Truth Be Told

Part Fifteen

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Brian and Justin returned from the cafeteria and found Molly talking with Lindsay and playing with Gus.

 

“Molly, does your arm hurt today?” asked a concerned Justin.

 

“It did, so the nurse gave me a pill. Now it just sort of tingles,” she answered. “When can I go home? Am I going home?”

 

“You are going home today and I am going to stay with you,” Justin replied.

 

They could see the fear fill her eyes, “where’s Mom?” She asked tentatively.

 

“She’s upstairs…” Brian started to say.

 

“Is she alive?”

 

“Yes, but she’s hurt very badly.”

 

“I want to see her.”

 

“She is sleeping and won’t be able to talk to you. Her body needs to sleep so she can start to heal.”

 

“Just like Justin,” she asked Brian.

 

“Sort of, when Justin was hurt it was his head that needed to heal so his body kept him asleep until he was a little better. Your mom didn’t hurt her head, but the doctors want her to sleep so they are giving her medicine to make sure she does.”

 

Lindsay stood off to the side and marveled at the way Brian dealt with Molly.

 

“When will she wake up?” Molly asked. “Will it be a long time like Justin?”

 

“No, Mol. I think she’ll wake up in a day or two. But she will be in the hospital for a long time. She won’t be able to take care of you for months, not until Halloween or Thanksgiving and maybe not until Christmas,” Justin tried to explain.

 

Now Lindsay was amazed with the way Justin was explaining things to Molly in terms she could understand.

 

“Will she be able to walk?” Molly asked, afraid of the answer.

 

“I think so. When she is feeling better she will have to learn how to walk again,” Brian continued.

 

“Like a baby?”

 

“Sort of, and she might have to go to a different kind of hospital where they have a lot of exercise equipment. It’s called a rehabilitation centre. Molly, I promise you she will go to the best one we can find. The problem is, it might not be in Pittsburgh.”

 

“Justin went to one here,” Molly offered.

 

“I know he did, but there is a better one a few hours away from here. It might be better if your mom went there.”

 

“If it’s better, why didn’t Justin go there?” Molly asked confused.

 

“I wanted him to go to the better one, but he didn’t want to go. Your mother let him make the decision. This time I plan to make sure she goes where she will get better the fastest.”

 

“Okay, but will I have to go live with Dad?”

 

“No, Molly, I promise I won’t let that happen,” assured Justin. “You and I will live together again.”

 

“Cool, you are much more fun than Dad,” she smiled.

 

Justin gave her a hug.

 

“I want to see Mom first,” she said. “I don’t care if she is not wake. I just want to see her.”

 

“Okay, sweetie, but the doctors are using a lot of tubes and machines to make her better. There is a tube to help her breathe and several different tubes that are giving her medicine all the time. She has a heart monitor that shows her heart beating.”

 

“That’s what I want to see. Remember Justin’s, I loved to watch his heart beating. It made me feel better and not be scared.”

 

“Okay,” said Justin. “I don’t remember very much of this, but I guess you do.”

 

“I’ll never forget,” she answered..

 

While Brian explained a few more things to her, Justin paused to think about all that Molly had been through in her nine and a half years. It made him feel very sad and guilty.

 

“Then, there is the tube that goes to the bag that holds her …” Brian paused trying to think of a more age appropriate word for piss.

 

“Pee?” Molly asked.

 

“Yes.”

 

“Just like Justin’s,” laughed Molly.

 

“Okay, I remember that one. Or actually I remember when they took it out,” shuddered Justin.

 

“I bet,” chuckled Brian.

 

“When can we go see her?” Molly asked.

 

“Soon.”

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Justin held the door open and Molly entered cautiously. Her eyes immediately found her mother and she paused.

 

Justin looked to Brian who stood in the doorway.

 

“It’s okay,” Justin said as he placed a hand on his sister’s shoulder.

 

She walked over to the bed and looked very closely at her mother. Brian was surprised that except for a few cuts from the glass, Jennifer’s face was exactly as it had always been. Molly turned to watch the heart monitor for a moment. She looked at Justin, “she’s alive,” she said with tears in her eyes.

 

“Of course, she is. You can hold her hand.”

 

Molly gently lifted her mother’s hand into hers. “Mommy, I love you and I want you to get better soon. I miss you.”

 

Dr. Lampert walked in, “Molly, honey, your mommy needs to rest now. You can come back and visit her tomorrow if you would like?”

 

“Can we Justin?”

 

“Sure. You can give her a kiss if you want to.”

 

Brian walked to the bed and lifted the youngest Taylor so she could kiss her mother’s cheek. When Brian put her down, she kissed her mother’s hand and turned to leave the room. The three men followed her.

 

“Mol, are you okay?” Justin asked.

 

“Yes, I feel better. I am happy I saw her. She will get better, she doesn’t look as hurt as you did and you are okay now.”

 

“Molly, your mommy hurt her back and some organs inside her body. You just can’t tell to look at her,” the doctor tried to explain.

 

“Justin, we should get Molly back downstairs so she can get ready to go home,” interrupted Brian. What the hell is this guy trying to do scare her again? She finally feels better and Dr. Doom over here starts in, thought Brian.

 

“Thank you, doctor,” said Justin, as he quickly took Molly down the hall.

 

“Thank you, she really needed the reassurance that Jennifer was still alive. Seeing her mom made a big difference. I think she knew that we weren’t lying to her, but didn’t completely believe it until she saw for herself. You really helped by allowing this. Thank you,” said Brian as he shook the doctor’s hand.

 

Justin took Molly to her room. The daytime nurse was getting some clothes from pediatrics that Molly could wear home. Brian returned to the waiting room.

 

“How’s Molly?” Craig asked. His concern for his daughter was stronger than his contempt for the man before him.”

 

Brian paused as he looked at the man. He then looked to his sleeping son.  “She is better now that she knows first hand that Jennifer is alive. She is getting ready to go home.”

 

“How’s Jennifer?” Deb asked.

 

“I couldn’t believe how good she looks, except for a few little cuts from the glass, you’d never know she was in a serious car accident.”

 

“They let you in? You’re not family,” Michael started to say.

 

“I’m the closest thing she is going to have to a son-in-law for at least ten years.”  Brian snapped. He was angry at Michael for such callousness and not in the mood for the family to devalue his relationship with Justin.

 

Michael looked shocked, and then returned to the window.

 

Daphne couldn’t believe what Michael said after all that had been revealed. She pulled Brian away so they could talk quietly. After a few minutes, Justin joined them.

 

“We’ve got a problem or more specifically, I am going to have a problem.” Justin began.

 

“What?” they asked in unison.

 

Ted and Emmett chuckled. Brian darted them a seething look and they laughed harder.

 

“Molly is at the age where she doesn’t want me to see her and she is going to need help dressing and bathing until the cast comes off.”

 

“Actually, Justin that is exactly what we are talking about. Daphne has offered to move in with you and Molly until your mother is well enough to come home and care for Molly.”

 

“I couldn’t ask you to do that…” Justin started to say.

 

“Jus, I want to. You and Molly are my family and I want to help. I can help Molly get dressed and washed. Between the two of us we should be able to cover each other’s classes.”

 

“Daph, you are finally out from under your parents’ thumb. I know you are enjoying it. I don’t want you to give that up.”

 

“What about you?” She asked.

 

“I have had freedom for quite awhile now, it’s not the same.”

 

“Justin, Molly needs me and so do you. I am going to be there for you guys, so stop arguing with me. Besides, if I am there, you will have more time to spend with Brian at the loft or wherever.”

 

Justin looked at Brian and smiled.

 

“I knew that would convince you,” she laughed.  “And as far as freedom goes, don’t for a minute think that YOU are going to be telling ME what to do!”

 

“I keep trying but it never works,” sighed Justin.

 

“It’s a nice dream,” she replied, as she put an arm around his shoulders.

 

“What’s worse is you can talk me into anything.” Justin continued.

 

“I know. It would have been such a nice marriage too,” she added. They both laughed. It felt good. Justin realized how much he had needed to laugh. “I am going to go help now so the nurse can show me how to get the clothes around the cast and sling.”

 

“I am gonna go wash up and take a leak,” Brian said, as he stood. “I’ll be right back.”

”Kay,” said Justin as he stretched. Fuck! I’m tired he thought to himself.

 

Craig watched as Brian left the room and then went to sit next to his son. Ben and Vic took particular interest and were listening intently. Emmett didn’t even bother to try and be inconspicuous. He took a seat directly behind them and very obviously eavesdropped.

 

“Justin, I really don’t think you are up to caring for Molly full time.” Craig began.

 

“It won’t be a problem. Daphne, Brian, and everyone else will help.”

 

“From what I’ve seen this is one fucked up group of friends. I don’t want MY daughter exposed to this shit. No wonder you are a… such a …”

 

“Save your breath Dad, there is nothing that you could say that could make me feel any more alienated from you than I already do. I have a new family now. It’s not perfect but I know they will be there for me. It’s like Brian said outside, this night turned into one painful episode after another, but they are all still here. They would never leave me in my time of need. It’s nice to have people you can rely on!” Justin finished pointedly.

 

Craig returned Justin’s remark with an icy glare.  “I am going to take Molly home with me and I don’t want to hear another word about it.”

 

“That’s too fucking bad. I have the legal rights here and Molly, Daphne, and I are going to return to the condo and there is not a damn thing you can do about it.” Justin answered evenly.

 

“Justin, just listen to reason…” Craig tried to continue.

 

“To be honest, I didn’t like leaving Molly alone when you kicked me out. My only comfort was that Mom was there to watch out for her.  I even had Daphne talk to her every few days so she could keep an eye on things since I wasn’t there.  When I went to her birthday party and Mom acted so cold and distracted, I was scared. I had no way of knowing what was happening and if there was a reason to be concerned again.” Justin paused. He took a deep breath and continued. “What I am trying to say is that there is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY I am going to allow Molly to live with you alone. NONE.”

 

“Listen you little perverted faggot, I am not going to let you ruin my life anymore. I lost my marriage, my family, and my home because of you and your fucking lifestyle.”

 

Emmett walked over to Justin. “Baby, the last thing you need after the night you’ve had is to listen to this,” he said, as he pulled Justin to his feet.

 

When Emmett tried to pull Justin away, Craig took a long look at Emmett and what he was wearing and snapped, “butt out fairy!”

 

Emmett’s eyes flared as he turned toward Craig. “Justin doesn’t need a hateful homophobic closet case like you giving him a hard time right now.”

 

Craig grabbed hold of Emmett roughly. “What the hell did you just say?”

 

Emmett gently pushed Justin aside, and then slammed Craig up against the wall. “I said that you were a pathetic excuse for a human being let alone a father. Now, I am going to add that I want you to leave Justin alone. He has enough going on right now.”

 

“What the fuck is going on?” Brian yelled from the doorway. He rushed to Justin’s side, “are you okay?”

 

“Yeah,” laughed Justin.

 

“What’s so funny?”

 

“Emmett called my Dad a closet case.”

 

Brian went over to Emmett and put a hand on his shoulder, “Em, if he can’t deal with Justin being gay, how in the hell do you really think that he will ever be ready for that much self-awareness and introspection?”

 

“I guess you’re right,” Emmett said as he let the man go.

 

Brian stood in front of Craig. “I warned you already,” he roared.

 

“I am not letting MY daughter be exposed to this. You have already ruined my son. I am not about to let it happen again.”

 

“Thankfully, Mr. Taylor, you have no say in the matter. The papers are very clear as to what Jennifer’s wishes are. Without a court order there is nothing you can do about it. So try not to make this harder on your children then this night has been already.” Melanie said.

 

“Maybe, I’ll get a court order then. I am sure that any social worker in the city will agree that an impressionable little girl is better off with her father than a teenage brother with a disgusting and inappropriate lifestyle. I’m sure I could get temporary custody until the hearing,” Craig said, confidently.

 

“Like I said before, I would love to get you in a court room…” Melanie started to argue until Justin interrupted.

 

“Thanks Mel, but there is no need to worry. This is not going to court. My father likes to yell and make big scenes. He thinks it will intimidate me like it used to. It’s not going to happen. This is OVER.”

 

“I wouldn’t be so sure I could…”

 

“Dad, how old was I when Grandpa gave me the camera for my birthday?” Justin interrupted again.

 

“What?”

 

“How old was I when Grandpa gave me the camera for my birthday?”

 

“I don’t know six or seven. Why?”

 

“I became quite a good little photographer, didn’t I? I took pictures of everything. I want you to think back to what our wonderful little picture perfect family was like back then. I loved that camera, had it with me all the time. Wasn’t it wonderful of Grandpa to give me an unlimited supply of film?”

 

“Your grandfather always spoiled you. I still don’t know what he thought you would do with all that film. You were a child. It’s not like you were taking important pictures: your mother and I, trees, animals, Daphne, toys. You probably only used a dozen roles of that film. At least, the asshole paid for processing.”

 

“See, this is the part you should pay close attention to because you don’t seem to be getting the hint. I used 217 rolls of that film. You should have paid more quality attention to me then. I think you would be surprised at what I was able to catch on film. Some of it I think you would consider important.”

 

Craig’s eyes widened, “you sneaky little fucking fiendish fairy. Your mother used to call you precocious. I called you a pain in the ass. Too smart for your own good.”

 

“What really bothered you is that I was too smart for YOUR own good,” corrected Justin. “I don’t think you want to give Mom, Molly, or I any more trouble. Do you?”

 

“None of that will hold up in court.”

 

“It doesn’t have to. All I have to do is show Grandpa a few special family snapshots and you are fucked. He has been looking for a reason to cut you out of the will for years,” smiled Justin.

 

“You wouldn’t do that. It would affect your inheritance too.”

 

“Like I expect anything from you anymore. You won’t even pay for my tuition. Do you think I suddenly turned stupid? Just be glad that I was too sick while the divorce was happening. You got off much better in the settlement than you would have had I been able to focus on it. I would have given some to Mom, if I was thinking clearly.”

 

Craig stood stunned.

 

“Is that enough or do you need me to tell you more.”

 

“There is more?”

 

“Left 34, right 18, left 27.”

 

“What’s that?” Craig asked puzzled.

 

“The combination to the lock in your office at the house. As I got older I liked to take pictures of papers and pretend that I was a spy on a secret mission. Turns out I was. Goodbye, Dad!”

 

Justin almost knocked over Brian who was almost as shocked as Craig at what he had just heard.

 

“I want to thank you all for coming. It means more to me than I could ever tell you. I know I have people I can count on. That will really help over the next few days. I love you all but now I have to get Molly home and see that she is comfortable.”

 

Deb walked over and gave Justin a big hug. “If there is anything I can do to help just let me know. If you don’t call me by tomorrow and ask I am going to show up anyway.”

 

“Thanks Deb.”

 

“Justin, if you need any help with Molly, a sitter what ever, you know where I am.” Lindsay whispered, kissing him on the cheek.

 

Justin couldn’t help but think about everyone. This was his family showing support for him and everyone wound up being on the hot seat. It was time it was all out in the open, but he felt badly about it anyway. Justin paused at the door, “I am sorry that last night turned into a big confrontation,” he said guiltily before he left.

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