The Naked Truth

Chapter 8

“Mama, can you get that for me, please!” Gus called out over his shoulder as he was rolling his suitcases through the loft door. The loft phone was ringing while Gus was loading up his Jeep. It was time for Gus to drive back to Penn State. Melanie was helping Gus pack up his stuff and all the food that Debbie and Emmett had cooked and frozen.

“Sure, honey,” Mel replied as she went to the desk to get the phone. “Kinney residence,” Mel answered primly.

“I didn’t realize I had you on retainer to answer my phone,” Brian drawled into the phone the moment he realized whose voice he heard.

“I, uh, I’m helping Gus pack; he’s leaving today,” Mel said trying not to provoke Brian. Melanie wanted to spend as much time with her son as she could.

“That explains why I can’t reach him on his cell. I imagine his Grandmaw and fairy godmother have given the boy enough food to feed the entire campus?” Melanie couldn’t help but laugh as she took the portable phone over to Gus’s messenger bag which was on the kitchen counter. The bag was blissfully vibrating away with Gus’ cell phone inside.

“Yeah, I think he has more food than he does clothes. Plus he just had to pack every CD and DVD in his possession. Not to mention every electronic gizmo known to man. I was lucky if I had a tape deck when I went to college.”

“Yes, the good old days when life was simple and we were too poor for electronic gizmos,” Brian deadpanned without malice. “When the boy is finished lugging his stuff to the car, ask him to call me. Remind him that’s there’s a little princess here who will be inconsolable if he doesn’t say goodbye to her.”

“I’ll remind him,” Mel assured Brian.

“He did say goodbye to his mother and JR, didn’t he?”

“We all had dinner together last night. He said goodbye then. Lindsay baked a pie for him to take.” Mel chuckled as did Brian. Just then Gus came back for another load. “Hold on, I think I can get him to talk to you before he brings down the next load,” Mel said as she was about to give Gus the phone.

“Melanie,” Brian began.

“Yes?”

“Thank you for helping Emmett and Drew,” Brian said without reservation.

“I, they deserve to be parents, and Richie deserves parents who love him and will nurture his talents. I know how hard it is for same sex couples to adopt so I’m happy to help,” she said before handing Gus the phone. “It’s your father.”

“Hey, Pop!”

“Hey, Sonny Boy, ready to go?”

“Soon. I have more boxes to shove in the Jeep,” Gus said with a sigh. Brian laughed.

“Your mother told me about the feast that you’re bringing back with you.”

“I won’t have to cook for months. Between Emmett and Debbie, they cooked then flash froze enough food for my whole apartment building.”

“They love you and you’re the first of the kids to go to college. They’re very proud of you. I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks Pop. Listen, Dad, can I call you back in a little while? I’m kinda on a schedule,” Gus asked hoping he wasn’t going to anger his father.

“Sure, Sonny Boy, just don’t forget to call your sister before you leave. It’s going to cost me a fortune in ice cream and Fall plants to console her.” Gus laughed at his father’s pained tone.

“I promise, Pop. Give me about an hour and I’ll call her.”

“Okay, we’ll talk to you later.”

“Okay, later!”

“Wait,” Brian said before Gus hung up the phone.

“Yeah, Pop?”

“Let me talk to your mother again.”

“Daaad?”

“Don’t worry, I can be nice.”

“Suurre you can,” Gus mumbled as he handed the phone back to his mother. “He wants to talk to you,” Gus said with an arch of that Kinney brow. He stood with his arms folded across his chest looking more like Michael while he scrutinized his mother as she took the phone.

“You don’t have to watch me; I can be nice,” Mel stated.

“Suurre you can,” Gus said, not convinced. Mel watched him pick up another box to take to the elevator before she addressed Brian.

“Yes?”

“Where are you staying?”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s a simple question. Where. Are. You. Staying?”

“At the Quality Inn. Why?”

“Must be costing you a pretty penny.”

“I can afford it.”

“I’m sure you can but you won’t have to if you accept my offer.”

“What offer?”

“Full use of the loft while you’re staying in the Pitts and assisting Bobby with Richie’s case.”

“You’re offering to let me stay here?!” Mel’s voice went up a few octaves and Gus nearly dropped the box he was carrying.

“Look, the chef, the quarterback and the young man in question are just downstairs. I have a state of the art computer and a cleaning lady. You and Bobby can work in peace and be close by if you need any further information. Consider it part of your retainer.”

“You’re serious,” Mel asked incredulously.

“Like a heart attack. Melanie, I realize I haven’t given you any reason to trust me but I am sincere in my offer. Emmett has earned his family. I’d hate to see it fall to pieces.” Melanie was stunned into silence. “Melanie? Mel?”

“Oh, sorry. Um, yes! Thank you. I appreciate it. Frankly I was getting tired of that place. And I couldn’t give them a definite checkout date.”

“Well, you can now. There’s a spare key in the desk drawer and Sonny Boy can set you up with your own temporary alarm code. The cleaning lady comes every Tuesday. I’ll let her know that you’ll be staying. Help yourself to the wine. Ted is right next door if you need anything. In fact the whole building is teeming with our family so you won’t be alone.”

“Thank you, Brian.”

“Don’t thank me yet. Just help Emm and Drew adopt that kid,” Brian demanded then hung up before Mel could say anything else.

“Sure,” Mel mumbled into the air. She stared at the phone as if it could explain the enigma known as Brian Kinney. When the phone gave up no secrets, she replaced the handset then sat down at the desk, staring out the window.

“Mama?” Gus asked as he came back into the loft and saw his mother looking shell shocked. “Are you all right?”

“Yes, honey, I’m fine.”

“What are you looking at?”

“Just checking the sky.”

“Checking the...Mama, are you sure you’re okay?” Gus asked with concern. He knelt down in front of Mel to search her eyes. “Mama, what are you looking for?”

“Flying pigs.”

 

*****
 

“Ashley!” Bree shrieked as she opened the front door of Edna’s Treasures and raced out to the car that was delivering her best friend in the whole wide world to her house.

“Bree!” Ashley shrieked in return as she hopped out of the car and ran to hug her best friend. They hadn’t seen each other for a whole week. The girls bounced up and down, and then ran into the house to do whatever little girls did. They almost ran Justin down as he came out of the house to greet Susanna.

“Hey,” Justin said as he approached the car.

Susanna was laughing at the antics of their daughters. “Hello, Justin. Are you sure you’re up to looking after those two? They’re bundles of energy.”

Justin shook his head and then smiled. “I wouldn’t have them any other way. What time do you want to pick up Ashley? She’s welcome to stay for dinner. You are too if you’d like.”

“Thanks, I appreciate the offer. I’m going into Harrisburg to shop. I need a new outfit for the first day of school.”

Justin chuckled. “I think that’s what our girls are doing right now – picking out what to wear on the first day of school. I’m told they must match, in color if nothing else.”

“Oh dear,” Susanna said with a concerned look on her face. “Bree has so many clothes, and I just got Ashley one outfit for the first day.”

“I’m sure they’ll work it out,” Justin replied with a gentle smile. Susanna was getting on her feet, but money still wasn’t abundant. Ashley’s father seemed reluctant to pay the required child support.

“You know, if you…”

“No, Justin!” Susanna said firmly. “You and Brian have helped us so much. Ashley and I are doing fine, but we still need to be careful. I hope Bree won’t be too disappointed if Ashley’s outfit doesn’t match hers.”

“I’m sure everything will be fine. They’ll work it out. We’ll see you for dinner?” he asked.

“I’d love it. Is Brian barbecuing?”

“I think I could talk him into it.”

“Great! I’ll see you later.”

Susanna got into her car and Justin watched her drive down the lane. He wondered how a father wouldn’t do everything he could for a wonderful daughter like Ashley. Shaking his head, he went back into the house.

 

*****
 

“So what’s your new school outfit like?” Bree asked Ashley as they sat on the bed in Bree’s room.

“I told my mom you’d probably wear pink, so she got me these pink capris with a pale green T-shirt. The T-shirt has pink around the edges.”

“Ooh, sounds nice,” Bree conceded. Her daddy had already warned her to be careful what she said to Ashley about new clothes. The last thing Bree wanted to do was to make Ashley feel bad. “I think I’ll wear this,” Bree said decisively. She pulled out a pair of hot pink capris with a matching T-shirt and a green frog stitched onto the front of it.

Ashley studied it for a minute. “I think it matches. That’s what we should wear.”

“Good,” Bree said with a grin. Her Dada had been right when he said that Ashley would either wear green or blue. They had got outfits that would coordinate with either. Bree put her clothes back in the closet and closed the door. Ashley didn’t need to know that she had another outfit with blue trim.

“Is Gus still here?” Ashley asked hopefully. She really liked Bree’s big brother.

Bree shook her head. “I think he’s in Pittsburgh, but he’s leaving for university some time today. I wish I could go with him.”

“I think you’re smart enough to go to university,” Ashley affirmed. She still thought Bree was the best and smartest person in the whole world.

“I think so too,” Bree stated emphatically. “But everybody tells me I have to finish elementary school first.”

Ashley giggled and smiled at her precocious friend. “I was hoping Gus would be here so I could say goodbye,” she added as her face sobered.

“He’s apposed to call me, but he might forget,” Bree noted sadly.

“Gus wouldn’t forget you,” Ashley told her.

“He might,” Bree said. She thought he should have called by now.

The two girls could hear the phone ring in the main part of the house. They held their breath as someone answered it on the second ring. They waited for one of Bree’s fathers to call her to the phone. That didn’t happen.

“See,” Bree said, “it’s not Gus. He forgot about me.”

Ashley leaned over and hugged her friend. “He’s probably real busy. He has to drive very far today.” Ashley thought the university where Gus was going was far, far away.

“Yeah, but he was apposed to call me,” Bree pouted.

“He will,” Ashley said wanting to believe that her hero, Gus, wouldn’t forget his sister.

“No he won’t,” Bree protested feeling bereft.

“Bree,” Brian called, “Gus is on the phone.” He walked down the hall carrying the portable phone to Bree’s bedroom. He pushed the door open. “Do you want to talk to your brother?” he asked.

“Is it really my Gus?” Bree asked afraid to believe that Gus had finally called her.

“Yes, it is. He didn’t want to leave for Penn State without saying goodbye to you.”

Bree practically leapt off the bed. “GUUUUSSSS!” she shrieked into the phone as she grabbed it out of her father’s hand.

“Easy, short stuff,” Gus cautioned holding the phone away from his ear, so that his eardrums didn’t explode.

“I miss, miss, miss you soooooo much.”

Brian shook his head. “Ashley, would you like some juice while Bree talks to her brother?”

Ashley looked up at the tall man. “I really want to talk to Gus too,” she said with a longing look at Bree who was listening intently to whatever her brother was saying to her. “I want to say goodbye to him.”

“Bree,” Brian whispered, “let Ashley speak to Gus.”

Bree looked up at her father. She was about to refuse when she remembered how much Ashley loved her brother too. She wouldn’t let just anyone take time away from her Gus, but Ashley was her best friend. She told Gus that Ashley wanted to speak to him and bravely handed the phone to her friend.

“Gus!” Ashley said hopefully.

“Hey, princess,” Gus replied.

“Bree and me miss you so much.”

“I miss you guys too.”

“Bree is real happy that you called. She thought you forgot about her.”

“I wouldn’t forget my sister,” Gus replied.

“I know. I told her you would call.”

“And you were right,” Gus laughed.

“I hope your school goes good this year. Can I see you when you come home?”

“I’d love to see you too, but you better talk to my Pop about that. I haven’t really decided when I will be home.”

“Okay, I’ll ask Mr. Brian,” Ashley said.

“You have a good year at school too, Ashley.”

“I will. I have Bree to help me. Thank you for talking to me.”

“And thank you for wanting to talk to me. I’ll see you soon.”

“I hope so. Bye,” Ashley said before handing the phone back to Bree.

“Gus, are you still there?” Bree asked.

“I’m here, short stuff.”

Brian tapped Ashley on the shoulder and signaled that they should go get that juice now. With a happy smile on her face Ashley followed Brian to the kitchen.

“Gus, can I come to Penn State with you?” Bree asked when her father had left the room.

“Bree, we’ve talked about this many times. You can’t go to university until you finish elementary school and high school.”

“I could study reeeeally hard.”

“Bree, it’s not going to happen.”

“I know,” Bree replied with a heavy sigh. “I just wanted to be with you.”

“I’ll be home soon.”

“When?”

Gus shook his head. He didn’t have an answer for that. He really wanted to go to New York to see Ray when he got a break. “I can’t say for sure,” he told his sister. “But it won’t be too long.”

“That’s what you always say, and then I don’t see you forever.”

“I was with you all summer,” Gus protested.

“But you were with Ray whenever you could.”

“Someday you’ll understand why,” Gus replied.

“No I won’t.”

“I love you, short stuff, but I have to go. I have a long drive ahead of me.”

“I love you, Gus.”

“And I love you even more.”

“Bye,” Bree said making her voice as sorrowful as she could.

“You be a good girl for your daddies, and I’ll see you soon. Bye, Bree.”

The line went dead and Bree sat down hard on her bed. She felt like throwing the phone across the room, but she knew she would get in trouble for that. She didn’t need her daddies mad at her when she felt so bad. She wouldn’t see Gus for a long, long time.

“Bree,” Brian said from the doorway, “are you done talking to Gus?” She nodded and held out the phone to him. “He loves you, you know.” Brian took the phone from her. Bree nodded again. “Daddy made you a special snack.”

Bree looked up at her father, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “Is it healthy?”

Brian chuckled. “Daddy thought you might like something different. Come see. Ashley’s waiting for you so she can have her snack.”

Bree thought about it for a moment. She finally slid off her bed and held out her hand to her father. Brian took it and they walked hand in hand down the hall to the kitchen.

“What did you make, Daddy?” Bree asked, her curiosity overriding her feeling of being abandoned by her brother.

“It’s a recipe I just found,” Justin explained. “I thought you might be feeling a little blue now that Gus is gone.”

Bree nodded. “I want to go with him.”

“We know,” Justin replied. “What’s your favorite food?” he asked hoping to distract Bree from thoughts of her brother’s departure.

“Hamburgers when Dada barbecues them,” she said decisively. Brian smirked.

“Okay, your next favorite.”

“Ice cream.”

Justin heaved a sigh. This wasn’t going the way he had hoped. “Your next favorite?” he asked hopefully.

“Cheese.”

“Right. Finally. I made a new kind of cheesecake. It’s savory instead of sweet.”

Bree frowned. “What’s savory?”

“It has herbs in it.”

Bree frowned harder. This didn’t sound like something she was going to like. “Does it taste like meat?” she asked.

“Meat? Why would you think that?” Justin asked bewildered.

“You put rosemary and stuff on roasts,” she explained.

“Yeah, I guess I do,” Justin chuckled. “Anyway, this has basil and rosemary in it.”

“Are you sure this is good?” Bree asked still skeptical.

“We’re all going to find out together. Have a seat at the table.”

Bree sat down beside Ashley. Justin picked up a round cheesecake from the counter and carried it to the table. He set it down in the middle and took a seat beside his daughter. Brian sat down beside Ashley.

“Pretty, Daddy,” Bree said. “Is that rosemary on top?”

“Good eye, Squirt,” Brian said. “Daddy put a sprig on top because there’s rosemary in it. Do you know what the bigger leaves are?”

“Basil. They smell good.”

“Right you are. Ready to try it?” Brian asked. Both girls bobbed their heads.

“It’s still warm, but it’s supposed to be good cold too,” Justin said as he cut a little slice for each girl. He put it on a little plate with a couple of crackers for each of them. “You can spread a bit on the cracker,” he instructed. “Use your knife.”

Both girls put some of the savory cheesecake on a cracker and took a bite. Justin and Brian waited for the reaction.

“Yum!” they both said.

“This is real good, Daddy,” Bree stated. Ashley nodded her head in agreement.

“Brian?” Justin asked as he watched Brian taste his piece.

“This is a keeper, Sunshine.”

Justin beamed with pleasure as he tasted his own handiwork. He had made something delicious, and he was able to distract Bree from being sad. Both girls were ready for seconds.
 

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