Alex in Wonderland (The Wonderland Series Book 1) (26 page)

Alex’s stomach turned over. “Jesus,
Cord! I…I was there when he fell!”

“Huh?”

Alex sat down hard as realization
washed over him. “We had a sort of argument. He wouldn’t tell me where you
unless I paid him, and after…after I got the address I refused to give him the
money and told him to go fuck himself. He lunged at me and…and fell down the
steps.” Alex’s face streamed tears. “I left him lying there, Cord. I swear I
didn’t know how badly he was hurt. I figured he was just an old drunk who fell
down all the time.”

Cord sat too and put his arms
around Alex. “That’s exactly what he was, and you sure as hell shouldn’t blame
yourself. It would’ve happened sooner or later, and frankly I’m glad you had a
hand in it.”

Alex dabbed his eyes with the cuffs
of his robe. “That’s an awful thing to say.”

“No, it’s not. It’s retribution,
plain and simple. An eye for an eye, and it makes me feel a lot closer to you.”

“Really?” Alex frowned. “It gives
me the creeps.”

Cord’s smile was fleeting. “Let me
tell you something else. The last time I saw you I said my old man tried to
kill me, remember?” Alex nodded. “I was too big for him to beat any more, but
that didn’t keep him from heaping on the verbal abuse. What a failure I was.
How I would never amount to anything. Shit like that. He told me I ought to get
the hell out of his house and move to Key West
with the rest of the fags. He was just trying to hurt me because he didn’t know
I was gay, and when I told him the truth he went nuts. He grabbed a butcher
knife and said he wanted to kill every queer in the world, starting with me.”

“Sweet Jesus!”

“He was so damned drunk I didn’t
have any trouble getting away, and that was the last time I saw the
sonovabitch.”

“I…I can’t believe any of this,”
Alex said. “It just gets crazier by the minute.”

“Now you know how I feel when I’m
around you.” Cord thought for a very long moment. “Maybe I’m certifiable, Alex,
but do you think maybe we’re meant to be crazy together?”

Alex was reeling. “Please tell me
you’re serious.”

“Serious as a heart attack.”

“But what you just said, about me
always taking the easy way out—?”

Cord shook his head. “A
minute ago I ignored what you said about me coming out to my father, but I was
wrong. Talking about him made me realize I was a hypocrite. There was no
fortune at stake and I still couldn’t face him. I had to be pushed to the max
to tell him the truth, and I now realize how you handle it is your business.”

“
Our
business,” Alex said.
He almost fainted with relief as Cord hugged him. “Whoa! You’re freezing me.
Get out of those damned wet clothes and let’s get back in bed. I want us to make
some plans.”

Cord stripped again and hurried
after Alex. Back in bed, they nestled spoon-fashion with Alex’s back against
Cord’s chest. Cord toyed with the blonde curls. “If you’re thinking about going
to France, I
don’t have a passport.”
 

Alex grinned. “Certain people might
not agree, but you don’t need a passport to go to the Garden District.”

“Isn’t that your folks’
neighborhood?”

“Yeah.”

“Why would I want to go there?”

“Because it’s time Mother met you, and
time I told Daddy Dearest I was gay. Let’s see. Tomorrow’s Sunday so everyone
should be at home.”

Cord was dumbfounded. “After all we
just talked about, you want to come out to your old man right now? Won’t that
screw up everything with Jackie? I mean, what about the money?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep Jackie’s
secret. Once Daddy knows I’m gay I’m betting he won’t want to have anything to
do with either of us, but if he does I’m ready for him. I’ll probably get
thrown out of the house, but that’s fine too because I can leave with a clean
conscience. You and I can sail off into the French sunset and live happily ever
after.”

“I just hope you know
what you’re doing.”

“I was never so sure of anything in
my life, Cord. This whole day has been filled with miracles. I feel rejuvenated
and re-energized and I see no reason why the magic can’t continue.” He snuggled
closer and hummed a few bars of
Love will Find a Way.
“I still can’t
believe we’re back together. The Man Upstairs sure saved the best surprise for
last.”

Cord shifted his weight. “The Man
Upstairs had nothing to do with it, Alex.”

“How do you know?”

“Instead of thanking God, you
should thank your friend Jolie.”

Alex sat up. “Huh?”

“He called me in Key
West last week and told me I owed it to myself to see
you one final time. He didn’t mention Jackie or the wedding or anything else
for that matter, and when I told
him
Chandler
and I were going our separate ways I felt like it was some kind of sign. The
only real coincidence is that I arrived on your wedding day. I was supposed to
get here yesterday but I had trouble with that damned old truck.”

“God, help me,” Alex moaned. He
slid down in bed and pulled the covers over his head. “I feel like I’m falling
down that damned rabbit hole again!”

Cord slipped under the covers too.
“Don’t worry, baby. I’ll pull you back out.”

“Promise?”

Cord gathered him into his arms.
“Always.”

4
4

Fasten Your Seat Belts!

“Wow!
Look at that!”

As the
Lamborghini swung into the driveway and glided to a halt, Cord leaned out the
window and gawked. Restoration work with
Chandler
had given him a crash course in nineteenth century
Southern architecture, and he recognized a masterpiece. The Sumner house was
two stories of 1850s Italianate splendor set behind a fence of wrought iron
morning glories. More iron grillwork wrapped gracious galleries, and fountains
and sculpture dotted Karen’s antique rose gardens.

“You know
what, Alex? This will be the fanciest house I’ve ever been in without buying a
ticket.”

“Well,
don’t get too excited.” Alex parked the Lamborghini and climbed out. “It won’t
be long before we’re thrown out of it.”

Cord
followed him up the steps and caressed the floral ironwork. “Damn. This is
really a work of art.”

“Yeah, I
guess so.” Considering the confrontation staring him in the face, Alex couldn’t
focus on historic architecture. He unlocked the front door. “C’mon, babe. It’s
show time.”

Cord
whistled at the opulence of the foyer’s black and white marble floors, a French
chandelier twelve feet tall and a mahogany spiral staircase. “You know what,
Alex? Now that I see all this up close, maybe we should rethink things. I mean
first that incredible car out there, and now this house—”

Alex’s
next words put everything in perspective. “Careful, Cord. You’re sounding like
the old me!”

Cord
looked sheepish. “You’re right. Now I really understand how all this glamour
could turn a guy’s head.” He whistled again. “Wow!”

“Who’s
whistling down there?”

They looked
up as Karen Sumner waved from above. Since they’d never met, Cord had no frame
of reference, but Alex noticed the change right away. Not only did his mother
radiate a strange new confidence, but she looked different too. The trademark
couturier clothes were gone, displaced by a look that could only be called Jazz
Baby. Swathed in silks, beads and turban, shoulders draped in a fringed piano
shawl, Karen channeled Auntie Mame as she descended the grand curved staircase.
All she needed to burst into song, Alex mused, was a bugle.

“My God,
Mom!” Alex beamed as she reached the bottom step. “You look fabulous!”

“Thank
you, darling. A new look for the new me.” She offered her cheek for a kiss
while giving Cord the once-over. “My word! Who have we here?”

“This is
Cord Foster, Mom. Cord, meet my mother.”

Cord
blushingly obliged when Karen offered her cheek for a kiss. “Nice to meet you,
Mrs. Sumner.”

“You too,
my dear. And please call me Karen.” She looked back at Alex, puzzled. “Is this
the young man from
Key West
?”

“Yes.”

Thin,
penciled eyebrows rose like question marks. “I’m afraid I don’t understand. I
thought you two—”

“We
patched things up,” Alex said.

“Really?”
Karen clapped her hands together and beamed. “So you're an item again?"

"I
guess so," Cord said, blushing.

"How
wonderful!” Karen gushed.

Alex
happily memorized the next moment as his mother embraced him, then Cord, then
him again. It’s one thing to tell a mother you’re gay, he thought, and quite
another to introduce her to your lover. Karen handled it as smoothly as he’d
hoped, and when she stepped back everyone’s eyes were gleaming. Karen stemmed
her tears with a joke.

“Will I
need another mother-of-the-groom gown?”

“No!” the
men chorused. Everyone laughed.

“No more
weddings,” Alex added, “although I’d marry this guy in a heartbeat if he
asked.”

Karen
studied Cord for a moment. “So you’re the gentleman who refused the reward
money? Well done! I must applaud your honesty.”

 
“Thank you.” Cord’s humility and shyness made
Alex fall in love with him all over again.

“You’re
welcome.” Karen turned back to Alex, suddenly serious. “Since you brought Cord
along I assume you have something very important to tell your father.”

“You
better believe it.”

“He’s in
the library with the Sunday paper, and I should warn you he’s in a foul mood.

He’s been
snarling at Jedediah and me all morning. I finally fled to my room for some
peace and quiet. Jedediah’s holed up too.”

“What’s
Daddy so mad about? Not that he ever needed a reason.”

Karen
shrugged. “He’s probably still steaming over the wedding. He went to his club
after the reception and didn’t come home until all hours.”

“Well,
Mom, I’m about to get him steamed up all over again, so if you’d rather not
watch the fireworks—”

“Are you
kidding?” Karen squeezed his arm. “I’ve waited for this moment so long I
wouldn’t miss it for the world!”

The
library’s double doors were closed, a long-standing signal that the man inside
was not to be disturbed. Alex walked right over and pounded with his fists. The
response was immediate and thunderous.

“Who the
hell is it?”

“Your
son!” Alex shouted back.

Through
waiting for permission, Alex opened the door and faced his nemesis. Randolph
Sumner was ensconced behind his desk, poring over the newspaper. He looked up and
glared as Alex came into the library, Cord and Karen a few paces behind.

Sumner
was immediately suspicious. “What are you doing here? Why aren’t you on your
honeymoon?”

“The
honeymoon’s over, Daddy. In more ways than one.”

Sumner’s eyes
darted over his shoulder, lighting briefly on Cord before moving on to Karen.
He snorted at his wife’s colorful ensemble. “What the hell are you dressed up
for? Mardi Gras?”

Karen
smiled but did not answer. She was, Alex thought, as confident and enigmatic as
Alice
’s Cheshire Cat.

Sumner
glared at Cord. “Who are you?”

“Cord
Foster, sir.” It was lost on no one that Cord did not move closer or offer his
hand. “We’ve never met, but we’ve talked on the phone.”

           
“Is
that so?”

Alex knew
much of his father’s success was due to an uncanny ability to memorize every
face and name he encountered. He enjoyed Sumner’s momentary confusion before
solving the puzzle.

“Cord
turned me in and refused the ransom, Daddy.”

Sumner
rose but remained behind the desk. “So that’s it, eh? You’ve changed your mind
and want the reward after all?” He shot Alex a smug look. “And since you’re
losing your inheritance you’ve decided to cash in this guy and split the
profits. Well, if you think you’re going to waltz in here and—”

“I don’t
want your damned money,” Cord interrupted, booming through Sumner’s loud
accusations. When Sumner hushed, Cord put an arm around Alex’s shoulders. “All
I want is your son, and I’m going to have him whether you like it or not.”

Sumner’s
gaze narrowed. “What the hell are you talking about?”

With Cord
protectively beside him and his mother radiating encouragement, Alex took a
deep breath and expelled the truth.

“I’m gay,
Daddy!”

The three
little words exorcised years of misery, deceit and self-loathing, and Alex
trembled a little as he felt more emotional burdens lift away. It was like the
day he had told his mother the truth, and he reveled in a freedom that was
almost cosmic. Its sweetness was made more so by the shock contorting his
father’s face.
 

“You’re
what?!”

“You
heard me,” Alex said. “I’m a homosexual, or as you prefer to call us, faggots
and queers. Well, this is the fag with whom I plan to spend the rest of my
life. We just wanted you to know.”

Sumner’s
fist crashed onto the desk. “Wait just a goddamned minute!”

“For
what?” Alex asked with maddening calm. “We really have nothing more to say.”

“Except
good-bye,” Cord added.

They
headed for the door, but Sumner's thundering voice turned them around. “Wait
just a damned minute! Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?”
 

Neither
Alex nor his mother had ever seen him so enraged, but neither was frightened.
As for Cord, Alex knew he had witnessed far worse outbursts and duly noted the
man's clenched fists.
 

Sumner’s
face blazed like someone having a heart attack. “Why the hell would a queer get
married? It’s Frenchie’s money, isn’t it? You figured if you were financially
independent you could humiliate and embarrass me. Well, you better think again!
I’ll tell your poor deluded wife the truth, and she’ll throw your sorry faggot
ass out on the street!”

Alex was
coolness personified. “It won’t work, Daddy. Jackie knows everything about me
and she doesn’t care.”

Sumner
didn't see that coming. “I…I don't believe you," he sputtered. "Why
in God’s name would a woman like that marry some queer?"

“The
Europeans have far less sexual hang-ups than we Americans,”’ Alex replied
smoothly. “Especially the French.”

“Bullshit!”
Sumner boomed. “I may not know much about French morals but I sure as hell know
when someone’s trying to pull a fast one. I’ve battled corporate barracudas for
thirty
years and I can smell a scam a
mile away!”

As his
father’s son, Alex fully expected this argument. “You’d better not stick your
nose were it doesn’t belong, Daddy. Cord and I were planning on moving to
France, but if you keep messing around with my life I’ll stay right here and
become the most vocal, most radical gay activist in the state of Louisiana!”

“So will
I,” Cord said.

“Want to
know something else, Daddy? Having a gay son won’t look so hot to those family
values hate groups you’ve been underwriting. The newspapers will have a field
day doing stories about the homophobic tycoon with a gay activist son.”

“You’re
bluffing!” Sumner snarled.

“You
wish!” Alex returned fire with both barrels blazing. “I’ve watched you a lot of
years, Daddy. Watched and learned to get as down and nasty as the competition.
Remember my schoolmate Stacy Knight? She’s a reporter with the
Times-Picayune
now, and I’m sure she’d appreciate an exclusive from an old friend.”

“I still
say you’re bluffing!”

Alex
pulled out his cell phone. “Want to watch me make the call?” When Sumner didn’t
move, Alex put the phone away. “It’s finished, Daddy. All of it. And I’m
leaving this damned prison for good.”

"Atta
boy!” Karen said. When Sumner shot her a nasty look, she shot it right back.
“Let it go,
Randolph
. You’ve finally met your match.”

Sumner
turned on her like a snake. “Shut up!”

Alex was
infuriated but said nothing. At that moment he was concerned with the raw
hatred on Cord’s face and those clenched fists. Karen never flinched.

“I’ll
shut up alright,” she said, "but not until I’ve finished speaking my
piece.”

Sumner
glowered. “What the hell are you talking about? Have you gone crazy too?”

“Never felt
better, husband dear.” Karen turned to Alex and Cord. “You boys stay right
where you are. It’s my turn to set off some fireworks.”

“Mom,
what are you—?”

“I know
what I’m doing, son. I promise.”

For the
first time in his life, Alex heard his mother raise her voice. Even more
amazing was the fact that she did it right in her husband’s face.

“Okay,
you hypocritical bigot. I've got something to say and you're going to listen.
If I were you, I'd fasten your seat belt!”