The End Justifies the Means

Chapter 15 - Dinner is Served

Justin spent a good portion of his afternoon at All the Rage Comics. When Justin had arrived at the art supply store he was pleased to see that there were several pre-stretched canvases available for purchase. While Justin usually didn’t invest his money in this, as he was perfectly capable of stretching his own canvases, without an established studio space there was no time to deal with all the prep involved. Justin’s purchases were significant enough that when he batted his baby blues and asked for help to get his supplies over to the comic shop, the owner was happy to send his assistant to help. Happy customers in the art world were consistent customers and that was nothing to take lightly.

After all the supplies were brought into All the Rage, Justin generously tipped the assistant and thanked him for his help. If there was one thing Justin learned both from growing up amongst the privileged country club set AND living with Brian, it was to tip well and you’ll always be treated like royalty. If Justin was going to be working in the Pittsburgh area he wanted to start solidifying those contacts right from the start.

While the canvas Justin was about to begin was far from the biggest he’d ever embarked on, it was certainly the most significant. This was the only time he’d ever be able to give Brian a wedding gift and he wanted it to say everything he was feeling the moment he had left Kinnetik. This was a feeling he wanted shared only with Brian for the rest of their lives and this was the best way Justin knew how they could both partake in all the emotions he was experiencing. He remembered once telling Brian that art was how he truly got through some of the worst moments in his life, but it was also how he brought an extra level of joy to the best moments of his life.

Nothing brought more bliss then setting his vision of an experience on canvas. Well, maybe one thing brought him more bliss, but he’d already given and gotten that wedding gift. He smiled to himself at the memory of making love with Brian as a married man…with no barriers. It was one thing to do it raw but this was more than that. This was the sealing of their commitment to one another. A moment they had both clearly been heading towards from the moment Justin had left for New York City.

Justin gave himself a moment to relive the beauty of their post-commitment ceremony love and then looked at his supplies and the time and knew that if he planned to get anything accomplished he had to get going. No one else was going to be at the store for the next couple of days, since receipt of stock had slowed down. Justin had called Emmett and told him he’d receive and shelve packages for the next few days, until the opening, so Emmett could get back to working on the Grand Opening party, as well as his other parties—the ones he actually made an income from.

After a couple of hours of work, Justin noted that dusk was approaching which meant that he needed to clean up, pick up dinner and get home. Home--it was incredible that when thinking of the loft, he truly thought home before all else. His home was with Brian, and Brian was the loft and Britin. He couldn’t help smiling as he cleaned up, organized his art supplies and covered the canvas in progress.

On the way home Justin stopped at the diner to pick up some lemon bars. With Debbie spending all her time at the hospital there was no chance of seeing her or her, inevitably, seeing his ring.

When he arrived back at the loft, Justin stowed all the perishables while he made a beeline for the shower. As he showered he thought how rare it was that he showered alone these days. The perks of marriage were certainly numerous—especially when having a baby was not a risk. He thought about the time he and Daphne had discussed whether he wanted a child someday. The spark of a thought was in the back of his mind, but he was so young, and for the moment he was content being Gus’ other dad. That would be enough if Brian wasn’t interested in actually raising a kid.

Hell, Justin wasn’t even sure if HE ever wanted THAT responsibility. Maybe when Lindsay decides what to do with her life she’ll want another kid and this time he could be the father. Justin laughed out loud at that thought.

Clean and freshly shaved, Justin got dressed and returned to the kitchen to put up dinner. Since this was a special occasion he decided to make a chicken dish that he learned how to cook from Ben. It was one of the few things he made that had enough flavor that everyone loved it, yet it was very low carb and healthy at the same time.

As Justin set the table, including long tapers, Brian walked in. He looked towards the table and laughed. “You really want to make sure you’re mom is in a good mood when we drop the bombshell on her, don’t you?”

Then Brian put down his briefcase, took off his coat and went into the kitchen. He cracked open the oven and took a sniff. “Smells good. Is this another from your Michael recipe sharing collection?”

“Very funny. No, this is from the Ben recipe sharing collection, and before you say anything. I’ve eaten it before and it’s actually good.”

“This isn’t that tofu shit, is it?”

“No, it’s chicken and it isn’t shit. I’m trying to impress my mom, not make her want to throw up.”

“That’s my Sunshine, the happy homemaker.”

“Hey, asshole, just remember, if I like cooking, which I do, then you’ll benefit. That is if I cook enough for two. I spent a lot of time cooking for one during the past six months.”

Brian walked over to Justin, put his arms around him and cupped the back of his head, and while smirking said, “Don’t you know the real reason I married you?”

“No, what?” Justin gave a half smile.

“It was to save money on take-out, of course, and to make sure I didn’t get a paunch as I aged more gracefully than any human before me.”

“And I thought you married me because of my extremely HOT ass and to have a convenient fuck whenever you wanted one.”

“Well, there’s that too.”

“Fuck you.”

“Not now dear, Mother Taylor is on the way,” with that Brian kissed Justin hard and left him a bit dazed as he hastily went towards the bathroom to take a shower before dinner.

It wasn’t long before the buzzer sounded and Justin invited his mom up. He opened the loft door and when he heard the elevator reach the landing he went over to give her a hug. One thing for sure, he wanted to be discreet until Brian arrived. This was an announcement he wanted to make with the two of them together. Justin knew that his mom loved Brian, but getting married without her wouldn’t win either of them any Best Son of the Year awards.

Just as Jennifer gave Justin a hug and was saying how nice it was to see him AND be invited for an evening at the loft, Brian came down the bedroom steps. He was dressed casually but, as always, with a touch of class.

“Why, hello Mother Taylor, so nice of you to join us.” Brian said as he approached Jennifer, bowed slightly and kissed her hand.

“Brian, get up. You don’t have to grovel to get my approval anymore,” she laughed. “Remember, I know about the places you’ve helped set up for Justin in New York. They sound perfect. And the apartment certainly sounds big enough for two to live comfortably.”

“They are indeed lovely. You’re realtor connection in the city was very efficient and listened to exactly what I asked for. Just what I expect from anyone I’m about to give a 6% commission to.” Brian remarked with his tongue-in-cheek expression.

“Well, as long as everything worked out. Now you can visit Justin more frequently and I won’t have a son who only paints in gloomy colors.” Jennifer smiled at Justin and gently touched his cheek.

“Oh, you noticed that mom?”

“My darling, have you seen your own work all presented as one large grouping? Half of it looked absolutely depressing compared to some of your earlier paintings. However, you must not have read your own reviews.”

“I really haven’t had time.”

“Jennifer, do you have them?”

“Of course I do. I saved all of them. She pulled a manila envelope out of the large bag she was carrying.”

“Mom, that bag is huge. What the fuck do you have in there?”

“None of your business. It’s a woman’s privilege to carry around a big bag with all her essentials if she wants to. Just like you carry around your messenger bag.”

“She’s got you there, Sunshine. But, fuck, Jennifer, that thing must weigh a ton. Is Amelia Earhart in there somewhere?” Brian teased.

“Maybe, I just haven’t noticed.” Jennifer deadpanned. “Here just take a look at these. You can start with the piece from the Sunday Arts Section of the New York Times.”

Justin and Brian started pulling out the critics’ reviews of his work and read through each one. Then Brian grabbed Justin and literally hoisted him off the ground and kissed him as Justin began to slide down his body. “I always said you were a genius Justin. Now the whole fucking world…or at least the New York City art world knows it.”

“Mom, thanks for saving these. It just makes today that much more perfect.”

“Okay, you two, I may not be thirty something anymore, but I’m not so dim that I don’t know when there’s an ulterior motive for an invitation, and this one screamed ulterior motive, so cough it up.”

“Kind of like a hair ball?”

“Shut up, Brian,” both mother and son said simultaneously as they tilted their heads, as well.

Brian burst out laughing, “Talk about family resemblance.”

“Mom, dinner’s about ready. Let me open the wine and why don’t you both sit down. Brian can you light the candles?”

“Yes, dear,” Brian responded in falsetto. Justin just smiled and shook his head. This was definitely going to be a fun evening.

Justin assumed that his mother was so preoccupied with her news about his reviews that she hadn’t noticed their rings. Not that they were flaunting them. If anything they avoiding using their left hands as much as possible for the time being.

When the candles were lit Justin brought over the wine and had Brian pour it, while he returned to the kitchen for the salads. The three ate and laughed amiably and when the salads were finished Justin cleared the dishes and brought out a beautiful platter of food. After each took a portion, they all became quiet.

“Justin.”

“Mom.”

“Wow, now we’re really getting somewhere.” Brian put in his two cents worth. “Mother Taylor, Jennifer,” Brian continued in a soft even tone, “You know how long I’ve cared about Justin.”

“Yes, I do. I remember when I foolishly asked you to stay away after he came home from the hospital following the bashing. When you told me you cared about him it took me a while to realize that I was the first person you’d probably confessed that to out loud.”

“You said that, Brian?” Justin asked a bit confused, but definitely not as surprised as he might have been.

“Yeah, I said that. And before your mom divulges any more of my deepest secrets I think there’s one more you should probably know.”

Now Justin was quite curious, “What’s that?”

Jennifer smiled, realizing that this was a secret she’d kept for the wrong reasons at first, but then had waited for at least two or more years to have Brian reveal to her son.

“When you were in the hospital you thought I didn’t come to see you. Well, I didn’t come in to your room, because I really thought I would be poison for you.”

“Brian…” Justin touched Brian’s arm gently.

“No, let me finish. I did come to see you. I spent every night at Babylon trying to numb the pain of your bashing, and when that didn’t work, I continued on to the hospital. The night nurse had a chair set up for me opposite the window to your room and I’d sit there all night watching you to make sure you were recovering. That nurse even started giving me medical updates.”

“You probably knew as much as I did Brian.” Jennifer added.

“Yeah, probably.” Brian snorted. “That was the worst time for all of us, but I did know I cared. I just couldn’t tell anyone, except your mom, when I tried to convince her to let me keep seeing you.” Brian turned his head. Confession wasn’t easy for him, especially when it involved the most painful experience in all their lives.”

Justin couldn’t help himself. He got out of his chair, wrapped his arms around Brian and held him and kissed him with all the passion and love he felt at that moment.

Witnessing this scene brought a tear to Jennifer’s eye and then her eye focused on Justin’s hands. “What the fuck is that?” she cried out.

Brian chuckled, “That’s one way to break a mood. Channeling Deb again?”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. Brian and Justin, what is going on?”

“That Mother Taylor, to answer your question, is a wedding band. And despite all bets against it, I’m wearing one, too.” Brian held up his left hand for effect.

“But, but, but how, when, where and more importantly why wasn’t I there!” Jennifer asked, her head spinning with questions and excitement.

“To answer your questions in order mother, this morning, at Kinnetik and because we wanted to do this privately and in our own style.”

“You see, Jennifer, we’ve found that when we announce our intentions to our warm and loving family they seem to feel that it’s an open invitation to interfere and sabotage our plans…present company excepted, of course.”

Then it hit Jennifer, “If you were married at Kinnetik, that must mean that you went through filling out all the paperwork to legitimize your partnership.”

“That would be a yes, mom.” Justin smiled knowing that his mom realized all the ramifications of this step for both men.

“Oh, sweetheart, you’re married!” And then the crying began. Jennifer got up and hugged Brian tightly, and he let her – after all no sense getting on the wrong side of his mother-in-law from the get-go.

Then Jennifer approached Justin and gave him a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek. “But, I didn’t get my dance.” She looked Justin in the eyes and he smiled. Then without music he took her by the hand to the middle of the loft and twirled her once around to the happy silence that they were all experiencing.

Brian shook his head, “Wow, those ballroom dance lessons really did pay off.”

Laughing, Justin escorted his mom back to the table so they could finish dinner. This had certainly been an enlightening evening for all of them. It was so much better than Justin could have expected.

Jennifer toasted the happy couple and insisted that since Brian didn’t really want to eat a lemon bar of his own, that they cut the bar together since it was the only wedding cake they had. Although both men thought it was too corny and over-the-top they indulged Jennifer, especially since she agreed to let them tell the rest of the family in their own way. And it was the least they could do since they hadn’t included her in their actual marriage.

Of course, neither man was willing to give away their reception plans. Those would have to be a surprise to everyone.

Later that night after all the dishes were cleared away Brian and Justin shared a night of love that they both felt had been owed to them for a long time. This was their moment to revel in each other’s bodies and experience the passion for each other that they never experienced with anyone else. Brian even understood and relinquished control to Justin so that he could experience their love as a top at least once. Although in practice both knew that this would not be a frequent occurrence.

By 2:30 AM both Brian and Justin were exhausted. Rather then get up to clean themselves they just clung to one another and left the rest for morning.

“Brian, I love you so much. And thank you for being so indulgent with my mom. I know you were bending over backwards for me and I really appreciate it.”

“Well, I figure, it’s always good to have the mother-in-law on my side.”

“Yeah, but I could tell it was more than that and I just wanted you to know that I knew.”

“Okay.”

“Justin.”

“Yes.”

“I won’t say this often but I just want you to know that I love you.”

“I know.”

And with that the two fell into a happy and sated sleep.

 

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