Brian Un-henged

Chapter 3

“Here we are,” Molly said as she pulled her car off to the side of the lane at Edna’s Treasures.

“I still don’t see why you want to live out here,” Craig griped.

Molly heaved a sigh. They had actually had an enjoyable ride out to the site, chatting about memories from Molly’s childhood and things they’d have to remember to tell Taylor when he was older. Susan had had a luncheon date with a friend and had decided not to accompany them. Taylor had slept all the way there.

“Can we just have a look around without any snide comments?” Molly requested.

“Snide!” Craig started to protest.

“Dad, this is our new home, just let me enjoy it,” Molly stated firmly as she unbuckled Taylor.

“I’ll carry the baby,” Craig offered.

Molly handed her father the travel carrier with Taylor inside. The baby was starting to wake up, but he looked around with seeming interest, showing no sign of crying. “Thanks,” she said tersely. “John,” she called as she saw John Anderson come out of the frame of her soon to be cottage.

“Hi, Molly,” John called back as he headed over to them. “How are you?”

“It looks so … real,” Molly said staring at the frame of her dream cottage.

“It is pretty real,” John laughed, as they all stood and stared at the growing structure. “Nice to see you, Mr. Taylor,” he added when he looked over at Craig after a minute. Craig gave a perfunctory nod. “And how’s the little one?” John reached in and chucked Taylor’s chin.

“He’s great. We all are,” Molly said. “Can I have a tour?”

“You certainly can,” John said. “But I wouldn’t advise that we take Taylor inside. This is a construction site.”

“I could stay out here with the baby,” Craig volunteered.

“Or Beau and I could watch Taylor,” Brian said having come down the lane after he had seen Molly’s car pulling in. The big dog gave a woof.

“Thanks, Brian,” Molly laughed. “I know Beau will look after my child very effectively."

Brian raised a brow, but then grinned and reached for the carrier that held Taylor. Craig pulled it back. Brian frowned and glared at Justin’s father.

“I don’t bite,” Brian growled. Beau gave another woof. “See, even Beau vouches for me.”

“I’ll stay with the baby,” Craig stated again.

“Dad, hand Taylor to Brian. You haven’t seen my house and I want you to see it … now!” she declared. The look on her face told Craig he better do as she commanded.

Craig reluctantly extended the carrier. Taylor was gurgling and looking around.

“Good baby,” Brian said as he took the carrier and smiled down at Taylor. “I’ll take him up to the house.”

“Is Justin there?” Craig asked.

“Yes, and he’s working.”

“We’ll be there in just a minute,” Craig said.

“Take your time,” Brian replied.

“We’ll be there when I’m finished looking around,” Molly stated. “Come on, Dad.”

Craig followed his daughter and John Anderson towards the house. He couldn’t keep himself from looking back at his grandchild and Brian Kinney. He didn’t know why Molly would allow the child to be alone with that pervert. He wanted to go back and get Taylor away from that man, but he knew Molly would never forgive him if he did.

“So, Taylor,” Brian said looking at the little face. “Your grandfather thinks I’m going to molest you, but then he doesn’t know shit.” Taylor looked up into the handsome face and gurgled contentedly. “You know better, don’t you?”

“Woof,” Beau contributed.

“Thanks, Beau. We’ll show Craig Taylor how to manage a baby.” Brian started up the lane with Beau leading the way.

 

*****
 

About a half hour later Molly opened the door to Edna’s Treasures and called Brian’s name. There was no answer.

“Where is he?” Craig said with a worried look on his face.

“Calm down, Dad,” Molly said evenly. “Brian’s probably out in the garden or with Justin.”

“How can you be so sure? He could be doing anything to Taylor.”

“What would he do to Taylor other than change his diaper?”

“You are so bloody naïve, Molly. The man’s a pervert.”

“Brian is my brother-in-law, and he’s a fine man, so shut the fuck up! If you can’t say anything nicer than that, go back to the car and wait for me there.”

“I will not! I want my grandchild.”

Molly glared at her father. She wanted to tell him what an ass he was being. “Let’s go out back and find them,” she said instead. She headed through the sun porch and out the door. There was no sign of Brian anywhere.

“He’s not here,” Craig bellowed. “What has he done with Taylor?”

Molly stopped and thought for a moment. Then she heard the sound of metal being banged around in the shed. “That sounds like Justin working.”

“Who the fuck cares if Justin is working! Where’s Taylor?”

Molly didn’t deign to reply to her father’s asinine worries. She headed for the shed. At the entrance she called Justin’s name.

Justin took off his goggles and headset. “Hey, Mol, Brian took Taylor down to the stream.”

“Thanks, Justin,” Molly called as Craig turned and started down the path with Molly trying to keep up. “Dad, Dad! Slow down.”

Craig stopped as they were almost to the clearing. “We need to get Taylor,” he said, a bit out of breath with worry and exertion.

“Dad, look.” Molly pointed out into the area by the stream. “Listen.”

“And that’s a frog,” Brian was saying. He was down on his knees holding Taylor in his arms. He pointed to something in the grass. “Frogs are not so bad. They all think I’m afraid of frogs, and I let them believe that. It’s good entertainment for everyone. But you and I will know the truth. I just pretend to be afraid. But you won’t tell anyone that, will you?”

Molly smiled and looked at her father. Craig Taylor looked puzzled, like he couldn’t believe what he had just heard. Brian Kinney sounded like any normal father playing a little game for his child, pretending that frogs freaked him out. And he was so gentle in the way he was talking to Taylor. The baby seemed to be taking it all in.

“Brian,” Molly said letting Brian know they were there.

“Oh?” Brian said in surprise. He quickly stood up. “Taylor and I were just communing with nature.”

“I see,” Molly said, not letting on what they had heard.

“Can I have Taylor?” Craig asked extending his arms.

“Sure,” Brian said handing the baby to Craig. “I’ll just grab his carrier.” Brian walked over to the big rock where he had first set the baby down. “Would you like to stay for lunch? I want to get Justin away from that fucking sculpture. He works at it too hard and too long.”

“I’m game to be a distraction,” Molly laughed.

“Good girl,” Brian said as he headed for the house, his arm linked through Molly’s.

Craig followed wondering who this strange man was with his daughter.

 

*****
 

“Hey, Sunshine!” Brian called out loudly into the shed. Beau barked a few times to help draw Justin’s attention away from his welding. Justin saw Beau jumping by the door and his spouse’s smiling face. He stopped his welding and raised his protective mask.

“Think you can manage a little lunch?” Brian asked. Justin looked at the metal in his gloved hand and at Brian’s face. Molly stepped closer to the door and pleaded with her eyes.

“Sure, I can eat,” Justin smiled, as he safely stowed his equipment then locked up the shed.

“Good, because some of us are hungry,” Brian admitted as he grabbed Justin’s hand. As they walked toward the cottage, Brian massaged Justin’s hand, successfully forestalling any kinks and cramps.

Everyone took turns washing up then brother and sister proceeded to make lunch.

“Can I help?” Craig offered in a very civil moment. Molly and Justin were setting out various cold cuts and salad fixings onto the counter.

“I think we have it under control,” Justin said as Taylor let out a short wail.

“Whoops! I know that sound,” Brian exclaimed with a chuckle. “I’ll take Taylor into Bree’s room to get cleaned up. Can you get a bottle ready?” Craig stared as Molly nodded and Brian took Taylor with diaper bag into Briana’s room.

“How does he know Taylor needs to be changed?” Craig had left most of the baby feeding and diaper changing to Jennifer when Justin and Molly were infants. Both Molly and Justin gave Craig an incredulous look. “What?” Craig asked his kids. Molly just rolled her eyes, as she took out a pitcher of iced tea from the refrigerator.

“Dad, contrary to popular belief, it was Brian who changed Bree’s diapers and handled most of her feedings, especially in the middle of the night.”

“You’re kidding me?”

“No, I’m not. His patience never wavered even when she was miserable while teething.” Craig didn’t believe it but the look on Justin’s face told him not to argue. Giggling baby noises brought Craig to Bree’s bedroom door.

Craig peered into Brian’s pristine room. Brian had Taylor on Bree’s bed and was replacing Taylor’s soiled sleeper with a fresh one. Before slipping the tiny feet into each leg of the sleeper, Brian blew a gentle raspberry to the bottom of the foot. Taylor giggled with glee.

“You are an angel, aren’t you?” Brian murmured. Taylor looked up into Brian’s eyes. “Just like your mommy and your uncle.” Craig crept back to the kitchen.

“Come and get it,” Justin called out so that everyone could help themselves to making their sandwiches and choosing their salads.

Brian, still carrying Taylor, rummaged around the diaper bag to take out the ‘spit towel’ that all parents carried with them. He deftly placed it on his left shoulder as he checked the temperature of the bottle that was waiting for him on the kitchen table. Brian sat at the table then offered the bottle to the baby. Taylor latched onto the nipple to suck.

“Thank you, Sunshine,” Brian said politely as Justin put a turkey sandwich on whole wheat in front of him. Brian could wait until Taylor was finished before eating his sandwich. They all made pleasant small talk during lunch.

“Justin, tell me a little more about this project you’re working on now,” Craig asked his son.

“It’s really rather straightforward. I saw those pictures Debbie took of “Trunkhenge” and the idea of working with metal began to appeal to me. It’s a medium I’ve never tried. I’ve done some small sculptures but nothing on a scale this large,” Justin happily explained.

“So he chooses to turn my shed into a scrap heap,” Brian groused good-naturedly as he placed the empty bottle on the table then lifted the baby to his towel covered shoulder waiting for a good burp. He smiled to himself. At one time small towels like the one on his shoulder were good to be used as his ‘cum towel.’ Now the former stud of Liberty was an expert at using the ‘spit towel.’

“Better in the shed than in your garden,” Justin scolded with a wink.

They all cheered when Taylor gave up a mighty burp. Brian wiped off any baby spew from around Taylor’s tiny mouth then watched as the contented child’s eyes began to close. Cradling the baby in one arm, Brian began to eat his lunch with his free hand. Craig stopped himself from shaking his head in amazement.

“Molly, we should get going,” Craig said after a while. “I’d like to make it through the city before rush hour.” Molly nodded in agreement. She and Craig began to pack up the baby’s belongings.

“I’ll say goodbye here,” Justin began as they walked through the garden. “I can get in a few more hours of work.”

“Okay, son,” Craig said politely as he shook his son’s extended hand.

“I love you, Jester,” Molly said as she gave her brother a hug.

“Love you too, Mollusk. Drive safely,” Justin said and he turned to walk to the shed.

“You be safe too, Sunshine,” Brian called out after him. Justin turned, looking over his shoulder at his lover then smiled his most brilliant Sunshine smile. Brian lovingly smiled back then walked Molly, Craig and Taylor down the lane to their car.

“Thank you, Brian,” Molly said as she gave her brother-in-law a kiss. “We’ll be back soon to check on the progress.”

“Is that a promise or a threat?” Brian snarked.

“Whatever!” Molly laughed. “Thanks for lunch,” she said as she got into the car after securing Taylor’s carrier. She gave her father a little nudge.

“Yeah, thanks,” Craig conceded at he slipped into the car. Brian chuckled as they drove away.

As they turned onto the highway, Molly sensed that her father was about to explode.

“What is it, Dad?”

“All that handholding, doesn’t it bother you?”

“What handholding?”

“When Justin came out of the shed. Brian grabbed his hand so forcefully, I thought I saw pain in Justin’s eyes.”

“He probably was in some pain,” Molly said softly.

“What?” Craig said as his ire was rising.

“It’s not what you think, Dad.”

“Explain it to me then.”

“Dad, after Justin was hurt, he was damaged in so many ways.”

“I remember.”

“No, I don’t think you do. You weren’t as involved with Justin’s life at that time.”

“Molly...”

“Dad, I’m not making a judgment call; it was what it was. Some of Justin’s physical injuries took a very long time to heal. Even now he still has problems.”

“What kind of problems?”

“When he does too much with that hand, it begins to cramp up and it hurts.”

Craig cringed. Brian may have ‘stolen’ his son but Chris Hobbs tried to kill him and almost succeeded. Even though Justin lived, Hobbs had nearly stolen the one thing that made Justin, Justin; his art.

“What you saw or thought you saw wasn’t Brian holding Justin’s hand, he was massaging it. Brian has learned throughout the years they’ve been together to read the signs when Justin’s hand is hurting. We’ve all learned to read them. However, Brian is the only one to get through to my stubborn brother. Justin would never admit his hand was bothering him. Brian just does what he needs to do.”

Craig sat quietly trying to absorb what his daughter had confided to him. When Justin shook his father’s hand goodbye, he had extended out his left hand. Justin was right-handed. He didn’t want to further hurt his hand by giving Craig the firm handshake Justin knew his father expected. Justin’s left hand was very strong. He had learned to compensate.

“What about that ‘Sunshine’ thing? Isn’t it a little condescending for a grown man to be called Sunshine?” Molly laughed at her father’s quandary.

“Perhaps, but we can’t blame Brian for that one either. Debbie was the one who came up with that nickname and it stuck. She and Brian are the only ones who really call him by it. The guys may refer to Justin as their little sunshine but they never would say it to his face.”

“But where did the name come from?”

“Oh Dad, are you really that blind?”

“I don’t understand.”

“Daddy, his smile!” Molly said as though it was so very obvious. And maybe it was but not to her stubborn, pig-headed father. “Think, Dad. Use your imagination. You saw it just like I did, when Brian told Justin to be safe. That’s Justin’s sunshine smile!”

Craig thought back to the smile Justin gave to Brian. It reminded him of Jennifer’s smile when she was a young teenager and they began dating. Molly had a bit of that smile too. And Taylor, but all you could see now was a toothless grin. He remembered that Justin only smiled that brilliantly when he was truly happy.

“Now do you understand?” Molly asked.

“I think so, honey,” Craig murmured as he settled back into his seat. Cottages built in the middle of nowhere. Gay men raising children. Notorious ‘perverts’ experts on diaper changing and burping babies. Sunny smiles and so much time wasted on stupid prejudices.

Craig reached over to pat his daughter’s hand. “I love you, Sweetheart.”

“Love you too, Dad.” And maybe her father finally got it.
 

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