Little Girls and Puppy Dog Tales
 

Chapter 4
 

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

Celeste gasped as Sam stared at Jennifer. Bobby scurried back up the lane toward his cottage to meet Rachel and George. The three slipped back into the conjoined cottages without being observed.

“What? Did I spill something on my blouse?” Jennifer teased as she held out her hand.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, how rude of me,” Celeste said as she took Jennifer’s hand to shake. Sam shook Jennifer’s hand when Celeste finally released it. “It’s just that...”

“What she’s trying to say is, are you related to someone named Stephanie?” Sam asked with directness.

“No. No Stephanie’s in my family. Why?”

“You look like my mother,” Celeste whispered. Jennifer smiled, a smile that was becoming all too familiar on the lane.

“Then I’ll take that as a compliment. And this is my daughter, Molly. She and I are having a quiet mother-daughter weekend without the boys,” Jennifer laughed. “And believe me, my little grandson, Taylor, is a handful. We’ve only been here for a few hours and we’ve already gotten several SOS phone calls.” Both Jenn and Molly laughed.

“You look so much like my sister!” Celeste exclaimed as she took Molly’s hand.

“I’ve been looking forward to meeting you,” Molly said as she led them up the flowered path to the glass door entrance to her getaway cottage.

“You people sure do use a lot of glass,” Sam commented as they approached the front door.

“It would appear so,” Jennifer agreed. “But what good is it being out here in all of this if you can’t see it?” Jenn said as she waved her hands toward the general environment.

“Ignore him, he’s in cop mode,” Celeste teased as she smiled prettily at her husband. She was feeling at ease with Jennifer and Molly and was happy that Briana had such wonderful women in her life.

Sam and Celeste followed them into the small cottage.

“May I offer you some coffee or tea?” Molly asked.

“I’m fine,” Celeste said as she looked around. “This is beautiful,” she commented about the mural on the wall.

“My brother painted it,” Molly proudly informed her. “And Brian designed the garden,” she said with a mischievous smile.

“This Brian has his hands in a lot of dirt,” Sam snorted making the women laugh.

“His brother designed and built this cottage,” Jennifer added. “He’s quite the builder, our John. Or should I say Dr. John.”

“Doctor? What type of doctor?” Celeste asked as she examined a collection of family photos. “I’m a doctor.”

“My wife is being modest,” Sam said with pride. “She’s a fertility specialist.” Sam smiled lovingly at Celeste as he slipped his arm around her shoulders. “She’s helped a lot of couples have children.”

“John’s not a medical doctor,” Molly explained. “He got his doctorate in architecture not too long ago.”

“We call him the doctor of cottages,” Jennifer said. “He’s a wonderful man. He’s so steady, with a great deal of common sense, not to mention smart and...”

“Hot!” Jennifer and Molly said at the same time then giggled like schoolgirls.

“This lane seems to be overrun with hot men.” Celeste gave Sam a pat but she was also thinking of Justin and Bobby. Both were extremely handsome men. She began to laugh as Jennifer and Molly’s giggles became infectious. Sam rolled his eyes as the ladies attempted to get themselves under control.

“How about some iced tea?” Molly offered Sam a glass.

“Sure. Do you mind if I look around?” Sam asked as he wandered the small cottage. “If you don’t mind me saying, this is rather small.”

“I don’t mind, and you’re right. I wanted a small cottage where we could get away without being surrounded by family. I have a very large extended family,” Molly explained.

“Very large,” Jennifer agreed. “And we seem to keep on growing all the time.”

“What do you mean?” Celeste asked.

“We have a habit of adding to our family. Or I should say, Brian has a habit of finding strays and allowing our family to grow.”

“Allowing?” Sam grumbled.

“Allowing may be the wrong word. Brian has always been very protective of those he loves and values. In subtle ways Brian encourages each and every one he meets to strive for their full potential even if he suffers the fallout. He has a reputation of being a heartless asshole. I know he enjoys cultivating that reputation but anyone who really gets to know him, they soon find out he’s just the opposite. When I first met him he swore he’d never love, he’d never be in a relationship, never be monogamous and yet he’s all of those things. Brian Kinney loves deeply. Has been in a loving, relationship for over twenty years and as far as I know, hasn’t broken his vows to my son. And he loves his children,” Jennifer stated.

“Plus, he’s one of the sexiest men alive,” Molly added with a wink.

“I do recall he is quite handsome,” Celeste agreed. Sam narrowed his eyes a bit but said nothing. “You have children?” Celeste asked quickly changing the subject.

“One, Taylor, a boy, a very precocious boy,” Molly stated.

“Planning on more?”

“I’m not sure. I think I’d like another one but if I’m going to be honest about it, Taylor is more than just a handful. I’m not sure if I’d have the patience for another like him,” Molly said with a sigh.

“Sweetheart, don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re wonderful with him,” Jennifer said encouragingly. “Not every child can be like Bree,” Jennifer chuckled.

“True,” Molly said.

“Briana must be something special,” Celeste said.

“She is,” Jenn and Molly said at the same time.

“You call her Bree. Does she prefer that to Briana?” Celeste asked.

“It depends on who you are,” Jenn replied. “Believe me, she’ll let you know if you’re one of the privileged few that can call her Bree.”

“Her clients call her Miss Briana or Ms. Kinney-Taylor,” Molly informed them with a twinkle in her eyes.

“Her clients?” Sam growled out. “Just who are you people?” Sam closed in on the women.

“Easy there, killer,” Jennifer said as she stepped up to the man, unimpressed. This was the woman who stood up to homophobes and Stockwell. An indignant cop was no match for her.

“Aside from Taylor, Bree is the youngest of the family’s children. About a year ago, Bree’s half sister graduated from high school and decided to work in her father’s comic book store. JR is a very astute businesswoman. Bree’s older brother Gus goes to Penn and during the summers, he’s been interning at Kinnetik for years. Patrick, John and Bobby’s son, has been tagging along with John learning his business. I think he wants to be a builder one day.”

“Kinnetik?” Sam asked.

“Brian’s advertising agency,” Molly explained. “He has several branches in the U.S. and one in London. Bree was jealous that all the kids in the family were working and she wasn’t.”

“Bree demanded that her fathers let her work,” Jennifer picked up the conversation.

“There are child labor laws, you know,” Sam said as he crossed his arms on his chest.

“When you meet Bree you’ll understand,” Molly said. “She’s as stubborn as my brother,” Molly declared with a sigh.

“And picked up Brian’s bullheadedness too,” Jennifer said.

“Oh Mom, Brian’s not bullheaded, just driven. I work for Brian as a linguist. But she’s right, almost from her infancy, Bree went to work with Brian. I was told he ran many campaigns with her in a carrier on his back.”

“Bree has almost as many designer clothes as Brian does,” Jennifer said.

“And what about these clients of hers?” Sam asked.

“Bree assisted the art department and sat in on many contract negotiations. At first the clients thought it was amusing and just a dad taking his daughter to work for her to see what her father did for a living. But Bree understands a lot more that you think she does. She’s just a mini Brian Kinney,” Molly said with a laugh in her voice.

“She’s also an artist like her daddy,” Jenn added with immense pride. “Not only did she spend time in Kinnetik, Bree has also spent a lot of time at the Bloom Gallery. It was a very busy summer for Bree and the boys.”

“An artist. That explains the card,” Celeste said mostly to herself.

“Did you receive a card with a rainbow on it?” Jennifer asked with a soft smile.

“Yes. A very unusual rainbow,” Celeste confirmed.

“That’s Bree’s trademark. She’s been painting that rainbow ever since the moment she could draw,” Jennifer stated.

“And it is literally her trademark. Kinnetik used it for a small campaign, with Bree’s permission, of course. They had it copyrighted for her,” Molly told them.

“She does sound like a remarkable little girl. I hope we eventually get to meet her,” Celeste said with a sad sigh.

“Did John build the cabin next door?” Sam asked, quickly changing the subject.

“Yes, he did,” Jennifer said. “John and Patrick should be back soon, he’d gladly give you a tour.”

“We couldn’t impose,” Celeste said.

“No imposition. John showcases the cabin when the owners are not on the lane. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind giving you the tour.”

“That would be lovely. Wouldn’t it, Sam?” Celeste asked her spouse whose suspicious mind was still on alert. “How do Briana and Patrick get along?”

“They love each other very much,” Molly said. “Patrick was three when Bree was born. They’re as close as brother and sister and they're friends. He’s very protective of her and she of him. She refers to him as ‘my Patrick’ from time to time.”

“They’re also a bit competitive,” Jennifer added.

“In what way?” Celeste asked.

“Sports. Bree takes after Brian. She loves soccer and has played since she could run. Bobby was into baseball and so is Patrick,” Jennifer explained.

“Wait! Bobby Morrison? I knew that name sounded familiar. He was a pitcher. I played little league as a kid. He was famous around here. Got a scholarship to Penn but he didn’t try out for the majors or the minors as I recall,” Sam said.

“He was injured plus he wanted to be a lawyer which he is,” Jennifer explained. “He’s a partner in a firm in Harrisburg.”

“And he doesn’t mind that his son wants to build things instead of being a lawyer? Although, I don’t blame Patrick,” Sam said with a smirk.

“Yes, that ageless rift between cops and lawyers. Well, Bobby’s more of a corporate lawyer. He helps companies or small agencies that run on charitable donations. So I don’t think you’ll be running into him on a professional level. Besides, Patrick’s got a good pitching arm too. So he builds with John and plays with Bobby. It works,” Jennifer assured Sam.

Just then a large black SUV made its way up the lane.

“I think you’re in luck. That’s John and Patrick now,” Jenn pointed out. “Let’s give them some time to get settled then I’ll introduce you.”

Sam and Celeste agreed and relaxed as Molly and Jennifer showed them pictures of Bree’s extended family.

 

*****
 

“Oops!” Bree exclaimed as she jumped back from the front window of the B&B.

“What?” Brian asked. He had turned his phone back on and was listening to all of Justin’s voicemails. Justin didn’t sound very happy.

“I think Uncle John saw me peeking out of the window,” Bree said as a blush rose on her little face. “Uh oh, he’s coming this way!”

“Shit,” Brian grumbled as John burst through the door.

“Brian, what the hell is going on around here? Do you know how many calls I got from Justin?” John nearly shouted.

“Hey, don’t go getting all big brother on me. Bree’s not ready yet so I’m staying with her until she is,” Brian growled low as he got into John’s face. As the brothers stood toe to toe glaring at each other, Bree silently walked over to them hugging grey bunny close to her.

“I’m sorry, Uncle John. Please don’t be mad at Dada, he’s only doing what I want,” Bree said in a tiny voice. “I really want to meet Miss Celeste but not yet.” Bree looked up at John with bottomless violet blue eyes on the verge of tears.

John sighed then he lifted Bree up into his arms.

“Okay, Princess, we’ll do it your way. But I want you to think about something,” John began. “You invited Miss Celeste here and she did us the honor of accepting your invitation. You should do her the honor of greeting her,” John said sternly but with compassion.

“I will, I promise,” Bree said as she looked down at the floor.

“I know you will,” John said as he hugged her close, kissed the side of her head then put her down. “In the meantime, I’ll go meet our guests and distract them for a little while longer.” John smiled at Bree then gave Brian’s shoulder a little squeeze as he walked out of the B&B.

As John left the B&B cottage he noticed their guests across the road exiting Molly’s little cottage. John sauntered over to greet the attractive couple.

Putting on his friendliest face and one of his sexiest smiles, John met Celeste and Sam. “Hi, I’m John Anderson. Welcome to our lane!”
 

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