Green Eyed Monster

Chapter 7

Brian was cleaning off his grills having finished the last batch of meat for the hungry guests of Edna’s Treasures Lane. Most people were finishing up their dinners hopefully leaving room for dessert. The sun was low in the sky. It had been a good day.

“Hello, Mr. Kinney,” a sultry voice said.

“What…?” Brian said as he turned around. He came face to face with Anna Lutein. At least that was the name that he remembered.

“You’ve worked very hard slaving over that hot grill all day long,” she said, her finger pressing softly against his chest.

Brian stepped back. He took a good look at the woman. She had a glass of white wine in one hand and a bottle of the same in her other. She had obviously been packing it away by the slightly unfocussed look in her eyes. “Mrs. Lubin, may I escort you back inside?” Brian asked gallantly, hoping that if he could get her back to the house he would be able to turn her over to her husband.

“It’s Anne, dear, please call me Anne,” she replied in her sexiest voice, as she ignored the fact that this handsome man had got her name wrong twice.

“Let’s find your husband, Mrs. Larbin,” Brian suggested forcefully, abandoning cleaning the grill while he dealt with this unexpected and unwanted interruption.

“I told you to call me Anne,” she persisted.

“Okay, Anne, allow me to take you to your husband.”

“Oh pooh,” Anne scoffed. “You’re much handsomer than he is.” She took another drink from her glass.

Brian frowned. This was not what he needed right now … or ever. “In case you don’t remember,” Brian said, “I’m married and so are you.”

“Then it’s perfect. We can keep this between the two of us.”

“I don’t know what you think ‘this’ is, but we’re not keeping anything between the two of us.”

“I know you’re more than a cook, Brian,” she said suggestively. “You’re rich and handsome and…”

“Taken.”

Anne laughed as if Brian’s words meant nothing.

“Let’s go inside,” Brian suggested.

“To a more private place?” she asked.

“Mrs. Laken, not only am I taken, but I’m gay.”

“I hear that can be cured by the right woman,” Anne said with her best sexy smile.

Brian pinched the bridge of his nose. This woman was totally impossible.

“Anne!” a commanding voice said off to the side.

Brian turned to see the irate husband descending on him. Brian hoped he wouldn’t have to get into a shouting match, or worse, a fist fight with this idiot woman’s husband.

“What is it, Mitchell?” Anne asked with an irritated tone. “I’m busy.”

“You’ve been drinking and you know what happens when you drink,” Mitch said to her. He tried to take the glass and the bottle away from her. She yanked her hands away holding onto each item tightly.

“You could stop it from happening,” she said in an accusing voice to her husband.

Brian watched the exchange wondering what the fuck was going on. “Perhaps you should take your wife home now,” he suggested.

“I think that would be the best idea right now,” Mitch said wearily. “I’m sorry about this, Brian.”

“I am too,” Brian admitted. “I thought you might want to punch my lights out when you first came over here.”

“She wants me to be jealous. She thinks I don’t pay enough attention to her,” Mitch said, gently prying the glass out of his wife’s hand. All the fight seemed to have gone out of her.

“Do you?” Brian asked.

“Do I what?”

“Do you give her enough attention?”

Mitch frowned and then shook his head. “Maybe not.”

“I’d do something about that if I were you,” Brian counseled. “That is, if you want to stay married to her.”

“Mitch,” Anne whined leaning against her husband.

Brian took the bottle of wine out of her hand. “Why don’t you take her home now?”

“Yeah, my car’s around the side of John’s house. Could you find Chet for me? We should leave,” Mitch agreed.

“I’ll get him,” Brian said setting off towards the sun porch where many of the family had assembled for coffee and dessert. He looked back once to see Anne leaning heavily on her husband. He was helping her towards the side of John’s cottage.

Brian walked into the sun porch.

“What the fuck was going on out there?” Debbie demanded.

“Um … Anne wasn’t feeling well. Mitch is going to take her home.” He handed Debbie the wine bottle. “I need to find Chet,” Brian said keeping his voice low and hoping no one questioned him more about the scene outside.

“I think some of the kids are in Gus’ room playing some video game,” Debbie said speaking quietly too. She got the cue from Brian and went with it. Nobody wanted to spoil the party. She could always find out more later about what she had seen out by the grills.

“Thanks,” Brian said before heading toward Gus’ bedroom.

Gus and Richie were playing some sort of game where their motions were translated onto the TV screen. It looked like a kick boxing match. They looked like they were having a good time. The other kids were cheering them on as they made their moves. Chet was watching with Patrick but he seemed to be laughing and enjoying it along with the others.

Brian moved quietly into the room. He approached Chet from behind. “Chet, your father is ready to leave. He’s out at the car.”

“Oh,” Chet said sounding disappointed. “I guess I have to go, Patrick.”

“That’s okay, Chet. Maybe Gus will let us play this another time,” Patrick replied. “I hope you had fun today.”

“It … wasn’t bad,” Chet said sounding a lot like Brian often did. Brian had to stifle his smirk.

Most of the kids called out their goodbyes as Brian escorted Chet out of the room. Bree and the girls were in her room. She peeked out her door and saw Chet leaving.

“Is my mom … not feeling well?” Chet asked while they were walking down the hall.

“How did you know?”

“She does that sometimes. We leave early a lot,” Chet admitted.

“I see,” Brian said. He could identify. His own mother had been a lot like that, but in a different sort of way.

“Where are you two off to?” John asked coming from the kitchen as Chet and Brian reached the front door.

“Chet’s family is going home,” Brian replied to his brother.

“Oh?” John said in surprise. “I’ll come with you and wish them a good night.”

“Um…”

“I’m coming,” John said.

Brian looked at his brother and could tell he had seen some of what went on by the grills. He decided not to say anything further.

They all walked outside and around to the side of John’s cottage. The sun had just about disappeared below the horizon, but there was enough light to see that Mitch had managed to get his wife into the car. He was sitting behind the wheel waiting for his son.

Chet quickly got into the back seat.

“Mitch, I hope you enjoyed the day. I’m glad you could come,” John said sincerely.

“I enjoyed it, John. I’m sorry it had to end this way.” He looked over at his wife who had her head back against the headrest and her eyes closed.

“I’ll call you and make sure she’s okay,” John said gently.

“She’ll be fine.” Mitch started the car and slowly he pulled it around and out into the lane so that it was facing the right direction to leave. He took extra care not to ruin Brian’s lawn.

While John was saying a last goodbye, Bree quickly ran out of the house to get Brian’s attention. She tugged on her father’s hand.

“What is it Squirt?” Brian asked. Bree crooked her finger and Brian leaned down. Bree whispered something into his ear. “Are you sure?” Brian asked. With a very serious expression on her face, Bree nodded. “Okay.” Brian walked to the car.

“Mitchell, I realize you’d like to take Anne home so she can, um, recover from the long day, but no need to have Chet cut short his party time.”

“What do you mean?” Mitch asked Brian.

“What I mean is, would Chet like to sleep over? The boys were really into playing videos games. And tomorrow, you’re invited for brunch.”

“Brunch?”

“It’s tradition around here, sort of a party after the party.” Brian glanced back at Chet. The boy was puzzled by the invitation but excited to be asked.

“He doesn’t have any clothes, pajamas or a toothbrush,” Mitch said.

“Not to worry, we’re a house with five guys plus with the rest of this crew, we’ll find something for him to wear,” Brian assured Mitch. “And as for a toothbrush, believe me, we have spares.” Mitchell was flabbergasted but he turned around to look at his son.

“Would you like to stay? We’ll pick you up tomorrow afternoon.”

“Really, Dad? Can I?” Chet couldn’t hide his enthusiasm.

“Really,” Mitch replied with a smile. It was good to see his son look so happy. “And maybe it’ll give your mother and me a chance to talk,” Mitch half mumbled. Even in her stupor, Anne managed a small smile.

“Thanks, Dad! See ya tomorrow,” Chet said as he jumped out of the back seat and raced back into the house to rejoin the other boys.

“Thank you, Brian, John. We’ll try to make it for brunch.”

“The more the merrier,” Brian quipped as he and John waved goodbye.

Brian and John stood beside the cottage watching the car disappear down the lane.

“I could use a drink,” John said.

“Me too,” Brian agreed, “and I don’t mean coffee.”

“Sorry this ended so badly, little bro,” John said.

“Not so badly and it’s hardly your fault.”

“I invited them.”

“Chet is Patrick’s friend. You should invite them.”

John pulled his brother into a hug. “Thanks for saying that,” John said. “I saw what Anne was doing.”

Brian groaned. “Was the whole fucking sun porch watching?”

“Pretty much.”

“Let’s get that fucking drink. I need it more than ever.”

“I’ll mix you something strong,” John volunteered.

“Straight out of the bottle will do.”

John chuckled as he threw his arm over Brian’s shoulders. They started to walk back to the house. “Anything you want, brother mine, anything you want.”

Brian smiled. “Oh, and next time don’t fucking let him park on my grass.”

John smiled. All he heard in Brian’s words was that Chet and his family were welcome on the lane.

 

*****
 

“Chet!” The boys in Gus’ room cheered when Chet came back in. He skirted around the current video game players and took a seat near Patrick.

“I thought you had to go,” Patrick said.

“So did I but your Uncle Brian asked me to stay. I’m sleeping over tonight if that’s okay with you.”

“Cool!” Patrick said with a very pleased smile. “We’re up next,” Patrick said with a nudge to Chet’s shoulder. “Who wants snacks?” Patrick asked the guys.

“I do!” everyone shouted.

“Be right back,” Patrick said as he left the room. Before he went into the sun porch where he knew the stash of snacks was kept, Patrick took a detour into Bree’s room where the girls were currently brushing each other’s hair and painting nails.

“Girls only!” he got shouted at as he opened the door. Patrick rolled his eyes and ignored them all. He immediately went to Bree who was sitting in the middle of her bed holding grey bunny on her lap and getting her hair brushed by Cindy. Patrick gently took grey bunny out of Bree’s hands, gave her a hug then put bunny back in her lap. Then without saying a word, he left the room.

“Ooooo!” the girls all squeed and giggled as Patrick shut the door.

Patrick shook his head as he marched back to the porch where his fathers and uncle were sitting, huddled with several other male guests, talking, joking and sipping some of Brian’s best bourbon. He stood with his hands on his hips until they noticed him.

“Yes?” Brian said with an arch of his brow and a smirk on his lips.

“Do you know you’re the best uncle in the whole world?” Patrick declared as he threw himself into Brian’s arms to give him a hug.

“Yeah, I know,” Brian said with a slight choke. “Now, go away,” Brian said as he gave Patrick a little shove.

“Yeah, yeah,” Patrick laughed. He gave his dads both a peck on the cheek just before he raided the long table for goodies for the guys in Gus’ room.

The men all exchanged proud smiles as they watched the young man walk toward Gus’ room.

 

*****
 

“Where’s Brett?” Emmett asked Rachel. They were on kitchen duty along with a lot of other people.

“I think Cindy gave him the boot,” Rachel grumbled.

“About fucking time!” Debbie stated.

“Not much gets past you, does it?” Rachel asked.

“Nope. Besides I’ve had lots of practice,” Debbie said as she gave some of her boys a poignant look, including Emmett. He just smiled as he shrugged his shoulders. “Was she very serious about him?” Debbie asked gently.

“I don’t think so,” Rachel replied.

“For what it’s worth, it’s good she found out now,” Deb said wistfully. “Believe me, I’m not so old that I don’t remember how it felt when the man I thought was going to be the one, turned out not to be. But that’s a story for another day,” she said as she began to dry a large platter with a towel. Riley, who was bringing in a tray of dirty glasses and coffee cups, overheard Debbie. He paused, gave Debbie a strained look, unloaded his tray then left to go back for more.

Debbie quickly changed the subject.

“Will your parents be here for brunch?” Debbie asked Rachel. There had been so many people at the barbecue that Debbie didn’t get the chance to spend time with Emily and Dr. Dan.

“Yes,” Rachel replied.

“Great. Your parents are good people. It’ll be nice to talk with them.” Rachel gave Debbie a warm smile as they returned to the task of setting the cottage back to rights.

 

*****
 

“Why didn’t you ever tell me about Debbie?” Riley hissed into Danny’s ear as they loaded up the tray with more dirty plates and cups.

“Tell you what?” Danny had no idea what Riley was referring to.

“That you and Debbie were really close.”

“I told you what happened,” Danny whispered.

“But you left out the part where she was in love with you.”

“She was? We liked each other, a lot, but I didn’t know it was that much.”

“She slept with you.”

“Oh please, like you have to be in love to have sex. We were horny kids, barely eighteen. It was our first time. Yes, I cared, but I left town and it was over. And Debbie never, ever pushed it. Deep down, she knew what I was.”

Riley said nothing but gave a grunt.

“Baby, are you jealous? You do know it was over fifty years ago, right?” Danny gave Riley a pair of soulful eyes. Riley carefully set down the tray, and took his partner into his arms for a loving kiss.

“Get a room!” chorused through the sun porch. Riley broke the kiss and continued into the kitchen with his tray, passing Justin as he entered the sun porch.

“What’s with Riley?” Bobby asked Danny as he sat down with the guys.

“I don’t know. Must be this place,” Danny said looking around and out the porch glass walls. The moon was beginning to rise. “Something about this lane, it makes a guy ridiculously romantic,” Danny observed triggering a look between Brian and Justin.

Justin walked over to where Brian was lounging in his chaise. Brian scooted over so that Justin could sit. They said nothing, their expressions saying it all.

“Get a room!” reverberated through the sun porch again.
 

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