Little Girls and Puppy Dog Tales
 

Chapter 9
 

“Hi, I’m Tom and this is my partner Todd, and you are…?”

Sam paused for a moment as he studied the two men. Finally he stood up. “Sam Watson,” he said extending his hand. Unnoticed by all, Juan scampered into the sun porch behind Tom and Todd.

“Care to join us for dinner?” Brian asked.

“Um, sure,” Tom said. “We didn’t come looking for a free meal,” he added feeling a little sheepish about having interrupted this get together.

“We didn’t think you did,” John said clapping the former priest on the back. “Let’s get some chairs, Todd,” he said as he moved his plate over and left a spot for Tom to sit down. John and Todd pulled up two more chairs and took their places at the table. Justin brought two more plates and cutlery from the kitchen.

Todd noted the two empty places that they had not been asked to fill. One spot was between Brian and Justin and the other beside this new guy Sam. Just then it dawned on Todd. “Where’s Bree?” he asked.

“I’m here, Mr. Todd,” Bree’s little voice said as she entered the sun porch with Celeste. “Hi, Uncle Thomas,” she chimed as she ran over to give the man a big hug.

“How come I’m Mr. Todd and he’s Uncle Thomas?” Todd asked, a little offended that he hadn’t yet achieved uncle status.

“Uncle Thomas was here almost every day for a whole year,” Bree said.

“So, I haven’t been around enough to be your uncle?”

“Yep!” Bree agreed.

Everyone chuckled as Beau gave a woof of agreement, and went over to John to be released from his guard dog duties. John gave the big dog’s ruff a good shake followed by a pat on the head. Beau was headed to his water bowl for a drink when Juan attacked. A quick swat of Beau’s massive paw sent Juan rolling across the floor. Sam leaned over and caught the pup as he regained his feet.

“It’s not a good idea to attack someone bigger than you,” Sam counseled the pup, “especially when it’s your father.”

“Hear that Patrick,” Bobby said, earning a smile from Patrick who was now as tall as his shorter father and a chuckle from everyone else.

“Can we eat now?” Justin asked.

“And the stomach speaks,” Brian retorted.

“Shut up.”

“Yes, sir, of course, sir,” Brian said with a salute.

“Dada, stop picking on Daddy. I’m hungry too,” Bree said as she sat down between her fathers. They each gave her a kiss looking into her eyes for any signs of hurt or concern.

“Did you have a good talk with Miss Celeste?” Justin asked as he began to fill his plate. Bree seemed fine. Everyone else began passing bowls of vegetables and platters of chicken. Brian held each platter for Bree as she filled up her own dish.

“Yes, Daddy, she’s nice,” Bree whispered.

Celeste smiled as she overheard Bree’s comment. “We had a lovely chat. It was great to meet your daughter,” Celeste said to Brian and Justin as she looked each of them right in the eye. “I think it was very brave of you to allow Bree to send that invitation. I told her that I’ve never received anything from the other children I was surrogate for.”

“Is that right?” Brian asked arching a brow. Maybe they hadn’t been so smart about all of this considering that Bree and Celeste seemed to have got along swimmingly.

“Your daughter,” Celeste stressed again, “is a remarkable young lady, very mature for her age.”

“Thank you, Miss Celeste,” Bree replied as she took a big bite of chicken. Patrick winked at her showing his support. She smiled fondly back at him as she chewed her chicken.

“It sounds like you and Bree got along very well,” Sam said as he kissed his wife’s cheek. He was very relieved that she didn’t seem to be at all upset about her time with the little girl. Sam had to admit to himself that this ten year old was something quite special.

“We did,” Celeste agreed. “Are you going to hold that dog all through dinner?” she asked Sam, noting that he still had Juan draped across his knee. The pup seemed content to lie there as long as Sam kept one hand on him. “Shall I cut your chicken for you since you don’t seem to have enough hands available to do it?”

Sam looked sheepish, but he nodded that Celeste should go ahead and cut up the chicken for him. She did so with a chuckle.

“My daddies used to cut up my meat for me,” Bree observed with a smug look totally worthy of one Brian Kinney.

“Briana,” Brian said in a stern tone of voice. He didn’t want any smart alec remarks to upset their guests. He was hoping it would soon be time for them to leave, all on good terms, but gone.

Bree looked at her father and smiled. She sensed the tension in his voice. Intuitively she felt the same way. The meeting with her biological mother had taken place and now it was over. “Sorry,” Bree said contritely, earning a smile from Brian.

“I guess there are times in our lives when we all need someone to cut our meat,” Sam said trying to be gracious.

Brian glanced at Justin who suddenly had that funny look on his face that he sometimes got when he was thinking about … having to have someone cut his meat for him. Brian reached across Bree and squeezed Justin’s shoulder. Justin seemed to regain some part of himself that had been far away. He shook his head.

“Did I say something wrong?” Sam asked. He felt like he had been the source of some great distress for their hosts.

“Your comment reminded us of something that happened a long time ago,” Brian explained curtly.

“Something bad?” Sam pursued.

“I was bashed when I was eighteen, a bat to the side of my head. I had to have someone cut up my food for me for over six months.” Justin’s voice was hardly above a whisper, but no one at the table failed to hear those painful words.

“Oh my God,” Celeste said. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s long ago in the past,” Brian said hoping to end this train of conversation as soon as possible.

“Sorry that I brought up something that reminded you of it,” Sam said, looking at Justin with new respect. These men had been through a lot. “It must have been awful.”

“It was,” Justin said. Bree reached over and hugged her father hard. That seemed to bring Justin fully back into the present. “Please, eat and enjoy. I’m sorry to have interrupted our dinner with these … old memories.”

Everyone tried to get back to their meal, but somehow it wasn’t quite the same.

“Have you enjoyed your visit to the lane?” Tom asked Sam, trying to change the subject and the sudden morose mood that threatened to overtake the porch.

“Yes, we have,” Sam quickly replied, grateful for the diversion. “We were treated to a complete tour of each building. They’re quite impressive.” Todd and Tom started to chuckle as did John. “Did I say something funny?” Sam asked not liking that he may be the brunt of an inside joke.

“I beg your pardon,” Tom said in a very diplomatic and soothing tone. “There is one last building of sorts just off the lane which I’m sure you didn’t see,” Tom explained. “Not that you’d want to.”

Tom, Todd and John quickly told Sam and Celeste about Tom’s little cabin retreat where he spent most of his days while on sabbatical. When Beau heard his name, he walked over to where Tom was sitting and gave Tom a small nudge.

“Yes, I am very grateful to Beau,” Tom said as he patted the large furry head. “He was my savior on several occasions.”

There was a lull in the conversation as everyone enjoyed their meal and passed around the platters and bowls for seconds.

“You appear to have been adopted,” John said to Sam as he began to gather up the dishes to take into the kitchen. Juan was still sprawled across Sam’s lap snoring away as puppies do and drooling all over Sam’s pants. “I’ll get you a towel,” John said with a chuckle. Brian got up to help when he saw his brother juggling dishes.

“How you doing?” John asked Brian as they scraped the dishes and loaded up the dishwasher. Brian silently nodded indicating that he was all right.

“Juan should go home with them,” Brian stated somewhat cryptically.

“You noticed,” John replied. “Well, the rest of the brood will be leaving this week, there’s no reason why Juan can’t go tonight if the Watsons want him. Sam appears to be quite fond of the pup.” Both John and Brian chuckled.

“Juan likes Sam,” Brian said. “I think Beau wouldn’t mind.” Beau who came into the kitchen in search of a treat agreed.

“Woof!”

“Then it’s settled. If the Watsons want Juan, he can go home with them tonight. If you make the coffee I’ll bring out the dessert,” John said.

“You guys need help?” Patrick asked as he popped his head into the kitchen. Brian handed Patrick a stack of dessert plates then ruffled the boy’s hair before he could escape the kitchen.

“Have I ever told you how lucky you are? Patrick is a beautiful boy,” Brian said in a fit of emotionalism.

“We’re both lucky, Brian,” John agreed as he set the pies he was holding down onto the counter so he could give Brian a fierce hug. John felt Brian take a huge cleansing breath, exhaling away all his anxiety. John knew Brian fucking Kinney was back when John was gently pushed away and the pies were unceremoniously stacked in his hands. John chuckled as he walked out of the kitchen.

“Hey,” Justin called out as he greeted his spouse. Brian had his back toward Justin as he was waiting for the coffee to finish brewing. On the stove the tea kettle was just about to announce the water had boiled. Justin took out the carafes for both.

“Hey,” Brian responded. He relaxed as he felt Justin’s arms snake around his chest. Brian leaned back into Justin’s solid embrace. Brian felt Justin kiss his back then release him so they could prepare the coffee and tea. Patrick returned to the kitchen for the tray that held the cups, saucers and spoons.

“We better bring this in,” Justin stated. Brian agreed but not before hugging the younger man close and giving him a loving kiss. Justin smiled sweetly up at his spouse before loading up the serving cart with carafes, milk and sugar then pushing it out to the porch.

 

*****
 

The family had decided to push the great table toward the back glass wall and use some of the smaller tables to have dessert. It made for more intimate and less formal conversation. Plus it afforded the family some time to digest their meal.

“I don’t understand,” Sam murmured to himself as he observed this unusual family work in concert to rearrange the sun porch as the dessert things were being brought out of the kitchen. Sam had Juan hiked up under his arm to keep the curious pup out of the way of large feet and moving furniture.

“What do you mean?” Celeste asked while she absentmindedly scratched the puppy under his chin.

“All of a sudden we seem to have been accepted without question. One minute we’re strangers the next minute we’re having dinner. I don’t get it.”

“I’m not sure either but it’s like a switch was thrown. As soon as everyone sensed Briana was okay everyone relaxed. Maybe that’s all there is to it. Bree’s okay therefore everyone else is.”

“Maybe you should be the detective,” Sam quipped. He leaned down to give his wife a kiss. “Are you really okay?” he asked in all seriousness.

“Yes, I am. Really. I’m glad we did this.”

“If you’re happy then I’m happy but I think we have another problem,” Sam said with a twinkle in his eyes.

“What’s that?” Celeste asked having some idea what her husband was about to say.

“Let me ask you something. You know we’ve been talking about getting a dog now that the kids are a little older.”

“Yes,” Celeste said carefully. Sam said nothing but raised the puppy in his hand then stuck him in front of Celeste’s face. Juan gave Celeste’s nose a little slurp with his tongue. Celeste burst out laughing as she wiped her nose and let out a “Yuck!”

“Okay, okay,” she laughed with a smile that was very familiar to the family. “You’ve convinced me. Now we have to convince Brian and John.”

“I don’t think they’ll take that much convincing,” Sam said as he put the puppy down so he could find the bathroom to wash up.

 

*****
 

“You okay?” Patrick asked Bree as they were helping with the smaller table. Jenn, Molly, Rachel and George had decided to have their dessert with the kids at the smaller table, giving Bree their love and support.

“Uh huh,” Bree replied giving her Patrick a big smile. Patrick knew it was a genuine smile and that Bree was really okay. Bree wasn’t sure if she wanted to see Celeste again but she knew it wasn’t something she needed to decide at the moment. She liked Celeste and was happy she finally met her. Bree was also glad the day was almost over and things could go back to normal.

“You know we’re having a holiday dance at school, right?” Patrick mentioned.

“Yes!” Bree said with a smile. She had heard about the plans for the dance just before they left school Friday afternoon. Bree was hoping Patrick would take her.

“I’m going to ask Brittany,” Patrick proudly announced, totally oblivious. Brittany was a little older than Bree, very pretty with bright green eyes and long blond hair.

Bree wasn’t sure how she felt about that, but she didn’t much like it if she was honest.

“Oh,” was all Bree said as she finished placing the last dessert fork on the table. She turned to walk away deciding that she’d like to have her dessert with Celeste and Sam.

 

*****
 

The atmosphere was much lighter now that the tension of the afternoon had dissipated. Lucie brought the rest of her brood into the porch to entertain the guests who were all appropriately impressed. Dessert was enjoyed and some new friendships were formed. Celeste found a new sisterhood with Rachel and Jennifer, and to some extent with Molly. Sam was just grateful that his wife was happy.

Slowly the members of the lane began to leave, each returning to their own home but not before giving Celeste and Sam a hug or a handshake.

“Brian, if you need to talk, call me,” Tom said as he and Todd helped with the last of the dishes and then headed for the front door.

“You can take the priest out of the robes but not the robes off the priest,” Brian griped as he showed the men out.

Only Celeste and Sam were left.

“Thank you for accepting our invitation,” Justin said as he, Brian, Bree and John walked the Watsons out to their car. “I know this wasn’t easy for you.”

“It wasn’t easy for you either,” Celeste said as she looked Justin in the eyes and then Bree and Brian. “It wasn’t easy for any of us but I’m very glad we did this.”

“Even though someone gave you the runaround all afternoon?” John commented before anyone else could. He threw a poignant look at his brother and at his niece. Bree’s eyes dropped to the ground for a moment. Brian just scowled.

Celeste and Sam chuckled.

“Yes, even with being persuaded to take the tour of your lovely lane, I am very happy to have met you all.” Celeste leaned down do that she could look Bree in the eyes. “Miss Bree, I hope you and I can become friends. It was an honor to meet you,” Celeste said as she stuck out her hand to Bree.

Bree looked up and saw so many things in the pretty face but most of all Bree saw kindness. Bree took Celeste’s hand.

“Thank you, Miss Celeste, it was an honor to meet you too,” Bree said in a formal tone as they shook hands. “It was very nice to meet you, Mr. Sam,” Bree said as she turned toward the tall man. Sam shifted Juan to his other arm then shook the tiny hand.

“The pleasure was all mine,” Sam stated. Sam then shook hands with Justin and John. Brian smirked as he jutted out his hand toward Sam. Sam hesitated for the briefest of moments before he felt a nudge from his wife. At the same time Justin admonished Brian with a “Behave yourself.”

Celeste and the guys laughed as Sam finally shook Brian’s hand.

“So are you taking your little buddy with you?” Brian purred, not yet relinquishing Sam’s clasp.

“Ah, um, I kinda forgot I was holding him,” Sam sputtered.

“He needs a good home with someone who will be patient with him. Juan has a lot to learn about the world,” Brian quietly said as he looked into Sam’s eyes. “He needs understanding.”

Sam stood his ground, gazing back into Brian’s eyes. All of a sudden Sam did understand. He smiled softly as he gave Brian a real handshake.

“Here’s some information on Juan and his background,” John began as he handed Celeste a piece of paper. “I’ve written down the number of the breeder and our vet just in case you have any questions on Juan’s lineage or on his health.”

“Thank you,” Celeste said with a warm sunny smile. She turned her smile toward Brian when she heard him whisper, “Sunshine.” “And thank you for everything. Good night.”

Sam handed Celeste the pup as he opened the car door for her. John and Justin went inside to make sure the gate was open for the Watsons while Bree and Brian watched them drive down the lane.

“What do you think, Squirt?” Brian asked as he swooped Bree up into his arms then gave her a kiss.

“I think I want to go to bed. But I like the Watsons,” she quickly added.

“And it’s okay for you to like them and want to be friends. I like them too.”

“Really?” Bree asked for assurance as she searched her father’s eyes.

“Really,” Brian replied as he walked into the cottage, locking the door behind them and then depositing Bree into her room.

“I love you, Dada.”

“Love you too, Squirt. Good night.”

“Night, Dada,” Bree said as Brian shut her door.

Brian stood in the hallway, decompressing for a moment before checking the state of his house and securing it for the night. The cleaning fairies must have been working on overdrive because the porch and his kitchen were spic and span. Everything was as it should be. Now all Brian had to do was face his spouse.

 

*****
 

“So what do you think?” Sam asked his wife as he pulled out past the gate, contemplating the road before heading toward the highway. Juan was already snoring in Celeste’s lap.

“I think it’s been a long and interesting day.”

“What do you think of our parting gift?”

“Considering he was practically glued to your hip for most of the afternoon, I think it’s a good match. And if he grows up to be half as smart as Beau and Lucie, I won’t feel as nervous as I do sometimes when you work overtime.” Sam reached out to take her hand. A detective’s life was hardly nine to five. Neither was Celeste’s but hers was a little more scheduled than his.

“What do you think of Bree?” Celeste asked.

“I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone like her, adult or child. Our kids are smart but there’s something about Bree I just can’t get my head around. She looks a lot like your pictures when you were a kid and I can definitely see Justin in her. Her smile and her eyes are a combination of the two of you.”

“Her hair is Molly’s color,” Celeste commented.

“Yeah, I noticed that too. She’s pragmatic like Jennifer,” Sam said. “And something more. Something I’m just not getting.”

“Brian?”

“You mean his influence?” Celeste nodded. “It must be.”

“I don’t know much about him other than the obvious. I knew he had wealth and a certain status when I first met them. I had letters of recommendation and attestations of character for both men before I decided to be their surrogate. But that doesn’t tell you everything.”

“Justin is an open book,” Sam said. “But Brian…”

“Yes, Brian. I guess whatever it is that makes Bree, Bree in part must come from Brian,” Celeste stated. “He didn’t really make you nervous, did he?” Celeste asked after a while.

“For a few seconds he did until I realized it must have been some sort of test. He’s a predator. I’m just glad he uses his powers for good.” Sam gave a nervous laugh.

“I’d protect you,” Celeste said with a bright smug smile. Sam laughed.

“My hero,” Sam replied.

The drive home was a quiet one for the Watsons except for a few doggy snores.

 

*****
 

Brian took his time in the shower. Not that he was concerned that Justin would follow through on his ‘threats.’ Justin topped Brian more often than most people thought possible. Brian just needed the time to process how he felt about Celeste. More importantly, how his daughter felt about Celeste. In his heart he knew Bree was being honest. She liked the Watsons and most likely would become friends. Celeste would be Bree’s friend, not her mother. Brian could accept it, he had no choice. Perhaps he would take Tom’s offer after all and have that ‘talk.’

He stepped out of their bathroom, drying off with a towel, and into their bedroom. There was a slight chill in the air. Winter was approaching.

Justin was lying in bed under their soft thick duvet. His eyes were closed but Brian knew that Justin was still awake. And a suspicious bulge in the blanket, indicated that Justin’s dick was also awake. Brian took his time drying off and then climbed into bed.

“Hey,” Justin said as he rolled to his side to face Brian. He was sporting a bright smile.

“Hey.” Brian traced Justin’s lips with a finger then gently caressed his cheek.

“In spite of your I Spy act, it was a good day. A very long day but a good one.”

“Yes it was. Bree was exhausted,” Brian commented.

“I know. I checked on her while you were in the shower. She’s out like a light.”

“Not surprising. I’m sure we haven’t heard the last of Celeste and Sam but the hard part’s over.” Justin rolled on top of Brian. “Speaking of hard part,” Brian said as Justin ground himself against Brian. Brian had already reacted when he had seen the tented blanket.

“You know it’s not polite to tease our heterosexual guests,” Justin tried to say in a serious tone.

“Yes dear,” Brian squeaked.

“You’re very bad.”

“Bad as new,” Brian replied. “Are you going to do something about it?” Brian purred low. Justin’s cock twitched against Brian’s leg.

The lovers kissed long and deep. When they finally broke for air, they stared into each other’s eyes. With a not so innocent smirk on his face, Justin gave Brian’s shoulder a shove. Brian looked up into the darkened passionate eyes.

As he turned onto his belly Brian knew it was going to be a very long night as well.
 

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