Almost Perfect

Chapter 3

Gus was enjoying his dream. It was a nice dream, one that would have led to a very satisfying end until...

“SHIT!” Gus heard as he went from dreaming to wide awake in under three seconds. He jumped out of bed and ran to the kitchen. The smoke alarm was blaring and flames were shooting out of a frying pan on the stove.

“STOP,” Gus shouted at Ray who was about to throw a pitcher of water into the pan. Gus quickly reached up and over to a small shelf above the stove for a box of baking soda. Ripping off the top, he threw the contents into the pan, smothering out the flames. He then took the smoke alarm off the wall and removed the battery. The silence was deafening.

“Holy Fuck!” the boys cursed then hugged each other tight.

“What were you doing?” Gus gently asked Ray.

“I was trying to cook breakfast. You’re always cooking for us; I thought you deserved a treat. I was going to surprise you,” Ray explained. “Surprise!” Ray looked up into Gus’ eyes. Gus smiled, blew out a breath then dragged Ray over to their couch. They flopped down, still hugging each other.

“Are you all right? You didn’t get burned, did you?”

“No, just embarrassed as hell. And now we don’t have breakfast or a frying pan.”

“Let me see what I can do,” Gus said as he gave Ray a pat on the ass then got up off the couch to go back into the kitchen. Ray followed.

“What a mess,” Ray commented as he looked at the pan. It was a messy combination of bacon, grease and slimy looking baking soda.

“It’s not so bad,” Gus said as he picked up the pan which had cooled down. He was about to scrape the contents into the garbage pail when Ray took the pan out of his hand.

“It’s the least I can do since you saved our lives. Explain that move with the baking soda,” Ray demanded as he began to scrub the pan.

“Never use water on a grease fire, it only spreads the fire. You smother out the flames. Since we don’t have a cover for the pan, I used the baking soda. It was up there for that reason. I’ll put another box up there right away.”

“How do you know all this shit?” Ray asked as his eyes bugged out.

“Years of Justin’s PSA’s paid off,” Gus said trying to keep a straight face as he proceeded to whip them up an omelet.

“Do you have plans today?” Ray asked.

“Not really, why?”

“I need a break. You need a break. And the sun is out. Let’s go to the park. I just want to walk around and clear my head.” Ray sounded tired. He was close to graduating with honors and running from one end of the borough to the other. Gus gave his lover a warm hug.

“That sounds like a great plan,” Gus said.

The boys cleaned up then headed out.

 

*****
 

The boys took a leisurely stroll around the reservoir then sat on a bench.

“Gus, what do you want to be when you grow up?” Ray asked.

Gus did a double take, but realizing Ray was serious, Gus took the question seriously. “My dad.”
Ray rolled his eyes.

“You asked.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I. Most of my life I was surrounded by art. Between my mom and Justin, I was exposed to the arts early. Also I realized that I had some talent but not like my mom or Justin. But most forms of art touched me. I understand its power. When I got old enough I started researching my dad’s stuff, even the campaigns he did at Ryder. I could see my dad’s thought process behind each campaign he worked on. It all made sense to me. I want to be as good as him. Better, one day. I really want to do this. Words, color, they have so much power. Like Justin’s paintings. My mom’s paintings make you feel good. Justin’s paintings shake you up, make you think. Do you know what I mean?”

Ray nodded.

“My dad’s stuff makes you want things or makes you hungry or makes you want to look good, or smell good. Now that’s power.”

“Geez, my boyfriend the egomaniac.”

“Yeah, it’s all about ego. Brian Kinney has that in spades. It’s not always a bad thing.”

“I didn’t say it was. Your dad’s a good man. And I understand what you mean by ego. In your business you have to be confident about the product and have confidence in yourself. You’ll be good at it. You have the confidence.”

“But do I have the ego?” Gus asked as he arched a brow and smirked in a very Brian Kinney way. Ray laughed. When he calmed, Gus asked, “What’s with the questions?”

“Answer one more for me. Where do you want to live? Do you really want to live in the loft?”

“I’d like to. We’ve been through this, haven’t we? Ray, we’re just starting out and I know you’d like the opportunity to work with your parents. I have no objections. I have no objections to commuting from Pittsburgh to New York once we get established. Ray, I’m in this for the long haul and we’re in no rush.” Gus took a long look at his boyfriend then hoped he wasn’t jumping to conclusions. “Are you having second thoughts about us? About us living together?” Gus asked as he stood up.

“God, no!” Ray said jumping to his feet. “I love you and I want to live with you but...”

“But you’re feeling confused like I did a few months ago; worried about the future. Worried about what the dads might think. You’re so close to graduating. If you pass the bar in a few months, you’ll be an attorney. Ray, do you know how amazing you are? You’re a fulltime student. You work downtown with your dad and uptown in that high priced law firm. Half the time you don’t know if you’re coming or going. The other half you’re studying. You’re this close to achieving all your goals.”

Gus put up his thumb and forefinger making a space of less than an inch to demonstrate. “Don’t make any decisions until after graduation. You’re tired and I don’t blame you for being confused. What I do blame you for is ruining my frying pan,” Gus joked. Ray smiled then heaved a heavy sigh. “It’ll work out,” Gus promised.

“Does this mean we go back to Florida when I finish school?” Ray said with a grin.

“Florida in the summer,” Gus said appearing to contemplate the idea. “I don’t think so. New England, Maine or Vermont. Somewhere green and cool.”

“I like how you think, Kinney,” Ray stated with a big smile. “Let’s go home,” Ray said with a gentle backhand to Gus’ stomach.

 

*****

Melanie pushed back from her desk. Her desk, in her own office. It had taken Mel years to get an office in her old firm. She had been with Kinnetik less than six months and already had an office ten times as lavish. And way more practical with every modern gadget necessary. God, she liked it here!

Syncing her smart phone calendar with her computer, Mel prepared to leave for the night. Her calendar was full. She had plans to fly out at the end of the week to visit Perspectives and then on to Kinnetik Isles. Melanie was reviewing her itinerary when her phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Hi. How are you?” It was Lindsay. Melanie laughed. “What’s so funny?”

“I’m having a smug me moment,” Mel tried to explain.

“A smug me moment?” Lindsay said with a smile in her voice.

“Yes. I was thinking about how different Kinnetik is from my old firm. It took me years to earn an office there.”

“And only months to get one at Kinnetik,” Lindsay supplied.

“Right. Linds, I’m reviewing my itinerary. I’m flying out at the end of the week. I’d feel better if someone else besides Ted and Cynthia had my schedule.”

“Email it to me.”

“Are you sure? I mean it’s not like we’re together,” Melanie said softly.

“Mel, we’ve known each other for most of our adult lives. We have children, we’re connected in so many ways and I’d like to think we’re becoming friends again.”

“I’d like that too,” Melanie admitted.

“So it’s only natural to let your family know where you’re going to be,” Lindsay said reasonably. “Send a copy to JR too.”

“I’m not sure if she’ll notice if I’m here or not. This Jacqueline person has her rattled. And Michael’s attitude is not helping.”

“What are you doing for dinner?” Lindsay suddenly asked.

“What?” Melanie wasn’t prepared for the non-sequitur.

“Dinner. You have to eat, I have to eat. Dinner,” Lindsay said with amusement.

“Um, I don’t have plans,” Mel admitted.

“Neither do I. So let’s have no plans together,” Lindsay said with a giggle. Unbeknownst to Lindsay, Mel smiled. She missed that laugh.

“Where?”

“Emmett’s? I like it there or we can go to his regular restaurant in the village,” Lindsay suggested.

“Emmett’s is fine with me. I’d love one of his popovers. Meet you in thirty minutes?”

“Great! See you in thirty,” Lindsay said before she hung up the phone.

Mel stood as she shut down her computer then straightened up her desk. She grabbed her purse and jacket as she took one last look around her office. “Yes!” she exclaimed before she switched off the lights and left for the evening.

 

*****
 

“What are you doing, sweetheart?” Debbie asked as she came downstairs for a glass of milk before she retired for the night and spotted her granddaughter curled up on the couch. She was dressed in her pajamas and plaid robe very much like her grandmother’s outfit. “I thought you went to bed ages ago.”

“I did,” JR replied sighing heavily, “but I couldn’t sleep. I’ve been thinking. I’m trying to decide what to do?”

“About what?” Debbie asked tapping JR’s feet to get her to drop them onto the floor and make room for Debbie to sit down beside her.

As JR sat up she shook her head and felt tears wanting to fall. Why was she always so emotional? “I’ve been reading the classifieds. I’m going to look for a new job,” she declared as she got herself under some sort of control.

“What?” Debbie asked as her mouth dropped open. “Honey, you can’t…”

“I can’t take it anymore, grandma,” JR said letting the tears fall.

“Oh, sweetheart,” Deb said pulling her granddaughter into her arms. “It can’t be that bad.” She ran her hands over JR’s dark, thick hair.

“It is. You don’t know what it’s like going to the shop everyday and being ignored and questioned about the most basic things that I’ve been doing since I was a kid. And he takes every chance to undermine me … and … and he always has something bad to say about Jacqueline. I can’t go there anymore.”

“Sh, sh,” Debbie cooed against the top of JR’s head. “I knew you two weren’t getting along, but I didn’t know it was bad enough to make you want to leave.”

“It’s so bad, grandma. I have to get out of there.”

Debbie hugged JR harder and felt the young girl sob silently. She was going to kill her son. This was totally ridiculous.

“JR, you don’t really want to leave the business and your father.”

“No, I don’t, but I feel like I have no choice. I have to get away from him.”

Debbie squeezed her harder trying to tell her silently that things would be all right, but she didn’t really believe that herself. She had tried to talk to Michael about the whole situation, but her stubborn son wouldn’t budge, wouldn’t even listen.

“Don’t do anything too fast,” Debbie said when JR finally pulled away. “There’s nothing worse than making a hasty decision and then living to regret it.”

“You mean like the hasty decision that Dad made about Jacqueline?” JR asked pointedly.

“Exactly.”

“He won’t even try to get to know her. He refuses to acknowledge that she … means something to me.”

“I know, sweetheart. All I’m saying is take your time and make sure you feel fine with what you’re doing.”

“I’ve done nothing but think about this for days, ever since Jacqueline went to Philadelphia. And thanks for letting me stay with you,” JR said sincerely.

“You know you can always have a place here if you need it.”

“That means so much, grandma.”

“So, let’s crack open that carton of Rocky Road that I tucked away in the freezer,” Debbie suggested.

“I could go for that,” JR said, finally allowing herself to smile.

 

*****
 

After devouring about half the carton of Rocky Road, JR and Debbie went to their bedrooms. It was just after midnight when JR’s phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and immediately answered.

“Hey.”

“How are you, Babe?” Jacqueline asked.

JR could hear a tinge of worry in her lover’s voice. “I’m okay.”

“Are you still at your grandmother’s?”

“Yeah, she’s been great.”

“That’s a relief,” Jacqueline said. “I was afraid she would give you a hard time just like your father.”

“I wouldn’t be staying here if she did,” JR stated. “I’m not a child. I can look after myself.”

“I know you can.”

JR listened to Jacqueline’s declaration of confidence in her, but she wasn’t so sure. Everybody still tended to treat her like a child. She intended to stand on her own two feet. She was about to explain to Jacqueline about her decision to get a new job, but when she opened her mouth to do so, something stopped her.

“JR, what’s going on?” Jacqueline asked, bringing JR back to the present.

“I … I was just thinking,” JR said quickly.

“About what?”

“How come you’re calling so late?” JR asked, hoping to change the subject.

“I wanted to tell you that I got everything sorted out here. I should be home tomorrow night.”

“That’s great.”

“Um … will you be at the loft when I get there?” Jacqueline asked.

“If you want me to be.”

“Of course I want you there. I thought maybe you liked living with your grandmother more than being with me.”

“She is a better cook,” JR said with a grin that Jacqueline couldn’t see.

Jacqueline snorted. “Since I don’t cook at all, that’s not saying much.”

JR laughed. “Maybe you should learn.”

“Why, when there’s perfectly good takeout?”

“My Uncle Brian used to think like that, but he makes the best breakfasts you ever tasted.”

“Brian Kinney cooks?”

“Yep.”

“How the fuck did that happen?”

JR laughed louder. “It just … happened.”

“I’d like to see that some time.”

“I’ll see if I can arrange it,” JR chuckled.

“I’m so glad to be coming home. I never used to care where I was, but if you’re at the loft, it is … home.”

JR smiled. Everything would be perfect if her father would come around and accept Jacqueline. She let out a long sigh before she realized she was doing so.

“That didn’t sound like you were very happy about me coming home,” Jacqueline said uncertainly.

“Sorry,” JR replied quickly. “I was wishing that my father would accept you … us. Then everything would be perfect.”

“Perfect?”

“That’s what I said.”

“I so want life to be perfect for you.”

“I think only I can make it that way.”

“But how are you going to do that? Your father…”

“Don’t say it. I don’t want to talk about him.”

“Then how are you going to fix things?”

“I’ve been mulling over some possibilities while you’ve been gone,” JR said.

“What possibilities?”

“I’ll tell you when you get here.”

“Okaay.”

“You should get some sleep,” JR suggested. “It’s a long drive back here, and I want you to get … home in one piece.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too, Babe.”

They cut the connection.

JR slid down in the bed. She wondered what Jacqueline would say when she told her that she was looking for a new job. She hoped that revelation would be accepted by everyone.
 

Return to Almost Perfect