Beneath the Palisade (34 page)

“It sucks.”

He didn’t need to know any more details. Sipping his soda, he stared out the window. Ian had positioned a rock garden just a few feet away from the office entrance. Although the plants were small, many of them were blooming. It was soothing. His heart ached for Alex. Here was an amazing young man who hadn’t been given a single break his entire life, as far as he could tell, who was still out there smiling, working, keeping himself up. The alternative—Donnie McPherson came to mind. The spoiled snot son of the senior partner who had been handed everything in life didn’t have a speck of the drive and character the young dude seated across from him had.
What a shame. What can I do? Can Ian and I do anything?

A redheaded woodpecker landed on a stately pine about ten feet from where he was sitting. It immediately started pecking away. “Hey, look at that. Can you believe how red the head is on that bird?”

Alex leaned over the small table to get a look. “Wow, they’re so cool. We have the large ones up here too. I think they’re called pileated woodpeckers or something like that. They’re huge. Somebody, it might have been a teacher at school, told us they’re endangered or close to being endangered. I’d give money to save them.”

They sat for a few moments in silence. The woodpecker circled the trunk of the tree and then, after looking around, flew off.
Hell, I’d give some money to help Woody out too. I’d give some money to help you out.

That’s it!
“Alex, I feel the old Callahan genius kicking in. And when that happens, look out, dude! I’m unstoppable.”

“Okay.” Alex laughed nervously.

“You’re looking for a safe, respectable way to meet guys up here your own age, right?”

“Yep.”

“The first thing we need to do is check around the area to see what, if any, organizations exist for men only. I have no idea, but your problem is universal, and I can’t help but hope others before you may have made an effort to lessen the burden on other young dudes coming up the ranks. So, first, we check out the area for healthy, safe groups you can latch onto for socializing. Curious, have you ever looked into what is already out there for gay men?”

“Not really. I know the bars sometimes have underage nights, but I usually find out too late. And before I wasn’t sure who I wanted to know I was gay. I don’t give a shit about that anymore.”

“The other thing I’m thinking about….” Harper had to figure out a way to introduce his idea without giving away the fact that he had substantial wealth and, for tax reasons, a motivation to find a charitable organization he felt good about being the benefactor of.
This is the perfect fit.
“If the Palisade Beach Cabins are a success, and the community turns out to be supportive, accepting, Ian and I would like to give back to it in some way. We’ve talked about a couple of ideas. Ian’s gardening skills and knowledge are substantial. Maybe create, fund, and manage a public space that everyone around here can enjoy. That’s Ian’s thing.”

“We used to have something like that next to the gas station in town, where the vacant video store is now.”

“Nice.”
Nothing’s as soothing and enjoyable to look at as an abandoned video store.
“My thing, something that would interest me, would be to help out the gay community in some way.”

For the next hour, and another round of Dew, he and Alex took his sliver of an idea and built on it. The area would benefit from a men’s center. Perhaps starting with gay men, but most certainly adding gay teens. A safe place to meet others. It would be a place where there would be gay-orientated events. Maybe dances. He’d heard about a similar men’s center in the Cities. Ian had told him about it. They sponsored all sorts of activities. Biking and hiking groups, a variety of events where men could enjoy the company of one another and meet others. Forge friendships, and from there, relationships. Or, like he and Ian, go right into the relationship thing and bypass the friendship phase.

“Wanna do this with me? Is this something you could see yourself being interested in?”

He hoped Alex would respond positively. If he didn’t, Harper would understand. He had learned a long time ago that his ideas, his views, weren’t always shared by those around him. Sometimes his physical attractiveness had worked against him when it came to garnering support. For the wrong reasons, people agreed to things only because they were swept up by his looks and apparent charm. The concept didn’t have a home in their hearts like it did in his. Whether they knew it or not, their motives were insincere. By nature, he wanted to give his ego a good thrashing for thinking his very being had this kind of influence on people. But it was true. He’d watched it happen many times.
And it’s not my fault, dammit!

“I would kill to have something, a place to meet guys like that here. Very cool. It’s a great idea, Harper.”

Yes! Baby steps. That’s the way to go.

“In all likelihood, Ian’s going to be gone a few nights a week during the summer playing baseball. Let’s team up on our idea and take a night during the week to work on this. See what we can come up with.” He was charged. Just like Ian, who could visualize so clearly the landscaping when they first toured the cabins, he could envision bits and pieces of his men’s center.

“Sounds great. Sure, I’ll do that.” Alex appeared to be pumped for a minute, but like before, the joy suddenly vanished from his face. Harper had lost his young friend to some dreadful thought.

“Dude, you’re looking at your soda can again. What are you thinking about? Talk to me. I’m prone to hollering, but I don’t bite. Promise.”

“I was thinking about Norbert’s. I’m….”

“Hang on. It’s me that has a problem with you luring innocent men into your web of passion. Wow, did I just say that?” Harper giggled.

“That’s some shit.” Alex laughed along with him.

“Do what you have to do. Be safe. Use your head. I mean the one on your shoulders, and hopefully, you’ll have an option or two to replace cruising the magazine rack at Norbert’s soon. Maybe there’s something already around here we don’t know about. We’ve got our work cut out for us, my friend. Now, go learn how to use that reservation system so when our first guest checks in, we can look like we know what we’re doing. I have to head into Duluth to pick up some bathroom fixtures we ordered for the cabins.”

“I’ll get cracking on this software. Hey, Harper?”

“Yes, sir?”

“Thanks. I really appreciate all you’re doing for me.”

“It’s our pleasure. Alex, Ian and I really enjoy having you around. Besides, haven’t you figured it out yet? You’re a better investment than the cabins. We think you’re going places. And I’m not talking about out west, either. Later, dude!”

“
D
ID
you git ’er done?” Ian looked up from the computer screen. His “checking a guest in and out” lesson was just concluding. Alex had the patience of Job.

“Yep, Mater. We are…
open
!” Harper flopped the plastic tarp they’d had covering the new sign onto the desk and went along the room accepting high fives. “I can’t believe it. And you guys, the grounds look great. Walking back from the highway, it’s like you’re strolling into the land of Oz or something. You’d never guess this place would look as cool as it does. I like that surprise element. Hey, let’s celebrate. Alex, do you have plans tonight?”

“Of course not.” Alex flipped a page in the manual he’d had his head buried in.

“This kid has been hanging around us too long, Ian. He’s starting to sound like we do.”

“Like you. He sounds like you. I’m always bright and cheerful.” Ian patted Alex on the shoulder.

“Remember that one, Alex. We can use it as ammunition down the road. Anyway, I was thinking we should go into Duluth for dinner. Find the biggest and best steak in town. Whattaya say, fellas?”

This is going to be good. It hasn’t sunk in yet.
Walking over to the tarp on the counter, Ian picked it up and handed it to his partner. “Here.”

“Huh.” As expected, Harper appeared clueless.

“Put ’er back on, Mater.”

Alex, hovering over the computer, chuckled. He got it.

“Oh.” Deflated, Harper sat down in the chair with the tarp on his lap. “We’re open, I get it.”

“Yep. Life’s going to be a little different from here on out.” Ian moved from behind the desk and took Harper by the hand. “Come here, Binky. We love you.” Wrapping his arms around Harper, he held him in a tight embrace. “You should have seen the look on your face. It was priceless.”

“Binky wants steak, a big, juicy steak with mushrooms,” Harper sniveled on his shoulder. “And a baked potato. And wine, Binky wants wine.”

“But Binky is an innkeeper, or cabinkeeper, now. And he’s subject to a whole new set of rules. There, there, we’ll get through this together.” Ian gave Harper’s ear a gentle tug.

Another round of laughter exploded from Alex.

“Someone’s laughing at poor Binky,” Harper sniveled even louder.

“That’s because Binky is a moron and very forgetful.”

“A moron? Did you just call me a moron?” Harper stepped back, appalled.

“I did. But in a loving, tender kind of way, Binky.”

“Well, okay then, I guess.”

Ian and Alex watched as Harper carefully folded the tarp up for storage. “We’re open now. The Palisade Cabins are open. But hey, I have an idea.”

“Did you hear that, Alex? Bink has an idea. Let’s hear it, Bink. What’s your idea?”

“Takeout! Ta-da! How about Alex and I make a run into town for steak takeout?”

“Steak takeout? You mean like in a bucket or something?” Ian laughed. “With a couple sides of coleslaw?”

“No, silly. Like I call the…. Alex, what’s that supper clubby kind of place on our side of Duluth?”

“Pickwick?”

“That’s it! I’ll call Pickwick and have them package it all together for us. I’ll order the ‘we just opened our resort cabins meal’ for three. Big steaks, baked potatoes, salads….”

“That sounds awesome.” Alex was pumped.

“Works for me. I’ll hold down the fort.” Ian slapped Binky’s butt, sending him on his way.

“Oh, that reminds me….” Harper stopped midsentence.

“Slapping your butt reminds you of something? This should be good.” Ian chuckled, looking over to Alex.

“I thought it reminded me of something, but Binky
is
a moron. So never mind.”

“Okay.”
What the heck was that one all about?
“Well, I’m going to run up to the house for a minute. Call me when you guys decide to leave, and I’ll come back down.”

Tonight needed to be special. Ian decided they should dine at the table. He carefully went about setting it, chuckling when he remembered the erotic penis napkin fold Andy had taught him one night when they were three sheets to the wind.
Perfect!
He’d just finished putting the water glasses on the table when Harper called to tell him they were headed into Duluth.

“Okay, hon. Drive safely. I’ll head down to the office in a minute.”
Wineglasses. Alex can pour his Dew into a wineglass if he wants.
Ian surveyed the table. The penis napkins were definitely the perfect touch. He giggled.

As he walked back to the office, the surrounding beauty stopped him in his tracks.
This is paradise.
Leaves were beginning to explode everywhere he looked. And the smell of spring: intoxicating. The shadows were long, signaling the end of the afternoon.
What a gorgeous day.
To pass the time, he reviewed the software lesson he’d just gone through with Alex. A thought occurred to him. How many hours would he have logged in this office when it was all said and done? Would it be hundreds? Thousands? The cabins, the grounds, already seemed like home to him. He couldn’t wait for the first time they were up and running to capacity. The bustling activity. The aroma wafting through the air from all the different kinds of dinner being cooked on the grills he’d designed. The sound of happy, maybe even tipsy voices as they enjoyed their time away from home in the garden paradise he’d created.
Life is good.

He’d just completed a trial run of the “check-in” program when he heard the sound of a car pulling up outside.
That was fast. Wow!
Car doors opened and slammed shut. The sound of a child’s voice confirmed for him it wasn’t Harper and Alex. Seconds later a little girl, maybe six or seven, appeared outside the screen door. “Hellooo,” she said.

“Well, hi there. What’s your name?”

“Tiffany.” She smiled and rubbed her nose against the screen.

“Tiffany? Wanna hear something funny? I know another Tiffany, but she’s bigger.”
Much bigger.
He chuckled. “Do you want to come in?”

“I can’t. Not until my daddy and mommy come.”

Adorable.
A moment later Daddy appeared. “It’s okay,” he instructed her, “you can go in.”

The little girl and her father entered the office. A split second later, Mommy joined them.

“Welcome to the Palisade Beach Cabins. I’m Ian. Can I help you?”
Wow, was that ever strange to say.

“We were just driving by”—Dad moved to the side to allow Mom to join him—“and saw your sign. You’re open, right?”

“We opened today. Your timing is perfect.”

“You have a beautiful place here. Just beautiful.” Mom was impressed. Sweet!

“What are your rates?” Dad didn’t appear to take into consideration how taken Mom was with the property. He was all business.

“Here, why don’t you take a look at this.” Ian reached under the counter and pulled out one of the newly laminated price sheets Harper and Alex had created. “This should tell you everything you need to know.”

He was thankful for the pricing cheat sheets. Although they’d discussed the rates back and forth, honestly, he couldn’t recall what they had decided.

“This works.” Dad nodded his approval, handing the sheet over to Mom. “Preseason rates apply?”

“Ah, sure.”
Ian, stop sounding so tentative. Check the damn sheet yourself if you don’t know.

“We drove up from Iowa this morning. Thought we’d just wing it.” Mom giggled at how adventurous she thought they were being.