Chapter 10 

"JR, Danny!" Mel called as she and Lindsay walked into the house.

"In the kitchen," Danny's voice came back to her.

The two women walked through to the kitchen. They found Danny and JR wearing aprons and covered in flour. They were stirring something in a big bowl.

"What the hell are you two doing?" Mel demanded.

"Making cookies," they said in unison and both giggled.

"Do either of you know how to make cookies?" Mel asked.

"No," they both said.

"Then what makes you think you can do this?"

"We found this recipe book, and these cookies sounded good," Danny said gesturing to the flour covered cookbook that lay on the table.

"The first time I leave you and JR alone together and you destroy my house," Mel said.

"It's not that bad," Lindsay laughed.

"But we were only gone for a couple of hours," Mel protested.

"We'll clean it up," Danny said and JR nodded her head. She didn't want her Grandpa to get into trouble. The cookies had seemed like a good idea at the time. And they had been having a lot of fun finding all the ingredients and mixing everything together. Grandpa had been telling her stories about some of the places he had traveled.

"Damn right you will," Melanie stated.

"Are you ready to put a batch in the oven?" Lindsay asked.

"Yeah, if we could find a cookie sheet," Danny laughed.

"Here you go," Lindsay said drawing a cookie sheet out of a lower cupboard.

"Thanks."

"Can I help?" Lindsay asked. "I'm pretty good at flattening cookie dough."

JR smiled at her mother. "Mama, would you like to help too?"

Melanie looked at each of them in turn. She realized she was being a party pooper. "Sure, why not?" she said with a smile.

They were some of the best cookies that any of them had ever tasted, even if they were a little dry and some were slightly burnt.

*****

While Brian and Justin were shaking hands and making nice at the art gallery, Lacy made her way home from the diner. She had finished the dinner rush and now she was free for the rest of the night. She wished she had somewhere to go or something special to do, but she would go back to Debbie's and crash like she did every day.

She walked through the front door and called Debbie's name. Debbie had left the diner with Carl after that weird meeting between Hunter and his mother. Lacy shivered. That woman was so … strange, and she was so ill. It made Lacy almost nauseous to think of what Rita Montgomery was going to face over the next weeks or months or whatever time she had left.

Lacy walked into the kitchen expecting to find Debbie. Nobody was there. They must have gone out, or maybe they were with Hunter or maybe Carl had gone to Babylon. Lacy smiled at her list of possibilities for the whereabouts of the Horvaths. She was worse than a parent worrying about where their kid might be or what they might have gotten into.

That made her think about her … father. She had to admit that she had thought about him a lot lately. Ever since that talk with Debbie.

Lacy got a soda out of the fridge and sat down at the kitchen table. From where she was seated she could see the phone. It was beckoning to her. She knew what she needed to do.

She picked up the receiver and dialed the number from all those years ago.

"Hello?"

"Dad."

"Lucin…Lacy, is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me."

"I'm so glad you called.

"Are you really?" she asked but she couldn't prevent the smile that crossed her face.

"I've been waiting and hoping to hear from you."

"Why didn't you come back to Pittsburgh?"

"I wanted to but…"

"But what?"

"I…" Roman hesitated. "I was afraid I might drive you further away. I was afraid you wouldn't believe me."

"Believe you about what?" she asked hoping he was going to say what she was praying for.

"Believe me that I've changed, that I'm ready to accept who and what you are … that I'm still very proud of you."

Lacy's smile got bigger and bigger with each word her father said. "Do you really mean that?"

"With all my heart."

"Debbie said you meant it."

"It was easier convincing her than you," Roman laughed gently.

"Yeah, I guess it was."

"What made you call … finally?"

"Something happened today."

"What was that?"

"You remember Hunter?"

"Yeah, did something happen to him?"

"Kind of. His mother came to see him. She … she did some terrible things to Hunter when he was young. But now she's dying." Lacy's voice had gotten thinner and quieter as she spoke. The last word was barely audible, but Roman heard it nevertheless.

"I'm sorry."

"I … I don't want us to end up like that," Lacy said feeling tears behind her eyes. "I don't want to lose you."

"You won't lose me … not for a long time. And I'm not going to run away from you ever again."

"You promise?" Lacy asked in a choking voice.

"I solemnly swear," Roman stated.

"Would you come to Pittsburgh tomorrow? I think we should spend the day together."

"I'd like nothing more."

"I'll see you tomorrow morning," Lacy said and quickly hung up. Then she let the tears run down her face.

*****

"Hunter?" Nick called out as he entered their loft.

"In here," Hunter answered from the bedroom.

"I brought Chinese; it's on the counter. You okay, Baby? I'm beat."

"I'm fine. I called over to the hospice."

"How is she settling in?"

"Surprisingly well but she's regressed into her own little world. She thinks she's in a grand hotel being waited on."

"Maybe that isn't such a bad thing. She may experience a lot of pain soon. Is it so bad if she lives out the rest of her days in a fantasy world?"

"I suppose not but I guess that fantasy world doesn't apply to me."

"No, Baby, it doesn't. I need you in this world. We all need you in this world."

"Then I had better stay," Hunter whispered as he was drawn into his lover's arms; the Chinese takeout forgotten.

*****

"Molly! What brings you here?" Susan asked her when she answered the doorbell.

"Justin told me that Bree was spending the weekend here and that my Dad actually approved. I came to see for myself."

"And to check if Briana is having a good time?" Susan looked directly into Molly's eyes when she posed the question. Molly blushed slightly as she stepped into the house.

"Justin did call me earlier today. They're worried."

"I got the same call from Brian when they landed. And I quote, 'that bastard better not make her cry or there'll be hell to pay,' end quote. I believe him."

"I believe him too." They went into the kitchen where they found Bree sitting up on a high stool, swinging her little feet and watching her Gampa stirring a pot of gravy.

"Hi, Dad."

"Molly, honey, good to see you. Is Owen with you?"

"No, he's out of town with his dad on business," Molly said with a sigh.

"Can you stay for dinner? We have plenty."

"Dad, since when do you cook?" Molly was pleasantly amused by the situation.

"Gampa cooks good!" Bree offered her opinion.

"Really? That's good to know, Squirt. Dad, do you know what you're doing?"

"Not really but Susan told me to keep stirring so I'm stirring."

"Got him well trained, I see," Molly commented to Susan. And they all laughed.

After a nice dinner and quiet conversation, Molly took out a box from the shopping bag she had brought with her.

"What's in the box?" Craig asked as he walked out of the kitchen drying his hands on a dish towel. "I put on coffee," he remarked casually.

"It's Bree's dress," Molly answered. She placed the box on the coffee table waiting for Susan to bring the child out of the spare room. After dinner, Susan helped Bree to clean up and put on her pajamas.

"Her dress?"

"Her flower girl dress, Dad."

"Oh, that dress. May I see it?" Molly smiled then gingerly removed the lid of the box. Inside, surrounded by protective tissue was a pale pink satin dress. The bodice was circled by a white ribbon with flower appliques sewn on. It was a simple dress but beautiful. "As I recall, little girls grow up fast. Won't it need alterations by the time the wedding rolls around?"

"Possibly, that's why it's not hemmed. The dressmaker will complete the dress in December." Craig nodded, that made more sense. "When we found the dress we knew it would be perfect for Briana, so I bought it. I thought she'd like to see it."

Briana came running out of the bedroom. "Ooo! Pretty. Can I try it on?" Briana pleaded.

"Sure, sweetheart, let's go into the bedroom." Bree took Molly's hand as they walked back into the bedroom.

"Susan, want some coffee, it's decaf?"

"Sure, I'll help." Susan and Craig went into the kitchen to get the coffee mugs, sugar and milk. Craig took out a tin that held the homemade cookies that Bree and Susan baked earlier that afternoon. Susan walked up behind Craig and wrapped her arms around his waist. He felt her press her lips to the middle of his back. Slowly Craig turned in her arms.

"What did I do to deserve that?" Craig asked tenderly.

"For accepting Briana this weekend, for being nice to her and to Molly."

"You make it sound like I've been cruel."

"Craig, denying your son, attacking Brian, attacking Brian's brother and denying your granddaughter..."

"The acts of a cruel man," Craig muttered not expecting a response. "I'm trying, Susan, I'm really trying but homosexuality, it's not what I wanted for my son."

"Maybe not but what do you want for him?"

"Besides him finding a good woman, passing on the Taylor name, I thought I wanted him to follow me into business, but I guess he's found his true calling. I guess I want what all parents want for their children. I want him to be happy and healthy."

"He is, Craig, he is happy and healthy and that's because he's with the man he loves and we've seen first hand how protective Brian is of him and Bree."

"I'll give you that," Craig conceded.

"Then why can't you accept that Justin and Brian belong together."

"Because, it's unnatural, that's why! Two men, two women, it's just plain wrong! It's supposed to be one man and one woman."

"How can you say that? Look at you and Jennifer, one man, one woman and the relationship your son is having with Brian will surpass it."

"I don't like Brian, the smug, arrogant bastard. He turned my son against me."

"Craig, please, not that again, you know that isn't true."

"Fine, I promised I wouldn't bring that up again but it doesn't change the fact that I hate Brian Kinney." Just then Bree in her flower girl gown and Molly walked through the kitchen door.

"Gampa, why do you hate my Dada?" Bree's violet blue eyes were brimming with tears, her little mouth twitching ready to cry.

"Bree, honey, Gampa didn't mean it." Susan gave her husband a dirty look then ushered the child out into the living room.

"Daddy, how could you?" Molly admonished Craig in a loud whisper. Then she stormed out of the kitchen.

"Bree, you look so beautiful!" Susan was trying to take Bree's mind off the subject. "Molly said you've been rehearsing your walk, can you demonstrate for me?" Craig stepped out of the kitchen.

"Dem-straight?" Briana didn't understand.

"Show us your walk," Craig clarified the request for Bree. Bree ran to the other end of the room trying not to step on the long edge of her dress. She turned and slowly began her walk towards Craig, pretending to sprinkle flower petals from a basket, her little hips swishing conspicuously like her daddy's hips. When she reached Craig, he scooped her up and kissed her face.

"That was perfect, Briana. You'll be the best flower girl that ever was," Craig gushed. Briana smiled her little sunny smile then became very serious. Craig was about to get a demonstration of the Taylor tenacity.

"Gampa, why do you hate my Dada?" Molly and Susan waited for Craig's explanation.

Craig carried the little girl over to the sofa. He sat down with Bree perched on his lap.

"Briana, sometimes adults say things and do things that we shouldn't. I know you love your daddy..."

"Daddy, my real daddy. Dada, Gus's real daddy but my Dada," Bree explained it to Craig.

"I stand corrected," Craig admitted.

"My Dada stand correct too." Bree remembered when Brian said the same thing.

"Briana, I love your Daddy but I can't lie. Lying is bad. Do you know that?" Bree knew that telling a lie wasn't a good thing. She nodded.

"I don't like your Dada."

"But Dada takes care of me and Daddy, he make me a Wendy house, he take me to the stream. And we hunt frogs and he take me to Nyork and we take baffs and, and, Dada gives hugs when Daddy's scared and has bad dreams. And we cook baconeggs and we do gar-gar."

"Gar-gar?" Craig looked over at Molly.

"Gardening, Bree and Brian have planted an extensive garden, including an herb garden."

"Chives good, Gampa. Dada good, Dada loves me and Daddy. He's my bestest Dada." Bree could not fathom why anyone wouldn't like her Dada. "Dada take away my splinner and when Daddy cries, Dada gives kisses."

"Bree, why does your Daddy cry?"

Bree's face took on a sad expression at Craig's question. "Daddy's hand hurts sometimes and Dada take away the ouch. I did a bad thing and Daddy got scared and cried and Dada make it all better. Dada very good Dada. Me and Daddy love Dada very, very, VERY much." Bree spread her little arms out in description of how much she loved her Dada.

"Bree..."

"Gampa, you love Daddy?" Briana circled Craig's neck with her arms.

"Yes," Craig whispered into Bree's fine hair.

"You love me?" Briana asked.

"Yes, sweetheart, with all my heart." Craig kissed the top of the blond head.

"Then you hafta love my Dada." Briana's logic was unbreachable.

"I'll try, Briana, I'll try," Craig whispered into his granddaughter's hair.

-fin-

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