said Ross. “Something about a visiting relative from Iran who’s not very good
company.”
Zack said, “That’s funny. We had them over for dinner the other night, and
Hassan was fine. Perfectly charming.”
“Charming enough, ” said Daniel.
“Well, we had them for Thanksgiving,” said Jane. “And she was charming
but Abbas was a total pill.”
The roast goose was different yet tasty, the wine excellent, the conversa-
tion nicely restrained by the presence of a fifteen-year-old: departmental shop
talk and gossip were kept to a minimum. Artemisia also meant everyone had
to wear bathing suits if they used the hot tub after dinner. Zack and Daniel
begged off anyway, claiming they were getting over colds and should be head-
ing home.
It was not yet seven when they drove back to town. The highways were
eerily deserted. Traffic signals changed over empty intersections. Swarms of
gaudy lights covered the stores and houses along Jamestown Road, but on In-
E x i l e s i n A m e r i c a
2 5 7
dian Springs only discreet pairs of electric candles stood in the windows.
Daniel took Jocko for his walk as soon as they got home. When he returned
he found Zack laying wood for a fire in the rec room. “I thought maybe we
could watch one of our Christmas presents. Faust or The Last Laugh?”
The doorbell rang. They looked at each other worriedly.
“Better not be a patient,” said Daniel, and he went upstairs to get the door.
Emergency visitors sometimes changed their minds when they saw Daniel and
remembered their doctor had a life. Daniel turned on the porch light and
peered through the little window.
Abbas stood on the porch, wearing no coat, only a heavy sweater. His Saab
was parked on the street, the motor running.
Daniel threw open the door. “Something wrong?”
Abbas was breathing smoke; his hands were pressed into his armpits. “I
need to talk. Come ride with me.”
Daniel was too surprised to answer.
Then he heard Zack. “You can come inside and talk, Abbas. If you need
to talk privately, I’ll make myself scarce. It’s a big house.”
Zack was standing behind Daniel, at the end of the hall.
Abbas looked offended by the invitation. “No. I need to drive. I need to
be moving. I need to go somewhere for a drink.”
“You can drink here,” said Zack.
But Abbas was adamant. “Thank you, no. Will you come?”
Daniel turned around, intending to face Zack and speak to him. But he
kept turning and opened the closet door to get his coat before he looked at
Zack. “I won’t be long,” he said. “All we’re going to do is talk.”
“Fine,” said Zack. “Then go.” His tone was dry and dismissive. “Just be
careful driving. If you do drink.”
When Daniel got outside, Abbas was already striding across the yard, and
Daniel followed, not looking back, not wanting to see Zack standing in the door.
He climbed into the car. It stank of cigarette smoke. He watched Abbas put the
car into gear and let out the brake. He had never seen Abbas drive before.
Abbas kept his eyes locked on the street, his hands set rigidly on the wheel.
“I am crazy horny tonight,” he said. “Angry horny. So horny I cannot think
clearly.”
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C h r i s t o p h e r B r a m
He had come to Daniel for emergency sex? Daniel couldn’t help feeling
insulted, excited, and touched. “All right,” he said. “Where can we go?”
Abbas remained stone-faced. “I don’t know. The art building was locked
up today—I could not get in. It is freezing anyway.”
“You want to try a motel?”
Abbas nodded. “But I do not have much time. I have to be home by ten.
Before my brother goes to bed.”
“Where does your family think you went?”
“I said I needed to be alone and think about my work. And that I would
pick up milk and eggs on the way back.”
Daniel chuckled. “You sure are romantic, baby.”
Abbas didn’t even smile. “This is not romance, it is physiology.”
Daniel directed him east, where the cheaper “family” motels were located.
There was a big, impersonal Hampton Inn he’d used last year when he was
seeing a young architect with a boyfriend.
“So things are crazy at home and you had to get out?”
“Like you wouldn’t believe.”
“Oh, I can believe. And you need some tension-easing nooky.”
Abbas gritted his teeth and nodded. “I want to come and come and come
until I bleed.”
Daniel was too stunned to answer. “Uh, let’s try here,” he said.
They swung into the parking lot of the Hampton Inn. Daniel went inside