Chapter 4

Day 2 (continued)

"So what's the verdict?" Danny asked as John and the hot gay plumber guy came downstairs. John shook Ronny's hand then showed the younger man out. John had a frown on his face.

"Well the good news is that you can use the shower," John answered.

"And the bad news?" Brian snarked.

"The pipes in the wall are shot, they all need to be replaced. That means tile and plaster work. Ronny and his company can handle the plumbing but we will need someone to complete the repair."

"John," Brian began.

"I know, Bri, this is the tip of the iceberg. I already called Gordon. He's going to send over a few men including our electricians. The leak damaged some wiring. Danny, I want to be here early in the morning, any problem with that?"

"Not at all, my late night days are long over. We're up early for school," Danny said as the kids nodded in agreement.

"Good. We may need you to make some hardware store runs for us, to speed things along. I don't think the girls would appreciate coming home to a construction zone, so I want all the repairs to be done before they get back," John said seriously.

"Speaking about the girls, should we tell them?" Danny asked looking back and forth from the brothers to the kids.

"No," Brian said emphatically. "I don't want them to know. They'd be on the first plane back and they need this time alone. John, can you promise me we can get it all fixed before they get back?"

"Barring any other major disasters, we can have it all done in a few days."

"Then we don't tell them anything until they're home," Brian said in full 'in charge' mode. Everyone agreed.

"Um, Dad?"

"What is it, Gus?"

"The moms left us some money for groceries and things but..."

"Not to worry, Gus, I'll take care of it. But you guys will have to be in charge of the clean up crew."

"We can handle it, Pop!"

JR bobbed her head along with Gus.

"Okay, people, we all have our assignments. I suggest we snap to it," Brian exclaimed with a practiced air of authority.

"Brian, John, would you like to stay for dinner?" Danny asked, forever the congenial host.

"No thank you, we better get back to the cottage. If John and I are going to be here on and off for the next two weeks, I want to make sure we're prepared." Brian was thinking they might stay at the loft but he really didn't want to. John and he had spent four days there just before Christmas and it wasn't all fun and games. John knew this too and was prepared for a lot of driving back and forth from Edna's Treasures and Pittsburgh.

"Brian, you don't have to be here," John said putting his brother at ease. "We have good men here; they know what I expect." Brian was proud of his brother who was now in complete 'foreman in charge' mode. And he had complete faith in him.

"Don't worry, Pop, me and Ronny have an understanding. We're cool," Gus beamed, and JR rolled her eyes.

"Uh huh, just what I'm afraid of. I think you and I need to have a chat," Brian, now in full dad mode, said as he grabbed his son by the scruff of the neck then steered him up to his room. "Excuse us," Brian said to the room.

"JR, go do your homework. John, would you like a cup of coffee before you leave?" Danny, in granny mode, took over. JR went to get her books as John followed the aging queen into the kitchen.

 

*****

 

"Sit," Brian said sternly to his son, pointing to the bed.

"Pop, I..."

Brian cut him off with a raise of his eyebrow. "I talk, you listen then we discuss." Brian waited for Gus to acknowledge him before he continued. "Gus, I'm not so old that I don't remember what it's like to be young with raging hormones and wanting to 'do' every hot guy I see."

"Dad..."

Another arch of the brow stopped Gus. "Yeah, I know he's hot. Believe me, before Justin, I'd have had some definite plans for that ass but you're too young and he's too old for you."

"But I'm almost Justin's age when he met you and there's an age difference between you two."

"Gus, Justin was legal when I met him."

"Barely."

"Gus!"

"Okay, but I don't understand why it was okay for you and not for me."

Brian sighed loudly then sat next to his son. "Gus, do you know what gay sex is all about?"

"Yes I do!" Gus answered quickly and got another arch of his father's brow. "Sort of, I mean I know it involves, well you know and um, two guys and condoms and lots of lube and..."

"Gus, do you think you're really ready for sex if you can't even say the words?"

"Dad, sometimes I think I'm ready and sometimes I don't and sometimes it kinda hurts. You know?"

"Yeah, I know," Brian said as he pulled Gus closer into a hug. "You've had the talk with the moms."

Gus chuckled. He had had the talk with his moms and with his dad and with Grandma Debbie who was practically at the head of the line. She had given him his first condom and instructions on how to use it. But that's as far as it went. She popped him in the head then told him no tricks until he was eighteen. Gus agreed in fear of a concussion.

"Yes, Dad. I've had the talk, many times. But..."

"You have questions."

"Yeah, I want to know what it feels like."

"To fuck or to make love?" Brian decided to be brutally honest as always.

"I don't know; is there a difference?"

"When I was your age and before Justin, the answer was no. I had no idea what love was or how to make love. All I knew was that I liked fucking and took every opportunity to do it."

"The stud."

"Yeah, the stud. I was a top and nothing, no one, could stop me."

"Except for Justin."

"Except for Justin. It wasn't easy for him to get through to me. I was a fool and stubborn, nothing worse than a stubborn fool who thought with his dick rather than his brain. And I tried to drag Justin down with me. Fortunately he's smarter than that."

"Oh Dad, you're smart."

"Maybe, but I had some lessons to learn and thank the gods, Justin hung around as I learned them. Gus, you, Bree and Justin are the most important people in my life. I'd die if anything happened to any of you, including you learning the hard way about 'the life'." Brian hugged his son closer. "Gus, when you're ready, truly ready, I'll tell you what you need to know. But don't be in such a hurry. There are plenty of hot plumbers out there ready and willing to wait for another Kinney."

Father and son shared a chuckle.

"Just do me a favor."

"What, Pop?"

"Be a top."

Gus burst out laughing. "Okay, Pop, for you, I'll be a top." Brian sighed happily then gave his son a squeeze.

"Um, Pop?"

"Yeah?"

"What's a top?" Brian groaned then flopped back onto the bed as Gus broke out in giggles.

 

*****

 

"Hey Lindz, let's walk off that dinner," Melanie suggested. The girls had just had a great meal at the A1A Ale House and both were feeling rather full.

"Sure, it's a beautiful night. I can use the walk."

The girls strolled up the main street then began to explore some of the side streets. That's when they came upon the 'Love Tree'.

"It says that the palm tree is growing inside the oak," Melanie remarked as she read from the tourist guide.

"Or the oak is growing around the palm," Lindsay said as she looked up at the unusual trees.

"Is there a difference?"

"I think there is."

"I don't think so," Mel said and began to walk away. The trees weren't that interesting to her.

"No, I don't suppose you would," Lindsay muttered to herself.

 

*****

 

"Bri?"

"Hmm?"

Brian and Justin were snuggled together in their bedroom. It had been a long day for everyone at Edna's Treasures. And promised to be a busy two weeks.

"What happened today? You're very quiet." Brian snorted. "More quiet than usual," Justin qualified his statement.

"John told you about the plumber?"

"Yeah, he said he was hot. Something about a nice ass."

"I didn't notice," Brian fibbed a little. "Much," Brian quickly redeemed himself. Justin giggled. "Gus noticed. He noticed big time. He's itching to get out there, Jus. He's too young. I don't want him to get hurt."

"Brian, he's almost the same age as..."

"So he reminded me. But he's not you and he's not ready. He can't even say the words let alone do them. And he has no idea there's a difference between making love and fucking."

"There's a difference?" Justin joked, lightly smacking Brian's chest.

"Yes, there is and I ought to know because you taught me."

"I'm so smart," Justin quipped.

"Yes, you are," Brian stated then kissed his lover on the nose.

"Did you convince him to wait?"

"I think so. Made him promise to be the top."

"Oh, Brian!" Justin started laughing. "Only you," Justin said as he rolled on top of his husband. "Only you," Justin repeated as he kissed Brian's lips. The lovers felt themselves growing harder as their kiss deepened.

"Make love to me, Justin," Brian whispered as he held Justin close to his heart.

"You sure?" Justin whispered.

"Yes. Like the first time," Brian answered softly in the dark and security of their room, spreading his legs inviting Justin in.

Justin slowly and leisurely made love to Brian using every trick and technique he had learned from Brian over the years, making sure his husband was completely and totally loved.

Afterwards, sweaty and sticky with the combined evidence of their loving, they basked in the aftermath.

"Thank you, Sunshine," Brian said as his brain cells were trying to regroup.

"For what?"

"For loving me."

"I have no choice but to love you. You're the other half of me, the other half of my soul. I'll always love you." In the dark the lovers found each other's hand and entwined their fingers.

"Jus, are you in love with me?"

"Yes," Justin answered without hesitation.

"Good, because I'm in lo..."

"Shhh, you don't have to say it." Justin placed one finger over Brian's lips.

"But..."

"I feel it, Bri. I've always felt it. I don't need the words anymore. I know it in here, in my heart." Justin took Brian's hand to place it on his chest.

"I am in love with you, Justin, and nothing will ever change that."

The lovers cuddled closer.

"We're going to be glued together by the morning," Justin said as he yawned. Sleep was about to claim them both.

"Good," was all that Brian said as he held Justin even tighter. "I love you Justin Taylor-Kinney. I love you."

Brian felt Justin's smile against his chest.

"I love you," Brian said once more as they both drifted off to sleep.

 

*****

 

"Would you care for a glass of wine, Miss Lindsay?" Seamus offered the tall blond as she came down from the room she shared with Melanie. After their heavy meal and long day, Melanie had succumbed to the call of the large soft bed and had fallen asleep almost immediately.

"Yes, I'd like that. I hope I'm not disturbing you. I couldn't sleep."

"Not at all and it's not that late. I wouldn't mind a little company whilst I have a wee dram." Lindsay smiled as Seamus' accent became more pronounced. "Come and sit with me out on the veranda."

Lindsay followed her host outside. There was a cool breeze. January in Florida could be quite cool at night.

"Do you need a blanket?" Seamus offered.

"I'm fine," Lindsay answered as she sipped her wine.

"If you don't mind me saying, I don't think you're all that fine, physical beauty aside, I mean."

"You seem to be a very wise man."

"Your Brian seemed to think so."

"Yes, I think he would."

"I have strong shoulders and two good ears."

"Have you ever been with someone so long that it just became habit and maybe not love?"

"No, I can't honestly say that I have, but many who have come here have been in your predicament."

"What happened?"

"Most of my guests have gone back to their lives with a better understanding of what they want out of life."

"Now I know you've kissed the Blarney Stone," Lindsay laughed.

"Miss Lindsay, it takes two to make a relationship work and neither party can take the other for granted. That much I do know." Lindsay nodded as she drained her glass.

"A wee bit more of the grape?" Seamus offered as he held up the bottle.

"Don't mind if I do," Lindsay said as she held up her glass to be filled.

The cool breeze was nothing compared to the chill that was beginning to invade her heart.


 

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