Springtime for Justin

Chapter 7

Justin awoke half gasping for breath. He sat up in bed and sneezed violently. He grabbed a tissue and blew his nose loudly.

"Wha…What?" Brian asked opening his eyes and glaring at Justin.

"Fucking allergies," Justin griped. "I can't breathe."

"Did you take your allergy medicine?"

"Of course I took the fucking stuff."

"You don't have to bite my head off."

"Sorry," Justin said shaking his head. "I'm so sick of this. I can't work. I feel like crap."

"We're taking you to the doctor," Brian said.

"Could you close the window?" Justin requested as he blew his nose again.

Brian got up and walked to the bedroom window. The curtain billowed out as a breeze came through the open window. "The wind must have switched around during the night. There was no breeze coming in here when I opened the window. I thought it would be all right."

"It's not your fault. I don't know why my allergies are so bad this year."

"Everything's really sprouting after the long hard winter."

"Fuck!" Justin gasped as he started a new series of sneezes."

"I'm calling the allergy doctor as soon as his office opens," Brian stated as he climbed back into bed.

"Don't we have to get up?" Justin muttered.

"It's only five-thirty."

"Oh?" Justin sighed.

"Rest a bit," Brian said pulling Justin against him and cradling his snuffling spouse.

"'Kay," Justin agreed, sounding like his daughter.

 

*****
 

"Mr. Hunter," Curtis said coming into Hunter's office.
"Yeah," Hunter replied looking up from the report he was writing on the computer. "You're up early."

"I … I was thinking about what you said, about kids having two moms or two dads, or about not having any moms or dads at all, like me."

"You could have two dads if you wanted to accept Raph and Hector in that role."

Curtis smiled slightly. "You had two dads, didn't you?"

Hunter nodded. "After Michael and Ben adopted me."

"Did you have a mom and dad … you know … before?"

"Everybody has a mother and father," Hunter said with a strange look on his face.

"Did they die?"

"Why are you asking me all these questions?" Hunter asked.

"I need to know."

"Why?"

"If I have to decide about Dr. Raph and Mr. Hector, I need to now what I'm getting into."

"I said I'd arrange the lunch with Gus and Bree."

"I know, but they've had all those parents for their whole lives … and I haven't had anybody except my grandpa."

Hunter smiled wryly. "So you think maybe you and I have something in common."

"Maybe. I just wondered."

"Okay, tell me what you really want to know."

"Was it better with your real parents or with the gay guys?"

Hunter snorted and then laughed. "I guess I asked for that. I told you not to beat around the bush. Do you specialize in tough questions?"

Curtis looked pleased with himself. Not since his grandfather died had he been able to ask all the questions that he had inside him. The Hardigans would have smacked him for asking. The previous foster family never had time for him. "I guess so," he said to Hunter's question.

"Then I'll do my best to answer. I never much knew my father. He left us when I was little. My mother … she … um … she wasn't a very nice lady. I ran away from her. That's how I ended up on the streets like you did."

"So, the gay guys must have been much better than your mother."

"I guess you could say that. But it doesn't mean I didn't wish for things to be better with my mother."

"Even when you were with Ben and…"

"Michael."

"Michael."

"No, by then I knew she would never be a good mother. She even came after me and tried to take me away from Ben and Michael."

"She did?" Curtis' eyes got very large. "What did you do?"

"Michael and I ran away."

"You did?"

Hunter nodded, thinking back on those days when he and Michael were running, using Brian's fuckmobile to escape. "It was a stupid idea. Eventually we gave up and came back."

"Did you go back with you mother?"

"No, we went to court and they gave Michael and Ben custody of me."

"The court did?"

"Yeah," Hunter said ruefully. "The court actually got one right."

"I wish they'd get something right for me. If I go to court, they'll probably send me back to the Hardigans."

Hunter laughed. "Hey, you've been to court and they sent you here, not to the Hardigans."

"Oh, that's right," Curtis said with a smile. "I forgot. Hunter, can I just stay here. It's warm and you're nice and so is Karen."

"You are staying here."

"I mean permanently."

Hunter shook his head. "You can stay here as long as you need to, but the center's not a home. That's what Dr. Raph and Hector are offering you … a home."

Curtis made a face. "But I don't know what to expect there. Maybe I won't like it."

"And maybe you will."

Curtis shook his head. "It seems too good to be true."

"And maybe it's just plain good."

"I'm not that lucky."

"I think your luck has changed."

"So, you think I should go with Dr. Raph?"

"That's not my decision to make. I think you're doing the right thing by staying with them and seeing what it's like to live there."

"It's pretty good … so far."

"Then what are you afraid of."

"The … the Hardigans used to tell me that I was stupid and never did anything right. They said nobody would ever want me. What if Dr. Raph decides the same thing and wants to get rid of me."

"First of all, you're not stupid. You're a very bright boy, and you work hard in school. Dr. Raph and Hector are going to be very proud of you, just like I am."

Curtis smiled. "You said I could meet the kids with four parents this Saturday?"

"That's right. I'll try and arrange it today."

"Are the kids gay too?"

"I don't know. They're a bit young … except for Gus."

"How old is Gus?"

"Sixteen."

"Oh!"

"That surprises you?"

"He's not much older than me."

"Gus is a great kid."

"He probably won't like me."

Hunter smiled gently. "Gus will like you. What's not to like?" Curtis shrugged. "You know, you think too much. Everything's going to be fine."

"I bet Mr. Brian told them what I did, and they all hate me."

"And I bet Mr. Brian never told them anything about you."

"Really?" Curtis asked his eyebrows going up into his hairline.

"Brian Kinney keeps things to himself. I doubt he told anyone. If they know about the mugging, they didn't find it out from him."

"Oh," Curtis said with a frown.

"You don't have anything to worry about. Well, maybe one thing."

"What's that?"

"Brian and Justin's daughter is named Bree, Briana. She'll have you wrapped around her finger in the first five minutes."

"A girl! I don't think so."

"Don't say I didn't warn you. Now, go get ready for school." Hunter shook his head and chuckled as Curtis hustled from the room.

 

*****
 

"Is Justin all right?" John asked Brian as they drove into Pittsburgh.

"Not really but try telling him that. His fucking allergies are going to be the death of him and me one day. He can never seem to catch a break," Brian griped.

"I know he's allergic to practically every medicine known to man but can he take anything?"

"Yeah, they came out with something mild that he can take with some success but sometimes his allergies are too strong for the medicine to work. He was calling his allergist when we left. Is this the place?" Brian asked when John slowed down as they approached a rundown apartment building.

The building looked quite lonely standing by itself. It was the only building on the entire street. The other structures had been long since torn down. The area was practically derelict and looked almost war ravaged.

"How the fuck did he find this place?" Brian grumbled. "And why would he want a place all the way out here, in the middle of nowhere?"

"Brian, just think of the possibilities. We can be at the forefront of a real urban renewal. Instead of adding more skyscrapers, we can encourage some mom and pop type stores. Did you know that you can 'adopt' or buy one those old time diners that were built in rail cars. Can you imagine one here? Maybe a park, next to the apartment or in the back of the building. Maybe one lot could be made into a garage to encourage business. How many times did you want to go to a particular store, and then ended up going home because you couldn't find parking? If we own the land we can sell it to buyers that subscribe to our vision."

Brian stared at his brother and then burst out laughing.

"What?" John said angrily.

"Brother dearest, you sound like a mogul."

John thought a minute then smiled. "Just following your example. I had Bobby do a little research on the land as well as the building. The city was hoping a mall would take it off their hands but that never panned out. Then more and more people began to leave the area. Buildings were abandoned then eventually torn down due to squatting. It had become a haven for junkies and pushers. It's difficult to hide in an empty lot."

Brian nodded. He could see the potential and he loved the idea of starting a project from scratch. It was something like when he and Cynthia started up Kinnetik.

"What about zoning and permits?"

"Bobby's checking into it, but bottom line is that if we keep the apartment building, renovate that first and then add one store at a time, keeping the buildings lower than the apartment house, we should be all right."

"That stuff confuses me so I'll leave the technicalities up to you. Will the city give us a break on the building if they know it's for the clinic?"

"Yes. The mayor's office is still getting kudos for going with the clinic project. They overlook the bathhouse, because the theater and bowling alley have been a great success."

"And I happen to know that someone on the mayor's payroll is a regular at Terry's," Brian smirked. The brothers got out of John's SUV to get up close and personal with the apartment house.

"TMI, Brian," John growled.

"Have some pity on the poor guy. He's a closet case, although everyone knows about him. He doesn't even partake in the festivities. Once a week, after a grueling week being a public servant, he takes his poor tired body to the steamroom. He watches the show then goes home."

"And this is a good thing?"

"Yeah, it is."

"Okay, I'll bite, why is this a good thing?"

"Because, the guy knows that everything is on the up and up at the bathhouse. No pandering, no drugs, occasional bootie calls in clean private rooms between consenting adults. Adults being the operative word. No new members unless checked out and vouched for. And when in doubt, Terry says no. It's probably safer and cleaner in there than in our own home."

"I doubt that, oh mister anal retentively clean one."

"Okay, I'll give you that. The building itself is an architectural marvel. The facade was exquisitely restored and maintained. A testament to your work ethic and your crew. It's a respectable Gay Man's club. The kids go to Babylon or Boy Toy. The mature men go to Terry's."

"Honor and order amongst gay men? What is this world coming too?"

"Beats the shit out of me. Ugh! What is that smell?" They were in the lobby of the building.

"Mold, mildew, sewage? Who knows what state the pipes are in."

"You want to go look?"

"Not without a hazmat crew standing by. Mold like this can be life threatening. Let's see if we can get into one of the apartments."

"Kind of reminds me of the Part Deux building."

"Good eye! It was built around the same time. I wouldn't be surprised if the same company built it. It's all generic."

"Does it have to be?"

"Be what?"

"Generic. The point of Hunter's kids working on the building, under your tutelage, is so they learn a useful trade. Can we turn it into a real learning experience rather than just wielding a hammer. Maybe each apartment can be different such as ultra modern or retro. You don't have a teaching degree, do you?"

"No, but Gordo does. And he does lecture occasionally."

"So if we hook up with the local vocational school..."

"The kids might come out with a real certificate or credits toward a degree as well as a new home if they need it. Damn, you're a genius. I've seen enough and before we both start sneezing, let's get the hell out of here."

"I won't argue with you. Where now?"

"The city planner's office. I want to see what it'll take to hold the building and the surrounding property."

The brothers left the building then climbed back into John's black Navigator.

"You know, while you're renovating things, maybe you should take your truck to the body shop," Brian said casually.

"Body shop? There's not a ding on this baby."

"Yes, but the color's all wrong."

"Brian, what the fuck are you on about?"

"Your steed needs to be white," Brian snarked then leaned back against his seat.

John gave his brother an incredulous look then remarked, "I wonder about you sometimes."

"You wouldn't be the only one."

The brother's drove on to city hall.

 

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