Thanks Lois for the beta...you're the greatest! Chapter 12 - Preparations The Next Day…(Day 12) Justin got an early start on the day by deciding that an early start was easiest if you just didn’t go to bed. Using his sketchpad as a recording device, Justin made lists: 1) Things to do before leaving; 2) Things to take to Pittsburgh. Brian had been rather vague about the reason for his trip home. The ‘Cynthia has a project for you to work on’ explanation didn’t give Justin a clue as to what he needed to take. So Justin created a third list: 3) Things to take just in case He checked with Liberty Air to verify the flights available to Pittsburgh for the entire day, so he would have some idea of his options. He made initial reservations, and was told that he could change these reservations online, if necessary. Justin thought to himself that online changes would be good and would save a lot of time…time he didn’t expect to have a lot of during this particular day. He finished the required painting and set it aside to dry. He cleaned up his brushes and cleaned up his studio. He had several completed paintings for the gallery in Santa Barbara. Justin sent an email to the gallery owner there, advising her of his progress. He knew that the patrons were all most eager to receive their paintings; yet, all were willing to wait for the artist to have just the right inspiration for THEIR particular painting. Justin decided to send the completed paintings ahead, with the remaining paintings to be shipped, as they were ready. So he spent a part of day wrapping and packaging the paintings for shipment. He was even able to arrange for the freight company to pick the shipment later in the day. Justin went back to his tiny loft and started to pack. He checked in with his agent to insure that everything was on track for the exhibit. He verified his voice mail contained no calls that needed to be returned and did a quick scan at all his emails. He would return those calls and emails when he was in Pittsburgh. With all tasks complete and all packing done, Justin showered and was still amused at how he always managed to get paint in the most unusual places on his body. Justin looked at the items he was taking to Pittsburgh. Justin knew it was only a short visit, but the pile of stuff he intended to take made it look as he if were moving back to Pittsburgh. Justin flashed on the image of Brian picking him up at the airport and trying to fit all of Justin’s stuff in Brian’s classic car. After a fit of hysteria over that image, Justin repacked using the criteria that he would take only what couldn’t be repurchased in Pittsburgh if needed. Why was he being so nervous? He was only going to Pittsburgh. He hadn’t been back in almost a year. It wasn’t supposed to be that way. It‘s just that Brian found it easier to visit periodically to allow Justin maximum time to work on his art. Yet Brian had specifically asked him to come home. Justin tried to imagine what could possibly be going on. He looked at his watch and decided he would know in a few hours. He went back to the studio to wait for the freight company; meanwhile he confirmed his flight reservations and limo pick up time. The freight company arrived and then left with the required paintings. Justin scanned his studio one more time. Something told Justin it might be awhile before he returned. Justin wondered where that thought came from, as he locked the studio door and set the alarm. Justin was unable to reach Brian on his cell phone, so he called the office and talked to Cynthia. He told her his flight and estimated arrival time, but he mentioned he was trying to stand by for an earlier flight. As Justin closed the cell phone, he realized he had never heard Cynthia sound so happy. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ First thing in the morning Brian called his housekeeper and requested extra service today. When he explained that Justin was coming for a visit, the housekeeper volunteered to grocery shop and pick up all Justin favorite things. His housekeeper made some comment about gremlins having moved into the apartment. She based this on the fact that Justin had been gone for such a long period of time, yet she continually found in the loft, opened packages of snacks that only Justin would eat. She was convinced that gremlins were the only explanation, and Brian should look into the matter. His housekeeper made some comment that she was sure the gremlin problem would disappear with Justin’s return. Brian made a note to himself to be sure that the sizeable tip that he planned for his housekeeper for all her extra services was large enough to insure that the gremlin problem at the loft was never mentioned to Justin. Brian couldn’t admit that Justin had addicted him to the occasional bag of chips with his sandwich and to the occasional Oreo cookie and milk at bedtime. Brian also never mentioned the extra hours he spent on the treadmill to work off the potential pounds from his guilty indulgences…indulgences all courtesy of Justin. But none of that mattered now. Justin was coming home, at least for a visit. Although Brian had been most diligent over the last year with his periodic visits, the idea of having Justin back at the loft seemed right somehow. And though Brian knew it was only for a few days, he intended to make the most of this visit. Brian got a call from Michael indicating that he and Ben were on their way to New York for the weekend. They were leaving early in the afternoon so they could enjoy the long weekend. Hunter had decided to stay and watch the store. Emmett had agreed to keep an eye on things. Michael called Brian to ask him to keep an eye on Emmett. As Brian hung up the phone, he realized that his plan would probably work perfectly. Brian’s conversation with the Professor had been enlightening. Brian was certain that the last thing Justin needed, was to deal with Michael’s issues about ‘ JT not being included in the painting’ and ‘Justin being lost and needing to be rescued’. Brian also questioned how rational Ben was under circumstances where Michael was ‘channeling Debbie’. As Brian thought about that image, he actually felt sorry for Ben. Brian knew that Justin could take care of himself; he had already demonstrated his ability to hold his own on many occasions. It was simply that Brian felt, in spite of all that he knew, that Justin was His. And being HIS, Brian intended to try to protect Justin from the Ben and Michael onslaught. Brian had a flash back to the first time he claimed Justin as HIS. He remembered a 17 year-old Justin dancing with two partners at Babylon… two partners, who were originally dancing with Brian, by the way, until Justin danced by. Brian always felt he did what he had to do. I wasn’t planned. It just happened. Brian took back Justin, who he believed was HIS, whether he could admit it or not. Realizing that he wasn’t getting anything done so far today, Brian went to the Diner. He passed Red Cape Comics and was reassured to find out that Michael wasn’t there. Brian picked up his to go order from the Diner and walked back to the Kinnetik office, where he found a beaming Cynthia sitting at her desk. Brian was almost terrified by her smile. As he walked by, Cynthia got up from her desk and threw her arms around him, letting her head come to rest for a moment on his chest. Brian realized he had just left the Diner, but this hug was just like Debbie’s. Brian realized that it was indeed rare for him to be on the receiving end of one of Cynthia’s hugs, and as he struggled to breathe, he was grateful that it was a rare occurrence. “Cynthia, this is sexual harassment.” Brian commented. “What are you doing?” “Thank you” was all she said, immediately returning to her desk and totaling ignoring his sexual harassment comment. “For what?” “Justin.” Brian simply smiled. Brian continued walking back to his desk to eat his lunch. Brian placed a call to Jennifer and listened to her joy as he told her Justin was coming back for a brief visit. After swearing her to secrecy, Brian promised Justin would call her tomorrow after he arrived. Brian listened with complete understanding, for Jennifer’s feelings mirrored his own feelings. Brian asked her to retrieve the stock certificates for the Belluss Occhiali stock from her safe deposit box. She agreed to pick them up later today. Brian asked Jennifer about the availability of temporary loft space for Justin, just in case the need should arise. Jennifer forgot her country club manners and squealed in his ear at the mere prospect. She then regained her composure and said she would look into it for him. Brian had a disturbing telephone call from Eyeconics, as they complained about the unreasonableness of their Italian partner. Susan Weaver wondered what on earth had possessed her to talk Eyeconics into considering this joint venture with Belluss Occhiali in the first place. Sure it made business sense and was an interesting deal, but Rudolpho Silvestri was impossible to work with. The products the joint company produced were amazing. But everything else was a disaster. Susan Weaver mentioned that early retirement was beginning to look better and better. Brian reminded her that she wasn’t an employee, but rather that she owned the company, so retirement was not an option. She was not amused by his revelation. Susan also warned that they had looked at ad campaign ideas from six companies both in the U. S. and abroad, Rudolpho Silvestri had liked nothing. She indicated that if the Italian had only been displeased with parts of the suggested campaigns, but liked other parts, then she would at least have some idea into the complex mind of Rudolph Silvestri. But he hated everything. Susan reminded Brian that Eyeconics was counting on Kinnetik to come through with the winning campaign. Brian could feel the pressure. He also had a creative block, so he was getting nowhere. It was Friday and Brian decided to call it a day. He walked out to tell Cynthia that he was going home, and once again he was greeted by her frightening smile. Brian hoped that by Monday, life at the office might once again be normal. Then Brian smiled as he realized that Justin might still be here, and with Justin around, chaos was the most likely option. Brian knew that even for a few days life was about to get interesting. Brian ran a few errands and headed home to the loft to wait for Justin’s arrival.