Cottages

Chapter 10

“Hello.”

“Hey, Jester, it’s Molly.”

“What can I do for you, Mollusk?”

“I don’t think you can do anything, but I hope you’ll listen to me whine and complain for a few minutes.”

“Sure, what do you want to whine and complain about?”

“My mother-in-law.” Justin chuckled. “It’s not funny, Justin.”

“What did Sharon do?”

“She called yesterday to tell me that I was going to Thanksgiving at her house,” Molly began.

“So what’s wrong with that?”

“I want to spend Thanksgiving with you and Mom.”

“Did you tell her that?”

“Yes, and she said the cottage was barely big enough for Owen and me and Taylor. She ordered me to come to her house for Thanksgiving.”

“Uh oh,” Justin said.

“What do you mean ‘uh oh’?”

“I’ve learned over the years that it’s never a good thing to order you to do anything. What did you say to her?”

“I told we had been thinking that we would do Christmas with them, but now she could forget about us being at either Thanksgiving or Christmas. And then I hung up on her.”

“Ooh, not good,” Justin said slowly.

“You think I should have let her fucking order me around?” Molly demanded. “No fucking way!”

“Molly, you’re starting to sound like Brian when something really pisses him off.”

“Well, she really pissed me off,” Molly stated emphatically.

“I get that, but now you have a problem to fix.”

“I have a problem to fix! Why do I have a problem to fix? What about her?”

“You’re the one who hung up,” Justin explained.

“So why does that mean I have to fucking fix it?”

“You cut her off, it’s up to you to restart the communication.”

“Fuck!”

“Look, would it be easier if I said to invite the Brenners up here? I’m sure Brian wouldn’t mind and we can host it. We can even put them up if they want to stay overnight. Then we can all be together.”

“What will Brian say about that? What about the rest of the family?”

“I think Deb wants to do a big Thanksgiving and host everyone at her place. Then she and Carl are going to head south for a month. Somewhere warm.”

“But don’t you want to be there?”

“We’ll see her and Carl before they go. It’s not a problem … really.”

“So you think I should call her back?”

“Yes.”

“Shit!”

“That wasn’t the answer you wanted, was it?” Justin laughed.

“No.”

“You really should call her, Molly. You want to keep peace in the family, don’t you?”

“I guess,” Molly sighed.

“Them’s the joys of having in-laws.”

“You’ve got Joan,” Molly informed him.

“You say that like it’s a good thing.”

“It is, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but it wasn’t always that way.”

“True,” Molly replied. “Maybe it would be better if we had no contact with Owen’s parents like you had no contact with Joan for so long.”

“Believe me, it might seem easier, but nobody wins in that kind of scenario, and nobody’s really happy. Taylor needs his grandparents.”

“Oh, yeah,” Molly said as the light dawned that she would effectively be cutting her son off from his grandparents. “Okay,” she said reluctantly, “I’ll think about what I want to say, and then I’ll call her.”

“Good girl.”

“What if she won’t listen?” Molly asked as that thought occurred to her.

“Then there’s not much you can do. Apologize for hanging up and suggest this compromise. If she turns you down, then the onus falls to her to fix things.”

“You’re so smart,” Molly giggled. “I love the way your brain works.”

“So does, Brian,” Justin chuckled.

“Bye, Justin, and thanks.” Molly cut the connection.

“So does Brian, what?” Brian asked from behind Justin. Justin jumped and almost dropped the phone that he was about to hang back on its base on the wall.

“Shit, you scared me.”

“It’s the big bad wolf, bwahaha!” Brian said doing his best evil villain impression.

“You’ve got the wolf part right,” Justin laughed as he finally got the phone back where it belonged.

Brian smirked. “So what’s the answer to my question?”

“I said you loved the way my brain worked, you big Smoosh.”

“Uh oh, Smoosh with a capital ‘S’?”

“Yep.”

“What have you promised?” Brian asked with a frown.

“Pour yourself some more coffee and I’ll tell you…”

 

*****
 

“Owen, Owen, are you listening to me?”

“Yes, dear,” Owen Sr. sighed as he looked at his wife. “I need some more coffee.”

“There’s more in the pot,” Sharon informed him with a decided edge to her voice. “Can you listen and pour coffee at the same time?”

“I’m listening,” Owen responded as he filled his mug and moved back to the table.

“Molly hung up on me, actually cut me off, practically slammed the receiver down in my ear,” Sharon complained.

“You shouldn’t order the girl around, dear. She’s not a child.”

“I can’t believe that you’re taking her side, when she’s so clearly in the wrong,” Sharon said indignantly.

“I’m not taking anyone’s side,” Owen said keeping his voice calm and friendly. “I’m saying that Molly should not have hung up on you, but you should not have told her she had to spend Thanksgiving with us. It’s up to Molly and Owen to decide what they want to do.”

“I should have called Owen in the first place,” Sharon stated.

Owen Sr. sighed. “You’re missing the point. That wouldn’t have solved anything.”

“Why not?” Sharon demanded. “I know Owen would be happy to have Thanksgiving with us.”

“But it isn’t up to Owen alone. Molly has a say in it too.”

“Then she should agree with her husband.”

“And how many times do you do what I tell you?” Owen asked pointedly.

“Oh,” Sharon said softly. She knew she got her way most of the time and she did appreciate that. Maybe she had been hasty in this whole thing. “What do you think we should do?”

“We should wait.”

“Wait? Wait for what?”

“For Molly to call back.”

“You think she will?”

“Molly is a lovely girl, and I’m sure she’ll call back to make things right.”

“And what should I tell her?” Sharon said with a frown. She still wanted her family to come for Thanksgiving … all of her family.

“You should be calm and listen, and then decide if you can live with whatever Molly proposes.”

“Whatever she proposes? But I want to have Thanksgiving here,” Sharon pouted.

“Would you rather have Christmas with them, or neither Christmas nor Thanksgiving with them?” Owen asked.

“Oh poo!” Sharon reacted.

The phone rang at that moment and Sharon snatched it up. “Hello, Molly dear … Yes, thank you … I think that could be arranged … Of course I do … That sounds like a good plan … Talk to you more about it in a few days …Thanks for calling and I’m glad we could work this out.”

“All settled?” Owen asked when Sharon set the phone down.

“Yes, we’re going to Edna’s Treasures for Thanksgiving, just us and Molly’s family, and the children will come here for Christmas.”

“Good plan,” Owen said with a smile.

“Yes, it is,” Sharon said, and that was the end of the discussion.

 

*****
 

“Emm?”

“Hiya, Teddy, what can I get you?” Emmett asked his long time best friend as Ted came into the bistro.

“Well, I’ll take a couple of your dessert tarts to go and some muffins for tomorrow’s breakfast, but I need your advice.”

“Teddy, honey, you know you can have anything that’s mine to give, except for my Drewsie,” Emmett gushed as he carefully boxed up the tarts and muffins.

“Well, you know how we always seem to do Thanksgiving up at Edna’s Treasures?”

“It’s just one of those little traditions that seemed to spring up over the years,” Emmett said cheerfully. “Isn’t it?” he asked when he saw Teddy’s frown.

“Emm, Allen’s brother called and asked us to join him for Thanksgiving. They had a falling out years ago and are just now getting along. They realize they’re both not getting any younger and neither one of them can even remember what they argued about.”

“Say no more, honey, family is family. Besides, I think Deb and Carl are planning on doing something here before they go off into the wild blue yonder. Hunter and his hunky doctor and Mikey and his professor are staying in town. And I do believe Danny will be attending her little soiree as well.”

“What about Brian?”

“I believe Miss Molly and her family will be joining us at the lane along with John and Bobby’s family. And of course the girls will be christening their new lovenest.”

Both Emmett and Teddy shuddered at the imagery but didn’t elaborate.

“So you think Brian won’t be angry that we’re not all there?”

“Heavens no, sweetie!”

“The man is my boss.”

“The man is also your friend and he knows the importance of family. Now don’t you worry your graying head about it.”

“Thanks, Emm,” Ted said flatly as he paid for his treats.

“Don’t think anything of it.”

“I won’t,” Ted deadpanned then left the bistro. Emmett just laughed and returned to his ovens and his other customers.

 

*****
 

“Jamie?”

“Yes, honey?” Jamie was busy making gingerbread dough. The whole cottage smelled like spices and molasses.

“Are you doing anything special for Thanksgiving?”

“Well, I was hoping we were going to have our families over to celebrate the day in our new cottage,” Jamie said as she wrapped a huge slab of dough in plastic wrap so it could chill in the refrigerator.

“Um, I don’t have family, none that really matters to me except for you.”

“What about Lindsay and her partner?”

“No, they’re not that kind of friends and they have their own family to deal with,” Leda said sadly.

“Well, my brother and his wife are going to be in town visiting with our parents. I’d like for them to meet you. My parents love you.”

“Do they? Really?” Leda had never been so readily accepted before.

“They do. They want me to be happy and you make me happy,” Jamie smiled. She was wiping her hands on a towel as she walked over to where her partner was sitting. Leda inhaled; Jamie smelled like cinnamon and ginger.

“Do you think your brother will approve of me?” Leda asked as she drew the younger woman onto her lap and kissed her sweetly.

“I’ve told James all about you and he loves you,” Jamie whispered.

“All about me?” Leda asked as she arched an eyebrow.

“All about you within reason. He wants to meet the woman who finally stole my heart and the woman behind Lethal Motorcycles. He rides too.”

Jamie noticed the hitch in Leda’s breathing.

“Are you all right?” Jamie asked with concern.

“I’m fine. I’m more than fine. I have never felt so loved like I have since I met you. You bring me such joy and happiness.”

“Then that’s what we have to be thankful for. We’re lucky we found each other.”

“Yes, we are. Now what about those cookies?”

“Not yet. I was just making the dough. You’ll have to wait for Thanksgiving for the cookies.”

“Oh,” Leda groaned and pouted. Jamie giggled then nibbled the pouting lips.

“But since you’re going to be such a good girl later on tonight, I’ll reward you with some of Emmett’s treats for dessert.”

“Okay, that’ll do,” Leda agreed as Jamie got up from her lap and proceeded to get dinner on the table. “What do you mean I’m going to be a good girl tonight?” Leda asked with a sparkle in her eyes.

Jamie just smiled.

 

*****
 

“Well, Sunshine, how goes the wheeling and dealing?” Justin had been on the phone for most of the afternoon making plans for Thanksgiving. They still had a couple of weeks to go but considering the size of their cwazy widdle family, it didn’t hurt to plan in advance.

“You know about Molly, and now my mom and Seth and the Brenners will be joining us.”

“The Morrisons, Claire and Steve,” Brian added. “And Sonny Boy will be home,” Brian said trying to keep his cool. Justin was so onto him.

“Bree can’t wait.”

“I know. The munchers will do Thanksgiving dinner here but they’re planning on breaking in their cottage that night.” Brian gave an over-exaggerated shudder making Justin giggle. “It makes my brain hurt just thinking about it.”

“Then don’t think about it,” Justin said wisely. “Dinner will work out, it always does.”

“Yes, it does, Sunshine,” said Brian as he drew the younger man into his arms for a kiss.

“I love you, my big Smoosh.”

“Me too,” Brian whispered into Justin’s golden mane as he hugged his lover close.

 

*****
 

“Poppa?” Patrick and Bobby were sitting at the kitchen table going over homework. John had prepared dinner and was getting it onto the table in the sun porch. It was getting dark very early; however, the crystal chandelier shone like bright diamonds lighting the porch.

“What is it, my little man?”

“Dad said he’s going back to school to be a doctor.”

“I’m glad he finally made a decision,” Bobby said with a big sigh.

“You didn’t know?”

“I’ve been waiting for him to make up his mind.”

“Oh. Is it a big deal?”

“Yes, it can be. Your father hasn’t been in school for a very long time and sometimes it’s difficult to go back. But your daddy is one of the smartest men I know and when he puts his mind to something, he’ll make it happen. I have confidence in him.”

“Yeah, me too,” Patrick proudly crowed. Bobby gave his beautiful son a hug.

“A little help from the peanut gallery would be appreciated,” John snarked as he made another trip out to the porch.

“Whoops!” Bobby and Patrick said then laughed and quickly grabbed dishes and cutlery to help.

 

*****
 

“Hey Lindz,” Brian said as he answered his cell. “What’s up?”

“I wanted to let you know that Sidney’s still in London. Actually he has relatives there and in Europe. He decided to combine business with pleasure.”

“I’m not going to like this, am I?”

“Brian, nothing has been written in stone and he already told you nothing is going to happen until after the new year.”

“Lindz, in case you haven’t noticed, the new year is a month and a half away.”

“Brian, you’ve had the past five months to get used to the idea.”

“And I am used to it, but that doesn’t mean I like it.”

“Brian, the timing is right.”

“I know.”

“Justin’s right.”

“I know that too.”

“It’ll be fine.”

“Yeah, yeah. I gotta go; dinner’s on the table.”

“Okay, we’ll be there for Thanksgiving.”

“I know.”

“I love you, Brian.”

“Love you too, Lindz.”

Brian shut his cell phone and realized he had lost his appetite.
 

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