CHAPTER 66 - HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL AND INFERNAL
DEL
Well screw me with a pneumatic drill, if that don’t beat all! But before we get to the happy we have got to get rid of the miserable! I look across at Drey and nod. It takes a few seconds for the sirens to be heard. There is angry grumbling and he smiles, no doubt thinking this is going to be shut down.
“What is going on here?!” A voice booms, and the smile drops. “Ah, Mr Novotny, Grassi or whatever; why is it wherever you are there is generally an antagonistic crowd or angry person?” He turns to Carl. “What’s he done?”
“Just creating a disturbance, Thirn. Take him to cool off so that we can get on with the celebrating.” I gesture to where Novotny was. “And get him for resisting arrest if he doesn’t stop walking away!” He stops and slowly makes his way the few feet back.
“You need to read me my rights!” He snaps as Thirn opens the squad car.
“You want to go to jail?!” He gasps. “We were just going to drop you at home and have another car sit outside to make sure you stayed there, but this way I can come back straight after paperwork and booking, what time is shutdown?”
He shuts the door on his protests and we chuckle as his partner turns to read him his rights!
“What time is shutdown, Ems?!” Mel asks as she flicks through the papers which Debs had handed to her in the interim.
“Five.” He hands Justin his iPad with a frown. “What do you want it for?”
“Have an idea. May I borrow your car please, Edward?” He nods and hands him the keys.
“Idea about what?” Brian asks as he waves at the idiot, who is almost foaming at the mouth, and then realises. “Can I come with or do you want to surprise me?”
“Come with, we won't be long, it is just an outline of it. And besides, we need to discuss the surname thing.”
“Ah, I take it I am in more trouble?” He laughs as he takes Justin’s outstretched hand.
“Yes.” He smiles.
“You have an hour, okay?!” Carl calls out.
“Yes, dad!” Brian calls out and then stops as the enormity of what they want to do hits him again. He strides quickly ahead and they are soon in the car.
“So I have time to get home and get changed? Great! See you later!” Thirn calls out as he gets back in the car.
OUTSIDE 55TH PRECINCT - FORTY MINUTES LATER
THIRN
We are standing by the car and I sigh as he gives me the look that says; I am miserable, therefore you must be too!
“So we can do it one of two ways: a caution and you go home or you get belligerent and overnight. Pick wisely.”
He looks up at the precinct and frowns. “I thought it took longer than normal, why are we here?”
“Because this is where I am based, and, like I said, caution and home or stay and I still get to go to the party…”
“I accept a caution.” He mutters.
“Good. Now, off the record, stop being a dick!” I snap. “And hail that cab!”
GREENFIELD BOULEVARD MARQUEE
JUSTIN
He had something in his eye in the car when we got inside, so I just kissed him then said nothing for a few minutes…
Start of flashback
EDWARD’S CAR - TWENTY MINUTES EARLIER
JUSTIN
I let him compose himself and then look him in the eyes, mine are as shiny as his. “So the name thing...”
“I was caught up in the moment of it all…” My face falls and he reaches for me. “...no, wait! I want to commit to you and for Gus to have your last name, but…” He scrutinises my face and smiles at the relieved expression I am sporting. “...not marriage? Not yet or not at all.”
“Not yet. We, as a family, need to be secure, and I want Gus and any other children we have to be aware of what their daddies are doing...mmmm!” He tastes of Beam, smoked duck...and hope.
“So…” He grins down at me, having flattened me against the seat. “...Emmett and I have been talking. Brandon got his cheeks warmed, took him two hours to sit comfortably.” My eyes widen. “Just a heads up should you wish to chat some more…” I shake my head slowly and he nods. “...so how about a commitment ceremony like Diamond and Panthera did?”
It was the longest kiss we have ever shared.
End of flashback
EMMETT
“You are serious?!” I grab both their wrists and drag them outside. “Please tell me you are serious?!”
“We’re serious, but take your time. Need to send her into married life in style.” Brian grins. “No expense spared.”
“For your parents! As if you had to tell me that! Now come on, let’s dance!”
MICHAEL’S HOME - EARLY DAWN
MICHAEL
I have to think this through properly. As I plod back upstairs to my room...I have to think this through properly!
BLUE MOON HOUSE - MID AFTERNOON, NEXT DAY
LOUNGE
BRIAN
I lay our son on Justin's chest - sometimes it is only him he wants - I try not to feel too jealous, because there are times only Daddy will do. “Think he is overtired.”
“Hmm.” I pat his legs and he lifts them so I can sit down. “It was a bit raucous.”
“Yeah.” He yawns and Gus protests at his shifting. “You know what…”
“Britin?”
“Yeah.” He starts to gently shuffle upwards and gets the grumpy face. “Come on, Little Grub, we’re taking you to a quiet place.”
BRITIN - AN HOUR LATER
NURSERY
GUS
I look around the room, why haven’t we been here before? It is nice. I like this big squashy that Li has put me on. It feels so soft, like the pop things, but it doesn’t go away. I was a bit grumpy when I woke up, well, not when I woke up, when they woke me up by making a horrible sound! I couldn’t go back to sleep, and now I have a hungry! I am about to tell Da and Li, when Da gives me the sucky thing. That’s better! Yes, that is so much better, Da and Li are smiling. They don’t like it when I am grumpy.
“Da!” I gurgle as he takes away the sucky thing, and they smile wider. Li picks me up and starts to rub my back. “Li!” I wriggle as the thing happens with my front. Now I don’t feel grumpy, the hungry is gone, and I want to lie on the squashy.
BRIAN
He is drifting off as Justin rocks him and rubs his back. We wait for the second burp and his eyes slam shut.
“And he’s out!” I chuckle as he puts him on the sofa and covers him with a fluffy blanket. “Want a coffee?”
“Hmmm and a cuddle.”
“Cuddle? Did you say cuddle?” I tease him, and he nods and moves to the other end and curls up in a ball. I know what Ems said about Britin being too big, but that was before Justin and our plans. I head downstairs to make some coffee for us. It doesn't take long. I grab a fur blanket and tap his shoulder. “Which do you want first?” He opens one eye and glares. “Of course, coffee…” We drink in silence, watching Gus sleep. He has turned onto his stomach and is snuffling.
“Time for him to be in bed, methinks.” He chuckles as he picks him up, and after a tiny whimper he goes back to sleep in his cot. “I think we should follow his example.”
MASTER BEDROOM
We’re in bed drinking our coffee, stealing glances at each other, and willing the other to broach the subject...or should I say subjects.
“So…” We begin at the same time.
“You first.” I nudge him, but he goes quiet and pink. “Justin, what is it?”
“I didn't think I would…” He trails off to gather his thoughts.
“Feel so instantly at home now that we have our future planned?” I hedge and he nods and looks across. “Me too. Before it was just too big, but now the Blue Moon feels…”
“Too small?”
“Yeah. So I could rent it out to Ben and Benson. It would be a shame to leave it standing empty.”
“Want me to talk to him?” He puts his mug down and turns to straddle me. “I think, though, it will be like giving a bone to a starving dog!”
“This is very true!” He looks uncertain and leans in to kiss me, so far so usual, but then his hand rests on my throat. I take it gently. “I thought you were close...”
“I almost did, but it felt…” His fingers flex. “...so…”
“Heightened?”
“That’s it. Heightened.” Again the pause and flex. “Have you…”
“No, this is as close I have gotten.” He grins as he is as on to me as I am to him. “I have seen it done, but to be honest, it is just too dangerous a thing for me - for us - to try. Especially with…” Right on cue Gus gives the nappy cry. “...I’ll go.”
NINETY MINUTES LATER
JUSTIN
I chuckle as he heads back into bed. That was one heck of a nappy that Gus had, he had to have a bath and then we had to wash the bath out after he nappied again!
“Have ordered take out. Nothing with carrots or sweet potato!” He blenches. “I don't know about you, but I think that was some revenge pooping for waking him up with the singing earlier.”
“And the snoring, don't forget the snoring.”
“I do not snore!” He huffs. “I have a deviated septum, which…”
“Honks like a foghorn when you get boozed up?” I suggest.
“Ooh, you little minx!” He rubs the bridge of his nose and I squeeze his thigh before reaching for his spray. “Want some pain pills?”
“No, this should do it. It comes in handy, this deviated septum. Judging by the look on your face, the smell was just as bad!”
“It was hideous and all invading. I think some got in my follicles.” He closes his eyes and snickers while leaning his head back. I take that opportunity to put the iPad in his lap; he looks down and picks it up, then leans across and kisses my cheek. “I can…”
“Leave it exactly like it is...perfect.” He strokes the screen. “When did you do this?”
“When you were foghorning, you didn’t just keep Gus awake.”
“I see. Let me send this to them. Then maybe I can apologise for my gross dereliction of quiet sleeping duties, by nailing you until you pass out.”
“Hit send quickly, Alpha!”
MICHAEL’S HOUSE - SAME TIME
KITCHEN
MICHAEL
Forget the wedding, they deserve each other! No, the thing I need to stop is this adoption. The last thing I want is Brian to be hers! Him saying it will happen, and them doing it are two different things. I never thought in a million years she would betray me like this. I read the article on mental incompetency again. If I can’t have them as parents, well, him not so much, he sure as shit isn‘t going to!