Aftermath
Chapter 8
Epilogue
About a week before the holiday the Thanksgiving ‘fairies’ descended upon the
lane. Every blank surface was decorated with images of the season and the
occasion. Emmett started with his own cottage then spread out to the B and B and
Molly’s cottage. Not to be outdone, Rachel went all out in her own home at the
top of the lane. The front door of the greenhouse was sporting a large wreath of
dried flowers. Even the Wendy house had a drawing of a turkey with rainbow
colored tail feathers (Bree’s rainbow) on its door, much to Bree’s delight.
As if by magic, decorations kept popping up throughout the conjoined cottages.
“Justin, did you do this?” Brian pointed to a tasteful collection of mini gourds
in a beautiful wicker basket sitting on top of the toilet tank in their private
bathroom. The basket startled Brian when he came into the bathroom to perform
his morning ablutions.
“Nope, wasn’t me,” Justin said with a twinkle in his deep blue eyes.
“How is he doing it?” Brian mumbled. “I haven’t spotted Emmett on the lane.
Richie still has school for a few more days and I know for a fact that Drew is
in Chicago with the Ironmen. Who’s doing this?”
“Maybe there really are Thanksgiving fairies,” Justin quipped as he reached up
to peck Brian’s lips.
Brian shrugged his shoulders, resigned to just accept.
The day before the main event the lane began to fill up with cars. Since certain
little people still had school, the visitors refrained from descending upon the
cottage, allowing for some normalcy, and going about their business with their
pre-cooking tasks.
“Dada, do I hafta go to school today?” Bree asked as she waited by the front
door with Patrick for the school bus. Bree recognized the cars and wanted to
spend the day with the family. Brian merely arched a brow. Bree sighed, kissed
her fathers goodbye then ran out to the bus when it pulled up in front of the
cottage.
“Persistent, isn’t she?” Justin stated with a smile.
“Takes after her father,” Brian snarked as he swept Justin into his arms for a
proper kiss.
“I love you,” Justin whispered against Brian’s lips. Brian stared into the
sapphire blue eyes. “I love you for doing this.” He waved his hand indicating
the impending ta-do. Brian said nothing, but kissed Justin again then retreated
to his attic office.
*****
It was Thanksgiving Day of 2020, Brian was looking forward to having his cwazy
wittle family around him for the day. But he was painfully aware that an
important member of the family wasn’t present. He was trying his best not to
become morose and sullen, channeling his negative energies into doing productive
things such as being the official greeter for the event and bartender for the
day. Watching the blender crush ice cubes was becoming cathartic for Brian. When
about the tenth person came up to him with an exaggerated smile plastered onto
his face, Brian burst out into laughter.
“Okay, I get it!” Brian said out loud so that the whole family could hear then
he drew Owen Sr. into his arms for a fierce hug. The family cheered as Owen
patted Brian on the back then went to mingle.
When it was time for dinner, the family settled around the long table in the sun
porch. The smaller round wicker tables came in handy for the overflow and for a
‘kids’ table. Before the meal commenced, everyone turned toward Brian, giving
him their undivided attention. Justin had made sure Brian was seated at the
middle of the table so that he could have a view of their entire family. At a
nudge from Justin, Brian stood up.
Brian cleared his throat as he looked at each of the faces of his family and at
Beau who was standing close to Bree, contentedly wagging his tail. Brian
realized that he truly was blessed.
“We’ve had one hell of a year, haven’t we, Sunshine?” Brian said as he leaned
over to kiss the blond head. Justin smiled as he silently nodded.
“We...I’d like to thank you all for coming here today to share this day with us.
A little over a month ago the gods took away someone who had grown very
important to me, to all of us over the past few years. I’m still fucking pissed
about that, but having you all here today is proof that sometimes the gods do
get it right once in a while.”
He paused as a wave of chuckles flowed through the room. Bree was beaming him
one of her sunniest smiles, grey bunny sitting on her lap. Gus, happy as a pig
in you know what since Ray was sitting right next to him, was glowing. Gus
laughed as Brian arched a brow at them; their hidden hands suddenly appeared on
top of the table.
“There was a time when holidays meant nothing to me, just another excuse to get
shit-faced and trick. How times have changed. And I am very grateful for every
moment of it.
“We have a few additions to our family to be grateful for and I welcome you
all,” Brian indicated Candy, Richie, Todd and Gerry, each getting hugs and
kisses from someone sitting close by. Richie was especially happy, sniffling
with more happy tears when earlier in the day he was presented with two more
grandmothers. Claire and Emily had cornered him to declare themselves.
“Before I completely turn into a lesbian...” Brian heard a snort from Debbie, “I
just want to say thank you to all of you for being here and sharing this day
with us. I am very thankful for my cwazy wittle family.”
As the porch erupted into cheers, Justin stood to give Brian a kiss. When some
order had finally resumed, Brian and Justin sat then called upon Father Tom, who
was intimately (a-hem) acquainted with the family. Father Tom stood to address
them.
“As we mourn those who are not with us here today, we celebrate life and give
thanks for the miracle that brings us all together.” Father Tom held out his
arms then silently made a sign of blessing.
Cognizant of the different faiths present in the room, Father Tom said, “Please
join hands, look into your hearts and give praise.” Tom looked up toward the
glass ceiling of the sun porch, the waning rays of the setting sun shining gold
and red, bathing the family in its ethereal light.
“Bless us all.”
*****
“What am I doing here?” Brian grumbled as he took off his coat and stuffed his
scarf in the sleeve.
“You’re enjoying a bit of culture,” Justin teased as he settled into his seat.
After the Thanksgiving extravaganza with the family, Justin presented Brian with
a pair of tickets to the Trockadero de Monte Carlo. He knew Brian had been
interested in going to see the Trocks at one time and Ted had bought tickets.
Brian had lost interest in the ballet after his mother’s death, but Justin
thought it would be a good diversion for his husband. Ted had been able to get
tickets for this performance that Justin had selected.
The Trocks were performing in a little theater in the Chelsea section of New
York City. Justin decided to take Brian to the show the weekend before
Christmas, so that they then could spend a quiet holiday together with their
Edna’s Treasures family. Since the Trocks were only performing in New York,
Justin had made reservations at a swanky hotel with all the perks. He was
determined to pamper Brian even if it killed him.
“Ballet is so not me, Sunshine,” Brian said glumly.
“This ballet will be, I guarantee it. So sit back, shut up and relax,” Justin
ordered. As the house lights dimmed and an announcer with a phony Russian accent
introduced the night’s performance, Brian sat back, shut up and relaxed. From
that moment on Brian and Justin laughed.
“That was fucking great!” Brian proclaimed as they strolled along Seventh
Avenue. He leaned down to give Justin a loud kiss on his rosy cold cheek. The
New York winter could be bitter.
“The “Dying Swan” is hysterical!”
[To catch a glimpse of the cultural experience Brian and Justin enjoyed, go
here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRp5nE0Hlsc&feature=related ]
“I knew you’d like it,” Justin said smugly then pulled Brian into one of the
many gay friendly restaurants that lined Chelsea. They enjoyed an intimate meal
then walked along the tourist packed streets of the Village before hailing a cab
and going back to their hotel for a bit of Brian and Justin magic.
In between rounds of lovemaking, Justin leaned over the side of the bed to dig
something out of a bag. He presented a box to Brian.
“What’s this?”
“It’s something your mother wanted you to have,” Justin said gently. Brian
fingered the wrapping.
“It’s not Christmas yet,” Brian whispered.
“It wasn’t meant as a Christmas gift. Open it,” Justin urged.
Brian slowly and carefully unwrapped the box. In it on a bed of tissue paper was
an album bound with a cover of tooled leather.
“This looks expensive,” he murmured.
“Joan had it made especially for you. She knew how you appreciated quality.”
“She shouldn’t have.”
“Brian, she wasn’t destitute,” Justin said as he placed his hand on Brian’s.
“You and Ted showed her how to wisely manage her money. She needed to do this.”
“But...”
“Just open it.”
Brian took out the album, pushing away the box then laid it across his lap. He
slowly opened the cover.
“While we were organizing the other pictures and documents, Joan showed me
another box,” Justin explained further as Brian turned the first few pages. “She
kept practically every article she could find about you. This had come to her by
accident.”
Justin pointed to a Penn State Alumni magazine. Brian’s face was on the front
cover. The article was written around the time of the Stockwell debacle. Someone
had found out Brian’s involvement and leaked it to the college editor.
Justin closely watched Brian’s face looking for signs of stress or pain as Brian
flipped through the book. “She wasn’t sure if she should give this to you.”
“Why?” Brian looked up and into Justin’s eyes. The hazel eyes were moist with
unshed tears.
“She thought maybe you’d get angry or feel betrayed.”
“Betrayed?”
“She did love you. From the moment you were born, she did love you.” Justin
pointed to the picture of baby Brian in Jack’s arms. It was a copy of the one
Brian had in his wallet. “But somehow her feelings for you got all twisted up.
And for years she couldn’t express them. Even when you thought she hated you,
she loved you. She just couldn’t tell you.”
There was an article about Brian winning the Clio and a newspaper article about
the opening of Kinnetik.
“Holy fuck!” Brian murmured.
“I convinced her to put this all together. With her contacts at the bookstore
she found a book binder that could do it justice.” Brian closed the book to
again look at the elegantly etched cover and spine. Justin ran his hand over the
rich leather. He mused over how much of their lives had been affected by what he
had once found in a book and now another book was making a significant impact.
“It’s beautiful,” Brian said. “Thank you,” he whispered pulling Justin into his
arms. “Thank you for convincing her to do this.”
“You’re not angry?”
“I’m fucking angrier than a cat caught in the rain but not at you. I’m angry at
myself and at old Joanie. We wasted so much fucking time.”
“Maybe you did, but maybe you two just weren’t ready. And when you were,
something wonderful happened. Just know that deep down, your mother always loved
you.”
Brian nodded then he set the album aside. He wasn’t ready to examine it closely.
He would one day. But not just yet. Besides he had a gorgeously hot blond lying
naked next to him.
Brian Kinney had more important things to do.