"Coup de Foudre" 116
Sorry for the delay, but… onward!
Gus has a little talk… with Jimmy.
By Gaedhal
Pittsburgh, August 2016
“Hey there, Champ.”
“Hi, Jimmy,” said Gus as he came into the kitchen after Michael dropped him off from work. “Where’s Carmel? I’m hungry.”
“Señorita Carmelita is in her room watching some talk show on the Whosis Channel.”
“Univision,” said Gus, dropping into a chair at the kitchen table. “Where’s Justin? I don’t see his Jeep.”
“He went out,” said Jimmy. “Who knows where. He’s a busy little blond bee, our Baby Blue.”
“Did he take Dad?”
“Nope. Brian and Danny are at the health food store,” Jimmy sniffed. He had a large tumbler of something that wasn’t lemonade and he was swilling it. It didn’t seem to be his first glass. “Danny wanted to get Brian some vitamins he swears will make him as good as new. Yeah, right.”
Gus flinched. “You mean you think my dad isn’t ever going to get any better? Is that what you’re saying?”
“No way, Champ!” Jimmy insisted. “It’s only that… well, this is Pittsburgh. It’s a fine city, don’t get me wrong, but if Brian was out in L.A. he’d have the finest care available. The best specialists. The best facilities. UCLA Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai - they can’t be beat, if you know what I mean, kid.”
But Gus just stared at Jimmy. He’d known Jimmy all his life, but there was still something about him that he didn’t trust. Jimmy had been Ron’s best friend, but… Ron had warned Gus a long time ago to take anything Jimmy told him with a grain of salt. To keep him at arm’s length. So deep down inside, Gus knew Ron hadn’t really trusted Jimmy either. He wasn’t sure why, but he knew it was true.
“Yeah, Cedars-Sinai might be great, but they didn’t save Ron. He died there and he’s still fucking dead!”
“Oh,” said Jimmy dismissively. “I forgot about that. They can’t always work miracles, Champ. To tell you the truth, poor Ronnie was dead before he even got to the hospital. There was never any chance that he’d pull through.”
“Great.” Gus turned away. The pain of Ron’s death was still raw. “I really needed to hear that.”
“Hey!” said Jimmy. “Don’t be like that! Ronnie was my best friend in the world. Don’t you think it hurts me to think about how he died? And it hurts me to see Brian all banged up and… and… not himself. But it doesn’t have to be like that.”
“I think Dad’s doing okay,” said Gus warily. “When he was in the hospital I was scared shitless he was going to die, but he’s home now and he’s getting better. The doctors said it was going to take time before he was back to normal. Maybe a long time. Maybe even a year.”
Or longer, thought Gus. This was getting fucking depressing! He just wanted some food. He and Michael got gyros from Ali Baba’s but that had been at least three hours ago. Now he was starving and Carmel hadn’t even started dinner.
“Listen, Sonny Boy,” said Jimmy, sliding his arm around Gus’s shoulder. “I know school is starting soon and there’s that whole kerfuffle about where you want to go… what’s the name of the place?”
“St. James Academy,” said Gus. He moved Jimmy’s arm off his shoulder. “It’s the best place around here - even if Justin did go there. And don’t call me ‘Sonny Boy.’”
“Sure,” said Jimmy. “I bet St. James is great. And Little Boy Blue doesn’t strike me as a dummy, even if he is a bit… naïve. And provincial.”
“Provincial?” Gus frowned. “What the fuck do you mean by that?”
“I mean that Justin sees things from the perspective of Pittsburgh.” Jimmy took another gulp from his not-lemonade and smacked his lips. “He thinks Pittsburgh is the be-all and end-all. He’s lived here all his life and thinks everything here is the best. Of course, we know it’s not.”
What was Jimmy getting at? Gus wondered. It wasn’t true that Justin had spent his whole life in the Pitts. He’d worked in Hollywood on that comic book movie that was shelved. And he’d also lived in New York City. Michael told him all about that. So what did Jimmy mean that he was provincial?
“Dad likes his doctors,” said Gus. “They saved his life. And he’s making progress. Everybody says so. Danny says so.”
“Danny?” Jimmy shook his head. “He’s a nice kid with a great body, but he’s hardly in a position to judge Brian’s progress.”
“He’s his physical therapist!” Gus asserted. “He works with Dad every day!”
“But that’s not all Brian needs and you know it.” Jimmy sidled a little closer than Gus felt comfortable with. “Be honest - don’t you think Brian would do better back home? And I mean California. Maybe he was born here in glorious Pittsburgh, but this is hardly his home.” Jimmy paused. “Or your home. Wouldn’t you like to go home, Champ? Back to your own house? Sleep in your own bed? Go to a school with all your friends? I know Carmel would love to go back. No wonder she hides in her room all the time, watching the tube - she’s homesick! She has her friends and her family back in L.A. and I’m sure she’d rather be near them.”
“Probably,” Gus admitted. “But this is where Dad wants to be. Near his doctors. His business. And… and his friends. Like Michael. And Ted…”
“And Justin,” Jimmy added. “So he can be near that Justin. You think that’s a good thing for him? Don’t you think Baby Blue is a tad too possessive lately? Like he thinks he owns Brian? Like he’s the one in charge? Fine thing for a guy who walked out on Brian… how many times? But when Brian comes back into town rich and successful, sweet little Justin is right there, taking advantage of poor Brian’s grief. Of his vulnerability. And Brian was vulnerable after Ron died. You remember how lost he was? How hurt? And who was there to swoop down and grab him in a weak moment. And now that Brian is injured himself and practically helpless…”
“My father is not helpless!” Gus exclaimed. “Yes, he’s had an accident, but he’s not helpless! And… he likes Justin. I’m not crazy about the guy and, yes, I’d like it he wasn’t around, but he does a lot of stuff for Dad. He organizes things. And he… helps him.” Gus squirmed. He knew his father was an extremely sexual man. He’d grown up in a house with two lesbians moms, and then in one with two gay dads, but that didn’t mean he liked to think too much about gay sex. It was hard enough to think about straight sex - especially when he’d never even had any! Yeah, he wanted to have it… and soon! But that didn’t seem too likely in the near future.
But mainly he didn’t like thinking of his father having sex with Justin Taylor. Especially not after he had been married to Ron. For real! While Justin was… was…
“Face it, the kid’s a convenient fuck,” said Jimmy firmly.
“Don’t let my dad hear you say that!” Gus warned. “Or Justin. They won’t like it.”
“Why should we care what Justin likes?” asked Jimmy. “It’s Brian I’m thinking about. Brian and his health. Brian getting the best treatment possible. Think of how well he’d do in California. Summer is going to be over soon, then comes Fall, and then a long, cold Winter. You think Brian would rather be freezing his ass off in Pittsburgh… or sunning himself in Creekside Canyon? Or, better yet, at my house in Malibu. I’m right on the beach. You guys could lie in the sand and watch the surf crash and listen to the seagulls. I tell you, it’s heavenly up there.”
“But you said we’d live at our house,” said Gus. “Not at your place in Malibu. Besides, how would Tess feel about that?”
“Oh,” said Jimmy. “I mean on weekends. You and Brian could drive up and have a wonderful time. Imagine how much more relaxed he’d be by the ocean. And on holidays we could all go to my place in Maui. I know you like it there.”
Gus had to admit that he did love Jimmy’s house in Maui. That’s where Ron and Dad had their original commitment ceremony, right on the beach. But still…
“But Tess….”
“Don’t you worry about Tess, Champ,” said Jimmy. “She loves Brian and wants to see him get better. Everybody wants to see Brian get better. Even Baby Blue wants that… I think. And his friends - they all want what’s best for the Big Bad Wolf, so he can be his Big Bad Self as soon as possible. Don’t you think?”
“Well…”
“But don’t say anything about this to Michael or Checkbook or even Señorita Carmelita. This is just an idea I’m tossing out there. A good idea. A great idea. But merely an idea. Unless…”
“What?”
“Unless you help me make it work,” said Jimmy. “If we play our cards right, we can all be back in Los Angeles in time for you to start school. How’d you like that?”
Gus balked. Yes, he’d love to be back home. He’d been wishing for it since the first day they came to this unfamiliar city and this big, dumb house. All he wanted was to go home. For things to go back to the way they used to be. Before Ron died. And then… to the way they were before his father had the accident. He even dreamed about it at night.
But… Jimmy. He still didn’t trust Jimmy. Everything he said made sense… so why did he still not believe it? He was in enough trouble with his dad already since he’d threatened to run away. He’d said some really stupid things. But that’s what happened when you were angry. You said stupid shit!
Jimmy, however… what he said sounded… good. Right. It was everything Gus wanted to hear. To be back in L.A. again! That would be the best! He wouldn’t have to be surrounded by strangers at a new school. The house on Creekside Canyon was a place where he felt safe. And there were doctors out there, too. Good doctors. Brian would probably get better much faster. Jimmy was right about that.
But… how could they convince Dad? He was so fucking stubborn! And with Justin always around, sticking his nose into everything, always monitoring everything Brian did…
“Dad will never agree. And neither will Justin. So you can forget California.”
“Oh, I think Bri can be convinced,” Jimmy said. “A little sweet talking. A little schmoozing, as Ron would say. I can do. You can do it. Even Carmel can add her two cents in.”
Gus rolled his eyes. “He won’t go. And Justin won’t let him go. And Dad is dependent on Justin. You know how that is.”
“Well then, Champ,” said Jimmy, putting his arm across Gus’s shoulders again. This time Gus didn’t move away. “There’s only one thing we need to do.”
Gus looked at Jimmy with new interest. “What’s that?”
“Get rid of Little Boy Blue. For good.”
Gus has a little talk… with Jimmy.
By Gaedhal
Pittsburgh, August 2016
“Hey there, Champ.”
“Hi, Jimmy,” said Gus as he came into the kitchen after Michael dropped him off from work. “Where’s Carmel? I’m hungry.”
“Señorita Carmelita is in her room watching some talk show on the Whosis Channel.”
“Univision,” said Gus, dropping into a chair at the kitchen table. “Where’s Justin? I don’t see his Jeep.”
“He went out,” said Jimmy. “Who knows where. He’s a busy little blond bee, our Baby Blue.”
“Did he take Dad?”
“Nope. Brian and Danny are at the health food store,” Jimmy sniffed. He had a large tumbler of something that wasn’t lemonade and he was swilling it. It didn’t seem to be his first glass. “Danny wanted to get Brian some vitamins he swears will make him as good as new. Yeah, right.”
Gus flinched. “You mean you think my dad isn’t ever going to get any better? Is that what you’re saying?”
“No way, Champ!” Jimmy insisted. “It’s only that… well, this is Pittsburgh. It’s a fine city, don’t get me wrong, but if Brian was out in L.A. he’d have the finest care available. The best specialists. The best facilities. UCLA Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai - they can’t be beat, if you know what I mean, kid.”
But Gus just stared at Jimmy. He’d known Jimmy all his life, but there was still something about him that he didn’t trust. Jimmy had been Ron’s best friend, but… Ron had warned Gus a long time ago to take anything Jimmy told him with a grain of salt. To keep him at arm’s length. So deep down inside, Gus knew Ron hadn’t really trusted Jimmy either. He wasn’t sure why, but he knew it was true.
“Yeah, Cedars-Sinai might be great, but they didn’t save Ron. He died there and he’s still fucking dead!”
“Oh,” said Jimmy dismissively. “I forgot about that. They can’t always work miracles, Champ. To tell you the truth, poor Ronnie was dead before he even got to the hospital. There was never any chance that he’d pull through.”
“Great.” Gus turned away. The pain of Ron’s death was still raw. “I really needed to hear that.”
“Hey!” said Jimmy. “Don’t be like that! Ronnie was my best friend in the world. Don’t you think it hurts me to think about how he died? And it hurts me to see Brian all banged up and… and… not himself. But it doesn’t have to be like that.”
“I think Dad’s doing okay,” said Gus warily. “When he was in the hospital I was scared shitless he was going to die, but he’s home now and he’s getting better. The doctors said it was going to take time before he was back to normal. Maybe a long time. Maybe even a year.”
Or longer, thought Gus. This was getting fucking depressing! He just wanted some food. He and Michael got gyros from Ali Baba’s but that had been at least three hours ago. Now he was starving and Carmel hadn’t even started dinner.
“Listen, Sonny Boy,” said Jimmy, sliding his arm around Gus’s shoulder. “I know school is starting soon and there’s that whole kerfuffle about where you want to go… what’s the name of the place?”
“St. James Academy,” said Gus. He moved Jimmy’s arm off his shoulder. “It’s the best place around here - even if Justin did go there. And don’t call me ‘Sonny Boy.’”
“Sure,” said Jimmy. “I bet St. James is great. And Little Boy Blue doesn’t strike me as a dummy, even if he is a bit… naïve. And provincial.”
“Provincial?” Gus frowned. “What the fuck do you mean by that?”
“I mean that Justin sees things from the perspective of Pittsburgh.” Jimmy took another gulp from his not-lemonade and smacked his lips. “He thinks Pittsburgh is the be-all and end-all. He’s lived here all his life and thinks everything here is the best. Of course, we know it’s not.”
What was Jimmy getting at? Gus wondered. It wasn’t true that Justin had spent his whole life in the Pitts. He’d worked in Hollywood on that comic book movie that was shelved. And he’d also lived in New York City. Michael told him all about that. So what did Jimmy mean that he was provincial?
“Dad likes his doctors,” said Gus. “They saved his life. And he’s making progress. Everybody says so. Danny says so.”
“Danny?” Jimmy shook his head. “He’s a nice kid with a great body, but he’s hardly in a position to judge Brian’s progress.”
“He’s his physical therapist!” Gus asserted. “He works with Dad every day!”
“But that’s not all Brian needs and you know it.” Jimmy sidled a little closer than Gus felt comfortable with. “Be honest - don’t you think Brian would do better back home? And I mean California. Maybe he was born here in glorious Pittsburgh, but this is hardly his home.” Jimmy paused. “Or your home. Wouldn’t you like to go home, Champ? Back to your own house? Sleep in your own bed? Go to a school with all your friends? I know Carmel would love to go back. No wonder she hides in her room all the time, watching the tube - she’s homesick! She has her friends and her family back in L.A. and I’m sure she’d rather be near them.”
“Probably,” Gus admitted. “But this is where Dad wants to be. Near his doctors. His business. And… and his friends. Like Michael. And Ted…”
“And Justin,” Jimmy added. “So he can be near that Justin. You think that’s a good thing for him? Don’t you think Baby Blue is a tad too possessive lately? Like he thinks he owns Brian? Like he’s the one in charge? Fine thing for a guy who walked out on Brian… how many times? But when Brian comes back into town rich and successful, sweet little Justin is right there, taking advantage of poor Brian’s grief. Of his vulnerability. And Brian was vulnerable after Ron died. You remember how lost he was? How hurt? And who was there to swoop down and grab him in a weak moment. And now that Brian is injured himself and practically helpless…”
“My father is not helpless!” Gus exclaimed. “Yes, he’s had an accident, but he’s not helpless! And… he likes Justin. I’m not crazy about the guy and, yes, I’d like it he wasn’t around, but he does a lot of stuff for Dad. He organizes things. And he… helps him.” Gus squirmed. He knew his father was an extremely sexual man. He’d grown up in a house with two lesbians moms, and then in one with two gay dads, but that didn’t mean he liked to think too much about gay sex. It was hard enough to think about straight sex - especially when he’d never even had any! Yeah, he wanted to have it… and soon! But that didn’t seem too likely in the near future.
But mainly he didn’t like thinking of his father having sex with Justin Taylor. Especially not after he had been married to Ron. For real! While Justin was… was…
“Face it, the kid’s a convenient fuck,” said Jimmy firmly.
“Don’t let my dad hear you say that!” Gus warned. “Or Justin. They won’t like it.”
“Why should we care what Justin likes?” asked Jimmy. “It’s Brian I’m thinking about. Brian and his health. Brian getting the best treatment possible. Think of how well he’d do in California. Summer is going to be over soon, then comes Fall, and then a long, cold Winter. You think Brian would rather be freezing his ass off in Pittsburgh… or sunning himself in Creekside Canyon? Or, better yet, at my house in Malibu. I’m right on the beach. You guys could lie in the sand and watch the surf crash and listen to the seagulls. I tell you, it’s heavenly up there.”
“But you said we’d live at our house,” said Gus. “Not at your place in Malibu. Besides, how would Tess feel about that?”
“Oh,” said Jimmy. “I mean on weekends. You and Brian could drive up and have a wonderful time. Imagine how much more relaxed he’d be by the ocean. And on holidays we could all go to my place in Maui. I know you like it there.”
Gus had to admit that he did love Jimmy’s house in Maui. That’s where Ron and Dad had their original commitment ceremony, right on the beach. But still…
“But Tess….”
“Don’t you worry about Tess, Champ,” said Jimmy. “She loves Brian and wants to see him get better. Everybody wants to see Brian get better. Even Baby Blue wants that… I think. And his friends - they all want what’s best for the Big Bad Wolf, so he can be his Big Bad Self as soon as possible. Don’t you think?”
“Well…”
“But don’t say anything about this to Michael or Checkbook or even Señorita Carmelita. This is just an idea I’m tossing out there. A good idea. A great idea. But merely an idea. Unless…”
“What?”
“Unless you help me make it work,” said Jimmy. “If we play our cards right, we can all be back in Los Angeles in time for you to start school. How’d you like that?”
Gus balked. Yes, he’d love to be back home. He’d been wishing for it since the first day they came to this unfamiliar city and this big, dumb house. All he wanted was to go home. For things to go back to the way they used to be. Before Ron died. And then… to the way they were before his father had the accident. He even dreamed about it at night.
But… Jimmy. He still didn’t trust Jimmy. Everything he said made sense… so why did he still not believe it? He was in enough trouble with his dad already since he’d threatened to run away. He’d said some really stupid things. But that’s what happened when you were angry. You said stupid shit!
Jimmy, however… what he said sounded… good. Right. It was everything Gus wanted to hear. To be back in L.A. again! That would be the best! He wouldn’t have to be surrounded by strangers at a new school. The house on Creekside Canyon was a place where he felt safe. And there were doctors out there, too. Good doctors. Brian would probably get better much faster. Jimmy was right about that.
But… how could they convince Dad? He was so fucking stubborn! And with Justin always around, sticking his nose into everything, always monitoring everything Brian did…
“Dad will never agree. And neither will Justin. So you can forget California.”
“Oh, I think Bri can be convinced,” Jimmy said. “A little sweet talking. A little schmoozing, as Ron would say. I can do. You can do it. Even Carmel can add her two cents in.”
Gus rolled his eyes. “He won’t go. And Justin won’t let him go. And Dad is dependent on Justin. You know how that is.”
“Well then, Champ,” said Jimmy, putting his arm across Gus’s shoulders again. This time Gus didn’t move away. “There’s only one thing we need to do.”
Gus looked at Jimmy with new interest. “What’s that?”
“Get rid of Little Boy Blue. For good.”