Christmas Bells

The guys had just cuddled themselves into their usual positions on the floor of the loft facing the fake flames emanating from their fireplace. A lovely domestic scene – portending a quiet pleasant evening – perhaps – but maybe not.

“So I guess you’ll be away next weekend, Baby,” Brian opened with a presumption. “And I guess I won’t be away – since I …..”

“Uh-oh, Brian Kinney is feeling sorry for himself again – for some reason or other – or some non-reason maybe,” Justin stifled a grin. “I wonder why – but I expect I won’t have long to wait and wonder ….”

“Well if you insist on knowing – not that you don’t already know, Blondie,” Brian drew back slightly, “next Sunday is the day that gay weddings will begin in New York, and with Dave and Wendell being like they are – or like they were supposed to be – and with your complete approval and the approval of Brandon and Jason and other important dignitaries, I just thought ….”

“Nope,” Justin let loose his stifled grin. “Actually Wendell and Dave will be here next weekend. I invited them to come. Gus is going to guide them on a tour of the zoo and the aviary. I thought it would be a good idea to take their minds off …. And of course you’re expected to come along – since you’re always invited to everything – everything that’s worth your time of course ….”

“Wait a minute, Kiddo,” Brian grinned back. “Isn’t the aviary for the birds? They were supposed to propose to each other the minute the governor’s signature hit the paper – and you were all for the wedding – and now there ain’t gonna be no wedding – and you’re still sitting here smiling. I don’t think so ….”

“There’s gonna be a wedding all right, Kinney,” Justin assured him, “and I think I remember telling you all the details too – and you weren’t listening, I guess …..”

“So maybe was I doing something else while you were ‘telling me all this stuff?” Brian inquired. “You know I’m not good at multi-tasking …..”

“You’re good enough at multi-tasking when you want to multi-task, Brian Kinney,” Justin argued, “but sometimes you …..”

“Sometimes there are things I need to concentrate on, JT,” Brian pointed out. “Important things - when I need to be single-minded. And then I don’t multi-task – because I don’t want to multi-task …..”

“Like when would that be, Bri?” Justin wanted to know. “Can you like - give me an example?” And he must have stumped Brian too because he got no argument and there was a reasonably long pause in the discussion too as Brian was probably trying to figure out an example to prove his point.

“See what I mean?” Brian – for some reason or other - asked the kid as the conversation resumed, “About not multi-tasking ….”

“Yeah,” Justin had to admit, “I think I do see your point …..”

“So there is gonna be a wedding though?” Brian returned to the subject of Wendell and Dave. “But not next weekend, I guess ….”

“Well, you know, Brian,” Justin told him. “Wendell and Dave don’t always think things through. Their first idea was to run to some judge as soon as it was legal ….”

“And you pointed out the lack of need to rush,” Brian caught the drift. “Because ….”

“Not just me, Kinney,” Justin objected. “Brandon and Jason too – and Mikey …..”

“Yeah - Mikey would certainly lend some good sense to the discussion, Kiddo. I don’t remember being consulted though,” Brian laughed. “I’m sure there was some good reason why ….”

“Of course there was a good reason, BK,” Justin laughed back at him. “We weren’t sure that you would agree with us. Sometimes you just lunge into things – without thinking them through …..”

“See how fast I lunge when gay marriage comes to Pittsburgh, Honey,” Brian was still laughing. “You just might be surprised ….”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, Kinney,” Justin replied with a smirk. “No point in worrying about that yet. But I don’t expect to be surprised. But seriously, I’m sure that Dave and Wendell really wanted a memorable wedding – and that takes time to plan. Neither one of them wanted to suggest waiting a while because they were each afraid the other one would think they weren’t sure about the wedding – so like – I made the suggestion and like – pretended I was talking them into waiting a while. Brandon and Jason helped out too ….”

“So you’re thinking of a late summer or fall wedding then?” Brian presumed. “Or rather Wendell and Dave are thinking about a date – or they would be thinking about a date if it were up to them …..”

“Cut the sarcasm, Mr. Kinney,” Justin commanded. “I am not running the show at all. Dave hired the best wedding planner in New York City – her name is Rosalind - and I am like – working with her on the details – and Brandon and Jason are helping too ….”

“And Mikey?” Brian reminded him. “I’m sure Mikey would have a lot of good ideas – and maybe Debbie ….”

“Too many cooks might just spoil the broth, Bri,” Justin replied, “And that is not going to happen with this wedding. You can be sure of that …..”

“I feel a little bit sorry for New York City’s best wedding planner, Babe,” Brian teased. “I bet she has no idea …..”

“I’ve talked to her a couple of times already, Brian Kinney,” Justin informed him. “And I think the ground rules are set. We’ve made some preliminary decisions about the flowers and the location and the orchestra. Rosalind is getting a big fee so I don’t think she’ll quit. Dave thinks it would be better if we do all the stuff. He’s a big decision maker in business stuff but he’s not sure of himself with the wedding planning ….”

“Well you will let me know when the date is set – right?” Brian requested. “I’m presuming I’m invited. Dave told me I’d be invited – but I do understand that Dave doesn’t have the final say ….”

“Yeah, you’ll be invited all right, Brian,” Justin grinned at him. “It’s gonna be about the best wedding ever – and I wouldn’t want you to miss my triumph ….”

“So I can sleep soundly tonight then, JT,” Brian laughed, “assured that I will not miss your triumph. So when do you think the wedding will actually come off?”

“I was leaning toward the Christmas holidays,” Justin informed him. “That will give us plenty of time to get everything we want ready. “We’re holding dates at Dave’s New York hotel but we have to decide pretty soon so that we can get some wheels moving ….”

The conversation just faded out at this point and another pause – this one more or less by default – ensued. Neither of the guys objected. But the pause ended more abruptly than usual.

“Hey, Brian,” Justin asked the gentleman sitting next to him, “you said Dave told you that you were invited to the wedding. Just when did he do that little thing. The last time I know you were talking to him he was wondering about proposing …..”

“Actually, I guess that would have been this morning, Sweetheart,” Brian confessed. “He called me with some advertising questions and the subject of the wedding just kinda came up – I forget how …..”

“You are a great big fake, BK. You knew all the time. I hope you didn’t give him any other advice, Brian,” Justin wondered. “You know about too many cooks. It’s bad enough having to deal with Rosalind …..”

“Well like – Dave did mention that the wedding might be around Christmas,” Brian admitted, “And I like - said maybe they could get married during his big New Year’s Eve party. Two birds with one stone ….”

“Brian Kinney,” Justin complained. “You are way worse than Rosalind – and you should know better. I can’t manage the big party at the Gay-Lesbian Center here and the wedding in New York on the same night – and I want to be here on New Year’s Eve ….”

“Taylor,” Brian smiled and caressed Justin’s cheek with the back of his hand. “You are the best planner in the whole world. You could handle those two and another party in Los Angeles too if you wanted. I have confidence in you ….”

“You know what, Bri?” Justin said as he cuddled himself closer to the guy on his left. “I think I’m leaning toward Thanksgiving for the wedding ….”
 

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