Tales of the City 06 - Sure of You

know.”
    Michael gave him a long, steely glance. “It helps to get her trust first.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “Oh, Brian…”
    “No. Tell me. I wanna know.”
    Michael gave him a weary little smile. “You fucked around on her so much.”
    “If you mean Geordie…”
    “No. Not just Geordie. What about that woman from Philadelphia?”
    “What woman from Philadelphia?”
    “You know. Brigid Something. With the tits and the saddle shoes. You said she was your cousin. Give me a big break.”
    Brian remembered. He had brought her by the nursery one day years ago, long before he’d become a partner here. He had just come off an incredible nooner and wanted to show her off a little. Michael had still been a bachelor, still a trusted co-conspirator in matters of lust.
    “Did you tell Mary Ann about that?” he asked.
    “Hell, no,” said Michael. “She told me. I had no idea. I thought the cousin bit sounded too obvious to be an out-and-out lie.”
    “Then how could she have possibly…?”
    “She’s got eyes, Brian. You’re not as subtle as you think you are.”
    Brian took this in, smarting a little. “Did she just tell you this?”
    “No. Years ago.”
    “Then why are you bringing it up now?”
    His partner heaved a sigh. “Because you keep acting so wronged.”
    “I am wronged.”
    “Fine.”
    “When did you get to be such a little Calvinist, anyway?”
    “I’m not talking about sex; I’m talking about lying.”
    “I haven’t fucked around for years, and you know it.”
    “Since Geordie, right? Since you got scared shitless. Sorry, but no cigar.”
    Brian’s face was aflame. “This is really ironic coming from you.”
    “From me? Why is that?”
    “You were the Whore of Babylon, Michael.”
    “Maybe so, but I wasn’t married.”
    “Only because you couldn’t be. You and Jon were a couple. If he were still alive…” He cut himself off, horrified by the careless ease with which he’d waded into these waters.
    “If he were still alive, what?”
    “Nothing. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
    Michael regarded him with cow-eyed melancholy, then walked back to the office without a word.
    They avoided each other for the rest of the day.

Remembering’s Different
    I WOULDN’T COUNT ON HIM,” MICHAEL TOLD THACK THAT evening. “Not for dinner, anyway.”
    Thack looked up from the chicken breasts he was breading. Behind him, beyond the big window, the fog tumbled into the valley like white lava. “What happened?”
    “We had a fight.”
    “Over what?”
    “Nothing much. We called each other sluts.”
    Thack arranged the breasts on a baking dish. “How tired.”
    “I’m well aware.”
    “Was it over Mary Ann?”
    Michael paused. “Somewhat.”
    “Thought so.”
    “Well…he was getting so sanctimonious. He hasn’t exactly been a saint. She’s had plenty of reason to…”
    The phone rang.
    Michael picked it up, pulling out the antenna. “Hello.”
    “It’s me, Mouse.” It was Mary Ann.
    “Hi.”
    “Is he there?”
    “No.”
    “Is that her?” asked Thack, not exactly sotto voce.
    Michael gave him an annoyed nod and turned away. “I’ll tell him you called, O.K.?”
    “No. Don’t. You’re the one I wanted.”
    “What for?”
    “She’s gonna suck you in.” Thack was being a real pain. Michael gave him a dirty look and walked out of the kitchen. The cordless model came in handy sometimes.
    “How ’bout a date, Mouse?”
    In the living room, he collapsed on the sofa and kicked off his shoes. “Come again?”
    “Don’t make this hard on me,” she said.
    “Well, what are you talking about?”
    “I’ve got tickets to this open house tonight.” She paused dramatically. “Would you like to go with me?”
    “Babycakes…look…”
    “I feel so ganged up on, Mouse.” Her voice was small and plaintive.
    “Well, you shouldn’t,” he said, melting fast.
    “How can I not?” She sounded almost on the verge of tears. “Come with me, Mouse. Just so we can talk. We don’t have to stay long.”
    “If you just wanna talk, can’t we just…?”
    “I have to be there. I’m committed. I thought Brian would be here when I told them…”
    “Oh…so you need a walker.”
    Her response was grave and wounded. “You know that’s not true. I just thought we could…”
    “Kill two birds with one stone?”
    The silence was so long he wondered if she’d hung up. “Why am I so awful?” she said at last. “What did he tell