Brian Un-henged

Chapter 14

“The bus is on the way up the lane, Bree,” Brian said as he came down from his office.

“I’m ready, Dada,” Bree stated as she hoisted her backpack onto her shoulders.

“You’re not worried about this Winona, are you?” Brian had been a little concerned about the encounter between his daughter and this older girl. He didn’t want Bree trying to defend herself against someone older and bigger.

Bree frowned. “No, Dada,” she said seriously. “Winona thinks she’s smart, but she’s dumb.”

Brian chuckled. “If you say so, Squirt.”

“I say so,” Bree declared.

Brian squatted down in front of his daughter. “I know you’re smart, Squirt, and I know that you can take care of yourself, but bullies can be nasty.”

Bree wrinkled her brow again and stared at her father. “What do you mean, Dada?” she asked seriously. She knew her father was trying to tell her something important.

“I mean that if this Winona threatens you or does something mean, I want you to tell the counselors. I don’t want you taking matters into your own hands.”

“I’ll protect her, Uncle Bri,” Patrick said as he came in from his end of the cottages.

“I don’t want you getting into a fight either, Little Red,” Brian stated. “If Winona causes trouble, report her to the counselors. Do you understand me … both of you?”

“Yes, Dada.”

“Okay, Uncle Bri.”

“Good, now let’s get outside. The bus should be pulling up momentarily.”

 

*****
 

“Did you talk to them?” Justin asked as he came up behind Brian who was watching the bus disappear down the lane.

“Yeah.”

“Did you get through to them?”

Brian shrugged. “I don’t know. We’ve convinced our daughter that she can do anything she sets her mind to, including kicking the ass of a girl at least two years older than she is.”

Justin sighed. “She just might be able to do it too,” he said with a strange note in his voice.

“You’re not advocating that she get into a fight, are you?”

“No,” Justin said emphatically, “but I do understand the value of standing up for what you believe in.”

Brian turned and looked into the blue eyes. “And look where that got you,” he said gently placing his hands on Justin’s shoulders.

“Eventually it got me right here with you,” Justin whispered as he wrapped his arms around Brian.

“Was it worth all the pain and anguish?”

“One hundred percent!”

“I … I don’t want Bree being in a situation where she could get hurt.”

“You can’t protect her from everything,” Justin admonished, “especially as she gets older.”

“I sure as fuck can try,” Brian declared.

“She’ll resent you if you interfere too much.”

Brian heaved a huge sigh. “Then what am I supposed to do?” Brian asked in bewilderment.

“Exactly what you did today. Talk to her … and then let her make her own decisions.”

“But what if…?”

“I can’t answer that, and neither can you. What is meant to happen will happen.”

“When did you become such a fatalist?”

“I’ve always believed in fate. I knew I was fated to be with you … right from that first night,” Justin said solemnly.

“You’re crazy you know.”

“Yep, and I’m the happiest lunatic in the asylum.”

Brian let out a roar of laughter. “We do have the best asylum on the whole fucking planet.”

“You got that right, mister,” Justin grinned. “So, let’s go into our asylum. I could use another cup of coffee.”

“Me too,” Brian agreed as he slung his arm over Justin’s shoulder.

 

*****
 

“You’re a spoiled little brat.”

“Am not!”

“Are so.”

“You’re just dumb.”

“I hate you!”

“I…” Bree was about to say she hated Winona right back, but she hesitated. “I don’t hate you,” she said softly, “but I don’t like you very much.”

Winona stared at the little blonde girl who seemed to have everything in the world. “I’m going to punch your face in,” Winona declared. Bree was everything she wasn’t – cute and petite and rich and smart and … just everything. She did hate Briana Kinney-Taylor.

“I wouldn’t try that,” Bree said raising her hands in a defensive posture. She was shaking inside, but she wasn’t going to show Winona that.

“Why shouldn’t I?”

“’Cause I’ll kick your ass and then I’ll report you to the counselors.”

Winona snorted. “You can’t kick my ass, you little squirt.”

“Only my Dada calls me Squirt,” Bree stated defiantly.

“Dada! What are you, a baby?”

“I love my Dada, and if you’re trying to make me mad, you are.”

“I don’t care whether you’re mad or not. You’re just stupid.”

“Can’t you think of any better insults than that?” Bree asked.

“What … what do you mean?” Winona asked in confusion. She had expected Bree to cry … long ago. This wasn’t the reaction she was looking for at all. When she had seen Bree go to the restrooms, she had followed thinking she could get Bree alone and scare her. They were alone, but Bree didn’t seem to be scared. In fact, Bree was scaring her.

“I mean that my Dada has the best insults.”

“Oh yeah, like what?” Winona asked.

“Back off, fucker! Yo, bitches, get the fuck out of my way! Make sure it turns out right, Theodore, or I’ll have you murdered!”

“Your Dada says stuff like that?” Winona asked in wonder.

“Yep, and he means it too. I’m not apposed to say it out loud, but you asked me.”

“Yeah, I guess I did.”

“So, don’t mess with me.”

“Would your Dada really have somebody murdered?”

Bree thought about that. She didn’t think her Dada would really kill someone, but he sounded serious when he said it. “I don’t know,” she said honestly.

Winona thought about that too. She sure didn’t want to be murdered by Bree’s Dada. She knew he was a pretty important man. “Maybe we could be friends?” she said hesitantly, deciding to adjust her plans according to what was happening.

“Huh?” This took Bree totally by surprise.

“If I don’t pick on you no more, could we be friends?”

“Um, yeah, I guess so,” Bree replied. This was an unexpected turn of events, but it seemed like a much better thing than a fight with the girl who was several inches taller than she was.

“Good,” Winona said decisively. “Let’s go back.” She grabbed Bree’s hand and headed for the door.

Bree followed along wondering what had just happened.

“Who’s Theodore?” Winona whispered as they came out of the restrooms.

 

*****
 

“So, how’s the new house?” Justin asked.

“Haven’t you been down to have a look?” Molly asked, as she got Taylor situated in his carrier. She had placed him on the kitchen table where she and Justin were having some iced tea. He was dozing peacefully since Molly had carried him up to Edna’s Treasures.

Justin played with Taylor’s little toes. This was one cute baby if he did say so himself. “I’ve been kind of busy.”

“I hear you got your ‘henge’ all assembled in the Village.”

Justin nodded. “We’re going to have a formal presentation for it soon.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, Sidney insisted. He wants the publicity. So I guess I have to be there.”

“Then why don’t you make it a fun time,” Molly said cheerfully.

“And how might I do that? You know I hate these publicity things.”

“Let’s have a picnic. I’ll bring Owen and Taylor and you can bring Bree and Gus.”

“What about Brian?”

“Where you go, big brother, the mighty Kinney follows.”

Justin laughed heartily. “I’ll have to remember that line and use it on Brian sometime.”

“He’ll tell you you’re full of shit.”

“I know he will, but he’ll also know it’s true.”

“Getting a little cocky, are we?” Molly asked with a grin as she took a sip of her tea.

“He’s been great about me making the flowers,” Justin admitted. “I know he was worried that I’d hurt myself.”

“You got a good man there, Justin.”

“I know, and I intend to keep him.”

“What do you think about Owen and me having a housewarming party at the end of the summer, you know, for the new cottage?” Molly asked changing the subject.

“Do you think you’ll be in the house by then?”

“John says we can start moving in real soon, like maybe a week or two.”

“Wow, he really got the cottage done fast,” Justin noted.

“You would have known how far along he was if you ever came down to see,” Molly accused, but there was no animosity in her voice.

“I was kind of busy.”

“I know, Jester, but you need to take time for other things, not just your art.”

Justin rubbed his hand over his eyes. He knew she was right. “I know I should, but sometimes I just get wrapped up in what I’m doing.”

“To the exclusion of everything else.”

“Well, yeah,” Justin said slowly. “But I have to take inspiration when it strikes,” he said in defense of himself.

“I know, but maybe you can combine the two things, like the picnic when they open the ‘henge’ at the Village.”

“When did you grow up and get to be smarter than me?” Justin asked as he squeezed Molly’s hand.

“I’ll never be smarter than you,” Molly said, “but I do know what’s important. Taylor taught me that.”

“Smart little fucker, isn’t he?” Brian stated as he came through the front door and into the kitchen. He had just caught the end of the conversation.

“He’s going to give Bree a run for her money,” Molly said with a grin.

“Don’t tell Bree that,” Brian laughed as he sat down at the table and gave Taylor’s foot a tickle.

“Want an iced tea?” Justin asked.

“If you’ve got one.”

Justin got up and went to pour his husband a frosty glass.

“Thanks,” Brian whispered to Molly.

“For what?”

“Helping him see what’s important.”

“Brian, I didn’t…”

“She wasn’t doing your dirty work for you, Brian,” Justin said as he handed Brian a glass of iced tea. He sat down at the table. “She was just telling me what she thought.”

“My services cost a lot more than your stingy husband is likely to pay,” Molly joked.

Brian’s eyebrow’s arched up into his still well preserved hairline. “Stingy?” he asked.

“Just kidding,” Molly laughed.

Justin shook his head. “I don’t know which of you is nuttier. I can’t believe a thing that comes out of either of your mouths.”

“I love you, Sunshine,” Brian said with a grin.

“Well, maybe one thing,” Justin laughed.

“And I love you too, Jester.”

“Okay, maybe two things.”

“Where were you?” Molly asked Brian.

“I went into town to get a few things for my gardens,” Brian said smugly.

“Your gardens are beautiful as always. Um… Would you consider helping me with the gardens down at the cottage?” Molly asked as she thought about how beautiful the cottage would look with Brian’s magical touch with the gardens.

“I might be persuaded,” Brian said crossing his arms on his chest and leaning back in his chair.

“How much is it going to cost me?” Molly asked with a shake of her head.

“Since you seem to think I’m so stingy, I doubt you could afford my exorbitant prices.”

“Brian…” Justin said with a warning in his voice.

“A night of babysitting the munchkin,” Brian proclaimed, as he leaned over and tickled Taylor under the chin. The baby was just waking up from his nap.

“Excuse me! You’re going to create my gardens and all you want in return is a night with my son?” Molly couldn’t believe her ears.

“I kind of enjoyed having him around here for a few days,” Brian stated. “I wouldn’t mind feeding him and playing with him and reading him a story.”

“What about Bree?” Molly asked, amazed at what Brian was proposing.

“She can help me. It’s good for her to have someone else to look after.”

“I think that’s a great idea,” Justin said. “We can make a night of it, and you and Owen can have a date.”

“A date? What’s that?” Molly asked skeptically. It had been so long since they’d gone out anywhere by themselves that she doubted they could manage a few hours on their own. They probably wouldn’t know what to say to each other or what to do.

“If we agree to this, you and Owen can find out about the fine art of dating all over again,” Brian replied.

“Deal!” Molly said holding out her hand to Brian to shake. She thought she better take the offer while she had the chance. She wasn’t likely to do better than what Brian was proposing.

“Deal,” Brian agreed shaking her hand.

 

*****
 

“So how was camp today?” Brian asked as he collected Bree and Patrick from the bus.

“Bye, Bree,” a girl shouted out the window of the bus as it pulled away.

Bree smiled and waved. “It was okay, Dada.”

“Who was that?” Brian asked indicating the girl on the bus.

“That’s stupid Winona,” Patrick informed him.

“She’s not stupid,” Bree contradicted her cousin.

“Since when?” Brian asked with a frown. “Did something happen with Winona today?”

“I said I’d be her friend,” Bree replied.

“You did?” Patrick asked. “How come?”

“Yeah, how come?” Brian asked without realizing that he sounded just like Patrick.

“We talked about it and decided it would be better to be friends than to fight,” Bree explained patiently. She was rather proud of herself.

“You decided…?”

“Yes, Dada.”

“And how did you come to that decision, if I may ask?” Brian wanted to know.

“I’ll tell you for cookies and milk,” Bree said with a grin.

“Care to give me a hint?” Brian asked as he opened the door for the children.

“I used some of your best threats to convince her,” Bree stated as she ran to the kitchen to get her cookies.

Brian groaned and followed. He didn’t think he was going to like this explanation.
 

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