And Never Brought to Mind

Chapter 6

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Bree crept out of her bedroom. She headed towards her fathers' bedroom intending to go in and pounce on her Dada. As she came to the kitchen doorway she saw someone standing at the counter chopping something. She stared at the man wondering what she should do.

"You can come in," JP said with a big smile.

"Who you?" Bree asked.

"I'm JP. You met me last night, but you were sleepy and I bet you forgot all about me."

Bree continued to stare. "Where Daddy and Dada?"

"I think they're still asleep."

"What you doing?"

"Making breakfast. I thought it was the least I could do." JP dumped what he was chopping into a big bowl and stirred it around.

"What you making?"

"A frittata."

"What dat?"

"It's eggs with all kinds of good things inside," JP explained. He dumped the contents of the bowl into two frying pans and set them into the oven.

"Hungy," Bree said.

"Well, it will be a while before the eggs are ready. How about some … Cheerios?" he asked as he looked in the cupboard.

"Yay, Cheewios!"

JP laughed and lifted Bree up onto one of the stools at the counter. He took out a little dish and poured her some Cheerios. "Want milk?" Bree shook her head as she picked up one of the Cheerios and popped it into her mouth. JP poured himself a cup of the coffee he had made and sat down on the stool beside her. "What time do your daddies usually get up?" he asked Bree who was crunching her Cheerio.

"Now."

"Oh?"

"I get them," Bree said. "Down."

"Are you the family alarm clock?" JP laughed. He didn't know how true that was.

"Down," Bree repeated.

JP lifted her down but admonished, "Let's allow your daddies a few minutes more of sleep. How be we go outside?"

"Gar-gar," Bree said.

"What's gar-gar?"

Bree took JP's hand and started dragging him through the sun porch. When they reached the door Bree tried to open it but she wasn't quite tall enough. JP pushed it open and they went out, Bree still holding him by the hand.

"Gar-gar," Bree said pointing at the flower gardens. "See."

"Gardens, of course," JP said with a grin. "You like the flowers?"

"I help Dada," Bree said proudly.

"You garden?"

Bree smiled and nodded her head.

"We better go back inside and check on breakfast," JP said as he opened the door so they could go back to the kitchen. He kept Bree's hand in his as they made their way. He deposited Bree on her stool where she could eat a few more Cheerios. He checked his frittatas and pronounced that they would soon be done. He sat back down beside Bree.

"You're such a little girl to be gardening," JP said.

"Me big girl," Bree declared. "Go to school."

"You go to school?"

"No, she doesn't," Brian said as he came into the kitchen, "but she wants to because her cousin has started school.

"I go to school," Bree said with a frown.

"Maybe that can be arranged," Brian said kissing the top of his daughter's head. "Something smells good."

"I made breakfast. I thought that was the least I could do for all the hospitality that you've shown me. I hope that's all right."

"Sounds good to me," Brian replied appraising the young man. Maybe he had been worried for nothing.

"It's almost ready."

"Hey Bree, want to go pounce on your uncles? They need to partake of the fine feast JP has cooked up for us."

"Down," Bree said decisively, and she was away through the sun porch to get Patrick and perform her morning duty.

Brian chuckled knowing all too well what was going to happen.

Justin came out of the bedroom rubbing his eyes. "What's going on?" he asked.

"JP made us breakfast, and I just sent Bree to get her uncles up."

"That was cruel," Justin chuckled. "Morning, JP. Is there any coffee?"

"Coming right up," JP said as he poured a mug for Justin and a second one for Brian. "You have a beautiful daughter. She was telling me how she does gar-gar. I didn't think such a little girl could garden."

"She's a special little girl," Brian stated with his patented smirk.

"She told me she's a big girl and she goes to school," JP contributed.

"Ever since her cousin started school," Justin explained, "she so wants to be big like Patrick and go to school too."

"She's going to get her wish today," Brian said smugly.

"Huh?" Justin said.

The Anderson-Morrisons took that moment to appear following a running Bree who came crashing into her daddy's legs.

"You sent her, didn't you?" John accused Brian. Brian smirked. "I could have used a few more minutes of sleep."

"Then you would have missed the fine repast that JP has cooked up for us."

JP was removing the eggs from the oven and had started making toast. Everyone pitched in and soon they were all seated around the table enjoying the frittatas.

"This is delicious," Bobby said. "What all did you put in it?"

"Whatever I could find in the refrigerator. That's the way we use up all the leftovers back home."

"These are the best leftovers I've ever had," Justin said enthusiastically.

"I usually refuse to eat leftovers, but I can make an exception for this," Brian admitted.

Justin almost choked. "Quick, JP, give me the recipe."

They all enjoyed a laugh at Brian's expense. They finished their breakfasts and started to clean up. JP insisted that he would look after that while they all got ready for their days.

As everyone assembled at the front door to leave, Brian pulled out a little backpack with Dora the Explorer on it. She was still popular after all these years. Brian held it up for Briana to put her arms in.

"Come on, Squirt. Here's your backpack. We have to get you to school," Brian said.

Bree stared at her father. "Chool?" she said.

"Yep, you're coming to school with me."

"Yay!" Bree yelled as she and Patrick raced out the door stopping by the cars to wait for their fathers.

"What are you doing, Brian?" Justin asked.

"Cynthia has informed the daycare at Kinnetik that it will now be referred to as school. Bree starts school today," Brian said smugly.

"You crafty devil," John laughed.

"I couldn't take another day of her crying," Brian admitted.

"Let's get this show on the road," Justin said as he and JP made their way to the SUV and started getting Bree strapped in.

"Have a good day at home, Bobby," John said as he headed out to take Patrick to school.

"I think it's going to be a very good day," Bobby said as he watched the vehicles head down the driveway.

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Brian sat at his desk at Kinnetik. He leaned back with a self-satisfied smile on his face. The Squirt had been as happy as a little elf when he took her to the daycare and Alice greeted them by saying, "Welcome to school, Briana." Briana had beamed when she had heard that. She was currently enjoying her first morning at school. Brian had checked to see that everything was going as planned. His daughter seemed to be quite content.

Then another thought ran through his brain, and he reached for the phone.

"Mother?" he said when the phone was answered. "Would you like to have lunch with me?"

"What do you want, Brian?"

"I want to take you to lunch."

"I … you … you never ask me to go anywhere. What's happened?"

"Nothing," Brian chuckled. It was kind of fun to make Joan so flustered. "You asked me out for lunch and I thought I'd return the favor … oh, and we don't have to go to the diner." He could almost hear the sigh of relief.

"Would Briana come with us?"

"I thought this would just be the two of us, and the place I was going to take you doesn't serve hotdogs."

"Hotdogs? What are you talking about, Brian."

"Bree always has hotdogs when we take her out. Remember the diner," Brian explained. His mother just didn't get his sense of humor.

"So it will just be the two of us?"

"Yes."

"Do you think that's wise?" Joan asked.

Brian chuckled. Maybe he and his mother did have some similar ideas of humor. "Probably not, but I thought we could give it a try anyway."

Joan gave a little laugh. "Why not? I'm always up for a challenge."

Brian almost choked at Joan's statement which was one that he used a lot, only in a very different context. "I'll pick you up in fifteen minutes."

"What? Today?"

"See you in a few minutes," Brian said before his mother could back out or he could chicken out.

Not quite an hour later they walked into Pappagano. The maitre d' greeted Brian warmly and quickly escorted them to their table. When they were seated Brian ordered a bottle of wine.

"You look nice today," Brian said as they waited for the wine. "That's the dress you wore to Bree's baptism, isn't it?"

"You're very observant. Yes, it is. It's the first new dress I've had in years."

"Maybe you'd let me take you shopping someday," Brian said wondering what the hell he was doing asking to spend more time with Joan.

"I can buy my own clothes, Brian," Joan said icily. She thought he didn't approve of her dress. It probably wasn't good enough for his fancy lifestyle.

"I know you can, Mother. I just thought you might like a treat. It would be something we can do together."

"Oh, um, then in that case, of course."

Brian smiled slightly. At that moment their waiter arrived with the bottle of wine which he opened and they tasted.

Joan smiled her approval. The wine was very smooth, not like the cheap stuff she usually bought. "This is very nice."

"I'm glad you approve, Madam," said a voice from behind her. "Good afternoon, Mr. Kinney. I hope everything is to your satisfaction."

"Thank you, Alberto. Mother, this is Alberto Pappagano, the owner of this restaurant."

"Oh, hello," Joan said looking at the impeccably dressed man. "You have a lovely restaurant."

"Thank you, lovely lady. I hope Brian will bring you here again." He walked away visiting some other tables as he moved through the restaurant.

"Do you know everyone, Brian?" Joan asked.

"I could say yes, but that would be a fib," Brian chuckled.

"And you never fib?"

Brian's face became serious. "No … rarely," he replied.

"Do you realize that I know next to nothing about you," Joan said seriously.

"We haven't had much chance to get to know each other."

"That's true, but that's not the way it should be."

"No, I guess it isn't. We could always start now," Brian said wondering that he was suggesting this, and Joan was agreeing.

Joan was nodding her head. "I'd like that."

"The first thing you should know is that I'm more than a homosexual," Brian stated deciding they needed to get that out in the open.

"I've begun to realize that since you invited me to the baptism. I'm glad you gave me that chance."

"I am too. To us," Brian said holding up his wineglass. They clinked them together.

"To us," Joan repeated.

Joan was impressed with the restaurant, the menu selections and presentation of their lunch. She was enjoying every minute of it and was slightly amused as the wait staff did everything but bend over backwards for her son. Little did Joan know, that eight years prior, the wait staff would have bent over the other way for her son, but that was a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. What Joan didn't find amusing was how little Brian actually ate. Joan knew so little about her son, she wondered if his lack of appetite was normal or was he sick. And if he was sick, was this the reason why Brian had become civil to her.

"Brian, I've enjoyed myself thoroughly. The food is excellent."

"I'm glad; Pappagano's has never let me down. I bring clients here all the time. Justin loves it too." Brian was trying to keep the conversation light. He still had no idea how to talk to his mother.

"I don't want to pry, but are you well?" Brian looked up and arched a brow. "You ate so little. I don't know how you keep your strength up."

Brian wanted to say something like, 'it's due to the high protein breakfast I enjoy regularly', but he refrained. "I...I'm not sure. I just try to eat healthy. It's become a habit over the years and one I'm afraid to break. But if you're thinking that the cancer is back, then don't. I get regular checkups and scans. I've quit smoking, more or less and I don't drink as much as I did. Justin has this thing about wanting me to live forever so I can be his sugar daddy." Brian snarked a little trying to lighten the mood but Joan didn't quite understand the joke.

"He lives off your generosity?" Joan was serious and Brian realized he had made a poor joke. He reached over to pat his mother's hand to reassure her.

"Mom, Justin does no such thing. I was joking, badly, but joking. He's very successful at what he does. One of his paintings can sell in the thousands and he's made millions off the Rage movie. No, the little shit doesn't need my money. But we do look after each other. I make sure he takes his allergy medicine and carries his inhaler. And he makes sure that I do eat and see my doctors. Since the Squirt came into our lives, it's more important that we do take care of ourselves."

Joan nodded. She could understand that, as a parent, you wanted to be around to watch your children grow. Maybe if she and Brian could come to a long lasting truce, Joan would be around to see her grandchildren grow up. They quietly sipped their wine as they waited for the dessert menu.

"Brian, you never got the chance to tell me why you call Briana, Squirt." Brian saw the tiniest of twinkles in his mother's eye. Brian smirked. He knew for every morning he and Justin were awakened with a pounce, his sweet little angel would never live down the nickname, Squirt. Brian was going to relish in torturing Briana later in her life. Brian leaned in closer to his mother to whisper and...

"Oh, Brian!" Then mother and son shared their very first laugh together.

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