Little Girls and Puppy Dog Tales
 

Chapter 3
 

“Hi!” Bobby said cheerfully. “I’m Bobby Morrison and welcome to Edna’s Treasures.”

“Thanks,” Celeste replied looking at Bobby quizzically.

“I’m Brian and Justin’s brother-in-law.”

“Oh.”

“I’m married to John Anderson, Brian’s half-brother.”

“Oh yes,” Celeste said extending her hand. “Justin told us a little bit about how Brian found John.”

Bobby chuckled as he shook Celeste’s hand. “It’s quite a story.”

“I’m Sam, Celeste’s husband,” Sam said as he stepped forward. He did not extend his hand.

“Nice to meet you,” Bobby said politely, although he got a funny vibe from Celeste’s bulky husband.

“You’re married?” Sam asked.

“Yes, so are many of the same sex couples on the lane,” Bobby explained.

“Is everyone who lives here gay?”

“No … would it matter if they were?” Bobby was starting to get angry.

“It wouldn’t matter at all,” Celeste said stepping closer to her husband. “Would it, Sam?” she asked pointedly.

“No, no, it wouldn’t,” Sam said, his demeanor softening. He held out his hand which Bobby shook immediately. “It’s nice to meet you too,” Sam said.

“Speaking of non-gay couples,” Bobby continued. “My sister Rachel and her husband live in the house up the lane. She asked me to invite you for coffee. She’d love to meet you.”

“Um, that would be lovely,” Celeste agreed.

“I’ll let Bobby take you up there,” Justin explained. “I’ll try to find Brian and Bree.”

“Let’s go,” Bobby said.

They all headed out.

 

*****
 

“Psst! Dada!” Bree whispered loudly.

“You don’t have to whisper. They can’t hear you in here,” Brian replied. He had decided to water his plants in the greenhouse since they were hiding out in there for god knew how long. “What is it, Squirt? Are they coming this way?”

“No, they all went back in the house except for Daddy. He’s using his phone,” Bree reported as she watched her father in the sun porch.

“Don’t let him see you. He’s probably calling me again.” Brian looked at his cell making sure it was turned off.

“He looks mad,” Bree stated. She was peering carefully around a large rhododendron plant.

“I bet he is,” Brian muttered to himself. “He’s going to kill both of us.”

“Should we go tell him what we’re doing?” Bree asked as she walked over to her father.

“Are you ready to meet Celeste?”

Bree shook her head and frowned. “Not yet.”

“Then we better hide out for a little longer. Your daddy will tell me to man up and go meet the lady,” Brian explained.

Bree giggled. “You are a man, Dada.”

“You and I know that, but your Daddy thinks I’m a big wimp. He’s going to make me pay later.” Brian stuck his tongue in his cheek and tried to look frightened.

Bree giggled louder. “You’re silly, Dada.”

“That’s not usually what people call me.”

“Maybe we could make a run for it and get to the B&B,” Bree suggested. “There’s more things to do there than in here.”

“True,” Brian said as he finished watering. “There’s comfortable chairs too.” He stretched his back in anticipation of a soft chair instead of the hard benches in the greenhouse.

“I don’t know where Uncle Bobby and the … people went,” Bree said as she peered out at the sun porch. “Daddy’s still on his phone.”

“Maybe he’s calling in reinforcements,” Brian said. “Time to move.”

“Can we sneak around the house without him seeing us?”

“We’ll give it our best shot.”

Brian took Bree’s hand and they walked to the door. Brian looked out making sure that Justin wasn’t looking their way. They slipped out the door and up against the side of Edna’s Treasures. Carefully they edged along the house, their senses on high alert for potential enemies who might discover them. When they came to the corner, they peered out. In the distance at the top of the lane they could see Bobby and the man and woman going to the front door of Rachel’s house.

“Quick!” Brian ordered.

They ran across the lane and up to the front door of the B&B. They quickly slipped inside before high-fiving each other over having accomplished this next step in their getaway.

“We make good fugitives,” Bree stated with pride.

“What do you know about fugitives, Squirt?”

“I can read.”

Brian chuckled and then smirked at his precocious little daughter.

 

*****
 

Rachel opened the door to her house. She had been waiting for her guests to arrive. “Please come in. I’m so glad to meet you,” she said taking Celeste’s hand. “I’m Bobby’s sister.”

“Lovely to meet you,” Celeste replied.

“I’ve got some coffee brewing. Let’s go into the kitchen.”

They all followed her into the cozy kitchen. Everything was very country in style and had a wonderful homey feel to it.

“This is lovely,” Celeste said as she sat down at the kitchen table.

“Thanks,” Rachel replied as she got mugs out of the cupboard. “Sam, is it?” she asked looking at the burly policeman. “Please have a seat. It’s lovely to meet you too.”

“I confess I feel like a bit of a fifth wheel today,” Sam said as he slumped into his chair.

“Oh, I hope I’m not making you feel that way,” Rachel said with a look of concern. Sam shook his head. This was really the most welcome he had felt, and he was now in the home of heterosexuals like Celeste and himself. “I really wanted to meet Celeste, because we have something very important in common,” Rachel stated.

“We do?” Celeste asked, curious about what Rachel was getting at.

“Yes, I’d love to talk to you about it.”

“Go ahead,” Celeste replied.

Rachel passed the mugs of coffee to everyone. She looked at Bobby and an unspoken message was sent.

“Um, Rachel and George have a lovely backyard,” Bobby said to Sam. “Bring your coffee and I’ll show you around. I think the ladies would like to talk.”

Sam looked at Celeste who nodded silently. Sam shrugged and stood up. “Let’s go,” he said to Bobby.

The two men went out the back door of the house. Rachel sat down at the table with Celeste. She studied the woman before her, not saying anything.

“Care to tell me what this is all about?” Celeste asked. She was starting to feel vaguely uneasy.

“Sorry, I was looking to find something that was a common thread between us.”

“I thought you said we had something very important in common?”

“I did, but I guess I was looking for something … intangible.”

“I’m afraid I don’t understand,” Celeste said uncertainly.

“Many years ago Bobby and his husband John wanted a baby. I was the surrogate for that child.” Rachel waited for Celeste’s reaction. Celeste looked stunned for a moment but then her face lit up with a radiant smile. “I can see Bree in your smile,” Rachel whispered gently.

“So I’ve been told,” Celeste replied taking Rachel’s hand. She squeezed it gently but forcefully at the same time. It was a clear recognition of the bond that they both shared. “Was the baby a boy or a girl?” she asked.

“His name is Patrick and he’s about to turn thirteen. He’s going to enter those terrible teen years. But, don’t get me wrong, he’s a wonderful boy.”

“I’m sure he is. Bobby didn’t introduce me. There seems to be quite a few people missing that I should meet,” Celeste said pointedly.

“Patrick’s at his friend Chet’s today. He’ll be back later this afternoon. I hope you’ll be here when he comes home. Bree’s a little younger than Patrick, but they grew up together. They are wonderful children. We’re all so proud of them.”

“I’d like to meet Briana too. That is why I came here.” Celeste looked mildly irritated.

Rachel smiled but she knew that Celeste had come quite a ways to meet Bree, and the child was not to be found. Rachel was wondering just what was going on that Bree wasn’t there to greet her biological mother when she arrived. “I’m sure Bree will meet you very soon.”

They each took a sip of their coffee.

“What made you do it?” Celeste asked after a minute.

“Do what?” Rachel asked.

“Act as the surrogate for your brother.”

Rachel thought about the question before replying. “I have two children of my own. I knew how much Bobby and John wanted a child. It just felt right.”

“When people need you, we step forward,” Celeste said. “Maybe that’s the bond that we share.”

“Maybe it is,” Rachel said squeezing Celeste’s hand as Celeste had done earlier.

When Sam and Bobby came back inside, they found the two women laughing and talking like old friends. Sam had to admit it was good to see his wife so happy. Some of the tension of coming to the lane had been relieved.

 

*****
 

Bobby led his guests back down the lane. They had all seemed to enjoy their time at Rachel’s house. He would have to thank his sister for her part in this day.

They were almost back to Edna’s Treasures when they met Molly and Jennifer going the opposite way, apparently out for a stroll in the warm Fall sunshine. Both women were well aware that Bree’s biological mother was coming to the lane this day.

“Hello, I’m Jennifer Harris, Justin’s mother. Welcome to Edna’s Treasures Lane.”
 

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