Chapter 10

Day 6

"Okay troops," Danny called from the bottom of the stairs. "Breakfast is ready. Rise and shine!"

"Wha…?" Gus started out of a deep sleep. He sat up in his own bed in his room and looked around.

"Come on, sleepyheads. Get your behinds out of those beds!"

"Grandpa Danny, what's going on?" JR asked stumbling out of her bedroom to the top of the stairs.

"It's time to get up. We have cleaning to do," Danny said cheerfully.

"But it's Saturday morning," Gus protested as he joined JR on the landing. "The moms usually let us sleep in."

"In case you haven't noticed, oh young and foolish one, I am not your moms," Danny said with a laugh. He was enjoying seeing the young ones struggling to wake up. He'd been up for a couple of hours and was raring to go. It made him feel young that the kids were still sleepy.

"Do we have to?" JR pleaded.

"Yes you do," Danny affirmed. "Now get moving. Breakfast will be on the table in five minutes."

"But I need to shower," Gus protested.

"Shower after we're finished cleaning," Danny told him. "You'll need it more by then."

With a very audible groan Gus went back to this room to get some clothes. JR let out a long suffering sigh that was loud enough to ensure that Danny would hear. Then she went to her room.

Rubbing his hands together Danny headed to the kitchen to dish up breakfast. He was very pleased with himself. His granddaughter and her brother were good kids, and Danny knew the house would be spic and span by the end of the day.

 

*****

 

"Comic Book Store," Michael answered the phone.

"Daddy," JR said tearfully.

"Honeybunch, what's wrong?" Michael asked his voice full of worry at JR's tone.

"Grandpa Danny woke us up really early and expects us to get working on cleaning the house right away."

Michael smiled. His daughter was not a morning person. "It's just after nine o'clock. How long have you been up?"

"Five minutes," JR moaned.

Michael laughed. "Then I don't think Grandpa Danny got you up so very early. You get up before this to go to school."

"But it's Saturday."

"Yes it is. So you better get dressed and start helping with the house."

"But, Daddy…"

"No buts, JR. Your Grandpa is right about this one."

"Can you come and help us?" JR pleaded.

"Nope. I have the store open. You're on your own."

"You're no help at all," JR griped. She sounded wide awake now.

"I love you, honeybunch, but I'm not coming to your rescue this time."

"Okaaaaay," JR sighed.

"Love you," Michael said cheerfully.

"Love you too," JR conceded before she hung up the phone.

Michael smiled to himself. He hated refusing his daughter anything, but when he did it for all the right reasons, he felt like a real father.

 

*****

 

"Dada," Bree said as she stood beside her fathers' bed. "Daddy!"

Nobody moved. She watched the two men sprawled across each other. Her Daddy had his head resting on her Dada's chest. They showed no signs of waking up.

Deciding to take matters into her own hands she reached up and held onto Brian's nose. She didn't squeeze hard, just enough so that she cut off the air supply.

"Wha…? Hey!" Brian sputtered as he came to.

Bree giggled and let go. "Wake up, Dada. It's time for food."

"Is it now?" Brian asked arching an eyebrow at her.

"Yes, Dada," Bree replied politely. She knew she looked adorable in her pretty pink pajamas and pink bunny slippers.

"Were you holding my nose again?"

Bree nodded bobbing her head. "I had to wake you up. Nobody would answer me."

"Are you hungry?" Brian asked. Bree nodded again. So what else was new?

Brian slid out from under Justin and pulled his underwear on before stepping out of bed. He had been told by all and sundry that it was not appropriate to walk around nude in front of his daughter. That was when he had seriously considered joining a nudist colony. That was, until he remembered what most nudists looked like. He shuddered at the memory of his one and only visit to a nudist camp. It contained some of the most god awful bodies he had ever seen.

"Let Daddy sleep and I'll cook you some breakfast," Brian whispered.

Bree took her Dada's hand and they set off for the kitchen, gently closing the bedroom door behind them. Brian and Bree enjoyed their quiet moments together.

 

*****

 

After a hearty breakfast, the clean up crew divided up the assignments. Gus would take the bathroom. It was too small for more than one person to work on it at a time and there were still some broken shards of tile. Armed with the moms' old Hoover and bucket and mop, Gus was ready to tackle the bathroom. John had assured him that the grout was dry enough to get wet.

That left the kitchen and basement. Danny and JR would take on the kitchen. They were equally armed with cleaning materials and supplies. After that, the basement, with the three of them working on it, was sure to be done quickly. Danny figured on lunch then the foyer, stairs and living room where the workmen had traipsed through. Danny thought if it all went well, he could hit the hardware store by late afternoon then he and the kids would have two days to themselves. And of course, there was homework to be done.

After about an hour Gus looked around the bathroom. The new fixtures were glistening, the tiles and tub shining. Ronny and John had cleaned up a lot behind themselves so it didn't take long to finish the rest. Gus was rather pleased with himself and looking forward to a nice hot shower that actually worked.

"Hey guys, I'm done up here!" Gus called out as he came bounding down the stairs with the cord of the vacuum trailing behind him and an extension cord. He plugged the end into the socket at the bottom of the stairs.

"Guys, I'm going to vacuum the hall and the stairs. I'll be there to help in a few minutes," he yelled toward the kitchen, receiving mumbled affirmatives from his cleaning partners.

Gus made short work of the hallway then carried the vacuum back to the top of the stairs. He began to lug the old vacuum down each step as he cleaned it. Getting to the last step, he stumbled, catching himself on the banister before landing on his ass. Unfortunately, the Hoover did some acrobatics, the handle hitting the wall hard. The old plaster gave way leaving a silver dollar sized hole.

"Shit!" Gus cried out as he turned off the vacuum to examine the hole. "Fuck! I'm going to get killed!" He sat on the step, rubbing his slightly wrenched arm and looking at the damage.

Hearing the banging and stumbling, Danny and JR ran to the stairs.

"Gus, are you all right?" Danny asked. He could see Gus wince.

"Gus?" was all that JR could say. Her brother was never really hurt before and it scared her.

"I'm okay but the fucking wall isn't," Gus grumbled, not apologizing for his colorful language.

"Gus, boy, as long as you're not hurt, we can fix that little hole."

"Little! It's like a crater."

"Nonsense. I'll pick up some quick patch when I go to the hardware store later this afternoon. Now, while you were trying to shorten my life by falling down the stairs, we managed to finish up the kitchen. We deserve a break. JR, why don't you start making some sandwiches and I will make up an ice pack for your brother's arm?"

Granny Danny ushered his charges into the kitchen for a well deserved lunch break.

 

*****

 

"That was great, Brian," Justin said as he rubbed his full belly. Not only had Brian made breakfast for his troops but he put together a very satisfying lunch as well. "You're really getting the hang of this cooking thing, aren't you," Justin said with a kiss to Brian's cheek.

"Well, I could say I'm a quick study but that's not completely true."

"I suspect you could always cook but just chose not to," Justin said as he loaded up the dishwasher. Brian nodded; there was truth in that.

"How are the new paintings coming along?" Brian quickly changed the subject.

"I have several sketched out on canvas. I thought I'd work on them today."

"Sounds good to me. I believe the Squirt has some homework to do and I have some ads to look over in my study. We'll leave you undisturbed."

Brian grabbed his briefcase and Briana's school bag. He was about to follow Bree up the spiral staircase to the study...

"Bri," Justin walked over to them. "You never disturb me. You know that, don't you?" Justin reached up on his toes to give his spouse a loving kiss.

"I know, little boy," Brian whispered. "Now go make magic." Brian received a blinding Sunshine smile as a reward then followed close behind Bree as she toddled up the stairs.

 

*****

 

Gus' arm was sore but not really hurt. The break for lunch and the ice pack helped. The clean up crew went to tackle the basement.

"It's really not that bad down here," Danny said as he flipped on the light switch. "And if I didn't know the furnace and water heater were replaced, I would have never guessed," he said as he looked around.

A quick pass with a broom to sweep up the broken bits of pipe and wiring was all it took. Again the workmen, taking pride in their job, had cleaned up behind themselves.

"Gus, why haven't your moms finished off the basement? It could make a nice playroom or guest room," Danny enquired.

"I don't know; maybe it never occurred to them."

"Hmm. Well, I think we're done. Let's get you guys a snack then see how much of your homework you can get done today. The more you finish today, the more time you'll have on Sunday and Monday to hang out."

The kids saw the logic in Danny's suggestion.

"Can we take showers first?" JR pleaded.

"Yes, young lady, be my guest," Danny replied.

"Oh thank you!" JR said as she ran up the stairs to her bedroom. This was going to be the best shower she ever was going to have.

 

*****

 

"Kinney."

"Hi, Dad."

"Dad? What's wrong, Gus?"

"How do you know something's wrong?"

"I just know." Brian wasn't about to give away all his secrets. "Now spill."

"I, uh, had a little accident today but I'm okay. I was vacuuming the stairs and slipped. I sort of wrenched my shoulder but it doesn't hurt anymore, much. But that's not the problem."

"Not the problem! You want me to come over and take you to the doctor? Better yet I'll go get Dr. Dan and bring him with me."

"No, Pop, I'm just a little sore that's all. Danny fixed me up with an ice pack and gave me some Tylenol, I'm fine. Really, Pop."

"We're coming to dinner at Deb's tomorrow. If your shoulder isn't better by then, I'll stay overnight then you and I will go see your doctor," Brian said in a tone that would brook no argument.

"Okay, Pop. Okay."

"So what is the problem?"

"When I fell, the handle of the vacuum cleaner banged into the wall. It left a hole."

"Is that all?"

"Is that all? Pop, there's a hole in the wall!"

"Holes can be fixed, not always little boys. What did Danny say?"

"Pretty much the same thing you just said, and he's at the hardware store now getting the things on John's list and some patch stuff for the wall."

"Well, if there's one thing an old drag queen is good at, it's patching up cracks. I'll let John know what happened and he'll check it out when he gets there."

"Okay, Pop!"

"I love you, Sonny Boy, now go finish up your homework."

"How? How did you know that I was doing my homework?"

"Who am I, Gus?"

"My dad."

"And..."

"Ooohhh! Brian Kinney," Gus said with a chuckle, rolling his eyes at the phone.

"That's right. I know all and reveal nothing. Now stop rolling your eyes and say goodbye, Gus."

"Goodbye, Gus!" Gus said as he cut the connection. Father and son had a good laugh.

"Dada, is Gus hurt bad?" Bree was completing her homework assignment, a drawing of Martin Luther King when Gus had called. She got the gist of Brian's end of the conversation.

"No, sweetheart, he isn't. He twisted his arm but he's fine and you'll see him at Grandma Debbie's tomorrow."

Bree stared at her Dada's face trying to determine if Brian wasn't just saying that. Her little eyes narrowed with her hard gaze.

"Squirt, your Dada doesn't lie. I'll call him later and check in with Grandpa Danny. You heard me say, if Gus isn't feeling better by tomorrow night, I'll stay over and take him first thing Monday morning to the doctor. I promise."

Bree climbed up into her Dada's lap for assurance.

"I promise, Squirt, your brother is fine." Bree wrapped her little arms around her Dada's neck and held on tight.

"Okay, Dada."

 

*****

 

The girls had just finished the wine tasting tour at the San Sebastian Winery and were feeling no pain. Fortunately that had decided to walk there. The long walk back to the B & B would sober them up.

"Do you think we should call home?" Melanie asked as she hiccupped.

"Nope! They'll call if anything happens," Lindsay slurred back.

They purchased a couple of bottles to share later and a bunch of munchies in the winery's store. Settling their backpacks and holding onto each other for support, the tipsy lovers stumbled their way back to the Piece of Plenty.

 

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