Should Old Acquaintance
Chapter 3
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"Brian?" Justin said as he
answered the phone.
"Hi, Sunshine," came Brian's
response. Justin could hear the smile in his voice.
"You're calling early in the
morning." Justin and John had just finished feeding the kids. "What's
up?"
"I have big news."
"You do? What happened?"
"Edna managed to find six new Kinney
paintings and some sculptures. I'm having them sent by UPS to
"Holy fucking shit! Six more! And
some sculptures." John raised an eyebrow and stared at Justin wondering
what this conversation was all about. "Edna certainly was busy."
"She was a game old doll. We owe her
a lot."
"That's for sure."
"The other reason you might want to
come to the city is that Bobby and I have managed to book a flight home for
late this afternoon. We'll be back in
"You're coming home so soon?"
Justin gasped. "That's the best news of all."
"I'm glad you feel that way. We have
some papers to sign this morning and a few loose ends to tie up, but Bobby and
I both wanted to get home as soon as we could."
"That's wonderful." John was
looking askance at Justin wondering what was going on. Justin gave him a thumbs
up, and mouthed that he would explain.
"Here's the flight info," Brian
said and Justin quickly jotted it down. "And bring Bree with you,"
Brian begged.
"But that's way past her
bedtime."
"I know, and if she's asleep, that's
fine. I just really need to see her little face … and yours."
"Okay, she'll be there," Justin
said knowing how hard it had been for Brian to leave Bree in the first place.
"I love you," Brian whispered.
"And I love you right back,"
Justin stated. "See you soon."
"Later," Brian said before
cutting the connection.
"What was that all about?" John
asked.
"They're coming home tonight,"
Justin said his face radiant with love.
"No way!"
"Yep, just before ten tonight."
"Then everything must have gone
really well."
"Apparently."
"What was that about Bree?"
"Brian wants me to bring her to the
airport. I don't think he can wait to hold her."
"And Bobby's coming with him?"
"Yes."
Just then John's cell phone rang and he
rushed to answer it, knowing that it was probably Bobby telling him all the
same things that Brian had told Justin. When John hung up, he had a big grin on
his face.
"What?" Justin asked.
"Bobby wants me to bring Patrick too.
We're going to have a couple of sleepy children to contend with, but Bobby
decided that we should all take tomorrow off. We'll drive back here tonight
after we pick them up. We can all sleep in as long as we want."
"That sounds like a plan. If we take
the Navigator, I could put Bree's car seat in it, and Patrick's is already
installed. We can all squeeze into it for the ride back to the cottage. I need
to go into
"Great, then let's do it. I have to
see a client at ten over near Saint Anthony's Church."
"Father Tom would love to see Bree, I
bet," Justin said. "I could visit with him until you're done with the
client and then we could drop the kids at Kinnetik and I could head for the
gallery."
"Let's get this show on the
road," John said. "Patrick, Papa's coming home tonight, and so is
Uncle Brian."
"Yay!" Patrick yelled and
skipped around the room. Bree followed him doing her best to imitate what he
was doing even if she wasn't sure what all the fuss was about."
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John, Justin and the kids packed
themselves up for the trip into
"Justin, why hasn't Briana been
baptized? I know you're not Catholic but Brian is. I'm sure Father Tom would do
it. He did officiate at your wedding," John queried his brother-in-law.
"The subject never came up,"
Justin countered.
"Never? But Brian agreed to be
Patrick's godfather. You'd think he'd want the same for Bree."
"John, Brian did that for you and
Patrick. He hasn't stepped foot in a church since. And frankly I wouldn't want
to be the one to ask him about it."
"Then I'll ask him. I'd be honored to
be Bree's godfather, that is if you and Brian don't choose someone else. Why
don't you ask Father Tom about it? Maybe a private ceremony can be done at the
cottage. Perhaps at the stream, with just the immediate family in attendance. I
bet Father Tom would be agreeable. He seems to be a free thinker; he's
obviously not homophobic."
"You don't know the half of it,"
Justin blurted out.
"I think there's a story behind that
comment?" John arched an eyebrow as he kept his eyes on the road ahead.
"There is but it's for another time
when there are no little ears around."
"Okay, but I expect a full
explanation."
"You got it. So tell me how you go
about moving a whole house," Justin conveniently changed the subject to
something he knew would get John's mind off Father Tom. By the time they
arrived at the church, Justin had gotten a rudimentary lesson in the finer art
of transplanting a house.
"Father Tom?" Justin called out
quietly as he, Bree and Patrick walked into the church.
"Justin? What brings you here? And
who is this?" The handsome priest gazed warmly at the children.
"This is Patrick. You remember; he's
John and Bobby's son," Justin reminded the priest.
Father Tom chuckled at the memory of the
distraught Brian coming to him to ask advice about being the boy's godfather
and the lengthy confession Brian made in preparation.
"And this is our daughter, Miss
Briana Victoria Kinney-Taylor!" Justin's pride was evident in his voice.
Father Tom shook Patrick's hand and then
took Bree's tiny hand in his to give it a gentle shake.
"It's a pleasure to see you again,
Patrick, and to meet you, Miss Briana. Justin, they're both so beautiful. Come,
we have a small grotto out back. It's a bright sunny day, so let's bring them
outside while we talk."
Justin nodded then followed Father Tom
through a set of doors that led to a pretty grotto surrounded by trees. There
was a statue of St. Anthony looking like he was contemplating life, in one
corner and a statue of St. Francis near a fountain. There were several sparrows
bathing in the fountain. Justin committed the serene scene to memory for a
future sketch.
"How are you, Justin, and how is
Brian doing? I hear the Rage movie is doing well and I also hear that Brian is
involved with the new clinic."
"You hear right, Father Tom."
"Justin, we know each other too well,
you can call me Tom." Justin filled Tom in on how Briana came about,
Kinnetik's expansion, the Rage movie and all about the clinic, theater and
bowling alley.
"Brian's been busy. You both have
been. What brings you to
"A few things. John's seeing a new
client today and we recently discovered more JABKinney paintings. They should arrive
at the Bloom gallery later today. I want to be there. Bobby and Brian are
flying home from
"I'm glad you were able to squeeze in
a visit," Tom laughed. Justin's dance card was very full today.
"You haven't seen Patrick since he
was a baby and I thought you'd enjoy meeting Bree."
"You've been blessed."
"Yes, we have. Tom, Father Tom, John
brought up the subject of baptism. Briana hasn't been baptized and I'm not so
sure Brian would even go for it but if..."
"Justin, if you're trying to ask me
if I'd baptize Briana, I'd be honored to."
"But I'm not Catholic and I don't
think Brian would want to do it in a church. He still has bad feelings about
the church." Justin stared off, watching the kids chase each other around
the stone fountain.
"Justin, the Catholic Church may not
sanction same sex marriages but I know that God recognizes the love you and
Brian have for each other or I wouldn't have been at your ceremony. If you want
Briana to be one of God's children then I'll perform the ceremony. And no, it
doesn't have to be in a church. We can do it out here or at your cottage. As I
recall, your grounds are extensive; we could have it back there. Talk it over
with Brian. If he agrees we can work out the details later."
"Thank you, Tom. When things settle
down, I'll speak to Brian about it." Then like any proud daddy, Justin
pulled out his wallet to show Father Tom Briana's baby pictures.
Unbeknownst to Justin or Tom, a stern
looking gray haired woman, was standing in the church doorway staring at the
children and at Justin.
Joan knew the blond man who was sitting
with Father Tom. She had met him a few times. She would never forget the first
time she had seen Justin Taylor. It had been at Brian's loft, the day she found
out that her son was a homosexual. Joan shuddered at the memory.
She stared at the children. Neither of
them was the little boy that they called Gus, the one who was Brian's son. She
hadn't seen Gus for years. He must be a teenager by now. Time had somehow got
away on her. These children were much younger. The little boy looked a lot like
Gus when he was that age. Had Brian had another son? Another grandson that she
knew nothing about! That would be like Brian to keep this child from her too.
But where did that mop of red hair come from?
The little girl was an absolute angel, so
sunny and happy. She was younger than the boy and was having trouble keeping up
with him as they ran around the fountain. But that didn't stop her from trying.
She was tenacious. That tenacity made Joan smile. What a lovely little girl! So
much like … Justin Taylor. She must be his biological daughter, and therefore
somewhat related to Joan; that is, if Brian and this man were still together.
Joan's grandmotherly arms ached to hold the little girl.
Just then Justin looked at his watch. He
stood up and called the children over to him. The children came obediently, and
Joan marveled at how well behaved they were especially compared to Claire's
brats who had been out of control for most of their childhood. Justin bent down
and talked to the children seriously. They nodded before turning and saying
goodbye to Father Tom. He shook their hands and smiled fondly at them. Each
child took one of Justin's hands and they started back into the church.
Joan ducked into an alcove where she could
watch them unseen. They made their way through the church with Justin saying
something about being picked up outside. He also mentioned something about a
baptism. Joan wondered if it could be a baptism for the children. That made her
smile. Maybe Brian hadn't totally turned against his religion. There might be
hope for him still.
When the group exited the church, Joan
made her way to the front door to watch what else might happen. They were
talking on the steps when a big SUV pulled up. A man got out and the little boy
ran over to him and was immediately scooped up and kissed. At first Joan
thought it was Brian, but she quickly realized it was that
Joan continued to watch as the
"Mrs. Kinney?" Father Tom said
as he came down the aisle after John and Justin had left.
"Father Tom," Joan replied.
"I saw you with that young man and the children."
"Did you?"
"What were they doing here?"
Joan demanded.
"With all due respect, that's not any
concern of yours," Father Tom responded hoping to keep Joan's nose out of
the Kinney-Taylor marriage.
"It is my concern when that young man
is living with my son. Whose children are they?"
"Joan, please, you know I can't
answer these questions."
"Surely you don't condone their
filthy lifestyle. I can't believe you won't try to rescue those children."
"Those children are happy and loved
and have everything a child could wish for."
"Except for a normal family
life," Joan said haughtily. Obviously she was getting nowhere with the
good father. She would have to find other means. "Good day, Father."
Father Tom shook his head as he watched
Joan make her way out of the church. As much as he had tried, he would never
understand the woman.
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"How did your meeting with your
client go?" Justin quickly asked as John headed for Kinnetik. He prayed
that John would be too preoccupied in the thrill of a new client and not bring
up the subject of baptisms.
"It went well. How was your chat with
Father Tom?" Two could play that game, thought the older and wiser John.
John smirked when he heard Justin's sigh.
"Father Tom is for it and he would do
it at the cottage if we asked. But I'm still not sure about Brian. John, you
know that Brian would probably cut off his one remaining real nut before having
anything to do with organized religion. I'm not brave enough to bring up the
subject."
"Since when does Justin Taylor back
down from a challenge? This is no different than fighting the family when they
thought you and Brian were tricking or when Brett wanted to kill off Zephyr.
Brian has always called you a tenacious twat and my brother is never wrong. So
what if he yells, big fucking deal. He's yelled before; it wouldn't be a normal
week if Brian Kinney didn't bellow and strut his stuff. What are you afraid
of?"
"I'm not sure. I don't want to tempt
fate."
"Now you're being ridiculous. Ask him
or I will, if he says no, then he says no. When Bree's older and she decides
for herself then so be it. I just know that baptizing Briana would mean a lot
to many of us." John pulled into a parking spot near Kinnetik.
"Justin, I'm going to bring the kids inside to daycare then check on the
clinic, theater and the bowling alley. I want to make sure everything is in
tiptop shape. Do you want to take the car to the gallery?" John asked as
he helped the children out of their car seats.
"No, thanks. The gallery's not that
far and I need the exercise. The walk will do me good." And I have a lot
to think about, Justin thought to himself.
"Okay, I'll meet you there later. Say
hi to Lindsay and Sidney for me," John called out as Justin gave Bree and
Patrick a kiss before John took them into Kinnetik.
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"Claire."
"Mother?"
"Who else would it be?" Joan
decided to visit her daughter rather than call. Her daughter would have a
harder time pushing Joan out the door than hanging up on her.
"Why are you here, Mother? It can't
be to berate me because of the boys; they're all grown up and doing well. I'm
married to a good man who loves me and my boys and takes good care of all of
us. So, what is it?"
"Brian," Joan said coldly.
"Brian? What about him? His monthly
check to you late or something? Mother, leave Brian alone. He's happy; he
doesn't need your interference."
"You watch your tongue, young lady. I
am still your mother, honor your mother and father."
"Mother, I stopped honoring you the
day you tried to take my children away from me. What are you up to?"
"I have a right to know if I have
more grandchildren."
"Grand..." Claire's mind was
racing. Of course Claire knew about Briana, and she and her boys were at
Briana's first birthday extravaganza but Joan was never told. When Joan didn't
bother to RSVP to Brian and Justin's wedding invitation, Brian cut the old bat
completely out of his life. It was the final straw. Claire knew that Brian was
hoping for at least a confrontation with his mother. Something that proved to
him that Joan cared even at some basic level. But all Joan said was, it was a
sin. Nothing more, then she tore up the invitation and threw it in the trash.
Claire never told Brian but Justin knew. Nothing was ever said about Joan
again. And Joan never questioned how her bills were paid on time or how the
mortgage got paid off.
"Mother, stay out of it. It's none of
your business."
"Of course, it's my business and I'll
make it my business." Joan scowled at her daughter. How dare she talk to
her that way!
"I think you better leave,
Mother." Claire opened the front door.
"Fine, I'll leave but I will meet my
one and only granddaughter!" Joan exclaimed as she slammed the door behind
her.
"Fuck!" Claire said out loud to
no one in particular as she picked up her phone to call the cottage. Hearing
the machine pick up, Claire left her message. "Brian, it's me, please call
me as soon as you get this. She knows, Brian, Joan knows about Bree. Please
Brian, call me."
Claire prayed that her brother would call
her as soon as possible before Joan had the chance to cause trouble.
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Old Acquaintance