He Came, He Saw, He Ran  

 

Pittsburgh - Brian's loft

 

Justin had been living at Brian's for two weeks and things seemed to be progressing nicely.  He had had lunch with his father twice.  The man seemed to want to make things better between him and his son.  Craig had been careful to keep his negative thoughts to himself, but Justin could still feel that he didn't really approve of him or his lifestyle.  He knew for sure that his father had problems with Brian, but then, who didn't?

 

He wanted to try to improve the situation, so he had been trying to think of a good way to get them all together and give his father a chance to see how happy he and Brian were.  He also thought that maybe he could convince his father that his life wasn't really so different from everyone else's, aside from the sexual aspect of it. 

 

He had been mulling over the idea of having a party at the loft and inviting their friends and family, his father to be included.  He had not run this past Brian yet, fearing the totally negative response he expected to get from his lover.

 

He cooked his best version of jambalaya and chilled a bottle of wine.  His plan was to ply Brian with food and wine and eventually sex and then get him to agree to the party.

 

They ate with good humored chatter and some bouts of silence.  As they finished up the main course, Brian looked at Justin quizzically.  "When are you going to ask?" he said.

 

"Ask what?" Justin replied, not at all sure what Brian meant.

 

"Whenever you cook a meal like this and go to all this trouble, I know you want to ask me something."

 

"Am I that predictable?"

 

"Usually."

"Shit!"

 

"So ask!"

 

"I've been thinking that things have been going quite well with my father, even though I get the feeling he still despises my sexuality."  Brian grimaced.  "Soooo … I thought maybe if he saw us together in our home with some of our friends, he might see a different side to us, and accept us."

 

"He'll be so overwhelmed by our gracious lifestyle that he'll give his blessing?" Brian asked sarcastically.  "Is that what you fucking think?"

"Something like that," Justin said rather testily.

 

"So…what…you want to have a party here and invite your father to meet all our fag friends?"

 

"Yes."

"Well, at least you're honest about what you want," Brian conceded.

 

"He's come so far, Brian.  Maybe it would work," Justin said hopefully.

 

Brian looked like he was thinking about it.  "He hasn't kicked in my ribs in a couple of hours, so sure, let's invite him over?"

 

"Are you just being sarcastic or do you mean it, Brian?"

"I mean it," Brian said dropping the sarcastic tone, "but first … I want you to talk to Lindsay."

 

"Lindsay?  Why?"

"Remember the party where she tried to do much the same thing with her parents?"

 

"How could I forget?  You spiked the punch!"

 

"Yeah, I did," Brian said with an evil grin.

"You wouldn't do something like that at our party, would you?" Justin asked warily.

 

"Talk to Lindz about what happened and then decide if you still want to host this soiree."

"Okay."  

 

Pittsburgh – Craig Taylor's Office

 

Craig picked up his phone.  "Justin?" he said into the receiver.  He had begun to enjoy these conversations with his son.  As long as they didn't mention Brian things seemed to be all right.

 

"Dad, I wanted to invite you to come to a little get-together about four Saturday afternoon."

 

"Really?  A party?  Where?  At your mother's?"

 

Justin sucked in a breath.  Despite all of Lindsay's warnings of doom and catastrophe he was going to do this.  "No, at the loft," he said and waited for his father's reaction.

 

"The loft?"  Craig could barely believe his ears.  "Are you having me over for dinner?"

 

"No, Dad, it's a party.  I'd like you to meet some of our friends."

 

Craig heard the stress on the word 'our' and cringed.  This was the last thing he wanted to do.  "I don't know, Justin.  I'm not sure that's such a good idea."

 

"Please, Dad, just come.  You don't have to stay too long if you don't want to, but I'd really appreciate you being there."

 

"Okay," Craig said grudgingly.  

 

Pittsburgh – Brian's Loft

 

Everyone would be arriving momentarily.  Justin glanced around the loft, assessing his preparations.  Everything looked good.  The loft was immaculate as always.  They had a ton of food and lots to drink.  

 

Brian had given him carte blanche to do whatever he wanted.  He just wished Brian wasn't so pessimistic about the outcome of the party.  The man had never verbalized these negative feelings, but Justin knew that's what he thought.

 

The buzzer rang and people started arriving.  The usual cast of characters had been invited and also his mother and Molly.  Soon they were all there, except for his father.  Justin kept watching the door, even though the buzzer would herald his father's arrival first. 

 

Brian went over to Justin.  He put his arm across the young man's shoulder.  "He'll either come or he won't.  Staring at the door won't make it happen either way."

 

Justin tried to smile at his lover.  He appreciated the fact that Brian was concerned and that he had been observing his apprehension, but all he wanted was for his father to make this gesture.

 

The party was in full swing about an hour after it had started.  There was still no sign of his father, but everyone else seemed to be having a good time.  There was lots of eating and drinking going on.  People sat or stood around the loft chatting and laughing.  Soft music played in the background.

 

When the buzzer went off almost everyone stopped dead in their tracks.  The fact that Justin's father had been invited was known to everyone, and it had not escaped their attention that he seemed to be the only one who wasn't there yet.  Justin said hello into the intercom and released the lock for the man to come up. 

 

"Please, start talking or something," Justin pleaded hating the silence and knowing how that would make his father feel.

 

Everybody turned to the person next to them and started jabbering away.  There was lots of noise and laughter as Craig Taylor stepped off the elevator and through the open door to the loft.  Justin rushed over to him, everyone else trying to be nonchalant and continue talking, at the same time trying to get a glimpse of Craig's reaction.  The man stood in the doorway looking around, apparently afraid to step further into the den of iniquity.

 

"Dad!" Justin gushed.  "I'm so glad you came."

"Oh," Craig replied and handed Justin a bottle of wine that he had brought.

 

"Come on in and get a drink," Justin suggested.

 

Craig made the effort to advance a few steps.  Nobody made any move toward him, so he followed Justin to the bar.  Justin poured him a large scotch figuring his father could use it by the look on his face.  Craig downed about half of it.

 

Jennifer came up behind him.  "Craig, I'm glad you decided to come," she said to her ex-husband.

 

He made a slight grimace that was maybe intended to be a smile but didn't turn out that way when it reached his face.

 

"Molly's over there," Jennifer said pointing to the steps where she was sitting with Debbie.

 

"Molly's here?" Craig asked, not believing that his wife would bring their daughter to this place.

 

"Of course she is.  She was invited just like you."

 

"And you let her come … here!" Craig said between clenched teeth.

 

"Molly's been here several times, Craig."

"Oh my God!" he responded.

 

"Craig, what do you think is going to happen to her here?  She's with her brother, for God's sake!"

 

"I…I shouldn't have come," Craig stammered.

 

"Look, just relax!  You might actually enjoy yourself."

Craig looked around the room, taking in the group assembled there.  There wasn't anyone he thought he could talk to, except maybe his daughter.  He wanted to escape, but he didn't want to ruin everything with his son.  He felt his heart pounding in his ears.  Suddenly he realized someone was saying his name.

 

"Mr. Taylor, Mr. Taylor," Emmett repeated holding out a tray of hors d'oeuvres.  Emmett had decided to make the first move.  "Would you like something to eat?"

 

"Oh, uh, thanks," Craig replied, glad to have a distraction and something to do with his hands.  He took a serviette and a little quiche off the tray.

 

"A man after my own heart," Emmett said, noting that Craig had selected a quiche.  "Real men do eat quiche," he added.

 

Craig looked like he wanted to drop the food, as the implications of Emmett's innocent comment began to sink in.  He quickly shoved the quiche into his mouth, wanting to make it disappear as fast as possible.

 

"Another?" Emmett asked.

 

"No … no thank you."

 

Emmett moved away sensing how uncomfortable Craig was.  Justin came over to his father.

 

"Would you like me to introduce you to some of the guests?" he asked.

 

"I…I guess so."

Justin ushered him over to Ben and Michael.  "This is Ben Bruckner and Michael Novotny," he said.  "Michael owns a comic book store and Ben's a professor."

 

"Oh," said Craig apparently somewhat impressed by this fact.

 

He moved along to Ted introducing him and Emmett and carefully avoiding mentioning Ted's source of income.  He brought his father over to Melanie and Lindsay and made sure he knew that Lindsay taught art and had encouraged him with his own art.  He also told his father that Melanie was a lawyer.  Next he took his father to Deb and Vic who were still with Molly.

 

"These two people took me in after I left home and have been like surrogate parents," Justin said.

 

"Surrogate, my ass!" Debbie said.  "We were his parents for a while."

 

Craig looked completely taken aback and Justin quickly hustled him over to his mother.  He had avoided taking him to Brian who sat on the chaise watching all these proceedings.  He could see Craig whispering something to Jennifer and they both looked at Brian.

 

Nobody went near Craig for awhile.  Molly finally went to his rescue and gave him someone to talk to.  He managed to toss back several more scotches looking for some liquid fortification.

 

Finally Vic took it upon himself to talk to the man.  "Nice party," he said stepping up to Craig.

 

"Uh … yeah … I guess," Craig stammered.

 

"Too bad you can't relax and enjoy it."

 

"What…what do you mean?"

 

"If that poker up your ass went any higher, we'd be able to put a marshmallow on it on the top of your head and toast it with the steam coming out your ears!"

 

"Jesus!  What are you talking about?"

 

"I'm trying to get you to loosen up.  Justin wants you to have a good time."

 

"Wrong venue for that!"  Craig spat at him.

 

"Why?  Because this is Brian's place or because it's contaminated with those of the faggot persuasion?"

 

"Both!"

 

"You really are a self-righteous son-of-a-bitch.  Sorry to have tried to engage you in pleasant conversation.  Go back to your scowling and condemnations!"  Vic walked away.

 

Most of those present had heard this exchange.  Although they were tempted to cheer, nobody made a sound in deference to Justin.  Craig looked around at the faces staring at him.  He marched to the door where Justin caught up with him.  "Dad…"

 

Craig turned back to his son.  "I should never have come here.  I knew it was a mistake.  I still want to see you, Justin, but don't ever include me in something like this again!"  Craig bolted through the doorway and ran down the stairs.

 

"Let's partay!" Emmett called and switched the music to something loud and thumping.  People began dancing immediately.

 

Justin stood staring out at the stairs where his father had disappeared.  He felt a hand on his shoulder and knew it was Brian.  The hand gently pushed him out the door and he heard it slide shut behind them.  Brian's arms came around him and he let his head fall against the strong chest.  He fought the tears with all of his might.

 

"He's an asshole.  Don't let it get to you," Brian said, running his hand up and down Justin's back.

 

"He's still my father," Justin sniffed.

 

"That too!  But look at what I had for parents.  They make yours look like saints.  At least he came.  He tried." Brian said trying to be charitable to the man.

 

"But he didn't conquer … his prejudices or his hatred," Justin said ruefully.

 

"Maybe it's just too soon."

"And maybe it's meant never to be."

"I can't answer that, Justin."

 

"You mean there's something you don't know?"

 

"One or two things," Brian said with his tongue in his cheek.

 

Justin had to grin at that, and he felt the tears recede a little more.  "You and Lindsay were right.  What a disaster!"

 

"It's not a disaster.  Your father came here and saw the great circle of friends and family that you have.  If he chooses to stay on the outside of that circle, then it's his loss.  They're all waiting in there and we can still have a good time," Brian said staring into Justin's eyes.  "What do you say?"

 

Justin stood up straight.  "I wish it had worked out differently, but you're right.  I have great friends and I have you, so let's go make our guests see how much we appreciate them."

 

"Atta boy!" Brian took his hand and pulled back the door to the loft.

 

Justin took one more look at the stairwell where his father had disappeared from view.  He ran his hand over his eyes and went to join the people who really cared about him.

Return to Dartmouth Redux