Part 10

“Justin. Thank God, you’re here,” Jennifer said, relieved.

 

Justin, Debbie, Ben, and Michael turned to see an upset Jennifer entering the diner.

 

“What’s wrong? Is Dad giving you a hard time again?” Justin asked.

 

“No honey, he’s out of town actually. That’s why I need your help.”

 

“What do you need me to do?”

 

“I have to go to Grandma and…”

 

“Did something happen? Is she okay?” Interrupted Justin.

 

“She had a heart attack. They think she’ll be okay, but I’m going to go help out for awhile. The problem is…”

 

“Molly,” Justin interrupted again. “I’ll stay with her. Don’t worry about it.”

 

“I know it is a lot to ask, but it is just for a few weeks. When she finishes the semester, she can join me. That is if I am still there.”

 

“Does she know yet? She’s not going to like it,” smirked Justin.

 

“I’m just about to pick her up now. I’ll leave you the car and I don’t want you working too much while I’m gone. Luckily, I just got a commission check from a house sale yesterday. I’ll deposit it into your account. I know you are already busy so you guys can have takeout the whole time. That’s if you want to. Just try to make some nutritious choices once in awhile, okay? There will be plenty for food, gas, and sitters when you need them. Let her go with her friends a lot. It will give you a break.”

 

“I can handle it. I’ve done it before,” reassured Justin.

 

“Not for this long,” sighed Jennifer.

 

“We’re here and we can help. Go to your mother, Jen. Sunshine has plenty of family who can help,” said Deb, giving her friend a hug.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“Justin, I don’t know how to bring this up. I have never and would never ask you to keep your lifestyle a secret from your sister. Having said that, I don’t think she needs a demonstration. I am not saying that I don’t want Brian at the condo. I won’t even say anything about him spending the night, but please be discreet. She is a child. With eyes AND ears, so please remember that.”

 

Michael couldn’t help but laugh.

 

“I get it, Mom,” said Justin, as his face turned a bright red.

 

“Good. I’ll be back in two hours to pick you up. My flight isn’t until five,” she said, kissing her son’s cheek. “Thank you so much,” she added on her way to the door.

 

“Oh, God!” Justin sighed, slumping down into the booth next to Ben.

 

“I’ve never met your sister. What’s she like?” Ben asked.

 

“Molly’s an angel,” answered Deb.

 

“She looks like a smaller version of Justin, but with strawberry blond curls and freckles. Very cute,” added Michael.

 

“I see she has fooled the two of you,” laughed Justin.

 

“What?” Michael exclaimed.

 

“If you guys thought I was a brat when I first showed up, you have no idea what she’s like,” said Justin with a smile.

 

“She’s an angel,” stated Deb shaking her head.

 

“Yeah, when she’s in public or getting her own way. She’s so spoiled. She has every Barbie available. Her room looks like a case of Pepto-Bismol exploded in there. All of her dolls make annoying noises. She whines. She’s a tattletale and before Dad threw me out, she was always in my stuff.”

 

“How old is she?” Laughed Ben.

 

“Nine.”

 

“That’s quite an age difference. It makes sense that you are not too close and don’t get along.”

 

“Yes, and she’s been through a lot, and I’m sure she blames me for it.”

 

“What would she blame you for?” Michael wondered.

 

“First, I left the family and hardly ever saw her. Mom and Dad broke up. Then I almost died and scared her when I got home from the hospital. I think that is part of the reason Mom pawned me off on Brian.”

 

“In a lot of ways my coming out was hardest on Mol,” explained Justin and then he went back to work on the laptop on the table.

 

Lindsay, Mel, Gus, Ted, Emmett, and Brian were sitting at their usual table.

 

“Have a seat and decide what you want for breakfast,” said Justin as he nudged his sister forward.

 

“I wanted to go to MacDonald’s,” she sighed.

 

“I already told you that I have to drop these storyboards off to Michael, so we are eating here. Then I’ll take you to Samantha’s.”

 

Molly flopped into the booth behind Brian and Gus.

 

“Hi Sweetie,” said Brian.

 

“Hey,” she pouted.

 

“Good morning,” said Lindsay as she and Mel moved to sit at the girl’s table.

 

“You look beautiful, honey. Are you going somewhere?” Emmett asked.

 

“A birthday party.”

 

“A birthday party, that sounds like fun. Why the long face?” Mel wondered.

 

“Justin’s being mean,” she replied with a whiny voice.

 

Justin pulled away from kissing Brian. “I am not talking about it anymore, Mol.”

 

“Mommy would have bought it,” taunted Molly.

 

“If it was for you, she probably would have. You are so spoiled. But Mom would not buy a hundred dollar Barbie for Samantha’s birthday present. We got the Barbie car for one party and the horse for the other. I don’t care which you give to Samantha or to… Who is the other party for?”

 

“Chloe.”

 

“Chloe. Is she the one with the glasses?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Decide what you want for breakfast.”

 

“I don’t want to eat here,” she said crossing her arms.

 

The guys exchanged amused looks as Justin got more frustrated.

 

“Molly, Samantha’s mother is helping me out by letting you go over early so I can get to class, but I am NOT sending a little brat over there for her to deal with while she is trying to get ready for the party. I swear, either you stop this or I’ll get a sitter and you will stay home and not go to the party at all!”

 

“I’m telling Mom you called me a brat.”

 

“Mom’s not here.”

 

“No kidding, Jester, but I’ll tell her on the phone.”

 

“Or I can tell her that I called you a brat because you’re acting like one. Now, I am going to count to three. You are going to apologize, order breakfast, and give me a break or we are going right home.”

 

“One. Two. Three.”

 

“Sorry,” mumbled Molly.

 

“Pardon Me?”

 

“Sorry,” she repeated, looking sheepishly at her brother.

 

“Okay, what do you want for breakfast?”

 

“Can I have strawberries and cream on my pancakes?”

 

“Sure,” smiled Justin. “Stay here and eat while I take these to the comic book store down the street.”

 

“I still don’t understand why I can’t see your comic book.”

 

“You’re too young,” replied her older brother.

 

“Comic books are for kids,” argued Molly.

 

“Someone should tell Mikey,” laughed Ted.

 

“This one is for adults,” explained Justin.

 

“It’s not fair. You’re not an adult, anyway,” snickered Molly.

 

Justin got up to leave but stopped. “Sorry, I called you a brat.”

 

“It’s okay. I forgot this game doesn’t work on you anymore. It always works with Dad and sometimes with Mom.”

 

“You should know better than to try it with me,” laughed Justin.

 

“Yeah, I guess you know all about it since you’re the one I learned it from,” smiled Molly.

 

Justin left the diner shaking his head as everyone laughed at Molly’s statement.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Brian walked over to Michael, Ben, and Ted in the living room. Hunter was in the corner with his Gameboy successfully ignoring everyone and everything around him. Vic and Rodney arranged the food on the table. This was the first time that Molly had joined everyone for a family dinner. After her initial apprehension, she was really enjoying herself. She loved to help Lindsay with Gus and Debbie was spoiling her with treats.

 

Emmett and Justin were bringing chairs for everyone. Mel, Deb, and Carl were bringing food from the kitchen to Vic and Rodney. It was going to be a hot and cold buffet.

 

Justin called Molly away from Gus and Lindsay to help with some TV trays. Then Lindsay went to the car to get her son’s spill proof cup. Gus sat by himself on the floor playing with his trucks until he saw Mel carrying a lemon cloud cake and ran toward her trying to grab the cake.

 

“No, Gus.” Mel said as he continued to pull at her.

 

“No!”

 

“Wip Keme,” he squealed.

 

“No,” corrected Mel.

 

“Yah, Keme,” laughed Gus.

 

Mel placed the cake on the table and Gus reached for it.

 

“I said NO,” she insisted and moved his hand away.

 

When he reached for it again, she yelled “NO!” and slapped his hand.

 

When they heard the slap, everyone stopped to look at the table. Gus’ bottom lip was quivering and soon he was wailing.

 

“What the hell are you doing to MY son?” hollered Brian, crossing the room and gathering his son into his arms.

 

“He was trying to get the cake.”

 

“So you hit him?” Brian questioned, as he rubbed his son’s back. Gus had calmed a little, but soft sobs could be heard from the boy snuggling into his father’s shoulder. “You have NO right to hit him.”

 

“I’m his parent. Lindsay and I are the one’s trying to teach him right from wrong,” answered Mel, angry for having to defend herself in front of everyone.

 

“What’s going on?” Lindsay asked, entering the very quiet living room.

 

“Melanie was just explaining to me how the two of you are teaching MY son right from wrong by hitting him,” blared Brian.

 

“What?!” gasped Lindsay. “We don’t hit Gus.”

 

“She just did.”

 

Lindsay looked to her wife who was obviously upset by the situation. “What happened?”

 

“Gus wouldn’t leave the cake alone, so I tapped his hand.”

 

“You slapped him,” corrected Brian.

 

“It’s not like I hurt him, I just scared him a little.”

 

“Were you ever hit as a child?” Brian asked her.

 

“I don’t know what…” Mel began.

 

“Answer the question!” Brian interrupted.

 

“No.”

 

“Then don’t fucking tell me what it feels like,” said Brian, turning away.

 

“Okay. Let’s all settle down just a bit here,” Lindsay said, trying to intervene.

 

“I can’t fucking believe this. I obviously didn’t ask enough questions before I signed over my parental rights. I made a huge mistake.”

 

“What exactly does that mean?” Lindsay said, stunned.

 

“I signed because I wanted Gus to have two parents that love him and each other. This kind of love he doesn’t need. No one does.”

 

“Brian, I think you should calm down. You are scaring Gus,” offered Justin, trying to alleviate tension.

 

“I’m not the one he’s scared of,” glared Brian.

 

“I think the four of us need to discuss this and come to an understanding.”

 

“If you think I am going to negotiate on situations where it’s okay to hit him, you’re even more fucked up than her,” responded Brian. “I never thought I’d see the day when you would remind me of Joannie,” he snapped at Lindsay.

 

“Why the four of us?” Justin wondered.

 

“Because Sunshine, now that we are together, you’re the other daddy,” said Brian in a matter-of-fact manner.

 

“Oh, right,” replied Justin, his mind reeling. He sat in the nearest chair, suddenly feeling light headed.

 

“I think you would be of some help here since you are studying child psychology,” added Mel.

 

“Don’t be too excited to include me. On this one, I’m with Brian,” Justin answered.

 

“Why am I not surprised,” she sighed. “Now that Brian is present, you are changing what you think.”

 

“No, I’m not. I do have a mind of my own,” he countered.

 

“I’ll say,” sighed Brian.

 

“What about what you said last week when we were discussing your class?”

 

“I told you that I disagree with spanking but that in specific safety issues with children too young to understand that it might be used as a last resort. Only after repeated attempts at other types of discipline.”

 

Brian just stared at him with an accusatory look.

 

“There might be some cases where it’s more important for him to be scared of one of you than to do things like run into the street or play with light sockets, but only in situations where his life and safety depends on it. The safety of the cake is irrelevant.”

 

Mel seemed to concede the point after looking at the cake and then her crying son. She turned and quickly left the house.

 

“Couldn’t we have discussed this in a civil manner and privately,” asked Lindsay. “She’s been through so much.”

 

“I am going to take Gus and Molly upstairs to play,” said Justin.

 

“See, you might end up being the best parent out of the four of us,” said Brian.

 

“Linds, I have tried to be understanding. Justin and I are spending a lot more time with Gus. Despite our hectic schedules we enjoy having him with us.”

 

“I really appreciate it,” replied Lindsay.

 

“It’s not a problem. I know he gets into a lot more things now. He poured a whole bag of rice all over everything last week. I’m still finding it, but it’s not a reason to hit him. I am VERY concerned about this. Listen to me very clearly, I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR TOWARD MY SON.”

 

“It’s not about what you will allow. You have no say in this…” Lindsay started to say.

 

“Then, you better fucking hope that you aren’t pregnant because I won’t be signing ANYTHING until there are some real resolutions to this issue. What happened here is completely unacceptable. To be honest, I never even considered this could be a problem. Now that I realize it is, I don’t know what to do.”

 

“She’s just under a lot of stress and in even more pain. It’s a very hard time for her.” Lindsay tried to defend her spouse.

 

“But Gus shouldn’t suffer because of it. Maybe, he should stay with me for a few weeks. It could give you guys a chance to move on. Get back on track. You should also consider if a new baby is the right pressure to put on your lives right now.”

 

“Gus will stay in his home with us. This is an isolated situation. It has never happened before and it won’t happen again.”

 

“We don’t know that. He isn’t old enough to tell us if she has done this before. Lindsay, it was a quick reflex action and she hit him to save a fucking cake. She needs therapy or something. Now! Go find her and talk some sense into her. Until she is ‘less stressed,’ I don’t want her alone with him.”

 

“You bastard, you have no rights to that boy,” growled Mel from the doorway. “You can’t tell me how to parent my son.”

 

“That is where you are wrong. There is no way I am going to stand around while you beat my son.”

 

“I didn’t beat him. You are overreacting. I only slapped his hand. It was the wrong thing to do. It won’t happen again.”

 

“With all due respect, dear old Jack didn’t beat the shit out of me the first time. It started with a slap here and there, then a smack to the head and in a couple years I was a frequent customer at the emergency room.”

 

“That won’t happen,” she asserted.

 

“You’re right, because I won’t allow it. He is staying with me until Sunday. We can talk about this more then.”

 

“You are not taking my son,” said Mel defiantly. “I can’t lose another baby,” she added.

 

“Get your shit together or that’s exactly what is going to happen. I have backed down about Gus in the past, but I won’t now. And this is a fight you won’t win.”

 

“If you want to come to the house and get Gus for the night tomorrow, that would be fine,” said Lindsay in her most waspy voice.

 

“No, he is spending the weekend with me,” Brian corrected.

 

“Brian…”

 

“They both will be spending the weekend with Molly and me,” interrupted Justin. “Deb, I am sorry, but I think it’s best if we leave now. I’ll go get them ready to go. Get his stuff together Brian.”

 

Soon, Molly was getting a hug from Debbie in her way out the door. Brian held Gus while Lindsay kissed him goodbye. When Mel approached him, he turned into his father and yelled, “Nooooo.”

 

Mel took a step back heartbroken.

 

“I hope you see now, that you have a lot of thinking to do.” Brian snapped before he left.

 

An awkward silence filled the room after they left. Melanie watched Lindsay trying to figure out how upset she might be. She knew that Lindsay’s waspy upbringing often masked her true feelings until they were alone.

 

“Let’s eat,” Debbie said trying to break the tension.

 

“I don’t know. Maybe we should go,” sighed Lindsay.

 

“No, please stay. With Justin gone there’s way too much food.”

 

Mel looked around sheepishly. Debbie walked over to her. “This is your family. There’s no reason to hide from us. Parenting ain’t easy. No one thinks you were being abusive, dear.”

 

“Brian did.”

 

“You have to understand that he’s coming from a different point of reference.”

 

Everyone ate in silence. The only noise that could be heard was the beeping of Hunter’s Gameboy. He had returned to his game as soon as he’d gobbled his food down. Deb noticed that Carl wasn’t eating.

 

“What’s wrong? You’re not eating and that certainly isn’t like you,” she said.

 

“I guess I’m not hungry.”

 

“You were starving earlier.”

 

“I didn’t realize who Brian was,” he replied quietly, almost to himself.

 

“What do you mean?” Michael asked.

 

“I didn’t know he was Jack Kinney’s son.”

 

“There’s an asshole I hope isn’t resting in peace,” said Vic.

 

“Did you know him?” Ben asked Carl.

 

“Unfortunately, yes. When I was still a patrolman, I would get called to that house at least once a week.”

 

“Was it as bad as I’ve imagined,” Lindsay questioned.

 

“Worse.”  Carl was quiet for a minute, then continued. “The first time I saw Brian, he was about four years old and had a split lip. His mother wouldn’t say anything against her husband so there was nothing we could do. He haunted me because he was so sweet,” Carl looked up to see everyone hanging on his every word.

 

“I was pretty much still a rookie at that point so I stayed with his mother. What was her name?”

 

“Joannie,” Deb answered, the distaste evident in her voice.

 

“Right, Joan. She put on such an act. After a few minutes, Brian came over to me to see my badge. I showed him my handcuffs. His eyes lit up when he listened to my walkie talkie.”

 

“What did he look like as a child? I’ve never seen any pictures,” asked Lindsay.

 

“Just like Gus. I can’t believe I didn’t make the connection sooner. He was happy like Gus, but over the years I watched the light in his eyes fade. I used to stay up at night because I couldn’t get him off my mind.”

 

Carl could see the questions in the group’s eyes. “The laws back then wouldn’t let us do anything with bastards like Jack Kinney. Anything we would do only ended up making things harder for the wife and children later.”

“I only saw Mrs. Kinney with a bruise once,” said Michael. “Claire had some, but not like Brian.”

 

“I asked Brian once if Jack would hurt Claire too. He said yes sometimes, but she was too weak and couldn’t take it like he could. He would provoke Jack so he’d leave Claire alone,” Carl explained.

 

“God,” gasped Emmett. “No wonder he keeps to himself so much.”

 

“When he was about twelve, he must have tried to fight back. He was tall and I guess he thought he could hold his own. Jack must have had a hundred pounds on him. By the time we got there Brian was a bloody heap at the bottom of the cellar steps. I thought he was dead at first glance, but he moved. I carried him out of that house promising myself he would never have to go back. I even talked to my wife about letting him come stay with us, if that’s what it would take.”

 

“The next day, I went to the hospital to take his statement. There was medical proof and the doctor would corroborate. Jack was going to jail and I was personally going to lock the cell. Brian wouldn’t press charges. I couldn’t believe he was going to go back there.”

 

“I guess it’s good to know that he did get out of there and made a life for himself in the end.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Justin quietly closed the door to Molly’s room and went down the hall to his mother’s. Brian carefully eased off the bed and pulled the blankets up around his son. Settling the boy down had taken a long time tonight, but he was finally asleep. Justin moved a chair to the side of the bed. Brian watched him puzzled.

 

“So he won’t roll off the edge,” Justin whispered.

 

Brian smiled and left the room. Justin followed him and pulled the door halfway closed.

 

“That’s a good idea with the chair,” said Brian. “I wouldn’t have thought of it.”

 

“Mom used to do that for Molly when we would go to Grandma’s when Molly was small.”

 

“How is your Grandmother?”

 

“Better. Mom should be back in another week.”

 

“Good. I’ve missed you,” said Brian pulling his lover firmly against him.

 

“Tell me about it,” sighed Justin melting into his arms. They quietly made their way to Justin’s room. Tumbling onto the bed they kissed feverishly.

 

“I know this bed is smaller, but I don’t think I could sleep with you in Mom’s,” said Justin.

 

“Well, I might have been able to sleep in it, but even I couldn’t have sex with her baby boy in her bed,” smirked Brian.

 

“I can’t take the silent treatment anymore. Will you please just say something,” Mel snapped, fed up with the awkward lack of communication with her spouse.

 

“I have nothing to say right now. We can talk about it tomorrow.”

 

“Do you really think either one of us is going to sleep until we discuss this?”

 

“So you want to discuss it now? I don’t recall any discussion before you took OUR parenting philosophy and threw it out the window.”

 

Mel’s face showed her surprise at Lindsay’s tone and the obvious anger she felt. “Now you’re overreacting just like Brian. Although I can’t say I’m surprised. You always take his side.”

 

“Don’t try to deflect from what really happened by putting Brian down. The truth of the matter is you crossed a line and you don’t want to admit it.”

 

“Crossed a line?” Mel repeated incredulously.

 

“Yes. We have discussed how we will parent Gus in great detail. We’ve both read books on the subject and agreed that hitting him wasn’t the example we wanted to set or that it would be beneficial to his emotional development.”

 

“I didn’t hit him. I slapped him LIGHTLY on the hand.”

 

“I don’t think Gus would make that distinction. You saw his face. Is this the first time you have physically disciplined our son?”

 

“Yes. Have you ever slapped him?”

“Absolutely not.”

 

“Come on, you’ve spent a lot more time with him than I have. Are you trying to tell me he hasn’t pushed you to the end of your patience? I know he has. I’m the one you handed him off to. I know you’ve lost it with him.”

 

“But I’ve never crossed the line. Anytime I feel myself approaching that line I stop and take a minute to regain my composure. Sometimes I’d put him in his crib for a minute where I knew he’d be safe and then I’d sit down and take a few deep breaths.”

 

“Since I’m such a bad mother, it’s a good thing that my baby died,” Mel yelled as she grabbed her car keys and fled from the house.

 

Lindsay sat on the bed crying. She couldn’t figure out how her life and marriage had gotten to this point.

 

Brian’s fingers played across Justin’s back. He loved to watch Justin sleep. He noticed Justin start to flinch and stopped immediately. In a few short moments he startled awake.

 

“Bad dream?” Brian, asked concerned.

 

“Yeah, not too bad though,” said Justin, as he concentrated on slowing his breathing. “Sorry I woke you.”

 

“You didn’t. Are you okay?”

 

“I’m fine, but it’s 3:41 in the middle of the night. Why weren’t you asleep?” Justin asked, looking at the alarm clock.

 

“Can’t.”

 

“Usually you get up and drink when you can’t sleep.”

 

“I didn’t want to wake you. You looked so peaceful before the nightmare. Besides, I didn’t know what your mother would have to drink.”

 

“Thanks. You’re thinking about what happened tonight aren’t you?”

 

“I never wanted Gus to feel like that. What am I going to do? I don’t want him to experience that, but I have no legal rights to do anything about it.”

 

“When I was a kid, every Thanksgiving my father and my mother’s father would get in a fight. Even when my Dad was wrong, Mom would take his side in front of everyone, but when we got in the car or got home she would really let Dad have it. I think Lindsay’s a lot like my mom in that respect. I bet she and Mel had a serious talk about it when they got home.”

 

“I hope so,” Brian answered quietly. “You know I always thought it might be me. That’s why until recently I haven’t spent much time alone with Gus.”

 

“What?”

 

“I’m not the most patient person in the world and I have a temper. I know that. Not to mention that first year psychology in university taught me about the cycle of abuse.”

 

“Brian, you would never hurt Gus. How could you doubt yourself?”

 

“Because I’d never allowed myself to be in that position. I trust myself now. You’ve taught me to.”

 

Justin laughed. “Have I tried your patience to the point that you’re sure Gus couldn’t be any worse?”

 

“I didn’t mean it that way, but I guess you could say that,” Brian chuckled. “What I mean is you have had a stabilizing influence on me and my life. I know without any doubt that I would not be as involved with Gus today, if I hadn’t met you the night he was born. It’s another reason that proves you are the luckiest thing that has ever happened to me.”

 

“Brian, thank you, but it was never in you to hurt anyone. You are caring and compassionate under all that bravado.  It was always there. I think that I have just helped you allow yourself to be yourself, to be comfortable with yourself.”

 

“I don’t know…maybe…”

 

“No maybe about it. Since you have started to allow yourself to really live not just survive, you have been happier and you haven’t used your pain management techniques as much or as often. You have other things that make you happy. Look how open you are when you are with Gus. He has done wonders for you. It’s the unconditional love he gives you because he doesn’t know any other way to love and for once, you feel its warmth. Love does wonders, doesn’t it?”

 

“How are you so smart, sunshine?” Moving in close, Brian lips touch Justin’s in answer showing how much love matters.

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