The Gus Diaries

Part 117

The Argument III


 

I vividly remember what happened the minute Uncle Michael pulled up behind me at Britin. Dad was slumped over in his passenger seat.

He immediately bolted out of the car and ran to the side of the garage and puked. I was shocked; I’d never seen him do that before, no matter how much he had drunk.

Uncle Michael must have seen the look on my face. He walked over and put his arm around me. “Believe it or not, Gus, he’s not even drunk.”

“But then why’s he--”

“He’s terrified something serious might be wrong with Justin. Your father doesn’t want to deal with the thought of that, any more than your Pop does.”

“Uncle Michael, Dad has to make sure Pop goes to the doctor.” I must have sounded desperate because after he wiped his mouth, Dad came over and hugged me.

“Sorry to worry you, Gus.” Dad brushed his hand over my hair. “I’ll make sure Justin gets the help he needs, whatever it might be.”

I held onto Dad and nodded as I leaned my head on his shoulder. “Please make sure he’s okay -- or help him get there.”

“I will, Sonny Boy. I promise.” Dad’s voice was determined and stronger. It was as if he’d just emptied out all the bad and was determined to find the good.

I was so focused on Dad I’d forgotten Uncle Michael was there until he whispered, “I’d better get back to Ben. We’re picking up JR in the morning.”

“Thank you, Uncle Michael. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been willing to come and help.”

“Anytime, Gus.” Uncle Michael gently patted my cheek. It was a gesture so much like Grandma Deb’s it was scary, but loving all the same.

Dad walked Uncle Michael to the car. “Thanks, Mikey. You’ve gotten pretty damn good at being a grown up... and telling it like it is.”

“Chalk it up to years of practice and a husband who’s an incredible role model.”

Wrapping his arm around Uncle Michael’s shoulders, Dad huffed. “Gives a whole new meaning to on-the-job training.”

“It’s not a bad job once you get used to it.”

“Michael, I don’t want you having to continue getting used to it. I should have been stronger with Justin right from the start.”

Uncle Michael nodded. “Yeah, you should’ve been.” Dad’s eyes widened. “But he can be persuasive. I’ve written many Rage stories that turned out far different than I expected because of your twink.”

“He hasn’t been a twink in years.” Dad almost sounded... melancholy.

“No, he hasn’t, but we can continue to let him think he is. The invincible Justin Taylor.”

Dad chuckled. “I once called him ubiquitous.”

Uncle Michael smirked. “I know what that means... and you’re right. He was always popping up, despite our best efforts, make that my best efforts to make him disappear. Clearly his determination paid off.”

“For all of us.” Dad smiled and Uncle Michael nodded his agreement.

“Now get inside and take care of your husband.”

“Will do, Zephyr. You go home and do whatever you do to keep the professor happy.”

“It’ll be my pleasure.” Uncle Michael winked. Ewww!

 

*~*~*~*~*
 

The next morning I found Pop clanging dishes all around the kitchen. He and Dad had gone to their bedroom soon after we got home last night, I could hear them yelling , but as their door was closed I couldn’t make out any details of what was being said.

“Pop, what’s up?”

“I can’t believe you called Michael and went out chasing after your father.”

“I love you. I hated seeing you upset.”

“Shit!” Pop walked away from the frying pan he’d set on the stovetop and hugged me. “I’m sorry I worried you. I haven’t been myself lately.”

“I’m not the only one who’s worried.”

Stepping back, Pop looked into my eyes. “I know.”

Dad came into the kitchen, newspaper in hand. “We’re leaving in an hour, Sunshine. Better eat up. You, too, Sonny Boy.”

“Brian, is this really necessary. What if they can’t see me today?”

“Your doctor will see you because we won’t leave the office until he does.” I’d heard Dad use that tone of voice before -- there would be no arguing the point.

“I happen to have work to do at the gallery, or have you forgotten we have responsibilities to a shit-load of employees between the gallery and Kinnetik.”

“Don’t bullshit me, Justin. Lindsay can handle anything at the gallery at this point. And between Ted and Cynthia, if I took a month off from Kinnetik, no one would notice but you -- because I’d have more time to fu--”

“Dad! I’ve heard enough. Please don’t finish.”

Dad laughed. “Sorry, Gus. I was just trying to make my position clear to your Pop.”

“I think we all got the message loud and clear, Brian.” Pop took a deep breath. “I hate sitting there waiting. It’s like waiting to see the principal when I was at St. James.”

I shuddered at the thought.

“Well, he wasn’t as hot as your doctor. I’d shiver at the prospect of seeing him as well.”

“Asshole.”

“That’s me. So deal with it, Sunshine. Now eat up and get dressed or I’ll have to take Mikey’s suggestion and go all caveman on you.”

Pop snorted. “I can just hear some of Michael’s ideas for the next issue of Rage after envisioning you throwing me over your shoulder.”

“I’m sure they’ll be doozies. Now get moving.”

I knew what the answer would be, but I had to ask. “Dad, can I please go with you?” He and Pop just stared at me. “I’m worried about Pop too and I know I won’t be able to concentrate on anything at school. I’ll have Marci pick-up any assignments my teachers give today.” I returned their gazes. “I promise not to get behind in my work -- please.” My voice was coming close to whining but I couldn’t help it.

Dad and Pop looked at each other from across the room. “Okay, Gus, you can come. But when we go into the doctor’s office, you need to stay in the waiting room. Bring your laptop.”

Although I was shocked to have won the battle so easily, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “Thank you so much!” I actually forgot about breakfast and ran up the stairs to get ready.

On the way out the door, Pop handed me a grilled cheese sandwich and a bottle of water. “You can’t go without breakfast.” I can’t imagine my life without Pop taking care of me. Fuck! Where did that thought come from?

 

*~*~*~*~*
 

The doctor’s office was filled with patients. There were two neurologists in the practice and they were both clearly overbooked.

I heard Dad mixing it up with the receptionist. He’d intimidated her enough that Pop’s doctor stepped out between appointments.

Lowering his voice, Dad said something I couldn’t hear to the doctor. He nodded and said, “I’ll see him now. This shouldn’t be too long.” He looked at his nurse. “Call the radiologist down the hall and tell him to warm up his toy.”

Working on a few articles that needed approval for the next school paper, I watched Dad and Pop head down the hall for Pop’s MRI. They came back about a half hour later and sat next to me, remaining silent.

Dad held Pop’s hand the entire hour they waited to be called back in to see the doctor. Neither of them spoke a word the whole time. It was kind of creepy, although I’m not sure what they could have said.

They were in the office for just a few minutes when they came back to the reception desk and paid for the visit. Neither showed any emotion; I could feel myself beginning to panic. I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck standing up.

I had held off on calling Jeff and letting him know what had being going on and to also fill him in on the test results. I didn’t want to worry him during mid-terms so I’d told him nothing. But now, it was time to tell him all about it, now that we finally knew something about what Pop’s problem might be.

Holding my cell phone in hand, I watched Dad and Pop come into the waiting room. “Come on, Sonny Boy. We’re leaving.”

I looked at my dads, looking for some sign but they were giving nothing away.

After I closed down my laptop, the three of us walked silently to the car.

We all took our seats and before fastening our seat belts, Dad leaned over and grabbed Pop. The two hugged and kissed for way longer than I was comfortable watching.

I finally broke the silence. “So, what the fuck happened? I’m going crazy!”

Dad turned to me and I saw a smile on Pop’s face, streaked with newly fallen tears. “We’re stuck for the next seven or eight decades with your Pop, the drama queen.”

Pop swatted Dad on the arm and chuckled.

I started to feel the tension falling away, but I needed to hear the rest.

“It seems that your Pop is suffering from ocular migraines.”

“What are those?”

“There’s a type of migraine that presents itself first painlessly with strange dizzying visual images and when the image dissipates the pain hits like a steamroller.”

Pop would be okay.

“The doc prescribed some pills to take the edge off the pain. We’ll pick them up after we have a celebratory lunch at the diner.”

Pop was really okay.

“Michael and Ben will be meeting us. Your Uncle Michael actually kept this a secret from his mother, not to mention all he did to make sure we got Justin here. He deserves to share in the celebration.”

I huffed. Pop was going to be with me for a long, long time. That’s when I realized there were tears running down my face.

“I love you, Pop.”

He was a blur, but I could see Pop was in the same condition. “Right back at you, Gus.”
 

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