Ladies of Liberty

Chapter 12

“Michael, how’s married life these days?” Emmett asked as he nibbled on his burger and salad. Michael had been heading for the bathroom, but he chose to stop and speak with his old friend.

“It’s great. Why do you ask?” Michael wanted to know. He sat down in the chair that Drew had vacated to go get his new husband a drink.

“Because…” Emmett paused for dramatic effect. “Drew and I got married while we were on the cruise.”

“You what! Oh Emm, I’m so happy for you.”

“I’m very happy for me too. Don’t tell anybody though. Drew and I are going to announce it in a few minutes.”

“Wouldn’t dream of spilling the beans … and congratulations.” Michael continued on his way to the bathroom.

 

*****
 

“Taylor is already so much bigger than at the hospital,” Craig said as he nursed the baby, feeding the little bundle a bottle so Molly could eat her burger.

“Hungry little devil,” Molly laughed.

“You both seem to be doing much better,” Susan said.

“Things were rough for a while, but it’s all great now.”

“Are you sure you want to move out here to the middle of nowhere?” Craig asked.

“I’ve never been more certain. And we’re also keeping our condo in Pittsburgh.”

“But … why? What’s so great about this place?”

“I felt so comfortable and so at peace when Owen and I and the baby were staying here. It’s a wonderful spot,” Molly told her father.

“I just don’t see it,” Craig replied.

“If you choose to spend some time in our new cottage with Taylor and me and Owen, maybe you’ll find out.”

Craig shook his head and then noticed the smirk on his wife’s face. Everyone seemed to have the same advice for him today. Well, fuck their advice. He’d make up his own mind. He concentrated on feeding the baby.

 

*****
 

“Hey, Emmett, Bobby and I are available for clean-up duty,” John said as he approached Emmett.

“I always count on you guys,” Emmett said with a big smile.

“You’re very chipper today.”

“Yes I am, aren’t I?” Emmett giggled.

“What’s up?” John asked with a frown.

“Can you keep a secret?”

“I like to think I can.”

“Then come closer,” Emmett whispered. When John leaned down, Emmett spoke softly into his ear. “Drew and I got married on our cruise.”

“You did? That’s terrific. I highly recommend married life,” John stated.

“I like it pretty much too,” Emmett grinned. “But don’t say anything.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” John said before he walked away to find his own husband.

 

*****
 

Brian had been watching all the people who spoke with Emmett. He couldn’t help but wonder how many of them had been told Emmett’s big secret. He watched John walk away with a smile on his face. It seemed evident that Emmett had told Brian’s brother the big news too.

 

*****
 

“And this is Elvis’ tomb,” Debbie said reverently.

“Sounds like you really enjoyed your time at Graceland,” Justin said graciously. Debbie had been showing him her pictures of the place for the last hour or two, or that’s what it seemed like anyway.

“What’s this?” Justin asked as Debbie turned the page.

Debbie laughed. “Truckhenge. It’s a fucking work of art.”

“Work of art? It looks like trucks turned on their noses and half buried,” Justin observed.

“That’s exactly what it is, Sunshine,” Debbie declared. “Trust the artist’s eye to notice.”

“What’s it supposed to be?” Justin asked.

“What does the name make you think of?”

“Well, Stonehenge in England,” Justin offered.

“Exactly. The guy who made it did it as a protest.”

“He went to all that trouble as a protest? What was he protesting?”

“The powers that be. You can identify with that, can’t you?”

“Yeah, I can,” Justin said studying the pictures of the strange arrangement of vehicles.

“Hope it doesn’t give you any ideas of what you might want to make,” Debbie said with a wink.

Justin stared blankly at her.

 

*****
 

“Auntie Emm,” Bree said as she sidled up to one of her favorite people.

“What is it, little one?” Emmett asked with a smile.

“Dada said I could have an extra cookie.”

“He did?”

“Yep,” Bree stated bobbing her head.

“That doesn’t sound much like your Dada.”

“But he did tell me that.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“So, what do you want me to do about it?”

“Remember that Dada told me I could have an extra cookie, in case I forget.”

Emmett laughed loudly. “It doesn’t seem likely that you’ll forget about your extra cookie.”

“I might.”

“Then I’ll be sure to remind you.”

“Thank you, Auntie Emm,” Bree said reaching up for a hug.

Emmett’s arms came around the little girl just as Justin approached.

“Is that a ring I see on your finger?” Justin asked.

“Why yes, it is,” Emmett replied happily.

“And it’s significance?”

“Drew and I got married on the cruise,” Emmett whispered to Justin.

“Auntie Emm!” Bree screeched at the top of her lungs. “You got married without me! I wanted to be the flowergirl.” She pouted mightily.

The whole yard grew silent as they heard Bree’s plaintive wail. Everyone turned to look at Emmett.

“Surprise!” Emmett called out. “Drew and I are married. I guess Bree blew our big surprise.”

“What surprise, you big fairy!” Brian shouted. “You’ve already told ninety percent of the people here.”

Heads nodded in agreement all over the garden.

“Congratulations,” John called out, breaking the awkward moment. Everyone added similar good wishes, while Drew managed to find his way back to his mate’s side.

Brian walked over and gave each man a hug and a kiss. “Be happy,” he said.

“Drew has made me the happiest little woman in the whole world,” Emmett joked.

Brian took Bree’s hand and led her aside to explain why she couldn’t be the flowergirl at her Auntie Emm’s wedding. Everyone else descended upon the happy couple to continue their well wishes.

 

*****
 

“Father Tom,” Drew began.

“Just Tom, today I’m just Tom,” Father Tom answered.

“Well then, just Tom, I was wondering if you’d do me and Emmett the honor of saying a blessing for us. I realize our union is not legal, but Emm and I take it very seriously.”

“I know and I still harbor the hope that one day same sex marriages will be recognized as being legally binding as heterosexual marriages are. However, until then, there’s nothing stopping me from blessing your commitment. Did you want to do it today?”

“I don’t see why not. The whole family’s here to bear witness,” Drew replied.

“Then let me prepare while you gather the family. Would you like to do it here in the garden or at the stream? Miracles have happened at that blessed site,” Tom said referring to Briana’s christening.

“The stream. I can’t think of anywhere closer to the Almighty than there.”

“Then at the stream it will be. I’ll go there now to prepare.”

“See you in a few minutes, Tom,” Drew winked.

“Father Tom,” Tom winked back as he turned to walk toward the stream.

 

*****
 

“And where might ya be goin’ there, Father?” Brian asked in a brogue-ish lilt as he spied Tom walking toward the garden path.

“Well, now, I might be goin’ down to the stream, me lad,” Tom answered in kind. Brian arched his eyebrow.

“Drew has asked me to bless his and Emmett’s commitment. He requested it be done by the stream. But perhaps we should have asked for your permission first. It appears we’ve taken over,” Tom said with a sigh as he indicated the huge assembled mass of family. The family had broken off into several small groups as they all visited with each other and updated everyone on the happenings in their lives. Debbie was having fun corralling people to show off Truckhenge and Graceland. Even the mighty Sarah Kingsley could not escape from Debbie’s clutches.

“Emmett and Drew are two of my closest and dearest friends. I’m honored that they chose our stream to have their blessing,” Brian said in all seriousness. “You go and prepare for your voodoo. I’ll help get this motley crew down by the old mill stream.”

“Brian, I don’t think Sarah Kingsley would consider herself motley,” Tom chuckled.

“True, so we’ll be keepin’ that little tidbit between us, won’t we now, Father,” Brian said with a twinkle in his eye and a bit of the blarney in his voice. Tom smiled broadly as he returned to the path.

 

*****
 

“Ladies and gentlemen, and I use those terms loosely,” Brian began as he banged a large serving spoon against a metal tray to get everyone's attention. He was soon joined by Justin, Drew and Emmett. “Our latest couple to have joined the ranks of ball and chain-dom, would like you all to join them down by the stream to bear witness to the blessing of their commitment. If you all would follow Justin…” Brian stated as the family gathered closely to start following Justin toward the stream.

“Brian, where are you going?” Justin whispered.

“Don’t you worry your pretty little head about it, Sunshine. You just get this bunch down by the stream,” Brian said with a kiss to Justin’s lips. Justin smiled sweetly then continued to shepherd their family toward the stream.

“Hey, Squirt, come with me a minute.”

“Okay, Dada,” Bree answered, trusting that her Dada would not let her miss whatever was going to take place at the stream.

“Why are we being a party to this farce,” Craig grumbled under his breath.

“Because,” Owen Senior began, “we’re a family and that means you love and respect their choices. You don’t necessarily have to agree with them, but you can choose to keep your objections to yourself.” Owen’s tone would brook no argument. Craig nodded then extended his arm out for his wife. Craig and Susan followed the family down to the stream.

 

*****
 

Eventually the whole family was assembled by the great rock near the stream. Father Tom had Emmett and Drew standing with him, ready to receive their blessing. Tom was just about to begin when he saw Brian and Briana approach. Bree was carrying a large bouquet of flowers freshly cut from Brian’s garden.

“Here, Auntie Emm, for you!” Bree said as she held up the bouquet for Emmett.

“Oh thank you, sweetheart!” Emmett exclaimed as he took the bouquet then burst out into very loud happy sobs.

“Oh for fuck’s sake,” Brian groused as he held out the box of tissues he was carrying. Emmett took several, daubed at his eyes then blew his nose with a loud honk. He then handed the soiled tissue back to Brian who took it with a look of distaste.

Emmett then quickly divided up his flowers to hand a bunch back to Bree.

“Stay here with me, Miss Bree, and be my flowergirl.”

“Oh thank you, Auntie Emm!” Bree cried and the whole family laughed with the child’s delight. Emm then took a purple cone flower, breaking the stem short and stuck it in Drew’s breast pocket.

“We’re ready now, Father!” Emmett said.

“About fucking time,” Debbie was heard grumbling.

“Dearly beloved friends and family, I have had the honor to perform several ceremonies for this wonderful family including the christening of this child,” Tom said as he patted Bree on her head. “And I never tire of bestowing a blessing of commitment, especially when one has been truly earned and deserved. If anyone here knows why this blessing should not take place, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

Brian and several family members turned to glare at Craig. Craig wisely kept quiet.

“Emmett Honeycutt and Drew Boyd, as witnessed by your friends, family, Mother Earth and the Almighty, we bless this commitment that you have made to each other. We wish you both long life and long love. A-men.”

“Amen,” the family repeated and then cheered the happy couple loudly.

As Emmett burst out into another round of happy tears, Brian handed him the box of tissues.

 

*****
 

“Deb, can I take another look at your pictures of Truckhenge?” Justin asked.

After the ceremony at the stream the family had moseyed on back to the gardens and sun porch to continue the celebrations. Libations of all sorts flowed freely as did food and desserts. The whole family was having a wonderful time celebrating their good fortunes.

“Sure, Sunshine. Finding inspiration?” Debbie joked, as she handed the packet of pictures to Justin.

“Sort of,” Justin said with a strange look on his face. He began flipping through the array of pictures.

“Justin, baby, are you all right?” Debbie asked with concern seeing his expression.

“I’m fine, Deb,” Justin said as he began walking toward the lane with the pictures in his hand.

Debbie watched him go then called Brian over.

“What is it, Maw, run out of victims to show your pictures to?”

“No, asshole. Something’s up with my Sunshine. And it’s your job to find out what,” Debbie said seriously as she looked up into Brian’s eyes. Brian nodded, knowing that look meant business. He sprinted away to catch up with Justin.

 

*****
 

“Hey, Sunshine,” Brian said as he approached Justin. Justin was sitting on a pile of lumber that would eventually become the frame for Molly and Owen’s cottage.

“Hey,” Justin replied softly. Beau was sniffing around all the big equipment. He was in charge of this lane and he marked several huge tires accordingly.

“Debbie is under the impression that something’s wrong.”

“Nothing’s wrong.”

“Then why are you sitting on a bunch of wood while our house is overrun with our cwazy family?”

“What? You upset that I’m not sitting on your wood?”

“I’m sure we’ll rectify that situation later.”

“We will, Bri. I have no doubt,” Justin said as he kissed Brian’s lips.

“So what gives with the contemplation of rusty old trucks and buses stuck into the ground?”

“They speak to me somehow.”

“And what do they say? Please haul me off to be recycled?”

“No,” Justin smirked as he swatted Brian lightly in the gut. “But I understand why the artist did what he did.”

“Are you about to turn an abandoned truck into a work of art?”

“No but working in metal and on a scale this big is...”

“Tempting?”

“Yeah, very.”

“You’re serious.”

“Yup,” Justin said as he jumped down off his perch of wood and began pacing the yard trying to explain his vision to Brian. “For my first project I see a large metal sunflower maybe five feet across and twenty feet high. Of course I’ll have to learn how to weld and work with base metals and...”

“Whoa, slow down, Sonny Boy! And what do you mean by first project?”

“I mean to do a whole garden!” Justin said with his arms outstretched as he gazed out on the empty meadow. He envisioned it filled with his metal flowers. Brian gulped then pulled himself together. He always supported Justin’s art and this was no different even if Justin was about to turn his peaceful lane into a ‘henge.’

“Um, and what do you plan on calling your garden, Sunshine?” Brian asked cautiously. Justin turned and flashed his sunniest smile at his bilious looking spouse.

“Brian-henge!”

-TBC-
 

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