Summer in the City

Chapter 15

The Kinney-Taylor clan made their way back to the main street and to Nathans. Gus and Joan took Bree around the corner to the picnic tables. There they waited until a large group of people had finished their lunch and got up. Gus quickly moved in to claim the table. Joan situated Bree under the umbrella’s shade then started to perform a little ‘housekeeping’ to clean off the table. Gus brought over some napkins to help. Back around the corner, there were several lines of people all waiting to purchase the famous hot dogs but the lines moved quickly. Brian and Justin stepped up to the window to place their order.

“Three plain hot dogs, two chili dogs and two with everything. Four large fries, three lemonades and two large Cokes,” Justin put in the order like he had done it every day of his life. Brian looked at him in astonishment, arching his eyebrow. Justin gave him a coy little smile as he shrugged his shoulders. Brian just shook his head then pulled out his wallet. Gus came around to help bring the massive meal to the table.

Reminiscent of his waiter days, Justin doled out lunch.

“One plain hot dog and a lemonade for Joan.”

“Thank you, Justin.”

“One plain dog and lemonade for Miss Briana.”

“Thank you, Daddy.”

“One chili dog and one dog with everything for Gus.” Justin slid a Coke over to Gus.

“Thanks!” Gus quickly snatched up the chili dog to take a bite.

“And one plain dog and lemonade for his majesty,” Justin snarked. Brian grunted as Justin arranged an everything dog and chili dog in front of himself.

Justin put the fries in the middle for everyone to share then distributed packets of mustard and ketchup. With a pile of extra napkins also in the middle of the table, the family dug in.

Just after three in the afternoon, Brian shepherded his family back onto the train to Manhattan.

 

*****
 

“Daddy, I’m tired,” Bree whined as they entered their suite. Gus immediately went to his room and shut the door.

“Let’s get you in the bathtub then you can take a nap. Later we can read your new book,” Justin suggested. With a wide yawn, Bree agreed and followed her daddy to the bathroom.

“Brian, if you don’t mind, I’ll take a quick shower in your bathroom so I can be ready when Bree finishes with her bath,” Joan said.

“That’s fine, Mom. Would you like a cup of tea?” Joan smiled lovingly at her son as she nodded. Brian filled the coffeemaker with water to heat for his mother’s tea.

 

*****
 

The family spent a quiet evening in their suite, after they had dinner. Gus read to Bree for a while. Justin did some sketching and Brian was on his laptop. Joan tried to read, but she enjoyed sitting back in a comfortable armchair watching her family.

She had never been happier in her life. The thought that Brian had asked her to come with them to New York once again made her feel so warm inside. She couldn’t believe she had wasted all those years in her rigid religious beliefs that had cut her off from her family and the joy she was now able to experience. At least she had learned her lesson before it was too late.

Bree listened to Gus read the story to her. She could read most of the words herself, but she liked sitting on Gus’ knee and being close to her big brother. Whatever had been the matter with him at the library now seemed to be in the past. Gus loved her like he always had and she snuggled against him as her head drooped from exhaustion. It had been a busy day, but a very happy one for the little girl. She loved spending time with her whole family together.

Gus tried to concentrate on the story he was reading. He refused to let his thoughts go to Cole and what had happened in that restroom. He placed his arm around Bree and held her gently as her head rested on his shoulder and she started to doze off. He loved his sister and he was truly sorry for causing her to think that he didn’t want to be around her anymore. As much as he wanted to be with Cole, he didn’t want to upset his family. They were more important in the long run. He just wished he could get over this virgin business and get on with his life.

“Gus?” Bree said softly.

“What, short stuff?”

“You stopped reading.”

“Sorry,” Gus replied, as he focused on the page in front of him and started reading again.

Justin watched Bree and Gus. He was sketching them as he watched. They would make the perfect thing to have in a painting for his Winter Season. He would add in a roaring fireplace or a Christmas tree and the effect would be perfect. Justin watched Gus’ face and realized that the boy had stopped reading. His thoughts had obviously drifted somewhere else. Justin wondered if Gus was thinking about this guy he had snuck out of the library to meet, and then had snuck out of the aquarium to rendezvous with as well. Brian had not been happy. Justin hoped Gus knew what he was getting into. The fact that this guy didn’t seem to want to be around Gus’ family didn’t bode well. Justin wished he could meet this Cole face to face. He was sure he’d be able to figure out exactly what the guy wanted. Justin suspected it was sex he wanted from Gus, but Justin had no intention of letting this Cole hurt Gus. He and Brian would do everything they could to protect Gus, but the lad seemed intent on being with this nineteen year old. At least he isn’t twenty-nine, Justin thought with a sigh. He had no idea what he would do if that was the case. Bree said something to Gus, so they got back to their story, and Justin got back to his sketching.

Brian stared at the computer screen. He had done what he needed to do and probably should switch it off. However, he was furtively watching his son with Bree. He was glad to see that they seemed to be back to their old camaraderie. He had been worried when Justin had told him that Bree thought Gus didn’t love her anymore. Just as Justin had been worried when Brian had filled him in on Cole and Gus’ sneaking around. Both of them wanted Gus to be upfront and honest in his dealings with them and with life. Brian hated this lying and sneaking about. He wanted to meet this Cole person and figure out what he was up to with his son. If he was nineteen, it might just boil down to simple sexual urges. However, that could still lead to Gus getting hurt, and Brian did not want that.

“Pop,” Gus said. “I think she’s asleep.” He looked down at Bree who was resting against his chest.

“Thanks, Sonny Boy,” Brian replied. “She needed to calm down from the excitement of Coney Island. I’ll put her to bed.” Brian started to switch off his computer.

“May I use that?” Joan asked. “If you’re finished, of course.”

“Sure,” Brian said clicking off his programs but leaving the computer running.

Joan moved over to the table where Brian had been sitting. She watched her son gently pick up Bree who had donned her pj’s when they returned from the restaurant after dinner. Brian carried Bree to her bedroom.

“Need any help, grandma?” Gus asked.

“Why yes, I could use your help. I had a couple of questions about accessing websites.”

“Here, let me show you,” Gus said, sitting down beside her. “You start to do what you want and if you get stuck, I’ll walk you through it.”

“Thank you, Gus,” Joan said with a smile.

Justin watched Joan and Gus work at the computer for a while before setting down his sketchbook. He waited for Brian to come out of Bree’s bedroom. He didn’t have long to wait.

“Brian,” Justin said when his husband emerged. “Would you like to go for a walk? I feel kind of restless.”

Brian raised an eyebrow, but followed Justin’s lead. “I think a brisk walk might be just what the doctor ordered.”

“Good, then let’s go.”

Justin walked over to the door of the suite and waited for Brian to join him.

“We won’t be long,” Brian said to Gus and Joan.

“Have a good walk,” Joan told him.

“You’ll both be here when we get back?” Brian asked pointedly.

“Yeah, Pop, I’ll be here,” Gus said with a sigh. He knew he was going to have to be very careful for the next while. Justin and his father would be watching him like a hawk.

Brian and Justin rode down in the elevator and walked out into the warm summer night.

“I thought we could talk better out here,” Justin said.

“What do you want to talk about?” Brian asked as they walked along the street.

“Gus.”

“That’s what I thought.”

“What are we going to do about this Cole character?”

“Nothing.”

“What do you mean, nothing?” Justin asked in surprise.

“Gus likes this guy. If we try to stop him from seeing Cole, he’ll just do it in secret. I’d like to keep things above board if we can,” Brian explained.

“How are we going to do that?”

“I think we should ask Gus to bring Cole to dinner next week. That way we can meet him and size him up.”

“And scare the shit out of him, if I know you,” Justin chuckled.

“Well, maybe just a tad.”

“I thought so,” Justin giggled.

“I merely want that fucker to know that he better not mess with my son or he’ll have me to answer to.”

“The mighty Kinney.”

“Something like that.”

“I like your plan,” Justin concurred.

“You do?”

“Yep, and now that we have that settled, do you want to go back?”

“Hm, how about an ice cream?” Brian asked as he spotted a Baskin-Robbins up ahead.

“Ice cream? You?”

“I might be talked into a small pralines and cream.”

“It’s after seven, you know.”

“You only live once,” Brian said as he grabbed Justin’s hand and they walked to the ice cream shop.

 

*****
 

Over the next few days, Justin spent most of the time in his studio. Gus visited with Jeff and Raymond while Brian spent time at N’rgy. The tenant in 202 moved early and turned his key over to Simon. Simon and Stacey immediately started their moving plans.

“Gamma, what’s this place?” Briana asked in awe. They were standing in the middle of Times Square; the street was packed with tourists.

“This is called Times Square,” Joan answered, equally amazed. She had known of the stories about the Times Square of the past. It was a dirty, scary place, no one respectable wanted to be there, but now it was a wonderland of electronics and commerce.

“Oooo, Gamma, look! M&Ms!” Bree pointed to the M&M store. “Can we go in?” Bree turned her big eyes onto Joan.

“Sure we can. We’ll bring home a treat for the boys.”

“Thank you, Gamma!” Bree smiled brilliantly as they crossed the street to enter the vast world of M&Ms.

 

*****
 

“Hey,” Gus said as he answered his cell phone. Gus was curious about ‘Ground Zero,’ so Jeff and Raymond took him downtown and to Battery Park.

“Where you been?” Cole asked.

“Around,” Gus said hesitantly. He really wanted to see Cole again, but Gus did not want to ditch his friends. It felt good to relax, be with people he trusted and without any sexual tension. As much as Cole was tempting, Gus had no intention of being rude and hurting his friends like he hurt Bree.

“Can you be more vague?” Cole snarked. He wasn’t used to his ‘prey’ being so evasive.

“I’m with my friends.”

“Friends, oooh, you have friends. I thought I was your friend,” Cole said sarcastically.

“I thought so too. I gotta go,” Gus said hearing the sarcasm. He was about to cut the connection when Cole shouted into the phone.

“Gus, wait! Look, I really want to be with you,” Cole said, suddenly all sweetness. “I didn’t mean to sound angry. I just want some more of that sweet, sexy mouth of yours. We just gotta find a safe place. Do you know someplace where we can be alone?”

Gus thought fast; he really wanted to be alone with Cole too. “Justin is taking my sister to the Met tomorrow. I think I can get the keys to his studio. We can be alone there.”

“Cool. Call me later with the details.”

“Sure.”

“I’ll make it all worth it, I promise,” Cole purred into the phone then hung up. The sound of Cole’s voice went straight to Gus’ groin. He shook himself out of it then rejoined his friends.

 

*****
 

“Emmett’s Place,” Emmett answered. He was hip deep in pear and blue cheese canapes and sweating up a storm.

“Hi, Emm, it’s Mel. Do you have time to go over the menu?”

“No, I do not have time to go over the menu. I’m creating!” Emmett nearly shrieked. He had ten events all taking place between the thirtieth and the fourth, one of which was Melanie and Lindsay’s do.

“But, I need to make one tiny....,” Melanie began only to be interrupted.

“NO, we do not say the ‘c’ word when it comes to my menu.”

“I never use that word,” Melanie yelled, misunderstanding Emmett.

“What? Oh no, Mel, not that ‘c’ word, the other ‘c’ word.”

“Emmett, what the fuck are you talking about?” Mel growled back in frustration.

“Change, Mel, the ‘c’ word I’m referring to is the word change. You do not change the menu just before your event. Now, go back to lawyering and leave the menu and event planning to the experts. Bye, Melanie!” Emmett slammed down the phone while thinking the other ‘c’ word to himself, then begging the gods for forgiveness.

“Damn faggots,” Mel cursed as she tried to get the ringing in her ears to stop.

 

*****
 

“Gus, Earth to Gus,” Raymond teased. Gus was staring out over the water. The sky was so clear, the water looked so blue, and Gus’ mind was miles away. “What’s wrong?”

“I did some stupid things and I just don’t know what to do about it,” Gus sighed. Jeffrey was off checking out the street vendors leaving Ray and Gus alone to talk.

“What things?’

“You know that kid, Cole? The one I met at the dance.”

“Yeah, he’s hot.”

“Yeah, he is. I was at the library with Bree and Grandma Joan last week when he called. I snuck out to meet him and then again on Sunday when we went to Coney Island. He makes me want to do stuff, you know?”

“Yeah, I know.”

“So what should I do? My dads are watching me like a hawk, Bree thought I hated her and I feel so guilty and horny all the time. I’m pathetic. I want Cole to meet my dads but he says he’s not into ‘rents.”

Raymond commiserated. “The GLC is sponsoring a Fourth of July party next week, right here in the park. It’s gonna be a blast and then later on we stay for the fireworks. You guys gotta come. Cole is bound to be here. And then he can meet your dads. Your dads are so cool, it’ll be okay and then you won’t have to sneak around! What d’ya think?”

“That’s a great idea. I was just about to steal the keys to Justin’s studio but if they meet Cole and like him, we can hang out without my dad having a stroke or something.”

The boys high fived then touched fists. All was right in the world again.

 

*****
 

Bree held Joan’s hand tight as they crossed the street. Joan pushed open the door of the M&M store and they passed inside. Bree stopped dead in her tracks as she looked around and then her gaze fell on something she thought she’d never see.

“Gamma,” she gasped, her eyes as big as saucers.

“What is it, Bree?” Joan asked a little concerned by her granddaughter’s reaction to the place.

“It’s my rainbow,” Bree whispered in an almost reverential voice.

“What?” Joan queried. She thought she heard Bree say something about her rainbow, but she wasn’t sure what that meant.

“Look, Gamma,” Bree said raising her hand and pointing to the wall off to the side of where they stood.

Joan looked up and saw a wall filled with tubes of M&M’s of every color under the rainbow. She smiled as she realized this was the rainbow Bree was referring to. “There are a lot of colors in that rainbow,” Joan said gently.

“It’s my rainbow,” Bree stated adamantly. “They have my rainbow.”

“I don’t understand what you mean,” Joan said with a frown as she looked at the colorful array.

“They have a rainbow with brown and black, just like the ones I draw on my cards.”

“Why yes, they do.” Joan smiled down at the precocious little girl.

“I love this rainbow.”

“I’m sure you do, sweetheart.”

“Can we get some of each color?” Bree asked. “I could make Daddy and Dada one of my rainbows out of the candies … and Gus too.”

“I think we can arrange that,” Joan agreed. “Let’s look around before we get the candy.”

“Okay.”

Bree took her grandmother’s hand and they went upstairs where there were lots of silly toys and knickknacks to buy. Joan didn’t see anything she wanted or anything that seemed appropriate for the little girl. Bree touched many items, but really didn’t show any great interest in anything.

They walked over to the railing that looked down into the first floor of the store.

“Look, Gamma!” Bree squealed. “It’s an M&M that looks like the Stature of Liberty.”

“That’s statue, dear.”

“Statue of Liberty,” Bree repeated.

The huge M&M was indeed dressed as the famous statue. It was suspended above the main entrance to the store, a very fitting decoration for New York City.

They made their way downstairs and saw some people standing around a flashing machine. They went over to investigate. Joan read the directions which stated that if you stood on the designated spot, the machine would tell you what color your personality was. Of course, Bree wanted to do that.

Waiting their turn took a while, but they watched other children and adults be told they were green or red or crispy medley. Joan chuckled at that one. Finally Bree got to the front of the line and stood on the disk that would tell her personality. The lights revolved and flashed and on the screen it said: Your color is yellow. You are a ray of sunshine in everyone’s lives.

Joan read the words to her granddaughter. Bree smiled and nodded her head. She had got most of the words herself.

“Just like Daddy,” Bree said as she stepped out of the machine.

“Why do you say that, dear?”

“’Cause Dada calls Daddy Sunshine sometimes. So Daddy’s sunshine just like me.” Her smile was radiant.

“That’s certainly true,” Joan had to agree. Bree and her biological father brought light and fun to everyone’s lives who knew them. “Shall we get our rainbow of candies and head on home?”

Bree bobbed her head in agreement. She had a lot to tell her fathers about her day out.


 

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