THE BOLAN CHRONICLES: Reading #13

13. Approximate Minutes Reading (AMR): 3

Introduction to Characters:
Val: Breakwater Inn Manager
Fawn: Breakwater Inn Employee

THE BOLAN CHRONICLES

Chapter 2

Dean

**Sandwiched Inn**

They had spent most of their stay in or near the hotel, not only for lovemaking. They took peaceful walks along the beach, holding hands and laughing at life. They sat out on a large rock and watched the tide roll in and heard the sounds of the ocean and watched the puffy clouds threaten—only then to move on.   

When they did get away, it was for meals, and only once out of Old Saybrook. In the tiny town of Groton they found a small hotel and diner named ‘Sandwiched Inn.’ There, Donna had accidentally locked herself in the bathroom, and before the matter was solved, three of the employees were frantically looking for the key to the bathroom door. Jake was amused, but he made them think he was worried sick. Donna heard the entire conversation from inside, and she was entertained.  When they finally found the key and got the door opened, they found Donna, fully clothed, sitting on the toilet seat cover, grinning from ear to ear. When she saw the sweat pouring from the three male employees' foreheads, she broke out in laughter, and this caused Jake to laugh, too. Before long, all of them were laughing, and Jake apologized that he'd worried them, and Donna did the same. Jake was especially happy for it when they refused to take his money for the meal.

They laughed about it the entire way back to the hotel. Hotel Manager Val got a kick out of it, too, and after they'd finished the story, he asked them if they'd like to join he and Fawn for a drink later that night. Jake accepted the offer but informed them that Donna would be having anything but alcohol. Of course they agreed, and the four had a delightful visit at the bar, the open fire pit and drinks warming them. Jake led the conversation. His quick wit impressed the two employees, and Donna smiled and sat proudly as Jake worked his conversational magic. 

Val asked Jake what his plans were, professionally, and Jake told him that he was going to be a police officer.

“Wow!” Val exclaimed in his pretty way. “I’m so in awe of anyone in police work,” He combed his long fingers through his dark, wavy hair and continued, “We complain about bitchy customers here at Old Saybrook; so trivial compared to police work—god they’re amazing!”

Jake had already come up with a few choice descriptives for Val, and he’d revealed the list to Donna back at the hotel, but he didn’t dislike Val. He was entertained by him. And now Val was proving to be a rather sensible character, all in all. To Jake, if you favored police officers, you were okay.

“I actually look forward to the excitement of police work,” Jake said. “It excites me to think about how many assholes I’ll have the opportunity to…” He paused, realizing, once again, what this must sound like to the clear-queer sitting across from him. “What I mean is…”

Val, sensing Jake’s discomfort, reached over the table and set his hand down flatly in front of him. “It’s okay, Jake. Just speak what you think,” Then he added, “Not everything is a metaphor for homosexual.” Then he added, “Well, unless of course you’re talking about a nightstick! Oh, my god!”

And it was one of those rare occasions when Jake had no idea how to respond.

Val finally broke the ice when he sneakily looked left and right then said, “You were saying you were excited about the opportunity to do what to an asshole?”

And all four of them broke out in laughter.

On the last night, Donna wrapped herself in Jake's arms and told him, once again, how happy she was and how much she couldn't wait to make a life with him and how she didn't care that she was pregnant so young because she knew that it was meant to be. She felt completely uninhibited around Jake. She was free to say what she wanted without being judged, and she knew that this was part of the magic of what was to come.

Jake smiled and kissed her forehead, and the two fell asleep in one another's arms to the sounds of the distant ocean waves and to the gentle pulsating light from Saybrook's Breakwater Lighthouse.