The Gus Diaries

Part 91

Aftermath II
 

I tried to keep myself distracted while Pop “worked” with Uncle Michael.

“Justin, you must be fucking kidding me!”

“No, Michael. You said it yourself, the best Rage issues have been when art imitates life. Well, here you go.”

“But this is insane. Why?”

“Why? How can you ask me that? You’re a firsthand witness.”

“I was wrong. Brian had no interest in his client, he was protecting you from having to spend a night with a bad memory.”

“That’s just it, Michael. I can’t spend my entire life being protected or having people misunderstand my relationship with Brian. It’ll be better this way.”

“These boards -- they show JT leaving Rage for the Planet Artistique. What the fuck does that mean?”

“It seems quite clear to me. JT will renew his old acquaintances from his time living on the artist colony planet. He’ll try to make a new life for himself since Rage can’t seem to treat him like an equal.”

Uncle Michael started waving his arms frantically. “But Rage does treat JT as an equal, and he loves him more than his own life. Sometimes he makes ridiculous choices, all because he still doesn’t know how to always deal with the depth of his love.”

“Think what you want, Michael. I can’t live this way anymore -- being treated like a fucking seventeen year old and having my entire family think the worst of my husband. It’ll be better for both of us to live apart.”

“What about Gus?”

“Gus knows, we told him this morning.” I did my best to look forlorn, although it didn’t matter, Michael was in such a panic he wouldn’t have noticed if I was laughing.

When Pop pours it on, he really gives it all he’s got. I’m glad I’ve never been on his shit list.

“Brian won’t survive this, Justin. You have to reconsider.”

“I’ve reconsidered a thousand times over the years, but he never learns to respect me, and I feel like the whole gay community is talking about us.”

“That was my fault -- I fucked up by not going to Brian first -- my fault, not Brian’s.”

“Thanks for trying to clean up another one of Brian’s messes. He just didn’t trust me enough.”

“He does trust you. It was me! I didn’t trust him!”

“Look, Michael, I have to get to the gallery and start tying up loose ends. Lindsay can take care of it in the future; she knows what she’s doing there.”

“No, you can’t possibly be serious.”

Pop glared at Uncle Michael. “I’m dead serious.” He started to walk toward the exit but suddenly turned. “By the way, the July 4th gathering is still on. It’ll be our last, so we want everyone there. And don’t tell anyone in the family -- we want to break the news to them ourselves.” Then he exited quickly, leaving Uncle Michael with the storyboards.

“Shit, shit, shit! What have I done? I’ve got to call Ma, she’ll know what to do.”

I shook my head and realized exactly why Pop had done this. It didn’t take long before Grandma Deb and Uncle Emmett showed up at the store. All three of them treated me like I was made of glass, wanting to help me through this terrible time as they plotted how to get Pop to stay with Dad.

It was all pretty fucking pathetic and funny. I knew Pop would kill me if I said a word, so I kept his secret, even with Jeff, and especially with Jenny -- now that was a nightmare!

By the next day, word had spread to Mem and my little sister. “Oh, Gus, what are you going to do with your Pop heading back to New York City? It’s terrible -- like Mom and Mommy all over again.”

“Uhm, Jenny, how do you know Pop’s going to New York City? That’s supposed to be a secret.”

“Everyone knows.”

“Everyone?”

“Well, everyone in the family. I think Mom called Mommy to tell her.”

“And how did Mom find out?”

“I’m not sure, it might have been Uncle Ted.”

I bit my lip to keep myself from laughing and was glad we were on the phone, or she would have spotted the smile on my face instantly.

“Damn! Dad and Pop wanted to tell the family in their own way at the party on Saturday, and now it’s all fucked up.”

“Don’t worry -- we’ve all been sworn to silence.”

“All?”

“The entire family. We’ve been sworn to secrecy, but the grown-ups are trying to work on some sort of interchange, no that’s not it... interview...”

“...intervention?”

“That’s it.”

“Hmmm.” This should be interesting.

“I hope it works, Gus, for your sake as much as theirs.”

“Thanks, Jenny. I’ll see you Saturday.”

“With my fingers and toes crossed.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Pop nailed this one. I wonder how many times over the years members of the family had butted in where they didn’t belong? Now it was Pop’s turn to get back at them all if the rest of his plan worked.

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 

The morning of the July 4th barbeque and party was sunny and bright. It was the perfect day for a gathering and an even better day for the fireworks Dad arranged after dark.

I have to admit, I was more interested in the fireworks that were planned earlier in the day.

The first to arrive was Grandma Jen with Tucker and Jeff, followed shortly by Grandma Debbie and Grandpa Carl. The rest of the family dribbled in over the next half hour... except for Mom. Knowing Dad and I were still uncomfortable around her, Pop didn’t invite her. She was going to spend the day with her parents at their country club.

Everyone entered as if they were arriving at a wake and took a moment to console me. This was despite the fact they weren’t supposed to know there was something I would need consoling about.

By the time the last person arrived, Dad had started the grill and was placing food on the grate.

Pop brought out the last of many side dishes and then sat conspicuously far from Dad. The two of them should be nominated for an Oscar or a Tony or something -- they were amazing.

They went through the motions of moving about the family robotically but never as a couple.

It wasn’t long before the grilled food was ready and Dad plated it, adding the dishes of hamburgers, hot dogs, and chicken to the buffet.

“Come on, everyone. Here’s your chance to make pigs of yourself once again.” He plastered a dim replica of his normal smirk on his face.

Out of nowhere, Grandma Debbie stood up from her seat on the patio and stamped her foot. “That’s it, you two! I can’t take this.” She looked at Dad. “You and Sunshine have to make up.” She started lacing her fingers together. “You’re two halves of a fucking whole, neither of you can survive without the other.”

Pop wore a mean look on his face, his eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched. “What the fuck are you talking about, Deb?”

“This foolish decision about splitting up. It’s crazy, you belong together. Everyone knows it, why don’t you!?” She placed her hands on her hips.

“How the hell do you know about that?”

“I heard it from Michael. He was worried so he called me.”

Pop stared at Uncle Michael. If he were an action hero, he would have burned a hole through him -- his eyes were so singularly focused. “Why, Michael?”

“I didn’t want you to leave Brian.”

“Michael, didn’t I ask you to keep my secret to yourself?”

Uncle Michael nodded. “But...”

“No fucking buts -- I asked you not to say a word.” He approached Uncle Michael like a spider bearing down on his webbed fly. “I’ll have you know I was reconsidering my decision, but now--” His voice trailed off.

Grandma Jen cried. “No, honey, don’t let this stop you from reconsidering. We only had your best interests at heart.”

“Well, don’t you think my best interests would be served if you all respected my privacy, our privacy?”

Pop made eye contact with every member of the family, his silent accusation clear.

“Shit, Michael, can’t you ever keep your mouth shut?” Dad looked at him, sadness in his eyes.

“Fuck, this is all my fault again. When will I ever learn?” Uncle Michael covered his face with his hands, shaking his head. “I’m such a jackass. Please tell me I haven’t fucked up your life. I love you both so much. Damn, damn, damn!

“Justin, don’t leave Brian. Hate me, never speak to me again, neither one of you. I won’t call or anything -- just don’t break up.”

Dad and Pop winked and approached each other slowly. Dad hoisted Pop in the air, swung him around, and gave him an enormous kiss. “Okay, Mikey, we won’t.”

Uncle Michael lowered his hands and slowly looked at my dads. “Huh?”

Pop chimed in, “And we’ll even let you remain in our lives.”

Dad continued, “But if you ever start gossiping about Justin, Gus, or me, I may have to sue you for slander and that is NOT a joke.”

Uncle Michael finally found his voice. “You mean you’re not breaking up?”

Pop smiled at Dad. “I’m stuck with this fucking amazing, and way too overprotective man for the rest of my life. Not even your petty gossip could begin to dampen my feelings for him.” Pop kissed Dad again to demonstrate his point.

Dad raised an eyebrow in Uncle Michael’s direction. “Gotcha, Mikey.”

“Fuck! You two nearly gave me a heart attack.”

Grandma Deb added, “You nearly gave all of us heart attacks.”

There were mumblings of agreement from the entire family.

Dad called out to everyone, “Next time any of you feel the need to spread gossip, try using yourselves as subjects. Justin and I are off limits.” He took a deep breath. “Now fill your plates -- this table looks like the illustration next to the word gluttony in the dictionary.”

Everyone started making their way to the table, and Jeff came up behind me. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about this.”

“I was told to keep a secret and I did. I hope you’re not mad.”

“Mad, naw -- I’m impressed. Let’s me know once again how much I can trust you, how much anyone can trust you. I like that in a boyfriend.” Jeff kissed and licked my neck before he went off to get a dish of food.

Dad came over, holding his plate filled with green salad and a skinless chicken breast. “I heard what Jeff said.”

I nodded.

“I’m proud of you, Gus. At least I know one member of this family, besides Justin and me, can keep a secret.”

I smiled. It was wonderful hearing those words from Dad. “Do you think they’ve learned their lesson -- or at least Uncle Michael?”

“For the time being, but with them nothing’s permanent -- that’s what makes them human.”

“I guess if something like this happens again, we’ll have to remind them.”

Pop came up to us from behind. “And we will but that’s okay. They care, it’s why we love them.”

I kissed my Pop and Dad and went off to get a plate of food, glad that the only independence we were celebrating that day was the country’s.

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