Chapter 9 

"What time is it?" Debbie asked Carl. He was sitting at the counter of the Liberty Diner.

"One thirty-five, Babe. And that's the third time in five minutes you've asked me for the time. Get a grip, Deb."

"Shh, keep your voice down, and I am getting a grip. I'm just a little nervous." Debbie poured Carl another cup of coffee then set down the pot.

"You're not the one who should be nervous," Carl whispered back nodding his head at the back booth where Nick and Hunter were huddled together waiting.

"What time is she coming?" Debbie asked her husband.

"At two; by that time the family should all be in place." The bell over the door tinkled and Bill and Steve came in. They took their place at the counter. Debbie started pouring more coffee.

"What time is it?" Debbie asked almost apologetically.

"One forty-two," Carl answered patiently. The bell jingled again. Ben and Michael followed by Melanie and Lindsay came in. They nodded at the family at the counter then took the adjoining booth.

"This is weird," Bill observed.

"How so?" Steve had grown accustomed to the antics of his acquired family. Nothing ever seemed weird anymore.

"The diner seems to be devoid of customers other than us," Bill remarked.

"That was me," Lacy admitted. She had poured coffee for the family at the booths then returned the pot to the coffeemaker.

"What do you mean, honey?" Debbie asked gently.

"Hunter didn't want too many people around other than the family. He asked me to spread the word on the streets that a showdown was going to happen today after lunch and would the community mind avoiding the place for a while. No one had a problem with it and I also dropped Brian's name. Hunter thought that it would help." Lacy smiled knowingly.

"I bet his shit don't stink either," Debbie snarked.

"Eww, Debbie!" Lacy was taken aback. Lacy owed Hunter as well as Brian and Justin, a lot. She'd come to their defense.

"No offence meant, honey. I love the big asshole and so does most of the community, and they love Hunter too. It's no wonder they'd help."

Lacy nodded and the bell jingled again. Brian and Justin sauntered in. They were wearing casual but very fashionable clothes befitting the business exec and his sought after artist. Close on their heels were Emmett, Drew, Ted and Allen. They squeezed themselves into the next booth.

"What time is it?" Lacy asked this time.

"One fifty-seven," Steve answered. "And why do I hear the music to 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly' running through my head?" The remark garnered familiar chuckles from Debbie, Carl and Bill, being the more mature ones in the mix.

"So who's Tuco?" Steve asked.

"Michael," Carl replied. That elicited an angry "hey" from Debbie and a pop to the side of Carl's head. "Sweetheart, I love Michael, I really do, but you have to admit when he thinks Brian did something, Michael gets stupid." Debbie shrugged. There was a certain logic to it all.

"Okay, then, so who's 'Angel Eyes'?" Steve went on to ask.

"I don't know, maybe Melanie? She can be real ruthless when she wants to be," Debbie said and the men agreed with her.

"So that leaves, Blondie," Steve said as he took a sip of coffee.

"Brian," Carl, Steve, Debbie and Bill said in unison. The jingling of the bell put a halt to any more silliness.

"I guess I know the time now," Debbie said hesitantly.

Hunter looked up as very small sickly thin woman bundled under layers of not so clean sweat shirts, walked through the door. She was wearing dark glasses and even though the early Spring sun was warm enough, she had a scarf draped over her head and around her neck.

"Mom," Hunter whispered as he almost stood up. Nick placed his hand on Hunter's.

"Wait, let her come to you," Nick stated. Hunter sat back and waited. Rita walked slowly over to their table. If she felt the eyes of the family on her, she didn't give off a hint.

"She doesn't look so good," Lacy whispered to Carl and Debbie. Lacy had seen a lot of sick hustlers and hookers on the streets, all with heavily applied make-up as if it could hide how sick they were. She shuddered knowing that that could have been her fate if not for Hunter. Debbie could almost read her thoughts and she wrapped an arm around the girl.

"Jimmy, baby," Rita began as she went to sit at their booth, "this is a funny place to meet. I thought you'd invite me to your home." Rita didn't ask about Hunter's health or that she hadn't seen him in well over thirteen years. Hunter did his best to ignore the unmotherly treatment.

"This is like home," Hunter muttered.

"Who is this handsome man?" Rita attempted to turn her dwindling charms on Nick.

"I'm Nick, Hunter's partner," Nick said coolly.

"How nice! Jimmy, sweetheart, do you think I could have some coffee and maybe a sandwich. I haven't had the time to eat."

'Or the money, by the looks of it,' Michael thought. He could hear their conversation and he was seething. Ben placed his hand on Michael's thigh for support and gave it a squeeze. Michael's eyes softened at his partner.

"Deb, can you bring a menu?" Hunter asked. Debbie came over with the menu, resisting with all of her being the impulse to kick Rita's ass to the curb.

"Sure, honey," Debbie said as she put the menu down in front of Rita. "Can I get you anything?" Debbie turned to ask Hunter, smiling at him.

"A lemon bar, for now?" Hunter needed the boost the sugar would give him and the zing of the lemon.

"Sure, sweetheart." Debbie went to fetch the lemon bar. Hunter mulled over the warmth and feeling of love he received when Debbie called him 'honey' or 'sweetheart.' Not the same feeling from his supposed mother.

Rita placed an order for the chicken fried steak with all the fixings. Lacy went around to all the booths refilling coffee cups and soda glasses.

"Kind of quiet in here," Rita commented, attempting small talk.

"Mom, what do you want?" Hunter asked bluntly and none too softly.

"Finally," Brian murmured. He was facing Hunter's booth. He wanted things to start rolling and not because he and Justin had a plane to catch. Brian knew how nervous Hunter was about all this. He and the family wanted it to be over.

"I'm sick and I need a place to stay, someone to take care of me."

"How sick?" Hunter asked.

"Women's things, you know," Rita shrugged.

"Do you have proof?" Nick asked.

"Why would I need to prove anything to you?" Rita spat out.

"It's me you have to prove it to; now answer the question," Hunter demanded. Rita took some papers out of her pocket and handed them to Hunter. He briefly scanned them then turned them over to Nick. Rita was about to protest.

"He's a doctor," Hunter stated by way of explanation.

"Oh," Rita said meekly while counting up dollar signs in her head.

Nick cut to the pathology report and the recommended course of treatment. Some of the observations noted in the record caught his eye immediately.

"Ms Montgomery, do you have a place to stay?"

"I, um, I've been staying at a motel on the edge on town," Rita stammered, "but I've run out of money."

"I see." Nick stared at the report then leaned over to whisper into Hunter's ear. "Hospice," was all he said. Hunter nodded.

"Mom, did you bring your things with you?"

"I, um, the manager is holding them for me." Hunter heard Brian's snort. Rita had run out of money; the motel was keeping her belongings in lieu of payment.

"Are you done with your lunch?" Hunter asked. Rita nodded. "Okay, we're going to take you someplace where you'll be properly looked after. Then Nick and I will go get the rest of your stuff."

"You going to take me home with you?"

"No, Ms Montgomery, that would be impossible. You need treatment and we can't do it at home." Nick was trying to reason with her.

"I don't want chemo; I like my hair. Jimmy, you like my hair. All of my 'boyfriends' loved my hair." Rita faded into her own little world. The diseases she was denying were killing her. Hunter and Nick knew it was only a matter of time.

"No, no chemo, Mom. Just a place with a warm soft bed, clean sheets, plenty of food and nice people to help you," Hunter reassured Rita hoping that some of his words were sinking in.

"Sounds nice, Jimmy. Okay then, I'm ready."

Rita went to stand up and was a little wobbly. Hunter scurried over to help her remain on her feet. He twined her scarf around her and gently guided her to the door. Nick whispered some words to Ben and Michael and they prepared to go out too. Hunter scanned the faces of his friends, correction, family, and beamed a brilliant smile at them. He led his mother out the door and waited for Nick.

"What's going to happen to her?" Debbie asked what everyone was thinking.

"We're going to take her to the hospice," Nick answered.

"Does that mean she has..." Debbie continued to press Nick for answers.

"Deb, you know I can't answer that but it's not all that's wrong. She has quite a list of ailments, all treatable and survivable if she had gotten treated in time. Even without medical insurance, a hospital would have treated her. I have to go. Hunter and I thank you all for being here. I thank you all."

"We didn't do much, honey," Debbie patted Nick's face.

"Yes, you did … by just being here. You confirmed how loved Hunter is. I gotta go." Nick went outside to join his partner and Rita.

Ben and Michael slid out of their booth.

"Where are you two going?" Emmett, who had been exceptionally quiet throughout the drama, spoke up.

"We're going to pick up whatever Rita left at the motel. Then bring it over to the hospice," Ben replied.

"Maybe you should have them fumigated first," Brian snarked. Michael was about to lay into him but thought better of it.

Just then Ted spoke up. "He's right, Michael. Rita's been on the streets for a long time; those clothes may not be worth saving. Emmett and I will come with you. You're going to have to pay her bill and then we can go over her stuff. Anything worth saving we'll take it to the laundry and throw out the rest," Ted stated reasonably. Michael and Ben nodded.

"I know where to get some decent clothes for her, and reasonably priced. She's going to need something pretty to cheer her up!" Emmett was all smiles. Emmett and Ted thanked and kissed their partners for their support then they all went out with Ben and Michael.

As Melanie and Lindsay were about ready to go, Melanie made a comment. "I remember doing some research on Rita when we were going to contest her suit. I think I'll look into her file when I get back to the office."

"Why?" Lindsay asked, sniffling slightly, holding back some tears.

"I just want to make sure there aren't any other Montgomery's waiting out there."

The remaining family blinked in horror. "I want to be prepared; beats doing nothing." Lindsay nodded as did the family.

That left Brian and Justin, Bill, Steve and Carl. Oh, and Debbie and Lacy.

"Come on, Sunshine, we have a plane to catch." Brian and Justin doled out the hugs and kisses to the remaining family.

"When are you coming back?" Debbie asked glaring at Brian, daring him to brush her off.

"Fuck! Sunday afternoon," Brian admitted, looking down and scuffing his boot on the floor like Bree when she scuffed her sneaker. Justin hid his laugh and the comparison.

"Dinner, before you all go back to the country. No excuses!" Debbie's word was sacrosanct.

"Yes, Maw," Brian mumbled then was on the receiving end of one of Debbie's lipsticky kisses along with a cuff to the ear. "Ow," he mumbled as he was led out by Justin. Carl, Steve and Bill chuckled.

"I should go to the clinic," Bill said. "Karen's been putting in extra hours."

"Could you use some help?" Steve asked.

"Sure."

"Dinner! Sunday! Be there!" Debbie called out before they left. Bill and Steve exchanged glances.

"Yes, Mrs. Horvath," they sing-songed then left before receiving any repercussions. Carl laughed at their antics.

"They got your number, sweetheart," Carl exclaimed then drew his wigged wife into his arms for a kiss. The bell jingling over the door signaled customers wanting a meal. Lacy and Debbie went to serve them.

*****

"Gamma Susan!" Bree knew her Gamma Susan was going to pick her up from school. Her daddies explained everything to her and although she was disappointed she couldn't go to New York with them, she liked the idea of spending time with her latest gamma.

"Hi, sweetheart! Are you ready to come home with me?" She gathered the little girl in her arms for a kiss. Her teacher had all her bags and things ready.

"Yes, Gamma. We bake cookies?" Briana batted her eyelashes.

"Yes, sweetheart, we can bake cookies."

"Yay!" Bree jumped up and down then said goodbye to her classmates.

*****

Brian and Justin were buckled into their seats in the first class cabin of the plane.

"How much longer, I wonder?" Justin asked.

Brian glanced at his watch. "Another twenty minutes."

"That was some scene in the diner."

"Yeah, that woman deserves…"

"What?"

"She doesn't deserve Hunter … and she doesn't deserve to die like that. Nobody does."

Justin nodded. "Even though she's a sorry excuse for a mother, she's also pitiable."

"I don't do pity."

"I know," Justin said with a rueful smile.

They were silent for a while.

"Do you think Bree will be all right with Susan and Craig?" Justin wore a somewhat worried look on his face.

"They'll take care of her," Brian said fighting down the worry that he felt himself. This was Justin's weekend. He was going to be on show all weekend, and he needed Brian's support. He didn't need anything else to worry about.

"I know they will … physically."

Brian understood what Justin was getting at. That was his worry too. "He better not hurt her," Brian said. "Or I'll make what he did to me all those years ago look like a beauty treatment in comparison to what I'll do to him."

"Let's hope that won't be necessary," Justin said twining his fingers into Brian's.

"I'm calling as soon as we land," Brian stated.

"I know."

"And if she's not happy, I'm flying right back."

"I know."

"And then I'm beating your father to a fucking pulp."

"I know."

"And I pray to whatever God's out there that I don't have to do any of that."

"I know."

Return to Out of the Mouths of Babes