What A Difference A Year Makes
Chapter 10
"Bobby, baby, come here. We have to talk." John had gotten some disturbing news from the doctor who was tending Gina and he had to tell Bobby. John drew his lover onto his lap. He knew that it seemed like a condescending thing to do but he felt so protective of his lover that John couldn't help it.
"John, what's wrong?" Bobby's eyes grew wide at the sadness that filled John's hazel eyes.
"I had a call from the doctor. You know we signed all the releases so that she could share pertinent information on the two of us with each other. She felt that this would be better coming from me."
"John, you're frightening me. What is it?" Bobby nestled closer into John's protective arms.
"I don't know of any way to say this so I'm just going to give it to you straight. There's a problem with your sperm. The motility. You're not sterile but..."
"My swimmers aren't up for the job." Bobby could be just as blunt.
"No, they're not. She thinks maybe an old injury?" John questioned Bobby hoping he may have an explanation and that this problem may not be a new one.
"Fuck!"
"You remember something?"
"Damn. You remember I played baseball in high school."
"Yes."
"I didn't think anything of it at the time but I got hurt one afternoon, at practice. It was a freak accident. I pitched, the batter hit and the ball flew straight into my groin at about eighty miles an hour. I saw stars and went down. I hurt like hell but a couple of hours later I was fine and pitched a no hitter. I didn't even pee red. I was fine."
"Not so fine. I'm so sorry baby."
"John, did they test your sperm?"
"No, we didn't ask."
"So ask. I know you'd rather have a redheaded baby but a hazel eyed baby is just as good."
"You're sure? There's still a chance. The doctor said if we put enough of your sperm together and do it in vitro, we might still have a chance."
"But that will take too much time. No, we use your sperm. I'm still hoping to be pregnant by Thanksgiving."
"Okay, I'll call the doctor now. She has a specimen and she'll test it. If it's okay, she'll call Gina."
"It'll be okay; it has to be okay. I love you, John."
"I love you too."
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Hunter and Nick seemed to be back on the right track since Nick's unexpected appearance at the farm. Hunter was visiting Nick at Penn whenever he got the chance and the romance seemed to be going strong.
As Thanksgiving approached Hunter broached the subject of Nick attending the Anderson feast. Nick, of course, had his own family to think about and they expected him for their own Thanksgiving dinner. Hunter was also invited to that. There were some tense days as both boys tried to work out the logistics and not make anybody mad.
Finally it was Claire who came up with the solution. She suggested that the Andersons hold their Thanksgiving feast on the Saturday of the long weekend. That way anybody who wanted to have a family celebration could do that on the Thursday.
"You always were a genius, Mother," John said giving her a kiss. "And very generous too."
"Thank you, Jackie."
"I'll let Nick know," Hunter said happily as he went to the phone. That meant they could be with both families and still have lots of time together. He could hardly wait.
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"So Brian," Claire said into the phone. "You're okay with the change?"
"Yep."
"What about Justin?"
"He's flying into Pittsburgh Wednesday night. I think I can keep him entertained until Saturday."
"I bet you can," Claire chuckled. "Will you let everyone else know? And if there is a problem, tell them I'm sorry but I just didn't see any way around it."
"Will do, and don't worry about it, Claire."
"Thanks."
Brian set the phone down. He was already planning what he would do with the Thursday and Friday that Justin would be in Pittsburgh before they went up to the farm. He dialed Justin's number.
"Hey," he said when Justin picked up.
"Hey back. What's up?"
"Needed to talk to you."
"I like the sound of that," Justin grinned into the phone.
"Are you at home?"
"Lying on my bed."
"Ah, exactly what I was hoping for."
"Oh?" Justin teased.
"Naked?"
"Not yet."
"Do it."
After a brief pause Justin said, "Ready."
"Me too."
"I knew that from that sexy 'hey' you greeted me with."
"Am I that predictable?"
"You're always ready for sex."
"What are we waiting for?" Brian asked. "Touch yourself."
"I'm already hard," Justin said huskily.
"How did that happen?"
"It started with that sexy 'hey'."
"I didn't realize that was such a powerful word."
"It is."
"Are you stroking yourself?"
"Oh yes!"
"I want you here so much. I can hardly wait till you're all mine for four days."
"I want that too," Justin whispered stroking faster.
"I'm almost there," Brian said as his hand action increased in speed. He pictured Justin, eyes dark with lust, his skin glistening with sweat, his soft, blond hair entwined in his fingers. "AHHHH," Brian gasped as he heard Justin make much the same noise. His cum filled his hand and dripped down his wrist. He grabbed a tissue. "You still there?"
"Yeah," came the breathy answer. "That was hot."
"Not half as hot as you."
Justin chuckled. Somebody had it bad. "Are you okay until tomorrow?"
"Maybe, but I'd be better if you were here."
"I wish I was too," Justin said biting his bottom lip.
"Oh, Claire shifted Thanksgiving dinner from Thursday to Saturday."
"That gives us more time alone before we go up there."
"My thoughts exactly."
"I knew there was a reason I liked you."
"And that would be?"
"Your sexy phone calls and your ability to make the best use of your time."
Brian laughed. "Good answer, Sunshine. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Night, Brian."
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The holiday season was fast approaching the land of Kinney. Every facet of Brian's family and extended circle of friends was in the holiday spirit. Even Brian found himself caught up in the 'turkey day' preparations thanks, in part, to Gus. Since Lindsay began her new position as the Sidney Bloom Gallery's full time manager, Brian played more of a role in Gus' life. And that suited Brian just fine.
Debbie held a toned down Thanksgiving dinner, opting to save the big prep for when the whole gang met at Claire's. Everyone was gobble gobbling and getting ready for the 'ho-hoing,' everyone except Justin.
Justin had been in New York for almost six months now. He worked seemingly tirelessly at his easel, producing painting after painting, with demands for more. He attended special classes and seminars at all the major museums. And he went to every gallery opening that Sidney could muster an invitation for. Justin was charming, innocently flirted at the proper time and learned all he could learn regarding his craft and the world in which he was about to play a major role. He had everything a young artist could want. Everything, except for Brian.
The borrowed moments the lovers shared on their weekends together were not enough. It was getting harder and harder to separate from each other on Sunday. Brian upgraded their cell plan opting for more and more minutes. Many nights the lovers fell asleep holding their phones to their ears just to hear the other breathing. Justin cried himself to sleep on more than one occasion then woke up the next morning feeling foolish until he heard from Brian, and the ache in Brian's voice broke his heart.
Justin flew to Pittsburgh on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, debating with himself. He had one more show to prepare for, themed for the holidays. Afterward, Justin was coming home. For good.
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"John, should we tell them the news at dinner?"
"I'm not so sure. I'd hate to jinx it."
"You're not going to jinx anything. Gina's tests came back, the rabbit died. By next summer we'll have our baby."
"Bobby, please, let's give it a few more weeks until we know that everything is really all right."
"Okay, if you insist but how am I going to explain this silly grin on my face?"
"Just let them all assume you fucked me into the mattress."
"They'd all be right."
"There, see? It won't be a lie."
"But John..."
"No, Bobby. Please. I've never demanded anything from you before now. Please, go along with me on this one. We wait until after Christmas. By then Gina should just about complete her first trimester. We can make this a New Year's announcement."
"I don't think I can keep my mouth shut for two months."
"Sure you can and I'll help."
"How?"
"By kissing your beautiful lips and keeping your sexy mouth occupied every moment I can."
"That may work."
"I thought you'd see it my way."
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When they all assembled for Thanksgiving dinner at Claire's it really seemed like the first Thanksgiving. There were enough people now that it was like a whole little village had assembled for the feast of thanks. Most people were only staying for the day, the logistics of having a sleepover were just too mind boggling.
Emmett had come up on Thursday so he could spend the holiday with Sam. Then he had volunteered to help Claire get the massive amounts of food ready on the Friday. They would have dinner around noon on Saturday and then everyone could go back home in the afternoon before it got too late.
"Miss Claire," Emmett said. "Is something up with Bobby and John?" They were in the large kitchen peeling and chopping vegetables.
"What do you mean, Emmett?"
"They always seem to be whispering to each other and keeping to themselves."
"They're newlyweds."
"You think that's all it is?"
"I don't know what else it might be."
"They sure love each other."
"Yes, they do," Claire said with a smile. She couldn't be happier for her son and his new husband. Emmett gave a wistful look towards her. "Is everything all right between you and Sam?"
"Oh yes, just fine."
"Emmett!" Claire said with that voice that told him to spill whatever was bothering him.
"It really is fine. It's just that…"
"Tell me."
"Ever since John and Bobby's wedding, I've kind of been hoping…"
"That Sam would propose?"
"Something like that, but he doesn't seem inclined that way."
"You spend a lot of time together."
"Yeah, and it's great. But I guess I want a little more."
"If I may give you a piece of advice…"
"Um … sure."
"It never pays to press. Sam will do what he's ready to do. Don't try to rush it."
"I'll take that under advisement, Miss Claire."
Claire smiled and continued peeling her vegetables.
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"Brian?"
"Yes, Claire. What can I do for you, sister dearest?" Brian said into the phone.
"I hope you're not using that like 'Mommy Dearest'."
"Let's leave her the fuck out of this."
"Okay, okay, I didn't mean to upset you, especially since I have a favor to ask."
Brian groaned. "What?"
"Could the boys and I ride up to Claire's with you and Justin tomorrow?"
"I thought you were going with Tom or Harry or Dick or whoever he is?"
"There's been a change of plans. He's decided to spend some time with his daughters over the holiday." Claire wasn't happy that her beau had decided to be elsewhere.
"I see." Brian wondered if the romance was over. He did want Claire to be happy.
"So can we ride with you?"
"Justin and I thought we might stay till Sunday."
"Oh."
"Isn't there space in someone else's car?"
"Not for three of us."
"Okay, you can go with us and we'll come back Saturday night. Are the spawn still behaving themselves?"
"Why do you call them that?"
"It's a term of affection," Brian said with a smirk that Claire couldn't see over the phone."
Claire snorted. "They're not bad."
Brian chuckled to himself. That was his favorite way of saying that something was good. He hoped that was what Claire meant. "Have yourself and the spawn ready at eight on Saturday morning."
"Thanks Brian."
Brian cut the connection. He would have to make this up to Justin somehow.
"What was that all about?" Justin asked running his hand across Brian's chest. He had listened to Brian's end of the conversation. "What does Claire need now?"
"How do you know she needs something?"
"That's usually why she calls."
"Not as much as she used to," Brian said somewhat defensively. He liked to think he and Claire had made some real strides towards being brother and sister.
"That's true," Justin said thoughtfully. "Ever since her kids settled down and she's on the outs with your mother things have been pretty quiet."
"And here we are at another holiday which 'mommie dearest' will be spending alone."
"You'd like her to be part of your life, wouldn't you?"
Brian snorted. He couldn't admit to that. His mother was the bitch of all time. How could he possibly want her to be part of his life? But he did. If only she would change.
"If only she would change," Justin said like he was reading Brian's mind.
"Not fucking likely given her track record."
"You'd think she'd get sick of being alone and see the error of her ways."
"There is no error as far as she's concerned. She's right and everybody else is wrong. She has her religion to wrap around her on those dark and stormy nights."
"I love you." Justin waited for Brian to say those words back to him, but after a few minutes he realized they weren't going to be forthcoming. Joan Kinney could sure put a damper on things, even when she was nowhere around. Justin decided he needed to heat things up a little.
"Brian," he said softly with that little tremor in his voice that he knew Brian would recognize.
Hazel eyes riveted on his. "Is that what you want?"
"Yes."
"Okay."
"I don't have to beg or grovel. I don't have to promise you the sky?"
"You've already given me the sky."
"Then roll over."
Brian did so with a little smile on his face. Joan was long forgotten.