Chapter 8

Dinner was winding down. The family and friends had enjoyed each others' company and had shared experiences and stories. Brian decided it was time for some brandy for all the hard workers who had shoveled so diligently all day long. He slipped out of his seat and went to the bar in the living room. He pulled out a large bottle of Courvoisier Imperiale XO. With a smile he headed to the kitchen, taking a moment for a brief word with Emmett who was stacking the dishwasher. Then he headed for the sun porch.

"We deserve a treat for all the effort that everyone put forth today, so I'm cracking open this lovely bottle of cognac." With that Brian twisted off the lid. "We should be drinking this from fine crystal, but as the hard working sods we are, we'll use whatever glass you have handy."

Brian started around the table pouring a small portion of the amber liquid into each person's extended glass.

"Me too, Dada," Bree said holding up her glass.

"'Fraid not, Squirt, but how about some of that red Kool-aid?"

"'Kay, Dada," Bree said as Emmett brought a pitcher of the Kool-aid from the kitchen.

"Can I have a taste of the cognac?" Gus asked.

Brian glanced at Melanie and Lindsay who shrugged. "Just a sip," Brian said pouring his son a taste of the liquor. Gus smiled at him. "Don't drink it too fast or you'll choke." Gus took the advice as it was intended.

When everyone had something to drink, Brian said, "We need a toast."

"I have one," Justin volunteered.

Brian smiled at him. "Go ahead, Sunshine."

Justin stood and raised his glass. "To a Christmas that we will never forget, and to friends new and old."

Bree sat at the kids' table listening intently to her father. She frowned as she thought about what she wanted to do.

"Cheers!" Everyone toasted as they took a sip of their cognac or Kool-aid as the case might be.

Gus did his best not to choke, but he had to cough a bit after the first taste. "I think I'll have Kool-aid from now on," he said once he had tasted the cognac. It wasn't quite what he had expected.

"How can you prefer Kool-aid to thirty year old cognac?" Brian laughed.

"The Kool-aid goes down a lot more smoothly," Gus replied, now understanding why his father had warned him about choking.

"That'll warm the cockles of your heart," Sharon said taking another sip of the rich old cognac.

"Did someone say cock?" Brian asked perking up.

"That was cockles," Raph laughed.

"Shucks," Brian joked.

"I have a toast, Daddy," Bree said standing up.

"You do?" Justin asked. Everyone smiled at the little doll who seemed so serious about her toast. "What do you want to say, sweetheart."

"I want to toast to Mr. and Mrs. Owen and Mr. Raph and Mr. Hector. I want them to come for Christmas next year and from now on," Bree stated in her best public speaking voice that she had learned at school.

"Here, here!" people toasted which made Bree smile.

"That was extremely sweet, Miss Briana," Owen said wiping a tear from his eye.

"Very," Hector and Raph agreed, also feeling a little choked up.

Sharon took another sip to help swallow the lump in her throat.

The cognac went down very well after that making everyone mellow. The conversation continued as they sipped the liquor.

"Mr. Owen, want a taste of my Kool-aid?" Bree asked carrying her glass over to Owen.

"I'd love one," Owen said taking the glass and tasting the sweet, red liquid. "Just like I remember it."

"Good," Bree said taking back her glass and having a drink herself. "I share."

"Yes you do. You're a very lovely little girl."

Bree smiled and batted her eyelashes. Brian and Justin beamed with pride.

"I think it's time for someone to go to bed," Justin said.

"No, Daddy," Bree replied shaking her head. "Stay up."

"Briana!" Justin said raising an eyebrow.

"Pweeze," Bree wheedled.

"No baby talk," Brian said sternly.

Everyone watched to see how the two men would handle the little princess who had them thoroughly wound around her finger.

"Please, fathers, may I stay up?" Bree asked in all seriousness and her best formal enunciation.

Everyone did their best to stifle their giggles.

Brian swallowed a laugh. "Well, since this is the storm of the century, and a once in a lifetime event…" Brian looked over at Justin who smiled and nodded.

"How about another hour before you have to go to bed?" Justin asked.

"Thank you, Daddy," Bree replied crawling onto his lap.

"And no complaining when the hour's up," Brian informed her.

"No, Dada."

"Good girl," Justin said kissing the top of Bree's head.

Conversation gradually picked up again. Brian drained the bottle of cognac for those who wanted more. The evening wound on until John came in from his side of the house. No one had noticed him leave until he cleared his throat like he wanted to make an announcement. They all turned to face him.

"I was just listening to the weather. There will be some more snow tonight if they're right."

Everyone groaned. Many "fucks" were heard from various quarters.

"However," John continued, "it won't be much. We may have to clear a bit but nothing like today."

"Thank the fucking Lord," Debbie said much to Joan's disapproval.

"That's better than I thought it was going to be when you started that statement," Owen commented.

"I do think we have another job that needs to be done once we make sure the tracks between the houses are cleared out," John informed them.

"What's that, big bro'? Brian asked.

"We need to dig out the vehicles."

"Shit!" Ted responded. "I thought I was done digging for a day or two."

"It's good for you, Schmidt. You spend too much time behind that desk of yours," Brian said tongue in cheek.

"And you should be grateful that I do, Boss."

"Oh, I am … eternally."

"Back to the subject of the vehicles," John interrupted. "They may get our road cleared tomorrow and if they do, Rob, the plow guy will be here soon after. He needs to be able to see where the cars are. He's going to have enough trouble finding a place to plow all the snow out of the way."

"I have acres, "Brian said.

"Yeah, with lots of trees blocking where he can push the snow."

"Point taken," Brian agreed. "We start on cars in the morning."

"Right now, I think we should dance," Emmett called out as he hit play on the sound system. "May I have this dance, Miss Briana?"

Bree smiled and nodded. She liked dancing with her Auntie Emm. He lifted her up and waltzed her around the room. Soon others began to join in. The tons of snow outside were easily forgotten … until the morning.

Katerina and Hector were sitting in the kitchen at the table. They were sipping their own cocoa. Katerina had Justin's binders containing the accumulated research and journals he had amassed. Hector found it fascinating and had knowledge of some of the towns the boys had visited while on their quest. They were soon joined by Owen and Danny.

"This is amazing," Danny said, as he flipped through one binder that held many photos of the chapels and church walls that Kinney had painted. "I wasn't in Pittsburgh at the time of the Kinney auction but I did read about it. The proceeds went to a very worthy cause."

"And you can trace your family's line back to Patrick Taylor?" Owen asked Katerina.

"Yes. My family is directly related to Patrick. We believe, Justin and his father are related to Patrick's father via a second marriage."

"It's a wonder so much art work has survived." Owen was flipping through another binder. "And look at these journal entries; it's like looking back in time."

As Katerina continued to regale Owen, Hector and Danny, Mel and Lindsay were cuddling on the sofa in front of the fire.

"Lindz, I promise the minute we're back to civilization, I'll contact Brian's travel agent and have her book us a flight and into that B&B that Brian recommends."

"You mean it?" Lindsay couldn't believe that not only was Melanie serious about their vacation but that Mel would call Brian's agent and take Brian's suggestion.

"Yes, I mean it. If it's good enough for Brian Kinney and the boys then it's good enough for us. You're right, we need time on our own, to reconnect. I'm so sorry I've been such a bitch lately. I have no excuse except for my own pig-headedness. There's nothing more important than you and our children."

"Oh Mel, I love you so much," Lindsay purred as she hugged Melanie closer.

"I love you too, Lindz. I know I don't say it often enough but I promise to change that. And I promise to take more notice of the kids. You're so right about JR. I took her for some last minute shopping and that's when it hit me. She's so grown up and becoming very sophisticated and I know that's because of you. She may be my biological daughter but her poise, grace and sense of style is because of you. Even the way she carries herself when she's walking. And I almost missed it all. Damn, Lindz, even Brian learned from his mistakes with Gus when he was small. They're so close, a real father and son relationship. And I turned a blind eye to it all. I refused to admit that Brian was sincere in his pursuit of becoming a real father to Gus. And now with Briana, it's like you and JR. Anyone who spends more than five minutes in their company can see how devoted he is to her."

"He refuses to miss any part of her life," Lindsay said gently seeing the guilt that Melanie harbored.

"I understand that now. I've been so stupid."

"No, Melanie, not stupid."

"Selfish, then. So selfish that I nearly lost the most important people in my life. You tried to tell me, but I never listened. Well, I'm listening now, Lindsay."

The girls kissed, Melanie gently caressing Lindsay's face.

"Awe, damn, icky lesbian shit on my sofa now!" Brian whined. The girls giggled as Brian fled the room.

 

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