Madame Lazarus by Malie Meloy

Well this story too confusing all jumbled up. First I'm thinking that the narrator was a woman ; turns out he was a man all along. Second, the dog Cordelia at first seemed like the narrator hated Cordelia then like her. What was the reason for the change of heart? Now It's obvious the narrator is gay and has a lover named James. There is no keen detail on how they met but the narrator describes in detail about his first love a boy he met during the war and again after the war. The shock i found was that the narrator was married to a woman named Simone ; he must of felt was living a lie because of his father and didn't want to bring shame to the family. The main character life is grey, sulky and depressing even though his lover, children and grandchildren are around him he doesn't seem to be fulfilled. The only one that can give him some sense of happiness and fulfillment is Cordelia, His dog. This story has elements of French noir from the 50 and 60's .