Blasts From the Past

Chapter 9

Justin led Leda through the garden then down the path toward the stream.

“Who’s your gardener?”

“Do you plan to do a bit of gardening?”

“Me? I don’t know a petunia from a rose but I’m thinking of settling in Pittsburgh and I don’t want an apartment. I want something with a bit of land around it.”

“To answer your question, Brian is the gardener.” Justin took a few more steps before he realized that Leda had stopped following him. He turned to see Leda looking back at Edna’s Treasures beautifully blooming gardens.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me!”

“No, I’m not. For a long time we couldn’t decide what we wanted out there. When we finally decided on a garden, Brian decided to take up the challenge. And as with everything he puts his mind to...”

“He turns it into gold. Or in this case, one of the most beautiful gardens I have ever seen.”

“Yep.” They finally continued along the path toward the stream, approaching the clearing and the big rock. “And this is another reason why you should put your faith in Brian Kinney.”

“Please don’t tell me he built this stream,” Leda said in an exasperated tone.

“No,” Justin laughed. “But the stream and more specifically this boulder did influence him to buy this land and have the cottage renovated. I come here when I want to think.”

“It is peaceful out here.” Leda looked around. The hot August sun was streaming through the canopy of trees. The stream babbled over the rocks, reflecting the sun, shining like diamonds.

“Have a seat.” Justin pointed toward the rock. Leda climbed up. “Leda, I’m not going to suggest to you that you shouldn’t follow your instincts. Those instincts have made you successful. But whatever else you may think about Brian, he is the best at what he does. Trust him.”

“It’s not that easy. So far, I’ve only trusted myself.”

“Then maybe it’s time for a change.”

Leda nodded. Lately she was contemplating a lot of changes.

“Take your time; just follow the path back up to the house. You can’t get lost.”

“Even if I want to?”

“Then we’ll just send Beau out to get you,” Justin said with a smile. “Brian’s going to barbecue later. You haven’t lived until you’ve had one of his steaks.” Justin grinned as Leda just shook her head incredulously.

“Fucking incredible,” Justin heard her mutter as his strolled up the path toward the house.

 

*****
 

“Where is she?” Brian asked as Justin came into their bedroom. Brian was sprawled across their bed, clad only in a small towel that was barely draped across his groin. He was damp from a shower.

“She who?” Justin asked as he carefully crawled onto the bed. His hand wanted to check out the treasures that lay under the towel but he needed to make sure Brian was okay first.

“The she-devil from dyke hell,” Brian snarked.

Justin began to giggle at his husband’s dramatics. “At the stream, contemplating your ideas.” Justin’s fingers began a slow march up Brian’s long muscular thigh.

“If I’m lucky, a squirrel will throw a pinecone at her head. Or maybe she’ll get slimed by a frog.”

Justin snickered louder; his fingers had reached the edge of the towel. “She’ll come around,” Justin murmured as he began to peel back the towel.

“Looking for something, Sunshine?” Brian asked as he arched a brow.

“Yeah.”

“Can I help?” Brian contracted a muscle; his cock twitched under the towel.

“Unh unh, I think I have it in hand,” Justin said as he wrapped his fingers around Brian’s cock.

“The door locked?” Brian whispered before they got too carried away.

“Mm hmm,” Justin mumbled around Brian’s shaft.

Brian remained still as he enjoyed the luscious sensations Justin’s talented mouth was giving him. After a while he tapped on Justin’s shoulder, urging the younger man to turn himself around so that his groin was closer. Brian found the treasures that were hidden in Justin’s jeans. He latched onto Justin’s dick and began to mimic his lover’s movements.

They came within seconds of each other.

“What if Leda insists on marketing to the dykes first?” Brian asked when his brain cleared.

“If your research proves you right...”

“When it proves me right.”

“When it proves you right and she still wants you to market to the gay community first, then when it fails to produce the numbers she’s looking for, it will be her doing not yours.”

“I don’t like failure.”

“It won’t be your failure.”

“No, it’ll be Kinnetik’s,” Brian said as he got up off the bed. He found some clean clothes and got dressed. “And I am Kinnetik,” Brian growled as he left their room slamming the door behind him.

 

*****
 

“Hi,” a little voice was heard as Leda rounded the path toward the cottage.

“Hi there,” Leda replied as she realized it was Bree. Bree was sitting on the swinging loveseat that was just outside the Wendy house. “May I sit with you?” Leda asked. Bree made room for her. “This is beautiful,” Leda said referring to the Wendy house.

“Thank you. My daddies and my uncles built it for me and Patrick. My Daddy painted the wall.”

Leda peered into the doorway. She could see most of the mural Justin had painted.

“It’s wonderful.”

“Are you still mad at my Dada?” Bree asked frankly.

“Are you sure you’re only six? You’re way too smart.”

“That’s because my daddies are smart. I’m a com-bo-nation of nurture and nature,” Bree said nonchalantly.

“Who told you that?”

“I hear things.”

“I bet you do.”

“So, are you still mad at Dada?”

“No, not really. I just hate being wrong.”

“Me too.”

“When have you been wrong?”

“When I ate all my M&M’s and got a tummy ache. And when I didn’t want to go to camp because my best friend couldn’t go but my daddies fixed it and when I try to go to the stream when I shouldn’t.”

“What happens then?”

“Beau stops me.” Beau, who was sleeping inside the Wendy house, yawned loudly when he heard his name. “Beau always knows when I’m going to go to the stream without a grownup.”

“He’s smart.”

“Yes, he is and so is my Dada.”

“You love your Dada very much, don’t you?”

“Of course I do. He’s my bestest Dada.”

“What about your Daddy?”

“He’s my bestest Daddy!”

“Oh,” Leda said as if she saw the logic of Bree’s statement.

“You better now?”

“Yes, I think so. And I think I better go talk to your Dada before he kicks my ass to the curb.”

“Okay.”

“Are you coming in?” Leda asked as she got up from the swing.

“Not yet. Me and Beau are going to have a tea party,” Bree stated, sounding very much like a little girl again.

“Okay. Then I guess I’ll see you later.”

“Later!” Bree said then went inside the Wendy house.

“Maybe it’s the fertilizer they use out here,” Leda mumbled to herself as she walked back to the house. She was greeted by Brian who was slamming the hood on one of the grills. “Is your grill into S&M?”

“No, but I must be a masochist to ever want to take you on as a client,” Brian said as he slammed the lid down again. “Leda, I know what I’m doing.”

“I know.”

“I wouldn’t steer you wrong.”

“I realize that.”

“Are you agreeing with me?”

“Yes, no, I don’t know. Brian, what you propose makes sense but I’ve had this concept in my head for years. It’s hard to let go of it.”

“I know the feeling.”

“So convince me.”

“I won’t do that. I’ll let the research convince you. But Leda, after I present you with the facts and you still choose to do it your way, you’ll do it without Kinnetik.”

“Fair enough. Now, I’ve heard you grill a mean steak,” Leda said with a smile.

“Just stand back and let the master work!” Brian said as he fired up the grill.
 

*****

 

“So, do you like Leda now?” Patrick asked as he and Bree sat inside the Wendy house waiting for Brian to finish his grilling so they could have dinner.

“She’s okay.”

“I thought you were mad at her because she didn’t think Uncle Brian was doing a good job with her advertising.”

“I was mad, but maaaybe I’m changing my mind.”

“Why?”

Bree wrinkled her brow as she thought about the answer to that question. “She hugged my bunny,” she said.

Patrick stared at Bree. “What does that mean?” he asked in bewilderment.

“People who aren’t nice never want to hug my bunny,” Bree explained. “But she did.”

“Oh!” Patrick replied. He wasn’t exactly sure why that made Leda all right, but he had hugged Bunny many times, and Bree’s bunny always made him feel better. Maybe Bree knew something he didn’t. He’d have to take her word for it. “I really like her motorcycle. Dad said he might take me for a ride on it tomorrow if Leda lets us.”

“A ride?” Bree asked in surprise. “Do you want to ride on it?”

“Sure!”

“I think it makes too much noise.”

“It’s cool,” Patrick corrected.

Bree thought about that for a minute. “I like horses better,” she said.

“Horses are cool too, but motorcycles are the best.”

“I don’t think so,” Bree contradicted with a frown.

“What if Dad gave you a ride too? Would you like them more?”

“Maaaybe,” Bree replied. She wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to ride on the motorcycle, but she didn’t want Patrick to think she was afraid. Maybe her daddies wouldn’t let her ride on the motorcycle then she wouldn’t have to pretend to want to.

“Bree, Patrick,” a voice called. “Dinner’s ready.”

“We better go,” Bree said rushing out of the Wendy house. Patrick and Beau followed her.

 

*****
 

“This has to be one of the best steaks I’ve ever had,” Leda pronounced.

“Of course it is,” Justin said with a smile. “Brian’s steaks on the barbecue are the best.”

“I have to agree, little bro’,” John concurred. “You outdid yourself tonight.”

Brian looked at Leda. “Only one of the best?” was all he said.

Everyone looked at Brian and then burst out laughing.

Bree who sat beside her Dada patted his hand. “You make the bestest barbecue, Dada”

“Thanks, Squirt. I’m glad someone around here appreciates all my hard work.”

“We all love your steaks,” Bobby piped up. “You know that.”

“It really is delicious,” Leda added hoping she hadn’t offended. The steak really was incredible.

“You know we love anything you grill,” Justin said kissing Brian’s temple.

“Enough! I get the point,” Brian chuckled. “I’m the world’s best barbecuer. Goes without saying.” He smirked lovingly at all of them.

“And so modest too,” John felt compelled to add.

Brian merely shrugged and looked at Leda.

“Do you barbecue a lot?” Leda asked as she cut off another bite of the tender steak.

“Brian pretends he doesn’t cook, so that gets him out of the kitchen,” Bobby said with a wink at Justin. “As a result he’s in charge of all the barbecuing.”

“Breakfasts and steaks are my specialty,” Brian said proudly.

“You like to do everything well, don’t you?” Leda asked remembering what she had been told during the day.

“He likes to do it perfectly,” Justin contributed, earning him a gentle elbow to the ribs from his spouse.

“Don’t tell her all my secrets.”

“That would take months,” Justin laughed, “and she’s only here for the weekend.”

“If she decides to stay,” Brian said looking at Leda and raising an eyebrow to ask her if she intended to last the weekend.

“I think I might be able to put up with you lot till Monday morning,” Leda said with a grin. “Seriously, you have made me feel so welcome. You have a lovely home and the property is wonderful.”

“You’ve been to the stream, haven’t you?” Brian surmised.

“Yes, how did you know?”

“Everyone who goes down there finds some kind of peace and tranquility,” John said quietly. “It’s a very spiritual place.”

“That’s where I was bapatized,” Bree offered proudly.

“Baptized, Squirt,” Brian corrected.

“Baptized,” Bree repeated.

“How did you manage that?” Leda asked. “Doesn’t it have to be in a church?”

“We have a friend who’s a priest,” Justin explained. “He came here and did Bree’s baptism in the stream.”

“No wonder she’s such a special little girl,” Leda said.

Bree just beamed. Her patented Taylor smile was radiant.

 

*****
 

Leda decided to stay the rest of the weekend and go into Pittsburgh Monday morning with Brian. She did her best to set aside her misgivings about Brian’s advertising campaign for her new motorcycle. She would wait until after the test audiences had given their opinions. She still wasn’t sure she was willing to back down on what she wanted to do regardless of what the results were. But that remained to be seen.

The family had a quiet evening with Leda, most of the time spent in the sun porch talking and laughing. Leda had to admit it had been a long time since she had had such a quiet Saturday night, or one she had enjoyed so much. All of the men of Edna’s Treasures had sharp wits, great senses of humor and compassionate hearts. She never would have dreamed that she would think that of Brian Kinney.

She slept like a log in the brass bed and awoke refreshed and eager to start the day. Brian cooked up one of his amazing breakfasts. She spent some time at the stream all by herself. She had to admit it was a beautiful spot, good for the soul.

Bree invited her to tea in the Wendy house under Beau’s close supervision. John took Patrick for a ride on the motorcycle. Patrick loved every minute of it. His enthusiasm convinced Bree to sit in front of her uncle and go for a ride down the lane. He promised not to go too fast, and Bree loved it once they got going.

Later in the afternoon Molly and Owen arrived to do some minor things around their cottage. They were almost ready for their housewarming party. When they were done they came up to Edna’s Treasures. Leda was introduced to them all, and Owen raved about the motorcycle parked outside the house.

He was holding Taylor and getting really engrossed in his conversation with Leda about the bike. Molly tried to get the baby carrier out of his hand, since she knew by the definitive smell that Taylor needed changing.

Brian also got a whiff of Taylor’s diaper and quickly said, “Justin has iced tea ready for you in the sun porch. I’ll change the little man.” He took the carrier from Owen and headed for Bree’s bedroom. Leda’s eyebrows shot up. Brian Kinney changing stinky diapers, would wonders never cease? Bree went with her Dada while everyone else headed for the sun porch.

“Dada, do you like Leda?” Bree asked.

“Most of the time,” Brian replied as he removed Taylor’s pungent diaper. He got a wet wipe to clean his little bottom.

Bree held onto Taylor’s fingers as Brian cleaned him up. “Not all the time?” Bree asked with a quizzical look.

“It’s hard to like people all the time.”

“But I like you all the time,” Bree stated.

“No, Bree, you love me all the time, just like I love you all the time. But sometimes I may not like what you do or say.”

“Like when I’m a bad girl?”

“You’re not a bad girl very often,” Brian said with a smile as he dusted Taylor’s little bum with baby powder.

“But sometimes…” Bree giggled.

“Yes, sometimes.”

“Is it okay not to like everyone all the time?”

“I think it’s inevitable, so I guess it’s all right,” Brian said wondering how he got into these conversations with Bree.

Bree smiled. “I love you all the time, Dada.”

“I love you all the time too, Squirt,” Brian said blowing a raspberry on Taylor’s tummy before picking him up. “I love Taylor too. There’s lots of love to go around at Edna’s Treasures.”

“Yeah,” Bree agreed as she followed her father and Taylor out to the sun porch.
 

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