Lois, thank you for the beta...you are the greatest! Author's Comments: This story opens with a sidebar that is the bridge between Talisman Of Time and this sequel.
Chapter 1 - The Discussion (Sidebar) Late Saturday Night…(Day 34) Melanie and Lindsay had just said goodnight to Brian and Justin as they left with Gus for their adventure of a night in the Toronto hotel. The trio was spending all day Sunday together, as well. Mel, Linds, and Jenny had plans to meet Brian, Justin, and Gus at Brian’s hotel for Sunday dinner. Melanie and Lindsay were both actually looking forward to having dinner with them tomorrow evening. It had been a long time since they had an occasion to dine out, and they knew that Gus would have lots to tell about his adventures with Brian and Justin. They could only imagine! But at this moment, Mel and Linds had the house pretty much to themselves since Jenny Rebecca had already been safely tucked away in her bed hours ago. “I can’t believe that you invited Brian and Justin to spend the night here?” Lindsay casually mentioned to Melanie as they were starting to turn out the lights downstairs. “Why? Brian has stayed with us before. In fact, he stayed with us for one night, the last time he visited Gus; besides Justin was with him this time,” Melanie reminded her. “So?” “You know how I feel about Justin,” Melanie said with a gleam in her eyes. “Yes, I do. You have always liked Justin…well except for that naming Gus thing,” Lindsay reminded her with a laugh. “I think I have kind of gotten over that. But let’s not tell Justin, ok? Even after all this time, he still blushes when he’s teased about it.” Melanie said with a laugh. “And I still just can’t resist teasing him about it.” “I have noticed that,” Lindsay said with a laugh, flopping down on the living room sofa. “Lindsay, I’m so sorry about Gus,” Melanie said, flopping down beside her. “I had no idea that he would feel so miserable and alone that he would call Brian.” “Why did you send him to his room?” Lindsay wondered. “He and Jenny were playing together. Jenny got cranky. He couldn’t play with his toys in peace. So I suggested that he go to his room and play with his toys, and I played with Jenny,” Melanie casually explained. “Melanie, why didn’t you put Jenny in her play pen and play with Gus for a while. You two could have built a fort together or something.” “You weren’t here, and I had two kids both demanding my attention. I guess I felt that Jenny was just a baby that she needed me whereas Gus was older and could play by himself and be ok.” “Are you sure that it wasn’t simply that Jenny is your daughter, and she came first?” “No Linds, how could you think that?” “Something that you said in counseling started me start to wonder. I’m still sorting it all out in my own mind, so I haven’t worked it through yet. It’s just this gnawing feeling. You just seem so dedicated to Jenny…at times you even seem to be losing interest in Gus now that Jenny is around.” “It’s just that she is such a baby still, and I’m all that she has.” “Excuse me? Melanie, do you remember me, your wife…your partner. When childcare duties are my responsibility, I take care of both kids. I love them both. I don’t make distinctions.” “I’m not you Lindsay. I can’t love like that. I’m never going to be that kind of mother to Jenny. That’s why it’s so important that she has you in her life. Hell, even Justin mothers better than I do.” “What?” “We talked about it while he was here. All that time that Gus spent with Brian and Justin, very little of that time was made up of special activities planned especially for Gus…camping and horseback riding, maybe…but Justin said they just included Gus in whatever they had going on. That’s why Gus came back and couldn’t stop talking about how he stayed up and kept Brian company when he was working one night or why Gus now has to make a mess like Justin when he paints. I don’t know how to do what they do or even what you do with Gus. I love Gus. But for me he is just becoming a handful, and this isn’t the first time.” “But Gus is only six years old,” Lindsay reminded her. “I know how old Gus is,” Melanie responded sadly. “If you’re having this much trouble now, what are you going to do as he get older?” Lindsay asked with concern starting to seep into her voice. “Believe me, I’m starting to ask myself the same question,” Melanie said with a sigh, pulling Lindsay into her arms. “And what did you come up with?” Lindsay asked, cautiously snuggling in. “I have to be nicer to the Ass…I mean Brian.” “What?” “Don’t sound so surprised. Didn’t you notice that we didn’t snipe all evening?” Melanie reminded her. “I did notice. Justin kept you two separated most of the evening, and I kept both of you busy during dinner, and then everybody left soon afterwards, so I just figured that you didn’t have a chance to attack each other. I must admit that it was a rather pleasant evening.” “Gus has made it abundantly clear to anyone who will listen that he needs Brian and Justin in his life. So if that what he needs, we need to find a way to co-parent with them. And if we’re going to co-parent with them, Brian and I have to find a way to be in the same room with each other without sparring all the time…or at least not sparring over Gus. Believe me Brian and I in the same room have infinite opportunities to spar over things without Gus being in the mix.” Melanie relayed matter-of-factly. “When did you decide that Brian and Justin needed to co-parent with us?” “I didn’t decide it. That’s too big a decision for me to decide alone. Let’s just say that I was starting to play with the thought. While I was tossing the idea around in my head, Brian magically appeared, so I wanted to test out my hypothesis.” “Not that I understand what you just said, but what did you figure out?” “I have been doing some research on children for some cases I have been working on.” “Yeah.” “You know everyone talks about the effect of a gay or lesbian household on kids. And they like to compare those kids raised in gay and lesbian household versus kids raised in heterosexual households.” “Yeah.” “The studies show that kids raised in gay or lesbian households fare the same as kids raised in straight families. Of course now that I think about this, it makes sense. This is why we agreed to have Gus in the first place. But the more I think about it, the more I think we have used the wrong comparative model for a family like ours.” “You do?” “Where Gus is concerned especially, we should look at the studies of kids raised in gay and lesbian households versus the kids raised by cooperative divorced parents, who have placed the good of the kids above whatever their parental emotional conflicts once were.” “Where did that come from?” “I told you, my hypothesis. It’s just something I’ve been thinking about lately.” “Go on, I’m listening.” “We all look at our parents’ marriage and formulate ideas about relationships in general. Some of us have good examples, others not so good. It’s our parents as role model that we grow up to synthesize. We take what information we have gathered over the years and formulate how we want our own relationships to be. We selectively decide how parts of our relationships should identical to our parents, and how other parts of our relationships should be really, really different.” “Ok, I’m with you so far.” “I think kids of divorced parents after some requisite adjustment period of about two years, learn to function as a member of two different households. And in learning this lesson of functioning in two different households, they start the process of examining relationships at an earlier age. Once they have to function as members of two distinct households, they learn to adept to new situations. They learn to understand differences. They have multiple relationships from which to formulate the good and the not so good about relationships. So I think they get to do the relationship synthesis thing sooner. In theory… in theory, they should make better relationship choices.” “So this is what you think?” “Yes. Gus is clear that things are one way with Brian and Justin and a totally different way when he’s with us. He has very different experiences when he’s with each of us. And I think that’s a good thing…now that I’m sure that’s those experiences for Gus don’t include watching Brian perform as the Stud of Liberty Avenue. Look, Linds, we’re sooooooo far way from the model family we envisioned when we talked about having Gus. Brian is not simply a sperm donor with minimal involvement in his son’s life. As much as I hate to admit it, Brian is always going to be Gus’s father. Even signing over his parental rights didn’t change that reality.” “I can’t believe that I’m hearing you say this.” “Brian earned my respect when he got on a plane and came here to play with Gus, especially when you think about how little time Brian and Justin actually get to spend together, with Justin going back and forth to New York. Brian put Gus first, and this isn’t the first time he’s done that.” “When we were in the kitchen, Brian and I talked about our childhoods. Both Brian and I know what is like to watch your parents favor one child and neglect the other. Brian sadly watched that neglect turn into physical abuse. He wanted to remind us that there are all different forms of abuse, and he didn’t want any of those forms of abuse to touch Gus,” Lindsay continued. “Neither do I,” Melanie asserted. “I think Brian felt if we just became more aware of what were doing that we would be more careful.” “I do understand that. And…” “And?” “And Justin has made his point about Brian being a good parent; he has pointed out so much stuff to us…you have to admit, it’s pretty hard to ignore. Especially when Justin can be relentless when he’s making a case about something. You know he would have been a good lawyer,” Melanie pointed out. “I have often thought that. And, I know Justin can be relentless once he set his mind to something. How else do you explain that he and Brian are together?” Lindsay agreed. “Lindsay, Brian is exactly where he wants to be. Brian’s only problem was that he didn’t know how to get here. Fortunately, he had Justin to show him the way. Brian still loves you, but Justin has Brian’s heart. And he’s so different because of it. Even I can see it, and you know how I feel about the Asshole.” “Yes, I do know,” Lindsay agreed. “Now, you were saying about your hypothesis?” “Oh yeah. So I’m taking a wait and see attitude on my hypothesis.” “About what?” “I’m gathering data points about Brian and Justin co-parenting Gus with us. I’m not ready to really discuss it. But, I have decided to NOT create a major crisis for you every time Brian wants spend time with Gus.” “Are you sure?” “I know it won’t be that often, and Gus really wants and needs to spend time with him and Justin.” “I’m glad that you feel that way.” “Are you now? Why?” “It seems that Jason called Justin while they were on their way here. Jason and Paul want Brian and Justin to bring Gus with them for Nicky’s birthday party in Cincinnati.” “So they’re willing to take Gus along,” Melanie said wistfully. “You have to admit that it would definitely be a new experience for Gus…someone new for him to play with. Sure, why not?” “You’re serious.” “Don’t be so surprised. I’m trying here.” “Yes, you are. I can see that you really mean this.” “I really do love Gus, Lindsay, and I really do want what’s best for him. There’re a lot of things I need to protect him from, but no matter how I try to slice it, I just can’t make Brian or Justin one of those things.” Melanie said with smile. “I’m glad that you finally realize this,” Lindsay said with a smile. Melanie continued, “Besides when I was doing my research, little boys raised without a strong father influence are more likely to become a statistic in the criminal justice system. The studies I read were frightening. I don’t want to take any chances where Gus is concerned. Brian and Justin being involved in Gus’ life will shield him from that possibility as well. As I see it, Gus would win all around.” “You really do love Gus, don’t you?” “Of course, I love Gus. I have told you that, but I see my primary role is to protect him.” “But, you have to also show him that you love him too. You can’t always choose to give Jenny all the attention and neglect him. It’s important for a little boy to know that he is loved by his parents, and in this case that’s you and me.” Lindsay pointed out. “I know. I’ll be more careful.” Melanie promised. Lindsay leaned up and gently kissed Melanie. For some reason, Melanie was completely surprised by the maneuver, but she quickly responded to the kiss and allowed it turn passionate. “I think that we should move this discussion upstairs to our bedroom,” Melanie suggested. And, together, arm-in-arm, they made their way upstairs.