JESSICA

Chapter 8

The remainder of the week proceeded with no particular curve balls other than a few spit up incidents and one waterfall while Justin was changing a diaper as Gus looked on laughing until his stomach hurt.

“Look Gus, it’s better than a boy.”

That got his attention. “Huh?”

“When you were a baby I remember once when your Dad was watching you while your mothers were both out of town.” Justin was careful to never mention the earlier break-up from Gus’ infancy. It was enough that he watched his mothers separate and ultimately go their separate ways twice during his memorable past.

“I bet Dad and me had lots of fun.”

Justin smirked, “Well your Dad loved having you with him and I spent a lot of time with him that weekend, too. Anyway, your Mom left a really long list of how to’s for caring for you but forgot the warning about diaper changing.”

“What warning?”

“Well, you saw what Jessica just did when I started changing her.”

“Yeah, that was funny. You forgot to cover her right away so she didn’t have a double accident.”

“That’s right. Well your Dad forgot to cover you one time and since boys have a penis you actually sprayed him right in the face.”

Gus smiled cautiously. “I bet he was really angry.”

“He was at first until he saw me start laughing my head off and then he realized how silly the whole thing was and laughed too.”

“That’s kind of gross.”

“It is, but a quick scrub in the shower took care of that and everyone was as good as new. At least in Jessica’s case I only have to do a quick clean up.” Justin picked up the freshly diapered baby and placed her in the center of his and Brian’s bed. “Gus, I’m just going into the bathroom to get a washcloth and soap to clean off the rest of the changing area and wash my hands. Do you think you can keep an eye on Jessica?”

“That’d be cool, Daddy. Thank you. I like when Mama lets me watch JR. It feels kind of grown up.”

“It is grown up. Just remember I’m right here in the bathroom. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to yell if something doesn’t seem right.”

“Okay.”

Justin began the business of cleaning up the mess and Gus joined Jessica on his fathers’ big bed.

First he looked at her and then he tickled her tummy. She wiggled and cooed and even giggled once or twice. “You know, you’re not so bad.” Gus propped himself up on both elbows while lying on his stomach, facing Jessica. “At first I thought you’d be a pain and get everyone in the house upset. I remember when JR was born all my moms did was fight and Mama was always tired for a really long time. But you’re okay. You don’t cry that much and you’re kinda cute.”

Gus sat up cross-legged. “The best part is that both my dads seem to like having you around but they don’t forget that I’m here too. They let me do everything with you and them. And I don’t have to change your diapers, I leave that to them... but they let me feed you once. It wasn’t bad but it got boring really fast. Maybe when you eat food it’ll be more fun to feed you.”

Justin listened to Gus’s monologue as he finished cleaning up and decided to wait and see how far Gus would take the conversation.

“I wish you didn’t have to go home so soon. It’s been fun having a sister around again. Don’t get me wrong, I see JR a lot, but it was better when we both lived together, even though she can be a pain in the ass...oops, I mean butt, sometimes.” Justin smiled and continued to listen for a moment longer. “Aunt Daphne, that’s your Mommy, would probably be bummed if you stayed with us. She misses you a lot, I can tell.”

“So can I since she calls at least twice a day. But she’ll be home tomorrow and then things will get back to normal around here.”

“I guess that’s a good thing.” Gus seemed thoughtful.

“Is that a bad thing, Gus? I thought you were happy living with Dad and me.”

Gus hopped off the bed as Justin picked up the baby and sat her on his lap. “I am happy here. I love living with you and Dad but sometimes it’s fun to have another kid around, even one that’s too little to play with for very long. She’ll get older, like JR did.”

“That’s very insightful of you, Gus. So you wouldn’t mind if there was a baby around more often?”

“No, why, is Jessica staying longer?”

“I doubt it. Let’s just say I’m just asking for the heck of it.”

“Okay.”

“Why don’t you go do your homework now while I start dinner?”

“Whose dinner, ours or hers?” Gus smiled.

“Both. Now get to work.” Justin gently guided Gus towards his room and then went downstairs with the baby.

He settled her in her infant seat and placed her next to him as he began to cut up vegetables. “You really have grown on me. It’s going to be tough giving you back to your mother.”

Jessica responded with her usual cooing. Justin placed one of her infant toys in her hand and watched as she shook it and shoved it into her mouth to suck on. A tear streamed down his face at the realization that by the same time the next day it would be back to just he and Brian as Mel had another weekend with Gus and JR.

“Fuck! What’s wrong with me? Everything was fine until Daphne dropped you at our fucking doorstep.” While he didn’t raise his voice to scare the baby, Justin was clearly upset.

“Hey, Sunshine, looks like there’s a cloud over chez Britin. What’s up?”

Justin looked at Brian and put down the knife he was using to cut the vegetables. “You want to know what’s wrong?”

Understanding that this wasn’t going to be a typical chat, Brian took off his coat and laid it on one of the kitchen chairs and then placed his briefcase and laptop case alongside the chair on the floor. “That’s why I asked.”

“Okay, I’ll tell you what’s wrong...Daphne leaves her kid with us to babysit, with no fucking warning. Then everyone we know falls in love with her. I’m even able to continue painting in my studio or selling very expensive pieces at the gallery. She didn’t get in the way once. Even when she cried, patrons were always patient. Then Gus decides it’s great having her around and wouldn’t mind if she had to stay longer and, and, and you offer to research us having a kid. That’s what’s wrong.”

Brian drew Justin into his arms and kissed him long and hard. Then when he pulled back he looked into Justin’s eyes. “I may not have gotten 1500 on my SAT’s but all that sounded pretty fucking good. So why are you so upset?”

Justin turned around, not willing to look at Brian directly and mumbled his answer.

“Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that. You want to try in a volume that can be heard by fellow human beings.”

Justin turned back to Brian with a few stray tears running down his cheeks, wiping them away vigorously. “Because I don’t want to give her back. Okay, I’m crazy, but that’s how I feel.”

“You do realize that this would be tantamount to kidnapping so we don’t have much choice in the matter.”

Justin leaned into Brian’s chest as they stood holding each other in front of the infant carrier. “I know.”

Brian gave Jessica his finger to squeeze. “I can certainly understand how you feel. This kid really does grow on you. It’s happened once or twice to me in the past.”

Justin laughed against his chest. “Yeah, but now you have both of those kids living with you. I don’t think that’s going to happen this time. Daph is practically salivating to get her hands on her kid again. She misses her so much.”

“As well she should. But maybe we can help out with Jessica, and Daphne can leave her with us regularly until we figure out how to have a kid of our own with the least amount of red tape.”

“It sucks that I can’t get pregnant.” Both men laughed out loud at that. Jessica’s eyes opened wide in response and started spitting bubbles out of her mouth.

“My sentiments exactly, Jessica. Your Uncle Justin is absolutely insane. Besides if he ever got that fat I may want to trade him in for a better model.”

“You couldn’t find any better and you know it.” Justin went back to the task of preparing their dinner while Brian prepared Jessica’s bottle.

“I’ll let you live in that fantasy world while I feed junior over here. That way we can get through our own meal while the food is still hot.”

Justin knew very well that there had been moments of frustration when Jessica had cried a few times when nothing of consequence should have caused it. She just seemed to want to be held and he was willing to accommodate. That didn’t seem to dissuade his feelings.

The evening moved along smoothly with Brian helping Gus with his long division. “I can’t believe they’re still teaching this shit when every kid in the world can walk around with an iPhone or iPod Touch with a calculator in it. Such a waste of bullshit time.”

“Brian, they’re trying to teach the kids the concept so they know what they’re doing when they push all those buttons on the calculators.”

“Yeah, well I still think it’s a fucking waste of time.”

“Dad, it’s okay, when I’m rich and powerful like you someday, maybe I’ll make a rule to get rid of all stupid math assignments.”

“Good for you, Sonny Boy. I like hearing you think big.”

Justin rolled his eyes, “Gus, it’s bedtime.”

“Will I see her in the morning.”

“Yes, we’re all going into town together, so you’ll definitely see her.”

“Cool. Then I’ll wait to say good-bye.” Gus ran upstairs and Brian approached Justin and rubbed his back.

“Why don’t we turn in early, after her next bottle?”

“Thanks, that sounds like a great idea. I’m sure I’m just tired.”

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 

Later that night after a slow and loving coupling that left both Brian and Justin quite sated the two remained awake in each other’s arms.

“Brian.”

“Huh.”

“Do you really think we’re ready to have a baby full-time?”

“I think we can handle it, and we’ll have plenty of time to prepare. Shit like this doesn’t happen overnight. Remember Health Class?”

“I know you’re sticking your tongue in your cheek without even looking.” Justin smiled against Brian’s chest.

“Have I become predictable in my slightly more maturing age?”

“Not at all, I just know you as well as you know yourself.”

“Do you now?”

“I guess that’s what they call love when you’re married.”

“Must be, Sunshine, because I can tell that you’re still having mixed feelings about tomorrow.”

“How so?”

“You want to see Daphne, you want to see her happy with her kid, and you want to keep this kid and not have to wait the prerequisite nine months for one of your own.”

“When did you learn how to read my mind?”

“The same time you learned to read mine. I’m pretty damn sure that I know you as well as you know yourself.”

“Do you know what I’m thinking now?” Justin smiled and ran his hand tenderly up and down Brian’s chest. Then he paused to intertwine their fingers.

“You’re thinking that you can’t believe how lucky you are to have me in your life and that you love and appreciate me, despite all the fucking baggage I brought to the party.”

“Not far off.” Justin propped himself up slightly so he could look directly into Brian’s eyes. “I’m thinking how much I love you and how much we’ve both learned about being a loving couple and parents.”

“Not bad thoughts at all, Sunshine. I was thinking the same thing,” Brian smirked.

“I know.”

“Goodnight, Sunshine.”

“Goodnight, Brian.”

[TBC]
 

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