Fractalized

Chapter 3

 

“Are you taking us to school, Dada?” Bree asked as she ate the last of her oatmeal.

“Yes, Squirt,” Brian replied.

“Is Uncle Justin picking us up after school?” Patrick asked as he finished his cereal. He had a worried look on his face as he remembered what had happened the previous day. He didn’t like being stuck in the school for all that time before Uncle Justin finally came to get them.

“No, Little Red, your Aunt Rachel will get you after school.”

“I’m sorry, guys,” Justin said to the children once again. He wasn’t sure how he could ever make it up to them for forgetting them yesterday.

“Where are you and Dada going?” Bree asked.

“We’re dropping you two off at school,” Justin explained, “and then we’re going into Pittsburgh for the day.”

“See Gus?” Bree asked with a big smile.

“I plan on doing just that,” Brian told her.

“Tell him to come see me. I miss him.”

“Will do,” Brian chuckled. He wondered if Gus would be in any frame of mind to visit the cottage on Princess Bree’s summons.

“Grab your bags for school and let’s get going,” Justin told the children.

“’Kay, Daddy,” Bree said cheerfully as she ran to her room to get her book bag, and Patrick took off to the sun porch to retrieve his.

“Do you think they’ll ever forgive me?”

“They probably already have,” Brian told him.

“Patrick hasn’t, if that look on his face means anything.”

“Are you ready to go?” Brian asked. He didn’t want to rehash what had happened the day before. They had dealt with that last night … in a manner of speaking.

Justin nodded and headed for the sun porch.

“Where are you going?” Brian asked.

“I’m going to grab my computer.”

Brian groaned. “Can’t you stay away from that fucking thing for one day?”

“I’ll have time to work on my project this afternoon after I have lunch with my mother,” Justin said patiently.

“Don’t forget to meet her,” Brian said finding it hard to keep the sarcasm out of his voice.

“Brian…”

“Just … get the fucking computer and let’s go.”

Justin sighed and went to get his laptop.

 

*****
 

Brian had dropped off Justin at the gallery then wandered off to the Liberty Diner before going to Kinnetik. Again he wasn’t really needed there; however, with the children in school, summer vacation over and Justin preoccupied, coming to the Pitts was better than wallowing in self pity, alone.

“Sweetheart!” Debbie’s somewhat acerbic tone pierced the diner noise as Brian entered. The breakfast crowd was still in full force so no booths were available. The tall handsome brunet took a seat at the counter.

“Here ya go, honey,” Debbie said as she slid a cup of coffee towards him. “What brings you in here today?”

Brian didn’t answer, merely shrugging his shoulders. Debbie was hustling with piles of dishes and breakfast platters. It was some time before she realized Brian hadn’t spoken a word. Quiet and brooding was not all that usual for the ex-stud of Liberty, however much times had changed, and Brian with them. He had grown far more animated as he matured.

“Brian, is something wrong?” Debbie asked sincerely as she topped off his cup.

“Justin,” Brian answered cryptically.

“Is something wrong with my Sunshine?” Debbie’s eyes grew wide.

“No, Deb.” Brian patted Debbie’s hand, reassuring the older woman. “Nothing’s wrong, in fact everything is right. Just peachy with the lad.”

“Meaning...”

“Meaning, his new show is guaranteed to be another hit and he’s already involved in a new project.”

“But that’s wonderful! Isn’t it?”

“For him it is.”

“Ah, now I get it. Our little Sunshine is all grown up, has become the best homosexual that he could become and you’re afraid he’s leaving you behind,” Debbie said with the wisdom of the ages. “His work is cutting into your fucking time too,” she added with the wisdom of the greatest fag hag Liberty Avenue had ever known.

Brian shrugged, again.

“Oh honey, let the boy be. He’s left you many times in the past, for different reasons and in different ways, but he always comes back. This is no different. Be supportive like I know you’ve always been. Give him room to work, and once he’s finished, he’ll be back and riding your dick in no time.”

Brian rolled his eyes at the woman. Some things never changed. “Thank you, Dear Abby,” Brian snarked.

“Brian, that boy loves you more than life itself. Just give it time and get yourself a hobby, one that doesn’t involve lube,” Debbie snarked back, then stretched over the counter to give Brian a gentle kiss. “You two have been together for more years than most of Pittsburgh combined. You’ll get through this. Now, don’t go and do anything foolish,” Debbie warned as she pointed a red polished finger at the man.

“Yes, Maw,” Brian murmured. Debbie freshened up his cup then placed a plate of buttered whole wheat toast in front of him. Brian arched his brow, and Debbie scowled. Brian ate his toast without complaint.

 

*****
 

“Hi, Mom!” Justin said as his mother approached his table. He made it a point to be early for his lunch date with Jennifer, setting the alarm on his watch, his computer and giving Lindsay explicit instructions to get him out of the gallery on time.

“Hi, Sweetheart,” Jennifer replied giving her beautiful son a hug and a kiss. She then scrutinized Justin’s face carefully. “Justin, you look tired,” Jenn observed as she pushed away a lock of blond hair from Justin’s eyes.

“A little,” Justin admitted as he held Jennifer’s chair while she sat.

“What’s going on? My granddaughter giving you trouble?” Jennifer asked casually as she reached for a breadstick.

“No, she’s an angel. A very precocious angel and way too smart for her own good, but an angel.”

“Brian acting up?”

“Brian does not act up. Queens out maybe, but never acts up.”

“So what is it?” Jennifer asked then paused as her hand hovered over another breadstick. “He’s not tricking, is he?”

“Mom!” Justin was aghast that Jennifer could remotely suggest that... “Shit!”

“Justin, what’s going on? I came here to talk with you about my wedding and now I’m getting the impression that we’re about to discuss a divorce.”

“No, Mom, nothing like that. I’ve just been very busy lately with a new project and I think Brian feels neglected. Now what about you, you set a date yet?”

“No, not yet and don’t change the subject. I’m happy to hear that my number one son-in-law is still my son-in-law. However, you know that Brian Kinney can be high maintenance at times. It’s important to make time for him, Justin. He loves you so much; he’d move mountains for you. God only knows what he spent on flying you to Chicago in the Spring. He deserves to be pampered at times, and appreciated.”

“Mom, I do appreciate Brian, a lot, but I have to work. I’m involved in a fantastic new art project...”

“Which is probably taking up all of your time. I get it, honey. Just don’t get so wrapped up in this new project that you neglect your family. Now, one of the reasons I wanted to see you is that Seth and I are about to set a date and I wanted your opinion.”

“About what?”

“About inviting your father to the wedding. Have you had much contact with him since Bree’s birthday party?”

“No, not really. I guess he didn’t have an excuse to call me.”

“You could have called him, and you don’t need an excuse either. You are still his son.”

“Mom...”

“Don’t go there, Justin. I decided not to invite people from the old neighborhood to the wedding. I really have nothing in common with them anymore. If I invited your father, he’d have no one to talk to except for Susan and the Brenners. That wouldn’t be fair to him. But I’ll speak with Susan and get her opinion. I just don’t want to antagonize him. Although I imagine that Briana would keep him occupied.”

“True.” Their conversation lulled while the waiter brought their salads and confirmed their orders.

“Justin, tell me about your new project.”

“Oh, Mom, I haven’t been this excited about an art project in ages. I’m working in several different mediums including computer graphics. I’ve been interviewing artists at PIFA to help me.”

“What about Lacy?”

“This isn’t her thing, besides she has her own studies to concentrate on, and Rage. No, I really need very technically talented people for this one.”

“So I gather you’ve been spending your time surrounded by young Justin Taylor wannabees. Young, handsome wannabees.”

“Mother, you know that Brian could run circles around anyone I’d ever meet at PIFA. He’s only gotten sexier with age. And I need him, Mom. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize that.”

“Just as long as you remind him of that. I know he comes off as tough, but you know just how sensitive he really is. He needs you just as much as you need him.”

Their meals came and they became quiet so they could enjoy them.

“When are you thinking of having the wedding?”

“Next Spring. I don’t think I could handle another winter wedding.”

“You going to use Emmett?”

“Who else would I use? Besides, I wouldn’t be able to ever look him in the eye again if we used anyone else.”

“And where will you have it?”

“Maybe at his new restaurant. I can picture it in his patio garden. But I'm not really sure.  We’d like to keep it simple.”

“What’s Seth have to say about all of this?”

“He wants me to be happy.”

“Aw,” Justin teased then giggled.

“You’re not too old to spank, young man.”

“Oh, Mom. But I really like Seth and he seems so comfortable with the family. I don’t think you could find anybody better.”

“I feel the same way. I’m glad you like him. That means a lot to me. Now, tell me a little about your new project, minus the technical babble.”

Jennifer and Justin enjoyed the remainder of their lunch with pleasant conversation.

 

*****
 

“Brian, have you got a minute?”

“Well, if it isn’t the ubiquitous Theodore Schmidt. What are you doing here?”

Ted blushed. “I do still work here … at Kinnetik.”

“I guess I’ll have to believe you since you’re here.”

“Me starting my own company isn’t going to affect my job here,” Ted vowed.

“You can’t know that. You’ve missed three days this week,” Brian informed him.

Ted blanched. He didn’t think Brian would have been paying that much attention to his comings and goings. Ted drew in a deep breath. “I think I have a solution to running both businesses.”

“So, you run this business now, do you?” Brian asked with a death glare.

Ted wished there was a hole that would open up at his feet and swallow him. “You … you know what I mean.”

“Do I?”

“I’ve been thinking of interviewing Albert Harmon, you know from over at Part Deux, and offering him the job as head of Schmidt Personal Accountants.”

“I thought that was your job.”

“Old Mr. Wertshafter was right when he told me that ledgers and income tax forms didn’t make my heart beat faster. I love the creativity of my job here. I don’t want to be in charge of supervising my accountants and looking after the day to day running of the company.”

Brian raised an eyebrow. “I thought that was why you started the fucking company, so that it would be yours.”

“It will be mine, but I don’t have to be there every minute of every day.”

Brian stared at his CFO. This was the best news he’d had in several shitty days. “So what are you going to do with Alvin, if you get him?”

“It’s Albert … Albert Harmon. You know, the accountant from Bree’s birthday party. The guy we hired. Sheldon’s father.”

“I know who the fuck he is. Answer my question.”

“I’d like to put him in charge of my company, and then I won’t have to worry about it.”

“I take it that ledgers and income tax forms make his heart beat faster,” Brian smirked.

“You know he’s done a bang up job at Part Deux.”

“So why would I want to lose him to your company?”

“Because it would make it easier for me to do my job here?” Ted said hopefully.

“And what will happen at Part Deux? I thought we needed a CFO there.”

“Albert’s been working with this one accountant over there and he tells me that we need to promote him or he’ll be looking for a CFO job somewhere else.”

“So you want to take Algernon from Part Deux and promote the other guy? And you get an excellent executive for your own company?” Brian asked as he summed up Ted’s plan.

“Right on the first try.”

“Why would Alexander agree to that? Don’t we pay him enough at Part Deux, or are you planning on giving him your salary if he joins your company?”

“Actually it’s something like that. I’d match his salary from Part Deux and offer options for him to become a partner in Schmidt’s Personal Accountants.”

Brian smiled for the first time. “You’ve become quite the wheeler dealer, Theodore.”

“Thank you, Boss,” Ted said, realizing that he had just received the Brian Kinney seal of approval.

“Okay, so get out of my office, Schmidt. Go take care of your wheeling and dealing,” Brian ordered, but there was no malice in his voice. “And Theodore, I think you made a good choice in Albert.”

“Right you are, Boss,” Ted said with a grin. “And thanks, Brian.”

Brian shook his head as Ted quickly left the office. He might just come out of this plan better off than ever, and it meant he would be able to keep one of his oldest and most loyal employees. And a good friend, Brian thought, as he turned back to the copy he had been reading.

 

*****
 

“You ready to go, Sunshine?” Brian asked walking into Sidney Bloom’s office at the gallery.

“You’re early,” Justin said looking up from his computer.

“I got bored with fixing all the problems at Kinnetik,” Brian said tongue in cheek.

“And there were so many, I imagine,” Justin laughed.

“Hundreds, but I waved my magic wand and fixed them all.”

“Hey, that wand’s mine.”

“That’s why I’m here. I thought we might go home and put it to use,” Brian said with a feral grin.

Justin felt a little shiver run down his spine. A sexual and horny Brian Kinney was a force to be reckoned with. It made Justin horny just thinking about it. “Ready when you are,” he grinned.

“Let’s hit the road then.”

“Brian, are we okay?” Justin asked as he closed his computer and stood up. “I mean … really okay?”

Brian frowned and then sighed. “I realize how important this project is to you. It’s taking a lot of your time. I can live with that.”

“I know you can. You have been. I don’t want to push my luck … too far,” Justin admitted, thinking about what his mother had told him.

“Save me an hour or two every day, and I’ll manage,” Brian conceded.

Justin smiled one of his radiant best. “I love you, Brian Kinney.”

“Don’t forget that when I bite your head off.”

“Huh?” Justin asked. That wasn’t the reaction he had expected.

“You’re going to be busy, and you’re going to forget me and Bree, and I’m going to be pissed. So, remember that you love me when I chew you a new one.”

“Jesus, Brian, how do you know I’m going to do that. I was telling you my resolution to make things better.”

“I know, and the best laid plans…” Brian let those words hang in the air.

“Don’t you have any faith in me?”

“Every faith, but I’m also a realist. I tell it like it is.”

Justin’s face fell. He realized that Brian was probably right. He’d already let the project take over most of his life. He’d forgotten to pick up his own daughter because of the project. “Can I say I’m sorry in advance?”

“You can, and I hear you. But be prepared for major drama queen moments. I can see them coming,” Brian warned.

“From you … or me?’

“Both! Now let’s go home and fuck.”

Brian slung his arm around Justin’s shoulders and they left the gallery.

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