Should Old Acquaintance
Chapter 6
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"Claire?"
"Hello, Brian. I haven't heard from
you in a while," Brian's sister observed.
"Well, by the sound of that message
you left me, it's been too long. How the hell did she find out?"
"She wouldn't say, but I think she
must have seen something at church because she mentioned Father Tom and then
clammed up when I asked her about it.
"Fuck! Justin had Bree and Patrick
there the other day. He was talking to Father Tom."
"Then that must have been when she
saw them and put two and two together. She's not stupid."
"When she's not
fucking drunk."
"Brian, I know you don't want
anything to do with her, but she's getting … old."
"So, am I supposed to feel sorry for
her after everything that she's put us through?"
"I don't know," Claire sighed.
"I just wish we could all get along. You forgave me for a lot of things I
did."
"You didn't try to take all the money
from JAB Kinney, even after you knew it was meant for a good cause. She tried
to take your fucking kids away from you, Claire. I don't see how you can stand
to be around her."
"She's a lonely old woman."
"She's an unforgiving SOB. I refuse
to have her tell me one more time that I'm going to Hell for being gay."
"I know she's been mean to you, but I
wish…"
"What did you tell her about
Bree?" Brian asked cutting her off before she made another plea for him to
forgive their mother.
"As little as I
could."
"What exactly did you tell her?"
"I told her that Bree was Justin's
daughter, that you two are still together, and that you consider Briana to be
your daughter too."
"I don't consider her to be my
daughter; she is my daughter!"
"Of course, Brian, that's not what I
meant."
"So what does the old battleaxe
intend to do about this piece of information?"
"Truthfully, I don't know. She
clammed up when I tried to press her about how she found out. She wouldn't tell
me much of anything."
"There isn't anything she can do, is
there?" Brian asked. He waited with bated breath for his sister to answer.
"Honestly, I don't know. She seemed
to think Bree was a beautiful little girl."
"She is a beautiful little girl, and
she doesn't need any shit from Joan."
"Any time that I can, I'll encourage
her to stay out of it."
"Thanks," Brian said not really
reassured but unable to think of anything else they could do about it. "I
… I have something else I'd like to ask you."
"You do?" Claire said wondering
at Brian's hesitation. It was rare that he wanted anything from her.
"We're thinking about having Bree
baptized. That's why Justin was talking to Father Tom."
"Oh Brian, that's wonderful. Everyone
should be baptized."
"Even Jews and
Muslims?" Brian snarked.
"You know what I mean," Claire
chuckled.
"Sorry, I just couldn't resist."
"So what do you want to ask me?"
"Would you consider being Bree's
godmother?
"Oh, my God! Brian, are you serious? I'd love to, but what about
Molly or … or someone else from Justin's side of the family?"
Brian sucked in a breath. He hadn't really
asked Justin, and Bree was his daughter too. Maybe he would want Daphne to be
the godmother. "I wanted you."
"I think that's just about the nicest
thing you've ever said to me. Why don't you check with Justin to be sure this
is all right with him. If he agrees, I'd be honored to accept."
"Thanks, Claire, I'll let you
know."
Brian hung up the phone wondering that his
sister had been so understanding about the whole situation. He really did need
to talk to Justin about this.
Later that night as Brian and Justin lay
in their bed having again expressed through their bodies all the things that
they meant to each other, Brian rolled on his side and looked into Justin's
eyes. "We need to talk," he said seriously.
"We do?" Justin asked feeling a
chill run through him. Talking still wasn't Brian's favorite thing to do, and
when he uttered that statement, it usually did not bode well. "Tell me
what it is, before I get scared."
"It's nothing scary," Brian
chuckled leaning in to give Justin a reassuring kiss. "I love you."
"Thank God for that," Justin
laughed suddenly feeling much better.
"It's about the baptism."
"You don't want to do it, do
you?"
"Why do you say that?"
"I know how you feel about
religion."
"I hate organized religion."
"I know."
"But that doesn't mean that Bree will
have the same feelings when she grows up. I want her to have every advantage in
life, and I know that baptism is important to John and his mother,
and to Debbie…"
"And your mother," Justin added.
"Can we leave her out of this?"
"She's involved, no matter how much
we deny it. She's the reason you hate religion so much."
Brian made a face. He didn't want to get
into all that. "I asked Claire about being Bree's godmother when I was
talking to her today."
"What did she say?"
"She said she'd be thrilled, but she
wondered why it wasn't Daphne or Molly. I never even thought to ask you. You
seemed to agree with Claire as the godmother."
"I do agree."
"But what about
Daphne or your sister?"
"Molly's still young and Daphne and I
each have separate lives now. I'm fine with Claire being the godmother."
"Do you realize it will be all my
family as godparents?"
"So…?"
"But she's your daughter."
"She's more your daughter than she is
mine. I know how much you love her, and I know John loves her too. As for
Claire, I was so proud of you when John suggested it, and you went along. Look
at how far you've come."
"A cut above my
usual asshole status?"
"In case you haven't noticed, you
haven't been an asshole for a long time."
"Not in your eyes
anyway."
"Never in my
eyes."
A long and sweet kiss came next. They
could both feel themselves getting hard. "Before we do anything about
this," Brian said grabbing Justin's burgeoning cock. "What are we
going to do about Joan?"
"Do we have to do anything?"
"I don't want the old biddy causing
trouble."
"You know, having this discussion
with your hand around my dick is counter productive," Justin laughed.
"I guess it is," Brian agreed
rolling over on top of Justin.
"Why don't you just invite her?"
Justin asked right before Brian stuck his dick up Justin's ass. They never got
around to the answer to that question.
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Over the next few weeks, life began to
return to normal or what constituted as normal for the Kinney/Taylor tribe.
Brian returned to work, first making the rounds at Kinnetik Part Deux, then
checking in with Reilly and Perspective via video conferencing and then finally
at Kinnetik. Brian had a big soft spot for his first and primary office. It was
where it all began. Since John and Justin, both had business in
Justin's primary task other than preparing
for Rage: The Art Show, was weeding through all the
documents and photos that Edna had amassed. While Edna was certainly thorough
in her research, it was all a little haphazard and unorganized. And then there
was the discovery of more Kinney journal pages.
As a team of art restorers were working on
the Kinney paintings, the first thing they did was to remove the paintings from
their frames. Five out of the six paintings had their original frames. The
sixth painting was unfinished, just a light pencil rendering of what could have
been a man holding a child. There were a few preliminary brush strokes.
Immediately the journal pages were placed
in protective plastic sleeves and then scanned into a computer so that they
could be read and analyzed at a later date. Sidney gave the
newly discovered pages to Justin who reverently placed the original journal
pages into his bank vault with the rest of Kinney's journal. The copies,
Justin added to his copy of the journal, along with Edna's notes and findings.
Taking a break from his labors, Justin decided to recharge at the diner.
"Sunshine!" Debbie, who still worked an occasional lunch shift,
called out to one of her favorite boys. Then crossed to the
entrance to give Justin a hug.
"Air, Debbie, breathing would be
good," Justin whispered as he felt the air in his lungs squeezed out in
Debbie's formidable grasp.
"Sorry, sweetheart." Debbie
loosened her hug and gave Justin a sloppy kiss to the cheek.
"What brings you here today?"
"Just taking a
break, Deb. I've been
working on the Rage art show and the papers that Edna collected. And when
"I know honey, but do you have to do
it all by yourself?"
"I guess not but I can't ask Brian to
help. He's so busy with the Rage PR, the next phase of the campaign is going to
hit soon. Bobby is way too busy and John has picked up a lot of new clients
here in the Pitts. I thought about asking Lindsay but she's so busy at the
gallery."
"Tell me about it.
"Maybe," Justin nodded. Hunter
did mention to Justin that Lacy would be more than willing to help. But Lacy
was a kid and what did a kid know about art? "Duh!"
Justin said out loud and smacked himself in the middle of his forehead. He was
just a kid when he knew that art was his only way of life. "Lacy, do you
have a minute?"
"Sure, Justin. What can I do for you?" Lacy asked as she
slipped into his booth.
"Well, first you can join me for
lunch and then you can say yes to helping me decipher
a mystery."
"A mystery? I like mysteries." Lacy became very animated and
pleased that Justin wanted to spend time with her.
"The first mystery is easy. What do
you want for lunch?" They laughed out loud and then gave their lunch
orders to Debbie.
"So what's the real mystery?"
Lacy leaned in slightly to listen to Justin's every word.
Justin began his tale about his Sunshine
File, how his discovery of the artist, JAB Kinney, led to the discovery of
Brian's other family. For the next two hours Justin went through the journal he
had put together chronicling the trip they took to South and
"Justin, can I ask you
something?"
"Sure."
"You and Mr. Kinney, you've been
together for a long time, haven't you?"
"Lacy, my relationship with Brian is
nobody's business." Justin flung himself into defensive mode.
"I'm sorry if my question offended
you, it's just that you're so lucky. I wish … I wish I could find someone who
cared about me that much." Lacy looked so sad, Justin felt badly that he
had reacted so negatively.
"Lacy, Brian and I didn't always have
an easy time. From the moment I met him we've had to work real hard to get
where we are. There were times when I didn't think we would make it. I … we
both made some stupid mistakes. But we've learned from them and keep on
learning. It's the only way to live." There was an awkward pause for a
moment then Justin ventured a question. "Lacy, why do you pretend to be a
boy?" A single tear slipped down Lacy's face.
"I thought if I was a boy it wouldn't
hurt so much. Boys aren't supposed to care if they're alone and they can do
more than girls can do."
"That's so not true. Boys hurt just
the same. And girls can do anything they set their minds too. Melanie's a
lawyer, my friend Daphne is a doctor. And look at Debbie."
"Debbie? But she's just a
waitress."
"She's more than just a waitress. She
was a single mother who raised a son all by herself. She helped to take care of
her brother, Vic, when he was dying from AIDS. She helped a lot of people, even
Brian. She saved me and Hunter. She helped catch a murderer and helped to
prevent a corrupt politician from getting elected mayor. She gave me a home
when I needed it. And she's doing the same for you." It became quiet again
as Lacy took in all that Justin said.
"Lacy, why were you
hustling? Why did you let
men use you like that?"
"I needed the money and I'm
a..."
"You mean you're a vir... But you
were... Oh." Justin said softly when it dawned on him what Lacy was trying
to say. "That doesn't matter anymore. You're young and strong and have a
good chance at a long and productive life. I predict good things for you, Miss
Lacy." Justin tried to lighten the mood as he pretended to read the coffee
grinds at the bottom of their cups. Lacy giggled and blushed. JT cared about
her and right now that was all that mattered.
"Justin, I really would like to help
with your research. I could visit you at the gallery or we could meet
here."
"No, I have too many papers and
photos to go through. There's not enough space. I have to spend the mornings at
the gallery for the next few weeks but if you rearrange your shift, we can meet
over at the loft and work there undisturbed for hours."
"The loft?"
"Just ask anyone about Brian's loft.
Even though it hasn't seen a trick in years, the loft is still legendary,"
Justin said with a wink and a twinkle in his eye.
"Okay, I can meet you here tomorrow
at one, then you can show me the loft."
"Great! I'll see you tomorrow and
remember, Lacy, you can do just about anything you want to." Justin paid
their check, kissed Debbie goodbye and narrowly missed
being squished again.
Lacy sat back in her seat and thought,
maybe being a girl wasn't so bad after all.
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Old Acquaintance