Chapter 6

Day 3 (continued)

The taxi pulled up in front of Lindsay and Melanie's house. Brian stepped out after paying the driver. Rather than having John pick him up, Brian decided to meet John at the house. He walked up to the front door. Just as he arrived there, it swung open and JR came charging out. She ran up to Brian and threw her arms around his waist.

"Whoa! What's going on?" Brian demanded, as he tried to prevent himself from staggering backwards from the force of the onslaught.

"Can I come home with you, Uncle Brian?" she asked.

"Home? With me? What's going on?"

"I want to go home with you and Gus. Gus says he's going to your place if we don't have any water, and I want to go too."

"Easy, Jenny Rebecca," Brian said gently. "Gus is not coming to Edna's Treasures. He has school, and the cottage is too far away for him to commute every day. It would be too far for you too."

"But we have to go somewhere. Grandpa Danny says we can go to his place, but I'd rather go to your place," JR replied. "Please!"

"Um … let's go inside and talk to the others about this. Maybe you won't have to go anywhere."

Brian and JR walked inside the house.

"Hey, Mr. Kinney," Ronny said with that winning smile, as he came down the stairs.

"What's going on with the plumbing?" Brian demanded.

"We found some really old pipes that are either leaking or on the verge of leaking. John and I have been talking about upgrading all the plumbing. It would make this house much more solid and prevent some future disasters."

Brian groaned. This was getting to be way bigger than anything he had ever imagined. He just wanted to fix the fucking knob in the shower.

"Where's my brother?" he demanded.

"In the basement, I think."

Brian headed for the basement with JR dogging his steps. "Jenny Rebecca, you need to stay up here while I talk to John."

"But I want to hear," JR pouted.

"Stay. Here," Brian said forcefully.

JR looked like she wanted to cry but she went into the living room, flopped down on the couch and crossed her arms in that defiant, annoyed way that mimicked Michael so well. Brian had to smile.

"I'll take your wishes under advisement," Brian said gently. JR stared at him. "Okay?" he asked.

JR sighed. "Okay, Uncle Brian."

Brian made his way down to the basement where he found John studying some pipes and wires. "Don't tell me the electrical system is all shot to hell and needs to be replaced too," Brian said with a groan.

"It could stand to be, but there's nothing pressing about it at the moment," John chuckled, as the relief on Brian's face was evident.

"Thank the fucking gods!"

"Did Ronny tell you the good news about the plumbing?"

"I didn't hear any good news," Brian said surprised.

"I was being facetious," John laughed. "Really, we do need to replace these pipes. They could blow at any moment. The work to clean that up and fix the house will be triple what it will cost to replace them right now."

Brian sighed. "Fuck," he muttered. "Okay, if that's what you think," he added in a resigned voice.

"It's what I know, not what I think, and it would definitely be the right decision to make the improvements now."

"But what about having this all fixed before Lindsay and Melanie come back?"

"I think that's still doable. One of my crews is just finishing up a job. They could start day after tomorrow. If Ronny and his guys start today, we can have everything back to normal by the time the girls return."

Brian looked thoughtfully at his brother. "Do it," was all he said.

"Yes, sir," John chuckled.

"JR tells me that there won't be any water, and Danny wants them all to live at his place for a few days."

"That's right. Things will go faster and easier if they aren't living here while we're doing the renovations."

"But how are we going to keep this from Lindz when she calls every night?"

John thought for a minute. "Have JR call to wish them good night. If the kids call and beat the girls to the punch, they won't know where the call is coming from."

"I guess that could work," Brian said slowly.

"Why don't you just tell them?" John asked. "Since you're so worried they're going to find out."

"Because they would want to pay, and then they'd say they can't afford their vacation and the renovations, and then they'd be on the next plane home, and then it would all be my fault that they didn't get the time away together that they needed."

John chuckled because he knew Brian was right. "And whose fault will it be when they find out about the renovations."

"Mine."

John laughed louder. "So what's the difference?"

"It's easier to get forgiveness than permission," Brian said with a straight face.

"Yeah, it is. I've learned that the hard way."

"So, figure out what the fuck needs to be done, and get this demolition job moving."

"Bite your tongue, little brother. I don't do demolitions," John pronounced indignantly. "I do restorations, just like I did for your cottage."

"I didn't mean to insult you," Brian said, genuinely sorry for insulting his brother. "It's just that this whole thing makes me want to tear the whole fucking place down and put up something from this century."

"And it wouldn't have half the charm this place does."

"It would if you designed it," Brian said with all sincerity.

"Thank you, little brother. You are now officially forgiven."

Brian grinned. "I meant that, you know."

"I know."

John pulled his brother into a hug.

*****

 

"Let's take a walk on the beach," Lindsay suggested. The beach was just outside of the Shark House and Lindsay wanted to walk off the meal they just had.

The January Florida sun was warm enough for just a sweatshirt or sweater.

"Beach? It's fucking freezing out, Lindz," Melanie groused.

"No, twenty degrees with minus five wind chills is freezing and that's what we left two days ago. Sixty-five in the sun is positively balmy. Now I'm going for a walk. You can wait at the bar for me if you like."

Lindsay turned to take the wooden stairs down to the beach. Melanie stood at the rail watching her go down.

"Lindz, wait for me," Mel called. She didn't want to further antagonize her partner.

Lindsay waited patiently with a smile. "Thank you," Lindsay said as she gave Mel a discreet peck on the cheek. They were quite alone on the beach so after walking a short distance, they felt free to hold hands.

"Lindsay, I don't want to fight anymore. What can I do to make our relationship better?"

Lindsay stopped to gaze out at the water. The surf was a little rough, making sport for windsurfers. A few daring surfers were trying their luck.

"Our lives have gotten to be like those surfers out there. Trying to ride the waves, but when the surf gets too rough, we back down, or rather I back down. Instead of telling you how I feel, I keep it all inside and our kids are suffering for it."

"I don't see them suffering. They're healthy, doing well in school."

"I imagine you don't see them suffering because you don't see them at all. When I had 'the talk' with Gus, he laughed because he said Grandma Debbie beat me to it. She didn't say much to him but instructed him regarding condoms and made him promise to wait until he turned eighteen. JR is obsessed with cleanliness. When she had a first period she was afraid to shower. You weren't around at the time so we had a nice chat, although it took her a while to decide that age old question."

"What age old question?"

"Tampons versus pads."

Melanie groaned. "My God, she is growing up. That never occurred to me."

"Mel, don't you remember when you were that young?"

"Yes, but I used whatever my mother told me to use. I was never really given a choice. My mother was a little strict about certain things. Lindz, how much more have I missed?"

"I'm not sure, but you can fix it. There's still time. Just take the time to spend with us. Come with us when JR and I go to the salon. And spend some time with Gus when he's doing his projects on the computer. Did you know he's seriously considering following in his father's footsteps."

"What, he wants to be a whore?"

"I won't stand for it if you continue to go on like this, Melanie. He hasn't been a whore, as you put it for over ten years. He's been a faithful, loving partner and a good father, to both our children. He's not competing for Gus' affections or JR's. They love him because he makes time for them and is honest with them. And I for one am very proud if Gus wants to join his father in his business. Kinnetik is very successful. I see nothing wrong with Gus emulating Brian."

Lindsay turned to walk away.

"Lindz, I'm sorry; you're right. Brian built that business from practically nothing. He's a generous and fair employer. Both Cynthia and Ted have joined the local business associates organization. They can't say enough good things about Kinnetik and the branches. And many of the execs are members of the GLC. They all have good things to say. I guess Gus couldn't do any better than following Brian's work ethics. I just can't believe a leopard can truly change his spots."

"Perhaps we all were looking at the wrong spots. We saw in Brian what we wanted to see and not the real Brian. I'm not saying he was perfect back then, far from it. But that was our fault. We never allowed him to change, and we put him down when he was changing."

"Except for Justin."

"True, Justin encouraged Brian's personal growth. As did Ben, Ted, Cynthia and even Emmett and Hunter. Mel, I know you love our children, I know you love me but sometimes you must put us first. It's not all work."

"I can't work from home like Brian does."

"I'm not asking you to. But you could come home by seven three or four days a week instead of after nine every night. Start small, have dinner with us some time."

Melanie nodded as some of what Lindsay was trying to say sunk in.

"Let's head back; I'd like to see the Lightener Museum if it's still open."

The girls returned to the parking lot of the Shark House to drive back to St. Augustine.

*****

 

"You're awfully quiet," John said as he drove the Navigator back toward Edna's Treasures.

"Just thinking," Brian said with a sigh.

"About?"

"The girls' house, JR and Gus. Things."

"Is Justin included in those 'things'?"

"Always, number one on the list."

"Brian, whatever it is, you'll work it out. You always do."

"Yeah, we will," Brian said with a small smile. They would work it out, whatever it was. "Now, if we can only work out getting that house in shape before the bitch comes home."

"Brian, that 'bitch' is JR's mother and you love JR. Cut her some slack."

"If I have to."

"Big baby."

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Not."

"Too!"

The brothers broke out in very unmanly giggles as they managed to get home to the cottage in time for dinner.

*****

 

Dinner was a rather quiet affair for Brian, Justin and Bree. The little girl did most of the talking, telling them about her day at school.

"Sally and me," Bree started her next part of the story.

"Sally and I," Brian corrected.

"Sally and I played hide and seek at recess. All those big piles of snow are really good places to hide," Bree explained knowledgeably.

"Are they?" Brian asked. He watched Justin who was picking at his food, pushing it around the plate and eating very little. Obviously whatever had bothered Justin that morning was still bothering him. Brian held back a sigh. They were going to have to talk, and he still hated talking when it involved emotions and upset feelings and all that kind of shit. He was no good at it, never had been. And it was probably all his fault.

"Dada, Dada," Bree repeated, trying to get Brian's attention.

"Yes, Squirt." Brian tried to focus on his daughter, when his brain was shifting away to what he had to deal with as far as Justin was concerned.

"Are you listening?"

"Yes."

Bree frowned. "Then, Sally can come over to play this weekend?"

"Who's Sally?"

Bree let out a long suffering sigh, so much like her Dada was wont to do. "My friend."

"Oh?" Brian said still staring at Justin who was staring at his plate.

"So, Sally can come over?"

"Um … why don't you ask Daddy?" Brian suggested, hoping to draw Justin into what was going on, and stop him from pushing the small piece of potato around and around on his plate. The noise of the fork scraping on the porcelain surface had put Brian's teeth on edge. He was going to say something really vile if it didn't stop and soon.

"Daddy?"

"Yes, sweetheart," Justin said absently.

"Can Sally come over to play this weekend?"

"Who's Sally?"

Bree sighed once again. "My friend?" She looked from one father to the other. Something was definitely going on. They usually talked and laughed at dinner. Tonight nobody was saying nothing and they weren't even listening to her. She was used to being the center of attention.

"We'll see," Justin said non-committally.

"But I need to know, Daddy," Bree wheedled.

"Later," Justin said.

"Pleeeeeeeeeease," Bree said stretching it out for many syllables.

"Stop that! NOW!" Justin ordered in a testy voice.

Bree sat up straight and stared in disbelief at her father. He never talked to her like that. "Dada," she cried, looking for support from her other father.

"Justin, that was uncalled for," Brian said softly.

"Of course, it was. Everything I do is wrong. When I try to discipline our daughter, you take her side. No wonder she thinks the sun rises and sets on you, and I'm just the fucking hired help." Justin stood up and threw his napkin on the table. He went towards the front door where Brian heard him scrabbling around. A moment later the front door slammed.

"Justin," Brian called, but he knew it was too late. Justin had left the house. He waited to see if the car started, but there was no sound from any vehicle. Justin must have decided to walk off his mad.

"Dada," Bree whimpered. "I sorry."

"It's not your fault, Squirt. It's mine."

"Where's Daddy going?"

"For a walk."

Bree slid off her chair and climbed onto Brian's lap. "When will he be back?"

"In a while," Brian said as he gave her a hug. He hoped it would be just a while. He hated when they fought, and he was now one hundred percent sure that a fight was brewing.



 

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