T
Literature
Turning Red: All Together Now (Toronto, Ontario, May 2014) Danny Masterton awoke before his boyfriend, Rian McKeen, and sleepily grabbed the phone charging closest to him. Turning on the home screen, he quickly realized that he had mistakenly grabbed Rian’s phone. Not the first time that had happened. But instead of putting it back, Danny stared at the text message from Sean O’Cullen that was plastered across the screen. The twins are here. Kellan Jin and Lin Saoirse were born Saturday at 9:40 am. Danny quickly and vigorously shook Rian awake. “Danny? Wuzzgoin’ on?” Rian asked groggily. Wordlessly, Danny passed Rian the phone. Rian rubbed his eyes and read the text message. Like a light being switched on, all of Rian’s fatigue vanished. He looked up from the phone, his eyes wide. “Rian? You okay?” Danny asked. “Pack a suitcase… we’re going to Cape Breton.” — Priya and Makwa Deere were feeding their 1 ½-year-old daughter, Aponi her favorite breakfast, mashed avocados, when Priya’s phone rang. She answered it and thinly smiled when Sean’s face appeared onscreen. “Good morning, Sean.” “Hey, brother!” Makwa called. He ruffled his daughter’s curly hair. “Say hi to your Uncle Sean, sweet pea.” “Unca San!” Aponi gurgled. Priya ran a hand through her hair. “Is everything alright? You don’t usually call this early.” Sean only smiled before switching to his phone’s rear camera, showing his babies cuddled up asleep in their bassinet. Priya nearly dropped her phone. “Great Yogsathoth… they’re here…” “Yup… meet Kellan and Lin. Your godchildren.” Sean said gently. Makwa smiled wide. “Omigosh, they’re so cute… hi, you two…” Aponi looked curiously at the screen. “Babies? I see?” Sean turned the phone and smiled at his “niece”. “You’ll meet them soon, Aponi, I promise.” “How’s Mei doing?” Makwa asked. “Still fatigued and healing. But she’s over the moon about being a mother. No matter how she’s feeling at the moment, the minute she holds the twins, all she cares about is them.” Priya nodded. “Welcome to motherhood, sister,” she looked over at her husband. “Honey, do you have vacation time coming up?” Makwa thought about it. “I do,” he smiled. “Sean, would it be alright if we stopped by?” “By all means, please, stop by. Meet the twins,” Sean replied. “But I can’t promise they’ll be awake. They are little snoozers.” — Abby Park sat across from Jeff MacArthur, Carolyn Mackenzie, and the other guest of The Morning Show, Akira Akaya, a pop star from Japan who was quickly garnering fame. Abby smiled at them. “Thank you so much for having me on the show.” Carolyn smiled back. “Well, your makeup brand, Shine, is not only sweeping the nation, it’s selling like hotcakes worldwide!” Jeff nodded. “Everyone, from the young woman buying her first eyeshadow to drag queens on parade is using it! What’s your secret?” Abby laughed. “All-natural ingredients, my desire for everyone to be accepted, just as I was among my friends, and being a licensed beautician.” Akira smiled and nodded their head. “You are…amazing, Abby Park. Your makeup is wonderful. I use mascara and blush myself. It makes my natural look pop.” Abby smiled. “That’s what it’s for. I’m happy you’re satisfied with-!” Abby stopped suddenly as her phone rang. “Oh, my apologies. Let me silence-!” She trailed off a second time as she read the text from her bestie, Priya Deere. O’Cullen twins born. Going to Nova Scotia to meet them. You in? Abby lowered her hand and looked apologetically at the hosts. “I’m sorry, but my best friends just had their babies…” Akira’s eyes widened. “You are serious? You must be so excited! Omedetō!” “Well? Go, girl!” Carolyn prompted. Nodding her thanks, Abby raced off the set, texting her friend Miriam Mendelsohn. Get Jackie! We’re all heading to Cape Breton! The twins are here! — (Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia) Sean poked his head into the bedroom, where Mei was feeding the twins. “Hello, wife.” Meilin Lee-O’Cullen smiled wearily. Her long hair was unkempt and frizzy and there were dark circles under her eyes. And yet, there was nothing but love in her warm brown eyes. “Hey… would you mind burping Lin? You burped Kellan last time. I want both twins to get equal attention from us.” “With pleasure,” Sean sat at his wife’s side and gently took his daughter in his arms. “Hey, little Lin-Lin… Daddy’s gotcha…” he gently kissed her cheek before gently patting her back. Lin yawned and opened her eyes, two pools of brown, inquisitive and curious. Mei smiled as she gently patted Kellan. “She’s going to be smart, like me,” Kellan cooed, then burped. Lin burped a moment later. Sean chuckled and kissed Lin’s brow. “I love you so much,” he leaned over and kissed Kellan’s cheek. “I love you so much,” he smiled at Mei, his beautiful wife, the person he gave his word to love forever. “And you…I love you so much…” “I know, my Seannie Boy,” Mei gently kissed him. “12 years and still, you make me love you more every day.” “That’s the adventure,” Sean cradled Lin. “And what an adventure it’ll be.” At that moment, the doorbell rang. Sean looked at his wife inquisitively. “Were you expecting anyone?” Mei shook her head. “Could be a neighbor needing to borrow something.” “True… be right back.” After handing Lin to Mei, Sean walked into the den and answered the front door. “Hey, Brother,” Makwa smiled, Priya at his side with Aponi in her arms. “Surprise.” Sean looked behind his fellow parents and proceeded to drop his jaw. All of his friends were standing on his gravel driveway, a legion of taxis peeling out. “A Tiarna Dean Trocaire…surprise indeed… um, come on in…everyone. Make yourselves comfortable in the den.” As Sean stepped aside and let his friends in, each of them expressed their congratulations. Miriam, Abby, and Jackie hugged him tight. Bringing up the rear was Rian and Danny. Rian hugged Sean extra hard. “You didn't expect us to wait forever to meet the twins, did you, Big Brother?” Sean chuckled. “Not forever…maybe just until Mei and I had gotten some real sleep.” Makwa made a buzzer noise. “Sleep is now forfeit, O’Cullen! You wake on the babies’ time.” “At least for the first few months,” Priya followed. “But, I promise, it’s worth it.” “Hey, I’m not complaining,” Sean countered. “I’ll just let Mei know what’s up.” As Sean walked into the hallway, Danny looked around at the cabin. “Cozy. Reminds me of where my dad grew up.” Rian raised an eyebrow. “Your dad was born in a log cabin?” “So he says. He just doesn’t remember exactly where.” Danny shrugged. — Sean poked his head into the bedroom. Mei was walking around the room, the twins snoozing on the bed. “Hey. Getting that blood flowing?” Mei nodded. “My journey to lose this baby weight starts today. I heard it takes 6 months to a year.” Sean smiled. “Why don’t you ask Priya? She and the others are in the den.” Mei raised an eyebrow. “When you say others…?” “Everyone is here. They surprised us.” “Are you serious?” Mei gasped. “I am,” Sean replied. Mei shook her head. “They could have at least called first…” Sean chuckled softly as he walked into the room and gently scooped up the twins. “In Catholicism, we would say this is God’s plan. At least this way, everyone’s together to meet the newest members of our big extended family.” The twins snoozed in their father’s arms. Mei sighed. “Well, they’re here… and I’m in maternity sweatpants and an extra-large sweater.” “And you’re still the most gorgeous woman in all of Canada.” Sean grinned. Mei chuckled and kissed her husband’s cheek. “Flattery will get you everywhere.” Mei carefully made her way to the den, Sean behind her, carrying the twins. When the throng saw her, Abby and Miriam immediately went to her side and helped her over to the sofa. “Hey, girl. How’re you doing?” Miriam asked gently. “Taking it a day at a time,” Mei admitted. She looked over at Sean, who was introducing the twins to the others. She smiled. “Sean’s been such a big help. If I ever had doubts that he was my soul mate, they’re gone now. Look at him. He’s such a good dad.” Abby beamed. “And your babies are so cute! What are their names again?” “Our son’s name is Kellan Jin, after his grandfathers. Our daughter is Lin Saoirse,” Sean said as he walked over and sat next to his wife. Lin cooed and looked around at all the new faces. Kellan just nuzzled into his father’s shoulder. “Aww, don’t be like that, little guy,” Miriam prompted. “We’re nice people, I promise.” “It’s not you, Mir,” Mei assured her. “Kellan is just a little shy. Like Sean was, according to his folks.” Danny smiled. “The shy guys are usually the most loyal. You gotta work hard for their trust, but once you got it, you got it,” he nudged Rian. “Isn’t that right?” Rian laughed. “So, who’s the shy one here? You walked up to me.” “Yeah, but you asked me out.” Danny countered. Rian shrugged. “Touché.” “But Lin here loves new people,” Sean gently transferred Lin to Abby, who happily held her. “You are so precious, Lin… I’ll bet you’ll look adorable when you get your panda.” Abby gushed. Jackie looked over at Mei and Sean. “That’s right. Lin will inherit the panda when she…comes of age. And Kellan…” Sean nodded. “The Hound has a new host. But don’t worry, he won’t transform for a few years. The Hound only comes out if an O’Cullen really gets mad. No tantrum will unleash it.” “So how does it feel to not have to hold back your anger anymore?” Makwa asked. Sean shrugged. “I couldn’t tell you. I’ve been so happy these past couple of days,” he gently kissed Kellan’s brow. “I would do anything for my babies.” “Welcome to parenthood.” Priya smiled as she gently transferred Lin into Aponi’s lap. Aponi waved. “Hi, baby. Love you.” “Awww….” Everybody gushed. Lin cooed, gently reached up, and booped Aponi’s nose. Aponi giggled. “Baby Silly!” Mei began to tear up. “That’s just so sweet…they’re best friends already…” Her besties hugged her. Sean looked down at Kellan. “Don’t worry, lad. You’ll warm up to ‘em.” Kellan just yawned.
