Not So Zen Ben

Chapter 7

Brian was in his attic office fuming, the problem was he wasn’t all that sure why.  Yes, he was angry at Ben, but Brian understood all too well about being separated from the one you loved.  Brian and Justin had made a habit of being separated over the years for various reasons, but Brian didn’t go around bullying people about it.  At least he hoped he didn’t. 

And then there was his little girl growing up in spite of Brian’s expressed demand that she didn’t.  He couldn’t stop Gus from becoming a man so what made Brian think he could stop Bree from growing up into a beautiful but infuriating young woman.  Brian smirked.  Bree was just as infuriating as her father.  “Must be those Taylor genes,” Brian murmured to himself then rolled his eyes upward.  “Shit, now I’m talking to myself.  I must be getting old,” he griped.  He stopped his pity party when he heard light footsteps coming up the spiral stairs.

“Dada?” Bree called out as she stepped onto the balcony.

“Hey, Squirt,” Brian replied as he sat at his desk and booted up his computer.

“Can we talk?”

“Sure, anytime.”  Brian began to offer his lap then hesitated.  Maybe Bree was getting too old to sit in his lap.  As he contemplated this new revelation, Bree came over and made herself comfortable in her father’s lap.  Brian’s arms immediately engulfed his daughter as he inhaled her unique scent.

“Dada,” Bree whispered into Brian’s neck as she hugged him.  Brian gave her a little squeeze then gently leaned back to see her face.

“What, I’m no longer, Father?”  Bree blushed.  “Bree, I understand your desire to be independent and wanting to go out on your own to travel, go to college, to work, to do all the things you see Gus doing.  I wanted to do most of the same things when I was your age.  You’re lucky that we can afford to indulge you, but at thirteen you’re still a little too young to be traipsing around Europe on your own.”

“But I wouldn’t be on my own, I’d be with Gus and Ray,” Bree said in one last attempt to sway her father.

“Yes, you would.  First of all, there’s no guarantee that Gus and Ray are going to Paris.  And if they do go, by the time they get there you’ll be back in school,” Brian logically explained.  “Plus they’re going for business, not for pleasure.  Again, no guarantee they’d have time for sightseeing.”  Bree was crestfallen.  Brian gently lifted her chin so he could look into her Taylor blue eyes.

“I’ll make you a deal but only after I speak with your daddy.  Continue to do well in school and when you graduate high school we’ll take you and Ashley to Europe.  But your father and I go with you and of course Ashley and her mother must agree.”

“Really?” Bree’s face lit up the attic.

“Really.  By then you’ll have some idea if you intend to take control of Kinnetik Europa or be a world famous artist like your dad.”

“Can I be both?” Bree asked with a twinkle in her eyes.

“You certainly can!  If anyone can do it, it’s you!”  Brian proudly beamed.

“Thank you, Dada!” Bree squeed. 

Brian stuck a finger in his ear and wiggled it around.  “I think you’ve been hanging around Auntie Emm a bit too much,” Brian griped.

“Oh, Dada.”  Bree shook her head.

“Listen, Squirt, as much as you’d like to shout this news to the world let’s keep this low key.  I have to talk to daddy first, plus there’s stuff going on with Mikey and Ben that needs to take priority.”

“I know.  Uncle Ben’s not happy,” Bree stated.

“Neither is Mikey.”

“I think they need help to fix it.”

“I think you’re right.  But right now I have to work so I can earn the plane fare for our trip,” Brian said with a sigh.

“Oh, Dada, you’re such a drama queen!”

“Me?  Look who’s calling the kettle black, oh drama princess of mine!”  Brian gently pushed Bree off his lap.  Bree took the hint and turned to leave the office.

“I learned from the master!” she said loudly as she walked down the stairs, giggling as she did.

Brian grinned as he shook his head thinking maybe it wasn’t so awful that Bree was growing up; then he got back to work.

*****

“Wow, so this is what it looks like when the great artiste is at work,” Glen said with awe as he wheeled himself through the porch door.  The porch was in a state of organized chaos with several easels each holding a canvas in various stages of completion and a corresponding palette of colors nearby.  The resident artist however, was not currently present.   

“I knew this was a bad idea, we should have called first,” Alex said with trepidation.

“Nonsense, you know they have an open door policy,” Glen retorted with his usual finesse, as he carefully maneuvered amongst the madness.

“I wonder where Justin is,” Alex murmured.

“Even an artist has to pee once in a while,” Glen offered by way of explanation.  “Fascinating,” Glen stated as he closely examined one canvas.  “This one looks like it began its life as one thing but turned into another.”

“Hmm, a schizophrenic canvas?” Alex teased.

“You can be replaced,” Glen griped over his shoulder.

“No I can’t,” Alex immediately retorted.

“I hate it when you’re right,” Glen said lovingly.  Alex leaned over to peck Glen’s lips when they heard a distinctive bellow.

“Ya leave a door open and ya never know who rolls on in!” Brian stated from above.

“The voice of the gods has spoken!” Glen shouted back.

“To what do I owe the displeasure,” Brian asked as he came down the spiral stairs.

“Just wanted to update you on Jacqueline,” Alex chimed in.  Brian arched a brow.

“What that really means is, he wanted to know if you were still gunning for the resident hulk,” Glen said bluntly.

“You guys should take your act on the road, you’d make a fortune.  Kinnetik would be happy to do the PR,” Brian deadpanned as he sauntered out of the porch in search of coffee, mug in hand.

“A man with more money than Midas should be able to afford a coffeemaker in his office,” Glen commented as he and Alex followed.

 “Been there, done that but then I’d never leave it.  This gives me an excuse to stretch my legs.”  Brian was wearing his cut offs.

“And a fine set of legs they are.”  Glen ogled the aforementioned legs.

“Down boy,” Alex warned.  “Seriously, Brian, I know how close you and Ben are.  Is everything all right between you?” Alex asked with concern.

“Not yet.  He still has some ass kissing to do but we’ll be fine,” Brian said.  He offered coffee to his “guests” then topped off his own mug.

“Too much coffee isn’t good for you,” Glen said.  Brian snorted.  “Aside from that, Jacqueline is fine or will be when the lump on her head goes down and she stops seeing double.”

“Seriously?” Brian asked.

“You’ve taken a few bumps to the head,” Alex stated giving Brian a poignant look. 

“Thanks for the reminder, doc,” Brian snarked.

“Anyway,” Glen said loudly, not liking being ignored.  “She’ll be fine in a few days.  JR and Bree are taking turns hovering over her,” Glen stated with a perverse sense of glee.  Brian picked up on it and laughed.

“Help me,” Alex grumbled looking upward for divine intervention.  Getting none he walked back into the sun porch where Justin was back at his easels, earbuds in and painting to his own drummer.

“Amazing,” Glen said with genuine admiration.  Alex nodded in agreement.

“That’s my Sunshine,” Brian stated proudly.

“Come on, we should go,” Alex said as he patted Glen on the back.  “Um, should we go out the other way?” Alex asked, not wanting to disturb Justin.

“He won’t notice a thing,” Brian said with a smile.

“If you’re sure,” Alex said as they carefully made their way to the door.

“I’m sure,” Brian said as he sat in a chaise, mug in hand, preparing to indulge in one of his not so guilty pleasures of Sunshine watching.  “Dinner later, I’ll grill something,” Brian called out to them.

Alex and Glen mumbled an acknowledgement as they slowly left the porch.

“Amazing,” they said. 

Justin was blissfully painting as Brian blissfully watched.

*****

Ben tapped lightly on the door of the B&B.  He held his breath waiting for a response.  He had spent most of the morning trying to decide if he should make the overture with JR and Jacqueline or wait until they decided to come to him.  He didn't know why they hadn't come to see him when they first arrived.  Maybe they wanted privacy - or maybe they were furious with him that he didn't go back to Pittsburgh with Michael.  Then he had seen them at Brian and Justin's for dessert, but all that accomplished was a whole lot of small talk.  Nothing had been discussed of any merit, and Ben was feeling frustrated.  He wanted some answers. Whatever was going on, why they were on the lane, it was time to find out.

The door opened and JR stood in front of him.  She didn't look happy.

"Hi, Dad," JR said softly.  "Jacqueline's resting out on the patio.  I don't think she's ready for visitors."

"I didn't really come to see Jacqueline," Ben said hesitantly, "but I did want to know how she's doing.  She isn't so good?" Ben asked.

"She's doing as well as can be expected," JR replied with a sigh.  "We came here for a little R and R, not this," JR said starting to tear up.

"Oh, sweetie," Ben whispered as he pulled his daughter into a warm hug.

"She's really struggling, Dad," JR said.  "She likes to be in control and she can hardly do anything at the moment."

"But you said she was doing as well as expected."

"She is.  It's just going to take a lot of time to recover.  If she moves too quickly she gets nauseous.  Loud noises really scare her and upset her."

"Then we need to be quiet and not let her move suddenly."

"I'm trying."

"Can she walk?"

"Yes, of course she can."

"Why don't you take her out to the Thinking Rock?  It's very peaceful there and no one will disturb you."

"That's not a bad idea," JR said pulling away from Ben.  "A little exercise might be good for her."

"Don't go if she doesn't want to," Ben cautioned.

"Right."

"I wish you had called me when this happened," Ben felt compelled to say.

"I was so scared and upset, I didn't really know what I was doing.  And we didn't want to disturb you."  JR looked into her father's eyes seeking forgiveness for shutting him out.

"Are you okay now?" Ben asked with worry in his voice.

"Yeah, I think so.  This is the first time anything like this has happened to us.  I'm trying to feel my way along."

"I'd say you're doing great so far."

"Thanks, Dad," JR said with a smile for the first time since Ben had arrived.  "Maybe I'll pack some cheese and crackers to take to the Thinking Rock, and we can sit in the shade and eat them."

"That sounds good, and keeping Jacqueline out of the sun is probably a good idea.  Listen, could we talk soon?" Ben asked remembering why he had come to the B&B in the first place.

"Sure, Jacqueline has been going to bed really early, so I could pop over tonight if you like."

"That would be great. I'll see you later."  Ben turned to leave.

"Dad, thanks," JR said.  "For the advice and for the ... hug.  I needed it."

"Anytime," Ben said with a smile before he made his way back to the log cabin.

*****

JR was packing cheese and crackers into a basket she had found in the front hall cupboard.  It would work fine as a picnic basket.  The patio door slid open and Jacqueline came slowly into the B&B.

"What are you doing?" Jacqueline asked.

"What does it look like?"

"Little Red Riding Hood packing her basket to go confront the Big Bad Wolf," Jacqueline said with a crooked grin.

JR laughed.  "You must be feeling better, and that would make you the Big Bad Wolf."

"I can take that role."

"Feeling frisky, are you?" JR asked.

"I wish.  I'm feeling somewhat human, and that's about as good as it gets."

"That's better than you felt yesterday," JR reminded her.  "Did you have a nap?"

"I dozed a bit in the shade of the umbrella."

"That's good.  Sleep is the best thing for you."

"As long as it's not the sleep that you don't wake up from."

"Jacqueline!" JR reacted.  "That's a horrible thing to say."

"Sorry, Babe, but that's kind of how I feel.  This isn't how our holiday was supposed to go."

"I know, but you're going to be okay, and we're here ... together.  It will be fine."

Jacqueline shook her head gently.  "Ever the optimist," she said with a smile.  "I guess I should be grateful that I have you here looking after me."

"Damn right!" JR said with a warm smile.

"Just what the fuck are you doing?"

JR chuckled.  That was Jacqueline.  Whenever things got a little too personal or sentimental, she could rely on Jacqueline to change the subject.  "I thought you might like to see a special place on the lane, if you're feeling up to a little walk."

"I could walk a bit," Jacqueline replied.

"Good, and to answer your question about what I'm doing ... I'm making us a picnic."

Jacqueline stared at her lover.  "A picnic?"

"Yes, don't you like picnics?"

"Never been to a picnic," Jacqueline said slowly.

"What?"  JR frowned.

"You heard me."

"You never had a picnic as a child?" JR asked.

"Nope.  Grew up in the big city.  Closest I got to a picnic was eating a hotdog on a park bench."

JR shook her head.  There was still a lot she didn't know about Jacqueline.  "Are you okay with doing this?"

"Sure, I guess, maybe."

"We don't have to do it if you don't want to," JR advised her.

"I'm sick of staying in here, so let's go."

"Good, but take it easy, okay?"

"What?  You think I'm going to run up and down the fucking lane?"

JR laughed.  "God, I hope not, for your own good.  But when you're feeling better, I'd buy a ticket to see that."

Jacqueline chuckled.  "You're a nut.  Guess that's why I love you."

"That, and many other reasons," JR said with a wink.

Jacqueline slowly shook her head a little bit.  Rapid movements still gave her a headache.  JR put a folded up blanket over the contents of the basket and lifted it onto her arm.

"Ready to go?" she asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be."

The girls walked arm in arm to the front door of the B&B.  JR made sure that Jacqueline had sunglasses and a hat before they set out.  When they started up the lane, they walked slowly, not rushing or making any quick movements.

As they rounded the end of the conjoined cottages and started toward the Wendy house and the path, they heard a voice call out, "Hey, ladies."

Jacqueline slowly turned her head and saw Brian Kinney down on his knees weeding his gardens at the back of his cottage.  "Mr. Kinney," she said softly.

Brian got to his feet.  He was wearing his gardening overalls and nothing else.  "I believe I've told you to call me Brian," he said as he approached the girls.

"You just seem more like a Mr. Kinney than a Brian."

"She's incorrigible, Uncle Brian," JR said.

"So I see.  Does that mean she's feeling better?"

"Hey, I'm right here," Jacqueline protested pointing to herself.  "And I'm doing fine."

"Glad to hear it," Brian said.  "Have you talked to Ben yet?" he asked JR.

"He came to the B&B this morning.  I'm going to see him tonight."

"You are?" Jacqueline asked.

"Yes, after I get you tucked into bed."

"What am I - two?"

"You act like it sometimes," JR reminded her.

Brian cleared his throat, hoping to fend off an argument.   He didn't want to get in the middle of a spat between the two women.  "Where are you ladies off to?" he asked to change the subject.

"The clearing," JR said.

"Not the Thinking Rock?"

"I think it will be in the sun this time of day, so we'll stay in the shade instead."

"Good idea.  Glad you're starting to feel better, Jacqueline.  Enjoy the day, ladies."  Brian turned to go back to his weeding.

"He is one fine man," Jacqueline said as they started down the path.

"He's fine in more ways than one," JR told her.

It didn't take them long to arrive at the clearing where the Thinking Rock sat near the stream.

"This is it," JR said as they came to the end of the path and out of the trees.

"And that must be the famous Thinking Rock," Jacqueline said pointing to the big rock in front of them.

"Yep," JR said.

"What do people do at the Thinking Rock?" Jacqueline asked.

"Think."

"Ha, ha!"

"I'm not kidding, they come here, sit on the rock and think about life or problems or what they want to do."

"Have you done that?"

"Once or twice."

"And did you get answers?" Jacqueline asked.

"Not exactly, but sitting there gives you a chance to really sort through things without interruption."

"Hm," Jacqueline said.

"Let's spread the blanket under this big tree.  It'll be cool and out of the sun."

The girls soon had the picnic laid out on the blanket.  JR helped Jacqueline sit gently so she didn't jar her head.  They enjoyed the cheese and crackers and fruit that JR had packed.  JR insisted that Jacqueline drink lots of the water she had packed for them.  When they were finished eating they put everything except the water bottles back in the basket and laid back on the blanket.

"Are you enjoying your first picnic?" JR asked.

"Surprisingly I am."

JR smiled and leaned over to kiss her girlfriend.  "I'm glad."

"What are you going to tell Ben tonight?" Jacqueline asked.

"The truth."

"And what's the truth?"

"Hopefully I'll know when the time comes," JR told her.

"Good luck."

"Thanks, I may need all the luck I can get."

"Love you," Jacqueline said as she shifted slightly and closed her eyes.

JR watched her, staying still until Jacqueline's even breathing indicated that she had fallen asleep.  JR wondered if she should go sit on the Thinking Rock and see if she could figure out what to say to Ben.  She wanted Ben and her father to get back together.  But she knew she couldn't force that to happen.

She watched the light filter through the leaves of the big tree and dapple the ground in front of her.  Finally her eyes closed too and she dozed off.

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