Read Online Something's Knot Kosher by Mary Marks - Free Book Online

explained before, the sixties was a time of breaking rules and experimenting. That’s when Russell finally admitted he preferred men. In those days, society didn’t make it easy for people to acknowledge to themselves—let alone the world in general—they were gay. Remember, until recently, the law in most states considered homosexuality a crime you could go to prison for. Russell had successfully buried those feelings until we got to Aquarius.”
    â€œHow did his being gay make you feel?” I asked.
    â€œI was happy for him because I went through a liberating experience of my own.”
    Lucy raised her eyebrows. “No! You’re gay too?”
    Birdie laughed. “The word is lesbian, and no, I’m not. But I found a passion with his brother, Denver, I never experienced with Russell.”
    Lucy curled her fingers in air quotes again. “You mean the big ‘O’?”
    Dear God .
    I reached for another slice of pound cake; to heck with Weight Watchers. “So we know you went to India with Denver for six months, and yet you came back, left the commune, and married Russell. Why?”
    â€œRussell wanted to work in the world of finance but knew he’d never have a chance if he stayed at Aquarius. So he cut his hair, put on a suit, and landed a great job in Portland. He had a real opportunity to move up the corporate ladder, but only if he fit the image of a happily married straight man. He knew I’d keep his secret, so he begged me to marry him.”
    â€œBut you loved Denver?” I asked.
    â€œYes. However, the whole experience in India changed me. I needed stability. Denver was too restless and wild. In the beginning, I found that quality so attractive. But I couldn’t live with the anxiety that went along with his lifestyle. When Russell heard we were back at Aquarius, he drove down and proposed to me again. He said I could have the best of both worlds and promised to always take care of me. I could continue to see Denver—or anyone else—as long as I was discreet. And he could do his thing and still remain in the closet.”
    I wondered how angry Denver might have been when Birdie moved to Portland with Russell. Angry enough to want payback fifty years later? “Didn’t you already tell Lucy and me Denver tried to talk you out of marrying Russell?”
    â€œYes. He thought I’d be throwing my life away. But he calmed down when he realized we could still be together. Denver stayed at Aquarius, making regular trips to visit me in Portland. At the same time we had our thing, he also fathered a child with Feather.”
    â€œWeren’t you angry?” I asked.
    â€œI wasn’t surprised. Rainbow knew about my arrangement with the Watson brothers. She used to call me regularly with the latest gossip on Denver and Feather. Rainbow hated her. Feather once boasted she was going to deliberately get pregnant and make Denver leave the commune with her.”
    I recalled the photo Birdie had shown us. “You mentioned before that Denver had a son with Feather.”
    Birdie sighed. “Yes. Her plan worked. Once the boy was born, Denver felt obligated to go along with her. He wanted to give his son a stable environment, like the one he had growing up. So they got married and moved back to McMinnville. I never saw him again.” Tears escaped and ran down her cheeks.
    Lucy asked, “So how did things sour between the two brothers?”
    Birdie shook her head. “I’m not sure of the details. It happened around the time their mother died. The father had been dead for years, and Russell and I had already moved to Encino. I remember Russell argued with Denver over the phone. As far as I know, we never heard from him again.”
    Russell’s brother must also be elderly. Clearly, a man in his seventies didn’t rob the bank and shoot Russell. But he could have hired someone to even an old score. “Is there some