And Never Brought to Mind

Chapter 8

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Friday morning and Edna's Treasures was abuzz with activity. The men were getting ready for work and the children were getting ready for school. After the rocky start at the beginning of the week, they were all falling into a nice routine.

John and Bobby were off to take Patrick to school as Brian, Justin and Bree headed for Pittsburgh.

"Justin, drop me and Bree off and then take the car so you can chauffeur JP and Katerina around."

"Okay. I want Katerina to see the Kinney/Patrick exhibit. We can meet you later for lunch." Justin kissed Brian and Bree then drove to the hotel to pick up his 'cousins.'

Justin had fun shepherding the Taylors around town. His tour included the theater that John et al, renovated and the bowling alley. After some shopping they wound up at the gallery. JP wanted to show Katerina some of the artwork that was discovered including the Patrick statues. Katerina also had the opportunity to see many Justin Taylor originals. Justin's cell began to ring as they were admiring the paintings.

"Hey, Sunshine."

"Hey, yourself. What's up?"

"Not me at the moment but I need to tell you something and I think you better sit down."

Justin became slightly alarmed and found a bench in a quiet corner. "Okay, I'm sitting. Please don't tell me something bad happened."

"Depends on your point of view."

"Brian!"

"Down, partner. We've been summoned."

"We?"

"Yes, we, including JP and Katerina. The whole gang is getting calls as we speak. Tonight. And we better not refuse."

"How did she find out?"

"Jus, you know her network of spies is almost as advanced as mine. It would have happened sooner or later."

"Yeah, but I was hoping to get them safely back on the plane before she got the chance."

"Not a snowball's chance in hell." At that moment Lindsay ran out of the office with her cell phone at arm's length. Justin could hear Melanie shrieking on the other end.

"Shit, Melanie must have gotten the summons. She's cursing at Lindsay now."

"That explains my ears burning. She must be cursing me out too. I gotta go, Sunshine. Mikey's calling and Ted just ran into my office. And if I'm not mistaken, Emmett's on my other line."

"Shit! Brian, how does one translate Debbie for JP and Katerina?"

"I haven't a fucking clue. Later."

"Later," Justin said meekly.

"Justin, are you all right?" JP saw the distress on Justin's face. Justin could only shrug.

A few hours later Justin, Brian, JP and Katerina pulled up in front of Debbie's. They had dropped Briana off with Grandma Jenn. They were deep into consultations about new outfits for Bree's dolly when they left. A great evening would be had by all at the Taylor residence.

"Well, I suppose we have to go in," Brian sighed as he cut the engine.

"Excuse me," JP said, "but I thought this was a party. Why are you so … so reluctant to go in?"

"The person giving this fiesta is … um … a little unusual," Brian tried to explain.

"A lot unusual," Justin corrected.

"More unusual than your father?" JP asked with a look of wonder on his face.

Brian snorted. "A different kind of unusual."

"Excuse me, please, but what does that mean? Katerina is getting frightened."

"Debbie is a wonderful woman, but she comes on rather … strong. Try to prepare yourself for the Spanish Inquisition," Brian told JP.

"I … I don't understand," JP said apprehensively.

"It's very hard to explain, but just know that her intentions are good," Justin said, as the door to the house was flung open.

"Get your asses out of that vehicle. Everybody's here and we're fucking waiting for you." Debbie's voice cut through the night air.

"Let's go," Brian sighed. "The fun's about to begin."

Slowly they climbed out of the Cherokee. JP and Katerina looked rather bewildered as they marched stoically up the path to Debbie's front door.

"So you're the people I've been hearing about," Debbie said holding onto JP's shoulders and looking him up and down. "I can see the Taylor resemblance," she declared. "I can't believe you came all the way from South America to find Justin."

"Actually JP was looking for anyone in our family," Justin supplied. "He happened to find my father first."

"Shit!" Debbie reacted. "What's the word for too fucking bad in Spanish? Never mind! Get yourselves into the house. We have tons of food. That'll make you all feel better."

"Along with a fifth of scotch," Brian mumbled as Debbie shoved them into the house.

Everyone was assembled inside with their bowls of putanesca and glasses of wine. Justin made the introductions of JP and Katerina and made sure they got some food.

"So," Debbie said cornering Katerina, "what are you and your brother planning to do now that you've found Justin?" Katerina stared at her with big eyes. "It's a simple question. There seems to be some concern that you're after his money."

"She doesn't speak English, Deb," Justin said as soon as he realized what was happening. He had been talking to Emmett. "They're not after my money. They just wanted to check out their heritage."

"Who knew that Patrick Taylor was so fucking prolific," Debbie laughed. "And here I thought he was gay."

"He may have been gay, but he wanted children," Justin replied.

"Looks like he got his wish, and in spades. Have you figured out how many children he had?"

"Several."

"Holy fucking shit!" Debbie was her usual effusive self.

"JP, how many children do you know Patrick Taylor had?"

"At least three."

"So you're descended from these children?" Debbie asked her guest.

"From one of them," JP agreed.

"This is really fucking unbelievable," Debbie reacted.

"It is the way of the world," JP said simply.

"And he's a philosopher too," Debbie laughed.

JP frowned wondering what this loud woman was talking about. He merely stated what he thought.

"Eat up," Debbie ordered. There's plenty more where that came from. She bustled off to the kitchen to dish up some more of her pasta.

"I see why you tried to warn me," JP said to Justin. "She's … different."

Justin chuckled. "You got that right."

"But she has good food."

"Make sure you tell her that, and you'll make her day."

JP smiled and nodded.

Justin looked around, but didn't see Brian anywhere. He headed towards the back door figuring that Brian had beat a hasty retreat to the calm and quiet of the back yard. He opened the door and stepped outside. Brian and Michael were standing looking up at the stars while Brian smoked a cigarette.

"JP seems to be okay," Brian was saying.

"But how do you really know that? You and Justin are worth a lot of money," Michael countered.

"Jesus, Mikey. You sound like Justin's fucking father."

"Well, I'm just looking out for your best interests. Isn't that what best friends do?"

Brian let out a sigh. "Yeah," was all he said.

"Brian," Justin interrupted. "I think JP and Katerina might be ready to leave." He thought maybe it was time they all got out of there.

"That sounds like a plan," Brian said.

"Be careful," Michael warned.

"I'm a big boy and so is Justin. We can handle this."

"I hope so," Michael added.

Justin took Brian's hand and they went back inside. They spoke to JP and Katerina who were more than ready to leave. They had felt very overwhelmed by the crowd of people and all their questions. Even kind and gentle people like the very muscular man who was Debbie's son-in-law had bombarded them with questions. After some rapid goodbyes they made their way out to the Cherokee.

When the door to the house closed behind them, the room erupted with more questions and admonishments.

"I wonder who they really are?"

"Brian and Justin need to be careful."

"That Katerina is a beautiful girl. Do you think she's looking for a rich husband?"

"She's looking in the wrong place coming here."

"That JP has the most beautiful eyes."

"They seemed nice, but you never know."

As the Cherokee drove away, Brian looked at his somewhat shell shocked passengers in the backseat. "Don't worry. They're harmless, and I think they've had all their shots."

Brian was deep in thought as they drove to Jennifer's to pick up the Squirt and then head for the hotel. As Justin jumped out of the Cherokee to get their daughter, Brian had an evil but nice thought. He turned to look in the back seat to ask his newly found 'family' an important question.

"Tomorrow is Saturday; did you two have any plans?"

"No, not really, maybe drive through the city again," JP answered for them both and quickly translated for his sister.

"Good, then you're going to pack an overnight bag and come home with us. Believe me, the Pitts is not that interesting."

"Come home with you?"

"Yep, I think I have a plan."

"What plan?" Justin asked as he opened the back door to strap Bree into her car seat.

"A little barbecue plan," Brian snarked then he motioned for them to switch places. "You drive; I have some calls to make. To the hotel, James."

"Asshole," Justin groused with a grin. He pulled out into the street as Brian took out his cell.

"Deb, is the gang still there gossiping about us?" Debbie was the first on Brian's call list.

"Yes, you asshole, and didn't you just leave here?"

"Aw, Maw, give me a fucking break."

"What is it, kiddo, you leave your favorite butt plug behind?"

"You know, Deb, that's even gross for you. I called to issue my own summons. You can pass it along to the gang. The cottage, tomorrow afternoon at one. The last big barbecue of the season before it gets nasty. It's supposed to be warm and sunny. Oh, and bring Lacy."

"What are you up to?"

"I'm always up. See you tomorrow and tell Emmett he better not wake me at eight."

"Goodnight, kiddo."

"Night Maw, and good night, Mikey!" Brian laughed as he cut the connection.

On the other end, Debbie howled with laughter as Michael turned beet red as he hung up the extension phone.

"John?" Brian made his second call.

"Hi, Bri, what's up?"

"Why is everyone interested in my cock?"

"Maybe because it has its own zip code," John answered without hesitation. Over the years John had grown very wise in the ways of Brian Kinney. "How was the summons?"

"Not bad and I issued one of my own for tomorrow afternoon. You think your mom and Steve can join us?"

"I'll call them now. See you soon?"

"We're on the way."

"Later, bro."

"Later."

It was easy enough to pick up whatever JP and Katerina would need for a couple of days, drive to the cottage and then settle them in for the night.

The lovers cuddled close in the middle of their four poster, looking at each other.

"Bri, I think my gerbil jumped ship and is doing a tango in your brain. What's going on in there?" Justin gently thumped the top of Brian's head.

"Something about the timing of all this has been grating on my nerves."

"What do you mean? Are you thinking like my father that JP and Katerina are after my money?"

"No, Sunshine, I don't believe that. If that were true, they would have had a lawyer drop papers in our lap demanding a cut. No, it's something else. I just haven't worked it all out yet."

"And you think by bringing everyone together tomorrow, you'll be able to figure it out?"

"Not sure. But why did JP take so long to introduce his sister to us?"

"Maybe it's just like he said, she's shy, young and doesn't speak much English."

"No, there's more to it. And Justin, when we went to Panama, practically everyone spoke English or enough English to communicate with us. Go to sleep, Sunshine. I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be one busy day."

"Okay. I love you, you know."

"I know." The lovers somehow got impossibly closer and fell asleep.

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"Helloooo!"

"Fuck! I will personally yank his balls off and shove them down his fucking throat." Brian cursed Emmett as he got out of bed to go to the sun porch door.

"Brian! Pants!" Justin rolled over and buried himself under a pillow. Whoever was at the door, Brian was more than capable of dealing with him.

"Emmett, I said not before eight!"

"It's not before eight; it's eight-thirty." Emmett smiled his best toothy grin while Drew blushed and tried his damnedest to make himself very small.

"Go. Kitchen. Make coffee, plenty of coffee and do NOT wake up the kids. I am going back to bed. You will NOT wake me before nine-thirty. Understood?"

"Understood, your majesty."

Brian mumbled another curse then stumbled back to bed.

Promptly at nine-thirty, a gentle rap at their bedroom door awakened Justin.

"Come in?" Justin softly called out.

"Hey, baby, you decent?" Emmett was carrying a tray with coffee and fresh biscuits.

"Em, what are you doing?"

"Bringing the king and his consort breakfast in bed. Now, wake up his majesty before this gets cold. I know he hates cold coffee."

"He's awake." Brian rolled over to glance at the clock then snorted at the time. "Emmett, I'll kill you later, after my coffee."

"You do that. Here ya go, sweetums. Enjoy. I'll start breakfast for the masses. I think I hear your little angel and if those giggles I hear coming from the other cottage mean anything, Patrick just woke up his dads. Kids make the greatest alarm clocks," Emmett chuckled, then left to go back to the kitchen.

Emmett and Justin shooed away everyone from the kitchen. Everyone left with heaping plates of Emmett's morning delicacies to eat at their leisure. John and Drew went to watch ESPN and talk sports. Bobby took the kids along with JP and Katerina through the garden and down to the stream. Brian escaped the madness by going to his office to look over some contracts and catch up on business news via the internet. They had a few hours before the family would descend upon them. Something didn't add up and Brian was determined to figure it out by the end of the day. Then let the chips falls where they may.

Brian's eyes wandered toward Justin's end of the attic office. He smiled softly, shaking his head at the pile of papers and mess that constituted Justin's organization of his desk. No matter how long they lived together, Justin was still a slob. He kept everything they shared neat and orderly, but whatever was truly Justin's was still a mess. Brian crossed to Justin's desk to shuffle through the papers trying to make sense of it all. As he came across a folder that said 'Edna' a few notes in Edna's distinctive scrawl fluttered out.

As Brian retrieved the papers, many had sticky notes attached with Justin's scribble on them. They all said the same thing, "Edna-need help reading this." Brian shook his head again. If Justin needed help 'translating' Edna's handwriting, he could have come to him. Brian had no problem reading the woman's scrawl. One note in particular caught Brian's eye and it might be the key to JP and Katerina.

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