Testing, Testing ... 1,2,3

Chapter 6

“Come in, Ashley,” Brian said as Ashley’s father dropped off his daughter at the cottage. It was the following weekend after Patrick had chosen to get back on the proverbial and literal horse. “It’s good to see you again.”

Ashley looked up at the tall man with the sparkling eyes and the beautiful face. “Thank you, Mr. Kinney. Where’s Bree?”

“She’s getting changed. We were going to do some gardening before we go riding. Would you like to help us?”

Ashley thought about it for a moment. She had only been to Bree’s house a few times. They usually met at school and spent whatever time they could together at recess. They weren’t in the same class. Then she got to go riding whenever Bree’s uncle allowed them to, but she rarely got to spend time with Bree at her home. “I’d like that. My mommy tries to have nice gardens, but she’s not very good at it.”

“Maybe you can pick up a few tips while you’re here,” Brian said with a chuckle.

“Maybe I can,” Ashley agreed with a very serious face.

“Would you like some juice?”

“Yes, that would be good.”

“Come into the kitchen,” Brian said to the serious little girl. “I wanted to thank you for what you said to Patrick last weekend. It really helped him to get back on his horse.”

“I didn’t do anything,” Ashley said. “I just told him the truth.”

“And sometimes the truth is just what people need to hear,” Brian told her. He could relate to the telling of hard truths. He had done that all his life. Many times his family and friends did not like to hear that truth, but he had always chosen to tell it anyway.

Ashley nodded. “My mommy says that the truth can set you free.”

Brian stared at the little girl. She was a very interesting child. “Your mother’s right.”

“Is that what happened with Patrick?” Ashley asked with a thoughtful look on her face. “I told him the truth and he was free to get back on the horse.”

“I’d say that’s an excellent way of explaining what happened,” Brian agreed.

Ashley’s smile lit up the kitchen.

“Ashley!” Bree shrieked as she ran into the kitchen. “I didn’t hear you get here.”

The two girls hugged and danced around together. Brian smiled at the obvious joy they found in being together.

“Okay, work crew, you ready to go?” he asked.

“Where’s Gus?” Bree asked.

“I like Gus,” Ashley said.

“He’s down at the stream with Patrick. Man stuff, you know,” Brian said keeping a straight face.

“Men!” Bree said, sounding so much like Mel that Brian cringed. “We’ll have more fun without them,” she told Ashley.

Ashley nodded enthusiastically and they ran out through the sun porch. Brian put the juice back in the fridge and followed them.

 

*****
 

Gus and Patrick were sitting on the big rock by the stream. They were tossing stones into the water watching them throw up a little spurt of water before sinking out of sight.

“So, getting back on that horse was pretty scary, wasn’t it?” Gus was saying.

“Yeah,” Patrick admitted reluctantly.

“It’s okay to be scared. You had a bad thing happen with the horse. It’s understandable.”

“I guess,” Patrick said looking at the stones in his hand. “But I hated doing that in front of everybody.”

“I understand,” Gus told him. “I had to apologize to my Driver’s Ed. group this week. I hated doing it, but I did. And then I drove really well and got a compliment from the instructor.” Gus was quite proud of how things had turned out.

“Wow! You had to apologize?” Patrick thought Gus was pretty perfect. He wanted to be just like Gus when he grew up. He couldn’t believe that Gus would have to apologize for anything.

“Yes, I did. You remember when I was skidding the car around in the lane, and I asked you and Bree not to tell?” Patrick nodded. “I shouldn’t have done that. I’m not going to drive like that anymore,” Gus vowed.

“That’s good,” Patrick agreed.

“So, are you going to be okay getting on your horse this afternoon?”

“I think so.”

“I know so,” Gus said clapping Patrick gently on the shoulder. “The hard part was last weekend. This week should be fun.”

“Yeah,” Patrick said with a smile. He felt better knowing that Gus had confidence in him.

“Let’s go back and see if Ashley’s arrived.”

“She’s nice,” Patrick said as they started walking along the path back to the cottage. “For a girl,” he felt compelled to add.

“Yeah,” Gus agreed. “Girls are okay sometimes.”

“Where’s JR?” Patrick asked. Gus’ sister had not chosen to join them for horseback riding.

“She decided not to come this weekend. She’s … um growing up, and sometimes she doesn’t like doing things like riding a horse.”

“Oh?” Patrick replied. He had no idea what Gus was talking about.

“She’ll probably come next weekend.”

 

*****
 

“Gus, Patrick,” Bree squealed as two of her favorite people appeared out of the path that led to the stream. She ran over to them. “Me and Ashley did weeding and hoeing and pulling weeds. Help us water the flowers now.”

“Sure, short stuff,” Gus said with a laugh. His sister was always so enthusiastic. “Hi, Ashley.”

“Hi, Gus,” Ashley said batting her eyes at him.

Brian watched all this and had to shake his head. His son seemed to have an admirer. But what was there not to like about Gus. He was a great kid. “If you’ll water, Gus, I’ll go get cleaned up and then we can head to the farm,” Brian told Gus.

“Sure,” Gus said.

“Patrick, go tell your dad that we’re almost ready.”

“Okay, Uncle Brian.” Patrick ran off to his side of the cottage.

“Bree, come with me and we’ll get you ready to ride.”

Bree happily followed her father inside.

“So, Ashley,” Gus began as he started the water flowing and directed the nozzle towards the plants. “Did Pop teach you his gardening tricks?”

“A few,” Ashley said.

“He’s really good at gardening. His gardens always look great.”

“Yeah.”

“Would you like to hold the hose and water the plants?”

“Sure.”

“I’ll help you, so you don’t get mud on your clothes,” Gus said.

“They’re old clothes,” Ashley said, “but my mommy wouldn’t like me to get all muddy.”

“Mommies never like that,” Gus chuckled.

Ashley looked up at Gus and nodded in agreement. Whatever Gus said was true.

 

*****
 

The local papers continued to be obsessed with Justin Taylor, the artist, his current show and the Old Masters that were still being exhibited in Chicago. The Times had scooped the others with the story that by the end of the year the Old Masters would be traveling to California. The next destination was rumored to be Europe.

Justin could be seen every day in Pittsburgh. More often than not, Brian was seen driving into the city with Justin but they would part ways, each tending to their own business. The family took no notice of this; it was all business as usual for the couple.

While there was really no great rush to complete the Rage cartoon, Justin wanted to get at least one cartoon completed before the Winter break so that Lacy and the twins could receive credit for their work for the current semester. So that the group could continue to use the PIFA computer lab, they had all agreed, including Michael, to produce a ‘G’ rated cartoon. “Diversity” as told by Rage and JT was well on its way. The computer geek twins, however, were perfecting their program so that when they were ready, a more adult version of the comic book characters could be produced.

Justin, although hating all the attention he was garnering, politely dismissed the reporters that seemed to appear where he least expected them, with a sincere smile and a few quick words of thanks.

“Doris, can you please ask Finkelstein to come to my office ASAP?”

“Right away, Mr. Schaeffer,” Doris, Schaeffer’s new secretary replied via the intercom. ‘At least he knows my name,’ Doris thought as she called the Art desk to request Seymour Finkelstein’s presence. Seymour responded almost immediately.

“Seymour, I never like interfering with my reporters and I’ve hesitated bringing this up but just after the opening of Taylor’s show, I received a phone call from his lawyer.”

“Lawyer, Mr. Schaeffer?” Finkelstein began to sweat.

“Yes, one Bobby Morrison,” Schaeffer said as he read over his notes. “Not only is he the family attorney, but he’s Taylor and Kinney’s brother-in-law, for lack of a better term.” Same sex marriages had yet to be recognized by the sovereign commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

“W-what did he want?”

“He called to say the family has been rather displeased by what you wrote in your article.”

“But I gave Taylor a favorable review!”

“Yes, you did, then proceeded to add your gossip.”

“Mr. Schaeffer...”

“Now don’t get your panties in a twist. Seymour, your uncle was one of my closest friends and associates. He assured me that you would carry on just as he did, and with the highest integrity. Now I need to know why you seem hell bent on spreading this conjecture that the Taylor-Kinney alliance is failing.”

Seymour came armed with evidence.

“I’ve had a photographer follow them around. They’ve always been newsworthy. So you never know when something might be important.”

Schaeffer agreed. The Kinney paintings when auctioned went to fund The Farm. Kinney had put up the funding for the Jason Kemp Clinic and now his latest involvement was with the Village project. It was well known that Taylor had his input in all those projects, as well as his own charitable work at the Institute. The couple could always provide a line or two in the Dispatch.

Seymour laid out photographs taken of the couple in Pittsburgh. There were several of the ‘couple’ driving off in separate vehicles. And many of the artist with his twin companions. Of course, none of the photos were in the least bit incriminating but taken out of context, they posed the question: “Was the Taylor-Kinney relationship in trouble?”

“Hmm. Is the photographer one of ours?” Schaeffer asked Seymour.

“No, freelance.”

“Put him on retainer, I don’t want these pictures ending up in another paper.”

“Yes sir!” Seymour perked up. He gathered up all the pictures and was preparing to leave the editor’s office.

“Seymour, make sure of your facts before you print anything else. If you’re wrong, I won’t hesitate to cut you loose.”

“Yes sir. I understand.” Seymour quickly left the office.

“Doris, get our attorney on the phone, please,” Schaeffer said into the intercom.

“Right away, Mr. Schaeffer.”

 

*****
 

“Shit!”

“Curtis, language,” Hector softly admonished his son. “What’s the problem?”

“The problem is this math problem,” Curtis said with frustration. “Mid terms are coming up soon and I’m worried.”

“Why should you be worried? Last semester you worked hard to make up for all the time you lost while on the street. You not only passed all your subjects but excelled in them. I think you’re too hard on yourself.”

“But...”

“Curtis, we only ask that you do your best. Even if you get an ‘F’ in any of your subjects, you haven’t failed if you’ve done your best.” Hector held open his arms. Curtis readily walked into them for a hug.

“Let’s work on that problem together,” Hector said as they broke apart.

 

*****
 

“Hiya, honey! What brings you into my little establishment?” Emmett asked cheerfully as Brian walked into the bistro.

Brian remained silent as he sidled up to the counter looking rather pitiful and giving Emmett the full puppy dog eye treatment.

“Oh dear, has the sun gone down over the cottage?” Emmett asked as he took a full tray of fresh popovers out of the oven. “I recommend one of these, with the butter and a large mug of my deep dark Colombian roast. Now, honey, you go make yourself comfortable at the big table while your fairy godmother works her magic.”

Emmett pointed to the special table that he used to entertain his prospective event planning clients. It was elegantly set with a deep aubergine table cloth and gilt edged china. Very fitting for the elegant Brian Kinney. Brian sat then sighed for all the world to hear.

Emmett placed a dish holding a warm popover in front of his friend. A small pat of butter was melting in the middle. Next to it he served the coffee, leaving the coffee service on the table knowing Brian would want another cup.

“Now, have a bite then tell your Auntie Emm all about it.” Brian did just that, savoring the buttery tender texture of the popover and the strong robust flavor of the coffee. “Better?” Emmett asked as if he was addressing Bree. Brian nodded. “Good, now spill.”

“This asshole is making my life miserable,” Brian said as he pointed to yet another article written about him and Justin.

“Hmm, Seymour Finkelstein, that sorry old queen. I thought he disappeared years ago.”

“You know him? And he was at the opening.” Brian nearly choked on his popover.

“Knew him, more like it, and I didn’t. Like him I mean. Us flaming types have a code, you know. And I was a little busy at the opening, if you recall.”

Brian made a face. “No, I didn’t know. What’s your code? Never mix fuchsia with teal?”

“Ha. Ha. As a matter of fact it’s about you guys.”

“What guys?”

“You, you gorgeous notorious tops. The ones who would never do ones like me.”

“Emmett, if you haven’t noticed, your partner of umpteen years is a gorgeous top.”

“But my Drewsie was different. He was in the closet for a very long time and then he exploded as it were on the scene and had to catch up, so to speak.”

“Emmett, I’ve known you for over twenty years and I have no fucking clue of what you’re talking about. And stop with the fucking clichés.”

“Eat, honey, before it all gets cold. Brian, you know as well as I do that in our younger days, us...”

“Nelly bottom queens?”

“Humph, we tend to turn off you tops. You want the pretty ones, even the little fem boys, but not us. We’re usually the bottom of the barrel. No pun intended.”

“Emm, that’s not true. Drew is so in love with you. And what about Simon and Ken? Can’t get any more butch than that big old bear and look who he chose for a life partner.”

“Sweetie, Ken can turn that off anytime he pleases.”

“And I suspect, so can you.”

“Maybe, if I really wanted to but, honey, why would I? I’ve always known my place in the order of things. The lines have been blurred over the years, but back then you learned who was safe and who wasn’t.”

“Emmett...” Brian reached out to place his hand on Emmett’s arm.

“Honey, you never intentionally hurt me, not ever. You’ve always been brutally honest and I may not have liked it at the time but I did appreciate it. And you’ve been a very good friend to me.” Emmett turned his arm so that he could squeeze Brian’s.

“So what about this code?” Brian pushed the conversation forward.

“As I said, back then most of us flaming types stuck to the ambiguous types.”

“Like Ted?” Brian said recalling their brief affair before things went south.

“Yes, the big macho boys love the little twinks. You were...”

“Non-discriminating other than they had to be hot.”

“Riiight. Justin’s type...”

“We won’t go there.”

“Okaaay. The point is, you don’t break the rules. Break the rules and you’re sure to be disappointed or worse, hurt. Never assume you’re good for more than a one night stand and never, ever think you’re in love.”

“Fuck, you sound like me.”

“The polar opposite of you, but yes, I can see the analogy. Well, Seymour broke the rules. He was always going after the wrong ones and if the one he found was involved in a relationship, all the better to go after him and break them up.”

“Why?”

“Because he was always looking for the impossible.”

“That’s not always bad. I have the impossible.”

“Yes, but you worked at it and you had help. You’ve had a long battle to get where you are and you should be so proud of your accomplishments.”

“You too.”

“I am, honey, proud and loud. Seymour wanted instant relationship. The hot guy with money who’ll take care of him. But he didn’t want to work at it.”

“You did. You tried to work things out with Ted. You were, and still are, his best friend.”

“And that’s what we were meant to be, and you helped. You remember Roy and Tannis.”

Brian rolled his eyes. Of course he remembered them. “Tannis is still the dyke from hell and Roy...”

“Right. But did you know Roy was in a very long relationship?”

“No.” Brian couldn’t help perk up at the tidbit of gossip. Emmett chuckled. “I can dish with the best of them if I want.”

Emmett laughed. “You certainly can. Anyway, Roy and Walter were together for a lot of years before Seymour crashed onto the scene and tempted poor Walter. It took a lot of counseling to get them back where they were supposed to be. By that time Seymour’s name and reputation in this town were sullied beyond repair. He was a pariah. So he left, for good I thought.”

“Well, apparently he’s back and he makes my skin crawl. He was trying to find out if Justin and I were having trouble. He even inferred as much to John. But wait a minute, where was I when this was going down. How come I didn’t know about all this?”

“Why would you, Sweetie? It was a flaming thing not a top thing,” Emmett said casually as he topped off Brian’s coffee.

“So what do I do about Seymour now? I had Bobby call the Dispatch to put a little pressure on the editor. A lot good that did,” Brian grumbled.

“Then fight fire with fire. Give an interview. Show them the truth behind Brian and Justin.”

“To fuckmour?”

“No, someone else … like the competition!” Emmett grinned at Brian.

“A fag after my own heart,” Brian leered with an evil grin as he raised his coffee cup in salute to his friend. Emmett nodded.

 

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