Kindred Love

Home Away From Home

Jennifer Taylor stood in her kitchen busily chopping fresh vegetables that she was planning on cooking in that evening's supper. She hummed happily along with a tune on the radio. Summer days always put her in a good mood. She enjoyed having her son home with her in the summers, watching and hearing him play and enjoy himself.

Her pregnant belly was quite noticeable now, and she could not remember feeling this bubbly during her first pregnancy with her son, Justin. In fact, while pregnant with him, she had been sick and grumpy almost the whole nine months. She felt certain that her husband would end up hiring a hitman on her. Surprisingly enough though, Craig had been very sweet to her throughout the whole pregnancy and put up with her mood swings with a smile. Granted, sometimes the smile was through gritted teeth, but he never let it show that he was bothered. He loved his wife and understood that her hormones were running wild. Jennifer wondered if her moods were different this time because she was having a girl. Nevertheless she and her husband were both grateful and pleased that things were going a lot more smoothly this time around, and excitedly awaited the birth of their second child.

The doorbell rang, interrupting Jennifer's thoughts, and she put down the knife she was using and wiped her hands on a dish towel that lay nearby on the counter. When she opened the front door, she smiled at the boy with auburn hair and hazel eyes.

"Hi, Brian, come on in, hon," Jennifer greeted.

"Hello, Mrs. Taylor," Brian replied. He smiled shyly at his neighbor, and followed her back into the kitchen where she resumed chopping the vegetables.

The Taylors had lived next door to the Kinneys for years. One day Craig and his son Justin had been playing catch in the backyard, and their ball accidentally went over their fence and into their neighbor's yard. Justin had gone next door to retrieve the ball. Brian had answered the door, and after giving Justin his baseball back, Justin asked Brian if he wanted to play catch with them. Brian agreed, and ever since, had become a regular visitor at the Taylor household.

They had always welcomed Brian into their home. They, as well as their son, enjoyed his company; and although Brian was very quiet about what went on in his own home, Jennifer and Craig knew that Brian did not have an easy life.

"Brian, I've told you numerous times to call me Jennifer. I think we've gone past the formal stage, wouldn't you say?" she told him. Brian gave her a sheepish look.

"Sorry, I keep forgetting," Brian said.

"Well, I guess old habits can be hard to break." Jennifer busily chopped the vegetables in front of her.

"So, what brings you by? Justin just got back from the park, so if you'd like to visit with him, he's in his room," Jennifer informed.

"Umm, actually, I was wondering if there was any work that I could do for you today?" Brian asked softly.

Jennifer smiled. Brian's parents did not give him an allowance, so frequently, the boy would do chores for the Taylor's, and they would pay him.

Jennifer gave a thoughtful look, as she tried to think of things that Brian could do for her. Now that she was further along in her pregnancy, she was able to do less things around the house. She was actually grateful for Brian's help. She didn't mind his company either. He was a joy to be around. He was smart, polite, and kept Justin occupied.

"Well, let's see. You can take this garbage bag out to the back. I think that's it for now, honey," Jennifer told Brian. The boy immediately set off to do his task. He returned a couple of minutes later.

"You know, Brian, Craig was planning on cleaning out the garage this weekend. If it's okay with your folks, I'm sure he could really use your help. It's such a mess in there. He's been putting it off for a really long time."

Brian smiled widely, happy that he would be needed. It seemed that at home the only things he was needed for was to be a human punch bag and someone to blame things on.

"Really, Mrs. -- I mean, Jennifer? You think Craig would let me help him in the garage?" Brian asked excitedly.

"I'm almost positive. I'll talk to him when he comes home from work. We'll let you know, okay, sweetie?" She said encouragingly.

"Mind if I see what Justin's up to?" Brian asked. Jennifer gave Brian a knowing smile. She knew the boy didn't want to seem rude and leave her in the kitchen with no one to talk to. It's just the way he was.

"I'm sure Justin will happy to see you. Why don't you keep him company, and I'll call you two in about an hour when dinner's ready?" Brian nodded and headed for Justin's room.

Brian stood in the doorway of Justin's bedroom, and watched his blond friend sitting at his little desk, drawing with his colored pencils. He seemed completely engrossed in his task, not even noticing the older boy standing there staring at him. The blond loved to draw and color. He was pretty good too. Brian didn't like to admit it, but Justin could draw and color much better he could, and he was about almost two years older than the blond.

"Hey, Justin," Brian greeted. Justin looked up at the sound of Brian's voice, and immediately gave him a big smile.

"Brian," he replied.

Brian walked over to where he was sitting, and leaned over his shoulder, taking a look at the drawing he had been working on. The picture showed a place that looked just like the local park in their neighborhood. There was a boy in the drawing who resembled Justin, and he was swinging on a swing set alongside a girl with dark skin and curly hair in pigtails. Both kids had big smiles on their faces.

"Not bad for an 12 year-old," Brian smiled. "Is this of you at the park today?" Brian asked.

"Yep," Justin replied.

"Who's the girl in the picture?" Brian asked curiously.

"Oh, that's Daphne. We met there a couple of weeks ago. She always makes me go on the swings with her. I like her, though. She's cool," Justin told him.

Brian nodded. "Better be careful. If you hang out with girls too much you might turn into one," Brian teased.

"I will not!" Justin retorted.

Brian laughed. He enjoyed teasing his friend. "Uh-huh, just wait and see," he said, trying to act serious.

Brian had not overlooked that he himself, at age 13, for some reason still thought of girls as disgusting creatures. He didn't know why the other boys from school were always talking about girls and doing stupid things to get their attention. His friends always acted like such idiots over them.

The girls sure had noticed Brian, though. He was a handsome boy, and was well liked by his classmates. He was also a good athlete. He was good at sports and was a fast runner. The girls in his classes were always trying to get his attention, but he just ignored them. He found himself wanting to be around boys more. He wasn't sure what it meant. He just figured that soon, like his other friends, he would start to want a girlfriend.

"Hey, I just got this new Nintendo 64 game called Mario Artist: Paint Studio. Wanna play?" Justin asked, changing the subject. Brian smiled. His friend was always doing something that had to do with drawing or painting.

"Sure," he replied.

The boys played the game until they heard Jennifer call them for dinner. When they came to the dining room table, Craig Taylor was already sitting down taking a sip of wine from his glass. He smiled at the boys. Justin walked over to his father.

"Hey, buddy," Craig greeted Justin as he gave him a hug. Brian watched as father and son showed their affection for each other, and felt the admiration he always did when he saw how much this family loved each other. It was something that he lacked in his own home. He always loved coming to this house, because the Taylors always treated him like family.

"Hello, Brian," Craig smiled.

"Hey, Mr. Taylor," Brian replied. Craig had always been very nice to him, and Brian had always secretly wished that he was Craig's son too.

"Craig," he corrected as he cleared his throat.

"I keep forgetting," Brian replied.

Craig smiled at the boy. "Actually, the real reason we want you to call us by our first names is..." Craig leaned in close to Brian's ear, and lowered his tone. "It makes us feel less older," he finished, giving a look of disgust. Brian laughed.

"Speak for yourself!" Jennifer told her husband as she gave him a look and set the salt and pepper on the table and then walked back to the kitchen to get the salad. Craig chuckled.

"Love you!" he called out to his wife. They heard a faint "Mm-hmm," replied from the kitchen.

"Phew! Gotta be extra careful what you say around a pregnant woman," he told Brian. Justin and Brian both giggled at that.

"I heard that!" Jennifer yelled from the kitchen, causing the three of them to crack up again. Jennifer went back to the dining room and set the salad on the table and then walked over to where her husband was seated. She kissed him on the lips before saying, "You still love me, though, even when I'm a pain," she said.

"Yes, indeed I do," Craig replied, and pulled Jennifer down for another kiss. Justin covered his eyes.

"Ewww! Stop it!" Justin shrieked.

"Yeah, we're about to eat," Brian agreed with a facial expression that said he was getting grossed out. Jennifer and Craig just laughed.

Jennifer moved away from her husband and started to serve each of them some of the homemade vegetable lasagna that she had made from scratch. They all dug into the delicious food, and there was pleasant, light conversation. Jennifer and Craig made sure to include Brian, always making him feel comfortable and welcome in their home.

"Brian, Jennifer was just telling me that you'd like to help me clean out the garage this weekend?" Craig said as he ate his salad.

"Yeah. I really need to save up some money for school clothes and supplies for when classes start back up in the fall," Brian told him, slightly embarrassed. He didn't like to admit that his parents didn't think much to buy him things.

"Well, it's fine by me. I need all the help I can get," Craig laughed.

"Thanks, Craig," Brian replied enthusiastically.

After dinner, the family sat in the living room, watching TV and relaxing. Jennifer sat in the La-Z-Boy boy chair, knitting a blanket that was to be for her unborn daughter.

"Ohh," Jennifer grunted. They all looked at her questioningly. "Molly's feeling a bit feisty lately. She's been kicking all day," Jennifer told them, while lightly rubbing her hands over her belly in circular motions.

"Mom, can I feel the baby kick?" Justin asked. Jennifer smiled and nodded, and her son came over to her, placing his hands on her belly, waiting for some movement. When he felt the baby kick, he giggled and then gave his mother's tummy a little kiss.

"Brian! Come over here. Come feel my baby sister!" Justin exclaimed. Brian reluctantly walked over to them and paused, looking at Jennifer, silently asking for permission.

"Sure, Brian, go ahead," she insisted. Brian smiled and ran his hands over her pregnant belly, feeling for signs of movement. Suddenly, he felt something bump under his palm.

"Oh, my Gosh! I feel her!" he said, amazed. It was like nothing he ever felt before. He felt so privileged to be able to share this with the family that he had come to love, and wished that this baby was going to be his sister too. He'd always wanted to be a big brother. He had an older sister, Claire, but she was a teenager who was only into boys, her friends, and herself, and mostly treated him like the brother who should have never been born.

Brian thought to himself, "If Molly were going to be my new baby sister, I would be the best big brother ever. I would love and protect her and never let her out of my sight."

Brian realized that it was probably getting late and looked at the clock on the wall.

"It's 7:30, I should really get home, now," Brian said, not wanting to leave. He wished he could stay forever. It was like this for him every time he had to leave this house. He wished he never had to go back. He wished he never had to face his father again. He never knew what awaited him when he returned.

"All right, honey," Jennifer said, knowing by the look on Brian's face that he didn't want to go. It was a look she was all too familiar with.

"Brian, I'm planning on working on the garage around 9:00a.m., Saturday morning. Why don't you come by around then?" Craig suggested.

"Okay. And thanks for letting me help you out," Brian said gratefully.

Craig smiled at the boy. "I should be thanking you," Craig chuckled.

Jennifer got up and walked Brian to the door.

"Feel free to come on by tomorrow, honey. It's supposed to be hot, you boys could go swimming, and maybe while you're here, I could find some work for you to do; I have to get my money's worth," Jennifer winked at the boy. Brian nodded in appreciation, and headed home.