Little Girls and Puppy Dog Tales
 

Chapter 6
 

“Hi, hi, hi, I’m Emmett Honeycutt. Sorry to interrupt you.”

“Oh,” Celeste said as she and her husband moved apart. “It’s okay, we’re married,” she joked.

“I don’t often witness such PDA’s,” Emmett said with his toothy grin. “Heterosexual ones anyway,” he added for clarification.

Celeste laughed. “There is a definite gay vibe on the lane.”

“Oh my, yes!” Emmett agreed with a big smile. “I just came in to see if Brian had some herbs still growing. I’m making some savory popovers and I thought some fresh rosemary would be just what they needed.”

“That sounds delicious,” Celeste replied. “I’m Celeste Watson and this is my husband Sam.”

“Of course,” Emmett said shaking hands. “I knew you were coming today.”

“Everyone seems to know all about us.”

“Not so much. We just know what you did for Brian and Justin. Having a child if you’re a gay couple isn’t always easy,” Emmett said as his face sobered.

“Do you have a child … or do you want one?” Celeste asked. “Oh, maybe I shouldn’t ask.”

“It’s fine. Drew and I have a son, Richie. We adopted him a few years ago.”

“Drew? Is that your husband?” Celeste asked. Sam made a bit of a face when the term husband was used.

“Yes,” Emmett said watching Sam’s reaction. “He’s Drew Boyd. He was a football player and now he broadcasts for the Ironmen. Perhaps you’ve heard of him.” Emmett looked directly at Sam as he said this.

“Wow, Drew Boyd!” Sam said, his demeanor changing. “Is he here? I’d love to meet him.”

“I think that could be arranged,” Emmett said, “but I still need that rosemary.”

“I’ll help you collect it,” Celeste offered. “I saw some over there.”

She stood up and was about to go with Emmett when John returned. “Sorry,” he said. “It seems like Bree isn’t quite ready yet … but I think she’s getting there.”

Celeste sighed heavily.

Emmett immediately took in the situation, and he realized that Bree was stalling. And it looked like Celeste was tired of waiting. “Um, would you like to come to my cottage and try one of my popovers? They don’t take long to cook,” he offered, “and they’re delicious hot out of the oven. Oh, and Drewsie is there. I’m sure he’d love to meet you … both.”

“I’d like that,” Sam said without pause.

Emmett gave him a token smile and went with Celeste to get the rosemary. John looked at Sam who was watching his wife.

“Is everything all right?” John asked.

“Celeste is upset that Briana doesn’t seem to want to meet her.”

“I can hardly blame her,” John admitted. “It’s not like Bree to be afraid. She’s a very brave little girl.”

“Brave?”

“Yes, she’s stood up to bullies and conducts herself like a mini adult.”

Sam shook his head. “I guess they’re both worried about this meeting.”

“Yeah, who knows which way it will go? They could love each other or hate each other. I’m not sure which would be worse.”

Sam chuckled. “That was the conversation we were having while you were making your call.” John smiled and clapped Sam on the back. “Is he really married to Drew Boyd?” Sam asked.

“Emmett? Yes, they’ve been together for years.”

“And they have a son?”

“Richie. They adopted him a few years ago. His parents didn’t want him.”

“Didn’t want him?” Sam asked in surprise.

“It’s a long story, but that’s Drew and Emmett’s story to tell, not mine. Let’s find your wife.”

They walked through the greenhouse and saw Celeste clipping rosemary.

Emmett was instructing her. “So, I love fresh herbs in almost anything I make. They add so much flavor. I have a little greenhouse of my own, but I’ve used up all my herbs because I usually shut it down over the winter.”

“That’s too bad.”

“I’m only here on and off, so if I need some herbs I just pop over here and steal some of Brian’s.”

“So that’s where our herbs go,” John said with a glare.

“Oh pshaw, you know I always help myself,” Emmett responded.

“In more ways than one,” John observed.

Emmett made a face but then grinned taking no offence. “Let’s get this rosemary into my batter before it’s ruined,” he said.

They all trooped out of the greenhouse heading to Emmett’s little cottage.

 

*****
 

“Sam’s really enjoying himself with Drew,” Celeste said as Emmett finished scooping his batter into the muffin tins. “He loves talking sports and I know absolutely nothing about sports,” Celeste said with a chuckle. She could hear her husband and Drew in the living room talking about the Superbowl and who looked good for the current season.

“That makes two of us,” Emmett admitted as he scooped off the last of the batter from his spoon. He leveled out the popovers which were just about ready for the oven.

“You don’t like sports?”

“Not much, but I of course love that Drew is such a hunky football player.” Emmett grinned as he thought about Drew’s muscles and overall physique. “I followed his career in football when he was playing, but I’m much happier now that he’s in broadcasting and not getting the crap knocked out of him on the football field.”

Celeste laughed. “How did you two ever get together?”

“You know, I’m sure lots of people wonder about that.” Emmett popped the popovers in the oven.

“The two of you are so different.”

“Hm, maybe just a tad,” Emmett joked. “I actually met Drew while I was planning his engagement party to a … woman?”

“What?” Celeste asked almost choking on the sip of coffee she was taking.

“Yeah,” Emmett said with a funny look on his face. “Drew hadn’t yet figured out that he was gay, correction, he wasn’t ready to admit that he was gay.”

“So you helped him?”

“We had a secret affair for a while until I realized that Drew had no intention of ever acknowledging me publicly. I ended it.”

“Just like that?”

“It hurt like hell, but it forced Drew to make a decision.”

“And he chose you?”

“Not exactly, I sent him away to sow some wild oats first, but he came back to me. I like to think we’re meant to be together.”

“Sounds to me like you are,” Celeste said with a smile.

“But enough about me. Surely you want to know about Bree?”

“I’d like to meet her,” Celeste replied pointedly.

“I’m sure that will happen soon.”

“John said that Briana is a brave girl, but … she seems afraid of me,” Celeste informed him. She looked hurt and worried and a bit afraid herself.

“You should ask her about school when you meet her,” Emmett suggested hoping to direct the conversation into a more positive vein.

“Is she a good student?”

“Oh my, yes! She’s in a gifted program. That was a big decision for her. I like to think I helped her make the right choice about that. She didn’t want to leave her friend Ashley who wasn’t going into the gifted program.”

“She’s loyal?”

“Very. And brave. She met Ashley when the little girl was being bullied. Bree told the bullies to leave Ashley alone or she’d kick their asses, and she meant it too. They went away even though Bree is very petite. She has a very strong personality. She and Ashley have been best friends ever since.”

Celeste smiled. “It’s so important to have that one good friend.”

“Yes, it is. Let’s see how those popovers are doing.”

 

*****
 

Brian and Bree were sitting on the big rock tossing pebbles into the stream. They had been silent and had simply tossed the stones for quite a while.

“Bree, I think it’s time to decide what you want to do about Celeste,” Brian finally said.

“I know, Dada.”

“Have you figured out why you wanted to come here?”

“Yes.”

“Care to share?” Brian asked.

“You told me I was baptized here. I don’t really remember that, but I sort of remember a big day happening here. It’s a special place. And if you need to think about something, it’s a good thinking place.”

Brian chuckled. “Yes, it is a very good thinking place.”

“’Member when Beau wouldn’t let me come down here when I was little?”

“Yes, you were so mad at him.”

“He kept knocking me down.”

“He was doing his job – protecting you.”

“I know that now, but I didn’t understand it then.”

“You’re growing up.”

“Yeah.” Bree stopped talking and looked very pensive.

“Are you thinking?” Brian asked after a bit.

“I’m deciding. I think I almost know what I want to do.”

Brian sighed and sat back on the big rock. He studied his daughter wondering what her decision would be. Then it hit him.

“It’s okay if you like Celeste when you meet her,” he said softly.

Bree opened her mouth to speak, but then changed her mind. She frowned. “Are you sure, Dada?” she asked.

“I’m sure, and Daddy will be fine with it too.”

“Thanks.”

Brian waited. This was still Bree’s decision.

 

*****
 

“Mmmmm, these are beyond delicious,” Celeste said as she took the last bite of her popover.

“They just melt in your mouth,” Sam said as he bit off a piece of his second one.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying them.”

Just then a knock was heard on the front door.

“Come in,” Drew called.

Patrick walked into the cottage. “Hi, Auntie Emm, Uncle Drew. I’m Patrick Rowan Morrison-Anderson,” he said to the other two people in the room. “My dad thought you might like to talk to me about Bree.”
 

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