Emerge Victorious

Chapter 11

Bobby was leaning over the balcony watching Justin in one of his painting frenzies. Justin had gotten an unusual idea for one of his special commissions. This particular royal patron was young and had more of an avant-garde way of looking at the world. Justin decided on a triptych with all three portions of the painting done at the same time. Justin had the stereo turned up and was dancing back and forth between the three canvases.

Brian came out of his office in response to the music. He was about to complain but the sight of Justin with a big fat paint laden brush in his hand stopped him. Justin reminded Brian of a conductor of a colorful symphony, commanding each note of shade and hue. Brian leaned on the balcony rail to watch. Bobby soon got his attention. Justin, oblivious to anything around him, didn’t notice Brian descend the staircase, cross the porch and ascend up Bobby’s spiral staircase.

“What’s wrong?” Brian asked his brother-in-law.

“Nothing really.”

“But?”

“We have to talk to Justin about his interest in Candy,” Bobby said motioning Brian to come into his office.

“Interest, as in him applying for guardianship?”

“Yes,” Bobby confirmed. “You’re not fond of the idea, are you?” Bobby asked making the realization.

“No. I thought I was. Got myself caught up in one of his dreams, but when I thought about, I don’t think it’s a very good idea or a healthy one.”

“You’re right. And from a legal standpoint, not a wise choice either.”

“How so?”

“The court would question his motives.”

“Motives? His motives are to prevent a teenager from becoming homeless.”

“The court may have another opinion.”

“And that is?”

“That the victim of a hate crime who never got any real justice from the perpetrator is seeking revenge upon the child.”

“He would never, ever do or even conceive of such a thing!” Brian growled, becoming red in the face at the thought.

“We know that,” Bobby said as he reached out to rub Brian’s arm. “Justin doesn’t think that way, but...”

“But it doesn’t matter what we know,” Brian admitted.

“No, it doesn’t, and then there’s the implication of impropriety.”

Brian did not need any explanation of Bobby’s statement.

“So what do we do?” Brian said, torn between supporting Justin or trying to convince him to drop the matter.

“We talk to Justin, explain the facts and you have to be honest with him. He has to know how you feel,” Bobby advised. Brian nodded. He had put it off for too long.

The sudden quiet in the porch brought the men back to the balcony. Justin was cleaning off his brushes, satisfied with his masterpiece.

“Justin, can you come up here, please?” Bobby asked. Justin looked at the matching serious expressions, wiped off his hands then went for the stairs. He had a feeling this wasn’t going to be pretty.

 

*****
 

Hobbs was in his den checking his personal stock portfolio. What Hobbs lacked in personality he more than made up for in his investment savvy. He also had a knack for cutting down on wasteful business expenditures. So to make the salary he drew from his in-laws’ companies legitimate, he was hired as a consultant. It proved a very profitable arrangement for his in-laws and for himself. Hobbs had slowly amassed a small fortune of his own, one separate from his wife and cleverly buried in some offshore accounts. Just in case he permanently fell out of favor with his wife and her family, Hobbs had a back up plan.

“Excuse me, sir,” a parlor maid knocked on his door then quietly entered. “Madam wishes to see you in the sitting room.”

“I’ll be right there,” Hobbs barked as he verified his balance then shut down his password encrypted computer. He walked to the ‘sitting’ room which his wife’s family preferred to call it. To Hobbs it was a very gaudy living room. Not only was his wife there but his parents, his in-laws and, of course, Grandmama Yolanda.

This was either an intervention or a firing squad. Neither option appealed to Hobbs.

“What’s this about?” Hobbs took the bull by the horns.

“Christopher,” Yolanda began. As matriarch she often took precedence even over his own parents. “Some disturbing news has come to my attention; I want it dispatched quietly. Not a word to our friends or in the papers. Is that clear?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Chris replied awaiting further explanation and the royal reaming he was sure to get.

“In spite of your unfortunate choices of the past, we received you into our family with open arms. I’ve always been honest with you and to my dear Laura about my misgivings. If it wasn’t for the fact that I hold your parents so dear to me and the love that my sweet Laura professed for you, I would have never given my approval for your alliance with our family. And of course, your dear parents gave me their assurances that the unfortunate incidents in your past were mere youthful folly. A one-of, so to speak. Never to occur again. However, other results of your youthful zeal seem to have come back to haunt us and I will not have it!”

Chris waited knowing there would be more.

“There is a young lady that bears your surname. We have learned that a local famous artist, who shall remain nameless for the moment, is planning to adopt her. Now this is mere rumor, a conversation overheard by a friend of a friend, but even the most outlandish rumors have some small basis in fact. Now, I don’t care who wants to adopt that child after her mother’s unfortunate demise but it will not be that man! Not only is it improper but think of how it would look. No, I forbid it.”

Yolanda remained silent for a moment so that the full effect of her tirade could sink in.

“Now I don’t care what means you use to dissuade the mother of the child, but I give you 48 hours to bring me your assurances that the child will not be adopted by Justin Taylor!”

Yolanda glared at Chris as did his loving wife and the rest of his family. Chris nodded, and accepting the assignment, he left the sitting room. Back in his den, Hobbs made a call. He then grabbed his checkbook, jacket and keys then strode out of the house.

 

*****
 

“What’s up?” Justin asked as he came into Bobby’s attic office.

“I have something to discuss with you regarding Candy,” Bobby responded without hesitation.

“O-kaay.”

“Justin, I will push for guardianship if you really insist but I truly think this is not the best course of action for you or for Candy.”

“Why?” Justin asked softly as he sat on the sofa. Brian remained quiet letting Bobby run the show.

“I’ve been doing some research and had a court appointed child advocate interview Candy, her teachers and other associates. I even had a chat with Bree.”

“Bree?” Justin straightened his back. Brian was about to object when Bobby stopped them before they could get started.

“The other day when I picked the kids up from school, Patrick was running late so Bree and I waited in the schoolyard. I asked her to give me her honest opinion of Candy. And what she thought of the possibility of Candy living with us. Needless to say, Miss Bree was her usual brutally honest little self. I believe she gets that from you,” Bobby threw out at Brian’s direction.

“What did she say?” Justin asked.

“While she thought Candy was a very nice person even though she does dress in too much black, and she thinks Candy draws and paints very good, her words not mine, Briana Victoria Kinney-Taylor does not want to share her daddies with Candy.”

“But she always wanted a sister,” Justin said in a dejected tone.

“I asked her the same thing. And while that is true she’s content to share JR with Gus. She also understands that if you were to try for another child, there’s no guarantee that the child would turn out to be a girl.”

“She doesn’t like Taylor,” Justin murmured.

“Also not true. She’s very fond of Taylor but she is jealous that he gets to spend more time with her grandfather than she does. Just a side note,” Bobby said to both Brian and Justin. “I understand how you feel about Craig, but for Bree’s sake don’t just offer him an olive branch. Insist that he take it. Bring Bree into Pittsburgh at least once a month for her to spend a day with Craig and Susan. If you don’t, she’ll grow up resentful. You can placate her for now, but the older she gets the more disappointed she will become. You can keep your interactions with him to a minimum while maximizing hers.”

“We can do that,” Justin said as he looked at Brian. Brian went to the sofa to sit next to his spouse. Taking Justin’s hand, Brian agreed that Bree deserved as much time with her Gampa as possible. “What about Candy? What have your investigators found out?”

“While we've been going around in circles trying to come up with plausible guardianship ideas, Candy and Lindsay have been growing closer of their own accord. In the course of interviewing Candy’s teachers we found out that Candy has been going to a GLC support group.”

“What does that have to do with Lindsay?” Brian spoke up.

“Lindsay has been going to the group too,” Bobby replied. “It’s a group for those experiencing loss. While the counselor couldn’t discuss what was said in the group, he did say that he felt Candy was developing a positive relationship with Lindsay as a mentor. They discuss the usual teenage stuff as well as discussing what Candy’s artistic talents can help her accomplish. Lindsay confided that although she loves to paint and draw, she loves being able to teach. She thought Candy should consider teaching as well.”

“So, is Lindsay seriously considering going for guardian?” Justin asked.

“Yes. As a matter of fact, I was going to have a meeting with Janet to discuss it. I wanted your input first.”

“So Janet is still under the impression that I might be Candy’s guardian.”

“For now, but she honestly never considered it an option. She still harbors the hope that Hobbs will do the right thing.”

Brian snorted.

“Like that’ll every happen,” Justin spat out. Justin sighed then searched Brian’s eyes for the answers.

“Sunshine...”

“I know, Bri, I got myself all wrapped up in another cause and didn’t stop to think what’s best for our family. I thought Bree would love to have a ready made sister but maybe I was wrong. And if what Bobby says is true, it would be wrong to take Candy away from the Pitts.”

“We can always invite her to spend some time here in the summer. Or maybe I’ll have John build that cottage for Lindsay. We do have plenty of land. And it’ll stop my brother from becoming fat and lazy,” Brian teased making Justin smile and eliciting an indignant “Hey!” from Bobby. Brian became serious again. “Justin, I will support you. If you really think bringing Candy here is the best for her then I will join your fight. But I think Bobby’s arguments have merit. He’s never steered us wrong.”

Justin took some time before speaking to organize his thoughts. “I’ll drop my pursuit to get guardianship of Candy, and if Lindsay needs any help including financial support, I’m there,” Justin said with resolve.

“I’m right beside you,” Brian added.

“Good. I’ll meet with Janet to discuss her options,” Bobby said very relieved with how this meeting went. He knew just how stubborn both Brian and Justin could be. The results could have turned out so differently.

“You know it’s still light out, what if I do some grilling for dinner,” Brian suggested. Bobby and Justin thought that was a great idea.

While Bobby cleared up his papers, Brian and Justin went to fire up the grill and start dinner.

 

*****
 

“Chris, that was fast,” Janet said as she opened her door. Candy wasn’t home from school yet. “What’s so important that you couldn’t discuss it over the phone?” she asked as Hobbs pushed past her and into the apartment.

“The girl.”

“Candy?”

“Yes.”

“Has something happened to her?” Janet was almost in hysterics with worry, as Hobbs comments brought the worst scenarios to mind.

“No. I don’t know,” Chris said not understanding a mother’s worry. “I came here to tell you that if that fucking fag tries to adopt the girl I will find a way to take the girl away from you. You’re a sick woman; you’re easily confused. You don’t know what you’re doing. I have money and the lawyers to back me up. I’ll send the girl packing and you’ll never see her again, and by the looks of you it won’t be too long before no one ever sees you again.”

Janet burst into tears at Hobbs’ cruelty.

“I don’t care who adopts the girl as long as it isn’t Justin Taylor! Do I make myself clear?” Chris roared. Through her tears, Janet nodded and went to sit on the sofa. She never heard Chris leave.

When Janet finally opened her eyes, she was in Allegheny General Hospital.

 

*****
 

“I wonder how Candy’s mother is?” JR said as she sat in McDonald’s with Curtis.

“You haven’t heard anything?” Curtis asked. He had arrived to have dinner with JR at their favorite restaurant, after she had called to tell him what had happened.

“No, Mom hasn’t called and I’m getting worried.”

“Your mother’s with Candy?”

“Yeah, she called to say we couldn’t have dinner because Candy had a phone call that her mother had been taken to the hospital. She and Candy were in their support group together at the GLC, so Mom took her to the hospital.”

“Do … do you think she’s dying?” Curtis asked. He looked worried.

“Candy’s mother, you mean?” Curtis nodded. “You know she’s dying,” JR added with a shake of her head. It was hard to think about someone her own age being without a mother at all, and on top of that, Candy had no father either. JR couldn’t imagine what would happen to Candy after her mother was gone. She’d be all alone. She’d probably have to go to a foster home, and Curtis certainly knew how bad those could be.

“Yeah, but I meant dying … like right now.”

“Oh, gosh, I don’t know. I suppose she could be,” JR said with a sad look on her face. “That would be terrible for Candy.”

“What will happen to her?” Curtis asked.

“To Candy?”

“Yeah.”

“She might be sent to a foster home,” JR said slowly. She didn’t know how Curtis would react to that possibility.

“Shit! She can’t be sent to one of those. It…it could be …awful.”

“I know,” JR said softly, placing her hand overtop Curtis’.

“Maybe I could talk to my dads about taking her in,” Curtis suggested.

“Wow! Do you think they would?”

“They took me in.”

“Yeah, but you’re very special,” JR replied with a soft smile.

Curtis leaned across the narrow table and kissed her gently. “You’re the special one,” he said.

“Thanks.”

“It’s true.”

JR smiled broadly. “Do you think your fathers might foster Candy?”

“I could ask.”

“I thought Mom might do it at one time, but she hasn’t said anything about it lately.”

“She must be getting to know Candy if they’re in the same support group at the center.”

“Yeah,” JR agreed. “I think Uncle Justin wanted to help Candy too.”

“That would be too weird when her father’s the guy that bashed him.”

“I know. I just couldn’t see Uncle Justin taking Candy in. But he is a really great guy. He wants to help Candy, so maybe he and Uncle Brian…”

“What would Bree say about that?”

“Bree’s seven.”

“Going on thirty,” Curtis laughed.

“She is a little powerhouse,” JR agreed.

“I can’t see her wanting to have another girl around, even though she did want a little sister.”

“She has a great big sister,” Curtis said.

JR looked lovingly at Curtis. “Thanks.”

“I bet Bree wouldn’t want to share her daddies.”

“Bree shares, just ask her,” JR chuckled.

“Anyway, I hope Candy’s mother is okay. Maybe we don’t need to worry about where Candy will go,” Curtis said philosophically. “At least not right now.”

“Yeah, I hope so,” JR agreed, but she knew they would have to deal with that in the not too distant future.

 

*****
 

“Mom?” Candy said as she held onto her mother’s hand.

Janet’s eyelashes fluttered again and she opened her eyes. “Wh…where am I?’

“Hospital.”

“What happened?”

“Katerina found you when she was going to work,” Candy explained. “The door to the apartment was open and she knocked to see if anything was wrong. She found you unconscious on the sofa.”

Janet frowned trying to remember what had happened. That was when the angry face of Chris Hobbs presented itself to her. She knew she couldn’t tell Candy what her father had said.

“Do you know what made you pass out?” Candy asked. She was clearly worried.

“Um, I just had a weak spell,” Janet lied.

Candy knew that didn’t sound quite right, but her mother was sick, so maybe it was possible. “Are you feeling all right now?”

“Yes, I think I can go home.” Janet tried to sit up.

“Mom, they’re not going to let you leave just like that,” Candy admonished gently pushing her mother back down.

Janet sighed and leaned back against the pillow.

“Hello, Mrs. Cummings, are you feeling better?” the doctor asked as he came in.

“Yes, much better.”

“Young lady, will you excuse us, so I can talk to your mother and check her out.”

“I want to know what’s going on,” Candy protested mildly.

“We’ll let you know when we’re sure,” the doctor said.

“Okay,” Candy replied, “but I’ll be in the waiting room if you need me, Mom.”

Janet nodded before Candy left the room.

“So what stressed you out and caused this blackout,” the doctor asked bluntly.

“An unpleasant visitor.”

“You know you need to rest and try to keep calm.”

“What difference does it make?” Janet asked bitterly. “It will only give me another few days.”

“You want those days with your daughter, don’t you?”

“Yes, yes, I do, but there’s so many things to be decided. I’m not sure I can handle them all.”

“Have you made arrangements for your daughter?”

“No, that’s a big part of the stress,” Janet admitted.

“Is there someone who can help you?”

Janet thought about that. The only one who was likely to help her was the very man who Chris had told her to stay away from. She shook her head.

“Let’s see how your vitals are,” the doctor said encouragingly.

“I want to go home. I have things to do,” Janet said. And Chris Hobbs can go fuck himself.
 

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