Chapter Text
Joel wasn't drunk enough for the questioning. He thought after his announcement at the assembly he'd be free from questions. The other Steiner-ites had left him alone for the rest of the day. But at dinner he was sat across the only two people he couldn't just tell to shove off.
Abe and Rose Weissman might have been his ex-in-laws but they were still the grandparents of his kids and they felt they were entitled to know what Joel was doing with his life.
Joel fielded questions about his job and living situation through the appetizers. Midge chimed in on occasion to try to sway the conversation away from him. But with Abe's intense stare and Rose’s mix of concern and judgement, Joel lost his appetite. Luckily Abe's new boy took enough attention away from him by spilling drinks and dropping forks for him to excuse himself for a drink.
Drinking was the best thing he could do in the middle of the woods surrounded by snobs.
The bar was mercifully uncrowded, everyone occupied with their meals still. Joel ordered a beer and leaned against the bar as he waited. He surveyed the crowd, noting the usual types he saw every summer since he started coming to the Catskills.
An exceptionally bejeweled woman was already in the process of foisting her daughter on any eligible bachelor. The daughter looking totally out of her depths in a less frilled imitation of her mother's outfit. They were making rounds talking to each table and Joel watched with amusement when the woman was turned down by table after table. He couldn't hold back a laugh when the woman actually tripped her daughter to make her fall into a man's lap.
“Think she'll succeed before the season is over?”
Joel glanced to his right where the man next to him gestured with his glass to the mother and daughter.
“If some poor idiot steps in to save the kid the embarrassment.” Joel replied.
The man's mouth moved into not quite a smile as he took another sip of his drink. Joel smiled at him and raised his glass in understanding. The dinner crowd chattered around them as the meal ended and people became anxious for entertainment. A singer enthralled the audience for a bit before Pauly took the stage to make some bad puns.
“Christ, he's such an ass.” Joel muttered, the alcohol making him not realize how loud he was being.
“Better not let any of these fine folks hear you talk like that.” The man smirked at him over his drink.
Joel raised an eyebrow challengingly. “What? Christ or insulting their great leader?”
“Whichever you think will get you dunked in the lake faster.” The man replied evenly.
Joel grinned, extending his hand because oddly enough he didn't recognize the other man, despite his years with the Steiner crowd.
“Joel Maisel.”
The man glanced down at his hand, considering it for a moment before shaking it. “Benjamin Ettenberg.”
“Not Ben?”
“No.”
Joel met his eye teasingly. “You never go by Benji or anything?”
Benjamin shook his head. “It's not four letters but it's not to long for you to comprehend I hope.”
Joel scoffed lightly, still smiling as he turned back to the dance floor. It had filled quickly, the prospect of a dance challenge getting even the most stuffed and tipsy Steiner-ites out of their seats. The initial dance commenced with a frenzy.
Joel stifled a laugh when a girl elbowed through two others to get to a boy with her matching initials. Benjamin almost smiled, his smirk deepening as they watched the fights breaking out across the dance floor.
“Think you'll brave the tides?” Joel asked after awhile.
Benjamin side eyed him. “You think I would risk it? Does this suit look cheap?”
Joel leaned forward to inspect the suit, an instinct instilled in him by his father's business that he didn't realize he had. He noted the cut, the fabric, and how it fit Benjamin's tall frame perfectly. He leaned back quickly, gripping his drink tightly.
“It doesn't look like it could take the heat.”
“Can you?” Benjamin asked.
Joel leaned back against the bar. “I would love a dance if I wasn't too much of a coward to break apart Jeanette Mause and Jacob Menssher.”
Benjamin followed his gaze to the couple already bickering on the dance floor. He laughed. “You might be a coward but you're not an idiot at least.”
“Ah, thanks pal.” Joel drawled sarcastically. “You too.”
“You're welcome.” Benjamin replied evenly. His eyes lingered on Joel's for a beat before glancing away. “Mr. Feuchtwanger is definitely braver then the both of us.”
Joel caught sight of the older man, clad in pastel plaid, as he weaved effortlessly through the dancers. He smirked. “I can't argue with that.”
“He's a bit light in the loafers but he knows who he is.” Benjamin side eyed him, watching him intently. Joel stared back.
“He's got a hell of a lot of confidence for a guy who publishes everybody else's business.” He pointed out absent mindedly as his brain worked through the particular turn of phrase Benjamin had used. It felt familiar and implicative, Joel didn't like to feel he wasn't in on the joke.
“Condemn it or praise it, we all partake in gossip.” Benjamin replied, he raised an eyebrow at Joel. “If not as consumers, then subjects.”
Joel hid a grimace. “I didn't think the news had spread to the first years yet.”
“What makes you think this is my first time braving Steiner?”
“I don't recognize you.” Joel retorted before realizing how condescending that sounded. “I mean, I think I would've noticed you in the rec room or buffet line before now. You do sort of stand out.” He added with a smirk as he looked up. “You're like a giant.”
“Because I'm not under five eleven?” Benjamin scoffed.
Joel stiffened, straightening his posture and drawing himself up to his full height, which wasn't that impressive next to Benjamin. “I'm exactly five eleven, Big Ben.”
Benjamin wrinkled his nose. “Wow, I haven't heard that one before.”
They exchanged glares until they both cracked, breaking into laughter. Benjamin caught his breath first and downed the rest of his drink before setting down his glass and tipping the bartender.
“Turning in so early?” Joel asked.
“I've served my time.” Benjamin answered as he gave a small wave to a red head woman across the room. “I came, I socialized, and I bid you goodnight.”
Joel raised his hand in farewell. “Alright, goodnight then, Benji.”
Benjamin paused to frown at him. “It's Benjamin.”
“Of course.” Joel nodded. “Nicknames are beneath you. Just like everything else.”
“Exactly.” Benjamin smirked. “Goodnight, Joel.”
“Goodnight, Benjamin.” Joel waved him away until his towering frame had disappeared from the hall.
He stared after Benjamin for a minute until something clicked. “Light in the loafers” did mean something implicative. Joel wondered what Benjamin meant, using a phrase like that. It was certainly true about the gossip columnist. That was obvious, but did it apply to.. other people?
Joel finished his drink, putting any questions from his mind. It wasn't his business. He didn't care if a guy slept with other men. The interaction had been like any other he had at the Catskills, though perhaps more pleasant then his recent ones.
His eyes found Midge on the dance floor and he turned back to her.
Joel was fending his way through the late buffet crowd, having slept in to avoid talking to Abe, when he caught sight of Benjamin again.
“Morning.” He greeted as he sidled up to the coffee table. It was leaden with various brews and teas and surrounded by the remains of fresh pastries. Benjamin was filling a plate with them.
“Morning.” He replied as he added another danish to his towering stack.
“Are you having a picnic or just hoarding baked goods for when the kitchen revolts?” Joel asked as he checked the coffee pots for a fresh one.
Benjamin barely glanced at him. “More like I'm stocking up. If I gather enough in the morning lull I can avoid the mess hall until dinner.”
Joel raised an eyebrow. “You're really not much of a ‘people person’, are you?”
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
Joel scoffed a laugh as he poured himself a cup of coffee. “Is that why I've never seen you around? You just hole up with your pastries all summer?”
“Actually, I only hide out for a week before I escape back to the city.” Benjamin replied evenly.
Joel frowned over his coffee. “Why come up here at all then?”
Benjamin sighed. “We live in a society and I have certain obligations here.”
“Mothers.” Joel nodded understandingly.
Benjamin grimaced. “She thinks the fresh air is good for me. But it's everything else here that will kill me.”
Joel snorted and Benjamin did the same. His gaze was pulled past Joel’s shoulder and he frowned.
Joel turned, catching a few words from the group of mother and aunts whispering behind them. Whether about his affair or his rumpled state of dress was fifty–fifty. Or perhaps they were looking at Benjamin. There was always something that displeased them.
They weren't happy until you either had a doctorate or married a doctor, and settled down with two perfect kids.
Joel scoffed. “I think I understand why you stay under the radar.”
Benjamin chewed a bite of pastry as he surveyed the onlookers. “It's a necessity, really.”
Joel sighed, moving along the breakfast tables to make himself a plate. “I don't know where you hide out, but I'll be in the rec room hiding behind a bowling ball all day.”
Benjamin smirked. “Do I look like I bowl?”
Joel looked him up and down. “You look like you'd stand around giving form pointers no one asked for.”
“Exactly, I'm more of a management type. I'll leave the actual ball handling to you.”
Benjamin's face tensed for a second before Joel laughed, then he seemed to relax back into his smirk again. Or maybe that was just his face. Joel had been watching him but couldn't be sure.
“What do you do then?” He asked.
“Play cribbage with the Bubbes.” Benjamin replied.
Joel blinked at him, before taking in the seriousness of his tone. “And that's.. fun for you?”
Benjamin snorted. “Those old ladies are no joke, they play a mean game of cards.”
Joel nodded. “My ma’s the same way with Mahjong.”
“I used to play the mahjong tables.” Benjamin added before his expression turned dark. Possibly remembering the sly cheating and heated arguements that often turned physical amidst the tile players.
Joel laughed and felt gratified to see the corner of Benjamin's lips twitch upwards as he fought to keep his smirk in place.
“Well, if I need to escape our fellow campers maybe I'll stop in for a game.”
Benjamin raised an eyebrow. “You know they play for real money.”
Joel frowned. “You think I can't take a few old ladies?”
Benjamin looked him up and down. “Considering you're half their size, I'd say no.”
Joel laughed. “You're probably right. You never know what they carry in those handbags. It's always a fifty-fifty chance if my mother's got dinner rolls or a brick.”
Benjamin snorted, seemingly caught off guard for a moment before his smirk slipped back into place. “I'll see you around then, Maisel.”
Joel paused with his coffee halfway to his lips, meeting Benjamin's gaze and holding it for a beat. “Yeah,” He agreed. “I'll see you around.”
Steiner had everything a family could want on vacation. Martinis and sunbathing for the tired mothers, cigars and shuffleboard for the fathers. For the kids they had a million things to distract them from bothering their parents. It seemed what most people wanted out of their family vacation was to not have to see their family all summer.
Joel appreciated knowing Ethan and Esther were being looked after but he did come up to the mountains mainly to see them. He got several odd looks from the daycare staff when he asked to sign them out. He explained he wanted to take them out for some nature. Which of course only got him a bunch of questions about his qualifications, and if he understood how children tended to wander into danger like snakes and hornets nests. He guessed they weren't used to the father's asking to take care of their kids. Eventually they did agree to let him take Ethan and Ester out for a few hours.
Once they were in the woods Joel found a respite from the prying eyes around the resort. He needed a break from the unsolicited comments about being a single dad. Comments Ethan really didn't need to hear. The resort’s indoor activities were more popular in the afternoons then the buggy woods, so Joel wasn't expecting to meet anyone on the trails. Ethan was just happy to go wherever his dad was so they all headed out for a hike.
Joel carried Esther on his shoulders. She babbled and snatched at the leaves over head while Ethan led the way. He ran ahead and returned with rocks and sticks that were treasures to the little city boy. Joel smiled at each new find and tried to remind Ethan not to pick up anything that wriggled.
He was a little nervous when Ethan disappeared around a bend in the trail and didn't immediately come back. Joel tried to pick up his pace to catch up to the energetic accident magnet. It was still slow going with a toddler perched on him but he got around the corner in time to catch Ethan talking to another Steiner guest.
“Ethan, you can't run of ahead like that. I'm carrying your sister, I can't be running through the woods.” Joel was already into a tirade that made him sound way too much like his mother when he recognized the man Ethan had stopped to talk too.
“Hello.” Benjamin looked up from where he was crouched down to talk to Ethan. He had a cigarette in one hand that he held away from the boy as he stood up. Ethan looked up at the tall man with a sense of awe as he straightened.
“Are you Goliath?” He asked.
Joel opened his mouth to apologize for his son's comment but Benjamin laughed. A real, deep laugh, that made Joel relax too and join in. Benjamin smiled at Ethan.
“I have been called a giant.” He replied with a smirk at Joel.
Joel was about to say something, something intelligent and witty, but Esther wanted to grab his attention and chose to do so by grabbing little baby fistfuls of his hair and yanking as hard as she could. Joel winced and turned away to look at what Esther was telling him about.
“A bert, a bert!” She squealed as she tugged his hair towards a bush where a blue jay had landed. As they approached the bird flew away and Esther mercifully relaxed her grip on Joel's hair. When he was finally able to look back at Benjamin he was smiling tightly with concealed laughter.
“She knows what she wants.” Joel sighed.
He smiled up at his daughter. She loosened her grip on his hair to snitch another leaf from a branch above them. She shoved it into her mouth and Joel hoped Oak leaves weren't bad for toddlers. She certainly looked happy enough munching on the leaf.
Benjamin nodded as Ethan grabbed at his hand for his attention. Joel watched as the man let himself be pulled down so Ethan could whisper in his ear. Benjamin seemed amused with the kids antics so Joel tried to let it go that his kids weren't behaving perfectly. Benjamin seemed to know enough about kids not to expect them too at any rate.
He raised his eyebrows at whatever Ethan said and looked up at Joel. “Is it alright if I give him a ride?”
Joel smirked. “He wants you to carry him?”
Ethan pouted at Benjamin for revealing his request and moved to hide behind Joel's legs. Joel patted his head, knowing Ethan didn't like being talked about. “You can just ask if you want a ride, kid.” Joel reassured him. “I can give you one if you want.”
“He said you couldn't because of his sister.” Benjamin explained, he gestured up at Esther and gave her a wink. “Also something about him being to big for you. Guess since I'm a giant I'm up to the task.” Benjamin smirked.
Joel frowned at his son and ruffled his hair a little rougher as he continued to hide. “I'm to weak, huh?”
“It's just an observation.” Benjamin shrugged smugly and Joel gave him a glare that wasn't fooling anyone. Benjamin put out his cigarette against a tree and tucked the butt into his pocket. “I really don't mind.” He offered with a smile.
Ethan peered around Joel's leg, his embarrassment forgotten when the thing he wanted was a priority. He looked up at Joel hopefully. Though it was a little embarrassing to let his son get carried around by some other guy, Joel wasn't able to tell Ethan no. Besides, Benjamin seemed like an alright guy.
“Okay.” Joel sighed, he gave Ethan a gentle shove to get him to let go of his pants leg. The boy shuffled forward as Benjamin knelt down for him to climb up.
“Maybe not on your shoulders, unless you want him hitting his head on every tree branch.” Joel advised.
“Noted.” Benjamin helped Ethan onto his back, lifting the boy easily as he stood. “Where to?”
“We were just heading around the Gribbly loop, gotta get them back in time for dinner.”
Benjamin nodded and headed down the trail, leaving room for Joel to fall into step next to him.
“You don't have to carry him the whole way.” Joel added, realizing Ethan's pleading face might've put the man out.
Benjamin shrugged, shaking Ethan as he walked which just made the kid giggle and hold on tighter. “It's no problem. This guy is more fun then all the old timers back there asking me to check their moles.”
Joel furrowed his brows. “What?”
“I'm a doctor.” Benjamin explained.
“Ah, makes sense.” Joel laughed. It did make sense, of course this tall, well spoken, handsome guy was also a doctor. “I bet you're popular.” He smirked as Benjamin groaned softly.
“Unbelievably so, I mean I've tried not to be but just look-” Benjamin turned to Joel with a pleading expression. “Cursed with good looks and a natural charm.”
“Those mothers must want to eat you alive.” Joel agreed with a laugh.
“Or feed me to their daughters.” Benjamin shuddered and shook Ethan around on his back until the boy squealed for him to stop. “I'm safer hiding out here.”
“We'll protect you then.” Joel grinned, Ethan echoed the statement and Esther joined in, though in her own babble of support. Benjamin smiled at them all and Joel felt warmer than the summer heat.
The hike was short, but Joel wasn't used to the uneven ground and uphill climb. Benjamin seemed to have no trouble with the terrain. With his long legs he climbed the hill to the highest point of the trail, a little overlook with a view of the lake. Joel was a few yards behind him and it took awhile for him to make the climb. At the top he was breathless and sweaty, he slid Esther off his shoulders and flopped down in the grass.
Benjamin looked down at him with his hands on his hips. “You gonna pass out on us, Maisel?”
“Shut up.” Joel huffed, he glanced around for the kids before closing his eyes for a minute.
Ethan had climbed off Benjamin and was trying to catch grasshoppers. Esther was toddling around, yanking up wildflowers by the roots and crumpling them in her little baby fists. Joel could relax for a minute. Before he could get up the energy to sit up he heard Benjamin sitting down next to him in the grass.
“Your pants are gonna be ruined.” Joel pointed out, it was something ingrained in him to notice stains. Probably came from growing up in his dad's clothing business. Always had to be aware of his clothes and the money it cost to replace them.
Benjamin didn't seem to care, he crossed his legs and rested his head on his hand. “I think I'll be fine. You're not much of an outdoors men I see.” He remarked.
Joel rolled onto his side to look at him. “Nope, born and raised New Yorker. This is the most grass I've ever touched.” He added, spreading his arms through the wildflowers around him.
Benjamin tilted his head to look down at him. “A new achievement for you then.”
Joel watched the kids tripping over each other as Ethan dived for a bug while Esther crawled through the grass for a clump of daisies.
Benjamin turned away to stare at the view. Joel watched the slow drifts of clouds overhead and the way the light sparks over the lake. But if his eyes kept sliding to the other man, there was no one to notice. Benjamin didn't seem too, he was so engrossed with the forest he didn't look up until Esther dumped her “bouquet” into his lap.
“For me?” Benjamin surveyed the pile of weeds, most were still trailing roots and getting dirt all over his pants.
Joel cringed, he sat up, already reaching forward to take the well meaning toddler away but Benjamin was smiling.
“These are fascinating specimens.” He told Esther. He picked up a dandelion and began pointing out the different functions of each part. Esther was totally fascinated and babbled to him in response, grabbing bunches of flowers and shoving them at the man for more information.
“Roo’s, Roo's!” She giggled.
Joel ruffled her soft baby hair and scooted closer. “Yeah, interesting stuff, huh?”
“She's quite the botanist.” Benjamin remarked with a smile at Joel.
Joel smiled back. “She get it from her mom.” He added fondly. “My father-in-law's a professor and everything, but Midge is smart as all hell.”
Benjamin raised an eyebrow at him. “Smarter then you?”
“Obviously.” Joel chuckled ruefully. He wasn't bitter about that, he'd always known Midge was smarter then him, funnier, just better in every way. She deserved better then him.
Benjamin was still looking at him and he wanted to add something but a shriek cut through his thoughts.
Joel sat up, whipping around towards the far side of the hill. The shriek meant that Ethan was either excited or terrified. Which meant he had definitely found something that was about to get him into trouble. Joel scrambled up, trusting Esther with Benjamin while he went to investigate.
Ethan had found a snake, luckily just a harmless one. Joel scooped him up to save the reptile from his poking and carried him away. Ethan squirmed in his grip until Joel started running. Ethan spread his arms to pretend he was flying. It got him to accept the diversion and he was laughing when Joel set him down next to his sister.
“Ethan's gonna be a regular in your emergency room if he keeps this up.” Joel griped fondly as he dropped back to a sitting position. He was closer to Benjamin now but neither of them acknowledged it.
“It's good to know I'll stay in business.” Benjamin agreed.
Esther showed Ethan her flowers and he crumpled them up as he tried to make her a flower crown. Joel plucked a few off Benjamin's thigh and wove them together to show Ethan how it was done. When his son could make a chain by himself Joel glanced up and noticed Benjamin watching him. Joel raised an eyebrow at him and Benjamin just shrugged, glancing away as he did so. His expression unreadable but his cheeks looked flushed probably from the heat.
They didn't stay on the overlook for much longer.