Cottages

Chapter 9

“Howdy, Miss Leda,” Brian said as the owner of Lethal Motorcycles was ushered into the main office at Kinnetik.

“Howdy, yourself! How’s the campaign going?”

“You don’t have time for pleasantries?” Brian asked raising an eyebrow.

“Coffee,” Leda demanded.

Brian nodded to Cynthia who had shown Leda in. She hustled out to get coffee. “Isn’t Jamie fulfilling her domestic duties and making sure you’re fully caffeinated before you leave your little lovenest?”

“Fuck off, Kinney,” Leda replied.

“What brought on this foul mood?”

Cynthia reappeared with two mugs of coffee. She set them on Brian’s desk. “I’ll leave you two to it,” she said and quickly exited the office closing the door behind her.

Leda sipped some coffee and let out a sigh. “I…” she began then stopped herself. “It’s none of your business what’s going on in my personal life,” she informed him. “I asked about the campaign.”

“You already know the west coast numbers. They look mighty fine if I do say so myself.”

“Okay, so they’re good, better than expected. What about the spring campaign?”

“You know it’s all set. You’ve signed off on the plan. What do you really want, Leda? And I don’t think it has anything to do with motorcycles.”

Leda sipped some more coffee and heaved another sigh. “If I tell you, you have to promise this won’t go anywhere else,” she demanded.

“I think you came here today specifically to talk to me about something, so why don’t you just tell me?”

“Do you promise?’

“No, I don’t promise. I tell Justin everything.”

“Everything?” Leda asked looking skeptically at her old friend, a man she found very attractive for many reasons, her nemesis, whatever the fuck he was.

“Everything! That’s why we’ve lasted as long as we have.”

“I thought it was the great sex.”

“Well, that too,” Brian said with his tongue planted in his cheek. “But that goes without saying. So tell me what’s going on in that devious head of yours. You realize you’re being billed for this time.”

“I know.”

“If it’s personal, why didn’t you come out to Edna’s Treasures? We could have talked out there.”

“Because I’m afraid I’m already turning into you,” Leda admitted shaking her head.

“Into me?” Brian asked with a frown. “You say that like it’s a bad thing,” he teased, wondering what the fuck she was talking about.

“I’m not sure I want to be you.”

“Will you tell me what the fuck you’re talking about? I’m getting a migraine trying to figure it out.”

“I … I had an … interesting discussion with Jamie a couple of days ago.” Leda stopped there, still unsure if she could actually explain this to Brian Kinney.

Brian waited. He thought Leda might get to the point eventually. “Go on,” he said after a minute, when she still didn’t continue.

“It was about me being older than Jamie.”

“And that’s why you came to me, because I’m slightly older than Justin.”

“Yeah, and you’re more than slightly older than Justin.”

“Do you have to be nasty?”

Leda laughed. “You are so full of shit.”

“That goes without saying. So I’m older than Justin, what does that have to do with anything.”

“Do you think I’m too old to have kids?”

“I’m not a gynecologist, but I think you might be past your prime in the baby making department.”

“Asshole,” Leda told him. Brian merely smirked. “I mean that you and Justin had Bree when you were older. How did it go?”

“Go?”

Leda sighed. “Are you being deliberately obtuse or are you dense?”

“I like to think I’m neither of the above. What the hell are you asking?”

“Jamie and I have been talking about maybe having a baby together, but not for a couple of years, and I was wondering if I’m too old to have a baby and, you know, look after it and everything, because I’m older than Jamie and maybe I’m too old to have a child at all. Of course, Jamie would carry it, not me, but I would have to help look after it, and I really like the idea of having a child, but maybe I’m too old and I thought maybe you could give me some advice, since you’ve had sort of the same experience that I’m talking about. So do you think I could do it?” It had all come tumbling out all of a sudden. When Leda finally stopped she blushed mightily and looked at the floor waiting for some snide remark from Brian about her being more like a grandmother than a mother or that she was being ridiculous because Brian hadn’t been nearly as old as her when he and Justin had Bree. She waited for his response unable to look him in the eye.

“Leda, I think if you and Jamie want to have a baby then you should do just that. You don’t need advice from me.”

Leda heard the gentle tone in Brian’s voice and looked up at him. He wasn’t smirking or being sarcastic. His answer had sounded genuine. “But I really do want your advice.”

Brian frowned and thought about it for a minute before he opened his mouth. “I was worried about being slightly older than Justin when we had Bree, but I knew Justin really wanted a child, and I realized eventually that I did too. I missed out on so much with Gus, and I wanted a chance to be a father this time. If that’s what you want, the experience of motherhood, and you and Jamie think you’re ready for that then go ahead and do it.”

“Was it hard?”

“There were times when I wanted to tear my hair out and I wondered why I had ever agreed to having another child … like when Bree was teething and cranky and nothing made it better. But I fell in love with her the first moment I saw her, and look at the amazing little girl we have now. So, it may have been hard, but it was so worth it.”

“Thank you … thank you for being honest with me. I think this is what I needed to hear.”

“Glad to help, and you could have come to Edna’s Treasures to talk about this. Justin could have told Jamie his side of things.”

“I guess I thought you looked at me as a business associate not a friend. I didn’t think you’d want me to come to Edna’s Treasures unannounced.”

“You could have called first,” Brian said tongue in cheek.

“You know what I mean.”

“I do, and I don’t invite just anybody to Edna’s Treasures. If you get invited, it means … you’re special.”

Leda smiled warmly. “Thanks for saying that.”

“No problem. Is there anything else?”

“Yes, actually.” Brian groaned mightily. This was what he had been afraid of. “The spring campaign better be a big, fucking success,” she told him in no uncertain terms.

Brian let out a little chuckle. “Thank the gods that’s all you meant,” he muttered mostly to himself. “All my campaigns are huge, fucking successes,” he told her.

Leda studied him for a moment. “What did you think I was going to say?” she asked.

“Um … nothing.”

“It was something. Tell me since we’re being honest.”

Brian let out a breath. “I thought you were going to ask me to be the sperm donor for this someday in the future baby.”

“You did?” Leda asked in surprise. That had never occurred to her. “What made you think that?”

“My sperm is highly prized in lesbian circles,” Brian said smugly.

“Is it now!” Leda laughed.

“Yes, it is.”

“Hm.”

“Shit! What does that ‘hm’ mean?”

“Just thinking.”

“Well don’t bother.”

“Okay, Kinney, thanks for the advice … and the coffee.”

“Next time you come to see me have your coffee first,” he ordered with good humor in his voice.

“I will, and I may make my next visit with you at Edna’s Treasures.”

“Good humored guests are always welcome there,” he said pointedly.

“Point taken,” Leda laughed.

“Have a lovely day,” Brian told her as he ushered her out of the office then sighed with relief that the meeting was finally over. He needed to talk to Justin.

 

*****
 

“Daddy?”

“Up here!” John called out to his son. Within a minute, Patrick was climbing up the spiral staircase. John lifted Patrick onto his lap. “Unh,” John groaned, “you’re getting heavy. Either that or I’m getting old.”

“You’re not old, Dad.”

At fifty-two, John wasn’t too sure about that. “Thank you for your vote of confidence, my man. What can I do for you?”

“I need help with a project and it’s Poppa’s turn to cook.”

“Okay, how can I help?”

Patrick began to take out his books from his backpack. “Dad, can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“What are you doing with all of this stuff? Are you going back to school?” Patrick asked with a screwed up face. He couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to go back to school when they didn’t have to. John laughed.

“I’m not in school yet. I’m just thinking about it and working up an outline to submit.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why are you going back to school?” Patrick was perplexed.

“I’m really not going back to school. I’m doing research then I’ll write it all up and if my paper is accepted, you’ll be able to call me doctor.”

“Like Doctor Grandpa Dan?”

“Not that kind of doctor, like a professor.”

“Ooohhh! Do I have to call you Doctor Dad?” Patrick said with a gleam in his eye and his tongue in his cheek like his Uncle Brian. John laughed even harder and hugged his son tight.

“Nah, just Dad is fine. But can I ask you something?”

“Sure, Dad.”

“Our cottage, do you like living here? Your friends live in regular houses like Aunt Rachel or Grandma Claire and Grandma Deb. Not many people live in cottages anymore.”

“Uncle Bri still has his loft.”

“That’s right and even though he doesn’t live there, he still wants to keep it for a while longer. What do you like about living here?”

“I like my room and I like the stream and the Wendy house. And our garden is the best and Beau. I like that he can walk around free, not on a leash. But most of all I like being here with you and Poppa. That’s the best about living here and with Bree and Uncle Bri and Uncle Justin. Dad, I guess we could live anywhere if we’re all together, but Edna’s Treasures is special. Ya know?”

“Yeah, I know. Now let’s start on this project of yours,” John said as he and his son began to get organized.

 

*****
 

“Molly, dear?” Sharon said as soon as Molly answered the phone.

“Hi, mother Sharon, what can I do for you?”

“Nothing, except for your commitment for Thanksgiving. Mother has decided to stay here for the holidays this year and I expect you and Junior and little Taylor, of course, to be at my table.”

“Um, mother Sharon, we sort of have plans for Thanksgiving. We want to spend Thanksgiving up at our cottage.”

“The cottage! That’s quite unacceptable. You will be here for Thanksgiving and that’s all there is to it. The cottage, it’s barely big enough for the three of you let alone the family. No. You and Junior will join us for Thanksgiving, where you belong.”

“Where I belong? I belong with my family, with my mother and my brother! That’s where I belong! I was going to suggest we do Christmas with you so we can share the holidays but now you can forget it!” Molly slammed down the phone in frustration.

“Hi, Moll,” Owen said cheerfully as he came through the door. “How was your day?” he said as he gave his wife a kiss.

“Ummm...”

 

*****
 

“Hi, Babe,” Leda said as she opened the door to the cottage.

“Hi,” Jamie replied as she gave her partner a kiss.

“What’s all this?” Leda asked. Jamie had taken down the Halloween decorations and was preparing more Fall and Thanksgiving decorations.

“Just getting the Thanksgiving decorations together. I’ll put them up tomorrow before I leave for class in the morning.”

“Do you always decorate for every holiday?” Leda asked, a little overwhelmed by it all.

“Of course, don’t you?”

“No, not really. I’ve never had a place to decorate before.”

“Well, now you do.”

“I guess I do,” Leda said as she got herself a beer then sat on their sofa. She shook her head.

“Leda, if you don’t want me to decorate or you want me to tone it back, just say so.”

“No, there’s no need to do that. You and your decorations have made this place into a real home. If it were left up to me, the walls would be white and the furniture all brown leather. I’d be hot in the Summer and freezing in the Winter. I’m just not accustomed to all this domesticity. But I’m learning to like it.”

“Really? Do you really like it?” Jamie asked hopefully as she sat next to her lover.

“I really do,” Leda reassured Jamie. “You’ve made this cottage our home,” Leda whispered then kissed her lover gently. “My first real home.”

 

*****
 

“I think there’s a black hole in our attic,” Bobby grumbled as he brought the roast out into the sun porch.

“What makes you say that?” Justin said as he set out the dishes and the silverware.

“Not only has the attic swallowed up my husband but my son as well.”

Justin tried hard not to laugh.

“You can laugh, I know you want to,” Bobby said trying to keep a straight face. “Why did I ever agree to an attic office?”

“So, you can spend more time with your family?” Justin said with a big smile and a shrug of his shoulders. “Brian likes to work from up there. I bet it makes him feel like he’s back at Babylon. The king of all he surveys,” Justin said with an exaggerated sweep of his arms.

“John just likes the quiet. He likes to work in quiet.”

“Isn’t that difficult to do for a builder?” Justin smirked.

“Ha, ha. He likes to draw his designs and plans up there.”

“I know, I was only teasing. Is dinner ready?”

“Yup. Just need the salad and the family to eat it.”

“I’ll get the salad and my half of the family.”

“And I’ll finish bringing out the vegetables, and maybe my half of the family will be ready to join us.”

Brian peered over the rail of his balcony; he had overheard Justin and Bobby. He then took out his cell.

“Hello? Brian, why are you calling me on my phone?” John looked toward Brian’s side and saw him waving back.

“Because there’s a red-headed spitfire down there getting dinner on the table and he’s wondering where his family is.”

“Dinner already?”

“Yep. So what are you and Little Red going to do about it?”

“Get downstairs before our spitfire gets angry and really spits fire.”

“Right answer, big bro,” Brian said as he snapped his cell shut. He smiled as John and Patrick scurried down the stairs and disappeared into their side of the cottage to get washed up for dinner. Brian sauntered down his spiral staircase and into his side of the cottage.

“Hey, dinner’s ready,” Justin said as he picked up the large bowl of salad to bring out into the porch. Brian leaned down to give his lover a kiss. He received one of Justin’s brilliant smiles as a reward.

“I’m just going to wash up and get the Squirt. Need me to bring anything else out?”

“Nope, just you and Bree.” Brian nodded then went to do as bid.
 

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