Denny had the TV set on as Alan stepped into the kitchen...the news of the morning was apparently focused on yet another disaster concerning the streets of Boston. This time, a water main break that had Mass Ave shut down. As Alan poured a cup of coffee, Denny said, "This city if falling apart. First the tunnels have to be shut down due to falling slabs of concrete, and now," he gestured to the TV, "the streets are collapsing because of massive amounts of water flowing under them, causing them to buckle."
"Was anyone hurt?" Alan asked, knowing there had been a death in the tunnel incident, and hoping that was not the case here.
"Not that they've said," Denny said a bit distantly, then turned his focus onto Alan as he continued, "but they had to evacuate part of the hospital. Can you imagine...?" but he just shook his head, not continuing that thought.
The two men sat in silence, sipping their coffee, as they watched the news. Interviews with motorists seemed to sum up the situation -- this morning's 'rush hour' was one of the worse ever. Traffic congestion, which was already unbearable due to the various tunnel closings and detours of the past week had been complicated further by this disaster. The city was grid-locked, and tempers were flying.
"What a mess," Alan said under his breath, then turned to Denny as he continued, "do you have any pressing business in the office today?"
"No," Denny replied, then asked, "You?"
"Not a thing for the rest of the week," and a look passed between them as Alan added, "I think this would be a great time to get out of the city, don't you?"
"Certainly...and I know just the place. Let me make a call..." and Denny was out of the kitchen in a flash. He returned a few minutes later, smiling as he said, "All set. Good thing your car is here, by the way...we can head up 93 to NH and avoid all the mess out there."
"Where are we going?" Alan asked, although he thought he knew.
"The cabin on the lake...you remember, the one we went to that first October, after you..." Denny stopped mid-sentence, as he realized that Alan remembered...and the smile on his face was evidence that his memories were fond ones. "If we're lucky, we can be on the road in an hour...don't forget your bathing suit," he called out as Alan went into the guest room, where his suitcase and clothing were.
***
Not only did Alan pack his bathing suit, but also his hiking boots, as he recalled some of the trails they had followed around the lake on that wonderful fall day. When he emerged from the guestroom, duffel bag in hand, he asked, "Did you pack fishing gear? And your hiking boots?"
"Yes, to the fishing gear...may be too hot to go hiking, though," Denny replied, then he saw the look of disappointment on Alan's face, and added, "I'll get them, just in case."
"Yes, it may be a bit cooler up there, and if it is," Alan said to Denny's retreating back, "I'd love to explore the other side of the lake."
***
But it wasn't any cooler at the lake...as a matter of fact, it was oppressively hot and humid, and the cabin was un-air-conditioned. The beach around the lake, and the lake itself, was wall-to-wall kids, which didn't bother Alan all that much, because he would prefer the indoor pool, in any case. But that was full of mothers with smaller children. The only place that wasn't full of squealing kids was the hot tub.
Now, normally, that would be exactly where Denny and Alan would want to be...but after the long drive, and the heat of the day, they had been looking forward to a swim in the cooler water of the pool. Looking at the pool, and then each other, they shrugged and made their way to the one vacant lounge chair next to the hot tub. Denny watched as Alan removed his shirt, and slipped out of his shoes, then went to the deep end of the pool, and dove in.
Denny had always been one to slowly immerse himself into the water, so he used the steps...startled when he got to the bottom, and had Alan grab him around the knees from below. He lost his footing, and slowly sank below the surface of the water...flailing his arms as Alan prevented him from falling too hard.
When Alan resurfaced, he said apologetically, "Denny, I didn't mean to startle you. Are you all right?"
"Fine," he replied, then added with a scowl, "but if you ever do that again..." but couldn't continue the threat, as Alan chose that moment to lean in an kiss him. It was a passionate kiss, but after a moment, Denny pushed him away, whispering, "not in front of the kiddies."
Alan looked around, as if he had forgotten that they were not alone, and noticed the stares of one or two of the women nearby. With a wink to Denny, Alan kissed him once again, then focused his attention on the nearest woman, and said in a slightly raised voice, "Don't mind us...we're on our honeymoon."
Denny grabbed Alan by the face, and turned him back to face him, as he asked, "Why do you keep doing things like that?"
"Like what?" Alan said, mischievously, as he watched the woman gather up her children, and leave the pool.
"Like that!" Denny said, and to clarify further, he added, "say things...like that...to make people leave the pool. You did it the first time we were here, too."
"Denny, I..." Alan started, then paused. He was going to plead ignorance to the effect his words had on others, but thought better of it. He knew that his choice of words had been the reason the woman had left...and part of him knew that he chose those particular words to drive her off. But another part of him had just wanted to show his love of this man, and hope that anyone who saw it would be OK with that. "Sorry, Denny...it's just that I love you so much...and want everyone to know," and then he pulled Denny into his arms as he added, "if my declaration of love for you drives them away, that's their problem, not ours."
"OK," Denny said, and returned the hug before stepping away slightly and adding, "but unless you want to really show them our love, I suggest we keep a bit of distance between us for a while," and then he swam away, leaving Alan kneeling in the shallow end of the pool, grateful for the loose fit of his trunks.
Despite the heat, Alan was determined to make the most of the next few days, and nights...but for now, he'd swim, and watch Denny swim...and tonight, when it was cooler, he'd show Denny Crane just how much he loved him.
~the end