A Memory Returned

Brian as he reached New York. Pulling up at a fast food pace, he parked his car. Brian pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. He scanned the paper which had Justin’s address written on it.

After making sure that he was going the right way, Brian stopped at a small fast food place. Even though he wasn’t a fan of fast food places, Brian needed something to eat, or he would fall asleep.

That was the last thing he needed. A few minutes later Brian got back into his car, and he continued on his way. Forty-five minutes later, he pulled up in front of a set of apartments.

Brian inhaled slowly, and then exhaled slowly. Pulling into a parking space, he tried to calm himself down. Squaring his shoulders, Brian got out of his car. He locked the door and went around to his trunk.

Brian opened the trunk and he picked up his three bags. Setting the bags down on the ground, he closed and locked his trunk once more. A few moments later Brian started looking for Justin’s apartment.

The next thing he knew, he was standing in front of apartment 206. It was Justin’s apartment. Steeling himself for anything, Brian knocked on the door. He set his bags down.

The Brian set his arms at his sides and waited. Nothing happened for several moments, and then he heard footsteps on the other side of the door. Daphne, who had been getting ready for work, went to answer.

She peered through the peephole, and then paused. Seconds later, Daphne quickly unlocked all of the locks on the door. Then she opened the door, and there stood Brian.

“Brian? What’s going on? Did Justin call and tell you about what happened?” Brian froze at Daphne’s words. Then he forced himself to move and breathe, and he said, “No, what happened?”

Daphne grabbed one of Brian’s bags that were on the ground. Brian grabbed the other two, and then they walked into the apartment. Daphne closed and locked the door behind them.

They decided to put Brian’s bags in the closet for right now. Then, the two of them each took a seat on the couch. “We had a run in with Craig last night. He was with his new girlfriend.”

Brian nodded, feeling his gut twist as he thought of what might have happened. Daphne just continued. “Craig had dinner at the restaurant that I work for. It’s called Dante’s.”

Brian made a motion with his hand, for her to get on with it. So she did. “Craig was there was his girlfriend, and I tried to get him to contact Justin. Basically he said a bunch of cruel things about Justin, and Justin overheard it.”

Daphne looked at the floor. “Justin had just arrived to pick me up from work, when Craig first claimed that he had no son. When he said that, I looked at him and said that Justin was gay and that he should get over it.”

Daphne paused for a moment, and then continued. “Then I told him that Justin was never going to go to Dartmouth, and that Justin was never going to be straight. I asked Craig why he couldn’t accept Justin as he is.”

Daphne sighed. “Craig stared at me for a moment, and then he jumped to his feet. He began shouting that it was sick that Justin went off with you. Craig called you a child molester, and said Justin ruined his family.”

Tears were falling down her cheeks now, as she relayed to Brian how cruel Justin’s father had been. "I was going to say something, but didn’t get a chance. Craig only continued.”

She paused for a moment, and then spoke. “I was surprised at his next words. Craig called Justin a disgusting pervert, who chose his disgusting lifestyle over his own flesh and blood family.”

As tears fell quicker down Daphne’s face, Brian got up and walked into the small kitchen. He grabbed a towel, and walked back into the living room. Brian handed the towel to Daphne.

Daphne smiled thanks, and then continued. "Before I could say anything, though, Justin spoke up. He said, ‘Hello Craig. I see you haven’t changed. I only have one question for you. Why didn’t you come see me in the hospital, to know if I was still alive?’ I was surprised to hear his voice.”

She sighed again, and then continued. “I quickly turned around at the sound of his voice, so did Craig and his girlfriend. I was so surprised, that I said Justin’s name. I had hoped he hadn’t heard what Craig had said, but it was too late."

Daphne fell silent for a moment, and then she composed herself and continued. “Craig said that he didn’t care if Justin died. He said that Justin was a fag and a child molester just like you. Craig also said that all your kind deserve to die. He said Chris Hobbs was right. Then he said the same thing Chris did, that Justin should get AIDS and die.”

Daphne knew that this was a lot of talking, and that Brian was getting antsy, but she had to tell him what happened. “Then, Justin stared at Craig for saying that. He asked Craig, ‘Where did you hear that?’ Craig had smirked at the question.”

Daphne tried to calm her anger, as she went on. “I was about ready to kick Craig’s ass when he replied, ‘Your mother told me what the Hobbs boy said to you, at that place where he had community service.’ Justin paled, and I thought he was going to faint.”

Daphne was wearing a concerned look on her face now. “Turning to Craig, I said, ‘Your total is thirty dollars and fifty-eight cents.’ Craig quickly dug his wallet out. He pulled out the amount needed, and flung the money at me.”

Daphne’s hands were at her side, balling into fists as she continued once again. “Craig turned to his companion, he kissed her and then said, “Come on Michelle. Let's go. We don‘t want to be anywhere near these kind of people.”

Brian’s jaw began to clench in anger at how much of an asshole Craig Taylor was. Daphne resumed talking. “As Craig and his girlfriend reached the door, he turned back to Justin and said, ‘You are no longer my son. You haven’t been ever since you decided to give up your family to live in sin. You’re dead to me.’ Then they left.”

Brian wondered if he should let her continue or not, since she was so upset. But he let her continue, sensing that she was almost finished. “Justin fell into a chair after they left, and I tried to comfort him. Then we talked, headed home, showered, and went to sleep.”

It was a good thing that that was all that had happened, because Daphne couldn’t continue talking after that. She was crying too hard by then. Brian pulled Daphne close, and he hugged the young woman.

“I don’t want you or Justin worrying about Craig. I’ll take care of him.” Suddenly a voice said, “What are you going to do?” Brian and Daphne both turn to see Justin standing in the doorway of his room.

His blonde hair was sticking up in several different directions. Justin had no shirt on, only a pair of black silk boxers that left nothing to the imagination. The blonde looked pissed.

He had his arms crossed in front of his chest, waiting for Brian to reply. Brian let go of Daphne. He got up and walked over to Justin, wrapping his arms around the blonde’s waist.

After kissing Justin’s neck he said softly, “I’m going to kick Craig’s ass. You can’t honestly stand here and tell me that you don’t want me to do it.” Justin looked into Brian’s eyes and said, “He’s my father, Brian.”

Brian growled, “He’s a fucking asshole, Justin. Craig treats you, and the rest of your family like shit! How can you still fucking like him and defend him?” Justin lowered his head.

Then after a few seconds, he lifted his head again and spoke. “I guess I can’t defend him anymore. Craig is an asshole, just like both of you have said. Like he said to me last night, he’s now dead to me.”

Brian knew that what Justin was saying wasn’t true. The blonde couldn’t just forget his father, no matter how much of an asshole the man turned out to be. Justin was too softhearted and too much of a good person to do that.

Brian kissed Justin’s neck again, and then he said, “Anything that you decide to do, I will be behind you.” Daphne, who had been sitting silently on the couch, finally got up.

She smiled at the two men, and then headed back to her room to dress for work. Several minutes later she was dressed. As Daphne was about to leave, she turned back to Brian and said, “Be good, Kinney.”

Brian and Justin shared a look. Then Brian turned and looked at Daphne. Pushing his tongue into his cheek, he said, “I’m always good. I’m fucking perfect, actually.” Daphne laughed and left.

When the door closed, Justin pulled out of Brian’s arms. Turning around to face the man, he said, “I’m so glad that you showed up. But don’t Ted and Cynthia need you to help run Kinnetik?”

Brian rolled his eyes, and then said, “They can run it perfectly fine. If they don’t, then I’ll just fire their asses.” Justin laughed and then led Brian to his room. They laid down in his bed and began to make up for lost time.