5. Eli Surprises Us
Eli listened as I asked him if we could do our cleaning jobs at a different time, or evening. I’d waited for him to arrive and open the shop. Thankfully my first class was a late start — time I usually spent in the library working. He nodded when I explained why, and that my father had arrived unexpectedly and invited us to dinner.
“Your old man okay with you being Gay?” He asked. “No drama?”
“Not about the Gay bit.” I made a face. “We didn’t mention the rubber, though he asked about the smell.”
“I bet he did. He never missed much.” Eli grinned, and asked, “What’s he in town for?”
I told him wondering how he knew my father.
“Ah. That explains a few things.” He patted my shoulder. “Enjoy your evening, both of you. You can put in the time later. And let me know if Saturday night is still on — I have to let Mark know if you can’t.” With his wicked grin, he added, “And, there may be a job for you both in a day or two. Now get … and enjoy the evening with your old man.”
Butch had already gone to his first lecture and we both had tutorials to attend after lunch, but otherwise it was an easy day with my having only one class in the late afternoon. I texted my father and Butch and headed for my first class on my bike.
My father was waiting in the hotel foyer as we entered a few minutes early, a smile lighting up his face as he saw us. “You walked over?”
“Part of the way.” I grinned, returning his hug. “Mick, the guy who runs the workshop below us gave us a lift.” I didn’t add that Eli had intercepted us and told us, in no uncertain terms, that we were to take a taxi — a very specific taxi — home. He’d not explained why, and refused to be drawn on it. “We’ll get a taxi home. Don’t worry, we can afford it, we’re ahead on our budget this week!”
“That’s a first — for you anyway.” My father laughed. “You were always short on your pocket money at school.” Placing a hand on my shoulder, he said, “Shall we go? I’ve booked a table at a little Italian place round the corner.”
On the way he told us the consultant had done a whole range of tests on him and recommended an operation. “They say I need to do it as soon as possible.” He shrugged as we arrived at the restaurant. “ I reckoned I might as well. Either way, I’m for a medical retirement now, so I can either retire and enjoy a lot more years, or I can retire and maybe drop tomorrow.”
The Maitre d’hotel took dad’s name, smiled and lead us immediately to a corner table. As we sat, he beckoned a young waiter across, “This is Vincent. He will be your waiter tonight. Anything you need he will provide it, Mr Forester.”
The waiter presented us with the wine list, and stood back while we decided. As students we hadn’t a clue, and the wines all looked superb, but pricey. My father solved the dilemma, beckoning to Vincent, he said, “I can’t drink alcohol at present, and I doubt my son and his partner would want to finish a bottle on their own.” Grinning, he glanced at us. “I see there’s a wine by the glass option. You boys want a red? It’ll go well with the steak I’m pretty sure you’ll be ordering.”
Vincent caught the drift. “Two large glasses of the House Red? Certainly, sir. Tonight it’s a choice of Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon — I recommend the Cabernet if you intend to have steak.” We both nodded. “Would, Sir, like a grape juice spritzer?”
“Perfect,” My father glanced at us, “and the Cabernet for them.”
Vincent collected the wine lists and replaced them with the menus, then disappeared.
“I didn’t expect ‘Silver Service’ when I booked,” my father remarked, a slight frown on his face.
Vincent returned with the wines as we made our selection, Butch and I opting, as expected, for a sirloin steak with, for me, a mushroom sauce and extra mushrooms, and Butch for the garlic butter option. My father went for a ‘homemade’ lasagne, and as a starter we all chose a simple ‘pomodoro’ on sliced baguette.
I found myself really surprised by how relaxed my father was about his one and only son being Gay. But, as he explained, it wasn’t what he’d have chosen for me, but it was my life.
“I know I was a bit ‘arms length’ when you were growing, but I did see some signs … I guess I hoped I was wrong, but … as long as you’re happy …” Pausing he added, “I know you had some problems at school, but you seemed to deal with them pretty effectively.”
“It’s okay, Dad. Yeah, there were some dickheads, but I survived. There were far more decent guys — like Butch.”
“I’m glad. If I hadn’t been a dickhead myself with Sheila …” He paused as the waiter delivered our steaks. “At least I could cover your fees for Uni. I can give you a bit more now …”
“Thanks, Dad, but we’re earning enough, and a bit more sometimes.” Touching his hand, I added, “Besides if you’re going out on a medical retirement … you’ll need it.”
Butch wasn’t left out of the conversation either, and the evening flew past. Before we realised it, we’d eaten and delicious ice cream desert, drunk the obligatory espresso and my father was calling for the bill. Vincent presented it, swiped my Dad’s card after adding the ten percent ‘tip’ as instructed, and gave him the keypad. With the bill paid, the Maitre came over, delighted to be told we’d had a superb meal and hoped he’d see us again.
“That was less expensive than I expected,” my father remarked. Ever the policeman, he continued, “If I was a suspicious man …”
“But you are, I teased,” fist bumping his shoulder. I was beginning to be suspicious myself, remembering the conversation with Eli and what he’d told us of his beginnings. Was he behind this? And if so, why? “After all, you’re a copper, Dad!”
We didn’t linger at the hotel. It was late, and both of us had a tight schedule of classes in the morning, so we parted in the lobby, and Butch called the number he’d been given for the cab. He’d no sooner rung off than it pulled up in front of us.
“That was quick.” I remarked getting in and noticed it was the same driver that had collected my parent the night before.
“Yeah, Eli said you was to be looked after. Had a good dinner?” He pulled away, and I noticed he hadn’t started the meter. “Your Dad okay?”
“Yes. He’s … well not fine, but it’s fixable … Um, your meter isn’t running …”
“Nah, it isn’t. This trip’s prepaid. Eli’s paid for it.” He laughed. “Relax and enjoy.”
There was no opportunity to talk to Eli until we’d finished the cleaning and he was starting his locking up. Finally I managed, after Butch had gone upstairs, to get him alone.
“Eli, why did you prepay the taxi, last night? And I think you talked to the restaurant as well, because we got personal service all the way — and it cost less than my Dad expected.” I watched him. “My Dad’s a Police Sergeant. I don’t want to get him into any trouble through my doing anything …”
“Let’s just call it repaying debts, Penn. Nothing more.” He watched me. “Your Dad’s a good ‘un. Always was. Could have got to the top, but he was too straight. And that’s all I’m going to tell you for now. In my world, somebody does you a good turn, you repay it. Butch doesn’t know it, but I recognised you the first time you came. I nearly sent you packing. Then I had second thoughts, and took you in. Your Dad made enemies, bad ones, and now they know who you are …” Holding up his hand, he stopped my question. “You’re one of my people now, and that’s that. Now get upstairs to your partner. Your Dad’ll be okay — I hear his problem is fixable, and he’ll be well looked after.”
I headed upstairs to Butch. How the hell did Eli know so much about my Dad?
“What was that about?” He asked as I shut the door. “You look worried.”
I explained what had passed between me and Eli. “I think maybe we’re mixed up in some sort of gangster thing. I don’t know … It’s something to do with something my Dad did years ago, and Eli thinks he owes my Dad for it …”
Butch frowned. “Sounds tricky. Leave it be. Eli will tell us in his own time.” He was already putting together something for supper as I joined him, both of us still in our ‘working’ rubber. “Any news of your Dad?”
“Just a message earlier. He’s got to have the op, but there’s a long waiting list. He’s talking to the Police Welfare people to see if there’s any way to get a slot earlier.” I shrugged. “I doubt it, but I guess we can only hope — maybe he can go private. I don’t know.” Taking my plate and the frappe´ he’d made for me from him. “Just wish I knew why Eli thinks he’s got to protect us.”
“He thinks that?” Butch asked as he followed me to the dining table. “There must be some serious reason, chum. He doesn’t just do things. Anyway, what’s your Dad doing tonight?”
“Seeing an old friend, he said.” Taking a bite out of my sandwich, I paused, “He’s got to see the consultant again tomorrow, and he wants to go home again as soon as they say they’ve finished all the tests.” Taking another bite, I continued, “He said he’d like to see us again before he does.”
With the meal over, I cleared away the plates and glasses, walked back to where he was starting his laptop to do some work, wrapped my arms round him, and kissed his neck. “I don’t know why, love, but I’m glad you persuaded me to do the photo shoot with you for Eli, and I’m glad we’re lovers. I know I’m probably being stupid, but I’ll never forgive myself if anything bad happens to my father because of anything I’ve done or will do …”
“It won’t.” His hands gripped my arms to his body. “Stop worrying. I get the feeling Eli and his friends have ‘adopted’ us for some reason, and they’ll stop us doing anything stupid … like wearing crazy rubber outfits.”
That made me laugh. “Okay, I’ll try to stop worrying about it. Now I better get my assignment finished.”
