Emerging

Chapter 6

 

Justin pulled up to the curb to let Brian out so that he could go to Kinnetik. The boys decided to stay on at the Plaza while the rest of the Edna’s Treasures Lane and Bridgeton families went back home. Gus was using the loft as his home base before driving back to college.

“I’ll pick up you later; we can do dinner,” Justin said as Brian got out.

“Sounds like a plan,” Brian responded trying to keep up his bravado in front of Bree. Justin knew Brian was worried that Craig would say something to hurt their daughter. Justin was a little worried too.

“You be good for your grampa and gramma,” Brian said to Bree, gently kissing the top of her head. His eyes met Justin’s over Bree’s head.

“I will, Dada,” Bree promised as Brian kissed her again then reached in closer for Justin. The lovers kissed pouring their feelings into the kiss.

“It’ll be fine,” Justin assured Brian. “I’ll call you later.” Brian nodded then turned to walk down the alley to Kinnetik. Justin watched his spouse saunter to the former bathhouse then he checked the mirrors before pulling out into traffic. “We’re on our way,” he declared with as much cheer as he could muster.

“Yay!” Bree exclaimed bouncing in her booster seat.

 

*****
 

Justin took a deep breath as he knocked on his father’s front door. Bree bounced with excitement at his side.

“Come in,” Susan greeted as soon as she opened the door. Bree ran in to look for her grandfather. “He’s in the kitchen, Sweetheart,” Susan called after her. Then she gave Justin an apologetic look.

“He wasn’t sure if it was going to be Brian dropping her off,” Justin said matter-of-factly.

“Yes. After all these years, I still don’t know why your father harbors such resentment toward Brian. I’ve always found Brian to be polite, if not cordial, especially after I’ve learned what your father did to him. Brian shows remarkable patience and maturity. Something that...”

“That my father lacks at times,” Justin supplied.

“Yes. Um, would you like some coffee or tea?”

“I, uh, do you think it’ll be okay? I didn’t want to run out on her.”

“It’s fine. Come to the kitchen.”

Justin followed Susan into the kitchen. His father seemed almost at ease. Justin figured that Bree had told Craig that it was him that drove Bree over, not Brian.

“Coffee?” Craig asked almost cheerfully as he held up a fresh pot.

“Yes, please.”

“Are you in any rush?” Craig asked, making small talk.

“No, I’m going to spend some time at the gallery, but I have no set appointment.”

“Your show, the critics were very kind,” Craig said as he held up the morning papers. “There was a very nice spread in the Sunday Times Arts and Leisure section.” Craig pushed the special edition toward Justin. “Did you get a chance to see it?”

“No, but we were busy at Debbie’s all day yesterday. Sidney usually saves copies of every article for me, and the Connolly’s will have a copy for me.”

“The Connolly’s?” Craig asked.

“Richard Connolly and his wife Morgan. He’s the reporter and she’s his photographer. I met them awhile ago when he did a special story on me and Bri, um, Brian.” Craig choked at the mention of Brian but quickly recovered.

“You seem to know a lot of people in high society. Sarah Kingsley appears to be a fan.”

“Yeah, sometimes I think she thinks she discovered me. We just go with the flow,” Justin admitted at he stirred his coffee. “Um, what do you have planned for today?” Justin asked looking back and forth from his father to Susan.

“Well, it’s such a nice day and it’s not too hot, we thought we’d go to the zoo. If that’s all right with you,” Craig asked.

“Oh please, Daddy. I haven’t gone to the zoo since forever!” Bree pleaded.

“That’s fine, Baby Girl. I’ll go get your booster seat and bag,” Justin said as he finished his coffee, grateful for the task. He felt like a stranger in his father’s house.

“I’ll go with you,” Craig said as he grabbed his car keys. “It’ll be easier to just put the seat in the back of my car.” Justin nodded then waited for his father.

“Bree has a messenger bag?” Craig asked incredulously, looking at the miniature pink Dora the Explorer bag.

“Bree informed us a long time ago that it was essential to her wardrobe. Who am I to argue?” Justin said with a shrug and a grin. Craig noted that Justin’s wardrobe hadn’t changed much since he was a young teen.

“I take it that’s Kinney’s influence,” Craig stated without animosity. Justin nodded. “Well, I can’t fault his taste in clothes. He was always impeccably dressed even if he is a son of a bi...”

“Dad. Don’t,” Justin warned.

They got Bree’s seat tethered in the back of Craig’s car then went back into the condo.

“Bree, I’m going!” Justin called out. Bree came running to the door. “No running,” he admonished, wiggling his finger in front of Bree’s nose making her look cross-eyed. She giggled. Justin squatted down to give her a hug and a kiss. “Be good for Gamma and Gampa and no running around at the zoo. It’s too easy to get lost.”

“Okay, Daddy,” Bree promised. Justin looped Bree’s bag over her shoulder. She adjusted it just like her father did. “Love you, Daddy.”

“Love you, Baby Girl. Call me when you want me to come and get her. I’m not sure where we’ll be later today,” he said to Susan and Craig. “Have a good time!”

“I will. Bye, Daddy! Later!” Bree called out with her sunny smile.

“Later!” Justin said with his own matching smile as he got into his Cherokee then drove away.

 

*****
 

“Mom, are you awake?”

“Hm, sort of.”

“Are you okay?”

“Kind of tired.”

“I think you overdid it at the art show,” Candy admonished her mother.

“I don’t care,” Janet told her daughter. “I’ve never been to the opening of an art show before. I enjoyed myself immensely. I’m really glad I went.”

“I’m glad you went too,” Candy said sitting down on the edge of her mother’s bed. “It was nice to see you all dressed up and out with people.”

Janet shook her head and looked sad for a moment. “Sometimes I forget how hard all this is on you, Cassandra.”

“It’s okay. It’s not so bad.”

“That’s not what a girl your age should be saying. You should be having the time of your life.”

“Like you did when you were in high school.”

Janet chuckled a little bit. It seemed like too much of an effort to laugh louder. “I was something back in those days.”

“I bet you were.”

“You should be something too.”

“I am something, Mom. I’m exactly who I want to be,” Candy stated.

“But you should be going out on dates and going to proms and…”

“Mom, get a grip. Do I look like I’m interested in any of those things?”

“You should be.”

“Mom, I don’t want to argue. I just came in here to make sure you were all right. Do you want something to eat?”

“I can’t believe I’ve slept in again today.”

“It was probably the best thing you could do. You slept most of yesterday.”

“Cassandra, when…”

“Don’t, Mom, I don’t want to do this right now.”

“Okay, but we have to make some arrangements.”

“I can look after myself.”

“A girl your age shouldn’t have to look after herself. You should have a family that looks after you. If only your father…”

“Mom, I don’t know my so-called father, and I don’t want to know him. I’ll be just fine by myself.”

“I know you will, sweetheart. You’re such a resourceful girl.”

“I am, aren’t I?” Candy asked with a big smile. “I hope I sell a couple of sketches at the Emerging Artists Show. Maybe I’ll be a famous artist like Justin Taylor … someday.”

“I bet you will be, my beautiful girl.” Janet gently touched Candy’s face. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too, Mom.”

 

*****
 

“Are you ready to go back to university?” Lindsay asked Gus as they sat eating a salad on the back porch of Lindsay’s house.

“Pretty much,” Gus replied. “I’m ready to do some work at school, but I miss Ray. This summer was great. I got to spend so much time with him. It seems lonely without him being around.”

There was no response as Gus poked at his salad and skewered one of the little cherry tomatoes. He stuck it in his mouth and looked up at his mother. Lindsay was staring off into space with a strange look on her face. It was like her body was there, but she was somewhere else.

“Mom,” Gus said with worry in his voice. “Mom?”

“Oh, sorry,” Lindsay said sweeping her fingers over her eyes. “What were you saying?”

“I said I miss Ray.”

“Yeah, I was just thinking about missing people … and being alone.”

“Oh, I shouldn’t have mentioned…”

“It’s fine, Gus. We both know Melanie isn’t coming back.”

“I wish there was something I could do.”

Lindsay shook her head. “There’s nothing anyone can do. I need to get on with my life.”

“Do you think you’ll have to sell the cottage?”

“It’s the most sensible thing to do.”

“Sometimes sensible isn’t always the best,” Gus said wisely.

“In this case, it’s the only way to go. I need the money, I want to keep this house, and the cottage was to be our place, Melanie’s and mine. It would be … hard to be there alone. It’s best to sell it.”

“Riley seemed really interested.”

“Yes he did. He seems like a very nice man. If someone is going to buy the cottage, I think it should be him.”

“Do you think he and Danny do it?” Gus asked.

“Do what?”

“You know … have sex.”

“Gus!”

“Well, I was just wondering.”

“It’s none of your business … or mine.”

“I know, but they’re … so old.”

“But they’re not dead,” Lindsay reminded her son.

Gus chuckled. “True.”

“Anyway, I think they make a lovely couple.”

“You’re not dead either, Mom,” Gus told her, looking into her eyes and studying her face.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“JR says that Mama has a new … friend. Maybe you should think about finding someone too.”

“Just because your mother goes out and finds herself a girlfriend, doesn’t mean I have to…”

“I’m just saying,” Gus interrupted. “You’re still a beautiful woman. You shouldn’t be alone.”

Lindsay sat up straighter in her chair. “Thank you for saying that, Gus. I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that I’m not ready for any kind of relationship just yet.”

“Fair enough, but what about this Candy girl?”

“What about her?’

“Maybe you could take her in, you know, when her mother…”

“Dies?” Lindsay asked. She shook her head. “No child should have to deal with that, especially when she’s all alone.” Lindsay drew in a deep breath. “Gus, I really don’t think I’m in any frame of mind to make such a decision.”

“I understand that, but Candy and her mom have some time left. I think you should consider taking her in here. Then neither of you would be alone.”

“Gus…”

“I worry, Mom. I don’t want you to be all by yourself.”

“I…” Lindsay couldn’t finish her sentence as tears started to cascade down her cheeks. She could no longer hold them back.

“Mom,” Gus whispered. He pushed back his chair and stood up. He quickly pulled his mother into his arms and hugged her tight. “It’ll be all right.”

“Everything’s gone, Gus,” Lindsay sobbed. “You’re at university, JR wants to live with her father not with me, I have to give up the cottage, and Mel…”

“You’re not alone,” Gus whispered in her ear. “I’ll be home as often as I can. Now that I have my Jeep…”

“You drive carefully, you hear me,” Lindsay admonished as she did her best to stem her tears. Her son didn’t need to be subjected to this meltdown.

“Even when you’re upset you’re in mother mode,” Gus chuckled.

“You young people need to be reminded.”

“Yeah, you, Pop, Justin, Ray.”

“Ray?”

“Yep, he told me he had an accident not long after he got his license. He hardly drives anymore, since that happened.”

“I repeat, you be careful!”

“I will, Mom.”

“You can let me go now, Gus. I’m not a blubbering basket case anymore,” Lindsay said wiping at her eyes.

“You have every right to cry. What Mama did was shitty. She blindsided you,” Gus told her.

“Gus, she didn’t blindside me. I should have seen it coming. We disagreed on so many things.”

“It was still shitty.”

“You’re right. It was totally shitty. Fuck Melanie Marcus!”

“Mom!”

“Just kidding, lambskin. Let’s finish our lunch. I refuse to let ‘she who shall remain nameless’ ruin our meal.”

Mother and son sat back down to their lunch.

 

*****
 

“Thanks for coming out here with us, John,” Riley said as they took the cut-off to Lindsay’s cottage.

“Not a problem.”

“I hope Bobby didn’t mind us diverting you from going home.”

“As long as you drop me off at Edna’s Treasures when we’re done, he’ll be fine with it. He and Patrick should be just about home,” John explained as he looked at his watch. “That driveway up ahead on the left is the place.”

Danny pulled his car into the driveway and they all got out.

“Wow!” Danny said. “This is beautiful. I love the way the walk meanders up to the front door, and the flowers…”

John chuckled. “You know who’s responsible for the front gardens?” he asked.

“Brian, of course,” Danny replied.

“Nope. Bree.”

“Bree?”

“Yeah, Brian was having a dickens of a time trying to figure out what was wrong with the front of the house. It just seemed wrong. He brought Bree out here one day, and she skipped along the path that the walkway now takes. She made Brian realize that all the straight lines that the cottage used to have were all wrong. The rest of the garden is Brian’s design.”

“He’s really got a talent for his gardens.”

“That he has. It’s great for him to use his creative side for something other than advertising.”

“I didn’t know Brian way back when,” Danny said. “But from what I understand, gardening has become a passion for him.”

“Next to Justin and Bree,” John said with a gentle chuckle.

“Riley, you’re awful quiet,” Danny said. “Don’t you like the cottage?”

Riley was staring at the front of the little house. The flowers were all blooming and it looked very lovely. However, Riley had a sad look on his face. He seemed to be somewhere else inside his head, and it wasn’t a pleasant place that he had gone to.

“Riley,” Danny said gently, touching Riley’s arm.

“Oh, sorry, I was just thinking.”

“I could see that. What were you thinking?”

“I was remembering how Tony and I used to talk about getting a place away from the city. I think he would have loved these gardens. They’re beautiful.”

John stayed off to the side near the car. He wanted the two men to have some privacy. John had seen that look on people’s faces before. It meant that some memory had been triggered, and it was usually a powerful memory – not always a happy one. He waited patiently.

“This is a beautiful cottage, but if it brings unhappy memories then maybe we should just leave,” Danny suggested.

“No,” Riley replied.

“No?”

“I don’t want to leave. I want to see the rest of it.”

“Are you sure?”

“Very. This is the kind of place we would have looked for. But Tony’s gone now. However, that doesn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy this place, especially if I had someone special to share it with.” Riley turned his head and looked at Danny for the first time since they had arrived at the cottage. He smiled softly at Danny.

“If you’re referring to me, kind sir, then consider it done. I could think of nothing better than spending time here with you.”

Riley pulled Danny into a hug and kissed his cheek. “John, let’s see the inside.”

“Okay,” John said standing up from where he was leaning against Danny’s car. “I should tell you that this place was really run down when we first found it. The girls made major upgrades. My firm was responsible for them all, so I know everything is first rate.” John unlocked the front door. “I think you’ll like the inside as much as the outside.”
 

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