Be Careful What You Wish For

Chapter 13

“Brian,” Joan began just before her son left the bedroom.

“Yes?”

“I wasn’t sure if I should have mentioned it at dinner but I couldn’t help notice that Bree lost a tooth.”

“Yes, she has and I’m kind of glad that you didn’t mention it.”

“Oh? Why?”

Brian sat at the edge of the bed before answering. “There was a little drama associated with the loss of the tooth, but now that you’re here I believe it’s all been forgotten. Nothing serious, just an altercation with a baseball. Patrick had a run in with the same ball. That night the two of them were wearing ice packs for a while. But they got over it.”

“Children often do.”

“Go to sleep, Mom. I’ll see you in the morning. I’ll bring in a breakfast tray.”

“I’d rather sit at the table,” Joan said stubbornly.

“Let’s see how you feel in the morning, okay?” Brian offered as a bit of a compromise.

“All right. Good night, Brian.”

“Sleep well, Mom. Call us if you need anything,” Brian said as he turned off the light.

“I will,” Joan said with a yawn, closing her eyes. Brian left the room, shutting the door behind him.

 

*****
 

“So have you decided where you’re going to sleep tonight?” Brian asked Claire. He wasn’t in any mood for her complaints.

“Why do you always have to be argumentative?”

“I’m not being argumentative. I’ve had a bitch of a week and I want to go to bed with my partner.”

“Who’s stopping you?”

“You! Now, choose a bed and plant your ass in it so I can go to bed.”

“It’s too early for me to go to sleep. I usually watch TV at this time. I’m surprised you want to go to sleep so early.”

“Who said I was going to sleep,” Brian said with a smirk.

“TMI.”

“You’re the one who started it. Claire, I don’t want to argue. Joan’s gone to bed. The guys are on their side of the cottage. Bree’s with Patrick for a while then she’ll go to bed in Gus’ room. You’re welcome to the brass bed in the porch or the futon upstairs. I know for a fact that the futon is very comfortable but the brass bed has magical powers if you can believe half the family. If you keep the screens fully expanded you’ll have complete privacy.”

“All right, you convinced me. Can I watch some TV for a while?”

“Sure. There’s a set in the living room.”

“Thanks.”

“Yeah.”

“Bri?” Claire said as her brother was walking away.

“What?”

“She’ll be okay, right?” Claire asked trying to hold in her tears. Brian took his sister into his arms.

“Yeah, I think so,” he said as he gave her a hug. “She has to be,” he whispered.

 

*****
 

“Emmett?”

“What is it, honey?”

“Thank you,” Richie said sincerely.

“For what?”

“For wanting me,” Richie said softly.

“Oh honey, you have no idea how long I’ve dreamed of having children. I just never thought it could happen. Thank you for taking a chance on us,” Emm said giving Richie a gentle hug. After a few minutes, Emmett informed Richie about his call to Ben.

“I spoke to Ben and he said he would be very happy to be your tutor. He said he’ll come by tomorrow morning. Maybe he can help you make sense of things.”

“I hope so. I really want you to be proud of me.”

“Sweetie, I want you to be proud of you. Speaking of pride. Have you ever gone to Pride?” Richie shook his head, no. “Would you like to?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Well, think about it. I’m planning to cater the party at the GLC, but I’d be proud to march with you.”

“You would?”

“Yes, I would. But we have plenty of time to discuss it. I think it’s time to turn in. What about you?”

“I think I’ll read for a while.”

“Okay, honey,” Emmett said as he gave Richie a pat on the back. “I need my beauty sleep. Night, honey.”

“Good night, Emmett,” Richie said with a smile. He was beginning to like it here with Emmett and Drew.

 

*****
 

“Everybody settled?” Justin asked as he came out of the bathroom rubbing his hair dry with a towel.

“Yeah, Bree is ensconced in the upper bunk in Gus’ room,” Brian said shaking his head.

“Upper bunk?”

“Yep, that’s where she wanted to be. She’s a big girl, you know.”

“I suppose that’s a direct quote from our precocious daughter.” Brian nodded. “She is growing up way too fast.”

“And she’s way too smart.”

“What are we going to do with her?”

“Pray that she doesn’t fall out of the top bunk?”

Justin laughed. “I don’t think she’ll fall out. I meant what are we going to do with her being so smart. She’s going to start asking some really difficult questions soon.”

“You mean the ones she’s been asking all this time haven’t been the difficult ones?”

“’Fraid not,” Justin chuckled. “They’re only going to get harder as time goes on.”

“Fuck!”

“It’s okay, big guy, you’ll do fine with answering Bree’s questions.”

“You should be the one answering them all,” Brian averred.

“What makes you think I know the answers any better than you do?”

“You always say the right thing to her.”

“And so do you.”

“I do?” Brian asked with a frown. “I feel like I never know what to say.”

“You’re always honest with her, Brian, and that’s the best thing you could do.”

Brian shrugged. “I hope you’re right.”

“I know I am,” Justin purred advancing towards Brian. He wrapped his arms around his husband and kissed him hard. “I love you, and you’re a great father. Never doubt that.”

“If you say so.”

“I say so, and I also say that you’re a great lover, so take me to bed.”

“Your wish is my command, my prince.”

Justin laughed as Brian threw him on the bed, ripped off his towel and proceeded to ravish him.

 

*****
 

“Gamma,” Bree whispered as she opened the door to her bedroom. There was no answer, so Bree pushed the door open and entered the room. She stared at her grandmother who was sleeping in her bed … with her grey bunny resting close by her side. “Gamma,” Bree said a little louder.

“Hm,” Joan muttered without fully waking up.

“Gamma, are you awake?”

“I am now,” Joan said opening her eyes.

“Are you okay, Gamma?” Bree asked standing beside the bed, but afraid to get too close.

“Did you come to check on me?” Bree bobbed her head in agreement. “That was nice of you,” Joan said with a smile.

“I was worried.”

“Were you? Were you maybe a little scared sleeping in a strange room?” Joan asked piecing together what had really brought Bree back to her bedroom.

“Maybe,” Bree replied, sounding a lot like Brian.

“Would you like to crawl in here with me?” Joan asked raising the edge of the sheet and quilt that covered her.

“Daddy and Dada said I shouldn’t.” Bree kept her distance from the bed. She knew she shouldn’t be in there bothering her grandmother. But she really missed her grey bunny … and she did want to make sure that Gamma Joan was okay.

“I’m kind of lonely in here too,” Joan said gently. “And your grey bunny missed you.”

“I missed him too,” Bree said with a smile. Her Gamma always knew how to make her feel better.

“So, what if you climb in here and we keep each other company?”

“Would … would that be all right?” Bree asked uncertainly. That was exactly what she’d like to do.

“I think it would be perfect,” Joan said.

“Me too,” Bree said happily as she climbed up onto the bed and slid down under the covers. “I love you, Gamma.”

“I love you too, sweetheart. Let’s go to sleep,” Joan said as she handed the grey bunny to the little girl. “You hold onto bunny so that he won’t be afraid.”

“’Kay, Gamma,” Bree replied snuggling down into the covers. “Night, night.”

“Night, sweetheart,” Joan said with a happy smile as she closed her own eyes.

 

*****
 

Claire stared up through the glass roof of the sun porch. Stars twinkled all around her and the big moon hung low in the sky. It was breathtaking. She could see why her brother loved it there so much. She wondered if he and Justin ever slept in the sun porch. It would be where she would sleep every night if she had the choice. In her tiny apartment the world seemed to close in on her. Here the world was wide and free and beautiful. With a smile on her face she closed her eyes and let peaceful sleep claim her.

 

*****
 

Beau raised his head from his mattress. The other body in the sun porch was finally settled. Everyone on both sides of the cottages seemed to be quiet. He cocked an ear to listen and be sure. When he found no noises out of the ordinary, he stood up and shook himself. He took a drink from his bowl and headed out through his doggie door to make his rounds. He looked up at the almost full moon and was tempted to bay at it, but he didn’t want to wake his humans. He shook himself before heading around the house and down the lane to check on the other buildings in his domain.

 

*****
 

“Oh fuck, Brian! Right there! Yeah!” Justin gasped as his orgasm ripped through him. He heard Brian groan as he came hard, following right behind Justin.

“That was a good one,” Brian said rolling away and then pulling Justin against him.

“Not bad for a couple of old guys,” Justin chuckled.

“Hey, speak for yourself. I refuse to get old.”

“Like you can stop it.”

“I can. My anti-aging cream works its miracle every day,” Brian declared.

“You are more handsome and a better lover than you were when I first met you,” Justin said kissing Brian’s hand as it rested across his chest holding him tight.

“Are you complaining about my prowess as a lover when we first met?” Brian asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Not at all,” Justin stated. “You weren’t my lover back then. You were an excellent fuck, as you so clearly told me.”

“True,” Brian replied.

“Now, you are my lover, and a most excellent one too.”

Brian smiled and nuzzled the blond hair that rested under his chin. “I’m still amazed that you’re here after all these years. I was sure you’d bail on me in a month or two.”

“Seems to me you were the one who kicked me out a time or two.”

“Yeah, we did have our problems back then.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” Justin chuckled.

“No regrets?” Brian asked.

“Nary a one. I loved you then and I love you now … more, if that’s possible.”

“You’re going to make me weep,” Brian said with as much sarcasm as he could muster.

Justin smiled to himself. He had hit the soft spot in Brian’s heart with his words. And Brian was using sarcasm to cover the depth of his feelings. Justin sighed and closed his eyes. Life was good with Brian. Better than good, fan-tabulous.

“You going to sleep?” Brian whispered.

“Yeah, you wore me out,” Justin mumbled.

“Not bad for an old man.”

“Not bad at all.”

“I’m going to check on Bree and mother,” Brian said as he slid Justin off his chest and onto his pillow.

“’Kay,” Justin muttered quickly falling into sleep.

Brian swung his legs out of the bed and pulled on his sweatpants. He exited the bedroom and headed down the hall to Gus’ room. The door to the room stood open and Brian felt momentary panic as he realized the upper bunk was empty. So was the lower one.

“What the fuck!” he muttered, crossing the hall to Bree’s bedroom. The door was partially open there too. He pushed it open and stepped inside. In the pale light from the moon shining through Bree’s window, he could see Bree curled up on the side of the bed hugging her grey bunny. He was about to lift her from the bed when Joan’s voice stopped him.

“Leave her, Brian,” Joan said softly. “I like having her here.

“But isn’t she in your way. I want you to have a good rest. You need your sleep.”

“I’m fine,” Joan replied. “Bree was scared being in the other room. I like that she came to me for comfort … and I’ll sleep just fine with her here.”

“Are you sure?”

“Very. Good night, Brian,” Joan said firmly.

“Okay, but you better get some sleep or I will be very pissed at both of you in the morning.”

“I promise I’ll sleep,” Joan pledged.

“Okay,” Brian said leaning down to kiss Bree’s cheek, and then his mother’s. “I’m glad you’re here, mom, and that you’re going to be fine.”

“I’m happy that you want me here,” Joan replied running her hand down Brian’s cheek. “You have a wonderful family and a lovely home.”

“Good night,” Brian whispered as he left the room quietly closing the door behind him.

As he headed back to his bedroom, Brian decided he should check on Claire as well. He stepped into the sun porch as Beau came in through his doggie door. The big dog stopped and looked up at Brian. His tail gave a few swishes of acknowledgement.

“Everything okay in the lane?” Brian whispered to the dog. He walked over to Beau’s water bowl and ran some water into it from the hose that was nearby. Beau gave Brian’s hand a lick before he gulped down his water. Brian smiled and gave the dog a pat on the head. “Good boy,” he said.

Brian turned and started back into the house. He was almost across the porch when a voice said, “Brian.”

Brian grimaced and turned towards the screens around the brass bed. “Did I wake you, Claire?”

“No, when that dog drinks, he makes more noise than three humans.”

Brian chuckled. “I’ll apologize on Beau’s behalf. He usually has the sun porch all to himself.”

“I heard him go out earlier. Where does he go?”

“He has his rounds on the lane. He checks all the houses and makes sure everyone and everything is where it should be.”

“He must be a good dog.”

“He’s the best.”

“You … you have a good life here, Brian.”

“I know.”

“You’re very lucky.”

“I know.”

“I…”

“Are you okay in the brass bed … or would you prefer to go up to the office?” Brian asked wondering if Claire was having trouble sleeping.

“I’m just fine. I dozed off staring at the stars. The sky’s so clear.”

“Yes it is.”

“Thank you for inviting me to come here with mother.”

“You’re welcome, now get some sleep,” Brian ordered gently.

“I guess your rounds are over just like Beau’s,” Claire said with a yawn.

“Good night.”

“Good night, Brian.”

Brian walked back into his bedroom and slid into bed next to his sleeping partner. He moved over so that his arm rested against Justin’s. He couldn’t help but smile. He did have a great life. It was the best life he could imagine. How had he ever got so lucky? He fell asleep with a smile on his face.
 

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