Invitation
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Rating: PG.
Summary: Sarah extends an invitation.
Author's Note: Holy backstory Batman! I have no idea where that came from - it certainly wasn't in my mind when I first sat down to write this. One thing just led to another, somehow. Anyway - set after 2.06.
Invitation
Sarah rang her middle brother's door bell, one foot tapping impatiently. He couldn't have left yet, could he? It was early, and his firm wasn't that far away - even in rush hour traffic, it wouldn't take him very long to get there. And she really needed him to be home, so he could calm her nerves. She wasn't going to get anything done at Ojai in the state she was in right now. “Come on, Kev,” she muttered as she rang the bell again. Maybe he was in the shower.
Just as she thought that, the door opened, and there he was. “Hey, Sarah. I was just about to leave.” Ignoring him, she pushed her way inside. “Look, I really have to go. Can we walk and talk?”
“No. I need you. This whole custody thing is driving me crazy.”
“I thought Joe said he'd share custody with you, 50/50.”
“That's what he said. But how do I know he won't change his mind again? There must be something we can do to speed things up, make him stand by his word. You're the lawyer, help me out here! I'm losing my mind!”
“You have a mind left to lose?” She punched him in the arm. “Ow. Okay, listen. First of all, I already told you I'm not an expert on family law, and if you need advice on this you need to find a lawyer who works with custody cases regularly. Second, and now I'm talking as your brother and Joe's brother-in-law, don't go there. Don't push him. He's holding all the cards, and he's giving you what you want, so don't rock the boat.”
“You're mixing your metaphors.”
“Fine. Don't listen to me, I'm just the one you came to for help.” He held the door open. “I have a breakfast meeting, so if we're done here...?”
“How about some sympathy, Kev? We're talking about my children!”
“All the more reason for you to listen to me!” He sighed, looked up at the ceiling, and let out a slow breath through his nose. “This is too important for you to try to bulldoze your way through it. Joe won't stand for that, he'll only get his back up and then he might actually change his mind. Right now that possibility is just in your head, but if you behave like a bull in a china shop - don't roll your eyes at me, I can use as many metaphors as I like - you could cause that fear to become a reality.”
“I am not a bull in a china shop.”
“Well I wasn't going to call you a cow. Not to your face.”
Before she could respond to that, Scotty Wandell came out of the bathroom wearing only a pair of jeans, a towel in one hand rubbing at his hair. “Kevin? I thought you were... in a hurry,” he trailed off when he caught sight of them. “Hi, Sarah.” His eyes darted to Kevin, even as he quickly reached for a shirt that was draped over the back of a chair.
“Oh. My. God.” She turned to her brother, crossing her arms over her chest. “Kevin?”
“No,” he replied simply.
“Kevin.”
“He's crashing on my air mattress. Get your mind out of the gutter.”
“Riiight. Air mattress. That's why you haven't mentioned this to anyone.” Seriously - it was Scotty. No way could this possibly be as innocent as Kevin tried to paint it. She remembered very well what the two of them had been like together.
“You know, somehow I was too focused on Kitty's pregnancy, wedding plans and miscarriage to realize that this would be so important to you. Geez, Sarah. I have a boyfriend.”
“Yes. Exactly.”
“Oh, shut up. I'm allowed to help out a friend. Now, I really do have to leave for my breakfast meeting, and if I'm late I'm blaming you. Excuse me.” He picked up his briefcase and used his other hand to move her out of his way.
Frustrated, Sarah watched him leave, then turned to Scotty, who was by now fully dressed. “Hi.”
“Hi.” He rubbed the towel against his hair again, possibly as an excuse not to meet her eyes. “I really am sleeping on the air mattress, you know.” He gestured at the corner of the room, where, yes, an air mattress was bundled up.
“Uh-huh.” She sat down on the couch, and patted the seat beside her. “So what happened? Why do you need a place to stay? Broke up with a boyfriend and he kicked you out of the apartment?”
He sat down next to her, the towel around his neck. “Sort of. Except for boyfriend, substitute landlady, and for break-up, substitute failure to keep up with the rent.”
“Ouch.” She winced in sympathy. “Your parents...?”
“Not an option.” His lips pressed tight together, Scotty stared straight ahead of him.
“Okay. So what are you going to do?”
“Dunno. Clearly this is only a short-term solution, but it'll buy me time to figure something out.”
“And it isn't... awkward?”
The corner of his mouth twitched. “It's a little awkward.” He rubbed at his eyebrow. “But in a choice between 'awkward' and 'sleeping in my car,' I'll take awkward.”
“Sleeping in your car?!?”The color rose in his cheeks, and she sat down again, slightly baffled that she'd gotten to her feet without even realizing it. “Yeah, I mean, absolutely. If those are the options, forget I ever questioned you staying here.” She huffed out a breath. “It was just a surprise. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable, but seeing you here when I had no idea... I mean, I knew you were back in the picture, but I had no idea about this.”
“As a friend, Sarah. I'm back in the picture as a friend.”
“I know. I know. It's just... I remember how crazy he was about you, you know? I remember the way you looked at him.”
“Sarah? Not helping.”
“Sorry.” The way he'd said it made her take a longer look at him. He still had feelings for Kevin, didn't he? Talk about awkward. “You know, I have a spare room.”
He smiled at her, leaning his shoulder against hers. “You're a sweetheart. But no, I couldn't ask that of you.”
“You didn't ask, I offered. Gabe's room is just sitting there unused, and when the kids are with Joe, the house is really empty, you know?”
“I heard about the divorce. I'm sorry.” He took her hand, squeezed it a little.
“Yeah.” She blinked back sudden tears - they caught her off guard at the worst of times. “It's hard on the kids, you know? Paige has been having a really bad time lately. It's just not fair. And - I miss Gabe.”
“You don't see him anymore?”
She shook her head. “His mom and dad just got back together. He should be ecstatic, you know? Maybe he is. It's what every child of divorce dreams of, apparently. But I can't help thinking that he has no real memory of them ever being married. He was so young when they split up. And... He was barely four when Joe and I got together. I've been in his life for almost as long as he can remember, and now all of a sudden I'm not? I've watched him grow up from a preschooler to a teenager, and now I'm just supposed to forget about him? Maybe I'll see him at Paige and Cooper's birthdays, if Joe doesn't decide we should have two separate celebrations for them, one with my family and one with his. Even if I do get to see him then, that's months away, and I won't have a chance to really talk to him, and God, I miss him!”
“Hey.” Scotty pulled her head down onto his shoulder, and wrapped his arm around her. “It's okay. Go ahead and cry.”
“It's not supposed to end this way,” she said against the towel still wrapped around his neck, her hands closing on the front of his shirt. “This isn't what I signed up for when I walked down the aisle.”
“I know.” He stroked her hair lightly. “Life just sucks sometimes.”
She laughed through her tears. “You can say that again.”
“Life just sucks sometimes.”
“Moron.” She smacked his arm, and sat up straight. “Sorry. Didn't mean to cry all over you. I'm just a mess these days.”
“You're allowed.”
“I wish you could convince my family of that. They've all heard me complain about the same things over and over for months, so by now, they just roll their eyes at me.” She wiped at her cheeks, and he silently offered her his damp towel. “See why I want you to come stay with me? I need someone who will listen to me bitch about my sucky life.”
“Unfortunately, I think having me around might make things harder for you if this custody issue does end up a court matter after all.”
“Why would it? It's not like anyone's going to think we're sleeping together.”
Scotty grimaced. “Sadly, a lot of people out there still think gay equals child molester. If you let an unrelated gay man stay in the house where your young son lives... With the wrong judge, that could be disastrous.”
“No. Just no. That's one line that Joe would never, ever cross.” Sarah wiped the last remnants of tears from her face. “Okay, maybe he caught me off guard with the whole wanting full custody thing, but I know him, and he wouldn't have done that if he hadn't been genuinely convinced that it was the best thing for the kids. I mean, he was wrong, and he's realized that now, so he's backing off - but he didn't do it just for kicks, you know? He believed in what he was doing. And I may bitch about him, but I still know him, and he wouldn't do what you suggested, or let his lawyer do it.”
“You're sure enough that you're willing to risk joint custody over it?”
“I'm completely, one hundred percent sure. Did I ever tell you that Joe and I met through PFLAG?”
Scotty looked stunned. “No. No, you didn't tell me that.”
“Well, we did. So yeah, I'm pretty damn sure.” She could remember it like it was yesterday, the way Kitty had teased her that she had done the impossible - she'd found a man more liberal than her.
“So, uh, who was the friend or family member who led Joe to join?”
“It's a long story.” And not a very happy one.
“I've got time,” Scotty offered quietly. “If you want to tell me, that is.”
Did she? Did she want to go back in time, to the memory of when she and Joe first met, of when he told her the story? Well... It might be good to remember those days for once. She had spent so much time angry at him lately, and if they were going to work together for the sake of the kids, she should try to temper that with some positive thoughts.
“His best friend when he was a teenager was a Hispanic kid,” she said quietly. “Gabriel.” She glanced at Scotty, saw him register the name. “Joe was the second person he came out to, after his sister.” She leaned against the back of the couch, trying to remember the story the way Joe told it, once upon a time. “Gabriel's family wasn't Mexican, his father was very particular about that. They were old Californians. The father took great pride in being descended from some of the first European settlers here, younger sons from Spanish noble families. He was a very traditional man, very conservative, very Catholic.”
Beside her, Scotty winced and shook his head a little.
“Yeah. It didn't go down well when Gabriel told his parents he was gay. There was a big scene, which ended with them disowning him, kicking him out of the house. He was seventeen. Two weeks later, he jumped off a bridge.”
Scotty sprang to his feet, swearing viciously. He paced back and forth, clenching and unclenching his hands as if he wanted to punch something - or someone. Knowing there was nothing she could say, Sarah stared at her own hands. If she could go back in time and wrap her hands around the necks of the so-called parents who would do that to their son...
“So you see,” she said eventually, “Joe would never suggest that there was something inherently wrong with being gay. And if he even considered the possibility, Paula would wring his neck.”
“Paula?”
“His first wife, whom he recently got back together with. Gabe's mother - and Gabriel's sister.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.” And given that Joe was now back with her, that he'd made it sound like Paula was his soulmate, Sarah was now not only asking herself if all the years they'd had together were one big interlude in the epic love story of Joe-and-Paula. She was also wondering if part of the reason Joe had been drawn to her in the first place was because she too had a gay brother - but one that was still alive. He had tried very hard to bond with Kevin at first, harder than with any of her other siblings. It had tapered off eventually, as he realized that despite the stresses between Kevin and William, Kevin did have a very supportive and loving family, and didn't really need saving.
“Sarah?” Scotty sat down next to her again. “You okay?”
She smiled crookedly at him. “Just thinking. So. You wanna come stay with me?”
He hesitated for a moment. “Thanks for the offer, but I think I'll stay here. It's... I think Kevin kinda needs a friend. He's really lonely, he misses Jason a lot. And he worries so much. He worries over Kitty's miscarriage, Justin's leg, everything Tommy and Julia have gone through, your divorce, how Paige and Cooper are doing, whether Nora's wearing herself out trying to take care of everyone else... I think he needs someone to worry about him.”
“Do you think you're the best person for the job?” she asked softly. “Given your history.”
“I think it should be Jason. But he's not here, so...” Scotty shrugged. “I did have my doubts at first, but... I'll do what I can. Yesterday I got him to watch a DVD with me. Just to, you know, kick back and relax. I don't think he's done much of that lately.”
“No, he probably hasn't.” She wasn't unaware of the irony. Here she'd just been telling herself that Kevin didn't need saving, only to have Scotty present a very different view. “Now I feel guilty. Kevin's been there for me all the way through this, and all I do is complain, instead of trying to return the favor.”
“I'm not sure he'd let you. He wants his family to see him as strong and reliable. He doesn't seem to feel that same need with me.”
“Then I'm very glad you're back in the picture - although it doesn't free me of the responsibility to try, too.” She patted Scotty's hand. “Okay, let's change the subject. Wanna come to a party next weekend?”
“A party, huh?” He waggled his eyebrows at her. “What's the occasion?”
“My birthday.” And there was absolutely no way she was telling this very young man that she was turning forty.
“Really?” He grinned. “Awesome! Wait - does that mean your birthday was while Kevin and I were dating last year, and he didn't tell me?”
“I think it was before the two of you got serious.” She frowned, trying to remember. “Or maybe you were temporarily broken up at the time. I do remember that Kev was technically single, but we were all teasing him about you.”
“Aww, he must've hated that.”
“Oh, he did,” Sarah laughed. “He hated it.” He had warned her to back off or she might not live long enough to eat her birthday cake, she remembered. Yeah, right. “So you'll come?”
“I'm afraid I can't afford much of a birthday present.”
“Scotty. I didn't invite you so I could get a present, I invited you because I want you to be there.”
“Okay then. If I can get the night off, I'll be there.”
“Next Saturday, my place. Kid-friendly celebration starts at four, the more grown-up party will kick off around eight or nine.” She kissed his cheek before getting up. “Thanks for the shoulder to cry on. And if things get too awkward here, my offer still stands.”
“I'll keep that in mind.” He walked her to the door, where he hugged her warmly. “Take care, Sarah.”
“You too.”
“Say hi to Paige and Cooper for me.”
“I will.” She gave him one more squeeze before letting go. “See you.”
As the door swung closed behind her, she pulled out her cell phone. Kevin was probably in the middle of his breakfast meeting, so there was no point in trying to call him, but a text would do.
Sorry I was a shrew. Love you.
The door opened abruptly behind her “Sarah? Oh, you're still here! I was about to run down, hoping to catch you before you left.” Scotty smiled. “About Gabe.”
“What about him?”
“Have you tried emailing him? Texting? Or maybe he's on Facebook? You could just send him a brief message to let him know you miss him and still think about him, and then it would be up to him. Maybe if he doesn't have to actually talk to you, he won't feel like he's betraying his parents by staying in touch with you.”
“He does have a Facebook account,” Sarah said slowly. “That... is pretty smart. It's definitely worth a try.”
“I just think he's damn lucky to have you in his life. And given what his parents - his other parents - have seen happen to kids who feel like they have nobody... well, I'd think they'd be happy for their son to have as many loving adults around him as possible, don't you?”
“You'd think that, yeah.” She framed his face in her hands and smacked a kiss on his lips. “God, why are all the best ones gay? I'd snatch you up in heartbeat if you weren't.” She frowned, even as Scotty laughed and blushed. “And if you weren't way too young for me. And my brother's ex.”
“Well, the 'brother's ex' part kinda goes hand in hand with being gay,” Scotty pointed out. “But if I weren't gay and your brother's ex, we'd never have met.”
“Now that would be a shame.” She patted his cheek. “Don't forget, next Saturday.”
“I'll be there if at all possible.” He waved at her as he closed the door.
Okay, now she really needed to get going. She was going to be late for work, but at least she'd arrive with a clear head. And she could spend the drive there composing a message to Gabe. Maybe it would turn out to be a pretty good day, after all.