Then Comes Brian
Chapter 10
Emmett swished into the diner on Saturday morning. He saw Michael and Ben sitting at a table with Melanie and Lindsay. There was no sign of Ted or Gus.
"Hi, hi, hi," Emmett called.
Melanie squished over against her wife and let Emmett have the rest of the seat.
"Hey, Emm, did you get your invitation?" Michael asked with a smirk.
"What invitation?" Emmett asked looking at all the faces around him. "I didn't check my mail today. It's always bills."
Michael picked up his envelope and held it out to Emmett. The girls just waved theirs in his direction. Emmett opened the envelope and pulled out a printed invitation on fine, heavy pink paper with embossed hearts around the edges.
Mr. and Mr. Taylor-Kinney
Request the pleasure of your company
At their home on Saturday, April
13 at
For the first birthday party of their daughter,
Briana Victoria Kinney-Taylor
RSVP
"Oh my Lord! They do do things up fine," Emmett gushed.
"You mean you don't know anything about this party?" Ben asked skeptically.
"Oh, I have been asked to look after the cake. I hope I get a formal invitation like this though. I can put it in my keepsake book."
"Tell us what you know about this party," Melanie ordered.
"I don't know much, just what I've been asked to make for it."
"And what is that?"
"I'm under penalty of death if I reveal word one," Emmett said making the motion of locking his lips and throwing away the key.
"Fuck!" Melanie reacted. "I bet we're in for another Brian Kinney extravaganza."
"Yeah, what else would Brian Kinney do?" Michael said.
"What would Brian Kinney do about what?" Ted asked slipping into the just vacated booth behind them along with Allen. Emmett moved over to sit with them so they would all have more room.
"We were talking about Briana's birthday party," Michael said. "Did you get your invite?"
"We sure did," Allen said waving his envelope that matched all the others. "Ted and I will be there with bells on."
"Are bells required attire?" Lindsay asked with a laugh. "We've been trying to figure out what sort of grand fete Brian will put on for his daughter."
"It'll be the biggest and best," Michael stated.
"Hey Ted, have you booked a circus for Brian lately?" Ben asked with a chuckle. "Or maybe Cirque de Soleil?"
"Hey, if Cirque de Soleil is performing, I'm in," Melanie said.
"No, nothing like that," Ted laughed.
"I bet there'll be a clown though," Allen said.
"I wonder if Ronald McDonald does private parties," Michael speculated.
"Is Emmett Kelley dead?" Ben asked.
"Who's Emmett Kelley?" Ted asked.
"He's considered the greatest clown who ever lived."
"Personally I don't like clowns," Emmett said. "They're scary."
"Oh, Emmett," Lindsay laughed.
"I think he's trying to throw us off," Michael said. "Are there going to be elephants?"
"Elephants?" Ben asked giving his husband the look.
"Well, they do have fifteen acres," Michael said.
"Can't you just see Brian Kinney cleaning up the poop from an elephant?" Melanie laughed.
"He cleans up the poop from his daughter," Lindsay defended Brian.
"Yeah, I never thought I'd see that one either," Ted admitted.
"Oh, I just thought of something. Maybe they'll have a magician," Ben suggested.
"Yeah, right, is David Copperfield in town?" Melanie laughed.
"If he was," Emmett muttered to himself, "Brian would have him make you disappear." He gave Melanie a warning look. She ignored him.
"What other kinds of things do they do for kid's parties?" Michael asked.
"Maybe they've arranged for Nemo to come to the party," Ben joked.
"Nemo is a cartoon character," Michael explained.
"I know, Michael. But it could be someone like Ellen DeGeneres who's
associated with the film. She's always surprising people. Maybe they met her
out in
"Well, there's certainly the gay connection there," Allen added.
"I don't think it will be anything that grandiose," Lindsay said practically. "This is a baby we're talking about."
"How will Gus feel if Briana has a circus and all he got was a party in your backyard," Michael asked trying to joke.
"Thanks a lot, Michael," Melanie said feeling insulted. "That was a very nice party."
"Not after Justin started to remember the … bashing," Lindsay said quietly.
That put a damper on the exaggerated guesses of what the party would be like.
"I wonder if Justin still has residual memories from that time," Ted speculated. "He never mentions anything about it, but it had to be very hard for him."
"You know what it was like to be in a coma, Teddy," Michael said.
"Yeah, all too well, but at least I could remember everything when I came to. And the first thing I saw was Brian fucking my nurse."
"TMI, Ted," Lindsay said shaking her head.
"Tell me more," Allen suggested.
"Can we get back to this party?" Michael asked. "Are we supposed to dress up?"
"Certainly," Melanie said. "You should get your best party dress ironed."
"Bitch," Michael mouthed at her.
"Hey, this is the mother of your daughter you're speaking to here."
"I don't have a dress, you know," Michael pursued it like a dog with a bone. He resented Melanie's implication that he dressed in women's clothes.
"I still have the one you wore to the Pride Parade," Emmett volunteered.
"Shut up, Emmett. That was a long time ago."
"No shit! Probably couldn't fit into it anymore," Emmett said with a smirk.
"Hey, what is this? Pick on Michael Day?"
"We're not picking on you," Ted said. "Just having a little fun at your expense."
"Well, I don't appreciate it."
"If you don't know what to wear, maybe you could get a Zephyr costume from Brett Keller. You'd be the hit of the party," Ben teased him.
Zephyr was no longer a bone of contention between them. "I think he still needs it for the movie," Michael smiled at his husband. "Besides it might scare the little one."
"More than Uncle Mikey does?" Ted laughed.
"I have to go," Ben said looking at his watch. "I've got a meeting with a student in half an hour."
"Yeah, I need to go open the store," Michael said.
Everyone got up and took their leave except for Ted, Allen and Emmett who were waiting for their orders to arrive.
"So, tell me what you know," Ted said.
"About what?" Emmett asked feigning innocence.
"About the party, of course. You can tell me."
"No, I can't. You'll just have to be surprised like everyone else."
Emmett began eating his breakfast which had just arrived. There was no way he was telling anything. They would all have to wait and see.
*****
Since Briana's birthday fell on a Wednesday this year, Brian and Justin decided to hold the party the Saturday that immediately followed. Debbie, Claire and Emmett all insisted on volunteering their assistance. Brian and Justin were really getting the knack of holding large parties on their own. However, by doing all the party preparations on their own for this one, the aforementioned assistants would have been highly insulted. Debbie was especially vocal regarding her offered help and the resulting consequence of her NOT being allowed to give it. Since Brian was rather fond of his one remaining real ball, Justin acquiesced to Brian's suggestion of allowing the help.
Justin was in charge of the cleaning detail. Throughout his years living with Mr. "I'd Rather Die Than See Dirt In My House", Justin had learned how to keep a clean house. A very clean house. And while Brian wasn't as creative in the kitchen as Justin, Claire, Debbie or Emmett, Brian had become the master of the grill. They decided to keep the menu simple. He had purchased plenty of hamburgers and hot dogs to keep kids, young and old happy, as well as fine tender steaks and chicken filets. Plus there were enough fresh vegetables, fruit and whole grained breads to keep the most health conscious of them ecstatic. Debbie and Claire provided the egg salad, potato salad and macaroni salad. John and Bobby insisted on providing the beverages. Rather than having a formal seating arrangement like they did for Thanksgiving and Christmas, they pushed things around so that it would be a buffet. Brian had a special bright green froggie pinata hanging from one of the beams. It held trinkets, candy and a special treat for the whole family. Brian especially spied the pinata with a leer. He regarded the smacking of the thing to bits as poetic justice for all of the indignities he had had to bear from the various frogs that enjoyed plaguing him. Brian snorted at the frog then went to find Justin.
Claire and Steve, John, Bobby and Patrick, Debbie and Carl all arrived at
As the cars began to pull up in front of the cottage, each family got out and surveyed the cottage and surrounding environs.
"No circus tent," Michael observed.
"No band tuning up," Melanie remarked.
"No elephants," Ben added.
Gus looked around at the supposed adults standing huddled together on the front walk discussing the possible entertainment. He gave a puzzled shrug to his sister who was equally puzzled at the grownups' reaction to their arrival. JR grabbed her brother's hand and the two of them went through the front door.
"Why are you all standing here?" Emmett and Drew were carrying
a huge box. "Go inside or get out of our way. This is heavy," Emmett
groused as the
As each guest entered the sun porch their senses were immediately assaulted by the aromas of fresh baked cookies and pie. The salads were neatly arranged looking mouth watering and inviting. The meat was tender and grilled to perfection. The hamburgers and hot dogs were nestled in their buns awaiting dressing. And sitting in the middle surrounded by rainbow colored balloons was the largest pink cake ever assembled. Each layer was in ever deepening shades of pink ranging from almost white to almost burgundy.
"I never knew there were that many shades of pink," Melanie whispered to JR.
"Duh, Mom," Jenny replied rolling her eyes.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Brian began.
"Welcome and dig in!" Justin finished with a giggle, waving his hand at the abundance on the table.
The family began to serve themselves, fixing plates for the kids first.
Rachel and her brood and her parents were there. Hunter and Nick made the trip
in from
Hunter was holding Briana while she was attempting a few steps. It was only days before when she had taken a few steps on her own. Brian and Justin had been having lunch on the porch discussing the party and having a private birthday celebration with Bree. Briana was sitting on the floor on a small quilt when she pushed herself up and walked three short steps to her Dadas. Brian and Justin whooped and hollered and then danced her around the porch.
"She's getting so big," Hunter exclaimed as Brian squatted down next to them.
"I know. She'll be going to Penn soon too," Brian said casually as he held out his hand to his daughter. Bree scooted over to him and buried her little face into her Dada's shoulder.
Brian grunted as he stood up then ruffled Hunter's hair. "You know, not too long ago you were a skinny little kid running down the wrong road. I'm very proud of you. You clean up good, kid." Brian smiled sincerely at Hunter.
"Thank you, Brian. And Briana is one lucky little girl to have a dad like you," Hunter smiled back. Brian gently cuffed the boy behind his ear and led him to the table.
"Eat and you'll take some food back to Penn with you. That's an order," Brian commanded before things got too sentimental.
"Yes, sir," Hunter nodded. He felt lucky too, to have a friend in Brian Kinney.
"Justin," Brian called over to his spouse. Justin was making up a plate of salad for his mother.
"What's up, Bri?"
"I'm going to check out Miss Squirt before the cake and pinata."
"Okay, Brian. I'll tell Emmett."
Brian was quietly followed by Melanie as he carried Bree into her room. Mel had never seen Brian change a diaper before and couldn't pass up the chance to needle him about it. She was standing in the doorway about to let the snark fly when she became fixated on how coordinated Brian was with his daughter. Bree was wearing little pink overalls and pink sneakers and socks. She even had a pink bib to protect her little pink blouse. Melanie watched as Brian unfastened one sneaker and pulled off a sock. Bree giggled in anticipation. She loved when her Dada kissed and tickled her toes. Brian giggled right along with her. Then he unsnapped the legs of her overalls to inspect her diaper. Finding it only damp, he changed it, gently cleansing her skin with a wet nap, checking her skin for any chafing, applying her lotion then a light sprinkling of powder. Brian put her into a clean diaper then snapped her up again. Bree let out another giggle as she waited for her Dada to kiss her toes again and put on her sock and sneaker. Melanie was amazed for many reasons.
This is Brian Kinney, former slut and stud of
This is Brian Kinney, advertising mogul and club owner, protector of their family.
This is Brian Kinney-Taylor, a man who was known to have had at least thirty tricks a month, now monogamous for over six years.
Brian Kinney-Taylor who can grill a shitload of burgers, close ten million dollar deals and kiss his daughter's toes.
Melanie shook her head and silently rejoined the family. "I guess a leopard can change his spots," she murmured as she walked back into the porch.
Brian lifted his daughter, grabbed her hair brush and sat with Bree on his lap in the rocking chair. He removed the tiny barrette that held the little wisps of her strawberry blond hair, brushed the fine hair then reapplied the barrette.
"There," Brian said to his daughter with a confident air. "Perfect." Bree's hair was done up like Pebbles Flintstone. "Just perfect." Brian kissed his daughter's cheek and then took her back to the party.
"There she is! We're all waiting to sing Happy Birthday. I wondered where you went off to," Debbie said loudly. Emmett was poised to light the candle on the cake.
"Debbie, you of all people know how those Kinney's like to make a grand entrance," Claire stated with love in her voice. The family joined in a laugh.
"We needed time to preen," Brian explained as he handed Briana to Justin who was ready by the cake. Brian stepped back as he proudly watched the blonds in his life take front and center.
Bobby dimmed the lights as Emmett lit the candle and sparklers. The whole family began to sing Happy Birthday. Justin assisted his daughter in blowing out the candle as everyone cheered. Emmett took over, serving cake to all.
With coffee, tea, milk and cake served, the family again settled into small groups. The ladies commandeered Briana as they huddled together chatting in a corner, relaxing on the wicker.
"Can you believe this? My granddaughter is one year old. I never thought this would ever happen." Jennifer was holding her granddaughter on her lap.
"It looks good on you, Jen," Claire remarked then looked around for Justin. "Justin, could you come here a minute."
"Sure, Claire. Can I get you something?"
"No, dear. I have a question for you." The ladies all leaned in to hear Claire's question and the answer that they were all secretly dying to know.
"Um, sure." Justin hoped he wasn't going to be forced into revealing a deep dark Brian Kinney secret.
"Justin, who does Bree's hair?"
"Oh that." Justin said matter-of-factly. "Brian does her hair. And he picks out all of her clothes. I have no idea where he finds Armani and Donna Karan baby clothes, but he does," Justin said proudly then he bounced off to get more cake.
"Of course he does, dear." Claire's eyes were large with amazement, as were her companions.
"Unfucking-believable," Debbie said.
"You can say that again," Jennifer confirmed.
"I guess that's Brian Kinney for you. Baby hairdresser and label queen," Melanie stated, adding another Brian Kinney fact to her long list.
Before the end of the afternoon, Brian came in with a broom handle and made an announcement.
"May I have everyone's attention. The Squirt would like to thank everyone for attending her celebration. And we'd like to send you off with a little memento of the day. I have been waiting all day to do this."
Brian rubbed his hands together then took the broom handle and gave the frog pinata the first whack. He handed the handle to JR and lifted her so she could take a whack. John brought over Patrick and helped him smack the pinata. Then Gus had his chance, giving the green thing a good crack. Even Hunter, Nick, John and Peter had a whack at it. Brian took the handle and gave the pinata one last hit. The pinata burst at its seams littering the floor with all its contents. The kids had a blast picking up the candy and small toys.
Fluttering to the floor were dozens of pink envelopes. Brian instructed the children to pick up the envelopes and give one to each adult in the room.
"If you'd all open up your envelopes you'll see that it's an invitation to the Rage opening which should be some time next year. You'll all be our guests!"
A collective gasp was heard throughout the porch. Justin who had no idea what his husband had planned was shocked, amazed and so pleased. He threw himself into Brian's arms to thank him.
"Are you sure we can do this?" Justin was trying to calculate the enormous cost of flying out the entire family to LA.
"Don't worrying, it'll be in the advertising budget and Liberty Air is a sponsor. Besides, worrying is my job, remember?" Brian murmured to the worried blue eyes.
"I remember," Justin whispered then kissed his man silly.
It was a few more hours later when Brian and Justin finally had their cottage back all to themselves. Everyone helped to pack up all the leftovers and several packages of steak, chicken, burgers and salad went with Hunter and Nick. Plus several pieces of pink cake. Everyone went home with a slice of pink cake!
The whole family pitched in and the cottage was back to normal. The next celebration the cottage would see would be for Hunter's graduation.
Brian gently bathed his exhausted daughter, put her into a fresh sleeper and laid her down in her crib. Justin lit a fire, made a quick round of the cottage, making sure the grill was off, closing up the doors, and checking that all the food was properly stowed. He locked up and placed a couple of glasses of wine on the coffee table as he waited for Brian to join him on the sofa in front of the fire.
"I had the best time today, Brian," Justin said as he handed Brian his glass.
"The best," Brian agreed as he accepted the glass and took a small sip. He sat back into the soft sofa and snuggled close to Justin. Brian took out his small digital camera to review the pictures Gus had taken of the party. Brian had given Gus the assignment of chronicling his sister's first birthday. Gus did an excellent job. Brian and Justin smiled as they reviewed the photos.
Justin took the camera out of Brian's hand and then placed it and their glasses on the table. With no need for words, Brian and Justin laid down on the sofa, Justin spooning into his partner's chest, his butt fitting nicely into Brian's crotch. Justin felt Brian's arms snake around him. They were the happiest and proudest of daddies.
Sighing contentedly Brian and Justin fell into a peaceful sleep.
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