Gazelle (36 page)

              He snorts at the thought and sits on the toilet, scooping up his phone.  There should be some communication. He should say something before he sees her.  Letting it go this long has just made it even more awkward and uncomfortable for all of them.  He scrolls to her name and hit
s‘
text
.
’

Julian: Hey.

              A few moments pass.  He studies himself in the mirror, his freshly shaven jaw and slicked back hair.  There are bags under my eyes, he thinks.  Maybe I should get a facial tomorrow.  His phone vibrates.

Alice:  Wha
t’
s up, stranger?

Julian:  Nothing.  I just got back.  How are you?

Alice:  Fine.  Getting ready for your big party tonight.  Are you excited?
Julian:  Oh yeah.  Thrilled.  Ca
n’
t wait. 

Alice:  Sarcasm does
n’
t read well in text messages usually but that was very clear.  Good job. How was your trip?
Julian:  Good.  We went to the aquarium.   I thought about you the whole time.

              He freezes, rereading the sentence before deleting it.

Julian:  Good.  Just what I needed.

              There is no response for a while, a long while.  He wraps the towel around his waist and brushes his teeth, staring down at the silent phone.  Finally, it vibrates and he nearly drops his toothbrush trying to pick it up.

Alice:  Tha
t’
s good,
I’
m glad.  Do you need me to get anything for you on my way there?  Last chance!

Julian:  No,
I’
m good.  You think you could sched a facial for me tomorrow?  If not, the next day?

Alice:  You got it, boss.  Over and out.

              He frowns and tosses the phone on his sink.  Sh
e’
s never called him boss before.  Never even hinted that she felt like he was her boss.  His mind rapidly sorts through the hundreds of meaningless tasks he has asked her to perform, analyzing whether there was anything remotel
y‘
boss-lik
e
’ in his tone.  He dismisses the thought with a scowl and heads to his closet.

              Alice chews a wad gum, standing with a group of bored chauffeurs, giant sunglasses on, one hand jabbed into her fitted, leather jacket, the other clutching a sign that read
s‘
Julia
n’
s Friend
.
’
 
She twists back and forth, watching the black and gray material of her gauzy party dress swish about her legs, perked up by patent black heels.  The herd of passengers pours from the gates, friends and family moving to greet one another in the holiday traffic.  Scott stoops past the bulk of people and begins to bring his phone to his ear to call her to let her know he has arrived when he spots her and grins.  She scans the crowd and sees the tall, skinny man, pulling her sunglasses down, wondering if Julian knew anyone ugly his entire life.

“I’
m more than Julia
n’
s friend. At least, I like to think so
,
” Scott says as he shakes her hand.
 “
Or is that sign to let me know who you are
?
”
“
Both
.
”
“
You did
n’
t have to come in, you could have just picked me up at the curb
.
”
“
Have you seen that curb?  Yo
u’
d never have found me.  Do you need help with your bags
?
”

“
No, I got it, thanks.  Beside, I do
n’
t have change to tip you
.
”
“
Tha
t’
s cool.  I take I.O.U.s
.
”

              They start moving towards the doors side-by-side, shuffling through the crowd like penguins.
 “
How was your flight
?
”
“
The standard issued polite small talk question.  I thought we were better acquainted than that
.
”
              She laughs, surprising him with the charming melody.
 “
Okay, fine.  Wha
t’
d you do this morning
?
”
“
Better.  Still needs work, though.  Le
t’
s se
e…
I stopped by my mo
m’
s, dropped off some gifts and the cat.  Then I got a slice and got to the airport
.
”
“
You ate pizza?  In New York?  Oh, wow, so clic
hé
!  I thought you were more original than that, what, with those alligator boots and all
.
”
              He laughs and glances at her again.
 “
I thought
I’
d get one more decent slice in before I got here.  Ther
e’
s no good pizza past Maryland
.
”
“
What!  Are you kidding me?  W
e’
re like, the capital of pizza town, USA.  Italy sends their pizza chefs here to learn how to make it right
.
”

“
Italy sends their chefs here like the race tracks send their horses to glue factories.  They end up chefs at Sbarrosbecause tha
t’
s the closest L.A. gets to making something that even resembles proper pizza
.
”
“
Are you kidding?  L.A. is food mecca!  Culinary masters on every block!  Have you ever even been to L.A. before
?
”
“
Uh, yeah, tha
t’
s how I know.  The first time I was here, me and Julian drove all over the city, looking for good pizza.  The closest we found was some flatbread bullshit in Santa Monica.  Such a disappointment.  I wound up dipping the pizza in my beer just so I could choke it down
.
”
“
Aw, poor baby
!
”
“
Thank you!  Thanks for the sympathy.  It was heart-breaking, I live on pizza.  I vowed
I’
d never come back
.
”

“
And yet, here you are, despite that traumatic experience.  So brave
.
”
“
Agreed.  S
o…
are you hungry
?
”
“
What?  Right now
?
”
“
Yeah!  All this pizza tal
k…I’
m starving
.
”
“
W
e’
re going to the party right now.  Ther
e’
s tons of food, believe me
.
”
“
Yeah, but I do
n’
t feel like shoving shit cocktail food in my mouth.  I
t’
s not real food, you know
?
”
“
You really want to get something to eat?  Seriously
?
”
“
Yes, yes definitely.  Preferably with you.  That outfit is pretty hot, by the way.  Julian never told me you were so adorable
.
”
“
Tha
t’
s weird.  Tha
t’
s usually the first thing he tells people about me.  I
t’
s in my contract
.
”
“
Well, he dropped the ball on that one, totally and completely
.
”
“I’
m calling my union rep tomorrow.   This is total breech.  He did tell me you were gorgeous
.
”
“
Really?  He used that word?
 ‘
Gorgeou
s’?
”
“
Yup.  Totally gorgeous
.
”

“
Figures. I always knew he wanted me, that little slut
,
” he smiles.
 “
So where do you want to take me eat?  I feel like we should go somewhere fancy, with you all dressed up
.
”
“
Well, ther
e’
s this great little pizza place in Santa Monica I love
,
” she laughs.

              Julian is in his yard when his brother and family arrive.  He hears the laughter of children rushing at him before he sees them.  Two small boys, six and nine with missing teeth and tiny, electric blue eyes that glimmer at the sight of him.  He smiles and spreads his arms.

“
Uncle Julian!  We went to Disneyland
!
”
“
You did?  No way
!
”
 
He hugs them tight against his chest.
 “
Did you see Mickey
?
”
“
We did!  We saw him and-he had on a Santa Claus suit.  We took a picture with him
!
” the youngest, Elliot, says as he climbs onto Julia
n’
s neck.

“
Is this your house
?
” The oldest, Keith, asks, his eyes sweeping the enormous backyard and swimming pool.
 “
Can we go swimming
?
”
“
Maybe later, yeah.  If your mom and dad say i
t’
s okay
,
” Julian smiles.

              James and his wife Sarah follow slowly with Julia
n’
s mother, Patricia.  She is a graceful woman, dressed in a long, regal gown that sways around an elegant and slim figure, crowned with a tender smile that denotes a great humbleness.  Julia
n’
s heart skips at the sight of her after so many years.

“
Hi, mom
,
” he smiles, letting go of the children and embracing her.

              Her large blue eyes well with tears, her thin lips wobble as he hugs her tightly.
 “
My god, Julian.  You look incredible
.
”
“
Thank you, so do you
.
”

              They hug for a long moment, neither willing to release the other too soon.  When they pull apart, she clutches his face and kisses his cheek.
 “I’
ve missed you, honey
!
”
“
Me, too
,
” he smiles.

              James clears his throat, stiffens his posture, and draws Julia
n’
s attention.  At the sight of his brother, Julia
n’
s whole demeanor changes.   His smile draws taunt and he grasps his brothe
r’
s hand in a manly shake.
 “
James.  Good to see you
.
”
“
You, too.  This place is unbelievable.  You really did not do it justice
,
” James answers.

              Julian kisses Emil
y’
s cheek and gives her a quick, polite hug.  She smiles somewhat bashfully. 
 “
Hi, Jules
.
”

“
Hello, lovely.  You look amazing, as usual
.
”
“
Oh, I doubt that.  Especially compared to some of these women here, my god! I
t’
s like a living TV land, everyone is beautiful
!
”
“
Not everyone, trust me
,
” he says. 
 “
You guys want the tour?  Come on, kids!  Let me show you this dump
.
”

              They moved single file into the veranda, studying the only loud spots of coloring in the succulent garden Alice has meticulously decorated with tiny Christmas lights and little plastic elves.  The boys run about, laughing and playing, tearing off through the house without the adults.  James, a thick man with Julia
n’
s features and a receding hairline, moves beside his brother.

“
We missed you at the park, bro
,
” he says, somewhat quietly.
 “
Your assistant said you went on a little vacation
?
”
“
Sort of.  Something came up and I had to get out of town for a few days
,
” he answers.