Brian Un-henged

Chapter 8

Brian walked into Woody’s. It had been a long time since he had been there. He looked around and didn’t see one familiar face. He wasn’t sure whether that was a good thing or not. He frowned and debated whether he should just walk out. A man walked by and deliberately brushed against him. He knew that trick very well, the action not the man, and he didn’t like either.

“Brian, over here,” Michael called.

Brian looked up and saw Michael craning his neck out of the alcove where they had sometimes sat during the good old days, or the bad old days, or the best forgotten days, when Woody’s was a daily habit.

“Mikey,” Brian said sitting down beside his longtime friend. “What the fuck are we meeting here for?”

“I just thought it would be interesting to have a drink and see what the gay scene of Pittsburgh is like these days.”

“You realize that we look like a couple of over the hill bar boys,” Brian sneered.

“Speak for yourself.”

“I was, and I’ve already been cruised since I came in,” Brian said proudly.

“Fuck! How do you do it?”

“Talent,” Brian said smugly.

Michael shook his head, but Brian’s statement only added to his admiration for his friend. Brian Kinney would never change, at least not in his eyes. He was as young and beautiful as ever. “Want a beer or something stronger?” Michael asked.

“A beer. I have to drive home when we’re done.”

Michael got up and went to the bar to get their drinks. Brian glanced around. All the men looked so young. He must really be getting old when every guy he saw looked like a twink. Why the fuck had he agreed to meet Michael here. They should have gone to the diner or fucking Starbucks. He wouldn’t feel so old in those places.

“Here you go,” Michael said as he sat back down, handing Brian a beer, and taking a drink from his own bottle.

Brian gulped down some of his beer hoping that would put him in a better frame of mind, but it didn’t. “What do you want, Mikey?” he asked bluntly hoping they could get this over with quickly and he could get the fuck out of the life he had left behind so many years ago.

“What’s your problem? Can’t you have a nice drink with your best friend?”

“What are we doing here?” Brian repeated, irritation clear in his voice.

“I thought it would be a blast.”

“Yeah, I’m having a peachy time.”

“Brian, what’s wrong with you? Why are you in a bad mood?”

“Let’s see, I hate being the oldest fucking guy in the place, especially when it’s a gay bar.”

“You’re not the oldest. I’m a few months older than you, remember.”

“That makes me feel so much better.”

Michael shook his head. He looked up and saw some guy across the room studying Brian. “You have an admirer,” Michael said nodding in the direction of the man.

“I always have admirers, but that doesn’t mean I want to be here.” Brian turned to look, as nonchalantly as he could. “Fuck! He’s almost as old as we are.”

“He is not,” Michael protested, “although he hasn’t taken very good care of himself.”

“I think that’s a toupee,” Brian said turning back around so he didn’t have to look directly at the guy.

“You think so?” Michael asked perking up. He always liked the way Brian pegged people. “Why would anyone wear one of those?”

“Because he’s fucking bald. I will never wear one of those things. If my hair falls out, kill me immediately.”

Michael chuckled. “Losing your hair would be enough to off yourself?”

“Of course it would. How can you even ask?”

“That guy is smiling at you,” Michael said still studying the man across the room.

“Stop looking at him. You’re encouraging him.”

“Am not,” Michael protested. “Although, he does look slightly familiar.”

“If you hang out with guys wearing toupees, consider our friendship officially over,” Brian said taking a drink of his beer. “Why did you call me to this mecca of gay Pittsburgh, Mikey. Can we get to the point?”

“Um … I was talking to Emmett…”

“That’s your first mistake. Whatever he told you, forget it immediately.”

“He told me I should confront the guy.”

“What guy?”

“The one who keeps coming into my shop and buying comics.”

“Isn’t that called a customer?”

Michael chuckled. “You and Emmett aren’t so different after all.”

“Bite your tongue,” Brian said. “What does this guy have to do with the price of beans?”

“He’s kind of creepy.”

“In what way?”

“I’d never seen him before until a couple of weeks ago. He comes in and spends a lot of time looking through the comics, but every time I look up, he’s looking at me. You know, kind of studying me.”

“Maybe he recognizes you as Zephyr and wants an autograph, but is too shy to ask,” Brian suggested sarcastically.

“You think?” Michael said with a little smile. He obviously didn’t get the sarcasm.

“No, I don’t fucking think! If he’s a man, he would just ask for an autograph.”

“See, that’s what I mean. There’s no reason for him to be looking at me all the time. It’s kind of creepy.”

“Like my admirer over there,” Brian said referring to the guy with the toupee.

“No, he’s nothing like that,” Michael said. “He’s kind of good looking, maybe thirty, seems to have money.”

“Then let him spend it in your shop and pay no attention to him,” Brian advised.

“He’s been back a couple of times, doing the same thing, looking at me and buying comics.”

“That’s called a good customer, Mikey. I don’t see the problem.”

“It’s more than that,” Michael replied. “I just can’t put my finger on it.”

Brian finished off his beer. “Ask him what he wants the next time he comes in,” Brian stated.

“I … I don’t know how to broach the subject. What do I say?”

“Hey, why do you keep looking at me?” Brian asked.

“I’m not looking at you,” Michael said.

“No, twat, that’s what you say … to him … your imaginary stalker.”

“He’s not imaginary,” Michael protested.

“He may not be imaginary, but the stalking part is in your head.”

“It is not. There’s something about him.”

“Yeah, like you think that loser over there is after me. He’s grinning like a fucking hyena.” Brian indicated the toupee man who continued to study them. “Time for me to go.”

“Brian, wait.” Michael placed his hand on Brian’s arm.

“What, Mikey? I need to hit the road.”

“Thanks for meeting me today.”

“You know I’m always available where you’re concerned,” Brian said leaning down and giving Michael a brief kiss on the lips.

“Yeah, and then you tell me how stupid I am.”

“Well, if the shoe fits…”

Michael shook his head. “I’ll walk out with you.”

“Thanks but I can find my way to the door. I only had one beer,” Brian said facetiously.

“I know,” Michael chuckled. “But old habits die hard. It was always my job to get you safely in the Jeep and on your way.”

“And a fine job you did, Mikey,” Brian said as they headed for the exit.

“Brian Kinney,” a voice called.

Brian stopped and turned to see toupee guy grinning at him and waving. “Shit! Let’s get the fuck out of here. That guy’s probably someone I fucked a thousand years ago, and he wants a repeat.”

Michael laughed as they ran out the door. “Your ego is still as big as Pittsburgh.”

“What do you mean, Pittsburgh? It’s as big as the whole fucking U.S. of A.,” Brian declared as he climbed into his present version of the black Jeep he drove for so long. “See ya, Mikey,” he called as he headed down Liberty, all too ready to be going home. Woody’s was from another time, another dimension, and he had so moved on.

 

*****
 

The week of July 4th had brought most of the family back to Edna’s Treasures including Father Tom. Since Molly’s wedding was pre-empted by the birth of Taylor, and Gus had just graduated from high school with honors, the whole family wanted to get together for one big celebration.

In deference to their hosts, each member of the family brought a dish or two or three. They all helped to set up tables and chairs in the garden. Out in the next field, Justin’s garden had grown to three large flowers and the frog.

“Deb, did you really have to drive up here in that monster?” Brian asked as he looked out into the lane to see the tail end of Debbie and Carl’s Winnebago looming back at him.

“Listen, kiddo, I know how these parties can get. You and the boys are always putting us up for the night. Same with Rachel and George and Emm and Drew. That monster sleeps eight and it has a sizable bathroom. So get over it,” Debbie said sternly, as she gave Brian’s head a good cuff then kissed his cheek.

“Yes, Maw,” he sighed then rejoined the family.

 

*****
 

Molly, Owen Jr. and John strolled up the lane to the new cottage. The sage walls were going to get another coat later on in the week and the landscaping was almost complete. All Molly and Owen had to do was have the furniture delivered and then fine tune the interior. They were in no rush, and due to the efficiency of the Anderson Construction crew, the cottage was finished almost a month ahead of schedule. They would be able to enjoy part of the summer in their getaway home.

“It’s beautiful, John, so much more than I originally thought. I love how the front doors and entryway look like your sun porch. It’s a day room and it opens onto the front garden. I’m so happy!” Molly’s face lit up. At that moment seeing Molly’s bright face, Owen fell in love with her all over again and was convinced that their getaway cottage was a wise investment, if only for the sole reason that it made his wife happy. John left the happy couple to their private celebration.

“They like?” Brian asked as he met his brother in the lane.

“They like,” John replied wearing a grin.

“As if there was any doubt,” Brian quipped, wearing his own matching grin. “My brother, the miracle worker,” Brian said as he slapped John on the back. The twin-like brothers stood tall, the sun lighting up the auburn highlights in their hair with fire.

“Must run in the family,” John said proudly, as a small caravan of five cars slowly drove toward Edna’s Treasures.

“Friends of yours?” the brothers said in unison as they stared at the newcomers and then each other. “Shit!” they both exclaimed then hurried to follow the cars.

“May we take a closer look?” A young woman hung her head out of her car window to ask Brian and John’s permission to look at Justin’s henge.

“This is private land; we’d appreciate it if you’d just look from here.” Brian tried to be as polite as possible.

The brothers were pleasant and cordial to their unknown guests. They figured if the tourists got a nice look at the henge, they’d leave peacefully. And they were right. The brothers smiled and waved at the cars as they each turned around then proceeded to drive out of the lane.

“Okay, this shit ends here!” Brian growled as he marched himself back into his own garden.

“Justin!” Brian roared as he spotted his spouse across the garden adding more munchies into a large bowl.

“Yes, Brian.” Justin smiled brightly at his husband.

“Shit,” Brian muttered under his breath as John caught up with him. “Damn that Taylor smile,” he cursed.

“Brian, if we have to, we can hire that security firm that stayed here after the fire. But let the family have the day before you lay down the law,” John suggested. John heard Brian sigh and knew his brother would contain himself until the family had gone home.

 

*****
 

“Hey, Pop, can Curtis and I go to the stream? It’s getting really hot,” Gus, who now stood as tall as his father and his Uncle John, asked to his father’s matching hazel eyes.

“Sure. The water should be warm enough to take a dip. Why don’t you take JR?”

“Me too, Dada! And Patrick wants to go too!” Bree said as she tugged Patrick over to the adults hearing someone mention the stream.

“I want to go where?” Patrick asked with a confused look on his face.

“To the streeeeaaamm,” Bree said, spreading out the word as far as she could and glaring at her cousin. Patrick sighed.

“Yeah, Uncle Bri, can we go too?” Patrick looked up and pleaded with his eyes.

“Yes, you may. And you have my sympathies, Sonny Boy,” Brian said as he ruffled the fiery red hair. Patrick wasn’t altogether sure what his uncle meant but he got the general idea. Bree was the princess, after all and must be obeyed. “We need some other adults to go down there with you,” Brian muttered to himself.

“I’ll go, Bri,” Dr. Nick said as he was passing by and overheard the drama. Brian smiled with gratitude at Hunter’s handsome doctor partner.

“We’ll go too,” Hector chimed in. “Curtis has never been in a stream before,” Hector explained. “We’ll keep an eye on the little ones.”

“Thank you,” Brian said to all the volunteers. “Bree, Patrick, go get the towels and blankets we use for the stream and then you all can go.”

“Yay!” Bree and Patrick cried out then scurried off. Within minutes, a line of happy children and adults meandered through the garden toward the path to the stream.

“Brian?”

“Yeah, Lindz.”

“Does Justin have any idea about what he’s going to do with his sculptures?”

“You mean besides tormenting me and causing a crowd to gather in my lane.”

“What do you mean?”

“Lindsay,” Brian began sternly, “strange people have been driving into our lane to gawk at the henge. I don’t appreciate that.” Then Brian went into a mini rant about Justin’s hand and his mishap with the welder. Naturally, Lindsay was just as concerned. “Lindz, does Sidney know what Justin’s up to?”

“Not that I’m aware of. Believe me if he did, he’d be up here.”

“We have to convince Justin that his henge needs to be planted somewhere else,” Brian said with frustration in his voice.

“May I make a suggestion?” Hunter said as he offered a beer to Brian.

“Well, if it isn’t the Master of Social Work,” Brian said with a smirk. Brian gratefully accepted the cold brew and took several gulps. Hot July sun notwithstanding, Brian’s dilemma was making him hot under the collar. “Any logical suggestion will be welcomed at this point.”

“Why don’t you suggest to Justin that he replant his henge in the Village garden? We have enough room and thanks to John and his security cameras and gates, the place is very secure. Plus the tenants of the apartment house will all keep an eye on the flowers. It’ll get the tourists away from here and into our Village. It’ll bring more business to our community as well.”

“The Bloom Gallery can make an announcement,” Lindsay started to say.

“With a PR campaign from yours truly,” Brian added.

“Problem solved!” Hunter concluded with a big smile. He playfully bumped Brian's hip.

“Problem solved!” Lindsay and Brian said together. And suddenly the day got a whole lot better for the king.

“Hey, Emm, turn up the music, I feel like dancing!” Brian shouted across the garden as he grabbed his lover up from his chair and swung him around. Justin laughed at Brian’s playfulness.

“Well, all right!” Emmett shouted back then scurried off to turn up the music which had been playing softly in the background. With a couple of quick changes of the CD’s, the thumpa thumpa music was pounding and everyone, young, old and in between began to dance.

“What brought this on?” Justin asked above the music. Brian was holding him close as they swayed slowly together, oblivious to the beat of the song.

“I just realized that I have the best family in the whole wide world and you, Justin Taylor, are responsible for it.”

“Not hardly.”

“Yeah, you are, at least a large portion of it. So, shut up, take the compliment and let’s show these fuckers how to dance,” Brian said with a leer and waggle of his eyebrows.

“Yeah,” Justin answered with his brightest smile and waggle of his own eyebrows which were growing back.

And so began the Brian and Justin show!
 

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