Be Careful What You Wish For

Chapter 2

“You’re late tonight,” Leda said as Jamie entered their cottage.

“I had a staff meeting and some preparation for a lecture tomorrow. What time did you get home?”

“Early. I’ve been thinking…”

“Thinking?”

“Yeah, you know when your brain cells function…”

“You don’t need to get snotty about it,” Jamie griped as she slumped into a chair. “I’m beat.”

“Oh, that’s too bad.”

“Why too bad?”

“I … I wanted to discuss something with you.”

“What?” Jamie asked brusquely. She had a feeling she wasn’t going to like this.

“I picked up some dinner. I have it ready to be nuked. Come into the kitchen and have a glass of wine,” Leda suggested.

“What brought on this domesticity?” Jamie wanted to know, as she followed her partner into the kitchen. The table was nicely set and a candle burned in the center of it. Jamie took all this in as Leda handed her a glass of red wine. “What’s up?”

“Something happened today … and it got me thinking,” Leda said. She pressed the buttons to start the microwave.

“You keep saying you’ve been thinking. Tell me what the fuck about.”

“I was at Kinnetik today,” Leda began.

“And Brian Kinney ticked you off,” Jamie sighed. She had heard this refrain many times before.

“No, nothing like that. He was fine, better than fine actually.”

“Huh?”

Leda chuckled. “Brian has his moments.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Jamie asked in frustration.

“I guess I’m beating around the metaphorical bush, because I don’t know how to propose … what I want to propose.”

“Propose?” Jamie asked with a grin.

“Oh, um, no, not that kind of propose,” Leda said quickly.

“I didn’t really think it was,” Jamie said coyly, “but it’s fun yanking your chain every once in a while.”

Leda threw her lover a glare worthy of Brian Kinney himself. “Is … is that what you’d like?”

“I’m not really a traditional kind of girl,” Jamie said smiling fondly at her partner. “I’m happy with the way things are.”

“That’s good to know,” Leda said with a frown, “but what I want to talk to you about might change the way things are.”

“You … you’re not leaving me, are you?” Jamie asked in consternation.

“God, no!” Leda said as the microwave beeped and she opened the door. She didn’t say anything else while she dished up the Thai food and sat down across from Jamie.

Jamie waited, knowing that pushing Leda was not usually a good idea. She just wished the woman would get to the point. Something seemed to have changed.

Leda took a bite of her food. “This is good,” she said.

Jamie wanted to scream, but she bit her tongue and merely replied, “Yes it is. I’m glad you thought of this.”

“Emmett Honeycutt came into Kinnetik while I was there,” Leda said next.

“Oh?”

“Yeah, he seems to think that he and that hunky Drew Boyd are going to get a kid to foster.”

“Really?” Jamie asked. The shoe had dropped. “And that got you thinking about a baby for us.”

Leda nodded slowly. “What do you think about that?”

“I thought we were going to wait.”

“We have waited … for months.”

“I … I don’t know if I’m ready.”

“I don’t know if I am either,” Leda admitted. “And I don’t want to do this tomorrow. But I think maybe it’s time to start thinking about a child … if we still want one.”

“Do you? Want a child, I mean?” Jamie asked.

“Yes … yes, I do.”

“Then we need to discuss this, and seriously think about what it means,” Jamie advised.

“Exactly.”

Jamie smiled slightly. “This is good,” she said digging into her food.

“Yeah, good.”

 

*****
 

“Bri, have you thought any more about having another child?” Justin asked Brian. Justin was standing at his easel, preparing another canvas for a commissioned landscape. The subject of the landscape was Stonehenge. A Justin Taylor admirer had seen photos of the sketches Justin had done while in England. Sidney had posted the photos onto the official Justin Taylor website. The art patron was so taken with the detail of the Heelstone that a request came to Sidney via Charles Higgins, and Justin was happy to comply.

“Didn’t we have this conversation already?” Brian said without looking up from his Lethal Bike campaign spreadsheet.

“I know but we do have the room and even if we didn’t, we could always get John to build an extension. Bree would love a sister.”

“Justin, what’s gotten your maternal instincts all in a snit? You and Emmett planning a baby shower?”

“Fuck you, Kinney! You can be such an asshole sometimes.”

“You state the obvious but that doesn’t answer my question.”

“We have so much, Bri. Would it hurt to share it with another child?” Justin asked from his easel. Brian put down his reports and got up from his chaise to join Justin.

“Sunshine, you know how I feel about this. I’m not denying that we have a lot to give but, Justin, I’m going have to be stubborn and very selfish about this. I like the way things are. And if I want to give, I’ll give more to Hunter’s kids or the Farm or any other organization that gets kids off the streets and into good homes or programs. Justin, we have a son at college and a daughter who’s ready to join him!”

Justin snickered at Brian’s remark.

“Jus, the point is...”

“I get it, Bri. I guess I got all caught up in Emmett’s enthusiasm. We’ve been on the phone every day for the past week since Judge Schultz made her suggestion. Drew’s been away with the Ironmen, so Emm’s been redecorating all on his own.”

“I pity Drew when he gets a look at their spare room.”

“Why?” Justin asked as Brian kissed him to help take away the sting and disappointment of his harsh words.

“I’d wager that the room will look like Bree’s.”

“Bree’s room! Why?”

“How else would a nelly bottom queen decorate for a drag queen?” Brian got a swat to his gut.

“Go! Get back to your reports, I have work to do,” Justin said as he pushed Brian away then returned to his easel.

“Justin?” Brian began as he settled back onto the chaise and took up his papers.

“I’m all right, Brian. My maternal flash is over. You’re right, like always. I really don’t think I could handle another child especially one like Bree. We have our hands quite full,” Justin said as he began to sketch out the large stones of the famous Henge onto his canvas.

Brian breathed a heavy sigh of relief then returned to his reports.

 

*****
 

“Hunter, what are Ritchie’s favorite colors?” Emmett asked Hunter over the phone. It was agreed by Hunter, Judge Schultz and Emmett that Emmett would wait to be formally introduced to Richie until Drew was back in Pittsburgh. They felt a united front and show of support would be much more beneficial than if Emmett brought Richie home alone.

“I’m not sure,” Hunter replied.

“Well, can’t you ask him?” Emmett asked with some impatience.

“Emmett, may I suggest you start with something basic and then when Richie feels comfortable, you and he can pick out something together.”

“Oh. Well, that makes a lot of sense.”

“Emmett, Richie has been thrown out of his home then removed from his aunt’s house. It might take him some time to feel secure enough to want to decorate. He may want to keep it spartan for a while until he knows this latest arrangement will work out.”

“I hadn’t thought about that. Hunter, do you think Richie needs counseling?”

“Yes, and he’s getting it now. Karen is working with him and will continue to work with him for as long as Richie needs it. This is a very crucial time in a child’s life. He’s questioning his sexuality and his acceptance by his peers and family.”

“What about school?”

“Richie is exceptionally bright; however, at the moment, he’s afraid to express himself. You’re going to have to demonstrate a lot of patience.”

“Patience is my middle name,” Emmett extolled.

“Emmett...”

“Fine, I understand and I can tone it down if necessary.”

“Emm, right now Richie needs consistency and to know he’s trusted. There’ll be plenty of time for painting, decorating and flames later.”

“Okay, I get it. Drew will be home in a few days, I’ll call you then.”

“Good enough. Bye, Emm, and try to relax.”

“I'll try. Good bye, honey.”

 

*****
 

“Hey, Curtis,” JR said as she came out the front doors of the high school.

“Hi, JR, haven’t seen you around too much lately,” Curtis replied with a big grin. He liked JR … a lot.

“Bree had her birthday sleepover and I was kind of busy with that.”

“Bree? Of course, it was her birthday. I should have remembered. Stupid me!” Curtis said shaking his head.

“I’m sure Bree won’t mind that you forgot.”

“Yeah, but I mind.”

“Why?” JR asked with curiosity.

“I … I kind of feel like she was the first one who accepted me into the family. I sort of owe her the life I have now.”

JR smiled fondly at her friend. “She’d love to know that, you know. You could send her a belated card.”

“I could put a big rainbow on it like she does,” Curtis joked.

“I wouldn’t do that,” JR warned with a laugh.

“Huh? Why not?”

“That’s Bree’s special thing. She wouldn’t appreciate you using it.”

“Oh, okay. I guess I’ll have to think of something else.”

JR nodded her agreement. “Did you hear about Emmett’s good news?”

“He’s doing a party for the governor?” Curtis guessed with a wicked grin.

“No, way better than that … at least as far as Emmett is concerned.”

“What?” Curtis asked.

“He and Uncle Drew are going to foster a child.”

“A … child?”

“Yeah, you know, a kid, someone not grown to adulthood.”

“I know what a child is,” Curtis laughed. “What kind of a kid?”

“One kind of like you before you got fostered by Dr. Raph and Hector.”

“Do you think Emmett is the best one to be fostering a child?” Curtis asked with a frown. His face had turned serious.

“I think he’ll be great.”

“But … everyone calls him Auntie Emm. How’s a kid going to feel about that?”

“Auntie Emm is great with kids. You should have seen him with the little girls at Bree’s sleepover. He was the best. Any kid would be lucky to be fostered by him,” JR said coldly, taking offense that Curtis seemed to think Emmett wasn’t good enough.

“I … I didn’t mean to upset you,” Curtis backtracked. “It’s just that…”

“Just what?”

“If I had been put into a home with Emmett, I’m not sure what I would have done,” Curtis admitted.

“You don’t like him?” JR asked in surprise. She thought everyone liked Auntie Emm as much as she did.

“I like him a lot … now.”

“But your first impression would have been…”

“That he was a … lunatic, a pervert.”

“That’s disgusting,” JR said quickly. She didn’t like hearing this.

“I’m just being honest. I didn’t say that to hurt you.”

“I know,” JR said with a sigh. “Why do we have to have these prejudices?”

“He does make quite a strange first impression,” Curtis added.

“Yeah, I guess. I’ve heard them say his flame burns bright.” Curtis nodded. “I hope he doesn’t turn this kid off right from the get-go.”

“Is it a girl or a boy that he’s getting?”

“Do you think it matters?”

“It might. You said he got along really well with the little girls. Maybe he should get a girl to foster.”

JR frowned. “I think it’s a boy. You don’t think a boy would like living with Auntie Emm and Uncle Drew?”

“I can’t speak for every kid…”

“But you wouldn’t have liked it?”

“Probably not. I didn’t much like going to Raph and Hector’s either.”

“You didn’t? Because they were gay?”

“Partly, but it’s mostly that I didn’t know what to expect from them.”

“Then this kid won’t know what to expect from Emmett. That might be a good thing.”

“Until he sees what Emmett is like,” Curtis cautioned.

“And you think that will scare him off.”

“I’m just saying…”

“Well, I think you’re wrong,” JR stated.

“Believe me, I hope I am. Foster kids need good homes, and Emmett and Drew would give that to a kid.”

“If he’s willing to give it a chance…”

Curtis nodded. “I hope he will.”

“Well, we don’t know anything about this boy,” JR said. “Maybe he’ll take to them immediately.”

“I doubt that.”

“Why?”

“Because, to end up in foster care means you’ve been through some shitty stuff, maybe even horrible stuff. You don’t trust anyone by the time you get there.”

“I hope you’re wrong.”

“I hope so too, but I doubt it.”

“You’re a little ray of sunshine today,” JR told him.

“Sorry, but I thought I should be honest.”

“That’s one of the things I like best about you, your honesty,” JR admitted with a smile.

“Thanks.”

“Now you’re supposed to say what you like best about me,” JR laughed.

“I am?”

JR heaved a sigh. “Men!”

“You just called me a man,” Curtis grinned.

“Well, you do belong to that persuasion, don’t you?” JR joked.

“I love your sense of humor.”

“See, there you go. That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

“Not at all,” Curtis laughed. “Have you got time to grab a soda or a milkshake?”

“Sure.”

“Let’s go,” Curtis said, and JR fell into step with him, as they headed for the student hangout near the school.
 

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