30
CHRIS
With a microphone in hand, Mr. Lisk moved to the foreground to speak. At the same time, a waiter handed Connor and Lee glasses of pink, bubbly champagne.
The couple were almost inseparable when they were together, as if their skin had magnetic properties and demanded physical contact at all times: that's how it had always been in their leisure time whenever Chris saw them. Chris noticed how they stepped apart, putting more space between them after they entered the marquee, when they began to recognise the crowd before them comprised family, friends and work mates, the way they would among a straight crowd. It wasn't how they behaved when they were among their friends. It was a subtle move, possibly one that few people would notice. Tom would have spotted it too.
Chris focused on the face of his dear friend. He'd known Lee since they were both in their late teens and they'd frequented the same gay venues. Since then, they'd shared and comforted each other through many of life's ups and downs. Together they'd supported Tom through his darkest days. In fact, between the two of them, they'd kept him alive.
In the closet at work and so far out of it in his social life, Lee had lived a double life.
Of everyone in the grand tent, possibly only Chris and Tom knew just how much the party and affirmation of his relationship all meant to Lee. He'd never thought he would get support at work if his boss and work colleagues found out he was gay. Yet, here they were in 2017, giving Lee unconditional support and blessing his marriage to a man.
None of them would have predicted anything like this could have happened when they'd all met more than a decade earlier, while they were all teenagers.
Tom and Lee had been a source of support that Chris had always known he could count on when faced with life’s difficulties. Boyfriends who didn't support his artistic dreams; the prejudice and rejection he faced when people found out his HIV status; oh, and of course when he had found out himself that he was HIV-positive. And then as he tested different drug regimes to identify the one that suited him. Watching his artistic peers making inroads to China where the art world was booming at a time when people with HIV were prohibited from travelling there.
Seeing Lee with Connor and so happy made Chris wonder what he had been missing. The boyfriends in his life filled a function but never made him completely happy. Companions, arm-candy, bed partners. Too often they turned into men to argue with and people who pulled down Chris rather than elevated him.
Despite being an impressive bloke in his own right, Connor always seemed to put Lee on a pedestal. They both looked at each other as if they'd found special treasure. Chris wouldn't mind a man to share a relationship like that with.
"Speech," someone called out, echoed by another voice and then another.
Connor put his hand on Lee's shoulder and whispered something to him.
Lee nodded, and Connor walked up to his father and took hold of the microphone.
"I can't believe you've done this to me." He looked around the room, accusing everyone. "I can't believe my mom and dad tricked me into coming to a surprise party and I can't believe you lot have kept it a secret. In fact, I can't understand how you managed to organise it without me. I've had no opportunity to prepare a speech, but I can tell you I've thought a lot about what I wanted to say if ever I'd have the opportunity."
He'd often told Chris that the secrecy around their wedding was what Lee requested. Connor would just have happily told everyone. He couldn't wait for the world to know. And now it seemed he was going to tell them what they missed.
"I guess it came as a big surprise to many of you and you’re probably wondering how I could go from having girlfriends to marrying a bloke. But what very few of you know is I've had a crush on Lee for about fifteen years or more. I didn't wake up one morning last year and find I'd turned gay overnight."
A few people laughed, but most stared in silent fascination. Most people had probably never heard Connor talk about his feelings like this.
"I made quite a few hashed attempts at getting his attention. It was a sad and embarrassing story of unrequited love, which I don't need to tell you. The reason we could never have had a traditional wedding is because my best man would tell you all those embarrassing stories. That's how weddings work. And another problem: Lee is my best man. He always has been."
Lee moved closer, and Chris was pleased to see the couple were confident enough to hold hands.
Frank stood so close that Chris could smell him. Their arms touched. They had a future date agreed, and they'd slept together in the past, but Frank was a long way from going public like this.
"Since I've been with Lee, I have come up against some prejudice, some negativity. I'm pleased to have this opportunity to tell you all that I'm not ashamed or embarrassed about how I feel about Lee. I feel I'm crazy, mad in love with the guy. I feel lucky and privileged to have him as my husband."
There were spontaneous whistles and clapping hands to this comment, but apparently, Connor wasn't finished.
"When I broke my arm I don't know how I'd have managed if he wasn't there every day. I couldn't even wash myself. Leaving you imagining Lee and I in the shower together, I'm gonna put Lee on the spot and ask him if he wants to say a few words."
A sudden look of horror on Lee’s face was quickly hidden by his hand over his mouth, as he shook his head. Nevertheless, Lee turned to Connor, wrapped his arms around him, and kissed him on the lips. This may have been the first time they'd kissed or shown any affection in front of their work colleagues.
The marquee erupted with raucous applause and cheers.
Believing the show was over and they'd break up for conversation, hit the buffet, and dance, butterflies began to flutter in Chris's stomach. He wondered how the evening would pan out with Frank, who still stood by his side.
To Chris's surprise, Lee took the microphone. "I never, in a million years, thought I'd kiss a guy in front of a room full of scaffolders."
Some low cheers went up around the room as the scaffolders appreciated the comments.
"In case there's any confusion or doubt let me make it perfectly clear I'm gay. Since finding out about our wedding, some of you have asked me directly, and I've overheard rumours. Now seems a good time to clear things up. I've never had a girlfriend in my life. All those comments on-site over the years, if I've given you the impression there's been a girl involved, it was a lie. The dates, the one night stands; it was always a bloke."
He turned to Connor.
"There's only one man for me from now on. I'm pleased you've taken it well. It means a lot to me, and I think to any other gay or bisexual construction workers. It takes the ‘considerate construction workers’ slogan to a new level. It means so much more than not wolf whistling at women who walk by the site. I can't tell you how much this means to me. I thought that if you guys knew, then I'd be out of a job. It's not about any of you as individuals, you're all good blokes, but as a crowd, you know what construction site work is like. I'm sorry I misjudged you."
Chris couldn't have been the only man present with a lump in his throat.
Standing nearby, Mrs. Lisk put a tissue to her eyes.
Mr. Lisk took the microphone again and began a round of toasts paying tribute not just to the groom and groom, but to the friends who supported them along the way. After which, the crowd dispersed with the suggestion of getting more drinks in or cigarettes smoked before the promised buffet opened.
Even though he wanted to pay more attention to Frank, they'd exchanged phone numbers, and Chris suspected Lee might welcome the close support of his friends. Chris headed toward Lee and noticed to his surprise that Frank followed him.
"I can't believe you knew about this and didn't tell me," Lee said to Tom, who arrived in front of him only a fraction of a second before Chris.
"You are not mad about it. I can tell you're pleased." Tom hugged Lee and Ben shook Connor's hand.
"Pleased? I think I've got to speak to all these people before I'm allowed to eat, and I'm starving. I thought we were coming for a quiet dinner with Connor's parents."
"Thanks, Lee, Connor, you've made it easier for everyone on the site who wants to come out," Frank said.
Connor raised an eyebrow. "Is there something you want to tell us, Frank?"
Frank grinned and shook his head.