Page 122 of The Texas Sterling Collection
“Six-thirty sounds good,” Wyl said
“We’ll meet in the Fellowship Hall of the church. We have seventy-five in the group, but attendance is normally around fifty. Most attendees are couples, but we also have a few singles. For the newspaper, I’ll be writing an article about this session as a follow-up to the magazine article on you two and as a promotion for the support group. I hope additional press coverage is okay.”
“Sounds fine, Joe.”
“Great. I have your number, so I’ll be in touch if anything changes. Otherwise, I’ll see you both tomorrow at 6:30.”
“Thanks, Joe. Enjoy your evening.”
“You too, Wyl. Best to Rod.”
“Bye.”
“Our session tomorrow isn’t until seven.” Wyl tossed his cell phone on the coffee table. “Joe said we should show up around six-thirty, which means the entire day is ours. Any thoughts?”
“Why don’t we sleep in and fix a late breakfast here? We’ll take a bus up to the Castro and browse the gay shops before we enjoy a late lunch at Harvey’s.”
“What’s Harvey’s?”
“Harvey Milk. A gay activist from the 1970s who helped bring the gay culture out of the closet and into the mainstream. He was assassinated in 1978 here in San Francisco. His murder only heightened the movement. He’s one of the reasons we can be so comfortable in public today.”
“A late lunch at Harvey’s sounds like a good idea.”
“There is a movie about his life. I’ll see if I can find it on cable, and we can watch it tonight. Now that you’re a flaming queen, you should know about things like this,” Rod teased.
“I’ll show you flaming queen,” Wyl grabbed Rod and tickled him mercilessly. They laughed as they wrestled.
Rod did find the movie, and after a light supper, they adjourned to the library to enjoy the film.
They stowed the ball caps safely in the closet. Despite the threatening call from Mitzi, they went to bed tired and happy after a fantastic first full day in San Francisco.
Chapter Seventeen
Tuesday morning, they lounged in bed wrapped in each other’s arms until almost nine o’clock, well past their usual time. They rose, donned the thick terry robes, and wandered toward the kitchen. As they padded through the den, Wyl noticed the elevator doors open. He strolled over and saw a copy of the San Francisco Chronicle and the latest edition ofThe Advocateon the elevator floor. Wyl pulledThe Advocatefrom under the newspaper and smiled. They were on the cover. He resisted the urge to shout the news, letting Rod discover it himself. He laid the magazine on the table, covered by the newspaper.
While the coffee brewed and the toast browned, Rod sliced the fresh fruit they got from the Farmer’s Market the day before. Wyl set plates and silverware on the table, then poured two steaming mugs of coffee. Rod brought toast and the bowl of sliced fruit to the table. They dug in.
As they ate, Wyl grabbed the newspaper and pulled out the first section, keeping Rod in the corner of his eye. Rod’s gaze turned to the magazine.
“Oh, my God!” He grabbedThe Advocateand turned the cover toward Wyl. “Check it out… we’re on the cover!” The photo of two smiling cowboys, all decked out in their ranch wear and hats, with Sarge and Princess saddled and standing behind them, was magnificent. Somehow, Joe captured the essence of their life in that one shot.
Wyl grinned ear-to-ear because of Rod’s exuberance. He loved seeing his cowboy happy. “We take a great photo.”
Rod huffed out a chuckle. “We’ll probably create quite a sensation at Harvey’s today.”
“A sensation? You think anyone will notice us?”
“Wyl, we’re in the city that helped launch gay America in the ’60s. Hell…we turn each other on. And cowboys are in, so we’ll definitely be noticed.”
“You know, we could commission a painting for over the fireplace at the ranch.” Wyl paused and gazed at Rod. “Do you know how proud I am to be your husband?”
Rod’s eyes brimmed. “You always know what to say.” He stood, came up behind Wyl, and wrapped his arms around him, nuzzling his ear. “I love you so much.”
“Fate brought us together. Nothing can tear us apart.” Wyl wrapped his arms around Rod’s and held on tight. Since their first touch, he couldn’t get enough of his man.
They read Joe’s article about their meeting, encounters, challenges, and marriage. Mostly, it told of their love, a story of never giving up. Love may be just around the corner.
They finished breakfast and cleaned up the dishes. As the last plate went into the dishwasher, Wyl wrapped his arms around Rod. They were two of the most unlikely candidates for a gay union, a professor in his mid-40s and a retired Marine who had just turned 40. But somehow, they found each other, and now they adorned the cover of a national gay magazine.
