Off Season

Chapter 4: Tom Klayson

Chapter 4: Tom Klayson

Gillian decides that she wants the second bedroom in the upstairs all to herself. I don’t want to irritate her and will let her fight such a matter out with the other three gentlemen who will be arriving by dusk.

Brett says that he is pleased to tote Gillian’s seven bags over the pier, through the backyard, and up to the second floor because it feels like a workout and he enjoys taking care of his body and sweating.

She says to him, “Don’t expect me to give you a tip, young man. I am not made of money.” It’s total bullshit since I know her financial numbers, many assets, and off-shore accounts that Uncle Sam doesn’t know about. She can be frugal, though, watching her every dime, and not at all generous in sharing such a fortune with others.

At approximately 6:11 P.M. Brett steers the fishing boat with its Mercury Four-Stoke outboard motor back to shore to pick up Saul, Tom, and Bernie. Gillian retires to her chosen upstairs room with a glass of ice and bottle of cheap vodka, claiming, “I need some time alone, Jay. The lake’s water was choppy. I feel a migraine coming on. Please don’t bother me.”

An hour later Brett returns with the clan of men. The puppy of the bunch at thirty-two, and adorable as hell with his pretty boy face, is Tom Klayson. He exits the flat-bottomed boat first. He’s a small man who is twig-like with blond spiked hair, a handsome grin, gray eyes, and stands at five-five. Tom’s waistline is tapered and his chest is thin without any fat. The sports newscaster for Channel 7, WPXZ in Vanmer, Pennsylvania, carries his own shoulder bag off the boat, down the pier, up and over the groomed lawn, and drops the bag on the rear deck. Once he returns to my side, he greets me with a masculine handshake that could break a steal beam into two equal parts.

“Thank you for inviting me here this weekend, Jay,” he says, shadowing me.

“Glad you could come.”

“I think we’ll all have a very good time together. What do you think?”

“I believe we will,” I reply, feel comfortable next to the man, somewhat protective of him because of his size.

I rather like Tom and think he’s a soft and good man. We’ve met two times before at parties and tend to run in the same circle of friends. He’s a somber man I have learned with very little to say, except for when he is in front of a camera. One can believe that he’s a voyeur by nature, preferring to observe people instead of carrying out conversations with them. He’s educated, articulate when he speaks, and has the reputation of being a happy drunk. If I were to have a private dinner with anyone I would maybe choose him, because I know very little about his childhood and where he has grown up. One of my goals this weekend is to get to know him better, and learn whatever I can about Tom, particularly why he is with Saul. In the meantime, I still deem the reporter as a sweetheart, and someone I don’t mind being around.

“Just a little warning,” Tom says. “Saul’s been drinking. He’s been carrying a stainless-steel flask around with him all day.”

I know that Saul Mellow is Tom’s boyfriend. According to Gillian, the two have been involved now for the last two months. Their relationship is fresh and awkward, and should add a little zest to the weekend, which may just include a brisk argument or two because they are still getting to know each other.