JESSICA
Chapter 1
Brian couldn’t believe all the traffic leaving Pennsylvania on Friday afternoon. Usually people stayed in town until the work day was through and then scurried off to Happy Hours all over the city before heading home to their nearby suburban dwellings within the greater Pittsburgh area.
It seemed like the whole city was evacuating and heading for West Virginia. Or at least that’s what it felt like, especially since he’d promised Justin, on penalty of no sex for an entire weekend, that he’d be home on time.
“What the fuck’s the big deal if I’m home at six or six-thirty?”
“Brian, please. Tonight Daphne’s coming over. We haven’t seen her since she had the baby’s one month celebration, and that was almost eight weeks ago.”
“You’ve gone longer without seeing her before. Need I remind you that when you lived in Manhattan you rarely visited those of us stranded back in this boring burgh.”
“But this is different. Daphne confided that this is her first time going to anyone’s home with the baby. I want to show her how much we appreciate seeing her and how much we missed her.”
“You mean how much you missed her...and obviously how much you want to see fag-hag junior.”
“Brian...”
“Okay, okay. I get it. Besides, I wouldn’t want to make the little mother cranky. After all she’s ballsy enough to have become mother of the year without having a man in her life. I remember when she used to say she’d never get married. I guess she meant it.”
Justin smirked, put his arms around Brian’s neck and looked up at him, “That makes one of you.”
“Lucky for you, Sunshine.”
“Lucky for me.” Justin tilted his head up and Brian leaned in to give him a long and passionate kiss.
The two began to rub their arms up and down each other’s backs and their kisses grew more intense. It looked like Brian would be happily delayed getting into Kinnetik that morning had it not been for a sudden noise that interrupted the two.
“What the fuck!” Brian lifted his head with a jolt.
“Brian!”
A small voice spoke up between giggles. “You two are getting all mushy. Blech! And don’t worry, Daddy. I won’t tell Mama that Dad swears -- a lot.”
“Thank you, Sonny Boy. Glad to know I can count on you to protect me.”
“Any time, Dad. Are you two going to keep kissing because I need to have my breakfast and then get to school?”
Justin and Brian regrettably separated and resumed their usual morning preparations.
“Brian, six o’clock.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Hey! You think you’d know by now that I’m definitely NOT a ma’am.”
“Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Sunshine. And I’ll be home on time for din-din with Daphne.”
“Thank you.” Justin turned to Gus, “Remember, Mama will pick you up after school, and you and JR will spend the whole weekend with her.”
“Okay. She promised to take us to the amusement park. Since I’m a big boy now, she lets me go on some of the big kid rides by myself. Mama was going to ask Uncle Michael to come with us. He loves roller coasters and he can go on with me if he wants.”
“Sounds like you’re going to have a great time. Just don’t pick up any bad butch habits from Mama.”
“Brian!”
“It’s okay, Daddy. I know Dad is just joking.”
“I’m glad. Sometimes Dad says silly jokes and doesn’t know when to stop.”
“Bye, Sunshine; let’s go, Sonny Boy. You don’t want to be late.”
“Okay.”
“Six o’clock -- don’t forget -- or else.”
“I know, I know. Careful, you’re starting to sound a little too much like Debbie for my tastes.”
“Shut up and get the fuck out of here.”
“Daddy!”
“Oh shit!”
“Daddy, again!”
Brian could be heard laughing all the way to the car while Justin was left mumbling something about trouble-maker husbands and wise-ass kids.
Brian smiled as he finally reached the exit for their small town. Just five more minutes of driving and he’d finally be home...just under the wire.
Justin heard the car pull up and into the garage and smiled. Brian really was becoming a responsible grownup. They’d been parents for nearly six months. It had been tough to start with. While they’d been used to having Gus every other weekend it was a whole new world caring for a child 50% of the time.
There had been arguments about childcare, discipline and a variety of other things that had come up as Brian and Justin learned how to be parents on a more full-time basis. Fortunately they weathered the storm and began to comprehend the fine art of compromise in parenthood.
While they loved having Gus with them, the times that they had alone while Gus was with Melanie, were valued dearly. Sex had become limited to the bedroom and bathroom and neither was fond of limitations on their sex life. It had been fine when Gus was only with them a few days a month, but this was a whole new ball game.
It had taken the better part of three months to get into a routine that was comfortable for everyone but it finally worked.
Justin knew that he and Brian were going to thoroughly enjoy their weekend, especially after their dinner with new mother, Daphne.
He couldn’t believe she’d had the guts to walk into a sperm bank, select a donor and have a kid without anyone else in her life. Justin had to admire her. He didn’t think he could take care of a child on his own, especially from birth. Gus was enough of a handful, but at least he came toilet trained.
The door that led from the garage to the mud room opened and Justin went to meet Brian. He looked at Brian taking off his jacket and couldn’t help staring at that beautiful body. Tall, lean with just the right amount of muscles. Shit! Now he was getting hard and he did not want Daphne walking in on them fucking in the kitchen.
“Hey.” Brian turned to Justin and the two kissed.
“Hey, Sunshine. That was a nice welcome home.”
“Thanks for coming home on time.”
“My sex life was threatened. Can’t have that now, can we?” Brian smirked. He pulled Justin close and began to kiss his neck, nibbled his earlobe and finally worked his way to Justin’s beautiful, full lips. He kissed him, pressing his tongue easily into Justin’s waiting mouth.
Justin finally pulled away. “Not now, we have company coming and I’m already hard.”
“That will make it mutual when we try to encourage Daphne to eat and run.”
“You’re evil.”
“No, I’m smart.”
“Yeah, you are. Now come help me finish getting the table set. Let’s face it. I’m sure Daphne’s tired most of the time with the new baby. She’ll probably want to go home early.”
“One can only hope, Sunshine.”
As Brian helped Justin put the finishing touches on the table setting and made sure to taste a bit of each dish that Justin prepared for dinner the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it Brian.” Truth be told, Justin couldn’t wait to see Daphne and the baby again.
When they’d gone to the hospital to visit after the baby was born he was so pleased that Daphne encouraged him to hold the baby. He hadn’t held an infant since Gus and somehow he felt privileged.
The only children he’d ever held as infants were his sister, for the required photo opportunities, Gus and now Jessica. She was beautiful at birth, despite the squishy newborn look.
Now he’d finally get to hold her again and he couldn’t wait, although he’d never let Brian know. Brian had gotten to hold and, at least occasionally, care for a newborn he loved when Gus was born.
This was Justin’s chance to dote on a baby -- and what better than doting on his best friend’s baby. He opened the door to Britin and his face lit up as a smiling Daphne handed him the baby.
“Hi, Justin, can you hold her while I bring in a couple of things?”
Justin leaned in to give Daphne a kiss on the cheek in greeting and then gladly took the baby, not paying attention to Daphne’s actions. “Hello, sweet Jessica,” he started cooing. “You are such a pretty little girl and it’s looking like you’re going to have beautiful dark hair like your mother.”
Daphne smiled, listening to Justin as she went about her business.
Brian showed up on the scene and noted Daphne’s actions. “Hey Ms. Chanders, what the fuck is all that?”
“Hello to you, too, Brian. Babies carry a lot of baggage...literally.”
“I remember when Lindsay used to bring Gus to visit, but isn’t this a bit extreme for just an evening visit?”
“Well, Brian, that’s something we need to talk about.” Daphne turned back and brought in two suitcases, an infant carrier, car seat, diaper bag and portable crib.
Justin looked up from Jessica to see all the activity playing out in front of him.
“Justin, do you know what your, so-called best friend is up to?”
Clueless, Justin cautiously shook his head, handed the baby to Brian who was immediately taken by her, and approached Daphne. “Care to explain?”
“I think I’ll share with you both over dinner...that’s if I’m still invited. I’m starving.”
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