Page 3 of Big Britches
“You know why. He was in love with Violet. He thinks I stole her from him.”
“This is going to sound cold, but I don’t know another way to say it. You spared Mason from having to go through two years of hell, watching someone he loved wither away.”
“You’re right,” Titus said. “It does sound cold.”
“Sorry.”
“Do you ever think that maybe someone turns out the way they do because of something you did?”
“He was your enemy long before Violet came into the picture, T. He was always jealous of you being the Hawks’ tight end.”
“But what if our slip-up—Violet getting pregnant—prevented him from ever having a chance with her? You know… detoured his happiness.”
Barb sat up. Even though it was too dark to see her, Titus could feel her eyes burning. “Do you really think Violet would have ever had anything to do with that little shit?”
Titus chuckled. “No. He was pretty transparent and clearly, she had a good eye. This letter confirms that even more.”
“So, stop using Mason as an excuse. Get out there and find yourself a man.”
“You know, I could easily say the same to you.”
“I don’t want a man.”
“Ha. Ha.”
“I know. Bad joke,” Barb said. “But I am going to make more of a go of it. Surely, there’s another lesbian somewhere in Spoon. God knows there’re enough gay guys.”
“Really?”
“You would know it if you hadn’t been tucked away since graduation. Spoon is full of gay men, different generations. A lot of them are closeted, though, like us.”
“Why do you think that is?”
“I don’t know. Fear?”
“No. I mean, why do you think there are so many gay men in Spoon?”
“Who knows? Maybe something in the water.”
“Well, if it’s true, I don’t know any of them.”
“Yes, you do. I’ll make you a list.”
“What’re you making a list of?” This third voice came from the darkness. It was Roz. She had joined them on the porch.
“Gay men in Spoon,” Barb said.
“Girl, you may need more than one piece of paper.”
“How come I don’t know about all these men?” Titus asked.
“Because you never leave this house, Big Britches.”
Barb grinned at Roz’s use of Titus’s high school nickname.
Roz continued, “I do all the shopping. I bet you don’t even know we have a brand-new Blockbuster Video store. What are we drinking?”
“Crown Royal. Here. I have a glass for you.” Titus picked up a highball glass from the tray on the coffee table and poured some of the amber liquid into it. “There’s ice in that bucket and Seven-Up if you want.”