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William appeared on the familiar porch of 4838 Henderson Drive feeling nervous.
It had been two weeks after Elizabeth had entered into an understanding with him agreeing to take the way that his people entered marriage on his planet.
Although Elizabeth told him that she didn't see anything wrong with a three-year familiarization period her uncles were very upset.
Once it was explained they wanted to apologize to him by going to Boston for a nice dinner but four hours before the dinner Elizabeth called him.
“Seems a mistake was made and Ray is cooking dinner for us tonight.”
William felt a weight lift off of him. “I'm glad about that, I don't want it any more difficult than it is.”
“Well if you want it to go very well bring a bottle of wine with you, wine collecting is my Uncle Leo's hobby.”
So after talking with his friend and reading the internet William came with a bottle of wine for Leo and Ray.
He has chosen a brown sweater wearing a white collar shirt underneath it with black slacks.
Taking a cleansing breath he knocked twice on the door.
Elizabeth opened the door wearing the light gray dress with a plaid design that he had first seen her in.
Behind her were Leo and Ray who welcomed him inside and once again apologized for their behavior.
“Elizabeth said that you both enjoy wine, I hope you're able to enjoy it on a nice summer evening.”
Leo took a quick look at the label and set it on the bar beside a few bottles that he had set out.
“I understand that you lived in San Francisco for a while did you ever visit Napa?”
“No, but there is a very nice wine area called Livermore in the East Bay Area. There are some very nice wineries there, my favorite is Winty.”
After William gave the wine to Leo, Ray had invited everyone to the dining table. As they all sat down both Leo and Ray wanted to know about the proposal.
William had to admit that it didn't go well.
“The hotel's fire alarm went off and during the evacuation from the hotel Elizabeth and her grandfather ended up five blocks away from us.”
A warm smile spread on Ray's face. “William, I fully sympathize with you when it comes to trying to find the right moment to propose to a member of Leo's family.”
“That's not fair.” Elizabeth playfully protested as she passed Ray the breadbasket.
“Especially when a certain someone can't seem to remain in the country for said proposal.” Leo said taking a drink for his glass of wine and slightly frowned.
“No one drink that. It seems that I made a bad choice, William I hope you won't be offended if we open the bottle that you brought.”
William looked slightly surprised. “No, of course not.”
Elizabeth stood up placing her folded napkin by her plate. “Wine glasses please.”
Leo and Ray handed over their glasses as William started to stand up to help when Elizabeth gently put a hand on his shoulder and shook her head.
“You're our guest and we serve you.” She told him taking his glass.
“Besides you want to hear the beginning of how two agents can protect the world but can't manage their time.”
“Now who's being fair?” Ray asked Elizabeth who just stuck out her tongue as she took the glasses into the kitchen.
“Elizabeth told me how her father proposed to her mother.” William started as Ray's eyes went wide and Leo started to shake his hands as both men said “No, no, noo.”
Elizabeth returned with four fresh wine glasses and the wine bottle that William brought.
“William, I'm fine with your tradition of waiting three years.” She said as giving Leo the bottle and the corkscrew opener then sat back down beside William.
“It just seems the customs are very strange. A ring for dating, then a ring for asking permission to marry, and then the marriage ring itself.” William told her.
“Each ring has a story with it.” Ray said as a small pop was heard as Leo removed the cork from the wine.
“What is the best story of your rings?” William asked as they began passing glasses to Leo to be filled.
Leo thought for a moment as he poured Ray's wine. “I guess we should start with the engagement rings.”
Ray let out a groan while a knowing smile came on Leo's face as he passed the glass to his husband. “You are never going to stop tormenting me by retelling that story.”
Leo held out his hand for Elizabeth's glass which she handed to him. “Please not so much, I'm not a big red drinker. Is this the story that involved the art gallery?”
He shook his head as poured slightly less in hers as he had for William and Ray.
“No, this is the story that involved eight Italian policemen, four Swiss Guards, and a midnight border crossing. The story must be passed down.” Leo said.
"Four Swiss Guards?" William asked looking at Elizabeth as she got her wine from Leo whose smile got larger.
“They are the guards responsible for the safety of the pope and serve as personal escorts to the pontiff. They also serve as watchmen for Vatican City, the pontifical villa of Castel Gandolfo, and his vacation home.” She explained then looked at Ray with a shocked look and amusement on her face. “I don't think Uncle Leo has told this story.”
Ray's face was red with embarrassment “And you won't, right Leo?”
Leo poured himself a glass and set the bottle down but didn't say a word.
Ray narrowed his eyes. “Right Leo?” He has leaned slightly on the word right.
Leo swirled his glass then held it up to the light. “This has a wonderful color.”
“Leonard?”
"Alright, I won't tell it." Ray let out a relieved sigh as Leo picked up his glass playfully saying "At least tonight I won't." Taking a sip from his glass as his husband glared at him.
"William, you made an excellent choice, where did you find this?"
“In Somerville, at a shop called La Cave du Sénat.
Leo paused then set his glass down and looked over at Ray. “That's strange.”
“What's strange?” Asked William watching both men's reactions.
“ La Cave du Sénat is the name of the place that my brother Mark and I were having lunch when Ray and I met.” Leo said looking at his wine as if he was in some kind of trance.
“I don't remember you telling this story.” Elizabeth said swirling her wine.
Leo raised his eyebrows and took Ray's hand. “That's because it happened when Carl left me.”
Elizabeth fell quiet and Ray squeezed his hand.
“Did he break your heart?” William quietly asked.
Leo didn't say a word for a moment. “Yes, but it was the kind of heartbreak I needed to experience to know what love truly is.”
The heavy cloud that had temporally hung over the group dissipated when Leo smiled then cleared his throat.
"I was in Paris on mandatory vacation with my brother Mark. Carl and I had been broken up for ten months, we were supposed to take this trip together but Mark got a free trip. Well, it's the third day of our trip and we're having lunch at an outdoor cafe. Now Paris is a beautiful city but because of all the tourist street theft is bad, mostly pickpockets or snatch and grabs."
“You never put your purse, wallet, or anything valuable on the table at cafes.” Ray told them.
Elizabeth nodded. “Got it, treat Paris like New York.”
Leo took another sip of wine. "Well, your Uncle Mark forgot that and got his wallet taken by this man."
“Baptiste Ledupen.” Ray said and they both started laughing. They kept laughing taking turn saying 'Baptiste Ledupen' in different ways.
After a few moments, William looked at Elizabeth. "Is this a family joke?" He asked.
Elizabeth shrugged and shook her head. “If it is I don't know it.”
Leo started to calm his laughter. "Baptiste Ledupen is one of those thieves who are just plain bad at it but is a good person. His personal code of only stealing from rich men often gets him caught but he is a charmer and unlike most of the thieves, harmless."
Ray took a sip of his wine. "What Leo neglected to also tell you he's very well known to most society members and Baptiste knows us, so when he grabbed Mark's wallet and Mark yelled out in English, not French, before chasing after him Baptiste knew he was in trouble."
Leo picked the story back up. “I didn't tell him I was a twin so poor Baptiste is running for his life from a very angry Mark and me after them. Baptiste leads us through the streets for about ten minutes when he ducks down a dead-end street. Baptiste then sees there are two of me and promptly asks what the hell am I doing in his city without Carl? I tell him that Carl left me to which he tells me Carl will regret breaking my heart and that Paris was closed to him. At that moment,” Leo paused, looked over at Ray, and smiled. "This handsome man comes running into the dead end."
Ray nodded. "I was pissed! I was trying to get to the Chunnel to make it back to England in time for my Mum's birthday and I asked Baptiste to buy my Mum's gift while I attended a meeting."
“Why were you chasing him?” William asked.
“He thought I owed him more money as a service fee, I had paid him 40 euros already. So when I said no he nicked my wallet and made a run for it.”
William looked to Leo “So this man took your wallet hoping you would get his money.”
He nodded. “That and hoping that I would broker a peace between them. As I said Baptiste had two very angry men on his hands, in the end, Baptiste handed back the wallets.”
“Well not before asking if I wanted to join you and Mark for dinner.” Ray pointed out.
“Which you turned down.” Leo countered.
Ray slightly scoffed. “First it was Baptiste that had asked me not you and second you know how my parents are about birthday and anniversaries”
“I do now, I didn't know then. All I knew was a feeling that something special was slipping away as Mark and I watched you walked off with your wallet.”
Ray turned slightly pink as he leaned over and kissed the back of Leo's hand. “That's my cue to clear the table for the Strawberry crumble.” He pushed back the chair and stood up taking plates into the kitchen.
“I'll get the crumble.” Elizabeth said getting up and following Ray.
It took them a few moments.
“After Mark got his wallet back from Baptiste he's telling me that I have to put myself out there. 'You can't make a plan when it comes to love Leo.' When we got back to the hotel Mark pulls out his wallet to get the key card only to find out that Baptiste not only gave Mark Ray's wallet but in it is his society id." Leo told them.
Both William and Elizabeth exclaimed “Uh oh” as Ray nodded.
“I was done, I didn't have my license or the Chunnel ticket. I couldn't leave so I called the office and asked where Leo was staying as I had a meeting with him. I got to the hotel and thankfully they had a few rooms opened so I checked in then called his room. They had discovered the switch and Leo said he would meet me in the lobby to give me back my wallet.”
Ray slowly shook his head. “I had to call my parents to tell them I wouldn't be there until the next day and I was feeling a little low. I had changed into the suit outfit for the dinner knowing that I was going to cut it close. I chose to go downstairs, get my wallet, and just come back to my room. That changed when I saw Leo, he was wearing a heather gray turtle neck shirt with a black jacket and a red wool scarf, he looked like a model about to go out to a party.”
Leo blushed and looked down at his plate then back at Ray. “You were looking very dapper that evening in your black evening jacket and tie.”
“I think we talked for about two hours in the lobby?” Ray asked trying to remember.
Leo nodded. “I decided to take a chance and asked if he wanted to join me for a light supper.”
Ray quickly held up his index finger. “Which I said 'yes I don't remember what we had for dinner but I remember the walk. I wanted to ask Leo for a date but I couldn't get the courage up so I thought if we walked a little I would be able to ask."
Leo laughed. "We ended up taking a ten-mile walk to the Fontaine des Mers. We had talked and laughed so much that evening. The fountain was beautifully lit up and here was this handsome Brit. I had this feeling that if I didn't do anything with this second chance I would lose something wonderful. So I kissed him.”
William sat beaming as Elizabeth's mouth dropped open. “You kissed Ray?” She asked.
Leo looked at her with mock offense. “I assure you I was old enough to kiss him.”
“Oh ha ha ha.” She replied with a sarcastic tone.
Ray laughed. “I couldn't believe it either but right there at the Fontaine des Mers Leonard Maximilian Allen had given me my first kiss.”
Leo looked at Ray shocked. “You're kidding.”
Ray shook his head. “Yours was the first kiss that sent a thrill in me. That had never happened to me before you.”
Leo patted Ray's hand before going on. “It felt that time had stopped and on the walk back we made plans to meet in New York to have a proper date. We kissed one last time on the elevator when I got off to go to my room. Your Uncle Mark was awake waiting for me and I told him everything that had happened that night. He told me that we had four hours before we had to be at the airport.”
“You had spent the whole night walking around Paris?” Elizabeth asked.
“That wasn't the half of it, someone forgot to give me his phone number or address in the states.” Ray told them as he grinned at Leo.
“You did find our room and we did exchange information.” Leo said and looked at both Elizabeth and William then back at Ray.
“I also wanted a forfeit but you and Mark were already late to get to the airport so you gave me a rain check but you never honored it.”
Leo sat quietly for a moment then looked over at Elizabeth. “Did the piano get tuned last week?”
She nodded. “I was practicing on it yesterday.”
Leo took a last sip of wine then stood up. “Good I need you to play it right now please.”
Elizabeth look quizzing at him as she folded her napkin, placed it beside her crumble, and stood up making her way to the piano.
“Leo?” Ray asked wondering what was going on.
Leo didn't say a word but walked over to the piano, opened the bench, and pulled out some sheet music. Elizabeth made herself comfortable on the piano bench as Leo placed the music in front of her. She saw the title and looked at him.
“Are you sure?” She asked.
“Yes, absolutely.”
As Elizabeth played the introduction Leo took a few deep breaths then started to sing.
So many years gone
Still I remember
How did I ever let my heart believe
In one who never gave enough to me
And so many years gone
With love that was so wrong
I can't forget the way it used to be
And how you've changed the taste of love for me
You were my one more chance
I never thought I'd find
You were the one romance
I've always known in my mind
No one will ever touch me more
And I only hope that in return
I might have saved the best of me for you
And we'll have no ending
If we can hold on
And I think I've come this far because of you
Could be no other love but ours will do
You were my one more chance
I never thought I'd find
You were the one romance
I've always known in my mind
No one will ever touch me more
And I only hope that in return
I might of saved the best of me for you
And no one will ever touch me more
And I only hope that in return
No matter how much we have to learn
I saved the best of me for you
“I love you.” Leo said quietly.
“I love you too.” Ray replied as tears filled his eyes. “I thought I would never hear you sing again.”
“If my voice is so bad that it causes you to cry, maybe I shouldn't do it again.” Leo wiped a tear from Ray's cheek.
“Don't you ever stop again.” Ray told him smiling.
Elizabeth quietly moved from the piano and walked into the kitchen, William silently following her.
Quickly writing a note on the dry erase board she then turned and looked at William touching her temple. He nodded and Elizabeth felt the familiar warmth of William reading her mind.
“I think my fathers need a little time to themselves, can we go to the campus?”
William nodded.“Yes of course Amate.”
William held out his hand and as Elizabeth gently took it she saw her fathers holding each other slowly dancing.