be friends, but he wasn’t sure if his relationship with Ed would ever go beyond what it
was.
Jonathan had spoken with the network executives in February. They wanted him
to sign a three-year contract for a new television show for twice the amount he was
getting paid now. The new show would begin taping in May. They wanted him to host a
home renovation show that focused on second marriages where the couples were starting
over. The twist to this show, tentatively titled,
Robbing the Cradle
, was that all the men
would be at least twenty-five years older than the women. It was all about young women
and older men starting new families and designing new homes. The women would all be
young, blond, and gorgeous, and the men would all be distinguished, wealthy, and on
their second or third marriages. When they pitched it to him, Jonathan shook his head and
smiled, then told them he’d talk about it when he returned to New York. Evidently, the
network was going for ratings with a younger crowd this time, because Jonathan had a
feeling a lot of middle-aged first wives wouldn’t be watching.
The money they offered him was great, he’d get a great deal of exposure, and the
fact that they wanted him so badly was flattering. But if he took this job, he knew he’d be
drifting even father away from his original career objective of becoming a serious
journalist. The fact that
Robbing the Cradle
sounded like such a sleazy show could actually ruin his career altogether. For the first time in a long time, Jonathan wasn’t sure
about anything.
He didn’t mention any of this to Ed. They were still going strong in bed, but Ed
never talked about the future. After Jonathan officially broke up with Mike on New
Year’s Day, he thought Ed might want to take their relationship to another level. But Ed
never said a word, and Jonathan wasn’t going to force him into anything he wasn’t ready
to handle.
The only new face at the party was a young woman named Katie. Ed had begun
his venture with the animal clinic in Lower Haight and he’d hired her as his assistant. She
was a full-time animal science teacher at a local college. She’d be working part time with
Ed at the clinic during the school year and full time in the summers. Katie had long,
brown hair, an hourglass figure, and the kind of no-nonsense personality that could make
the meanest pit bull back down. She was good for Ed; she’d keep him organized. And
Noah couldn’t stop staring at the low-cut blouses she wore.
Everyone was laughing and the stereo was playing Linda Eder. Jonathan was
standing under a rented tent in the back garden watching Noah when Greg walked up to
his side and asked, “Can we talk for a minute?”
“Sure,” Jonathan said, “I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you, but I’ve been so busy
with the party and everything I didn’t have a chance.” Actually, he’d been avoiding him
on purpose ever since Mike had done a three-way with them. Jonathan didn’t really care,
but he wasn’t sure how Frank and Greg felt about it.
Greg smiled. “Don’t worry about it. I figured I’d talk to you today,” he said. He
didn’t waste any time. “There’s an opening at the station for a new co-anchor for the evening news. I remember you’d said your real passion was journalism. I figured I’d
ask.”
Jonathan’s head slanted to the side and he furrowed his eyebrows. “Are you
offering me a job doing the news?”
Greg shrugged. Then he smiled and said, “Are you interested? I think you’d be a
great addition to the entire news team. I’ve even talked about it with everyone, and they
agree with me. We can talk about the details later.”
Jonathan thought for a moment. A job like that would probably mean less money
and much less national exposure. But at least he’d be doing what he loved to do. It would
also mean relocating, and he wasn’t sure about that either. “Well, thank you. Can I let
you know early this week?”
Greg laughed and slapped him on the back. “Hell, yes. I thought you’d blow me
off politely. Take your time to think about it and call me when you’re ready to talk. But I
will
need someone by the end of the month.” Then he hugged him and went back to
where Frank was standing.
Ed came up to Jonathan’s side and asked, “What were you talking about with
Greg?”
He smelled like aftershave. Jonathan took a deep breath and said, “The weather.”
It was none of Ed’s business. If he took the job in San Francisco, which he wasn’t sure he
was going to do, he didn’t want to be influenced by Ed.
Ed sulked. “You did a great job with the party. They’re having a blast.” He was
drinking beer from a bottle. His white shirt had a few wrinkles near the collar and he’d forgotten to shave that morning. But he looked good in his olive slacks. They were the
tight ones that bunched up between his legs and made his crotch look huge.
“I think Noah’s enjoying himself,” Jonathan said. He watched Noah and a few
kids from school eat birthday cake. Noah was smiling and there was white frosting on the
left side of his face. One of the camera men was filming him. Jonathan had asked if they
could get a few shots of the party for the final episode of the TV show.
“I just hope he likes what I got him for his birthday,” Ed said. He placed the
empty bottle of beer on a table beside Jonathan. When he brought his hand back, he
purposely rubbed it against Jonathan’s ass.
Jonathan continued staring at Noah. “Be good,” he said. “Didn’t you get enough
this morning?” Jonathan had spent the night, and he’d opened his eyes in the morning
with Ed’s erection pressed to his lips. Even though he had been wondering about their
relationship and where it would go after the film crew packed up and went home, he
couldn’t say no to sex with Ed. And it wasn’t just because he wanted to please him.
Jonathan enjoyed it too much to say no.
Ed shrugged. “I guess not. We should sneak into the bushes when no one’s
looking and you should take off your clothes for me.” He had a serious expression, as if
he were talking about a business deal instead of getting into Jonathan’s pants.
Jonathan smiled and ignored the comment. “What did you get Noah?”
“A new puppy,” he said. “Katie does a lot of part-time rescue work at the shelter
and she found a black lab puppy this week. A family bought him at a pet shop without
understanding what’s involved with raising a puppy and put him up for adoption. We’re hiding him upstairs until it’s time to open the gifts. I haven’t told anyone. You’re the only
one who knows. Do you think I did the right thing?”
Jonathan turned and looked into Ed’s eyes. He knew Ed meant well, but he had a
feeling Noah wouldn’t be jumping for joy. He was still grieving for Tucker. But Jonathan
smiled and said, “I think you’re a wonderful father.”
When it was time for Noah to open his gifts, Ed went into the house to get the
new puppy. There weren’t really that many gifts, because Jonathan had made it clear to
the construction crew and the film crew that they were not required to bring anything.
Most of the gifts were small items from Noah’s classmates. And Frank and Greg handed
him a huge card with a note inside that read, “Surprise Birthday Present: March 2, at One
pm.” Then there was a Sonoma County address in small print at the bottom.
Noah smiled and asked. “What is this?”
Greg lifted his eyebrows and said, “It’s a surprise. Frank and I wanted to get you
something we knew you’d really love. You’ll find out tomorrow. We’re picking everyone
up tomorrow and we’re all going there together.”
Frank stood next to Greg. His shoulders were squared and his arms were folded
across his chest. His entire face was beaming with pride. “We’ve become very fond of
you, Noah.” Then he turned to Lisa and Jonathan and said, “We wanted to do something
really special. This is sort of a birthday present and going away present for Lisa.” Then
he hugged Lisa and said, “We’re really going to miss her when she goes back to New
York at the end of the week.” Lisa started to cry. She was going home for good and she seemed excited about
seeing Joel again, but she’d miss them all. “I’ll be back a lot, and you guys can come to
New York, too.”
Noah stood up and thanked them both. And while he was hugging Greg, he
looked at the patio door and his mouth fell open. A sharp, high-pitched yelp came from
the house and everyone turned to see what it was. Ed was loping toward them, carrying a
hefty black puppy in his arms. The puppy was licking his face and his tail was wagging
so fast it was hitting Ed’s shoulder.
Ed shouted, “Happy birthday, buddy.” Then he crossed to where Noah was
standing and placed the puppy on the grass next to him.
The puppy moved fast. He jumped up and licked Noah’s face; his powerful tail
knocked a martini glass off a table, then his hindquarters knocked the table over. Noah
stepped back and wiped his face with the side of his hand, then he gazed down at the
puppy with a blank stare.
“Isn’t he great, Noah?” Ed said. “He’s a rescue. Katie found him a few days ago
and I knew he was perfect.”
Noah patted the puppy’s head a couple of times and said, “Thanks, Dad. It’s a
great present.” But he wasn’t smiling; he didn’t even bend down to hug the new puppy.
He just looked at Ed and asked, “Can I go play with my friends now?”
The corners of Ed’s lips went down and his arms went limp at his sides. “Sure
you can,” he said.
Jonathan’s eyes narrowed and he wanted to hug Ed right there in front of
everyone. His intentions had been so good, and now he looked so lost standing there. But Noah wasn’t ready to replace Tucker. He couldn’t help the way he felt. Jonathan was
about to say something to make Ed feel better, but his cell phone started to vibrate in his
back pocket. He normally would have turned the phone off, but he was waiting for a call
about extending his rental car a few more days. The rental company had made a mistake
and Jonathan was trying to clear it up.
He stepped back and turned to face the house. But when he answered the phone it
wasn’t the rental car company. It was a woman calling about a lost dog that matched
Tucker’s description. They’d placed Jonathan’s cell phone number on the fliers they’d
posted all over town just in case. Noah had been afraid Ed might miss a call. He tended to
ignore his cell phone battery and it was always going dead.
When Jonathan hung up, he crossed back to where Ed was standing and grabbed
his arm. “I just got a call about a dog that matched Tucker’s description. The woman
who called saw the flier. He’s not wearing a collar, but it sounds just like him.”
Ed rubbed his jaw a few times and frowned. “Should I tell Noah? If it’s not
Tucker, it could be traumatic for him.”
Jonathan shrugged and smiled with his lips pressed together. “I’d want to know.”
So they pulled Noah away from the party without telling anyone about this except
Lisa. Ed asked her to watch the party and the new puppy, and Jonathan told Noah he
wanted to show him something in the house. When Ed met them in the front hall, he said
to Noah, “I don’t know if it’s true, but a woman just called and she thinks she has
Tucker.”
Noah’s eyes doubled in size. “Where is he?” “I have directions,” Jonathan said. “We’re going there right now. I’ll get his leash
and put it in the car.”
* * * *
The woman who made the call lived outside the city on one of those hills that
were stippled with homes overlooking the bay. When they pulled into the driveway, she
was standing at the front door waiting for them. The house was a white, modern
conglomerate of elegant cement cubes, with walls of glass surrounded by lush gardens.
The woman’s arms were folded across her chest and she was shaking her head back and
forth. She looked like she was in her mid-fifties, with long red curls pulled back in a pony
tail.
They all jumped out of the car and Ed asked, “Where is he?”
She frowned. “I tried to hold on to him, but he took off and ran out the back
door,” she said. “He tried to take off down the cliff, but he slipped and now he’s trapped
on a rock.” She pointed to the rear of the house and took a deep breath. “He can’t go up
and he can’t go down. He’s trapped. It’s very steep and very dangerous.”
“I’m going back there,” Ed said.
Jonathan grabbed his arm. “We’re not even sure it’s Tucker. Don’t do anything