Brian Un-henged

Chapter 4

“Dada, do I have to go to camp?” Bree asked as she crawled up into Brian’s lap. It was the weekend and there was only one more week of school left.

“I thought you wanted to go to day camp,” Brian said as he wrapped his arm around his daughter. He felt her relax against his body on the chaise.

“Un unh,” she replied.

“But last week we had it all worked out.”

Bree shook her head. “Auntie Molly will be coming out here all the time to see her house, and I want to be here when she comes.”

“Who told you that?” Brian asked.

“Daddy was talking to her on the phone.”

“He was, was he?” Brian asked raising a brow and looking at the little girl. He’d have to remember to tell Justin to be careful in the future what he said around Bree. “Patrick’s going to day camp,” Brian reminded her, hoping that might make her rethink her choice not to go.

“I know,” Bree sighed, “but I want to play with Auntie Molly.”

“Auntie Molly won’t have time to play,” Brian stated. “She will be coming out here to check on the house, and she’ll have Taylor to look after.”

Bree made a face. “I want to play with Auntie Molly,” she repeated, making it seem like the repetition of that statement would make it so.

“Squirt, that’s not going to happen. If you go to day camp, there will be lots of girls there for you to play with.”

“Ashley won’t be there,” Bree pouted.

“She won’t?”

“No, she said her mother didn’t have the money to send her to camp. I don’t want to go without Ashley.”

“But you see her almost every weekend when we go riding.”

“I don’t care,” Bree pouted again. “I don’t want to go to camp without Ashley.”

Brian heaved a sigh. “Maybe you should sleep on this and we can talk about it more tomorrow.” ‘That’ll give me some time to think up some more arguments about why you should go,’ Brian said to himself.

“Not going,” Bree repeated.

“Justin!” Brian called.

“He’s out in that stupid shed,” Bree told her father.

“How did he get out there?” Brian asked looking out the sun porch windows and seeing the door to the shed standing open. He had thought Justin was resting in their bedroom. That’s what Justin had told him he was going to do.

“Go play with Patrick for a while, Squirt,” Brian said, getting up off the chaise.

“Why?”

“Um … just do it,” Brian said as he headed for the door to the sun porch. He pushed the door open and headed for the shed. “What the fuck are you doing in here?” Brian demanded as he walked into Justin’s work area.

“I’m just looking at my flowers. I had an idea I wanted to think about,” Justin said.

“You’re not hammering or welding?”

“No, I’m not hammering or welding,” Justin repeated.

“I … thought you were working.”

“I guess I am working, but with my brain.”

“That’s a good kind of working,” Brian said coming up behind Justin and wrapping his arms around Justin’s chest.

“Glad you think so,” Justin said.

“I don’t want you overdoing it. You know your hand is acting up.”

“I’m fine,” Justin tried to protest.

Brian squeezed him a little harder. “Take it easy with this stuff,” Brian said looking around the shed. “You don’t have a deadline to meet.”

“I know, but when inspiration strikes…”

Brian drew in a breath, debating whether to argue with his husband about how much work he was doing. Instead he decided to move on to the other part of the reason he had come looking for his husband. “Bree says she’s not going to day camp.”

“What the fuck?” Justin asked turning to look into Brian’s eyes. “Why not?”

“Let’s see. She wants to play with Auntie Molly when she comes out here to see the house, she doesn’t care that Patrick’s going and she refuses to go if Ashley isn’t going.”

“Can we pay for Ashley to go to camp?” Justin asked.

“I’m not going to suggest that to Ashley’s mother.”

“Why not? I thought you could sell anything.”

“Anything that’s not insulting to the person I’m trying to sell it to. And Ashley’s mother would not be happy if we offered to pay for her daughter’s trip to camp.”

Justin sighed. “Maybe we could order Bree to go.”

“Order her? Fine,” Brian said flatly. “You take her to the bus, and deal with the tantrum that will ensue. I want no part of it.”

“Coward.”

“You got that right.”

“Well, what else can we do?” Justin asked with resignation.

“You could try talking to her.”

“Me? But if you can’t convince her, what makes you think I can?”

“I’m grasping at straws,” Brian admitted.

“Maybe Patrick could tell her he’d be lonely and doesn’t want to go without her,” Justin suggested.

“Great! Then we’ll have two kids at home all summer.”

“Well then I don’t know what to suggest,” Justin stated.

“I’ll go,” Bree said from the doorway of the shed. She stood on the outside of the shed looking in. She knew she was banned from the interior, and so made sure not to step across the threshold.

“How long have you been standing there?” Brian asked surprised to see their daughter observing them.

“Since you came out here,” Bree said smugly. “If it’s that important to you, I’ll go to camp,” she repeated.

“You will?” Brian asked with a frown.

“I want to play with Auntie Molly, but I guess I have to share her with Taylor … and the house.”

“It’s a good thing we taught her to share,” Justin whispered to Brian.

Brian nodded in agreement. He couldn’t believe that Bree had come to that conclusion all by herself, but he wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. “I appreciate that you’re willing to go to camp, Bree.”

“It’s okay, Dada.”

“I’ll try to get Auntie Molly to come spend some time on the weekend with you. Won’t we, Justin?” Brian suggested, grateful for Bree’s change of heart.

“Yes, yes we will,” Justin concurred quickly.

“Close your mouth,” Brian whispered. Justin had been standing gawking in amazement at what was coming out of their daughter’s mouth.

“I still wish Ashley could come to camp too, but I guess there will be other girls there to play with,” Bree sighed. “I suppose they’ll have to do.”

“I bet you’ll have fun once you’re there, sweetheart,” Justin said trying to make Bree’s sudden agreeable nature seem like a good thing.

“Maybe,” Bree said. “I’m going to go put my pajamas on,” she added. “I’d like a story when I’m ready.”

“Okay…sure…Squirt,” Brian said in continuing amazement.

Bree gave a little smile and then ran back to the house.

“Who the fuck was that?” Brian demanded. “Surely it wasn’t our Briana Victoria Kinney-Taylor.”

“I don’t know,” Justin said shaking his head. “Has there been an invasion of pod people?”

“Worse than pod people,” Brian said. “She’s growing up on us.”

“I thought you were going to prevent that.”

“I’ve staved it off as long as I could,” Brian admitted.

“Fuck! I don’t like this one little bit. I want my little girl back, temper tantrums and all.”

“I know. So do I. But we should be thankful that at least she’s decided to go to camp.”

“Thank goodness for small mercies,” Justin replied.

Brian took Justin’s hand and dragged him out of the shed.

“What’s your hurry?” Justin asked as Brian locked up the shed.

“We have to go read her a bedtime story, before she wants to have us read her War and Peace instead.”

“Shit! And I was just learning to like Winnie the Pooh.”

“Me too,” Brian said with a chuckle as they headed for the house.

 

*****
 

“Mr. Kinney, what brings you here? I believe Briana and Patrick’s camp fees are all paid up already,” Miss Feldman, the camp director exclaimed as she scrambled for her enrolment log.

“They are. I’m here on another matter.”

“All right. How can I help you?”

“First, answer a question for me. Have you reached your maximum enrollment for the summer?”

“No, we have plenty of openings. Unfortunately, we’ve had to raise tuition this season and it’s forced many of our previous campers to either cut down on how many weeks they’ll be with us or not return at all.”

“What’s changed?”

“Several things. Our landlord raised the rent on us and we’ve had to make a number of repairs to the grounds. It all cost money,” Miss Feldman said sadly.

“I’d like to help.”

“How?”

“A camp scholarship fund. My partner and I will make a donation. A sizable donation which you may use as you see fit for repairs or to increase the salaries of your counselors to attract a higher caliber of applicant. But I’d also like some of the money to sponsor the children who can’t afford the tuition. Maybe to make up the difference, or if a child is very needy, pay for it outright.”

“This is so fantastic! We have a number of children that would qualify. Their parents would love to thank you.”

“No. This is to be anonymous and I do insist on that. Bobby Morrison, Patrick’s dad is our family lawyer. He’ll contact you with the details but I do have one condition.”

“Which is?” Miss Feldman asked suspiciously.

“Ashley St. John. I understand her parents weren’t able to afford the tuition.”

“That’s correct. Ashley was very disappointed.”

“Let them know about the scholarship, see if they’ll reconsider sending Ashley. I’d be very appreciative.”

“I’ll contact them first after we formalize your donation. But Mr. Kinney, if you don’t mind me asking, why? Why go to all the trouble?”

“It’s no trouble; Justin and I can well afford it. Let’s just say that a certain young lady was very upset and almost refused to go to camp when she learned her best friend wasn’t going to attend.”

“I understand.”

“One more thing, you said you pay rent on this?” Brian waved his hand indicating the converted barn that had become the camp’s headquarters and main gym.

“Yes. This was an old farm. The farmer no longer works it and our rent gives him an income so he and his wife can remain in Florida. Our hope was to eventually buy it outright and make this into a real camp. We want a day camp and maybe a ‘sleep away camp’ for city kids. But now I’m not so sure.”

“Don’t lose hope. Let me consult with my family. It may not happen for this season, but maybe we can help fulfill your dreams for next season.”

“I always have hope, Mr. Kinney.” Brian got up to shake the camp director’s hand. “Thank you, Mr. Kinney,” Miss Feldman said softly with tears in her eyes. “I’ve never married and never had children. Our camp isn’t big or fancy but it serves the needs for the children in our community. I’ve been doing this for some time now. I’ve watched the children grow and become fine young citizens. I couldn’t be any prouder of them if they were mine.”

Brian nodded solemnly then left the camp.

“Hey, Big Red,” Brian said into his cell phone as he started up his Jeep. “Can you squeeze me in today? Yeah, the camp director took the deal but I want to expand on it. Okay, I’ll be there within the hour.”

Brian closed his cell phone then drove off toward Harrisburg.

 

*****
 

“What the fuck was that?!” Brian yelled as what sounded like a small explosion vibrated his peaceful cottage. He sprinted down the spiral staircase and out the sun porch door. He ran towards the construction site with Beau fast on his heels.

“Easy, Brian,” John said as he greeted his brother.

“John, what the fuck is going on? And is everyone all right?”

“We’re all fine. We just did a little blasting to remove some stubborn old stumps. We’re done.”

“Warn a guy next time, will ya? I thought the cottage was going to come down.”

“No chance of that. The landscaper was here and asked us to help remove the dead wood.”

“Landscaper, already?” Brian asked as he looked over his brother’s shoulder at the cottage. “Are you that far along?”

“Want a tour?”

The brothers approached the cottage. John took a spare protective helmet and sat it on top of Brian’s head. “The main structure is done. Most of the wiring is complete.”

“You guys work fast,” Brian said very impressed at his brother’s progress.

“Molly chose a very simple design. A sitting room porch when you first walk in. Kitchen and small dining area on this end. Bedrooms and bathroom on the other end. She didn’t specify it, but I left space for a small half bathroom just off the kitchen area. I figure with a baby the extra bathroom might come in handy.” Brian agreed.

“What about a fireplace? She likes the ones at our house.”

“We discussed that and Owen admitted he’s not the fireplace type so we decided on a potbelly stove in the sitting room. They don’t plan on being here through the winter. The cottage will have a furnace but a small one. On those cool nights they can supplement the heating with the stove.”

“Makes sense. So they’re not going to help us shovel our way out during the next blizzard?”

“Ah, that would be a no,” John laughed.

“Damn! So when do you think it’ll be finished?”

“We’re really moving fast. I’m thinking some time in August. The grounds would take shape faster if you’d help.”

“Me? What do I have to do with it?”

“Come on, Bri. Your garden is magnificent. You know that reporter friend of yours wanted to send the home and garden editor to look at it but I told him to ask you first.”

“Connolly never asked me about it.”

“Well, the wedding did turn into a baby shower. My point is the landscaper has also seen what you’ve done and at Emmett’s. He’d like to consult with you.”

“I guess I could talk to him.”

“How magnanimous of you,” John snarked as he led his brother back outside.

“John, later after the kids go to bed, I’d like to discuss a proposal with you and Bobby.”

“Of course. Now, scram, and I promise no more ka-booms for the day.”

“Thanks. Later, big bro!”

"Later, little bro.”

 

*****
 

“So you want to make it possible for the “Little Flowers Day Camp” to be self sufficient?” John asked Brian later on that night.

The kids had gone to bed and the four men were relaxing in the sun porch. Brian and Justin were sharing the chaise making it convenient for Brian to massage Justin’s hand.

“Miss Feldman, the camp director accepted the donation and it will assist a lot of kids,” Brian explained.

“Including Ashley?” John asked.

“Yes,” Bobby answered for Brian. “John, Brian came to me earlier today. I think we can take on the camp as a family project. They’ve been running with the bare minimums for years. They’re the only camp for young kids for miles. But they could use some backing and financial advice.”

“I agree,” Brian added, “and I nominate Albert Harmon!”
 

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