Testing, Testing ... 1,2,3

Chapter 3

“Dada, did you get me a new dress for the dinner?” Bree asked her father.

“Um, no, Squirt. I thought you could wear one of your birthday dresses. They still fit you, but they won’t for much longer. My little girl is growing up so fast,” Brian said with a wistful note in his voice.

They were sitting in the sun porch. Brian had just finished reading a story to Bree while they waited for Justin to come home from Pittsburgh for dinner.

“That’s good,” Bree said.

“Good?” Brian asked raising an eyebrow. “Why is that good? I thought you liked getting a new dress.”

“Unca John telled me that I should share with other children. I have nice dresses and other children don’t have nuffin.”

“Is that what Uncle John told you?” Brian said trying not to laugh. Trust John to put Bree’s wardrobe in perspective.

“Yep.” Bree nodded emphatically. “Dada, can I give some of my clothes to kids who don’t have sumpin to wear?”

“Something, Squirt,” Brian corrected. “I don’t see why you couldn’t. What do you say we go clean out your closet while we’re waiting for Daddy to come home? You have lots of clothes that you’ve outgrown.”

“Let’s go,” Bree said sliding off the chaise and holding out her hand to her father.

Brian took Bree’s hand and they walked to her bedroom. He looked into her closet and groaned at the sight of all the clothes. Bree certainly did have quite the wardrobe. Usually he didn’t pay much attention to what was in there unless he was encouraging Bree to straighten it up, or selecting the latest outfit for her to wear.

“I’m going to get a box from the laundry room. You start selecting clothes that you don’t wear anymore and we’ll pack them up. Okay?” Brian asked.

Bree nodded and headed into her closet. Brian went to get the box.

When Justin arrived home he heard voices in Bree’s bedroom and went to investigate. Bree’s bed was piled with clothes and there were several cardboard boxes sitting on the floor. They were filled with clothes too.

“What are you two doing?” Justin asked.

“Spring cleaning,” Bree giggled, using the term that Brian had told her.

“But it’s fall,” Justin said with a smile as he picked up Bree and kissed her cheek.

“Better late than never,” Brian said as he started putting Bree’s clothes from the bed back in the closet.

“What are you going to do with all the clothes in the boxes?” Justin asked.

“Tell Daddy, Bree. It was your idea.”

“I’m giving them to kids who don’t have something to wear.” Bree made sure she pronounced “something” correctly. She looked at her Dada for approval and he nodded and winked at her.

“That’s a great idea,” Justin said. “How did you decide to do that?”

“Apparently Uncle John had a chat with the Squirt while we were in Pittsburgh,” Brian replied.

Bree nodded her head. “Yep.”

“Your Uncle John is a good man,” Justin said.

“Yep,” Bree agreed.

“Dinner’s in the oven. If you want to get it out, I’ll finishing putting this stuff away and join you in a minute,” Brian said. “How did it go in Pittsburgh?”

“I’ll set the table and tell you all about it then,” Justin said, as he set Bree down and headed for the kitchen.

“Is Daddy going to be in Pittsburgh a lot agaaaain?” Bree whined to Brian. Something about her Daddy’s last answer had not sounded promising.

“I’m afraid so, Squirt,” Brian agreed, having got the same vibe from his husband.

When they finished boxing the clothes and hanging up what Bree was keeping, Brian carried two big boxes of clothes to the laundry room. Bree carried a smaller one. They stacked them by the washing machine till Bobby was able to deliver them to the shelter. Then they went to join Justin in the kitchen.

They ate the roast chicken and vegetables in silence for a bit.

“What are you going to do with the clothes?” Justin asked.

“Bobby says there’s a shelter for women and children near his office, so he’ll drop them off there.”

Justin nodded. “This is good,” Justin said indicating the food. After a minute, he drew in a breath. He knew they were going to have to confront the issue of the next few days and he dreaded what he had to tell them.

“How long, Daddy?” Bree asked out of the blue.

“How long what?”

“How long you going to be in Pittsburgh this time?” Bree asked with a little sigh.

Justin looked at Brian who shrugged. “She guessed,” Brian told his husband.

“I need to go in every day for the next few days,” Justin said.

“The weekend?” Brian asked.

“For a bit?”

“Are you staying there, Daddy? Like last week?”

“No, sweetheart, I’ll be home every night.”

“That’s good,” Bree agreed.

“Better than not being home at all,” Brian said grudgingly.

“I’m sorry but the twins need some guidance. I forget that they’re still students. I need to draw some cells for them to work from.”

“Okay, let’s talk about something else,” Brian said giving Justin one of his looks.

“What do you want to talk about?” Justin asked.

“I’m wearing my birfday dress and my new hair clip to Mrs. Brenner’s,” Bree offered.

“Or maybe you won’t be home in time, and we won’t be able to go,” Brian said, brightening up at that prospect.

“I’ll be in Pittsburgh. I can meet you there,” Justin said.

Brian groaned. “Are there no perks to having you abandon us?”

“That’s a pretty rude question,” Justin chuckled. But he understood what Brian meant.

“If we have to go to the Brenners, then we should have our little chat with Bree,” Brian said giving Justin the eye.

“Why do you need to talk to me?” Bree asked innocently, squirming in her chair.

“Well, sweetheart,” Justin said. “None of us have been to the Brenners’ before. It’s a really big house with lots of beautiful things inside.”

“So?” Bree said with a frown. What was her Daddy trying to tell her?

“When we go for dinner, you can’t touch anything. Okay?” Justin asked.

“How am I apposed to eat if I don’t touch the food?”

Justin chuckled. “I didn’t mean the food. I meant all the decorations like vases and ornaments.”

“Like on the Christmas tree?”

“No, not like on the Christmas tree. Um, like the clock on the mantle and…”

“The glass statue on Uncle John’s table,” Brian added.

“Oh, but I don’t touch those,” Bree said.

“Well, the best thing is not to touch anything when we go to the Brenners. Okay, sweetheart?” Justin asked.

Bree frowned. She wasn’t sure she liked the sound of this. “Okaaay,” she said reluctantly.

“Good girl,” Justin told her.

 

*****
 

A couple of nights later, Brian pulled up the driveway to the Brenners’ mansion. Brian and Bree had picked up Justin from the loft. Brian stopped the car. “Here we are,” he said trying to make it sound not too sarcastic. “Let the games begin.”

“Brian, it will be fine,” Justin said emphasizing the “will”.

“If you say so, Sunshine.”

“I be good, Dada,” Bree said. “I don’t touch nuffin.”

“It’s okay, Squirt. Don’t worry about it. I know you’ll be good,” Brian replied gently. He got out and opened the door to release Bree from her restraints.

They rang the bell beside the door and a man opened it. “Good evening,” he said.

“We’re the Kinney-Taylor’s,” Justin informed the man who nodded.

“May I take your coats?” the man who was apparently the butler asked.

They all took off their light fall coats which they had worn due to the brisk wind that had sprung up during the day.

“Let me fix your hair, Squirt,” Brian said squatting down and brushing Bree’s bangs off her forehead. He adjusted her hair clip. “Perfect,” he informed her.

“Please follow me. The family is assembling in the library.”

Brian took Bree’s hand and followed the butler. Bree looked around at the marble table that held a very big vase. That was definitely a “Do not touch.” She walked with her fathers to the door that led into the library.

“Good evening,” Sharon said coming over to them to shake hands.

Brian scanned the room noting Molly and Owen, Owen Sr., Seth and Jennifer and Sarah Kingsley. There was no Craig Taylor. He breathed a sigh of relief.

“Come in,” Sharon was saying. “We’re just having a drink before dinner. What can I get you?”

Brian told her their preferences for drinks, and ordered a Shirley Temple for Bree. Sharon went over to Owen Sr. who was tending bar.

Jennifer came over to kiss Justin. Molly and Owen were seated on one of the sofas. Justin went over to greet them while Jennifer and Seth spoke with Brian. Bree stayed in the doorway. She looked around the room. There were glass bowls and vases everywhere. Books lined most of the walls. One of the library components had shelves full of little figurines. Bree stared at them.

“Bree, come say hello to your aunt and grandmother,” Brian told her, unsure why she was so quiet and seemed not to want to enter the room.

“Can’t” she said.

“Can’t?” Brian asked with a frown. “Sure you can.”

Bree shook her head. “No.”

Brian walked over and squatted down in front of her. “What’s the matter, Squirt?”

“Too much ‘Do not touch.’ I stay here.”

Brian chuckled. “You can come in, Bree. Why don’t you sit beside Auntie Molly and I’ll get your drink. It will be fine.”

Bree stared into her father’s eyes. “Are you sure?”

Brian chuckled. “I’m sure.”

“’Kay, Dada,” Bree said, giving Brian a look that did not say she really believed him. However, she walked very carefully over to her aunt, and climbed up on the sofa beside Molly. “Hi, Auntie Molly.”

“Hi, sweet thing,” Molly said with a big smile. She hugged Bree and kissed her cheek. “It’ll be fine, Bree. Stick with me and I’ll look after you.”

Bree giggled and squeezed Molly’s hand. “’Kay, Auntie Molly.” She felt better hearing that.

Brian handed Bree a little glass of reddish colored liquid. She took a sip of the sweet concoction. “Yummy,” she said.

“I saw that article about your show, Justin,” Molly said. “You got a great review.”

“Was that the one in the Dispatch?” Justin asked making a face.

“No, in the Times. What was in the one in the Dispatch that caused that face?”

“Um … I…” Justin was sorry he had brought it up.

“Oh, my dear, you really should stay on top of what’s written about your brother,” Sarah Kingsley interrupted. “That dreadful little man from the Dispatch as much as stated that your brother and Mr. Kinney were about to part ways.”

“Part ways?” Molly asked in surprise.

“He’s nuts,” Brian said. “But that didn’t stop him from publishing it.”

“I can’t believe he would write something like that for no reason.”

“Oh, I think he had his reasons,” Brian replied, remembering the way the little fart had come on to him.

“What reasons?” Molly wanted to know.

“I don’t think they’re the kind of thing we should be discussing here,” Brian said quickly.

“Oh? Oh. Oh!” Molly clued in pretty fast.

“I hope dinner’s ready soon,” Brian said. “I think I’m getting indigestion from thinking about that insidious little man.”

“Dinner is served,” the butler said as he appeared in the doorway.

They all quickly made their way to the dining room. Brian made sure that he got Bree seated. Thankfully the placecards had her between Justin and himself. That was good, because Bree would probably need some help with the meal. Brian had to wonder why the Brenners had included Bree in their invitation when she was the only child. He felt like this was some kind of test of how they were raising their daughter.

The first course was a fruit cup. Brian hadn’t had a meal start like this for a long time. Sharon really was being formal. Brian picked up the correct spoon and showed it to Bree so she would know which one to use. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, “You don’t have to eat it all, Bree. Just have a taste because there are going to be lots of courses.”

“’Kay, Dada,” Bree whispered. She was glad her Dada was there to help her.

The meal progressed through the salad, fish and main courses. Bree nibbled a bit on each course and conducted herself in a very proper manner. Both Brian and Justin were very proud of the way she behaved. The sorbets that were served between each course to cleanse the palate proved a little too strong for Bree’s taste. She would take a bite, try not to screw up her face and then set down her spoon. She liked Auntie Emm’s sorbets much better.

There was lots of small talk, and talk about the family. The Brenners wanted to know what all the people they had met at Christmas were doing. Justin and Molly and Jenn filled them in. Jennifer also chose a moment to announce that she and Seth were going to tie the knot in the spring, but was careful to say that they hadn’t set a firm date yet. Everyone seemed very happy about that, including Bree who once again offered to be the flowergirl.

Finally the meal was finished except for coffee and dessert. Sharon suggested they retire to the library and have it served there.

As everyone reassembled in the library someone arrived at the front door. They heard the bell and the butler speaking to someone.

“That must be your father, Molly,” Sharon said. He had some kind of meeting tonight, but said he would try to come for dessert. I hope he brought his wife.”

Brian groaned and looked pleadingly at Justin. He so wanted to bail before he had to face Justin’s father. Justin shrugged and shook his head. It wouldn’t be fair to their hosts if they stood up and left.

“Good evening, everyone,” Craig said as he and Susan came into the library.

Bree was about to bolt off the sofa to go give her Gampa and Gamma a hug, but she glanced at her father and thought better of it. “Hi,” she called to them.

“There’s the lady of the hour,” Craig replied as he finished his greetings with Sharon and Owen Sr. He moved over and gave Bree a hug. Brian couldn’t fault the way he treated the little girl.

Craig looked around the room and nodded to people, except of course, to Brian. Brian wanted to chuckle out loud. Things never changed where Craig Taylor was concerned. Brian vowed not to say anything. Maybe that would avoid a scene. Not that Brian cared, but he knew that Justin and Bree and Jennifer and Molly and Sharon all did. Hell, nobody wanted a scene.

Dessert and coffee were served. Craig and Molly helped Bree with her plate of cake and her drink. Brian decided he would stay out of it. Once dessert had been eaten, the butler cleared the plates, and Owen Sr. offered everyone an after dinner drink.

Brian looked at Justin. He nodded towards Bree who was stifling a yawn. Justin nodded and stood up.

“We need to take Bree home,” he said. “Sorry to cut this short. It was a lovely evening,” he told Sharon.

“Yes, lovely,” Brian added.

Bree slid off the sofa and gave everyone a hug, as she made her way around to all the people in the room. “Ready, Daddy,” she said when she was done.

“Thanks again, Sharon, Owen. We’ll see you soon,” Justin said as Brian and Bree waited in the doorway.

The butler had their coats waiting for them by the front door. They quickly made their way out to the car.

“I’m glad that’s over,” Brian said as he buckled Bree into her seat.

“Me too,” Bree said. “Did I do good?”

“You did very good, Squirt. I think we all passed the test.”

Justin smiled over at Brian. “I’m very proud of you, both of you.”

“Me too,” Brian chuckled as he got behind the wheel.

“It was hard,” Bree said with a big yawn. “But I did it.”

Brian laughed. “You certainly did, Squirt.” He glanced into the back seat where Bree was already dozing off. “I’m glad that’s fucking over with.”

“Me too,” Justin chuckled. “Take my country ass home and let’s fuck.”

Brian’s smile rivaled the famed one of his Sunshine.

 

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