Almost Perfect
Chapter 15 - Epilogue
Fall 2023
“When the fuck are you coming home?” Ray nearly shouted as he complained into
his phone.
“Hey, you’re the one who insisted I participate in Kinnetik North, so now I’m up
north!” Gus growled back.
“Yeah, yeah. Will you be home by Halloween, I want to go to the parade. Jeff and
his latest squeeze are going. They want to have a gay old time. Pun intended.”
Ray and Gus laughed, lightening up the mood. “And I got a call from your sister;
she and Jacqueline want to visit that week. A short vacation before the holidays
kick in.”
“Were you thinking of letting them sleep on the couch?”
“Actually my parents offered to put them up. I’m sure Jacqueline can afford a
ritzy hotel but why spend the money when my parents have the room. And they’ll
be smack in the middle of all of the action. They loved NYC Pride week.”
“Makes sense to me. And I’ll be home in a few days, I’m done up here for now.
I’ll probably come back after the new year. At least that’s what my dad says.
Cynthia and her boyfriend are flying in tomorrow. She’s going to review more
resumes with my mom. Her boyfriend is looking for a small apartment up here for
the both of them.”
“Is Cynthia planning on moving up there?”
“No, but my dad wants her to have greater oversight of the branch, and staying
in hotels can be a drag. Matthew’s retired so he can go anywhere. We all really
love Toronto.”
“How are you and your mom getting along?”
“We’re becoming more than mother and son; we’re friends and colleagues now. I’m
learning so much from her. And I think she’s learning some stuff from me too.”
Ray could hear it in Gus’ voice that he was genuinely happy with his
relationship with his mom. Ray was happy for him.
“How’s work going?” Gus asked.
“Not bad. I didn’t think I’d like this job sharing thing but now I do,” Ray
stated.
“What changed your mind?”
“I still get to work with my dad in the morning and earn a paycheck. I get a cut
of the commission if I help sell some property! Then I become the clerk intern
in the afternoon at the law firm uptown. When I’m done for the day I’m closer to
home. ”
“Sounds good and don’t complain about a paycheck, you like being a kept man,”
Gus teased. They both laughed.
Gus finally accepted Brian’s offer to work at Kinnetik. He was paid primarily
from the Pittsburgh office with all the benefits, and he was free to take on
projects from each branch. It also meant that Gus didn’t have to move back to
Pittsburgh, at least for the present. Brian still had hopes that Gus would
eventually live at the loft.
Ray graduated with honors and sat for the bar exam. He was awaiting the results
of his exams.
“I miss you,” Ray said softly into the phone.
“I miss you too. I’ll be home soon,” Gus sighed.
*****
“What the fuck’s wrong with you?” Brian growled out at his brother through the
Jeep’s window as he rolled slowly up the lane.
John was standing in the lane staring at a cleared patch of land. It was growing
dark and there was a cold wind blowing. He shrugged his shoulders looking
slightly defeated. Brian parked the Jeep and got out.
“What is it?” Brian asked in a gentler tone as he stepped up next to John.
“I thought I’d have it finished by now.”
“Have what finished?” Brian asked. John shrugged his shoulders again as he
pointed to the bare patch of earth. “The new cottage? It’s really not a
priority, and who knew that Patrick’s team would make it all the way to the
regionals? That’s more important than a cottage that no one is waiting to live
in,” Brian said reasonably. “Of course you and Bobby had to be there for him.”
“You’re not disappointed?” John asked.
“Absolutely not. I think you’re more disappointed.”
“Maybe I am.”
“John, your business is booming and you’ve been consulting on Kinnetik North.
Whatever spare time you’ve had this year has been devoted to your son. And
rightly so. You can build the cottage next year. The land’s not going anywhere
and by then we may actually have someone who’ll want to live in it.”
“Okay,” John said, somewhat mollified.
“I’m cold and hungry. Let's go home,” Brian suggested. The brothers climbed into
Brian’s Jeep to go home.
*****
“Hi,” Lindsay said into her phone.
“Hi, how are you? How’s Pittsburgh?” Melanie asked.
“I’m fine and so is Pittsburgh. Do you think you’ll be back for the holidays?”
“Oh, way before that. At least I hope so. I’d like to spend the holidays home
with the family and all our friends,” Mel said almost cautiously.
“I’d like that too,” Lindsay replied. Mel could hear the smile in Lindsay’s
voice and smiled too.
*****
Brian was sitting in the living room; the sounds of every day life in the
conjoined cottages surrounded him. Soothed him. The warm fire going in the
fireplace and the fine brandy he was sipping didn’t hurt either. Bree was at her
piano, practicing the latest music Riley had sent her, Patrick at her side
turning the pages. Riley adapted classical pieces for her young petite hands and
sent them to her by mail. Bree loved getting the large envelopes addressed to
Miss Briana Victoria Kinney-Taylor. John was helping Justin clean up after
dinner, while along with Bobby who was jotting down notes, discussing the up and
coming Halloween festival the school was planning.
Halloween. October. Brian couldn’t help the feelings of sadness that washed over
him. He was still missing Joan but forced to put on a brave face for the family.
Maybe Justin was right; maybe Brian should speak to someone about it. Justin had
told Brian about Bree and Gus’ concerns. Brian tried to brush it off but deep
down he knew they were right.
Brian looked up at the paintings over the mantle. The colors in the portrait of
Kinney and Patrick were still as vivid as the day it was painted hundreds of
years ago. The two companion pieces, Patrick on one side, Justin on the other
made Brian a bit angry at his moment of self pity. Kinney, Patrick and Justin,
had gone through a hell of a lot to be able to live their lives true to
themselves. Brian had no cause to complain.
Kinnetik’s profits were up. The year 2023 would be another good one. All
branches were doing well. They could afford to take their time with Kinnetik
North. With Mel, Cynthia, John and even Gus’ input, Brian predicted that
Kinnetik North would be a success and prove to be a boon for its local
neighborhood.
Gus and Ray were doing good. Lindsay and Melanie were finding themselves again.
And JR was happy again. Michael...was still Michael.
Life for Brian’s ever growing ‘widdle’ family was almost perfect.
“Hey, Sunshine!” Brian called out in a mischievous tone.
“Yeess?” Justin was suspicious.
“When was the last time we had the whole family here?”
“Define whole?” Justin asked.
Bree stopped playing. John and Bobby lifted their heads to listen.
“I mean the whole family. My in-laws, your in-laws; Claire and Steve. Debbie,
etc., etc., etc., Danny, Riley. Oh and even The Sarah Kingsley. You know,
whole.”
Justin sputtered a little while John and Bobby were doing mental calculations.
Even with the B&B and Michael’s lodge, plus the other homes doubling and
tripling up, the lane would be packed to the rafters with people.
“Uh, its been a while,” Justin finally replied.
“Well, maybe it’s about time,” Brian stated as he took another sip of brandy.
“When?” three males voices asked.
“Thanksgiving,” Brian replied.
“That’s less than a month,” Justin stated with panic rising in his voice.
“You’re so smart,” Brian snarked.
“Shit!” three males voices cursed as Bree and Patrick exchanged smiles. Bree
resumed playing while Justin, John and Bobby pulled out their phones and began
to make frantic calls. It was all hands on deck to pull this one off.
Brian smirked as he raised his snifter to Kinney and Patrick. Life was almost
perfect.
-end-