Here Comes the Groom

“OK, Blondie,” Brian said as the guys settled themselves in front of their fake fireplace. “So I got something to tell you and you got something to tell me. You better go first since you’d never be able to pay attention to me when you had something you wanted to say ….”

“Gee whiz, Kinney,” Justin complained, “Sometimes I forget how impossible you are. What I wanted was your opinion about something – but if you’re gonna be like that, maybe I don’t want your opinion after all ….”

“You’re probably right, Kiddo,” Brian apologized. “I wouldn’t be of any help at all. I guess I’m just a wise guy and a natural cynic. OK, you win. I’ll go first ….”

“I guess maybe it would be better if I went first, Bri,” Justin decided, “Cause my problem is really pretty important …..:”

”Like all your problems are important – to you, Baby,” Brian grinned. “OK – you go ahead ….”

“Well New York state is maybe gonna pass a gay marriage law - maybe even today – but pretty soon in any case ….” Justin began.

“Is this a proposal, JT?” Brian broke in grinning more broadly. “I guess you wanna elope to New York as soon as they make it legal?”

“Not a chance, BK,” Justin grinned back at him. “I don’t suppose it’ll be me who does any proposing when it comes to that. And you can forget the elopement business too, Brian. Not a chance. When I get married it will be in the presence of 500 or so of my very closest friends ….”

“I hope I’ll be invited,” Brian laughed. “I should be somewhere in your top 500 or so …..”

“Can’t say for sure, Mr. Kinney,” Justin told him. “I haven’t even started to make that list yet – but you’ll probably be in there all right ….”

“So you’re maybe gonna tell me what’s bothering you, Sunshine,” Brian returned to the subject. “Since it’s so darn important. You seem to be getting side-tracked ….”

“Yeah, I am. Well I got a phone call from Wendell this morning, Brian,” Justin related. “Wendell and Dave are New Yorkers you know. Wendell would like to propose to Dave as soon as the law passes but he thinks it might make him look like a gold-digger and he doesn’t want Dave to think ….”

“So what’s the hurry, Babe,” Brian wanted to know. “I think Dave knows how Wendell feels about him Why the rush? Wouldn’t it be better to wait a while and ….”

“Hey, Brian,” Justin reminded him. “Remember California. Gay marriage was legal there – and then it wasn’t. Some folks waited out there – a little too long so….”

“Well it is some different with New York,” Brian reminded him back. “California it was in the courts and in New York, it’ll be the legislature ….”

“Wendell thinks if he doesn’t move quickly,” Justin said, “Dave may think that he wasn’t sure that he wanted to get married and had to take some time to think about it. He wants Dave to know he’s sure. But he doesn’t want to rush Dave either. I can see his point. I’m glad I don’t have that problem ….”

“So you don’t have that problem, eh?” Brian laughed cynically, “And you never will – but you gotta make Wendell’s decision for him – or neither of you will be satisfied ….”

“And we also won’t be satisfied if we do the wrong thing. So – are you going to help me or not, Kinney?” Justin insisted. “I need to get my advice to Wendell soon …..”

“What I’m gonna do, Sweetheart,” Brian told him, “Is to discuss my problem with you. It might help you sort out your own situation. “I got a phone call from Dave this morning ….”

”You’re kidding, Brian,” Justin seemed shocked. “You’re gonna tell me ….”

“That Dave wants to propose to Wendell as soon as the new law passes,” Brian continued, “But he doesn’t want to look like he’s pushing Wendell. He wants to give Wendell some time to think about it but he also thinks it would be romantic to ….”

“I don’t often think of Dave as being all that romantic, Bri,” Justin laughed. “But – I guess – given the circumstances …..”

“Yeah,” Brian looked at the kid, “Given the right circumstances, I bet even I could be romantic – not that it’s likely I’ll ever see the right circumstances …..”

“Well maybe ….” Justin opined as he cuddled up closer to the guy next to him. “You never can tell …..”

This digression brought the important and timely discussion into pause mode for a significant period of time – regardless of the need Dave and Wendell had for immediate advice.

But they must have been thinking about the Dave- Wendell situation during their break. When the conversation finally resumed, Justin wondered: “Funny that Dave called you, Brian. I wonder why he didn’t call me …..”

“There can be only one reason for that, Honey,” Brian suggested. “You were unavailable. You were talking to Wendell when Dave called you – and he was so excited he couldn’t wait so he called me ….”

“Yeah,” Justin agreed with that possibility. “That’s the only way it makes sense. But what advice are we gonna give them. They’re like – so unsure of themselves ….”

“Well why don’t you just call them and tell them we decided they should get married,” Brian decided, “And then neither one will have to propose and neither of them will seem to be rushing the other one and …..”

“There’s your romantic nature coming out, Bri,” Justin laughed. “What a lovely memory they will have to share with their children – if they ever have any …..”

“So you got a better idea, Taylor,”: Brian challenged him. “It’s easy to criticize ….”

“Yeah, I think so,” Justin responded. “I think we should suggest that they just sit facing each other when they get the news about the law passing – and whatever needs to happen will happen …..”

“I don’t think that will work, Baby,” Brian told him, “I don’t know. But whatever you do, do not volunteer us to help plan the damn wedding ….”

“Gee whiz, Brian,” Justin replied. “Wendell already asked me to help plan the wedding. He wants Jason and Brandon to help too….”

“And me?” Brian laughed. “Am I also listed among the requested wedding planners?”

“Well of course you are, Kinney,” Justin laughed too. “That goes without saying ….”

“And I bet it went without being said either, Sunshine,” Brian concluded. “But maybe you ought to call New York with your weird suggestion. I don’t see how that will work ….”

“So let’s try it ourselves, Brian,” Justin suggested. Just look at me and see if what needs to happen, happens…..”

So they tried it out themselves – and what needed to happen, happened.
 

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