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The only girl I’ve ever loved is Jerry in drag.
The boat rocked as the waves sprayed lightly over the passengers, Osgood’s mind had wandered with that one thought but he quickly squashed the notion of it. He knew how Jerry felt about him, about their relationship, if it could even be called that anymore. It wasn’t fair to him that he continued to harbor these feelings. He needed to let it go. He’d talk to Jerry once they docked. And after that…Jerry wouldn’t have any reason to stay close to an old man like him…Osgood tried not to think about it and prayed the tears prickling his eyes would look like they were caused by the salt of the waves.
But out of the corner of Osgood’s eye, oh what a vision his fiance(…soon to be ex-fiance he supposed), was. His hair on display as his wig was clutched in his lap, the leopard print of his coat flew in the wind as the boat sailed. Oh how beautiful he looked under the light of the moon. A pity she does not exist, a shame he’s not a ***. Osgood mused before the almost angelic sounding voice of the man next to him shocked him out of it.
“Osgood?” Jerry asked, turning to look at him.
“Yes, Dar…Jerry?” Osgood asked, turning his head to look at him as well. Something flickered in Jerry’s eyes before leaving, Osgood wasn’t sure what, it was gone before he could place it.
“You never told me why you left all of your…last wives. Could you tell me now? To pass the time while the lovebirds back there flirt?”
“Of course, you already know about my most recent wife, the contortionist. My other wives…there were different reasons for them. Some smoked like the contortionist did, some wanted me because of my money and the gifts I gave, oh how Mother was steamed about that. My first wife died of an illness…we married when we were young, she was already sick, she didn’t want to die feeling like she was unloved so we had a wedding. We didn’t love each other, but we were friends at least,” Osgood paused.
I’m not sure I loved any of them actually, maybe I was just hopeful thinking I’d have a doting and loving wife to come home to. Distracted by his musing, he once again missed the look in Jerry’s eyes. Osgood snapped back to the present, smiling apologetically before continuing.
“Of course some of my wives cheated on me which caused those divorces, I’m not sure I could blame them. Young and pretty, I’m not surprised they weren’t satisfied with me,” Osgood’s tone was light, though his words felt like they cut deep in his own chest he knew they were true. “...Jerry, I can't tell you how apologetic I am, about how we first met. I shouldn’t have done that to you, or anyone really.”
“You’ve done that to other people?”
“Truthfully no, I simply didn’t want you to think I regretted it because you’re a man. I regret it simply because I did it to someone.”
Jerry’s tense posture relaxed, Osgood figured it must be because he apologized and Jerry is a bit less uncomfortable sitting next to the man who asked for his hand in marriage. Their destination came into sight and Osgood docked the boat as they arrived. He helped the three out of the boat as soon as he was on the dock himself.
“Well Joe, what do we do now?” Jerry asked, looking at Joe who had his arm wrapped around Sugar.
“We find jobs, there’s sure to be an opening for musicians and a singer, and if not I’m sure we can get some other sort of gig.”
“Why don’t the two of you go into town and look then,” Jerry stated, turning away from the two.
“Sure but when your conversation is over we have to have one of our own, Daphne.”
“Sure thing, Josephine. Now go find some jobs we can do.” Joe grinned as he walked off with sugar, the two whispering and smiling together. Jerry turned back to Osgood who had finished tying the boat to the rope. “We need to talk.”
“I know, don’t worry,” Osgood smiled pleasantly, his chest felt tight and his eyes betrayed the sorrow he felt. “You can keep the gifts I’ve given you, including the ring. If you can’t find jobs it will let you be able to pay rent or get things you need for some time. There’s no strings attached either, you can sell them without guilt.”
His eyes were closed as he smiled, he didn’t want to see the look on Jerry’s face, didn’t want to see what Jerry thought of him displayed so brazenly in front of him. His eyes opened as he felt pressure against his lips, though they quickly lipped shut. He wasn’t sure who it was that had tears streaming down their face, but he could taste the salt in their kiss. When Jerry pulled away his eyes opened to look at him, and oh his eyes were blurry, Jerry’s cheeks wet. It was both of them who had been crying.
“You’re so stupid. I’m so stupid because I actually fell in love with you, you stupid man!” Jerry expressed, his hands clenched in Osgood’s suit. One of Osgood’s hands lifted to wipe away the newest tear that was falling across Jerry’s face.
“I am stupid, Darling. I didn’t believe you’d love me.”
“That’s the problem. I do love you,” Jerry sucked a breath in before trying to quickly put his blonde hair back on. “How do I look?”
“Beautiful, as always, why My Dear?”
“I can be your wife…I can still be your wife if I look like this a-and if I do my makeup like a dame every morning. You’ll keep me if I look this way and we can stay together and get–”
“Darling,” Osgood interrupted, taking off the wig as his left hand stayed on Jerry’s cheek and his right smoothed out the brown strands of hair. “You don’t need to look like a woman for me to stay with you.”
“But…You don’t…”
“I told you before, nobody’s perfect. I fell in love with you. It may have started with you as a woman, and I may have liked how you look as Daphne. But I also love how you look as Jerry.” Tears started falling more heavily after that, and Osgood held him close as the tears soaked into his suit. After some time the sobs turned to hiccups and Osgood cupped Jerry’s face in the palms of his hands. “Do you still want to be my fiance, and eventually my husband?”
“Yes. Yes I do.” Osgood smiled at the answer, pulling him into another kiss as the two sat kneeling on the dock together.
The only one I’ve ever loved is Jerry in drag.