“This is the last time, Troy,” Carleton said as he shoved Troy out onto the grass. “One more time and you’re banned for good, you got that?”
Troy stumbled and fell backwards onto the grass, but only his pride was hurt. He got up and dusted himself off with a dirty look at Carleton but no words. Straightening his tie, he looked around for a place to walk to and regain a bit of dignity. But all the passers-by had seen everything, and most of them didn’t even look surprised.
Troy’s glance landed down on the next corner, to a sign out front that had lately been repainted, and stood brightly against the scrubby grass and rocks: “Fliss’ Place Tavern and Hotel”. Troy laughed through his humiliation — why would Fliss bother pretending her house was a hotel when everyone in Candover knew what it really was? But the stately looking old house behind the sign looked respectable enough to fool anyone who wished to be fooled.
After what he’d seen at the lake and the anticipation of what he’d planned to do to Ruth, Troy concluded, for once he was willing to be fooled. He had always prided himself on not needing to stoop to such things. But he needed to fuck someone and he needed to do it now, and it would serve Celestine and her ice-queen mother right. Troy dusted off his trousers and ignored the knowing looks he was sure he was attracting as he marched up the path to Fliss’ front door.
Though Troy had never been inside before, he’d heard from many of his friends that the waiting room could pass for an ordinary tavern, albeit a low-class one. Stepping into the dimly lit room, he found that just right: a fully stocked bar and a crowded clutch of tables set against three walls decorated with various obscene drawings and paintings, and a doorway at the far end of the bar with a glint of bright light and a pastel-coloured couch beyond. Most of the tables were occupied.
A heavyset wench in a dress much too tight for her held court at the bar. “Bit of a wait this afternoon, I’m afraid, Troy,” she told him. “Two ships just put in today, y’see.”
“How’d you know who I am?” Troy demanded. “Are you Fliss?”
“It’s none of your nevermind, but I am,” she said. “And you really don’t want to know how I know who you are, Troy. Let’s just say I do.”
“Fine, but could you please stop saying my name out loud in this place?”
“I can if you buy a drink and a girl, Troy. Otherwise you’d best get lost.”
Troy slapped down a wad of cash on the bar and said, “A beer, please, and have you got any blondes?”
“Ah, right, you’re marrying a brownie, aren’t you?” Fliss chuckled, but true to her word, she did not call Troy by name again. “Yeah, I’ve got one, but you’re third in line after two of our sailors over there. You want to try to pay your way to the front of the line, be my guest.” She took his money and offered no change, but Troy was just as glad she didn’t ask for more.
The sailors she had pointed to laughed and raised their glasses to him. “Come on and join us if you want,” one of them said. “You ain’t cuttin’ the queue but you’re welcome to drink with us in the meantime.”
“Gee, thanks.” Troy decided he might as well try to be agreeable now — he’d come in here on his own; he was no better than the rest for the moment. “So you just got here today, did you?”
“Yessir!” one of them said. “On the Reprise. Never been here before, but our captain –”
“Ain’t you in enough trouble with him already, Stradlater?” said one of the others. “No offense, young man, but our captain wouldn’t want anyone else knowing what he just said.”
“My lips are sealed,” Troy said. “I know how to keep a secret. Especially if you pretend you didn’t hear my name just then.”
“Deal,” said the sailor. “But I did hear it. You’re James Russell’s boy, aren’t you? Marrying Portia’s kid?”
“Yeah.” Troy felt like crying in his beer. Instead he took a long sip of it.
His three new friends laughed. “Don’t worry, boy, what happens in this place stays in this place,” said the one who hadn’t spoken up yet. “My name’s Ben, by the way.”
“Troy, but you knew that.” Troy shook his hand.
The other two shook hands with him as well and then fell back into the conversation Troy had interrupted, but Ben remained focused on Troy. “I take it you had a fight with the little woman? Sorry to hear that, I just met her at Portia’s and she is one fine little dish!”