No More Mio Amore

Chapter Eleven “No News is not Good News”
 

November 11, 1999

“You're going to have to come in the Monday after Thanksgiving, Brian,” Marty Ryder spoke.

Brian paced in front of his boss’ desk. “You said you’d give me until after the holidays.”

“I thought Gus is doing much better?” Marty asked carefully.

“He is, but I can’t come that week. That week a specialist from Switzerland is visiting the hospital. They’re going to try Gus on another new drug and will be running him through tons of tests. I have to be there for that.”

“Brian,” Marty spoke uncomfortably. “I need you here.”

“You don’t get it. Gus is doing better. His growth is exceeding the doctors’ expectations of what a baby technically only thirty-four weeks old would physically be at,” he explained and sat down in one of the chairs in front of Marty. “I think they might let me take him home soon. But, I have to be there with him that week. You said you’d give me time, Marty.”

“I did say that you could have more time, Brian, you’re right. I did say I’d give you until after the holidays to come back to work. But we haven’t only lost you. We’ve also lost Cynthia and three of our major accounts. All of these accounts are ones that you and she handled.”

Brian groaned. “So it’s my fault you hired incompetent employees?”

“I couldn’t afford to hire ones with better résumés at the rate I pay you while our accounts are depleting. I don’t want to be insensitive to what you’re going through. I’ve given you the maximum legal amount of paternity leave come the 29th. I’ve gone beyond the FMLA regulations by continuing to pay your salary during your time off. I need you to come in and get us some new accounts and hopefully win back some of the ones we’ve lost. I’ve heard they’re still shopping.”

Brian understood where Marty was coming from, but none of those reasons and none of his boss’ worries mattered when it came to Gus’ care. However, he also knew that he wouldn’t have insurance or be able to pay the medical care Gus needed if lost his job. “Have you spoken with Cynthia?” Brian asked. The woman had already told him that she probably wouldn’t return to Ryder, but Brian wondered if she’d said the same to Marty.

“What’s going on between the two you?” Marty asked. “I thought you were gay.”

“I am gay,” Brian confirmed. “What’s that got to do with anything?”

“She’s been caring for your child and yes, I did speak with her. She told me that she won’t be coming back, that she’s going to help you raise Gus.”

“She… she is,” Brian told the man. “But that doesn’t mean what you’re implying. We’re friends and she’s a woman who cares for my son. I don’t have any idea what I’m going to do with Gus when I do bring him home. Cynthia knows a lot about kids and I’ll need her to help me.”

“Then if that’s the case, you’ll have someone to look after Gus when you come back to work.”

Brian’s cell phone rang. He stood up and excused himself from Mary’s office and went into the hall. “Hello?”

“Brian, its Ted.”

“What can I do for you, Theodore? I was in the middle of an important meeting.”

“This is urgent. You told me to call you as soon as soon as I received confirmation that the insurance sums were deposited.”

“You said that could take months,” Brian gasped. “Are you telling me…?”

“Lindsay’s insurance company is probably the best and fastest working in compensations I’ve seen in my career. I could hardly believe the numbers myself when I saw them this morning.”

“How much was deposited?”

“The full amount,” Ted confirmed.

“What?” Brian leaned back against the hallway wall. “Are you serious?”

“I wouldn’t joke about money. I called the company to speak to them, just to be sure. The receptionist put me through to the president Jacob Lent. His wife is one of the founders of MADD. They lost three children in a car accident years ago from a drunk driver. This guy is one of the good ones, Bri. He knew of Gus’ health situation and he told me to tell you that he didn’t want to make your tragedy any worse and if you want to see him about further insurance policies he’d be happy to meet with you personally and do everything he could to ensure that Gus has great medical insurance.”

Brian could hardly speak. His head spun with all the new possibilities that opened up for him. He hadn’t expected to get any money for months, and even then, he knew that it would only come in installments large enough to pay for bits of Gus’ medical bills. Now, he truly could imagine his future in the way Cynthia suggested and he secretly hoped for. He could care for Gus and one day start his own agency.

“Brian, Brian, are you there?” Ted called from his end of the line.

“I’m here,” Brian replied. “Did… did you get the guy’s number?”

“Of course,” Ted told him. “I’m nothing, if not thorough.”

“Okay, good. Look I’ve got to get going. I’ll call you later tonight.”

“Sure, Brian. Tell Gus Uncle Ted said hello.”

Brian smiled to himself and couldn’t possibly even think of a one liner to throw Ted off. “Yeah, I will, Ted. I’ll talk to you tonight.”

“Bye, Brian.”

Brian flipped the phone closed and walked back into Marty’s office. His steps were light and the expression on his face was unmistakably happy.

Marty looked up at Brian. “Good news?”

Brian tried his best not to look too smug. “Yes. Great news,” he replied and took his seat again.

“Gus?” Marty asked.

“Sorta.” Brian leveled Marty with his gaze. “Listen. I’m quitting.”

“Brian!” Marty gasped and stood up from his chair. “You can’t…”

Brian stood up. “I know this puts you in a really bad position, but you’ve given me no choice here. Gus is the most important thing in my life. If I had to, I’d sacrifice my time with him to work and provide for him.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that I don’t have to do that. Gus’ mothers left me with money to care for Gus and Lindsay; she even left some money for me. I just got a phone call and it seems Lindsay’s insurance company decided not to make payments.”

“Then how can you…?”

“Let me finish,” Brian interrupted. “They’ve deposited the full amount.”

“Brian, are you sure? That’s unheard of. You’d better make sure they’re not messing with you or…”

“I’m sure, Marty,” Brian confirmed. “I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me; here at work and allowing me the time off that I needed with Gus. I know that I’m putting you in a shitty position but I have to do this. If you want me to consult on some accounts until you find someone to replace me, I’ll do that without being on your payroll and I won’t be asking for unemployment or anything like that.”

Marty slowly sat down in his chair and shook his head. “As your boss I’m fucking pissed at you, Brian.”

Brian nodded. “I know.”

Marty gave the man a small smile. “But as your friend I’m happy for you and glad to know you’ll have the opportunity to continue to be there for Gus. If I were in your position I’d do the same thing. I know that when my daughter was hospitalized for pneumonia a few years ago; I didn’t leave the hospital once. I would appreciate if you’d consult with me on some accounts; maybe give a few some fresh looks.”

“I can do that,” Brian agreed. He reached his hand out to Marty to shake. “Thanks. Just give Cynthia a call.”

Marty laughed. “She’s still your secretary?”

Brian rolled his eyes. “She’s a friend. A good friend.”
 

***
 

Cynthia and Brian hugged and jumped up and down like two teenagers. It was most definitely a first for the NICU.

“This is amazing!” Cynthia said and laughed. “I can’t believe this.”

“We deserved a little luck don’t you think?” Brian replied.

“Well hello,” Dr. Rhine said and walked over to the happy pair. “Has someone come to speak to you since Gus’ meeting, Brian?”

“No. Is there something wrong?” Brian asked. He immediately walked over to Gus’ isolette and put his hands through the holes. He gently lay one on Gus’ stomach and put his finger into Gus' hand. He smiled when he saw Gus’ eyes connect with his own.

“No, Brian, quite the opposite,” the doctor confirmed. “I’d thought that because of the celebration you two were having one of the other specialists had come to talk to you.”

“No,” Brian said. He looked at Cynthia. “Did anyone come while I was gone?”

“No,” she said emphatically. “Why?”

“We’ve decided that we’d like to move Gus into an open bassinet. And we’ve also come up with a date to shoot for, so that you can take Gus home.”

Brian blinked in surprise. He could hardly believe his own ears. “What?”

“Gus is now four pounds, seven ounces and is continuing to grow. He’s surpassed the weight we wanted to get him to before we put him in the open bassinet and his lungs and skin look beautiful. I know you’ve noticed that his fingernails have started to grow nicely. Everything we wanted to see in Gus’ growth at this point has happened and this isn’t the first time I’ve said this.”

“So the date?” Brian asked. “What day do you think I can bring him home?”

“We’re going to test how he does breathing on his own in two weeks. After that, depending on the results I’d say you’ll be bringing him home the week of Christmas.”

“You’re serious?” Brian asked. He felt light-headed from all the good news he’d heard in one day.

“I’m serious,” the doctor confirmed and smiled.

“I need to hold him,” Brian whispered. He went to take his hand out of the cradle but Gus’ grip was strong on his finger.

Gus whimpered and wailed when his father managed to extract his finger from his grip. But when he saw Brian’s face above him after the cradle’s lid was lifted he quieted down. When his father lifted and cradled him in his arms, he immediately calmed down, feeling the safety of his father’s arms.
 

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