LOUNGE

CARL

“Quiet! You are going to wake the children!” I shush them, and surprisingly, they stop hissing.

“Have you rung him since you’ve been back from Canada or have you just turned up uninvited? And judging by that reaction to you just now...unwanted.” Ben asks suddenly, looking between Lindsay and Michael. “When was the last time you spoke to him, Michael?”

“About 30 minutes ago. You were here, and still are, unfortunately.” He snaps.

“I mean on the phone, when was the last time you phoned him?” He is starting to smile. “I can’t believe the restraint you are showing…”

“I know where he is, so there is no need to call him.” He sniffs.

“Bullshit.” Ben laughs. “He’s just turned you down flat to work with him. He’s walked out with a gorgeous guy, and you’re not on your phone screaming and shouting like you normally would be. And I know why. He’s blocked you hasn’t he? He’s blocked your calls.” Michael starts to go red and Debs glares. “And you too? He’s blocked both of you!”

“It’s a temporary situation.” Debs starts to explain. “Which will be remedied when we speak…

“I think not.” Ben starts to laugh. “I seriously think not! Mel, shall I take Tyson for a walk?”

“Yes, why don’t you fuck off, while the parents here talk?!” Michael bitches.

“There was a time when those words would’ve hurt; but now you don’t matter, nor does what you say.”

“Well said Ben. And since you brought up the parents thing, Michael, we have something to discuss and this involves Ben as a parent!” Mel snaps.

INSIDE BRIAN’S CAR - SAME TIME

JUSTIN

The silence stretches on and he just waits for me to speak, but I daren’t. “Cat got your tongue?” He moves slowly forward. “If not, can I have it?” His lips are less than a hair’s breadth from mine. “Just say the word and…”

“Yours.” I lick his cupid’s bow and he pulls back slightly. “Yours.”

“Not enough! Get in the back!” He orders, and then chuckles as he gets out and I crawl between the seats to get there. “I am flattered by your enthusiasm…” He smirks as he gets in. “...but next time use the doors. You are getting mud all…” I decide to shut him up for a minute, but my control is short lived, not that I mind. In fact, I relish the way he takes back control, pulling me closer and deepening the kiss.

Slowly after what feels like five hours but in reality was most likely five minutes, he lifts his head and then his eyebrow. “Well?”

“Well what?” I stall.

“You sent my son a get well bear before you even knew him. Why?”

“Nobody likes being poorly.” I mumble. “And you were very stressed out.”

“The food? Did you do that too and the frogs?”

“Yes and yes.” I look at my hands.

“I have it on a Sunday.”

“What?” I frown at him.

“The sandwich. I have it on a Sunday for lunch.”

“Why not the biscuits and tomato gravy?”

“You’ve seen my sofa?”

“Oh yes. What was I thinking?”

“What were you thinking when you started that?”

“I wasn’t. Well I was, but I…”

“Whatever the reasoning, thank you.” He stills my flicking fingers. “Although it was as annoying as fuck that week, it was amusing. You were very inventive. So who helped you?”

“Would you believe me if I…”

“No. I wouldn’t. So you're the Coffee Genius too?”

“Yes. And I fixed your phone.”

“Uh huh. So tell me something…” I reach for his pad and he starts to go so red. “...when did you draw that?”

“It’s not finished.” He mutters, almost retreating like a tortoise into his jacket.

“It isn’t?”

“No. Can...may I have my pad back, please?”

You may on one condition.” He nods slowly. “I get that when it is finished and you signed it. Deal?”

“Deal.” He virtually snatches it out of my hands.

“We should get going. We have a jacket to pick up.”

“Yes we do.” He states primly, and gets out. “You were far too enthusiastic as you said.”

“I hope you don’t mind my enthusiasm in Tuscany.” I snicker as we get back in the car.

“Oh, you can be as enthusiastic as you want then.” He leers, and puts his hand on my thigh, before realising what he’s done and bashfully removing it, I put it back, and pat it for emphasis.

“So do you want to eat at the mall?”

“Can we pick up something from Emmett?”

“Yep. Order what you want but...”

“Not the biscuits and gravy. I know.”

“Good little Tigger.”

LOUNGE

CARL

I let out the breath I had mentally been holding as they drive away. Whatever they were discussing in there, judging by the smirk on his face, they are more than fine!

“Are you seriously saying that he just randomly picked this house?” I wonder how sore Lindsay’s throat is going to be tomorrow as she’s growling so much.

“Where is it?” Debs demands.

“Brian never randomly does anything, and it is in Franklin Park, great schools and very family oriented. Before you ask for the address you aren’t going to get it.”

“Why not?” Debs looks and sounds astonished.

“Because, I don’t want to give it to you.” Mel retorts and Ben flashes her an impressed smile. “Whenever you want to see the children, I will bring them to you. In fact, if it is OK with Carl, we will bring them here.” I nod, as I was going to suggest exactly that.

“But…”

“You are not going to sit there staking it out and glaring with envy at something you will never have, while trying to work out how to get it. As with the previous house, this will be in Gus’s name. But now the executors of his estate in the event of anything happening to us are Carl, Cynthia, Ted and Emmett.”

“But he’s…” Debs looks like she’s been slapped, which in essence she has. “...I don’t understand why you seem to be cutting me out of his life.”

“You are not being cut out. We are putting people in charge of his wellbeing that we trust to do just that. Look after his wellbeing and only his wellbeing. Not people who will use their position to look after themselves first.” Ben looks hard at Michael when he says that. “As for Jenny…”

“You have no say in what happens to Jenny.” Michael snarls. “You are nothing to her or us!”

“Again with the goldfish. When Brian was under your thumb, but not being totally obedient, do you remember the document you had me draw up giving Ben rights to Jenny over Brian?” He looks at her blankly. “I have a copy here.” She rifles in her briefcase. “When Brian fell back into line you had me amend the document. Adding him to it, but more importantly, you didn’t take Ben off.” She smiles as he begins to remember and his annoyance shows on his face. “So he has as much say in Jenny’s life as you do. Actually, he has even more because of his consistent support payments, and enquiries into her wellbeing. Being there...more than you ever were and, sadly, ever will be. Although, if anything happens to either of us, you will get full custody of her. But you won’t get access to her trust fund. She gets that when she’s 18 like Gus.”

“What trust fund?” Lindsay gapes at her. “I didn't know about that!”

“Neither did we!” Michael exclaims.

“I can’t think why he wouldn’t tell you about it.” Ben sneers.

“Brian set up a trust for Jenny?” Debs looks incredulous and briefly her face softens.

“Why the hell didn’t he tell us about it?! You could’ve used that to support her.”

“No, I couldn’t Michael.” Mel sighs once more exasperated. “That was one of the terms of the trust. We only found out a couple of days ago.”

“How much is in there? Is there enough to give me the support money I paid to you back?”

“A brick listens more than you and is more of a parent!” Ben rebukes him. “She can’t touch her trust fund until she is 18, nobody can.”

“You’ve got this all mapped out, haven’t you?” Michael sneers. “When did you and Brian and now Daddy Ben come up with this?”

“Apart from the trust, which we have only just found out about. Of course it is mapped out! It has to be, we are talking about children. Besides, you were there, well physically, when the papers were drawn up. You signed them...see!” She points to his signature in exasperation. “I am merely repeating what is happening! Nothing changes as far as Jenny is concerned, the only changes are to Gus’s executors.”

“And when did you three concoct this?” Lindsay snipes.

“I am not answering that question again. It was in the paperwork you were served with, I am merely repeating it in front of witnesses. Now, you must leave.”

“What? Why?” Debs gasps.

“Because the kids are asleep and since they are the reason for your visit and none of us want to be in your company. You must leave.”

“I want to see Gus tomorrow.” Lindsay demands and I laugh, she turns to me with a scornful look on her face. “And what is amusing about that?”

“He’s going to be with his Daddy and Justin. I strongly doubt that Brian will want you there. I know that Justin won’t.” Delores answers on my behalf.

“I wasn’t speaking to you.” She sniffs. “And why wouldn’t he want me there he knows of me.”

“I thought you said you knew him and his family very well?” Debs frowns and a blush stains Lindsay’s cheeks.

“Been bigging yourself up again have you?” Mel smirks at her discomfort.

“I will have you know Melanie, that Craig Taylor recognised me during my brief visit to Kinnetic so I am not bigging myself up.”

“But you barely acknowledged his son all the time he was here. Though that being said he didn’t acknowledge you either, well at least not in person, on paper now that’s an entirely different animal!”

“Oh Mel that’s very good. Very good indeed!” I snicker, having been shown the pictures that a tipsy Justin drew. “As for the answer from Delores, Lindsay, it was what I was going to say anyway.” I retort. “Now this is my house, these are my guests and they have expressed the wish for you to leave. Do so.”

“This is not over by a long way!” Lindsay declares. “I will speak to Brian later on and…”

“Get nowhere.” Ben interrupts snickering. “If he’s blocked them, it stands to reason that he’s blocked you as well. You aren’t his Wendy anymore. You aren’t anything.”

THE MALL - AN HOUR LATER

BRIAN

While I can’t believe it was Justin, I can believe it was Justin. It takes a certain amount of balls to do that, and if there’s one thing he has it’s balls. The traffic was a fuck to get through and we’re winding our way through the crowds. Normally, I would be getting where I need to be quickly, but right now I am waiting for him to be served. He saw the candy stand and was over in seconds.  He comes back with a massive bag of something, and after taking two out, hands me one. I look dubiously at it.

“Chocolate caramel.” He tells me. “They are my absolute favourites.”

“Even more than the frogs?” I ask as he carefully puts the rest in his bag. “What hideous jar are you going to put that in?” I pop the sweet in my mouth and have to take a moment as I savour the taste. “Absolutely not. No way, no how, just no.”

“What?” He smiles at me. “You like them don’t you?”

“No. Come on we have to get your replacement jacket.” I order, and virtually drag him away from temptation...well temptation for me!

“They have Jim Beam ones as well as...” He stares up at me with those big blue eyes. Huffing, I head back to the stand. “I’ll wait here then!” He calls out, laughing. He doesn’t say a word when I get back to him, just opens his bag so I can put my three bags of candy in there.

“You have a sweet tooth.” He teases and I glare down at him, but he is looking deliciously unfazed.

“A little bit of one.” I concede.

“You need to replace the frogs. Again. Oh, I need to go in here!” He exclaims, and veers off towards an art shop. “Won’t be long!” He calls out over his shoulder.

I catch up with him about 3 minutes later, muttering under my breath about not wanting this to turn into a shopping expedition. When I find him, he’s immersed looking at brushes.

“Justin, the jacket needs…” I stop as he tests the brush on his hand. “...what are you doing?”

“I need to get brushes.”

“We don’t use brushes at Kinnetic.”

“I know, this is for my painting.” He replies, deciding against that one.

“What painting?” I try to remember seeing a painting in his house.

“Mom and dad’s anniversary present. Ah, that’s the one.” He takes a set of brushes up and then goes to get pads. An hour later we are finally paying for his mammoth amount of supplies. “Do we still have time? I’m sorry I tend to drift off when I’m in here.”

“Yeah, plenty. So what is it of? Your present to them, I mean.”

“Seascape.” He pulls out his phone. “Dad had this as a postcard from when they went on holiday, but he spilt coffee on it. So I am going to paint it for them.”

I look at the picture and then at him. “Finish that first. I mean before my picture. Finish that.”

“Okay.” He frowns for a bit before smiling. “You’re a good man, Mr Kinney, even if you are a cardigan murderer. A good man.”

“Come on, you twit, let’s go and get it and then call Emmett. I can hear you starting to bubble.”

DEBS’S HOUSE - LATE EVENING

LOUNGE

DEBS

I jab my finger on to the button to cut the message off in annoyance. I am still blocked by that ungrateful selfish asshole, even if he did set up a trust fund for Jenny, he’s still being selfish and ungrateful to us! I can still hear Ben’s gleeful voice. I hate Ben so much!  

“Ma, why don’t we just go to the Loft and wait?”

“Because it’s minutes passed ten at night.” I reply tiredly, sometimes he doesn’t think.

“Not now, I mean tomorrow. He’s going to be with Gus, and he won’t make a scene with Gus there. So we just say that…”

“Michael, you do realise that Jenny is here too? I want to see her. I love Gus, don’t get me wrong, but Jenny is my granddaughter and that’s who I want to see more than Gus.”

“But Ben is going to be there!” He whines. “And he’s so fucking smug about Brian blocking us! And knowing about the trust fund before us!”

“Ben being there doesn’t mean you can’t see Jenny. In fact that’s even more of a reason to do so. To show him that you’re the daddy and not him. What was the point of paying that support, other than you having to, if you’re not going to see her? She’s back in the USA, you have no excuse now.”

“You are starting to sound like Mel…”

“And you should start to sound and act like a father!” I snap. “Call Mel first thing in the morning and get some time in. Or should I do that for you too?!” I glare at him. “Buck your ideas up Michael. Buck them up big time!”

MICHAEL

I am incensed by her tone, but say nothing. When she storms upstairs I flick on the TV and then try Brian, but again with that fucking message. I think back to the events of the day and wrack my brains to remember the name of the publisher friend that Ben knows. But the name escapes me. I have brought my stuff for our comic down, I frown when I look at my roughly drawn character. Yes, he could do with a bit more polish, but once his artists get my vision, it will look awesome. I’m not sure about the insignia though.

“What the hell is that supposed to be?!” Ma laughs making me jump. “You can’t seriously be thinking to approach Brian with that?!”

“It’s a rough sketch, his artists will smarten it up!” I point out briskly and she laughs harder. “I don’t see what’s so funny.”

“They will if they see that!” She cackles as she makes her way to the kitchen. “They would not wipe their asses with it. You should stick to selling comics, not drawing them. Goodnight sweetie.” She goes upstairs still laughing.

You never encouraged me! You always put me down!

OUTSIDE THE LOFT - SUNDAY MORNING

LINDSAY

Ben, the annoying fucking bastard, was right! He’s blocked me. Not only on the phone but also on email. Michael called me late last night to say I should stake out the loft, but so far nothing. There is no sign of him. I am glad that I am in the relative warmth of his car, but I am getting oh so very bored now!

FRANKLIN PLACE - SAME TIME

BRIAN

I look in the car and they are both still asleep. I have discovered that they share something in common, they are not morning people! When I picked up Gus and he saw Justin, he just snuggled with him under the comforter, which Justin insisted he bring with him. No comforter, no jolly Justin was his terse response when I asked why he was dragging it down the stairs. Now I am pleased that he brought it.

“Guys, come on, wake up, we’re here.” I shake Justin carefully, as his head comes up he blinks sleepily at me...and looks so cute! “Gus.” I ruffle his hair and he slowly starts to wake up. “How are you doing, Sonny Boy?”

“Okay, Daddy, thank you for letting me sleeps. And thank you, Justin, for bringing the blankey, you are very cuddly, though you snuffle a bit like Tyson.” He stretches and then looks out the window and then back at me. “Daddy, where are we?”

“Come and see.” I hold the door open and they both come out blinking in the sunlight.

“Where are we?” Justin looks around. “This is beautiful.”

“My house.” I smile at the look of astonishment on Gus’s face and bewilderment on Justin’s.

“Your house, Daddy? You is going to live here all the time?”

“Not all the time, Sonny Boy.” I explain, taking his hand and leading him to the front door. “I will be here on the weekends, when you move into your house, that way we can see each other without having to come into the city. And have some peace and quiet.”

“Do I have a room here, Daddy?”

“Yes, you will and so will Jenny, but your Momma and I need to talk about that first.”

“Okay Daddy. Can you show us around now?”

“Yes, come on.”

An hour later, Justin and Gus are drawing on the balcony. He’s not said much to me, as he’s been getting to know Gus, and now that he’s his Jussin but my Justin, I think it is safe to say that they are firm friends.

“Daddy! Daddy! Come! Come and look!” Gus waves a piece of paper at me.

“What is it, Sonny Boy?” I ask and once again Justin doesn't look at me.

“Tyra.” He lays the paper out reverentially on the table.

“Tyra. Who is Tyra?”

“Tyson’s friend. I asked Jussin if Tyson could have a friend, because it would be a shame for him to find something so good as his roar all alone. And he said yes. So he drawed her for me. She’s pretty and has loveheart feet.”

“Yes she is, and yes she does. Do you want your juice now?”

“Please Daddy.”

“Justin do you want a drink or something?”

“Yeah. I’ll come with you. Gus don’t move from that spot okay?”

“Yes Jussin, I will be good and stay here and colour Tyra.”

KITCHEN

JUSTIN

As soon as we are out of Gus’s sight I turn to him. “I was wrong about you, Mr Kinney. You are not a good man.” He looks stunned. “You are a great father and a wonderful man.”

“I thought you were…”

“Mad? No, just in awe of what you do and annoyed that they can’t see what everyone else, especially Gus, sees. His Daddy.”

“And what do you see?”

“A man that is going to be late getting his son his juice. See to him, we have Tuscany to come.”

“And you will...lots and lots and lots.” He leers before dropping a quick kiss on my lips and heading back out with the juice.

“Oh I hope so I really do!” I call out giggling and then guffaw when he wiggles his butt at me.