This is the second part of “Love in the Shadows of Willomere” by Yorgos KC.
To read the first part, click here.
Let me tell you a few secrets. Okay… most of them are too known to be called secrets, but, maybe, you are not from Willowmere and you don’t know them.
Some forty years ago, Tom’s grandfather, Arthur, ran the most popular pub in the town, “The Willow’s Tap”. “Carter’s Ale” was a popular beer, too, more in Willowmere than nation-wide. People wanting to take pride in the local product might have played a role to its popularity. Then “Carter’s Ale” struck an exclusive deal with “The Willow’s Tap” for ten years – although it was renewed for another ten – and the popularity of each helped the other’s. And everyone was happy.
James Langley, Tom’s father, was not a very ambitious man. With the family business going well, he intended to take over the pub and have an easy life. And, thus, when he was old enough he started helping at the pub. You probably wouldn’t call the Langleys rich, but they were well-off. Back then.
And he got married with Sarah. A good match. Maybe from a slightly poorer family, but not enough for anyone to talk about it. And Sarah had every intention to support her husband’s business and work with him. And they were content.
Then Edward, Tom’s older brother, was born, and their hearts swelled with joy. And three years later, another blessing came to their lives, that’s – as you probably have guessed – Tom. All was bright.
But a year later, “The Ivy & The Oak”, another pub, opened in Willowmere. And it wasn’t just a local pub. It had branches in many towns, big and small. And they suggested an exclusive deal with “Carter’s Ale”.
And that led Langley’s business to close, and to Arthur’s death.
Exaggeration, you say? You are right! A pub losing the right to sell a popular beer will surely affect their business – even more so in a small town – but not to that extent. Maybe, James’ way of running it, as he had just taken over it, was also at fault? Maybe, more so? But it’s easier to blame others than yourself. And, also, Arthur was upset and angry for the Carters’ betrayal, and eventually he had a heart attack. True. But wasn’t it because of his heart issues that he had retired, two years before?
Without any other career plans, James started working as a shop assistant at Willowmere’s general store, and Sarah became a waitress at “The Copper Kettle” café. Decent jobs, by all means, but not half as profitable – or prestige evoking – as running their own pub. Informatively, now, Edward works as a mechanic at the town’s garage.
And that’s why the Langleys hated the Carters.
And they didn’t keep it to themselves. They wanted the whole town to know about the Carters’ “evilness”. They didn’t miss a chance – they created a lot of those – to talk about how the Carters, whom they treated like brothers and who had promised them ever-lasting cooperation, betrayed their trust. They even intentionally sabotaged “The Willow’s Tap”. Yes… not very faithful to truth, I admit, but more interesting than reality. Isn’t it?
Those rumours have long since been forgotten by most. They weren’t that interesting, after all, but at first, they were the hot topic of the town. And this may have ruined Eliot’s uncle’s attempt to become the Mayor, back then. Or maybe Geoffrey, Eliot’s uncle, wasn’t popular enough. But as I said, it’s easier to find someone else to blame. Whatever the reason for that failure was, the scar on Carter’s pride hasn’t yet healed.
And that’s why the Carters maybe don’t hate – or at least they don’t show it – but they surely dislike the Langleys.
Now, you probably understand why Eliot and Tom decided to keep their relationship a secret.
So, for the following few weeks the two boys met, mostly, at Tom’s flat. For a new couple that’s less boring than it sounds. Making love, never is! But, at some rare times they wanted to go out together. For that, as they wanted to avoid the town – just in case – they found a nice, quiet place by the river, just a little out of Willowmere, forty minutes or so, on foot, from Tom’s place. Hidden from the road, too, by some trees. Pretty safe. And it’s exciting kissing there.
But they wouldn’t make love there… or so I claim. So, instead, they shared other parts of themselves. Eliot would show Tom some of his sketches. He even tried to make some quick ones of Tom. That didn’t go well. Try drawing your lover’s face while they are right there looking and smiling at you and, if you can resist the urge to kiss them, I’ll call you, “unique”!
Tom would read some of his writing attempts. Not a complete story – he hadn’t written one – just random scenes. Eliot preferred to listen to him reading those, than reading them himself. Just listening to Tom’s voice was a joy, but even more, Eliot believed an author knows better how his own scene should be read.
And the two of them were making plans. More accurately, dreams. Where they’ll live, what plants the garden will have, how one will be a famous author and the other a well-known artist, how they will grow old in each other’s hug… Things like these.
A random Tuesday afternoon, they were at Tom’s place. They had just made love, and just like they always do, they stayed on the bed, hugging, kissing, laughing, telling the other how amazing he was.
And then, the door swung open. Tom’s brother froze in place. The key still dangling from his hand.
Taken by surprise, the boys turned to look at the intruder. They didn’t think of covering themselves. Edward’s eyes, on noticing Eliot, blazed with fury.
“What the hell, Tom? Do you even know who’s that bastard? He is a fucking Carter!”
Eliot’s heart sank in fear. His body curled. Tom, propping himself up on his right elbow, clenched a sheet and covered Eliot. His left hand, over the sheet, found Eliot’s under it.
“He is not ‘a Carter’. He is Eliot. And calm down, Eddie!”
“You are joking! Right?”
He turned around to leave.
“Eddie, please! …Don’t say anything. Please!”
Edward stopped. He turned his head and looked at his brother. For a moment, he hesitated. His jaw tightened. But then he left, slamming the door.
“Fuck!” Tom fell back on the bed. “There is no way he’ll hold his tongue… Fuck!”
Eliot, reluctantly, looked at him, apologetically. Tom hugged him warmly, bringing his forehead on Eliot’s.
“Don’t look at me like that, Eli. It’s not your fault. Okay? If one of us is to be blamed, that will be me. I’m sorry… I’m sorry.”
Eliot hugged Tom back, tightly.
“I’d never blame you! If you don’t hate me– ”
“I love you!”
And Eliot breathed.
“I love you, too!”
“We’ll face this together, yes?”
“Yes, my love!”
After a while, Tom said, “Shit! I missed the chance to say the classic, ‘It’s not what you think’!”
Eliot chuckled, and tightened his hug.
And the two boys stayed like that for some time. Silently reassuring each other they were “there”, and building up their courage for what was to come.
*****
It was about two hours later when James Langley called Tom.
“Come here, now!”
Just that. And Tom went to his parents’ home.
“What the fuck are you thinking fooling around with a Carter?” “Don’t you know what kind of people they are?” “Don’t you know what those people did to us?” “You and your brother didn’t have the chance to go to university, for that bastard to have an extra golden spoon!” “Your grandfather must be spinning in his grave!” And also, “Isn’t it time to stop your games and find a good girl to settle down with?”
Tom tried to reason with them, but to no avail. Yes… trying to distinguish Eliot from his family made them angrier. He gave up on this, soon. But he couldn’t give up on insisting, “It’s not a game. I love him.”
“Come on, baby,” Sarah said. “How long have you even known him?”
“That doesn’t matter!”
“How long?”
“Three weeks.”
“You can’t call this love!”
“I can, and it is!”
“It’s just an enthusiasm, at best. It’s better to forget him now, than let him betray you later. And Lisa–“
“Mom!”
I don’t think I need to say more. You get the point. And this… “heated conversation” wasn’t quiet at all. The neighbourhood heard most of it, and, what they didn’t hear, they easily filled in with a little of imagination. A new hot topic, and not even just a rumour or a guess, in a small town like Willowmere couldn’t but spread at the speed of light.
So, next day, it was Eliot’s time to face his family. A pretty similar situation, actually.
“With the Langley’s boy, son? Really?” “Don’t you know what kind of people they are?” “Don’t you know what these people did to us?” “You have a bright future, in front of you, and he will destroy it, like his parents and grandparents destroyed your uncle’s!” And also, “We know it’s the thing to do these days, to have some fun with boys, but isn’t it time to start thinking about finding a good girl?”
“I’m not interested in girls. I am gay.”
“Let’s say you are, sweetheart,” Eleanor Carter said. “At least find someone of our circle, like Mark Windsor. He plays with boys, too, Margaret told me. And no girl will look down on you if you are with him.”
Long story short, neither family really listened to what their sons were telling them, and they decided – the parents, not the sons – that Eliot and Tom should never meet again. Eleanor even called Margaret Windsor to arrange a date for Eliot and Mark. On the bright side, Mark didn’t agree. One less problem for Eliot.
But the two boys, obedient as they weren’t, kept on meeting, in secret, at that spot by the river, on the town’s outskirts. They avoided Tom’s place, just in case, and they didn’t meet in the town to go together at their secret spot, but they kept on meeting – daily – and they kept on falling more and more in love with each other.
Unfortunately, the pressure from their families didn’t ease. On the contrary. It seems that Edward – and not only him – would answer to everyone who asked him – which were a lot – that “that bloody Carter” had tricked his innocent brother and toyed with him. And taking this opportunity, he’d say other bad things about the Carters as well. And the Carters didn’t ignore this, and instead made sure to inform the people that it was “that Langley boy” who had tried to seduce poor, sweet, little Eliot for their money. And that’s why the pressure they put on the boys did not subside.
And nearly six months passed like this.
And one night in early May, sitting on the grass, at that spot by the river, hidden by those trees that pretended to be a grove, but they weren’t really, under a moonless sky, Eliot was too indignant of this lasting trial.
“I can’t take it any longer!”
“You… you mean…?”
“No, baby! No! No! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I meant them and the fact I can’t enjoy more of you.”
“Really?”
“Really! There is no way I’d ever let you go! …Unless you don’t want me any longer?”
And Tom pushed Eliot on the ground, and lay on top of him. Clenching him with his arms, squeezing him, he kissed him.
“Never!”
And they laughed, and they kissed, and they rolled on the ground – still hugged – taking turns on who was on top and who kissed whom. And for the first time after these six long months, they were really happy, and they forgot the world.
And when, naturally, this – well… how should I call it? – game came to an end, they lay, both on the ground, holding hands, looking at the stars, grinning joyfully.
“You know what?” Tom asked.
“What?”
“We don’t need their approval… Do we?”
Eliot was ready to answer, “Of course not,” but Tom’s tone made him think that was not what Tom meant. Then he understood. He kissed Tom’s hand.
“Baby, you need to say the magic words.”
“You are mine.”
“Yes!” He brought Tom’s hand on his chest, and held it there with both his hands. “I only need you!”
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