PAR-TAY WITH BREE

Chapter 10


 

“Hi!” Lindsay greeted Brian as she and Mel came through the front door. “Something smells heavenly,” she commented as they walked into the kitchen area.

“Coffee,” Mel grumbled, not fully awake and yet forced to get up early so she could join the family for the post sleepover breakfast.

Brian just cocked his head over to the pot at the coffeemaker. He had his hands full with pancake batter and the turning of strips of sizzling bacon. Lindsay poured herself and Mel a cup of the fresh brew then topped off Brian’s mug which sat on the counter nearest to the stove.

“Thanks,” he mumbled with a smile which got him a peck on the cheek from Lindsay. “Someone got lucky last night,” Brian commented as he spied the rosy glow to Lindsay’s cheeks. “And maybe this morning too?” He snickered.

“Oh can it, Kinney,” Mel chided before taking a large gulp of caffeine.

“Can we help?” Lindsay cheerfully asked ignoring Mel and sipping her own mug of coffee.

“Not in here, but maybe you can help them in the porch. We’ve decided to have breakfast together at the big table. The party fairy promised me he’d protect the table with a thick cloth if I let him use it for breakfast and then arts and crafts,” Brian explained.

“I’ll go,” Mel growled as she topped off her mug then hustled into the sun porch.

“What’s gotten up her ass? Have you been playing with toys again?” Brian asked with a waggle of his eyebrows. Lindsay blushed a deeper shade of red. “Oh I do declare!” Brian drawled in an exaggerated southern accent. “Why, Miss Lindsay, have you been pretending to be a gay man in a lesbian’s body again? Didn’t think that strap-on would ever see the light of day.” Brian snickered conspiratorially.

Brian got a smack on the shoulder.

“Hey! Hot stove here and don’t you make me ruin my pancakes.”

“Heaven forbid you should serve less than perfect pancakes.”

“Damn right. My pancakes are legendary.”

“At least on this lane. Seriously, do you want some help? I still can’t believe you hosted a bunch of girls and survived to tell about it.”

“And why not? We had the ultimate party planner to organize this soiree. Everything has been organized to within an inch of its life,” Brian said as he plated the first batch of pancakes then stuck them in the warmer.

“You amaze me.”

“Of course I do. Um, why?”

“Brian Kinney, the slut of Liberty Avenue.”

“Unh unh, former slut.”

“Former slut. Now the stalwart father of a seven year old princess, and cooking breakfast.”

“You make me sound boring,” Brian said with a frown.

“Never boring,” Lindsay said, as she sidled up to him, wrapping her arms around Brian’s waist from behind him. “Never boring. I’m so proud of you. I love you,” Lindsay added in a whisper. Brian leaned back to kiss her cheek.

“I love you too,” he replied. They both turned around at the sound of young feet coming into the kitchen.

“Auntie Emm asked us to help,” JR said. She had Winona in tow. JR was nonplussed at the sight of her mother being kissed by her Uncle Brian. In spite of his pretense of the stoic non-feeling man, JR knew that her uncle’s feelings ran very deep. And those feelings included a deep love for her mother Lindsay. Winona, on the other hand was very confused.

“Just in time, ladies,” Brian said with a very handsome smile that could dazzle even a lesbian.

“Stop it,” Lindsay said with a nudge and a giggle. She got the full Kinney-trying-to-be-innocent look that she knew very well. That made her giggle even more. JR giggled as well.

Brian put down his spatula then turned off the stove. He handed the girls plates and cutlery then sent them on their way.

“Why aren’t we using paper plates?” Lindsay asked.

“The party fairy suggested it, but I prefer my pancakes on a real plate,” he said as he fixed up the huge platter of pancakes and another for the bacon. Lindsay had the butter and syrup.

“What’s the hold up? We have hungry princesses waiting out there!” Emmett announced as he sashayed into the kitchen. He loaded up a tray with glasses, juice and milk. “Chop! Chop!” he said as he clapped his hands, spurring on his minions.

Emmett’s minions took the hint and breakfast was ready to begin.

“Oooh! Aaah!” the girls exclaimed as breakfast was artfully arranged on the big table. The Anderson-Morrison family was already seated and Drew was just coming through the sun porch door much to the pleasure of the party planner.

“My ladies and lords, let breakfast begin!” Emmett declared to cheers from the family as he, Brian and Justin began to serve up breakfast.

 

*****
 

After breakfast Emmett had the girls sitting at the table. There was container after container of colorful and sparkling beads. As Emmett was making copies of the party DVD’s, the girls were making necklaces and bracelets all fit for young princesses. This was a productive way to fill up the time until their parents came to get them. Lindsay and Mel volunteered to help with the dishes and the men were wrestling with the mattresses. Winona was sitting next to JR making a multi-colored necklace. JR had picked out some sedate looking beads to make bracelets that she could wear everyday.

“I thought your mommies only liked girls,” Winona whispered to JR as she leaned over closer.

“They do.”

“So why did your mother kiss Mr. Brian?”

“Because she loves him,” JR said matter of factly.

“Oh. I though Mr. Brian only likes boys.”

“He does.”

“But...”

“He loves my mom.”

“Oh. Don’t you get confused?” Winona asked as she held up her strand of beads. JR smiled her approval. Somehow the eclectic combination of colors and of sparkling crystal beads and opaque ones, worked. The necklace could be worn with anything.

“Nah. I’m used to it.”

“Oh. My mommy only likes my daddy.”

“That’s good.”

“Do you like girls?”

“Just as friends. I like boys,” JR admitted. “How about you?” JR asked forgetting that Winona was only in third grade.

“Boys are icky.”

JR laughed then she laughed louder as she thought of her brother together with Ray. “Yeah,” she agreed before she concentrated once again on her bracelet.

 

*****
 

“I made this for you,” Bree said, handing Ashley the bracelet she had just completed.

Ashley smiled and hugged her best friend. “Thank you.”

“I’m making one for each of you,” Bree said, as she looked at the expectant faces around the table.

“Are you going to have time?” Emmett asked knowing that it had taken quite a while for Bree to complete the little bracelet she had just given Ashley.

“I can do it,” Bree said confidently.

“Maybe your daddies and I could help,” Emmett suggested. He gave Brian and Justin a look. They had been standing by the windows watching the girls at work. Brian and Justin nodded.

“If you pick the beads you want for each of your princesses, we’ll string them for you,” Emmett instructed.

“Make mine, Mr. Brian,” Winona pleaded.

“Certainly, little lady,” Brian replied using his best imitation of his brother John. He squeezed into the space next to Bree. “You did good, Squirt,” Brian whispered in his daughter’s ear. Then he kissed her cheek.

“I know, Dada,” Bree smiled. “I share.”

Brian smiled openly and completely at the little girl who was the light of his life. “I love you, Squirt.”

“Love you too, Dada.”

“Who wants me to make their bracelet?” Justin asked.

“Me, me!” Brenda and Hannah both cried.

“How be I do yours, Brenda?” Emmett suggested. “Justin, you can string Hannah’s. Okay, girls?” Both girls nodded their approval.

“I’ll make yours later,” Bree said to JR, not wanting her sister to be left out.

JR smiled at Bree. “I know,” she said simply. She didn’t mind that Bree was making the gifts for the other girls first. She was having fun making a beautiful necklace for herself.

“I could string your beads,” Drew offered, seeing all the other men working away with the beads. He had just finished with the last mattress that needed to be hauled up to the offices.

“Oh Drewsie, you don’t have to,” Emmett cooed.

“If all you manly men can string beads, so can I,” Drew laughed taking a seat at the table.

“Okay, Unca Drew,” Bree said. “Start with these beads,” she ordered passing him five beads that she had just selected for JR. “And here’s some more for Winona’s bracelet, Dada,” she added handing Brian several more beads. “You’re doing good.” Brian smiled.

“How about me, sweetheart?” Justin asked holding up the beads he had strung for Hannah.

“Beautiful, Daddy,” Bree announced. She searched through several of the containers and handed her father some more beads.

“You’re quite the production line supervisor,” Emmett chuckled as Bree gave him some more beads for Brenda’s bracelet.

“I know what my friends like,” Bree stated. “I pick good combinations.”

“That you do, princess,” Drew tossed out as he struggled to get his first bead on the thin filament.

“Do it like this,” Emmett told his partner, showing Drew how to hold the bead for easy threading.

“I should have smaller fingers for a job like this.”

“Not huge hands made for throwing footballs,” Emmett said leaning down to kiss Drew’s fingers.

The little girls watched the display of affection and smiled. Winona wondered what her mother would say if she saw Mr. Drew and Auntie Emm together. She frowned as she wondered if her mother might say something rude. She hoped that wouldn’t happen.

“Did you pick out all these beads, Auntie Emm?” JR asked. “They’re beautiful.”

“Yes, I did,” Emmett replied. “And I’m so glad you all like them.”

“I’m going to have the bestest necklace,” Brenda told everyone present.

“Me too,” Hannah agreed. “And the best bracelet from Bree.

Bree smiled at her friends. “Auntie Emm has the bestest ideas. This is so much fun.”

“Thank you, sweetie,” Emmett said with his toothy grin.

“They really are big kids,” Melanie observed from one of the chaises where she was ensconced with a mug of coffee.

“Yeah, but they’re having fun … even Brian,” Lindsay said sitting on the accompanying chaise with her own cup of coffee.

“Who’d a thunk it?” Melanie asked.

“He always manages to surprise,” Lindsay laughed.

“That he does.”

The buzzer for the front gate on the lane went off at that moment.

“Someone’s mother must be early,” Brian said trying to string the bead he was working on before he had to get up to answer it.

“I’ll get it, Brian,” Lindsay offered.

“Thanks,” Brian called as he went back to what he was doing.

“I bet it’s my mother,” Winona sighed. “I don’t want to go home yet.”

Brian looked up and winked at the girl. “Maybe your mother would like a cup of coffee. She could drink that while you finish your necklace.”

“And you finish my bracelet,” Winona said with a happy grin on her face.

Lindsay returned to the sun porch. “It’s Winona’s mother. She wanted to know who I was,” Lindsay said to Melanie.

Melanie snorted. “She probably thought you were the hired help.”

“Could be,” Lindsay laughed. “I let her think I was the maid.”

“You’re so bad,” Melanie chuckled.

“I know, and that’s the way you like me.”

“Definitely.”

The front doorbell rang. “I better get that,” Lindsay said. “The maid is expected to answer the door.” Lindsay hustled back into the house.

“Offer her a cup of coffee,” Brian called.

They all could hear voices at the door. Lindsay repeated “Yes, ma’am” several times. In a couple of minutes Lindsay escorted Mrs. Vanderbrot into the sun porch. The woman held a mug of coffee.

“Oh?” Mrs. Vanderbrot gasped when she saw all of the people inside the large space. “I had no idea there would be so many adults. I thought I was early.”

“You are early,” Lindsay said. She couldn’t help herself. Mrs. Vanderbrot had been ordering her around ever since Lindsay answered the door.

“I beg your pardon,” Winona’s mother said huffily. “You don’t speak to guests like that.”

Brian was already on his feet. He sensed a fight brewing. In other circumstances, he would have liked nothing better, but he didn’t want Bree’s party to be ruined. “Mrs. Vanderbrot, nice to see you again,” he said quickly, taking the woman’s hand that didn’t hold the coffee mug, and kissing it while executing a slight bow.

“Ooh, Mr. Kinney, you have such lovely manners. It’s too bad your help doesn’t.”

Lindsay was about to let loose with some expletives, if the look on her face was any indication.

“There’s obviously been some kind of misunderstanding,” Brian said smoothly. “This is Lindsay Peterson, a very dear friend, and the mother of my son.”

“Oh!” Mrs. Vanderbrot reacted. “I could have sworn she said…”

“It doesn’t matter,” Brian jumped in. “Would you like to join us at the craft table? Winona wants to finish her necklace. Or would you like to take a chaise and enjoy the beautiful sunshine?”

“The chaise sounds lovely.”

“Let me introduce you to Melanie Marcus. She’s a lawyer and Lindsay’s life partner.”

“Oh…” Mrs. Vanderbrot seemed to have a lot to get used to. She knew Mr. Kinney was gay, but he certainly was charming. And now she had lesbians to deal with. “Are you nearly done, darling?” she asked her daughter.

“Not yet, mother,” Winona said. “Mr. Kinney is making me a bracelet.”

“How lovely.”

“I’m making you the bracelet,” Bree informed her guest. “Dada’s just putting it together.”

“Sure, Bree, sorry,” Winona backtracked.

“It’s very nice of Mr. Kinney and the other gentlemen to help you girls.”

“I guess I should make the rest of the introductions,” Brian said. He really didn’t enjoy the role of host in this type of situation. “You know Justin already.” Mrs. Vanderbrot nodded. “And this is Emmett Honeycutt, Pittsburgh’s premier party planner. He has made sure the girls had lots of fun. You had fun, didn’t you, girls?” There were lots of giggles and nodding of heads and “yeahs”. “And this is Drew Boyd, sports broadcaster and Emmett’s better half.”

“Oh!” Mrs. Vanderbrot said. That seemed to be her favorite word since she had entered the house. “Nice to meet you all.”

“Have a seat,” Brian said indicating a chaise near Melanie.

Mrs. Vanderbrot made her way over to the chaise and sat down with a sigh. “The girls seem to be having a good time,” she noted, looking at Melanie.

“They are,” Mel responded. “You should have seen this place earlier today. It was a princess’ fairyland.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, the girls all slept out here in their pink princess beds. It was magical.”

“I can only imagine,” Mrs. Vanderbrot said.

“Brian and Justin said the girls were very good, and even got a good night’s sleep.”

“My Winona doesn’t sleep well, so I doubt she got a good night’s sleep,” Mrs. Vanderbrot stated.

“Yes, I did, mother,” Winona called. JR gave her a poke in the ribs knowing that Winona had been awake for part of the night. “She doesn’t need to know that,” Winona whispered. “She might not let me do something like this again if she knew.”

“Oh, okay,” JR whispered back, as she was finishing her necklace.

“Is one of these girls yours?” Mrs. Vanderbrot asked Melanie.

“Yes, the girl next to Winona is our daughter, JR.”

“She’s kind of old for this party, isn’t she?”

“She’s Bree’s sister, and she was here to help with the party.”

“Oh,” Mrs. Vanderbrot said using her favorite word of the day. She sat back on the chaise and sipped her coffee. It seemed that when she opened her mouth to say something, she gave offense to one of the homosexual people present. She thought maybe it would be better just to be quiet.

 

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