Summer in the City

Chapter 22

“Brian, may I make a request before we go?” Joan asked her son quietly after Bree had gone to bed. Justin was reading her a bedtime story.

“Certainly,” Brian replied, a little concerned about the seriousness he heard in his mother’s tone.

“I realize you want to go home the day after tomorrow and I am looking forward to going home too; however, if we don’t have any definite plans for tomorrow, I’d like to see Ellis Island.” Brian blew out the breath he found he was holding then answered.

“Of course. Gus and I saw Ellis Island from the ferry when we went to the Statue of Liberty. We didn’t stop at the island. Did your parents come through there?”

“My mother’s family did. I’d like to see if there’s any record of them.” Brian got up from the sofa to go to his mother’s side. He knelt by her chair.

“We’ll all go. It’ll be a good experience for all of us,” Brian said solemnly. “Maybe tomorrow night we can go to the observation deck of the Empire State building.”

“I can’t think of a better way to end our adventure. And I am so grateful that you brought me along. I am ready to go home and to start my job at the book store, but this time with you and your family. I...I can’t explain how full of love I feel right now.”

Brian choked up a little. Never in his wildest dreams did Brian ever think he’d ever have a real mother. “Mom, it’s our family,” is all Brian could say as he hugged Joan.

*****

“Cole?” Gus whispered into his cell. He was in his room debating whether to call Cole or just leave without saying anything. Gus really liked Cole, even though some of the things Cole wanted Gus to do, bothered him.

“Hey, baby cakes, I was just thinking of you. How about we go to the movies tomorrow? We sit in the balcony and suck face for two hours.”

“I can’t,” Gus said sadly.

“Why?” Cole said through gritted teeth.

“We’re doing this family thing, Ellis Island, Empire State Building, the whole works. We’re heading back to the Pitts the next day.”

“So soon?”

“I told you things were moving fast and when my Pop makes up his mind, there’s no way in hell that he’ll change it. He wants to go home, we go home.”

“The day after tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

“Then I guess that’s it.”

“Yeah, that’s it.”

“Bye, Gus.”

“Bye.” Gus snapped his phone shut as he squeezed his eyes closed. A few tears slipped down his cheek.

*****

Brian, Justin, Joan, Gus and Bree stepped through the doors into the main reception hall on Ellis Island. They all stopped just inside the door and looked around taking in the enormity of the place and thinking of what it must have been like for their ancestors who arrived there.

“I bet they were scared,” Gus said as he felt the power of the place. The pictures of immigrants really hit home.

“Many of them couldn’t even speak English. They would have felt so lost,” Joan whispered.

“But they had hope,” Justin said, as they moved forward to look at the life size blow-ups of old photos showing people who had arrived at Ellis Island in the past.

“And we think we have it tough sometimes,” Brian said shaking his head.

“I guess I should be more thankful,” Gus observed.

“We all should,” Brian agreed.

“What’s thankful?” Bree asked, a little bewildered by the comments, and the whole atmosphere in the room. Everything was so big and the people were so quiet.

“It means that we should appreciate what we have, Squirt,” Brian informed his daughter as he scooped her up into his arms. “See these people in the pictures. They were usually very poor and they came from far away to make a good life for themselves and their families here in America.”

“Is that what the Statue means too?” Bree asked studying the pictures more carefully, but thinking about the Statue of Liberty that they had passed on their way to Ellis Island. She thought the clothes of the people looked really funny in the pictures, but the faces seemed nice.

“The Statue of Liberty represents part of what these people were looking for,” Brian told her.

“Why don’t I take Bree upstairs to some of the rooms where they have games and things for children?” Justin asked. He had been reading the signs, trying to figure out the best way to see everything. “You could help your mother look for her family on the computers.”

Brian nodded as he set Bree down. She took Justin’s hand and the two made their way to the stairs.

“Mother, the computers to look for your family are over here,” Brian said pointing her in the direction of the bank of computers set up specifically for that purpose. “What do you want to do?” Brian asked Gus.

“I’d like to find out about our family too,” Gus said. “Besides, Grandma might need me to help her with the computer.”

Brian smiled at his son and ruffled his hair. “Let’s go, Sonny Boy.” They followed Joan across the room.

They spent the next twenty minutes trying to find Joan’s mother’s family. Their name was Reilly, and there were a lot of Reilly’s who had come from Ireland, most of them during the potato famine in the mid 1900’s. Joan’s family was a little later arriving. They finally found what they were sure was her mother’s family. A little girl was listed with them, named Siobhan. That had been Joan’s mother’s name.

“I can’t believe they have all this information in here … and we can get to it so easily,” Joan said with a smile.

“That’s what computers are good for,” Gus told her.

“I’m glad I’m learning about them,” Joan responded. “I begin to see all the possibilities.”

Brian groaned. “Just what we need in the family … another computer nerd.”

Joan and Gus made faces at him and they all laughed at the absurdity of it.

“Let’s go find Bree and Justin,” Brian suggested.

They made their way upstairs, stopping to look in some of the rooms that showed how people were jammed into small spaces sleeping in bunks with no privacy, while they waited to be processed. It was an eye opening experience to see how difficult the entry into the United States of America had been for these people.

They found Justin and Bree playing one of the games where the doctor would make a mark on the sleeve of people as they passed. If you got certain marks, it meant you might be ill, and would be rejected and sent back.

Bree was looking thoughtful as she matched up the symbols.

“How’s she doing?” Brian asked, worried that the place might be a little too intense for their daughter.

“She’s had lots of questions,” Justin said. “She doesn’t understand why everybody couldn’t come into the country.”

“That makes two of us,” Brian said. “Can you imagine coming all the way from Ireland or Italy or god knows where, and then being sent back on what seems like the whim of some officious paper pusher?”

“It must have been devastating,” Joan said.

“We’re lucky your mother’s family was accepted,” Gus said.

“Yes, we really were,” Joan agreed.

They spent a little more time looking at the pictures and the artifacts. There was a big display of some of the fancy linens and jewelry and clothing that people had brought with them. Bree noticed the dolls, and wanted to know why they hadn’t gone with the little girl who owned them. Brian and Justin didn’t want to tell her that the little girl might have died or her family had left the things behind because something bad had happened.

“Not all the little girls would be as lucky as you, Bree,” Gus said. “They might have sold their doll to get some money for their family.”

Bree looked thoughtful at that comment. “I’d sell my bunny to help the family,” she professed. “I share.”

“We know you do, sweetheart,” Justin said picking her up and kissing her cheek. “We’re so lucky to have a little girl as generous as you. And a son who is so smart and caring.” He looked over at Gus.

Gus shook his head thinking about some of the sneaking around he had been doing since he met Cole. He resolved to be a better human being in the future.

They left the building with a new understanding of their heritage and a resolution to respect the sacrifices their forebears had made. They would enjoy the privileges they had, and not take them for granted. Their day at Ellis Island had been very informative and affecting for each of them.

Most of the day was spent on the island. They purchased lunch from the snack bar and found a nice shady spot outside to relax and eat. Joan went to the gift shop to purchase a few mementos of their visit and a book about the island for Bree. The book was a little advanced for the five year old but not by much. Joan knew that Briana would soon appreciate it.

After lunch they strolled along the sea wall. Gus took many pictures of the Statue of Liberty and of downtown Manhattan off on the horizon. There would be many happy memories for the Kinney-Taylor family to take home with them. It was late afternoon by the time a cab dropped the family off at the building that was home to N’rgy and the Greene-Mann family.

“So you guys are going home,” Raymond stated softly to Gus as the rest of the family were talking and taking the tour of the newly renovated offices.

“Yeah, Pop’s ready to leave. Stacey and your dad really don’t need him here anymore, so we go. I’m going to miss hanging out with you and Jeff.”

“I’m going to miss you too. We, um, never got the chance to...”

“Yeah, I know.”

“What about Cole?” Ray asked and Gus merely shrugged his shoulders. They both stood quietly, just contemplating their sneakers when Justin’s voice broke the silence.

“Hey, buddy, we’re going!”

Gus and Ray stood close and gazed into each other’s eyes.

“I wish...” Gus began.

“Yeah, me too,” Raymond replied. As Gus turned to leave, Ray grabbed Gus to turn him around. Standing up on his toes, Ray planted a sloppy kiss onto Gus’ lips. “You know we don’t live all that far away and our dads like visiting and maybe I can come to Pittsburgh sometime,” Ray said with a smile.

Gus’ face busted into a bright smile. “Yeah! Yeah! Maybe I can ask Pop if you can come in August.”

“Yeah!” both boys said together then laughed. They hugged, shook hands , kissed and high-fived (not necessarily in that order) and felt a hell of a lot better than they did ten minutes prior.

“Break it up, you faggetts!” Jeffrey snarked as he strode into the room. “Your Pop has already invited us to stay with you in August at the cottage. Said something about a farm, riding lessons and smelling like horse. Your dad’s weird, you know that?” Jeff said with a smirk.

“Yeah, I know and I wouldn’t have it any other way! Bye, guys. I’ll text you with the details.”

“Bye, Gus,” the brothers said. With that, the Kinney-Taylors took their leave of Kinnetik N’rgy.

*****

After a ride up to the observation deck of the Empire State Building, the Kinney-Taylor family decided to have dinner at the building’s restaurant. It was a micro brewery, where Brian and Justin found unique and tasty beers to try. The simple but hearty fare on the menu satisfied them all. As Joan had said, it was a wonderful way to end their New York adventure.

Later that night after a marathon session of packing and organizing of souvenirs and gifts, the family was finally ready for bed. Brian checked in with Cynthia regarding Kinnetik and phoned Lindsay regarding the slight change in plans. Then Brian called Emmett and John to get an update regarding the Village. They had missed ‘Emmett’s Place Too’ grand opening but would be back in time for Drew’s launching of his sports boutique, ‘For Men and Women of Iron.’ Drew's boutique had been ready to launch first but then he was contacted by many of his former teammates. It seemed that they caught wind that a portion of the proceeds from Drew's store would go to the Jason Kemp Center and the new free clinic that was a part of the Village. So Emmett decided to have his grand opening first to allow the football players time to rearrange their schedules.

“Bri,” Justin murmured into his spouse’s ear. Brian was propped up against his pillow reading his latest trade journal.

“Hmm,” Brian grunted.

“This is our last night here in the Big Apple,” Justin purred.

“Mmm,” Brian responded then turned to look into Justin’s eyes. “You want to go dancing or something?” Brian asked with a smirk.

“Yeah,” Justin said mischievously. “Or something,” Justin said with a laugh then dove under the blankets to dance with Brian under the sheets.

*****

“Dada?” Bree was watching her dada gather up all the bags to place them near the door for the bellman. She was sitting on the sofa well out of the way of the bustle.

“Yes, Squirt.”

“When are we going?”

“Soon,” Brian said as he brought Joan’s bag to the pile.

“Oh. Dada?”

“Yes, Squirt?”

“What about all the books we borrowed from the li-berry?”

“Gamma Joan has them all together; we’ll drop them off on our way.”

“Oh. Dada?”

“Yes, Squirt.”

“Can we have Coney Island hot dogs for lunch?” Brian stopped in his tracks. Justin, Joan and Gus stopped what they were doing to hear Brian’s reply. “Can we?” Bree asked hopefully. Brian closed his eyes then nodded, yes. “Yay!” Bree squealed with delight, Brian groaned softly to himself.

“You big Smoosh,” Justin said as he kissed Brian then they continued clearing out their suite.

The sun was setting by the time the Kinney-Taylor family drove into Pittsburgh.

*****

“Helloooo!” Emmett sashayed his way into Brian’s office at Kinnetik.

The family had been home for two weeks and life was returning to normal. Joan was settling into her new job at the bookstore. Justin was finishing up with his Seasons paintings. Sidney was planning the formal opening for September. Bree, Ashley and the rest of the ‘riding club’ had their schedule of lessons all planned out. And the painting of Bree running through the Coney Island surf was hung in a place of honor at the loft. Everyone was happy to be home, all except for Gus. He seemed to leave a piece of himself in old New York.

“I knew it was too good to last,” Brian grumbled as he peered over his computer screen.

“What was too good to last?” Emmett asked innocently.

“The quiet. I got used to no nelly bottom queens getting in my way.”

“Oh pooh,” Emmett stated nonplussed, as he shoved some things aside on Brian’s desk then planted his nelly bottom on it. “You coming to Drew’s event later today?”

“I always come, you know that,” Brian snarked as he glared at Emmett’s audacity.

“This is a big thing for him. Some of his former teammates are coming too.”

“I can only imagine.”

Emmett smacked Brian’s arm. “You know what I mean. And they’re going to sign autographs. I’d really like for all our family to be there.” Emmett batted his eyelashes at Brian.

“Don’t you have events to plan, you big fairy? Get out of my office,” Brian said as he pushed Emmett’s ass off his desk. As Emmett walked to the door he heard Brian call out. “We’ll be there with bells on.” Brian didn’t see Emmett’s all knowing grin.

*****

“Hey, Gus! When did you get back?” Curtis asked as he stood in line to get autographs from some current and former Ironmen.

“A couple of weeks ago,” Gus said glumly.

“What’s up with you? You look like you lost your best friend or something,” Curtis noted.

“Something like that,” Gus mumbled then gently pushed Curtis forward on the line. “You better pay attention or you’ll lose your place.”

“Yeah, thanks. I’ll see you later,” Curtis said as he moved closer to the beginning of the line.

“Yeah,” Gus murmured. He didn’t care about autographs but he couldn’t disappoint his Auntie Emm and not show up, no matter how miserable he felt. Gus watched for a while, took a bunch of pictures like his dad wanted then walked toward the garden that adorned the back of the apartment building near the bookstore. Gus loved this garden. Finding a bench shaded by an arbor, Gus sat fully prepared to wallow in self pity.

“Hey baby cakes! Ya miss me?” a familiar voice asked.

TBC

 

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