The Gus Diaries

Part 159

Marry Me? IV

 


“What the fuck did you just say to my partner?” It took every bit of my self-control to keep from yelling and jumping across the table to strangle Matt.

“Cool it, Gus. I just meant in name only. If Jeff marries me then in accordance with my family’s agreement, I’ll get what I’m entitled to.”

“Plus you’ll have my partner!”

“I’m sitting right here.” Jeff took my hand and pressed his lips against the palm. The warmth of his touch helped to calm me a bit, but certainly not enough. “Matt, you’d better explain this insane plan. I’m beginning to agree with you. It does sound crazy.”

“My parents didn’t specify anything about who I marry or for how long.” Matt looked from Jeff to me. I wasn’t following his line of thinking and wasn’t sure I wanted to anyway. Clearly he understand our confusion and continued. “Don’t you see. If Jeff and I marry it won’t be a real marriage, it’ll just be a temporary thing to get my parents to follow through with their side of the bargain. The only awkward part will be that you’ll probably have to move back in with your dads while we’re putting on this act.”

“What! I can’t believe you’d even suggest this. You know Jeff and I finally moved in together at school and how long it took for us to figure out how to do it so it made sense for both of us and our future. Why should we fuck it all up now?” I was getting angrier by the moment at Matt’s gall for even suggesting this whole farcical plan.

“Because once I have my share of the business all signed and sealed, Jeff and I can divorce and each go on our merry ways and he can live happily ever after with you, which I’m assuming is the ultimate plan for both of you.” Matt sat back and actually ventured to smile at us.

Jeff hadn’t said anything. He pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head.

Suddenly the hairs rose on the back of my neck. “You can’t be considering this insanity, can you?”

“I don’t know, Gus. I can understand wanting what’s rightfully yours and going for it in any way you possibly can.” Jeff looked directly at me. “If his parents are going to play dirty, why shouldn’t he play dirtier?”

“But what about us?” My voice softened as the panic within began to grow.

“That’s the major hurdle. I sure as shit don’t want to be separated from you. Living together this past semester has been the best time of my life, but I don’t want to turn my back on Matt either.”

I looked from Jeff to Matt. “Isn’t there any other way?”

Matt had the decency to lower his head and wipe any indication of a smile off his face.

Jeff combed his fingers through his hair and closed his eyes. I could tell he was trying to think of some alternative plan but my patience had completely run out.

“Jeff, I need to leave. I don’t think either of you are giving the situation enough thought. There has to be another way because I can’t accept this one.” I leaned in and pressed my lips to Jeff’s. “I love you, but there is no way I can get onboard with this craziness. I remember a story Mem once told me about Mom and how she almost screwed up everyone’s life by marrying someone to help him stay in the country. Luckily my dad came through with what he now calls the ultimate sacrifice before Mom made the worst mistake of her life.” I continued to look directly at Jeff, hoping my face revealed my despair. “Please figure something else out.”

I felt my eyes moisten, beginning to betray the depth of my emotions and left the diner quickly without even saying good-bye to Grandma. I had to get out of there.

This was supposed to be our best Valentine’s Day yet and now I was on the verge of losing the man I thought I’d be spending the rest of my life with because he wanted to help a friend.

Running toward the door to escape the confines of the diner and all the emotions welling up inside, I heard Jeff call out to me but I couldn’t turn. As soon as I left the diner the chill of the winter’s air stung my tear-filled eyes.

At first I didn’t know where to go. I would have normally run to the sanctuary of Red Cape, but the last thing I wanted was to have Uncle Michael start to question me as to what was wrong and then try to be helpful. He’s terrific, but he wasn’t the person I needed.

I remembered Dad and Pop talking about stopping in to visit Mom at the gallery this morning. I hoped they were still there because I wasn’t sure I wanted to see her alone, but I really needed my dads.

Although it was freezing out, I decided to walk the mile to the gallery. It was helpful to focus on being cold rather than on being scared that my life was spiralling out of my control and I couldn’t seem to stop it.

Walking into the gallery I immediately spotted Mom at her desk, located in the center of the main room. Dad and Pop were the only ones with her so I felt safe to approach. The first thing I noticed were a dozen long stemmed pink roses on the desk and rolled my eyes. “Hi, Mom. I see you have a new guy in your life again. Or is this one a woman?”

Dad glared at me. “Cut the attitude, Sonny Boy. There’s no reason to be rude to your mother.”

I glared back. When did Dad start coming to Mom’s defense again?

Pop stepped closer. “Gus, we gave Lindsay the flowers. It is Valentine’s Day and we wanted to show her she was cared for and appreciated.”

Shit! I really was being a brat. “I’m sorry, Mom. I shouldn’t have jumped to the worst possible conclusion.” I looked at her directly so she could see I meant what I was saying.

“That’s okay, Gus. You have good reason for your assumptions, but I can assure you I’m not involved with anyone. I’m dating, but nothing serious. As Debbie continually reminds me, it’s time to work on myself and how I can meet my own needs in the healthiest way possible.”

“Grandma said that?” She sounded more Zen than Uncle Ben.

Mom laughed. “Yes, those were her words, although she frequently adds more colorful ones.”

“Wow. Maybe I should have stayed and asked for her advice.”

“What are you talking about, Sonny Boy? And where’s your other half? I thought you two would be glued at the hip on this extremely commercial day devoted to showering people with gifts and platitudes they don’t need just because it’s February fourteenth.”

“Everything’s falling apart! You won’t believe what just happened.” I may have been a bit of a drama queen, but that was how I felt at the time.

“What’s going on, Lambskin?”

“Mom, please. I’m not two years old. Can you call me almost anything but that?” I hated when she thought it was comforting to me to address me like an infant.

“Cool it, Gus.” Pop squeezed my shoulder. “Your mom cares.”

I nodded and noticed Pop walk to the door of the Taylor Bloom Gallery. He looked outside. No one was approaching. He hung the closed sign, locked the door, and turned the cardboard clock beneath the sign to reflect when the gallery would reopen.

Dad looked directly at me. “Okay, Sonny Boy.” He motioned to the chair in front of Mom’s desk. “Have a seat and give us the details of whatever caused you to act like a combination of brat, drama queen, and tragic heroine.”

I rolled my eyes but did as he asked. It was good to tell the entire story from beginning to end, and even better because none of my parents interrupted me. I felt like my needs at that moment were truly being respected, although I had little hope as to how they could help me.

When I finished my tale of Jeff and my interaction with Matt, Mom looked from Pop to Dad. “This doesn’t make any sense.”

“It sure as shit doesn’t to me!” I was glad we were on the same page, except when looking at the three of them I had a sense there was more to their reactions than met the eye.

Dad looked from Pop to me. “Did Jeff agree to this insane idea?”

“Well--” I wasn’t sure how to answer as I had seen Jeff’s confusion and thought he was actually considering helping Matt.

“Well what, Gus?” Pop stepped next to Dad. “Did he agree or not?”

“I didn’t hang around long enough at the diner to hear his answer. I couldn’t bear to watch him go this far to help a friend in trouble.”

“Then how the fuck do you know this is the disaster you’re making it out to be, Sonny Boy?” Dad rolled his eyes.

“Gus, you’re taking a pretty huge leap, thinking Jeff would actually consider Matt’s request for more than a split second. Maybe he was just pausing to think of an alternate method of solving Matt’s problem.” Pop always seems to be the voice of reason, and in this case he made a lot of sense.

“Shit! I ran off without giving Jeff a chance to say a word. I shouldn’t have done that, but Matt’s request and Jeff’s empathy, knowing how his family booted him out, sent my mind racing.”

“It sounds like your mind raced to what might be the most inaccurate of conclusions.” Mom’s soft voice was pretty damn calming.

“I’m such a fucking drama queen.” I lowered my head.

“You can say that again, Sonny Boy.”

“Brian. No reason to kick Gus while he’s down. At least he figured out he made a mistake.” Pop looked at me. “You do know what you have to do, don’t you?”

I pulled out my phone. “Can I use your office, Pop? I need to grovel by phone, and then in person if necessary.”

Pop smiled. “You can have all the time and privacy you need. We’ll be out here when you get off the phone.”

I ran to Pop’s private office in the back of the gallery and quickly pressed the button for Jeff. Thankfully he picked up immediately.

“Gus, where the fuck are you?”

“Jeff, I’m so sorry. Please, please, please accept my apology for acting like a jealous idiot.”

It seemed like forever before Jeff responded, but when he did I was more surprised that I ever expected.

[TBC]
 

Return to The Gus Diaries