Then Comes Marriage
Chapter 9
"Father Tom..." Brian drawled with a hint of the stud in his voice. "So glad you could join us." Brian extended his hand. Justin gave Brian another smack to his chest then he stepped in front of his partner.
"Father, thank you for coming and welcome to our home."
"My pleasure, Justin, and your home is magnificent, what little I've seen of it so far."
"How rude of us! Let me show you around while my partner gets his head out of his ass." Justin lead Father Tom around the sun porch then into the main house. Brian stood in the middle of the porch, still holding the plans that John had drawn up.
"Well, I guess I better get my head out of my ass," Brian said with a chuckle and followed Justin out.
"Never a dull moment around here," Carl muttered.
"Nope," John agreed as they too followed.
Father Tom got his tour and his tea. He was reintroduced to the family that was present and then he proceeded to bestow the blessings.
"Ladies and Gentleman, about a week ago Brian called me to invite me here to join your Christmas celebration and to bestow a special blessing onto this house and to the special couple that resides here. So if you'll all join hands, I'll begin."
The family gathered close and connected by their clasped hands.
"Dear Lord, bless this cottage; it was built with love. May it shelter, protect and comfort the men who live here and those friends and family who pass under its threshold." Father Tom then placed his hand over Brian's and Justin's. "May the Lord bless you and keep you both safe for the rest of your lives. Amen."
"Amen," the family repeated in unison. When the solemn moment was over, Father Tom reached up and pulled the white collar off his neck.
"Now, I'll take that eggnog and what can I do to help?!" Tom asked as the family clapped the good father on the back.
With the family all present and the dinner on the table, Brian asked Father Tom to lead the blessing.
"Brian has honored me by asking me to lead the blessings for the fine meal that you and God have provided, but as head of this household, I believe that honor should go to Brian. What I will say is that I am very proud you asked me to join you all here and very happy and relieved that the good Lord has blessed us with this happy occasion rather than something else. God, keep us all and bless us with good health, success in life and with love. Amen."
"Amen," the family answered back. Father Tom looked over at Brian. Brian took a deep breath then spoke.
"I guess I'm not off the hook." The family gave a small chuckle but waited for Brian to continue. "I'm not sure what to say other than the obvious. I am grateful to each and every one of you here for helping to prepare this wonderful meal and for Justin in preparing the cottage for this gathering. And I am very grateful that I'm here to celebrate with you. But what I am most grateful and thankful for is that the love of my life is here with me. So, let's eat!"
The family clapped and cheered and began to pass around the plates.
*****
Brian was rinsing off a few platters before loading them up into the dishwasher when Michael joined him.
"Brian, can we talk a minute?"
"Sure, Mikey. What is it?"
"I'm sorry I've been an asshole lately."
Brian wanted to say, 'Try, years, not lately,' but he held his tongue.
Michael was still good at reading Brian and he smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I know. I've been an asshole for a long time now. I'm sorry, Brian. I thought what Ben and I had was special and that no one could ever have what we have. But I was wrong. It seems that we all have it."
"You're wrong, Mikey. What you and the professor have is something special. It's different from me and Justin. Just like it's different for Ted and Allen, Emmett and Drew and the Munchers. We all have something special in our own way. And that's what our family is all about. Look at your Mom and Carl. You can't deny that they're happy. Be happy for them. Be happy for all of us. We're all a bunch of very lucky people. I missed you, Mikey. I love you."
"I love you too, Bri." The friends hugged and kissed, renewing their friendship. Michael felt the weight of the world lifting and he felt better than he had in a very long time.
"Come on, Mikey. I think I can find you a beer in the middle of all this high priced wine that everyone brought. Let's crack open a couple of cold ones and join the rest of the family."
"Sounds good, Brian."
While Brian and Michael were sitting in the living room catching up, Justin was talking to Claire and Steve as they finished the clean-up of the sun porch.
"So, you guys leave soon for Vegas?" Justin asked.
"In a couple of weeks," Claire smiled.
"Going to win lots of money?" Justin grinned.
"That's Steve's job," Claire said. "I want to see some shows."
"Which ones?"
"I'd love to see "O", the Cirque de Soleil one, and maybe Celine Dion."
Justin saw Steve make a face. "Steve, you better learn pretty darn fast that you have to compromise with your partner. If Claire let's you gamble, you have to reciprocate with shows."
"Is that so?" Steve asked with a grin.
"Believe me, I haven't stuck with the big asshole over there all this time, without my fair share of compromise," Justin explained.
"And Brian Kinney compromises back?" Steve asked.
"He most certainly does."
Claire beamed at Justin. "Thanks," she whispered. "Steve needed to hear that."
Justin winked and then walked over to Mel and Lindsay. "Did Gus bring in his suitcase when you arrived?"
"No, he was in too much of a hurry to see the tree," Lindsay replied.
"You mean to see what was under it, don't you?" Mel laughed.
"Well, he's still a little boy," Lindsay defended her son.
"With a selfish streak like someone else we all know," Mel insisted. She looked over at Brian.
"Gus isn't selfish and his father most certainly is not," Justin said with a frown. He never liked the way Mel found fault with everyone. "Gus is just an excited kid at Christmas. He wanted to see what his Dad got for him."
"And Brian spoils him," Mel continued.
"Mel." Lindsay spoke up. "I thought you were going to stop this. Things have been better between you and Brian for a while."
"Can't help it," Mel snapped. "Sometimes he just irritates the hell out of me."
"Today is not the day for this," Lindsay continued.
"Every day is Brian Kinney day as far as I can see," Mel glowered.
"Mel," Justin said not able to keep the anger out of his voice. "If that plane had landed any other way, Gus might not have a father at all. We should be thankful that Brian is still around. Let Brian spoil Gus if he wants. Material possessions are one thing. But Gus is not greedy. And Brian is the most generous person I know." Justin turned on his heel and walked away. "Fucking Melanie," Justin muttered as he went out into the sun porch.
"Sunshine," Debbie said.
"I'm not feeling very sunny," Justin grumped.
"Melanie has been known to do that to a lot of people," Debbie laughed. "I heard what you were saying. "She should be thanking her fucking stars that Brian is okay. He has done a lot for those two, and I'm sure he will in the future too."
"Mel never seems to realize that."
"Sometimes I think she's too much like Brian used to be."
"What do you mean?" Justin frowned.
"Sometimes I think she wants to be just like Brian. She has that fuck 'em all attitude, but she has a family that won't let her use it, or in her mind it's not appropriate to act like that. So she takes out her frustration on Brian. She's jealous of what Brian gets away with."
"She's always picking up on some bad habit she says he has. We all have bad habits. She just never sees any good ones."
"As I said I think she's jealous."
"Jealous?"
"She should have been a man, and then we would have had another Brian Kinney," Debbie laughed.
"Fuck, Deb! Don't say that. That is one fucking scary thought."
"That's true. Let's move on to a different topic. I'm freaking myself out."
Justin laughed. "Thanks for cheering me up, and making me grateful for what I have."
"You always were grateful. It's too bad Melanie can't feel the same. But, enough about her. I'm glad Michael and Brian are talking."
"Me too. Brian has missed his best friend," Justin chuckled.
Debbie looked thoughtful for a moment. "I don't think things will go back to the way they were though. They've both moved on."
"That's true, but at least they could talk and support each other."
"That would be nice. Maybe…"
"What?"
"If you don't mind, I'll keep that to myself for now," Debbie replied.
Justin watched Debbie walk away. He wondered if she was referring to the trouble between Michael and Ben. He knew about it from Brian. Hopefully Michael was starting to get a clue.
"Claire, Steve, may I have a word with you both?" Carl had come over to where they were sitting and nervously asked to speak with them.
"Sure, Carl. What is it?" Claire tried to put Carl at ease.
"I wanted to ask you, if you don't think it would be an intrusion,
I'd like to take Debbie to
"Carl, I think that's a wonderful idea!" Claire said enthusiastically. "Steve, what do you think?" she asked her husband with hope in her voice.
"I think that's an excellent idea. I have to be honest; I'm not one for going to shows either. If the ladies wouldn't mind, we can send them to the shows while you and I hit the slots. And it would be very nice to have an adult conversation minus the 'queen outs.' If you get my meaning." Steve gave a wink and Claire and Carl laughed.
"Now, how do you suggest I tell Debbie?" Carl began to chew on his lip.
"Leave that to me. I think I can persuade her," Claire said with a big grin and walked off to find Debbie.
Claire found Debbie in the kitchen packing up leftovers for the family to take home and for meals that Brian and Justin could easily reheat.
"Debbie? My macho man is getting cold feet about our trip to Las Vegas."
"Cold feet! What the fuck does that mean?"
"Well, I want to see some shows; he wants to gamble. I don't mind going to see the shows and sites by myself but it would be nice to have someone to go with. And it would be nice for Steve to have another gentleman to go gambling with or golfing. I never thought much about golf."
"Me neither. Now Carl! He'd love to try a round of golf. And that man never got any real time off between retiring from the police force and working for Brian. He deserves a vacation...hey, Claire?"
"Yes, Debbie."
"Do you think Carl and I could meet you two in Vegas? We wouldn't intrude. We don't even have to stay at the same hotel. But we could have dinner together, maybe do some shopping together while the boys go and play their games. It would be so nice to have time with another woman. That is if you don't think I would embarrass you. In case you didn't notice, I can be a little loud at times."
"You know Debbie, I never noticed. And I think we'd have a fan-fucking-tastic good time!"
Debbie was momentarily floored by Claire's choice of words, then the two laughed like a couple of school girls.
"Come on, Claire. Let's find our macho men and make the arrangements. I bet if we ask Brian, he'd get us four first class tickets."
"Ya think?"
"I know."
The ladies linked arms and went in search of their men.
It was still early evening when everyone gathered around the tree as Brian and Justin played Santa. Brian sat close to the tree handing the presents to Justin as Justin called out the recipient's name. Everyone had placed their gifts under the tree as they arrived at the cottage. The children's names were called out first. Gus and JR scrambled to Justin to receive the myriad to presents that were there for them then scurried off to Gus' room to open them. Little Red, with assistance from Bobby, toddled over to Brian and plopped down into his Uncle Brian's lap.
"So little man, let's see what we have for you," Brian said with a Santa-like ho ho ho. The baby gurgled happily, smiling a toothy smile at his uncle. Brian pulled out several boxes from the pile, handing them over to his nephew. With Bobby's help, he ripped them open. Claire and John watched from the kitchen.
"Jackie."
"Yes, mother."
"You know Brian is going to want one soon."
"Want what?"
"A baby."
"What makes you say that?"
"Look at him. He loves Gus and JR so much and look how he is with Patrick. And he's not getting any younger."
"Don't let him hear you say that. But you're right. And he has been talking about it with Justin. I'm sure the spare room will be turned into a nursery and soon. I won't be surprised if I get a call to turn the attic into an office for him."
"Is that possible? I didn't think this cottage had an attic."
"Call it a premonition but when we were working on the roof I literally raised the roof. I made it more comfortable up there so if he wanted to use it as an office, he can. He can access the attic from the master bedroom. I even drew up plans for a spiral staircase. If he agrees to enlarging the sun porch, I can make a small balcony to overlook the porch."
"Jackie, you're a genius!"
"I know," John said in his most confident Brian voice. And his mother laughed.
Christmas at the Kinney-Taylor residence was coming to a close. Everyone went home with presents and containers of goodies. Even Father Tom! Brian and Justin helped Lindsay and Mel pack up all the presents the kids received and loaded them into their car. Gus and JR each picked out something to stay at the cottage for when they'd visit. The last to leave were John, Bobby and Patrick. Bobby and Justin were packing up the Navigator while Brian and John said their goodnights.
"Brian, are you sure you don't want help cleaning up?"
"No thanks, big bro. You take Bobby and your son home. Most of the hard stuff is done. Justin and I'll finish tomorrow. I'm beat. I just want a hot shower and a hot blond."
"That hot blond is probably just as tired as you are. You did good today, Brian. I'm proud of you. You're really getting the hang of this hosting thing."
"Thanks, I think. Now go home, and drive carefully."
"Yes, mother. Merry Christmas, Brian," John said as he gave Brian a bear hug. "I am so glad you became a part of my life."
"Ditto, big bro. Ditto." Brian walked out with John, gave Patrick a kiss and Bobby a hug. Justin did the same then they waved the Anderson-Morrison family off. After they closed up and shared a nice warm shower, Brian and Justin decided to sit in front of their fireplace, sip some wine and relax before bed.
"Brian, I had the best time tonight. I really did."
"So did I, Sunshine."
"You did?"
"Why so surprised? Dinner was great. The company diverse. Melanie was only marginally obnoxious. And there were no major queen outs. What's not to like?"
"Brian Kinney, you're a silly man."
"That's Brian Kinney-Taylor, and I know." Justin gave Brian a little swat then cuddled closer. The firelight flickered softly and the scent of fresh pine filled the room.
"Brian?"
"Hmm."
"Can we sleep out here?"
"Like that first night?"
"Yeah, but now we have a sofa and central heating."
"Ah, climate control."
"Yeah. So can we?"
"Whatever you want, Sunshine."
"I love you, Brian."
"Love you too, Justin. Merry Christmas."
"A very Merry Christmas, Bri."
The lovers settled in for the night on the sofa, Justin spooned into Brian as they faced the fire under a warm comforter. Brian kissed the top of Justin's head and heard Justin let out a small contented sigh. Soon they were both fast asleep.
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