Brian Un-henged

Chapter 10

As Brian resumed grilling, John came back into the backyard.

“All clear down there?” Brian asked his brother.

“Yeah, they were packing up to leave. Some of them had to, um, you know,” John said with a shrug and a lopsided grin. “So I offered them the use of our port-a-potties at the construction site. And I pointed them in the direction of that small diner that’s near the general store. I know they’re open today.”

“Fuck, I was a real bastard, wasn’t I?” Brian said with regret. “Man, if one of them was a reporter, I just blew that whole image that the Connolly’s portrayed about us.”

“No, you didn’t. I made nice-nice and they apologized profusely. They had no idea this was private land. I took down their names and addresses and told them I’d get them on Sidney’s mailing list. They were overjoyed.”

“Thank the gods you have a level head on your shoulders.”

“That’s what older brothers are for. What’s Justin going to do?”

“He’s decided to replant his henge in the Village garden. Hunter made that suggestion.”

“And Justin went for it?”

“Yup. So I guess we’ll have to put up with uninvited guests until he’s done with his henge.”

“I might have a solution to that. But we’ll discuss it later. I think we have hungry mouths to feed,” John said as he looked out at the family. Several of them were holding empty plates and looking toward the grill.” Brian nodded. Just before he was about to start serving, he clanged his large spatula against the grill.

“Can I have everyone’s attention, please!” Brian announced loudly to get everyone to listen to him. All eyes turned to him. “I just wanted to apologize for my outburst before. It was really uncalled for and I’m sorry for upsetting everyone, especially you, Sunshine.”

Justin stopped what he was doing and immediately moved to his husband’s side.

“I love you,” Justin murmured as he gave his spouse a sweet kiss. “Now let’s eat!” Justin said loudly to the crowd. The family cheered then began to line up for their burgers and hotdogs.

“Will wonders never cease,” Melanie mumbled to herself. She couldn’t believe that Brian apologized in front of the whole family and he did it with dignity.

“What did you say?” Lindsay asked her mate.

“Um, I said I hope there’s no grease,” Melanie said quickly as she moved up the line toward the grill.

“Hmm, of course,” Lindsay murmured knowingly as she moved up too.

The rest of the afternoon went pleasantly without any more unannounced guests dropping by to disrupt the day.

 

*****
 

When just about everyone had gone home, John asked that the families of Edna’s Treasures Lane meet in the sun porch. It was very late so Molly, Owen and baby Taylor were invited to sleep over.

“Ooo, I feel like we’re having a home owner’s meeting,” Emmett gushed. He was passing around more drinks and treats to the assembled family.

“Well, in a way, we are,” John said as he accepted a tall glass of iced tea from the tall queen. “First, let me propose a toast.” John raised his glass of tea. The family all did the same. “To the families of Edna’s Treasures, long may we prosper and grow.”

"To the families of Edna’s Treasures!” the family repeated before taking a sip of their drinks.

“So, what’s this all about?” Drew asked, voicing the same question they all were thinking.

“The incident today got me thinking. For the most part, our kids play in the yard but as the kids grow and invite friends over I imagine they’ll be taking over the lane as well. And now we have little Taylor who’ll be spending time up here. We’re not planning on having more children but what if Cindy or Michelle decide to marry, live here and have kids. We have enough land to build many more homes and you have to admit, uninvited guests aside, this place is beautiful to raise children.”

The family all agreed.

“So what do you propose?” George asked.

“A gate,” John said.

“A gate?” Emmett asked.

“Yes, just inside the drive onto our lane. The space will be long enough to hold a car or two as the driver keys in a code to open the gate. A gate with a key pad, an intercom hooked to each house with maybe a security camera. Let’s say, Michael comes up for a visit. He can hit the intercom for our cottage and we can buzz the gate open. The gate will deter unwanted visitors,” John explained.

“It sounds like a good idea, Babe,” Bobby said in support of his spouse. “What do you think, Brian?” All eyes again fell upon the unofficial head of the family. Brian remained silent.

“Brian, I’m not saying we gate up each house or put a fence up around the meadow. Just a gate at the end of the lane. We know and the family is aware to drive slowly on our lane. They all know to look out for the kids, but strangers won’t. I’d feel better knowing the gate will prevent anyone from just randomly driving through here.” Brian closed his eyes then pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Bri?” Justin began as he heard a sigh escape Brian’s throat.

“Do you all agree?” Brian asked his family. He turned to scan each face. One by one each member of Edna’s Treasures nodded in agreement. “Do it, John.”

“You’re all right with this?” John asked Brian.

“I’m not sure, but it is the best solution. And it’s not like I have to look at the gate all the time. We do have that upgraded security system at Tremont. I know you’ll do it tastefully. I just wish we didn’t have to do it at all. But you are right about the children. Patrick has his father’s pitching arm and Bree still loves to play soccer. The gods only know what little Taylor’s choice of sport will be. Some day our nice quiet lane will be overrun with children!” Brian said dramatically.

The family laughed breaking the tension just as Brian had hoped.

“I’ll get on it after the holiday. We have most of the materials here already and I’ll contact the security firm we work with. By the time Molly’s cottage is done, the gate will be finished too,” John confirmed.

“What about the intercom system?” Rachel asked.

“We can run the lines near the phone lines so we can have units attached close to the main phone in each home. That way they’ll blend in. And they’re very easy to operate. Press a button to say hello, press a button to open the gate.”

“Well, I’m for it!” Emmett said enthusiastically.

“So am I,” Drew agreed.

“Owen?” Molly asked.

“No sweat. I felt secure before, but this is a plus, especially if Molly and Taylor are up here without me.” Molly glared at Owen. “Not that Molly can’t take care of herself,” Owen quickly added. The family snickered but Molly was satisfied.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea. And I know John will do a great job with it,” Molly stated.

“We have the Molly Taylor-Brenner seal of approval,” Brian quipped. “I think this calls for something harder than iced tea. “Wine anyone?” Brian asked as he got up from his seat seeing nods of consent.

“I’ll help,” Emmett volunteered as they both walked into Brian’s kitchen and over to the wine refrigerator. “You feel better now?” Emmett asked Brian. “I know those strangers got to you today.”

“Yeah, I’m better now. But I feel like a fucking asshole losing it like that.”

“It’s understandable, Brian. You barely tolerate us encroaching on your space, but total strangers, that’s a hanging offense.”

“Depends on what’s hanging.”

“Oh you! Come on let’s bring the wine out. A nice glass of wine is just what the doctor ordered.”

The two friends brought out several bottles of a crisp summer wine to serve to the families of Edna’s Treasures.

 

*****
 

The day after the July Fourth party dawned bright and clear and not too hot. Gradually everyone at Edna’s Treasures started to stir. Molly and Owen had slept on the big brass bed in the sun porch and Taylor’s little cry for breakfast woke them. Bree came barreling out of her bedroom to get Gus up so he could play with her before she went to day camp. Debbie and Carl came through the front door and started breakfast, soon to be joined by Emmett and Drew who came up to help out. Bobby and John along with Patrick came from their end of Edna’s Treasures to help with breakfast as well.

Justin opened an eye and looked over at his husband. Brian was on his back staring at the ceiling of their bedroom.

“You awake?” Justin asked.

“Yeah, have been for a while. Our busy little bees are buzzing around out there getting breakfast ready.”

“I smell coffee,” Justin said with a yawn and stretch.

“Yeah.”

Justin glanced over at Brian. “You okay?”

“Just thinking.”

“About what?”

“About how things change.”

“Oh, like how?”

“Bree’s growing up. She’s going to day camp and then it’ll be overnight camp and then she’ll be gone for the whole summer.”

“Let’s give her a year or two before that happens,” Justin chuckled.

“And there’s the gate. Are we barricading ourselves off from the world?”

“Maybe … a little bit.”

“So what’s next – palisades around the property, armed guards, tanks in the lane?”

“Jesus, Brian, what are you talking about?”

Brian heaved a sigh. “I bought this property so we could have a peaceful, private existence out here in the middle of nowhere.”

“And I ruined that with my henge,” Justin muttered half to himself and half to Brian. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m not blaming you, Justin,” Brian said looking into his husband’s eyes. “It had started to change before your henge. Look at all the houses we have out here now. And I do hate that we need the gate, but John’s right. It will be safer for the kids with it at the bottom of the lane … and maybe it will stop me from going off on perfect strangers.”

“You had every right. Those people should never have been roaming around our property.”

“No, they shouldn’t, but I was in the wrong too. I thought I’d got past that kind of reaction.”

“Not quite,” Justin giggled. “It’s part of what makes you Brian Kinney.”

“What! The asshole part,” Brian said rolling his eyes.

“I love every part of you; you know that. But we all lose it sometimes.”

“I don’t think I do well with change. Couldn’t we have things stop changing?”

“Sure, right after we make Bree stop growing up.”

Brian sighed even more heavily. “Fuck! Let’s just stay in our bedroom and let the world go by without us.”

“Okay,” Justin agreed, “but we’ll miss Bree heading off for her first time at day camp.”

“Fuck! I guess I better get up.”

“Brian,” Justin said seriously, “change is a good thing. Without it we stagnate. But unfortunately change doesn’t always take the direction we want it too. Sometimes, though, adversity is good for us. It makes us reevaluate and go in new directions. The gate … and everything that’s happening can be a good thing.”

“Thank you for the PSA.”

Justin chuckled. “Remember the first time you said that to me?”

“Yeah. You always spout all that good citizen, good karma crap.”

“Seems to me you buy into it,” Justin said with a gentle smile.

“I believe every fucking thing you say, Sunshine,” Brian said pulling Justin over for a kiss.

“That’s good to know. And I say we go fuck in the shower and then help our little girl to get ready for her first day of camp.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Justin watched Brian get up and head into the bathroom. He heard the shower start, before getting out of bed himself. He loved Brian so much and he loved Bree and he loved their life … gate or no gate. He went to join Brian in the shower.

 

*****
 

“Where the fuck is the damn thing?” Brian demanded gazing down the lane.

“It’ll be here soon … I’m sure.”

“If they say 8:45, they should be here at 8:45.” Brian paced back and forth.

“It’s just an approximate time,” Justin replied placing his hand on Brian’s arm to stop the pacing.

“If I was running this fucking thing, they’d be here when they said they’d be here … or else.”

“I know, kiddo, but you can’t run everything,” Debbie said with a chuckle.

“He’d like to,” John threw in with a laugh of his own. Brian scowled at both of them.

“They’re dealing with kids,” Carl added as if that explained everything.

“Yeah, there’s probably some poor waif they’re trying to pry off his mother’s leg as we speak,” Molly joked.

“Want me to hold onto your leg, Dada?” Bree asked looking up at her father with her violet eyes.

“I always want you to hold onto me, Squirt,” Brian said with a genuine smile.

“I’ll come back this afternoon … right?” Bree asked looking at her Daddy for validation.

“Absolutely,” Justin said as he leaned down to adjust Bree’s Dora the Explorer backpack.

“I’ll make sure they bring us back,” Patrick said confidently, as John adjusted the Spiderman backpack on his son.

“I think I see a bus coming,” Emmett called.

All the remaining guests and residents from the Fourth of July party had assembled in the lane with Bree and Patrick to see the two children off on their first day of day camp. Along with the parents were Carl and Debbie who had decided to stay overnight in their Winnebago, Drew and Emmett, Rachel and George, and Owen, Molly and little Taylor. It was quite a crowd waiting at the top of the lane.

Finally the orange school bus pulled to a stop in front of them. A large banner was taped along the side of the bus, proclaiming it to be from Camp Little Flowers. The door opened and a pretty girl who might have reached the advanced age of twenty stepped out.

“Morning,” she said cheerfully. She glanced at her clipboard and said, “I’m looking for Briana Kinney-Taylor and Patrick Morrison-Anderson. I bet that’s you two cutie-pies.” She smiled at Bree and Patrick.

“I’m Briana Victoria Kinney-Taylor,” Bree said formally.

“I’m Patrick,” Patrick chimed in.

“Are you both ready for a fun day at camp?” the girl asked.

“Yes,” the two youngsters replied.

The girl smiled. “I’m Cassie,” the girl said, extending her hand to Brian who appeared to be the main figure at the front of the rather large group of people assembled there.

Brian shook the extended hand. “Brian Kinney,” he said. “And this is Bree’s other father, Justin Taylor.”

Cassie had a moment’s hesitation like she hadn’t realized she’d be dealing with a same sex couple. Then her smile beamed brightly and she shook Justin’s hand. “Are Patrick’s parents here?” she asked.

Bobby and John stepped forward and introduced themselves, shaking hands with the personable young woman.

“I just want to assure you that your children are in good hands. We have a great day planned for them. That’s Greg on the bus.” A dark haired young man waved from inside the bus. He was tending the children already aboard. “We’ll both be working with the kids at the camp.”

“Great,” Brian said.

“Are you ready, Briana and Patrick?” Cassie asked.

Bree held up her arms for a hug from each of her fathers. Patrick got hugs from his dads too. Others started to step forward for hugs, but Brian held up his hand.

“Say goodbye to everyone, Bree and Patrick. If you start hugging we’ll be here till noon,” Brian advised.

Cassie smiled a thank you to Brian. “The first day of camp is a little like the first day of school,” Cassie said to him. “Parents are a little reluctant to let the kids go. That’s why we’re a trifle behind schedule.”

“Our kids don’t seem to be having any problem with that,” Brian said as Bree and Patrick had already climbed aboard the bus, and Greg had got them situated in a seat together.

“We’ll take good care of them,” Cassie said as she clutched her clipboard to her chest.

“You better,” Brian replied.

Cassie realized that the look on Brian’s face meant that she better do just that. “Have a good day … everyone,” she called as she got back on the bus.

The bus pulled away and all the people from Edna’s Treasures watched it till it disappeared at the end of the lane.

“She’ll be fine, kiddo,” Debbie said gently to Brian. He nodded.

“Patrick will watch out for her,” Bobby told Justin.

“Yeah, they’re good kids. They’ll have loads of fun,” Justin agreed, trying to convince himself of that as much as Brian.

“Let’s go have some coffee and muffins,” Emmett said turning to start back into Edna’s Treasures.

“Food is always the answer to everything, isn’t it?” Brian griped.

Debbie slipped her arm through Brian’s as they started walking. “Of course it is,” she said with a laugh.
 

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