JESSICA

Chapter 7

The next morning, after only one overnight call from Jessica for changing and a bottle, Brian and Justin were relaxing in the kitchen looking out on their massive grounds as the leaves were beginning the process of changing as the days were growing shorter.

While each season had its special highlights, Justin particularly loved the Fall. The colors of the leaves always captured his artistic mind and eye, and he would formulate a variety of ways to add those colors to his paintings. It seemed that each year ushered in a new color he’d never used before and that just added to his excitement.

He knew his time in the studio would be limited by their unexpected guest, but he was sure he could convince Brian to keep an eye on Jessica while he took a couple of hours out to get his thoughts and emotions on canvas.

The previous night’s discussion with Brian had opened his mind to a wide array of feelings that he needed to process and release. Justin knew that Brian would understand. Brian always understood. Just as he always understood, from day one, how giving and generous and vulnerable and loving Brian was, is and always would be. Last night, once again, confirmed all those feelings.

“Hey, Justin.” Justin looked up at Brian. “Your fag hag is on the phone.”

“Wow, it’s only six in the morning out there. I hope everything’s alright.” Justin took the phone from Brian along with an offered cup of coffee.

“Hi Daph, is everything okay?”

“Everything is fine. It’s just that caring for my mother is a daytime job and she goes to sleep early, so I’ve been following her lead, in case she wakes up early in the morning.”

“It sounds almost like you're following Jessica’s schedule again.”

“You know it’s a strange thing when parents need the same care as their grandchildren. In this case, with a little medical intervention and some psychiatric advice, I think my mom will be okay. She’s mostly lonely and getting more and more depressed so she’s not taking her meds correctly.”

“Does she know that?”

“Fortunately, after we talked -- a lot -- yesterday, she seems to be letting the facts sink in.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“Me, too. I really miss Jessica. Is she with you now?”

Brian sat down and took the baby out of the infant seat that was resting on the kitchen table. The baby seemed to be taking in all the chatter and was looking around the room following the voices while sucking happily on her pacifier.

“Yeah, Brian’s holding her. She hasn’t eaten since two in the morning so we have a bottle we’re about to give her but I’ll have you talk to her first so she won’t get distracted.”

“Thank you.” Justin put the phone up to Jessica’s ear and she reached for it automatically. As she heard Daphne’s voice she began to smile and make little sounds as if trying to respond. Justin smiled and noted that Brian was trying hard, although failing somewhat, not to smile.

Justin gently took the phone away from the baby when she began sucking on it, “Hey Daphne, she really seemed happy to hear your voice.”

“I heard her making all those lovely gurgling sounds. It really relaxes me.”

“Listen, Brian’s giving her a bottle now so I’m going to walk out of the room. It seems babies get easily distracted when too much is going on around them -- at least that’s what the tome you left us said.”

Justin gave Brian a quick kiss and then left the room to walk out on the patio with his coffee in one hand and the phone in the other. He sat down on one of the chairs at the table outside and put down his coffee so as not to spill it when he sat down.

“Okay, Justin, I’ve know you forever and there’s something in your voice that tells me you have news. Is everything really okay? Is Brian getting impatient with the baby?”

“Cool it, everything’s fine.” Justin took a sip of the warm coffee. It was welcome since there was a slight chill in the air. “I wanted to tell you what Brian and I talked about last night.”

“This sounds like it’s going to be juicy, get talking.”

Justin related a PG version of the previous night’s discussion. He couldn’t help feeling so happy that he might have the opportunity to father a child and take part in the baby’s life.

“I knew you were always meant to be a Dad. You’re too good with kids. You always have been. Remember, I watched you grow up with Molly. I’ve seen how you took to Gus the moment you and he entered Brian’s life and whenever you’re around JR she thinks you’re the best.”

“I’ve always loved kids, but having one of my own is a huge decision and one that I have to make with Brian. This may sound crazy, but you couldn’t have timed this trip to your mother’s any better. It’s really giving us a chance to see what it would be like to have a kid around the house -- one that can’t dress herself or use the bathroom or any of the other things that are history for Gus.”

Daphne smiled, somewhat pleased with herself, and quite glad that Justin couldn’t see her through the phone line because he’d probably smack her arm if she were close enough. “I’m glad the babysitting is actually serving more than one purpose.”

“Me, too. Although I have to admit, I think the work week will be a bit more of a challenge.”

“Well, you’ll be happy to know that since I don’t live in Arizona, when I contacted all of Mom’s doctors yesterday, they squeezed us in for early this week so I could get back home and back to Jessica and work.”

“That’s great! When do you think you’ll be back?”

“I’ve scheduled a flight for early Friday morning, so I should be back by lunchtime that day. When I arrive we can set up a place to meet so I can thank you both together and get my little love back.”

“Sounds great. And Daph, thanks again. I know you didn’t do this on purpose, but leaving Jessica with us may be the best thing that’s happened to me and Brian since Gus moved in half-time and we both became real fathers to him.”

Daphne felt a tear run down her cheek and with relief and joy in her heart she simply responded, “Anything for you, Justin, anything for you.”

“Bye, and I’ll talk to you soon.”

“You bet you will, I don’t want Jessica to forget my voice.”

“She certainly seems to know it well.”

“Bye.”

Justin closed the phone and walked back into the kitchen. He stopped as he approached the sliding glass door to the kitchen and watched Brian mop up a bit of formula that was running down Jessica’s chin. He was clearly talking to the baby as he fed her and her eyes were glued to him as she sucked on the nipple.

He wasn’t sure how long he’d been standing there watching, but as soon as the bottle was emptied, and Brian placed the baby over his shoulder to burp her, Justin walked back in.

“You and Daphne must have had a lot to catch up on. It’s been less than 48 hours since she left.”

Justin laughed, “A lifetime. Just remember how often Michael calls you.”

“Enough said.” Jessica sealed the point with a burp.

“Daphne’s coming home Friday, midday. Are you available to meet with her then? She wants to thank us together when she picks up Jessica.”

“I don’t recall anything pressing at the end of the week. I’ll make sure Cynthia blocks out Friday afternoon and I’ll be finished with work at noon. Does she need us to pick her up at the airport?”

“No, I think she’ll just take a cab to wherever we’re meeting.”

“Okay.” Brian held Jessica in a seated position on his lap, facing him. “Well, young lady. It looks like we’re stuck with you for the rest of the week. Something tells me you’re going to become an ad exec, or an art critic by Friday...maybe both.”

The baby and Justin both smiled at Brian and when Brian lifted Jessica slowly over his head (cautiously trying to avoid another puking episode) she uttered a tiny giggle to accompany the smile.

[TBC]
 

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