Chapter 6

Brian's Friends

Bridget and Dave were getting worried, they knew what an emotional mess Brian was this morning. They hadn't spoken to Brian all day. It wasn't like him not to call back. Between them they had left a dozen messages.

A worried Bridget states to Dave, Deena, and Nicole "God I shouldn't have left him this morning I saw how emotionally torn apart he was. But of course, I was just thinking of myself making sure I got out there right away to get a job. I feel like such a jerk. I should have stayed with him. Let me ask you guys you've known him a lot longer. Where do you think he is? Would he do anything stupid? He was so upset."

"Well" Dave thought and then spoke soft enough so the others wouldn't hear this part of the conversation. "Before he fell asleep in the recliner this morning he was obsessing about the whole adoption thing and it was making him sick to his stomach. He was also saying he wanted to figure out what to do about his birth parents but he really wasn't sure what he was going to do about it although he did mention he might just drive to Glen Oak to the church where his birth father was pastor. I wonder if he actually did it. And is with them or was with them and that is why he isn't answering."

"What if he did go there and it didn't go well Dave." a worried Bridget stated "What if… "

Deena cuts her off. "Don't keep going on about all the what ifs, we don't know anything yet, we will make ourselves crazy if we do. We just have to find him."

Just then one of Brian's friends, Adam Hillman, walked over wanting to know what all the secretive talk was about and asked

"Has anyone got a hold of Brian yet? Why do you look so worried, I mean ya the stuff about his dad sucks but it's not the end of the world. I wonder if he is privately celebrating his birthday. Let's hope if that's what he is doing, he isn't too plastered to enjoy what we are doing for him."

He strolls back over to where all the others were setting up stuff and playing pool.

"Wow I am glad he didn't hear what we're talking about" Bridget says with relief. "Wow it's already 2:30 pm we need to find Brian."

"Ok, I will try him again." Dave offers, I just hope he answers this time. He hits redial on his cell since Brian was the last call he had made.

Back at the Camden's

Back in the kitchen Eric had just introduced Matt and Brian to one another. Eric told Brian that Matt and Sarah were moving back to Glen Oak that they were both Doctors and would be joining a practice here in Glen Oak. Matt was only partially listening, he was still reeling from the information he had just learned about. I mean having an older brother and seeing him face to face was utterly overwhelming to say the least.

Brian trying to lighten the obvious mood and shock (And not knowing what else to say, but someone had to say something)"Guess you didn't expect to meet me today, I am in a state of shock myself; I only found out yesterday that I was even adopted."

Matt got up and hugged his new found brother and told him "it's going to get some getting used to that I am not the oldest anymore, But it's kind of well cool that I am someone's little brother now."

"Wow this family really is the touchy feely all emotional type I guess I am going to have to get used to this." Brian said. "Although I don't think I will mind getting used to it at all. Well you see the family I grew up with REALLY Frowned upon all the emotional stuff, especially my dad. My sister Nicole and I are close, but with mom and dad let's just say the affection that my sister and I express we didn't learn from them. My dad always drilled it in to my head his favorite expression you can't be all emotional and be a man."

"That's terrible." Added Matt, "We were definitely not raised that way."

Just then the phone in Brian's pocket began to again loudly vibrate. "Not again Brian exclaimed"

Eric stated "that thing has been going off the quite a bit this afternoon sounds like someone is REALLY trying to get in touch with you"

"Yeah I better take it or they'll never stop calling. Excuse me for a minute ok" Brian seeing the caller ID that it was Dave answers the phone. "Hi Dave this isn't a good time."

"Finally!" Dave exclaimed, "We thought you fell off the planet. We were about to send out a search party... But seriously are you ok. We all know what you have been though in the last 24 hour, well not everyone. Only me, your sister Nicole, Bridget and well, I told Deena about the adoption thing. No one else knows, but... unfortunately everyone knows about Davis Realty mess. So tell me,"….

Brian cuts him off. "I am kind of in the middle of something. Do you remember this morning I told you what I wanted to do with the information I had. Well I got up the nerve and did it."

"You mean….. You actually went to meet them, you went to the church? Dave asked. And how did it go? Are you there now?"

"Well I am actually at their home and awkward but better than I had hoped. They are certainly different than they people who raised me that's for sure." Brian told him.

As Brian was telling him everything, Dave put his hand over the receiver, so Brian wouldn't over hear him and said to the others "I got him on the phone and you will never guess where he is?" He paused for a minute "He is at his birth parents house."

Brian was still talking and said "Look Dave I hate to cut you off but I really can't be on the phone right now"

"Can you hold on for a quick second Bri, Hey Deena we have to tell him about this little get together otherwise he will be too caught up with what he is doing."

"Ok you better tell him." She replied. "Ok I am back Brian, here's the thing. We all know how tough yesterday and today had been for you, so we have been organizing what was supposed to be a surprise party at Ivy's Bar, but I well we figured if we didn't tell you. We wouldn't be able to get you here. This won't be until later tonight, so you can have the time you need where you are now."

"Oh Dave thank you so much, I don't deserve you guys," Brian said very appreciatively. "I will call you back later, but I will plan to be there maybe 8:30 or 9:00. Tell Bridget I said I love you and I will see her there tonight"

He hung up with Dave and turned back to Eric and Matt. "Sorry that took so long that was my roommate Dave; I had all my friends worried about me, well especially Dave and my girlfriend Bridget. I guess with everything I was dealing with this morning. I must have seemed like a complete basket case. So since they hadn't heard from me all day…. Well I am not sure what they were thinking."

Matt asked. "So I guess it must have shaken you up pretty good finding out about the adoption huh?"

Brian replied "Well that wasn't the only thing that was making me come I supposed you could say unglued." He told him about the mess with Davis Realty. And thought to himself,"

"I am getting so sick of having to explain this to everyone, so lovely of my father Michael to leave me in this situation."

"Well you know what" Matt said, "as much as a big mess and probably big emotional hurt you have from that. You are family to us now. And we Camden's stick together no matter what. You'll find that out the longer you are around us"

They talked a little longer and while they were talking Matt's twins came barreling down the stairs with Sarah and Annie following closely behind.

The boys saw Brian and Noah pointed to Brian and asked Matt, "Daddy why does he look like you"

Sarah was just as shocked at the resemblance, She had seen the picture but to see it in person was a whole different thing.

"Well" Matt answered "His name is Brian and he is daddy's brother and just like you and Jacob look alike so do we."

Then Jacob asked, "Do we call him Uncle Brian?"

Matt looked at Brian and Brian nodded yes. So Matt told them it was ok. Matt introduced his wife Sarah,

Annie proceeded to finish fixing and then serving up a late lunch. Brian told everyone that he was had a niece Bella from his sister Nicole and she was still a baby.

Eric added "Well you have other nieces and nephews to so you had better get used to being called uncle Brian, your sister Lucy whom you met at the church earlier is married to Kevin, who you will eventually meet and they have a daughter Savannah who is 5"

Matt interrupted "He already met Lucy? How did that happen and how did she take it?"

"Oh sorry we forgot to tell you, "Annie said. "As we already told you, Brian came to the church so that's where we had our initial meeting before coming here, well Lucy showed up at the office to over some teen ministry stuff and barely knocking on the office door came barging in the office and wasn't really looking and after a quick glance thought Brian was you. Even though it was awkward it was kind of funny. After the initial introduction Lucy was ok with everything. She was actually the one who told us to bring Brian to the house and she would cover things at the church for the rest of the day. Well on to the rest of the family which I know you saw pictures in the church office. There is you sister, Mary and her husband Carlos, they live in New York and have 3 children Charles Miguel who is 7 and their twins Chrissy and Jenny, who are also 4, like Noah and Jacob here. You have a brother Simon not married graduated College last year your sister Ruthie who attends college locally and lives in the garage apartment and our youngest are twins who are 12 Sam and David oh as you can see, twins really run in the family."

"Wow" said Brian "I am learning so much about this family but aside from me explaining the lovely predicament I am in and the little bit about Nicole, I haven't really told you much about myself have I?"

"No you haven't, but its ok we don't want to make you uncomfortable no need to rush." Annie told him "and not to change the subject but, what did you want to do for today since it is your Birthday."

"You really don't have to do anything." Brian told her. "I have been told by my roommate Dave that he and Bridget have been putting together a party tonight for me, I am supposed to be at Ivy's which is a restaurant / bar in downtown LA. My friends Jimmy and Ivy own it. I am supposed to be there by 8:30-9 pm. but I am all yours until I have to leave, but I don't want you to go to any trouble, I am just happy to be here."

"Nonsense, I am going to do something for you anything you want and cake too." Annie told him. "Hey I will call Ruthie's cell and make sure she is home We will have her babysit since she is too young to go to a bar, I guess the next introduction would be to Ruthie and well Sam and David would be home soon so to them too. So Brian how would you feel about us joining you we would love to meet your sister and your friends?"

"Mom" Matt chastised. "This might be too soon for that. he might not be ready for that yet"

"No its ok, I would just have to call them, but only My sister Nicole, Dave and his wife Deena and my girlfriend Bridget know about the whole adoption thing so I would have to let others know too which I am ok with."

"Not to get off topic" said Sarah, "and maybe it isn't my business, but I am curious, you said your roommate is Dave but he has a wife Deena?"

"Oh ya that takes a little explaining." stated Brian. "Yes Dave and Deena are married and have been for 13 years and they have 3 girls Geneva, Larissa, and Carrie. They are separated for now; they are going through a very rough patch in their relationship, so for the time being he is sleeping on my couch. Another thing I will explain is that my girlfriend is probably moving in with me. She did have her own Condo at least until yesterday. However she worked for my dad's Company too and when she bought the condo Davis Realty was the cosigner and as such as of yesterday the government seized that too. But enough of that I don't want to get going on all that again"

"Brian" Annie needed to ask, "you still haven't told me your favorite food. I can pretty much make anything and my house is stocked full of food so I have most everything on hand."

"Are you sure you don't mind?" Brian asked."Well if it makes you feel better I have to cook dinner anyway and I always make dessert. So just tell me what you want oh and cake flavor too." Pleaded Annie.

Finally Brian relented, "Well ok then I love any kind of Mexican food and really anything you come up with will be fine and cake well that would have to be chocolate."

"Great, well since everyone is done with lunch clear out and let me get started with dinner."

"Mom I will help you with the dinner" stated Sarah

"Hey Matt, why don't you take the boys outside to play oh and it looks like Happy (the Camden's dog) needs to go out."

"I will walk the dog. Eric volunteered, as he grabbed the leash and took Happy out.

"Hey Brian," Matt asked, "Want to shoot some hoops there is a net in the back."

"Ya sure" Brian answered "if your game we can play. I have to warn you though I play all the time, so be prepared to lose."

Matt teased back "I don't think so. Remember I am the younger brother, so of course I am better."

Annie watched with tears in her eyes as her sons playful bantered back and forth. "Brian fit right in "she thought." I hope he will learn to call this home, maybe we can make up a little for the hard time he had with his adoptive parents, and what I wouldn't give to hear him call me mom, but I won't push for that everything in due time."

"You ready to play?" asked Matt."

"Give me a minute" Brian asked "I just need to check in with Bridget."

He dialed her cell #, after a couple of rings she answered with a very concerned sound in her voice.

"Hi honey are you ok? I have been worried about you?"

"I am actually better than ok, if you want to know the truth." Brian replied "It doesn't change what my father did but meeting the Camden's really is helping get through it. I am sorry though about not getting back to you sooner, I have been preoccupied and ….. "

Bridget interrupted him."You don't have to explain or apologize, Dave told me everything. So how was it meeting them?"

Brian replied "awkward but wonderful at the same time, and Uhm here's the thing when I mentioned about tonight to them about having to leave to go to Ivy's my mother WOW I just called her my mother, anyway she thought it was a great idea if my younger sister babysat the younger kids and that she and my dad and Brother and sister in law would all join me."

" Oh Brian, that's terrific yes bring them." Bridget said excitedly.

"Oh Bridg there are a couple of problems I can for see ONE: most people do not know the situation about the adoption. TWO: well, how do I put this, my dad's a minister and you know how our friends can get when drinking is involved. I hate to put you in this position but can you help me out here?"

"Sweetheart I know what you are going to ask, so I guess you are ok with me telling your friends that don't already know about your adoption and finding your birth family so Ok I will. Now to the second part of this issue I will let everyone know about what your mom and dad are like and to keep everything low key and clean. It will be fine don't worry bring them."

"Thank you honey you just took a big load off me, I love you Bridget."

"I love you too Brian, now go have fun spending time with your family."

He hung up the phone. And turned to Matt" Ready for me to kick your butt."