Chapter 17
Brice stood on the wraparound porch of the large ranch home and straightened out his windbreaker. Then he rang the doorbell and waited. He was at Carol’s house to have dinner and was looking forward to it. A moment later the door opened and Carol greeted him with a smile and a huge hug.
“So glad you came,” she said, then stepped back. “Please, come in.”
Brice thanked her and stepped in as she closed the door. They were in a small foyer, the walls white with a single framed piece of artwork on it.
“Let me get your coat.”
“Thanks,” Brice said, undoing his coat and handing it to her.
Carol hung it up on a wall hook and then smiled at him. “Green is a good color for you. Love the sweater,” she said.
Brice smiled. The green sweater and blue jeans were what he considered dressing up. He wasn't much for long-sleeved shirts or ties.
“I must say, red looks good on you. It compliments your eyes,” Brice said. And it did. Carol’s sweater was almost a wine color, and with her long blond hair pulled back, she looked quite pretty.
“That’s very kind of you. Well, come on, dinner is almost ready,” she said.
Brice followed her down a small hallway into a large living room. A fire was going in the fireplace, the heat intense.
“So, this is the living room of course,” she said, with a laugh.
“I gathered as much,” Brice teased. It was decorated with white leather furniture, a dark oak coffee table and some various photos on the wall. The next room was the dining area with a round table that could seat four, dark brown in color as well.
“I just realized the walls match my sweater,” Carol said with a laugh. Brice laughed, looking at the wine-red walls and then back at Carol.
“It’s like camouflage. I just see your hair and nothing else.”
“Oh, you stop that!” Carol laughed, giving him a playful punch on the arm. “Please, have a seat.”
Brice smiled, pulling a chair out as Carol walked through a swinging door. A moment later she came back, a bottle of wine and a pitcher of water in hand.
“This Merlot is really good. I hope you like wine. I do have beer though, if you’d prefer.”
“Wine is perfect, thank you,” Brice said.
After filling their glasses, Carol left again and Brice thought back to earlier in the day with Logan. He was happy the man had let so much out, releasing his pain. And Brice was glad he was able to help him. For a moment he thought about having a nice dinner with him, sharing a bottle of wine. Perhaps they could build up a large fire like the one Carol had burning. Then they could hold hands, talk, and maybe, just maybe, a little bit more than holding hands. A smile came to Brice's face as he wondered what it would be like to kiss him.
“Here we go,” Carol said, setting a plate down in front of him and breaking him from his thoughts.
Brice's eyes went wide. “Carol, wow. This looks and smells great!” he said.
“Thank you. Lamb with a wine sauce and scalloped potatoes, slow-roasted.”
Brice took his napkin and then smiled as Carol sat beside him.
Grabbing her wine glass, she raised it, a smile on her face. “To good friends. May we keep them and never lose them.”
“Cheers,” Brice said, clinking his glass against hers and then taking a drink. “Wow, that is very nice.”
“Told you,” Carol said with a smile.
Taking his knife and fork, he took a bite of the lamb, and about fell over. “I can’t believe it. Tender, juicy. And the flavors! I am in heaven.”
Carol beamed, her eyes lit up. “That means a lot. Bill never liked…” Her voice trailed off. “It doesn’t matter. I’m glad you like it.”
After taking another bite, he tried the scalloped potatoes, loving them just as much as the lamb.
“Well, I, for one, am glad Harry is gone for a few weeks. What about you?” Carol asked.
“You’re telling me,” Brice replied. No more having to hear about his conquest of women or his rude comments about Carol.
For the next twenty minutes, they made small talk, the conversation leaving work and going to the weather and what was happening around town.
Finally, feeling full, Brice leaned back. “Alright, Carol, I may just have to hire you to cook for me. Or at least teach me how to cook,” he said.
“Anytime. I would be more than happy to,” she said, standing up and taking his plate and then heading into the kitchen. She came back a minute later. “Let’s go into the living room and talk there. It’s a lot more comfortable.”
“Sounds great.”
Brice was having a great time and really appreciated Carol as a friend. They had grown close over the last few months, and he felt he could tell her just about anything. She had a good heart, and the way Harry talked to her at work upset him. But she seemed to be keeping out of his way, for which Brice was glad.
Taking a seat on the couch, Carol sat on the other end, legs folded beneath her as she faced him. “Why’re you smiling so much?”
Brice laughed. “I was just thinking how it’s great having a friend like you. I really feel like I can share anything with you.”
“Aww, you are too sweet” Carol said. “And I feel the same. You know, going through this divorce has been hard, but you have made it a lot easier.” She moved from the couch to refill his glass. Brice almost told her no but didn't want to spoil her evening. She seemed really happy, and worse-case scenario, if he became too tipsy, he could wait it off to become sober before he tried to drive.
“Here you go,” she said, handing him his glass and retaking her seat.
“Well, here is to smooth divorces,” Brice said, raising his glass again. “And to your future. When you’re ready to start dating again, may you find Mr. Right.”
“I’ll drink to that all day,” Carol said, lifting her glass before taking a drink.
For the next hour they talked and drank, the bottle of wine making the conversation flow from one thing to another. Carol came back with a new bottle and, ignoring his protests, filled both their glasses.
“If you get to drunk, I have a spare room.”
Brice debated this for a moment, then smiled. “Alright. It’s not like I have anyone waiting for me at home anyways.”
Carol laughed. “I don't see why not. You sure are a handsome man.”
“Thank you. I guess being new and all, well, there’s plenty of time,” he said. Brice debated on whether to tell Carol that he was gay, but held off the thought. Images of his father came to mind, telling him people thought he was odd. And though he liked Carol, and didn't think she would be like that, the thought of her being repulsed scared him.
“You know, I appreciate the way you divert Harry away from me when he is being a sleaze. It means a lot to me, thank you.”
Brice took a drink from the wine glass. “Of course. I don't like the way he treats you or talks about you. It’s sickening.”
Carol sighed, then took a drink. “He won’t give me the raise I asked for. I think he got it through his thick skull I was not going to go to dinner with him. But, still, I wish I could get him one day. Get his fat ass fired.”
Brice nodded. “Me too. But if he ever, you know, tries anything physical, you let me know. I won’t stand by and let that happen. And if you ever want to report him, I have your back one hundred percent.”
Carol smiled, setting her glass down and then scooting over towards Brice.
“It’s nice having a friend like you. Most men, well, not all but a lot, they just want to get into my pants. And I never got that vibe from you. You actually talk to me, not my chest,” she said, and they both laughed.
“Same with you. Not that women talk to my chest, but yeah,” Brice said, letting out a laugh. He was having a blast and was thankful for their friendship.
“And the way you look after me, thank you. It’s nice to know someone is keeping an eye out. It helps me feel safe.”
“Of course. You are my friend, and I don’t want to see you hurt.”
“You are too sweet. Brice, I know I have said this before, but really, it means so much I can tell you about my divorce, or anything, and you don't judge me. It’s beautiful to have that kind of trust with someone.”
Brice smiled, telling her the same and then took a drink. He set his glass down and figured there was no reason not tell her, and now felt like the right time.
“Carol, I wanted to share something with you. Something personal, that I know I can tell you, because I know you won’t judge me.”
“I think I already know what it is.”
“Oh, you do?” Brice said, his heart skipping a beat, wondering how she would know. He doubted she knew about him and Logan, but maybe she just knew.
“I do. And it’s OK, I like you a lot too,” she whispered as she leaned in and kissed him.
Oh, dear God, Brice thought as he gently pushed her back, her face looking confused.
“Carol, I'm gay.”
Her eyes went wide, her hand going to her mouth. “Oh, I'm so sorry! I mean, not that you’re gay, but what I just did,” she said, standing up, a shake to her head.
Brice laughed. “It’s OK. Thank you. It was sweet, but that’s what I wanted to share.”
Her face turned a bright red. “I feel so dumb. I’m sorry. Please don't be mad at me.”
Brice shook his head. “Not at all. Honestly, you’re a beautiful woman and I think you’re great. But yeah, I’m into guys.”
She nodded. “Wow, I'm totally caught off-guard. I don't think I ever met a gay guy before. And, did me kissing you, has that made you upset?”
Brice felt his heart go out to her, the look of worry on her face. He knew she meant well, but he could not resist teasing her. “Under Montana Statute four point three, a hetro woman kissing a gay man is punishable by death. You want the electric chair or firing range?”
She started laughing as he put his arms around her and gave her a hug.
“Look, it’s cool. We’re still friends. And as friend, I do care deeply about you. So, let’s continue like everything is the same, because it is.”
A smile crept over her face, her eyes lighting up. “Sounds good,” she said, filling their glasses up, and then they both took a seat back on the couch. “So I have a million questions. Like, do you have a boyfriend? Are you seeing anyone? How does that work?” she asked, her face excited.
“Well, no boyfriend, not yet. I’m kind of seeing someone, but we will see.” There was no way he would tell her about Logan, at least not until the man’s parole was over with.
She nodded. “I feel like such a country bumpkin at the moment. I grew up an hour from here, a small town even smaller than this one. I just think it’s great knowing this now, but I have so many questions and I don't know what to say.”
“Ask me anything. You’re not going to upset me if that’s what your worried about,” Brice said, seeing her smile.
“OK then. So, like, how do you know when you meet another guy if he is gay?”
“It’s just like any other attraction, flirting, slight signals. You just know. Sometimes the signals are off,” he added with a grimace.
“Yeah, I guess I learned that one tonight,” Carol said and they both laughed.
And for a short time he answered her questions and smiled seeing the look on her face. It was like someone discovering the lost ark. Soon the conversation turned to him, and he found himself opening up to her as well.
“So basically, to sum it up, I really like this guy a lot. But I worry about taking the next step and the one after.”
“That can be scary, I know it myself,” Carol said. “For a long time I lived in fear with my ex. Well, I realized I needed to take more steps, though it scares me. And facing my ex, and some other things in life, I learned something over the last few months.
“What’s that?” Brice asked, his curiosity piqued.
“Sometimes it’s OK to take small steps, and when it’s time—and you’ll know when it is—you have to take that big step.”
Brice nodded, her advice making more than enough sense. “That’s good advice. Thanks for the encouragement.”
“Thank you as well. I really mean it, your advice has encouraged me. I feel like I can move on because of it.”
Taking a drink, Brice's mind was reeling with thoughts. He gave advice to Carol on how to move on and had done the same with Logan. But inside he was a coward not able to do the very things he told others.
“You remind me of this boy I knew back in high school,” Carol said, breaking him from his thoughts.
“Oh yeah? What about him?”
“Well, he was the quarterback so all the girls thought he was the greatest. I had a crush on him and so…” Carol started to say, the conversation becoming lighter.
Another hour passed and by the time they were done for the night, both were drunk and laid out on the living room floor, staring at the ceiling.
“I swear this has been the best date-non date-ever!” Carol said and they both laughed.
“I couldn't agree more. Dinner, wine, a kiss, and no commitment!”
They both laughed again, and a short time later, she showed him the guest bedroom.
“Brice, you have made my day. Thank you again for your friendship,” she said, giving him a hug.
“And yours. See you tomorrow.”
Soon he was in bed, his eyes heavy, wondering what Logan was doing. He hoped he was having a great time like he did tonight.