Emerging

Chapter 4

 

“Are you okay, Mom?” Candy asked her mother.

“Just fine, sweetheart,” Janet replied.

“You look tired.”

“I’m always tired these days. You shouldn’t be worrying about me. This is the first art show you’ve ever attended. Soon you’ll be having one of your own,” Janet said proudly touching her daughter’s cheek.

“Yeah, I won’t be the star of the show like Justin is, but it will be great,” Candy replied proudly. “You’ll be able to come to the Emerging Artists show, won’t you, Mom?” Candy had difficulty keeping the quiver of fear out of her voice. The Emerging Artists Show was only a few weeks away, but her mother seemed weaker. Candy really wanted her to be able to come to the show.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. You know I’ll be there.” Janet smiled fondly at her daughter.

“Hello, Janet,” Justin said gently as he approached the two women. “Are you enjoying my show?”

“Very much, Justin,” Janet replied. “I’ve never seen so many nude pictures.”

“Of one man,” Justin chuckled. “I guess I do draw Brian nude a lot,” he said with a sheepish grin.

“He’s a fine looking man,” Janet stated. “Even better in person.” She looked over where Brian and his brother were talking to each other. “Who’s the man who looks so much like him?”

“That’s his brother, John.”

“He’s a very handsome man too.”

“Yes, he is.”

“Justin, thank you for helping Cassandra get her work into the upcoming show.”

“No problem,” Justin assured her. “Your daughter has talent. I didn’t really do anything.”

“You could have prevented her from having work in the show,” Janet told him. “I wouldn’t have blamed you.”

“Mom told me a bit about what happened between you and my father,” Cassandra said. “I’m sorry.”

“It has nothing to do with you, Candy,” Justin replied. “It was a long time ago.”

“Yeah, but…” Candy started to protest.

“I’d rather not talk about it,” Justin interrupted her.

“Okay,” Candy said, knowing that this was Justin’s show. She didn’t want to upset him. “I’m going to take Mom home. She’s tired.”

“That’s a good idea,” Justin agreed. “I’m glad you were able to come tonight, Janet.”

“I am too,” Janet replied. “I will be at Cassandra’s show too.”

“That’s great,” Justin said. “You can be very proud of your daughter and her talent.”

“I am.”

“Let’s go, Mom,” Candy said taking her mother’s arm.

“Good night,” Justin said. He watched them walk away.

 

*****
 

“JR, do you like that girl, Candy?” Bree asked.

Bree and her sister were ensconced on the step that led from one section of the gallery to the other. It was the handiest place to sit and be able to see what was going on. They were sipping on sodas, and had just watched Justin talking to Candy and her mother.

“She seems okay,” JR responded. “She’s sort of intense.”

“What does intense mean?”

“She takes everything very seriously. She’s got some drawings in the Emerging Artists Show that’s coming up next, after your father’s show.”

“Will my daddy have paintings in that show?” Bree asked.

“I don’t think so. He’s not an Emerging Artist.”

Bree frowned. “He isn’t?”

“Nope, he’s an established artist. People pay a lot of money for his paintings.”

“They do?”

“Yes, that’s how your daddy can afford to get you pretty dresses and things, like the dress you have on tonight.”

Bree smoothed out the chiffon skirt of her pink dress. “I love my dresses.

“I know you do,” JR chuckled.

“But my dada buys my dresses, not my daddy.”

JR sighed. Sometimes it was hard to explain things to children. “Trust me,” JR said, “your father’s not an emerging artist. Candy is.”

“What’s an emerging artist anyway?” Bree wanted to know.

“Somebody who’s just starting out,” JR said.

“Oh, then that’s why my daddy isn’t one of those artists. He’s been painting forever.”

“Yeah, that’s right,” JR said with a smile. She was glad that Bree had finally figured it out.

“I saw my Gampa tonight,” Bree said happily. “He said he’d come visit me.”

“That’s good, but do you think he really will?” JR asked. She didn’t want Bree to get her hopes up only to find that her grandpa wasn’t going to visit her.

“He said he would,” Bree replied with a frown.

“I … just meant that he’s let you down before,” JR cautioned. “Don’t get too excited about him coming to your place.”

“Maybe I can go to his house,” Bree suggested.

“Yeah, that might work better,” JR agreed.

The girls looked around the gallery. Some people were starting to leave, others were just arriving. Bree and JR looked at the artwork on the wall just off to their right. It was the sketch of Brian with his dick hanging out, and beside it was the huge painting of the abstract phallus that Justin had done.

“I really like the colors Uncle Justin puts in his paintings,” JR observed as she studied the painting.

“Me too, but I wish he’d use more pink,” Bree stated thoughtfully.

“He’s really good at drawing. I like that sketch of your dada.”

“Me too, but I wish his head was bigger. Dada has a really nice head.”

“Yes, he does,” JR agreed, then she giggled. “Maybe we should draw and paint. We know better than your daddy what should be in his paintings.”

“I already draw and paint,” Bree reminded her sister. “But I use more pink.”

 

*****
 

“The show’s going … okay,” Brian said as he approached Lindsay.

“Thanks for the rousing vote of confidence,” Lindsay laughed. “It is going well. I’m really pleased with it, and I think Justin is too.”

“How are you doing?”

“As I said, the show’s great.”

“I meant personally.”

“You don’t want to know,” Lindsay said with a shake of her head.

“Yes I do, or I wouldn’t have asked.”

“How…how could she, Brian?” Lindsay asked fighting back tears. “How could she just leave like that?”

“Because she’s an uber-bitch. I always tried to tell you that.”

Lindsay had to chuckle in spite of her tears. “She told me you called her that right before our wedding.” That memory made Lindsay sad all over again. “We never would have had that wedding without your help. Maybe it shouldn’t have happened at all. It seemed doomed at the time, and now it is.”

“Where’s the doom? I see in front of me a successful manager of a successful art gallery who is the mother of two wonderful children. There’s no cause for doom and gloom,” Brian informed her.

Lindsay shook her head. “Yeah, but she’s out west with a new lover, and I’m stuck here all by myself.”

“I’m here.”

“I know, and I appreciate that you are, but the house seems so empty sometimes. And Gus will be going back to school soon, and JR wants to stay with her father. I’ll be all alone.”

“Then use your alone time for yourself. Do something you always wanted to do,” Brian advised.

“Like what?”

“Like … paint or redecorate or travel. Whatever the fuck you feel like doing.”

Lindsay looked thoughtful for a moment. “You know, you’re right. I think maybe I’ll do just that.”

“Good for you,” Brian said.

“You may live to regret your advice,” Lindsay laughed. She seemed to have regained her equilibrium.

“I doubt it.”

“Thanks, Brian.”

“You know I’m here if you really need me.”

“It’s about time I stood on my own two feet,” Lindsay stated with authority.

“I’ve waited thirty years to hear you say that.”

With a wink, Lindsay went to greet some new people who had just arrived.

 

*****
 

“Somebody’s tired,” Justin commented just as Brian tucked his suit jacket around Bree who had fallen asleep on one of the cushioned benches near a wall. He had taken off her little pink patent Mary-Janes and shoved them under the bench out of the way. Brian absentmindedly massaged the little feet like he did when Bree was a baby.

“It takes a lot of work being the hostess with the mostest,” Brian responded as he stood up. “She’s been queen of the gallery all night and then in emotional overdrive when Craig showed up. I offered to take her to the hotel but she refused. She’ll be fine here.”

Brian and Justin knew that opening night would be a long night so Brian booked his suites at the Plaza for the out-of-towners instead of making the long drive back. Debbie had also insisted on making brunch for the family the next day. Deb had spoken and no one was willing to cross her.

“She does look like a little princess,” Justin said more to himself than to his mate. He leaned over to give his princess a kiss on her forehead.

“How much longer do I have to put up with these people?” Brian grumbled. “I’m going to have a serious talk with one fairy godmother about his choice of help,” he growled then glared at another passing waiter. This waiter was making some serious eyes at Justin.

“Not much longer. Can’t take the competition?” Justin asked as he smiled prettily at the waiter while taking a glass of champagne.

“You know that bubble butt of yours can be spanked,” Brian murmured low into Justin’s golden mane, pinching said butt for emphasis.

“Yeah?” Justin asked with a lecherous smile. Brian responded with his own smile.

“Get a room!” Debbie commanded as she and Carl walked up to them to say goodnight. “Don’t you two ever get enough?”

“Never enough!” the boys responded back. Debbie and Carl shook their heads at the antics.

“I expect you tomorrow afternoon!” Deb said as she pointed a sharp, red nailed finger at them.

“Yes ma’am!” the boys replied.

“And Gus too.”

“Gus too what?” the young man in question asked as he heard his name mentioned.

“Tomorrow, brunch at my house. Bring you mother,” Deb said in a voice that would brook no opposition.

“Okay, Grandmaw,” Gus said.

“Good boy,” Deb said as she gave him a kiss then lightly smacked his cheek. She did the same to Brian then sweetly gave Justin a hug, a kiss and pinched both his cheeks with a “My Sunshine!” She then gently caressed Bree before Carl led her away.

“Why is it that we get a smack while Justin gets kisses?” Gus remarked at the disparity, as he rubbed his cheek.

“Must be a Kinney thing,” Brian mumbled as he rubbed his own cheek.

“Nope!” Justin announced knowingly, as he proudly walked away leaving the perplexed Kinney men in his wake. “It’s because I’m cuter,” he said with a slight wiggle of his butt.

Unable to dispute the facts, the Kinney men shrugged their handsome shoulders then rejoined the crowd.

 

*****
 

As the last of the guests and press were bid a fond ‘adieu’ by Sidney, Justin and Lindsay, Emmett and his crew were cleaning up. Toward the ‘Rage’ section, a heated discussion was loudly taking place.

“No! How do we know she can draw?” Michael grumbled, crossing his arms across his chest.

“Of course she can draw! The proof is right in front of you,” Lacy countered as she pointed to a ‘Rageian’ sketch done by Candy.

“But she’s a girl!”

“And what am I? Chopped liver?”

“You’re different,” Michael proclaimed.

“Oh yeah? And how am I different?” Lacy stretched her long frame making herself taller and towering over Michael.

“I don’t know, you just are.”

The argument continued. Katerina and Ben were standing off to one side watching and safely staying out of the ‘discussion’ their partners were engaged in.

“What’s that all about?” Brian asked no one in particular. He, Gus, Emmett, as well as Lindsay and Sidney, were watching the ‘show.’ Emmett had a small tray of the remains of the canapés in his hand. Brian picked out the last of the pear and blue cheese ones to pop into his mouth. JR pushed her way through the adults to translate.

“Lacy suggested Daddy give Candy a try at illustrating some of an upcoming issue of Rage,” JR explained rationally. The adults around her nodded. “Daddy has some objections,” she added.

“No! No! No!” they heard Michael huff.

“You’re just being pig-headed,” Lacy countered.

“They’re both pig-headed,” Brian quipped.

“Shhh,” Justin said swatting Brian’s arm. “You’ll just make it worse,” Justin warned him.

“Worse than what? A couple of children kicking up sand in a sandbox. They have to learn how to play nice, Sunshine.”

“They’ve been playing nice for years. Michael doesn’t handle change very well,” Ben interjected.

“Lacy has so many ideas for Rage but sometimes she feels held back,” Katerina admitted.

“Well, maybe it’s about time,” JR announced as she puffed herself up then marched herself over to dive into the ruckus. Justin followed her.

“Daddy!” JR screeched, sounding too much like Debbie. Many of the adults who had been subjected to the wrath of Debbie Novotny-Horvath, cringed in sympathy.

“This ought to be good,” Brian snarked with a smirk.

“You’re just happy you’re not on the receiving end,” Lindsay commented. “She has a lot of Mel in her too.” The surrounding adults nodded, mumbling their agreement.

“What is it, Honeybun?”

“Uh oh,” Gus snickered. “JR hates when Michael calls her that.”

“Don’t you honeybun me. Lacy has been the principal Rage artist for years and she’s come up with dozens of great ideas. She knows a good artist when she sees one. And Uncle Justin wouldn’t have wanted her included in The Emerging Artists Show if she wasn’t good enough. So what is the problem? Give Candy one of the minor characters to study then draw as a test. If she passes then she can expand the characters that she draws. This way Lacy can concentrate on Rage and JT. I know you still use a lot of Uncle Justin’s Rage drawings and that’s not fair to Lacy. She can draw Rage almost as good as Uncle Justin. Well except for one part of him.”

Emmett burst out into laughter. Lindsay blushed as did Katerina. They all found it very amusing, but not so Brian. Brian grumbled about only one person should be ‘handling’ his dick.

“Michael, JR makes a lot of sense, and if you had any sense you’d listen to her,” Justin added.

“Well, I...” They all knew Michael was about to cave in. “Maybe on a trial basis. And only one minor character, and I want Justin’s input as well,” Michael demanded as he acquiesced.

“Now that this show is open, I’ll have more time on my hands to work with you and Lacy and Candy,” Justin offered. Michael gave a small nod of assent.

“Very good, Mikey! We’ll make a businessman out of you yet,” Brian snarked from the safety of the crowd.

“Good, Daddy!” JR said as she threw her arms around her stubborn father. “See, you’re not that pig-headed.”

The friends and family all burst into laughter.

“Sunshine, you sure know how to throw one hell of a party,” Brian said. Everyone agreed as they all packed up to go home.

 

*****
 

“She all tucked in?” Justin asked Brian, while Brian was shedding his clothes. Then he climbed into bed next to Justin. Justin wiggled his way closer to his spouse.

“Yup. Slept through it all. She’ll probably be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow. I put out some cereal and snacks for her just in case. There’s a couple of juice boxes for her in the fridge. She has your appetite, Sunshine.” Brian smiled looking down his nose at Justin. Justin smiled back.

“What time does Debbie want us?” Justin asked with a yawn. It was close to two in the morning; they all had had a long and emotional day.

“Not before noon, so sleep,” Brian said as he tucked Justin in closer.

“Okay,” Justin replied.

Brian could feel all the tension drain away from his partner. The soft snuffles confirmed that Justin was already asleep. But Brian’s brain wasn’t letting up at the moment. A muffled noise out in the main living room of their suite caught Brian’s attention. Thinking it was Bree, Brian quickly grabbed his pants and went out.

“Did I wake you?” John asked when he saw his brother.

“I wasn’t sleeping. I thought you’d be out by now,” Brian said as he sat down across from his brother. John was sitting on the sofa, his laptop on the coffee table booted up. He was intensely scrolling through his research notes. “Couldn’t sleep.”

“What’s wrong?” Brian asked as he went to the mini-bar and poured himself a small shot of Beam. He waggled the bottle at John. John thought for a moment then nodded. He held up his thumb and forefinger to indicate a tiny amount. Brian poured John a shot.

“What is all that?” Brian asked as he handed the glass to John.

“My thesis research.”

“Do we get to call you doctor by Christmas?”

“Not quite. My advisors think I need to do a little more tweaking first. And they suggested that I don’t pressure myself with a December due date. It’s not like I’m in any rush. I’m doing this for me not because it’ll advance me in some way. Technically I could retire if I wanted to.”

“But you’re not going to.”

“Nah, I like what I do and I’m still young enough to bang in some nails.”

“Yeah, just like I’m still young enough to get my hands dirty,” Brian remarked as he looked down at his nails. “Getting peat moss out of my nails is a bitch.”

The brothers chuckled.

“What’s Bobby think about all of this?”

“He thinks I should take my time as well. He never understood why I put the added pressure on myself. I guess that’s why he dragged me away on vacation. I have to admit he was right. I do feel a lot better. You know it’s about time you and Justin got away by yourselves.”

“We just had two weeks on our own.”

“No you didn’t. You had two weeks of us being away from the cottage. You were knee deep in flowers and cow manure while Justin was going crazy with his show prep. That’s not a vacation. Sounds too much like work to me.”

“Where would we go?”

“I don’t know. Take him to Hawaii or someplace tropical.”

“Sure and have him sunburned to a crisp. A lot of fun that’ll be.”

“Think about how much fun you’ll have rubbing him down with sunscreen every five minutes.”

“That does sound promising,” Brian said perking up at the idea.

“You know you two are going to celebrate a big anniversary next year,” John said knowingly.

“We are?”

“Oh please, tell me you haven’t figured it all out?”

“I’ve been a little distracted lately.” Brian thought about the last eight months. It included a trip to London, a princess birthday party, a new son for Emm and Drew, a Jeep for Gus, two new enterprises for Brian, not to mention the separation anxiety Brian experienced when Bree went away to camp. No, it didn’t leave much room for Brian to think about anniversaries.

“Okay, let me spell it out for you. From what you and your blond bombshell have told me, he stalked his way into your life in the year 2000. Right? You made an honest man of him May 15th 2010. So that means next Spring...”

“Holy Fuck! Me and the brat will be together for twenty years!”

“Ten officially as husband and husband,” John teased. As Brian got up to pour himself another shot, John laughed. “So little brother, whatcha gonna do for your wedding anniversary?”

“Assuming I survive that long, that trip to Hawaii is looking mighty fine right now.”

“Then I guess my work here is done,” John said as he shut down his laptop. He knew he wasn’t going to get any real work done. He bussed his brother’s temple before heading for his own room.

“Um, you won’t tell Justin that I forgot our anniversary, will you?” Brian asked hesitantly.

“Hey, you didn’t forget. Now if it was May 16th and you hadn’t remembered then...” John said no more.

“I’d be minus both balls. Thanks, big bro.”

“Anytime, little bro.”

The Kinney men finally retired for the night.
 

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