Silver Fox
October 2024
“Brian Kinney, the stud of Liberty Avenue,” Alex Wilder greeted Brian with an
extended hand.
“The Silver Fox,” Brian said as he took the hand and gave it a firm shake. “And
I haven’t been the stud for many years. You, on the other hand are just as
silver.” Brian smirked as he glanced at the man’s distinguished silver grey
hair.
“Yes, well, some things never change. You’re looking good,” Alex said as he
appraised Brian with a cruising eye. “Do you have a portrait hiding in an attic
somewhere?”
“As you said, some things never change,” Brian retorted. He ordered a drink
then gestured toward a quiet corner of Woody’s.
“The last time I saw you, you consulted me because Justin was having
difficulties. How’s he doing?”
“Better than me at the moment,” Brian said as he stared into his drink.
Alex considered the man sitting next to him and knew how difficult it was for
Brian to ever admit he was having a personal problem. “I don’t come cheap,”
Alex said.
“I have great health insurance,” Brian quipped. “Just as long as you don’t
expect to take the co-pay out in trade.”
“I won’t but I will expect a hefty donation to my favorite charity.”
“Which is?” Brian asked with an arch of his brow.
“The Vic Grassi House.”
“Done! And it’s one of my favorite charities too.” Then Brian fell silent.
“The doctor is in,” Alex said after a while, giving Brian a poignant look.
“I think I maybe depressed,” Brian murmured.
“Why do you think that?” Alex asked quietly.
“I...” Brian closed his eyes and began to talk about Joan, Bree and Justin.
Alex checked his watch. They had been at it for
almost two hours. “Our time is up, Brian. We can’t solve this in one session.”
“So I’m not as well adjusted as you once thought?”
“No, actually you’re way more adjusted than most but we all have moments when we
need a little direction.”
“And you’re willing to provide that direction.”
“Until your path is clearer then you won’t need me anymore.”
“So you don’t think this is forever.”
“Nothing is forever.”
“Except for me and Justin,” Brian said.
Alex smiled. “How is your relationship with the young man?”
“That young man is over forty,” Brian countered.
“No way. I’ve seen him at the gallery; he doesn’t look a day over twenty!”
Brian nodded with a smile. “Are you two married yet?”
“In all ways but one,” Brian replied.
“Maybe it’s time to consider it. It’s been legal for some time.”
“I’ve been thinking about asking him but not until I can get these feelings
under control.”
“Fair enough. Now, I have another patient to see,” Alex said as he got up to
go.
“This late?”
“A shrink’s work is never done. I’ll see you next week.”
“Not here. I think we’ve given these fags enough to talk about,” Brian growled.
“Here.” Alex handed Brian his card. “My cell. I’ll keep this time open for
you. You call me with a location.”
Brian nodded as he pocketed the card. He finished his drink then left the bar
unaware he was being watched.
Several weeks later...
“Emmett, I know something’s going on,” Michael insisted as he bit into a
muffin. “He’s in town every week. Sometimes more than once and he’s staying at
the loft. I bet they’ve broken up and they haven’t told anyone.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing like that,” Emmett said as he poured them both coffee.
They were sitting at Emmett’s special table in his bistro.
“Then why won’t he take my calls?”
“He’s busy, Michael. Brian’s been doing a lot of flying back and forth to
Toronto. It’s easier to fly out from here. That’s why he’s been staying at the
loft a lot.”
“Oh. But then why has he been sneaking around? I’ve seen him with some guy.”
“Some guy?”
“Yeah, some older guy with grey hair.”
“Brian’s not into older men; you should know that by now. He likes them young
and blond.”
“Well, maybe he’s gotten tired of young and blond. They aren’t really married,
you know. Not like me and Ben,” Michael boasted smugly.
“Some things never change with you, do they, Michael?” Emmett gave a wan smile.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Michael pouted then took another bite
of muffin.
‘And that’s always been your problem,’ Emmett thought to himself.
After Michael left, Emmett was on the phone.
“He thinks you and Justin have broken up.”
“Wishful thinking. What else?” Brian asked with a sigh.
“He also thinks you’re having an affair.”
“An affair?”
“Cheating. Tricking. Whatever you want to call it.”
“Fucking hell! And you?”
“Me, what?”
“What do you think I’m doing?”
“It’s none of my business but I do know you’d never cheat on Justin. It’s not
in your nature.” Emmett heard a sigh of relief. “Are you all right?” Emmett
asked with the true concern of a lifelong friend.
“Yes, Emm, I’m all right. I was having a problem but it’s better now.”
“That’s all I need to know. Will I see you for Thanksgiving?”
“Yes, we’ll have another big one on the lane.”
“Good then I’ll get with Justin so we can start to plan.”
“Sounds good.”
“Bye, Brian.”
“Bye, and Emm, thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.”
Brian hung up then turned to face the man sitting in his loft.
“The word is out, doc.”
“It amazes me you’ve kept it under wraps for this long. Will it change
anything?”
“No.” Brian stood to look out of the loft windows. “She died four years ago
today.”
“And?”
“And I think I’d like to go home and spend today with my family.”
“Good idea. Same time next week?”
“Yes,” Brian confirmed. He shook hands with Alex then showed him out. Two
hours later Brian was back on the lane surrounded by his family.
*****
“Are you okay?” Justin asked as cuddled up close to Brian.
“I’m fine,” came the response.
“Define, fine.”
“Fine is our family here on the lane. Fine is our kids. Fine is this cottage
and what we’ve created out here. Fine is me with you,” Brian said as he rolled
on top of Justin.
Justin gave Brian a brilliant smile.
“Fine with me,” Justin said then commenced making love with his very fine
partner.
-end-
*****
Halloween
October 2024
"Hi, Grandma Deb," Bree said as she walked up to one of her many grandmothers, and the newest one on the lane. "Thanks for being here today."
"You're welcome, sweetheart. I'm happy to man the hot chocolate booth." Debbie had agreed to help out at Bree's school when Brian and Justin had told her about the annual Halloween party that they held there. It was the weekend before the day of Halloween which would be on a Thursday this year.
"It's really good," Bree told her as she accepted a paper cup full of the rich, warm liquid and took a big sip.
"Does your school do this every Halloween?" Debbie asked.
"For the last few years. It's better than going out on the country roads trick or treating," Bree explained.
"You used to come into Pittsburgh sometimes and come to my house," Debbie said rather wistfully.
"I remember. You had really good candies."
"Nothing but the best for the young'uns," Debbie replied softly.
"Are you going to miss handing out candies this year?" Bree asked.
"You mean no one comes trick or treating to the lane?"
"They can't get in even if they come," Bree reminded her. "There's a gate."
"Oh, of course, but couldn't it be left open for Halloween?"
"That kind of defeats the purpose of having the gate," Bree stated in her grown up voice.
"Yeah, sure, I should have realized that," Debbie said trying to keep her disappointment about not being able to hand out candies out of her voice. "So you do this instead of going from house to house."
Bree nodded. "I should go try the apple dunking with Auntie Em," she said as she handed Debbie the empty paper cup. "Thanks for the hot chocolate."
Debbie watched her walk away. She was thinking about what Bree had said.
"You're a million miles away," Carl said as he gave his wife a kiss on the cheek.
"I was."
"What were you thinking about?"
"All that candy I bought."
"The candy for Halloween? Why were you thinking about that?"
"Bree just informed me that there is no trick or treating on the lane on Halloween," Debbie said.
"How come?"
Debbie sighed. "The gate ... and we're out in the fucking country," she almost moaned. "They do things differently apparently."
"I know how much you liked kids trick or treating at the house in Pittsburgh," Carl said gently.
"I did. It was one of my favorite times of the year."
"But we live out here now."
"I know."
"Maybe we could ask Ben and Michael if we could go to their place on Halloween. You could give out candies there," Carl suggested.
"I've fucking got enough candy to feed half of Pittsburgh," Debbie groused. "But I don't want to step on Michael's toes. And ... it just wouldn't be the same."
"No, I guess it wouldn't," Carl admitted. "Oops, Emmett is waving at me. I think he needs help with the apple dunking. See you later."
"Later," Debbie said, her mind returning to her non-Halloween this year. She supposed that was one of the many things that were different about living in the country.
*****
Bree stood over at the side of the table where Debbie was serving her hot chocolate. She had known something was wrong when she had talked to her grandmother. And she had decided to find out what it was. When she saw Carl talking to his wife, she had slipped over to stand nearby and listen.
And now she understood.
*****
Halloween night was crisp and cool. The moon was bright in a cloudless sky. All was quiet on Edna's Treasures Lane.
Carl and Debbie had finished dinner and were sitting in the living room of their new cottage. They were trying to find something decent to watch on TV.
"Just shut it off," Debbie complained after Carl had flipped through about fifteen different programs. "It's all fucking crap."
"You're just out of sorts."
"Fucking right!"
"Next year we go to Michael's."
"Carl, I told you... Did you hear that?" she asked.
"What?"
"Listen."
They were both silent and Carl flicked off the TV.
"I could swear I heard someone call 'Trick or Treat'," Debbie said. "I must be losing my fucking mind."
"Then so am I," Carl replied. "I heard it too."
They quickly got up from the couch and went to the front door.
"Trick or Treat!" could clearly be heard from several voices.
Debbie yanked the door open. "What the fuck!" she reacted.
"Happy Halloween, Deb," Brian said cheerfully. He was wearing his leather jacket that he wore every Halloween when he went to Babylon. He still looked like the stud of Liberty Avenue.
In front of him stood Bree dressed like a fairy princess in a frothy pink dress. Beside her was Patrick looking like the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz.
"What ... What ...is all this?" Debbie stammered. Then she looked beyond the threesome that were at the front. There stood the Village people. Emmett was dressed as the cowboy and Drew as the Native American. John was the construction worker and Bobby the policeman. Justin had on camouflage fatigues and was supposed to be the soldier.
"Cowboy, Indian, construction worker, policeman and soldier. That must make you the biker or leatherman as he was known back in the day," Debbie said as she stared at Brian.
"Correct on the first try," Brian agreed, "but I did it in my own way."
"Don't you always," Debbie retorted.
"Grandma Debbie," Bree interrupted, "you should call Uncle Drew a Native American."
"Well, paaardon me!"
"Are you going to ask us in?" Drew said. "It's freezing out here and I have a bare chest."
"I noticed," Debbie replied with a waggle of her eyebrows.
"Come on in," Carl said quickly. "It is cold."
They all trooped into Carl and Debbie's little cottage.
"I can make a big pot of hot chocolate or coffee or something," Debbie said. She was flustered by this sudden invasion of bodies.
"I'll help you," Emmett volunteered. He and Debbie went to the kitchen.
"How did all this happen?" Carl asked Brian and Justin.
"What do you mean?" Justin asked.
"I know this didn't come out of the blue. How did you know Debbie was feeling down?"
Everyone looked at Bree. "I just wanted Grandma Debbie to be happy," she said.
"I'd say you accomplished that," Carl agreed. "Look at her face." Debbie's face glowed as she mixed the milk and chocolate for her famous hot chocolate. "Thank you guys so much, especially you, Bree."
"You're welcome, Grandpa Carl," Bree said happily.
"Come and find a seat," Carl said. "I hope you all can stay for a while."
"That was the idea," Bobby said.
"Maybe we should make this a Halloween tradition on the lane," John suggested.
Everyone stopped talking and stared at him. That was not the point of doing this, but maybe it was what the future held.
"Coffee or hot chocolate?" Emmett asked breaking into the sudden silence.
