All About Brian

Chapter 9

“Ashley!” Bree yelled as she ran out of the school and saw her friend waiting on the sidewalk.

“Hi, Bree.”

“Are you waiting for your mommy?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh, there’s my Daddy’s car,” Bree said as she saw Justin’s SUV pull into the lot.

“You better go,” Ashley said with a sigh. Her mother was supposed to be picking her up after school, but there was no sign of her. She’d wait by herself, as she sometimes did.

Bree looked at the SUV and then at her friend. “I can’t wait till the weekend and the sleepover at your place.”

Ashley smiled at her friend. “Me either,” she grinned.

“Bree, Ashley,” Brian called as he got out of the SUV.

“Here, Dada,” Bree called. “Why are you calling Ashley?”

“Ashley’s mother is running late and asked me to pick her up,” Brian explained as the two girls ran over to him. “You don’t mind coming home with us until your mother arrives, do you, little lady?”

“Nope,” Ashley said with a big grin.

“She told me she’d clear it through the school office,” Brian said as he waved to the monitor on duty. The woman merely waved back, so Brian assumed it was okay to take the little girl with him.

Patrick ran over to them just then. “Hi, Uncle Bri.”

“Hey, little Red, you don’t mind riding up front with me, do you?”

“No, why?” Patrick asked with a pleased smile.

“I put your old booster seat in the back for Ashley. Let’s get you ladies strapped in.”

“I’ll help, Uncle Bri,” Patrick said confidently as he helped Ashley get the seat belt buckled around her.

“Thanks, kiddo,” Brian said with a grin. “You’re becoming quite the man.”

“I know,” Patrick replied as he climbed into the front seat and did up his own seatbelt.

“Let’s get this show on the road.”

Brian drove them to Edna’s Cottages. He hardly got a word in edgewise as the girls babbled on and on to each other. Patrick merely rolled his eyes and enjoyed riding up front.

“And we have arrived,” Brian informed them as he pulled the SUV to a stop in front of the cottages. “Last stop, everybody out.”

“Silly Dada,” Bree replied. “We know we’re here.”

The girls ran into the house leaving Brian and Patrick to carry their backpacks for them.

“Women,” Brian groused good naturedly.

“Yeah, women,” Patrick parroted.

Brian flung his arm over Patrick’s shoulder and they followed the young ladies into the house.

Some time later Brian poured himself a cup of coffee as he had dinner all prepared and in the oven. He walked over to the entrance to the sun porch to see what his two charges were doing. Justin had made a milk run to the general store. Two growing girls who liked chocolate milk had cleaned them out. Brian could hear Ashley’s voice loud and clear as he approached.

“Ashley, that sounded real good,” Bree said. She was ensconced on one of the chaises with her grey bunny on her lap, Brian noted, and Ashley was just inside the doorway where he stood. He wondered what the two girls were up to. “Start over again,” Bree commanded.

Brian waited, wondering what was going on.

Ashley cleared her throat rather obviously, and Brian had to smile. He wondered if they were making up a play or something.

“The person who had the most influence on my life,” Ashley began, “other than my mommy, is not one person but a family of people. It’s my best friend Bree’s family, the Kinney-Taylors.”

That made Brian smile to himself. He didn’t think Ashley knew about any of the things they had done for the little girl, like the camp scholarship. Even though Ashley’s mother knew, Brian didn’t think she would have told her daughter. And there were other things that even Susanna didn’t know about.

“Bree is very lucky. She has two daddies, and I don’t have none.”

Brian drew in a breath. This was an unexpected revelation. Now he couldn’t turn away. He wanted to hear more.

“I was going to talk about Bree because she’s my best friend. She helped me when some kids were calling me names and saying I was ugly. Bree told them she’d kick their … you know what’s … if they didn’t leave me alone. I really liked that she did that for me. But then her Dada said we should tell the teacher. We did and things have been better ever since, and Bree didn’t have to beat anyone up.

“Her other Daddy lets us paint with him. He’s a famous artist. I really like painting, but I’m not very good at it, not like Bree. She’s real good.

“Her Dada, though, always helps me and tells me how nice I look and how smart I am. He calls me little lady, and I like that. For a long time I didn’t think I was very pretty or smart. My daddy didn’t like me or he would have stayed with us.”

Brian felt his heart wrench in his chest. He wondered where Ashley’s father was these days. Brian would love to have a few carefully chosen words with the man.

Ashley continued, “Now, I know I look okay and everybody in the Kinney-Taylor family thinks I’m smart. I like going to their house. I always have fun there. Mr. Kinney tells me he likes my dress or my hair barrette. He notices stuff like that. He also talks to me like a grown up. I really like when he does that.

“Anyway, the Kinney-Taylors have really influenced my life. They make me feel really good about myself. I’m practicing this speech with Bree right now. I know it’s going to be good.”

Bree laughed and ran over to hug Ashley. “That was really, really good. Except that last part. You can’t say that to your class,” Bree cautioned.

“I know. I just added it on for you.”

Brian cleared his throat. “How would you little ladies like a small dish of ice cream? I believe we have some butter pecan in the freezer. I think you’ve deserved a treat for that lovely speech.”

“Yay!” the two girls yelled bouncing up and down as they held hands.

Brian grinned at their enthusiasm. He was breaking his own rules about sweets before dinner, but he wanted to do something special for the two children that stood in front of him. In all their innocence, they had made his day, his week, hell, his year. And rules were made to be broken.

 

*****
 

Curtis studied the screen on his computer. The new laptop had been his Christmas present from Raph and Hector. He could hardly believe his eyes when he had unwrapped it on Christmas Day. He knew he had wanted his own laptop for a long time, but he had refused to ask his parents for it. He thought it was just too much. After all they had done for him already, he didn’t have the nerve to ask for something so expensive.

And yet somehow they had known, and they had got it for him. Curtis couldn’t believe how his life had turned around. It was … everything a life was supposed to be. He couldn’t believe how lucky he was, especially after all the bad things that had happened to him in the last few years.

And so much of it was a result of his chance encounter with Brian Kinney.

Curtis read over the last paragraph of his paper once more. He liked it. He liked the whole paper. He just hoped Mr. Kinney would like it, because he didn’t want to have to change it, or start all over again writing about someone else.

Curtis made an attachment and put in Brian Kinney’s email address. Holding his breath for a second, he clicked on send. And it was done. Now all he had to do was wait for Mr. Kinney’s response.

 

*****
 

“Ms. Marcus, Hunter’s on line one for you,” Mel’s assistant said through the intercom. Hunter and his clinic held a very special place in the GLBT community. Unless Mel had given explicit instructions not to be disturbed, she would always take Hunter’s call.

“Hi, Hunter,” Mel said as she picked up her phone.

“Hey, Mel. Do you have a few minutes? I have a problem and I could use your advice.”

“My advice? Don’t you usually go to Brian or Bobby when you have a problem?” Mel said trying to keep the annoyance out of her voice. It would have been one hell of a coup if Melanie and her firm represented Hunter and the Jason Kemp Clinic.

“This involves Brian, so I’d rather leave him out of it for the moment. Bobby would take this straight to Brian.”

“I’m intrigued. Can we do this over the phone or do you want me to come to you?”

“No, don’t come here. This is going to sound weird, but can you meet me at Deb’s in about an hour?”

“I thought Debbie and Carl were chasing the sun?”

“They are. You have a key, right?”

“Yeah, we all do. I think we’re on the ‘water the plants’ roster in a few weeks.”

“Then can you get there first? I might be followed.”

“Hunter, do we need to get the police involved?”

“No. Just trust me, Melanie. Please. I’ll explain when I see you.”

“All right, I’ll pack it up and head over now. You get there when you can and then I want an explanation,” Mel said sternly.

“Yes, ma’am, you’ll get it.”

 

*****
 

“So what’s with all this cloak and dagger stuff? And what’s it got to do with the asshole?” Mel said as she faced off with Hunter in Deb’s kitchen. She was about to water one of Deb’s plants that was beginning to look brown. Hunter stuck his finger in the flower pot then stopped her. “Huh?” Mel questioned.

“It’s too wet,” Hunter explained. “This plant likes it a little dry; that’s why it’s looking brown. It needs to dry out for a few days before it gets watered again.”

“Oh,” Mel said as she dumped out the small watering can. “Does everyone know about plants but me?” she mumbled to herself. “So spill,” she said out loud.

Hunter told Melanie about his meetings and conversations with Dennis Hawk.

“Shit,” Mel let out. “You know I’ve always liked Hawk’s Prey. He doesn’t pull any punches. And he’s usually right about the people he investigates. I wonder why he’s going after Brian and why now after all this time? It doesn’t make any sense. Do any of your graduates have any beef with Brian?”

“Mel, I only have three graduates that have ever met Brian.”

“Who?” Mel couldn’t think of any.

“My first, Frankie, then Lacy and Curtis.”

“Duh!” Mel exclaimed as she bopped herself in the forehead. “I forgot about Frankie. He’s in computers, right?”

“Yes, he is. He finished college, reconciled with his father and he just got a job in Brandon’s company. He’s doing so well,” Hunter said proudly.

“You know, I think of Lacy and Curtis as part of our family, so it didn’t occur to me how they first came into our lives.”

“I know what you mean,” Hunter said as he picked up a small chachka that sat on Deb’s mantle. “Melanie, I realize Brian is not one of your favorite people but he hasn’t done anything wrong. His reasons for starting the clinic were in part because of me. And kids like Frankie. He had no ulterior motive. He doesn’t deserve to be persecuted.”

“I agree.”

“You do?”

“Yes.”

“With which part?”

“All of it. Brian has never been one of my favorite people but, and I really hate admitting this, if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t have Lindsay or Gus. I wouldn’t be a part of our family. And I know he has no other motive than trying to prevent another Jason Kemp from happening.”

Mel was quiet for a few moments. “So do you want me to sue Hawk’s ass?”

Hunter smiled. “No. I’m arranging a little party for some of the clinic’s graduates. Hawk wants to meet them to get to the truth about Brian. I just want you to be there. Your animosity toward Brian is well known on Liberty, but if you’re there to defend Brian...”

“Then Hawk will have to know that it’s legitimate,” Mel finished Hunter’s thought.

“I’m hoping that’s the case. If it doesn’t work...”

“Then I sue his ass!” Mel said with a sinister smile.

“Yeah,” Hunter said with his own smile.

 

*****
 

Brian stared at the computer screen. Was this his week for testimonials? He could hardly believe what he was reading. Brian thought about it for a moment. Then an unsettling thought occurred to him. Maybe his cancer had come back and everyone knew it except him. First there was Ashley, and now Curtis praising him and his actions. What the fuck was going on? The universe had gone completely off its path. Where had the Brian Kinney that everyone knew and detested gone?

Brian read the last two paragraphs of Curtis’ paper again, making sure he hadn’t totally missed the sarcasm with which it was probably written:

Brian Kinney saved my life. I know that I would not be where I am now without his help. I wouldn’t have a warm, safe home. I wouldn’t have two parents who love me and give me so much. I would still have been living on the streets, a runaway with no future, cold and bitter, robbing people to live. Or more likely I’d be dead. That’s usually what happens to kids like me – either from freezing to death or trying to steal from the wrong person who might be toting a gun instead of the rusty knife I carried. I owe my life to Brian Kinney, who with that one generous act of not having me arrested, gave me a chance for a whole new life.

If I get the chance, and it looks like I will, I want to grow up to be just like Brian Kinney. I don’t mean that I want to be an advertising executive. I don’t think I could do that. But I want to be kind and generous and understanding, even in a hard nosed way, just like Brian Kinney, the man who changed my life.

Nope, he hadn’t been wrong. Curtis seemed to think that this Brian Kinney person was a little bit of all right, more than a little bit in fact. Brian let this new idea roll around in his head. He had always tried to cover his tracks whenever he did something nice or generous. It now seemed that at least two people were onto him, Ashley and Curtis. And of course, Justin. Justin had always been onto him.

Brian smiled and then the smile faded. Brian’s brow furrowed and he thought about Dennis Hawk. There was at least one person out to crucify him. Even if Curtis’ class thought Brian Kinney was a kind, generous man, Dennis Hawk would clearly set them and everybody else straight.

Brian thought about his reputation as a hard-nosed asshole. That’s who he’d always been. He’d always prided himself on that fact. He needed to think about this. He wasn’t sure he wanted Curtis reading this to a class of high school airheads. Curtis made him sound too good to be true, and the class would probably laugh themselves silly.

“Fuck!” Brian muttered. He was worrying about Curtis getting laughed at, more than he was worrying about them laughing at him for being such a fucking soft touch.

“What’s wrong?” Justin asked as he entered Brian’s office.

“Um … nothing,” Brian replied quickly, turning off the monitor on his computer so Justin wouldn’t see what Curtis had written. He needed to think about what he was going to do in regards to this paper.

Justin eyed Brian suspiciously. It wasn’t like Brian to hide things from him, but that certainly seemed like what his husband was doing. “I put Bree to bed,” Justin said. “She wants to say goodnight to her Dada.”

Brian smiled. “I’ll go tuck her in.” He stood up and started out of the office. “Are you coming?”

“No, you go do your tucking. Read her a story. She seemed wide awake. I want to check something in my research on Kinney the artist.”

Brian frowned. “Okaaay.” He made his way down the spiral staircase.

Justin watched his husband disappear and then walked over to the desk. He sat down in the chair that Brian had just vacated. He pushed the button to turn on the monitor, and he started to read.
 

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