In Sickness and In Health

Chapter 15

Edna's Treasures Christmas Morning

Brian's POV:

Mmm, the elves must be hard at work because I smell something wonderful in the air. I can hear the occupants of our cottage buzzing around like a flock of honeybees working our garden. And they're all trying to keep the noise down to let me sleep. They shouldn't bother. I'm used to being awake early, but I love them all for the effort. And there shouldn't be too much left to do except cook the big stuff. The turkey is in our oven, the hams are in John's and the roast is at Emmett's. John intends to move one of the grills closer to the kitchen door so I can grill up the vegetables and steaks if we need the extra meat.

Emmett did it again. He has it all organized. Debbie, Claire and Rachel are all bringing their specialties. While Lindsay and Jennifer are bringing additional desserts. Of course, the big fairy has been baking like a fiend over there. Drew came over last night to escape the madness. Poor guy! Claims he's gained ten pounds just by inhaling all the sugar. Drew's a great guy, just like his partner.

I really should get out of bed and help. Maybe a few more minutes.

"Dada?" Bree sticks her little head in the room. "You awake?"

"Yes, sweetheart, I'm awake. You awake?" I joke with her and she laughs.

"Silly Dada, I'm awake. I had my cereal and juice a long, long time ago."

"Oh, that's a good thing."

"But Dada, you didn't have your toast or coffee, yet."

"No, I haven't." Bree crawls up onto my bed. She's still wearing her pink pajamas and her thick bunny slippers. She's studying my face. "What is it, Squirt?"

"Daddy says for you to get out of bed now because you had nuff sleep and you're a lazy bones."

"Daddy said all that, did he?" Bree bobs her little head up and down. "What else did Daddy say?"

"He says that your toast is getting cold and your coffee is so strong that it's going to melt the coffee pot," Bree says in all sincerity. I stretch, wiggle my toes then reach for Bree to hug her close to my heart.

"We can't have that, now can we?" I feel her shake her head.

"So you get up now, Dada?"

"I'm getting up."

"Good," Bree says as she scrambles out of my arms and off the bed. She's standing just outside my bedroom door, patiently waiting for me to throw on some sweat clothes.

"Dada, what does snow smell like?" I can feel my eyebrow arch up at her question.

"Why do you ask, Squirt?" I ask as I join her in the hall. We stroll toward the kitchen.

"Uncle John says it smells like snow outside!"

John's POV:

The cottage is humming with life and the preparations for our Christmas feast with all of our friends and family. This year is so much more poignant due to Brian's scare.

I have the hams slow cooking in our oven while the massive turkey is over at Brian's end. Emmett is cooking a large roast. My mother is bringing several casseroles and I know Debbie is bringing her lasagna. Even Rachel and Bobby's parents are bringing something. The whole family is involved.

Justin told me about the added guests. What's a few more mouths to feed? I'm sure we'll have enough. We always do, with plenty of leftovers to send home with the family.

I just hope the weather cooperates. I've been listening to the radio but the weatherman has been no help. They haven't predicted a storm but I've lived most of my life outside. I know the signs of an impending storm. It smells like snow.

I hope I'm wrong, this time.

Bobby's POV:

The sleeping beauty arises! And he's in the company of our resident princess. Like peas in a pod, the three of them. I love them all so much. My life has gotten so much richer thanks to them, and I thank God for the gift they gave me. If it wasn't for Brian and Justin, I wouldn't have my John and my own special prince.

Time for me to rile up the old man. He's spent far too much time in bed being catered to. It's time he got his ass in gear.

"Hey, big guy, about time you got your skinny ass out of bed. We can use your help around here!"

I giggle as Brian gives me that glare. I live for it.

"Brian, be nice," Justin admonishes his partner, as he witnesses the death glare. Justin puts a large mug of coffee in front of Brian along with his toast.

"He started it!" Brian grumbles.

"Did not," I reply.

"Did too," Brian says and sticks his tongue out at me.

"Big baby," I fire at him.

"Am not," he shoots back and we both crack up into uncontrollable laughter. I give my brother-in-law and best friend a hug and a kiss.

"I love you, you big goof. Don't ever scare me like that again," I whisper into his ear. And I give him a squeeze before passing him the sugar.

"I won't," he promises as he kisses my cheek. "I promise."

Bree's POV:

I'm sitting on my chair watching Dada eat his breakfast. It's Christmas morning and nobody is saying anything about presents. They're all busy making food and cleaning and putting things out on the counter. Patrick is sitting beside me. We both want to open some presents. There are tons of them under the tree. I want to see all the neat stuff that I got.

Dada is drinking his coffee. I wonder when he'll be done. I look at Patrick who shrugs. Nobody is paying any attention to us. Beau is laying by Patrick's chair. I know we have a present for Beau.

"Dada," I say. "Beau wants his bone."

"What, Squirt?" Dada asks. He hasn't hardly heard me.

"Beau wants his Christmas bone," I repeat.

"Don't we all?" Dada says. He has that funny look on his face as he glances over at Daddy. Daddy grins in that silly way that they do sometimes.

I frown. That isn't what he's supposed to say. "Dada?"

"Yes, Squirt. You want to open your presents, don't you?" he asks.

"Yes, Dada. Patrick too. And Beau."

Dada smiles at me. "Justin," he says. "There's a little girl here who has been waiting patiently to open some presents. The little red headed boy wants to do the same."

"I'm not little," Patrick protests.

"No, you're not," Unca Bobby says as he ruffles Patrick's hair. "You're growing up much too fast."

"I think that could be arranged," Daddy says. "Don't you guys think so?" He looks at Unca John and Unca Bobby. They nod their approval.

"Yay!" I respond, clapping my hands.

"Let's go, Squirt," Dada says taking my hand. We go out to the sun porch where the Christmas tree is. It's so pretty with all the glittering ornaments. Dada flips the switch to turn on the lights on the tree, even though it's daylight. It looks nice, even prettier as the little lights blink on and off. There are a few snowflakes starting to fall outside behind the tree. It looks like Unca John was right about the snow.

"Pretty," I tell Dada.

"Your Daddy did a good job this year."

I nod my head enthusiastically. We had fun decorating the tree, even if we were worried about Dada.

"Looks like Santa filled your stocking," Dada tells me. He reaches behind the tree and pulls out a huge stocking loaded with gifts.

I already know that. I looked as soon as I got up. But Daddy told me I wasn't to touch the stockings until we were all ready to open presents.

Unca John brings a tray in from the kitchen. There's coffee for the grown ups and hot chocolate for me and Patrick. I take a sip as I wait for everyone to get settled. Beau lays down beside us and waits too.

Dada hands me my stocking. "Let's see what Santa brought you," he says. I see that Patrick has his stocking too and we both dig into them.

I get a Barbie doll, all in pink. I love her. She's beautiful. There's a couple of games and lots of candies. I know Daddy will take them from me and let me have one every now and then, but that's okay. My favorite present is the new soccer ball that Dada lifts out from behind the tree. It has my name on it. I can hardly wait till I can play with it.

Patrick goes through all the things in his stocking. He's happy, and so am I. The presents are great, but the best thing is having Dada here with us. I missed him so much when he and Unca John didn't come home with us. It's much better now that he's here. I give him a big hug and hold onto my soccer ball.

"Want to play soccer with me, Dada?" I ask.

"I'd love to, Squirt, but it's snowing."

We look out the windows of the sun porch and note that the scattered flakes are becoming more constant.

"Later?" I ask.

"Yeah, if the weather clears up, we could go out for a few minutes."

"Bree," Unca John says with a very serious look on his face. "Your Dada shouldn't be outside in bad weather. Maybe your soccer can wait for a few days."

I look at Unca John and then at Dada. He looks kinda sad, like he wants to play with me, but doesn't know whether he should or not.

"It's okay, Dada," I say. "We play later."

He hugs me harder and I know that was the right thing to say. I want my Dada to be like himself. This Dada doesn't seem quite like he should be. It makes me scared. I hope everything's all right. They said it was.

"Let's get to the rest of these presents," Daddy says cheerfully. He wants everything to be as it usually is on Christmas, just like me.

We open more presents, but not the ones that are for all the people who will be arriving here before long. I can't wait to see them all again. The wedding was very pretty and I learned lots of things there. I was a good flower girl, but it was kind of scary. I like being home where I know how everything is supposed to happen. It's much easier that way. I think we will have a good Christmas, now that Dada is home. Everyone will be very happy.

"Here you go, Beau," Dada says.

He pulls a huge rawhide bone out of Beau's sock. Beau's ears perk up and he noses the bone.

"It's all yours, boy," Unca John confirms.

Beau grabs the bone and takes it over to his cushion in the corner. He starts to gnaw on it. We all laugh as his massive jaws crunch pieces off.

"Maybe we should have got two," Unca Bobby says.

"Or three or four," Dada chuckles.

"Or ten," I supply.

They all laugh and Dada hugs me. That feels so good, as I notice that the snow is coming down even more.

*****

Jennifer's POV:

"Joan! Right on time." I greet her cheerfully and mean it too. I still can't believe that Joan Kinney has turned out to be one of my dearest friends. Since she's known Bree and made her peace with Brian, Joan Kinney looks like she's gone back in time. She's happy and content with her life. Score one for Briana!

"Jennifer, dear, you look wonderful, and congratulations. I hear the wedding was a great success."

"Well, it almost wasn't but that's a story for another time. I'm sorry you weren't able to come."

"I thanked Molly personally for the invitation but I didn't think I really belonged there and as it turned out, Peter had his first show. His style is nothing like Justin's and his ambitions aren't as lofty, but he has been offered a position as a graphic artist." Joan was glowing with pride. "He owes it all to your son. Justin believed in him and encouraged him."

"I'm sure Justin was happy to do it. But please, let me take your coat and I'd like to introduce you to someone who is rapidly becoming very special in my life." I introduce Joan to Seth and let her in on the slight change of plans.

"Oh dear, I brought a change of clothes with me and some toiletries, just in case. We seem to stay later and later when we visit." Joan is a practical woman, plus I bet she wants to spend some quality time with her son and grandchildren. Especially since Brian had his scare. I don't know how much she knows so I don't say anything about it.

"We're bringing extra clothing too. I hope the weather holds out," I say, as I look out the window at the greying sky. "They didn't say anything about snow."

"But that's here in the city," Seth reminds me. "We're going to the country."

The door bell chimes and Katerina goes to open the door. She places her overnight bag by the door.

"Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Brenner," I hear Katerina greet our guests and she takes their coats.

"Hello there," I hear an unfamiliar voice call out and then a greeting in Spanish. Katerina returns the greeting in a flurry.

Owen makes the introductions to Joan, explaining their acquaintances and how the invitation came about. It sounds so silly when you think about it, but I can understand how Sharon feels. I feel it too, even though Katerina is still staying here, we have very little to do with each other. The girl is busy with her studies and at the clinic. And I'm at the office most days. I miss my little girl. I know Sharon misses Owen Jr. Even Joan commiserates, even though her children have been gone for ages. It's been only since Bree's christening that Joan has truly become one of the family. I know she regrets all the wasted years but we have no time for regrets today. It's Christmas!

Raphael's POV:

"What a lovely home you have Mrs. Taylor," I comment out loud. It's warm, cozy and without pretense. I heard she and Craig Taylor weren't hurting but that was then and this is now. Jennifer Taylor works for a living.

"Thank you, Dr. Angles and please call me Jennifer. I haven't been Mrs. Taylor for quite a while."

"Only if you call me Raphael. Is this some of your son's work?" I see several paintings and sketches hanging on the walls.

"Yes."

"They're so beautiful, so full of life," I hear Hector say to the murmurs of agreement from everyone else in the room. "This one...," Hectors points to a portrait of a man holding a dark haired child. The face of the child reminds me of the flower girl at Molly's wedding.

"Ah, that is a portrait first started by the artist JABKinney. It was an unfinished canvas," Jennifer explains. "That's Patrick Taylor, Kinney's lover with who we think is one of his children."

"Did Justin finish the painting?" I ask. The man has a serene smile and the child, an innocent beauty.

"Yes, Sidney Bloom, that's Justin's agent, insisted upon it."

Hector gets closer. He sees the family resemblance to Katerina.

"Justin is very talented," Sharon Brenner remarks.

The conversation turns as we discuss the drive to Edna's Treasures and then it dawns on me that we're not going to some resort or restaurant as Sharon Brenner explained. We are going to someone's home.

That someone is Brian Kinney!

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