Emerge Victorious

Chapter 13

“Candy! I’m heading out to Emmett’s,” Lindsay called up the stairs as she bundled up for the ride over to Emmett’s apartment.

“Okay, Miss Lindsay,” Candy called down as she came to the head of the stairs. “Richie’s coming over then we’re going to the GLC to use their studio,” Candy replied.

“This will not do,” Lindsay grumbled to herself.

“M-Miss Lindsay?” Candy stammered fearing the worst.

“We have to come up with something better for you to call me. I don't think I can go through my life with you calling me Miss Lindsay. It sounds so archaic and I keep expecting Morgan Freeman to show up at our door.”

“Who?”

“Never mind. Come here, honey,” Lindsay asked as she moved into the living room before leaving for her engagement. Candy came down the stairs then sat next to Lindsay on the couch. “I’d like for us to come up with a better title for me.”

“I guess I could call you Aunt Lindsay,” Candy said hesitantly.

“Perhaps. Sweetheart,” Lindsay began, seeing the pensive look on Candy’s face. “I promise, I am not gong to ask you to call me ‘Mom’. You had a wonderful mother who loved you so much. I can never take her place and I would never want to. But we’ve gotten to know each better these past few months and I’d like to believe you feel like you belong here.”

Candy nodded. “I do. It was very strange at first, especially sleeping in JR’s room, but even she told me that she’s glad that I’m here. And Gus too. He’s called and made me feel like I’m really his sister.”

“And Bree?” Lindsay said with a smirk.

Candy softly giggled. “JR told me that Bree thinks I should wear more pink.”

Lindsay laughed. “That sounds just like our Miss Briana Victoria Kinney-Taylor. So what should you call me? Mom isn’t right and neither is Miss. Hmmm.”

The girls were quietly thinking up possibilities when Lindsay cracked up with laughter.

“What?” Candy asked.

“You’ll think it’s really silly but I have a possible name,” Lindsay said in between giggles.

“What is it?” Candy smiled. Lindsay had a beautiful laugh.

“Mim.”

“Mim?”

“Yup. Mim. Let’s say it’s a cross between Mom and Miss.”

“Okay, I get it but what’s so funny about it?”

“There used to be a horrid adult cartoon many years ago that I’m ashamed to say I got hooked on. It was really horrible but there was one character that when he called out ‘Mom,’ for his mother it came out like a whiny, ‘Mim.’ I think it’ll work for us.”

“Mim,” Candy repeated. “I like it,” she said as she wrapped her arms around Lindsay. Lindsay returned the hug then kissed Candy’s forehead. Both girls were a little sniffly before they ended the hug.

“Well, I’m glad that’s settled,” Lindsay said as she wiped her eyes. “I better be off before the ‘Moms’ send out a search party. We’re meeting at Emmett’s to go over the anniversary party plans. And remember you’re sworn to secrecy. Brian has a way of finding things out. I wouldn’t put it past him to plant a bug somewhere,” Lindsay warned Candy. “We’re not even telling Ted everything until the very last moment, because Brian would take one look at him and know Ted was trying to hide something.”

Candy laughed. “Okay...Mim. Mum’s the word,” Candy said with a straight face. The girls cracked up with laughter again as they both got ready to go.

Just as Richie was about to ring the doorbell, Lindsay opened the door.

“Hi, Miss Lindsay,” Richie politely greeted Lindsay, making her and Candy laugh again.

“Hello, Richie,” Lindsay said trying to get herself under control. “You know you two can always use the studio upstairs,” Lindsay said as she pointed a finger toward the ceiling.

“Thank you, Mim, but I like the space at the GLC,” Candy said as she made eye signals at Lindsay. Lindsay looked back and forth from Candy to Richie.

“Oh my,” Lindsay exclaimed then quickly recovered. “Oh my, yes, the space at the GLC is perfect. Um, well, have fun you two and call me if you want a ride home. I know Spring is on the way but it’s still so cold.” Lindsay wrapped her scarf around her neck for emphasis.

“We will,” Candy reassured her. Lindsay gave her a little peck to her head and did the same to Richie.

“Later,” she called out as she headed for her car. The kids walked in the other direction toward the GLC.

“What are you working on today?” Richie asked unaware that Candy was harboring feelings other than friendship toward him. He was growing very fond of Candy as well. She accepted him just as he was, without question. With Candy, Richie and Nina, could relax.

Candy explained the new Rage characters she was working on. Richie found it all fascinating.

“What are you going to work on today?” Candy asked.

Richie had rescued some old manikins that ‘Torso’ was throwing out. He took the parts of several broken manikins to make three whole ones. With help from Emmett and Drew, Richie brought them to the GLC. In the GLC artists’ corner, Richie set up the dummies. He used them to create his own “His, Hers and Other” fashion line.

“The high school is getting ready to hold their end of school dance. JR and some of the other girls want me to create something original for them.” Richie blushed as he spoke. He had pieced together a special dress for JR when Curtis had asked her to the Winter Festival. She had gotten a lot of compliments. JR’s girlfriends all wanted to know where JR got her dress. JR proudly told them about her exclusive designer friend ‘Nina-Richie’ who knew just about everything about fashion. Even Candy consulted Richie when she wanted a costume for one of her Rage characters.

“Cool!” Candy was happy for Richie. Even though he was a couple of years younger than her Candy soon realized that Richie’s sensitive soul was mature beyond his years. She felt a kindred bond with the shy boy who was more comfortable in women’s clothing. And he had better fashion sense than most girls her age. He even helped her to coordinate a more original Goth look for herself. Candy and Richie continued to go to the support groups to talk out their forms of loss; the teens found that it helped.

When the teens arrived at the GLC they checked in then made their way to the studio. Candy took up residence on a stool next to an easel while across the room Richie was in his corner organizing his material swatches. Candy smiled as she flipped open her large pad then began to sketch her tall lanky friend Nina-Richie.

*****

“I call this meeting to order!” Emmett declared loudly as he banged a spoon on the counter.

“Knock it off, Emm,” Debbie ordered. She and Carl were back from their travels. Emmett smiled as he shrugged his shoulders. “Well, has anything changed since the last time we all got together?” Debbie asked as she looked around the room. Joan and Jennifer both shook their heads no.

All eyes turned toward Susan.

“Well?” Debbie asked in an accusatory tone.

“He won’t commit to saying yes. Craig said if it was a matter of going to dinner he’d consider it. He could just overlook what the dinner was celebrating and concentrate on spending the evening with his granddaughter. However, he doesn’t want it to look like he’s condoning their behavior if the boys reaffirm their vows. He says it would make a mockery of his wedding vows.”

“Oh, well that’s bullshit,” Jennifer spat out. “He made a mockery of our vows. Isn’t that like the pot calling the kettle black?”

“I tried pointing out that his son, while officially celebrating ten years in a committed relationship, had really been together with his partner for twenty years,” Susan said.

“More or less,” Emmett and Debbie both mumbled referring to Brian and Justin’s rocky first few years together. Jennifer and Joan glared at them.

“Perhaps I should talk to him,” Father Tom offered. “If you think I’d be any help.”

“I’m not sure,” Susan admitted. “We’re not religious.”

“But maybe if he sees that a priest can preside over their commitment ceremony then perhaps he could set aside his prejudices,” Tom said logically.

“That sounds good in theory but...” Debbie wasn’t sure how to phrase it.

“Just say it, Debbie, we all know my ex-husband can be an ass,” Jennifer deadpanned. “Sorry, Susan.”

Susan shrugged. She knew it too.

“Lie to him,” Joan said in a serious tone.

“I beg your pardon?” Susan asked.

“Lie. To. Him.” They all stared at Joan. Church going, rosary saying Joan.

“What are you up to?” Debbie asked as she narrowed her eyes.

“Tell Craig that things are not going as well as we thought. Do or say anything to get Craig to the restaurant then tell Bree to sit on Craig’s lap for the evening. You know she’ll be happy to do it. Tell Bree the truth. You know she is one smart little girl. Craig won’t take the chance of hurting Bree’s feelings, especially not in front of family.” Joan made a point to stress the word family.

“Family? Since when does Craig really care about family?” Jennifer asked.

Joan took on a sly smile to her face. “Not even if the ‘family’ in question was Owen and Sharon Brenner and the Sarah Kingsley?” Joan said.

They all stared at Joan for a moment then Emmett jumped up and down clapping wildly in approval.

Jennifer and Susan laughed as Debbie cackled loudly.

“Well shit, Joanie, now I know where Brian gets it!” Debbie shouted.

“He learned from the master!” Emm, Jennifer and Debbie crowed.

Finally having a foolproof plan, Emmett broke out a couple of bottles of wine in celebration. They all toasted to their own cleverness.

 

*****
 

“Daddy, what are you doing for Uncle Brian’s anniversary?” JR asked as she was helping her father straighten the comics in the store.

“Me?”

“Yes, you! You are his best friend, aren’t you?”

“I…I’m not doing anything,” Michael stammered. He knew of the plotting going on with Emmett and his mother, but they hadn’t asked him to participate and that had been fine with him.

“Daddy!” JR responded. He could hear the criticism in his daughter’s voice.

“What?” Michael demanded. “What am I supposed to do?”

“I don’t know,” JR said with a frown, “but you should be doing something.”

“Like what?” Michael asked mystified.

“You could be the best man,” JR suggested.

“That will be John’s job.”

“How do you know?”

“Trust me.”

“What about getting them some rings?”

“They wouldn’t like anything I’d pick out.”

JR frowned as she straightened the Rage display. “What would Zephyr do for Rage?” she asked herself.

“Zephyr would get them a really nice gift. He’s a very giving sidekick,” Michael explained.

“That’s it! Get them something really special.”

“Like what?”

“Geez, daddy, do I have to think of everything?’

“I don’t have the best history of picking out gifts,” Michael said shaking his head. He was remembering the awful gift he got for Lindsay and Mel’s wedding. And look how well that had ended. And nobody had ever seen that gift again. The ugly statue probably went straight into the garbage. Michael remembered fighting with Teddy about that gift and the money he had spent on it. Nothing good had come from that whole experience.

“Daddy,” JR said, breaking into Michael’s thoughts.

“Yes, honeybun,” Michael answered.

“Have you thought of a gift?”

“I don’t know. I don’t have any ideas.”

JR heaved a sigh. “Maybe you could talk to Ben about it, if you don’t think of a suitable gift for Uncle Brian and Uncle Justin yourself.”

“I could always get them a sling,” Michael mumbled to himself.

“Huh?” JR asked having heard her father say something.

“Nothing, sweetheart. I’ll think about it.”

“Fathers,” JR grumbled. “You can’t live without them and they arrest you if you kill them.”

 

*****
 

“Mommy?” JR said into her cell phone.

“Hi, sweetheart, how are you?” Lindsay replied.

“I’m okay.”

“That doesn’t sound like a resounding okay.”

“I had a call from Mama.”

“Yes?” Lindsay asked warily. She was still afraid of what Mel might try to pull.

“She wants me to come to Portland for the spring break.”

“Well, that’s a good thing, isn’t it? She wants to see you.”

“I don’t really want to go,” JR explained. “I don’t want to see her with her new friend, and have to hear all about her new life without us.”

“She is your mother,” Lindsay reminded her. Although she totally agreed with JR’s sentiments, she didn’t feel she could condone JR not seeing her mother. She knew how that would hurt her, if Gus didn’t want to come home to visit with her. “Couldn’t you go for a few days?”

“I guess, but I don’t really want to. I was going to work at the store and spend lots of time with Curtis,” JR whined.

“You see Curtis every day at school, and I know your dad won’t mind if you take a few days off.”

JR heaved a very audible sigh. Adults were so difficult to deal with. “So you’re saying I should go?”

“I think it might be wise for you to do so. If you keep refusing to visit Melanie, she might decide that she wants full custody.”

“You…you don’t think she would make me live out there, do you?” JR asked, fear evident in her voice.

“We’d fight her on it,” Lindsay declared. “But why open that can of worms, when a visit to Portland for a few days could solve the problem.”

“I guess,” JR conceded.

“Think about it, sweetheart. I’ll support you whatever you decide.”

“Thanks, mommy,” JR replied sounding like the little girl of several years ago. Lindsay knew this whole mess had been very hard on her daughter. It was easy to forget that sometimes, because JR didn’t talk easily. She often kept things to herself.

“It’ll be fine whatever you decide,” Lindsay tried to reassure her daughter.

“Can I ask you something else?”

“Sure.”

“Daddy’s trying to think of a gift for Uncle Brian and Uncle Justin’s anniversary,” JR explained.

“Oh dear,” Lindsay reacted before she could stop herself. She had a fleeting memory of an ugly African fertility goddess that Michael had given her and Mel as a wedding present.

“What is it?” JR asked.

“Oh, nothing, what’s the problem?” Lindsay lied.

“Do you have any ideas about what daddy could give them?”

“Nothing comes to mind right now, but I’ll think about it.” Lindsay had no idea what Michael might want to give to his best friend.

“Thanks, mommy. If you think of something, call me, not daddy. I think I can convince him if it sounds like the right gift.”

Lindsay laughed. “I’ll be sure to call you. Can you come to dinner tomorrow night? I think Candy would like to spend some time with you.”

“Sure,” JR said happily. “I’ll check with daddy and let you know for sure.”

“Okay, sweetheart.”

“I love you, mommy.”

“I love you too,” Lindsay replied before she cut the connection. She sat lost in thought for a couple of minutes. “Candy!” she called up the stairs.

“Yes, Mim?” was the reply.

That brought a smile to Lindsay’s face. “Can you come down here for a minute?”

“Sure.” Candy came down the stairs from her bedroom.

“Did I interrupt anything?” Lindsay asked.

“Nope, I was just doing my homework.”

“You can do it down here, you know.”

“I know, but I don’t want to be in your way,” Candy explained.

“You wouldn’t be in my way,” Lindsay stated. “I like company. If you feel like working on the dining room table where there’s more room, please do.”

“Okay,” Candy replied with a little smile on her face. She was still trying to figure out what her role was in this house. She had to admit that Lindsay had been very welcoming and had tried to make her feel at home. But Candy knew that this wasn’t really her home … at least not yet. She was beginning to hope that it might be someday.

“I was talking to JR on the phone. I invited her for dinner tomorrow. Will you be able to join us?”

“Sure…if you want me to.”

“Of course I want you to,” Lindsay said quickly. She knew Candy was still keeping her distance, trying to make sure she was really wanted and wouldn’t be kicked out some time in the future.

“Then I’ll be here. I can come home right after school if you need me to do anything,” Candy volunteered.

“That would be great. I thought I’d marinate some chicken breasts. I’ll get them ready tonight and leave them in the fridge. If you could put them in the oven when you get home from school that would be very helpful.”

“I can do that. 350 degrees?”

“Perfect,” Lindsay replied.

“Um, I could roast some potatoes and vegetables to go with that … if you want me to.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I’m offering,” Candy said testily. “I did a lot of the cooking for me and mom. I can make vegetables.”

“I know you can, sweetie. I didn’t mean to imply…”

“If you don’t want me to do it, just say so.”

“I want you to make the vegetables,” Lindsay stated emphatically.

“Good, then I’ll get home in good time and have dinner ready when you get here.”

“You’re such a good kid,” Lindsay said with a big smile.

“Thanks,” Candy replied with a matching smile.

“I’m so glad you’re here with me.”

“Me too,” Candy said sincerely.

 

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