Note: This part is in second person


THE FAMILY

It had taken an hour before Vic had eventually calmed down enough to talk without chocking up with tears. Now he just sat holding Eve’s hands, occasionally hugging her and dabbing at his eyes. In all fairness she did the same. She hadn’t moved more than a few inches from Vic's side since the introductions. After so many years apart Eve and Vic needed to be close to each other. Emmett was crying. Brian told him he was a big Queen and couldn’t pass up a chance at any kind of Drama. Eve and Vic laughed at that 

They tried to catch up on a12 year absence in each other’s lives. Vic gave the family the back-story of his life with Eve and Everett in Atlanta. He had moved to Atlanta when he landed a position as the Head Pastry Chef in Atlanta’s premiere catering company.

Everett and Vic met at a party one night at a posh Country Club in Buckhead. Vic was filling in because their head host had taken ill suddenly. Everett was tall, dark, muscular, handsome, shaved head, goatee and a pierced ear. He was every fag’s wet dream. Everett and Vic had started talking at the party decided to meet up after the party. A one-night stand led to more dates and Everett finally introduced Vic to his daughter. For Vic it was love at first sight. Eve was 6 months old when Vic first met her. 

Eve’s mother Allison, a good friend of Everett’s had convinced him to father a child with her and that’s all she wanted. Which was all he intended to do. Everett signed Eve’s birth certificate and left her in the total care of her mother. He thought that would be his final act as Eve’s father. He was wrong. Allison died in a skiing accident while vacationing in Aspen when Eve was 3 months old. Allison’s parents were either unwilling or unable to raise an African American child. Everett who had no intentions of raising Eve found himself with full custody of his daughter. 

Vic moved in with Everett when Eve was two and they just adjusted to family life. She called Everett, Father and Vic, Daddy. Eve was 4 years old when she started asking questions about marriage and why her father and daddy weren’t married. She had told both of them that mommies and daddies and daddies and fathers were supposed to be married. At least the mommies and daddies of her friends at pre-school were all married.

That was when Everett and Vic married. It was only symbolic. Gay marriages were less recognized in the 80’s than they were now. But Vic and Everett thought they should give Eve the stability of married parents. They wanted her to witness her Father and Daddy committing to each other. So, they married in a small ceremony at Piedmont Park.


For many years everything was great. Vic became more the primary care giver for Eve. He learned to braid her hair. He shopped for her clothes. Helped her with school work, took her to her doctor visits, stayed home with her when she was ill, took her to school and picked her up from the after school program. He went to her extra curricular activities. He was the one to take her to get her first bra and talked to her about her menstrual cycle. 

Unfortunately he and Everett were also big pushovers where Eve was concerned. She could always pout or cry and get her way with her Daddy and Father. It was amazing that she wasn’t a spoiled brat. Eve was sweet, energetic outgoing. Vic laughed a lot and smiled as he talked about her. He said she always seemed to be rushing through life. Trying to experience and soak up everything she could. She loved gymnastics, ballet, singing, dancing and reading. She had this unquenchable thirst for learning. He bragged about all of her trophies for academics and gymnastics. Plus she was so intelligent that at the age of 12 she was already in the 10th grade. Eve blushed and beamed as her Daddy bragged on her.


For over 11 years Vic told everyone he, Eve and Everett had been a happy family. Then suddenly it all ended. Eve was 12 years old when her father was in a car accident. On the way home from work Everett was caught in a sudden thunderstorm. Flash floods were popping up all over the Metro Atlanta Area. A car lost control hydroplaned, crossed the centerline and rammed head on into Everett’s car. The crash was quick and deadly. Everett wasn’t wearing his seat belt. He was thrown from the car and died instantly. 

Vic’s voice got very quiet. He and Eve looked at each other the journey through the past playing out painfully on each of their faces. Vic told them in hushed tones that a split second changed his and Eve’s life forever. The family that he and Eve knew was torn apart. 

Everett’s father had shunned Everett and Vic while they were together. Of course he did occasionally send his chauffer to pick up Eve most Sunday’s to attend church. Everett explained to Vic that Eve didn’t have a relationship with Alison’s parents and the least he wanted was for her to have some type of relationship with one of her grandparents. So he allowed the Rev. Worthington to pick her up for visits. Everett’s generosity and his attempts to have a relationship with his father didn’t matter to Rev. Worthington. Eve was the only person in their household that Rev. Worthington thought was worthy of saving. He constantly berated Everett and Vic and called their home a house of ill repute and sin. 

Within hours after Everett’s death Rev. Worthington came and took Eve. Rev. Worthington was a well-established minister in the Atlanta community and Vic couldn’t fight him. Rev. Worthington was Eve’s grandfather. He gave Vic a week to move out of their house. Vic had no choice. His marriage to Everett wasn’t legal and the house was in Everett’s name. Everett and Vic had talked about drawing up papers to give Vic guardianship of Eve if something happened to Everett and making sure to add each other’s name on all their accounts as well as place Vic name on the house. They had procrastinated. Vic and Eve paid the ultimate price for that procrastination. When they needed each other the most they were separated. Forced to deal with the pain of a husband and father’s loss alone.

Mentally, emotionally and spiritually Vic may have been Eve’s Daddy but in the eyes of the law he had no legal claims to his daughter. Rev. Worthington made it clear he had no intentions of allowing Vic to ever see Eve again. He blasted Everett and Vic for living in sin and forcing his grand daughter to watch their wickedness. He told Vic he intended to raise his grand daughter the way the lord intended and to make sure their wickedness and vileness had not tainted her. 


In less than a week Vic and Eve’s life had been changed. Vic moved to New York unable to stay in Atlanta knowing his daughter was there but he was not allowed to see her. 

He’d tried to contact her sending her letters but they were always sent back to him. Return to Sender written on the envelope in big red letters. Eventually he stopped writing but he never forgot about her and she never forgot about him. They just lived separate lives. Now they were back together.


Everyone had been riveted, as Vic told their story. Now that he was finished their were a few sniffles in the room mostly from Emmett, Lindsay and Deb everyone else just seemed a little subdued and sad hearing about how daughter and daddy had been split up. 

“Well, you are back together now so I think that deserves a drink,” Brian said breaking the depressing silence in the room. He stood up and went to the kitchen to get a beer. 

“I think Brian has the right idea,” Vic said. “Why don’t we all get a little something to drink?” 

Deb rose and went to bring out beers to everyone and a soda to Melanie and Eve. Raised by a minister Deb figured she wasn’t into alcohol. 

“So how is Reverend Worthington?” Vic asked. 


“Not well I’m afraid. He’s in what the doctor’s say are the final stages of liver cancer.” 


“I’m sorry, baby. I know how hard it must be dealing with that,” Vic said. 


For a long moment Eve didn’t answer then she said, “The Reverend is a hard man to love but I love him. Mostly because I know he tried to do what was right. We don’t get along very well. I’m a little headstrong and that has always made him angry because I wouldn’t accept everything he said as gospel.” She gave a humorless laughed. “I think I spent half of my years with him challenging him on his interpretations of Bible passages and the other half on some sort of punishment. ” 

Vic laughed, “You were always questioning the status quo. I don’t think the Rev. Worthington was prepared for that.”

“No he wasn’t. I think I may have caused his hair to gray prematurely,” she smiled mischievously, “and I helped him strengthen his relationship with God. Believe me I’ve been called to his study many days and he’s always said *Lord please give me the strength to deal with this willful disobedient child.*”

Everyone laughed. Brian looked over at Eve. Her eyes twinkled mischievously as she related the story. He was trying to get a feel of her. He could usually tell if a woman was straight or a muncher. He couldn’t pick up her vibe. He did pick up the sly looks Lindz was giving her. He grinned. By reading the looks Lindz was giving to Eve she found her very attractive. Brian had watched but other than smiling Eve didn’t seem to encourage Lindz attraction. He wasn’t the only one noticing Lindz attraction to Eve. Mel was watching Eve suspiciously.

Brian found himself watching every move Eve made. There was something about her. Something familiar. Not that he knew her but something about her personality that was familiar. Something that reached out and called to him. He just didn’t know what it was. His eyes and thoughts strayed over to Justin. He was giving his 100-watt smile. For a moment Brian’s breath caught in his throat as he stared at him. He had missed receiving that smile. Justin must have felt his eyes on him because he turned around and looked directly into Brian’s eyes. Murky greenish gray eyes held clear blue eyes. Brian was the first to break eye contact. Brian wasn’t sure what he saw in Justin’s eyes, regret, pain, love, lust or maybe it was just his wishful imagination wanting to see those things.

Justin’s thoughts mirrored Brian’s. Even after Brain dropped his eyes Justin continued to stare at him. He liked the way Brian was wearing his hair. It was longer than he’d worn it in the last year. It was parted on the side falling over his eye. He looked so sexy and aloof. Justin wasn’t sure what he’d seen in Brian’s eyes when they had locked with his. Pain, loneliness, lust. Maybe those were the things he wanted to see. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned his head to smile at Ethan. It wasn’t his 100-watt smile but lately he had been unable to give Ethan anything other than a dim version.

“When can we leave?” Ethan asked moodily. He had wanted to leave as soon as the attention started to focus on someone other than him.

Justin let out a sigh, “In a little while.”

“So Baby, tell me about your life,” Vic said.

“Not a lot to tell Daddy. The Reverend made me drop out of gymnastics. He thought that the clothing was too revealing and no woman should be able to contort her body in to those positions. He considered it sinful,” she said animatedly raising her eyebrows for effect.

That caused everyone to laugh. 

“So, I mostly concentrated on academics. I graduated high school at 15, received a bachelors from college at 18 and moved out of the Reverend’s house. I received my Masters in Communications at 20 and worked at the local radio station for the last few years. I found out about the Reverend’s illness about six months ago. I’ve been staying with him since that time. He has a full time nurse but I spend most of the day with him. Just reading to him and trying to keep him company.”

“Are you married, children, someone special in your life?” Vic asked his daughter.

“No Daddy I’m not married, no children. And I can assure you that I will never marry or have children. I don‘t have the time or the patience for a relationship,” Eve stated vehemently.

The force of her statement surprised Vic. Brian was intrigued by it. Everyone else was drawing their own conclusions. The room had grown silent after her heated statements.

Emmett decided to lighten the mood in the room. He clapped excitedly, 
“What’s in the box?” 

“Just a few mementos. I was going through some of the stuff in the Reverend’s attic and I found some of Father’s things..” She looked pointedly at her Daddy and squeezed his hands. “Some of these things should have been given to you when father died. Rev. Worthington was cruel to keep them from you.” 


“You didn’t call him grandfather?” Vic asked. 


“No, I’ve never called him grandfather. He was always Rev. Worthington to me.” 


“Well, lets see what you have,” Vic said.

Eve opened the large box and pulled out a smallr box. She cleared her throat, “Well, some things are private only for you Daddy. The items in that box belonged to Father. You should have been given them. I can’t apologize for the Reverend. No one can. I was tempted to discard these things but I couldn’t. I don’t have the right to discard these things any more than the Rev. had the right to keep them from you. So, it’s up to you to decide what to do with them." 

“What’s in there?” Vic asked nervously.

“They are Father’s personal effects. The Rev. picked them up at the morgue. He’s kept them boxed up. I didn’t go through them. So, I’m not sure what’s all in there.”

Vic tried to fight around the lump in his throat, “It would seem like I could remember every part of that day,” he hesitated, “but I can’t. It was just another day like any other day we’ve had. He drank coffee, grabbed a slice of toast, kissed me and you, Eve and was out the door. Just like he’d done for thousands of mornings. And when he wasn’t home by 6:00 p.m. I just figured he was working late. Like he did thousands of evenings in the past. I thought it was just a normal day until Rev. Worthington was knocking on the door. They had contacted him because he was the next of kin. Not me his husband, his life partner. Our relationship and commitment to each other wasn’t even acknowledged…,” Vic voice trailed off. He looked up at all the faces watching mostly his daughter. He cleared his throat. “Well, let’s see what’s in that box,” he said taking a deep breath.

“Well, like I told you Daddy some things may be personal, but I brought a few photo albums with me. Just pictures of me growing up in the Reverend's house. My graduation pictures, stuff like that. There aren’t many. The Reverend didn’t believe in taking a lot of pictures. He considered it a form of vanity. So, other than school pictures I don’t have many.”

Ben brought the box and sat it on the table near Vic. The rest of the evening was spent going through the photo albums and listening to Eve tell humorous stories of growing up with the Reverend that had everyone laughing. Deb pulled out one of her photo albums of recent pictures taken within the last 2 years. Everyone was laughing talking having a good time. Everyone but Ethan who felt that he wasn’t a part of this extended family. He sat stiffly on the sofa as the other gathered around Vic. Some standing behind him on the side of him. Mel and Lindz had taken a seat on the floor next to his chair. Eve had kicked off her shoes and was curled up on the floor looking through a photo album that Deb had given her. She saw a few pictures of Justin when he was a little younger, but most importantly she saw pictures of Justin and Brian together. Brian and Justin kissing while sitting on the very sofa Justin and Ethan were occupying now. Well, Justin was no longer sitting on the sofa. He had moved and was kneeling on the side of the chair Vic was sitting in his elbows resting on the arm of the chair. Even Brian was leaning in the doorway looking on trying to pretend boredom as everyone oohed and aahed over pictures.

Brian watched as Eve fit right in with the family. He expected her to be stuffy and stiff but she wasn’t. To be exact she was genuinely happy to be there. She constantly touched Vic as if he’d disappear if she didn’t. She smiled every time he looked at her and beamed when he remotely complimented her on anything. She was a daughter just happy to be with her Daddy. His eyes strayed to Justin who was on his knees kneeling next to Vic's chair looking at one of the photo albums Eve had brought with her. Brian’s imagination was going wild. He remembered Justin kneeling just like that many mornings, afternoons, and nights in front of him. Giving him the most fucking amazing blowjob he’d ever had in his life. His eyes trailed to the sofa to look at Justin’s egotistical boyfriend. Brian knew he had to speed up his campaign to get Justin back.

Eve looked at her watch. She slowly stood. Her movements fluid. She reached in her purse and pulled out a long envelope. “Daddy I'm afraid I have to be leaving. My plane leaves in a few hours. I have to get back the Reverend gets restless when I'm gone too long. This is for you Daddy," She placed the envelope in his hand. "When Father died the Reverend sold our home. I tried to calculate half the house’s value at the time of Father’s death plus interest for the 11-12 years the Reverend kept the funds. This is probably only a portion of what the Reverend truly owes you.”

As she spoke Vic opened the envelope she had handed him and pulled out a check. He gasped as he read the amount then looked up at his daughter. “Eve I can’t accept this!” he said trying to give the check back to her.

“Yes, you can Daddy and you will. That house was as much yours as Father’s. That was our home. You know Father would have wanted you to have everything. Not just the profits from the sale of the home but his stocks, savings, everything. The Reverend claims that Father had a lot of debts after his death and once those were paid there wasn’t much money left. I don’t know if that was true. I do know that Father would have wanted us taken care of. He would have wanted to make sure you were taken care of. So please accept it. It really isn’t that much.”

Tears were running down Vic’s and Eve’s eyes. Vic pulled her in his arms and hugged her tightly. 

“Not the water works again,” Brian groaned.

Eve gave a watery laugh and pulled out of Vic’s grasp. “Okay, water works over. Daddy can you please call me a cab?”

“I’ll take you Baby,“ Vic said rising from his seat.

Eve placed a hand on his arm. “No Daddy, I don’t think I could take it if you came to the airport.“

Vic shook his head in understanding. “You’ll call lto et me know you arrived home safely?"

“Yes, Daddy.“

“When will I see you again?” he asked.

“Very soon Daddy I promise.” She hugged him. “Now how about calling that cab?” 

“No need to call a cab Angel Cakes, Brian will take you,” Deb volunteered his services.

“What?!” Brian exclaimed pushing away from the doorframe.

‘I-said-you’ll-drive-Angel-Cakes-to-the-airport,” Deb stressed every word as she gave Brian her don’t fuck with me look.

“Sure why not,” Brian said throwing his hand in the air in exasperation, “Just call me the Kinney taxi service.”

--------------------
It was almost 30 minutes before Eve and Brian actually left. The good-byes were long and tearful. Even Justin shed a tear. But then Brian reasoned he was a little Drama Princess always had been. Of course Emmett had to cry and Lindz gave Eve and extra long hugwhich seemed to really piss off Mel. Vic and Deb had hugged Eve for so long that Brian had to finally pull her out the door.

As the door shut behind Eve and Brian's departure every one seemed to mill about. It was almost 11:00 p.m. One of Deb’s Sunday dinner's had never lasted that long before. Vic eventually went to his seat and picked up the check. Rodney was standing close to him rubbing his back.

“Well, Vic how much is the check?” Deb asked as she cleared off the table.

“Seventy-two-five,” Vic replied absently leaning into Rodney's caress.

“Wow!, Deb exclaimed, “Seven thousand two hundred and five dollars is a lot of money. It can help pay off some of your bills.”

“Not Seven thousand two hundred and five dollars, it’s Seventy-two thousand-five hundred dollars.”

Deb dropped the plate she was holding and it crashed to the floor. “Fucking Wow!” she exclaimed. She walked over and snatched the check out of Vic’s hand. “Well, I’ll be shit!”

Her words expressed everyone’s sentiments.