Crying out Loud

Chapter 3

It seemed as if his dread grew with each step that he took. J.J. did not want to go into that room but he knew at some point he was going to have to.

“Move a little faster will you Jean-Jacques? I’ll have wrinkles by the time you get to maman’s suite.” J.J. scowled at her as he reluctantly picked up his pace.

“You’ll get wrinkles? I think I saw one on your forehead earlier today.” Andrina furrowed her brow and deftly flipped open her jeweled compact and inspected her face carefully. J.J. smirked as she threw her compact in her purse and flounced in front of him flipping her hair, which had fallen out of its’ ponytail holder, over her shoulder angrily. Stopping at a door with an ornate golden number of 1505 Andrina rapped sharply upon the door. Closing his eyes J.J. braced himself and barely cringed as the door flew open and a cloud of perfume floated over him.

“My darlings! Bonjour, bonjour! Ca va?” J.J. stood surprised as Lorinne Partiel embraced him and Andrina. Never before had she been so informal. J.J. glanced at Andrina speculatively. Andrina nodded at him with a look of understanding and mouthed that she would explain it to him later.

“Ah, Ca va bien maman. Et tu?” J.J. replied uncertainly. He needn’t have worried as Lorinne had already ushered them into the suite and settled herself onto a gold brocade loveseat.

“Tres bien. Now sit, sit. Oh, you do not know how happy I am to see you.” Andrina and J.J. perched comfortably on a sofa next to the loveseat. J.J. looked around uneasily. This suite did not seem to suit his mother at all. She would never have even dared set a foot into a suite such as this before. For example, J.J. knew for a fact that there were larger suites at the Ritz. And larger usually equaled better in the mind of Lorinne Partiel. He shrugged mentally and decided to ask Andrina about it when they left. Tuning back into the conversation J.J. realized that he had no idea what his mother and Andrina were talking about.

“-a nice Spanish girl. Polite, obviously well bred. Perhaps she’d be good for Jacques.” J.J. made a strange gurgling sound while Andrina giggled softly into her hand.

“Jacques, whatever is the matter? You know you really should get that cough sorted out.”

“That wasn’t a cough mother that was disbelief. I am not here but ten minutes and you are already attempting to set me up with some woman.” Lorinne stared disapprovingly at J.J. and chided him gently.

“Well, it is quite passed the time when you ought to have married. Twenty-seven and not a prospect in sight. Heavens. At least you haven’t made me a young grandmother. The silver lining on that thundercloud so to speak.” J.J. wanted to sneer that she wasn’t that young, but this was irrelevant as she did in fact look only slightly older Andrina. Her face was smooth and devoid of any wrinkled which might have given more than a passing guess as to her age. Her hazel-green eyes still sparkled youthfully and her sleek red hair was always perfectly coiffed into some sort of elegant twist. Lorrine Partiel was a perfect example of a deliberate lady of leisure. As J.J. tuned out of the conversation, slightly miffed at her last comment, he wondered if he should inform his mother that there was a chance that she wouldn’t be getting any grandchildren out of him at all. She did not know that he was gay, or rather bi-sexual as he had at one point briefly dated his friend Ixia. If he ever met a nice guy they might never decide to have children. Well, he thought tiredly, that was a worry for another day.

Lorrine insisted on speaking to J.J. and Andrina for another two hours. J.J. would never be able to tell anyone what exactly they had spoken about however. He was just happy to finally be able to leave. Well, temporarily that is. Andrina had signed them up to stay in Lorinne’s spare rooms in the suite. J.J. did not think that he was going to last too long in his mother’ rooms so he planned to get his own lodging as soon as possible, with or without Andrina. As soon as they stepped out of the suite and the door had closed J.J. did a little jog and clicked his heels together. Andrina laughed behind him as he danced all the way down the hall.

“Jean-Jacques watch out for-!” Andrina called out to J.J. Lost in his own excitement J.J. hadn’t noticed that the door behind him had just opened. Turning around he ran smack into the door stumbled back and fell directly on his ass. Rushing towards him Andrina tried ineffectually to smother the laughter that threatened to escape with each passing moment.

“I am so sorry! I absolutely did not see you there. Are you okay?” The frantic voice of the door opener belonged to a rather tall woman with darkly tanned skin and long tumbling black hair. Shooting Andrina a nasty look J.J. stood up wincing slightly in pain. Turning towards the woman he blushed furiously and graciously waved away the delicate, tanned hand offered in front of him.

“Er, thanks. I’m quite alright though. My pride’s a bit bruised but nothing else.” J.J. replied to her question sheepishly.

“Oh, terribly sorry. I am Guliana Martinez. Pleased to meet you.” J.J. froze as his face turned pale. It seemed his hand shot out of its’ own accord to connect with Guliana’s. His sister. He knew that Guliana lived on the same floor as his mother he just had never expected to literally run into her.

“Um, I am Jean-Jacques Martinez. But call me J.J.”

“Martinez? Are you Spanish?” Guliana asked curiously. J.J. nodded and flushed.

“Yes, I’m half Mexican.” This topic sometimes made him uncomfortable. He didn’t look terribly Mexican, just enough for the French side of his family to disdain him. Guliana accurately read the discomfort on J.J.’s face and decided to change the subject.

“Oh how rude of me again. Guliana Martinez.” Guliana introduced herself as she shook Andrina’s hand.

“No problem at all. I am Andrina Partiel. Are we in some way acquainted? You look somehow familiar.” Andrina graciously introduced herself before a puzzled look came over her face as she tried to recall an instance in which she had see Guliana before. J.J. felt uneasy at the direction the conversation was going. He knew that Andrina felt that Guliana was familiar because she looked a lot like J.J.

“Partiel you said? You must be related to Lorrine Partiel. You look just like her.” Guliana exclaimed.

“Ah oui. She is my mother. I believe that she said something earlier about meeting you.” Andrina replied thoughtfully. “We are going out to dinner now but would you like to join us?”

“Ah, I’m afraid I have prior arrangements. I would of course love to dine with you another night.” Guliana looked regretful. Andrina agreed and they exchanged numbers. J.J. was absolutely flabbergasted. Andrina had never made a friend so fast in her life. In fact Andrina rarely made any friends. It would figure that she would make friends with his other sister who obviously did not know that she was his sister. Oh bother. This trip was turning out to be more trouble than it was worth.

The girls finalized their plans and said their goodbyes cheerfully. As J.J. and Andrina hopped into the chauffeured Bentley their mother had secured for them, she was still chattering excitedly about her new acquaintance. Delacroix was a small intimate cafe which was located relatively close to the Ritz Central Park. From what J.J. could see when he walked in the place could hardly be called a café. First off patrons were required to have reservations. There was absolutely no open seating and it seemed that the café was formal dress. J.J. glared angrily at Andrina as he did not have on formal dress at all. Andrina shot him a confused look as if to say, ‘what did I do?’, before striding elegantly to the tall glossy, mahogany, podium where the maitre de stood. The maitre de looked skeptically at Andrina as she approached. The skepticism soon turned to slightly sycophantic behavior as he directed her to follow him. Andrina looked back at J.J. with her nose turned up and an eyebrow raised. Rolling his eyes J.J. followed Andrina at a sedate pace admiring the interior of Delacroix.

The booth in the back of the café was romantically lit and obscured from the public view. J.J. raised an eyebrow at this wondering whom else Andrina had taken to this romantic little booth. Opening the menu J.J. burst out laughing. He should have known as soon as he saw the name.

“Why oh why sister of mine have we come to a French café in the middle of New York?” J.J. laughed uproariously, tears leaking from his eyes. This was simply too absurd.

“Jean-Jacques I simply refuse to eat American filth. This food here in America is completely hopeless. Not to mention classless and fattening. I never actually eat the food while I’m here. The Ritz is able to serve proper French food after all.” Andrina replied haughtily and completely seriously. Shaking his head J.J. decided that Andrina truly was a lost cause.

“Hello, Devlin Baine at your service. May I take you orders monsieur et mademoiselle?” A clear strong voice asked. J.J. glanced up to reply only to be caught by the most stunning man he had ever seen. Broad of shoulders yet still slim and trim, the man’s figure exuded strength. His face was angular but a bit soft around the edges. Shoulder length light blond hair was clipped back in a leather fastener except for two long strands which framed the man’s face. His nose was long and thin but straight. Dark grey eyes with dark blue flecks gazed humorously at him as he continued to stare. Coughing slightly J.J. awkwardly looked away from the penetrating gunmetal grey eyes. Haltingly he ordered while Andrina replied smoothly. As Devlin left J.J. relaxed, and Andrina raised a curious brow at his reaction.

“Fancy him do you, Jean Jacques?” Andrina asked nonplussed as she whipped out a compact to check her lipstick. J.J. flushed casually and shrugged.

“He’s awful gorgeous you must admit.”

“Yes he is. And as gay as you are. You ought to give him your number, you’ve been celibate long enough as it is.” J.J. gaped at Andrina.

“How do you know he’s gay? He doesn’t even seem it to me.” Andrina laughed out loud and smirked naughtily at her brother.

“Well dear Jean-Jacques, I know this because I am sitting here in a delightfully low cut blouse, see thru as well, and the man didn’t even try to take a peek.” J.J. gazed at Andrina’s attire and decided that if a man was indeed straight he would positively drool after her. His sister was very attractive after all.

“Still, he could simply be polite.” Andrina looked incredulous and tossed her loosely waved auburn hair over her shoulder.

“Polite indeed! I have not met such a man!” Laughing good naturedly J.J. was interrupted by a discreet cough to his left. The gorgeous specimen of man was back. Sitting up straighter he accepted the glass of wine set in front of him and curiously eyed the bottle. Andrina had impeccable taste in wine and in everything else, he thought. With the exception of men he thought darkly. Willing himself not to go down that particular road J.J. turned his attention back to Andrina.

“Anyway, there is no need for me to even attempt to start something. I will be going home soon enough.” Andrina groaned in exasperation.

“Why must everything be so damn serious with you? Go out and have some fun! Meet gorgeous men, indulge yourself!” J.J. scowled at Andrina’s admonishments.

“Stop trying to make me like you. It isn’t going to happen. I don’t want it to happen. I admit that sometimes I can be very serious but that is just who I am.” J.J. explained coldly. He was sick of Andrina trying to make him into her image. He hoped he was never as shallow, and self absorbed as she was a lot of the time. He refused to dally in casual sex the way many of his friends and acquaintances did. Andrina’s winced at the coolness in J.J.’s tone and decided to back off. This was supposed to be their vacation and she didn’t much fancy fighting with her brother the whole of it. The rest of the meal was filled with light hearted chit chat which restored the usual harmony between the siblings.

Dinner seemed to end too soon for J.J. and he had not seen Devlin again as another waitress had taken over for him. Disheartened, but somehow strangely excited J.J. left the café talking excitedly with Andrina. They had only walked a few meters before a voice called out to them.

“Hey! Do you remember me? I’m Devlin.” J.J. stared in shock as the blond man he had been lusting after all night ran a hand through his now loose hair while stomping out a cigarette.

“Of course. My name is J.J.” J.J. managed to stammer out a response while blushing furiously. Andrina glanced at the two amusedly and decided to sit over on a nearby bench to give J.J. some privacy. She was relieved that Devlin had approached J.J. because she knew that J.J. would never have approach him even though he was obviously attracted to him.

“I was wondering if you maybe wanted an escort around the city?” Devlin calmly asked.

“What makes you think that I need an escort at all?” J.J. asked as he leaned closer to Devlin, trying his hand at flirting. Devlin appraised him briefly before shrugging.

“Dunno. You seemed rather unfamiliar with the city. So you aren’t in need of a tour guide of sorts?” J.J. blushed prettily before nodding.

“I wouldn’t mind actually. I am a bit unfamiliar with the city.” Devlin gave him a small smile, which softened his features considerably. Reaching into his brown leather jacket he pulled out a small piece of paper and offered it to J.J.

“Whenever you want to go out just give me a call. This is my cell so you can reach me any time.” Smiling even wider at J.J. Devlin nodded slightly and turned away. As he walked away J.J. quirked a corner of his mouth and turned towards Andrina. Looking at Andrina J.J. rolled his eyes playfully. Andrina was bright red with the effort to subdue her laughter.

“Go on, let it out already.” Andrina began laughing loudly while shaking her head. Swinging an arm around J.J.’s waist she leaned her head on his shoulder.

“You are so adorable big brother. And so lucky as well! That Devlin is simply delicious.” J.J. scowled playfully as he threw an arm around her shoulders and they began walking.

“He isn’t a piece of cake! And even if he was I think that he would be my piece of cake not yours.” Andrina giggled lightly and continued walking showing J.J. some of the sites of New York as they went. The couple continued walking contentedly for a while before calling their car to pick them up and take them back to the Ritz.

They were almost back to the hotel when J.J.’s phone blared out a loud rock beat. Glancing apprehensively at Andrina J.J. flipped open the phone and answered with a toneless greeting.

“What’s wrong J.J.? You sound strange.” J.J. winced in response to what he knew was coming.

“Oh, nothing is wrong. Are you here yet?” J.J. asked nervously. The voice at the end of the phone replied enthusiastically.

“Yes I am! In fact if you look out the back window you’ll see me.” J.J. slowly turned his head towards the back window and immediately saw Horatio grinning wolfishly. J.J. forced a smile and quirked an eyebrow in recognition.

“Who are you speaking with Jean-Jacques? Who is here?” J.J. mustered up some false enthusiasm and replied.

“Oh, I could have sworn I mentioned this to you. I suppose you just forgot in all the excitement of the trip. Well, look out the window.” Andrina looked quizzically at J.J. before turning to look out the back window. As J.J. lay restlessly in his bed in Horatio’s suite that night, he contemplated the possibility that the ringing in his ears would never go away. Wincing from the pain shooting up his shoulder he also wondered if he might have to go to the hospital for a broken arm.