Page 11 of The Pretender

Once the plane takes off and we’re settled, Balt turns slightly in his seat to face me. “What’s important for me to know about you?”

“Oof. Loaded question.”

“Let’s start easy then. Is your family accepting of your sexuality?”

“Yeah. There are a lot of queer people in my family. We even joke about it at family gatherings. We’re Italian, obviously, so everyone’s loud and in your business, but good people. The best. I have missed them.”

“Do you visit often?”

“Not enough. Usually just for Christmas. Didn’t always have the funds, and I refused to let them pay for it. I wanted to be independent and make it on my own. Now look at me.”

“There’s nothing wrong with you. You tried something out, and even though it didn’t go the way you hoped, that’s a step a lot of people never take. You should be proud of yourself.”

His answer confuses me, but in a good way. “Thanks.”

The flight attendant comes through taking drink orders.

“The hottest coffee ever, please. Three sugars, two creamers.”

He nods, writing it down, then turns his gaze to Balt. “You, sir?”

“Coffee, just cream.”

The flight attendant moves on.

“They’ll ask you about your family.” I grimace. “They’re nosy.”

Balt nods. “Okay then. My parents are deceased. It was a terrible accident seven years ago. House fire.”

“Oh god, Balt. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s been difficult, but I go on.”

“Do you have siblings?”

I swear I see his eyes cloud over. “I have a sister but we’re not close.”

“Where does she live?”

“Denver. She’s married with a couple of kids. Wanted to get far away after our parents died.”

I don’t know what to say, so I put my hand over his and gently squeeze. “Thanks for telling me. I’d suggest saying your parents have passed and you’d rather not discuss the details. They’ll be respectful.”

Balt nods, his jaw twitching. “You have two brothers, right? Do they live in Madison?”

“Yep, two highly successful brothers. Both live near the family home. By the way, don’t be overwhelmed when you see it. My grandpa built a bunch of houses on the land, hoping we’d have a big family compound someday. There’s six houses and the winery.”

“Oh, wow. Okay. Who lives there?”

“Aunts, uncles, cousins. My folks. We’ll probably stay in the winery. There’s a guest space.”

Our coffee is dropped off, and I hug my cup like a lost love. The lack of caffeine after getting up at the butt crack of dawn was wearing on me. I sip the steamy liquid, closing my eyes as it burns its way down my throat.

“Absolute shit coffee, but at least it’s coffee.”

Balt chuckles. “Have to agree.” We sit quietly for a moment until he asks, “So how did we meet?”

I consider the question and a plausible encounter. “Do you like to read?”