When You Touch Me 
Chapter 3

Justin managed to avoid Daphne and Molly for the entire day. It was only as the evening began to close in on him that they descended without asking permission to come into his loft. “How do we look?” Molly asked. She stepped out into his living room from the winding stairway. Daphne followed behind her.

“I didn’t hear the two of you knock.” Justin grumbled. “Why are you both dressed up?”

“We have dates.” Daphne declared. “For dinner and a movie.”

“How teeny bopperish” Justin drawled.

“You’re just jealous ‘cause you don’t have a date and we do.” Molly chided like the sister she was. It was her job to keep Justin on his toes emotionally. Or at least that’s what she’d always thought. “Are you staying home tonight?”

“It’s Tuesday night, what else would I do?” Justin looked at the two of them. 

“You could go to a club.”

“And pigs could fly. But I don’t see them doing that.” Justin stalked over to his studio and picked up a paintbrush. “Don’t the door hit your asses on the way out.” He turned to the canvas he’d been working on. It was a study in dark swirls of color that aptly reflected his thoughts that day.

Molly looked at Daphne and the two girls shrugged. “Okay be a bitchy drama queen.” Molly glared at Justin. “But remember you are the one who is responsible for your life and no one else. So fucking get over yourself Justin Craig Taylor.”

The two girls flounced back down the stairs. Justin listened to their heels hitting the hardwood and he was embarrassed for his foul mood. Molly was right, he and no one else was responsible for how he handled his life. Hiding in his loft wasn’t a positive move. Justin began to clean his brushes. Maybe he would go out. Go to Babylon and lose himself in the dancing and the music. It had been a long time. Heading to the shower, Justin almost didn’t answer the ringing telephone, but unable to resist, he picked it up. “Hello?”

“Justin, this is Brian Kinney upstairs. Look, I need you to watch Gus for me if you can. I just got a call from the hospital. My mother’s had a stroke and they can’t locate my sister. I don’t want to take Gus there in case he still has a bug. I’d hate for him to infect the damn place. Fuck I hate this.” He sighed. “I’ll understand if you can’t. I called Michael’s but there’s no answer and I know Deb is working right now. I don’t want Gus to go to Vic’s for the same reason as the hospital. He’s HIV positive and an infection wouldn’t be good for him. He’d have a hard time fighting it off.”

“Slow down Brian, will you let me talk.” Justin all but yelled. “Do you want me to go upstairs or do you want to bring Gus down here?”

“I can bring him down there, but I’ll leave you a key and the code in case you need anything. I shouldn’t be long.”

“I’ll be waiting.” Justin hung up the phone. Brian’s poor mother he thought, imagine having a stroke. She couldn’t be much older than his mother would have been had she lived. 

“Hey Gus” he said with as smile when Brian knocked on his door a few minutes later. “I was just making cookies, do you want to help?”

“Really, I can help?” Gus grinned. “Daddy, I can help make cookies.”

“Make sure you save me one Sonny Boy.”

“Give Grandma a kiss for me daddy. Tell her I want her to feel better.”

“Gus you don’t even know her.” Brian said to his son. 

“But that’s because you never let her come and visit.” Gus said reasonably. “I would visit her but I don’t know where she lives.”

Justin looked at Brian, questions in his eyes. “I’ll tell you all the gruesome details of this wonderful mother son relationship later.” Brian whispered. “Believe me if my sister Claire was in town, I wouldn’t be going to the hospital right now.”

Justin was a bit confused. Brian, the little he knew of him, had always struck him as a kind and compassionate man. And here he was saying he wouldn’t see his own mother in the hospital. It was confusing; he’d hold Brian to his promise of an explanation. Thought he supposed the other man really didn’t owe him one. They barely knew each other. 

“Gus and I will be fine. You have my number if you need to get a hold of me.” Justin smiled at Brian. “I’m sure your mother will be fine, they do great things these days with stroke victims.”

“Lets hope.” Brian kissed Gus goodbye. “See you in a little while Sonny Boy.”

“I’ll save a cookie for you daddy.” Gus said.

Justin and Gus headed to the kitchen to make cookies. The little boy was all excited, but Justin couldn’t help but be concerned for Brian who while he said he didn’t care about his mother with his mouth, his eyes spoke volumes. Justin seemed to be able to read Brian Kinney as if he’d known him forever.

Brian strode into the hospital. He hated the damn places they made him almost physically ill between the smell and the usual not great reason for being in one in the first place. He sought out the doctor who had admitted his mother. While they were looking for him, Brian filled out all the necessary forms that were required to admit her.

“Brian, Brian Kinney, so Joan Kinney is your mother.” Brian looked up to see one of his old tricks walking toward him. It was Paul Clifton. 

“Hi Paul, how’s tricks?” Brian said tongue in cheek as he shook his friend’s hand.

“That’s Dr. Paul, how’s tricks?” the doctor said with a laugh. “Just fine Brian, but your mother is in for a bit of a rough road. She suffered a mild stroke and luckily, if you can call it that, she was with some ladies from the Church so she was brought in right away. We began treatment and she should recover fully, but she needs to make a few life style changes and she’ll need to be taken care of for say a month or maybe two before she should be on her own again.”

“What kind of lifestyle changes?”

“No more smoking or drinking.”

Brian barked a laugh. “You going to tell her to stop breathing too, because that’s pretty much all she does all day is smoke and drink.”

“Well if she wants to continue this life, that’s part of what she needs to do. She should also start a mild exercise program. Say a half hour walk each day, accompanied of course.”

“I’ll call my sister and let her know what she has in store for the next few weeks.” Brian looked bleak. “I almost feel sorry for the bitch.”

“Unfortunately you sister won’t be stepping in Brian. I talked with your mother and your sister has moved to California. She has a job there and can’t take time off right now.”

“And nobody bothered to mention this to me why?” Brian asked rhetorically.

“It’s up to you Brian. I can release your mother in forty-eight hours. We like to keep an eye on stoke victims at least that long. There are some tests that need to be done and medication to adjust. It’ll give you time to make arrangements to look after her.”

“What the fuck am I going to do with her? I have a four year old son I look after now and I work long hours. It’s hard enough juggling that without adding a hateful old bitch to the pot.”
“It’s not for that long Brian, she’ll require twenty four hour care for the first few weeks and by the time she’s walking properly, and she should be fine on her own during the day. Perhaps you could hire someone to come in during the day. There are homemaker services out there. I’ll have my assistant give you a list.” 

Brian looked trapped and panicked. “Where is mother dearest?” he asked through gritted teeth.

“She’s in room 314. Brian, try not to agitate her, she needs to be stress free now. I’ve already explained the situation to her. I think this scare is enough to make her give up the smoking and the drinking.”

“Right, well you don’t know the warden do you?” Brian said his voice filled with bitterness.

“It won’t be that bad Brian, she is your mother after all.”

“That’s a detail she remembers very rarely.” Brian looked haunted as he followed his friend to his mother’s room.

Brian walked into his mother’s room. The tall woman, usually filled with arrogance, looked small and frail lying in the stark hospital room. “Well mom, your acidic nature and your smoking and drinking have finally caught up with you.”

“Take a good look Brian, I don’t do anything you don’t do.” Her voice was slurred and filled with bitterness. “It’ll only be a matter of time before you’ll be in the same spot.”

Brian, choosing to ignore his mother’s words stared out the window. “Why didn’t you tell me that Claire had moved?”

“Brian, you don’t get along with her, you never did. The subject never came up.” She watched her son and not for the first time did she wonder how their lives came to be at such odds.

“We were close at first.” Brian mumbled. “She used to protect me against Jack.”

“That was a long time ago. We were all different then.”

Brian wanted to shout his thoughts into the air, his bitterness like bile in his mouth. Instead he swallowed his words and looked back at his mother. “I’ll find you a homemaker. Paul says you need to be watched.”

“Not watched.” Her voice had a tinge of amusement. “I’m not suicidal or bent on destruction. But I understand I’ll be unsteady on my feet for a while.” She paused. “I can’t go home. There are too many stairs.”

“Sleep in the living room. You usually pass out there anyway, it won’t make much difference.”

“Brian,” his name came out of her mouth filled with hurt.

“Well, what would you suggest? I’ve just bought Vanguard and I don’t have the money to put you in some hotel like care center for two months.”

“I could stay with you.”

“You fucking well could not.” Brian glared at her. “I’d slit my throat or yours before the first day was out.”

“I want to get to know my grandson.”

“Your grandson has survived this long without you. Why now? You do know I’m still gay? That hasn’t changed.”

“I figured as much.” She sighed and tried to make conversation. “Do you have someone special in your life, a partner?” She wasn’t sure what to call him, a boyfriend, partner, significant other?

“None of your business.” Brian didn’t want his mother to know anything of his life; he certainly wasn’t about to exchange confidences at this late date.

“I’m sorry I asked, but I want to be part of your life Brian. It’s not too late to start over.”

“It’s thirty years too late mother.” Brian glared at her. “I could keep some shrink in summer homes with the hang ups I have because of my fun filled childhood.”

“Or you could move on and heal Brian. We all make choices in life. Some better than others, but they are choices.” She shut her eyes, her pressed deeper into the hospital pillow, her face pale. “Let me know what you decide. I’m not going anywhere.” Her voice was so low and the words slurred that Brian could barely make them out.

Without saying another word, he turned on his heel and left the room. Outside in the parking lot he started to light a cigarette and then remembering his mother’s words. He threw it down and crushed it beneath his shoe. His father died of lung cancer, his mother had a stroke. He couldn’t take the risk of leaving Gus parentless.

At the Tremont building he pulled into his parking place, but then sat in his car staring into the dark shadowed night unable to get out of the car. He looked up and at dancing shadows in the light of Justin’s apartment. A small one and a taller one, they were dancing and Brian smiled. Gus loved to dance; he must have talked Justin into it. Justin was a good man. He talked to Gus like they were equals and the child appreciated the fact. 
His cell phone rang, the number displayed wasn’t familiar but he answered it anyway. “Kinney” his voice was rough and it was only then that he realized he’d been crying. Crying for what he didn’t know. For lost childhood, for a mother who wasn’t and never had been? He didn’t know.

“Is everything alright?” Justin’s voice breathed serenity into him.

“Yeah.”

“I saw you arrive, but you didn’t come up and I was worried.”

“You don’t need to worry about me. I’m tough, always have been and always will be.”

“Glad to hear it.” 

Brian could hear the smile in Justin’s voice and he smiled in return though it was dark in the car and he felt foolish. He brushed the dampness from his eyes. “I’m coming up. Was that you and Gus dancing?”

“Yes, he’s going to try out for the King of Babylon in about fifteen years. We were practicing.”

“He’ll win.”

“I’ll vote for him.”

Brian climbed out of the car locking it behind him. “I’m coming in now.”

“Later then Brian.” Justin resisted the urge to say something endearing. He really had no right, but Brian sounded like he needed a hug. Justin hung up the phone with a sigh.

“Is daddy okay?” Gus asked as he climbed up on a kitchen stool to sit beside Justin.

“He’s okay.” Justin smiled a Gus and gave him a quick hug. “Sometimes daddy’s get a bit sad.”

“Little boys get sad too. I get sad when I think of my mommies. They’re in heaven you know.”

“I know.” Justin sighed. “My mommy and daddy are in heaven too. Maybe they know your mommies.”

“Maybe they visit and make cookies.”

“I bet they do.” Justin agreed.

“I’ll say hello when I say my prayers tonight.”

“That will be nice. I’ll say hi to your mommies when I say mine too.” 

“We could say our prayers together.” Gus offered.

“If I’m around when you go to bed, I’ll say my prayers with you.” There was a knock on the door. “That must be your dad.” Justin said as he turned to the door. 

“Hey” Justin opened the door to a tired looking Brian. “Come on in and sit down for a few minutes.”

“I really can’t stay. Gus needs to go to bed.” He looked at his son. Taking a chance and not a hundred percent sure why he did it, Brian asked. “Do you want to come up to my place? We can talk after Gus is asleep.”

“Sure, do you have milk?”

“Milk?”

“For the cookies.”

“I don’t eat carbs after seven.”

“There’s always the first time.” Justin was shocked by the easy manner in which he could talk to Brian. There was no underlying current of fear when he looked into his eyes. The fact that he was even looking into his eyes was amazing in itself.

“Justin, we can say our prayers together.” Gus was delighted with the turn of events. 

“If your daddy doesn’t mind, then I guess we can.” Justin smiled at both Brian and Gus.
He took a plate of cookies with him as he followed the two Kinney men out his door and up the stairs.

Gus went right to his room to put on his pajamas. He was tired though he hated to admit it. Justin stood inside the door surveying the loft. Brian’s space was the entire top floor of the building. It must have been two lofts at one time, but now it had been tastefully renovated into one.

“Lots of space here.” Justin commenting and then feeling foolish at the obvious words.

“It’s works for us.” Brian looked around as if seeing it for the first time. “I was going to move into Mel and Lindsay’s place when they died, but I knew I’d only resent the fact that I no longer had my loft. Gus was a baby and he really didn’t care. So I bought the place beside me and renovated.”

“At least you don’t resent Gus.”

“Never. I admit that when Lindsay wanted me to donate sperm to make a baby, I was less than enthused. But once I held him, I was hooked.” He gave a bitter laugh. “Of course being a single father never even registered on the scale.”

“Gus is happy, you’re doing something right.”

“I do my best. I admit it probably isn’t always the right way, but it’s the best I can do.”

“That’s what counts Brian, your best and love will make a happy and healthy little boy.”

“Daddy, Justin I’m ready.” Gus called.

“You don’t have to do this Justin. Deb, Michael’s mother, got Gus into the habit of talking to his moms as a way of not letting them be forgotten in his life. It makes him happy.”

“Deb is a smart woman.” Justin said with a smile. “I promised Gus Brian and I don’t break my promises.”

Brian nodded his agreement and the two of them headed into Gus’ room. “Hey Sonny Boy are you all ready for bed?”

“I brushed my teeth and peed and everything.”

“Great.” Brian sat on the end of Gus’ bed. Gus was sitting up propped against his pillows; a large bear dressed in leather was tucked under the covers. Justin walked over and sat down on the bed next to Gus.

“You start first Justin.” Gus demanded.

“Okay.” Justin took Gus’ hand self-consciously. He shut his eyes and Gus shut his as well. Brian observed the two of them. “Hi Mom and Dad, it’s Justin, Molly and Daphne are out on a date. I’m sure they’ll check in later. This is Gus; he’s a special friend of mine. His mommies live in Heaven with you both, can you say hi to them and let them know that I’ll help Gus’ daddy watch out for Gus.” 

“And say about Daddy and me.” Gus prompted.

“Oh and Mom and Dad, you need to add Brian and Gus to your guardian Angel duties. You’d both like Brian and you’d adore Gus.”

“Hi Justin’s mommy and daddy.” Gus chimed in. “Mommy and Momma, this is Justin, he’s my friend and we made cookies. He’s teaching me all about making cookies and someday we’re going to make a cake. Maybe for daddy’s birthday. I want you guys to be friends with Justin’s mommy and daddy please. Oh and momma and mommy, Grandma Kinney is sick. Can you help her, be her Guarden Angel too like Justin’s Mommy and Daddy are. Night mommy, night momma I love you.” Gus opened his eyes and blew a kiss in the air. “You blow a kiss too Justin.” 

Justin blew a kiss in the air and then kissed Gus on the forehead. “Goodnight little one, sleep tight.” He whispered.

“I love you Justin.” Gus reached up and hugged Justin around the neck. “Daddy, hug please.” He looked at Justin, “My daddy gives the best hugs in the whole world even if he’s bony.”

Justin laughed. “I’ll remember that Gus.” He stood up and left the room to allow Brian some private time with his son.

“Daddy,” Gus said, his voice sleepy. “I really like Justin. Do you like him too?”

“I like him too.”

“Good” Gus rolled over and hugged his leather bear tight. “I love you daddy.”

“I love you too Sonny Boy.” Brian said. He pulled the covers up and tucked them in tight before planting a tender kiss on Gus’ head. “I love you too Sonny Boy.” He whispered as he turned out the light.

Justin was sitting at his kitchen counter. There were two glasses of milk and the plate of cookies. “Nothing is bad when you have your mouth full of chocolate chip cookies.” Justin said with a smile. “Come on over here and join me.”

Brian drifted over to where Justin was sitting. He took the other high stool and sat with his elbows on the counter and his head in his hands staring at the cookies and milk hoping for some kind of mind bending insight as to why his life was taking such a turn for the worse. 

Justin bit into a cookie and chewed. “They aren’t bad you know.”

Brian picked one up and turned it over and over in his hand studying the contours, the bumps and bits of chocolate. “She wants to live here while she recovers.” He said his voice bleak.

“And how do you feel about that?” Justin asked.

“I don’t know. At first I said no. I mean the woman has given me nothing but grief for as long as I can remember. She even told me I was going to hell because I’m gay.”

“Well she’s wrong.” Justin said with conviction.
“I know, but still it hurt.” Brian’s voice was low, he picked at the cookie in his fingers.

Justin hesitated for a moment and then he put his hand on Brian’s back. He rubbed comforting circles but said nothing.

“Now she thinks I’m going to just forget everything that she did in my life. Every hateful word, every punch in the face by my father with her looking on, never saying a word. How am I supposed to put that behind me? How am I supposed to forget that shit? I mean fuck, I’m afraid to touch my own son sometimes for fear that I’ll be just like my father and lose it.” The cookie crumbled into crumbs on the plate. Brian dusted his fingers off. He looked at the tips that were flecked with chocolate like he had never seen himself with dirty fingers before. 

Justin didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t imagine a childhood where his parents didn’t love him. So he did the only thing he could think of. Using all of his nerve, Justin took Brian’s hands in his and bringing the fingers to his mouth began to lick off the chocolate while looking deep into Brian’s hazel eyes. It was then he noticed they were reddened from tears shed earlier.

Brian sat transfixed and watched Justin lick the chocolate from his fingers. It was oddly comforting and sensual at the same time. When Justin finished, he held his breath and then leaned in closer to kiss Brian’s lips, the kiss tender rather than passionate, but filled with love and compassion for the other man. “Brian, this is just my opinion. My mother is dead and so are Gus’ moms. If you let her come here, it might be a time of healing for both of you and it would give Gus the opportunity to have a relationship with his grandmother.”

“Justin, I’d fucking kill her if she ever said anything hateful to Gus, you don’t know what she’s like. I won’t have him subjected to what I went through.” He was looking at Justin when he talked and now he looked away. “I’ve never even had a relationship with another man that lasted longer than a couple of hours. I’m so fucked in the head. I’m terrified of commitment of finding someone to love and then have him turn into my father or worse my mother.”

“Brian, at least you have your two hour relationships. I don’t even have that. I tried one time and ….” He paused the words were too painful to utter. “Let’s say it wasn’t a stellar night. You are the first man I’ve been within two feet of in years.” He grinned. “I’m actually talking to you and touching you. It’s a ‘dear diary’ moment.”

Brian laughed turned and looked at Justin. “You’re kidding me right? You’ve been with other guys before.”

“Only once Brian” it was Justin’s turn to move his head so that Brian couldn’t see into his eyes. “I was raped.” He finally gasped out. He looked at Brian. “I can’t believe I told you. I’ve never told anyone else before. I mean Molly and Daphne, they kind of know, but I’ve never said the words.” Justin’s face was painfully flushed. He didn’t want to see the look of disgust in Brian’s eyes so he started to move off of the stool.

“Justin,” Brian gently turned Justin’s head back so that they were facing one another. He took his hand and tilted the blond’s face up so that he could look into his eyes. “It wasn’t your fault.” His voice was soft.

“I’m starting to know that now.” Justin paused, not sure if he should say what he wanted to, “Brian, what happened to you, it wasn’t your fault either. You were a kid and your parents were fucked up. It happens.”

Brian rested his forehead against Justin’s their breath mingled. Justin’s smelled of chocolate and Brian’s of cigarette and cinnamon. “I’ll help you, if you’ll help me.” Brian finally said. 

“I can do that.” Justin said.

“Come with me to the hospital tomorrow and meet my mother.” Brian couldn’t believe he’d had the nerve to ask Justin that.

“I can do that.” Justin paused. “Will Gus be in school?” he asked.

“Yes, it’s a school day.”

“Then it’s a date.” He said without thinking and then flushed at the implications.

“Some date.” Brian huffed. “I take my date to meet my mother, a genuine Irish witch or is that bitch, either way it just sucks as a first date.”

“That’s okay because I don’t ‘do’ dates.” Justin smiled wryly.

“Neither do I.” Brian grinned at Justin. “Apparently because I suck at dates.” They both burst out laughing.

“I’m sure there’s been worse dates.” Justin said.

“I’m sure there have, gawd knows when, but we can’t be the only losers on the planet.”

"Speak for yourself Mr. Kinney.” Justin laughed. He slid off the stool. “What time are you picking me up?”

“How about eleven? I have a meeting at nine.”

“I can take Gus to school if it would make it easier for you.” Justin offered. “I’m going over that way.”

“Could you?” Brian let the back of his hand caress the side of Justin’s cheek. “Thank you. It will save me some time.”

Justin walked to the door. “Drop Gus off at my place on your way out of the building. I’ll see that he gets to school on time.” He waved his fingers. “Goodnight Brian, later.” He slid out the door and pulled it closed behind him.

Brian sat and watched the door willing it to open and Justin be standing there. He knew it was unreasonable but for some reason he didn’t want the younger man to leave him tonight. Sighing, he locked the door, turned off the lights all but the one in the kitchen. He sat back down on the stool and slowly ate the three cookies that were intact only getting up once to refill his glass of milk.

Justin floated down the stairs. It had been an evening he wouldn’t forget in a long time. He’d actually talked to Brian, and kissed him. He’d felt the spark that was between them. It was something his grandmother used to tell him when he was little. That someday when the right person for him came along, he’d know because when they kissed a spark would ignite the fire in his heart. Justin had always dreamed of it happening and now it had. He could hear Daphne and Molly laughing in Molly’s apartment. He walked down the stairs to apologize and was surprised to see their dates sitting on the sofa.

“Hi, I didn’t know the two of you were double dating.” Justin said. 

“Hi Justin, this is my brother Justin,” Daphne said to her date. A six foot tall blonde young man, so blond his hair was almost white. “Winnie this is Justin and you know Jared.” She nodded at the black man with Molly.

Justin laughed. “Hey you guys are kind of mixed up.” 

They all knew what he meant. “That’s how come we ended up all together. We were in the same restaurant and I think we all unnerved the maitre de, so with the confusion that ensued we were close to each other. We just picked up the tables and moved them together.” Daphne explained.

“I thought the maitre de was going to have a cat fit.” Molly laughed.

“If he didn’t I was about to” Winnie said. 

“I had it all under control” Jared piped up.

“Oh you sooooo did not.” Molly laughed. “I saw you blush.”

“I’m black, I don’t blush.”

“Oh yes you do.” She giggled. “Daphne does to.”

Justin shook his head. “You guys are all crazy. I had a good night to.” He grinned at the girls. I met the man of my dreams.”

“How, you stayed home.” Daphne asked.

“The mountain came to Mohamed” Justin grinned. 

“Oh you mean Brian.” Molly dismissed Brian and turned back to her date.

“What’s that mean?” Justin asked, slightly miffed that his sister didn’t appreciate just what he’d gone through this evening.

“We both knew you liked him right from the start.” Daphne explained. “We were just waiting for you to figure it out.”

“I’ll talk to you two tomorrow.” Justin turned and then turned back, his good manners overcoming his pique. “It was nice to meet both of you.” he nodded to the men. He walked up the winding stairs doing his best to keep his dignity intact, though the curved stairs didn’t allow for a lot of flouncing. 

Justin headed for his bedroom stripping off his clothes on his way. He’d been about to shower when Brian had called hours ago. Now with everything that had happened he knew a long soak in a hot tub would be the only thing that would calm him down and give him time to think. Filling the tub, Justin wondered if Brian was doing the same thing. He couldn’t really picture Brian soaking in a tub, well maybe he could. He smiled to himself at the thought of Brian in the tub with him. He’d had one installed that would certainly hold two people maybe even three. The girls liked to tease him about him anticipating great things. But truthfully, he just loved to soak in scented oil, with candles burning and the lights off.

The preparations took no time at all because everything was always ready. It was after all his favorite method of relaxation with the exception of painting. And painting was more a stress reliever than a relaxation method. 

Once in the tub, the scented water lapping at his chin and the candle light casting dancing shadows on the walls, Justin began to think of Brian and Gus and what would happen if he should agree to have his mother stay for six weeks. The thought of Brian having suffered as a child made Justin angry and sad. He couldn’t imagine a mother who would allow such a thing to happen. Justin knew that Brian must be having a hard time forgiving the woman, but he also knew that the day would come when Brian would regret his harsh stance. He let his mind wander over what Michael had told him and what he’d picked up on his own about the man in the loft upstairs. Somehow he had to get Brian and his mother back into a family relationship. It would help Brian and it would be nice for Gus as well.

There was only one thing to do. He’d offer to help Brian by being the home care during the day. Mrs. Kinney should be mobile enough to be brought down to his apartment and if not, Justin could go to Brian’s place. All he really needed was his computer and sketchbook if he should have to spend the day at Brian’s. Molly pretty much did all the presentations and follow ups on her own. She’d never miss him even though he had agreed to help her more once they had moved to Pittsburgh. Satisfied that he’d made the right decision, Justin settled back in the tub to day dream about a certain auburn haired angel who lived not that far away.

tbc