The Fox in the Hen House

Chapter 11

“It was a dark and stormy morning…”  That’s what popped into Peter’s head the moment he raised his hand to knock on the meadow cottage door and he heard loud angry voices emanating from within.

In all the excitement of Craig Taylor coming to the lane, plus the sudden influx of additional family members, John had realized there was a smattering of things left on his To Do list for the meadow cottage.  He sent Peter over with list in hand and tool belt on hips to finish off that list. 

“You overdid it again yesterday!”

“You’re the one who wanted me to show off!”

“Yeah, about that, I didn’t think you were going to do a Simone Biles routine!”

“Oh god, wasn’t she adorable,” Glen said with a sigh.  “And I’d kill for those thighs.”

“Yes she was,” Alex agreed, momentarily distracted with a vision in his head of the adorable legendary gold medal winning gymnast in her prime.  “Stop that!” he shouted, knowing what his husband was doing.

“Alex!” Glen shouted back.  It didn’t go unnoticed by Glen that Alex was always cool, calm, and very together in every situation which made him the perfect psychiatrist, unless the situation involved Glen.  “Get over yourself, I’m fine.  Let’s finish breakfast and get to the B&B before all hell breaks loose.”

“Stop changing the subject!”

“I’m not changing the subject; this is the subject!”  

While the men glared at each other over breakfast, Peter took advantage of the silence and finally knocked on the door.  Alex took a gulp of his now lukewarm coffee before answering the door.

“What?” Alex barked out at Peter.  Peter took one step backward as his eyes widened.  Alex immediately regretted his actions.  He took a breath and began again.  “Come in, Peter, and I apologize for my anger.  It wasn’t directed at you,” Alex said gently as he stepped back and toward the side giving Peter space and time to decide if he wanted to come in.  Peter again hesitated for a moment before stepping over the threshold into the cottage.

“I’m sorry to disturb you,” Peter mumbled.

“You’re not disturbing us.  On the contrary, you probably saved my husband’s life,” Alex grumbled.

“I heard that!” Glen shouted from the kitchen.

Sensing Peter’s discomfort, Alex didn’t move from the doorway and neither did Peter.  “Don’t worry, Peter, all couples argue.  It’s healthy.  I’d be more worried about a couple that didn’t argue.  I’m sure Debbie and Carl have their fair share of arguments.” 

Peter nodded his head trying not to laugh.  “They argue a lot, and loud!  But they always make up fast and loud too!”

“Between you and me, I think Carl is really a quiet kind of a guy but has gotten louder in self defense,” Alex remarked which made Peter laugh.  “I’m serious, Peter, Glen and I have strong and often differing opinions.  We frequently argue but that doesn’t mean we love each other any less.  I’m sure John and Bobby argue although they probably do it so politely that you’d never notice,” Alex joked as he led the now relaxed young man toward the kitchen.  “And I know for a fact that Brian and Justin have some real interesting arguments that often involve the whole family.”

“Now I’d pay to see those two in a good old fashioned mud wrestle,” Glen stated with an odd sense of glee.  “Good morning, Peter,” Glen turned and pleasantly greeted the boy.  “What can we do for you?”

“Um, John gave me a list of things to check on,” Peter said as he pulled a crumpled piece of paper out of his pocket.  “But I can come back later if you want,” he said as his eyes wandered down toward the floor.

“No, it’s fine.  We’re just about ready to go to the B&B so we’ll be out of your hair and you can go down your checklist.  Just shut the door when you leave so those wolves don’t decide to move in again,” Glen said with amused disdain.

Alex began to laugh.

“What do you mean?” Peter asked.

“Last night I didn’t shut the door all the way so Little Beau took that as an invitation to come in and make himself comfortable just outside our bedroom door.  Let’s just say he was a bit of a surprise this morning,” Glen remarked.

“Especially before his coffee,” Alex interjected.

“Yeah, talk about your rude awakenings, but we got it all sorted,” Glen said.  “So what’s on this list of yours?” Glen asked as Alex packed up whatever they’d need for the day.  The meadow cottage was a little off the beaten path, so to speak; Alex wanted to take everything they’d need for the day with them.

Peter handed his list to Glen to review.  “Do Brian and Justin really argue?” Peter asked out of curiosity. 

“Apparently their fights and break ups were legendary in Pittsburgh.  But, alas, they are made for each other, so my dream of having Brian as my sugar daddy goes unrequited,” Glen said with an exaggerated sigh.

“You’re outta luck, drama queen, he’s spoken for.  Besides, I don’t think you quite fit the bill,” Alex said as he joined them in the kitchen. 

Glen gathered the breakfast dishes and utensils to wash.  “Oh?  Why?  My ass not bubbly enough?”

“Nope.  Not blond enough either, or young enough,” Alex said.

“Yeah, about that,” Glen began.

“Uh uh, that was a long time ago and not my story to tell.  You want details, you ask them.  Besides, you were in the Pitts at the time to know the legend,” Alex said.

“So all of that is true about young Justin standing under a street lamp, Kinney walking up to him and then taking him home?”  

“All true.  I’m sure someone is out there singing songs of glory to honor the great Brian Kinney,” Alex teased.

“Oh, you so did not just quote Star Trek,” Glen said as he flung a dishtowel at Alex.  The men laughed as Alex sat in a nearby chair; Glen wheeled over.  Peter blushed as the loving partners hugged and kissed.

“I’m sorry I yelled,” Alex said.

“I’m sorry I showed off.  I could’ve done the short program,” Glen admitted.  “But I needed Susan…”

“She has to have confidence in your abilities to bolster her own confidence.  I get it.  Let’s go, I’m sure Craig’s awake and making her crazy.”

“Why she stays with a man like that…”

“Glen, we love who we love,” Alex reminded him.  Glen took Alex’s hands in his then kissed each one.

“Peter, take all the time you need to work on your list.  Just remember what I said about the door,” Glen said with a serene smile.  “Oh, and feel free to raid the fridge.”

The men gathered their things then left the cottage.  Peter stood there amazed then he shook himself out of it to begin his work.

A little over an hour later Peter was sitting in the sun porch checking the list.  He did indeed raid the refrigerator although it wasn’t much of a raid.  He poured himself some cold water and found an orange.  He had one last task on his list that at first appeared to be a simple one.  But now, Peter wasn’t so sure.  He looked up at the ceiling fan and then at the whimsical chain pulls in his hand.  The task was to add the appropriate extension to the right chain.  Apparently like many people, the boys could never figure out which chain turned on the light and which one worked the fan.  So John found a set of chains that cleverly had a little light bulb at one end while the other chain ended with fan blades.  Peter thought that was a great idea, problem was that he had only seen ceiling fans either on or off.  He had never paid attention to how anyone actually turned one on.  Plus he and his dad never owned one.

Peter finished his orange, washed his hands then set up a small step ladder so he could attach the chain pulls.  He was just about finished when out of the corner of his eye he saw something or someone run by the windows.  It startled him and he nearly fell off the ladder.

“Shit!” Peter cursed as he steadied himself.  When he got himself under control he slightly turned only to find he had an audience in the form of two girls and one large wolf dog.  Peter stared out the window trying to figure out if the wolf dog was Beau or Beau junior.  Both dogs were scary but at least the younger Beau liked to play more than the older one.

“You got them on backwards,” Bree shouted.

“What?” Peter yelled back.

“You got them on backwards!” Bree repeated.

“I got what on backwards?” Peter asked.  He had no idea what Bree was talking about. 

Bree rolled her eyes then walked away.  Ashley stood there watching with Little Beau for another minute then followed her friend.  Two seconds later Peter found himself surrounded.

“The chain pulls are backwards,” Bree started to explain as she pointed up.  “The one with the light bulb goes in the middle.  The fan is the chain on the side.” 

“Oh,” Peter said as he looked up.  “Thanks,” he said as he fixed them.

“You should test them,” Ashley suggested.  Bree nodded in agreement.

“Test them?” Peter asked as he wondered how these girls got so smart.  “Uh, is there a wall switch?”

“No, just pull the middle chain,” Bree said.  Peter did and the light came on.  That seemed to please Bree and she favored Peter with a pretty smile.

“Now the fan,” Ashley encouraged.  Peter gave the side chain a gentle tug and the fan came to life.  “Pull it again.”

“Why?”

“Because it’ll make the fan go slower,” Ashley explained.  Peter did as instructed and sure enough the fan slowed down.  “Again.”  He pulled one more time and the fan slowed to a gentle pace.

“If you pull it one last time the fan goes off,” Bree said with a grin.  “Try it.” 

Peter shrugged then gave the chain one more tug and the fan slowed to a stop.  “So if I pull it again the fan will come on, right?” he asked.

“Yup!” both girls said.  Peter tried and the fan was at full force.

“Thank you for helping,” Peter said politely as he shut everything down.  He put away the step ladder and made sure he left everything clean and tidy.  He checked his list one more time before he led the girls and Little Beau out securing the door behind them.

“What are you supposed to do now?” Bree asked.

“I think I’m supposed to report back to your uncle.”

“We’ll walk back with you.  My Grandma Claire is at Auntie Rachel’s house.  Ashley and I are going there for a while,” Bree said.

“Why do you sound sad?  Don’t you like your Grandma Claire?” Peter asked.

“I love my Grandma Claire.  It’s just that I have to go to soccer camp soon and I miss everyone already,” Bree said in a little voice.  Ashley gave her best friend a hug.

“Don’t be sad.  It’s only for two weeks and then you and Gus get to go to work together!” Ashley said with awe.

Peter wanted to ask about Bree working but he thought better of it, besides they were approaching the house at the top of the lane.  Bree and Ashley went toward the house while Peter went to the conjoined cottages.

*****

Bree frowned as she knocked on her Auntie Rachel's door.

"It's okay, Bree," Ashley said touching her friend's arm.  "I'll stay with you."

"I know.  I just want everything to be okay.  It's so tense around here.  I want to see Grandpa Craig, but I know everybody thinks I shouldn't."

"They might be right, Bree," Ashley suggested.

"I want to make sure he's okay before I go to soccer camp.  Time is running out."

"Bree, Ashley, come in," Rachel said with a warm smile as she opened the door to her house.

"Is Grandma Claire here?" Bree asked.

"She sure is," Rachel replied.  "We just finished making some pies."

"Yum, pie!" Ashley blurted out then quickly blushed and looked at the floor.  "Oh, sorry," she said.

"Don't be sorry, dear," Rachel told her.  "I think one of the apple pies might be cool enough to cut into.  How does warm apple pie and ice cream sound?"

"Yummy," Bree gushed with a big smile.  She suddenly felt a lot better.

"There's my sweet girl," Claire exclaimed as they entered the kitchen.  Bree ran over to her and gave her a big hug.  Ashley followed suit.  "You two just made my day."

"Auntie Rachel says you have pie."

"Do we have pie!"  Claire gestured to the counter behind her where several pies were lined up to cool.

"Wow!" Ashley said in amazement.  "I've never seen so many pies."

"And they all taste delicious," Bree declared.

"How do you know that?" Ashley asked.  "You haven't tasted them yet."

"If Grandma Claire and Auntie Rachel made them, they're deeeelicious," Bree stated with assurance.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Rachel chuckled.  "Do you think one of the apple ones is cool enough to eat, Claire?  These young ladies seem to be hungry."

"I have just the one for them," Claire said as she picked up one of the pies and started slicing it.

"How come you made so many pies, Grandma Claire, oh, maybe I shouldn't call you that, Mrs....," Ashley stammered.

"Grandma Claire is just fine.  I like that you think of me that way, Ashley.  Do you have any other grandmothers?"

Ashley shook her head.  "My mommy's mommy is the only one I remember a bit, but she died."

"That's too bad," Rachel said as she scooped ice cream onto the girls' plates and handed them their pie.  She did the same for Claire and herself.

"I'd be honored to be your grandma," Claire said.  "So please feel free to call me that."

"Thanks," Ashley said as she took a big bite of her pie.  "This is soooo good!"

"Thank you," Claire beamed, "but Rachel deserves some of the praise too.  The pies were a collaborative effort."

Ashley frowned.  "What does that mean?"

"They made them together," Bree said with her mouth full of ice cream and pie.

"Bree, you shouldn't be talking with your mouth full," Claire cautioned.

Bree took a big swallow and replied, "Sorry."  She wiped her mouth and gave a satisfied sigh.  "Can you teach Ashley and me how to make pies?"

"Of course we can," Rachel said.

"Tomorrow?"

"Don't you need to be getting ready for soccer camp?" Claire asked.

"It's not till the next day," Bree stated.

"But you need to pack and decide what to take with you."

"I know all that."

"I think it would be better if we did it when you came back," Claire explained.  She didn't want to interfere with Bree's fathers getting her ready for camp.

Bree heaved a weary sigh and crossed her arms on her chest.  "Why won't nobody let me do nuffin'?" she asked in her best peevish baby voice.

"What do you mean, dear?" Rachel asked.

"My dads won't let me see Grandpa Craig, and now you won't teach me to make pie.  This summer sucks!"

"Sweetie..." Claire began.

"I'm not anybody's sweetie.  Everybody treats me like a baby, and I'm not a baby!"

"Of course, you're not," Rachel said gently.  "You've grown into quite a young lady."

"Then why won't anybody treat me like I'm a young lady, not some stupid kid?"

"No one is intentionally treating you like a child, Bree," Claire said with a certain sternness in her voice.  "People care what happens to you.  We're only trying to do what is best for you."

"Why is it best for me not to see Grandpa Craig?"

"Um..." Claire began trying to decide how she could possibly answer that question without making matters worse.  She knew the reasons why her fathers wanted to keep Bree away from her grandfather, but she wasn't sure how much to tell Bree.

"See, I knew it!  There's no good reason," Bree declared.

"Ashley, would you like to see my garden?" Rachel asked.  "Maybe Claire and Bree need to talk privately."

"Ashley can stay," Bree said quickly.  "I need an answer to my question and Ashley can hear it."

"Maybe there is no simple answer," Claire admitted.

"What does that mean?"

"I'll try to explain," Claire said.  She wasn't at all sure how she was going to do that, but she would try.  Bree was a smart little girl and Claire hoped she was ready to hear the truth.  "You know that your grandpa doesn't get along well with some of the people on the lane."

"Like my Dada," Bree said.  She had seen and felt the tension between the two men for many years.

"Exactly," Claire agreed.  "They have never gotten along."

"But why does that mean I can't see Grandpa Craig?"

"Your grandpa has been in a lot of pain.  He's on medication and not in any frame of mind to have visitors."

"I still don't get it," Bree declared.

"Your fathers are worried that Craig will be harsh, maybe even mean, with you.  He has a ... nasty streak."  That was the best way Claire could think to word it.

"He's never been nasty with me."

"Not yet, but he's not himself right now."

Bree frowned trying to understand.  "But he loves me.  He told me that many times."

"I'm sure he does love you, and he's tried to make things better with your fathers when he's come to the lane before.  He was always on his best behavior and so were your dads."

Bree thought for a moment.  "So, now that he's medicated, he might not be on his best behavior?"

"That's right."

"And he might be mean and say bad things?"

"That's what your family and friends are worried about."

"Okaaay," Bree said uncertainly.  "I don't think he would be mean to me, but I now see why people were reluctant to let me see him."

"So, you'll wait till you come back from soccer camp before you go to see him?"

"I guess so," Bree conceded.  "And then you'll teach me to make pie?"

Claire smiled and hugged Bree.  "That's a date."

"Thanks, Grandma Claire."

"I love you, sweetie, and so does everyone on this lane."

"Including Grandpa Craig?"

"Including Grandpa Craig," Claire said, and she hoped she was right about that.

*****

Bree and Ashley walked down the lane.

"Where are we going?" Ashley asked.

"To visit Auntie Molly."

"You have so much family," Ashley observed.

"Yeah, I guess I do," Bree said with a smile.

"How do you keep it all straight?"

"Hardly any of them are straight," Bree giggled.

"You're so bad," Ashley said, laughing in spite of herself.

"I know."

The girls laughed and continued on down the lane.  As they got to Molly’s cute little cottage Ashley stopped but Bree kept walking.

“Bree, what are you doing?” Ashley asked in a loud whisper as she sprinted to catch up to her friend.

“I hafta know what’s going on,” Bree insisted.

“I don’t think this a good idea,” Ashley murmured but she loved her friend so she stayed close.

As they approached the B&B, they could hear loud voices.  The girls both stopped and listened.

"I wonder what's going on?" Ashley asked, as the loud voices continued.

"Something's wrong," Bree said taking a step towards the front door of the B&B.

"No, Bree, remember what your Grandma Claire said.  You promised to wait until you come back from soccer camp."  Ashley grabbed Bree's hand and pulled her back.  Bree tugged on Ashley’s hand and the two of them ran around toward the back of the B&B.  The shouting got louder.

"But..."

"You promised."

The girls listened for a couple of minutes.  There was some foul language that made them both blush.

"I think that's Grandpa Craig yelling.  He sounds really mad," Bree said.

"Let's go, Bree," Ashley said trying to pull her friend away.  "I hear Mister Glen's voice.  He can deal with your grandfather.  Let's go home."

Ashley tugged on Bree's hand and tried to turn her around so they could head back up the lane to the conjoined cottages.

"I should do something..." Bree said, but she let her friend lead her away.  The angry voice coming from the B&B didn't sound at all like her grandfather, at least not the grandfather she thought she knew.

"It's okay, Bree," Ashley said gently.  "Let's go find your fathers.  They will know if we should do something."

Bree pulled her friend into a warm hug.  "Sometimes you're so smart, Ashley.  I love you."

Ashley beamed at Bree's praise.  "I love you too."

The girls ran up the lane to the conjoined cottages where they both knew they would find safety and love.

*****

“Hey,” Ray said in a sleepy voice.  The boys had overslept; their reunion sex kept them quite busy well into the night. 

“Hey, yourself,” Gus replied with a big grin.

“Someone looks satisfied,” Ray commented smugly.

“I could say the same about you.”

“You could and you’d be right.  I think I’m bowlegged,” Ray giggled.

“You and me both,” Gus laughed.  “We stink and I think we burned a hole through these sheets.”

Just then someone’s stomach loudly growled which was answered by another stomach growl.

“I think we need breakfast,” Gus said as he looked down at his belly.

“More like brunch,” Ray said as he checked his watch.

The boys stared at each other for the moment, temporarily confused.

“Shower!” Gus declared.

“Then food,” Ray stated.

“Then laundry,” Gus and Ray agreed.

With a plan of action in mind, the boys got their act together and their asses out of bed to start their day.

Return to The Fox in the Hen House