Almost Perfect

Chapter 13

 
“So do you think you can handle dinner with us tonight?” Gus said into his phone.
 
“Dinner with the Kinney, Taylor, Peterson, Marcus clan?  A rather intimidating bunch but I think I can handle it.  Bree will protect me,” Ray said.  “I know she likes me.”
 
“I like you too,” Gus assured his partner.
 
A knock on the door brought Brian and Mel out into the common room.  Brian got to the door first to let in three stunning and smiling blonds.
 
“GUUUUSSS!” the first blond shrieked as she launched herself into Gus’ arms.  Ray barely confirmed the dinner plans before he hung up laughing when he heard a loud “oof.”
 
The second nearly launched himself into Brian’s arms but considered the company and thought it  best to demurely walk into the open arms of his husband.  The lovers discreetly kissed then sought out their children.
 
The third blond shook her lovely head at the antics of her follow travelers then gave Melanie a warm hug.
 
“Do you think they’ll ever notice us?” Mel asked.
 
“Eventually,” Lindsay replied.         
 
Another knock on the door caught everyone’s attention.  Mel opened the door to several waiters pushing in carts.  They began to set the table for lunch.  Brian extricated himself from the fourway hug to sign the check and announce lunch.
 
“I missed you, Dada.”
 
“Missed you too, Squirt.  Did you get your assignments from your teacher?” Brian asked Bree.  She had decided to sit in between her father and her brother while they enjoyed their meal.
 
“Yes.  I’m supposed to visit at least one museum and write a report on what I see then pick one particular exhibit and write an in depth report about it,” Bree explained.
 
“Is that your only assignment?” Brian asked.
 
“No, she has some math homework but she began it on the plane.  She doesn’t have much left,” Justin stated.  “She can finish it tonight.”
 
“Good,” Brian acknowledged with a nod.  “So plans for this afternoon?” Brian asked as he looked around the table.
 
“If the moms don’t mind, I’d like to take them to Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum and then a walk through Times Square,” Gus answered.
 
“Gus, what about me?” Bree pouted.  She looked up at him with her large violet blue eyes.
 
“That includes you, Shortstuff,” Gus said with a smirk.
 
“Ooh.  Yay!” Bree shouted as she bounced in her seat. 
 
“And what will you two be doing while we’re traipsing through Times Square?” Melanie asked as she glared at Brian and Justin.
 
“We’ll think of something,” Brian replied smugly as he leered at his spouse.
 
“Uh huh,” Mel sneered.  “I think it’s time to go,” she suggested.  Lindsay giggled as she agreed.
 
They finished their lunch, collected whatever they needed for the afternoon then left the suite as the boys quietly chatted.  Brian called for room service to remove the lunch trays as Justin put away his clothes.  He and Bree were only staying for a few days but it kept him busy while Brian dealt with room service.
 
When the suite was finally devoid of people other than Brian and Justin, the two men stood in the living room staring at each other for a brief moment.
 
“Race ya!” Brian called out as he sprinted to their bedroom.
 
“Yee Haw!” Justin shouted out not far behind.
 
Thus round one began!
 
 

*****
 

 
“Look at those two, I don’t get it,” Melanie mumbled as they slowly strolled through the wax museum.
 
“Don’t get what?” Lindsay asked.
 
“What do they have to talk about?  There’s a good twelve years difference between them.”
 
“Same difference between their fathers’ ages,” Lindsay pointed out.
 
“But that’s different, they were guided by lust.  Gus and Bree are so different.”
 
“JR and Gus are very different and yet they’re very close.  So are JR and Bree; they talk all the time,” Lindsay stated.  “Does it bother you that they all love each other?”
 
“No, I just find it strange.”
 
“Perhaps you find it hard to comprehend because none of them are related by blood and yet they’re so close.  When we were growing up our own blood rejected us for who we are.”
 
“Maybe that’s it,” Mel murmured as she tried to analyze her feelings.  Lindsay turned to take hold of Mel’s shoulders and gaze into her eyes.
 
“What it means is that in spite of everything, of all our fights and disagreements that the four of us may have had in the past, the four of us managed to raise beautiful children who don’t judge and never assume until it becomes a proven fact.  We did a good job, Mel.”
 
“You did; Justin did.  Brian proved to be a better parent than any one of us.  Shit!  I can’t believe I just said that but I have to admit it’s true.  I know he had doubts and I’m sorry to say that I played up to those doubts.  He didn’t have anything to prove, he just loved his kids and raised them to be respectful, curious about the world and cautious.  While I set out to prove that I could be the ultimate parent.  I made so many mistakes.”  Mel turned her back to wipe away a few tears from her eyes.
 
“Have you learned from your mistakes?” Lindsay gently asked.
 
“Yes, I think so.”
 
“Then move on.”
 
“When did you get so wise?” Mel asked.
 
“I’m not sure but I’m still learning.  That’s all we can do.  And keep our hearts open,” Lindsay said as she gave Mel a hug.
 
“Auntie Melanie?” Bree asked with a tap to Mel’s hand.
 
“Yes, sweetheart?’
 
“Are you okay?” Bree asked with sincerity.
 
“Yes, I am.  Thank you,” Melanie replied as she squatted down to give the petite child a warm hug.  “Shall we see what’s in this gallery?” Mel asked.  Bree nodded as she gave Mel one of her sunniest smiles.  Mel smiled back as she took Bree’s hand and allowed Bree to guide her through the next part of the museum.
 
 

*****
 

 
“Ding!  Ding!  Ding!” Justin chimed.  Brian looked at him.  “Round two!” Justin crowed with a sunshine smile.  Brian smiled too then pounced.
 
 

*****
 

 
“Is Momma all right?” Gus asked as he and Lindsay walked together following Bree and Mel at a distance.
 
“She’s fine, honey.  She’s still finding her way back into the family.”
 
“I kinda know how she feels.”
 
“What do you mean?”
 
“I lived with you, I lived with Dad then all of a sudden I lived at college.  It was like I had several different homes but no place of my own.”
 
“And now you do?” Lindsay asked meaning Gus’ life with Raymond.
 
“Yeah, but we’re still trying to work a few things out.”
 
“That never goes away and it shouldn’t.”
 
“What do you mean?” Gus asked.
 
“I’ve learned that the minute you’ve stopped trying to work at it that’s when it all falls apart.  Never become complacent.  Always keep working at it.  You will have to travel; it’s a part of your career if you become head of Kinnetik.  I know there were times that Justin felt alone but they worked it out.  Your mother and I stopped at some point.  We tried and tried but for some reason we assumed that once we hit a certain stage we didn’t have to keep trying.”
 
“That trying never stops,” Gus stated.
 
“Remember that.”
 
“I will,” Gus said as he pecked his mother’s cheek.  He glanced over at Bree and Mel.  Bree had her hands on her hips.  “Uh oh, do you think we have to rescue Momma?”
 
“I think so,” Lindsay agreed with a giggle.
 
They quickly walked over to Bree and Mel and dove in head first.
 
 

*****
 

 
“Think they’ll all come back alive?” Brian asked while he was staring at the ceiling, their fingers  interlaced.
 
“They will, but we may have to call the hotel doctor to treat the bruises,” Justin quipped as he cuddled closer.
 
Brian turned his head to peer down his nose at his spouse.  Justin waggled his eyebrows with a smirk.
 
“Round three!” they shouted.
 

*****

"Hi, grandma," JR said as she answered her phone.

"How's it going, sweet girl?" Debbie asked.

"Dad told you?"

"Of course, he's over the moon about you coming back to work with him."

"Is he really?"

"Um, didn't things go well on your first day?" Debbie asked, suddenly worried that Michael had once again missed the essential point of what was happening.  "Michael sounded very pleased with how the day went."

"It was okay," JR said carefully.

"He told me that he was so happy to have you back and that you seemed happy to be back."

"I am happy to be back.  I just wanted things to go back to the way they used to be..."

"And that didn't happen?"

"Not exactly."

"Maybe you just need some more time together."

"That's what I'm hoping," JR said with a sigh.

"So you're going back today?"

"Yes."

"Thank the stars," Debbie said quoting Emmett.  "Michael would have been devastated if you didn't return."

"I really want it to work, grandma."

"And so does he," Debbie emphasized.

"I wish we didn't have to try so hard," JR explained.  "It makes things ... tense."

"Maybe it will get better."

"Yeah."

"Hang in there, kiddo, and if I can be of any help, let me know."

"Thanks, grandma," JR said before cutting the connection.

*****

"Hello," JR said into her phone a few minutes later.

"JR, it's mom.  How are you?"

"Fine.  Did grandma call you?"

"No, should she have?"

"Well, no, but..."

"What's going on, JR?"

JR took a deep breath.  "I went back to the store ... to work," JR said.

"You did?  Michael must be so pleased," Mel responded.

"You're not mad?"

"Why would I be mad?" Mel asked.

"You and Dad haven't exactly been on the best terms," JR reminded her.

"That was because I thought he was being unreasonable where you and Jacqueline were concerned, and I told him so, but he refused to listen to me.  Has he changed his attitude?"

"He's trying."

"Well, that's good.  And you're okay with how it went ... at the store?"

"We got along okay," JR conceded.

"Did you talk about your relationship with Jacqueline?" Mel asked getting right to the point.

"No, we've been sidestepping that one," JR admitted.

"Maybe it's time to press the point," Melanie advised.

"I don't want it all to go to hell," JR said almost as a moan.

"Better to rip the bandaid off quickly than suffer the long, slow torture."

"Where did that come from?"

"You know what I mean."

"Yeah, I do," JR said.  "How's your trip going?"

"Almost over.  We spent some time with Gus and Ray in New York.  That was really nice, and we're off to Toronto."

"Did Justin and Bree get there okay?"

"Yep, and Lindsay too."

"Oh, the gang's all there."

"Did you want to come too?" Melanie asked suddenly worried that she had overlooked her daughter in all the plans.

"No, mom, I have things to deal with here."

"Good luck with your dad."

"Thanks, I'll probably need luck," JR replied.  "I think you're right about confronting what's going on."

"Good girl," Mel said.  "Listen, I have to go.  Say hi to Jacqueline for me."

"I will," JR responded before they hung up.

*****

When JR walked into the comic book store she had new resolve about what she was going to do and say.  She and Jacqueline had discussed it thoroughly, almost too thoroughly.  JR didn't agree with everything Jacqueline had to say, but they both thought it was time to show Michael Novotny that they were a couple, and intended to stay a couple for the foreseeable future.  If he couldn't handle that then JR was prepared to leave once and for all.

"Morning, honey... sweetheart," Michael corrected himself.

He really is trying, JR thought to herself.  Before, he would have called her honeybun and totally ignored her reaction.  Maybe this was a good time to go ahead with her plan.

"Hi, Dad," JR replied.  "Jacqueline and I were talking and we thought we should invite you and Ben over for dinner to our place."  She made sure to call the loft their place, not Jacqueline's place.  She waited for her father's reaction.

"Oh," Michael said.

"Just oh?" JR asked, her heart sinking.

"Um, when did you want to do this?"

"Whatever night works for you in the next few days," JR said.  Might as well get this over with quickly.

"Is Jacqueline okay with this?"

"Sure, it was her idea."

"Really?" Michael asked raising an eyebrow.

"She really wants me to be happy, and you're a big part of my life," JR said sincerely.

"Oh," Michael replied.

JR giggled in spite of herself.

"What's so funny?" Michael asked.

"I seem to be getting 'oh' as the main response to everything I say."

"Oh."

JR giggled louder.  "See what I mean."

Michael smiled and studied his daughter.  She did seem happy, even though she was with that woman.  Maybe Jacqueline was actually making her happy.  And he was making her happy by accepting the situation.  Maybe everybody was right about this.  "I'll try not to respond with an 'oh' when you say something else," he promised.

"You didn't answer about the dinner invitation," JR reminded him.

"Oh."

They both burst out laughing.

"That didn't last long," JR said.

"I'm so predictable," Michael said finally stopping chuckling.  "I'd love to have dinner with you and Jacqueline.  I just need to check with Ben."

"Sure," JR said.  "And do you realize that you didn't even hesitate when you said Jacqueline's name?"

"Did I before?"

JR nodded.  "Every time you managed to speak her name it came after a hesitation."

"Oh."

They both laughed again.

"Wow, I can't seem to help myself.  And I'll try not to pause when I say Jacqueline's name."

"She would be pleased if you didn't."

"Really?"

"And you didn't say 'oh'," JR laughed. 

"I didn't think she would care what I said or how I said it," Michael explained.

"She wants me to be happy, and that includes you, so it would be great if you two could get along.  That's really all I want, really all Jacqueline wants too."

"Oh," Michael replied.

They fell into gales of laughter holding onto each other for support as they laughed themselves silly. 

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