JESSICA

Chapter 2

Brian and Justin seemed to relax significantly during dinner. Daphne regaled them with stories about the first months of parenthood and the sweet sounds that Jessica made when she wasn’t burping or puking or pooping.

While neither man was particularly interested in the details they let the new mother ramble on while they each took turns holding the baby as they enjoyed their meals.

Brian was particularly amusing to watch. Justin remembered seeing how natural it was for Brian to hold Gus. There was no hesitation or nervous behavior, he was relaxed and happy from the first moment he held Gus.

This time was no different. Brian held Jessica with ease and knew when to hold her and talk to the others and when to turn his face towards her and coo to get her attention.

“I can’t believe you actually went out of state to get pregnant. Why the fuck did you do that? It seems like a lot of effort to get a tube of sperm,” Brian smirked.

Justin laughed, “It’s not like there’s any lack of sperm in Pittsburgh.”

“And you know this from experience, Sunshine.”

Daphne nearly spit out her drink listening to the two of them. “It just so happens that I’m unfortunately more than aware of all the spunk in the Pittsburgh area. I didn’t want to risk getting a sperm sample from one of the assholes we went to school with.”

Justin rolled his eyes. “You think they’re all lined up at a sperm bank making donations.”

“You did.” Daphne smirked over her glass of water.

“Whoa, Justin, when did you make a donation at the bank of cum.” Brian seemed quite taken aback by this little revelation.

“It just so happens that while I was trying to live very independently in New York I started to get low on money for important things.”

“Like art supplies and ramen noodles.” Brian looked at Justin somewhat accusatorially as he tickled Jessica’s tummy through her one-piece sleeper.

“Something like that.” Justin looked down briefly. “Look I know you would have sent me money, and eventually I did realize, once again, that asking for help isn’t such a bad thing. Fortunately I found an agent and got recognized before too long anyway.”

“Hey, you two. I didn’t mean to start a fight or uncover some deep dark secrets.”

“No problem, Daph. It’s actually something I never told Brian about because I forgot. I was just lucky that the sperm bank was paying for donations when they got low.”

“At least it’s one step above selling a pint of blood, Sunshine,” Brian snarked.

“Brian.”

“Okay, okay. It’s history and in the past. Fortunately you’re now quite comfortable and you’re not even a kept man.”

“No I’m not. Although there are some benefits to feeling like a kept man from time to time.” Justin had a familiar twinkle in his eyes.

“TMI, Justin. Let’s not go there. Besides there’s a child in the room.”

Brian snorted, “Yeah, she’ll remember this conversation and repeat it next week when she learns how to projectile vomit.”

Daphne just glared briefly at Brian but couldn’t keep the smile off her face.

“Now, Ms. Chanders, care to tell your long-time best friend and his devoted husband why the fuck you brought so much shit with you when you arrived? Something tells me this visit is more than just to reacquaint ourselves with the newest mother of the year.”

“Brian, you’re as astute as ever.”

“So, what’s up, Daph? You didn’t get evicted or anything. I thought you were doing well as an associate in Mel’s law firm.”

“I’m doing great. That’s why I knew I had the time and security to have a baby -- finally.”

“Then what’s with all the luggage and assorted baby paraphernalia?”

“It’s my mom.” Brian and Justin knew full well that Daphne’s mom was having serious issues with her lung functioning. She’d been a smoker for too long and it had caught up with her a couple of years earlier. She and her husband had moved to Arizona, but the move had been too much for his career and their marriage, and they’d separated soon after.

“You said she was doing much better now that she was in a good climate. What happened?”

“It seems that doing better is all relative when they suddenly tell you that you need to have an oxygen tank attached to you to function.”

“Oh shit!”

“Are you on the way to the airport? Why did you empty the car here? Daphne, this makes no sense.”

“Unfortunately, Justin, I have a feeling it makes more sense than I’d like to admit.” Brian handed the baby back to Justin and stood up, pacing in the dining room. “Let me see if I’m getting this straight, so to speak.”

“Go ahead Brian. I have a feeling you’re on to me.” Daphne smiled sweetly while nodding.

“You need to fly across the country to care for, and focus on your sick and depressed mother.”

“So far so good, keep going.”

“However, bringing a baby with you could hinder your Florence Nightingale duties. Am I reading the scenario correctly so far?”

“Spot on, continue.”

“So you decided that since Justin and I have recently become almost full-time fathers that you would just add another rugrat to the mix, because despite your usually good judgment, Justin is still your best, and most trusted, friend...”

“Hey!”

“Let me finish, Sunshine.”

“And this is where you feel safest leaving your kid.”

“Brian, you’re as eloquent and accurate as always.”

“Daphne...are you out of your fucking mind!”

Daphne simply laughed while Brian ran his hand over his face and Justin stared dumbfounded from his husband to his best friend.

“Daph, you want us to take care of Jessica while you go away? What about Mel? She’s had a new baby to care for and JR is in pretty good shape. Why not enlist her?”

“Justin, there are a few reasons. Some are my own and I’d rather not share them right now, and the unfortunate situation with Melanie is that she’s about to start litigation on another major case. As it is, JR will be with Michael and Ben more than her during the next few weeks.”

“Weeks! Daphne, did you say weeks?”

Daphne looked at Brian and Justin. She had to confess a bit more or this wouldn’t work. “Look, you two. I love my daughter more than anything and can’t stand the thought of leaving her. But I’m an only child and my mother needs me. It’s also not a good idea for such a young baby to be flying from climate to climate and getting all unsettled.

“She’s bottle fed so it won’t be a big deal. Her formula comes fully mixed so you don’t have any of that bullshit to go through. And the truth is, I trust both of you...and Justin, I know that you have a flexible schedule. When you’re in your studio you can keep the nursery monitor with you and when you’re at the gallery you can do the same while she rests in the office.

“Hell, having an infant around, if you’re willing to wear one of the carriers might add to a couple of sales. She’s pretty fucking adorable if I say so myself. Let’s face it, you’re both clearly in love and we’ve only been here for a couple of hours.”

Daphne took a deep breath and hoped that Brian and Justin would agree. This decision meant the world to her and this was the only place she could possibly feel secure leaving Jessica. There were a variety of less obvious reasons for her to leave the baby, but those weren’t critical at the moment.

Brian was the first to respond, “How long?”

“Hopefully just a week or two. I don’t want to be away from her that long. I just need to make sure that my mother is getting the best care possible and to arrange for in home care on a regular basis as well.”

Justin held the baby against his chest. He looked at her and then looked at Brian.

“Fuck! The sacrifices I make for you and your friends, Justin.” Brian looked back and forth at the two other adults in the room. Then he looked back at Jessica, curled up against Justin. She really was a little beauty. She’d outshine her mother someday -- that was already obvious. “Okay.”

Justin stood up with the baby in his arms and approached Brian. He leaned into him and the two of them looked at the baby who clearly knew her cue and cooed, eyes wide open looking up at the two men. “Is it really okay?”

“Are you comfortable with this, Justin? Most of the daytime burden will be on you.”

“Yeah, I think this is an opportunity I can’t pass up. I never thought I’d get to care for a baby at all.”

Brian looked from Justin to Daphne and then down at the baby. “Well, Jessica, it looks like you have a new temporary dwelling. Just don’t puke or poop on my computer desk.”

Daphne joined the little group and hugged them both. She took the baby in her arms, “I’m going to miss you so much, sweetie, but Mommy will be back soon.” Then she turned to look at Brian and then her dearest, oldest friend. “But you’ll be in the only hands I could possibly leave you in. I love you, honey.”

Brian looked at Daphne and the curious way she was phrasing things but let it pass. “This is the greatest farewell since Dorothy left Oz.”

Justin laughed at the remark until Daphne leaned in to whisper in his ear, “I’ll miss you most of all, scarecrow. Take good care of Jessica.”

Justin stood up straight, looking into his dearest friend’s eyes and could only nod.

[TBC]
 

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