Taste. Part 6

Chapter 6.

THE mood became awkward very swiftly. Grier felt sick to his stomach now that Lil had deduced what no one else in his family had ever considered. He'd have to tell him the whole sordid story just to erase that look of disapproval on the blond's face. mood became awkward very swiftly. Grier felt sick to his stomach now that Lil had deduced what no one else in his family had ever considered. He'd have to tell him the whole sordid story just to erase that look of disapproval on the blond's face. How could you? How could you?

It was a million-dollar question, and the one that Grier asked himself every day. If he could change anything in his life it would be the moment in time when he'd agreed to go along with Jillian's story.

Lil requested the check and insisted on paying for the meal, despite Grier's protests. "Look, it's my treat since you and Luca are doing me a favor."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," Lil said stiffly. "I think we've seen enough for one day, don't you?"

Grier leaned in toward Lil's ear so Luca wouldn't hear him. "Please, give me a chance to explain."

"It's not necessary, Grier."

"Yes, it is. Please?"

Lil nodded. "Alright."

Grier knew that Lil was completely turned off and probably wanted nothing more to do with him. And who could blame him? He had more baggage than any one person should have to deal with, or want to for that matter. Yet, it was important that Lil understand the reasons behind the deceit, which meant Grier would have to put up with the judgmental att.i.tude for a few more hours. So be it.

"Is there a zoo around here?" Lil asked.

Luca squealed and began to hop up and down. "Oh, pleeth pleeth, can we go? Pleeth Pleeth, pleeth pleeth...?"

Lil smiled down at him. "If t.i.to t.i.to G can find one for us, we'll go, little man." G can find one for us, we'll go, little man."

"Lincoln Park Zoo isn't that far."

"Let's go, then."

They walked out of the restaurant with a lively Luca in between them. The little boy was in high spirits and bounced in his seat as the cab crawled its way to the zoo.

"Settle down, Luca," Grier said gently.

"I want to see the lionth lionth."

"You'll get to see everything if you calm down."

"I'm excited, too, Luca, but you need to sit still or that lap belt will hurt you," Lil cautioned.

"Can I feed the animalth animalth? Will there be a duck?"

"I'm not sure, but we'll soon find out," Lil said.

It turned out that there was a model farm, sponsored by John Deere, where animals were available for petting, and feeding as well. Grier purchased a small bucket of food pellets and let Luca run on ahead.

"Thank you for doing this," Grier said, "I know this isn't part of your city tour."

"If you must know," Lil said frigidly, "I've fallen in love with your son."

"He's pretty hard to resist."

Lil finally let loose and angrily asked, "Why? I can understand if you didn't want to marry his mother. I'm surmising he was the result of an experiment for you, or her, or both, but to deny him as your child? I don't get itI would give anything to have a son."

"Then why don't you?" Grier shot back.

"Don't you dare make this about me," Lil hissed.

"I'm not," Grier said. "I'm sorry. It's such a long and convoluted story. I need time to explain."

"I told you I'd listen."

"Now is not the time. Can we meet tonight after my shift?"

"Where?"

"Anyplace you want."

"Take a cab to Bucktown."

"They won't mind that it's so late?"

"Not if I let them know you're coming," Lil said.

Luca ran up to the pair and began tugging on Grier's hand, trying to get him to quicken his pace. "Come on, you two. They're going to milk a cow, and I want to watch."

Lil smiled at the boy's enthusiasm. "So do I, Luca. I've never seen that done before."

They spent at least thirty minutes watching the milking, and Luca was enthralled by the entire process. "Where do they get the chocolate milk, t.i.to t.i.to G?" G?"

"From the brown cows," Grier quipped.

"Oh, stop it," Lil admonished. "They mix white milk with chocolate powder, sweetie. There's no such thing as chocolate-producing cows."

"Oh." Luca's tiny mouth settled into a moue of disappointment.

"Next you'll be telling him there's no Santa Claus," Grier whispered into Lil's ear.

"I believe in telling the truth."

"There's nothing wrong with a little fantasy," Grier responded.

"You seem to subscribe to that theory quite well."

"Don't judge me until you've heard my side," Grier blasted, turning furious eyes on him.

Lil remained silent after that. He really had no right to make a.s.sumptions, especially after Grier had asked for a chance to explain. Lil was experienced enough to know that life was never perfect, and some decisions were made on the fly. s.h.i.t happened, hence the expression, and who was he to get all Judge Judy Judge Judy on anybody. He reached for Grier's hand and held it for a second. "I'm sorry." on anybody. He reached for Grier's hand and held it for a second. "I'm sorry."

"Sure." Grier's face was devoid of all expression, which was a better alternative to the previous scowl. "Shall we go and look at the tigers, Luca?"

"Lionth," Luca said, struggling, as always, to get the S's under control.

"Right."

THE rest of the afternoon pa.s.sed without incident, a rapid blur of cages and animals and an excited Luca. He was particularly drawn to the large cats and insisted on staying while they were being fed. He showed no fear or revulsion as he watched the lions and tigers tear into the chunks of meat the keepers pa.s.sed into the cages. "I love them," he mused. "Do you think Mommy will let me buy a cat?" rest of the afternoon pa.s.sed without incident, a rapid blur of cages and animals and an excited Luca. He was particularly drawn to the large cats and insisted on staying while they were being fed. He showed no fear or revulsion as he watched the lions and tigers tear into the chunks of meat the keepers pa.s.sed into the cages. "I love them," he mused. "Do you think Mommy will let me buy a cat?"

"I have no idea, buddy. You'll have to ask her."

"I have a cat," Lil commented. "His name is Sebastian."

"Like Little Mermaid Little Mermaid," Luca's voice was filled with wonder. "What color is he, t.i.to t.i.to Lil?" Lil?"

"He's pure white with black socks."

"What do you mean?"

"The bottoms of his legs are black as if he were wearing knee high socks."

"Do you pet him?"

"It's his favorite thing, Luca."

"Maybe I can visit you someday?"

"Maybe." Lil smiled. He looked at Grier and raised an eyebrow. "Who knows, right?"

"Never say never," Grier mumbled.

They parted ways around four thirty, taking the traffic into consideration. The sooner Grier arrived for his shift at the Vinita booth, the sooner he could leave. Lil got down on his haunches to stare into Luca's dark eyes. "I had a really good time today, Luca. Thank you for being the perfect tour guide."

"A guide, t.i.to t.i.to Lil?" Lil?"

"It's someone who shows the way."

"I know my way," Luca announced, dazzling Lil with his smile.

"Is it okay if I give you a hug, Luca?"

Luca threw his arms around Lil's neck and squeezed as hard as he could. "I like you," he whispered into Lil's ear.

"I like you, too, sweetie."

GRIER and Luca got to the booth on time, despite the miles of traffic they had to endure. Enteng and Santino looked beat, having been under the blazing sun for the past six hours. "Hey," Grier said, nodding at the men. and Luca got to the booth on time, despite the miles of traffic they had to endure. Enteng and Santino looked beat, having been under the blazing sun for the past six hours. "Hey," Grier said, nodding at the men.

"Thank goodness you're here," Santino groused. "I'm ready for a beer, a shower, and my recliner."

"Well, the cavalry has arrived. Where are Jake and Ali?"

"They're on their way," Enteng said. "I just talked to them on the phone."

"Lolo," Luca squealed, hurling himself at his grandfather, who waited with open arms. "I saw lionth lionth, and cowth cowth, and a red panda."

Enteng grinned as he listened to his grandson stumbling over the words. "Is that right?"

"You think mommy will buy me a cat?"

"I don't know about that, Luca. We'll ask her when she gets here."

Jake and Ali appeared shortly after with Jillian trailing behind them. "Where did you come from?" Grier asked.

"We stopped at the hospital to pick up Jillian."

"Mommy," Luca piped up, "can I buy a cat?"

"A cat?" Jillian looked at Grier. "What's that about?"

"We came from the zoo," Grier said.

Jillian moved closer to him and asked, "Did you take him by yourself?"

"No, I was with a friend."

"One of your hookups?" Ali interrupted. "You shouldn't be subjecting the kid to your men."

"Mind your own business, Ali."

"I'm just saying, Grier. You don't want him to think it's normal."

"Excuse me?"

Jillian stopped Ali by putting her hand on his arm. "It's okay, Ali. I trust Grier with Luca."

"Grier," Ali continued to lecture, "you need to start thinking about Luca's perception of what's right and wrong. He's not a baby anymore, and we need to make sure he's aware that two men in a relationship is not the norm."

"Says who?" It took every ounce of self-control not to smack his brother in the face.

"Guys, come on," Jillian begged.