After the Dance: My Life With Marvin Gaye by Jan Gaye Page A

Richard stepped back into their pants. Denise and I didn’t bother to put on our tops but covered our breasts with our hands. The woman stopped in her tracks.
    “My God,” she said, “you’re Marvin Gaye. You’re absolutely beautiful!”
    Before Marvin had a chance to reply, I whispered, “That’s Margot Kidder?”
    “I am,” said the movie actress. “And I’d love for you guys to come to a party. I’m on my way there myself.”
    “We’ve no good reason to refuse your kind invitation,” said Marvin. “Lead the way.”
    Boldly, Margot planted herself next to Marvin. I thought that she might have the hots for my man. A few minutes later, the five of us reached a well-lit beachfront house where a party was in progress.
    “Look who I brought,” announced Margot as we entered the living room. “It’s marvelous Marvin Gaye! Can you believe it?”
    The host was the well-known actor Peter Boyle, thrilled that his friend Margot had somehow found Marvin wandering the beach outside his home. By mere chance, someone at the party had brought a copy of Let’s Get It On . Within minutes the song was blaring. All eyes were on Marvin, basking in the attention.
    The party people freely shared their goodies. There was plenty of pot, coke, and acid. There was wild hippy dancing, arms flopping around with hips swerving. There was incense burning and candles lit everywhere. It was a laid back atmosphere. A few of the couples wandered off into the bedrooms. Margot stuck close to Marvin. Given the free-flowing sexual vibe, I wondered whether she would actually make a move on him. Before Margot had a chance, though, Peter Boyle made a bizarre move of his own. He took off the music to announce a surprise.
    “Gather around, everyone,” he said. “It’s time for me to offer up something I’ve been waiting to show you all night. With our surprise guest of honor now in attendance, I will not keep you waiting.”
    The next thing I saw was Boyle pulling down his pants and revealing his pale, hairy backside. It was quite a sight. That’s when Marvin decided that it was time to split. Against the protests of Peter and Margot, the four of us bade the party people good night and headed back to the car. Peter gave us a can of gas, and we were on our way home. There was a full moon out that night.
    “How’d you like the evening?” Marvin asked me when we were back on Cattaraugus.
    “Interesting.”
    “Interesting good or interesting bad?”
    “It was a little crazy,” I said. “I still can’t believe what we saw, but I’m glad we went.”
    He kissed my forehead and slowly undressed me.
    “It was exciting seeing you on the beach,” he said. “It’s exciting seeing you on the bed.”
    That night we made beautiful love. In one another’s arms, we slept until early afternoon.
    When I awoke, Marvin was staring into my eyes.
    “I want us to go away,” he said.
    “Where to?”
    “Away from everyone, where it’s only you and me and Mother Nature. No city smog or crime or sirens in the middle of the night. No sounds except the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves. Fresh air. Blue skies. At night, looking at the stars. Let’s just get away from it all. Escape. Hide.”
    “But your record’s out and it’s a hit. They want you to promote it.”
    “Even a better reason to get away. What do you say, dear? Will you come with me? Can you run away with me into the woods?”
    “Where?” I asked again.
    “It doesn’t matter. As long as it’s in the middle of nowhere and no one can find us.”
    “And why is it so important that no one finds us?”
    “Because I want you all to myself. I want us all to ourselves . I want nothing interfering with our love. I want nothing between us and God and nature.”
    “Are you really serious about moving out of the city?”
    “Serious as sin. And it will be a sin if we don’t make our escape from the madness that’s about to unfold. What do you say, dear? Will you run away with