Up, Up and Away

Chapter 3

 

I’m hungry and my daddies are locked in their room. I can hear them laughing. I like it when they’re happy, it makes me happy too. But I’m hungry, my tummy’s making noises. Maybe I can get them to notice me. Daddy told me to take a shower before dinner. I played a lot at the park, so I was stinky. <giggle> Dada got that look in his eye when Daddy said the word shower. Dada thought a shower was a great idea so he grabbed my Daddy’s hand and took him to their room. I heard their shower go on so I went to take mine. But they weren’t ready when I came out of my room.

“Quit it, Brian,” Bree heard her Daddy say with a giggle when she stood at their door. Bree heard her Dada murmur something softly to her Daddy and then her Daddy whispered her Dada’s name.

“Dada? Daddy?” Bree called out as she knocked on the door. “Dada, I’m hungry.” All noises stopped coming from her fathers’ room.

“We’ll be right out, Squirt!” Bree heard her Dada say. Bree smiled to herself then went back to the living room to sit on the sofa and wait. Within minutes her daddies were in the living room and dressed for dinner.

“Sorry, Baby Girl,” Justin said breathlessly as he leaned down to give Bree a kiss.

“You ready, Squirt?” Brian asked Bree as he scooped her up into his arms and swung her around. Bree laughed wildly. Justin shook his head at Brian’s antics. Bree continued to laugh until Brian stopped and held the petite child close to his chest. Bree hugged her father tightly.

For the briefest of moments, Brian allowed himself to revel in his emotions. Bree was his little girl and growing up fast. Soon their baby girl would be a ‘tweener’ and soon after that, all grown up. Brian sighed as he buried his face in Bree’s baby fine strawberry blond hair. Sensing her Dada just needed a little extra love, Bree hugged him harder. Brian slowly extended one arm, Justin immediately went to him, completing their little circle.

“Okay?” Justin asked softly then, barely getting a nod in response.

“I’m ready for dinner, Dada,” Bree said quietly. “Where are we going to eat?” Bree asked, still safe within her father’s strong arms.

“Good question,” Brian said after he cleared his throat. “We have a very early day tomorrow.”

“This hotel has an excellent restaurant according to their ratings. Why don’t we go down there?” Justin suggested.

“Great idea, Sunshine,” Brian said as he gave Justin a squeeze and then a kiss to the top of the blond head.

After giving Bree one more hug and a kiss, Brian gently put her down. Each taking a hand, the fathers led their daughter out of their room and down to dinner.

 

*****
 

“Good evening, sirs,” the maitre d’ said as the family approached the doorway of the main dining room in the hotel.

“Evening,” Brian replied making it clear to the man that he was the one to deal with. “Table for three.”

“Do you have a reservation?” the man asked.

“No.”

“Hm.” The maitre d’ scanned some papers in front of him. All of the family could see several empty tables just waiting for diners to arrive. “Perhaps the young lady would be more comfortable at the café than in our main dining area,” he said after a few seconds.

“The young lady likes this place just fine … that is, provided we get seated promptly,” Brian added with emphasis on ‘promptly’. He wasn’t sure if he was dealing with a homophobe or someone who hated kids. Either way he didn’t like it.

“Of course, sir,” the man said. “Follow me.”

Brian gave Justin a look as they proceeded to the designated table. It was off in a corner, but not in front of the kitchen door which Brian would not have put up with. He thought the maitre d’ was probably placing them strategically so that they would not be visible to most of the restaurant.

“Is this table satisfactory, sir?” the man asked as he set down the menus at their place settings.

“If the table wasn’t satisfactory, I’d certainly let you know,” Brian stated before pulling out his chair.

The maitre d’ held the chair for Bree, making sure she was close enough to the table once she was seated. That gave him a slight upgrade from Brian’s first impression of the man.

“Thank you,” Bree said with a smile.

“You’re most welcome,” the maitre d’ replied once he realized that Bree possessed some good manners.

“My name is Briana Victoria Kinney-Taylor,” Bree stated. “What’s your name?”

The man looked surprised but he quickly replied, “Rudolph.”

Brian groaned inwardly, thinking that Bree would probably make some comment like “Just like the reindeer.” After all that’s what he was thinking.

“Thank you, Mr. Rudolph,” Bree repeated. “We’re going to be here for several days, so maybe we’ll see you again. I like to know people’s names.”

Rudolph couldn’t prevent the small smile that curled the corners of his mouth. “It will be my pleasure to seat you whenever you grace our restaurant, Miss Briana,” Rudolph replied. He smiled his approval of Bree’s manners at Brian and Justin.

“You can call me Bree, everybody does.”

“Certainly, Miss Bree.”

Bree smiled up at the man, earning a smile in return. Brian wondered how often Rudolph ever smiled at his customers, or how often he actually had a conversation with them.

“I’ll send your waiter, Shaun, right over,” Rudolph said, “so that you may order drinks if you wish.” He hustled away after a brief tip of his head.

“Well that was … interesting,” Brian observed as he picked up his menu.

“Interesting?” Justin asked. “I thought we were going to be turned away.”

“I have to say I did too … for just a moment,” Brian agreed. “Bree, where did you learn to ask people’s names like that?” Brian was curious. It certainly wasn’t something he ever did. He could have cared less.

“Miss Cynthia told me that I should always introduce myself when clients came into Kinnetik. It makes them feel more at ease knowing who they are talking to,” Bree explained sensibly.

“Well, you certainly made an impression on Rudolph,” Justin said.

Bree giggled. “I wanted to ask him if he was named after Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, but I didn’t think that would be polite.”

“Good restraint,” Brian stated with a smile of approval.

Justin gave him a raised eyebrow while Brian merely smirked.

“Good evening, I’ll be serving you tonight,” a youngish man said as he arrived at their table. “My name is Shaun.”

“Hi, I’m Briana Victoria Kinney-Taylor,” Bree replied.

“Nice to meet you, Miss Briana,” Shaun replied with a genuine smile. “Would you like anything to drink before your meal?”

“Do you have a nice beer on tap?” Brian asked.

“Alexander Keith is very popular,” Shaun answered.

“I’ll have that.”

“Me too,” Justin said.

“And for the young lady?” Shaun asked.

“What can I have, Dada?” Bree questioned her father, a frown creasing her brow. She didn’t want water or orange juice.

“We make an excellent Shirley Temple,” Shaun suggested.

“Yes, please,” Bree responded. She liked the sound of that.

“I’ll be back in a couple of minutes with your drinks,” Shaun stated. “Oh, and the fish special is pickerel, and ribs for the main course.” Shaun walked away having told his charges their other options.

“I think I’ll have ribs,” Justin said. “I haven’t had those in a long time.”

“Can I have ribs?” Bree asked.

“They’re awfully messy, Bree,” Justin warned.

“I’ll be careful, Daddy,” Bree promised. “They sound really good.”

“Okay,” Justin gave in. “What are you going to have, Brian?”

“I think I’ll try the fish. I don’t know if I’ve ever had pickerel before.”

“Here are your drinks,” Shaun said as he returned to the table with a tray of glasses. For my lady,” he added with a bow as he placed a glass full of a red liquid in front of Bree. “I hope it meets with your approval.”

Bree giggled before taking a sip. “Yum,” she replied. “Excellent suggestion.”

“I’m so glad it meets with your approval,” Shaun grinned as he set the two beers in front of the men. “Are you ready to order?”

“Yes, I believe so,” Brian said.

“I’ll have the pickerel, Justin and Bree will have the ribs.”

“We can make a child sized portion for the young lady, if you wish,” Shaun suggested.

“That would be a good idea,” Brian agreed.

“Yes, we hate to waste food,” Justin added.

“We do?” Brian asked with a raised eyebrow. “I thought you always enjoyed whatever was left on the plates.”

“A-hole,” Justin mouthed while Shaun stifled a chuckle.

Once they had all their choices made for potatoes and veggies, Shaun headed for the kitchen to place their order.

The Kinney-Taylor family had a leisurely dinner, enjoying all their food. They talked about plans for the next day, and how Bree would take her soccer clothes in her messenger bag to the business meeting in the morning. Hopefully, if all went well, Bree would be able to get to her 10 o’clock soccer practice.

“Daddy,” Bree said after a while, “I’m full. Do you want the rest of my ribs?”

“Sure, sweetheart,” Justin replied, before turning to glare at his smirking husband. “I hope that pickerel is sitting like a glutinous lump in your gut,” Justin added with pretend malice.

“Actually, it was very light and delicious,” Brian responded with that supercilious look on his face that would make his enemies want to drive a stake through his heart. Justin merely laughed. “You are supposed to be duly chastised by my words. You’re not supposed to laugh,” Brian told him.

“Sorry to disappoint you, O Great King of Snark, but I memorized the Kinney Operating Manual many years ago, and it will take much more than those feeble words to get to me.”

Brian shook his head and grinned at his husband. Justin smiled regally and enjoyed his moment of triumph.

“Daddy, Dada, you guys are silly,” Bree professed.

“You think so?” Brian asked in mock astonishment. “I would have thought that you would be onto me like your father is.”

“Huh?” Bree said not getting what her father meant.

“Ignore him, sweetheart,” Justin warned his daughter. “He is very silly.”

“I thought so,” Bree replied.

Justin finished his daughter’s remaining ribs. Shaun came to clear their plates.

“Can I offer you coffee or dessert, or an after dinner drink?” Shaun asked.

“I’m stuffed,” Justin said squelching a belch that threatened to escape.

“Me too, Daddy,” Bree agreed.

“Me three,” Brian threw in. “Just bring us the bill.”

“Of course,” Shaun said balancing his load of plates on his arm.

“I could use some exercise,” Justin said while they waited for the bill. “Maybe we should go for a walk.”

“I don’t know about that,” Brian said. “Bree’s had a busy day already.”

“I’m good, Dada. Let’s walk.”

Brian took the bill from Shaun, noting that Bree’s dinner was half the price of the adult meals. He appreciated that Shaun had made that effort for them. He added a generous tip and signed the check.

“I hope to see you again,” Shaun said as he picked up the folder containing the bill.

“Me too,” Bree replied.

Brian and Justin smiled and nodded before they headed to the exit where Rudolph was still at his station.

“I hope you all enjoyed your meal,” he said.

“Oh yes, Mr. Rudolph,” Bree responded. “I had ribs and a Shirley Temple.”

“Excellent choice,” Rudolph affirmed.

“I enjoyed my meal very much too, thank you,” Justin added. Brian merely nodded as they left.

They walked up and down the street outside their hotel looking at the bright lights of the city. They could see the CN Tower lit up in the distance, and they decided that would be a definite stop when they had some free time.

After a walk of a few blocks in each direction they returned to the lobby. Justin took Bree up to their suite while Brian spoke with the concierge. He wanted to make some arrangements to do some of the things they had talked about. He particularly liked the idea of a trip to Niagara Falls, and the concierge provided some possible ways of doing that. When Brian returned to the suite, Bree was asleep in her room, and Justin was dozing in their bed. Brian decided an early night was the best thing for all of them. He headed to the shower.

 

*****
 

Brian’s second shower of the evening wasn’t nearly as exciting as his first, but with Bree asleep and Justin almost there, Brian used his time in the shower to meditate over his agenda. Under the cool water that was sluicing over his body, Brian pondered his situation. If he was honest with himself he’d have to admit he was a little nervous. Brian hadn’t been asked to close a deal in a long time. His people always closed their own contracts but Mr. Waldon had asked for Brian specifically. Brian’s suspicious nature had made sure he had all the facts on one Philip Waldon, head of Waldon Industries. Philip Waldon, a self-made millionaire, was the manufacturer of all sorts of components that went into everyday items. It was Kinnetik’s job to make the components look sexy. Well if anyone could make a diode look sexy it was Kinnetik!

Brian turned off the water and grabbed a towel to wipe himself down. He frowned at the towel for a split second; it was good quality but not the best that Brian had in his home. Brian chuckled to himself. Gods! He was a snob. The once poor trash from the wrong side of the tracks was now such a snob that he was critiquing bath towels. Brian stared at his reflection in the mirror.

“Not bad,” he murmured at his relatively unlined face. He turned slightly to examine his profile. There were a few lines near the corners of his eyes. He smiled making the lines more prominent. “Laugh lines. Who’d ever have thought Brian Kinney would have laugh lines.” Brian snorted.

Brian went into the bedroom and stood at the edge of the bed for a few minutes. Justin looked like a lost angel in the large bed, buried under the blanket. It was August but the air conditioner was keeping the room very cool. Brian smiled, Justin still looked like that sweet seventeen year old trick that never went away. Brian contemplated getting into bed but decided against it. He wanted to go over the Waldon contracts and campaign one more time. He threw on his old faded jeans and a wifebeater then went to the living room area of the suite. He called room service for a pot of coffee then checked on Bree one more time before opening his briefcase to take out his contracts and laptop.

Brian was halfway through the contract when there was a gentle knock on the door.

“Room Service!” came the announcement as Brian went to open the door. Brian smirked and cocked his head as the good looking waiter pushed a cart with a silver coffee service through the door. The waiter was going over Brian with an appreciative eye.

“On the table,” Brian said with a slight purr. He could see the waiter take a gulp of air but quickly recovered so that he could set up the tray on the table that Brian was working from.

“Anything else I can do for you, sir? I’ll be working all night,” the waiter added as he pushed his cart toward the door.

“No thank you,” Brian replied politely as he signed the check then gave the waiter a generous tip for putting up with the teasing.

“If you change your mind, just ask for Gregory,” the waiter said with his sexiest smile. Brian just nodded as he shut the door behind the waiter then followed the aroma of the fine coffee to the table and to the business at hand.

With all thoughts of flirty waiters gone, Brian poured his first cup, added his pound of sugar and got back to work.

 

*****
 

“What time is it?” a mumbled voice from under the blanket asked. Brian glanced at the clock on the bedside table.

“Just after one, sorry I woke you,” Brian replied softly as he scooted under the blanket toward Justin. Brian knew he’d get a good solid six hours sleep; he was very satisfied with the campaign and the contracts. “Go back to sleep.”

“Love you,” Justin murmured as he leaned close to Brian then kissed the nearest available piece of Brian his lips could find.

“Love you too, Sunshine,” Brian murmured as he wrapped his longer frame around his mate then followed him into sleep.

 

*****
 

“Mr. Waldon, Brian Kinney and my assistant Miss Briana Victoria Kinney-Taylor,” Brian boldly told Philip Waldon with an outstretched arm as they were shown into the man’s office. Waldon stood and stepped around his desk to greet Brian and Bree.

“Mr. Kinney,” Waldon said formally and then extended his hand toward Bree. “And Miss Kinney-Taylor, very nice to meet you. I’ve heard good things about you from Cynthia Morgan.”

“Briana is acting as my assistant on this trip,” Brian said proudly and with just enough of an edge in his voice, waiting for the challenge he thought might come.

“It’s very gratifying knowing that your children are interested in your work,” Waldon commented without losing a beat. “My daughter interned here while she was in high school. She wants a job when she’s done at university. She’ll have to earn it, of course.”

“Of course,” Brian agreed.

Bree stayed quiet, sensing this was an adult moment. She primly sat in the offered chair, sitting straight up then taking out a small notepad and pen to make notes of the meeting like Cynthia had taught her. Brian nodded his approval, sitting in his own chair then swinging his briefcase onto his lap. The meeting commenced with little further fanfare.

“Would you care for a tour of the plant?” Waldon offered after the contracts were signed, sealed and exchanged much to everyone’s satisfaction.

“We have time for a quick one. Bree has an engagement at ten,” Brian added with mirth. Waldon raised his eyebrows. “She made some friends yesterday at the park and they’ve invited her to play soccer,” Brian added.

“I see. Healthy exercise is a good idea, especially nowadays when kids plant themselves in front of the TV or the computer for hours,” Waldon commented. “We’ll make this an abbreviated tour so that Miss Briana can make her engagement,” Waldon stated with a twinkle in his eyes. He and Brian exchanged a knowing look then Bree and Brian followed Waldon through a small part of his plant.

“The labels are color coded,” Bree stated. For some reason she was drawn to the color of the packaging.

“Yes, the color indicates the size or the power of the component inside,” the plant foreman explained.

“Oh,” Bree said as she examined the open package the foreman handed to her. Brian sucked in his lips and waited. He had noted the look on Bree’s face. He had seen that look hundreds of times on his own face when he was working out a campaign or on Justin’s face when he had a project in mind. Brian called it an “aha!” look.

Bree peered into the box then took out the plain black diode. “Wouldn’t it be pretty if the diode matched the color of the label?” Bree murmured more to herself than anyone else.

“That’s an interesting idea, Miss Briana,” Waldon said to her. “And what would we do with colorful components?” he asked in all seriousness. Bree looked to her father for affirmation. She smiled when Brian nodded.

“Lots of electrical things are made see-through and with lots of colored lights. It would be pretty if the other com-po-nents matched,” Bree said, carefully pronouncing her words. “Or maybe toys where all the colors are the same,” Bree murmured.

“That’s a very interesting idea, Miss Briana. If we decide to pursue that line, we’ll have to cut you in on the proceeds,” Waldon said with a wink.

“Thank you,” Bree said, not quite sure what she was thanking Mr. Waldon for, but it sounded right.

Brian took a quick look at a clock on the wall. There was just enough time for Bree to change and for them to get a quick snack and then get to the park. Brian had them driven to the appointment so they wouldn’t have to rush anywhere.

“Thank you, Miss Briana, it was a pleasure meeting you and your father,” Waldon said as he shook her hand. “I look forward to a very profitable association,” Waldon stated as he firmly shook Brian’s hand.

“Welcome to the Kinnetik family,” Brian said warmly returning the handshake. As Philip Waldon showed them out, he pointed down the street.

“There’s a nice friendly diner just at the corner, if Miss Briana would care for a snack before she hits the soccer field.”

“Great idea,” Brian confirmed. “Thank you again.” Brian signaled to his driver then led Bree down the street.

Waldon and his foreman watched Kinney and Bree walk down the street. “You know that is a good idea the kid has,” the foreman said to Waldon.

“Yes, it is. I’ve seen similar products but didn’t think it was worth making the change, although it wouldn’t be that expensive. Alison thought we should have gimmicks when we go to the trade shows. Maybe mock up diodes in different colors with the matching LED lights.”

“Yeah,” the foreman agreed with an enthusiastic smile. “Could be a sideline toy for our clients,” he added thinking out loud.

“Hmm,” Waldon mumbled as Brian and Bree disappeared from view.
 

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