Page 40 of Earl

“Christmas has always been such a trying time for us.”

“It’s not…,” his voice trailed off as memories came flooding his brain. “I try not to think about it.”

“How can you not help it?” She cried softly, tears gathering at the back of her eyes. They had been brought up not to show the slightest hint of emotion, but that had never stopped her. Earl had gotten it the worse.

He was not allowed to cry, not even when he broke his arm skiing one winter in Switzerland. The pain had been so excruciating that he had turned a ghostly pale, his eyes bright with the intensity of it.

Their father had ordered the doctor to snap it back in place without using anesthesia. Evelyn had stood there helplessly as she watched her brother struggle not to faint from the pain.

It had been a Christmas outing – a rare one where their parents had announced they were going to Switzerland for the holiday.

At first, they had been excited, wondering if this was going to be special. They had been proven wrong. After blistering Earl’s ears with his scathing remarks about clumsiness and his ineptitude, they had been sent to bed without any supper to ‘teach them a lesson’.

“Earl…”

“No.” he bit out. “Let’s not go there.”

Their meals were placed in front of them and Evelyn waited until the waiter had moved away.

“I hate to see you so unhappy!” She cried. “When you are doing that online…”

“It’s over.”

“May I ask why?”

“It was a bad idea to begin with, Let’s eat.” He glanced at his watch. “I have a meeting in half an hour.”

*****

“What do you think?”

“Does she know you are gay?”

He gave her an exasperated look. “Everyone knows I am gay.”

“Maybe you should remind her.” Her eyes danced merrily as she scooped up some of the delicious chowder. “She keeps coming over here to check on you and she has not stopped touching you.

Complimenting your locks, the way your shirt complements your skin, the whiteness of your teeth when you laugh, things like that. I am starting to feel invisible.”

“You are exaggerating. So, she likes me, so what?”

“Honey, she wants to take you to her bed.”

“Well maybe that is not such a bad idea. I have been asking you to sleep with me for years and you won’t budge.”

She gave him a wry look. “That’s because I know better.”

“She is just hung up on the fact that I am such a celebrity.”

“Who is as modest as they come.”

“Modesty is overrated. What do you think?” He pointed to the bowl.

“It is really good. What does having you here as a guest, do to her tiny restaurant?”

“Really darling?” He chided as he reached for his glass of water. The place was small and out of the way. Nestled a few feet away from the harbor, it had a quaintness about it that was rather attractive.

In the summer, tables were placed outside for the patrons to enjoy staring at the ships passing by and there was even a boardwalk for them to take advantage of. The setting was not bad at all.