The Letters

Chapter 7 (March-April)
 

 



May 5, 2022

Most Reverend Colm O’Hara
Bishop of St Anthony’s RC Church
Pittsburgh, PA

Your Excellency,

I’m pleased you enjoyed the pictures I sent. And yes, perhaps I did go a little overboard taking so many pictures, but sometimes I feel I must make up for all the time I spent sequestered by the church. I have no regrets regarding the priesthood. On the contrary, my time spent with the church has increased my appreciation for the secular world with all its complexities. But I’ve grown to realize how sheltered I’ve been. Just the simple act of shopping for clothes or buying groceries almost seems monumental.

The remainder of March passed quietly although the weather has been harsh. Very wet; no matter how much I try, I can’t seem to shake the damp. I think it must be me because my fellow lane neighbors don’t appear to be affected. Brian is outside daily in his garden or in the greenhouse. I believe I sent you pictures of the koi pond and indoor waterfall. I help out as much as Brian allows me to. I don’t think he’s opposed to help but he finds toiling in the earth cathartic. He certainly reaps the rewards of his labors, his gardens are magnificent.

On a side note, the lane has a new member, a dog named Lucie. She’s a pure shepherd with a lovely cream colored coat. It seems that John is serious about mating Beau so he brought Lady Lucie home to the lane to become acclimated to her surroundings and the family. He figures that nature will take its course and when the time is right, Beau will be the leader of his own pack.

Before I close, I must tell how privileged I was to attend a birthday dinner for a very special little girl, namely one Briana Victoria Kinney-Taylor...

With respect,

Thomas
 

*****
 

“Hi, Dada,” Bree greeted Brian as he walked into the cottage. Brian had spent the day in Harrisburg at Part Deux. He figured that since he had made a pest of himself in New York visiting N’rgy that it was time he shared his wisdom in Harrisburg. It was a long but productive day and all Brian wanted to do now was to take off his Prada boots and change into comfortable clothes.

“Hi, Squirt,” Brian said as he pecked the strawberry blond head on his way to the bedroom to change.

“Can we talk, Dada?”

“Sure. Can it wait until I’ve changed?” Brian asked but he got a not very enthusiastic nod in return. “Okay, what’s so important that it can’t wait for five minutes?” Brian asked as he plopped himself into the nearest chair with a sigh.

“I love you,” Bree said in a tiny voice.

“Bree, I have no doubt that you love me but I’m tired and I want to get out of this suit so get to the point,” Brian snapped. He wasn’t in the mood for games. Bree gave him a hurt look. Brian sighed, dropped his overcoat, keys and briefcase on the floor then pulled the child into his arms.

“I’m sorry I snapped at you but you’re almost ten, a pre-teen, there’s no need for baby talk. You handled yourself in a businesslike manner last summer when you worked at Kinnetik. There’s no reason why you can’t approach me in the same way,” Brian explained.

“I can?” Bree looked at him in astonishment.

“Yes you can. As much as it pains me to say this and even though I’d love it if you were my little girl for the rest of my life, I do expect you to grow up someday,” Brian said as he lifted Bree to sit her on his knee.

“You do?”

“Yes, I do.” Bree buried her face in Brian’s neck.

“I wish I could marry you,” Bree whispered innocently. Brian kissed her cheek as he smiled.

“No, Bree. You’re going to marry a handsome young prince with flaming red hair someday.”

“I am?”

“Yes, you are. Now what did you want to discuss with me?”

“My birthday is coming soon.”

“I know. Do you want a party?”

“Not really,” Bree said. Brian arched a brow. “I kinda do, but remember that place we go to in the city with that nice Mr. Alberto?”

“Pappagano’s, yes, I remember.”

“Can we go there for a grown up dinner? With Uncle John and Uncle Bobby and my Patrick? Is it still okay for me to call Patrick, MY Patrick?” Bree asked with her violet-blues eyes wide open.

“Yes, it’s okay. I don’t think Patrick minds. And I like your idea for a grown up dinner at Pappagano’s. We haven’t been there in a long time. I think Alberto would be honored that you thought of him. Let’s talk it over with your Daddy and uncles at dinnertime, okay?”

“Oh yes, Dada!” Bree was overjoyed as she threw her arms around Brian’s neck then kissed him over and over. Brian returned the kisses then sighed. “You should go change now, Dada.”

“Why thank you, Squirt, what an excellent suggestion,” Brian smirked, gently pushing Bree off his lap and reaching for his stuff on the floor. Bree helped, grabbing Brian’s coat and keys. Brian’s briefcase weighed a ton so Brian took that into his room with Bree following. She put the coat on a chair and his keys on the dresser then silently left the room to allow her father a few minutes of peace.

 

*****
 

“Good evening, Mr. Brian … and family,” Alberto greeted them as the Kinney-Taylor family arrived at Pappagano’s for Bree’s birthday dinner. John and Bobby and Patrick followed close behind along with Father Tom and Todd.

Bree’s birthday dinner had grown in size when she decided that she wanted her Uncle Thomas to come with them, and not spend the evening alone. That, of course, meant that Todd would come too, since Todd and Tom had been spending more and more time together.

“Good to see you, Alberto,” Brian replied shaking the man’s hand.

“I miss seeing you regularly when you spent more time in Pittsburgh,” Alberto said. “Your country estate must hold endless fascination that it keeps you away from us for so much of the time.”

“Endless,” Brian replied with a small smile.

Justin nudged him in the ribs, obviously finding the reference to Edna’s Treasures as a country estate rather entertaining.

“And I understand that this is a special occasion for the young lady,” Alberto continued. “Happy birthday, Miss Briana.”

“Thank you,” Bree said with her Taylor smile, “but my birthday isn’t actually until Sunday.” She spoke in her best grown up voice.

“Well, I’m very pleased that you are spending the evening here.”

“Thank you, Mr. Alberto, I’m happy to be here,” Bree responded formally.

“Let me show you to your table,” Alberto stated. They all followed him to a large round table in a secluded corner of the restaurant. “I hope this meets with your approval,” he continued as he helped Bree get seated.

“It’s very nice,” Bree replied.

“Very nice,” Brian repeated letting Alberto know that he approved too.

“Thank you, your waiter will be over momentarily,” Alberto said as he handed them menus and then headed back to the front door of the restaurant to greet other customers.

“I think the occasion calls for a bottle of wine … or two,” Brian said as he scanned the wine list.

“Can I have a Shirley Temple?” Bree asked.

“Mais certainement, ma cherie,” Brian replied with his best affected French accent. Bree giggled.

“Why are you using a French accent in an Italian restaurant?” Justin asked with a laugh.

“Because I’m planning to order a French wine.”

“Oh.”

“Everybody okay with red?” Brian asked looking specifically at Tom and Todd. They both nodded.

The waiter arrived and Brian ordered his wine.

“What would the young lady like?” the waiter asked looking at Brian.

“She can speak for herself,” Brian said caustically. He didn’t want Bree to be treated like she wasn’t there especially at her birthday celebration.

“Of course, sir,” the waiter replied with his best contrite expression. “What would you like, miss?” he asked, now focusing on Bree.

“I’ll have a Shirley Temple, please,” Bree said promptly.

“Certainly, and you, young man?” This time he directed the question to Patrick. He wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice. His tip would depend on it.

“Coke,” Patrick replied tersely.

“A Coke, please,” John corrected his son.

“Please,” Patrick added, but his look was none too happy.

‘Oh, the rebellious teenage years,’ Brian thought. He could hardly wait until Bree got there. On second thought, he could wait forever. She could stay just the way she was as far as he was concerned.

“I’ll get your drinks while you decide on your meals,” the waiter said before hurrying off.

Justin chuckled softly.

“What?” Brian asked.

“I was just thinking about Michael and Dr. Dave and their first date,” Justin replied.

“He ordered diet Pepsi not Coke,” Brian responded with a twinkle in his eye.

“What about Michael and the chiropractor?” Bobby asked. “Did they come here on their first date?”

“Yes,” Justin said with a laugh. “Michael was so…”

“Naïve?” Brian supplied.

“I was going to say inexperienced, but naïve is probably a better word for it,” Justin agreed with a laugh as he thought about Brian’s descriptions of Michael that night.

“Care to let the rest of us in on the joke?” John asked.

“Michael would not appreciate being called a joke,” Brian said sticking his tongue in his cheek.

“Who’s Dr. Dave, Dada?” Bree asked.

“See what you’ve started,” Brian accused his husband.

“You might as well tell us,” Tom said as he studied the man who had become such a close friend. “We’ll pester you until you can’t stand it.”

“Right!” Bree stated crossing her arms on her chest. “Tell us, Dada. What did Uncle Michael do?”

Brian looked at Justin. Justin got the message. If he told the story then technically Brian wasn’t ratting on his friend. “Okay,” Justin said. “You guys probably know some of the story, but I’ll tell you what Brian has told me. Anybody need the restroom?”

“Why, Uncle Justin?” Patrick asked.

“Because I don’t want to have anyone wetting themselves before I’m done.”

“Daddy!” Bree cried. “Patrick and me are grown up.”

“I wasn’t so much thinking of you and Patrick as some of our older possibly incontinent guests,” Justin said with an evil giggle.

“If this wasn’t such a ritzy place, I’d pelt you with bread,” Bobby threatened reaching for a bun from the basket on the table.

“That was what Michael thought too – how ritzy this place was,” Justin began. He then proceeded to tell them everything Brian had told him about that night, describing as only an artist could how Michael looked when he arrived at Brian’s loft. And then how Brian transformed him with his designer clothes. The group at the table were laughing hysterically when the waiter brought their drinks.

“You made him into a mini you,” John said with a laugh as he took a sip of wine.

Brian raised an eyebrow. He had never thought of it quite that way, but he supposed his brother was right. That was what he had done. “My creation was much cooler than Emmett’s,” Brian said defending his actions on that night so long ago.

“Anything would be,” Todd laughed, “if Michael looked anything like Justin just described him. You should have taken pictures.”

“We tried that one other time,” Brian commented but left it at that even when everyone looked at him to continue.

“Did Dr. Dave like what Uncle Michael looked like?” Bree asked.

“Dr. Dave was smitten,” Brian replied.

“What’s smitten?” Bree asked.

“In lus…” he started to say, but Justin’s hand gave his thigh a sharp squeeze under the table. “In love,” Brian amended.

“Then how come Uncle Michael is with Uncle Ben instead of Dr. Dave?” Bree asked with a frown.

“Um, a lot of things happened, sweetheart,” Justin said before Brian could make some snarky response. “They decided to go their separate ways.”

“Did I ever meet Dr. Dave?” Bree asked.

“Dr. Dave was long gone before you came along, Squirt,” Brian told her.

“I would have liked to see Uncle Michael that night,” Bree commented.

“Me too,” Patrick agreed as he took a drink of his Coke.

“Uncle Michael would not appreciate us bringing this up,” Brian cautioned. “I think what happens at Pappagano’s better stay at Pappagano’s.”

Everyone nodded understanding what Brian was telling them.

“Let’s order,” Justin said.

 

*****
 

After being pampered and fawned over by Alberto and the wait staff at Pappagano’s, the birthday celebrants went their separate ways, at least for the present. Brian knew there would be hell to pay if the celebration didn’t include the Pittsburgh family. So Brian, the ultimate organizer, arranged to have one of the party rooms at the Plaza set up for brunch the next day. Emmett was brought in to consult with the Plaza to cater the event. Brian had rooms arranged for John, Bobby and Patrick and a suite for Tom and Todd. Most of the Pittsburgh family would be attending the brunch.

“Do you think he’ll attend,” Justin asked as he climbed the steps into the loft bedroom. Bree was safely nestled on the futon cushion in the alcove. She was asleep as soon as her head hit the soft downy pillows Brian carefully cocooned her in.

“I don’t know,” Brian commented as he stepped out from the bathroom with a towel draped around his waist. Justin was temporarily awestruck at the sight of his ageless spouse. He was also suddenly struck by how little times had changed and by how much it had changed.

“Like what you see, Sunshine?” Brian asked with a smirk as he sauntered closer to the bed.

“You know I do,” Justin confessed without reservation, a coy smile on his lips. Brian opened his arms and Justin was instantly enveloped.

“She’s ten; we have a ten year old daughter,” Justin murmured from the safety of Brian’s arms.

“Yes we do. We also have a twenty-two year old son who’s about to take on the world,” Brian added. He felt Justin nod against his chest. “He called and will call her tomorrow and on her birthday,” Brian stated, answering any of Justin’s unspoken questions.

“Mid-terms?” Justin assumed.

“Yes. Bad timing but he’s spending Spring break with her.” Justin nodded again. Then addressing Justin’s first concern Brian continued. “I called his office and spoke with him,” Brian said. Justin pushed back off of Brian’s chest so he could look up into Brian’s eyes. “I told him that if he was a real man he and Susan will be at brunch.”

“What did he say?” Justin whispered, his eyes conveying worry and disappointment to Brian.

“He said he and Susan would be happy to attend.”

“You’re not shitting me, are you?”

“I wouldn’t do that to you, Sunshine. I don’t honestly believe that Craig will ever do a 180 like old Joanie but there was something in his voice. Something that makes me think that as Bree gets older, Craig will be more involved in her life.”

Justin mumbled to himself that if Craig wasted any more time, he’d be too senile to spend time with Bree. Justin pushed away from Brian and began to shed his clothes. He disappeared into the bathroom and after several seconds Brian heard the shower go on. Brian stared at the bathroom for a moment then threw on sleep pants. He returned his towel to the bathroom then turned down the bed and waited for Justin.

“You all right?” Brian asked as Justin eventually came out of the bathroom, a towel around his waist and one in his hands scrubbing his blond mane dry.

“Yeah,” Justin replied. He rooted around in his overnight bag for his own sleep pants then dropped his towels so he could crawl under the blankets and snuggle next to Brian.

“What do you have against hanging up the towels in the bathroom?” Brian asked with a snort.

“Who else is attending this brunch of yours?” Justin replied with a question, ignoring everything else.

“Your mother and Seth of course,” Brian replied ignoring the fact that his query was being ignored and that the towels were still on the floor.

“Of course.”

“Debbie, Carl and the rest of the Pittsburgh horde including the Sarah Kingsley and her bunch of snobs.”

“Pot, kettle,” Justin pronounced with a poke to Brian’s ribs. “Who else?”

“The guys and Lindsay, JR, Candy and Cynthia. Some of Kinnetik’s clients that had the pleasure of meeting Miss Briana Victoria Kinney-Taylor last summer wish to pay their respects,” Brian proudly stated.

“Really?” Justin leaned back to search Brian’s eyes.

“Really,” Brian said as he pecked Justin’s nose.

“Wow.”

“Miss Bree has quite a following. They even want her around when it’s time to renew contracts. Both Cynthia and Ted find it very amusing.”

“You do realize that Gus is going to have to fight Bree for control of Kinnetik,” Justin commented.

“I don’t think so. Gus has a flare toward the creative aspects of the business. I have no doubt he can handle the business end of things, but he has a vision of what the finished ad should look like almost before the client does. Bree reminds me of Cynthia, cutting her way through the business bullshit.”

“Uh uh. Bree’s all you. A shark, or shark hunter, ready to reel in the tough clients. They’ll make a formidable team.”

“Let’s wait until Bree’s out of high school before you partner her up with Gus and push me out of a job,” Brian groused making Justin chuckle.

“Like you’re so scared,” Justin said as he snuggled closer. “And Sunday?”

“A nice family dinner with lane and Bridgeton consortium,” Brian answered.

“And Bree’s cool with that? I thought she’d want a party.”

“Ashley and her mother will be there as well as Cindy and Michelle. It’ll be a party.”

“Good,” Justin said with a yawn.

Brian pecked the top of Justin’s hair, inhaling the clean scent. “Sleep. We have a busy couple of days ahead of us.”

“No hot loft sex?” Justin asked already falling asleep.

“Next time, when I’m sure you’re not going to snore through it. Been there, done that,” Brian said with amusement recalling the memory.

“Mmm,” Justin mumbled, reaffirming Brian’s suspicions. Brian tucked the duvet around his partner then followed him into sleep.

 

*****
 

“What a weekend,” Todd exclaimed when he and Tom strode into the B&B Sunday night after the birthday dinner. “Were we this busy in New York?”

“I don’t think so,” Tom said as he stood just inside the door decompressing.

“Just how large is this family? And who was the pretty dark haired young woman at the brunch yesterday with Lacy, and what kind of name is Lacy?” Todd was very perplexed. Tom burst out laughing finding Todd’s expression endearing.

“Come on,” Tom said as he stuck out his hand toward Todd. “Let me see if I can fill in the gaps,” Tom said as Todd took his hand and allowed himself to be led into the kitchen for tea and a history lesson on Brian and Justin 101.
 

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