Gentlemen's Agreement

Part 4

Brian was awakened by the sound of hospital monitors singing in the background. His surgery was over, and he was still alive, physically anyway. If only he could say the same for his spirit. Inside, Brian felt like he was dying, as if his life forces were being drained off. Indeed they were. Justin was leaving, and Tony’s departure surely wouldn’t be far behind. It was no secret that the glue that held the Royal Trio together was a little blonde princess, who couldn’t live without either of his two princes. With Justin soon to be off chasing his dreams, and David waiting in the wings, Brian was certain that his days as a married man were numbered. Now facing weeks of radiation sessions, with side effects that sounded worse than the cancer itself, there was no way he could compete. Nothing kills a romance like a weak lover, with nausea, diarrhea, and fake balls.

“Mr. Kinney, you’re awake.” The nurse finally took notice.

Still hazy from the effects of the anesthesia, Brian tried to focus in on the blurry face leaning over him. “What time is it?” he uttered.

“It’s a little past noon.” The nurse said. “Can you tell me where you are?”

“I’m in the hospital.” Brian said.

“Actually, you’re in the recovery room. We got started a little late, but your surgery went well. Can you tell me what day this is?” She continued her assessment.

“It’s Monday, Christmas eve.” Brian said.

 

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While Brian was readying himself for the inevitable, Pittsburgh was readying itself for the biggest holiday season of the year, and no one was more excited than Justin. For him, the coming new year held the promise of adventure, and golden opportunities, and once again, he had Brian to thank for it. It was still a mystery how Brian managed to change Tony’s mind. Normally, once Anthony Massey’s mind was made up, there was no reversing his decision. Brian’s ability to convince him otherwise only served to show how truly bonded the two had become. With David back on the scene, Justin had been slightly apprehensive about leaving, but not anymore. The heart of the Royal Trio was certain now that his two princes would do just fine without him during his 2yr internship in Chicago.

“Just think, this is going to be our first Christmas together. Daph and I picked out this ornament to commemorate the special occasion. Every year we can choose a new one to add to our collection. I chose gold, since gold seems to be the “in” color this year. How do you like it?” Justin held up the large, decorated, glass bulb.

“It’s fine princess.” Tony said.

“Where should I put it?” Justin scanned the Christmas tree. “Maybe right here in the center. What do you think?”

“Wherever you put it is fine with me.” Tony said.

The streets below The Plaza were bustling with procrastinators. Tony lit a cigarette, and took a long drag, as he watched their hustle for last minute gifts through the glass balcony doors of penthouse four. Dr. Sharma was talking about twenty sessions of radiation treatments, following the removal of Brian’s cancerous testicle. That meant twenty days, maybe more of debilitating side effects. Against medical advice, Brian was adamant that these sessions would have to wait until after Justin left for Chicago. He didn’t want anything to interfere with his baby’s decision to pursue his dream to study under Sam Auerbach.

“I thought you were a tough one to shop for, but Brian is worst. You know how he is. Everything has to be Armani or Prada. Of course that won’t be a problem once I become a famous artist. Do you know what original pieces are going for these days? Last month, one of Sam Auerbach’s paintings went for $25,000.Can you imagine a painting going for that kind of money? Just think, someday I’ll be in that same league. People will be paying $25,000 for a Justin Taylor original.” Justin chattered on unsuspectingly.

“That’s nice, princess.” Tony continued to stare out of the glass doors.

Gentlemen’s agreement, a code of honor that compels a man’s word to be his bond. It was a code that Tony took very seriously, and never more seriously than when Brian swore him to secrecy about his diagnosis of testicular cancer. As unlikely as it seemed, Brian had gotten away with convincing Justin that he had a last minute business meeting with an unsatisfied client, on Christmas Eve. His inability to make it back to Pittsburgh by Christmas day would be blamed on a missed flight. Brian would spend the next few days recuperating, and return with a cockamamie story that explained his absence. In the meantime, it was up to Tony to continue the charade, and keep Justin preoccupied while Brian was away.

“You know, I think our ornament should go at the top, near the angel. What do you think?” Justin continued.

Tony took another long drag of his cigarette. “Hang it wherever you think is best, princess.” he said.

While Justin resumed his searched for the perfect spot on the Christmas tree, Tony glanced at his watch. Brian’s surgery should have been over hours ago. He should have called by now to tell Justin that the bogus, emergency meeting went well. That call was also to be Brian’s signal to Tony that his surgery had gone well. Given the growing lateness of the hour, Tony was beginning to fear that something had gone wrong. Complications from general anesthesia happened all the time. What if Brian was laying in a coma right now? Gentlemen’s agreement, a code of honor that compels a man’s word to be his bond. It was a code that Tony took very seriously. He would just have to wait for Brian’s call.

“Merry Christmas!” Justin greeted a caller on his cell phone.

“Is that Brian?” Tony tried not to sound anxious.

“No, it’s Daphne.” Justin said, then proceeded with his conversation. “I thought you were Brian calling….No, he’s not back yet. I hope he can make it in. It looks like it might snow….Yes, I’m still packing for Chicago….I know, I’m going to miss you too….”

While Justin chatted away with Daphne, Tony finished his cigarette, and lit another one. Verbatim he recalled the wedding vows the three of them had exchanged. Brian, Anthony, and Justin will you love each other, comfort each other, and honor each other? Will you take care of each other in sickness, and in health? Will you forsake all others, and remain faithful to each other for as long as you live?….Christ, this didn’t feel right. Brian was sick, and though he would never admit it, Tony knew that the bravest member of the Royal Trio needed BOTH of his husbands now. Damn Brian for swearing him to silence with that goddamn gentlemen’s agreement.

Justin’s conversation with Daphne ended, and placement of the prized Christmas ornament resumed. “What if we don’t hang it on the tree at all?” he suggested. “We could get one of those protective, glass cases, and place it over on the……”

“JUSTIN, I DON’T GIVE A SHIT WHERE YOU PUT YOUR GODDAMN ORNAMENT!” Tony roared.

The unexpected outburst caught Justin off guard. It wasn’t often that the strongest member of The Royal Trio raised his voice, but when he did, everybody stopped to listen. Justin waited for an explanation that never came. Instead, Tony took another long drag of his cigarette, and continued watching the streets below. Perhaps it was the excitement of the holidays, or Justin’s exuberance over his impending move to Chicago that caused him to overlook one major telltale sign that something was terribly wrong. Tony NEVER smoked, unless something was troubling him.

Justin concluded the obvious. The move to Chicago still wasn’t sitting right with his sometimes, overly protective lion. A little reassurance was in order. Justin placed their Christmas ornament randomly on the tree, then walked over to the balcony doors, where Tony was standing. The youngest member of the Royal Trio wrapped his arms around his husband’s waist, and pressed himself close against Tony’s back. “Don’t worry, it’s going to be alright, you’ll see. The two years will fly by, and when it’s all over I’ll have a successful career, just like you, and Brian,” he said.

Tony wrenched himself from Justin’s embrace, and turned to face his princess. “Is that all this marriage has become to you, a competition to see which one of us can be the most successful, which one of us can haul in the most money? Whatever happened to family and commitment? Your first loyalty should be to Brian, and me, not some glorified housepainter like Sam Auerbach,” he said.

“Tony, we’re not going over this again.” Justin warned.

“You’re damn right we’re not. Selfish little shit, get out of my way.” With a sweep of his arm, Tony pushed Justin aside, and walked over to The Plaza’s house phone. “Have my car ready in ten minutes!” He ordered, then stormed off to the bedroom.

The fire in Tony’s brown eyes was menacing, but Justin was determined that he wasn’t backing down. “The decision has already been made, and you were outvoted two to one. Brian is totally in agreement with me on this move,” he reminded him.

Tony ignored the argument, and proceeded to get dressed.

Justin decided that perhaps a more gentle approach would be more effective. “Tony please, I know you’re worried, but I promise you that nothing is going to happen to us,” he assured him.

“Something already has.” Tony reached for his coat.

“What do you mean? What are you talking about?” Justin blocked the bedroom doorway.

“Get out of my way, princess.” Tony warned.

“NO, not until you tell me what’s wrong!” The words had barely left Justin’s mouth when he suddenly realized. “It’s Brian, something’s happened to Brian. That’s it, isn’t it? What do you know that you’re not telling me?”

Tony once again reminded himself of the gentlemen’s agreement he made with Brian, and the code of honor that compels a man’s word to be his bond. It was a code that Tony took very seriously. But not today. “Brian has cancer. He had surgery to remove one of his testicles this morning. The surgery was to begin at 7am. Now half of the day has gone, and he hasn’t called. I’m headed to the hospital to find out if he’s alright. Are you coming?” Tony said.

Justin froze. “Cancer….Why didn’t he tell me? Why didn’t YOU tell me?”

“Because Brian didn’t want you to know, that’s why! He didn’t want anything to interfere with your little fuck-fest with Sam Auerbach in Chicago.” Tony said. “So, are you coming with me or not?”

“I can’t.” Justin said.

“You can’t? What do you mean, you can?” Tony’s eyes widened.

“Brian went through all of this for me, so I could go to Chicago. I can’t let him down.” Justin said.

“You know he doesn’t want you to go.” Tony said.

“He wants me to be the best that I can be.” Justin said.

“Justin, princess, you’re already twice the artist that Sam Auerbach is right now. If anything, he should be coming to Pittsburgh to study with YOU! The only reason professor Dailey is so emphatic about you going to Chicago is because he wants Pittsburgh’s Institute Of Fine Arts to be known as the school where Sam Auerbach found his star pupil. That kind of publicity looks great on a college brochure, and raises tuition by at least 20%. It’s all a numbers game, princess. PIFA is using you.” Tony said.

“Why are you telling me this now? Why didn’t you say something before?” Justin wanted to know.

“Because you wouldn’t have believed me.” Tony said. “You would have thought that Brian and I both need you here. You would have thought that we weren’t infallible, that your lion and your tiger weren’t as brave, or as strong as you think we were. You would have thought that you were the glue that held this family together, and without you, we would fall apart, and you would have been right. Justin…princess…baby…please don’t go.”

“It’s too late now.” Justin began to cry. “Brian would never believe me if I told him that I wanted to stay. He would always blame himself and his illness for standing in my way. I can’t let him live with that.”

Tony eased down onto the edge of the bed, then leaned forward, placing his face in his hands. He needed some answers, and he needed them now. The future of the Royal Trio was riding on how they handled this, their first major, marital hurdle. After considerable consideration, Tony lifted his head. “I’ve built my fortune on instincts, hunches, and long-shots. Get dressed, princess. We’re going to the hospital. Tonight, I’m betting everything on our wedding rings,” he said.


NEXT WEEK: Fantasy Season concludes with “Gentlemen’s Agreement, pt 5".
 

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