As Luck Would Have it

Betsy Takes a Long Needed Vacation

After trainEmilEmily to replace Alex (Alex decided to work for Daniel’s father), Daniel drank several beers at lunch. Daniel puked up the beer on the street as soon as he left the bar. He returned to the bar to wash his face and hands. Daniel felt the sweat on his face. He walked to the barber to have his hair cut and shaped. Then Daniel told the carpet to take him to his factory. Francine and Wayne updated her about the day.

Wayne walked with him to the office. “You can take a day off. Francine and I can handle it.”

“I was taking the day off and I thought I would feel better here.”

“What happened?” Wayne asked.

“I hired a woman to replace Alex. I just want to find a rock to crawl under.”

“You can’t have it both ways.”

“I love them both.”

“You made a choice.”

“I hate it; I’m a man. Why do I want to be with a man?”

“Does Henry make you feel good?”

“He’s wonderful.”

“You have your answer,” Wayne said.

“I’m going to take a few hours off,” Daniel said. “Tell Francine that I need her to stay late. I’m going to teach her to close.”

“No problem, sir.”

“Can we talk in my office a moment?”

“Sure.”

“Wayne,” Daniel closed the office door so the other men couldn’t hear, “do the men think less of me since I made a pass at Art?”

“I don’t think they noticed. Art and I laughed at you a moment but we didn’t pay it much mind. That was weeks ago.”

“I fear the men will respect me less since they know I’m a faggot.”

“They know who signs their checks. Daniel, you worry too much. I have to get back on the floor. Take a couple of hours off. You don’t look good.”

“I will.”

Daniel took his carpet to the shoe factory. Henry frequently complained that he spent most of his time there. Henry was on the floor arguing with a plant manager. Daniel touched Henry’s shoulder hoping that it would be seen as a way of getting the man’s attention and nothing more.

Henry turned toward Daniel, “What bring you here? If you don’t mind me saying, you don’t look too good.”

“I drank my lunch,” Daniel said. “Alex decided to work for my dad. I trained her sister to do her route. Claire is trying to find me another salesman or woman to do the route that I was planning to train Emily for. My work never slows down.”

“I know the feeling. You can’t take business so seriously. Learn to relax. We can shoot a few games of pool.”
“I don’t want anymore beer.”

nee need some ginger ale.” Henry put his arm around Daniel’s shoulder.

“I have to teach Francine to close tonight. I promised her that I would teach her to manage the plant,” Daniel said.

“She can’t be more than fifteen.”

“She’s seventeen.” Daniel belched.

“Can you trust her with the money?”

“I have to try. I can’t close every night. I trust Mattie but she can’t count. Peter can’t stay late. Agnes doesn’t want the responsibility. Art and Wayne like to leave before six. Art has done it a few times begrudgingly. He moans like I’m punishing him each time that I ask him to stay late. It doesn’t make me comfortable having someone hostile holding the days receipts.”

“Teach Francine,” Henry said. “She’s your cousin. It would be in her best interest to be honest.”

“Her father is going to inherit the business when I die.”

“You have to stop thinking about me killing you.”

“It will happen.” Daniel kissed Henry briefly after they exited the plant. “I had a beautiful woman in my arms but I rather spend my nights with you.”

“Not in front of the employees.”

“Sorry. I forget that I’m no longer your wife, Betsy.” Daniel put his hand on Henry’s arm. “My employees know about our relationship. I sell sex aids so I’m allowed to be a pervert.”

“Why did you choose me over Alex?”

“You have more experience. I love your confidence. I love everything about you.”

“You shouldn’t have told Peter Downing you you were Betsy.”

“He was too drunk to remember. He laughed. He said that Betsy walked and talked like a man.”

“Then, you told him that Betsy took up with another woman and started a business.”

Dl wal walked into the bar. “A ginger ale.”

“No beer,” the bartender asked.

“No.\" Daniel paid for the ginger ale. “Henry, do you want what is on tap?”

“Sure. I feel what happened to you is my fault.”

“I have my own business and a man that I love. I couldn’t be happier.”

“You feel overburdened.”

“Some of the time. Alex is going to work for my father. I’ll miss seeing her face every morning and afternoon.”

“Her sister is working for you.”

“It isn’t the same. I thought Alex and I were going to have a family by now. I feel like my mother lied to me.”

“You made a potion that is changing thousands of lives. Your name is becoming a household name.”

“With sex aids.”

“The male stamina potion improves circulation. Healers market it, too. It does more than help a man maintain a hard-on.”

“Maybe I should use it. I have no stamina.”

“You’re fine the way you are.”

“After Art repaired my body, I could only think about doing it with you. Art seemed puzzled that I wanted to be a man when I liked men.”

“Maybe I should sue Mary Jane for what she did to you.”

“I like being a faggot.”

“Daniel, you’re odd.”

“I have so much more power as a man than I had as a woman. I would never go back to being Betsy. If I stay the way that I am, I can’t sire any children and my mother’s prophesy won’t come to be.”

“You’ll find a way to sire a child and I’ll kill you.”

“Maybe that won’t happen for another thirty years. I want to love you today. Men have been known to sire children at a ripe old age.”

“After you close, meet me at Peter Downing for a few hands of poker.”

“I’ll hit a deli. Peter’s wife hates it when you search their house for food.”

“The old witch can’t cook.” Henry sharpened his cue. “I don’t see why Peter married her.”

“She was beautiful in her day.”

“But her beauty faded. Peter laughed when I married you.”

“I was ugly.”

“I saw beyond that. Peter is stuck with an ill tempered woman that can’t cook and I have you.”

“One game and I have to head back.”

“Daniel, the company will go on without you.”

“I don’t like the thought.”

“Face it. I have four factories now. They have their own life even when they change mans. Ys. You can’t live for your businesses.”

“I try not to. What should I live for?”

“After you train Francine, we should take a vacation. Have you ever gone skiing?”

“A boy from the backwoods of Maine?”

“Downhill, not cross-country?”

“Skiing for fun, not to get around; what a concept.”

“Should I buy lift tickets and reserve a hotel?”

“Next week?”

“Chin up. The plant will survive without you for a week.”

“Just remind me to stop after two beers.”

“It was your fault for drinking on an empty stomach.” Henry slapped Daniel on the back.

“Easy. I’m still not feeling well.” Daniel belched. “I don’t know if I want to play cards with Peter tonight.”

“You usually win,” Henry said. “We don’t have to play. Peter is probably tired of losing to you, anyway.”

“If I don’t bring food, you’ll probably starve.”

“Not likely. I wish you didn’t work such long hours.”

“After a week of my company, you’ll be glad that I’m heading back to work.”

“Not if we can snuggle under a warmth blanket half the time. I could never bore of holding you.”

Daniel told Francine that he was taking a vacation the following week. “You better do a good job.”

“Or you’ll tell my daddy,” Francine whined.

“No, you’re family. If the company fails, your father and cousins and uncles are all out of work. They’ll know who did it and they all have magic.”

“I understand,” Francine said. “I’ll be careful with the daily receipts.”

“I could have Mattie stay with you if you don’t feel safe alone.”

“I’m a witch. No one will mess with me.”

“People have messed with me. Are you up to defending yourself?”

“I’ll be fine. I can protect myself.”

“The money isn’t worth your life.”

“I understand. Uncle Danny, I’ll be fine.”

“I’m going to watch you make the drop the first two times. I don’t want anyone learning that a girl is carrying thousands of dollars every night.”

“I won’ke tke the same route each night. Would you prefer that I traveled to the bank by carpet?”

“Broom might be best.”

“Broom?”

“You can hold the lock bag and get away from danger fast.”

“I’ll go by broom.”

After Daniel watched Francine make the drop, he flew to a deli near the Peter Downing’s house that Henry was waiting at. “Darling, we can go to the slopes anytime.”

“I made the reservation from Saturday to following Sunday,” Henry said. “We’ll have a cabin to ourselves and snuggle all night by the fireplace.”

“They better sell wood near the sight. I’m not chopping wood.” Daniel asked the man at the deli to slice cheese and two kinds of meat.

“How much?” the man at the counter asked.

“A pound of each,” Daniel said. “Henry, get two loafs of bread.”

“Can you slice it here?” Henry asked.

“Of course. No extra charge,” the man said.

“Do you think that Peter will have salad dressing and mustard?” Daniel asked.

“Not bloody likely,” Henry said.

“Do you sell salad dressing and mustard?” Daniel asked.

“On the shelf behind you,” the man said. “I was closing when your friend told me that you were on your way here. I’m glad I stayed open a few more minutes. Will that be all?”

“We’ll take a pound of potato salad and cole slaw too.” Daniel said. “Henry, would you like a few pickles?”

“Get a couple.”

Peter shouted at Henry to leave his house before dealing out the first hand. “I can’t have you talking about your romantic rendezvous in front of my guests.”

“I finally managed to convince Danny to take a week off,” Henry said.

“You’re making us loss our stomachs,” Peter said. “Danny, are you playing or just eating?”

“Just eating. We can take the food and go.”

Mrs. Downing made a sandwich quickly.

“Dan, leave the food,” Henry said. “It’s the only good meal Pete is going to get all week.”

“How are you related to Betsy?” Mrs. Downing asked.

Daniel continued to eat pretending not hear the question. After having a sour stomach all day, all he was interested in the moment was food. Elsie Downing wasn’t one of her employees that didn’t know him as Betsy. Daniel went by the name Betsy the first month or so that he wore men’s clothes. Daniel even came over the Downings’ house with Cynthia in tow.

“Danny once told me that he and Betsy were the same person,” Peter said.

Mrs. Downing laughed. “Are you her brother or cousin?”

“One month I was Betsy; the next Henry called me Dan. My healer has a sick sense of humor.”

“I have seen you,” Peter said. “There are things that a woman just doesn’t have.”

“Magic, you idiot,” Henry said. “Be careful what you say. Dan keeps bear potion above our bed.”

“You don’t,” said Peter.

“It’s a timed potion. You would become human again in less than a day,” said Daniel. “Richard used to call Henry a grizzly bear. I made it as a joke.”

“Your little mind won’t accept the truth,” Henry said. “Dan, leave the food. Let’s get out of here.”

“I haven’t eaten all day.” Daniel made himself another sandwich.

Mrs. Downing pulled up a seat. “Dear Lord, you\'re Mrs. Newcastle.”

Daniel chewed what he had in his mouth. “One demented healer doesn’t mean I no longer love my husband. Though, I don’t always obey him.”

“As in never.”

“I quit working for Paul when you asked.”

“Only because you didn’t like the way he was treating you.”

“I believe you,” Peter said. “Stop the domestic squabbles.”

Elsie looked at Henry and Daniel. “The parliament passed a law stating that a husband and wife are free to engage in deviant sexual behavior as long as neither partner is harmed. The law was passed because people were using the sodomy laws to accuse the neighbors when their dog dug up the roses.”

“That doesn’t mean I have to like it,” said Peter.

Elsie put a hand on Peter’s shoulder. “Dear, they’re man and wife.”

“Eat the rest of your sandwich on the carpet; let’s go home and talk about our trip.” Henry picked up the carpet and walked outside.

Daniel threw on his coat. “I’m not chopping wood.” He sat on the carpet on the front step.

“See what I mean about never obeying your husband,” Henry sat next to him. “I’m sure that they’ll sell firewood there. People go to the mountains to relax.”

Peter went outside without his coat. “Take the food.”

“It’s yours.”

“Are we going to play cards in two weeks?”

“Can my wife play?” Henry asked.

“I rather that he didn’t,” Peter said.

“He’s just tried of losing to me,” Daniel said.

“You have too good a poker face to be Betsy,” Peter said. “Women show their emotions on their sleeves.”
Daniel sat on the stoop and ate more of his sandwich. Now Peter would think that he was a pervert or worse a woman, pretending to be a man. Daniel was himself whatever that was. He didn’t want to make excuses for who he was. That only led to geg drg drunk and throwing up.

“Betsy, what did your healer do to you?” Mrs. Downing asked as she stepped outside.

“Let’s get inside,” Daniel said. “It’s cold out here.”

“We’ll skip the poker tonight,” Peter said. “Danny, Henry, come back inside and enjoy the food that you brought. Elsie, make some coffee.”

Daniel joined Mrs. Downing in the kitchen. “Elsie, I should have been honest with you.”

“I lied to myself. You didn’t lie to me. I knew you were Betsy the first two times you came here in pants. Henry called you Dan and I started thinking of you as a different person.”

“People see Mr. Daniel Logan; before they see Mrs. Henry Newcastle.” Daniel put the coffee into the filter. “Would you mind if I helped you with the dishes?”

“Not at all.”

“I need to use my telekinesis on the regular basis or it released without my intent. I didn’t learn this until my healer messed me up.”

“What did she do to you?” Elsie poured water into the percolator.

“The healer in question knew she could get a judge to order me to take the medicine. I had daily attacks while pregnant. A co-worker died during one of them.”

“So she put something in your medicine that made you into a man.”

“It worked very fast. My female organs rotted inside me.”

“Danny, you seem rather well adjusted.”

“I don’t feel that way. I lost it in front of my employees a couple of times. My plant manager told me to go home after saying that the men wouldn’t say anything because they know who signs their checks.”

“You need a vacation.”

“My plant has been running over a year and I haven’t taken a day off.” Daniel looked at the dishes and they started to wash and dry themselves.

“Could I borrow you a few nights?”

“Mary Jane knew my sporadic magic was due to my cycling. I would get the worst outbreaks the week before going on the rag. I had starved myself for years so I wouldn’t bleed.”

“Are you happier as a man?”

“My daughter is being raised by Henry’s sister. If I want to dance with my husband, I have to go to less than savory places and fear that I could be arrested. Elsie, life doesn’t become peaches and cream no matter what we do.” Daniel directed the last of the dishes to their proper locations. “As Will Flynn would say, ‘Guilty with an explanation.’”

“How can you lay down with your husband?” Elsie poured the coffee.

“Peter doesn’t get creative in the bedroom. My female organs rotted.” Daniel made a face then went to remove a suspender.

“I don’t want need to see.”

“Elsie, between my legs, I look like any other woman.” Daniel wondered if Elsie could see the bulge in his pants.
“I believe you. We better serve the coffee.”

“Allow me. My father used to impress my friends by serving the whole meal from the seated at the table.”

“If you would prefer.”

Daniel kissed Henry briefly as the cups continued from the kitchen. “Darling, I think made Elsie ill.” Daniel sat on Henry’s lap.

“James never acted like that,” one of the Peter’s guests said.

“He didn’t have magic,” Betsy said. “I’m tired of acting like I don’t have feelings.”

“Sodomy is illegal,” the man said as he put on his coat. “I see that we aren’t going to play cards.”

“If you don’t mind losing to a faggot.” Henry kissed Daniel briefly. “Danny is right. I don’t need to make excuses for who I am.”

“That’s sick.” The man left the house after buttoning his coat.

“I’m glad Richard didn’t come tonight,” Peter said.

“He owns me too much money,” Henry said. “Elsie, join us. You can help us plan our vacation.”

Daniel snuggled beside Henry on the sofa, putting his arm around his husband. “I don’t care if we ever hit the slopes.”

“This isn’t the place.” Henry pulled away from Daniel, pressing his arms and legs inward as if he didn’t want to be touched.

“I just want to be with you.” Daniel put his hand on Henry’s arm, but maintained personal space between them.
He looked at the side of Henry’s face, still wearing those old-fashioned sideburns. “I’m your wife. Elsie and Peter know I’m your wife. Will, the mighty lawyer, says over and over magic does not change one’s legal obligations or status.”

“My mind might tell me that he\'s your wife, but my eyes tell me differently,” Peter said. “James visited me a few weeks ago. He hoped I knew of a job opening.”

“He was disappointed that I had someone in my life,” Henry said. “He hoped I was desperate enough to take him back.”

“Did you help him find a job?” Daniel asked.

“Your factory is close to where he lives,” Peter said.

“I might be able to use another man to pack cases. If you see him again, tell him to drop by the factory,” Daniel said.

“Will do,” Peter said. “Daniel, I like you better when you act like a man.”

“Act like a man?” Daniel rolled his eyes at Peter. “When I hit on one of my employees, he told me that women aren’t as bold as queers.”

“Would Betsy hit on a man?” Elsie asked.

“Never. I would have waited for a man to speak to me. I rather have died as an old maid than talk to a man. A woman doesnpeakpeak without being spoken to,” Daniel explained. “I like that I can speak my mind now. I don’t have to be submissive and subservient. My word is law at my factory.”

“Danny, Betsy, whoever,” said Elsie. “You can’t have it both ways. You tell me that your healer did this. You could have hid your manly face under a bonnet. You chose this.”

“I’m not the type to hide,” said Daniel. “I went to a woman’s college and spoke out for suffrage. Henry told me while we were courting that his younger sister was into the movement. I want people to see a woman doing what I do. I hate this.”

“That isn’t what people see,” said Elsie.

“When I worked at the magic shop, I wanted my checks to written to Elizabeth Logan. I saw myself as a Lucy Stoner until the baker said otherwise. I hate it when people see me as a man. What my healer did to me devastated me. I look at myself and know that I’ll never be a woman again and that angers me.”

Henry inched to to Daniel and put his hand in Daniel’s smaller one. “Peter, allow me to hold my wife.”

Daniel got up and walked to the kitchen. Elsie followed him. “All woman hide,” said Elsie. “A lady doesn’t speak out.”

“I’ll let you in on a little secret. You must promise not to tell Peter.”

“I promise.” Elsie cut two slice of cake.

“I’m working on a potion. When I have get it working, I’ll be a functional woman, again.” Daniel could use the potion that he was making to return Alex to his natural sex, twice as easily as once. If Daniel became fully male then when he became female again, all the damage done by Mary Jane and Arthur would be reversed. Betsy could start her life over without Mary Jane or the government interfering.

“What about your healer?”

“What she doesn’t know.” Daniel shrugged his shoulders. “It doesn’t mean all that much, but it gives me hope. The potion may never work. It’s still too dangerous to use on humans.”

“I wouldn’eal eal your hope,” said Elsie. “Your secret is safe.”

Daniel came back into the cabin after his third tumble in the snow. He was glad to see that Henry had warmed some apple cider by the fire as he closed the wooden door tightly prevent the cold Vermont wind from entering. “I’m going to have to keep you away from your carpet,” Henry said lying on the floor snuggled under several blankets.

“Thanks for starting a fire.” Daniel removed his hat and started to unwrap on of seveseveral scarves he was wearing seeing small balls of snowfall on the floor as he continued to unwrap himself.

“The resort sells logs. I’ll sweep out the snow.”

“I can do it once I remove all of it. I wish my telekinesis could dry clothes instantly. Why did you give up faster than I?”

“I didn’t give up. I’ll be on the slopes tomorrow.”

Daniel removed his coat and jumper as he shook more snow off his body. “Where are we going to eat?”

“We could take the carpet and buy food to cook here,” Henry said.

“For me to cook here. Where is the vacation part?” Daniel continued to undress. He found snow between his shorts and his trousers. “I can put the wet clothes near the fire tonight and change into dry clothes for dinner.”

“Change into some dry briefs and snuggle by the fire with me. The food can wait.” Henry got out from under his blanket to tend the fire.

“After rolling down hill, I would feel better in long johns. Keep the fire going, I’ll join you in a moment.” Daniel went to the bedroom. After he had put on the long underwear and a dry scarf, Daniel telekinetically removed the remains of the snow.

“You don’t have to do anything. Because your mother predicted it doesn’t mean it has to be. You aren’t MacBeth. The three sisters didn’t make MacBeth do anything; they just made predictions. You aren’t a puppet on a string. You don’t have to do anything.”

“I want my curse removing potion to be sold everywhere. It\'s only sold at four locations now. If my death would cause it to be sold at a thousand locations, I wouldn’t have died in vain.”

“You don’t know that. It might get sold at more locations without your sacrifice.”

Daniel got under the blankets beside Henry. “I would like to have a normal life.”

“Trying to achieve a normal life leads to your death.” Henry put his arms around Daniel. “Darling, be happy in the here and now.”

“My stomach is grumbling and we have no food.”

“I’ll get the food.”

“It’s a lot faster if I go by carpet than if you walk.”

“Danny, we have more money than we need. You can have anything money can buy. You should be happy.”

“I don’t want my love for you to be wrong.” Daniel put his head against Henry’s chest.

“Love, it isn’t.”

“We talk about going on a holiday together and people talk about vomiting. When I hold you, there is no other place I rather be.”

“We could have the cabin for longer.” Henry stroked Daniel’s wet hair and kissed him gingerly.

“I don’t want to think about who I am and what our relationship means.” Daniel parted Henry’s lips with his tongue and kissed him. “All I want to do is be with you. You’re so warm.”

“Dinner can wait.”

“I love your body. I love that it isn’t perfect. I love the excess mass, the curly dark hair that covers it, the lines and marks in your skin. I love that you’re an ordinary looking man. I envy your normalcy.”

“You look like hundreds of men that I would cross on a city street. Dan, you aren’t the freak that you imagine yourself to be.”

“I know that a stranger sees me as just a man. You know differently. I feel dirty by that.”

“You could start a relationship with someone that never met Betsy.”

“I want to be with you. Who else could make me feel the way you do?” Daniel snuggled into Henry’s arms.

“How do you feel with me?” Henry licked Daniel’s ear.

“Safe, warm, secure, loved.”

“Am I that dull?”

“Not at all. When I think about being with someone, that someone is you. Your body excites me like no one else’s.”

“Danny, you’re more brave than I. Don’t cut yourself short. Let’s dress. My stomach is growling too.”

“Can I look into your eyes and hold your hand at dinner?”

“If we eat in the cabin.”

“No one knows us here. The men at my job know that we are an item. Are you ashamed?”

“I’m not ashamed. I’m use to keeping my private life pte. te. I was mortified when James told Peter that I was more than his manager. I rather not have everyone knowing that I’m with a man.”

“I’m your wife and not about to be discreet.”

“You got drunk on our wedding day. I stayed sober.” Henry put on his sweater, parka and scarf. “Get on your coat and hat.”

“It’s still wet and so are the inside of my boots.”

“They’ll dry.” Henry kissed Daniel deeply. “I’d like be able to hold your hand or look into your eyes when we’re walking down the street. I didn’t make the rules.”

“We don’t have to obey them.” Daniel returned the kiss.

“I look at you and feel like the whole world can tell what I feel for you.”

“What’s that?”

“That I want our holiday to never end. I want to have you by my side every moment of my life.”

“I want that, too.” Daniel shook the snow off his carpet and rolled it out.

“Don’t fulfill prophecy. Stay as you are.”

“I don’t know if I can. Henry, time doesn’t stand still. We don’t live in a vacuum.”

“Are you happy with your life?”

“I couldn’t be happier.”

“Stay with me and don’t change a thing about you.”

“I wish it was possible.” Daniel snuggled near Henry.

“Take us to the closest restaurant that serves continental cuisine.”

“Carpet, go.” Daniel leaded against Henry. “Take us to the nicest restaurant in the area. Keep me warm.”

“All day and night.” Henry put his arms around Daniel. “I love you.”

After they returned to the cabin, Daniel put some wood into the fire. “Dance?” he said standing over Henry.

“I would love to.” Henry put his arms around him and they danced to the music in their heads in front of the fireplace.

“I want this moment to never end.” Daniel held Henry close to him.

“We can dance to the gramophone when we get back.” Henry held Daniel close to him.

The day after Daniel returned from his vacation, James arrived at his office. “James, let’s talk in my office.”

“I’m here to work,” James said.

“I have an opening for someone to load the cases onto the carpets. It’s hard work. I won’t hesitate to fire you if you don’t work to my satisfaction.”

“You can move boxes with your mind,” James said.

“I can hire someone else.” Daniel closed the office door.

“I’ll take the job.”

“Done. You can start now. See me at the end of the day and we’ll talk about salary and benefits.”

“Yes, sir,” James said as he headed to the floor.

Daniel touched Art’s shoulder. “Art, I have a new man for you to train. Show him the orders for the next day. James, work with Art.”

At lunch break James looked exhausted. “What is with Art and you?” James asked Daniel as they walked to the deli.

“I hit on him. Stupid me doesn’t like to take no for an answer. He has a bit of a bug up his ass. He acts like I stole him from his last employer. I pay him a respectable wage and I don’t abuse him because he has magic.”

“Abuse?” James asked as they entered the deli.

“Non-magic users like to use our magic to eliminate jobs. They lik hir hire one magic user and have him do the work of five men and pay him a little more than the other workers.”

“That’s awful. Has that ever happened to you?”

“No, but I didn’t let anyone know I was a magic user when I was hired at Henry’s company. He didn’t know until things started flying by themselves and I was sitting there embarrassed.”

“And he didn’t fire you.”

“He was out of the mill that day. I was sent home that day without pay. The plant manager had me come in early to talk to Mr. Newcastle the next morning. I was sure I was fired.”

“How did you manage to keep your job?”

“I told Mr. Newcastle that my magic goes out of control if I keep it bottled in all the time. After that he had me do special projects that used my magic. We became friends. He told me that my magic was sexy the first time he took medinndinner. He wouldn’t let me pay the check. I was so nervous. I never had a man come onto me before.”

“Henry is rather bold.”

“He just said allow me when I asked him for the check. I didn’t know he had romantic intent until after he paid. I thought he was rather discreet.”

“Henry?”

“Order what you want. It’s on me.”

“Thanks.”

“Don’t think anything about it. I take all my new employees out for lunch,” Daniel said. “I can do that. I have a small plant.”

“I wouldn’t suggest that.”

“I can see the way you look at me. You might wear Henry’s ring but you’re always looking.”

“I’m a man. James, I do have an extra job for you. I would like you to test our competitors’ products. I’ll give you the key to petty cash.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Buy their product, use it and tell me anything about it you can think about. How you felt taking it, any sidfectfects, taste, anything that could be of use.”

“What do I get for this?”

“Extra money. People call me about our products and I know nothing about our competitors.”

“I’ll do it. Should I tell my love that I’m testing product?”

“Not unless you want to. I tested our product with Henry once and it isn’t as strong as I hoped.”

“Can we do the research?”

Daniel handed James his sandwich and soda. “Eat.”

“I take that as no.”

Daniel paid for the sandwiches and sodas before joining James at a table. “I don’t think that would be wise. You must have a love by now.”

“Nothing serious. I picked up a few men at the bathhouse. You know the type.”

“Why do we think men men will switch?”

“Wishful thinking. I was nineteen when Peter introduced me to Henry. When Henry was learning to give me a massage, I couldn’t stop thinking about his large hands. I told myself that I was fooling myself all managers give their fighters a massage to relax their muscles.”

“He has wonderful hands.”

“I was foolish to leave I a I asked Peter if he could help me find a job.”

“How old were you the first time you picked up a man?”

“Fifteen. Henry thought I was innocent when he put the moves on me. I just smiled inside as he started move his hands in places you don’t massage.”

“James, you must have tried with a woman.”

“Twice.”

“I was a little more determined. I thought I wanted to marry her. Henry was furious when he found me with a woman.”

“I can imagine.”

“It just wasn’t as good as it was with Henry. I imagined I was with him when I was with her so I went back to him.” Daniel found himself looking into James’s eyes and wanting to sit closer to him. “James, if you let anyone at work know that I fucked you, I won’t hesitate to fire you.”

“I could make you happier than the old oaf.” James smiled making eye contact before taking a sip of his soda.

Daniel finished his sandwich and walked back to the plant. Arthur looked at his boss. “I didn’t know we were hiring.”

“I never replaced Billy,” Daniel said. “You treat him with respect. I won’t have you kill my new employees the first day.”

“Who is the pansy?” Arthur asked.

“He was a professional boxer. Peter Downing managed him once. He asked Peter Downing if he knew anyone with a job opening. Peter Downing owns me money at poker so I hired his retired boxer.”

“A boxer?”

“Junior lightweight, James Defoe. He hasn’t fought in five years,” Daniel said. “Be easy on him.”

“Doesn’t ring a bell,” Arthur said. “Peter Downing, doesn’t he have mob connections?”

“I don’t know anything about that.”

“We better treat him with kid gloves.”

“No, we treat him with the same as anyone else. If he does wrong, he’s fired as fast anyone else.”

“No,” Arthur shook his head. “Suddenly the trains won’t run, and no one will delivery your supplies. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Pretend to be rough.”

James entered the factory. Arthur walked away from Daniel. “Get back to work.” Daniel headed toward his office.
Daniel watched James as he opened the petty cash box. James took only twenty of three hundred dollars left in the box. He wondered if James was honest or if he was just playing the game hoping for a large reward later. James probably knew the rules of prisoner’s dilemma. If he knew the rules, he would take a little more each day and wait until Daniel yelled that he took too much. Daniel would put pressure on James to turn in the reports about the competitor’s products. If Daniel didn’t see portport on a product the next morning, James wouldn’t have access to the box again.

Daniel read the report on the product James tested the previous day at the end of the workday. James had taken more money this time. In the morning, he would empty the box so only the amount Daniel wanted James to take was in it the following night. Daniel had to hold himself back and allow Francine to make the drop. She was going on broom to the bank as Daniel suggested. He didn’t feel as needed in the company as Francine was making the drops everyday and all he needed to do was verify the daily receipts. Daniel took his carpet to meet Henry over Richard’s house. Nancy hugged Daniel briefly at the door.

“Mrs. Baker, you look fantastic,” Daniel said to the pregnant woman.

“You look very well yourself,” Nancy said. “Can I take your coat? My maid is in off for the night.”

“Thank you,” Daniel said. “Is Mr. Newcastle here?”

“He’s at the table wthe the other men. Are you going to play today or help me in the kitchen?”

“I’ll join you in the kitchen. Your husband doesn’t need to own me any money.” Daniel followed Nancy to the kitchen. Junior must have been in his crib asleep. The house seemed too quite.

“How is Cynthia?”

“I haven’t seen her since Christmas. I’m not the best mother. Annabel is raising her as her own. I just feel in the way when I visit.”

“You should visit.”

“I should play cards with the other men.”

“Daniel, I don’t mind your company.”

Daniel sat at the table although the other men were in the middle of a hand. He watched Richard fold to Peter Downing. Henry folded. It was between another man and Downing. Downing was bluffing. Henry passed Richard money under the table. Daniel smiled to himself before the next hand was dealt. He usually didn’t smile too much after the cards were dealt although smiling itself could be a tool of deception. Daniel briefly glanced at the cards in front of him and turned two cards down in front of him.

Daniel picked up the two cards; he had a full house now and wouldn’t let anyone know that he had a fairly good hand. Richard was out the first hand not using all the money that Henry handed him. He was fretting that the stakes were too high for him. Daniel raised the bid by a lot, staring at Downing and Henry. Henry smiled at Daniel.

“No flirting across the table,” Downing said.

“I’m staying in.”ry mry matched the bet.

“Do you and Daniel share expenses?” Downing asked.

“Household expenses. I usually pay when we go out from habit,” Henry said.

Daniel had a feeling Henry was bluffing. He wasn’t certain about Peter Downing though. “I call,” Daniel said. “I have a full house. Kings high.”

Peter shows his two pair.

Daniel looked at Henry still holding his cards and collected the money. Henry showed that he had a pair.

“You were playing his cards, not yours,” Peter said.

“I didn’t know what he had,” Henry said. “I wasn’t cheating.”

“You admit that you share expenses. He wins; you win. You win; you win. That isn’t quite fair.”

“He plays his own money,” Henry said.

Daniel collected his money and put it in his wallet. “I’ll go into the kitchen. Peter, you never accused me of cheating before.”

“Peter, get out of my house,” Richard said.

“I’m sorry,” Daniel said.

After Peter left, Henry suggested that they lower the stakes so Richard could play. Tony left. Richard crossed his hands. “I don’t think I’ll be able to play anymore.”

“Consider yourself even. I’ll write it off,” Henry said.

“I pay my debts,” Richard stated.

“I’m going to help Nancy in the kitchen.” Daniel went into the kitchen while Nancy was cleaning dishes. Daniel dried them by hand and put them away telekinetically.

“They left,” Nancy said.

“Peter didn’t like that Henry was playing my cards,” Daniel said.

“Did he seur cur cards?” Nancy asked.

“I was on the opposite side of the table. Henry had no idea what my cards were. He was gambling tmy cmy cards were better than Peter’s. He bets on Richard’s cards sometimes. I don’t see the difference. He has folded when he had great cards to let Richard win.”

“He isn’t going to bed with my husband,” Nancy said. “Your outside appearance may have changed, but you’re still legally Henry’s wife. Peter may have felt you were joining forces to battle him.”

“We were. If your husband has a strong hand, I’ll play his hand.”

“Only because he owns Henry money,” Nancy said.

“There are politics in poker,” Daniel said. “I’m not playing anymore. Peter seems to resent me when I win. It isn’t a civil game anymore.”

“Peter always raises the stakes; then’s a’s angry when he loses. He has still hasn’t forgiven Henry for taking the factory,” Nancy said. “You don’t have play poker when you visit.”

“What should we do? Read poetry?”

“Do you write poetry?”

“No.” Daniel laughed. “Henry is the romantic.”

“Does he write poetry?”

“Nothing you would read out loud.”

Henry entered the kitchen wearing his long wool coat. “Darling, we should g
“
“I was talking to Nancy. Peter was angry that you smiled at me after Richard folded,” I said.

is tis that against the rules?” Henry said.

“Peter thought we were conspiring.”

“If we were conspiring, I would have been more devious.” Henry kissed Daniel briefly. “Darling, it’s late.”

“Nancy, thanks for everything,” Daniel said.

“I’ll get your coat,” Nancy said.

“Thank you,” Daniel said.

“What were you talking about?” Henry asked as he helped Daniel into his coat.

\"Reading poetry.”

“I have a few books of poetry in the house. Nothing I would read.”

“You could read it to me.” Daniel briefly touched Henry’s hand. “Do you love me?”

“I have never loved anyone as much as I love you.”

Richard opened the door for them. “Nancy and I will visit next week. Thank you for coming.”

“It’s always a pleasure to see your charming wife,” Betsy said.

“Gentlemen,” Richard said as the two stepped through the door.

Nancy invited herself over the next evening. “What are we going to do since cards are out?”

“We don’t have to play for money. Can you play bridge?” Henry asked.

“I’ll ask Richard to teach me,” Nancy said. “I play gin.”

“We could drink coffee and play gin. We don’t have to gamble,” Daniel said. “I enjoy your company. Where is Junior?”

“With the nanny, Richard’s mother hired her,” Nancy said. “She puts him to bed early every night. The quiet is almost deafening.”

“Without Cynthia,” Daniel said, “the house is too quiet but we both work long hours.”

“Do you give Will money to support her?”

“Will would take that as a grave insult. Would you like some tea or coffee?”

“I’m not staying long. Daniel, I have never had a male friend.”

Daniel put hrms rms around Nancy. “Think of me as a little brother if it helps.”

“You’re very kind.”

“At least let me get you a cuppa.”

“If you insist.”

Henry put his arms around Daniel after a late breakfast on Sunday morning. “You should do your research during the week. Sunday is for family and for dreaming.”

“Dreaming?” Daniel leaned against Henry on the sofa.

“I put the house on the market. I spent too much time traveling to Boston. I saw this wonderful little townhouse in Cambridge that would be perfect for two bachelors.”

“We aren’t bachelors.”

“The world sees us that way. Daniel, we should plan to see Europe. We can go on carpet if you don’t want to spend the time on ship. We can see things that I didn’t see with Richard.”

“This summer, I’ll take off a month and we can see London, Paris, Amsterdam, anything you like. We can buy tour books and plan the trip weeks in advance.”

“Do you mind if I put the house on the market?”

“It will make my flight to work longer each day.”

Henry kissed him. “You don’t have to go each day.”

“Very true. If Arthur and Wayne would get along, I would leave the plant in their hands.”

“Trust your plant managers to settle their difference. I hired a man with more experience from the outside once and the old men hated him awhile but things will settle down.”

“I’m sure that they will. Francine is doing great closing the plant. I have more time for research and to just answer questions.”

“Take a month off this summer. The plant will be there when you return.”

“I’m so close to getting that potion right.”

“Test it on anyone but yourself. If you test it on yourself, it will set prophesy in motion. You can run an ad for test subjects in the newspaper. You can guarantee them a roof over their head during the whole experiment. See Will; he can direct you to a lawyer to see so you can have it all legal.”

“That sounds expensive and lengthy.”

“Probably but people won’t argue your results. There are many people willing to test a potion for some pocket change and a roof over their head for the duration of the test.”

“What do you want me to do? Find ten desperate people put them up in an hotel and give them my formula and after I’m finished doing my test restore them to their normal selves.”

“It’s better than risking your own life.”

“So I should risk strangers’ lives.”

“You can find people not wanting to be restored after the procedure so they don’t have to have their bodies torn apart twice. Find a er, er, do this experiment the long way and have your results documented.”

“I’ll make an appointment with Will, Monday.”

“I have a buyer looking at the house Monday.”

“You put a down payment on that house in Cambridge already.”

“Daniel, you’ll see we\'ll be happier there.”

“I love this house.”

“You’ll love the new house. Unroll your carpet and we can go there.”

“Do you have the key?”

“I’ll as soon as I pay closing cost. Danny, I know you want your formula completed yesterday. It took your father over a year to get your curse removing formula from our backyard to the marketplace. Have patience and do it the right way.”

“The right way may take five years.”

“We have the time.” Henry wrapped his arms around him. “It’s the first week of spring. Let’s get Cynthia and take her to the park.”