G is for Gus and the Girls
Gus tried adjusting the headset on his head to drown out the shouting but
nothing was working. Eighteen year old Gus loudly sighed. It constantly amazed
Gus the lengths his mothers would go to to “stay together for the sake of the
children.” He wished they’d get the fuck over it and divorce already. It’s not
like they were really married. Gus did have one set of parents that were legally
married. He sighed again then made a decision.
A few years earlier, the moms realized the direction the LGBT wind was blowing
in the US and decided to move back. Well, that’s the official version. The
unofficial not spoken of version was it all came down to money…the lack of it.
His mother had a part time job in a local museum but very low level job. His
momma wasn’t able to get her license to practice the law so she clerked in a
firm downtown. If it wasn’t for his dad, they wouldn’t have a roof over their
heads or food to eat. The only thing Brian asked for in return was the
restoration of his parental rights. The moms fought it declaring everything from
his dad’s sexual reputation to where he lived. Gus didn’t know that his dad kept
Britin.
Brian’s lawyers pointed out that Brian wasn’t demanding specific visitation
rights just the right to be recognized as Gus’ father. Brian had every receipt
and or document proving his financial contributions to not only his son but to
JR and the household in general. He also had created a college fund for both
children, named them both in his will, beneficiaries in a life insurance policy
and set aside a separate fund that the kids could access when they turned
thirty. The judge looked at the documents, sneered at the mothers then signed on
the dotted line. The moms were not happy.
When the family moved back to Pittsburgh, Brian had Jennifer quietly find them
an appropriate house in a good part of town. Brian plunked down the money for
the down payment and paid their first six months mortgage. Brian did it for the
kids. End of story.
Gus shoved his wallet in his pocket, grabbed his keys, jacket and cellphone then
left his room. He took a deep breath then walked downstairs into the melee. In
the kitchen, the shouting continued. JR was reading a book in the living room,
her own headphones on her head. She looked oblivious to the arguing but that was
only an act. She and Gus had a long standing agreement, the first one out of the
house would take the other one with him. And being a lot like his dad, Gus had
plans.
As Gus passed JR, he tapped her on the shoulder, waving his cell in her face. JR
nodded. Like many close siblings the pair had a language all their own. Gus was
going out but would be available by cell if JR needed him. JR was comforted by
that. They shared no blood ties but the siblings were very close. They had many
things in common including a set of parents that made arguing an Olympic event.
As Gus drove around he reviewed his options. He could go to the diner to hang
out but what was he going to do, stay there all night? Not an option. He could
go to Grandma Deb but Gus wasn’t in the mood for one of her lectures. Debbie
knew what was going on and was very supportive in her own way, but her solution
included a big family dinner that never resolved anything. No, going to Debbie’s
was also not an option. He could go over to Michael and Ben’s. Gus was always
welcome but Michael inherited his mother’s art of lecturing. And still had that
annoying habit of declaring Brian his best friend then putting him down at any
given moment. Ben would try to be helpful but there was very little he could do
but smile sympathetically.
Gus went to the loft.
Gingerly, Gus slowly slid the door open. Sticking his head inside with eyes
closed and ears alert for noise, Gus called out, “Hello?”
“Sonny Boy!” came a cheerful response.
“Is it safe?” Gus teased.
“Yes, it’s safe,” Justin replied with a chuckle. Gus felt a tug on his jacket.
“You can open your eyes,” Justin assured the kid.
“Thanks,” Gus said with a smile. “You never know around here.” Gus walked in,
shedding his jacket on the way to the kitchen area. It smelled like pot roast.
Justin recognized an empty stomach when he saw it and began to set another plate
at the table. Observing the unwritten rule of only discussing pleasant topics at
the dinner table, the boys ate in peace, enjoying the company.
“Okay, spill,” Brian demanded as they all helped Justin to clean up. Brian
gently swatted Gus with a dish towel. Gus sighed, he could never hide anything
from his father and why should he? Wasn’t that the reason he drove over in the
first place? But he couldn’t find the words, so Gus just shook his head.
“Let me guess, non-stop bitching,” Brian said. Gus sadly nodded.
“How’s JR coping,” Justin asked gently. Gus shrugged his shoulders. Nothing
seemed to bother JR. She just went with the flow, biding her time until she
could get out. No one realized that Gus was the sensitive one. No one except for
Justin. Justin recognized the similarities father and son possessed. Both
silently brooded, holding in their pain until they could take it no longer.
Brian’s form of pain therapy used to be various recreational drugs and fucking
any passable looking male within a ten mile radius. Nowadays, Brian found other
ways of funneling that pain and anger in more constructive and profitable ways.
Gus had developed his own ways of coping which included sports and the arts.
“She grew up with it,” Brian mumbled as he gently enfolded his son into his
arms. He understood.
“I remember parties and laughing and fun,” Gus admitted. “Before we moved.”
Brian nodded, holding his son closer. He remembered too.
Brian remembered putting together a swing set for his son. A few happy times
where Gus actually smiled. “I’m sorry,” Brian murmured.
“Not your fault,” Gus whispered back.
“Could’ve been a better father, a real father,” Brian admitted.
“I love you, Dad, just as you are,” Gus said. “I always knew you were there.
Always.”
Hazel eyes stared into hazel eyes. The only other person besides Gus who really
got Brian, who truly understood Brian, was Justin. Brian held out his arm which
was suddenly filled by his partner. The family of three was complete.
“Which college did you decide on?” Brian asked out of the blue.
“Carnegie Mellon, why?” Gus asked as he watched Brian and Justin exchange a
look.
Justin nodded.
“You sure?” Brian asked, never relinquishing his hold on the two most precious
things he loved.
“I can work anywhere,” Justin assured Brian.
“So can I,” Brian said as he appeared to be making calculations in his head.
“And that studio is available next door. You can always stay there when you’re
needed in town,” Justin said.
“What are you both talking about?” Gus asked, now thoroughly confused, his eyes
flicking back and forth from Brian to Justin.
“Gus, we have a plan but it depended on the college you chose,” Justin began.
“We didn’t want to say anything because we didn’t want to influence you. But
since you chose Carnegie Mellon…”
“I want you to move into the loft,” Brian interrupted Justin’s explanation with
his own shorter version of the plan. Justin smiled.
“And when JR’s old enough, she can move in too,” Justin added. “If she wants
too. We can make some alterations,” Justin said with a knowing smile.
Gus couldn’t believe his ears, couldn’t believe what his dad…dads, were
offering. And to include his sister was way beyond belief. But there it was.
That was Brian Kinney.
“The moms will freak!” Gus laughed, hugging his dads tighter. “And JR will flip.
She’ll probably start moving in all her shit as soon as I tell her.” Gus laughed
harder then abruptly stopped. “Uh, where are you guys going to live?” he asked
suddenly worried.
“We’ll find something,” Brian said with his usual snark.
“Brian,” Justin snapped with an elbow to Brian’s ribs. “Gus, your dad never sold
Britin; we never had a reason to live out there.”
“Now we do,” Brian quipped with a smirk.
The boys laughed then pushed themselves out of their three-way hug with mock
punches and shoves. Dessert was the next order of business and the confirmation
of their plans.
The next morning Gus went back home. Nothing changed. It was a new day and a new
argument. The girls in his life never learned. Except for JR. She was learning
to be an excellent cook. Over breakfast the siblings discussed their getaway
plan.
*****
A year later Gus slid open the loft door. “Hello?” he called out as he stuck his
head into the doorway.
“Hi!” JR called out.
“Are you decent?”
“Of course I am. I’m not your dads you know,” she laughed. “I’m not the one who
runs around the house naked.”
“Spare me,” Gus said as he came into the kitchen looking for food.
“Hard day?” JR asked as she placed a plate with hors d’oeuvres in front of her
brother. JR had begun spending the weekends at the loft under the guise of
making sure Gus had food to eat and clean clothes to wear. It never occurred to
their moms that the kids had grown up very independent and were quite capable of
caring for themselves.
“Long day. Lots of exams to study for and papers to write plus there’s that
campaign Cynthia let me take the lead on.”
“Did you get it?” JR asked. She knew how much Gus wanted to impress his dad.
Gus’ broad smile was all the answer JR needed. “Yee haw,” she cried out and the
siblings cracked up with laughter for many reasons.
As for the other girls in Gus’ life, since he moved and not without a lot of
fuss and more shouting, Lindsay moved into Gus’ old room. She didn’t care that
it was smaller than the room she once shared with Melanie. It was her sanctuary.
Melanie had tried to force Lindsay out but Lindsay wouldn’t sell so they lived
together in silence. JR found it amusing; her sanctuary was staying with Gus on
weekends and spending holidays with Grandma Deb, her dad, Uncle Ben and Gus out
at Britin.
Gus loved the girls in his life but it was the boys that made his life worth
living.
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