Culturation

Chapter 9

The next morning Edna’s Treasures started stirring early. Brian knew he had guests to take care of and a massive breakfast to start. Leaving Justin sleeping peacefully, he was in the kitchen beating eggs when he heard footsteps coming down the spiral staircase from his office. He stopped what he was doing and poured another mug of coffee. As soon as Charles walked into the kitchen, he was handed the steaming mug.

“Ah,” Charles said as he took a sip. “Good morning and thanks for the wake-up juice.”

“No problem,” Brian replied as he started beating his eggs again.

“How many eggs do you have in that bowl?” Charles asked as he peered over Brian’s shoulder.

“Three dozen.”

“My God, the cholesterol!”

Brian chuckled. “Cholesterol in eggs is a myth. Besides, I only make scrambled eggs for special occasions.”

“Does everyone come here?”

“Yep.”

“May I help you?” Charles asked.

“Do you know how to cook?”

“Raather!”

“Then start loading those fry pans with bacon,” Brian said.

When Emmett arrived not long after, breakfast was well under way. Emmett noted that the two chefs seemed to be getting along very well. He supposed that bonding over bacon was one way to get to know each other.

Before long everyone was enjoying Brian’s famous breakfast at the long tables in the sun porch. There were jokes and laughter as everyone relaxed and enjoyed coffee, juice and milk after the big meal.

Charles was sitting beside Lindsay admiring the goings-on. He realized that the logistics of feeding and cooking for so many people were not easy. Brian and his family seemed to have it down pat.

“Are you enjoying the get-together?” Lindsay asked as she gently touched Charles’ hand.

“Very much,” Charles replied sincerely.

Gus was watching them. “Mom,” he said, “where’s Grandma Joan?”

“I … I don’t know,” Lindsay said surprised that she hadn’t noted Joan’s absence from the congratulatory party for Richie and his new family. “It’s not like her to miss a family gathering.”

“Joan said she would stay at the store,” Danny offered. “I told her she should come and be with the family, but she said the long drive tired her out.”

“So she’d rather work?” Brian asked sarcastically. “Maybe she finally got sick of being near me.”

“Brian,” Justin admonished gently, “you know that’s not true. She probably does get tired. She’s no spring chicken anymore. But she loves you so much.”

“Can we go see Gamma Joan soon?” Bree asked. She missed her grandma.

“We’ll do that really soon,” Justin promised. He looked at Brian who merely nodded.

“So, Richie,” Brian said, “are you still happy to be part of this cwazy wittle group, or did you come to your senses overnight?”

“I’m happy to be here,” Richie replied with a big grin, “but you all take some getting used to.”

“And you’ve gotten very used to us, haven’t you, son?” Drew asked.

“Very!” Richie replied, earning a big laugh from most of the group.

“You got yourself a couple of great dads!” Debbie stated loudly. “You couldn’t ask for better.”

“Oh, pshaw,” Emmett replied, but his warm smile showed that he appreciated Debbie’s kind words.

“Nothing but the best for our son from here on out,” Drew said emphatically. He reached over and pulled his new son into a fierce hug.

“Can I have a hug?” Bree asked Justin.

“Certainly, sweetheart.”

That led to everyone hugging their neighbor.

“I think I’m going to hurl,” Brian whispered to Gus as he gave his son a big hug too.

“You know you love them all,” Gus said knowingly.

“Maybe,” Brian replied. Gus patted his back before releasing his dad from the hug. “We still need to talk about India.”

Brian shook his head. He didn’t want this to be done in front of everyone that was there. Gus quickly picked up on the cue and nodded to his father.

Breakfast was over, the hugging was over. Everyone began to filter out of Edna’s Treasures, heading for their cars and home. There were a lot more kisses and hugs as people took their leave. Happy events were a great time for people to get together. Welcoming a new child into the fold was about the best thing of all.

 

*****
 

“Gus,” Bree said as Gus was packing up his duffel bag getting ready to return to Penn.

Gus turned from his bed where the duffel bag lay to see his sister standing in the doorway of his bedroom. “What’s up, short stuff?”

“Do you have to go?”

“Bree, you know we always have this discussion, and yes, I have to go.”

“Are you going to India?”

“What?” Gus asked surprised. “What makes you think that?”

“I heard you whisper to Dada.”

“I don’t know. Pop and I have to talk about it.”

“Don’t go,” Bree pleaded, her eyes very large.

“Nothing’s settled.”

“I love you, my Gus.”

“I love you too.”

That was just the thing to cause Bree to launch herself into Gus’ arms.

Brian found them sitting on the bed together when he came looking for Gus a little while later. “What’s going on in here? Are you two having a party without me?”

“No, Pop, never,” Gus said with a chuckle.

“I’m telling Gus about my project about the family and where we came from,” Bree stated.

“We were supposed to take you to talk to Grandma Joan, weren’t we?” Brian asked.

“Yes, Dada. I have to finish the project soon, so we need to go right away.”

“Yes, General Squirt,” Brian said with a salute. “I’ll get right on that. I’ll call my mother to arrange it.”

Gus shook his head at his father’s antics. “And I have to go,” he said standing up.

“Don’t go,” Bree begged.

“Short stuff,” Gus admonished, “don’t start … pleeease!”

“Sowwy, Gus,” Bree said hanging her head.

“Squirt, come on out to the car with Gus so you can say goodbye properly.”

Bree stood up dejectedly, but she didn’t say anything more. She followed her father and Gus out of the house. Gus threw his duffel bag into the back of the Jeep.

“I guess this is goodbye for a while,” Gus said as he gave his father a hug.

“Don’t forget how to dial the phone,” Brian advised him.

“I won’t, Pop.”

“And don’t forget…” Brian nodded towards Bree who stood silently beside the car.

“Short stuff, I’ll talk to you on the phone, I promise.”

“’Kay,” Bree said, but she didn’t look up. Her eyes were glued to the ground.

“What’s up?” Justin asked as he came out of the house. “You weren’t leaving without saying goodbye to me were you?”

“Never,” Gus said giving Justin a big hug. “Do I get a hug?” he asked Bree when his hug with Justin was over.

Bree looked up then. She couldn’t pass up a hug from her Gus. “I love you, Gus,” she said as she hugged him as hard as she could.

“Love you right back.” Gus squeezed his little sister as hard as he dared.

“Can I go to India with you?” Bree whispered in Gus’ ear.

Gus groaned but he couldn’t answer. He didn’t even know if he would be going. Finally he said, “We’ll have to see. It may be a long way off.”

“I can wait,” Bree promised before Gus climbed into the Jeep.

“Bye, everybody,” he called as he started the car.

They all stood waving at him as the Jeep headed down the lane. Bree took a hand from each of her fathers and they walked back into the house. She needed them to be touching her at the moment. Gus was gone … again.

 

*****
 

Fall of 2020 and life for the family returned to normal. Melanie returned to Portland, albeit reluctantly but with a renewed sense of peace. She didn’t feel as cut off from her children as she did when she first moved out there. And she still hadn't gotten over the fact that Brian had allowed her to stay at his loft. Borrowing a page out of Lindsay’s book, Mel decided to take some time to get to know herself before getting into another relationship. She found a small apartment not too far from her office and made it her new home.

Charles was needed back in London. But after hearing the family buzz regarding the symphony they were planning to attend and Lindsay expressing her own interest in it, Charles boldly decided to purchase the tickets. He’d be back to escort Lindsay and her girls to the concert.

“Dada, where are we going?” Bree asked as Brian and Justin watched Patrick run up to Rachel’s front door. The door opened and the red-headed woman greeted her nephew with a hug. Patrick and Rachel waved goodbye then went inside. Brian swung the Jeep around then headed back down the lane.

“We’re going to Pittsburgh,” Brian replied as he stuck his arm out of the Jeep’s window to key the code. It was Friday afternoon, Brian and Justin had picked up the kids from school.

“Why?” Bree looked around over the back seat; she could see her small pink overnight duffel bag. “Are we staying there?” she asked excitedly, not waiting for the response to her first question.

“Yes, baby girl,” Justin replied as he sat back into his seat. He winked at Brian.

“Yay!” Bree squeed. “Can we see Gampa Craig? I don’t see him forever,” Bree asked using her baby voice.

“Briana,” Brian said ominously. Bree’s baby voice was cute when she was a baby but she was eight going on thirty. There was no need for ‘the voice.’

“Who are we going to visit, Dada?” Bree asked properly.

“Since you’re researching the Irish culture and my roots, your daddy and I thought you’d like to spend some time with Grandma Joan,” Brian suggested. “I spoke with your grandmother and she said she has lots of old photographs and some old letters of distant relatives that you might like to see,” Brian went on to explain.

“Really?” Bree asked with a mile-wide smile.

“Yes,” Brian said, keeping his eyes on the road.

“We’re going to stay for the weekend at the loft..."

"After I have it fumigated," Brian mumbled.

"...so you’ll have plenty of time with Grandma Joan,” Justin added totally ignoring Brian's remark. “We’ll come home Sunday. We'll do this every weekend until you've done enough research.”

"Will you and Dada help me?"

"Of course, we will," Justin assured his daughter.

“Yee Haw!” Bree squealed with delight.

Brian and Justin exchanged smiles as they continued their journey to Pittsburgh.

 

*****
 

“I’ll be back around seven to take us all to dinner,” Brian called out from the Jeep. He dropped Bree and Justin off at his mother’s house.

“Later, Dada!” Bree called out as she waved. Justin smiled lovingly at Brian mouthing ‘later.’ Joan just waved at her son then ushered Bree and Justin in the door.

Brian waited at the curb for a moment, looking at his childhood home. A lot had changed since he was a kid trying to stay under his father’s radar. Brian actually had a mother he was proud to acknowledge and visit. Joan had let Brian and John fix up the house, inside and out. It no longer stood out as an eyesore nor did the inside smell like stale cigarettes and booze. His mother was happy, had friends and even though she remained faithful to her church, Joan hadn’t used religion to condemn others for years. For a brief moment Brian frowned; his mother looked tired but he shook that thought out of his head. She was getting older, she had a right to be tired sometimes.

Brian smiled as he drove off to Kinnetik.

“Schmidt, what the hell is going on around here?!” Brian bellowed as he strode into his flagship branch. Ted jumped, startled to see his boss and friend. Many of the newer employees winced while they tried to make themselves invisible to the great God Kinney as they scurried to their desks. Brian kept on walking until he reached his office before Ted could think of an appropriate reply.

“Hello, Brian,” Cynthia cheerfully greeted her old boss, friend and business partner. She handed him a mug of coffee more out of habit than anything else.

“What’s going on around here? The office looks like a kindergarten class exploded in it.” The outer office was decorated with Fall leaves and gourds.

“You’re the one who hired real teachers to turn the day care into a real pre-school. This is what happens in pre-school. Kids decorate and the parents are happy. Happy parents are productive parents,” Cynthia said smugly. “What’s a few leaves compared to multi-million dollar contracts?” Cynthia asked with an innocent shrug of her shoulders.

“Fine,” Brian griped as he fiddled with the gourds that adorned his desk. “Just keep it confined to the outer office and leave mine out of the decorating scheme.”

“Your wish is my command, sire,” Cynthia said taking the gourds with her as she walked out. Brian could have sworn he heard her snicker as she closed his door.

About an hour later, Brian stood up from his computer. He had been looking over Kinnetik’s latest contracts and campaigns. His people were doing him proud. Brian sported a contented smile on his face as he walked out of his office.

“Schmidt!”

“Yes, boss,” Ted replied with the right amount of reverence and kowtowing.

“Since when did we become a charitable institution? I thought we were in the business of making money not giving it away,” Brian said with a scowl on his face.

“Ah, I, I see you noticed the Trent’s Pharmacy contract,” Ted stammered.

“I noticed that our retainer was a grand total of one dollar with a balance of another dollar to be paid when we deliver the ad. Care to explain?” Brian growled.

Ted looked around the office to find he was quite alone. The rest of the ad execs appeared to have disappeared. Only Cynthia braved the beast as she stepped out of her office at the behest of Ted’s assistant. Cynthia leaned against a pillar watching the age old dance between Brian and Ted.

“Is Mr. Kinney going to fire Mr. Schmidt for taking on the pharmacy contract?” Ted’s assistant asked Cynthia. Trent’s was a small ‘mom and pop’ pharmacy that catered to many of the indigent and down and out citizens of the inner city. They were hoping that an upscale ad would bring in more business to help finance their charitable work.

“Don’t worry; Brian’s bark is much worse than his bite. He’ll grumble, curse and threaten but in the end, he’ll give the campaign his stamp of approval, offer some very insightful suggestions then present the final boards himself. He and Ted have been doing this dance for years.”

A few minutes later, Ted finished his groveling. He then accompanied Brian to the Art Department where Brian looked over the boards. He did indeed offer very insightful suggestions which were acted upon immediately with the help of modern technology, namely the computer. All were very pleased with the results.

“Theodore, let’s go present your ideas to the Trents!” Brian commanded as the printer spit out the reworked poster.

“Yes, boss! Right away, boss!” Ted replied as he gave the Art Department the thumbs up then grabbed the boards to catch up with Brian.

“See? All is right in the world,” Cynthia said with a smile as Ted quickly grabbed his jacket trying to keep up with Brian’s long strides and not drop the boards as they left Kinnetik.

“Amazing,” was all the assistant could mutter as she went back to her own desk.

 

*****
 

“Gamma Joan, is that Grandpa Jack?” Bree asked pointing to a picture in the album they had been looking at.

“You have a good eye, Briana,” Joan replied. “That’s Jack not too long after we got married. He was very young.”

“He looks nice.”

Joan blinked and stared at the picture. After a moment she said, “He was nice … sometimes. I did love him.”

“That’s good,” Bree responded. “My daddies love each other a whole bunch.”

“I know they do,” Joan said with a gentle smile. “They’re very lucky to have found each other.”

Bree nodded. “Gamma Joan, do you think I’ll get married someday?”

“I imagine you will. But only when you’re sure you’ve found the right man, someone who loves you and will look after you and will let you have the career you want.”

Bree frowned. “My daddies say I can be whatever I want.”

“And what do you want?”

“I’m not sure. I’d like to be a doctor and help people like Patrick’s grandpa does.”

“That would be good.”

“But Patrick says sometimes there’s blood … and I don’t like blood very much.”

“Oh, yes, blood can be … difficult. I don’t like it much either.”

“Is that ‘cause we’re related?” Bree asked. “Does it run in the family? My teacher says you can see family traits from parents to children.”

Joan chuckled. “Technically we’re not related, Bree. Brian adopted you.”

“Yeah, he told me that. But, he’s my Dada, right?”

“One hundred percent.”

“Good. So, Grampa Jack worked in a factory?”

“Yes, he did.”

“What did he do there?”

“He worked with electrical equipment.”

“Was he a ‘lectrician?” Bree had heard that word from her fathers. ‘Lectricians came when the lights didn’t work.

“No, he wasn’t an electrician.” Joan made sure to pronounce the word correctly. She knew that Brian liked his daughter to speak well.

“Was anyone else in the family a ‘lectrician?”

“No, no one else in the family is an electrician. Although, I think Jack would have liked Brian to join the Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.”

“Brotherhood?”

“It’s kind of like a union, a group that looks out for the best interests of the workers.” ‘And provides a place for the men to drink,’ Joan thought to herself.

“Oh!” Bree printed something in her notepad that she had brought with her.

“How old was Grandpa Jack when he died?”

“Fifty-nine,” Joan replied. Bree wrote that down.

“Gamma Joan, have you got any cookies? I’m hungry. This is hard work.”

Joan chuckled. “I’m sure we can rustle up a cookie or two. But first, why do you call me Gamma Joan and Jack grandpa?”

“I don’t know Grandpa Jack, but I love you. You’re my Gamma Joan.”

Joan smiled. “I love you too, sweetheart. Let’s get that cookie.”

Bree followed her Gamma Joan into the kitchen.
 

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