Barbara slept in while the puppies sat on the bed looking through the photo album. They looked at the pictures they hadn't seen yet. They looked at the pictures of Barbara and Brian's wedding reception. Lots of the guests in the pictures were people they didn't know or didn't remember.
"Mom?" Ollie shook Barbara, waking her up.
"Kids?" she yawned. "What is it?"
"Who are these people?" Ollie asked pointing at the pictures.
"Who?" Babara asked rubbing her eyes.
He pointed to one of the pictures the puppies were looking at. They looked at a dog who looked like a more feminine Brian.
"That's your cousin, Jasper", Barbara asked. "Don't you remember him?"
"A little", Marcus said. "Lois said Jasper's not normal."
Barbara rolled her eyes and shook her head. Lois still had issues about Jasper's sexual preferences, while the others thought it was no big deal. She sat up and held the book, showing them the pictures.
"Jasper is your father's cousin", Barbara said. "He lives out in California with his man."
"Man?" Jenny asked. "Why not a wife?"
"I'll tell you when you're older", she said. "Anyway he's your dad's cousin which makes him your cousin, too. We only see Jasper on rare occasions. Parties, family get-togethers. Those kind of things."
"What's he like?" Briana asked. "Do you like him?"
"Let's just say we sure made a first impression."
Brian and Barbara smiled as they sat at the table during their wedding reception. The guests were having a great time, drinking and mingling with each other. One of the guests sparked curiosity for Barbara. She had never met him before. It was a dog in a pink tuxedo who strongly resembled Brian. The only differences were this dog had longer hair and an earring in one ear.
"Brian", she said. "Who's that?"
"Who?" he asked. "Oh, that's my cousin, Jasper."
"I didn't know you had a cousin!" Barbara smiled nudging him. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"He and I aren't that close, but you can go talk to him."
Barbara nodded and got up, walking to Jasper. He didn't see her, he was too busy talking with his partner, Ricardo.
"Excuse me, Jasper right?"
"Oh, look it's the bride!" Jasper smiled as he looked at her. "Barbara, let me say you look absolutely fabulous. That dress is simply to die for."
Barbara smiled shyly. He sure was forward and spoke his mind. Barbara stood with a smile as Jasper went on and on about how beautiful the wedding looked and wished his was like that, had they had the money to make it beautiful.
"Say, Jasper", Barbara said interrupting. "I was just hoping that you and I could get to know each other now that we're family."
"Oh, sure thing, honey", he smiled. "Go ahead and ask me anything. I'm an open book."
Brian smiled as he watched his bride begin to bond with his side of the family, getting closer to him.