And Never Brought to Mind

Chapter 4

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Justin felt a little guilty leaving home in the midst of Briana's outburst but he had to go to the gallery and he had to trust in Brian's ability to cope with their daughter. Needless to say, Justin was distracted and missed the turn off into Pittsburgh. That and the traffic were making Justin very late. JP was waiting for him.

"You! What the fuck are you doing here?" Craig growled at JP. Craig had had an attack of conscience, plus his wife insisted that Craig personally speak with Justin about the young man who claimed to be related. Even though Craig Taylor managed to keep up with Justin's success, he paid no attention to the discovery of the Kinney art. Craig Taylor wanted nothing to do with Brian Kinney or any of his family. Craig had come to the art gallery in hopes of finding Justin and having a word. Finding JP Taylor was the last thing Craig wanted to do.

"I could ask you the same, Mr. Taylor. I have an appointment with your son. He mentioned nothing of meeting with you today." JP tried to remain calm. Justin was already twenty minutes late and he had no way of contacting him.

"Why would my son want to meet with you?"

"Perhaps he is curious to learn about the past. And not afraid of finding family."

"You are no family of mine!" Craig began to shout. Lindsay and Sidney came rushing out of the office to find out what the noise was about.

"Please, I must ask you to leave," Sidney addressed Craig. "This is a respectable establishment. My patrons come here to admire works of art not to be assaulted."

"W...what?" Craig sputtered. He had no response; he had never been asked to leave any establishment before.

"Sir, my name is John Patrick Taylor. I have an appointment with Mr. Justin Taylor. This 'gentleman' is trying to prevent it." JP hoped that someone would intercede before Craig did something rash.

"Excuse me. Did you say John Patrick Taylor?" Lindsay was well versed with Justin's research having been involved with much of it.

"Yes, and you are?"

"Oh, forgive me. My name is Lindsay Peterson. I'm Mr. Bloom's assistant." Lindsay indicated Sidney. "And I'm a close friend of Justin. His partner is my son's father. Justin has a bit of a drive into Pittsburgh; he may have hit some traffic. Let me show you to a quiet corner of the gallery where we can wait for Justin." Lindsay nodded to Sidney who slid between Craig and JP before any violence could occur.

"Are you people nuts?" Craig continued to shout. "This man is an impostor. He's no relation of mine or Justin's." Justin hurried through the door.

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Brian was spacing out the dozens of pots of mums to get a feel of where they were going to be planted. Briana was toddling behind, imitating her Dada's gestures that he was making in his quest for the perfect spots for his flowers. Brian had a feeling that Bree wasn't totally into 'gar-gar' today but he pressed on hoping to forestall any wailing Briana had in mind. They had planted about five pots when Briana became tired.

"Hey, Squirt, how about I clean you up and you can lay down on the brass bed and watch me gar-gar. Okay?" Brian watched as Briana contemplated her Dada's suggestion then yawned. Gar-gar and crying was very hard work.

"'Kay, Dada."

"Okay, Squirt. Let's wash up, get changed then you can watch from the comfort of the big bed."

"Dolly too?"

"Dolly too."

"'Kay." Briana yawned again as Brian picked her up then brought her in the house. After he cleaned her up and dressed her in a fresh outfit, Brian placed the child in the middle of the big brass bed. Brian moved the screen aside so Briana had an unobstructed view of the whole porch. She was facing outside so she could watch Brian in the garden. Brian sat with her for a few minutes then after she was settled he went back outside. Brian planted two more pots of mums then pulled out his cell phone.

"Cynthia, I have a very important job for you."

"Sure, Boss. What do you need?" Brian filled in his number one assistant regarding his most important project.

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"Craig, what you do want?" Justin said coolly to his father.

"I wanted to warn you about that man. I wasn't sure if your mother told you about him."

"Yes, unlike you, my mother speaks to me and on a regular basis. I've met John Patrick."

Craig ignored the snide remark. "You've met? Why would you do such a thing? He's out for money."

"I don't know that and the only way I will learn what he wants, is by talking to him. Now if you'll excuse me." Justin turned to walk away but Craig grabbed his arm.

"Don't you walk away from me, I'm not finished speaking to you. I'm your father."

"Craig, I have no idea what you are. My father left me fourteen years ago. Don't worry about your precious money. I can buy and sell you ten times over. If it's money JP's after then I'll deal with it." Justin walked away leaving Craig stunned into silence.

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Father Tom walked out into the main part of the church. He carried his notes for the next homily that he would deliver. He set them on the pulpit and looked out at the church. There were a few people sitting in the pews lost in prayer. He noticed a familiar face in her usual seat. He smiled at Joan Kinney as she raised her eyes and looked at him.

Noting the look on her face, Father Tom walked down to where she was sitting. "Joan, is something wrong?"

"I … I think so," Joan said with a tinge of sadness in her voice.

"Would you like to walk into the grotto and talk?"

"Um … maybe that would be a good idea."

Father Tom took Joan's arm and they walked out to the back of the church.

"What seems to be the problem?" he asked as they sat on the little bench.

"This is where I first saw Briana," Joan said.

"She's a lovely little girl, and she seemed so happy that you went to her baptism."

"Did you see her fall asleep on my lap?" Joan asked proudly.

Father Tom nodded. "I did, so what's wrong?"

"I … I called Brian yesterday and he took me to lunch at the diner. Briana came with us."

"I see."

"No, no you don't. I couldn't believe that I allowed my son to take me to that diner, that den of iniquity," Joan said shaking her head.

Father Tom sighed. "I'm sure Brian would have taken you somewhere else if you had asked."

"He said he would, but I thought I could go there … especially after I had been around all those gay men at the cottage."

"But you didn't like it at the diner?" Father Tom asked.

"It was horrible. Brian was flirting with this young man and he showed no remorse when I called him on it."

"Joan, I'm sure…"

"No, don't tell me it was all right, because it wasn't. It was wicked, and none of them seem to see anything wrong with what they're doing. I can't stand the evil of it."

"But Briana's not evil," Father Tom said trying to steer her to a more neutral topic.

"She will be if she has to grow up under those kinds of influences."

"Joan!"

"I'm sorry, Father, but I don't think I can be around my son. I can't bear to see what his perversion is going to do to that sweet little girl."

"Joan?"

Joan stood and quickly rushed back into the church before Tom could stop her. By the time he returned to the altar she had disappeared from the church. The good Father sighed and went into his office. There seemed to be no getting through to the heart of Joan Kinney, that is, if she had one.

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Justin walked over to where Lindsay and JP were talking.

"Did you get rid of him?" Lindsay asked.

Justin nodded. "What the fuck was he doing here?"

"He wanted to warn you about this gentleman."

"I don't get why he would even bother," Justin said with a sigh. "What does he care if I get taken or robbed or killed?"

"I … I'm not here to do anything like that," JP protested standing up. "Maybe this wasn't a good idea."

"I'm sorry," Justin said quickly. "My father knows how to push all my buttons. We bring out the worst in each other."

"I'll leave you two alone," Lindsay said thinking that they had private business to discuss. She went back into the office.

"Your father is a nasty man," JP said.

"You got that right. I'm sorry he's such an asshole."

JP smiled. "It's not your fault he's like that."

"Look, I wanted to show you something," Justin said. "Come over here."

JP followed Justin across the gallery. He wondered what the man wanted to show him.

"These are the latest JAB Kinney paintings that we have recovered." He pointed to the display still laid out around the section of the gallery. "This is Patrick Taylor, Kinney's lover, and my ancestor as well as yours." JP stared at the face of his family member. Patrick was shown as an angel in the painting.

"Why is he an angel?" JP asked.

"Kinney painted a lot of religious portraits. It was a common theme at the time. He painted what would bring in money for them."

"I see," JP said.

"This is a preliminary sketch for a painting of Patrick and his daughter, Katherine." Justin pointed to the unfinished portrait. "Sidney asked me to do a copy of the painting as it might have been finished. This is a picture of what it looked like." He pointed at a large poster of the painting he had given to his mother.

"She's a beautiful little girl."

"She has my daughter's face," Justin said with a smile.

"You have a daughter?"

"Yes, Briana. Maybe you would like to meet her?"

"I'd like that. Do you trust me enough to let me meet your daughter?"

"I trust you," Justin said slowly, and as it came out he knew that he was starting to trust this stranger who could be part of his family.

"That's good to hear. I was beginning to think I would have to go back home with nothing to show for my efforts."

"What did you expect to find here?" Justin asked.

"You, and maybe some other family members."

"How would you like to meet my mother?"

JP smiled. "I'd like that."

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Joan returned home; she immediately went to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of sherry. She hadn't had one in several days and thought she could use one to fortify herself after her chat with Father Tom. Joan wasn't ignorant of the fact that Father Tom was disappointed in her. He probably believed that Joan and her son were making some strides towards a 'normal' relationship. Whatever that meant. She was almost disappointed in herself. If she continued to distance herself from Brian, Joan knew she would never see her beautiful granddaughter again nor her grandson, Gus. Gus was such a pleasant and polite young man. How could growing up in the midst of all that perversion produce a normal young man? Then again, how could growing up with two normal parents produce children who now detested their mother? Joan took another small sip but then poured the rest of the glass down the drain. The sherry had lost its flavor and so did this long standing argument Joan was having with herself. The choice was abundantly clear. Cut Brian and Claire out of her life, and Joan dies a lonely old woman with no joy or grandchildren to flavor her life.

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"Hi, honey. I didn't expect to see you today?" Jennifer said cheerfully as Justin entered her office off of Liberty. Her smile faded when she saw the handsome dark stranger who accompanied her son. "Justin, who is your friend?"

"Mom, this is John Patrick..."

"Taylor," Jennifer finished the sentence and gingerly extended her hand.

"It is an honor to meet you, Mrs. Taylor." JP took the dainty hand to shake it.

"Please, it's Jennifer. I haven't been Mrs. Taylor for quite a long time. I don't wish to be rude but my son is rather trusting. Too trusting for his own good."

"Mother!" Justin began to protest but JP stopped him.

"Justin, your mother is correct and I have always listened to my mother's advice. Mrs. Tay...I mean, Jennifer. My father passed away not too long ago. Right after his funeral, I was given these." JP handed Jennifer another copy of the papers he had given Justin to study. I became very interested in tracing my past. And if the paintings Justin has shown me today are any indication, Justin is too. I merely came here before family obligations could prevent my ability to travel, to learn what I could about a possible connection to Patrick Taylor and Justin. I wanted to introduce myself to the head of the family but he was not..."

"He's an asshole," Jennifer responded very quickly and with unladylike snark.

"Yes. Well, I was fortunate to run into Justin yesterday and gave him the same papers I have just given you. I have no secrets. I'm here to learn the truth and then go back home."

"Home. You've mentioned home. Where is home?"

"I live in Panama. My family has for many generations."

"And your obligations?" Jennifer pressed.

"I am engaged to be married. We are to be married upon my return home and then I officially take over the family business," JP explained.

"Which is?" Jennifer would ask the questions her son would not.

"My family runs a small dry goods store. It is not much compared to the businesses I have seen here but it is ours. It has been handed down from father to son."

"You're very young to have such a responsibility."

"You are very young to have a grown son and grandchild." Jennifer gasped slightly. Justin revealed a lot to this stranger.

"Thank you," Jennifer responded as she recovered herself and her manners. "May I ask, why do you think you're related to Justin? Taylor is a very common name. And I am aware of the history Justin discovered. And it is true that the paintings of Patrick resemble Justin in many ways. I think it's his romantic notions that keep him hoping that he is related to Patrick. I still haven't seen any evidence to prove the connection."

"Or evidence against it either, Mom." Justin was finally able to slip in a word.

"That's true, sweetheart. But we may never know for sure. The journal revealed a daughter only, named Katherine and she was taken by Martha to live here. If Katherine survived to marry and have children, they wouldn't be named Taylor."

"You have the journals of Patrick Taylor?" JP asked hopefully.

"Only a few pages. Actually I have some of the Kinney journals. Patrick was John Aidan Brian Kinney's lover from the time he was in his twenties until he died at age seventy-one."

"Then I may have the missing pieces you seek. My grandfather had a statue that Patrick created before they left Panama. He was trying to have it restored or copied before it disintegrated."

"Yes, we came across many statues but the materials were poor and most of them didn't survive the harsh environment."

"That is true. There are many artists in the family, none as acclaimed as you but still appreciated for their talents. My grandfather wanted to preserve our past so he tried to have the statue restored but he failed. Before it fell apart, they were able to make a copy. Again, in not the best material but it was all we could afford. As the statue crumbled we found a thick packet of velum wrapped in leather in the base of the statue. This is where we learned of Patrick's children."

"Children?!" Justin and Jennifer said at the same time.

"Yes, children. He had male heirs."

"Holy fuck!" Mother and son said at the same time.

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"Brian?"

"Hey, Sunshine. How's your day going?"

"Fine. Um, I have something to ask you but I don't want any yelling. You need to listen carefully, maybe sit down." Justin heard Brian sigh loudly then a chair scraping across the floor.

"What is this going to cost me? You didn't find a puppy or something equally as furry?"

Justin snorted a laugh. "No, Brian, no furry fluffy animals."

"No, amphibians either?" Brian asked in a voice that went up an octave or two.

"No, you big goof! No pets. I'm bringing my mother and a guest for dinner."

"Oh, I can handle Jennifer. Who's your guest?"

"JP Taylor."

"Fuck!"

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