Lois, thank you for the beta...you are the greatest!
Chapter 3 – Surprise, Surprise A Few Moments Later…(Day 15) Justin picked up his sketchpad in one hand and held Gus’s hand in the other as they walked toward the steps, leaving Brian and the painting behind in the living room. As they reached the second level, Gus immediately ran ahead to a room and said, “Mine!” “Are you sure you want this one?” Justin asked with a smile. “Maybe you would like one of the other ones?” “No. No. I want this one!” Gus said defiantly, folding his arms for emphasis. Justin took one look at the expression on Gus’s face, noticed his stance, and immediately knew that Gus would accept no arguments. Justin just laughed, for he had been the recipient of both the stance and the expression many times from Brian, but he wasn’t exactly expecting to come face to face with the miniaturized version. Gus then proceeded to sit on the floor of HIS room, staking his claim. He waited for Justin to join him. Justin walked into the room and sat down beside Gus. Putting his arms around Gus, Justin showed Gus the sketches of what the room would probably look like someday. Gus looked at the sketches with Justin and smiled. Then he threw his arms around Justin and just hugged him. “Is this really going to be my room?” Gus asked, without ever once releasing his grip. “Yours and no other,” Justin reassured him. “Of course we’ll have to get things like a bed and a few other items to make your room look like the sketch. What do you think?” “And will you make the picture for the wall…like there?” Gus asked, pointing to what looked like wall painting on the sketch. “Absolutely. I probably won’t get it done by the time you leave this week, but I’m sure I can get it done before you come back for another visit. You want to think about some ideas of what you want in your picture?” Justin suggested. Justin turned to a blank page in his sketchpad. He and Gus started to think some ideas. Gus leaned over to supervise, while Justin started to draw. Gus was talking and laughing with Justin as images started to appear on the page. Their tender moment was interrupted as Brian knocked on the opened bedroom door. Brian had followed the sound of their laughter to locate them among the myriad of bedrooms. Gus made sure that Brian knew that this was his room. Gus also wanted Brian to see the sketch and to know what HIS room was going to look like. While Brian and Gus were discussing the room, Justin heard cars in the driveway. Justin crossed over to the window to investigate. Justin immediately recognized Jennifer’s car in the driveway. Then he noticed that a second car and a small van were parking there too. “Brian,” Justin called out questioningly. Brian walked to the window to see what was going on. A man exited the second car, and Emmett and several people exited the van. Justin was totally surprised. Justin and Brian went downstairs to greet the arrivals. Gus followed behind them. “Ah, Gregory,” Brian remarked with a smile. “I’m sure the call this morning must have been a complete surprise. I’m really surprised to see you considering the short notice. I know how busy you claim you always are.” “Brian, we go way back. You know how I like spending your money, so when Jennifer called, I just dropped everything. I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” Gregory said teasingly. “Look at the amount of space you’ve given me to work with!” Gregory made sweeping motions with his arms to designate the space. “This is so much bigger than your loft. Oh, I can really work with this! However, I see that your usual, unreasonable deadlines apply. Why am I not surprised?” “Gregory, this is my partner, Justin Taylor. I’m not sure if you remember him,” Brian said, sliding his arm around Justin’s waist. “And for the record, those are HIS deadlines.” “Ah the artiste. I’ve admired your work. It’s good to meet you at last,” Gregory continued. “And who is this?” he asked, motioning toward Gus, who had finally come running to join the conversation. “This is my son, Gus,” Brian explained. “He’s six years old.” “Oh, well hello Gus,” Gregory said, shaking Gus’s hand. “Look Gregory!” Brian said, handing Gregory the sketchpad. “Justin did all your work for you. So don’t expect your usual, outrageous fees.” “Brian let’s not be gauche and talk about money. I’m dealing with a real artiste. Now go away and leave us alone. Justin and I have work to do,” Gregory continued. “Besides, this seems like so much fun working with Emmett and Jennifer too, you never know, I might just do this assignment for free.” “That’ll be the day,” Brian laughed. Gregory began flipping through the sketches. “These are very interesting Justin, very interesting indeed. Notice the use of color. Oh yes, I can work with these. At last, a project worthy of my talents,” Gregory teased. “Gregory and I have all sorts of idea,” Emmett added, “Wait ‘til you see them.” Brian just shook his head and smiled in response. He then walked over to Jennifer. “Mother Taylor, I’m so relieved just knowing that you’re here,” Brian said with a smile, giving Jennifer her usual kiss on the cheek. “Stop worrying Brian, between us we have everything under control,” she reassured him. “I’m not worried,” Brian responded. “But Gus and I have things to do. C’mon Gus, it’s time for us to go.” Brian and Gus kissed Justin and said their goodbyes to everyone. *** Justin, Jennifer, Gregory and Emmett did a complete walk through of the house. Jennifer pointed out all the invisible features of each room that she knew about. Everyone was writing feverishly, generating lists, of what they needed as they went from room to room. They finally reached the room that Justin had intended as his studio. Justin opened the door and found this room was the only room with things inside. This room seemed to be completely furnished with all the items covered in sheets. Justin entered this room alone and peeped under the coverings. Justin smiled and realized Brian had prepared all this for him, so that everything would be ready whenever he returned. This was the proof of how much Brian loved him, and Justin just stood there and took it all in, just for a moment. Eventually Justin closed the door to his studio, for there was a lot of work to be done before he could settle into this room. Justin had decided to more or less, completely furnish the lower level. Everyone proceeded to the upper level. Jennifer took in the number of bedrooms and suggested that they furnish only a few bedrooms. She suggested that they simply close the doors to the remaining rooms and furnish them later. Everyone welcomed this idea. For now, the task of furnishing the house became much more manageable. Emmett and the team remained at the house, taking measurements and considering details. While Jennifer, Justin and Gregory were off to the showrooms to select furniture. *** Their walk through of various showrooms produced the desired choices of high-end and designer furniture rentals that Justin hoped would be acceptable to Brian. Arrangements were made for all items to be delivered the next day. On the way out, something caught Justin’s eye. He found exactly what he needed as a surprise for Gus for tonight. Justin hesitated because he wasn’t exactly sure how Brian would react to his idea. When Justin explained his idea, Gregory and Jennifer lapsed into sidesplitting laughter at the prospect of what Justin was planning. The necessary rental items were loaded into Gregory’s van for immediate transport back to Bri-tin. Justin made a rough sketch for how things should be set up. Gregory and Justin selected a few additional accessories that would achieve the desired effect. Jennifer and Gregory helped Justin prepare a list of other things that he might need to purchase to complete his vision for the evening. Justin hoped that Gus would enjoy his surprise, and that Brian wouldn’t kill him as the night progressed. *** A few hours later, Jennifer dropped Justin at Kinnetik to retrieve the SUV and to check on Gus, who seemed content to stay with Brian at the office. Justin went off to complete his appointed rounds, for he wanted everything to be perfect tonight. Justin stopped by the loft and retrieved a few items he knew would be essential and loaded them in his SUV. Justin’s next stop was the music store, and his final stop was the grocery store. After one final check of his to do list, Justin felt ready. Justin reentered Bri-tin, and Thomas and Teres helped him unload the car. Justin proceeded to the kitchen, which he noticed was now fully equipped with top of the line cookware, appliances, and gadgets…all identical to those used at the loft. Emmett had even selected potholders and all the other accessories Justin would need. “Thank you, Em,” Justin whispered aloud. “Well I guess I’d better get started.” Justin began to prepare dinner. *** Later Justin walked into the living room, where everything had been set up according to the layout he had sketched. Justin’s eye drifted to the far corner of the room. There propped up in the corner of the room was the UNOPENED package, containing Brian’s painting, and the still wrapped package of tools. Justin smiled as he realized that Brian must have decided not to open his painting in the midst of impending chaos. Justin was relieved with that decision, for now the painting would not be damaged as things were moved into the house. Also now, Brian could choose just the right moment that he wanted to experience his painting. While continuing with his preparations, Justin called Brian and convinced him to come to Bri-tin after work, *** Brian called as he and Gus were leaving Kinnetik to let Justin know that they were leaving. On their way, Brian and Gus stopped at the Diner to pick up lemon bars, as an intended surprise for Justin. While Justin was waiting, he called his agent in New York and confirmed that the meeting with gallery owner in Cincinnati would be in two days, on Wednesday at 11AM. Justin talked with his agent about his new Justin Taylor Artist website. His agent was scrolling casually through the site, while they were talking on the phone, and she was very impressed with all that she was seeing. Justin then called the airlines and changed his reservations, since the original booking had him flying between New York and Cincinnati. Shortly after finishing all his phone calls and unpacking his most recent purchases, Justin made one more check to be sure that everything was ready. Then he returned to the kitchen to finish preparing dinner. Within a few minutes, Justin heard Brian’s Corvette pull into the driveway.