Culturation

Chapter 4

Bree ran out into the playground at school. As always she was looking for Ashley. She saw her best friend sitting on one of the rocks that were scattered around the play area to be used as seats or climbing apparatus or for King-of-the-Hill games.

“Hi, Ashley,” Bree said as she squeezed her little butt onto the edge of the rock beside her friend.

“Hi,” Ashley replied.

“What’s wrong?” Bree asked. Ashley didn’t seem to be her usual happy self. She was usually much happier to see Bree than she seemed to be this recess.

“Nothing,” Ashley mumbled but there was no conviction in her words.

Bree frowned. Maybe she could make Ashley feel better. Then she’d tell Bree what was going on. “Thanks for asking your mother about the symphony,” Bree said cheerfully.

“That’s okay.”

“My Dada heard me talking to you about the symphony. He was mad at me ‘cause he thought I’d been eavesdropping, but when I told him I just heard him talking to Unca Ted, he believed me. He’s going to take me and Daddy to the symphony soon, and they have a really big piano and we’re going to hear Mozart.”

“You’re lucky,” Ashley mumbled.

“Yeah, I guess I am.” Bree studied her friend’s sad face. “Ashley, can you tell me what’s wrong … pleeeease!”

“Mommy wanted to know why I was asking about the symphony, so I told her. I said I’d like to go to the symphony ‘cause I thought that’s probably what was going to happen to you.”

“And you were right,” Bree said with a big smile. “You’re smart.”

Ashley shook her head and looked even sadder. “When I asked my mommy to take me to the symphony, she said it was too expensive for both of us to go. She started to cry and said she would really like me to go, but it just wasn’t possible right now. She said in maybe a couple of years.”

“A couple of years? Wow!” Bree said. She couldn’t imagine waiting two years for something.

“I know it’s a long time, but I can wait. I’m sad that I upset my mommy.”

Bree put her arm around her friend and gave her a warm hug. “Maybe I could ask my Dada…”

“NO!” Ashley said emphatically. “I know my mommy will be very mad if that happens. She always says your dads have done way too much for us already.”

“But my dads don’t mind,” Bree protested.

“But my mommy does. You have to promise not to tell them.”

“Okay,” Bree agreed sadly, but she really wanted to tell her fathers so they could fix this for Ashley and her mother.

“You hafta promise, Bree.”

“I promise,” Bree said solemnly.

“Cross your heart and hope to die.”

“Cross my heart and hope to die,” Bree repeated. Now she couldn’t tell. She didn’t want to die.

 

*****
 

After school Bree sat at the kitchen table having a snack with Patrick and her fathers. This was their common activity when the children arrived home from school. It was a good opportunity to hear how the kids were doing at school and any interesting things they had learned. Bree was unusually quiet and Patrick seemed to be doing all the talking. He was telling his uncles all about this kid who had called a boy in Patrick’s class a really bad name. When the teacher had reprimanded him, he back talked the teacher and had been sent home for three days.

“That’s good,” Justin said remembering the things he had been called at St. James with no punishment in evidence at all. The words had hurt enough, but when the teacher pretended not to have heard them, that hurt even more. “Kids should not be allowed to say hurtful things.”

“We can’t always stop them,” Brian said ruefully. He had had a few of his own experiences with name calling.

“No, but those kids should have to stay in their room for at least a week,” Patrick advised.

“At least,” Brian agreed with a chuckle.

“What do you think about kids who call people names, Bree?” Justin asked his daughter, noting that she seemed really distracted and had not contributed to the conversation at all.

“Huh?” Bree asked when she realized she was being spoken too.

“You haven’t heard a word of what we were discussing, have you?”

Bree shook her head. “Sowwy, Daddy.”

“What’s up, Squirt?” Brian asked concerned by Bree’s lack of interest in anything. She had been picking at her snack, not really eating anything. “Aren’t you feeling well?”

“I’m okay,” she replied.

“You don’t look okay,” Patrick offered. “You never said anything to me all the way home.”

“You know you can tell us anything, sweetheart,” Justin said.

Bree nodded, but she knew she couldn’t tell them about Ashley and her mother. “I’ll eat my snack,” she said sitting up in her chair. Maybe that would get them to think of something else.

“I don’t care about the snack,” Justin said sternly. “Why are you upset?”

“It’s … nothing, Daddy,” Bree tried to assure him.

“It’s obviously something,” Justin replied. “Tell me whatever it is.”

“I can’t. I promised,” Bree replied.

“Who did you promise?” Brian asked trying to keep his voice soft. He didn’t like secrets and it wasn’t like Bree to keep them.

“I can’t tell you.”

“Squirt!” Brian said ominously.

“But I promised,” Bree whispered, a tear rolling down her cheek.

“Patrick, would you go start your homework?” Justin asked. “I think we need to talk to Bree alone.”

“Okay, Uncle Justin,” Patrick said standing up and grabbing a couple more pieces of cheese and some crackers. He headed for the sun porch. Before he left the kitchen he turned and said to Bree, “You should tell them.”

Bree shook her head as more tears ran down her cheeks.

“Did something bad happen at school?” Justin asked. Bree shook her head. “Then tell us what it is?”

“I can’t. I promised, and I crossed my heart and hoped to die. I don’t want to die, Daddy.”

“Oh sweetheart, you’re not going to die. That’s just an expression.” Justin lifted Bree from her chair and set her on his lap. She cried softly her face buried in his shoulder.

“But I promised, and it could happen,” she whispered after a couple of minutes.

“Bree, whatever is making you so sad is worse than telling us will be. Maybe we can make it right.”

“Oh no, Daddy! You can’t. That’s why I can’t tell you.”

“Does this have something to do with Ashley?” Brian asked taking a shot in the dark.

Bree’s eyes got really large and she turned to stare at her father. “How did you know?” she asked in awe.

“I know everything,” Brian said with a smile of encouragement. “Now tell us what’s going on and I promise we won’t do anything that will make matters worse.”

Bree’s violet eyes stared into the dark green ones of her father. “You promise?”

“I do.”

“Ashley asked her mommy about the symphony for me,” Bree began taking a deep breath and swiping at the tears on her cheeks. Justin turned her around so she could look at Brian. He kept his arm firmly around her waist giving her silent support. Both men waited for her to continue. “Ashley thought maybe you were going to take me to the symphony and she asked her mommy if they could go too. Her mommy said that it was too expensive and maybe they could go in a couple of years. Her mommy started crying when Ashley was disappointed. She doesn’t want you to get them tickets ‘cause you’ve done too much already.”

“Is that what Ashley said?” Brian asked. Bree nodded. “Okay, so now we know.”

“You can’t tell anybody,” Bree said. “You promised.”

Brian shook his head. He had carefully chosen his words when he made his promise to Bree. “Go do your homework, Squirt. And talk to Patrick. I think he’s worried about you.”

“Okay, Dada.” Bree hopped down and started towards the sun porch. She stopped part way and turned around. “Can I have some cheese? I’m hungry,” she said.

“Certainly,” Justin said holding the plate out to her. She got her snack and disappeared into the sun porch.

“It’s amazing how unburdening yourself can revive an appetite,” Brian observed.

“Yeah, says the man who never shared anything.”

“Those days are long gone.”

“Thank God!”

“Anyway, what are we going to do about Bree and Ashley?” Justin shrugged. “I think I’m going to call Susanna,” Brian stated.

“Brian! Maybe I should be the one to call her,” Justin cautioned. “Or maybe we should just stay out of it.”

“No, I’m not staying out of this. I’m calling.”

“Don’t make matters worse,” Justin reminded him.

“I won’t. I promised,” Brian said. He picked up the phone.

“I think I want not to hear this,” Justin said heading to the sun porch. Painting would give him something to do, and he couldn’t be accused of interfering if he was out there with Bree and Patrick.

“Coward,” Brian said to the receding back of his husband. Justin flipped him the bird before he disappeared through the doorway. Brian hit Ashley’s number on the speed dial.

“Susanna,” Brian said when the phone was picked up. “Brian Kinney.”

“If this is about the symphony, Ashley isn’t going.”

“Yes, she is, and here’s why…”

About ten minutes later Brian entered the sun porch with a triumphant look on his face. “Ashley and Susanna will be accompanying us to the symphony,” he announced.

“Dada!” Bree said with horror on her face. “You promised.”

“I did, and Susanna is perfectly happy to accompany us.”

“How did you manage that?” Justin asked.

“I told her that we had a box with four chairs and we could always add another,” Brian replied.

“I could sit on your knee,” Bree volunteered.

“As much as I would like that, hours of you on my knee wouldn’t be good for my knee or your bum. We just need another chair.”

“Can Ted arrange that?” Justin asked.

“He’s doing so as we speak.”

“How did you pull this off?”

“I told Susanna that we loved Ashley like our own daughter and that she shouldn’t be deprived of the symphony. I said that we had a special deal from Ted and we would be happy to have both of them join us in our box which was already paid for. I also reminded Susanna that when our princess was unhappy, everybody was unhappy.”

“Including Ashley,” Justin said with a chuckle.

“Yeah, she had been moping around, so Susanna agreed. It’s all arranged.”

“You are a master manipulator,” Justin said putting his arms around Brian’s neck.

“The truth goes a long way. There was no manipulation.” Justin gave Brian a quizzical look. “Well, not much,” Brian admitted.

“Why does everybody want to go to the stupid symphony?” Patrick asked as he watched the scene unfold.

“You should come too, Patrick. It’s going to be good,” Bree said.

“I don’t know…” Patrick replied.

Brian had a sinking feeling that this symphony experience was growing bigger by the minute.

 

*****
 

“So where and when should we have our welcome to the family party?” Emm asked Drew and Richie.

“Considering how large our family is,” Drew began, “I think we should have it on the lane,” he said reasonably. “What do you think, son?” Drew asked Richie with a wide grin.

Richie jumped up from the sofa to hug his dad. “I think that’s a great idea, Dad,” Richie said with a sniffle.

“Oh! Oh!” Emmett exclaimed, sniffling as well and hugging them both. He eventually stepped back, wiping his eyes then pulled out a hankie to blow his nose. “I think I’ll place a call to our Mr. Kinney to set this up. Drewsie, would you mind calling Debbie?”

“Debbie?”

“I’ll need her to help spread the news and of course help organize everything,” Emmett explained.

“Organize everything? This coming from the party planner extraordinaire?” Drew asked, slightly taken aback but smiling as he said it.

“I’ve decided that I want to be a guest at my own party not the planner,” Emmett stated with conviction.

“You go girl!” Richie and Drew said simultaneously then laughed and high fived.

“Babe, I totally agree. It’s our party but I think it’s too late to call Debbie,” Drew said as he checked his watch. It was close to ten.

“But not Brian,” Emm added.

“I think you can safely call Brian. How about we all make a list of who we want to invite and then you can work on it tomorrow with Debbie,” Drew suggested.

“You’re so smart,” Emmett gushed as he gave his man a peck. “Sweetie, I’d like you to ask anyone you wish,” Emm addressed Richie.

“Okay...Mom!” Richie said with a twinkle in his eyes.

“Oh! Oh!” Emmett exclaimed then burst out into happy tears.

 

*****
 

“Kinney,” Brian said into his phone. “This is Brian Kinney,” he repeated when he got no reply. Brian looked at the caller ID. “Emmett, is that you? I thought you gave up all that heavy breathing when you married Drew?”

“Asshole,” Emmett finally managed to say in a choked voice.

“I hear congratulations are in order,” Brian said with a smirk. He heard a muffled sniffle. “And it’s a boy! Was the labor long?”

“Oh, oh!” The sniffle turned into a full blown sob. “I’m so happy.”

“You deserve it, Emm. You’re a good man and you’re a great father,” Brian said gently. “If I were a kid, I’d be proud to have you as my dad.” Brian heard Emmett blow his nose.

“Would it be all right if we had a family party on the lane this weekend? We can use the B&B backyard. It’s big enough to accommodate us all and there’ll be plenty of bathrooms and bedrooms if anyone wants to stay over,” Emm pleaded.

“I’d be honored to grill for you and your family,” Brian replied, getting more sobbing in return.

“Our family, Brian. You all were there for us. I want as many of our family there as possible.”

“Fax me a list in the morning and I’ll help make the calls.”

“One more thing, I know you may not like it but I’d like to invite Melanie. If it wasn’t for her, I don’t know if we would have been as successful as we were.”

“Emm, anyone you want there is fine with me. I promise to behave.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome and again, congratulations. Good night.”

“Night, Brian.”

“Who was that?” Justin asked as he came up behind Brian just as he hung up the phone. Justin wrapped his arms around Brian’s waist.

“Emmett,” Brian replied as he leaned into Justin’s arms. “He wants to have a party this weekend up here. He intends to invite most of Pittsburgh.”

“Is that a problem?”

“Not for me,” Brian said as he turned to face Justin. “I even promised to behave with Mel.” Brian gave an exaggerated shudder.

“My hero,” Justin teased as he leaned up to plant a kiss on the tip of Brian’s nose. “I guess the new B&B will be getting a workout this weekend.”

“The whole lane will be, but that’s why we built the extra cottage, and I’m sure not everyone will sleep over.”

“I’m sure you’re right. What does Emmett want us to do?”

“I promised to grill,” Brian answered.

“Then I’ll go shopping,” Justin volunteered. “Bri, I know you’ll keep your promise but I’m worried about Lindsay. Do you think it’ll be too much for her to be around Melanie?” Justin asked with concern.

“I don’t think so. Besides, Lindsay has someone in her life,” Brian said with a sly smile.

“She has a girlfriend?” Justin asked, his eyes wide with wonder. Brian shook his head and Justin gasped.

“Yup, our Miss Lindsay got herself some dick.”

“Really? Do I know him?” Brian whispered in Justin’s ear. “You’re shitting me?”

“Nope. Lindsay’s doing her best to strengthen our ties to the mother country.”

“Well as long as she’s happy,” Justin said. “Charles is a good looking man and they have a lot in common.”

“And he gets to go home.”

“Brian, I hope she doesn’t get hurt.”

“Got it covered, Sunshine. Lindsay and I had a chat; she’s in this with her eyes wide open. Let’s just be grateful it isn’t that wacky artist she fucked years ago.” Brian made a face. “Charles Higgins is hot, for an old man. I’d do him.”

“I have someone better for you to do,” Justin announced firmly.

“Yeah, who?”

“Me, old man.” Justin copped a feel of Brian’s ass then turned, swishing his way to their bedroom.

“Can’t argue with that,” Brian murmured as he followed the object of his affection to their room.
 

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