Lois, thank you for the beta...you are the greatest!
Chapter 23 – Let Us Not Forget, Part 3 Meanwhile in Toronto…(Day 42) “Gus is coming home today,” Lindsay said, bouncing around the house in anticipation. “I know it’s only been a few days, but I’ve missed him.” “But Brian made sure that Gus called us every night and told us about his day. So even thought he’s been gone for several days…he’s really stayed in touch with us, but I agree, it will be good to have him home.” “He really has had an adventure filled time, hasn’t he?” “We have too. We talked with Jason and Paul. We even talked with Nicky. I can’t believe all the things that Gus had to report to us each night,” Melanie said with a laugh. “This is really wrecking havoc with my image of Brian as an asshole.” “Oh no! How will you survive? What will you do for a sparring partner?” “I’ll manage. He’s still my favorite sparring partner. That will never change.” “I was hoping…” “Silly blonde…” Melanie teased. Lindsay left the room just shaking her head. Lindsay returned some time later carrying what looked like several sheets of paper. “What do you have there?” Melanie asked. “I received an email from Justin. I printed this out so that I could show it to you.” “Oh? Is there a change in plans? Gus is still coming home today, isn’t he?” Melanie asked with some concern for she was eagerly awaiting Gus’ return too. “No, No. Everything is still on track. Justin wanted to share a few pictures of Nicky’s birthday party,” Lindsay explained with a laugh. She handed the pictures to Melanie to look at, one at a time. “Look at the decorations. Paul and Jason went over the top for Nicky’s birthday. Look at Gus and Nicky together…they really had a ball. Here they’re riding on the fire truck together. Oh my, look at Gus and Nicky with the puppies. I’m going to kill Brian if Gus starts asking for a puppy,” she rattled on. Melanie looked at the pictures and noticed how happy Gus looked. She laughed along with Lindsay at the images. “Gus had a great time, you can see that.” But Melanie also realized something else…she knew that as much as she hated to admit it, Gus seemed really happy when he spent time with Brian and Justin. Gus had also made a new friend in Nicky. Melanie couldn’t wait to see how that friendship developed. She smiled. Once again she filed the data points away as an additional validation of her hypothesis. She continued looking at the pictures of Gus and Nicky, laughing at what she saw. Melanie was very glad that Justin had emailed these pictures to them. Jenny Rebecca was trying to look at the pictures too. Although she was too little to understand the pictures, she was really looking forward to Gus’ return. With Gus being gone, Jenny had missed him too. She needed Gus to build a fort…so that she could have something to knock down. Lindsay and Melanie would never engage in fort building unless Gus was around. Yes, Gus needed to hurry up and come home soon for one little almost-two-year-old was definitely waiting…Gus had been missed by more than just his mommies. *** The flight from Cincinnati to Toronto was uneventful. The First Class section of the plane wasn’t crowded, so Gus was able to change seats during the flight, alternating between the vacant seat next to Brian and then Justin. Brian submitted to the renewed humiliation of a few hands of UNO, while Justin was content to read with Gus or to help him draw. The flight passed quickly and before anyone realized it, the captain was announcing their approach to the Toronto airport. Gus and Brian looked out the window of the plane and watched the City of Toronto appear. They retrieved their luggage and got in a limo for the short ride to Lindsay’s house. In the car, Justin let his hand slide over to touch Brian’s for support…for Justin was well aware that Brian really didn’t want to say goodbye to Gus today. Justin simply interlaced their fingers, and Brian knew that he would get through this somehow. When the car pulled in front of the house, Lindsay and Melanie were standing at the opened door waiting to greet them. Gus ran to greet his mommies with hugs and kisses all around. Gus even hugged Jenny, who gave her brother a wet kiss. Melanie and Lindsay hugged Brian and Justin too. Brian and Justin settled into the living room for an inevitable visit with Mel and Linds. “Did you have fun?” Melanie asked Gus, knowing it was a stupid question for she had seen the pictures. “I’m glad you had Gus call us every night,” Lindsay said, “I could tell he was having such a good time, and I loved hearing about all the things he was doing.” “Did you get the pictures? Those were just the quick digitals, but I thought that you would get a kick out of them,” Justin remarked. “Pictures?” Gus said. “Would you like to see?” Melanie said, letting Gus see pictures of himself. Gus giggled as he saw himself and Nicky. “That was some party,” Brian added, “I’m not sure that Nicky will ever forget this birthday. And he loved having Gus there too.” “I guess Paul and Jason went all out, didn’t they?” Lindsay teased “You could say that,” Brian agreed, leaning in to kiss Justin gently on the cheek. “It was like this all day party, with people continually streaming in all day,” Justin said with a laugh. “There were all kind of families mingling together, it was amazing to see.” “But Cincinnati isn’t known for being an open city,” Melanie pointed out. “I know, it isn’t like Toronto, but there seems to be a greater mixing between gays and lesbians and straights couples, especially when they have children. Based on what you and Lindsay have said about here in Toronto where they may recognize gay marriage, but you’re still isolated from the community…for whatever reason…things were quite different in Cincinnati. Of course, I was only with one group of people. I’ll know better when I go back for the gallery opening.” “How is the painting coming?” Lindsay asked. “I, at least, know what I want to paint,” Justin explained. “So all I have to do now is lock myself in the studio and paint. But I’ll be ready for Gus to paint with me next weekend,” he teased. “Right Gus?” “Right,” Gus said with a big smile, moving to curl up in Justin’s arms. “Well, I hate to break up this love fest, but I guess we should be getting back to the airport to catch our flight to New York, and we wanted to get a bite to eat,” Brian reminded them. “So both of you are going to New York?” Lindsay asked with some surprise. “Yes, we both have client meetings. So we get to stay together there, but don’t worry, we’ll be back in Pittsburgh by Friday,” Justin assured them. So Brian and Justin got up to leave. They hugged Lindsay and Melanie goodbye. Then Brian and Justin hugged and kissed Gus goodbye. “But, I’m going with you,” Gus pointed out, preparing to grab his little suitcase again. “But Gus, you have to go to school tomorrow so you have to stay here with your mommies, but you’ll be coming to the house over the weekend; how about that?” Justin explained now down on one knee. Gus thought over his prospect, and then he finally agreed to release his hold on Justin and his suitcase. Brian couldn’t help smiling in spite of himself. Brian reached down and lifted Gus up in his arms, “So I’ll see you on Friday. Now you know that you will be flying down to see me with your mommies and Jenny, right?” Gus wrapped his arms around Brian’s neck. “Ok.” Then Brian lowered Gus back down to the floor. Then Brian turned to Lindsay and Melanie, “I’ll have a car take you to and from the airports. I don’t want Gus dealing with all the emotional goodbyes with the family in the airport.” “Thanks that really helps,” Mel said with sigh, “With all the luggage and stuff for the kids too.” “You know,” Lindsay added, “You’re a good father in your own convoluted way.” “Now leave him alone, Linds,” Justin teased, leaning up to give him a kiss. “We’d better go.” Then Justin paused and reached for the tin from Katie and Fran. “Oh, I almost forgot. Katie and Fran wanted you to have cupcakes from Nicky’s party. They’re decorated with the truck and the party themes and everything. I’m sure that Gus can explain ALL about it to you,” he said with a laugh. And with that Brian and Justin said their final goodbyes and returned to their waiting limo for the return trip to the airport. “That wasn’t so bad, now was it,” Justin said with a smile, leaning in to touch his forehead to Brian’s while they were riding in the limo. “I guess not,” Brian said, pressing a gentle kiss, “But only because you had already sent those emails this mornings,” he laughed. “Mel and Linds were actually purring. It was truly a lesbianic moment.” “Will you give it a rest? Gus was ready to leave with us. Did you happen to notice that?” “I think you handled that very well, Mr. Taylor.” “I think Gus is getting really used to spending time with us,” Justin pointed out. “He’s getting demanding too, I’ve noticed.” “His father is Brian Kinney, what do you expect?” “Yes, well I guess there is that,” Brian teased. “Gus knows what he wants, but he knows that he is loved too. You could see it this weekend in the way he put up with Nicky bossing him around.” “What do you mean?” “Well, whenever anyone was around, Gus just gave in and let Nicky push him around. But I suspect when they were alone, Nicky must have listened to Gus’ or the issue of Mickey Mouse Pancakes would never have come up,” Justin suggested. “So you think it was a part of some secret conversation,” Brian teased. “And Gus would have to be very secure and very loved to participate in that,” Justin whispered, sealing his remark with a kiss. “And you think that was the real reason that Nicky wouldn’t let Gus out of his sight, huh? Brian asked, “You think this was the real reason why Nicky tugged Gus everywhere, even though it was his birthday? Nicky could have chosen to be the center of attention all by himself…yet he tugged Gus everywhere. Why do you think that was?” “I think that Gus was the one that kept an eye on Nicky all day. I think Gus noticed when Nicky was a little tired or overwhelmed and that’s when the two of them would scamper over to us and make themselves comfortable in our laps. Don’t you remember?” “So what you are telling me is that Gus knows that he is loved not just by Mel and Linds also by you and me too? And because of that he was able to look out for Nicky?” “Yes.” “And we really have no idea what goes on between Nicky and Gus, do we?” “Just imagine Daph and me…” “Oh no…not that,” Brian pretended to shudder in horror. “What are you worried about? Daphne and I turned out ok, didn’t we?” “The jury is still out on that,” Brian insisted, leaning in to make his point with a kiss. “Brian!”