Almost Perfect
Chapter 11
“Kinney,” Gus said into his phone.
Gus was at N’rgy looking over his notes for a new website design. The client, a very traditional fashion house was interested in print ads in exclusive fashion magazines and web ads. But up until now this particular client used their website only to display their fashions and accessories. A potential customer was directed to come into the store to make a purchase. The client was now considering joining the 21st century. If successful, this would be a fabulous coup for N’rgy.
“GUUUUUSSSS!” Gus heard in his ear. He immediately held the phone away before Bree could deafen him. “Hey, Shortstuff,” he said when the shrieking was over. “How are you?”
“I’m good. How are you? I miss you. Are you ever coming home?”
“Bree, we’ve discussed this,” Gus said sternly. It broke his heart not to be on the lane spending time with his family, but he was making a home with Ray. Bree knew this but she didn’t make it any easier.
“I know,” Bree said in a small pitiful voice.
“What have you been up to?” Gus asked hoping to change the subject.
“School,” Bree grumbled. “It’s a pain in the a…”
“Bree!” Gus admonished. Sometimes Bree was way too much like his dad.
“Well it is. But soccer started back up and we have a real good team!” Gus let Bree rattle on about soccer. It made him happy to hear how enthusiastic Bree was about the sport. She and his dad had a lot in common.
“Hey, where are you?” Gus asked. He was hearing some background noises that didn’t sound like the lane.
“We’re in the Pitts,” Bree replied with a definite Brian Kinney tone; it made Gus snicker.
“What are you doing there?’
“Daddy had to go to the gallery to do stuff. So I came with him. I got to see Grandma Debbie and Grandma Jenn! Daddy’s going to take me to the diner for dinner later.”
“Sounds like you’ve had a busy day.”
“Yup. I like the gallery,” Bree said as she looked around the gallery floor and at a few of the exhibits. “It’s so pretty and peaceful here.”
“I agree.”
“They’re still playing your film with some of Daddy’s fractal paintings. Where’s the rest of them?”
“In London. They’re showing the film with the other fractal paintings,” Gus explained as he felt his face grow hot as he blushed. He was a kid when he and Justin worked on the fractal project. It amazed him that people still liked the video.
“Oh,” Bree said. “Well I like it,” she added with a nod of her head. The video had her seal of approval and that was that. “Did Dada tell you that we’re coming to New York?” Bree asked excitedly.
“Yes he did. I can’t wait to see you.”
“I can’t wait to see you too. Can we go to Times Square and the wax museum and MOMA and…?”
“Whoa, slow down. You’re only here for a couple of days but we’ll do as much as we can.”
“Okay. How’s Ray? I haven’t seen him in forever,” Bree whined making Gus chuckle.
“He’s fine; working very hard on school projects. He’s almost done,” Gus said proudly.
“Is he gonna have a party?” Bree was a little pissed at her brother that he didn’t want any kind of party or celebration when he graduated. Bree loved a good party and with her Auntie Emm’s help, she was hoping for a big one.
“I’m not sure. But if he does I’m sure you’ll be invited.”
“Okay,” Bree said almost sedately.
“What’s wrong?” Gus heard the change in Bree’s tone.
“Nothin’.”
“Bree.”
Bree sighed. “We don’t have parties anymore,” she said quietly.
“What do you mean? There’s been barbecues and dinners.”
“But it’s not the same since Gamma Joan died,” Bree said softly.
Gus thought about it for a moment. And it was true. The lane had hosted a few gatherings but none like the big extravaganzas that the lane had been known for. “Dad still misses her.”
“So do I,” Bree whispered.
Gus couldn’t think of how to comfort her so he dropped it. He’d talk to Justin and get his advice. “Tell me about the new exhibits at the gallery,” Gus urged.
Bree took a big breath then walked around the gallery explaining the different paintings and prints on display. Gus smiled as Bree spoke, picturing in his head what she was describing.
*****
“Hey,” Gus called out as he walked through the door; his messenger bag slid down to the floor.
“Hi,” Ray called from the kitchen area.
“Sorry, I’m late.”
“Don’t be, I got caught up in writing one of my reports and just started dinner. Mac and cheese okay?” Gus walked into the kitchen.
Ray was at the stove stirring a pot. Gus sidled up behind him and kissed the back of Ray’s head.
“What’s wrong?” Ray asked without turning. He didn’t want to risk burning dinner. Gus stepped back to set up their tables and get their dinner dishes together.
“Nothing really but something that Bree said has got me thinking.”
“Bree?”
“Yeah, she and Justin were in Pittsburgh for the day. While they were at the gallery, Bree called me. She’s excited about coming to New York.”
“Of course she is, she misses her Dada and her big brother. What did she say that’s got your panties in a twist?”
“Something about since my Grandmother Joan died there’s been no parties at the lane.”
“But that can’t be true. There must have been dinners and barbecues?”
“I thought the same thing but when I really think about it, she’s right. There hasn’t been a very large party where the whole family crowded onto the lane. I don’t think anyone’s stayed at the B&B cottage since Tom stayed there. Molly and Owen go up on weekends to get out of the city and let Taylor play in the fresh air but that’s not a party.”
“So what’s your theory?”
“I think my dad’s depressed.”
“Isn’t that understandable? He lost a parent that he only recently developed a good relationship with. I’d be depressed too.”
“Should I talk to him about it?” Gus asked as he took down some glasses.
“Not sure. Your dad is not really the talking kind.”
“He’s not that bad. He changed a lot since Justin came into his life. Although I don’t remember him being anything other than a loving caring father but the family remembers how he was ‘bj’.”
“Bj?”
“Before Justin.”
“So why don’t you mention it to Justin first and see if he’s noticed anything.”
“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. I think he’s the only one that really knows how to reach him.”
“From what you’ve told me, Justin is rather tenacious.”
“Stubborn is more like it, but he doesn’t take any of my father’s shit and loves Dad like no other.”
“Then I’d say he’d be the best person to talk to. Feel better?” Ray asked as he dished out the mac and cheese.
“Yeah,” Gus said with a smile. He gave Ray a kiss then the boys sat down to dinner.
*****
“Hi,” Lindsay said with a smile when she answered her phone.
“Hello, my good woman. How are you?” Charles asked.
“I’m well. How are you?”
“Very well in spite of missing you.”
“Is that why you’re calling?”
“Of course and to tell you that Justin’s great masterpiece arrived in one piece and has been put on display. I know he was worried about it.”
“Oh thank you for telling me. He’s been very concerned about it.”
“Your men did an excellent job of crating up that gargantuan canvas.”
“And has it been well received?”
“It’s only been up a few hours but the word is out and I can see an increase of visitors already.”
“Are you making a big thing out of it?”
“No, not this time. Henry suggested we keep it low key then track the amount of admission tickets sold. When he began talking about spreadsheets and statistics my eyes began to cross.” Lindsay laughed. “I do miss you. When are you coming for a visit?”
“I don’t really know.”
“Hmm, do I have competition?”
“Would it bother you if you did?”
“My ego would be forever wounded thinking that another man could amuse you more than I.” Lindsay made an unlady like snort. “Ah, methinks that it’s not a man who has turned your head.”
“Charles…”
“My dear Lindsay,” Charles began gently and sincerely. “We have no formal arrangements, we both agreed to keep our relationship casual. I enjoy every moment we share together and I will continue to cherish those moments until they stop. More importantly I value your friendship and I certainly admire your expertise.”
“You’re very gracious.”
“Nonsense, I’m an impractical rogue with a reputation of flirting with anything pretty in a skirt. However, I will admit that if we were both living on the same continent I would be endlessly pursuing you and not taking no for an answer. As it is, I only wish for your happiness and on your next visit I promise to make you see the error of your ways.”
“I may hold you to that promise.”
“Does she make you happy?”
“To be honest I have no expectations. By the way, the she in question is Melanie.”
“The Melanie?”
“Yes. We’re becoming friends again.”
“And of course you share children. It’s important to maintain a good relationship with her. I wish you well, Lindsay. Truly I do.”
“Thank you, Charles, you are a real gentleman.”
“No I’m not, ask any of my ex-wives.”
“I have and they all say the same things.”
“Spare me; allow me to live in blissful ignorance.” Lindsay laughed. “I miss that laugh. Please say you’ll come for a visit soon. We’ve acquired a number of delightful pieces that may pique the interest of your American art patrons. And I’d love you to see Justin’s painting hanging in his hall. The pictures I’m about to send you don’t really do it justice. Have I convinced you yet or shall I go on?”
“You’ve convinced me. Let me check my calendar and I’ll get back to you. The other pieces that I got from you sold very well.”
“There, as well as being an excellent lover, I am nothing if not a great judge of art!”
“And modest too.”
“I have never claimed to be modest, only very honest with my attributes and accomplishments.”
“That you are. I’ll call you when I’ve made my travel plans.”
“Excellent. I’m looking forward to it. Farewell, farewell my dear sweet Lindsay,” Charles said dramatically.
“Good night, Charles,” Lindsay replied as she laughed.
*****
"JR!" Bree yelled as she and her father entered the diner. She raced across the restaurant and flung her arms around JR who was sitting in a booth next to her girlfriend.
"Bree, calm down," Justin chastised as he finally caught up to her.
"I haven't seen you in forever," Bree told JR batting her eyes to ensure JR's sympathy for how long they had been kept apart. At least, that's how Bree saw it.
"I just saw you a couple of weeks ago," JR laughed.
"But that's a long, long time," Bree reminded her.
JR shook her head before standing up to give Justin a hug.
"Sit beside me," Bree said as she slid into the other side of the booth.
"Bree, maybe JR and Jacqueline would like to be by themselves," Justin cautioned.
Bree gave Jacqueline the once over in her best Brian Kinney manner. "Is this your girlfriend?" she asked JR after her brief examination of Jacqueline had been completed.
"Yes, I am her girlfriend," Jacqueline informed the precocious young lady. Jacqueline had heard a lot about Bree, but none of what she had heard really prepared her for this meeting.
"How do you know that Jacqueline and I are girlfriends?" JR asked with a frown.
"I hear things," Bree replied.
"I bet you do," JR chuckled looking at Justin.
"JR, I'm sorry," Justin said. "If you guys want to be alone, we can go somewhere else."
"No way!" JR replied. "Please, join us." She indicated that Justin should sit down beside Jacqueline since she had little choice other than to sit beside Bree. "You remember Jacqueline."
"Sure," Justin said as he slid in beside Jacqueline. "Good to see you again."
"Same here," Jacqueline responded.
"Have you ordered?" Justin asked.
"Just before you came in. If we can catch Lacy, maybe we can get our meals at the same time."
"If you're sure you want to have dinner with us. Bree can be a bit ... forward sometimes," Justin admitted.
"I've just witnessed that first hand," Jacqueline chuckled. They looked over at JR and Bree who were whispering and giggling on their side of the booth. "I think we've suddenly become irrelevant," she said with a little laugh.
"Yeah, that also happens sometimes. Lacy, can I get a burger for each us?" Justin asked as Lacy rushed by with plates full of food. Justin indicated himself and Bree. Lacy nodded as she continued her delivery to a nearby booth. "How are things with you and JR going?" Justin asked. He knew enough about Michael's histrionics to know that it couldn't have been easy for the two girls.
"Between JR and me things are great." Jacqueline looked over at her lover and tried to keep from grinning like a silly schoolgirl.
"Glad to hear it," Justin said with a smile. "I take it that Michael is still a problem."
Jacqueline nodded. "We had dinner with him and Ben the other night."
"How did that go?"
"Interesting," Jacqueline said softly.
Justin shook his head knowing full well what probably happened. "All very civil, but cool."
"Very."
"And strained?"
"Yep."
"It might interest you to know that Michael took an instant dislike to me too," Justin said in a very low voice so that JR and Bree would not be able to hear. They were totally engrossed in their conversation anyway.
"Really?" Jacqueline asked raising an eyebrow. "Why?"
"It's a long story having to do with Michael's unresolved feelings for Brian."
"Oh."
"But we get along okay now."
"How do you do it? I find him ... insufferable," she whispered.
"My best advice is to work from the premise that his actions stem from good intentions regarding his family. He thinks he's doing the right thing for JR by protecting her from you."
"And he was protecting Brian from you?" Jacqueline asked suddenly having a revelation. Justin nodded and smiled. Jacqueline was nobody's fool. "So, how did it get better between you and Mr. Novotny?"
"Time."
Jacqueline groaned. "So, I just have to wait?"
"Probably, and take every opportunity to show Michael that you love his daughter. That will make a big difference in the long run."
"That will be easy, 'cause I do love her," Jacqueline said as she smiled over at JR and Bree.
Justin grinned. He was glad to hear that, but he already knew that Jacqueline had strong feelings for JR. He had seen that clearly that night at the loft.
"Burgers all around," Lacy announced as she plopped down four plates at the booth. "Drinks?"
After they got the drinks worked out, they all dug into the burgers.
"Lacy has done a great job with this place," Justin observed once the edge was off his appetite. "I must remember to tell her that before we leave. The food is great and the place is warm and homey."
"She'll love to hear that," JR said wiping her mouth from a big bite of burger.
"Is something wrong?" Jacqueline asked Bree. Once Bree had eaten about a third of her burger, she had started staring at Jacqueline. That stare gave Jacqueline an uncomfortable feeling.
"Are you in love with my sister?" Bree asked out of the blue.
"Yes ... yes, I am." That statement earned a huge smile from JR.
"Why?" Bree asked.
"What?" Jacqueline did not understand the question.
"Why do you love JR?" Bree clarified.
"I just love her - that's all there is to it."
"What do you love about her?" Bree persisted. She was studying Jacqueline's face as she asked each question and listened to the answers. She wanted to know more about this person, and she wasn't going to give up until she got what she wanted.
"I love her ... smile, and the way she laughs. And she's fun to be around, and she's simply beautiful," Jacqueline said staring into JR's eyes as she made this declaration.
"Is that all?" Bree asked.
Jacqueline glared at the little girl for a second, but then thought better of it. "No, that's not all. That barely scratched the surface of all the things I love about JR. She's smart and hard working. She knows what she wants and doesn't let anyone tell her what to do, including me." Jacqueline stopped for a moment. "Should I continue or have you heard enough?" she asked Bree.
The corners of Bree's mouth tilted upward and a smile appeared on her face, one of those Taylor sunshine smiles. "I like her," Bree said to JR. "She really likes you too."
"I know," JR said with a grin.
"Miss Jacqueline, I think you should stay with JR. You two belong together," Bree stated.
"Well, I'm glad you approve," Jacqueline said shaking her head at the little girl so full of wisdom and guts and apparent understanding. She certainly was an unusual child.
"I do approve. I know JR has good judgment, and now that I've met you, I know she is going to be happy with you," Bree stated.
"I'm glad you think so," Jacqueline said giving JR a quizzical look.
"I think your inquisition is over," Justin said to his daughter. "We better get going. Come on, Bree. Say goodbye to your sister and Jacqueline." Justin slid out of the booth and so did JR so she could let Bree out.
Bree threw her arms around JR and hugged her hard. Then she turned and looked at Jacqueline. "Do you give good hugs?" she asked JR's girlfriend.
"I think so," Jacqueline replied hesitantly, somewhat taken aback by the question.
"Good," Bree said, throwing her arms around Jacqueline's neck and hugging her hard.
And then she was gone, she and her father stopping for a moment to speak to Lacy and pay the bill for the whole booth as the girls found out later.
"So that was Bree," Jacqueline said as JR slid in beside her once again.
"That's Briana Victoria Kinney-Taylor."
"Is that her full name?"
JR nodded. "That's often the way she introduces herself to new people."
"So why didn't she do that with me?" Jacqueline asked. She wondered if she had done something to make Bree treat her differently.
"Bree usually does that when she's being very formal."
"So I'm not worth being formal?"
JR chuckled. "She rattled you a little, didn't she?"
"Where does she come up with those questions?" Jacqueline asked shaking her head at the memory of Bree's interrogation.
JR shrugged. "Bree has always been way ahead of her age. She inherently understands people and situations. It's a blessing and a curse."
"A curse for those under her scrutiny," Jacqueline observed.
"She didn't put you off too much, did she?" JR asked, suddenly worried that Bree might be another problem for them.
"I found her ... refreshing. She's a very interesting girl."
"So you like her?"
"I do. And she said she liked me."
"That makes me very happy," JR said leaning over to kiss Jacqueline's cheek.
"If you're happy, I'm happy."
"Now all I have to do is decide if I go back to the comic book store ... or not."
The two girls looked into each other's eyes knowing this was going to be a crucial decision in their relationship.