Should Old Acquaintance
Chapter 19
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The guests at the baptism had made their
way back to the house. Joan had walked with Claire and her husband, but then
Claire had disappeared to change into some dry clothes. Joan stood just inside
the door of the sun porch and looked at the large group of people who had come
there to help her son and his partner celebrate this joyous occasion for their
daughter.
Joan had trouble getting her head around
that concept, but she was there and she would have to make the best of it. She
saw Father Tom talking to the priest who had arrived at the last minute. She
wondered who this man really was and how Brian had found a man of the cloth
from
"Hello," a young voice said from
beside her.
Joan turned and looked at the younger
version of her son. "Hello, Gus," Joan said formally.
"You know my name?"
"Of course, I do," Joan said
rather testily. "I'm your grandmother."
"Then why don't you ever come to
visit me?" Gus asked with a frown.
Joan blanched, but
managed to say, "Because I've never been invited."
"I remember a Christmas a few years
ago when I was just a little kid. Dad took me down to the street to meet you.
He gave you something and asked you to come up to the party. You refused."
"Yes, I guess I did. I wasn't ready
then."
"But you're ready today?"
"I'm here."
Gus smiled. "Would you like some sandwiches?
Auntie Emm makes great sandwiches," Gus said extending his arm for Joan to
take it.
Joan linked her arm through her grandson's
and walked towards the food table with him. Gus handed her a plate and told her
which of Emmett's sandwiches were the best. Joan was
pleased at how polite and considerate this young man was, not at all like his
father. She took Gus' suggestions and loaded a plate. Gus pointed out a couple
of chairs and led his grandmother over to take one of the seats.
"You have excellent manners,"
Joan said as she sat and smoothed the skirt of her dress.
"Thanks," Gus smiled. "My
mothers would be happy to hear that."
Joan winced at the plural of the word. Gus
used it so casually, but then he had been brought up in the midst of perversion.
He didn't know anything else. Joan watched her grandson eat his sandwiches
slowly and genteelly. His mothers must have done something right. Joan could
barely believe that she was endorsing lesbians, and
she shuddered involuntarily.
As Joan nibbled at her sandwich, she
watched the people around her. Father Tom was still talking to the other
priest. Her daughter and her husband and the boys were in a little group
together. They seemed to be enjoying themselves. She could see a tall man
bustling around checking on everything. He looked kind of familiar.
"Who is that man?" she asked
Gus, deciding she wanted to know who the obviously gay man was.
"That's Auntie Emm," Gus said.
"You're eating his sandwiches."
"Oh my! I thought Auntie Emm was a woman," Joan replied.
"Nope," Gus laughed.
"Auntie Emm," he called. The tall man bustled over.
"What can I do for you, Guster?"
Emmett asked.
"Do you know my Grandma Joan?"
"We met at your husband's
funeral," Emmett said thinking back. "That was longer ago than I care
to remember."
"Yes," Joan said clutching at
the collar of her dress.
"You have a great kid there,"
Emmett said pointing at Gus. Gus blushed. "He takes after his dad in a lot
of ways."
"Really?" Joan asked. She saw very little similarity between
Gus and her son other than their physical attributes.
"He has a good heart, just like his
father," Emmett continued. No one else had wanted to sit with Joan, and
Gus actually seemed to be enjoying himself. "Brian has done a lot for me
and many others as well," Emmett explained. "When I was starting up
my party planning business, he sent me a lot of customers and helped me get
through the first couple of years. They were difficult ones."
"Brian did that?"
"Yes, he did. He's got so many
contacts in
"This is my Brian you're talking
about?" Joan asked with a frown.
"Most definitely. And he and Justin are the best parents."
"I see," Joan replied although
she didn't really see at all. She wasn't sure this flamboyant man really knew
what he was talking about.
"I need to check on the sandwich
trays," Emmett said before bustling off.
"Who's that woman?" Joan asked
Gus, pointing at Jennifer.
"That's Grandma Jenn," Gus said.
Joan raised her eyebrows. "She's Justin's mother."
"So you have two grandma's
now counting me," Joan smiled. She did like the sound of that.
"Actually I have tons of
grandmothers," Gus laughed. "There's both my
moms' parents, but I never see much of them. And then there's Grandma Debbie
and Grandma Claire."
"Grandma Claire?" Joan asked.
"But she's your aunt."
"No, not that
Claire, that one!" Gus
said pointing at Claire Anderson-McNally.
"Oh?" Joan said. She remembered
the woman from the Kinney art show. She had forgotten that her name was Claire,
like her own daughter's. Joan frowned and stared at the woman.
Claire Anderson-McNally felt eyes drilling
into her back and turned to face Joan Kinney. She smiled and began moving
across the room towards the woman and Gus.
"Hi, Grandma Claire," Gus said.
"Do you want to sit down?"
"Yes, Gus, I think it's time,"
Claire said with a smile. Gus got up and walked over to his cousins. They
looked like they were having fun. "So, Joan, it's good to finally meet
you."
Joan gave a little huff before she said,
"Jack's little piece on the side."
Claire chuckled. "I had him long
before you did, dear. I could call you the same thing."
"But he married me and stayed with
me," Joan stated with a smug look.
"Because I never
told him about John."
"You didn't?" Joan asked raising
her eyebrows once more. There were so many strange and surprising revelations
this day.
"I knew he had to go away to make
money and to further his life. I never told him about John because I didn't
want to hold him back. And then he started a family in
"Like you could have…" Joan
sputtered.
"Oh, I could have all right, but I
chose not to."
"Don't let on that you did me a
favor," Joan said huffily.
"I know now that I didn't. I didn't
do Jack any favor either." Joan cringed, because she knew Claire was
right. They had made each other miserable over the years of their marriage.
"I think it's time that we lay all the things from the past to rest. We
all came here to celebrate Briana's baptism. It should be a happy day. Are you
happy, Joan?"
Joan snorted. "I'm fine."
"Of course you are."
Joan stared at Claire. "Are you
happy?" she asked in return.
"Definitely," Claire smiled.
"That's my husband Steve, over there. And you've met my son, John. He and
Brian look so much alike." Joan nodded. "And that's Patrick, my
grandson," Claire said pointing to the little redhead who was walking into
the sun porch holding Bree's hand. Bree was decked out in the new dress that
Brian had bought for her. "They're so sweet," Claire said beaming
with pride.
"She's a beautiful little girl,"
Joan had to admit. "And he's a cute boy," she added as an
afterthought.
"They play together all the time.
They're as close as brother and sister."
"Really?" Joan said. She didn't know what to make of all these
grandmothers and sisters and brothers who weren't really related at all, at
least not by blood. She wasn't even Briana's grandmother by blood. She felt a
chill run up her spine, even in the warm August air.
"Brian and Justin are so proud,"
Claire said smiling at the proud parents who followed their daughter into the
throng of guests.
Joan studied the smiling faces. Everyone
seemed to be truly happy, even Claire Anderson, even her own daughter. Why was
she the only one who had been left out of everything all this time? She
couldn't see that it had all been of her own doing.
Briana and Patrick walked over to the food
table and looked up. Bree turned to her fathers and said, "Hungy,
Dada."
Brian immediately picked her up and held a
sandwich for her to nibble on. Everyone watched with smiles on their faces as
Brian gave a gentle kiss to the top of the little blond head. "You done good, Squirt," Brian whispered into her hair. Bree
smiled and patted her father's face.
John came over and helped Patrick get a
dish of the food that he wanted. The two handsome brothers surveyed the guests
as they held their children and the food.
"I think everything went very
well," John said to Brian.
"Of course it did," Brian said
sucking his lips into his mouth.
John laughed. "You are such an a…" Brian raised an eyebrow stopping John from
saying more. "With this little angel, how could it not?" he asked
leaning over to kiss Bree's cheek. The little girl giggled with pleasure. She
liked being the center of attention, even though she had had to get one of her
new dresses wet.
Joan watched the exchange along with the
other guests. She had never seen Brian act like that. He was so gentle and
loving with Briana. She wondered if he had been that way with Gus too. She had
never known that side of Brian existed.
"Well, Joan, it was nice to finally
meet you," Claire said. "I should get back to my husband."
"Certainly," Joan said wondering
if she would be left to sit all by herself.
"Hello, Mrs. Kinney," Michael
said sliding into the chair that Claire had just vacated.
"Hello, Michael," Joan replied.
"How are you?"
"I'm just fine. You look very nice
today," Michael added deciding to be as nice as possible to the woman who
sent shivers down his spine when he looked at her. "I just wanted to tell
you that it's really great you came today. I know it means a lot to
Brian."
Again Joan's eyebrows went up in surprise.
"It means a lot … to Brian?" she asked.
"Right, it's a day for family."
"I hardly think Brian considers me
family," Joan said with bitterness.
Michael swallowed hard. "If you don't
mind me saying so, Mrs. Kinney, you are his mother, and his family, if you
would only give him a chance."
"A chance? Whatever do you mean?"
Michael sighed. "You're so judgmental
about him."
"I beg your pardon," Joan said
haughtily. "I have done nothing but warn him about what will happen to his
immortal soul."
"What about what that does to him
here on Earth?" Michael asked letting his voice rise a little in
agitation.
"What?"
"It hurts him when you tell him he is
going to Hell. All he wants is for you to love him."
"Of course, I love him. I love both
my children."
Michael realized he was getting nowhere,
but it had been worth a try, in spite of the fact that Brian would kill him if
he ever found out what he had just told his mother. "Brian
has been my best friend for years and he's a good man, Mrs. Kinney. I
wouldn't have my business without his help."
"Is that so?" Joan asked. Here
was another person telling her how Brian had helped them in business.
"That's so," Michael said sadly
as he stood up.
John and Bobby arrived carrying Patrick, and Michael quickly moved away. "Hello,
Joan," John said in a familiar voice. "It's nice to see you here
today."
"Hello, Mr. Anderson," Joan
replied formally.
"Please, call me John. This is my
husband, Bobby," John said watching Joan flinch at his use of that term. "And our son, Patrick. Say hello to the lady,
Patrick."
"Hello," Patrick said with a
smile.
"I saw you walk in with Briana, young
man. You looked very grown up," Joan said.
"Thank you," Patrick said with a
smile.
"Mrs. Kinney, Brian is so pleased
that you're here," Bobby added.
"Is he really?" Joan asked. She
had been told that so many times today that she was almost beginning to believe
it. Bobby nodded. "There are certainly enough people here," Joan
observed.
"Brian has done a lot of things for a
lot of people. He's well respected and well loved," Bobby said laying it
on a little thick.
"And did he help you start your business
too, Mr. …?"
"Call me Bobby. No, not exactly. I'm
a lawyer, but he has sent some business my way. I was thinking more of how he
saved our wedding. It would have been a disaster without all Brian's hard work
and know-how."
"You had an actual wedding … in a
church?"
"No," John smiled sadly.
"It was at the farm. We're not allowed to marry officially in
"The best," Bobby smiled and
reached up to give John a sweet kiss. Patrick hugged his dads and leaned in to
get some of the kissing too.
Joan watched with eyes that still had
trouble believing what they were seeing. This all seemed so normal, so right,
but she knew that none of it was acceptable at all.
"I saw you talking to mother,"
John said. "Have you met her husband?"
"No, not yet," Joan said
wondering why they would want her to meet the man.
"Steve works at the Farm and helps
young people get back on the right track with their lives. He worked with your
daughter's boys," Bobby explained.
"Yes, I remember," Joan said
wondering why Claire's children had needed the Farm. Joan had wanted to do her
duty. She would have taken the boys and straightened them out. She had even
tried to sue for custody, but they never gave her the chance. She remembered
all the hard feelings that had engendered.
"Brian saved the Farm when he and
Justin found the Kinney paintings. All the proceeds go to financing the
Farm," Bobby said before he remembered Joan's part in claiming the
paintings for herself. That had caused a lot of strife
for them all, until Joan's claims had been refuted. Joan visibly paled at the
memory.
"We better get some more food for
this young man," John said hastily and they moved away.
Father Tom walked over to Joan. He was
accompanied by Father Paul. "Joan, I'd like you to meet
Father Paul all the way from Santa Ana,
"Ah, Brian's
mother. It was such a pleasure
to have Brian, Justin, John and Bobby come to my small church in
"Thank you for assisting with the
baptism," Joan finally managed to say.
"Anything for Brian and his
family," Father Paul stated sweeping his arm around to indicate the whole
room.
"Let's get something to drink,"
Father Tom said. "Would you like something?" he asked Joan.
"A glass of wine would be
lovely," she said, suddenly feeling the need for something to calm her
nerves. This day was beginning to be too much.
The two clergymen went off to get the
drinks. Ted Schmidt sidled up to Joan and introduced himself. "I was at
your husband's funeral," Ted explained.
"Ah, yes," Joan remembered.
"You were with that man," Joan said pointing at Emmett who was still
flitting about.
"Emmett, yes," Ted smiled.
"I just wanted to say that Brian is very pleased that you came
today."
"Why does everybody keep telling me
that?" Joan demanded.
"Maybe because it's true," Ted
said. "I've been … friends with Brian for a long time."
"You're one of them?" she asked.
Ted gave a rueful smile. "Yes, I'm
gay."
"And proud of it," Debbie said
coming up to Joan. "How are you, Joan? This is my husband, Carl
Horvath."
"Oh, you're married?" Joan
asked.
"Yes, just recently. Carl's a great
guy." Carl smiled fondly at Debbie and kissed her cheek.
"And what do you do, Carl?" Joan
asked.
"I'm a retired police officer, and
now I work for Brian."
"Brian?"
"Yes, I manage his club," Carl
said. "Ted works for Brian too."
"Both of you work at a club?" This
was news to Joan. She had no idea Brian owned a club.
"No," Ted laughed. "I work
at Kinnetik. I'm the CFO there. Brian gave me a chance when I had some problems
… a few years ago. He helped me turn my life around."
"That's wonderful," Joan said
her eyes wide with amazement. This day just got stranger and stranger.
"And here's the girl of the
hour," Debbie squealed leaning over to pinch Briana's cheek as Justin and
Brian brought her over to Joan.
Bree giggled and looked up affectionately
at Debbie. "Gamma Debbie," she laughed.
"Briana, this is your grandma
too," Justin said. "Say hello to Grandma Joan."
Brian watched Joan's face. He saw it
soften at Justin's words. Justin was far kinder than he would have been.
"Gamma Doan," Bree said walking
to Joan's knee and raising her arms to be picked up.
"She wants to be picked up,"
Brian said.
"I can see that," Joan retorted.
"Let me help you," Justin said.
He picked up Bree and set her on Joan's lap. Bree turned and kissed Joan's
cheek.
Brian thought he saw a tear glisten in
Joan's eye as she tilted her head and kissed Bree's cheek. That was the first
time … ever, that Brian could remember Joan kissing anyone. He shook his head
slightly.
"You look very lovely today,
Briana," Joan said wrapping her arm around the little girl's waist.
"New dwess," Bree said patting
her baptism outfit.
"Me too," Joan replied smoothing
her own skirt.
"Pwetty," Bree said.
"Thank you, dear," Joan said and
she really meant that. She looked up into Brian's eyes. She thought she could
see tears there that matched the ones in her own eyes.
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Old Acquaintance