Thanks Lois for the beta...your'e the greatest!
Author's comment: I didn't want to clutter my regular stories with this Sidebar, which will be short and self-contained in 5 or 6 chapters. I just thought you might like a glimpse of what's going on. You can read this Sidebar at any time after reading Chapter 21 of Superheroes, otherwise it will make no sense. You can skip this story if you want until you see the need for it later on. I will update this story at my usual rate. Superheroes will continue to post as usual. This Sidebar is an experiment, so please let me know what you think.
Chapter 1 – A Lazy Sunday Afternoon
Early Afternoon (Day 14)
“I can’t believe that you let Ben and Michael take Gus back to Pittsburgh with them,” Melanie complained to Lindsay as they were reading the Sunday papers.
“Look, Melanie, we discussed this. You agreed.” Lindsay pointed out. “Gus wanted to see Justin badly enough to stage a protest hunger-strike. He wasn’t speaking to us for almost the whole day yesterday. True, he probably would have eventually come around; after all he’s only six. I’m sure by this afternoon he would have probably forgotten why he was mad at us. But Melanie, there was no point in making a fuss about this. Justin is there. You know how Gus feels about Justin. You know how Justin feels about Gus, and you know Justin will take good care of Gus.”
“That’s not the point,” Melanie countered, trying to get Lindsay to see the problem. Melanie stopped glancing at the paper and was now giving Lindsay her undivided attention.
“What is the point, Melanie?” Lindsay asked resolutely. She now was also folding the paper she had been reading.
“We should have never let him have his way. We’re his the parents. He has to respect that. We shouldn’t have rewarded Gus for being willful like that,” Melanie pointed out gently, slowing walking over to her partner and giving Lindsay a hug.
“Melanie, Gus loves and respects us. But just because he loves and respects us, doesn’t mean he’s going to like everything that we do or say. Even at six years old, he definitely has his own opinions, and we have to allow him to express what he feels. And he definitely feels that Justin is very important to him,” Lindsay explained, giving Melanie a tender kiss.
“I wonder how Justin is doing in New York. I wonder how his art career is doing. I wonder how he likes New York. Gee, you know, we haven’t talked to him in such a long time. I wonder how he’s doing,” Melanie said, starting to ramble nonstop. “That was a wonderful painting that he sent me. I’ve gotten lots of compliments at the office about it. Justin is a wonderful artist, but even more than that, I just really miss him. If we could only deal with Justin without having to deal with the Asshole, life would be perfect. In fact, when the wedding was called off and Justin moved to New York, I thought that’s it, Justin’s safe. But Brian wants Justin with every fiber of his being. You can just see it whenever he talks about Justin. No, I’m afraid Brian will never let Justin get away,” Melanie finally said as if in defeat.
“So then you think that Brian is the one holding onto the relationship. Wow! I guess I always thought that Justin was the one hanging on. I guess I hoped with Justin focusing on his art career, he wouldn’t have time for the distraction of Brian. I guess I hoped that by taking his career to the next level in New York he would gain some perspective. I guess I rather hoped he would take the opportunity for fame and fortune that lie before him, rather than continue to try to limit his focus on Brian. I love Brian dearly, but let’s face it, Brian is never really going to change,” Lindsay revealed, resting her head on Melanie’s shoulder.
“I wonder,” Melanie remarked quietly, kissing the top of Lindsay’s head.
Melanie and Lindsay share a moment of quiet tenderness.
The moment doesn’t last as Lindsay continues her rant once again.
“Brian’s so unfair to keep raising Justin’s hopes for the future. Brian keeps asking Justin to just accept him as he is, to accept the fact that Brian’s never going to change. But, Justin just keeps hoping, and his hoping distracts from his art career. Justin is so talented. He’s capable of achieving so much more, if he would just let go of Brian,” Lindsay continued.
She moved from Melanie’s embrace and started to gather sections of the paper that had been scattered across the coffee table.
“Well Michael thinks that everything is over. Michael thinks that Brian doesn’t care about Justin anymore. That’s why Michael and Ben were so concerned about Justin,” Melanie pointed out, mindlessly assisting Lindsay in her efforts to eliminate the clutter.
“Right, and of course Michael’s judgment is so perfect when it comes to Brian and Justin. Michael is still so in love with Brian and still hoping that one-day, he and Brian will ride off into the sunset together. So don’t let Michael be your barometer for the Brian/Justin relationship.” Lindsay counter-argued with a laugh.
“From what you’re telling me the best barometer of the Brian and Justin relationship is…I know this is a scary prospect…but it does look like the truth… is Gus,” Melanie said with all sincerity.
With that statement Lindsay couldn’t contain herself, she burst out laughing until the tears started to stream down her cheeks, and she fell on the sofa laughing.
Melanie looked at her partner and realized what she just said. Then she too began laughing, and also fell on the sofa.
Lindsay was the first to regain her composure. “So based on the information provided by our son, what do we know?” Lindsay asked, preparing to assemble all known facts. She propped herself on one elbow and waited for the answer.
“Well, from what I overheard of the telephone conversation he had with Brian and Justin and from what little Gus has been willing to say…you know… during the period when he wasn’t speaking to either of us, …” Melanie began to elaborate, trying to make herself comfortable in the process.
“Yeah?”
“Well, according to his six year old mind, Justin may be in New York and Brian may be in Pittsburgh, but Justin still belongs to Brian, and Brian is still taking care of Justin. That’s all there is to it, according to Gus!” Melanie recanted with a smile.
“I see,” Lindsay sighed and matched Melanie’s smile.
“What did Gus say when you talked to him?” Melanie quietly asked, hoping there was more information to come.
“He informed me he didn’t have time to talk to me right now. He informed me that he and Justin were in the middle of reading the comics together. He was very busy. He would call me later, he said.” Lindsay recounted with some dismay and a tinge of jealousy.
“Just give Gus a day or so with Brian. He’ll be calling us to come and get him by tomorrow. You know Brian isn’t going to change his lifestyle or his schedule because Gus is visiting, especially when the visit wasn’t planned. And, Justin will be too busy painting to spend time with Gus. So Gus will be calling us tomorrow telling us he’s ready to come home. You’ll see,” Melanie suggested, trying to allay any fears.
Melanie stated what she believed and hoped was true, for she missed Gus already and she clearly understood how Lindsay felt.
Lindsay walked across the room and picked up Jenny Rebecca from her playpen. Lindsay gave her daughter an extra hug. Then Lindsay and Jenny Rebecca snuggled into Melanie’s arms on the sofa.