Summer in the City

Chapter 11

“Gamma? What are we going to do today?” It was eight in the morning but Bree and Joan were wide awake.

“I think your fathers would like a nice quiet day today. They had a busy night last night and we’re going to be very busy tomorrow,” Joan answered reasonably, hoping to keep Bree quiet. They had gotten back to the hotel rather late after The Lion King. Briana was asleep the second her head hit the pillow. They had thoroughly enjoyed the show.

It was close to midnight when Gus, Brian and Justin made it back.

“Oh? What are we going to do tomorrow?”

“Your fathers want to take us to Coney Island.”

“The aquarium?”

“Yes. After breakfast, why don’t we go back to the library and read up on the aquarium. We can learn all about it. Maybe Gus will come with us. He can use the library’s computer. Would you like that?”

“Oh yes, Gamma. Can I go see if Gus is awake?” Bree slid off her bed to stand next to her grandmother’s bed.

“Go ahead but knock on his door and wait till he answers. He was at the dance last night.”

“Okay, Gamma,” Bree said as she kissed her grandmother’s cheek then left their room. Joan hugged herself as she counted her blessings.

 

*****
 

“Gus,” Bree whispered loudly as she knocked on her brother’s bedroom door.

“Hey, Squirt,” Gus mumbled, his head buried under his blanket.

“Can I come it?”

“Sure.”

Bree pushed the door open then scrambled to her brother’s bed. “Can you come to the li-berry with me and Gamma Joan?”

“Uh, do I have to?” Gus groaned then hid under his pillow. Bree picked up a corner of the pillow and got right in her brother’s face.

“Pleeeeeeez. We need you to look on the puter to find out about the aquarium,” Bree begged, batting her eyes.

Gus groaned. “Okay. Let’s make a deal. Let me sleep one more hour and then we get breakfast and then we can take Grandma Joan to the library. I need my beauty sleep, short stuff.”

“Okay, Gus,” Bree said, happy to compromise. She dropped the pillow back on her brother’s head. She was about to leave his room when she picked up the corner of the pillow again. “Gus?”

“Mmm,” Gus mumbled, cracking open only one eye. His sister’s violet blue eye was about an inch away from his.

“Do I need beauty sleep?”

“No, Squirt, you’re beautiful just the way you are,” Gus said in all honesty. He was rewarded with his sister’s version of a sunshine smile.

Bree kissed her brother’s nose, patted down the pillow then left the room with a quiet, “Later.” Bree heard Gus’ mumbled response.

 

*****
 

“Hey,” Justin mumbled as he awoke. When they had gotten back to their hotel, they checked on their sleeping beauty and Joan, bid Gus a good night and promptly went to sleep.

“Hey, yourself. This must have been a first for us.”

“What do you mean?”

“Come back home after a night of drinking and dancing and then going right to bed...to sleep. I don’t think we’ve ever done that. We must be getting old.”

“Speak for yourself,” Justin groaned as he stretched and wiggled his toes under the sheets. “It was only coffee and soda and we only danced a few dances. And you’re not old. Those young men at the GLC can attest to that. You were just as in demand as you ever were.”

“So were you, Sunshine. And I don’t want to be in demand, especially by kids young enough to be my own,” Brian griped.

“Oh stop.”

“But I did fall right to sleep. I am getting old.” Brian scowled, prepared for self pity.

“Brian, the reason you fell right to sleep is that you were up since five going over contracts and renovation plans. You were at work by eight. Had a breakfast meeting at nine, closed the deal by ten and then you were at it again with a lunch meeting by noon. You haven’t stopped since we came into the city. You have a right to be tired. You’ve been worried about Gus and don’t try to deny that you call Joan, on that cell phone that you got for her, several times a day to make sure they’re all right.”

Brian made a face.

“So there. You can sleep all you want, you deserve it.”

“But sleep cuts into my fucking time.”

“That’s our fucking time and just think of it as your body preparing itself for me. A well rested Brian Kinney is a happy, horny and UP Brian Kinney.”

“I’m always up, Sunshine,” Brian purred into his spouse’s ear.

“Don’t I know it. Why don’t you give me an appetizer and then we can have the main course after a shower and breakfast,” Justin purred back, slowing batting his eyes.

“Whatever you wish, Sunshine,” Brian said as he kissed his lover good morning, whetting his appetite with a good long taste.

 

*****
 

“Curtis,” Raph called.

“Yes,” Curtis replied sticking his head out of his bedroom door.

“Would you come down here, please?”

“Did I do something wrong?” Curtis asked as he descended the stairs.

Raph sighed. “Curtis, when I call you, it doesn’t always mean that I have a problem with you.”

“Oh, then what is it?”

“How would you like to go to the park this afternoon?”

“The park?” Curtis asked.

“Yes, the state park. I thought we could pack a picnic lunch and maybe go swimming in the lake.”

“Swimming?” Curtis’ eyes had got very large.”

“Yes, it’s supposed to be really hot today.”

“Oh.”

“It would feel good to get in the water and cool off, wouldn’t it?” Raph asked.

Curtis shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

“Why not?” Raph frowned trying to figure out why Curtis was so reluctant to take part in what should be a pleasurable experience.

Curtis stared at the floor and mumbled, “Ican’tswim.”

“What?”

“I said I can’t fucking swim!” Curtis yelled. “Just go without me, okay. Leave me here. I don’t care.” Curtis started back up the stairs.

“Halt!” Raph ordered in his best authoritative voice. He saw Curtis freeze immediately. “Look at me,” Raph ordered. Curtis’ head turned and he managed to get his eyes to raise to a level where he could look at Raph. Raph watched a shudder pass through the boy. “Curtis, listen to me, please.”

Curtis stared at the floor not wanting to look at Raph anymore than he had to. Curtis knew what was coming next. He’d been in this situation many times.

“Are you listening?” Curtis nodded, waiting to hear what his punishment for being loud and argumentative would be. “I didn’t know you couldn’t swim. You don’t have to go near the water if you don’t want to.”

“I don’t?” Curtis was surprised. That’s not what he had been expecting.

“No, you don’t. We’re not going to make you do anything you don’t want to do.”

“You aren’t?”

“I mean it, Curtis. I want you to trust us. You simply have to tell us if something isn’t right. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, sir,” Curtis replied, his eyes still glued to the floor.

“Forget about the swimming,” Raph said. “How does a picnic sound?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever been on a picnic,” Curtis said sadly.

“Then today’s a good day to try something new.”

“I guess so.”

“That’s my boy!” Raph replied with a big smile.

Curtis looked up at Raph’s words. “I … I’m your boy?”

“I thought that’s what this whole living together and getting used to each other was about. I want you to be my son, and I don’t want you to be afraid of me. I’ll never hurt you.”

Curtis stared into Raph’s eyes. “I believe you,” he said slowly. “If the Hardigans had told me they were going swimming, I would have had to swim too. And … and if I drowned, that would be even better.”

“Fuck!” Raph said stepping towards the stairs where Curtis still stood on the bottom step. He touched Curtis’ shoulder and found a sobbing boy in his arms. Raph hugged him with all he was worth. “Nothing like that is going to happen to you here,” Raph whispered.

“I know,” Curtis said softly, regaining some control. “But … sometimes I forget that.”

“It’s okay, son. I’ll keep reminding you.”

“Thanks,” Curtis replied as Raph released his grip.

He set Curtis back on the bottom step. “I could teach you to swim, if you want.”

“Maybe next time. I think the picnic will be enough for today.”

“Picnic it is! Hector’s already making sandwiches.”

“Um … what should I wear to a picnic?” Curtis asked.

“What you have on is fine,” Raph told him, looking at the shorts and T-shirt the boy wore. “You don’t have to dress for a picnic.”

“I know,” Curtis said with a big smile. “I just wanted to see what you’d say.” He giggled at the look on Raph’s face.

“Why you little…” Raph chuckled. “Get up those stairs and gather up whatever you want to bring with you. We’re leaving as soon as you’re ready.”

“Okay,” Curtis said cheerily as he ran up the stairs.

Raph shook his head as he watched the boy disappear into his room. He’d have to remember not to take for granted what Curtis had experienced or had not experienced in his young life. He hoped he had convinced Curtis that it was okay to be whatever he was. There were no unreasonable expectations in this house. Raph headed to the kitchen to tell Hector to make extra sandwiches for their hungry boy.

 

*****
 

“What are you doing, Mama?” JR asked as she walked into the kitchen.

Melanie was sitting at the table looking at a piece of paper. “I’m trying to figure out where to put everything in the backyard for the party.”

“I thought Auntie Emm was going to look after the party.”

“He is, but I have some ideas of my own.”

“Oh. Can I help?”

“I don’t think so, sweetheart. This is a grown up party.”

“You mean I can’t come?”

“Well, I … um … I thought maybe you could go to your dad’s for the day.” Melanie didn’t want to disappoint her daughter, but she really didn’t want her at the party.

“Oh,” JR said her face falling. “I thought I’d be invited. We never have parties. Bree has parties all the time.”

“Fucking Bree,” Melanie mumbled under her breath.

“What’s going on?” Lindsay asked as she came into the kitchen.

“I was just telling JR about how much fun she’ll have with Michael while we’re having the party,” Melanie said trying to give her wife the high sign to back her up.

“Aren’t Michael and Ben invited?” Lindsay asked.

“We’re mostly having business acquaintances,” Melanie stated.

“Are we?”

“I thought you understood that.”

“I thought the business acquaintances were in addition to some of our family and friends.” Lindsay knew this wasn’t going to make Melanie happy, but she would not have everyone they knew and loved excluded from the party. It was bad enough that Mel had chosen to have the party while Brian and Justin and their son were all in New York.

“Well, we can discuss that later.”

“I thought the invitations went out today,” Lindsay reminded her.

“They did.”

“And the ones for Michael and Ben and Ted and Allen, were they amongst them?”

“Well, I thought I’d hold off on those until we made some final decisions.” Melanie felt the color rise in her face. She had been caught out, and now her daughter and her wife were both going to be mad at her.

“I told you who I wanted to invite,” Lindsay said. “Or maybe they didn’t get invitations either.” The chill in her voice was very evident.

“Of course they did. I sent them with all the rest.”

“Then I suggest you send the ones to our family too, or I may find that I can’t attend either,” Lindsay said firmly.

“Okay, sure, I’ll go put them in the post this afternoon.” Melanie realized she had made a huge mistake.

“Then what about me, Mama?” JR asked. “Where will I go?”

“You’re not going anywhere,” Melanie stated. “You’re going to be here at our party. I want you here,” she added. And she did mean that. She was sorry for the way she had presented this to her daughter.

“Thank you, Mama. I’ll be real good.”

“You just be yourself,” Melanie said gently. “That will suit us just fine.”

Lindsay smiled at her wife. She hadn’t been at all pleased with what she had walked into. The idea of Melanie excluding their real friends and family in favor of virtual strangers was just too much for her to live with. At least Melanie seemed to have got the point and was changing her attitude.

“I could help,” JR said tentatively. She wanted to be part of the party.

“I don’t think that will be necessary,” Melanie said.

“I think some of our guests might bring their children,” Lindsay offered. “Would you like to invite a friend from school, and maybe you and your friend could have a games area for the younger children.”

“I could do that, Mommy,” JR said with a smile.

“That’s my girl,” Melanie agreed. She hadn’t been aware that people might bring children.

“Then that’s settled,” Lindsay said with a nod in Mel’s direction.

“Yes, settled,” Melanie agreed. “I better get those other invitations and take them to the mailbox.

“Good idea,” Lindsay said as she put on the kettle to make a cup of tea.

JR smiled at her mothers. She wanted to be part of the party and now she was.

 

*****
 

After an excellent first round, a well rested Brian and Justin emerged from their room. Gus, Joan and Bree had just finished a light breakfast. Joan, taking advantage of the suite’s small kitchenette, had prepared something simple for her grandchildren. Now they were getting ready to go the ‘li-berry’ with Bree. Room service was knocking on the door with a hearty breakfast ordered up by Joan for her son and son-in-law. Joan never believed her son had enough meat on his bones and Justin’s appetite remained legendary.

“What’s all this?” Brian asked as he entered the main room.

“We’re going to the li-berry, Dada!” Bree answered with enthusiasm, as she flung herself into her Dada’s arms. “Are you now?” Brian replied, kissing her face then setting her down.

“I ordered breakfast for two,” Joan stated, as the waiter rolled in the cart and began to uncover all sorts of breakfast delicacies.

“Two?” Brian said as he spied the massive feast. He tipped the waiter as he left the room.

“Brian, I know you value a trim figure but sometimes a little indulgence every now and then is not such a bad thing. You work very hard; it’s okay to treat yourself,” Joan stated calmly.

“See, Brian,” Justin began, “I’ve always said you should eat more. Thank you, Joan,” Justin said smugly.

“You’re welcome. Justin,” Joan paused trying to phrase what she wanted to say delicately. “Brian was always very thin even as a boy; he never had much of an appetite. However, you, young man, should watch what you eat.”

“He does watch what he eats, mother, he watches it as he stuffs it into his mouth,” Brian said with a smirk as Joan tried hard not to laugh. Justin was momentarily flustered then marveled at the fact that Brian and his mother had gotten close enough to joke around, even if it was at his expense.

“I think my Daddy is just right!” Bree declared, coming to her daddy’s rescue.

“Thank you, baby,” Justin said as he scooped her up in his arms to give her a kiss.

“I love your tummy, Daddy,” Bree said as she reached down to pat her father’s slightly rounded belly. Justin blushed as Joan, Brian and Gus broke out into laughter. Justin kissed his daughter then handed her off to Gus. After many goodbyes, Brian and Justin were finally alone to enjoy their breakfast and the day.

Watching his sullen spouse push the food around on his plate, Brian offered his admiration for Justin’s physique.

“I love your tummy too, Sunshine,” Brian said coyly as he took a piece of melon, bit off a small piece then via a kiss, fed it to his lover. “I love every bit of you,” Brian purred. Justin smiled his special smile for Brian then ate his breakfast in earnest.


 

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