Classique Companions – 2
(838-2563 [UFU-CKME]
Authors – Elsa Rose and Judy
Plot Bunny – Shirley (muuuuwawh)
(one of many who took this bunny)
Still 6 years ago – we look at what Justin is up to
Hands in his pockets, neck scrunched low into his jacket collar, Justin walked away from the vision of the mystery man high up in the building on Tremont. His fingers itched to record how he looked silhouetted against the high arched window. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the energy to dig out his sketchbook.
His father had reacted badly to the news that Justin was gay. In fact, badly wasn’t even close to how the man he’d thought loved him had reacted. Justin’s face still stung from the open handed slap his father had given him and he snorted at the memory. What a girly way to hit, maybe his father was gay and just hiding it he thought to himself.
Daphne was supposed to pick him up in front of the library. Her parents said he could stay with them for a few days. What the fuck was he supposed to do after that was beyond him.
It was only the end of the first term at school. He needed to finish the next two terms; finish and survive. The fucking jocks were determined to kill him or at least make his life miserable enough so that he’d do the job for them. Fucking assholes; he still had the bruises on his back from the last time they’d thrown a few punches. He should go to the hospital and tell them it was his father, have the son of a bitch arrested for child abuse. Justin snorted at the thought; it made him smile with pleasure as he pictured his father being led away in handcuffs.
The honking of a car horn made Justin turn to look. It was Daphne. “Hey,” he said as he ran over to the car and got in. “I wasn’t expecting you here.”
“I took a wrong turn to the library and then saw this sorry assed looking guy and thought that has to be Justin,” she said with a grin.
Justin leaned over and punched her playfully and gently on the arm. “I’m not sorry assed. I’ll have you know my butt is one of my best features. It’s a classic look.” He rubbed it suggestively.
“Jerk,” she laughed. “Hey, my mom talked to your mom. They decided that you should stay with us until Monday. It’ll give your dad time to get over it. If and when you go home, you should lay low and keep out of his way. Your mom says that with the hours your dad keeps, you should hardly ever run into him.”
“Yeah, he’s never home.” Justin shrugged. “I guess that’s okay. I have to finish school and it’s fucking cold outside. I had visions of becoming a street person.”
“You could get your own shopping cart. The ones down at K Mart are blue and they’ll match your eyes.”
“Fuck off.” Justin made to hit her arm again, but Daphne yelled so he stopped. “You know this really sucks. It’s bad enough that I have to put up with those assholes at school, but you’d think I could find some relief when I get home.”
“Maybe he’ll eventually come around ,” Daphne said, ever hopeful.
“When pigs fly,Justin snorted. “Hey, I saw the most gorgeous guy in the world. He was on the top floor of that old building on Tremont. Man, I wouldn’t mind having his shoes under my bed.”
“Oh puuuullleeeese,” Daphne laughed. “He’s probably butt ugly when you see him up close. I bet you didn’t even have your glasses on.”
Justin giggled, “No glasses, men don’t make passes at boys who wear glasses.” He giggled again. “I remember my grandmother telling me that when I was six. Do you think she knew I was gay even then?”
“Sure she did, you swished in kindergarten.” Daphne laughed out loud at the look on Justin’s face. “I’m kidding, you don’t swish.”
“I need to find myself a boyfriend.” Justin stuck his lip out. “All this girl time is getting me down.”
“Shut up or you’ll sleep on the porch.” Daphne turned into her driveway. She lived only three houses away from Justin’s. They’d grown up together and their families knew one another. Her parents had been horrified at what Justin’s father had done. She knew that no matter what, he would be safe, even if it was at her house, though his mother seemed to be trying to keep the family together.
It was more than a week later before he was able to move back home. He didn’t know for how long it would be. His father had left for a weeklong business trip and he and his mother were taking advantage of the fact.
“Justin, have you applied to PIFA?” his mother asked. They had been going through a list of universities together.
“I was going to.” He sighed. “But dad will probably refuse to pay. He’ll say it’s too gay.”
“They have a very good advanced law placement study. If you did a double major, with law as a back up, I don’t see how he could refuse. Besides, I have my own money. I’ll make sure your tuition is paid.”
“Law sounds fun,” Justin said. He picked up the brochure she had been looking at. “If I did law, then I could have something to fall back on if my art doesn’t work out.”
“I’m sure you’ll do well in both subjects, Dear. The question later will be what will you do, go on to law or take the art world by storm.”
“I’m glad someone has confidence in me.” Justin shrugged. “I’ll apply. I don’t want to leave Pittsburgh right now anyway. I don’t want to go away to school, but I’d kind of like to live at the dorms. That way dad won’t be on my case all the time.”
“I agree that you should have the opportunity of living with other boys with the same interests.” She gave him a quick hug. “Maybe you’ll meet a nice young man.”
“Mom, I want a boyfriend, not a husband,” he laughed. “Dad would have a cat fit.”
“You know your father, if the man you meet has enough money than he’ll be good enough for Craig,” Jennifer remarked knowing how her husband was extremely altruistic.
“You’ve got that right. Heaven help me if he’s a poor fag.” Justin shook his head and went back to studying the brochures.
Thanksgiving and Christmas passed by without too much argument in the Taylor home. Justin kept to himself and when he was able he stayed over at Daphne’s place. It made things easier all around if Craig couldn’t actually see his son. He was sure that Justin had been trying to make a statement of some kind, although, he had no idea why and put it down to teenage angst. After all his son and Daphne had been inseparable since childhood. He couldn’t possibly be gay.
June finally arrived and that meant graduation for Justin. He had been accepted at PIFA and he’d elected to begin in July rather than waiting for September. He was able to get a dorm room and as a bonus, because he was earlier than most students, he’d snagged himself a choice job with the law firm of Kramer and Landry not too far from campus. His parents would only have to pay for his tuition and books. He’d be able to cover all his other expenses, or at least try.
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For the first time in a long time, Justin was happy. PIFA was filled with other guys like him... openly gay. He no longer had to be looking over his shoulder all the time to survive. His clerking job at Kramer and Landry was also going well. It provided the stimulus that he needed to keep himself mentally alert. He found himself enjoying the machinations of the law more than he’d expected and he actually looked forward to spending hours in the research room. Although, at times he found himself being distracted and before he realized what he was doing small, doodle sketches would appear in the margins of the paper of the various other people who used the rooms.
Justin was surprised one day when he arrived at Kramer and Landry to find a note requesting him to go to Preston Kramer’s office later that day. He’d so far avoided any kind of confrontation with any of the hierarchy in the place and found himself panicking during the morning as he went over and over his hours at the law firm and wondering where he’d gone wrong.
“Come in, Mr. Taylor.” Preston Kramer stood up, walked around his desk to greet Justin when he came into the office. “Have a seat.” He nodded toward a leather armchair that was placed in front of his desk.
Justin sat down. He was surprised when his boss took the other chair.
“We’ve never formally met Justin. I did of course approve your hire, but generally I don’t get involved with the entry level employees. “ He reached over and picked up a file folder of notes Justin had taken for their next case and opened it. Inside, the notes were neatly typed, but then in the margins of a few pages, were drawings that Justin had unconsciously sketched as he worked.
“Shit,” Justin muttered, not aware that he’d spoken.
Preston Kramer grinned. “I don’t mind the graphics. It makes things interesting and I can recognize some of the employees. See that’s Sue at the photocopier, there’s Lenny at the water cooler, he must have a bladder the size of a football. And yes, Jerome does look like a poodle.”
Justin flushed with embarrassment. “Uh, sorry Mr. Kramer, I don’t know why I did that.” He looked at the older man, “Drawing has always been something I’ve done, especially if I’m tired. I do it as a kind of nervous tick. One minute I’m looking at a clean piece of paper and the next minute it has a person on it.”
“Well, I can see you have a talent for drawing. There isn’t anyone on these pages that I don’t recognize.” There was a knock on his office door and Preston got up to answer it. “Come in Nick,” he said opening the door wider. “Justin, I’d like you to meet my son. Nick this is Justin.”
Both boys stood for a moment staring at one another. Nick was tall, slim with dark, curly hair. His features were classic beauty. Justin, smaller and blond knew instinctively that Nick was gay and that they would complement one another perfectly.
“Hi,” Justin managed to say and held out his hand.
“Nick is in his first year of law studies. He works here as much as I can get him.” Preston grinned at his son. “As a first year law student, I send Nick out to investigate various aspects of whatever case I’m working on.”
“Kind of like a paid flunky,” Nick added. “One who isn’t scared to death of the old guy. I get to go to the sleazier areas and check things out.”
“The thing is Justin; Nick doesn’t have the artist’s eye for detail and I need detail. I would like to propose that you and Nick go on these foray’s into the dark side together. It would accomplish two things. One, I’d be happier if Nick had a friend with him, and two, maybe he’d get some of the details that he misses.” He reached over and ruffled his son’s hair causing the young man to blush and duck under his dad’s hand.
“That would be cool.” Justin grinned.
“Now look here boys, this doesn’t mean you two are some kind of gay private eyes.”
“You know I’m gay?” Justin blurted out.
“Since Nick has been drooling over you every night at dinner, that would be a yes.” Preston Kramer chuckled and Nick let out a, “Daaaaaad.”
“Justin, since dad has no couth at all, I think we should get out of here,” Nick laughed. “I’ll buy you a coffee.”
“No long coffee breaks boys, I have my eye on both of you now.” Preston sat down behind his desk. “Oh and Justin, feel free to record your detail as a picture. You know they say a picture is worth a thousand words.”
“I’ve heard that.” Justin grinned. He could barely stop looking at Nick. The guy was hotter than hot.
When the door closed on his father’s office, Nick turned to Justin. “Look Justin, my dad, he’s always trying to fix me up. That was his not so subtle way of doing it. You don’t have to come with me if you don’t want to.”
“Your dad is cool. My dad pretends that I’m not gay.” Justin shrugged. “Actually, what he wants me to do is kind of cool. Besides, it’ll break up the day.”
“Great, glad you’ll go along with it. My dastardly plan is working.” Nick rubbed his hands together. “Now about that coffee, I know a great little place not far from here.”
“Oh?” Justin asked.
“Yeah, the cafeteria at PIFA.” He grinned at Justin. “I’d kind of like to see your etchings and by the way are you going to sweep me off my feet and take me to your dorm room?” He thought for a moment, “Shit do you have a roommate?”
“Uh Nick, I’m not going to fuck you.” Justin looked down at his feet. “I mean we’ve just met. I don’t mind showing you my art, but there’s no way I’m having sex with you.”
“Well not today, but someday right?” Nick put his arm around Justin’s shoulder. “I’m just teasing you Jus, I’m not into casual sex either. I kind of want a more permanent relationship. Damn you’re easy to tease.”
“Well it’s not like I’ve had a lot of experience with other guys who are gay. I mean I know some from school, but not know if you know what I mean.”
“In a rather bizarre way, I do know.” Nick smiled down at the blond he had his arm around. “I have a feeling we’re going to be good friends,” he whispered before letting his lips brush Justin’s.
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Two weeks later Justin and Nick found themselves completely involved with one another. They had known from the first meeting that they would end up good friends. Justin was filled with innocent lust for the handsome man about campus that Nick was, and Nick couldn’t resist Justin’s blue-eyed charm and intelligent wit. Both of them were taking courses at school during the summer and both of them spent their free days at Kramer and Landry. Because of Nick’s influence with management, Justin was always assigned to help the first year law student in his assignments, which of course was just fine with both of them.
“Justin, we have to go an address on Tremont to take a deposition from some guy called Emmett Honeycutt.” He grinned, “It’s close to Liberty Avenue, have you ever been there?”
“A couple of times,” Justin admitted. “But I was with my friend Daphne; we didn’t really do much other than people watch.” He shrugged. “Now who has time to go cruising.”
“As if you’ve ever gone cruising,” Nick laughed. “You’re much too butch for that,” he snickered.
Justin rolled his eyes. “And you are?”
“We can take his statement, you can make sure I don’t miss any details, and when we’re done, we can have lunch at the Liberty Avenue Diner.” His hand cupped Justin’s ass as he pulled him close for a kiss. “I wish we had time to go back to the dorms,” he whispered. It was the only time they had any privacy. Nick still lived at home and Justin wasn’t sharing his room until September.
“I hope you have your dad’s car. I hate taking the bus when it’s cold.”
“Yes, you spoiled baby, I have daddy’s car.” Nick smirked earning himself a well- placed punch on the arm. Justin had learned a thing or two from Daphne over the years. “Ouch.” Nick rubbed his arm and Justin stuck out his tongue.
Their relationship was full of lustful loving, teasing and laughter. Justin often wondered if it was love he felt for the other man, but since he’d never actually been in love he didn’t know for sure. He did know that he looked forward to being with Nick. It made his days full of fun; something he hadn’t had much of during his last year of school.
The two young men soon found themselves parked outside a large building on Tremont. “Are you sure this is where we’re supposed to be?” Justin asked. He looked around nervously. “It seems kind of like a factory or something.”
“Haven’t you ever heard of loft buildings?” Nick smiled as he got out. “This is one of those old buildings that people buy and make into apartments and things. Emmett Honeycutt has a party planning and catering business on the first floor at the rear. He said to go around to the back; he has a sign on the delivery door.
“There’s something about this place that seems kind of familiar,” Justin said as he and Nick negotiated the piled snow and slush on the sidewalk to walk around to the rear of the building.
“I thought you were the one with the artist’s eye who’s supposed to remember things.” Nick liked to tease Justin about his art.
“Asshole,” Justin replied, good-natured as usual. “What are we getting this guys statement for?”
“Oh, someone slipped and fell at a party he was catering last week. Apparently, this Emmett guy was the only witness. It’s just one of those stupid cases where someone figures that they’ll take the insurance company of the homeowner for some bucks.”
“Oh.” Justin was the first to reach the door. He knocked hard on the heavy metal door. “Fuck it’s cold”
“We’ll warm you up later.” Nick kissed the back of Justin’s neck, his lips were cold and Justin shivered.
“Well goodness gracious me, don’t the two of you look good enough to eat. This is the best delivery I’ve had all day. Come on in.” Emmett had answered the door. He pulled it open inviting the two of them inside.
“Hi, I’m Nick Kramer and this is my assistant, Justin Taylor, we’re here to get your statement about what happened at the McNabb’s the other night.”
“Why sure Honey Bunch, that’s too easy. Selma was as drunk as two skunks and she stood on a footstool with casters and wonder of all wonders she fell off. I’m surprised she didn’t do more damage.”
“Oh, was she hurt?” Justin asked.
“Hell no, but she broke Elsie McNabb’s best crystal wine glasses when she hit the table with her arms. Those glasses are more than a hundred dollars apiece and she even put her foot in Josie’s eye. Josie was sitting on floor playing some party game. I mean really a sixty-year-old lady has no business sitting on the floor, but what do I know.”
It took them almost forty minutes to unravel the tale, but they managed eventually. Justin rather liked the smooth, southern voiced man who was as swishy as they come. He’d have to give his mom Emmett’s card, maybe she could steer some business his way.
“I can’t believe you took those cookies,” Nick said with a shake of his head as he opened the car door for Justin. “We’re going to eat now, you could have waited.”
Justin giggled and bit one of the cookies. “My granny always said never to refuse a gift, so I didn’t. You’re just jealous because he didn’t give you any.”
As the two bantered, they didn’t see the tall, older man watching Justin with interest. Brian had come to the building to pick up some papers he’d left in his lair, seeing the blond was an extra bonus to his day. He wondered what he was doing in front of the building. It was possible he might have been using the spa and gym. Brian sighed; he wished he could find someone like the blond had. It would be nice to be in a relationship. He wondered if that was even possible for him or if it was just some fantasy dream.
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A year later, Justin found himself working on two private commissions as well as his second year at PIFA. He continued to work at Kramer and Landry, glad for the money he earned. His father was still being a prick, but less of one now that he knew Justin was dating Nick Kramer. After all Nick’s dad was one of the more prominent men in Pittsburgh, despite having a gay son.
Nick’s second year at law school was far more intense than his first one and he’d convinced his father to let him live in an apartment close to his school. His father and mother adored Justin, and they didn’t see a problem with him sharing the apartment, in fact they had even helped the blond move in.
Living with Nick was a revelation for Justin. He’d never shared his life so intimately before. Both of them discovered that they hated housework and their place was constantly in a state of disarray. Luckily, Justin’s mother visited frequently and had a penchant for cleaning because the two young men relied heavily on her help.
Their relationship had deepened and both Justin and Nick had loving feelings for one another. Justin figured that was how men must love. Men had to be different; they couldn’t have the all-consuming love that women talked about. It had to be a woman thing. What he felt for Nick was much more real than that. Or at least that’s what he told himself.
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Brian had spent the past year working at Ryder. He had been promoted twice as a reward for the business he brought in and with his bonus money, had paid down the mortgage on the Tremont building by a third. It was better than he’d expected to do considering his renovation expenses.
As a treat for Debbie and Vic he’d commissioned a brass sign for their door with Classique Companion inscribed in the logo he’d designed for them. He’d also replaced the old wooden door with one fashioned of brass and glass. Debbie was completely enamoured of it and every chance she got she polished the brass much to Vic’s amusement.
Classique Companions had become the place to go for a reliable, good looking and intelligent escorts. The escorts from Classique had a certain air of refinement about them. Men and women alike were booked months in advance, and all of the escorts commanded top dollar for their service. While Debbie and Vic didn’t encourage the staff to become sexually involved with their clients, they were pleased it hadn’t become an issue. In fact, three of their associate’s had married clients and all of them were proud to say where they met.
Brian was one of Classiques best clients. He found that he could bring a date, either male or female to whatever function he had to attend, without worrying about the repercussions of the date wanting to become involved in a relationship. It wasn’t that he was unable to get his own dates, it was just that he refused to be with someone more than once, whether sexually or at a function. It didn’t make him very popular with the Liberty Avenue crowd, who viewed this eccentricity as odd, very odd indeed. As always Brian insisted on paying Debbie and Vic the going rate for whomever he picked. He didn’t want them losing any money.
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Two years later, Brian picked up the newspaper and was surprised to see that The Ryder Agency’s main lawyer had hosted a commitment ceremony for his son, Nick and a young man called Justin Taylor. The picture in the society section of Pittsburgh’s daily paper, showed both young men beaming into the camera, while two couples that had to be their parents stood slightly back, looking pleased with the whole affair. The blond in the picture looked familiar somehow, though Brian wasn’t sure when he might have met him. He looked closely at the picture and wondered why he was filled with regret at the commitment of two men he didn’t know.
Brian sighed, he was relatively happy with his life. He made good money, had some savings and between him and the bank owned a building. Two more decent bonus checks and the bank would be out if. The spa and gym on the ground floor had become a hot spot for both gays and straights. Brian was glad he’d agreed to a forty percent ownership. He’d used Ryder’s lawyers for that transaction and had been given good advice by Preston Kramer, advice he was sure Melanie, Lindsay’s partner would never have given him.
Picking up a framed picture he looked into the eyes of his son. Gus was almost three and yet Brian could count the times he’d had spent alone with his son on one hand. But wasn’t that the way he’d wanted it? The niggling question sounded in his brain. His plan on living his life with no regrets wasn’t working out well. The ringing of his cell phone brought Brian back into reality. He checked the display; it was his brother. “Hey Mikey.”
“Brian, where are you?” Michael demanded. “We’ve been waiting for you for almost an hour.”
“I’ve been busy.” Brian looked around his loft apartment. He’d been working at the desk he’d set up in his secret room. Of course all the rooms were secret, he still hadn’t told anyone what he’d done with the top floor. He still spent most nights at home in his childhood bedroom.
“Ma is looking for you too. She said you aren’t at home.”
“Marvellous powers of deduction Mikey. You should wear a red cape.” Brian hated to be snarky with his brother, but there were times when it was too easy.
“Don’t get shitty with me,” Michael began. “Uncle Vic baked a cake for your birthday and you damn well should be here.”
“I’m on my way; I forgot. Tell Uncle Vic I’ll be there in half an hour.” Brian couldn’t believe he’d forgotten the annual birthday celebration he was forced to endure.
“How the fuck can you forget your birthday?” Michael began. “Teddy and Emmett are coming over too.” Then he giggled. “We actually planned it for two hours later than what Ma told you. So when you get here, you’ll be on time.”
“Nice going Mikey,” Brian laughed. “I’ll remember that for next year you know.”
“There’ll be a surprise here for you too.” Michael sucked at keeping secrets. “Lindsay and Melanie are coming over with Gus.”
Brian didn’t know what to say. He hadn’t been expecting that. Gus was talking now and he asked too many questions. But Brian loved him with a love he had never felt before. Not that he’d ever let the dykes know. It would give them too much power over him and there wasn’t a chance in hell he’d allow that.
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Another year passed and Justin and Nick were happy. It wasn’t the great love affair of the century, but they both were comfortable with themselves and they were happy.
Nick now worked full time in his father’s law firm. He’d graduated at the top of his class and passed the bar with ease. Justin had finished up at PIFA graduating with honors. He now worked part time at both the law firm as well as at a local gallery where his art not only was represented there, but sold well. It was a good life for them both. What made it even better was the fact that Justin’s parents seemed to not only accept him and Nick but had become part of their lives complete with Sunday dinners and family get-togethers.
Justin felt at ease with Nick. He trusted him completely with everything he had. They were a monogamous couple and rarely went out to any of the clubs. The highlight of this particular year was the two-month trip to Europe that had been a gift to them from their parents.
Then in the blink of an eye, Justin’s world dissolved. Nick, always full of laughter was dead. He’d been killed by some asshole who ran a red light and hit the driver’s side of the car at full speed. Justin had waited well into the night for his partner to come home from the grocery store and ran through a dozen scenarios about why he was late. Dead wasn’t one of them.
With Nick’s death came a thousand things Justin never thought he’d have to face. First, there was the matter of Nick’s will and then his insurance policy that was part of his company benefits. Justin locked himself in their home and refused to speak to anyone for days. It was only Daphne, who managed to break down the door so to speak. She’d found a key that Justin had lent her a year before.
“Justin?” Daphne called aloud, feeling like she should whisper in the gloomy darkness of the house. Every window had its draperies closed so that no light came in. She stood just inside the front door, a light layer of dust on the marble floor showing when she flipped on the light. A stack of mail; condolence cards mixed with bills and letters were strewn over the floor just as they landed when shoved through the mail slot in the door. There was no sound in the house, yet she could feel that she wasn’t alone. Not sure what she’d find, Daphne walked toward the kitchen. It was filled with half eaten pizza turning mouldy, glasses of soured milk, burnt toast leaning haphazardly out of the toaster. The smell wasn’t pleasant, but she’d seen worse, though she couldn’t remember when.
There was no sign of Justin, so she walked toward the master bedroom. Inside it looked like a bomb had gone off. Every bit of material; drapes, duvet, pillows, where ripped and shredded like they’d been attacked by a madman. Wading through feathers and down, Daphne peeked inside the bathroom. It was empty of life and for that she was glad after having had visions of Justin floating in the vast bathtub.
“JUSTIN,” she called out louder than before, she was worried and scared, though Daphne still felt like he was in the house somewhere.
The door to Justin’s studio was closed, faint music could be heard, and she cautiously opened the door. “Justin.” Daphne was almost breathless. Her friend was inside his studio wearing only a pair of sweat pants that hung low on his too thin hips. He was standing staring at a portrait of his dead partner... just standing there and staring, his eyes blank, seeing but not seeing. “Justin.” Daphne walked over to him and put her arm around her friend. Justin sagged into her embrace grateful for her presence, though it barely registered. “Justin, let’s go sit down.” She led him to the loveseat by the patio door and together they sat down.
Silence filled the room except for the faint sound of music that Daphne finally figured out came from the headphones that had been discarded near an easel.
“Why can’t I cry?” Justin asked, his voice raw with emotion. “Why the fuck can’t I feel anything? Why can’t I cry for the man who has been my partner for damn near four years?” he turned to Daphne, pain-filled blue eyes looked to her for answers. “Daphne it doesn’t make any sense. He’s gone, I’ll never hear him laugh again or hear him make his stupid jokes or groan at his stupid puns. You’d think I’d feel something, but I don’t. I feel dead.” He held out his hand and it was then that Daphne saw dozens of cuts on his palm. “I feel nothing.”
“Everything’s too new,” Daphne said. She hadn’t been prepared for this Justin. But she could see and hear that her friend needed help. “Nick would understand.”
“That’s just it, he would understand. What we had, was a deep friendship. I loved him in a way that I’m sure I’ll never love again. It was a comfortable love and we were comfortable with each other. He had his life with the law and I was the artist. We were good together,” he snorted. “Did you know that he left me rich? I don’t do too badly with my art and I’ve always got the law firm to fall back on, but now apparently, I’m a multimillionaire. Go fucking figure. My best friend dies and now I’m a fucking multimillionaire.”
“Justin, you need to clean up the place.” She looked around. “You’ve been holed up in here for weeks. Everybody is worried about you.”
“Sure they are,” Justin huffed a laugh. “So worried that they were using the powers of mental persuasion to get me to come out of my cave, because sure as fuck no one came here, well except for you.” He leaned his head on Daphne’s shoulder. “I’m all alone again.”
“You have your mom and dad and Molly, you have me and Nick’s family,” Daphne reasoned.
“Actually, mom and dad have been conspicuously absent. I guess dad doesn’t like his fag son to be considered a grieving widower or is that widow. No doubt, when he hears about how much money I inherited, I’ll hear from him again. Molly is in her own world of boys and school;I barely register on her radar. Preston has been great, but he’s lost a son. I don’t expect to see much of him, though, he insists that I’m still part of the family. How can I be when I don’t even feel anything for Nick’s death? I’m sure if he saw me, he’d know how I feel and I couldn’t do that to him.” He looked at her. “But I do have you Daphne, I’ll always have you.” Justin’s face crumpled and for a moment Daphne thought she’d broken through to him, but he quickly recovered and stood up.
“Daphne, I’m sorry I worried you.” His grin was lopsided and didn’t reach his eyes. He walked to the patio doors and pulled open the drapes letting the watery, winter sun shine through. “Hey, who knew it was day time,” he tried to joke.
“Who knew,” Daphne echoed and walked over to Justin. “I’ll help you clean the place up. It reeks.”
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Normally, Brian never read the obituaries, but this morning the other sections of the paper had been taken by the rest of the gang as they sat in the back booth of the diner. He glanced at the ads for a local hardware store and then his eye caught the name Nicholas Kramer and like a moth to the flame he began to read.
When he’d finished, Brian carefully folded the newspaper and sat back against the booth. He drank his coffee, though he’d forgotten to sugar it, an unheard of occurrence and let his mind wander back to the happy wedding photos in the society section a year or so ago. So happily ever after continued to be elusive for both straights and gays alike, Brian pondered as he ignored the banter among the others at the table.
“Hey Brian,” Ted began. “Have you and Debbie considered getting into Internet dating?”
“She’s my mother, but other than that she isn’t my type.” Brian smirked. Michael and Emmett laughed and Ted flushed.
“You know what I mean Asshole,” Ted muttered. “With Classique Companions doing so well, maybe you should go a step further with it.”
“I’m not into Internet porn Ted, you know that. Classique Companions isn’t something that should be cheapened. It has a great reputation even people visiting the city have heard about it. I’ve been considering expanding to New York if we can find the right people.”
“This wouldn’t be a porn site, more like a matchmaking site. People who want to meet people could go on it. Legitimately, not a site for sexual hook-ups.”
“Tell you what Theodore, make me up a proposal and I’ll consider it.” Brian would agree to anything just to make the other man shut up. He couldn’t stop thinking about the blond in last year’s wedding photos and what he must look like now.
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Justin and Daphne had barely begun cleaning when a knock at the door heralded the arrival of his mother and sister. “Justin Dear,” his mother began. “Molly and I thought you might need some help tidying up the place.” She walked through the door, pulling a reluctant Molly with her.
“Not me, I don’t care if he sits in shit.” Molly glared at her brother. She was going through a Goth phase and her dyed black hair, black lipstick and nail polish was unsettling to Justin. He did his best to hold back a shudder when he looked at her.
“Hey Molly, get any cool piercings lately?” he asked knowing it would piss off his mother who still hadn’t gotten over Molly getting her tongue pierced let alone her bottom lip.
“Fuck you,” Molly muttered as she pushed her way into his home. “This place is a fucking dump. If you’re too fucking lazy to clean it yourself, get a cleaning company in.”
“I have and here she is.” Justin smirked, forgetting the pain he’d been feeling. Molly always did bring out the best in him. “Don’t get any of that black lipstick on any of my white towels. Oh right, washing your face is probably not Goth. Sorry about that.”
Molly glared at her brother and turned to Daphne. “We showed up, now what do we do?” she asked.
“Well for one thing, you aren’t supposed to let Justin know that I arranged this,” Daphne laughed.
“Yeah, well he knows so deal with it.” Molly clomped into the kitchen in her high black platform boots with the heavy heels and soles.
“Don’t scrape black shit on my fucking tiles,” Justin yelled at his sister. “Mom, why did you bring her, you know she drives me nuts these days.”
“Well Sweetie, she’s no basket of roses for me either,” Jennifer laughed. “I almost wish she was gay so that your father would have something to focus on like he did when you were her age.”
“Yeah, that was a barrel of laughs. Fun times for everyone.” Justin turned to head for his bathroom. “I’m going to take a shower. You guys don’t have to do anything. I can call a service like Sister Dearest suggested.” He shut his bedroom door on the three women hoping that when he appeared again, they would have disappeared.
Both Jennifer and Daphne looked at the closed bedroom door before turning to one another. “Thanks for bringing Molly. I knew she’d get him moving.” Daphne grinned. “The place is a mess, we should call a cleaning service.”
“A few garbage bags and some hot water and soap will work wonders. Not to mention opening all of these drapes.” Jennifer walked into the living room and pulled back the draperies.
“I guess it can’t hurt.” Daphne laughed and together the two women and the reluctant teen began to work.