Testing, Testing ... 1,2,3

Chapter 12

“Hi, hi, hi!” Emmett announced loudly as he breezed through the sun porch door carrying a large basket.

“What? Who?” Richard questioned as he tried to get his bearings through his sleep fog. Morgan, very startled at the cheerful and very early in the morning visit, yelped.

“Emmett,” Brian growled as he came through his sliding door that attached his bedroom with the porch. Thankfully he was wearing clothes, albeit a pair of skimpy cut offs. Brian rarely felt the morning chill.

“Mmm,” Emmett purred appreciatively, “you still have it, Brian.”

“And you’re not going to get it. Now why are you here at this ungodly hour terrorizing my guests?” Brian grumbled but he took the basket from Emmett, ferreting out a popover.

“I come bearing breakfast and to make sure you kids are all right.”

“Yes, mother, we’re fine,” Brian mumbled around the popover.

“Good. Now aren’t you going to introduce me to this adorable couple in your bed?” Emmett asked as he smiled brightly. Brian swallowed then made the introductions.

“Emmett Honeycutt, may I present Mr. and Mrs. Richard Connolly. Richard, Morgan, the soon to be late Emmett Honeycutt. Pittsburgh’s premiere event planner, the biggest busybody this side of the Mason-Dixon line and our...”

“Auntie Emm!” Bree shrieked as she ran into the sun porch to greet her favorite aunt.

“Fairy godmother,” Brian continued as Emmett scooped up Bree for a big hug. Brian took another bite of his popover. “Emm, to what do I owe the displeasure?”

“Drewsie was a little worried.”

“Where is that hunk of yours?”

“Surveying the damage. A panel of the green house blew out. He’s boarding it up as we speak. Oh, I already went to Rachel and George; they’re fine too. Just lost a few shingles.”

“I’ll have a crew come out here on Monday,” John said as he strolled through his door. He made a grab for the basket and located a cranberry muffin. Without shame or hesitation, John took a large bite.

“Does anybody care that there are starving children around here?” Gus asked as he joined the party, looking pathetic. John turned over the basket to the supposed starving child.

“Coffee!” Brian barked.

“Yes, sire,” Emmett said as he backed away then scurried into the kitchen on the Kinney-Taylor side.

“Um,” Morgan murmured around the blanket that was drawn up to her chin. Gus waved the basket in her direction.

“I think they want a little privacy so they can get up and dressed?” John suggested.

“Oh,” Gus and Brian said with a shrug.

“Come on, Squirt, let’s go wake up your daddy,” Brian said with an evil grin. He took Bree’s hand as she skipped along.

“I’ll help Emmett,” Gus said as he left with the basket.

“I’ll leave you so you guys can get dressed,” John said as he turned with his muffin to go back to his side of the cottage.

“Do people normally show up out of nowhere and barge in here at all hours?” Morgan asked over the blanket.

“Yes!” John said just before he disappeared through his door.

 

*****
 

“Good morning!” Emmett said cheerfully as he poured a large bowl of whipped up eggs into a pan. “Don’t be shy, I don’t bite, unless you want me to,” Emmett flirted shamelessly with Richard.

Morgan and Richard had followed their noses to the kitchen. Emmett had warmed up some of the muffins. The coffee was on the counter and the kettle was boiling away for tea. The couple sat at the counter.

“Hey, Babe,” Drew called out as he came through the front door.

“Hiya, honey! My garden okay?” Emmett asked as he gave his man a kiss then stuck a mug of coffee in his hand. Richard was dumbstruck at seeing the former football idol.

“It’s fine. But I’m glad we came here when we did. I didn’t realize we left the lawn furniture still out. They’d be halfway to Harrisburg if we hadn’t stowed them in time,” Drew said as he took a sip of his coffee. “And who is this?” Drew asked as he flirted with Morgan.

“Where are my manners?” Emmett gushed as he made the introductions. The family came in all chattering away about the storm and preparing for breakfast. Rachel and George came in with a huge slab of smoked cured bacon. They all went into the sun porch to have their feast.

 

*****
 

“So you asked Brian for a plot of land to build Emmett his dream house? And Brian said yes?” Richard asked Drew as the two strolled back down the lane.

John was getting everyone ready to take them to the farm for the riding lessons. Bobby and Justin had decided to go with them this time. Brian wanted to take a better look at the gardens and the Wendy house to inspect for any damage. Morgan was having a pleasant conversation with Rachel, George and Emmett in the sun porch.

“Yes, he did. Brian and John own this whole tract of land. When John relocated Rachel’s house, Brian sold them their plot. I had this scheme to build Emmett his cottage. John designed the house and his company built it. Brian sold this land to us.”

“Why out here?”

“Me and Emm are country boys at heart. We love the city but when Brian built his cottage for Justin, let’s just say we fell in love with it too. We spend as much time here as possible.”

“Let me ask you something, the rumors about Brian and Justin breaking up, untrue?”

“Untrue. Those boys are tighter than a litter of hogs at their mama’s teats. Only the Almighty will ever separate them. Look, they’re not perfect, no one is, well maybe Brian Kinney is, but they made their vows and they’re keeping them.”

The two men came up to the front of Emmett’s dream home.

“You want to see inside?” Drew asked the eager young man. Richard nodded enthusiastically. “Come on, then,” Drew said as he opened the door.

 

*****
 

“So John had his cottage trucked here then transplanted it?” Morgan asked with awe.

“Yup and our house too,” Rachel confirmed.

“Why?”

“John’s cottage? Brian loves John and Bobby so very much. He was responsible for getting those two together. And Patrick helped to bring Brian back a little closer to his faith.”

“And your house?”

“Bridgeton had some arcane law that gave them the right to claim back some of its land. Unfortunately, our house was smack in the middle of that land. Our house would have been torn down,” Rachel said as George took her hand. Rachel’s eyes filled with tears.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to dredge up painful memories,” Morgan apologized.

“Not painful, happy. Apparently, it was Patrick’s suggestion. Brian and John made it happen.”

“They’re a lot alike, aren’t they?” Morgan commented.

“Something about those Kinney men,” Rachel smiled. Just then Brian walked back into the porch to be greeted by a pair of sappy female smiles.

“What?” Brian asked as Rachel and Morgan giggled. George just shook his head.

 

*****
 

“You have everything?” Brian asked as he walked the Connolly’s to their car. John had called to say he and the rest of the ‘riding club’ were staying a little while longer at the farm. The Nor’easter had done some damage to Claire’s house and at the farm. John was helping to patch things up until he could get a crew out there to make permanent repairs.

“Yes, thank you,” Morgan replied as she got into their car.

“You have enough material?” Brian asked Richard.

“Too much,” Richard said not fully knowing what to do with all he learned during their overnight at chez Kinney-Taylor/Anderson-Morrison.

“Yoo hoo!” Emmett called out before the Connollys made their escape. He sashayed his way to the car door then shoved a small basket of goodies at Richard. “Just something for the road,” Emmett said with a toothy grin. “Bye, ya’ll, now don’t be a stranger!” Emmett commanded as Richard started the car.

Richard smiled as he nodded. Morgan waved at Brian and Emmett as they drove away.

“Emm, I think I made the biggest fucking mistake of my whole life,” Brian said as he watched the Connolly’s drive down the lane.

“Oh peshaw! The biggest mistake of your life was taking so long to put a ring on Justin’s finger. It’ll be okay, honey.”

“I wish I could be so sure.”

“Sweetie, have I ever steered you wrong? Brr, it’s getting chilly, let’s go in and rustle up something comforting for dinner. Your brood will be home soon.”

Emmett put his arm around his friend to lead Brian back into the house to start dinner.

 

*****
 

“Dada, we fixeded Gamma Claire’s house,” Bree yelled as she ran into Edna’s Treasures.

“You did? Did you hammer and nail?”

Bree bobbed her head. “There was a big hole in the window and we covered it with a board.”

“We did, did we?” Brian laughed. “Sounds like fixing the house was more fun than riding.”

“I think it was,” Justin laughed as he came into the kitchen. “And look who we found.”

Jennifer and Seth followed Gus and JR into the kitchen.

“Hello, Brian,” Jennifer said. “I wanted to see my granddaughter ride. They all did so well.”

“Jennifer, Seth,” Brian said, “good to see you both. You going to be staying for dinner?”

“Are we invited?” Seth laughed.

“Of course you are,” Justin assured them.

“Looks like you and Emmett are already cooking,” Jennifer observed.

“Almost ready,” Emmett replied with a toothy grin.

“Have you got enough?” Seth asked.

“Plenty,” Emmett assured him.

“Then we’d love to stay,” Jennifer said with a smile. “Can I help with anything?”

“Have a seat in the sun porch,” Brian directed. “I’m making cocktails,” he said in his best imitation of Emmett.

Everyone laughed.

“You’re in a good mood,” Justin said. “Did the Connolly’s get away all right?”

Emmett was frantically shaking his head and giving signs to Justin not to mention the reporter, but it was too late.

“Fuck!” Brian reacted. “I had almost put them out of my mind.”

“Why? Did something happen after we left?” Justin asked.

“Connolly said he had too much material and he didn’t know what he would write,” Brian explained.

“But … that doesn’t mean it will be bad.” Justin hoped it wouldn’t be bad anyway.

Brian shook his head. “I’m getting those drinks. I need one.”

Everyone watched him leave the room.

“What happened?” Justin asked Emmett.

“Who are the Connolly’s?” Seth asked.

“I thought they liked us,” Gus tossed in.

“Go out in the fucking sun porch where I can’t hear you,” Brian yelled from the liquor cabinet in the living room.

They all funneled out to the sun porch with Justin and Emmett explaining what had happened over the last twenty-four hours. John and Bobby came in with Patrick and they contributed their views. Brian finally came in with a big tray of drinks for everyone.

When everyone was situated and had a drink, the questions were all answered, although not to Brian’s satisfaction. He still felt the article that Connolly would write would not be flattering.

“We had no fucking power or phones and they had to sleep in our old sweats. No wonder they didn’t like it here,” Brian griped.

“It couldn’t be that bad if they slept in that bed,” Jennifer said. “It’s the most comfortable thing in the world. Everybody who’s slept there says so.”

“They seemed impressed that the bed was there,” Justin said thoughtfully. “And the view of the storm is always … invigorating.”

“Or terrifying, if you’re not used to it,” Brian snarked.

“Well, enough about the Connolly’s,” Emmett declared. “Did you have any damage from the storm?” he asked Jennifer and Seth. They shook their heads.

“It must have been much worse out here,” Seth replied. “We were fine.”

“There were trees down in several places on the way to the Farm,” Gus said.

“Yeah, and a branch went through mother’s window,” John added.

“I’d say we came off lucky overall,” Bobby noted.

“More drinks?” Brian asked. He needed another one, since he knew they were going to get skewered by the Connolly’s. And on top of that, pictures of their private lives were going to be splashed all over the papers. Brian couldn’t help but wonder how he could have been so stupid.

 

*****
 

“There, I think we’re done,” Hector said with a big sigh. He looked at all the bags of leaves they had finished raking up and getting ready for collection.

“That tree sure has a lot of leaves,” Curtis observed as he looked up at the now almost bare maple.

“Yeah, it does,” Raph agreed. “But the shade in the summer is great.”

“That storm really brought the leaves down last night.”

“And blew half of them into the neighbors’ yards,” Hector laughed. “We usually have twice this many bags.”

“What do you say we order pizza and wings as our treat for all this hard work?” Raph asked.

“Sounds good.” Both Hector and Curtis agreed.

They went inside and ordered the pizza. They got cleaned up and sat down to enjoy a drink while they waited for the pizza to be delivered.

“How are your mid-terms going?” Raph asked his son.

“Only one more.”

“Which one?”

“Math.”

“Ah, the one you were worried about,” Raph said with sympathy in his voice.

“Yeah, I missed so much school, and there’s just some things I’m not sure about.”

“You know I’m here to help if I can,” Raph offered.

“I’d offer to help too, but I’m sure you don’t want to fail,” Hector laughed. “Me and math do not agree.”

“Do the best you can, Curtis. That’s all we ask,” Raph assured his son.

“I will, but I really want this credit,” Curtis told them. “I don’t want to have to repeat the course.”

“You’ll be fine,” Hector said. “Just do your best, like Raph said.”

At that moment the pizza arrived. They enjoyed the cheesy delicacy and the hot wings that they had ordered with it. Curtis especially relished the pizza which they had never had when he was with the Hardigans.

“Do you think I could have this at my adoption party?” Curtis asked.

“Speaking of which, we need to set the date and decide who you want to invite,” Raph said.

They sat around the kitchen table making lists and checking the calendar. Curtis could almost believe that his first ever party was going to happen.

 

*****
 

“So, Jenn, why are you really here today?” Brian asked as they were having coffee and some more of Emmett’s treats.

“Um … what do you mean?”

“I’ve seen you open your mouth at least five times to say something and then cut it off before you said a word,” Brian told her.

“You’re very observant,” Jennifer admitted. “I do have something I’d like to ask you.”

“When did you get to be so bashful about saying what you need to say?” Justin asked his mother.

“When it’s something I really want and I’m not sure I’m going to get.”

“And what might that be?” Brian asked.

“Um … I…”

“Oh, Jennifer, for heaven’s sake,” Seth said in exasperation. “She wants to have our wedding here in your sun porch and she’s afraid you’ll say no.”

“Seth!” Jennifer reacted.

“Well, I can’t stand this pussyfooting around. I believe in getting issues out in the open.”

“Why would you think we’d say no?” Justin asked.

Jennifer looked at Brian. “It will be mostly the family, but also some people that Seth and I know, that you two don’t. I know you value your privacy and I thought you might not want outsiders here.”

Brian snorted. “Did you not hear what we were saying earlier? Our so-called private lives are going to be spread across the newspapers. What could be worse than that?”

“I don’t want my wedding to be the lesser of two horrible evils, Brian,” Jennifer said. She felt slightly offended by his statement.

“I didn’t mean it that way,” Brian apologized. “You’re welcome to the sun porch, and the house, and the gardens, and whatever fucking else you want. Just ignore me. I’m in a bad mood.” Brian stood and walked out of the sun porch. They could see him disappear down the path to the stream.

“Oh dear,” Jennifer said, “should I go after him?”

“I’ll go, Mom,” Justin told her. “I’ll take a jacket for him. And you’re welcome to have your wedding here. I’d like nothing better.”

They all watched Justin make his way to the path.

“I be flowergirl, Gamma,” Bree offered.

“Yes, sweetheart. I’d really like that,” Jennifer said with a worried frown. She knew she shouldn’t have brought up the idea today.

Justin found Brian on the big rock. He threw the jacket he carried around Brian’s shoulders.

“You okay?” Justin asked.

Brian nodded. “I shouldn’t have said that to your mother.”

“You’re in a bad mood over the reporter and what he’s going to write.”

“You got that right, but I didn’t need to take it out on Jennifer.”

“You want her to have the wedding here, don’t you?” Justin asked.

“Of course,” Brian admitted. “It’s flattering that she wants to. Oh shit! I hope it’s not another fucking winter wedding. We could be snowed in here with half the population of Pittsburgh.”

Justin laughed and laughed, until Brian couldn’t help but join him. When they finally wiped their tears away and hugged, Justin whispered, “Let’s go tell her we want the wedding here … and act like you mean it.”

“I will. I’ll be ecstatic!” Brian chuckled.

“And that’s why I love you.”

They walked back along the path in the dying autumn light, their arms around each other’s waists.

 

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