"The Enchanted Cottage" -- Part 17
Bluff.
Las Encantadas Estate, Erie, Pa., October 2006
"Brian, when are you coming up here?" Lindsay inquired. "Gus is asking for you!"
"I can't," Brian said flatly. He pulled the collar of his jacket up against the sharp wind. October was almost over and it was starting to get cold. He didn't know what the fuck he was going to do when winter really came -- he'd never get a call out of the black hole of the cottage, but he was damned if he was going to sit on the bluff in the middle of a snow storm in order to make a fucking phone call!
"Why don't we come down there for a weekend?" said Lindsay. "Mrs. Minnett says the cottage has four bedrooms. It doesn't matter if they're small. Gus and I can stay for a couple of days. I know he'd love to meet Justin, too. Those pictures he sent of the rabbits are adorable."
"Yeah, Justin's a talented kid," said Brian, juggling the cell. He was also trying to light a cigarette, but the wind kept blowing out the fucking Zippo!
"Are you two getting along?" asked Lindsay. "You know how you are with strangers."
"We're getting along just peachy."
"When I heard you had a roommate there, I couldn't imagine what Mrs. Minnett was thinking! But then when you said he was doing chores around the cottage, I understood -- a little. This is therapy for him, right? I remember when he was bashed. What a horrible thing! And the trial of those boys who did it! Poor Justin! Such a tragedy!"
"Yeah, a tragedy."
"You do remember when that happened, don't you, Brian? Everyone was talking about it."
"Sure, I remember. The guy is living here, isn't he? How the fuck could I forget?"
"I hope you're being nice to him, after all he went through."
"Jesus, Lindz! You make me sound like the Wicked Witch of the fucking West! You think I can't be nice to someone?"
"Well... "
"I'm fine! He's fine! We're both fine!"
"I was only asking, Bri. You don't need to bite my head off!"
"Sorry. I'm fucking freezing out here! And there goes my lighter again! I can't get the goddamn cigarette lit! Fuck it!"
"Why don't you go up to the main house and call from there?"
"Because I'd like a little privacy, that's why! But I won't have much choice when it starts to get cold. I'll freeze my remaining... I mean I'll freeze my ass off."
"So, you're staying there through the winter?"
"That was the plan. I might as well stick it out."
"I can't believe you're staying there so long! With no bars or clubs nearby."
"Like I've been hanging out in any clubs or bars at home! Jesus, Lindsay, use your brain!"
"I mean... being so far from... you know! I know you, Brian. And I know your wicked ways."
"My wicked ways are fabulous. And so is my dick. Don't worry your empty little head about my dick."
"But..."
"I said, don't worry about it. It's taken care of."
"But... wait a minute. That boy. Justin Taylor. Brian -- you aren't...?"
"Aren't what?"
"Fooling around with that young boy?"
"No one's fooling. It's completely serious. And he's not a boy. He'll be 24 in December."
"Oh, Brian!"
"Christ, Lindz! Don't sound like his mother!"
"Does his mother know?"
"How the hell should I know? I don't know what he tells her! Anyway, Justin's a grown man. He can fuck if he wants to -- he doesn't need his mommy's permission. It's no one else's fucking business!"
"Does Mrs. Minnett know about this?"
"Who knows? Maybe she's got a nanny cam hidden in the drapes and she's watching us when we fuck. Or broadcasting to the internet. Like I said, it's none of her fucking business! Or yours!"
"Really, Brian! You're impossible!"
"I do my best."
"Now, about Gus and I visiting..."
"Forget it!"
"But Bri..."
"How many time do I have to tell you? I don't want you here! I don't want Gus here!"
"What am I supposed to tell him when he asks for you?"
"I e-mail him. I call him once a week. What more do you want out of me?"
"It isn't what I want, it's what Gus wants -- his father!"
"Maybe you should have thought of that before you moved out of the goddamn country."
"You know why we moved, Brian."
"Because you and Mel are a couple of cowards who are teaching your kids to be cowards, too? By the way, has Mel found a job yet?"
"She's still doing temp work at the legal aid society. But I got another commission to do a portrait of a woman's cat. If she likes it, she's going to have me do her dog, too. It's only $200, but every penny helps. Toronto is so expensive! Which reminds me..."
"How much do you need?"
"Christmas is coming up, Bri. And they raised J.R.'s day care rates."
"Why am I paying for J.R. now? I thought Smelly Melly rejected my evil sperm."
"She can't ask Michael. He's still angry because of the move!"
"Gee, I wonder why? Maybe because his partner got blown up, and his foster kid ran away and he has no fucking idea where he is, and then you two bitches decide to take his kid across the border to Canada? You think?"
"You're being unfair, Brian!"
"I'm only telling you the truth, Lindz."
"And what about telling Gus the truth?"
"So tell him! Tell him that his old man doesn't want him to see him like this. That he'd rather have him remember his father the way he used to be. Tell him to look at a picture and pretend I'm there. Because that's the way it's going to be."
"I wish you'd change your mind."
"Brian!" He heard Justin calling from up the path. "Br... Brian?"
"Who's that I hear?"
"It's Justin. Hey! I'm over here! I'll talk to you later, Lindz. E-mail me how much you need and I'll write a check."
"Thanks, Bri. I love you."
"Yeah, whatever." He snapped the cellphone shut.
"Wh... who were you talking to?" Justin sat down next to Brian in the bluff.
"Lindsay. She wants me to go up to Toronto to see Gus."
"Why d... don't you do it?"
"When pigs fly. Her even worse suggestion was that she and Gus come here and stay in the cottage."
"That would be awesome!" Justin exclaimed. "I can g... get the rooms upstairs ready. What does Gus like to eat? I'll make his f... favorites! Why don't they come for Th... Thanksgiving? I've never cooked a turkey before, but Mara can help me. I really want to m... meet Gus!"
"It's not going to happen," said Brian.
"B... but..."
"Don't push it, Sunshine. I said no. And you know why."
They sat quietly, watching the sun go down over the lake.
"It's really getting ch... chilly at night, isn't it?" Justin commented. "I'm glad Mr. Quigley brought m... more logs."
"Yeah, I'd hate to have to go out and chop down a fucking tree to keep our asses warm."
"If you had to, you'd d... do it."
"I guess."
"Br... Brian, I have some n... news."
"More news? Great."
"No! It's g... good news! Mrs. M... Minnett wants me to... to sub... submit some of my p... pieces to an art show."
"Really?" Brian put his arm around Justin's shoulder. "The great artiste makes a comeback!"
"I know!" Justin laughed. "The only problem is... it's at the G... Gay and Lesbian Center."
"The GLC?" Brian rolled his eyes. "Figures. Every silver lining has a fucking cloud."
"I haven't submitted anything yet. They m... might not accept me."
"Oh, they'll accept you," said Brian. "I'm sure of it."
Justin gazed out at the lake. "Be... because I was bashed?"
"No," Brian asserted. "Because you're good. Now let's get inside before we turn into icicles."
"It's only October! Too early f... for icicles!"
"Oh? You want to check my cock? It might need to be defrosted -- personally!"
"I think I c... can do that!" Justin stood up. "I'll r... race you back to the c... cottage!"
"Don't taunt an old man, Sunshine," said Brian, standing up slowly and brushing a few leaves off his jeans. "Here -- help me along."
"Always," said Justin -- and he took Brian's hand.
***
Las Encantadas Estate, Erie, Pa., October 2006
"Brian, when are you coming up here?" Lindsay inquired. "Gus is asking for you!"
"I can't," Brian said flatly. He pulled the collar of his jacket up against the sharp wind. October was almost over and it was starting to get cold. He didn't know what the fuck he was going to do when winter really came -- he'd never get a call out of the black hole of the cottage, but he was damned if he was going to sit on the bluff in the middle of a snow storm in order to make a fucking phone call!
"Why don't we come down there for a weekend?" said Lindsay. "Mrs. Minnett says the cottage has four bedrooms. It doesn't matter if they're small. Gus and I can stay for a couple of days. I know he'd love to meet Justin, too. Those pictures he sent of the rabbits are adorable."
"Yeah, Justin's a talented kid," said Brian, juggling the cell. He was also trying to light a cigarette, but the wind kept blowing out the fucking Zippo!
"Are you two getting along?" asked Lindsay. "You know how you are with strangers."
"We're getting along just peachy."
"When I heard you had a roommate there, I couldn't imagine what Mrs. Minnett was thinking! But then when you said he was doing chores around the cottage, I understood -- a little. This is therapy for him, right? I remember when he was bashed. What a horrible thing! And the trial of those boys who did it! Poor Justin! Such a tragedy!"
"Yeah, a tragedy."
"You do remember when that happened, don't you, Brian? Everyone was talking about it."
"Sure, I remember. The guy is living here, isn't he? How the fuck could I forget?"
"I hope you're being nice to him, after all he went through."
"Jesus, Lindz! You make me sound like the Wicked Witch of the fucking West! You think I can't be nice to someone?"
"Well... "
"I'm fine! He's fine! We're both fine!"
"I was only asking, Bri. You don't need to bite my head off!"
"Sorry. I'm fucking freezing out here! And there goes my lighter again! I can't get the goddamn cigarette lit! Fuck it!"
"Why don't you go up to the main house and call from there?"
"Because I'd like a little privacy, that's why! But I won't have much choice when it starts to get cold. I'll freeze my remaining... I mean I'll freeze my ass off."
"So, you're staying there through the winter?"
"That was the plan. I might as well stick it out."
"I can't believe you're staying there so long! With no bars or clubs nearby."
"Like I've been hanging out in any clubs or bars at home! Jesus, Lindsay, use your brain!"
"I mean... being so far from... you know! I know you, Brian. And I know your wicked ways."
"My wicked ways are fabulous. And so is my dick. Don't worry your empty little head about my dick."
"But..."
"I said, don't worry about it. It's taken care of."
"But... wait a minute. That boy. Justin Taylor. Brian -- you aren't...?"
"Aren't what?"
"Fooling around with that young boy?"
"No one's fooling. It's completely serious. And he's not a boy. He'll be 24 in December."
"Oh, Brian!"
"Christ, Lindz! Don't sound like his mother!"
"Does his mother know?"
"How the hell should I know? I don't know what he tells her! Anyway, Justin's a grown man. He can fuck if he wants to -- he doesn't need his mommy's permission. It's no one else's fucking business!"
"Does Mrs. Minnett know about this?"
"Who knows? Maybe she's got a nanny cam hidden in the drapes and she's watching us when we fuck. Or broadcasting to the internet. Like I said, it's none of her fucking business! Or yours!"
"Really, Brian! You're impossible!"
"I do my best."
"Now, about Gus and I visiting..."
"Forget it!"
"But Bri..."
"How many time do I have to tell you? I don't want you here! I don't want Gus here!"
"What am I supposed to tell him when he asks for you?"
"I e-mail him. I call him once a week. What more do you want out of me?"
"It isn't what I want, it's what Gus wants -- his father!"
"Maybe you should have thought of that before you moved out of the goddamn country."
"You know why we moved, Brian."
"Because you and Mel are a couple of cowards who are teaching your kids to be cowards, too? By the way, has Mel found a job yet?"
"She's still doing temp work at the legal aid society. But I got another commission to do a portrait of a woman's cat. If she likes it, she's going to have me do her dog, too. It's only $200, but every penny helps. Toronto is so expensive! Which reminds me..."
"How much do you need?"
"Christmas is coming up, Bri. And they raised J.R.'s day care rates."
"Why am I paying for J.R. now? I thought Smelly Melly rejected my evil sperm."
"She can't ask Michael. He's still angry because of the move!"
"Gee, I wonder why? Maybe because his partner got blown up, and his foster kid ran away and he has no fucking idea where he is, and then you two bitches decide to take his kid across the border to Canada? You think?"
"You're being unfair, Brian!"
"I'm only telling you the truth, Lindz."
"And what about telling Gus the truth?"
"So tell him! Tell him that his old man doesn't want him to see him like this. That he'd rather have him remember his father the way he used to be. Tell him to look at a picture and pretend I'm there. Because that's the way it's going to be."
"I wish you'd change your mind."
"Brian!" He heard Justin calling from up the path. "Br... Brian?"
"Who's that I hear?"
"It's Justin. Hey! I'm over here! I'll talk to you later, Lindz. E-mail me how much you need and I'll write a check."
"Thanks, Bri. I love you."
"Yeah, whatever." He snapped the cellphone shut.
"Wh... who were you talking to?" Justin sat down next to Brian in the bluff.
"Lindsay. She wants me to go up to Toronto to see Gus."
"Why d... don't you do it?"
"When pigs fly. Her even worse suggestion was that she and Gus come here and stay in the cottage."
"That would be awesome!" Justin exclaimed. "I can g... get the rooms upstairs ready. What does Gus like to eat? I'll make his f... favorites! Why don't they come for Th... Thanksgiving? I've never cooked a turkey before, but Mara can help me. I really want to m... meet Gus!"
"It's not going to happen," said Brian.
"B... but..."
"Don't push it, Sunshine. I said no. And you know why."
They sat quietly, watching the sun go down over the lake.
"It's really getting ch... chilly at night, isn't it?" Justin commented. "I'm glad Mr. Quigley brought m... more logs."
"Yeah, I'd hate to have to go out and chop down a fucking tree to keep our asses warm."
"If you had to, you'd d... do it."
"I guess."
"Br... Brian, I have some n... news."
"More news? Great."
"No! It's g... good news! Mrs. M... Minnett wants me to... to sub... submit some of my p... pieces to an art show."
"Really?" Brian put his arm around Justin's shoulder. "The great artiste makes a comeback!"
"I know!" Justin laughed. "The only problem is... it's at the G... Gay and Lesbian Center."
"The GLC?" Brian rolled his eyes. "Figures. Every silver lining has a fucking cloud."
"I haven't submitted anything yet. They m... might not accept me."
"Oh, they'll accept you," said Brian. "I'm sure of it."
Justin gazed out at the lake. "Be... because I was bashed?"
"No," Brian asserted. "Because you're good. Now let's get inside before we turn into icicles."
"It's only October! Too early f... for icicles!"
"Oh? You want to check my cock? It might need to be defrosted -- personally!"
"I think I c... can do that!" Justin stood up. "I'll r... race you back to the c... cottage!"
"Don't taunt an old man, Sunshine," said Brian, standing up slowly and brushing a few leaves off his jeans. "Here -- help me along."
"Always," said Justin -- and he took Brian's hand.
***