Pitts Pa.

- 4 -

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Claire Kinney Wilson and Tom Wilson, Claire's youngest son

"Jesus, this isn't fair!" Tom whined from the back of the mini van.

“Somebody has to stay with Grandma until I can come back and pick you up, and nobody has ever died from moving boxes around for a church bazaar. "

"Well, this may be a first!" Tom heaved his chest with dramatic unhappiness.

"Well, you are always complaining that you never get to do the things that Ben does. He was supposed to help Grandma but had class, so now you can do what he was going to do."

"Yeah, right ma, this makes me feel sooooo grown up!" Tom sighed again, and stared out the window at the bleary day that sped past them on their way to Grandma's house. Ben had weaseled out of the afternoon church bazaar slave thing and left him holding the `bag.' Literally. Grandma Kinney gave him the creeps. She always smelled of stale - stale air, stale booze, stale conversation. The woman had rarely entered their lives when Tom was younger, but now it seemed that whenever he turned around, his mother was pushing her back into their lives.

"Mom, she is so mean! I can't believe what she said to me!" Ok, really cool. Don't tell her about what happened, but scream it? Very cool!

"What are you talking about Tom?" Mom looked concerned over her shoulder at me from the front seat.

"Nuthing!"

"Thomas Robert!"

"She called Uncle Brian a faggot and asked if he had tried to molest me."

My neck snapped back and forth like a rag doll after Mom slammed on the brakes. Uh, oh!

Ben Wilson, Claire's oldest son and nephew of Brian Kinney:  The day before at the Pittsburgh Academy of Fine Arts,

"Molly Taylor has been assigned to give you the grand tour," Principal Henderson said sweetly as she led me out of her office and back into the waiting area. Molly Taylor sat with her face buried in a textbook. I stood before her and almost fell to my knees. I just met the woman I am going to marry.

"Hello!" Molly said sweetly. I couldn't take my eyes off her. She was dark, tall, lean, beautiful, perfect. I am so fucked.

"Um, Yeah. Hi," I stammered. Oh yeah, impress her with the big words!

"Ms. Henderson has asked that I give you the tour of the school, so I thought maybe we could start off with the classrooms that you will be having class in! Follow me." Molly put her book back into her gray backpack and stood up. I followed right behind her. Ok, so from the front she was the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. From behind, I …I think I need a priest. I know it isn't right to even think this, but Mother of god, would you look at that perfect ass! She was wearing a short black skirt, tights and a pink sweater, and when she walked it seemed like she was floating on air. But it was her scent, all vanilla, jasmine and spice, that went straight to my …

The tour was a blur as I tried to cover myself up with my backpack… Someone would have to direct me around later, I couldn't tell you where the front door of the building was after spending half an hour with Molly. She didn't offer any personal information about herself except that she avoided the school cafeteria and that the yearbook was looking for people to help. I, being the selfless bastard I am, readily agreed to help her...um, help on the yearbook. And then she was gone just as fast as she appeared - the tour was over and I was returned to the principal's office and sent on my lonesome way.

Principal Henderson's secretary gave me my schedule and more information in two minutes about Molly Taylor than Molly had revealed during the whole tour. Molly was Junior Class president, she was the yearbook editor, she wrote the best articles for the school newspaper and should have been editor but was made to choose between yearbook and the newspaper and she chose yearbook. Molly was a dancer, the best female at the school and would surely be going to New York to have a wonderful dancing career.

It was a start at least.

Brian Kinney, Vangard Agency 6:00 pm

The photo shoot with the first wife went off without a hitch in front of the Vanguard Agency sign. I had a feeling that Cally wouldn't appreciate my mentioning the personal information she had revealed about Vance at the studio. Even without the prior heads up from the First Mrs. Gardner Vance, it would be clear to even a blind man that this woman had a hold on Vance, and then some.

The height issue between Vance and me was worked out by Cally coming up with some rather interesting angle shots, including her laying on the floor and then getting Vance, myself and the junior partners to sit on the floor and take a more casual shot with our jackets off. Every time that Cally came within reach of Vance, the electricity shooting out of him was overwhelming. Cally just held on to a professional face … that was until Vance's personal secretary Betty came rushing into the reception area with an important message about dinner plans from wife number three and the blood seemed to drain from Cally’s face. Vance also looked stricken for a split second and then went back to his usually `friendly' manner and barked orders to the group to get the hell back to work and make him some money. A curt nod goodbye to Cally and he and his secretary were heading back into his office.

I lingered around, trying to see if I could help Cally pack up her belongings and yes, fish for some information. I need to build up some ammunition for future use against Vance - he played hardball and so did I. In the few months since after I made partner I had seen him axe six people, including two partners out of the London branch. I hadn't worked this hard to stay here just to let him pop me out of my position before I was ready to go. Information is king, so to speak. That, and for a breeder, Cally seemed ok. I was about to ask her a question when Betty came running back into the room and asked Mrs. Vance to accompany her back to Mr. Vance's office. Betty looked like she was delivering a death warrant, and practically wrung her hands in stress and anxiety.

"Please tell Mr. Vance that I am unable to visit with him today, I have another engagement." Betty blanched, and began to shake…

"He told me not to return without you, it's about next week…" Betty said desperately. Cally froze and then picked up her equipment bags and handed them to Betty.

"Keep an eye on these, would you? I'll be back." She whispered as she walked back into the Vanguard offices.

Cally

Vance was standing in front of his office window with a large scotch in his hands watching the sun set. He didn't turn around when I announced myself at the door. He spoke, still with his back to me. "I ...just wanted to make sure about the arrangements for next week…I will pick you up at your home at 9 o'clock?"

I walked over to Vance and snaked my arms around him. "I couldn't do it without you, you know. You're the strong one." Vance let out a loud snort and gulped his drink down.

"I think you are confusing the two of us.” Vance leaned back into my arms and body as I nuzzled his neck, drinking in the scent of him and sighed. "It will be just us, right?" Vance whispered.

"Just us." I said, settling my head on his shoulder. We stood there quietly with my arms wrapped around him and time stood still.

Brian

I didn't know how long Cally would be in Vance's office and decided it would look too calculated if I just stood in the reception area waiting for her to return. I was temped to stay for at least a little while but then my cell went off and it was Claire and she was crying. Perfect fucking timing.

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