Page 44 of Something Like Hail

“The kind who turn theirback on a child for any reason,” Marcello said grimly. “I take ityour family was less than sympathetic?”

“Yeah. As soon as Iaccepted myself, they rejected me.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”Marcello unbuckled his seatbelt and rose. “A drink will help easethe pain. What do you prefer?”

“Coke.”

“I’ll be back in two shakesof a lamb’s tail.”

Marcello returned a few minutes later withtwo glasses of champagne. “They were out of Coke,” he saidunapologetically. He handed a flute to Noah, then raised his own.“Here’s to eating apples and charming snakes.”

Noah grinned and clinked glasses. Then hedrank, enjoying the taste. His first glass of champagne, but hewasn’t about to admit that. He had already made a fool of himselfover the plane.

“How do things standbetween you and your parents now?” Marcello asked. “An uneasytruce?”

Noah shook his head. “We never see eachother and barely speak. I’ve called home a few times. My motherwill still talk to me. My father won’t. I’m not sure which isworse, because all Mom has to say is that God will forgive me if Iask him.”

Marcello sniffed. “He won’t. I tried oncewhile deeply intoxicated. I’m afraid God is the sort to hold agrudge. How old were you when tensions boiled over?”

“Sixteen,” Noah said. “I’vebeen on my own ever since.”

“And you’re twenty-two now.Has nothing changed over the previous six years? I don’t have muchexperience in family matters, but from what I understand, mostconflicts resolve themselves given enough time.”

“Not my parents,” Noahmuttered. “I think it would take a new version of the Bible thatsays gay people are holier than angels. Even that might not changetheir minds.”

“Well,” Marcello said,swirling his near-empty glass, “I’m sure you’ve told that story tomany people over the years, and I’m equally certain you’ve heardtiresome advice about how your parents will come around eventuallyand welcome you back with open arms. I happen to think you’rebetter off without them. Free of their small-minded bigotry, youhave a much better chance of attaining personalhappiness.”

“I’d feel better if Ihadn’t made a mess of my life since then.”

“Oh? What happened? Tell methe rest.”

Noah opened his mouth to do so. Maybe it wasthe champagne, or how Marcello seemed to care, because he wastempted to keep talking. That would quickly lead to Ryan, a subjecthe intended to avoid. Maybe he could tell the rest withoutmentioning him. Some of it Marcello probably knew already.

“I’ve been homeless eversince. For a while I stayed with friends, or slept in my car. Thesedays I’m kind of on my own, but like I said, I’m really gratefulfor the opportunity you’ve given me. It’s helped. Alot.”

Marcello’s expression remained neutral. Heseemed to be waiting. For what, Noah wasn’t sure, so it became astaring contest. Eventually Marcello set down his glass and restedhis head on one fist. “Six years is a long time. Somehow youmanaged to sum it up with three—maybe four sentences? There must bemore to the story than that.”

“I know what you’re reallyasking,” Noah said.

“Good. Then you must alsoknow the most appropriate answer. Tell me the truth. How did ourlives become intertwined? I don’t believe you were aware of me whenyou fled Fort Stockton. What happened between then andnow?”

Noah shook his head. “I get that you’ve beentrying to punish me by choosing the trickiest clients, but I don’tcare. I’m willing to do the work. Isn’t that all that matters? Ifyou’re worried I’m going to tell people about the Gentlemen’sAgreement Club, or try to blackmail anyone, I won’t. I just want towork and finally get my life together. Please.”

Marcello’s eyes searched his, movingrepeatedly from one to the other. Then he nodded. “Very well.” Hepulled a cell phone from his jacket pocket, appeared to send aquick text, and turned his chair forward again. Were they donetalking?

“You can trust me,” Noahtried.

“I’ve done so already,”Marcello said. “I’m not sure I appreciate the results.”

“Why? What have I done?”Noah leaned forward, attempting to capture Marcello’s attentionagain and failing. “Talk to me!”

His pleas were ignored. Noah sighed, floppedback in his chair, and tried to think of anything he had donewrong. The first two clients had been a learning experience, but hehad performed well enough. The third… “I didn’t ask Harold tochange my assignment. That last one with Chester, he just offered.I didn’t know it would get either of us in trouble!”

“Harold has a good heart,”Marcello replied.

Meaning what? That Noah didn’t? Or thatHarold was too trusting and could easily be hurt? “You’ve beenkeeping us apart on purpose, haven’t you? That’s why you sent himout of town, and why he ended up working on his day off. You’retrying to keep him away from me.”

“You have the orderreversed,” Marcello said, attention on his phone again.