down, "Whoa, that's a big move." he said.
"Yes, it is, and this is why I'm callin'. Me and mother and Bobby are going to head up to Denver to look around. See if she really wants to do this. I'm thinking we'll drive, and just take our time. See the countryside. You always seem to enjoy it, thought maybe we would too!"
"Okay." said Jack. He was reeling, these people did not change, they did not travel, they did not call him with life-changing events. Till now, anyway.
"So, I was thinkin' ,Jack. Could you meet us in downtown Denver then? We'll be at The Brown Palace, 321 17th Street. You need the phone number there? Sure, it's 1-800-321-2599. The brochure mother got says it's near the Zoo, we thought we might take Bobby over there to see that. Thing is, there's so much to do in that city, we're really looking forward to this trip."
"Anyway, if that's okay with you, that we change the plan, then we'll go ahead and make our hotel reservations. These Holidays have me all mixed up, this is Sunday, right? I'll make our reservation for tomorrow, Monday and we'll plan on being there a week. Yeah, I know it sounds expensive, but mother says not to worry about that, it's her treat. She's real excited."
"Yeah, George Farley will be covering the dealership for us, and Dean said he'd keep an eye on him. He'll come by every day to make sure the money is getting deposited in the right accounts and that all the paperwork goes out of the financing office correctly. Knowing Dean, he'll make sure all the T's are dotted and the I's are crossed!" She giggled over that. Her daddy always said that phrase backwards like that, she thought if was funnier than saying it the right way.
"Jack, I need you to come there to pick up Bobby for the summer, but I hope you can stay a few days, not just grab him and his stuff and rush off."
"Lureen, you know I need to be back here as soon as I can, I'm needed here. I do plan to stay a day or so, though, don't you worry."
"Well, Jack, I ain't exactly worried, you know? But, well, we uh, you and me do need to talk Jack, about some other things too."
"Yeah, we do. Are you aiming to say what we need to talk about, Lureen, or are you just gonna wait till I get there?"
"Jack, there's too much to go into on the phone. Tell you the truth, I've asked mother if she could take Bobby to the Zoo and the Museum of Nature and Science, and kind of keep him busy while you're there in Denver, so you and I can have some private time. Okay?"
"Sure, okay."
"But, your son Jack, do you know where your son has asked to go instead? The U. S. Mint. He wants to tour the mint."
"Lureen, that sounds good to me, too. Let me take him there, if you and Irene don't mind. You just do the zoo and other stuff."
"So when do you think you can make it down to Denver, Jack? Do you need time to think and plan? I know I've thrown you a monkey wrench, as the saying goes. You can call me back with that if you want."
"I'll be at the Brown Palace on Tuesday afternoon, before dinnertime. Expect me then." Jack stated decisively, "That's the day after tomorrow, Lureen, May 31st. Just saying it that way, cause this holiday has my days and dates all mixed up. See you then."
"Okay, Jack, see you in Denver on Tuesday afternoon."
Jack heard a click and the line went dead.
On Tuesday afternoon, Jack handed his ignition key to the Valet at The Brown Palace Hotel, made his way through the lobby of this grand old hotel to the elevator. The Elevator Operator nodded to Jack, and said " What floor, sir?" "Oh, three please."
Lureen was waiting in room 311, he had called ahead and told her he was in town and would soon be there. Both were nervous, but both had their minds made up and were determined, as well. So it made it a little easier on them.
Jack knocked, which seemed silly. This was his wife's room, wasn't it? But she opened immediately, and stepped back to admit him. Oh god, he looks so good to me, she thought. I hope I don't weaken, His affect on me is still strong, like a punch in the gut.
They came together in the middle of the room for a friendly, perfunctory kiss, like there was something else on their minds. Jack strolled to the window, "How do you ever get used to this view, Lureen?" right smack in front of him was the Rockies. He was used to mountains, but this view was majestic.
"I'm sure I don't know, Jack. It's stunning, isn't it? Say, do you need a sandwich or a drink?"
"I'll take some water, if you got it. Not drinkin' much these days."
That statement alone was a testimony to how much had changed since they'd seen each other last. She got his water, and neither one sat, they just kind of each took their corner. They paced a bit, quietly, nothing like a caged animal, they were feeling okay, so far.
"Well, Lureen, you said you and me had things to talk about. You wanna start?"
"Yes, I do, Jack. You know how my daddy always taught me to come right out with whatever was on my mind, especially the hard stuff, so I'm just gonna say it. I don't want to be married anymore, Jack. It's not you, Jack. It's"
He reached her in three strides, Jack grabbed Lureen Newsome Twist up into his arms and swung her around until her feet flew out, and he got so dizzy he was afraid he would drop her! He returned her to her feet, and felt pretty darn foolish, at that.
"Seems you aren't upset at what I've said. Was this what you wanted to talk to me about, too? Is there another woman in your life, Jack?"
"Yes, I've come to the same conclusion as you, Lureen. We've been friends, but we haven't been in love in ever so long. No, there's no other woman. What about you? Is there someone else?"
"No, Jack, no one else. Just me. I was so young when we married, I just feel that I never had a chance to learn to be me. I don't know what I want right now, but I want the freedom to find it for myself. Not for L.D. Newsome, and not for Jack Twist and not for Bobby Twist. I just want to find out what Lureen Newsome Twist wants to do or be or try."
"I see, Lureen, I never knew you felt this way, honey."
"It's been growing for some time, but these past four weeks or so that you've been gone has given me time to think, time to sort out who I was and what I wanted, or didn't want. I love you, Jack. Just not the way a wife should. We shoulda stayed friends, maybe. But then there was Bobby on the way, and we thought we were doing the right thing by each other. 'Sides with my daddy throwin' a typical L.D. Newsome fit, and showing the vein on the side of his neck about to burst, we did the only thing we knew to do."
'Yeah, I know what you mean. We have been good friends, but honey there's more to life than that. And I hope you find whatever makes you happiest, 'cause you deserve it. I found mine, Lureen."
"It's Ennis Del Mar, isn't it Jack?"
"Yes, it's Ennis. He's the love of my life. How did you know?"
"Well, funny thing, Jack. A wife has a certain sense about her husband. Not that it didn't take me all these years, cause it did. Something was always a little bit different, but I didn't work it out till I talked to him last week. Lord, was it only a week or two ago? The whole world has changed since then."
"There was something in his voice; so full of love, or familiarity, or some thing I could almost touch. He loves you right back, doesn't he Jack?"
"Yes, Lureen, he does. All these years he's been afraid to try, afraid for us to have a life together. But since daddy's stroke, he kind of gradually saw that when he came up to Lightning Flat on weekends to help out, to be a friend, that the world didn't come crashing down."
"We have so much to work out, nothing is certain, but I want to try for that life I've wished for with him. That's what I wanted to talk to you about."
"Men together. I know you couldn't have wanted this for yourself, Jack. But we don't get to choose who we love. I know that. I wish you happiness, I really do. I know it won't be easy for you. But what about Bobby?"
Jack let out a lungful of air in a huge sigh, "Lureen, I can't believe after all this time, that we are sitting here talking about this so calmly. I never expected it, and never thought you'd go along with me on it."
"It's timing Jack. Last year I probably would have gone to pieces on you, put you on a guilt trip and felt that I was justified, but I've changed. I've matured a little, but also I've seen that it's time for me to be a little bit selfish, and find out what I want to do with my life. Did you ever know that I had hoped to go into Broadcasting? See? I can still surprise you, can't I?"
"But you didn't answer me, Jack. What about Bobby?"
"I want him, Lureen. I want him full time, not just for the summer, but for always. Does that shock you? My dad had a boy, and for legitimate reasons, he didn't do what he should, didn't do right by me. I want the chance to have a life with Bobby, see him grow up, I want to do right by that boy if you'll let me."
And so it was settled, Lureen and Jack would divorce. She would file in Texas where they had married, and where their legal residence still was. They would go the route of the new "No Fault" divorce so neither one had to be made out to be the bad guy. Jack called his attorney from the hotel and told him to cooperate in every way with Lureen and her lawyer. Just get it done as quickly as possible. Jack gave him the Lightning Flat address as a permanent forwarding address.
They intended to sell everything except their vehicles, and divide it right down the middle. Of course, Irene owned 51 percent of the farm machinery business, but Lureen and Jack each held nearly a quarter interest. Lureen knew her mother was leaning towards accepting the offer of those New Mexico businessmen.
Jack took hold of Lureen, she reached her arms up around his neck. He kissed her warmly, and lovingly. She kissed back, then laid her face on his chest. There was music coming from the speakers in the ceiling of the hotel room, and Jack smiled down at his wife and said, "May I have this dance?"
On Wednesday, Jack took Bobby to the U. S. Mint and took one of the regularly scheduled tours. It was fascinating to both of them, to be sure. It was something they each enjoyed. Bobby hit Jack up for some big bucks in the Gift Shop when the tour was over.
Bobby had been told only that his mom and grandma Newsome were going to sell the business and the houses and move up to Denver in the next few weeks or months, as progress was made. Lureen had to find an apartment to rent for awhile, till she made some decisions about her future.
"In any case, this will be lots closer to you and your daddy, Lureen had explained to Bobby. This will be easier for visiting, than it would be goin' all the way back to Childress all the time. I will come up to Wyoming to visit you, and you can come down here to Denver to see grandma and me, whenever you want."
Bobby didn't know that Lureen had instructed her attorney to set up the agreement to permanent custody to his dad, allowing any and all visiting rights to her.
Thursday morning Jack, Bobby, Lureen and Irene were all gathered in the hotel room; saying goodbye, saying I'll write, saying I'll visit you. It was sad, but also happy like the beginning of a vacation or like a fresh start.
The two men of the Twist family started out heading north on I 25 toward Fort Collins, and then turned west on I 80 to Laramie. When Bobby started fidgeting, Jack decided to stop for some lunch and a walk to stretch their legs. They had plenty of time.
"When they finished their quarter pounders and fries, Bobby looked at Jack, and said. "You know, dad, I ain't a stupid kid. What's really going on?"
Jack just about choked on his fried apple pie. "What do you mean, son?"
"About you and mom, dad? You act like you ain't gonna be living in the same place any more. Don't you love each other no more?"
"Oh that, well, no. we ain't goin' a be living in the same place any more. You and me's goin a be in Wyoming, and mom and grandma's goin' a be in Colorado. That's kind of what everybody decided to do."
"About the love thing, Bobby. Your mom and I still love each other. Did we act mad back there at that hotel? See, though son, there's all kinds a love. Your mom and I do not love each other like a married couple ought to, but more like we was friends. Which is true, that's what we are. Okay? Does that answer your question?"
"I guess so, dad." said Bobby. "But dad, if you don't love mom, who do you love?"
"Hey, Bob. You want to tell me all about your end-of-school parties, and your water skiing out at Lake Kemp?"
"No, dad, you ain't even funny. Don't try to distract me like I was two years old again. Is that a hard question I asked?"
"No, son. It's not a hard question. I know the answer to it, for sure. It's just that I don't know how much you want to know right now, and how much you can just get used to over time."
"Dad, I'm seventeen years old. I believe I can handle it. She ain't my age, is she dad? Cause that'd be gross!"
Jack had to laugh at that, and realized that Bobby's imagination would be going a mile a minute until he told him everything. So it was best to stop putting if off, and just say it.
"Bobby, the person I love is not a girl at all. He's a man. It's Ennis Del Mar."
"Oh, gross dad! Your old friend? Your fishing buddy you've always told me about? You love him? Does he know it, dad? Do you kiss him?"
"You wanta stop there, son? Let me answer some a those questions? Or you just wanta keep on talking all the way to Riverton?"
"Riverton, I thought we was goin' a live in Lightning Flat, I think that's a cool name, dad."
Jack was mentally shaking his head. This boy had moved on from Do you kiss a man to Lightning Flat is a cool name all in the space of 3 seconds. Made him wonder how much Bobby really wanted to know at this time. He decided to wait, and let Bobby come back and ask again, if he really wanted information.
Bobby fell silent, just watching the scenery slide by. After a while he dozed.
Ah, he was a lucky man, that's for sure. He was beginning to realize that he really was free. Un-fuckin-believable! He could not wait, could not wait, till he reached Ennis to tell him all about it.
Jack was driving along remembering the afternoon after Lureen's last phone call. He had gone back upstairs to find Ennis dozing on his stomach, still naked as the day he was born. Under most circumstances, Jack would have made a good, rough afternoon of it, but he felt so uncertain about what Lureen's phone call actually meant, that he was quiet, thoughtful and loving.
On Monday morning, Jack and Ennis had driven out of the Twist's lane at the same time and headed for Riverton. Jack maintained that now Ennis had slept at his house, so he wanted to sleep at Ennis' place. He had intended to do this ever since the idea had come to him, even when he thought he'd be driving all the way to Childress. What did a few more miles mean, when you had the option of spending time with the love of your life?
So Monday night, Ennis hosted Jack at his place. They grilled steaks on Ennis' grill where he'd recently cooked for his girls. The food was the best Jack had ever tasted, since they left Brokeback. He was so complimentary he made Ennis blush.
Then Ennis said, "Come on, bud. Got somethin' a show you." He drove him over to the laudromat, and parked where he'd parked last week. He dropped the tailgate down, and they sat there looking at the stairs to the old apartment, sharing the memory of their reunion. They smoked one cigarette each, and then stirring themselves, said "let's go home and go to bed."
In the truck Ennis said, "I always wondered, Jack. How did you find me after four years?"
"I didn't, you found me."
"What are you talking about? I got the postcard you sent me; Ennis Del Mar, General Delivery, Riverton, Wyoming. How'd you know where to find me?"
"Didn't."
"Ennis, I sent the same thing to Signal, General Delivery, and to Worland, General Delivery, and to Sage, General Delivery, and to Dubois, General Delivery, and to Casper, General Delivery. Anyplace you'd ever mentioned to me that you'd spent more than twenty minutes in, I sent a card there."
"Yours from Riverton was the only one to come back, saying YOU BET, and the rest is history."
Luckily, they were back and pulling into the space in front of Ennis' trailer by this time, and they made a dash for the door. Not only to grab each other, but because they saw Edith Clark stepping out of her door, and they wanted to avoid a neighborly chat.
"I knew I never could thank you enough for looking for me, Jack Fuckin' Twist, I've always been so thankful that you knew where to look. Now I see how hard you worked to find me, darlin' . I cannot get over all those post cards you sent. And all this time, I thought it was just one postcard saying "Drop me a line if you can, say if your there."
"Yep, it was quite a few."
"Jack, I have never loved you more than I do right this minute. When I think what my life would have been like if you hadn't sent all those post cards. I tremble just thinking about it. And if you hadn't driven all those miles from Texas all these years, to see me a couple times a year. Jack, you've saved my life over and over and over again. A person would get the idea that you were kinda stuck on me." Ennis twinkled at Jack. Light came poking out of his mouth and his eyes, everywhere on his face just beamed.
"A person would be right, Cowboy. I am stuck on you, and don't forget, while I was saving your sorry ass, I was saving my own at the same time!"