Ladies of Liberty

Chapter 8

“Are you happy, my dear?” Seth asked as he reached across the table to take Jennifer’s hand in his.

“Very,” Jennifer said with a wistful sigh.

“You looked very thoughtful … far away.”

“Sorry,” Jennifer apologized. “I was thinking that we only have a couple more days here before we have to leave.”

“Pittsburgh will be beautiful when we get back. All the trees will have their leaves and there will be a million shades of green,” Seth said softly.

Jennifer studied her new husband. “That was beautiful, Seth. Most men wouldn’t notice all the shades of green.”

“When you’re alone for a long time, you start to notice things that you wouldn’t otherwise.”

Jennifer shook her head. “I’m sure there are a lot of men that could be alone forever and wouldn’t notice the color of the leaves at all.”

Seth stared into Jennifer’s eyes. “Perhaps you’re right,” he admitted softly.

“And that’s just part of what makes you so special, Seth Harris. I am such a lucky woman.”

“I’m glad you still think so,” Seth said as he gave Jennifer’s hand a little squeeze. “This has been a wonderful two weeks.”

“It’s not over yet,” Jennifer told him. “We still have a couple more days.”

“And what would you like to do to fill those days?”

“Don’t we see the time share people this afternoon?”

“Yes, we do, at two.”

“I think buying into the time share will be perfect. We’ll be able to come here and have our honeymoon over and over again,” Jennifer said with a big smile. She sipped her coffee having enjoyed the late breakfast they had just finished.

“I’m pleased you think our honeymoon is worth repeating.”

“Of course it is, silly,” Jennifer chuckled. “It has been perfect; I hope you know that.”

“Hm, perfection is hard to live up to.”

“Not for you, Mr. Harris. This bracelet is just one of the ways that you have made it perfect.” Jennifer played with the gold bracelet that she had not taken off since Seth had bought it for her. “I love it.”

“I’m glad you do,” Seth said with a smile. “I love you so much, Jennifer.”

The seriousness in Seth’s tone made Jennifer look into his eyes again. “If I didn’t already know that with every fiber of my being, everything you’ve done here in Aruba would certainly have convinced me.”

“Then my work here is done,” Seth laughed, pushing back his chair.

“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?” Jennifer asked standing up too.

“You do realize that I will not be this romantic everyday, when we get back home.”

“You won’t?” Jennifer asked with mock horror. “I’ve totally come to expect it.”

“Well, Mrs. Harris, we may have a rocky road ahead then,” Seth said shaking his head.

“I’ll settle for romantic a few times a month,” Jennifer advised him.

“You’re way too easy to please.”

“It’s one of my better qualities,” Jennifer laughed as they walked out of the restaurant.

“You have many, many fine qualities, and I don’t want you to ever forget that.”

“Thank you, kind sir, I will try to remember that.”

“What would you like to do with this beautiful morning?” Seth asked, as they entered the lobby of the hotel.

“This beautiful morning is mostly gone.”

“True, but we can still fit something in.”

“I vote for lying on the beach.”

“Sounds good,” Seth said, but I need to go talk to the concierge for a minute.”

“You do? What about?”

“It’s a surprise.”

Jennifer smiled. “I’ve grown to love your surprises.”

“Then I’ll have to keep you guessing.”

Jennifer chuckled and smiled at her husband. “I’m so glad I found you, darling man.”

“And I still can’t believe I found you.”

“Enough,” Jennifer declared, “or I’m going to need another nap.” She winked at her husband.

Seth laughed heartily. “Why don’t you go put on your swimsuit and I’ll have a quick word with the concierge and meet you in our room.”

“Okay, but don’t be too long.”

“I won’t,” Seth replied as he watched her walk over to the elevator to go up to their room. When she stepped into the car, he hurried over to the concierge desk to get some advice on the best restaurant for a romantic candlelit dinner.

 

*****
 

“So Molly, Owen and the baby are back home?” Debbie asked Brian on her regularly scheduled ‘call-in.’

As promised, Debbie and Carl called Brian daily to regale them with their day’s events. Brian didn’t give a rat’s ass about what the Winnebago traveling duo were up to or how many gold plated toilets there were in Graceland. Brian just wanted to be reassured that his ‘Maw and Paw’ were safe.

Molly and her family had gone back home. Brian decided to spend the day at Kinnetik.

“Yes, thank the gods! My house is my own again. Any longer and I would have needed a vacation or a move back to the loft.”

“I know you, kiddo, you loved every minute of it. But is Molly feeling any better about the whole breast versus bottle thing?”

“Fuck, Deb, no more about tits, okay? The only nipples I want to know about are Justin’s. Now, what’s this I hear about you coming home? The whole purpose of getting that mansion on wheels is for you and the big guy to tour this vast country of ours in style and comfort. You’ve been gone for what, two minutes? And already you’re driving back?”

“You sound angry, kiddo.”

“What gives you that impression?” Brian asked as he scowled at the phone.

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe the fact that I need gloves to hold the phone and the temperature outside reads 72.”

“Maw...”

“Sweetheart, I miss my family,” Debbie whined.

“And we miss you but that doesn’t mean you have to cut your vacation short. We’re all fine here. Your daily phone calls help.”

“About that. These cell phones you bought us, just what kind of plan did you get?” Debbie asked suspiciously.

“The type that allows the Earth Mother of Liberty to call any one of her children at any time of the day. That plan. Are you going to argue with me about that too?”

“No, honey.” Debbie could hear the determination in Brian’s voice. She also knew there was no arguing with Brian Kinney. He was a rock once his mind was made up.

“Where are you?” Brian asked after a moment. His voice had softened a bit.

“Just outside of Chicago. Carl has a friend out here who just retired from the force. They’re at the local cop bar exchanging war stories.”

“He left you all alone?” Brian’s eyebrows had risen into his hairline.

“Yes, honey, and I can take care of myself. But my Carl arranged for me to spend the day at a spa.”

“Getting your wig re-strung?” Brian snarked.

“As a matter of fact, I just got me a new one!” Debbie answered proudly and they both laughed.

“I love you, Maw. And I do miss you but I want you and your old man to do the things you never got to do. Please, Deb, it’s important to me.” Brian couldn’t help the hitch in his voice.

“All right, kiddo. I’ll let my old man know about the change of plans. Who knows, maybe we’ll make a right turn somewhere and visit the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone before it blows up.”

“You do that, Maw. Just remember, no accepting used picnic baskets from bears wearing a hat and a tie, and call me every day. I live vicariously through you.”

“Huh, that’s what we all said about you! And since when did you get so good at using guilt? I love you, sweetheart.”

“I learned from the master. Love you too, Deb.” Brian was wearing a smile when he cut the connection. Then he immediately hit number two on his speed dial.

“Hey, Bri!”

“Hey, Mikey, mission accomplished.”

“Used the voice on her?”

“Yup!”

“And it worked?”

“Big time.”

“So where are they going to now?”

“Deb mentioned something about the Grand Canyon.”

“Wow, that’s deep!” Michael made a feeble attempt at a joke.

“And that sucked, Mikey.” Brian was about to go on when a loud disturbance in the outer office got his attention. “Um, I gotta go, Mikey. Later.”

“Later, Bri.”

“I know he’s in there. YOU CAN’T HIDE FROM ME, BRIAN KINNEY!”

Emmett cut through Kinnetik like a linebacker. Drew was hot on his heels trying to calm the man down, but Emmett wasn’t having any of it. Even Ted got sidelined in the melee.

“Now, Emm, remember he’s your friend and neighbor,” Teddy stammered trying to get in front of his incensed friend to protect his boss and friend.

“Teddy, honey, if you know what’s good for you, you will step aside. I don’t want you to get hurt,” Emmett said calmly.

“Baby, there’s no need for violence,” Drew began but was cut off by his lover’s raised hand.

Brian steeled himself for the worst as Emmett, wearing a hot pink and fuchsia angora sleeveless sweater, barged into his office.

“There you are you, you...” Emmett pushed the ad exec back from his desk. Grabbing Brian by his Armani lapels, Emmett lifted him out of his chair, hugged him close then planted a big wet kiss on Brian’s lips with just a hint of tongue for effect. Then gently lowering the stunned businessman back into his chair, Emmett thanked Brian profusely while smoothing down any wrinkles before exiting the office. Drew thought it wise to quietly follow his vision in pink. They were on their way to the airport to catch the plane that would take them to meet their cruise ship.

Ted and Cynthia very wisely left Brian’s office to retire to the privacy of their own respective offices before laughing their asses off.

Brian sat back, desperate to regain control as he spent the rest of the afternoon spitting out pink angora.

 

*****
 

“Deb, this is Chuck, my first partner before he moved out here, and his wife Denise.” Carl and Debbie had met up with Carl’s friend at the local steakhouse to enjoy dinner and continue to catch up on old times. The men decided to take their wives with them. Carl was making the introductions just outside the restaurant.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Debbie said as she shook hands. “Hope this place is good. I’m in the mood for a nice thick hunk of meat,” Debbie quipped. Carl tried not to chuckle at Debbie’s turn of phrase. After years of working at the diner, Debbie couldn’t help the sexual innuendos. It was second nature to her. And while Carl still had a tendency to talk like a cop, after years of managing Babylon, he was quite used to hearing sexual innuendo.

“This restaurant comes highly recommended,” Denise stated genteelly.

“Shall we go in?” Chuck asked as he held the door for his wife and friends.

 

*****
 

“So let me get this straight, this Kinney character was responsible for the downfall of Stockwell and then later when you retired, you went to work for him?” Chuck asked, rather dumbstruck at the idea. Chuck wasn’t really homophobic but he was very conservative. His wife was looking rather bilious.

“You work in a gay restaurant?” Denise asked, addressing Debbie. “And what do you serve at a gay restaurant?” Denise whispered.

“It’s a diner and it’s not gay, just the clientele. And we serve what any other diner in this country serves. But I try to push the greens and keep the protein on the plates. We already have enough fruit and nuts to go around.” Debbie and Carl cracked up.

Seeing a bit of disapproval in their hosts’ eyes, Debbie and Carl calmed down. Carl waved over the waiter to order another round of drinks.

“Would you like to see pictures of our kids and grandchildren?” Debbie asked as a peace offering. Denise smiled and immediately went for her purse that was stuffed with her own family’s pictures. “But before I take them out, you have to understand. My son is gay as are the majority of our whole extended family. If this offends you then I’ll say good night now and take my steak to go.”

Carl patted Debbie’s hand as a show of support.

“Debbie, Carl, I’m not offended but you must understand that I come from a very conservative family, and although Chuck was exposed to many lifestyles in the city, I was not. But children are children. I’d be very happy to see photos of your family and proud to show you ours,” Denise explained. Chuck nodded in agreement.

Carl smiled at his wife.

Debbie and Denise got better acquainted over the ribeye and their family photos.

“You’re telling me that this handsome man is gay?” Denise asked as she looked at a picture of Brian holding baby Gus. Deb then slid over a picture of Brian holding baby Bree. “Oh my, he only gets better with age, doesn’t he?” Denise noted the date stamp in the corner of the photo.

Chuck was doing his best not to show jealousy. “Not to worry, Chuck,” Carl reassured the man. “Brian Kinney gets that reaction from men and women everywhere. You get used to it.”

“I don’t know how you did it, Carl. I don’t think I could have put up with it for all those years.”

“I had no choice. I love my Debbie and she loves her family.”

“But aren’t you confused with all the different relationships?” Denise asked. She was having trouble getting the couples and their kids straight.

“Not really,” Debbie answered then rearranged the photos to show each couple. She even had a photo of Molly, Owen and Taylor.

“This young man…” Denise pointed to the picture of Justin. “Where have I seen him before?”

“This is Justin Taylor; he’s an artist,” Carl explained. “Maybe you saw his ‘Old Masters’ show. I believe it’s still here.”

“That’s it. Chuck and I went to a private viewing. The proceeds were for the Policemen’s Benevolent Fund. He was such a sweet young man.”

“Yes, he is and a little spitfire too.” Debbie and Carl then began to tell some of their own Brian and Justin stories.

 

*****
 

Later that night Brian and Justin were cuddling on their sofa in the living room. Briana was safely tucked in her bed. The cottage was quiet. And it was still cool enough at night to allow for a small fire. They were each sipping a brandy, warmed by the fine liquor, the fire and by their love.

“So Deb and Carl decided to keep traveling?”

“Yes.”

“How did you manage to convince her?” Justin turned in Brian’s arms to kiss Brian’s lips. Brian tasted of brandy, the roasted veal they had for dinner, the cherries they had for dessert and his own unique taste that Justin craved.

“Just used the same technique Debbie and Michael used on me over the years,” Brian replied, taking the glasses out of their hands so he could properly kiss and grope his lover.

“Guilt?” Justin chuckled against Brian’s lips.

“Yes.”

“I want you,” Justin purred as he ground his groin into Brian’s. Justin ran his fingers through Brian’s lush hair. “What’s this?” Justin murmured as he pulled a bit of pink fuzz out of Brian’s hair. Brian turned a lovely shade of red.

“Brian?” Justin asked pushing himself up so that he could see his mate’s face. “Got something you’d like to tell me?” Justin smiled smugly as he waited. Little did Brian know that Ted had spilled the beans hours before. “Bri, is this pink angora?” Justin teased.

It only took a second for Brian to realize that Justin was yanking his chain. It took only minutes more for Justin to be stripped, playfully spanked then expertly sucked off.

After a while Brian wriggled himself out from under Justin who had fallen asleep. He brought Justin a pair of sleep pants, scooting them up his gently snoring spouse. Brian turned off all the lights then snuggled back down next to Justin, throwing an afghan over them.

The lovers peacefully slept in their quiet cottage.

 

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