Be Careful What You Wish For

Chapter 4

“Have a seat, guys, I’ll be right with you!” Debbie shouted from behind the counter of the diner. Emmett looked around in disbelief as he led Drew and Richie to a booth.

“Debbie, sweetie, weren’t you and Carl following the sun? And does he know you’re here?” Emmett asked as Debbie approached their table with three glasses of water.

“Emmett, honey, if you haven’t noticed, the sun is back in Pittsburgh and I got bored, so I thought I’d give Lacy a break. She’s been working non-stop for a while now.”

“Where is the little lady?” Drew asked as he perused the menu.

“She and Katerina have taken a few days off to get reacquainted,” Deb explained.

“Did they go anywhere special?” Emmett inquired.

“Brian set them up at the Plaza. We have meatloaf,” Debbie added as she gazed at the young man sitting next to Emmett. She thought that he could use something hardy in his stomach. “Emm, who’s your little friend?”

“Oh how rude of me! Mrs. Debbie Novotny Horvath, allow me to present Master Richard Cross, our new foster son!” Emmett gushed proudly.

“Your new...oh honey!” Debbie shrieked as she tossed her pad and pencil onto the table then scooped up Richie to hug him into her ample bosom.

“Debbie! Deb! He’s turning blue!” Emmett cried as he and Drew attempted to extricate the stunned boy from Debbie’s very strong arms.

After they freed the boy and got him back into the booth, Emmett and Drew gave Debbie the short version of Richie’s story.

“Sweetheart!” Debbie managed as she dabbed away the tears in her eyes. “Welcome to the family,” she said as she extended her hand. “You now have your first Grandmother,” Debbie proclaimed. “I recommend the meatloaf. The cook used real beef this time and my recipe,” she said with a nod and a wink.

Emmett exchanged looks with Drew and with Richie who was still rather quiet.

“Three meatloaf specials, Deb!” Emmett ordered with his best toothy smile.

“Comin’ right up, honey. Three pink plate specials!” Debbie yelled into the kitchen then got the boys some soda.

“Mr. Emmett, who is Debbie?” Richie ventured shyly as he took a sip of water.

“Honey, Debbie is a very special lady. She’s helped out a lotta folks around here, including me. She used to be a waitress here before she retired a couple of years ago. But you can take the waitress out of the diner, but not the diner out of the waitress. We mostly see her at family functions and when she issues her summonses.”

“Summonses?”

“Every Sunday, no matter what, our gang would go to Debbie’s house for dinner. She’s a great cook and loves to feed people. Sometimes it was my only good meal for the week,” Emmett reminisced. “I owe her a lot.”

“So do I, Babe,” Drew said fondly as he reached over the table to take Emmett’s hand. Emmett smiled brightly.

“Now, Debbie can get a little loud...”

“Keep yer fucking shirt on!” Debbie yelled at the cook who was abusing the bell.

“But she has a heart of gold and loves all of her family,” Emmett went on. “And you, my boy, have just become one of the family!”

Three pink plate specials landed in front of the new family.

“Eat up, boys, and don’t forget to leave room for pie!” Debbie beamed as she went off to tend to another customer, ruffling Richie’s hair before she left.

“Who is that?” Richie asked with his eyes opened very wide after he finished off his meatloaf and sat up a little straighter in an effort to digest and to make room for the expected pie. The bell over the door had just announced the arrival of a very striking couple.

“Bri, it’s a tiny one. We can afford it.”

“That’s not the point.”

“She’s never asked for something like this before. I think she’s serious,” Justin said as they stood just inside the door scanning the diner for a booth. “Look, I’m buying the damn piano, and if it doesn’t work out we can always donate it to the school or the Kinnetik Daycare Center. Okay?” Justin said, effectively ending the debate. Then seeing Emm and Drew, he steered his stubborn mate over to the guys.

“That, my dear boy, is Liberty Avenue’s own royal couple,” Emmett supplied as Drew turned in his seat to look. Richie looked a bit perplexed as Brian and Justin made their regal entrance.

“Don’t be nervous,” Drew counseled. “Brian will just look you over and Justin is very easy going.”

“Hi guys!” Justin greeted them as Drew slid over to make room.

“Sunshine!” Debbie screeched as she gave Justin an equally enthusiastic hug and a loud lipsticky kiss.

“Debbie, what are you doing here?” Justin’s muffled question was just about heard from between her boobs.

“Deb, let the boy breathe,” Brian snickered. She released Justin to reach up to give Brian’s cheek a light smack then kissed the same cheek.

“How are you, kiddo?”

“Does she know everyone?” Richie whispered to Emmett.

“Yes, she does. Brian was Debbie’s first stray. Justin was one too,” Emmett explained.

“Does Carl know you’re trying to take over the diner?” Brian snarked as he slipped into the booth next to Drew.

“Don’t be fresh,” Deb said as she pointed a sharp red nail at him. “And yes, he knows. He was asked to consult on an old case down at the station so when Lacy asked me to help out for a few days, I figured why not. If he could kibitz, why couldn’t I. Besides, I miss my boys. Coffee?” she asked before handing them menus.

“Where’s the princess?” Emmett asked.

“Home with the guys. We came in to check out pianos,” Justin explained as he ordered the meatloaf.

“Pianos?” Drew asked.

“Yes, unfortunately,” Brian grumbled then got an elbow to his ribs for the trouble.

“I want to hear all about it but before I do I’d like to introduce you to Richie. Richie, this is Brian Kinney and Justin Taylor, my very best friends and sometimes we’re neighbors!”

“Hello,” Richie said softly as he held out his hand.

“Very nice to meet you,” Justin said as he shook Richie’s hand. Justin’s smile lit up the diner.

“Oh, Sunshine, I missed that smile,” Debbie commented sincerely as she brought coffee for Brian and a Coke for Justin.

“Hello, Richard,” Brian said, shaking Richie’s hand with an arch of his brow.

“Just ignore the eyebrow,” Emmett whispered loud enough for all to hear. “We do. So what’s this about a piano?”

Justin explained about Bree’s desire to play the piano.

“And why shouldn’t she be given the chance to play the piano. You know how much she loves music. I think you should go for it,” Emmett said decisively.

“Well I guess that does it, Sunshine,” Brian snarked. “Emmett has spoken.”

“Oh pooh, just drink your coffee before it gets cold. So did you buy one?” Emmett looked at Justin knowingly.

“We compromised,” Justin said with a sigh. “I wanted to get one of those small rectangle shaped pianos but Brian pointed out that Bree still wouldn’t be able to reach the pedals or the keys.”

“He does have a point,” Drew said reasonably. “And it might frustrate her.”

“So we ordered her a tiny child’s baby grand,” Justin explained. “If she’s really serious about learning then we can graduate to a regular one.” Brian’s sigh could be heard above the din of the diner. Justin snickered.

“Let me guess,” Emmett chuckled. “It’s pink!”

Justin nodded as he giggled. Drew roared with laughter as Brian banged his head on the table then forked over the brochure for Emmett and Drew to see.

“Don’t worry, Brian, it’ll fit in the Wendy house!” Emmett declared and this time when they laughed, Brian joined in.

 

*****
 

“What did you think of him?” Justin asked as they were driving back to Edna’s Treasures. They had a sack of lemon bars and popovers with them. The tiny pink instrument would be delivered to Kinnetik on Monday.

“Seems a nice enough young man.”

“He’s a little quiet.”

“He’s scared. And he’s going to live with the biggest fairy in Pittsburgh. That alone would have me shitting in my pants.”

“That’s gross.”

“But am I wrong?”

“No,” Justin conceded.

“He’s getting counseling. We should let him settle in before springing the whole family on him.”

“It looked like he survived Debbie.”

“Yes, but she was distracted by the diner and that damn bell. He’s not ready for Sunday dinner.”

“Is anyone really ready for Sunday dinner?”

“Probably not, but if he’s going to survive this family then he’ll have to learn to survive dinner with Debbie.”

 

*****
 

“Patrick, come and play with me in the Wendy house?” Bree asked batting her eyelashes at her cousin.

“I don’t like playing tea party,” Patrick replied.

“We don’t have to play tea party.”

“Then what are we going to play?”

“We could play Pin-The-Tail-On-The-Donkey. Auntie Emm left it for me,” Bree suggested.

“That’s a girl’s game.”

“Well, I’m a girl.”

“And I’m not.”

Bree frowned. This used to be so easy. Patrick was always willing to play with her. What had changed? “What would you like to play?” Bree asked hoping Patrick would come up with something that they both liked.

“Catch.”

“Catch what?”

“Catch a baseball, silly,” Patrick retorted.

“We can’t play that in the Wendy house.”

“I know that, but we can play it outside.”

“I’m not so good at catch,” Bree said with a downward look. She really didn’t want to play catch.

“You only get better if you practice,” Patrick advised.

“Okay,” Bree sighed resigned to the fact that if she wanted to play with Patrick, catch seemed to be the only game in town.

Patrick smiled and ran to grab his glove and ball. He returned quickly, carrying an extra glove. “This is for you,” Patrick said handing Bree the mitt.

“I don’t know how to use this,” Bree stated.

“You put it on your left hand. It’ll fit you. It’s one of my old ones that’s too small for me now.”

“You grew tall,” Bree told him as he put the mitt on her left hand. Patrick nodded and smiled. He liked being tall and strong like his dad. “This feels funny,” Bree said looking skeptically at the glove.

“You’ll get used to it. Let’s go.” Patrick opened the sun porch door and waited for Bree to join him.

“I don’t know,” Bree replied, but she followed him outside. “Maybe I can’t catch the ball.”

“I won’t throw it hard, Bree,” Patrick promised.

“Okay.”

Patrick moved away from his cousin and plopped the ball in his mitt a few times, getting the feel of it. “Ready?” he asked.

“Is that ball hard?” Bree asked with a worried look on her face. She knew Patrick was good at baseball, but she had never had anything to do with it. Soccer was her game.

“It’s a softball,” Patrick replied.

“Oh,” Bree responded. It didn’t look very soft. And it was pretty big.

“Here it comes,” Patrick said lobbing the ball into the air towards Bree.

Bree held out her glove and closed her eyes as the ball headed towards her. She felt something hit the edge of the baseball glove on her hand. She opened her eyes to see the ball rolling away from her. “What happened?” she asked.

“You have a better chance of catching the ball if you open your eyes,” Patrick advised, as he ran over and scooped up the ball. “I’ll throw it again. Try to keep your eyes open.

Bree nodded and held her glove out again. Patrick lobbed another one at her. As the ball approached, Bree watched and then at the last minute closed her eyes again. The ball bounced in her mitt and fell to the ground.

Patrick ran over and got the ball again. “That was better, Bree,” he said patiently. “But try to keep your eyes open until the ball is in your glove and then squeeze it shut.”

“Okay,” Bree said wishing they were doing something else.

When Patrick tossed the ball this time she did her best to keep her eyes open. She watched the ball land in her mitt, and squeezed her thumb into the mitt. The ball stayed inside. She looked up and smiled at Patrick.

“That was good, Bree. Throw it back,” Patrick called.

Bree glowed under Patrick’s approval. She reached into the glove and picked out the ball. It was really too big for her little hand, but she did her best to fling it towards Patrick. Patrick ran and scooped the ball before it hit the ground. Bree beamed her approval.

“You’re real good, Patrick,” she told him.

“Thanks,” he said. “I’m going to throw one a little harder. Ready?”

Bree blinked but nodded her head. She held the glove out and waited. The ball soared toward her a lot faster than the last one had. She tried to keep her eyes open, but as the ball hit the glove, she closed them. She felt the ball strike the mitt and she tried to squeeze it. She was too late. The ball bounced up and hit her in the chin. She let out a cry before dropping onto her bum. She felt tears well up in her eyes.

“Bree! Bree, are you okay?” Patrick was standing over her.

Bree did her best not to cry. She blinked several times, and then felt a tear run down her cheek.

“Are you hurt?” Patrick asked kneeling beside her. “I’m so sorry.”

“My chin,” Bree gulped choking back the sobs that wanted to escape.

“I’ll help you up,” Patrick said taking her hand. She let Patrick pull her to her feet. “Does it hurt a lot?”

She nodded her head and gingerly touched her chin.

“I’ll go get my dad,” Patrick said.

Bree grabbed his arm. “I’ll be okay,” she said. “You don’t need to get your dad.”

“Are you sure?”

Beau, who had been watching all of this, and had rushed over when Bree fell down, licked Bree’s arm.

“I’m okay, Beau,” Bree said patting the dog’s head.

“Let’s go inside,” Patrick suggested.

“I want to go to the Wendy house,” Bree stated.

“Okay,” Patrick said as he walked beside his cousin and friend to the little house at the back of the yard. He seriously wished he’d gone there with her in the first place. Having a make believe tea party was a lot safer than catch. Bree had never got hurt when they played tea party. “Are you sure you’re all right?” he asked as they went inside and sat down at the little table. Beau laid down at their feet.

“I’m okay, but I don’t like baseball very much,” Bree declared. She had been scared when the ball hit her face, but now she was defiant. “I can catch that ball.”

“You don’t have to,” Patrick said gently. He didn’t want Bree getting hurt again. “I’m sorry I made you.”

“You didn’t make me. I can do it.”

“You can do anything,” Patrick said to the petite blonde.

“I know.”

“Maybe we should get some ice for your chin.”

“Maybe,” Bree said. “I wish my daddies were home.”

“Where did they go?” Patrick asked.

“I think they’re buying me a piano.”

“A piano?” Patrick asked in surprise. “Wow!”

“I’m going to take lessons,” Bree told him.

“Wow!”

“You could take lessons with me,” Bree suggested.

“I … I don’t think I’d be very good at the piano.”

“You won’t know unless you try,” Bree informed him.

“I don’t think so, Bree.”

“I’ll learn to catch the ball if you learn to play the piano with me,” Bree said batting those blonde Taylor lashes at him.

Patrick shook his head. “Okay, I guess I could try it.”

“Thanks,” Bree said with a smile. She wiped her hands across her face getting rid of the rest of her tears. She gently touched her chin. “Maybe I should get the ice pack,” she said.

“Come on, I’ll help you,” Patrick said. “Your daddies should be home soon.”

“’Kay,” Bree said as she stood up and followed Beau and Patrick back to the house.
 

Return to Be Careful What You Wish For