A Better Idea - Chapter 48
June 8, 1984
Genre: BBM
Pairing: Ennis + Jack 4 Ever
Disclaimer: I created the OC's but not the O/S characters. They belong solely to the author, Annie Proulx, with some tweaking by Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana. No money is being made, nor fame and fortune of any kind.
Disclaimer #2: This story is unbeta'd so you have no one to blame but me for typos, errors or controversy.
Rating: The basic premise of ABI is that two men love each other. If you don't like m/m slash, you won't like ABI either.
A/N #1 - Huge THANK YOU to all my readers who are still hanging on. I will post the second half of this chapter in a few day - your patience is appreciated.
A/N #2 - I enjoy reading other author's fics, and they inspire me to continue to write. But this story, this ABI Universe is my original work. Any similarities, yadda, yadda, coincidence.
A/N #3 – Dedicated to the Memory of Heath Ledger; He will never be forgotten.
Feedback: You bet. () I hope you like it.
Chapter 48
Several minutes passed; Ennis was lying quietly on his side of the bed. His breath came in gasps at first, but slowly he was able to regain his normal composure. The sweat was beginning to cool and dry on his body.
"What's on your mind, Ennis? Why so quiet?"
"Thinking about us, bud. Bein' home in our own bed'n all. Just you'n me. After all these years."
"You mean how you still drive me so crazy, just one look from you has me panting?"
Reaching over to tweak Jack's nipple, he answers, "No, I mean how you still drive me so wild when you give me that "fuck me" look, I have to have you right then, right there. You're lucky that this time we made it to the bed!"
"Bed, floor, in a stall on the straw, makes me no never mind. When I need you, Cowboy, that's all I can think of."
Thoughtfully, Ennis appreciated the truth of this statement. "yup."
"Wasn't nothing better than rolling to the ground together back on Brokeback, right there in front of God and everybody. The dirt didn't matter; wherever we was . . ." Jack's voice dwindled off as in a dream.
Ennis looked at his lover's relaxed face, then rolled atop him. "You goin' asleep on me, Twist? What if I got more plans for you, boy?"
Jack squinted up at Ennis and his mouth crept up in a one-sided smile. "You got another round in you, old man? Bring it on!"
Forty minutes later, the pair was in the bathroom taking turns shaving, showering and uh, other things. Teeth brushed, hair combed, Jack slapped Ennis on the ass and said, "see you in the kitchen, I'll start the coffee."
Before he could take two steps, Ennis whirled on him and grabbed him in a tight clutch around his shoulders and chest. Standing firmly against Jack's back, Ennis turned his mate to the large mirror that was still a bit fogged up. Ennis put his head over Jack's left shoulder, and nuzzled their freshly shaved faces together. Beginning to hum "Here comes the bride" into Jack's ear, he said "Do you have any idea how much I love you, Jack?"
"That wedding's got you all sentimental again, ain't it?"
"I guess."
"I love you too, Ennis. But I hope you ain't goin' to get all mad and upset over this thing again. It hurts me to see you like that."
"It don't make you mad, Jack? That anyone and everyone, suited to each other or not, can get married, but we can't?"
"Well sugar" Oops, did I say that out loud? "No. I can truthfully say it don't bother me if ignorant people won't let us get married. I been married Ennis, it don't mean what you want it to mean, not all the time. You were married to Alma. Did that make your love last forever? Were you more in love because you said those vows and signed that paper?"
"No. But I was different, Jack. I'd already found the love of my life. It wasn't Alma's fault that our marriage didn't "cure me" of loving you. Nothing could do that, nothing ever will."
"I love you too, sugar. And I know seeing Junior in that white bridal gown, standing up there next to Kurt, making their vows in public really got to you;
both as her daddy, and as a man who loves another man but is not allowed to marry him."
"I don't mean to say that I resent Junior's right to marry her Kurt."
"Know that you don't, but it's never gonna happen that two men can marry each other, so please don't torture yourself over this again, Ennis. Please."
Their eyes met in that mirror, and Jack saw that Ennis was struggling with this truth, even as he attempted to resign himself to the facts. They were married in their own eyes, and those of their families, and he'd have to be content with that. Forever.
Ennis ran his thumb down Jack's jaw, and then squeezed him one more time before saying "Y'gotta go. Your husband needs his coffee."
Stopping at the doorway, Jack said "Ennis?"
"Yeah?"
"If the day ever comes, you know, that we could get married?"
"Yeah?"
"I know you'd look lovely in a lacey white wedding gown."
Before Jack could duck, he had a soggy bath towel slapping up the side of his head. He laughed, he ran . . . and they began their day.
&
Three days earlier, everyone was in Riverton making their preparations to go to the Methodist Church for the three p.m. Del Mar – Rawlins wedding. The pews reserved for Family already were festooned with big white ribbons and seasonal blooms. In this case, it was a mixture of baby's breath and purple and yellow violets.
The organist and Jenny had practiced one last time this morning, and now both were resting and waiting . . . their clothes for the wedding hanging on padded hangers on the door hooks in their rooms.
Monroe and his crew of caterers had worked all morning on this the wedding day itself, in order that everything would be fresh this afternoon. They combined melon balls and berries for the fruit salad, several plates of sliced cheeses, trays of assorted crackers, and tiny chicken salad sandwiches. It was all wrapped and tucked away in the church hall's refrigerators, already in serving bowls and platters. There was nothing else to be done but enjoy it.
The father of the bride was perusing the Registry of the Jack's Pine Motel to see who was checked in and who was not. Ennis would not allow himself to admit which name he was seeking over all the others; which one would make his happiness complete . . . because he was not sure she would come today.
He knew that KE and his family were here, Ennis' heart was full of gladness over having his brother with him for this occasion. He had taken them to meet Junior and Kurt yesterday morning. Never having a Del Mar relative before in her life, Junior hadn't been sure what to expect from the uncle and aunt. She needn't have worried. KE didn't look exactly like her daddy, but he sure sounded like him, and some of his gestures were spot on images of Ennis.
His wife, Barbie, was warm and generous; a real sweetheart. Within thirty minutes of having met the young couple, Aunt "B", as she'd asked them to call her, had offered to lend Junior a silver ankle bracelet for the wedding. She already had the somethings old, new, and blue. So now she'd solved the "something borrowed" requirement. Unlike her usual reserved self, Junior leaned in to her new aunt and kissed her cheek. "Thank you, Aunt "B", I'd be honored to wear your ankle bracelet for our wedding."
The twins missed their older brother Noah terribly, so they took to Kurt like white on rice. They asked him a million questions, and Kurt gamely answered them, as well as riddles, puns, and lots of silly knock knock jokes. Junior couldn't help but admire him and think what a wonderful father he would be some day.
Ennis suggested that they all have an early lunch together as the rehearsal dinner wouldn't be for hours yet. Later this evening, more of the out-of-towners would have arrived, and there would be so many to meet and greet.
The only nervous moment Ennis had allowed himself was when he introduced Jack to KE. Of course, KE had already met Claire, and was quite taken with her for her outspoken love and support of her boys, and the way she had won over his twins in the blink of an eye.
Both groups met outside the Main Street Café as Ennis had planned. KE and his wife greeted Mom affectionately and then were introduced to John.
KE's eyes sought and held Jack's as he reached out to shake the hand of the man Ennis loved. Jack Twist eagerly shook his "new" brother-in-laws hand. Both men unnecessarily told their own name.
"Twenty-one years." Stated KE.
"Yeah, twenty-one years." Confirmed Jack, and then he blushed.
Barbie wasn't having any of this formality. She rushed over and threw her arms around Jack and squeezed him tight. "You couldn't possibly know how glad I am to meet you, Jack Twist."
Jack ducked his head, and said "I think I might have an idea though."
Barbie clasped Ennis and Jack's hands in hers and looked from one to the other. "You're making it happen, and that gives me such new hope for Noah and Paul."
John was teasing the twins about having taught their Uncle Ennis everything he knew about horses. KE overheard and decided to let it go for now. He was more interested in watching the family dynamics between the Twist parents, Ennis and Jack, and Ennis' daughter Junior and her soon to be husband. He noted the love and respect that shone from face to face and the affectionate way the three generations of family members touched each other so frequently and freely. Even the fiancé'. KE knew Ennis was making up for lost time, having a family of his own to replace the one they'd lost so many years ago. KE recognized it, because it had been important for him to do the same thing.
In the two weeks between the brothers first visit at Shoshoni, and this one the day before the wedding in Riverton, they still did not write letters to each other. They had, however, spent a lot of money with Ma Bell, the telephone company.
They each brought the other up to speed on where they'd been, what they'd done, and KE finally understood that his brother and Jack were still honeymooners. Most of their years "together" . . . they were not actually together. But he also could recognize in Ennis' voice that the connection and the love was born twenty one years ago, and they counted themselves as together since then, no matter their struggles or their marriages.
The group enjoyed a light lunch served by both Brenda and Seth, as this was the only time of day that their schedules overlapped. Afterwards, Ennis and Jack showed the Del Mar family the mural across the street in the post office.
"1942, you say?" KE asked.
"Yep." Jack and Ennis confirmed in unison.
"Jesus Christ, this artist nailed you both and you didn't even exist yet."
"nope."
Following all the back-slapping and head bobbing, everyone left to run errands, or rest in their rooms, or in Barbie's case, she was going to take the twins to the park to run off some of that eleven year old energy. KE hadn't admitted it, but she could tell that he was worn out from excitement and pushing himself to continue the visiting and partying. He could use a nap or some time with his feet up, before the rehearsal dinner later tonight.
Junior and Kurt needed to double check all the details for the rehearsal in the church tonight, and for the informal barbeque style rehearsal dinner for such a large crowd. Most of the Rawlins side of the family would be arriving in the next two or three hours, so there was no time to lose.
&
The rehearsal went well. Junior wore jeans and her favorite brown blouse that showed off her eyes. Her veil was made from a paper plate, with streamers of ribbons that had come off her many shower gifts.
Her bouquet was a smaller paper plate and more ribbons trailing all colors and shiny surfaces.
Her bridesmaids all wore jeans and pastel shirts, and carried folded comic pages from the Sunday papers, artfully disguised as colorful nosegays. Alma had showed the girls how to make these a few days before at a Bridal Tea for Junior.
TBC