Emerge Victorious

Chapter 2

“No, Taylor, you’re supposed to stay inside the lines,” Bree said with a sigh. She took Taylor’s hand and showed him how she would color inside the outline of the elephant in her coloring book. She and Taylor were sitting at a table with Molly, Craig and Owen under one of the big shade trees. Bree was kneeling on her chair, and Taylor was standing on his father’s chair between Owen’s legs. Owen had a firm grip on him. Bree had chosen the page with the elephant for Taylor to color. Se had thought that the animal was so big that Taylor could stay inside the huge space that the elephant occupied on the page. She was wrong.

Taylor looked up at his cousin and gave her a crooked grin. “Goo,” he said.

“He’s impossible,” Bree observed.

“He doesn’t have the eye/hand coordination to color inside the lines yet,” Molly informed Bree.

“So I should stop trying to make him?” Bree asked.

“Oh no, I didn’t mean that. He learns things from your instruction,” Molly assured Bree.

“He does?”

“Yes, and the only way he’ll get better at coloring is with practice.”

“He needs to know how to color. They make you do that in kindergarten,” Bree explained knowledgeably.

“That’s true,” Molly agreed. “Do you remember how much you learned from Patrick when you were little?”

“Yes,” Bree said thoughtfully. “My Patrick showed me the ropes.”

Craig chuckled. “And what ropes might those be?”

“He showed me how to act at school, and how to play baseball even though I don’t like it so much, and how to stay away from the stream unless there was an adult with us, and…”

“Okay, okay,” Craig interrupted, “I get the picture.”

“Well,” Molly continued, “Taylor needs you to show him things like that too.”

“Oh,” Bree replied. She frowned and thought about what her aunt had just told her. Maybe she was being too hard on Taylor. He definitely had a lot to learn if his coloring skills were any indication. “I can teach him,” she volunteered.

All of the adults smiled and nodded their heads in agreement. Molly hoped she had just made the rivalry Bree felt with Taylor more bearable for the little girl. Now, if her own father would just…

 

*****
 

“Is she okay?” Candy asked as she saw Jennifer and Susan coming out of the sun porch. Candy hadn’t realized that her mother wasn’t feeling well, until she had looked around and not seen her mother anywhere in the yard. Richie had told her that her mother had been taken inside by Justin’s mother.

“She’s resting in Bree’s room,” Jennifer replied. “She dozed off almost before we got her settled.”

“I should go sit with her,” Candy said.

“Candy, I’d let her rest,” Susan gently advised the girl. “She said she didn’t want you to worry. We were going to send for you, but she wanted you to enjoy the day.”

Candy looked uncertain. “You’re sure she’s all right?”

“Dr. Nick looked her over. She’s just tired,” Jennifer assured her.

“Here, Candy, have some lemonade,” Lindsay offered. She had listened to what the women were telling Candy. She decided this might be a good time to get to know the girl better. She offered a glass of lemonade to the young girl. “Come, sit down with me for a little while.” Lindsay took Candy’s arm and propelled her towards one of the chaises that were in the shade beside the house. Lindsay sat down on the one beside it.

Candy took a little sip of her lemonade. “I really should go check on my mother,” she said starting to get up.

“She’s sleeping,” Nick advised as he came out of the house. She’s fine otherwise.”

“You’re sure?” Candy asked.

“Totally.”

“Okay,” Candy replied sinking back against the chaise. She looked pretty tired herself.

Lindsay realized then how young Candy really was, and how much she had been dealing with over the last weeks. “Drink your lemonade,” Lindsay told her gently.

“Thanks, I am thirsty,” Candy replied. “Thanks for getting it for me.”

“You deserve it. You must use a lot of your time and energy looking after your mother.”

“I don’t mind,” Candy said defensively.

“I’m sure you don’t,” Lindsay replied. “I just meant that it doesn’t hurt to take a breather every now and then. You deserve to relax.”

“I just wish…” Candy let her voice trail off.

“You wish she wasn’t sick. I understand,” Lindsay said sympathetically.

“Do you have someone who’s sick?”

“No, but I’m in the process of getting a divorce after many years of being half of a couple. It’s a different kind of loss, but I think it gives me an inkling of what you’re going through.”

“You were married?” Candy asked.

“Yes, to Melanie. She recently moved to Portland Oregon and found herself a new lover.”

“Well, that’s fucking shitty!” Candy reacted. “Pardon my French.”

Lindsay laughed. “You sounded almost like Brian when you said that.”

“I don’t know Mr. Kinney very well. I’ve mostly talked to Justin.”

“Piece of advice – don’t call him Mr. Kinney. He much prefers Brian.”

“Oh, okay, I’ll remember that.”

“Justin’s really taken an interest in you and your art.”

“I can’t believe how great he’s being, considering the history between him and Chris Hobbs.”

“Chris Hobbs?”

“I refuse to call him my father. He’s just someone that gave a bit of DNA,” Candy said bitterly.

“How much do you know about what happened between your father and Justin?”

“My mother just said that Chris Hobbs had attacked Justin, and he had been put on trial for it. He had to do community service as a result.”

“I see.”

“Is…is there more to the story?” Candy asked.

“A bit, but I think you should ask Justin about that.”

“Okay, I will,” Candy said with her brow furrowed. She had the feeling that she wasn’t going to like what she would hear.

“How are you finding living on Tremont?” Lindsay asked deciding to change the subject.

“It’s great. It’s so much better than where we were before. Justin was a life saver…” Candy stopped, realizing that no one, not even Justin Taylor, could really save her mother’s life. “I mean that it really is so much more pleasant than where we were before. We owe Justin so much.”

“I’m glad you like it there,” Lindsay replied. She wanted to ask Candy about her plans for the future, but it just didn’t seem like the right thing to bring up. “Are you hungry? It smells like Brian has the barbecues going.”

“I could eat a horse,” Candy said sincerely.

“Don’t tell Bree that. She loves horses.”

“I don’t think I will try to tell Bree anything,” Candy said in all seriousness. She had learned that very quickly.

“Smart girl,” Lindsay chuckled.

 

*****
 

“Well, Miss Joan, where’s your cohort in crime?” Emmett asked with a grin as he sat down beside her.

Joan was seated on one of the chaises in the sun porch. She looked quite content. “And who would that be?”

“Danny … and his new friend.” Emmett made quotation marks in the air around the word friend.

“If you mean Danny and Riley, they’re having a quiet day at home.”

“Did we scare them off?”

“I must say that when someone is developing a relationship, this group can be rather daunting.”

“Us … daunting?” Emmett chuckled.

“You know it very well,” Joan admonished with a smile. “Riley’s thinking about buying Lindsay’s cottage, you know.”

“I hope he does.”

“I do too. He and Danny make a fine pair, and it will be nice for them to have a place to get away to.”

Emmett nodded in agreement. “How are you doing these days?”

“I’m just fine.”

“You don’t seem to be spending much time with Bree today.”

“Craig Taylor is the center of attention. If that makes Bree happy, then I’m happy.”

“You don’t like him very much, do you?”

“I see the way he looks at my son. I know that look. I used to have it perfected.”

“But you’ve changed.”

“I most definitely have,” Joan declared, “but I don’t have a lot of hope for that man.”

“You never know,” Emmett said philosophically.

“No, you don’t, but he’s even worse than I was, and it’s hard to believe that’s possible.”

“You are our shining example, Miss Joan. Maybe Craig will see the light.”

“Or maybe the light will strike him down in the form of a lightning bolt,” Joan said as she looked through the glass of the sun porch and watched Craig stare at Brian with a look of pure malice on his face.

 

*****
 

“Taylor!” Molly yelled with frustration more than anger. Her rambunctious son had just tipped over an entire pitcher of lemonade onto himself. He wasn’t hurt just soaked. Brian and Justin had long ago discovered the benefits of strong plastic pitchers. However, the shock of the cold beverage splashing on the toddler’s head as he reached up onto the table was too much. And it was way past Taylor’s nap time.

“I’m sorry,” Molly said as Justin came running over with paper towels to sop up the mess and a bath towel to sop up Taylor.

“No harm done but I think Taylor needs a bath,” Justin said as he watched Molly wrap her son up in the towel. The bumblebees were beginning to take an interest in her sticky sugary son.

“I think we both need a bath,” Molly said as she looked down at her damp blouse. “Owen, I’m taking Taylor to the cottage,” Molly informed her husband who was busy wiping down the table before the ants began to march.

“Sure, honey,” Owen replied from under the table. Molly said goodbye to the family as she turned.

“Do you want some help?” Craig asked. What he really wanted was to get away from the ‘family’ and Brian Kinney.

“Dad, I’ve been giving my son a bath for over a year now, I think I can manage,” Molly said as she gathered up Taylor’s bag and began to walk toward the lane with a very lemony scented son.

“Molly, don’t be sarcastic; I’d just like to see your cottage,” Craig said trying to keep the pleading out of his voice. Molly searched her father’s face.

“Sure, Dad.” They hurried down the lane toward Molly’s cottage before Taylor became too cranky.

“Where’s he going?” Debbie asked as she spied Craig trailing after Molly.

“Probably making a break for it,” Brian snarked. “His ass has been twitching like a nervous virgin all day long.” Debbie cackled as they rejoined the party.

 

*****
 

“How do you put up with it?” Craig asked Molly when she came out of Taylor’s room. After a nice but quick bath, Taylor was diapered then laid down in his crib. He was asleep before Molly covered him with his blanket. Molly had washed herself off then donned a clean t-shirt.

“Put up with what, Dad?”

“You work with them and then spend your holidays with them. I don’t understand it.”

“Coffee?” Molly asked, ignoring her father’s ruminations for the moment as she turned on the coffeemaker. “Dad, Kinnetik is an equal opportunity employer. It doesn’t discriminate, and not that it's any of your business but the woman who hired me is straight.”

Craig hadn’t known that. “I thought Kinney hired you.”

“His name might be on my paycheck but Cynthia hired me and supervises me; she still does.”

“And she’s straight?”

“Yes, Dad, and lives with her boyfriend. But that has nothing to do with the fact that I love my job and I make a difference there. We have dozens of overseas clients and I make sure the language in our ads is correct. I belong, and I can take Taylor with me.”

“You take the baby to work with you?’

“Yup, and so do a lot of the other employees. It’s great to take a break and spend it with my son. When it’s nice out, some of us take the kids out for a walk instead of being cooped up inside.”

“Outside? In that neighborhood?”

“Dad, where have you been? I know you haven’t been living under a rock. Brian and Hunter have done a lot to clean up that part of the neighborhood. It’s perfectly safe. Brian even got permission to have some benches put out in front. The city council likes him,” Molly said proudly.

“I might have a word with the council,” Craig muttered.

“Don’t you dare!” Molly pointed a finger at her father. “Kinnetik has done a lot for the whole community, not just the gays and lesbians. Kinnetik was voted one of the top ten businesses in Pittsburgh to work in for three years running and has been nominated again for this year. Can your company say that? Even Owen Sr. can’t say that. I have a good career with potential for advancement and Kinnetik appreciates the importance of family. I won’t have you say anything bad about Kinnetik.”

“Well...”

“Or Brian! Dad, when are you going to get it through your thick skull? Justin and Brian have been in love with each other for almost twenty years.”

“I almost lost my son because of the man he ‘loves’.”

“No, you almost lost your son because someone hated him for being himself. And you’re going to lose your granddaughter if you don’t change. And Daddy, I will not tolerate your bigotry around my son.” Molly glared at Craig. He understood the implication. Craig was on the verge of being cut off from his grandson as well as his granddaughter.

“I’ll try, honey, I promise.”

“You better do more than try. Justin will be hosting The Emerging Artists Show next week. There will be a lot of press and members of Pittsburgh society attending. I have it on good authority that the Sarah Kingsley will be there. I think as a member of the family, you and Susan should go. I know you received an invitation.”

“How do you know?”

“Because Kinnetik has the gallery account and I was put in charge of overseeing the invitations.”

“Oh.”

“Yes, oh, and the list of who RSVP's comes to me. I want your name on it.” Molly had put her dainty foot down.

“Okay. I’ll discuss it with Susan. I don’t think we have any other plans.”

“No, you don’t; I already checked. So be there.”

“Okay,” Craig said slowly sipping his coffee and feeling like a petulant child. Molly harumphed as she fixed her own coffee.

“Dad, I want to show you something,” Molly said after a while. She got up from her chair and walked to the front doors. She gently caressed the dark wood as she threw the doors open and stepped into her front garden. It was still in bloom although the summer flowers were fading. Brian had begun planting the fall mums. She smiled to herself as she touched an orange red flower petal.

“Molly, you can’t leave the baby all alone,” Craig grumbled. Before Molly could say anything, Beau appeared on the path. Molly reached out to pat the big dog on his head. Craig took a giant step back when he saw the wolf-like dog.

“Beau, watch Taylor for me,” Molly whispered into a furry ear then gave the ear a scratch. Beau gave a little woof then walked into the cottage going straight to Taylor’s room. He sniffed the air near the crib then laid himself down by its side. Beau didn’t mind watching this pup, especially when he was asleep.

“Molly?”

“Dad, we’re just going to the lane. I can hear if the baby needs me and Beau won’t let anything happen to him. Beau keeps watch over all of us.”

“Fine,” Craig growled as he joined his daughter outside. He couldn’t help but notice the beautifully fragrant garden. “I can’t believe that man did all this,” Craig muttered. “Of course, I can, he’s a fag,” Craig continued to mumble as he held out his flexed wrist in the air.

“Daddy, that is uncalled for,” Molly admonished.

Craig cringed but stepped up to her side. “What did you want to show me?”

“Look around, what do you see?” Craig looked up and down the lane which was very crowded with cars.

“I see houses and lots of cars.”

“Yes, you do and what do you hear?”

Craig listened for a minute. “Music, someone singing off key, and laughter.”

“They’re having fun.”

“It is a party,” Craig stated as if he just had a revelation.

“Yes, they are having fun, lots of fun. They’re enjoying the day.”

“Yeah, so?”

“Don’t you get it?”

“I’m not sure I see your point.”

“No, I don’t suppose you do, Dad. When was the last time you and Susan hosted a family party?”

“Susan and I hosted a cocktail party at the club to celebrate the end of the second quarter. The company did very well,” Craig said proudly.

“Congratulations but that’s not what I asked. I asked about a family party. One with your immediate family, that included your grandchildren, children and their spouses and in-laws.”

“I...”

“Never, Dad, never. Justin and Brian host several parties and barbecues and other gatherings over the course of the year. Brian grumbles about it but that’s just his way. He actually loves it.”

“Maybe I don’t have a reason to throw frivolous parties.”

“Sure you do. Just being alive is reason enough.” Molly inhaled deeply. The sun was waning, the Fall coolness was in the air. Bees heavy with pollen were zooming back to their hives. She could hear crickets chirping, frogs and tree toads croaking. “I love it out here," she said centering herself. "Daddy, please try, if not for yourself, for your grandchildren. I’m so afraid you’ll end up a bitter lonely old man,” Molly sighed.

Craig put his arm around his daughter. “I’ll try, sweetheart. I promise to really try. It’s just that Kinney...”

“Dad, you have nothing to be afraid of,” Molly teased from under her father’s arm. “There’s only one Taylor for Brian, besides you’re much too old for him,” Molly burst out laughing. Craig was too shocked to reply. “Why don’t you go find Susan, it looks like the party’s breaking up,” Molly said observing some of the family waving goodbye as they got into their cars. “And it would be very nice if you invited Mom and Seth here for a cup of coffee before they drive back.” Craig looked as if he was about to protest but decided against it. He squared his shoulders then walked up the lane.

Molly giggled at her father’s obvious displeasure then went to make a fresh pot of coffee.

 

*****
 

“Ya think Seth will keep Jennifer from killing Craig?” Emmett asked as he watched them stroll down to Molly’s cottage. He and Owen were folding up the tables and chairs then packing them into the shed.

After seeing Janet and Candy safely off with Lacy and Katerina, the rest of the family pitched in with the clean up. Ted and Allen were staying the weekend with Emmett, Drew and Richie. Lindsay was planning on visiting her cottage after breakfast so she accepted Brian’s offer to stay the night. She really didn’t want to go there alone, so Brian and John volunteered to go with her. Lindsay wanted to take an inventory of the meager belongings that were still in the cottage and take whatever she could carry before arranging for a moving van. John volunteered the services of his men and trucks. The rest of the family headed back to the city.

“If he can’t, Molly will,” Owen deadpanned. “He really isn’t such a bad guy if you can overlook his prejudices and the stick up his ass.”

“Maybe, but he does have a habit of rubbing Brian the wrong way.”

“About that. Is it true that Craig crashed into Brian’s Jeep?”

“Yeah, gave Brian his first concussion,” Emmett said sedately. Some subjects were just too serious to joke about. “He rammed the back of the Jeep when Brian was stopped at a light. It wasn’t pretty; Brian could have been scarred for life … or worse.”

“Does Craig hate all gay people that much?”

“No, I don’t think he does,” Emmett said as he inspected their work, knowing how finicky a certain person was. Satisfied, he locked up the shed then followed Owen back to the garden. Owen waved goodbye to the remaining family then went home.

“No, there’s only one person Craig truly hates,” Emmett murmured to himself, looking up at the clouds in the darkening sky. He took a deep breath, steeled himself then joined the remaining family inside.
 

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