Lost Sister
Part 6
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Once Brian agreed to go to
Mama?
Caitie, how are you?
Im great! I wanted to tell you something.
What sweetie?
Im bringing Brian home.
Bridgit choked back a sob, Oh Cait, that is wonderful, when?
Well be there the first week of March, and stay for two weeks.
Two weeks, is that all?
For now Mama, Brian owns the ad agency that he works at, and cant be gone longer than that. Im sure this will be the first of many visits for him. He is really excited. Well nervous and excited.
How are things going between Brian and Justin?
Well, they tolerate each other when they have
to. They havent spent any
time together since Justin and I have been back in
Why not, I know how stubborn you can be.
Because, I cant get in the
middle. I dont think
Brian would mind, but Justin would.
He is still planning to move to
Well maybe fate will intervene.
I hope so Mama, I hope so.
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Brian arrived at Caitlin and Justins apartment the day they were scheduled to leave. He was really sad about the distance between him and Justin. Brian had hoped once things settled down between him and Cait, that he and Justin could start over. Unfortunately Justin still had other ideas. He rarely made appearances with the family unless he was summoned, usually by Deb, and he and Brian were never alone together. Justin seemed determined to keep that chapter of his life closed.
Justin was doing some research on the computer when there was a knock at the door. Justin got up to open the door, and found Brian on the other side. Cait was out running some last minute errands, so the two men were alone.
Hey, I came to pick up Cait, we need to get to the airport.
She just had a few last minute errands, she should be back any minute. Come on in.
Brian followed Justin into the apartment. Justin willed his heartbeat to slow as he resumed his work at the computer. Brian was heartbroken that Justin couldnt even talk to him. Doing research for school?
No, Im actually doing research on
Im moving there after graduation. I wanted to get an idea of the city and see what area I may be interested in.
Brian was not expecting this, What do you mean youre moving after you graduate?
Justin sighed, and slowly turned to face
Brian. He had been dreading this
conversation for months.
Brian, when I left last year, I had no intention of ever living
in
Brian was speechless. He had
heard a little from Cait that Justin was planning
a relocation to
Im sorry Im late Bri, Ill be ready in five minutes.
Justins attention was focused on his computer, and barely said goodbye when the siblings left five minutes later.
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Brian and Cait didnt speak much on the plane. Cait knew her brother was nervous. If she was in his shoes, she would feel the same way. She squeezed his hand in comfort, and hoped it helped. She was met with matching hazel eyes that smiled at her. She rested her head on his shoulder and fell asleep.
Customs was hell, but neither one was surprised. International travel was never fun, and since September 11th it was even worse. It took them an hour to get through, but they were eventually able to get out. Cait heard her name screeched through the terminal. Before she could react, she was engulfed by her mother. Brian stood awkwardly to the side, for the first time in his life, he had no idea how to act. While Cait was hugged by her mother, Brian looked over to her father. He saw an older version of himself. Brian was shocked. He never saw any kind of family resemblance with his own parents or his sister, but looking at this man he saw the person who should have been his father.
Mama, Caits voice interrupted Brians thoughts, this is Brian.
Brian turned to look at the woman. She was short and stocky, with wild, long red hair. Brian lowered his gaze to the floor. He felt her hand lift his face to look into her emerald green eyes, Welcome home my son, and Brian felt himself drawn into the kind of homecoming embrace he had only dreamed of.
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The ride home from the airport had been uneventful. Cait and Bridgit talked a mile a minute. Brian wondered what it was about women. He looked up and saw Seamus looking at him through the rearview mirror. Hazel met hazel and a look of understanding passed between the two.
They quickly arrived at Seamus and Bridgits home. It was very small and welcoming. Brian began to wonder what would have happened if this had been him home growing up. Would he have been a different man? Bridgit touched his shoulder and led him to a third bedroom.
This is your room Brian.
Thank you, Mrs
Mom.
Thank you mom.
Good boy, now you get unpacked, Cait and I are going to start dinner.
Brian was left alone with his thoughts. He thought he would be able to handle this in his normal manner detached reveling nothing but when the plane landed, Brian felt his walls fall away, and for the first time he had no walls, no protection.
Brian stopped to look out the window into the backyard. There were so many thoughts and feelings going through his mind, he thought he might go insane. He felt like one of those episodes of some bad TV show that Justin liked to watch. He remembered when one of the characters could hear voices and feel the feelings of all those around him. It drove the woman insane, and he felt it would drive him insane as well.
You look like youve got a lot on your mind lad.
Brian turned around and saw Seamus standing behind him, You could say that sir.
Seamus snorted, Whats with the sir crap, in this house Im dad, or as Cait calls me daddy.
Brian laughed, I dont think Ive ever called anyone Daddy before.
Then you call me dad. Lets go have a drink while the girls finish dinner.
Brian followed Seamus outside. They each had a glass of whiskey, and both lit a cigarette. Brian chuckled at the similarities.
Whats you laughin at son?
Im just surprised at the similarities between us.
Well thats family for you.
Brian just nodded his head, unsure how to answer, so Seamus just continued, Caitie always believed you were still alive. She would tell us about the dreams she had with her brother. Bridgit and I were always a little worried about how much she missed you. We just let her go with her dreams, it would have been cruel to try and force her to see the truth. Little did we know I guess.
It seems strange to hear members of my family talk about not wanting to be cruel to their children. Jack and Joan must have missed that day of parenting class.
Young Justin told us about your parents, at least as much as he knew. Bridgit and I were very sad to hear about how you were raised. She wondered why your parents didnt give both of you away. We would have loved to have raised both of you.
Brian felt himself choke up, he didnt know how to deal with any of this. Here were two people saying they wished they could have been his parents. Brian didnt know how to respond, he just nodded to Seamus. The two men finished their drinks in silence.
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Cait kept Brian very busy the first week of
their visit. She wanted to show
Brian where she grew up. They
spent the first week in the city.
It was a little crowded and dingy, but it was
Caits hometown and she loved
it. Brian wanted to go to
Cait took Brian to the Douglas Hyde Gallery on campus. This was Justins favorite place to go. They always had very contemporary exhibits, and Justin would just get lost in the rooms. The siblings walked the campus in silence. They explored the Chapel, the Oscar Wilde Centre for writers and the Samuel Beckett Theatre. Brian felt closer to Justin than he had in a long time. He knew that the young artists time here would influence and benefit his art for years to come.
Brian wanted to follow in Justins footsteps while in
Bridgit and Seamus had planned a family picnic so that Brian could meet the extended family. Since they had all met Justin the year before, the Irish Kinneys were anxious to meet Brian. Brian was very intimidated when he was surrounded by dozens of people hugging him and talking to him. The uneasiness passed, and he soon felt part of the family. Everyone was so welcoming of him, they accepted him immediately. In fact it was decided, that other than Seamus, Brian was the one Kinney who embodied their patriarch, Ailin Kinney. Brian didnt understand this, and Seamus had to explain it to him.
Ailin Kinney was the earliest ancestor they had been able to trace, back to the eighteenth century. No Kinneys seemed to have existed before him, so he was considered their forefather. Caits great-aunt Siobhan always kept a miniature portrait of Ailin with her and she showed it to Brian. He thought he was looking at a picture of himself, the resemblance was so strong. Only Seamus carried that same strong resemblance. Brian truly felt he had come home.
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One week into their visit, Caitlin and Brian were touring
On Saturday, Brian and Cait were having lunch
at
Bri, we need to talk.
About what?
Well Im about to break a promise that I made to myself, but I figure since Im in a different country all bets are off.
What are you talking about?
Im talking about Justin.
Brian sighed, What about him?
Well first of all, this trip has proven to me that you are still desperately in love with him.
I dont do l
You dont do love, of course you dont, thats why you had me take you every fucking place he went to in this city. Thats why you wanted to experience this city through his eyes because you dont do love.
Cait
Dont tell me to stay out of it! Ive stayed out of it for a year, even longer if you count the time spent here with Justin. Well I am going to tell you if you dont do something NOW, you are going to lose him.
What the fuck are you talking about?
He is on his way, Cait grabbed
Brians wrist and looked at his watch, no
he has arrived
in
What?!?!?
He is spending his spring break in
So,
Brian, my dear STUPID brother, how long are you going to be in
denial. He is
leaving. In four months he is
leaving, unless you give him a reason to
stay. He is planning to spend
his spring break exploring the city for job opportunities and places to
live. When he comes back, after
this trip, he will be more resolved than ever to leave
Brian looked like he had been punched, Sunshine was really serious about leaving. He wouldnt let himself believe it, but now Cait was throwing it in his face. What am I supposed to do?
Go and stop him, tell him you love him, and bring him home.
How the fuck am I supposed to do
that?
Cait handed him a piece of paper, This
is where he is staying. Now I
would suggest getting your bony ass on the next flight to
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