Authors Note: I own nothing. No ownership rights to Beverly Hills 90210.
Chapter Twenty-Four: Family Lunch
Walking into my old house was strange, from the outside it looked the exact same but as soon as Steve opened the door you could tell it was different. The bright colours of the walls, the new couch I purchased for them and the built in bookshelves filled now with only some books- they must be Brandon's, the significant amount of video's and a now present bar section must be Steve's.
"Hey McKay. What do you think?"
As I reach out and do our signature handshake click I smile, "looks completely different and that's awesome."
Brandon having heard the door moves out of the kitchen and is surprised by my response, "I've been telling Steve to go easy on the changes but you like them?"
"This house has some amazing memories with my girl, my son and my sister, but some of them are also horrible. The more change I say the better, and if you ever want your sister to be truly relaxed here then I would let Steve do his thing." He gets what I'm saying but gives me a stern look.
"She won't like you calling her your girl, and from the anger that was rolling through her last week I don't think I'm convinced that you will ever deserve another shot."
"You wouldn't be her twin if you weren't with her on that. Look she's riding out her anger and I've a lot to make up and prove to her, you are more than welcome to keep her company on that journey brother just as long as you can accept it when she takes me back."
"You sure that's going to happen McKay?"
"Steve it will happen even if I have to wait decades, it will happen."
"You sure you don't want to just take the best friend and baby daddy title and let the rest go? Decades sounds a little lonely man and let's face it you couldn't even last part of a summer."
"Brandon I'm not letting your sister go, I haven't been able to since I was sixteen, even when I actively tried last year I failed. She's a part of me, I'm not walking away if it gets too hard this time she deserves more, Art deserves more and I deserve more." As I move into the room and look at the back porch I smile, not a trace of the old look remains. "Anyway B, while I'm happy to sit and discuss my family all day I am on a deadline, your parents are coming to lunch and Bren is fearful that Jim won't love the house." Steve's face morphs into shock and then confusion, I clarify. "She's worried they'll think it's too over the top for our family starter home, though that wasn't the intent of it. It's hopefully a forever home or at least our forever LA home, who knows where Bren's acting career will take us."
"Yeah she's right, Dad's going to be unhappy, adding that to the list to all his current gripes you should expect fireworks. Want me to see if I can get one of the waitresses to cover me today?"
"No thanks man. Jim has to run out of fuel eventually or if he doesn't my patience will eventually run thin. She's supposed to have little stress she's a month home on Monday and seriously the majority of her stress is from him, though Kelly is giving a good shot at taking that spot."
"She still throwing subtle remarks at her? It is her trademark after all, she perfected it in junior high."
"Bren was too busy this week to attend the sorority meeting, and from what I can tell Kelly is still licking her wounds from last Sunday and she is too concerned with trying to convince Donna that Silver needs to leave the beach apartment."
"D how is the young Silver going?"
"He's convinced his station boss to allow him to trial prerecording half the show so he is getting more sleep. Mel has limited his funds for a bit, Silver asked his dad to give money directly to Donna for food and rent. He also is seeing a counsellor at the centre, I've been checking in with him daily and Bren's been talking to Donna most day's. They should be both coming over for an early dinner tomorrow before our meeting, with Bren not having to go to her parents tomorrow because of their lunch today it was a good time to follow through on my invite from last Sunday."
"Hey how come they get a dinner invite?"
I give him a confused look. "Steve you have eaten with Bren every night since Tuesday I think an invite to your sister's place seems a little redundant when you have a standing invitation."
"Awesome B we don't ever need to cook again restaurant McKay can take care of us." I shake my head and smile knowing my house is safe from the nightly visitor's, neither would last on Bren's restrictive diet every night; meaning when I can resume my normal routine I won't have to share her too much.
"Speaking of restaurants, B can I see you outside for a sec?" He goes to the door of the back porch and I shake my head, I guess even with the changes that bbq and bike memory makes me uncomfortable. The bbq night was fine I wasn't pulling away in fear I was a hundred percent with Bren, but the day prior had been the first and only time I had ever openly lied to her face. The bike memory, well I should have slammed the door and told her that I could see what she was doing- I could. That day she had made it look like Bren didn't understand me, considering Bren and I had been discussing college since junior year since we had attended that Blue party, she knew my reasons well. Since Jack had bought his degree with a building donation I had seen the whole system as corrupt, Bren wasn't buying it and believed regardless if I got the paper at the end I'd like the experience of hearing new ideas, being challenged. As always my girl was right. I was just being pigheaded and she wasn't letting me hide away, she knew I wanted it but I was afraid it would make me like my Dad, amazingly me hiding away, lying did just that.
Once Brandon and I are sitting on the front steps I discuss Joey's push to make Nat sell and how I don't want that to happen. When I tell him I want to buy Joey's share in both our names he's floored and tries to decline. I go through the personal reasons, how I wanted Bren included but she wanted it just us, and then I launch into the business reasons. Next to Nat he knows the place the best, that Nat has let Joey handle the books, bank accounts and insurances since the renovation, Nat runs the restaurant end, with how busy I am I can't dedicate the time needed to do that. I don't explain that Malibu will take up Bren's and my free time for the next possible six months or longer if permits are delayed. He'll need to be the active partner out of the two of us, the one that takes on that responsibility especially as Nat needs lighter duties over the next few months. I hope he can draw somewhat of a salary from the business but from what I understand Joey is saying that he's barely seen a dime. Considering the popularity of the restaurant and the minimal staff I can't see how that's possible but until we get the books we won't know what's what.
He's quiet for a long time, "are you sure?"
"Yeah, as Bren says Nat would like his honorary son's being his partners, just like he was to his dad. It wouldn't feel right if you weren't in on this, and really if the place is going to last in needs some intervention. We love that place, we love Nat and you know what needs to be done, what changes won't compromise Nat's vision I don't know anything more than what's good on the menu."
"Hey you know more after this week."
"A few shifts doesn't replace your years and hours of knowledge. You in?" He nods. "Good, all we ask is for you to try and keep it going for Art, his siblings and your kids- Bren likes the idea of passing it down to the next generation."
"How much do you want to be involved?"
"Jim gives us a quarterly rundown of our investments and contacts me if anything significant in the interim happens, you think you and Nat would be comfortable with the same arrangement?"
"Yeah, but you don't want more information than that?"
"You know what they say too many cooks, but know if you need anything or it gets too much with College and the taskforce we can step in and help. Bren and I keep a pretty quiet social life these days so we have time if need's be."
"You know you include her in everything?"
"That's because she is included, she is going to be my wife one day. I'd formally sign her onto the investments and bank accounts that Jim manager's now but she refuses."
"D I don't think she sees your future the same way. I don't want to be harsh but I don't want you setting yourself up and when it doesn't happen resenting her for it."
"When the anger is completely gone and when she has been able to acknowledge it all, when it no longer needs to be avoided by her. When she has let down all her walls even just in friendship, if she still see's no future beyond us raising our family together as best friends maybe then I'll begin to doubt. Though even then I don't think I'm capable of giving up hope. I was a reckless juvenile idiot, I have to believe as I grow more into the man she always saw me as, inspired in me that I'll be able to gain forgiveness." I run my hand through my hair, "and if not, we get to raise our son as best friend's, get to be grandparents together and hopefully stick around long enough to see our great grandchildren. That's not a bad life, spending it with her, being there for everything, being her confidant, her support, her family."
"And if you find someone else?"
"Nope, even if she marries and I have to begrudgingly make him my best friend as well, I can't see anyone being able to ever pull me from her. Kelly never did and in all honesty every time she tried to put wedges between Bren and I, I subconsciously held onto her tighter and that was before I saw her with Art for the first time. Bran in a few years you are going to find out what that moment feels like, then come to me and ask if there could ever be anyone else. The love of your life holding your child is out of this world let alone knowing she risked her life to do it, there is something primal in that emotion."
"Okay okay I've seen enough of your primal emotions to my twin over the year's to permanently want to bleach my eyes, the last thing I want to do is hear about it as well."
I laugh, "trust me I'm not sharing any of the details of that emotion. Now back to the restaurant, shall we call Joey and then go see Nat with hopefully some good news? I'm not joking when I say I'm on a time crunch this morning."
Joey eagerly agrees and I contact my lawyer who has recently been kept busy with houses, wills and now a restaurant purchase, when we get to Nat's hospital room and tell him the news he's overwhelmed. He's thrilled that it's being kept in the family with his boy's. Bren's request to make sure Arthur, his siblings and cousins have it to inherit makes him actually tear up. The fact she's requesting it to be around for generations means the world to him. He gives me a look at that, knowing that whatever happens tomorrow with his surgery and in the future, if my girl wants The Pit to be a family legacy even if I have to buy all the mega burgers myself it will be a family legacy.
His surgery is first thing in the morning and as it's Suzanne's only day off this week I'm opening the restaurant and Brandon is coming to sit at the hospital, so when I say goodbye a few minutes later it's a bit more drawn out than usual. I try and joke wishing him luck on getting the hot nurses and while he jokes on back he can tell that I'm worried.
By the time I arrive home I've only got a few minutes to spare before Bren's parents arrive, on walking in the door I can see she's anxious.
"Thank god your home they'll be here any minute, but you should have just enough time to change before they get here."
"Change?"
She looks at me like I've lost my mind, I have a flashback to her the summer of junior year when she moved in and became obsessed with cleaning the house. She's panicking and looking for control, it's easier to see now having lived with her for weeks this is not her usual state. "Dylan it's the first time my parents will be in our home they'll expect you to be a little more dressy than usual, your t-shirt is not going to cut it."
"Of course shirt and jeans okay or dress pants?"
She instantly blushes and I'm wondering if it's my instant compliance that is the cause, "oh… well… when you weren't here… I… kind of-"
I cut her off by walking up to her and placing my hands on her arms. "It's okay whatever you did…"
"I kind of went into your room and picked something from your wardrobe and put it on your bed. I made sure it's pressed and ready to go. Sorry I know that's over stepping and well that it's something that a…" her cheeks are the loviest rose pink from her embarrassment.
"Wife would do?" They get pinker. "Well that title is yours whenever you want it, I have no problem if you want to get used to some of the privileges but if you want to choose my clothes regularly it would be easier if they were accessible to you. Do you know our master bedroom has this ridiculous dressing room? It has plenty of space for your clothes and well I just need a tiny portion of it, you could coordinate us every day if you wanted."
Throughout my speech she had lost her nerves and begins biting her lip stopping herself from laughing out loud. "You are willing to become my own live dress up Ken doll to get me to move into that bedroom?"
"Baby there is very little I wouldn't do to get you to be my wife and for us to move into that room."
"Well Ken doll can you go get changed please and then see if your son is awake from his nap. Erica is in the study finishing off some final touches for our project so I'll go help her tidy up in there and then check on lunch."
"Can I at least be an action figure?"
"You can be whatever doll you want as long as you go get dressed please."
I begin to step back, walking backwards so I don't have to drop her eyes, I give her a cheeky smirk, "was the shirt on my bed." She nods as if she's unsure of the need for clarification, "okay thanks Mrs McKay."
As I turn to move quickly away to avoid her wrath she yells out, "that's your mother."
I volley back, "no she uses Ms you're the only Mrs."
"I'm Miss Walsh."
As I turn the corner to go down the corridor to the bedrooms I stick my head back out into her now frustrated firing line, "for now but don't plan on it for too much longer." Her eyes narrow, I decide to push my luck. "Do you still have your chemistry notes from junior year the ones in the blue book?"
She looks at me and I can tell she doesn't want to respond but her curiosity gets the best of her, "yes in the garage at my parents. Why?"
"Oh I always liked your Mrs Brenda McKay signature the best in that one, though your American literature notes had the Mrs Dylan McKay signature that one was pretty hot- you wanted to take both my names."
She goes bright red, "you should go help Erica I need to go see what my future wife laid out for me."
I am so mortified, how do you explain all girls practise to see if their boyfriends name has potential to be a good married signature. Donna in sophomore year ruled out guy's because their surname didn't work with her first and middle name, Kelly always tried to hyphenate. It's that thought that has me wondering if he ever saw his soulmates Taylor-McKay signature and if he liked that more.
When he comes back in the room ten minutes later with our just barely awake son the signature is still running through my head. He picks up on my mood instantly and his playful smile and I imagine tease on the tip of his tongue drops away to a look of concern. "You okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine."
My tone even to me is cold, "okay. Well can I do anything to help?"
As he is saying that the gate intercom buzzes and Erica flies out of her room asking if she can do the gate. I turn to look out the window and prepare myself. These aren't the thoughts I want running through my head as my parents arrive. As Dylan responds to Erica I take some meditation breaths that Iris taught me and then draw on my acting skills trying to plaster on a fake smile, before I can turn around I can feel him behind me. "Whatever has you needing to run that's okay but if you want a few minutes take Art and I'll say he needed to get changed."
I turn to face him. "No, I'm fine."
He knows I'm acting but he doesn't call me on it, instead he smiles. "There's my stubborn gir-"
"Don't." I reach and collect my son, "back off a bit." He isn't fast enough to hide his look of shock, but he steps back and nods in understanding giving me a weak smile.
My parents reaction is as I thought. They are lovely and complimentary but when they see the view, the size of the unfurnished den and then when they lay eyes on the ridiculously massive master bed they can't help themselves. Throughout the nibbles and then the beginning of lunch Dylan and I are regaled with stories of their humble first home, how Mum peeled off the wallpaper herself whilst five months pregnant. How wonderful it felt to sit back years later and know they had such a beautiful home made from their own sacrifice, sweat and tears. It was a true sense of accomplishment.
It's a subtle judgment in that we have come into a beautiful home, have thrown additional money at the furniture store to speed up delivery and all without Dylan and I having to work a day for any of it. The undeserved is never stated but it's clear that they think it's excessive, unnecessary and that at our age not appropriate. The rest of the lunch we discuss College and Nat. Dad references how Brandon is doing too much at the restaurant and could be risking his position on the task force, he isn't happy. He cares for Nat but Brandon's future is too important, he has the potential to go far and build a meaningful career.
Having eaten our lunch on the patio Erica is bouncing to be excused, I can't blame her as I'd excuse myself if I could. When she has cleared her plate into the kitchen at Dylan's request she is excused and runs to the soccer goal and ball to practise. Steve has taken to kicking the ball around each evening with her when I nurse Art, while it's not his sport he has an affinity for most games and I love the fact that she is being a little more active and getting use out of the garden. Dylan begins to clear the table and as I rise to help he stops me, "relax I've got it. Can I get anyone tea or coffee with dessert?"
Once he has taken our orders Dad brings up the ridiculous bed and what was Dylan trying to prove with that. I explain he likes the idea that on a Sunday morning the kids can pile in and snuggle together. He doesn't hear anything but the word kids.
"You promised your mother and I that you aren't together."
"And we aren't."
"But he bought a house and a bed with the intention of having a larger family with you I imagine?"
"He see's this house as a place he'll live until Arthur's at least graduated from high school. It's a house for decades if not forever."
"And for the moment he wants you living here and wanting more kids with you, well until his head gets turned again." I twist my napkin under the table to keep from reacting. "Sweetheart I want better than this for you. I want someone who will treat you right. I know since you broke up you went out with that nice guy Rick and that very bad double date with Kelly, and while I appreciate it hasn't been appropriate for you to date over the last year maybe it's time now?"
Seriously dating is not even a thought in my head, I'd like to not be tied to a breast pump a few times a day before I even contemplate stepping out into the dating world. "Dad I don't think so and honestly I don't really have the energy to look for a guy."
"Well you don't need to look, you remember Mr Carson from my office on Friday?" I nod. "He has been commenting for years when he sees your picture that he has a son a little older than you, only a few year's and that you'd be perfect for him. After meeting you yesterday he called this morning and said that he truly believes you guy's would be great together. His son is keen on the blind date if you are?"
I barely have energy most days past eight pm to move from the couch to my bed I can't even imagine dating. "Dad I'm supposed to be taking it easy, my doctor is seeing my lungs and liver as stable but they haven't improved. After class, Art and Erica I'm left with not much energy, I could never then dress up and go for a date at night."
My mother jumps in, "what about a lunch date next Saturday? You could come home and you can get all dolled up there. If Dylan is busy we can even look after Arthur for you." She see's my hesitation. "Brenda it's been over a year since you dated and sixteen months since you broke up with him. It's nearly approaching the time where you have been broken up longer than you were ever together, it's time for you to move forward and I think it's time for Dylan to realise that that part is over." She gives me a sympathetic look. "You could easily stay up here on this hill hidden behind this gate and raise Art, and then in a decades time find yourself still stuck on a childhood romance. That's not healthy for you or Dylan."
I think over her words, dating isn't something I want but will I ever? Dylan is stuck in a delusional world of us being together and I'm stuck ruminating about him and Kelly, they are right it's not healthy. I slowly nod my head in agreement.
My Dad's voice is surprisingly cheerful and loud after the long silence. "Fantastic I'll set it up, next Saturday at lunchtime, and I'll let him know to pick you from our house. I'm so pleased you are finally moving forward and starting to date again."
The loud clanking of plates being put down makes me jump in surprise and from the tone of his voice I know why my Dad was so loud in his response, he wanted Dylan to hear everything. "Jim your organising her dates now, our son isn't even four months old?"