Lois and Carolyn, thanks for the beta...you’re the greatest!
Author's Comments: Thanks to eveyone for your comments. As this story winds down, I'm trying to keep up with my updates. More to come...
Chapter 73 – The Gathering Storm
Early Sunday Evening… (Day 49)
Ben and Hunter were leisurely walking away from Debbie’s.
Hunter had originally hoped to linger at Debbie’s long enough to gather more details about everything that was going on. But when Ben suggested that they needed to leave, Hunter didn’t want to argue. But now that Ben and Hunter were alone, things were different.
“Ben, why did we leave so early,” Hunter finally had to ask. “It can’t be because of my homework…because, don’t you remember, I’d already finished my assignments.”
“Oh,” Ben said quietly, trying to think of something else to say. “I guess I just needed some fresh air. So if you’ve finished all your homework, maybe we can just hang out for a little while.”
“Sure,” Hunter responded with a smile. “That works for me,”
They talked about nothing important on the short walk home, and once there, Ben settled into one of comfortable chairs, and Hunter sprawled on the sofa.
Hunter tried to challenge Ben to one of the video games; while Ben suggested something quieter like a board game. Instead, they settled on an easy discussion about the book that they were reading together.
They had both purchased the paperback version, and Hunter was sure that the book was going to be made into a movie…so he was trying to read slowly in hopes that the movie would appear in theatres before he had wasted too much time curled up reading it.
Ben countered with a simple reminder about the simple pleasures of turning pages and using your own imagination rather than relying on Hollywood’s special effects. It was becoming a frequent point of good-natured arguments between them.
In spite of the easy banter between them, Hunter could see that Ben had a lot on his mind.
So from time to time, he would be content to simply let the silences linger between them.
Eventually Hunter felt that he needed to mention the unthinkable. “Are you going to leave Michael?” he quietly asked.
“What makes you think that?” Ben asked in return.
“Nothing new…maybe I’m just covering my bases…well, are you?”
“What?”
“Because if you’re thinking about it, I want to go with you.”
Ben shook his head. “What ever happens, I don’t want you to worry about it,” he tried to reassure him. “You know that both Michael and I love you. Whatever happens…it has nothing to do with you.”
“Fuck it doesn’t. I…” Hunter protested. “This is my life we’re talking about.”
“Trust me…this has nothing to do with you,” Ben calmly repeated once again. Then he gently mussed Hunter’s hair, as he slowly got up and walked into his bedroom.
***
Melanie slowly made her way into the kitchen, where she walked in on a heated discussion between Debbie and Michael.
Her first reaction was to turn around and leave, so that mother and son could have some privacy, but before she could leave they stopped talking.
Michael realized that he now had the perfect excuse to escape from any further discussions with Debbie.
“Let me go and steal some time with my little honeybunch,” he eagerly suggested, already starting to move in the direction of the living room.
Debbie, at first, tried to object, “Not so fast. We’re not done, you little shit…”
But he was gone before Debbie could stop him. In frustration, all she could do was sigh.
Melanie looked at Debbie, and she could sympathize with what she must be going through. If Michael was in denial, as Melanie believed that he was, then he was handling things just like Lindsay. They both believed that they were right when it came to Brian. And because they both believed that they were right, neither of them would listen to reason from anyone.
Finally Melanie found her voice. She asked very softly, “How’re you holding up, Debbie?”
Debbie tried to take a moment to straighten her clothes a bit and to smooth down her wig. “Everything is going to fine,” she responded, somewhat amazed by her own words. Then she thought about things for a moment before she continued. “Maybe now that everyone has made their feelings known…things can get back to normal around here,” she finally added, even though she knew it was wishful thinking.
“You don’t really believe that,” Melanie challenged. “There’s a storm gathering. This is only the beginning. It may take a while to play out…but this is the rumble that will be heard around the world.”
“What do you mean?” Debbie asked, feeling a sense of panic already starting to grow.
“I think that everyone is finally exhausted from dealing with this. One day you wake up and realize that we’ve all been dealing with this for years. I guess we all finally reached our limit. Ben and I have been dealing with this for such a long time…we must have been stronger, when we were younger…but now we’re all just tired and worn out. We tried to believe that Michael and Lindsay would eventually get over Brian, but now we see that’s never going to happen.” Melanie said sadly. “The question is where do we go from here? We just found out our entire lives have been built on a lie.”
“Brian just didn’t think about what he was doing. Brian should…” Debbie started to say, almost as if she were on automatic pilot.
Melanie immediately cut her off. “Not this time, Debbie! You can’t blame this on Brian. He didn’t create this,” Melanie protested.
“But all those years, that Brian let Michael follow him around like a little lost puppy dog. I know that Brian has always looked out for Michael. I really don’t know how he would have survived if Brian hadn’t protected him over the years. That’s not the point. But with that all that caring, Michael always had hope,” Debbie said.
“So did Lindsay. Because Brian was always there for both of them, they dared to cling to their dreams…in spite of all the evidence to the contrary. “
“And now he’s gone…the asshole.”
“He isn’t gone! And that somehow makes it that much worse. Brian is still very much here. He still loves them…still cares about them, but he’s in love with Justin. And try as they might, neither Michael nor Lindsay can change that simple fact…and it’s killing them both. They don’t see that all they have to do to live…is let go. Instead, they’re both going to risk it all to try to find some way to hang on to their imaginary Brian.”
Debbie looked at Melanie and noticed the calm way that she just explained everything. Something in her calmness added to Debbie’s unease.
Debbie looked again at Melanie and suddenly alarms went off for her. She knew that this wasn’t fatigue from a long weekend. Melanie was clearly in pain…in the same pain that Ben was in earlier. The calmness was just a mask for everything. And Debbie knew that somewhere deep down, both Melanie and Ben had reached a decision.
“Storm clouds are gathering, Debbie,” Melanie repeated. The she leaned down and gently kissed Debbie on the cheek. “I guess we’ll be leaving soon.”
“I miss you and the kids already,” Debbie said, “But you’ll all hurry back here next month or sooner if you need to. Remember that we’re all still family.”
“I know that, Debbie. And we all know that you’re the one that make us so.”
***
Lindsay walked downstairs into the living room; she was carrying a few things that had been left in the room. She sat on the sofa next to Michael and Jenny Rebecca.
“You’re good with her,” Lindsay said with a sad smile.
“She’s such a cutie,” Michael gushed.
Gus came over and gave her a hug. Lindsay smiled at him, and as she looked into the face that was so much like Brian’s, she hugged him in return.
“Where’s Melanie?” Lindsay asked, noting with concern that her partner wasn’t in the living room.
She tried to quiet her sense of panic even though she knew that things were definitely not well between her and her partner. Yet Lindsay felt a new determination to fight for what was hers.
“She’s in the kitchen with Debbie,” Carl pointed out. “Girl talk…you know how that is?’ he added with a laugh.
“Yes,” Lindsay said quietly. “Girl talk…”
Lindsay couldn’t help wondering what they were talking about. As she stood up to go find out, Michael nudged her gently in the direction of the front porch.
Lindsay didn’t resist but allowed herself to be led outside. She was curious to hear what Michael had to say.
When they were both outside, sitting on the front steps, Lindsay found her voice.
“Michael?” Lindsay said, interrupting his silent thoughts. “Are you ok?”
“I’m fine, Linds.”
“What happened? I thought that you were going to wish Brian and Justin well.”
“I just couldn’t. Something happened at the table. Brian was behaving so strangely. He just wasn’t himself. The things that he was saying…that’s not Brian,” he said, shaking his head.
“Maybe he’s changed.”
“When did that happen? All I know is that I want things back the way they were…the way there’re supposed to be.”
“Well, Michael…”
“I know…I know…that’s not going to happen,” Michael seemed to accept. “But I never thought that Brian would change. He was supposed to care about what I thought. He should have talked to me before he took such a big step. I got the feeling, as I was talking to him earlier, that he didn’t give a fuck how I felt about him and Justin.”
Lindsay just smiled, for she didn’t know what to say. There were clearly no arguments for Michael’s observation.
Since Lindsay didn’t say anything, Michael continued, “Brian just seemed so sure of himself. I’ve never seen him like this. This is more than…no apologies and no regrets…isn’t it?”
“We’re just going to have to face it…Brian may have changed,” Lindsay confirmed, more for herself than for Michael.
“I’ve lost him!”
“You didn’t lose him. Brian’s always going to be there for both us. He still needs us. But I think he just made us responsible for our own happiness. He’s not going to do that anymore. Now we have to focus on our own relationships…you with Ben…me with Melanie,” she added sadly. “We have a lot to make up for there.”
Michael made no response, and eventually Lindsay, too, fell silent. The pair was now deep in their own private thoughts.
“Ok, you two, don’t you think it’s time to come inside,” Melanie said gently, talking to them through the screen door.
Lindsay and Michael looked up at the sound of her voice. Before they could say anything, they noticed that the limo was arriving.
It was now time for Melanie and Lindsay and the kids to leave for the airport.
There were the usual extended goodbyes between everyone.
Then Lindsay and Melanie and kids said their goodbyes and left, leaving Michael, Carl and Debbie alone.
Eventually, Michael looked at the clock on the wall and decided that he too should leave, citing the fact that he wanted to get home to Ben and Hunter.
In quiet resignation, Debbie simply hugged her son goodbye. And with that, Michael left.
The house was now extremely quiet as Debbie and Carl cuddled together on the sofa.
“Debbie Honey, you’re going to have to stop worrying. Everything is going to be ok…you’ll see,” Carl reassured her, wrapping her more tightly in his arms.
She snuggled closer to Carl for support, enjoying the warmth of his arms. But Debbie knew that her significant other didn’t have a fucking clue.
***
Brian, Justin, Paul, Nicky, and Jason arrived at the airport. They lingered together on the concourse talking easily with each other. Eventually they settled at a table together since they had a lot of time before they needed to proceed to the gate.
“You know, Nicky, I’m not sure that these Root Beer Floats that you and Justin suggested were such a good idea,” Jason teased, licking whipped cream from his straws.
“I expected complaints from Brian about the calories,” Justin teased, “But what’s your problem?”
“You mean aside from the fact that Nicky has whipped cream on his nose?” Jason said with a laugh.
“And that he’s probably sticky all over,” Paul complained, shuddering to think of a plane ride with a very sticky Nicky.
“Oh…for fuck’s sake!” Brian said, sweeping the very sticky Nicky up into his arms. Of course, Nicky was thrilled and giggled with glee. “You two are unbelievable!” Brian continued, tossing the giggling Nicky. “Have we taught you nothing?” he asked with a smirk. “Obviously not…” he said, answering his own question. “Justin…” he finally said with a nod.
“Let me see if I can explain this to you,” Justin teased, after thinking for a moment. “Nicky is only four years old. It’s his job to be messy and sticky and such. Remember, your shirt, Paul?”
Paul immediately groaned at the memory of his Armani shirt on Nicky, and even worse, his shirt after Nicky had worn it while painting with Justin. “What’s your point, Jus…because I’m assuming you have one?”
“Your compulsive neatness works well at the Offices of Dunbar and Smith. But Nicky needs to get messy if his creativity is to have a chance to develop…obviously spending the weekend with us didn’t get that message across as clearly as I’d hoped,” Justin relayed with some disappointment.
“So…” Brian interrupted, “No matter what’s going on here…and no matter where we are…you’re obviously going to have to visit us again for a repeat lesson…” Brian couldn’t resist a laugh while he jostled Nicky. He looked at the shocked expressions on Paul and Jason’s faces. Brian smiled as he added, “And can’t you see how not getting this very important lesson is upsetting our resident artist?” he teased, gesturing toward Justin.
Paul and Jason looked over at a smiling, and very satisfied, Justin.
They didn’t know what was coming, but Brian just was enjoying this too much. In fact, there was something eerily familiar about this whole scene, but Paul and Jason just couldn’t put their fingers on it. Maybe, if Brian had given them time to think, they would have remembered the exact scene from Cincinnati and been better prepared.
“You know how many shows Justin has to get ready for. I can’t have him upset,” Brian said pointedly, “So Nicky…what do you think of visiting Justin and me again…let’s say…in about a month…how does that sound?”
“A month?” Nicky asked, trying to remember how long that was.
“That’s 30 days…what do you think?” Brian quickly explained so that a four year old would understand.
While Paul and Jason were rolling their eyes at the situation…their son was nodding yes.
“You know, Brian you have to stop doing this,” Jason protested, suddenly remembering everything clearly now.
“You know you can’t keep negotiating these arrangements with our son…you seem to keep forgetting who’s in charge here,” Paul said, completely failing to make his point.
Brian just smiled, paying no attention to their complaints. Then he returned his attention to someone more cooperative.
“Well, Nicky, why don’t we leave Justin to explain the universe to your dads, while you and I take a little walk?” Brian easily suggested. A willing Nicky eagerly joined him. Brian and Nicky took off for the concourse, leaving Paul and Jason alone with Justin.
“So I guess, we’ll all be together again in a few weeks, huh?” Justin said with a laugh.
“Probably…” Paul admitted, throwing up his hands as if in defeat. “How does he manage to keep doing that?” he asked with some annoyance.
“Surely you know by now that Brian likes to be in control?” Justin reminded them.
“What seems to be bothering you?” Jason asked with a laugh. “The fact that Brian maneuvered us to come back for a visit, or that fact that he suggested it first?”.
Paul tried to appear outraged, but Jason and Justin continued to laugh at him. Then he secretly smiled as he realized how much alike he and Brian really were.
Then Paul’s tone turned serious, “Jus, are you sure you don’t need us to stay? You know, it’s really no problem.”
“Things may get a little tense here for a while, but I’m sure that Brian and I can handle it.” Justin reassured them.
“Ok,” Jason finally agreed. “Well, it looks like we’ll be back in few weeks.”
“That’s if we ever leave,” Paul teased, “Now where do you suppose that Brian and Nicky have disappeared to?” Paul asked, straining his neck to see if he could see them.
“Don’t worry…we’re at the airport…they couldn’t have gone too far,” Jason reassured him with a laugh.
The three friends continued talking with each other.
Eventually, Brian returned with a freshly cleaned and re-dressed Nicky on his shoulders. “We went shopping,” Nicky announced as he was lowered to the floor and retrieved his bags from Brian.
“Of course, you did. You were with Brian. Everyone knows that Brian shops no matter where he goes. Why am I surprised?” Paul added with a laugh.
“Nicky, is that a new outfit,” Jason asked cautiously, his artist’s eye missing nothing.
“Yep, Uncle Brian bought it for me,” Nicky confirmed, beaming with pride.
“It’s amazing the shops that are here at the airport,” Brian cooed. “Now my godson can travel, appropriately dressed.”
“But Brian, he’s dressed like you,” Paul challenged.
“Precisely! Whereas before, he was dressed like Justin…is there a point that you’re trying to make?” Brian asked with his eyebrow raised, cautioning Paul to answer carefully.
“No…no…just an observation,” Paul responded, shaking his head. “You know you’re unbelievable?”
“I know…I am” Brian said, agreeing totally with the perception. Everyone else just laughed.
A few moments later, they were all ready to leave the table. “Ok, let’s see if we can find your gate. I don’t want you to miss your flight,” Brian suggested.
When they reached the gate, it was time to board so everyone began to say their goodbyes.
Of course, there was a prolonged love fest between Justin and Nicky, and a similar one between Brian and Nicky that caused Paul and Jason to wonder if they would ever get on the plane before it took off.
Finally there were hugs between Brian and Justin and Paul and Jason.
Then with one final wave to each other, Paul, Jason, and Nicky were gone.
Brian and Justin watched the plane take off, and then they started walking away from the gate in silence.
Eventually, Justin gently slid his arm around Brian’s waist…Brian casually threw his arm around Justin’s shoulders. Both of them enjoyed the simple moment of closeness.
When they reached the car, before opening the passenger door, Brian leaned Justin against the passenger side of the car, and he kissed him lovingly.
Justin immediately returned the kiss, wrapping Brian tightly in his arms as he surrendered to the kiss. The kiss deepened and was allowed to turn passionate. Finally Brian leaned back a little, giving them both a chance to breathe.
Once again Brian leaned forward, “Let’s go home,” he whispered breathlessly in to Justin’s ear.
“Sounds like a plan,” Justin agreed with a smile.
An hour later, they pulled into the driveway at Bri-tin.