There were lots of good-looking men like me in my generation. But they aren’t me. The real Lane is even more attractive to Lacey than the actor. Because he’s from my generation. And they have great chemistry.
Let’s go see what happened. What really happened while I was away, so to speak.
He walks in to Lane’s office and sees him sitting behind his desk. And Lacey laying on his sofa on her back. They don’t know he’s there.
Lane makes a moaning sound.
Lacey thinks. “Yeah. That sounds very convincing!”
“I thought so too.” says Lane quietly to Lacey.
“My gosh! That’s a huge compliment.” says Lacey to Lane.
“No. It’s sincere.” says Lane.
“Wow! We’re really capable of that?” asks Lacey of Lane.
“Oh yes. Very much.” says Lane.
A reader laughs, feeling bad for Lacey. “Lacey! Sex is so much better than you think!”
“I never thought it was bad!” says Lacey.
“But it’s even better than that!” she says.
“Anyway…” says Lane.
“Do you suppose he’ll be bothered by it?” says Lacey.
“Yes!!” says Lane. “Or it’s just for us.”
“Right.” says Lacey, sitting-up. “I do like you.”
He looks upset. “I’m in love with you.” he says, looking into her eyes from across the room.
“I’m a little in love with you.” says Lacey.
He smiles and laughs.
“But it doesn’t make any sense if Lem is actually in love with me.” says Lacey, with certainty.
“You’re so right.” says Lane sincerely.
“Well…it’s just misery then.” says Lane.
She closes her eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
He fumes. “It’s not my misery. It’s yours I’m worried about. Your misery is worse.”
“My misery? Oh goodness…I’m used to that.” says Lacey. “Don’t worry, beyond prayer.”
“We have kissed.” he says.
“And you touched my behind.” says Lacey, to be exact.
“Well I kissed you.” he says.
She sighs. “Yes.”
“Why are we in this situation?” he asks Lacey. “I don’t think we should have to be.”
“I agree.” says Lacey. “Unless God says otherwise.”
“It’s Jack.” says Lane.
“And people’s blind admiration for him.” says Lacey.
“Let’s go to bed.” he says to Lacey.
“I don’t think we should.” says Lacey.
“I could kill Lem. I’m so angry at him. …This is beyond repulsive.” says Lane. “He’s got you on such a short leash.”
“Does he love me?” asks Lacey.
“I’m not sure. Why are you here!??” says Lane.
“Exactly! But God tells me he does.” says Lacey.
“I hear that too.” says Lane.
“Writers are such dreamers. …We love seeing people happy?” says Lacey.
Lane smiles. “Yes. But life is so dim nowadays many of us are…working. For Christ.”
“You can’t fall anymore?” asks Lacey.
“Possibly not.” says Lane.
“I’m here.” says Lem.
“You’ve been here for how long?” asks Lane.
“A while.” says Lem.
“What have you heard?” asks Lane.
“You two are in love.” says Lem.
“Yes. Sorry. It was by accident.” says Lacey, cheerfully.
Lane smiles. Laughs.
“I know.” says Lem.
“What’s happening, dude?” asks Lane.
“Ha!
I need to take Lacey with me.” says Lem.
“Fine.
Will she be back!?” asks Lane. “Huh? Because I’m not looking forward to that.
Do you know why?
Because if she comes back…too many times…I’m going to destroy you and your INFINITE CONCEIT!!” yells Lane. He laughs. “If necessary. …I cannot imagine hurting someone the way you’ve hurt her.”
“You might not-“ says Lem.
“Then why do YOU deserve her?!?” yells Lane.
“He doesn’t.” pipes in Louis.
“Right.
So then explain you sense of justice?” says Lane.
“I can love her more than you.” says Lem.
“Is that right? In and of itself?” asks Lane.
“Yes. For now.” says Lem.
(Later on May 22nd, 2024)
“Lacey…I’m not perfect. I’m sorry. But I’ll fix it all. With God’s mercy and help.
And yes…I know. It’s bad. But…I don’t care. Because I don’t have to. I care about you. And I care about me. And I care about us. And our kids. And I can make it all work. Actually it does…you just don’t know the full story.
I was good hearted and ignorant and made terrible mistakes with good intentions.
You have no choice. I’ve decided. You’re mine. And that’s what’s best right now. And you understand why. Because you don’t know. You love me. But it seems as though I’m gay and in love with JFK forever…and that’s simply not true. I wasn’t just bisexual though. I was straight. And yet that’s not easy to believe, I know.
But I was. I was.
And that’s not it anyway. It’s just that I want you. Forever. And nobody but God can stop me anymore. Because He knows that’s what I truly want and I can have it.
Look…if it’s not Lem…I’m Harold Loeb. Pretending to be Lem. To spy on you. …But I’m not Harold. I’m Lem.” says Lem. “But no, I’m Lem. For real. Doesn’t matter though. Because you don’t need to know everything. I’m in charge.”
“So…you really faked it that well?!?” asks a gay man.
“Yes.” says Lem.
Keen to Cross the Pond 