When the Bough Breaks

Chapter 7

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Abby ran into the house, leaving Tom outside wondering how the hell he was going to keep his wife from running off with Eric. She took the stairs two at a time ignoring the sitter's questions about how their evening had been. She stopped just outside of Eric's room and listened for the sounds of his even breathing to tell her that her son was asleep.

Quietly opening the door, she stood just inside looking at his angelic face in the glow of the nightlight he still slept with for comfort. She wondered if those women had a clue that he was afraid of the dark or that he sometimes snored when he was really tired.

She wanted so desperately to just pick him up and run. She'd find somewhere that they were safe, but deep down she knew that Tom was right. They'd always be on the run and that was no kind of life for a child like Eric.

Closing her eyes she let herself remember how happy she'd been the first time she'd seen him. His small little face looking up at her with dark hazel eyes that betrayed his fears. She'd promised God right then that she'd do whatever it took to relieve that fear for her son.

Thinking about having to let him go, Abby wondered for the first time if this was what it felt like for Lindsay and Brian.

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Brian paced the loft, cursing loudly that there was nothing he could do tonight to get his son home. They'd been over this a thousand times and yet he still tried to find the loophole that would get Gus home where he belonged.

Brian had even let Melanie try to call in some favors with a few lawyers and judges to no avail. Brian had gone through his entire black book trying to find someone who could manipulate the courts and get Gus back before the next day.

He kept hitting the same roadblocks over and over again. He cursed that it was Sunday and he ranted about how it was fucking insane that Gus had to spend one more second with that hate filled bigot bitch.

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Justin watched his partner pacing and had listened to his obnoxious rants for the last two hours and he'd had enough.

"Shut the fuck up, Bri. This is not getting us anywhere."

Brian just looked at him, ready to speak when the shrill of the phone stopped him. Justin grabbed it before he could get to it and walked away to avoid having whoever was on the other end from having to listen to Brian's rage.

He was shocked to hear Tom Garrett on the line.

"Mr. Taylor, I'm sorry to bother you, but I thought maybe Mr. Kinney and Ms. Peterson would like to visit with Eric." Tom stopped and caught his slip up. "I mean, Gus."

"I'm sure they would love to, Mr. Garrett. I'll just have to call Lindsay and let her know when."

"It's Tom, and if you could give me an hour to convince my wife I'll call you back with a location and time for tomorrow."

"Thank you, Tom. I know how hard this must be on you and your wife. Gus is not my biological son, but I've loved him since the day he was born. I know how it feels to lose him."

"I know. I know in my mind that he's not my son anymore, but my heart just doesn't seem to get it. I really hope we can work this out and keep his best interest at heart. We're the only parents he's ever known and no matter what we do love him."

"I know you do and it just makes it that much harder on everyone. But I really do appreciate that you're thinking of Gus first."

"Now I just have to convince Abby that it's the right thing to do."

"Just let me know and I'll make sure Brian and Lindz are there. And Tom, thank you."

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Lindsay sat at the table absently twirling the stem of her wine glass between her fingers. Melanie finished putting JR down and joined her partner in the dining room.

"It's all going to work out the way it should, right Mel?" Lindsay asked as Melanie massaged her neck.

"Let's just hope it doesn't go to court."

"Why would it?"

"The Garretts could fight for him and they have a good chance of getting custody." At Lindsay's gasp, she hurried to explain. "He's lived with them for seven years; it's really the only family he knows. And they're straight and we're not."

"That doesn't matter, we're his parents."

"No, you and Brian are his parents and if we go to court any lawyer worth his retainer will use Brian against us. We're gay, Lindz, that's strike one. The Garretts have raised him for seven years that's strike two and Brian Kinney is strike three."

"I know that Brian isn't the ideal parent on paper but he loves Gus."

"And he's a promiscuous faggot. And with the judges Bush has let through, we're fighting a losing battle."

"But we're his biological parents, Mel, that counts for something." Lindsay tried her best to remain optimistic.

"I expect this from Justin, but you of all people know that it doesn't always work that way. Remember that case I had when I was pregnant? With Anna? It took years and several appeals before she was allowed to regain custody. Do you remember how the courts gave her children to that drunk, abusive asshole just because he was straight and a better influence? Nothing's changed Lindz, Bush is still president, God help us all, and the laws are even more biased now. Two sets of homosexuals who haven't seen the child in seven years don't stand a snowball's chance in Hell over two heterosexual parents who've loved and nurtured him his entire life. We have to prepare ourselves for the worst."

"I'll never stop fighting for Gus. He belongs here with us."

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Tom waited for Abby to finish dressing for bed before he brought up the visitation. He was afraid of what her reaction would be, but he felt it was the best thing they could do.

"Abby, I spoke with Justin this evening."

"Who?"

"Justin Taylor, one of Gus's fathers. I thought maybe we could set up some time that they could visit with Gus."

"His name is Eric and you are his only father, Tom. I will not allow those perverts to spend time with him. What if they try to recruit him into their sick little lives?"

"Fuck, Abby, do you live in the real world? I mean are you listening to yourself? They are his parents and they love him. Couldn't you see the fear in their eyes this morning? Being gay doesn't automatically make you a pedophile just like being straight doesn't make you a fucking saint. He's their son and they haven't seen him in seven years, I just think that it will be a lot easier on Gus if we let him spend time with them."

"Easier? Do you really believe the courts are going to give him back to them? I can't believe you. Do you not love Eric? How could you just give up like this? Be a man, Tom, fight for our son."

"If I thought they would hurt him, I would fight to the death for him, but I don't think they will. Lindsay seems to really care about him. I mean she could have told him that he was their son, but she's waiting. Let's give him the chance to know where he comes from. He deserves to know his real parents."

"I am his REAL mother. I've wiped his nose and his ass for years now. I'm the one who gave up her life for him. I WILL NOT JUST HAND HIM OVER TO SOME FUCKING LESBIAN AND HER FAGGOT FRIENDS."

Tom stood in silent disbelief as he watched the woman he thought he'd known climb the stairs.

TBC........

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