CHAPTER 42 - HE GET THRASHED AND SMASHES AND SHE GETS TRASHED

BLUE MOON HOUSE - TWO HOURS LATER

NURSERY

BRIAN

I come in with a wrapped in a towel, and sucking his fist, Little Grub fresh from our shower. He only objected a bit about being woken up when we got to Cyn’s, then he saw us and started to blow raspberries of happiness and gurgled all the way home.

“Feel better now he’s home?” I ask him.

“Yes. And we still need to talk, don’t we?”

“Yes we do.” I expect him to either tense up or sag with resignation, but he does neither.

“I fucked up, but Mom shouldn’t have interfered and…”

“You need to listen to her a bit more…” He frowns at me. “...she said a lady never tells when I asked about the clause.” He is floored. “She was protecting you.”

“She was?” He asks as I massage cream into Gus’s skin. He yawns and tries to get into his do not disturb sleep position, which is like mine, on his stomach. “No, Gus, let’s finish this first.” For a few seconds he fumes at the indignity in his mind of the situation and pulls his legs tighter to his body. “Gus.” I say again and tug on his foot.

“Stroke.” He says quietly. “If you stroke his feet instead of tugging, it relaxes him.”

”It does?” I frown.

“Sure, let me show you.” I watch as, true to his word, Gus stops looking grumpy and starts to relax. “He’s a very easy baby. Molly would wait it out.” He leans against me. “I managed to last a whole 30 seconds once.”

Less than five minutes later, he is sound asleep, and we are at opposite ends of our snuggle chair.

“My business is exactly that, mine. I was pissed, not just because you said something, but also because you tried to cover it up. Then you gave an excuse instead of owning your mistake once you knew I knew. Don't take this as me shutting you out of that part of my life, far from it, but this is our life and when I want...no that’s too…”

“Brian, I get it. You don't need me there, just like I don’t need you in my class prep.” I nod. “And despite me telling you what the next class was, I know you didn’t cram for it. So I am truly sorry.” He replies. “And I will never do it again.”

“And if you do…”

“Tell you straight away.”

“Yes.” I reach for his feet and put them in my lap. “So, when are you going to see your Mom?”

“I’ll call her in a few minutes. Just want to watch him for a while.”

“You watch him and I’ll watch you.” He smiles and moves to rest on my chest and soon we both drift off.

TED AND BLAKE’S HOUSE - SAME TIME

KITCHEN

BLAKE

“I’ve been thinking…” I say over my shoulder as I pull a soufflé out of the oven and hold my breath...it stands proud. “... about the store. He could make it into a cake shop.”

“A cake shop?” Ted looks over his paper at me. “Why that?”

“The Avenue doesn’t have one, I mean a proper tea room type place. Yes, there’s the diner, but somewhere with less hustle and bustle might work.”

“Honey, what’s wrong?” He wraps his arms around me and I lean back against him.

“I miss this.” I sigh sadly. “I miss last night, argument aside. I can’t bear to hear it second hand anymore. Four months was four months too long and…”

“Do you want to give up counselling?”

“No. Well, yes.” I turn to face him expecting confusion and annoyance, but instead see relief and maybe hope. “I want to say, ‘how was your day, dear’ when you come through the door instead of having to call you and ask you.”

“How long have you been thinking about giving up?” He asks kissing my nose.

“About a year.” I confess. “At first I was pleased that people wanted my help so much. Yes, I let my ego get ahead of me for a while. But then when it started to take me out of Pittsburgh and away from you…”

“So, what are you going to call it?” He starts to smile.

“Call what?”

“Our new tea room.” He grins. “When Emmett first suggested that clause, I asked Brian if I could have first refusal when, not if, Michael fucked up. He was too busy being angry with Justin to remember.”

“So, when do I do it? I have to give them at least two months’ notice?” Before he can answer I pull him into a deep and passionate kiss.

“Now. You do it now and then we go back to bed!”

PETERSON RESIDENCE - AFTERNOON

LINDSAY’S BEDROOM

LINDSAY

How I hate this ceiling! I sit up to reach for my flashing phone and groan when I see who it is. “Michael, good after...what break in?!” I gasp. “Alright, calm down. I will be at the store as soon as I can!” I look at the time and decide that my as soon as I can will be much later than he thinks. I have to get some more soft furnishings for my cottage, I can’t wait to meet the tenant Daddy has lined up for me!

MICHAEL’S FORMER STORE - THREE HOURS LATER

MICHAEL

Where the hell is Lindsay?! So much for being here as soon as possible! I turn as the door opens and my jaw drops slightly. “Emmett, what are you doing here?!” Of all the people to show up I hadn’t expected him.

“I have to change the locks.” He replies as he looks around. “Oh, not too much damage, that’s good.”

“What do you mean change the locks? I don’t understand.”

“The clause is being invoked, remember?” He looks so fucking chipper. “You have had a break-in and we are taking this opportunity to avoid a court case, which you will lose.” I just stare at him. “Ah, here he is.”

“Hey Emmett.” A large guy says. “Front and back?”

“Please, and can you add security locks to the windows. We don’t want any rats trying to sneak in.”

“But the contents, surely I get to keep them?!” I am fuming.

“Nope. Nothing. Not even a tiny little toy hand!” He’s gloating now. “And you want to know what else you don’t get to keep?”

“What?”

“Remaining in here.” He retorts and points at the door. I start to make my way outside, trying to figure a way of at least getting my store back. “You shouldn’t have done it…”

“It was a fucking joke! Why can’t people see that?!”

“Oh, no, it wasn’t! But I’m not talking just about that. You shouldn’t have kept calling me a liar, I do not lie. If you hadn’t done that then, and spread the rumour that I am a liar, I wouldn't have suggested that clause! Now be off with you!”

He shuts the door and then two other guys get out of a van. “Ah, the cock cape place!” One snickers. “What I don’t understand is why this place was on The Avenue. There can’t be that many gay comic book freaks.”

Gay comic book freaks?!

“I don’t recall this place being very busy, think the busiest it got was when the cock door went up.”

“Up!” His comrade in being a dickhead laughs. “You know the guy who owned it?”

“No, but heard about him. Reckoned he was something with The Stud…”

“Which one, the retired or the retiring?”

“Oh, retired. Although the retiring was looking pretty loved up when I saw him last.” They start to take out some large chipboards. “In fact, the guy in there is the reason for the smile on his face.”

“Nice. Anyway, back to the guy who thought he was something with the retired Stud. He has a nickname amongst the less enamoured of us…” He laughs again. “Scragend Nobralls.”

“Scragend, I get, as that's the inexpensive and unglamorous part of an old sheep or mutton, man did he sometimes look like mutton dressed as lamb! But Lowbrawl, what the heck is that?”

“No, No-bra-lls…”

“Which is?”

That’s what I want to fucking know, and to know who came up with that?!

“No is easy, as in short for nobody. Bra is short for brain and the rest is the end of balls”

“Still don’t get it.” He dicky friend frowns.

“Nobody with a brain and decent set of balls will fuck him because he’s, well who he is.” He laughs heartily, in fact they both fucking do! “And you want to know the best part?” He nods. “The person who gave him that nickname...”

“Ah, gentlemen, there you are!” Emmett comes out smiling at them, it drops off his face when he sees me still there. ”I...”

“I am allowed to walk where I want, Emmett, you don’t own the street!”

“Avenue, not Street. And speaking of not owning, you seem to be loitering with intent. But before you move along...” I glare at him, and he pulls out his phone. “Hello, oh hi, Brian, yes, all secured. We just need to get rid of the Scragend loitering about and get it boarded up and we’re all good. Speaking of good, did you two sort out...oh great!”

“You?!” I shout at Emmett, then snatch his phone and throw it to the ground. I am pleased when it shatters into pieces. “That’s what you get for calling me fucking names!” I snipe, and kick some of the pieces into the gutter.

He pulls himself up to his full height and smiles...why is he smiling? “You ought to know me by now. If I am going to name call, I go to the source of my irritation and tell them loud and proud. So, Scragend Nobralls, is something I wish I came up with. However, you called Brian earlier today and he’s just returned your call…”

“How do you know that?!”

“That…” He points to the remains of the phone. “...is your phone, not mine. You left it and I was hoping, in a Good Citizen way, to catch you to give it back.”

“My phone?!” I gasp and scramble to pick up the pieces.

“You are lucky that you don’t have a gag reflex.” Emmett says as he leans over me.

“Oh yeah, and why’s that?” I snap as I think how much the phone cost me to replace the first time! My stomach rolls as I remember the accidental damage  insurance I refused to get, telling them there was no way this phone would be broken by me!

“Because, if that was my phone, as well as having no gag reflex you would also have no teeth!” He stands up and turns to the two dickheads. “Board this shithole up. This caterpillar will be turned into a butterfly in no time!”

LINDSAY’S COTTAGE - AN HOUR LATER

LINDSAY

It is perfect, absolutely perfect! I love it! Mother has said that now that Daddy is back in line, she is going to persuade him to buy Michael’s house for me, so it looks like I get it anyway. I look out of the window as the door knocks, and am surprised to see Sidney. I beckon him in.

“How are you feeling, Lindsay? Looks like your cottage and minor e-coli are all cleared up.”

“Yes, seems rest was the way to go.” I smile at him.

“How was it restful?” He looks around the room nodding.

“How do you mean? I just rested, you know, did nothing but take care of…”

“Getting your cottage ready for your tenant.” He bites out, glaring at me.

“My ten…”

“Yes. How did you get that doctor’s note? You keep taking me for a fool and snowjobbing. I told you that this has to stop, and now it will!”

“Sidney, I don’t understand why you are so angry with me!” I grouse. “I have my doctor’s note, which you accepted and…”

“It is from Dr Brian Whitlow not Dr Marjorie Stanhope. You know, the doctor who you have on your personnel file.”

“I changed doctors and forgot…”

“You did not change doctors. I called to verify the note, and his practice nurse told me that you are not a patient of his. You're a good friend, but not a patient.”

“You were checking up on me?! What on earth for?!” I demand heatedly.

“Because you lie!” He proclaims. “Like I said, it ends now. You have already been given a written warning. As of this moment, I consider our working relationship - and I use that term loosely as has been evidenced over the last few months - as terminated. I have taken the liberty of retaining the phone and laptop, thank you for leaving them as you would be on doctor ordered rest. The remains of your things are in a box in the trunk of the car. Kindly go and check that everything is there. Anything that you feel is missing, please call to arrange a time for you to come and collect it, I don’t want anything left of you in my gallery.”

“How dare you treat me...I shall sue!” I warn him. “I shall sue you into the ground!”

“Go ahead, see how far you get! Now come and collect the box! I have more important things to do than waste any more time with you!”

Less than five minutes later, I am sorting through the box, and there are a few bits missing so I snatch up my phone to call his office. “Hello, Sarah, this is Lindsay. I want to make an appointment to collect some stuff that you, I presume it was you, missed! What do you mean Cassidy did it?! Why the hell is Cassidy…I see. Well, when can I come and collect the stuff Ms Gallery Manager missed? I would also like to speak...away for two weeks! Where is she?!” My heart races and my blood boils as I hang up. At least I won’t have to go through the indignity of her watching me collect my things!

I head to the small workspace area and boot up my laptop. This is a much sought after area, and now that I have no income coming in I need to up the rent. I still can’t believe that not only does that conniving cobra have my job and she went to Paris, but Sarah refused to tell me where she is, as I am no longer staff! The years I have given that gallery, and this is how he dismisses me!

I look up at the sharp rap on the door and head to open it. “Daddy! Mother! What are you doing here?”

“Bought you a house-warming gift, and to make sure your tenant is settled in nicely.”

“Oh, darling, it looks wonderful!” Mother looks around approvingly. “May I go upstairs?”

“Of course, let me show you.” I lead her upstairs, and as soon as we get to the bedroom she shuts the door. “Mother?”

“This tenant your father has got for you, I can’t tell you much about her apart from she’s from a good family, but has fallen on hard times. So be kind and patient with her, alright?”

“Of course, she’s from our stock?” I am already looking forward to getting to know this lady.

“Seems so. Like I said, he’s not told me much about her. Now let’s go downstairs, he said she would be here in about half an hour.”

We head downstairs and I set up the tray for four people. “Should I do champagne do you think?” I call from the kitchen.

“Maybe not on her first day, she’s got to unpack and everything.” Daddy calls back and I head back to the lounge to join them. After half an hour of chitchat she has yet to arrive. I look at my watch again. “Oh, do you want to open your present?” Daddy asks and I smile and nod. He gets up and rests it against the lounge wall. “There you go.”

“Oh this is so exciting. I love presents, especially from my parents.” I pull excitedly at the paper to reveal a beautiful ornate full length mirror. “Daddy! This is exquisite!” I breathe.

“Ronald, where did you get this from?” Mother comes to stand next to me as we both admire the mirror.

“A little place I know.” He smiles as both Mother and I gaze at our reflections.

“She’s here.” He declares.

“Who?” I ask adjusting my hair slightly.

“Your tenant and doom mate.” He comes behind us both and drapes his arms across our shoulders before staring hard at us in the mirror. “Nancy, you are the tenant to Lindsay. This is now your home, since you just can’t stop being conniving in thoughts, words and deeds. So, until such time as I feel you have redeemed yourself in my eyes, you will stay here. Lynette will be sending your things, she’s packing for two weeks, I believe that will be time enough for you to realise what side your bread is buttered.” We both gape at him. “And, yes, the locks have been changed.”

He adjusts his tie, and with one withering look at the pair of us, walks out.

“Mother?”

“Lindsay, be quiet! I need to think!”

“About?”

“I have enough money! This may be perfect but it is not good enough. I have been wanting to leave your father for years. He just doesn’t have the gravitas I need to propel me to the upper echelons. So, this house of whatever his name was, how close to the gays is it?”

Close to the gays?!

“Mother, you do realise that I am bisexual?”

“Of course you’re not! You were with that guy however briefly and then the date at…”

“Get out and find a hotel.” I tell her.

“What? What do you mean? We haven’t secured the property yet.”

“I haven’t secured the property yet, but I fully intend to do so.”

“What are you…” I stop her sentence by grabbing her by the elbow and dragging her to the front door and shoving her out. I take pleasure in dead bolting the door to her hectoring cries, then ignore her numerous calls to me. When I look out of the kitchen window half an hour later she’s no longer there. Smiling, I pull out my phone.

“Daddy. I c-c-can’t believe it! Mother is leaving you! How do I know?! She told me, let me send you this recording. Daddy I am so sorry!”