Lois, thank you for the beta...you are the greatest!
Chapter 30 – Quiet Reflections Friday, Late Afternoon…(Day 26) In his studio at Bri-tin, Justin couldn’t help but think about Milan. While he painted, he replayed part of his conversation with Signor Marani. “Please don’t be offended. Milan is a long way from the US. Often artistic talent goes undiscovered. With a talent such as yours, that was not going to be the case for much longer anyway. Even in Milan, we read Art Forum. And, even in Milan we hear about eccentric artists, who exhibit their work for the pure joy of having it seen. Yes, your decision not to sell your paintings at the Santa Barbara exhibit hit the worldwide press. So I was definitely curious to meet you.” Signor Marani…correction make that Pietro…Pietro had said that even in Milan, they had read the Art Forum article about him last year. Also, Pietro had heard about what happened at the Santa Barbara show. Justin smiled as he thought about the fact that he was achieving international attention, and it was happening …just by him being himself. Justin had met the art world on his own terms and had prevailed. He had been in New York for a year. Although thus far he had not achieved his dream of a solo show at a major gallery, he had successfully had his work shown as part of several group exhibits. Each time he exhibited, all his exhibited paintings sold. And as he told Ted and Cynthia today, he was still growing as an artist, and he was still young. Hearing Lindsay tell him that he had a great future was one thing…after all she was family and definitely biased. Hearing Pietro say that he was talented enough to apply for the summer exhibit in Milan was something else. It reaffirmed his belief in himself, and encouraged Justin to work harder. Justin smiled to himself as he continued working on his painting. He loved painting at Bri-tin. He looked at the few pieces he had painted here, and he saw the joy he felt captured on canvas. Joy! This emotion was clearly missing from his New York work. Something else was there instead. Justin liked to think that it was determination. The determination to achieve his stated objectives and return back to Brian as quickly as possible. But it had to be more than that. What was it exactly? The question in his mind caused Justin to put down the paintbrush. It was time that he looked for himself. He walked over to his computer and brought up the Justin Taylor Artist website. Justin looked at his own artwork on his website. And for the first time, Justin held a personal retrospective of his own work. Justin thought back to his earliest sketches of Brian made so long ago. Then, little more than line drawings, they lacked the depth of emotions that could be seen in his sketches today. Examining the images of his paintings through the years, Justin realized that not only was he growing as artist, but also he had already grown, especially over the last year. His years at PIFA had made a big difference, but also so had all his life experiences. Justin saw all of his life lessons played out across the canvasses of time. One thing was clearly evident in the volume of work that he had produced…there was never complacency in any of his work. Every piece was ripe with emotion. The artist had truly found his medium. Yet in spite of all this, Justin had enjoyed working on the Belluss Occhiali/Eyeconics campaign with Brian more than anything. He had enjoyed the chance to work with Brian as a partner on the campaign. In spite of the long hours on the campaign and all the interruptions, Justin realized that he had still managed to create a few paintings, and those paintings represented some of his best work. What did this mean? When he was in Cincinnati, he and Jason had talked. Jason was probably the only person who could understand what Justin was feeling when he had talked about working with Brian. Jason has worked with Paul, his partner, since he had graduated from high school, and they had lived and worked together ever since. Jason was quick to point out how the campaigns that he created together with Paul were so different than the ones they developed independent of each other. Jason talked about the “distinct difference”. Justin wondered if that “distinct difference” existed when he and Brian worked together. Once Justin had felt he had very little to offer. After all, Kinnetik had a full art department filled with experienced graphic artists. But working on the Belluss Occhiali/Eyeconics campaign, Justin came to realize that he knew things that the others were still trying to figure out. His artist’s eye let him see things immediately that others had to figure out by trial and error. Initially the art department had been happy to work with him. Of course, at first it was probably because he was Brian’s partner, and everyone knew that. But after the first few hours, Justin recognized that things noticeably changed. Then everyone became eager to work with him, because they realized that he knew things that they needed to learn. Likewise, working with the other artists added another dimension to Justin as an artist. Lindsay had once said, “You know you have talent. You should develop it. Maybe go to art school.” And that is precisely what Justin had done. He had endeavored to continually develop his talent. But whenever it came to a choice between who he was as a man and what he believed in vs. his art, Justin had always remained true to himself. And in remaining true to himself his art had continued to develop in spite of everything. Now he was becoming known as an artist in New York. And through a simple twist of fate, he was being given the opportunity to at least apply to exhibit his work in Milan. Justin was pleased with all that he had accomplished. But most of all, Justin was thrilled that through all his accomplishments, he and Brian were still together as partners. And now he and Brian were at home at Bri-tin. He simply smiled, as he thought about Brian, and Justin decided it was time for a break, so he reached for his cell phone and punch the number. “Kinney,” Brian answered, forgetting to first check the caller ID on his cell phone. “Hey,” Justin said quietly, and he could hear Brian smile. “Hey. How’s the painting going?” “Pretty well actually. I’m just taking a break, and thought I would call.” “Your timing is perfect. You just rescued me from Theodore and Cynthia, who are now leaving my office at last.” Brian declared. Justin could hear the rustling sound through the phone, as Ted and Cynthia made their exit from Brian’s office. “How did things go with your mother?” “I invited her to dinner with us, but she already had plans. So we agreed to get together when I get back from New York.” “That can be arranged. So, did you call me for phone sex?” Brian teased. “I think we have just enough time?” “Brian!” “I was just asking.” “I was really hoping you were coming home soon, so I could have the real thing. I miss you.” “Well, I suppose that could be arranged. I miss you too,” Brian admitted. “Let me clear up a few things and I’ll see you soon. Later.” “Later.” Justin made a few phone calls while waiting for Brian, and once again returned to his painting. *** After the phone call, Brian had to stop for a moment and reflect. Had it only been about a month ago that Michael’s painting of Superheroes had arrived or that Melanie’s painting of Sparring Partners had been received. Time does pass quickly, doesn’t it? Brian thought of all the trips to New York to see Justin over the last few months. Each trip had helped to make the separation easier. They had shown Brian that he and Justin were truly a couple and very much together, even if they lived in different cities. However for Justin to come back to Pittsburgh was totally different. Brian really understood that. He had avoided having Justin come back for just that reason. It was easier to visit him in New York, even though it was always a hard ride to the airport for the early morning flight back to Pittsburgh. But Justin being at the house in West Virginia or the loft in Pittsburgh was a simple statement that Justin was home, where he belonged. And Brian wasn’t sure he was going to be able to let Justin go. Justin’s trip to Cincinnati had been hard, and that was only for one day. He and Gus had managed to keep each other company, but it was clear that were both just biding their time until Justin’s return. “When did I become so lesbianonic?” Brian asked himself with a laugh. Brian tried to sort out the pieces. Cynthia had suggested that Justin be brought back to work on the Belluss Occhiali/Eyeconics campaign. Brian laughed as he thought about all the twists and turns between that original idea to final acceptance of the campaign by the clients. And at the center of it all, sat Justin. Justin’s knowledge and instincts matched with Brian’s advertising skills had produced a campaign that was definitely going to garner attention. Brian was smart enough to realize that his relationship with Justin would never be traditional…but it would always simply be. But this was the first moment that he also realized that Justin was the vortex, and the whirlwind of events just seemed to swirl around him. Brian thought about all the campaigns he had created in the last ten years. He could never remember a single campaign that had this much intrigue. Brian felt it took all his skills to keep stay grounded in the middle of chaos. Once again Brian laughed. Brian had once thought that he would be lucky to have Justin in Pittsburgh for a week to develop the campaign. And Brian remembered those first few nights when Justin came back from New York, when the very air in the loft was electrified by his presence. Brian realized that he still felt that way. Brian remembered how he felt when Justin announced, rather than asked, that he wanted to paint in Pittsburgh for the next three months. And the even greater surprise when Justin announced his decision to paint at Bri-tin, and the way that Justin managed to turned Bri-tin into a home in such short a period of time. Then there’s Gus and Justin together. It’s the way they lovingly interact and pushed him to have all these new experiences that he never knew he wanted. Brian is overwhelmed by how much he loves them both. Brian remembered the life he used to live before Gus and Justin came into his life. He remembered how hard he had tried to resist them both. He laughed at how easily he succumbed to them both. And now, he can’t imagine his life with them both. Now Justin had extracted a promise of a creative solution to their living arrangements. Justin was ready to move back to Pittsburgh or West Virginia. And more than anything, Brian’s heart wanted the same thing. But this was a decision that Brian knew he had to make with his head, and Brian knew he had a lot of work to do to find the perfect solution and make it a reality. A promise is a promise! Brian smiled to himself as he gathered up his things for the drive home to Bri-tin, for he had a date with a very hot blond.