Green Eyed Monster

Chapter 6

Once the brief rain shower was over the sun came out once again. Bree and Riley were given a round of applause for their impromptu performance. People began drifting back outside as the sun fell lower in the sky. Tables and chairs were wiped off and the grills were started up again.

Debbie was getting a beer in the sun porch when she noticed a tall blonde woman sitting on one of the chaises. “Who the hell are you?” she demanded with a frown. This woman was unknown to her, and stalkers had been known to try to crash these parties.

“Excuuuse me!” Anne said haughtily.

“I asked who the fuck you are.”

“How dare you!” Anne said about to get up and make a real scene. She didn’t have to put up with this kind of foul language and interrogation. She wondered where her husband was. She had come in here to get out of the sun and find a little peace and quiet away from all the strange people who seemed to have congregated in this lane.

“Look, honey, I’m Debbie Novotny-Horvath, so just tell me who you are and nothing bad will happen.” Debbie rarely called herself such a name now that she was married to Carl, but she felt the need to sound impressive with this woman. A hyphenated name had been known to sound quite posh.

“I’m Anne Larkin. My son Chet was at baseball camp with Patrick. His father invited us here.”

“Oh,” Debbie said finally making the connection. “I saw your boy play in the soccer game. Bree taught him a thing or two.”

Anne bristled. “She’s a very good player, but my son is much better at baseball.”

“Yeah, he made a great play in the ball game,” Debbie admitted readily. She was prepared to give credit where credit was due. “Want a beer or a glass of wine?” Debbie asked deciding that this woman apparently had a legitimate reason for being there.

“I could use a glass of wine,” Anne conceded. This Debbie Novotny-Horvath had thrown her for a loop.

Debbie poured a glass of white and walked over to Anne. She handed her the glass and then sat down on the chaise next to her. “So, how are you enjoying our little shindig?” Debbie asked trying to make conversation. She took a drink of her beer while she waited for a reply.

Anne chose her words carefully. She didn’t think she should say what she really thought, especially with this woman who was rather intimidating. “I’m afraid it’s not really my kind of … party,” she said slowly. “My husband wanted to come.”

“And what might your kind of party be?”

“I like cocktail parties and dances.”

Debbie snorted. “Sounds kind of stuffy to me.”

“Well, it’s not,” Anne said downing the remainder of what was in her wine glass.

“Let me get you another,” Debbie said setting down her beer and going to the refreshment table where she grabbed a bottle of white from the ice chest. She refilled Anne’s glass and set the bottle on the table between the chaises.

Anne took another drink and decided maybe she could put up with a little more of this obnoxious woman. The wine was certainly good. “How do you happen to be part of this charming group?” Anne asked. She didn’t care how snide it sounded.

Debbie gave her a look, but decided to answer. “My son and Brian have been best friends since they were teenagers.”

“Brian? That’s the man doing the grilling. He makes a good steak.”

“Brian’s good at everything he does.”

“Is that right?” Anne asked taking another sip of wine. It really was very good. “What does he do besides grill?”

“You don’t know who Brian Kinney is?” Debbie asked in disbelief. “He owns several advertising agencies, helped found the Jason Kemp Center in Pittsburgh, and has his fingers in more pies than anyone knows about,” Debbie declared. “Plus he’s a damn nice guy.”

“I see,” Anne said. She had heard some of this from Sharon Brenner, but she wanted to know more. She was aware of the Jason Kemp Center since she was involved in several charities herself. They were a good network to get to know prominent people. That was often how she got to hobnob with people like the Sarah Kingsley. “I wouldn’t have thought a gay man would be involved in charity.”

Now it was Debbie’s turn to bristle. “Being gay has nothing to do with it. Brian has a social conscience, unlike many straight people.”

Anne picked up the wine bottle and filled her own glass this time. “I see. Sounds like he’s well off.”

Debbie snorted. “Brian and Justin are very well off.”

“Then why do they choose to live in this place?” Anne asked waving her glass around.

“They live here because they like it.”

“But why not a mansion if they’re so wealthy?”

“This suits them better.”

“I don’t get it.”

Debbie sighed. “When you have a lot of money, you don’t need to flaunt it,” she said simply.

Anne frowned. If that was true, maybe she had underestimated these people. “I understand that Justin Taylor is rather a famous artist,” she added.

“He’s very well known and respected,” Debbie replied.

“I still don’t understand living out here in the middle of nowhere.”

“Answer this,” Debbie said. “Why were you sitting here by yourself?”

“I … I wanted some peace and quiet.”

“That’s the same reason Brian and Justin like their lane and this house.”

“Oh.”

“Debbie, sweetheart, I’ve been looking all over for you,” Carl said as he came into the sun porch. He leaned down and pecked Debbie’s cheek.

“You know I’m never far away, Carl,” Debbie laughed.

“I missed you. Come outside and enjoy the day before it decides to rain again.”

“Okay,” Debbie said offering Carl her hand as he helped her up. “Nice talking to you, Anne.”

Anne watched them walk out of the sun porch arm in arm. She could hardly say she had enjoyed her chat with Debbie Novotny-Horvath, but it had been enlightening. She had learned a lot of things that she had been mistaken about. She watched Debbie and her man walk across the grass laughing and smiling at each other. She couldn’t remember the last time she and Mitchell had done anything like that. She felt a small pang of jealousy which she decided to quell with another glass of wine.

 

*****
 

“Curtis, are you excited about going to Carnegie-Mellon?” Gus asked. He was seated at a table with the younger members of the lane. Bree had asked Chet to join them, so he had.

Chet was munching on a hamburger and listening to the discussions going on. He wasn’t quite sure what to make of all the people at the table. He found Richie a little disconcerting. He was so pretty, like a girl. Candy was kind of scary. JR seemed friendly enough, but she worked in a comic book store. That was weird. Gus seemed cool, Patrick was nice as always, and then there was Bree. Chet frowned. He couldn’t believe she was actually being nice to him. Something was definitely wrong.

“I’m really looking forward to it. It was a big decision with JR deciding that she wanted some time off from school. I really thought community college might be the route to go, but I’m getting revved up for university,” Curtis explained. Curtis had struggled with this decision for months.

“Yeah, without me,” JR griped.

“You know I … like you a lot,” Curtis said sincerely. “Nothing’s going to change that.”

“We’ll see,” JR retorted still feeling insecure about her future.

“How come you work in a comic store?” Chet ventured to ask.

“It’s my Dad’s store. I’m gradually taking over from him,” JR said. That was one thing she felt very confident about.

“Oh,” Chet replied. He couldn’t understand why someone would want to work in a comic store if they could go to university instead. His parents expected him to go to college.

“You better not find any girls that you like better than me,” JR admonished Curtis.

“Couldn’t possibly happen,” Curtis said with a big smile.

JR swatted him affectionately and smiled warmly at her beau. “Better not.”

“Curtis,” Bree began, “what kind of animals do you want to look after when you become a vet?”

“Probably dogs and cats like my dads do,” Curtis replied. “That is … if I get that far. I might still decide I want to be a firefighter. It takes a long time to be a vet … or a firefighter.”

“Isn’t being a firefighter dangerous?” Chet asked.

“Yeah, there’s danger, but there’s also the fact that you get to help people.”

“How come you want to be a firefighter?” Chet questioned.

“My grandfather was a fireman and I really loved him. I wouldn’t mind being just like him.”

“You can do anything you want, Curtis,” Bree said decisively.

Curtis smiled at the little girl. “Thanks to you.”

Chet wondered what that meant. These people seemed to think a lot of Bree. He didn’t see why that would be the case. However, he didn’t think he should ask why Curtis said that.

Bree beamed. Then she frowned. “Will you take care of Beau if you become a vet?” Beau gave a little woof from his spot behind Bree and Patrick’s chairs. Bree reached back and patted the big dog’s head.

“Sure I will, but Beau will be really old by the time I could be a vet,” Curtis responded. He didn’t want to tell Bree that Beau would probably be long gone by then.

“Oh,” Bree said with a frown. She didn’t like to think about Beau getting old.

“Is this your last year at university?” Curtis asked Gus.

“Yeah, unless I decide to do some post graduate work,” Gus replied.

“Are you thinking about that?” JR asked.

“I don’t know yet,” Gus answered honestly. “There’s some stuff I’d like to study more.”

“You’re so smart,” Bree told her brother.

“Thanks, short stuff,” Gus said raising his hand for a high five with his sister. Gus and Bree giggled happily as they slapped palms.

Chet wished he had a brother or sister he could do that with.

 

*****
 

“So Curtis finally decided to go to college,” Ben mumbled to himself as he sat on the big rock by the stream. The storm was over but it made their little stream into a mini river.

Ben had been so proud when Hunter decided to further his education even if it was under stressful circumstances, and look at the results. Hunter, in charge of the Jason Kemp Center and along with John, spearheading the halfway houses for those the “Hunterman” had saved.

But JR, her only aspiration was to run a comic book store.

“Shit,” Ben said out loud. “Retail, fucking retail. And comic books no less.”

“Talking to yourself, Professor? First sign of insanity,” Brian drawled as he slowly approached from the path.

“Only if I answer myself,” Ben grumbled. He gazed at the water tumbling over the rocks in the stream creating hundreds of tiny waterfalls.

“I’m surprised to see you here,” Brian said as he made himself comfortable next to his friend.

“Why? I came here often when Michael was recovering from his illness.”

“But this is different. Back then I saw worry, concern and love in your eyes. Do you want to know what I see now?”

“Not really,” Ben huffed. Brian waited. He knew that Ben would eventually talk. Brian had a lot in common with Ben, more than people realized. But the main thing they had between them was respect.

“You have pretty eyes,” Brian said after a while. “They’re usually very blue.”

“What the hell are you talking about, Brian. My eyes are always blue.”

“Not now, now they’re green.”

“That’s impossible.”

“Green with envy,” Brian said as he casually examined his nails.

“You bastard!” Ben shouted as he shoved Brian off the rock and onto the damp ground.

“Ow,” Brian complained as he picked himself up and brushed off the seat of his pants. “That fucking hurt, Professor. You know that’s the second time you’ve shoved me and this time you can’t blame it on roid rage,” Brian growled.

“Brian, I’m…”

“Save it. Just fucking save it! There’s nothing wrong with retail. Some of our best friends started out in retail. JR’s smart and she did a great job when you were taking care of your partner. Your partner, Michael. Remember him? The man you claim to love, who has been in retail for most of his adult life.” Brian turned to walk back to the house.

“Brian, wait,” Ben called after him.

“What!” Brian stopped but didn’t turn to face Ben.

“I know I’m not JR’s real father. But I love her, just as I love Hunter. Hunter came from nothing and look at what he’s accomplished. Curtis came from practically nothing and he’s been accepted into Carnegie Mellon. I just want the same for JR. She’s so smart and so courageous. She just cuts through all the bullshit and gets the job done.”

Brian turned to face his friend. He saw longing in Ben’s eyes.

“I just want the best for her.”

“She already has it. With you and Michael and with Lindsay. Even with that she devil of a mother. She’s just a kid. Some kids know what they want right out of the gate. Others need time to figure it out. Just give her time.”

Ben took a deep breath then nodded. “I’m sorry, Brian,” Ben said meekly as he reached out to touch Brian’s shoulder.

“That’s the last time I turn the proverbial cheek, Professor. Next time I punch your fucking lights out,” Brian spat out then continued on the path.

 

*****
 

“Fucking idiot,” Brian grumbled to himself as he emerged from the path. The sun had begun to set but there was plenty of light for Brian to see. Besides, he really didn’t need it; he knew every inch of Edna’s Treasures by heart.

“Who’s an idiot?”

“Not your concern, Ted.”

“Okay. Brian, can I ask you something?”

“Ask,” Brian snapped then he pinched the bridge of his nose trying to rein in his anger.

“Brian, I realize we haven’t been friends as long as you and Michael and at times you don’t actually like me.”

“What?! Schmidt, what the fuck are you talking about? You are one of my closest friends, not to mention how much I rely on you at Kinnetik. Jeez, you and Cynthia are Kinnetik. So don’t tell me who I like or don’t like. I like you, you fucking moron! I like you,” Brian said as he drew Ted to him. “Now what’s this about?” Brian softly asked as he slowly released Ted.

“Michael said you’re building him a cottage,” Ted stated.

“Yeah and…?” Ted said nothing. “Do you and Allen want one as well?” Brian searched Ted’s face for his answer.

“No, we don’t. I guess I just wanted you to ask.”

“I thought I had. Several times, in fact, over the years. You’ve always turned me down. Something about liking the big city, kettle drums and your own accounting firm,” Brian smirked. “And of course you can’t be at my beck and call for Kinnetik way out here.”

Ted smiled. He patted Brian’s back as they walked toward the cottage.

“You do know I’d build you one in a second if you wanted.”

“I know, Bri. I know.”

 

*****
 

“Sweetheart!” Debbie greeted Brian with a kiss as he came through the sun porch door. “We haven’t had a chance to talk all day.”

“I’ve been a bit busy, Maw,” Brian said as he kissed her cheek.

“Too busy for an old woman?”

“You’re not old,” Brian retorted as he led Debbie into the kitchen. His party fairies were busy preparing to bring out the desserts. He took the fresh pot of coffee and poured them both a cup. “You’ll never be old,” Brian insisted.

“Thank you, honey, but let’s be real. I’m pushing seventy, my lifespan is shrinking as we speak.” Brian stared at Debbie for a minute. He put down his coffee then took the mug out of her hand.

“Don’t leave me,” Brian whispered as he hugged her close.

“I have a few more years left,” Debbie whispered into Brian’s ear as she hugged him back.

“Before I get accused of not asking, do you want a cottage on the lane too?”

“No fucking way!” Debbie cackled making Brian giggle and making him feel a hell of a lot better.
 

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