Be Careful What You Wish For

Chapter 12

“Hi Emmett...no, I haven’t spoken to him yet. I haven’t found the right time. Yes, I know you’ll help and organize the family. Emm, we’re just about to sit down to dinner. He’s a little testy right now. Yes, I did take care of him. No, I will not give you details. Emmett, I do not kiss and tell. Emm, they’re waiting, I gotta go. Okay! I promise to ask him at dinner.”

“Is that Auntie Emm on the phone, Daddy?” Bree asked as she came into the kitchen to get the silverware the family would need for the soup and salad. She knew very well who was on the phone.

“I’m hanging up now,” Justin said as he quickly hung up the phone. “Yes it was, baby girl.” Justin had the bowls and napkins ready to take them out to the porch.

“What did he want?”

“He wants me to ask your Dada about having a barbecue on the Memorial Day weekend.”

“Oh. I can ask Dada for you, Daddy.”

“Thank you sweetheart but I think I can handle it. Let’s go set the table.”

“Okay, Daddy.”

Bree and Justin brought the bowls and cutlery out into the porch where John, Brian and Bobby had rearranged the dining table. It was now back in the middle of the room so that the family could eat dinner comfortably. Claire and Bree helped Justin set the table while the guys brought in the soup and the rest of dinner.

“Dada, what’s Memorial Day?” Bree asked innocently when there was a lull in the dinner conversation.

“It’s the day we remember the sacrifices the men and women of our armed services have made,” Brian answered matter-of-factly as he passed the salad. He placed extra cucumber slices on Bree’s plate.

“Oh,” Bree replied as she popped a cucumber slice into her mouth.

“Dada, why do we have a party on Memorial Day?”

“Because Memorial Day has become the unofficial start of the Summer season and we’ve made it a tradition to mark the day with a barbecue,” Brian said taking a sip of Justin’s flavorful soup.

“Oh. Are we going to have a barbecue this year, Dada?” Bree asked, automatically batting her long blond lashes up at her father. John and Bobby started to snicker, attempting to hide behind their spoons. Justin sighed, rolling his eyes then sending a brief glare at his manipulative daughter. Patrick wisely remained quiet. Brian knew he was being played.

“I’m not so sure. Gamma Joan needs peace and quiet so she can get better, Squirt,” he said nonchalantly, sending his own death glare toward his brother and brother-in-law. “A barbecue may be too much for her.” Joan was about to object when Brian narrowed his eyes at her. Joan took a sip of soup instead. Claire had no clue what was going on.

“Oh. But, Dada, if I let Gamma Joan sleep with my grey bunny and she gets better really, really fast then can we have a party? And Auntie Emm said he would help.”

“He said that, did he? And when did you speak to Auntie Emm?”

“I didn’t, Dada. Daddy did, just before dinner,” Bree said with a big smile. Justin’s eyes grew very wide then he gulped. Brian slowly turned toward his spouse.

Clearing his throat, Justin smiled innocently then batted his lashes at Brian. John and Bobby cracked up. “Brian, Emmett suggested we celebrate Joan’s road to recovery and it would be a great way of introducing Richie to the whole family.” Justin flashed his sunniest smile.

“Uh huh,” Brian deadpanned. “And when were you planning to tell me?”

“I was waiting for the right time to discuss it, but someone beat me to it,” Justin said as he gave Bree a pointed look. “You know we haven’t had the whole family over in a long time. And the family’s been growing.”

"The guys could use a good barbecue too,” John added.

“The guys?” Brian asked.

“My crews. They’ve been working day and night in shifts on the new school project. They really need a good party to boost their spirits.”

“Greaaat. So instead of cooking for a hundred and fifty, I’ll be cooking for two hundred and fifty. Our plumbing can only take so much,” Brian griped.

“Not to worry, I’ll have the guys bring a few port-a-potties,” John said waiting for his brother’s response. He didn’t have long to wait. Brian’s eyebrows rose into his hairline. “I’ll have them set back far from your garden so they don’t offend your delicate esthetic sensibilities.” John had read his brother correctly. “And you know the guys will bring extra grills and the food to go with it.”

“And where are we going to put all these people?”

“Brian, it’s not like we have the only cottage in the neighborhood,” Bobby contributed.

“Red, you have a true gift for understatement.”

“Come on, Bri, you know most of the family won’t stay the night. They’ll all go home,” Bobby continued.

“Eventually.”

“You’re just being an ass. Debbie will probably show up in her moving motel. My sister’s house is practically empty and the gang is all used to doubling up. Now we have Molly’s cottage and the girls’ place.”

“I know, Red, but Joan...”

“Brian, I have a check up with my surgeon and the cardiologist next Friday.”

“I’m taking you,” Brian quickly demanded.

“As you wish. We’ll ask the doctors’ opinion. But Brian, even if they suggest that I don’t attend, there’s no reason why you have to break with tradition and not have your barbecue. If I do attend and get tired, I can come in and lay down in Briana’s room.”

“Brian, if it’s too noisy on this side of the cottage, Joan can certainly rest in our room. It’s on the other side of the house and quiet,” John offered.

“Bri, my father will most likely come; he’s still a practicing doctor. Hunter and Nick will probably be here too. That’ll make two doctors to keep an eye on Joan if necessary,” Bobby added.

Brian sighed; he was beginning to buckle under the pressure.

“Mom, what do you think?” Brian turned toward Joan. Claire was watching the whole exchange with fascination.

“Brian, the holiday isn’t for two weeks. I have no doubt I’ll be feeling so much better by then, if not, then I’ll spend it at home. I’m sure Claire or Danny will be around to help.”

Claire nodded in agreement.

“You know, for a woman who’s been homophobic for most of her adult life, you sure get along with that old queen,” Brian grumbled.

“He keeps me in touch with my feminine side,” Joan deadpanned without hesitation.

Brian gave his mother an incredulous look as the guys cracked up with laughter. After a moment, Brian and Joan joined in as well. Then Patrick and Bree began to laugh. They had no idea what their parents were laughing at; they were just happy that their parents were happy.

“Okay, okay, I know when I’m outnumbered. Sunshine, after dinner, call Emmett and tell him...Justin, what’s the problem?” Brian noticed that Justin was squirming in his seat.

“My phone is vibrating in my pocket,” Justin replied as he took out his phone. Quickly looking at the caller ID and noting it was Emmett, Justin passed the phone to Brian.

Brian scowled as he noted the number. “What the fuck do you want, Honeycutt? And before you ask me, the Memorial Day love fest is on. Go start the tongues wagging on the gay grapevine.” Brian quickly held the phone away from his ear when he heard the loud squee. He snapped the phone shut then handed it back to Justin. “Maybe now we can finish our dinner in peace before the soup gets cold,” Brian mumbled as he picked up his spoon. The family nodded, murmuring their agreement as dinner resumed.

“Dada, what’s the gay grapevine?” Bree asked with big wide innocent eyes. Brian sighed then hung his head as the family snickered.

 

*****
 

“Richie,” Emmett crowed. “That was Brian, and the Memorial Day barbecue is a go.”

“Oh, great,” Richie said in a rather subdued fashion.

“Hey, I thought you were looking forward to meeting everyone.”

“I … what if they don’t like me?” Richie asked, the trepidation clear in his voice.

“They’re going to love you,” Emmett assured the boy.

“Of course they will,” Drew added.

They had just finished dinner and were cleaning up.

“You don’t know that,” Richie said stubbornly. “My own parents hate me.”

Emmett flinched. This was the first time they had heard Richie really mention his parents. “You don’t know our friends,” Emmett said trying to make the boy feel better. “They’re a bunch of misfits. They’ll love you, just like Drew and I do.”

“You … you think I’m a misfit too,” Richie stammered. Tears welled in his eyes and started down his cheeks. “I’m a freak. Everybody but freaks hates me, and they probably will too.” Richie ran to the bedroom he had learned to love and slammed the door behind him.

“What did I say?” Emmett asked in bewilderment. “I didn’t call him a freak, did I?”

“By implication,” Drew said carefully, “maybe you did.”

“Oh fuck, Drewsie! What am I going to do?”

“He’ll get over it.”

“I better go talk to him,” Emmett replied horror in his eyes.

“Let me,” Drew said.

“Are you sure? I created this mess. How could I have been so stupid?” Emmett was ready to take full blame. Everything had been going so well up to now. Trust him to wreck everything. “I should try to explain.”

“Babe, let me. You might make it worse.”

“Fuck!”

“I know. I’ll be as careful with what I say as I can be.”

“Okay, if you’re sure,” Emmett conceded.

“All I can do is try.”

“Good luck, sweetie,” Emmett replied kissing Drew’s cheek and receiving a much needed hug in return.

Drew walked over to the door to Richie’s room. “Richie,” he called as he tapped on the door.

“Leave me alone. You don’t want to be around a freak … and neither does anyone else.”

“You’re not a freak. I’m coming in.”

Drew turned the knob and found the door unlocked. He smiled when he realized that Richie wasn’t really locking them out of his life. The boy obviously needed some reassurance about his place in the world, just as Drew had suspected. Drew walked into the room.

“Richie,” he said gently

“What?” was the response from the huddled mass on the bed.

“We don’t think you’re a freak.”

“Yes you do, everybody does,” Richie said defiantly as he rolled over to face Drew. His cheeks were stained with the tears he had already shed.

“Richie, there’s something I think you need to understand,” Drew said sitting down on the edge of Richie’s bed.

“I understand,” the boy gulped. “You want me to leave, don’t you?”

“We most certainly do not!” Drew said emphatically. “So erase that idea from your head.”

“Really?” Richie asked searching Drew’s eyes for confirmation that they still wanted him. “You’re not going to send me away?”

“We just got you,” Drew said with a little chuckle. “Let’s give it a little time … at least a day or two.”

“Meaning that you might send me away later?” Richie asked.

Drew sighed. “We have no intention of sending you away, not now, not ever.”

Richie frowned. “Even if I’m not perfect, even if I screw up?”

“Even if…” Drew said reaching out to touch Richie’s shoulder. “And we don’t expect you to be perfect. Nobody’s perfect.”

“But I’m so … not perfect.” Richie looked like he was ready to cry again.

“I like you just the way you are … and Emmett loves you. We don’t want you to change, Richie. We just want you to be happy.”

“For real?” Richie asked.

“Totally for real.”

“But … what about your friends? They’re going to hate me.”

“They don’t even know you, Richie. Just be yourself, and everything will be fine.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do know that,” Drew stated. “I know these people. When Emmett said that they were misfits, it wasn’t a slight to you or them. We’ve all had our problems with family or friends or people at work.” Drew remembered the reaction of his teammates when he came out.

“Even you?” Richie asked. He knew that Drew was a famous jock. How could his life be bad?

“Even me. Many of the people you’ll meet at the barbecue are gay. They’ve had problems with discrimination. There are others who have had tough lives because of prejudice from others … or because of their own prejudices. Everybody has a story, Richie. Let them tell you. Accept what they have to say and they’ll accept you.”

“You think so?” Richie asked with a hopeful expression on his face.

“I think so,” Drew said squeezing the boy’s shoulder.

“Okay, I’ll try.”

“That’s all we ask.”

Richie got up from the bed ready to apologize to Emmett for his outburst. Maybe this family could work out after all. “Do you think Emmett is mad at me?” Richie asked as he paused at the door of the bedroom.

Drew chuckled. “If I know my man, and I do, he’s been listening outside the door ever since I came in here. Right, Emmett?” Drew called through the door.

“Just passing by, Drewsie,” Emmett replied from the other side of the door, causing Drew to laugh out loud.

Richie pulled the door open.

“Emmett, I’m sorry…”

“Richie, I’m sorry…” They both tried to talk at the same time. “Sweetie, I didn’t mean to upset you or have you think that I think that you’re a freak. I don’t think that at all. I think you are exactly what you’re supposed to be,” Emmett gushed as he pulled the slender boy into a hug worthy of Debbie.

“Um … Emmett, I need to breathe,” Richie gasped after a minute.

“Oh, sorry, sweetie,” Emmett said releasing the boy. “Am I forgiven for … everything?”

“Yeah,” Richie said with a grin. “Mr. Drew says I should just accept your friends and they’ll accept me.”

“And Mr. Drew is absolutely right. He’s the smartest man in the whole world.”

“Better not let Brian hear you say that,” Drew reminded his husband.

“I have no intention of telling his royal highness. What Brian Kinney doesn’t know won’t hurt us,” Emmett giggled.

“Good plan,” Drew said wrapping an arm around Emmett.

Richie watched the two men. He still had some misgivings about this barbecue thing, but maybe it wouldn’t be so bad … as long as he didn’t piss off Brian Kinney.

 

*****
 

“Brian, I think I should go to bed,” Joan said looking rather drained.

The whole family had sat around after dinner, talking and thinking about the logistics of a big Memorial Day bash.

“You look tired, Mom,” Brian said gently.

“I am.”

“I still think this Memorial Day extravaganza may be too much for you,” Brian said as he helped his mother to stand. She leaned heavily against him as they walked towards Bree’s bedroom. It reminded Brian that his mother was no spring chicken. He wondered if she’d ever be back to the strong woman he had always known … and disliked for so much of his life. Shaking his head at that bad memory, he looked into her face for reassurance.

“This is my first day out of the hospital,” Joan said while they walked slowly down the hall. “I’m going to get stronger every day. I’ll be back to normal before you know it.”

“Are you sure?” Brian asked with a frown. “I can cancel this Memorial Day nonsense.”

“Thank you for offering, son, but I’m actually looking forward to it.”

“You are?”

“Remember what you said about getting along with Danny … the old queen, to quote you?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I also get along quite well with the rest of the queens in your family. In fact I quite like them all.”

Brian shook his head. “Who would have thought?” He lowered his mother onto the edge of Bree’s bed.

“I know you never would have thought such a thing would happen … and not so long ago it would have been inconceivable to me.” Joan gave a self-conscious chuckle.

“I’m glad those old days are long gone,” Brian replied, handing his mother her nightie.

“Me too,” Joan said sincerely.

“Gamma Joan,” Bree’s voice called from the other side of the bedroom door. “Can I come in?”

“Of course, sweetheart,” Joan said.

“You okay, Gamma?” Bree asked hugging her grey bunny to her chest.

“I’m fine, just tired,” Joan said with a smile.

“Take my bunny to sleep with you, Gamma. He’ll make you feel better.”

“Are you sure you don’t need him?”

“Nope, I’m fine too.” Bree grinned at her grandmother.

“Even sleeping in Gus’ room.”

“I like Gus’ room. He’ll be home soon.”

“And you can’t wait to see him, can you?”

“Nope, I love Gus.”

“I know you do,” Joan said gently.

“I love you too, Gamma. Get better real soon.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Take bunny, Gamma.”

“Thank you, dear. I’m sure he’ll help me sleep,” Joan said accepting the fluffy bunny from Bree. “Have you got everything you need in Gus’ room?”

“Yep, me and Daddy moved all my stuff over there.”

“You are all so thoughtful. Thank you,” Joan said sincerely.

“Okay, Squirt, out!” Brian ordered. “Your grandma is tired. She wants to go to sleep.”

“Yes, Dada,” Bree said with a mock salute so reminiscent of Brian that Joan laughed out loud.

“She is so your daughter,” Joan said.

“I know. Scary, isn’t it?”

“Not scary at all. It’s lovely actually,” Joan said softly. Brian smiled at his mother.
 

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