Sins of the Father

Chapter 15

"My feet hurt," Brian groused as he threw off his flip flops and laid down on the bed.

The kids began to play with some of the Lego toys they had purchased in Orlando. John and Bobby decided to take a nap before going to dinner. Justin took out some snacks and drink boxes for the kids.

"If you wore something more substantial on your feet than flip flops, your feet wouldn't hurt so much." Brian was ready with a snarky retort but thought better of it. Brian grunted then closed his eyes. He felt the bed dip a little under Justin's weight then felt his feet lifted and placed into Justin's lap. Brian heard the click of the TV going on and the murmur of CNN in the background. Brian felt a cooling lotion rubbed onto his aching feet as Justin's strong fingers made magic.

"Mmm, thank you, Sunshine," Brian mumbled as he drifted off.

"Hey, big guy, time to wake up." Justin gently shook Brian awake. Brian stretched then cracked open an eye to his Justin's bright smiling face looking down on him. Brian grabbed Justin and drew him in for a kiss. "I bought you something," Justin managed to get out when Brian released their kiss. Brian arched a brow.

"Here, the saleslady said you have to break them in, wear them only for two hours the first day then add more wear time every day." Justin handed a box over to Brian. Brian opened the box to reveal a handsome pair of Birkenstock sandals. "I figure you can wear them to dinner tonight. Then a few more hours tomorrow. By the time we go home you'll be able to wear them full time if you want."

Brian caressed the finely crafted leather uppers of the sandals and the uniquely designed cork sole. "Thank you, Sunshine, they're beautiful. Where did you find them?"

Justin pulled out his trusty map and pointed to the approximate location of the Birkenstock outlet. "And they were on sale!" Justin announced proudly with one of his infamous smiles.

"My little shopper," Brian smiled broadly as he hugged the younger man to his chest. They shared a laugh, got cleaned up and ready to face the lesbians at The Shark House.

The Shark House wasn't hard to find. It was on the main beach road between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. The parking lot was across the road and Brian directed their minivan into a spot.

"I wonder if the girls are here," Justin said as he got Briana out of her car seat.

"They stopped being girls half a century ago," Brian said snarkily.

"Be nice," Justin admonished him.

"I'm always nice. The lesbians love me."

Justin groaned. "If only they knew."

The group walked across the road and into the restaurant. They had just arrived at the podium where customers checked in, when a loud voice called out, "Brian! Justin! Over here."

The hostess quickly escorted them to the large table where Jane and Myrna were ensconced. As they all got seated, Myrna felt compelled to say, "We got here early so we could get the best table."

Brian looked around seeing tables out on the sort of porch area that looked out over the water and would get the benefit of the beautiful sunsets that Florida was blessed with. He wondered why they were sitting in the middle of a big room next to a grand piano with stools around it. Obviously there would be entertainment at some point.

"I see you noticed the piano, Brian," Jane laughed. "We've been here twice already to hear the singer who will start performing in about … thirteen minutes," she said checking her watch for verification. We just love him."

"Really," Brian said skeptically.

"Oh yes," Myrna enthused. "His name's Clinton Die, and he's just so talented … and so cute. I could eat him up." She half hugged herself in expectation.

Brian shuddered. "I bet you could," he said with just a touch of snark in his voice.

"We certainly have ringside seats," Bobby observed.

They ordered drinks and informed the waitress of their meal selections. The children looked around, a little overwhelmed by the size of the room and the noise that seemed to radiate from everywhere. The place was filling slowly, perhaps in anticipation of this show that would soon start.

Their meals had just arrived when a not quite middle aged man took a seat at the piano. He wasn't bad looking with s few gray streaks in his hair. He had the demeanor and the clothes of a lounge lizard. Brian shuddered inwardly.

Myrna and Jane let out little gasps and some other patrons started to clap. The man blew into the mike and announced that he was Clinton Die and he would be performing any requested songs that his audience would like to choose from those listed in the pamphlet on each table. No one had bothered to look at the folded paper on their table so John picked it up.

"Oh Clinton," Myra called, "play 'Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves'."

Clinton smiled fondly at her and began his rendition of the song. Brian listened carefully trying to hear the familiar chords of Cher's well known song. He was hard pressed to follow the tune.

Myrna got up and snatched a tambourine from the top of the piano. She proceeded to accompany the man while he sang his incomprehensible version of the song. She swayed and laughed and shook her tambourine as well as her ass. Brian tried to look away, but he stared in fascination.

The others at the table had eaten a bit of their food when Bree let out a long wail. The noise and commotion around her had started to frighten her. She let out a blood curdling screech that brought Brian out of the hypnotic trance that the performance had lulled him into. He lifted Bree out of her seat and cradled her against his chest while she whimpered.

"Out, Dada, out," she begged. He got up and carried her out the front door. She immediately stopped crying. "You okay, Squirt?" he asked her.

She nodded, her eyes full of tears. "Ears hurt," she said covering them with her little hands.

"That's my girl," Brian laughed. "You know when you like music and that was obviously not it."

"Bad," she declared decisively.

Justin arrived at that moment. "Is she all right?" Brian nodded. "Then come back inside."

Brian shook his head. "It hurts Bree's ears, to say nothing of my brain. What's he playing now?"

"Some song about having a friend. I think I should recognize it, but I can't begin to figure out what the original song must sound like," Justin said with a chuckle.

"I always knew lesbians had questionable taste," Brian said tongue in cheek, "but this proves how abominable it really is."

"They love that guy. Jane was up dancing at the piano a minute ago."

"Fuck! I think Bree just developed an intestinal problem. I need to take her home," Brian said.

"Me too, and John and Bobby will have to come too, since they rode with us."

"Go get them."

Justin ran back inside and soon returned with the others. Jane and Myrna did not appear.

"I paid for the meals," John said. "The ladies are going to stay and sing along."

"May the gods of music forgive them," Brian snarked as they made their way over to the minivan.

"James Taylor," Bobby said suddenly.

"What?" John asked.

"That song was 'You've Got a Friend' by James Taylor."

"Holy fuck!" Justin said. "I would have never figured that out in a million years."

"How could that guy massacre perfectly good songs like that?" John asked as they all climbed in and Brian started the engine.

"I can't understand why people seem to love that singer," Bobby said shaking his head. "He's abominable."

Brian chuckled as he pulled out onto the road heading back to St. Augustine.

"After he said his name was Clinton Die, and he started singing, I wanted to scream 'Die, oh please, die!'" Justin laughed.

"We should have been so lucky," Brian replied. "Well, where to now?"

"McDonalds," Patrick said answering that question.

"McDonalds it is," Brian laughed. He was so glad to get out of the Shark House that he would gladly take a half hour at McDonalds with hundreds of screaming kids. It would be way better than what they had just left behind.

On their way to finding the local McDonalds, they passed a sign for a restaurant and hotel named the Conch House. Brian pulled into the parking lot. The Conch House was a multi-tiered restaurant situated on a pier. It was made up to look like a big Polynesian hut. It overlooked the harbor and there were hundreds of boats of every shape and size moored.

"Patrick, I know I said McDonalds but honestly I'd rather have real food. Is it okay with you if we have dinner here and then tomorrow we can have McDonalds or any other place you'd like for lunch?" Patrick was far from unreasonable and he liked the idea of being treated like an adult and asked his opinion, and not told what was going to happen.

"It's okay, Uncle Bri. I think the boats are cool."

"Thank you, Little Red. I appreciate the change of venue." All the adults thanked Patrick although Bree gave him a little frown.

"Don't worry, Bree. I bet they have French fries here," Patrick whispered to his cousin before she could cry.

"Okay," Briana capitulated but seeing was believing.

Dinner was pleasant. The menu was simple but filling. The kids had their fries and the rock duo that played oldies but goodies were on key and the songs recognizable. The adults had a few drinks that mellowed them all out and then they all took a nice walk up and down the dock. The evening was saved.

It was still rather early and no one was sleepy so they decided to check out one of the many ghost tours that were advertised.

"Is it scary?" Bobby asked at the counter. "We want to be able to bring the children."

"No, the walking tour basically takes about an hour and we tell stories about the local hauntings and town landmarks. It's really a lot about the history of St. Augustine. Sometimes we walk to the fort," one of the tour guides said.

The group agreed, paid for tickets, made the appropriate pit stops and waited until the tour started.

"Susan, stop fussing. I said I'd go with you and I will."

"Thank you, honey. They said we'll be riding a trolley and get out at different stops along the way."

"That's fine, as long as I don't have to climb." Craig was still upset about his climb to the top of the lighthouse.

"No climbing. Just riding and walking," Susan reassured her husband.

"That I can do," Craig said trying to relax. He was trying to enjoy himself on their vacation. He wasn't succeeding, but he was trying.

Brian, Justin, Briana and Patrick began to make their way toward the designated meeting place in front of the oldest school house to wait for the tour to begin. John and Bobby were looking over some hats at a nearby shop as a trolley pulled up awaiting another ghost tour.

"Craig, look, there's Brian over at that hat shop. I know that's him. But who is that red-head."

"I don't know but I intend to find out." Craig was about to walk over to John and Bobby when Susan held him back.

"Not now, the tour is leaving."

"Fine, I'll call Jennifer in the morning. She'll know what's going on."

"She won't talk to you."

"I'll make her talk," Craig grumbled.

"Sure you will." They sat back on the hard seats as the trolley lurched forward to begin the tour.

*****

It was close to ten when the tour ended and the kids were ready for bed. Back at the 'Piece of Plenty' Bobby and Justin gave the kids a quick bath and laid them on Patrick's cot. They were out before their little heads hit the pillows. Justin and Bobby decided to look over the maps and tourist books as John and Brian went to the common room for a couple of drinks.

"Think it's safe to leave those two?" Brian arched a brow at his brother while he poured them both a tumbler of scotch.

"What do you mean? The kids are safe with Bobby and Justin."

"No, I meant your boy and mine, alone with tourist maps and books. With my luck we'll be hitting Marineland tomorrow, as well as McDonalds." Brian had a pitiful look on his face that made John crack up out loud.

Later on, the brothers grim, were feeling no pain and joined Seamus on his private veranda for more drinks and a rousing round of old Irish ditties. Hearing the noise, Justin and Bobby went out to investigate. Seeing the slightly inebriated men, they decided it was best to leave them as they were, having fun while singing a little off key.

"It beats Clinton Die," Bobby murmured to Justin. They both laughed then went back in to do more planning.

The next morning Seamus cooked up a heaping platter of pancakes for his drinking buddies and their families as well as a pot of strong coffee.

"I hope I didn't lead you boys astray," Seamus remarked with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Nah," Justin answered, "it takes a lot to get these guys really drunk."

Bobby nodded. John and Brian blushed and they each took an appreciative sip of Seamus' excellent coffee.

"We're fine," John said softly. "But I hope we didn't frighten your guests. I'm afraid we really don't sing all that well."

"Hey, I think we did better than...Clinton Die!" Everyone laughed heartily, even Seamus.

"Is that guy still doing the Shark House? If I'd known you were heading out there I would have warned you," Seamus said while shaking his head. "That man sure knows how to butcher good songs. Well, I'll leave the pot and you to your breakfast. Enjoy your day!" Seamus went back into the kitchen.

The ride to Marineland was fairly short. They decided not to do any extensive Marineland tours or programs, just walking around the grounds and enjoying the huge tanks that had hundreds of 'portholes' which allowed for viewing and pictures. The children had a great time watching the dolphins at play.

"Uncle Brian?"

"Yes, Sonny Boy."

"Is this the same road we took to the Shark House?"

"Yes, it is. You're very smart, do you know that?"

Patrick beamed at his uncle. "Can we try there again for lunch? I really don't want McDonalds. Bree and me just like the fries and they have them there. But..."

"But what, Little Red?"

"Can we find out if that guy is there first?" Brian giggled then pulled out his phone to dial information.

"Good idea, Sonny Boy." Brian ruffled the boy's fine red hair as he waited for the operator to pick up.

Lunch at the Shark House was much better. It was less crowded and no Clinton Die. The kids had a much better time as well as the adults. Everyone was stuffed and a little sleepy. As they piled back into the van, Brian's cell phone rang.

"Hello? Hi, Myrna. Much better, thank you. The pool? Hold on, I'll ask." Brian covered the phone then posed the question. "The lesbians want to know if we want to go to their condo to use the pool, and they have access to the beach."

They all looked at one another then back at Brian with large smiles.

"I'll take that as a yes. Yes, Myrna, give us about an hour to get our suits and things then I'll call back for directions. You do that. See ya!"

"What is she planning?" Justin's eyes got very large at the thought of Myrna planning something.

"She mentioned something about snacks and wine. Oh and some sort of drink called 'chocolate cake.' Sounds awful to me, I think I'll be the designated driver."

"Wine, that reminds me, the San Sebastian winery is here. We should take the tour." Justin was consulting his map again.

"Maybe tomorrow," Brian half agreed.

With that they headed back to the Band B and more fun with lesbians.

*****

"Susan, this is boring." Craig and Susan were at the winery taking the tour. It was more than an hour long then it concluded with wine tasting.

"Oh, stop being a spoil sport. I'm enjoying myself." Craig smiled at his wife. Maybe if she really enjoyed herself tasting the wine, he'd enjoy himself after.

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