A Day in the Life

Bad News

Brian could drive to work in about ten minutes, and that's what he was doing one cold November morning. There were a few icy spots on the road but Brian's path from the loft to downtown was over well-traveled and well-maintained roads. Brian often used the ten minutes to reflect on his new life. If anyone would have described this life to him just a few years back, he would have laughed at them. If anybody would have told him how happy he was going to be, he would not have known what they were talking about. Just about everything in his life was great these days and Brian hoped that would go on forever. He reached the underground parking garage in his building and pulled in. His immediate future was a series of relatively unimportant meetings. That would have driven him crazy in the old days but in these new days Brian seemed to be able to get through almost anything. Nothing bothered him now. He had everything he wanted.

During the second of these meetings, Cynthia came to the office window and beckoned for him to come out. "You have a phone call," she told him, "Jennifer Taylor. She said it was important, and asked me to call you out of the meeting if it was at all possible." Brian was more than a little surprised. Jennifer had come to accept him and was even friendly a good bit of the time. She knew that he and Justin were in a committed relationship and she seemed to understand that they were really in love. But she had never called him at the office before. They weren't all that friendly, and at best, she was the mother-in-law. Brian couldn't guess what was going on as he hurried back to his office to take the call.

"It's Craig," Jennifer said after Brian identified himself on the phone, "Justin's father."

"I know who Craig is," Brian responded, "But he can't do anything more to Justin, or to me, so we're not worried about him, whatever he does."

"He's in Mercy Hospital, Brian," Jennifer went on, "He was driving into work this morning on the Parkway West. A big truck hit a patch of ice. The driver lost control and the truck crashed into Craig's car."

"Oh. Jeez," Brian exclaimed, "How bad is it?"

"It's pretty bad," Jennifer responded, "They don't know if he'll make it, and if he does, they won't be sure for a couple of weeks."

"Where are you?" Brian asked.

"At the hospital. Molly is here with me," Jennifer answered, "The divorce isn't final and I am still next of kin."

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Brian asked, "Does Justin know?"

"That's why I called," Jennifer said, "I hoped you would tell him. Craig's name won't be on the noon news but probably it will be by 5:00. I don't want him to hear about this on the phone, and I think he would be better off hearing it from you. Can you possibly find him and tell him face to face?"

"Absolutely," Brian responded, "That's my job and I want to do it. I don't know how he'll take it but I want to be there to help him if he needs me. I do love him. Jennifer."

"I know that, Brian," she admitted. Brian's mind had already begun to work in high gear on how best to accomplish what he had to do. He almost didn't hear Jennifer as she continued. "Brian, I haven't told you all of it yet," she said. "What more can there be?" Brian wondered. "Craig is all tied up with machines and tubes but he is conscious. I saw him. He wants to see Justin."

Brian was not prepared for that. There was a momentary silence before the discussion continued. "Is that a good idea?" Brian asked.

"I don't know," Jennifer responded, "It might be very good for them to see each other but it could be a disaster too. The doctors think we should do anything Craig wants, but they don't know the background. It really needs to be Justin's decision, Brian, but I want you to talk to him about it. I want you to think about it and advise him. He trusts you, and Brian, I trust you too. You know Justin better than anybody, certainly better than I do and I'm his mother, maybe even better than he knows himself, and I know you want what's best for him. Help him to make the right decision. Whatever it is you decide, I won't second guess you. Whatever you two decide will be the right thing."

"Thanks, Jennifer," Brian said as they finished the call, "I'll get a hold of Justin and tell him but I don't know how he'll react. I don't even know what I think. I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Will you be at the hospital?" She gave him a number there where she could be reached and Brian added, "Thank you, Jennifer, for trusting me on this."

"You're good for him, Brian," Jennifer said as she hung up. Brian wasn't prepared for that either.

Brian called Cynthia into the office. She was pretty much up-to-date on the Brian-Justin story so he told her the new details and asked for her opinion. "Gosh, that is a tough one," she agreed, "It has to be Justin's decision though, but I'll bet he won't make it without involving you. He'll want to know what you think."

"And what should I think?" Brian asked.

"I'm sure you don't know now," Cynthia stated, "But maybe you will when you talk it out with Justin. Do that as soon as you can. I'll get someone else to cover all the rest of today's meetings for you. Justin has to be your first priority today."

"Justin has to be my first priority always," Brian thought to himself, "I wish I had known that sooner."

Justin was carrying his cell phone but it was turned off during class and so Brian was not able to reach him immediately. He got into his car and headed over toward the Institute. He got there and was seated in a booth, drinking coffee, in the greasy spoon across from the main building when Justin's phone answered. Justin was surprised that it was Brian.

"I thought you had meetings all day today," he said.

"I did but I needed to see you."

"Right now?" Justin asked, "I'm finished with classes. I was going to work for a while in the studio but I can come to your office if you want me to."

"I'm at Mary's across the street. Come on over here," Brian replied. Justin sensed that something was really up.

"There's bad news, isn't there?" he asked Brian.

"Not about us?" Justin worried. "Never about us," Brian responded, "There will never be any bad news about us."

"I'll be there in less than five minutes," Justin promised.

That gave Brian five minutes or so to think but he still had no idea how to handle the situation when the door to Mary's opened and Justin rushed in. All he knew was that Justin needed him and he was going to be there for him. He had to get this right. Justin ran to the booth and sat down. "What?" he asked.

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