Chapter 8

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The next morning Brian woke up with a start. He abruptly sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. The clock read nine in the morning.

"Justin?"

"Right here, big guy," Justin replied as he bumped the bedroom door open with his hip. He was carrying a tray of coffee, muffins and fruit. He carefully set the tray down on a bedside table then crawled back onto the bed with Brian.

"Morning," Brian murmured as he kissed his lover.

"Morning, right backatcha!"

"Where's the Squirt?"

"John had some business in Harrisburg today so he took Miss Bree to see Gamma Claire. He'll bring Bree and Patrick home later today."

"And what's on your agenda for the day?" Brian asked as he picked up a muffin, breaking off a small piece then feeding it to Justin.

"I have a couple of paintings to finish for the fundraiser. I'm feeling inspired. What about you?"

"I have declared this day to be a drag queen free day! I do not want to hear one word about G-strings, falsies, garters or feathers. Nothing! Nada!" Brian crossed his arms over his chest to emphasize the point.

Justin broke out in a fit of giggles then reached over to give Brian his coffee. "That sounds like a plan. Besides, I think you need a break. You've been hanging around them so much lately that you're beginning to swish when you walk."

Brian's eyes grew wide with shock. "I do not swish! You're the swishing half of this partnership, my little Sunshine."

"Oh really?"

"Yes, really. As a matter of fact, why don't you swish your tight little ass over my cock?"

"And what's my inspiration?"

"Nine inches of rock hard dick."

"That's some inspiration. However, since this is a true partnership, perhaps I can inspire your ass over my rock hard dick. And I promise not to mention anything that has to do with..."

"Uh uh uh."

"The 'D' word."

"You promise?" Brian smirked at his lover.

"I promise," Justin responded, slowly batting his eyes at Brian.

"Then how can I resist such a tempting offer."

"You can't. Now roll over and come for papa!"

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"Lucinda."

Lacy's head shot up and she almost dropped the plate she was setting in front of a customer. She turned and looked at her father who was standing just inside the door of the diner. Lacy quickly set the plate down and moved over to her father.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I want to talk to you."

"I thought I told you to go home," Lacy said with a sigh.

"I did. That's why you haven't seen me for a couple of days. But … I couldn't stay away. I want you back in my life, Lucinda. I want to make it up to you for what happened … back then."

"I don't think that's possible," Lacy said but she had to admit that her heart softened a little at his words.

"Please, Lucinda, give me a chance," he begged.

She could see the tears in his eyes. "Okay, I'm off in twenty minutes," she said looking at her watch.

"That's great," he said with a smile. "Could I have a coffee and maybe some apple pie while I wait?"

"You … you're going to wait here?"

"I thought I would, but if it makes you uncomfortable, I could go somewhere else."

"No, no, it's okay. That booth is available. I'll get your pie and coffee."

"Thanks," he said with a smile as he moved over to the booth.

She stared at his back for a moment shaking her head. She didn't know what this meant … for her, for him, for them. But after her talk with Debbie she felt the need to see what he wanted and how it might all play out. "Just don't get your hopes up," she muttered to herself.

Lacy's father sat and watched his daughter handle the customers and carry out her job with ease and finesse. It was only a waitress job, but he had to admit that she impressed him with the way she handled everything. His little girl was all grown up.

At the end of her shift Lacy came out of the back with her bag and slid into the booth with her father. "So what do you want to say this time?" she asked.

"Could we go somewhere else, more private?" he wanted to know. "I have a hotel room."

Lacy shook her head. She wanted to be on her own turf when they had this discussion. "I board with the woman who owns this place. They're out for the evening. Do you want to come home with me?" she asked wondering if she was doing the right thing or making a big mistake.

"Sure," he said. "I'd like to see where you've been living."

She got up from the booth and he followed her out of the diner.

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"Susan, any news about Craig?" Justin asked as his stepmother answered the phone.

"Sorry, Justin, nothing new."

Justin sighed. "Hasn't he said anything about Bree's visit or what he thought of her?"

"Not word one!"

"Fuck."

"I know; I'm disappointed too."

"Do you think it's worth trying again in a few days?"

"I'm not sure," Susan admitted. "I hate to give up."

"Me too."

"I really thought Bree might be able to crack that hard shell he has around his heart."

"I was just hoping he'd come to the wedding," Justin said.

"You know," Susan said thoughtfully. "Bree did get Craig to eat a cookie that we baked."

"Those cookies were good," Justin replied.

"Thanks, would you like the recipe?"

"I'd love it. But why is Craig eating the cookie significant?"

"He never eats cookies. He's very conscious of his body and looks."

Justin made a face. "So Bree got him to eat one. That's something, I guess."

"I have an idea. Bring Bree over day after tomorrow, same time same place, and we'll see what happens."

"I like your style, Susan. I hope this works."

"Thanks, keep your fingers crossed," Susan said before she hung up.

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Lacy unlocked the front door at Debbie's and ushered her father inside. He looked around noting it wasn't much of a place compared to where Lucinda had grown up, but at least she appeared to be safe and warm here, so that was something.

"Would you like some tea? I usually have tea when I come home," Lacy explained.

"Sure," he said. "So you consider this home now?"

"That's right. I do," she said as she put the kettle on and got out some tea bags.

"Why did you run, Lucinda?"

Lacy sighed and turned to face her father. "Let's get something straight. I'm Lacy now; Lucinda is long gone."

"Lacy? Why Lacy?"

"It seemed right somehow. It could be male or female. I liked it."

Lacy's father made a face but quickly masked it. Somehow he was going to have to ask her about the implications of what was printed in the newspaper. He wasn't sure he wanted to know. "Do you want me to call you Lacy?"

"Yes."

"Okay, I will, Lacy," he said trying out the unfamiliar name.

The kettle boiled and Lacy made them each a cup of tea. She carried them to the kitchen table and then sat down. Her father did the same.

"Good tea," her father said as he took a sip.

"Thanks."

"Lu…Lacy, why did you run away?"

"You wouldn't listen to me," Lacy said with bitterness in her voice. "I needed your help and you were too busy to care."

"Wh…What do you mean?"

"Peter Hodgkiss, he tried to rape me, and you and Mom didn't give a fuck!" Lacy blurted out. She had bottled that up for so long that telling him left her breathless.

"Rape?" he said with wonder in his eyes. "Peter? Rape?"

"That's what I fucking said. Your sweet little neighbor boy tried to rape me … twice."

"Twice. Holy shit! Why didn't you tell me?"

Lacy laughed in a slightly hysterical way. "I tried, you idiot. I tried. But you were so busy screwing that bimbo that you didn't want to listen to me."

Lacy's father looked like he had been hit with a brick. "I … I'm so sorry, honey."

"Don't call me honey," Lacy said quickly. She didn't want terms of affection from this man.

"Sorry, I just didn't know."

"I tried to tell you several times," Lacy accused.

"I remember … sort of," he admitted. "But I didn't listen."

"You kept telling me what a nice boy Peter was, and how I was lucky to have the son of such a prominent family interested in me."

Lacy's father ran his hand over his face. "I'm so, so sorry."

"It's too late for sorry."

"Didn't you talk to your mother?"

Lacy snorted. "Yeah, I told her and she as much as said I should forget it and pretend nothing had happened."

He shook his head. How could they have failed their daughter so miserably? "Please let me try to make this up to you?" he begged her. He reached across the table to take her hand.

She jerked her hand away. "It's time for you to go," she said standing up.

"But…"

"No, don't say anything else. Just go."

"If that's what you want, but I'm staying in Pittsburgh. I'll come to see you at the diner tomorrow."

"Don't bother."

"It's no bother. I'll be there." He walked to the front door. "I want you back in my life, Lu…Lacy. Please."

Lacy shook her head and watched him walk out. When the door closed behind him, she doubled over in pain and started to cry. If only she could believe him, but she didn't dare.

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"Hunter!" Danny had stopped by the clinic after rehearsals.

"Hi, Danny. How's it going with the dance rehearsal?"

"My corns are getting corns and my bunion is screaming. Shanda is one pissy queen and don't get me started about the others."

"Whoa! I'm sorry I asked."

"Yeah, well, your Brian has been a godsend."

"Brian. Brian Kinney, Brian? That Brian?"

"Yes, that Brian. How many Brians do you know that have been hanging around a bunch of old drag queens for the past couple of weeks."

"Only one that I know of. What has he been doing to help?"

"What hasn't he done? Besides him being very attentive to all of us, he's been keeping us all on the straight and narrow, so to speak."

"I'm not following you."

"I'll let you in on a little secret; drag queens are all nasty bitches. And I'm the bitch of all bitches. I'll smile at you, applaud your performance then piss in your face cream. We're all self-centered and egotistical. Your Brian has put up with all of our idiosyncrasies. He's been a total gentleman. And between you and me, he's one hell of a hunk. I don't mind looking at him all day long."

"Tell me about it!"

"I'm sensing a story here." Danny gave Hunter a sly smile and a wink.

"Let's just say when I first met Brian Kinney, I would have done anything to get into his bed."

"And did you?"

"Nope. Blondie was there first."

"Blondie?"

"Justin Taylor, Brian's partner."

"Justin Taylor. Why do I know that name? He's the artist? He's donating paintings for the auction."

"Yes, he is. He's been a supporter of the clinic and of me too. He helped me out when I was trying to get back into school."

"Sounds like you have a great family."

"Yes, I do and now you're a part of that family too."

"I am?"

"Yup! Come on, Gramps, let me buy you dinner and I'll tell you all that I can about your family."

"Sounds like a long story."

"Years in the making, and as long as Brian and Justin are around, never ending.

"Must be some story. I'd love to hear it and I'd love to know more about you, Hunter. Do you like Italian?"

"Hey, my grandma is Debbie. I love Italian!"

"Then let's go, but it'll be my treat and my pleasure."

"Whatever you say, Gramps!" Danny, not yet used to being called, 'gramps,' gave Hunter a pained look. Hunter started to laugh. "It's okay. You should have seen Debbie's face the first time I called her grandma!"

Hunter and Danny both broke out in laughter.

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"Melanie?"

"Michael? If it's about this weekend, JR can spend it with you."

"Thanks, but that's not why I'm calling."

"What is it?"

"I'm not sure how to tell you this but something's happened and I don't know how to tell you and I don't want you to get all angry and lawyer-ish and..."

"Michael, what the fuck are you trying to say? You're babbling."

"I guess I am."

"Then just spit it out!"

"You know the fundraiser for the clinic?"

"Of course I know it. My firm is making a very large donation and we're sponsoring one of the drag queens for the tournament."

"Oh, I didn't know businesses could do that."

"Duh, Michael. Now what are you trying to say?"

"One of those drag queens is my father," Michael admitted, sounding very defeated.

"What! I thought your father was dead!"

"I thought so too."

"But how?"

"The usual way, you know, the birds and the bees."

"Michael!" Melanie was quickly losing her patience then recovered. "Michael, Lindz is working late at the gallery. They're displaying the larger pieces for the auction. Can you come over? You can start from the beginning."

"Okay, I'll be there soon."

"Michael, it'll be okay," Melanie tried to be reassuring.

"It'll never be okay again, not ever."

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