Chapter 15

^^^^^^^^

"Hello," Brian said as he answered his cell phone.

"Uncle Brian?"

"Yes, is that you JR?"

"Yes."

"Well, what can I do for you, little lady?"

"I need your help."

"You do?"

"Yes, and Gus said maybe you could be the one."

"That's what Gus said, was it?" Brian chuckled. He loved that his son thought he could fix almost anything, but sometimes it was a big burden that he never felt capable of fulfilling. JR had never called him before. She must have gotten his number from Gus. "What can I do for you?"

"Do you know that I have a grandpa?" JR asked in a whisper.

Brian cringed. He didn't want to get caught in the middle of that one. "Um … everyone has grandparents," Brian said not wanting to reveal what he knew.

"I know that," JR retorted.

Brian felt duly chastised. "Of course you do."

"I mean, do you know that I have a grandpa that I never met until yesterday?"

"You do?"

"He's my Daddy's Dad."

"Is he now?" JR obviously knew the score.

"My Mama's parents' don't ever come to visit me or call me. But I have Grandma Debbie," JR said happily.

"And Grandpa Carl."

"Yes, but he isn't really related to me. He's Grandma Debbie's husband."

"I see. So, how did you happen to meet this new grandpa?" Brian asked.

"My Mama took me to the diner and he … just walked in."

"Walked in?"

"Yes, I knew that Mama had planned it so that we would meet," JR said confidently.

"And how did you know that?"

"I overheard the moms talking about whether it was a good idea to let me meet him."

"Eavesdropping is not a very nice thing to do," Brian said like any good parent. He immediately regretted the words, but he also knew that JR wasn't supposed to have found out like that.

"I wasn't eavesdropping," JR declared. "I had to go to the bathroom and I heard them talking in their bedroom."

"Okay, it doesn't really matter how you found out."

"You knew, didn't you?" JR accused him.

"Yes, I knew," Brian admitted. "I met with Danny when he first came to town. He said he wanted to meet you right from the outset."

"He did?"

Brian could hear the smile in her voice, and then he realized that he had inadvertently given away more than he should. "It's a very complicated situation," Brian said not knowing how else to react.

JR let out a world weary sigh. "You think having two mothers and a drama queen father is easy?"

Brian burst out laughing. The kid was right on, but he never expected to hear those words come out of her mouth. "Touché," he replied with a chuckle. "Now what would you like me to do in the middle of all this?"

"I want to spend time with my Grandpa. I like him … and I think he likes me."

"I'm sure he likes you, JR."

"So will you help me?"

"I … I'm not sure what I can do," Brian said uncertainly.

"Maybe you could talk to Mommy and get her to talk to Mama. I know Mama wouldn't like you to talk to her about this."

"You got that right," Brian said shaking his head. JR was a smart little cookie.

"Please, Uncle Brian," JR pleaded.

"Okay, okay. I can't promise anything, but I'll talk to Lindsay."

"Thank you," JR said letting out a long breath.

"Okay, so get off the phone and let me call her," Brian said gently.

"Yes, sir," JR giggled before she hung up.

JR was counting on him, but where Melanie Marcus was concerned Brian was persona non grata. Lindsay was his only hope. He hit the speed dial button for her phone.

"Hello?"

"Lindsay, are you at work?"

"Yes, why?"

"What time are you done?"

"What's this all about?" Something in Brian's voice told her to be wary.

"We need to talk."

"Is this about Gus?"

"No."

"Then what is it about?"

"I'll tell you when we meet," Brian said making it clear that he would say no more.

"With all the activities at the gallery I'm not sure when I can get away."

"What if I pick you up around three? Arrange your coffee break for that time."

"Okay," she said and heard the line go dead. She wondered what in the world was causing Brian to act like that.

Brian set his phone down. Now all he had to do was figure out what to say to Lindsay to get her on his side, correction, on JR's side.

^^^^^^^^

"Hey, Pop!" Gus announced himself as he strolled into his dad's office at Kinnetik.

"Hey, Gus. You didn't cut your last class, did you?" Brian noted the time was around two.

"Nooo, Pop," Gus answered as he rolled his eyes. "I was allowed to leave early cause I scored high on my practise SAT's."

Brian beamed with pride. "So what brings you to this neck of the woods?"

"Um, a couple of things. First, can I come to the review tonight? I really want to see it."

"And…?"

"Well, I wanted to know if I can work here for the summer again?"

"Gus, it's March. I think you can safely remind me about a job in June. Now what's the real reason you're here?" Gus' shoulders drooped a little; his dad was so smart.

"Did JR call you?"

"Yes, she did."

"And…?"

"And, I have a date with your mother at three. I'm going to work on her then."

Gus walked behind his dad's desk to give Brian a hug. "She told me about Danny. JR really wants this to happen."

"I know she does and I'll do my best, but you need to know something."

"What?"

"Mikey is not all that happy about Danny showing up here. Michael grew up thinking his father was Charles Michael Novotny. I don't want Mikey getting hurt in all this. We have to respect his beliefs. Do you understand?"

"Yeah, Pop, I do. I like Uncle Mikey even if he does get all whiny sometimes." Brian and Gus tried not to giggle but couldn't help themselves.

"Now, what's the real reason you want to come to the Drag review tonight, Sonny Boy?" Brian said with an arch of his brow. He had a very suspicious mind.

"Some of the drag queens are HOT!" Gus was getting to be more like Brian every day. Brian got up from his chair to usher the young man out.

"Out! Now. Go home and study something. We'll pick you up later on our way to the theater. And please do me a favor and do not start hanging around those fags that wear dresses. One drag queen in the family is more than enough for me."

"Sure, Pop. Anything you say." Brian heard Gus laughing as he left his office.

^^^^^^^^

"Hi, Ma!"

"Michael, sweetheart, we got meatloaf. You want a sandwich?"

"No, Ma. I'm not hungry."

"Honey, are you okay? You're not getting a cold are you?" Debbie asked as she felt his forehead. Michael batted away her hands.

"Stop it, Ma, you're embarrassing me. I'm fine. I just wanted to know if you've spoken with Divina lately."

"No, honey, I haven't, but I think she's been very busy with the fundraiser and stuff."

"Yeah, I know and it's the 'stuff' I'm worried about," Michael mumbled too quietly for Debbie to hear.

"What was that, sweetheart?" Debbie was a little distracted with her customers.

"Nothing, Ma. I gotta go. See you tonight at the theater?"

"Wouldn't miss it. See you later," Debbie said as she kissed Michael's cheek then gave it a soft smack.

"Bye, Ma." Michael walked out of the diner and back to his store preoccupied with thoughts of Danny Devore becoming a permanent fixture on Liberty Avenue.

^^^^^^^^

"Mrs. Taylor?"

"I'm Jennifer Taylor," Jenn said as she stood up from her desk and extended her hand. "And you are?"

"Danny Devore, Hunter Montgomery suggested I contact you. I'm planning on retiring and I'd like to settle down here. I grew up in Pittsburgh as a boy."

"Danny Devore," Jennifer repeated. "Why do I know that name?"

"Um, maybe you know me better as Divina Devore?"

"Oh my!" Jennifer gasped. "I'm so sorry! Of course I know your name! Forgive me. I'd be honored to help you find your new home. And thank you so much for participating in the fundraiser. The boys have worked so hard to get that whole project up and running. It's truly a family project. It would be so nice to have the clinic self sufficient."

"I'm glad I can help in some way."

"Now, tell me what kind of house do you have in mind?"

^^^^^^^^

Brian waited outside the gallery for Lindsay to come out. He had bought two lattes at the Starbucks down the street. They could walk a little and sit on a bench. It was a nice early spring day.

Lindsay accepted the coffee gratefully as she exited the gallery. She fell in step with Brian. They walked to the little parkette nearby and sat down on a bench.

"What's going on, Brian?" she asked as she sipped her latte.

"I had an interesting phone call this morning."

"Oh?"

"Yes, from your daughter?"

"My daughter?" Lindsay asked with a frown.

"JR, you do remember her, short, dark hair?"

"Of course, I remember her, you idiot. But why would she be calling you?"

"I wanted to know the same thing. It seems that she has met her grandfather and wants to get to know him better."

"Oh shit!" Lindsay reacted. "I was afraid of this after what Melanie told me about the meeting in the diner."

"What are you going to do about it?" Brian asked her.

"Me? I'm not going to do anything."

Brian frowned. "You're her mother too or have you forgotten that?"

"Of course, I haven't forgotten. Don't be ridiculous. But this is really between Melanie and her daughter."

"Your daughter!" Brian emphasized. "And don't forget about her father."

"Brian, I think you should stay out of this."

"I'd like nothing better, but JR has asked for my help."

"And what does that have to do with me?" Lindsay demanded.

"JR wants you to help convince Melanie to let her see her grandfather."

"Why didn't she ask me that herself?"

"Maybe because you would have blown her off. How the fuck should I know? Now, will you help her?" Brian asked.

"I … I don't know what I can do."

"Surely after all these years you have some influence over your wife."

"I guess I could try," Lindsay said slowly.

"That's all I ask. You would like JR to have a relationship with her grandfather, wouldn't you?" Brian decided to ask.

"He's a … drag queen," Lindsay said like that explained everything.

"He may be a drag queen, but he's a decent man who's done everything that's been asked of him. He stayed away when asked, he met Melanie and JR at the diner, he deserves a chance."

"Okay, okay, when did you become the staunch defender of drag queens all?"

Brian made a face. "I've had lots of practice this week," he said and stood up so they could make their way back to the gallery.

^^^^^^^^

"Hi, Dad."

"Hi, honey, it's good to hear from you."

Lacy was on the phone with her father. She rarely called her father at his home, but she needed to know if he was going to meet her in Pittsburgh this weekend.

"Dad, I want you to come to a drag queen show with me on the weekend," Lacy said carefully.

"Drag queens?"

"Yes, drag queens. They are doing fundraising for the clinic that helped me when I was a … when I ran away. I want us to attend."

"Drag queens?" her father asked again.

"Yes, Dad," Lacy said again with a sigh. This wasn't going to be easy.

"I … I guess I could attend," Roman said hesitantly. "You'll be there with me, won't you?"

"Yes, Dad," Lacy laughed. "They don't bite unless you want them too."

"Lucinda Baldwin!" Roman reacted to her audacious statement.

"I'm sorry. I'm just teasing you," Lacy said quickly. "I want you to meet some of the people who helped me when I had nothing. I want you to learn about my life for the last couple of years."

"Okay, if that's what you want."

"It's what I want," Lacy said emphatically.

"Then I'll see you Saturday morning."

"Good," Lacy said as she hung up the phone in Debbie's kitchen.

She slumped down into one of the chairs around the old kitchen table. She had done a lot of thinking after her talk with Justin. Finally she had come to the conclusion that she was going to be honest with her father whatever that might cost her. She was going to be true to herself. If her father couldn't handle that, then it was his problem not hers.

The only problem with that decision was that she had come to want and expect her father to be in her life all over again. She was learning to love him as she had long ago. She knew it was going to hurt so much if he turned away from her when he learned the truth about what she had been while she was on the streets. It would hurt even more if he abandoned her because of what she was now - GAY. Saturday would bring things to a head one way or the other.

Return to Oh My Papa