My first thought when I woke up late in the afternoon was; I’m. Done. Completely. Done. They’re nothing to me. I’m done being less than an afterthought, done listening as they both prove over and over they only care about their own wants and needs. I feel like an idiot for believing in either of them. I didn’t want to become like Mama, throwing people out of my life when they didn’t do what I wanted. Something her parents did to her. Yet, instead of seeing it as wrong, she does the same to other people. She did it to Gus, who she claims she loves as much as she loves me. She didn’t cut him completely off though, and I wanted to believe it was because she loved him. Only now I question all her motives. She didn’t blame Gus, but his father, for Gus not seeing she was right. And once again she tried to make it sound like Brian was the reason nothing in her life turned out the way she wanted it to be. She seems to forget that without Brian there wouldn’t be Gus, the one person who never let me down and who bought Ian into my life.

I knew why Mama didn’t want Ian around, because he saw through her from the beginning. Unlike her, Ian let me and Gus form our own opinions, then only reluctantly giving us things to think about when we questioned our lives with Mama. He didn’t expect either of us to do anything but what we felt was right. And now for me, it’s not letting either of my parents use me for whatever their selfish purposes are.

I smiled for the first time in days when a text from Ian came in. He and Gus were willing to come if I needed them. I called since texting wasn’t what I needed. I needed to hear my brother and Ian proving again that I wasn’t as unlovable as my parents were making me feel.

“Jenny, tell me your okay,” Gus says instead of greeting me.

“Physically yes. Well, other than looking like I got into a fight,” I try to joke but fail as Gus curses up a storm. “I’m not okay,” I admit, not willing to lie when I needed Gus and Ian to help me.

“That’s okay, no one would be, but we’re here and will do whatever you need to help you make it better,” Ian says, once again proving I was just as important to him as Gus was.

“Just knowing you both love me makes it better,” I assure him.

“I do, and don’t ever doubt it,” Gus tells me.

“Grandma told me that you and Ian want me to live with you,” I say, wanting them to confirm it to make it feel more real.

“We not only want it but won’t stop until we can get it,” Gus says like it’s a promise.

“Which means we need you to help us pick a place to live. We don’t want to find something that doesn’t make us all happy,” Ian adds.

It made me want to cry, knowing Ian was really saying he wanted me to be happy. I didn’t want to talk about my parents anymore. Like I said, I was done. “How are things going with Lindsay?” I ask, to change the subject.

“Really good. She’s worried about you,” Gus tells me.

“She remembers me?” I ask because Grandma made it sound like Lindsay was stuck in a time loop where I didn’t exist.

“She had a breakthrough. This doesn’t mean she’s won’t still have problems, just that we might have found out why she didn’t want to remember things,” Ian says, not just to me.

“I know, but I’m willing to keep hoping,” Gus told him.

“What happened?” I ask since it felt good to know Lindsay thought of me.

“All this time, she thought Patrick had died,” Gus tells me.

“Why would she think that?” I ask, trying to understand.

“By the time Patrick was born, she was already emotionally broken. She wasn’t dealing with reality by then and wasn’t willing to see Patrick as hers. I can only theorize why, but I think for her, Patrick dying was what she deserved for her sins and for leaving Gus and you to the life she couldn’t take anymore. It’s not rational, but at that point in her life she wasn’t dealing with rational but a fantasy world she let become her reality,” Ian says, making me wish I could do the same.

“What changed to make her willing to remember me?” I ask.

“Seeing my dad with Patrick. Apparently, in her world Patrick was a lost boy,” Gus tells me.

“It was also part wish fulfillment for her. In her mind, Peter would protect the life she couldn’t since he wasn’t Brian’s child,” Ian adds.

“What about Justin? He’s the one she left with,” I ask.

“He’s the one she knew would do anything to help her or anyone else he cared about because that’s who he is. Even when I forgot about it,” Gus tells me sadly.

“But he wasn’t Brian. I mean, listening to Mama it always sounded like Lindsay trusted him the most, even if he didn’t deserve it,” I say since it’s what we heard all our lives, not because I believed it anymore.

“I think it was because Dad was still around Michael and she wasn’t sure what would happen,” Gus tells me.

“I still don’t get it. I mean, Patrick had to be around sometimes when Justin was taking care of her, yet it took seeing Brian with Patrick for her to figure it out?” I ask, trying to make sense of it.

“Justin wasn’t part of Neverland, and therefore couldn’t go there and find the baby. Her Peter could. And seeing Brian with Patrick, she couldn’t deny the past anymore. Peter brought her lost boy home and Brian couldn’t be Peter anymore or Patrick would go back. I can understand why it seems confusing, but sometimes the oddest things help when patients can’t deal with reality,” Ian tells me.

“Then why did she go to Justin?” I ask, confused.

“I think it’s because Justin was the one person she knew who wouldn’t have believed anything Michael would say to make it sound like everything bad was because of her and her alone. Sorry.” Gus apologizes since he didn’t like talking bad about my dad to me.

“Gus, I’m done wishing for a father he isn’t. Which is something he has constantly proved over and over all my life,” I tell him.

“I wish he was, for you,” Gus tells me.

“I know. But you made up for it all my life,” I tell him.

DEB

I called into work, not wanting to do anything but take care of Jenny. Carl kept reminding me not to fall back into wanting to find a reason Michael’s behavior. As a mother, it’s hard not to wonder where it went wrong with Michael when I did everything I could to make up for the things I couldn’t give him. 

“Red, let it go,” Carl says as he looks at all the food I made that is now covering the kitchen.

“I can’t when it’s hurting Jenny,” I tell him, wondering why he hadn’t gone to work today. “I thought you were working today?” I ask.

“After last night, I decided it was better for me to be here,” Carl tells me.

“I called in too. I couldn’t leave Jenny alone after Michael upset her,” I tell him.

“I just expected something that he isn’t capable of doing. Caring about anything but what he wants. You’d think I’d stop doing that since he’s never really been much of a father,” Jenny says quietly from behind us.

“I’m sorry, Baby,” I told her, taking her in my arms.

“For what?” She asks, continuing before I could say anything, “You have nothing to be sorry for, it’s something missing in him, not something you did. You’ve always listened and done what you could to make things better. You had nothing to do with what my dad lacks since you go out of your way to do everything you can for the people you love. He was the one who does the crap he does, not you,” she finishes. 

 “I couldn’t have said it better,” Carl says, looking proud of Jenny.

“I thought a lot about it and I’m just done with people who don’t add anything worth anything to my life. I have people who love me even when I’m not perfect or don’t get them what they want. Before you start with ‘we should forgive people’, it’s just not in me to do it right now,” Jenny tells me.

“I just don’t want you to regret things, and forgiveness doesn’t excuse anything, but makes it so you can move on without regrets,” I tell her, as my door opens, surprising all of us.

“Sorry, I’m late… Brian wanted me to be with him to meet the baby,” Michael says, as he sits down and starts piling food on a plate. He looked at Carl and Jenny like he didn’t know them, making me wonder what he was up to. “Sorry, I didn’t know Ma was entertaining this early. I’m Michael, her son…” Michael left off like they needed to introduce themselves.

“Are you kidding me?” Jenny says, looking incredulous.

“What the hell are you playing at?” Carl asks him.

Michael ignored him, continuing on as if anything he was saying was making sense. “You wouldn’t believe it, Ma, he let some trick decide on Gus for the baby’s name. Hopefully, the kid doesn’t think it means anything to Brian. Of course, as usual, Brian will make me deal with it. I just hope the kid doesn’t think he’s more than just another trick for Brian.” 

“You’re unbelievable,” Jenny says, getting up and leaving us with Michael.

“Sorry. I should have been more careful what I say around your kid,” Michael says to Carl.

I shook my head at Carl when he looked ready to wring Michael’s neck. “Michael, are you okay?” I ask, trying to sound like I believe the bullshit he’s trying to pull.

“Of course. I mean, I’m tired from having to go with Brian last night. Maybe we should talk to Brian though since we both know Lindsay is going to use the kid to get things from him.” Michael says, rolling his eyes.

“Really?” I ask, willing to play along.

“I just need to make sure Brian doesn’t…” Michael stops, looking around confused. “Fuck. Brian’s going to have my ass, I forgot I have his car,” he says getting up slowly and walking to the door. Michael turned as if waiting for me to stop him.

“You better find the jeep, since you don’t need Andrew using you being late as a reason to get you into trouble,” I say, playing along.

Michael’s confusion that I played along would’ve been funny if I wasn’t so angry. “Yeah… I guess I should. Maybe I could get a ride to my place since I took the bus here.” He says, looking around as if confused. I wanted to clap before I kicked his ass for thinking we were this gullible. 

“Why do I feel like I should know you?” Michael asks Carl. “Where’s Uncle Vic?” He asks, then grabbed his phone mumbling Brian was going to kill him for making him late for work. “Brian… what, who are you, I’m trying to reach my best friend Brian Kinney… Wrong number? No, this is Brian’s number, so do me a favor and tell him to get on the phone…” Michael pulled the phone from his ear, mumbling that the trick hung up. “I don’t understand….” Michael says, looking lost, waiting for whatever he thinks he’ll accomplish by doing this.

“Neither do I, but have a good day,” I tell him.

Michael shuffled to the door, before turning again. “Ma, maybe you should call Brian, so he’ll know I’m on my… way,” He says, holding his head before falling to the floor with a thunk that probably hurt.

I went to the table and fixed a plate for Jenny. She needed to eat since she hadn’t wanted anything after last night. I made sure to walk over my son and up the stairs. I kept going as he groaned loudly, wanting attention. Jenny opened the door, shaking her head as Michael’s moans got louder. “Eat, while I deal with my idiot son,” I demand.

“I can’t believe he’s doing this,” Jenny says before taking the plate and shutting her door.

Michael sat up, confusion was written all over his face, “Ma, I think there’s something wrong with me.”

“I’m sure you want me to think so,” I mutter under my breath.

“Wait, you’re that cop guy. Why are you here? No, that can’t be right… I must have drunk too much, it’s making me imagine the craziest things… I better get going or Brian is going to really kill me for making us both late today,” He says, opening the door, stopping when he got to the porch. “Why does your door look different?” He asks. Carl shook his head when Michael still hadn’t given up.

“Don’t you remember? You painted it,” I say, waiting to see if he contradicted me.

Michael opened his mouth, only stopping since correcting me would ruin his little act. “I guess I should get going, Brian is probably wondering where I am,” He mumbles, finally walking down the stairs. I followed as Michael went down the sidewalk, going toward his car he parked a few houses down.

“What did he think he was doing?” Carl asks, following me.

“Hoping if it worked for Lindsay, then it could work for him. My son’s never been able to come up with anything original,” I told him before I yelled to Michael. “Michael, leave that car alone, the last thing Carl needs is to have to arrest you for stealing the neighbor’s car.” Michael huffs, before passing it, since it would ruin the performance.

GABRIEL

I took Jen’s advice and let David approach me. Something that happens when arrogant assholes realize they need help since they already screwed up. It always amazes me how every old rich asshole seems to think those young trophies they proudly show off aren't there because of the money the idiots will end up paying them. Instead, they end up with pie on their faces, as they have to fight to keep the money they didn’t protect since they wanted to believe everyone wanted them. Then they do the one stupid thing that will make sure they keep paying for the rest of their lives, have kids to prove they’re still a stallion in the eyes of the world. At least David couldn’t make that mistake with Michael.

“I didn’t know you were a member,” David says sitting down, looking at me like his salvation.

“My reputation precedes me I see, but sorry, who are you?” I ask, knowing it would hurt his little ego.

“I’m David Cameron,” He says as if I should sit up and take notice. Instead, I raised my brow as if to question if that should mean anything to me. 

I sat there letting him stew for a minute. “Wait, I’ve heard your name… but damn I’m having a hard time remembering why. Oh… now I remember.” I say, acting embarrassed for him.

“I’m hoping, with your help, to make that problem go away,” David tells me.

“Which one? The husband or having your reputation in the trash?” I ask.

“Both. Since everything I’ve heard about you tells me you have no problem getting dirty for your clients,” David says smiling.

“I can’t say you’re wrong, but my clients know they can’t hide anything if they expect me to do my job. I don’t like surprises if they expect me to get them what they want,” I say, still playing along.

“I’m assuming you saw the video, which should explain my problem or problems,” He tells me.

“The only problem with what Deb said, is if it was true, and can be proven,” I tell him.

“Or I could make sure no one would believe a hustler with a record. If he doesn’t help make it go away, then he can deal with people knowing his sordid history. I would think he’d rather not have all that dredged up, don’t you?” David asks me.

“I’ll ask him when I meet with him,” I tell him.

“Before you do that… my other problem is more pressing.” David tells me.

I shook my head, looking at the ceiling before saying anything. “Let me guess, since most men like you make this mistake, no prenup?” 

David was offended at my pretty much saying he'd been an idiot, but held back since pissing me off wouldn’t help him. Not that I was going to anyway. “No. I wanted to trust the man who willingly married me. I did protect myself, just not the assets that we obtained while married.” He gritted out.

“Ah, so we’re dealing with Alpha male syndrome? You don’t feel like you should have to pay for the goods that will no longer be at your beck and call? I’d probably be able to make that happen for you…” I left off, letting him fill the balloon of revenge up before I stuck the pin in. “Except that it would be a conflict of interest. My clients hired me to deal with you, your husband, and Melanie Marcus.” 

I swear there was steam coming out of his ears and eyes. Unfortunately, like Melanie Marcus, he once again thought Brian Kinney gave a damn about anything to do with them. “So Brian couldn’t be happy. What did he hire you to do, make sure Michael gets everything his greedy little heart wants?”

“From what I saw Brian is very happy and couldn’t care less about what happens to Michael Novotny. I have to say, while Brian is not an enemy I’d want to make, having Jennifer Taylor as one might be worse. Which is who hired me to represent Hunter Bruckner, since she’s not willing to let Hunter be victimized by you or your husband. Something she understands, from dealing with what happened to Justin after the prom and then in a courtroom. Do yourself a favor and don’t even think of going after Hunter to try and save yourself, or you’ll find out how dirty I can get,” I tell him.

“It’s still my word against his,” He states.

“Sure. But how do you think you would fare against Jennifer Taylor? The people you’re trying to redeem yourself in front of will be leery of upsetting her or her family. You might look down on Brian Kinney, but no one here does. Because money is king and Brian is a kingmaker in business. They all know not to upset Jennifer Taylor or they lose any chance of Brian helping them. Touch Hunter and you’ll find out how little you’ll gain from it.” I warn him, getting up to leave.

“I won’t sit by and let Hunter leech off me,” David tells me.

“He doesn’t want one a damn thing from you, and never he did,” I tell him.

“Then why would he need you?” David asks, bewildered at the idea it wasn’t about money.

“To make sure that in your bid to redeem yourself, Hunter isn’t once again used for your benefit,” I tell him.

“You think that’s why I said what I said to him? It wasn’t to hurt him, but to make him stop wasting his time when Michael wasn’t capable of being a father,” David says as if to make it sound like it’s an act of kindness to Michael’s kids to make them feel unwanted.

“I have a few theories on why you didn’t want Jenny or Hunter around. One is that next to Michael’s children, excusing your son’s behavior was harder to do. Two was that having to see that you weren’t half the father the people you looked down on were. The last one is that neither of Michael’s kids traded in your currency. They didn’t kiss your ass or allow you to buy them the way you did with their father, and likely your own son. Just like I think your edict that Jenny couldn’t be around Gus was something you couldn’t admit to yourself and caused the current problem you’ll be facing when you divorce Michael.” I tell him.

“What?” He asks, not denying I was right.

“If she had access to Gus, you knew it gave Michael potential access to Brian. What didn’t make sense to me is why you were worried?” I ask.

“I wasn’t,” David tells me.

“Everything you did tells me you were,” I tell him, getting up and leaving.

DEB

Carl went with Jenny when Mel called asking Jenny to meet with her at her lawyer’s office. I stayed behind, planning to call Jennifer about Michael’s latest round of stupidity. It was hard not to wish he really had lost his mind since it would explain so much about my son’s problems. I stared at my phone, dreading making the call. So when someone knocked at my door, it was a relief to put it off. I opened the door to one of the last people I expected to show up at my house.

“Hi, um… look, I know I’ve been a shit to Jenny, but could I talk to her?” Hank asks, fidgeting and pretty much high as a kite.

“She’s not here. But you look like you need someone to talk to. How about we go to the kitchen and you can tell me why you want to see Jenny,” I say, opening the door and waving him in.

For once he didn’t act like his father and look down on my house. Hank wandered around, looking at all the pictures on my shelves, not being able to stand still, which reminded me of Ted during his crystal days. I walked over when he stared at a picture of Brian and Justin which Michael hated that I wouldn’t get rid of after what happened with Gus and Justin.

“How did Michael not see it?” Hank asks, sounding agitated.

“My son was always willing to ignore anything that didn’t fit what he wanted. He still hasn’t figured out that if it hadn’t been Justin, it still wouldn’t have been Michael,” I tell him.

“I did something I shouldn’t have. I thought it would show Michael what that picture didn’t,” Hank tells me, pacing around as if he was coming down.

“What?” I asked.

“My dad kept a file on Brian and Justin. He had it updated to keep tabs on Brian more than Justin. I gave it to Michael to rub it in his face, only he made it sound like it was his way back into Brian’s life,” Hank tells me.

“In what way?” I ask.

“He made it sound like Lindsay and Justin used the kid to get Brian away from Michael. Like the only reason Brian would be with Justin was out of pity,” Hank tells me, following me to the kitchen and only sitting down when I pointed at the chair. He barely glanced at the plate, just hugging himself scratching at his skin.

“Did the file contain anything about Lindsay and her condition?” I ask.

“Not a lot. I mean the detective did manage to find out why she was there, but nothing about her treatment. He got the information from a janitor who works there,” he muttered, having a hard time focusing.

“I’ll pass that along since no one should be giving out her information. I just need to know if the file contained where Brian and Justin live?” I ask.

“I took that out. I might have wanted to smear it in Michael’s face, but I didn’t want to end up causing Brian and Justin problems,” Hank tells me.

“They’ll be happy to hear that,” I tell him.

Hank started to get up, only to have me stop him and push the plate he hadn’t touched. “You need to sit down and eat, then we need to talk about what’s going on with you,” I tell him.

“Do you really care?” Hank asks me.

“I really do. I hate to see someone ruin their life,” I tell him.

“It’s already pretty much ruined. I doubt anything could fix it anymore,” He tells me.

“Nothing is ever completely ruined, just dented,” I tell him, thinking about Brian, Ted, and Emmett.

“I sort of perfected being the family blacksheep. Which is something my family never lets me forget,” Hank tells me.

“Sounds like you could use a better family. I have an opening in mine if you think you could lower your standards,” I joke, only to have Hank wince at the way he acted about me and Carl, in the past. “All you have to do is let us help you. Which means I need you to be honest, how long have you been doing crystal?” 

“How do you know?” He asks, not denying it.

“I just do. If you want help I have someone who will be happy to show you things can change if you want them to. You have more to gain than lose if you get better.” I tell him, waiting until he agreed to call Blake.

“Yeah. It’s not like anything I do would be right to my father and grandfather, since everything wrong in my life they blame on my mother’s inferior blood,” He tells me.

TED

I left Brian to talk to one of the new clients and went to help Jennifer. Jennifer was calling the resorts that Cynthia made a list of that could accommodate the wedding. She hung up only to answer her phone, mouthing Deb to me, as she slid the information I’d need to pay for everything over to me. Jennifer asked Deb to repeat what she was telling her to me and put the phone on speaker. 

“Do you think Hank is serious about getting help?” I ask, ignoring Michael’s newest low.

“I called the grandfather, who acted more upset that I knew his grandson was doing drugs, not that he was doing them. He berated Hank for airing his dirty laundry and blamed me and Michael for everything wrong with his family. He let Hank know that he’d disown him if he embarrassed the family name again. Hank hung up on the man while he was ranting and told me he’d rather be disowned, since being a Cameron no longer mattered to him,” Deb tells us.

“What are you going to do about Michael?” Jennifer asks.

“Nothing. I’ll let him continue to make a fool of himself,” Deb tells us.

“Michael is going to play this for all he's worth,” I tell her.

“Why not give him what he wants?” Jennifer tells us.

“He wants Brian to show up,” Deb tells her.

“Which wouldn’t happen even if Michael was really crazy,” Brian tells us, standing in the doorway.

“He is when you think about it. He didn’t see you changing your number, or blocking him from the loft, Babylon, and Kinnetik as you cutting him out of your life. He’s convinced himself it wasn’t him, but Justin and Lindsay being the reasons you haven’t come back,” I point out.

“I think we should play along,” Jennifer says, looking to Brian.

“Why?” Brian asks her.

“Jenny,” Jennifer said, as Brian seems to get where she is going.

“What about Jenny?” Both Deb and I ask at the same time.

“If Michael isn’t considered stable, Gus and Ian could make it so Michael can’t just show up when they get custody. It would help them with Mel since the only person she might be able to use to prove anything would be Michael,” Jennifer tells us.

“Only if Michael keeps up the bullshit,” I point out.

“Which means…” Jennifer says looking at Brian.

Brian thought it over, before nodding at Jennifer. “We have a wedding to get off the ground, while I show Michael that Justin was always more important.”

MEL

I almost wanted to thank Deb for making it so I don’t have to deal with Jenny. I woke up without having to deal with Jenny treating me like I ruined her life. I wasn’t worried when I still hadn’t heard from Harry. I figured he was already busy getting everything set up, since I needed to do this before David left Michael destitute, and likely weaseled his way out of paying a dime for Jenny. I’d been avoiding all of Michael’s calls, which started after I saw the video of Michael screwing himself and me. It made me impatient to get things started with Harry. I called and left a message telling Harry to call me as soon as he could. I still hadn’t heard from Harry a couple of hours later. I figured Harry’s reluctance came from me hitting Jenny. If Jenny wanted to continue on her honesty streak then she could tell Harry in person, and I could get this settled with Michael and David before Gus had a chance to get involved. I sat there reading the paper, not letting it get to me that Harry was treating me less like an old friend by leaving me sitting with others in the waiting room, waiting for their lawyers.  

Harry came out and I got up without being called. When Jenny and Carl walked in, Harry looked at me for an explanation since he didn’t know what I planned. “I thought it was best we talk about anything you might be worried about and my daughter should back up her claim about being honest.”

“Mel, I want to speak to you alone,” Harry says, looking uncomfortable.  

I picked up my phone, shaking it, to signal a call would have been good. “I called and left you a message an hour ago.” He told me. So I proceeded to look at my log as if to verify he did, only to find a missed call between all of Michael’s.

“I must have missed it, but since we’re here, I thought we should clear up any issues you might have reservations about,” I told him.

“That’s something you and Jenny should do. But only after you and I talk alone,” He tells me, giving up and letting us into his outer office, which he should have done in the first place.

“Jenny, I have some good news that you should consider,” I say, stopping Harry before he could say anything to me. “We don’t have to move to my parent’s house. Instead, I’m willing to do what you want and live here. It doesn’t mean you can run off to Deb and Carl’s when we disagree, but you have to agree I’m doing what you wanted,” I tell her.

“What’s in it for you?” Jenny asks.

“I don’t understand, I’m only thinking of you,” I say, trying not to snap at her questioning me.

“I’d appreciate it if you handle this somewhere else,” Harry tells me.

“I know hurting Jenny was wrong, but my daughter will tell you it’s not something I’ve ever done before,” I tell him, ignoring him.

“Is that what you want?” Jenny asks, before turning to Harry. “My mother is correct. She’s never laid a hand on me. What’s also correct is that I don’t feel either of my parents would understand what’s best for anyone, including me, and I want nothing to do with either of them. Which is what I plan to tell anyone who will listen to me. I believe my mother is only interested in keeping custody of me because she needs the money my father and his husband provide now that she can’t find a job, due to her screwing over one of her clients. In case she gets my sperm donor to lie for her, his only interest is in Brian Kinney, not me,” Jenny tells him, pissing me off.

“This is Gus encouraging you to do this. He needs to see I only did what I thought was best when Lindsay left me to raise you and Gus,” I say since Harry suggested it yesterday.

“You want a medal for having to take care of the kids you decided you wanted to have?” Carl snorted.

“What I think is that you just proved to my lawyer why I don’t like the influence you have on Jenny. She knows she can get away with anything with you and Gus, which makes me the bad guy in her eyes for expecting she live with rules,” I tell him.

“About that…” Harry didn’t get to finish since I wasn’t done.

“I was willing to allow us to live here, but I’m starting to see we’d be better off living somewhere else, to keep the bad influences out of her life permanently,” I say, warning Jenny.

“Bad influences? Which one? Before you answer that, how about I explain why you think Gus is a bad influence, or how about that Lindsay only left after she wouldn’t kill the kid she chose over us. In case my mother tried to make it sound like Lindsay was the bad guy, she only left us when she could no longer take my mother and father torturing her. My mother spent all Gus’s and my life telling us our other mother abandoned us, and therefore didn’t love us as much as the kid she betrayed my mother by getting pregnant with. What she probably omitted, or, let’s just call it what it is, lied about, is that Lindsay ended up in a psychiatric hospital and has spent the last fourteen years there trying to get better. She also might see Justin as a bad influence since he took Lindsay to get her the help she desperately needed, and likely Brian Kinney because she’s never been able to feel superior to him, and hates that without him Gus wouldn’t have become the great brother who loves me. The only bad influences in my life right now are my parents. I shouldn’t have to feel like I’m only lovable to them as long as they get something for it,” Jenny tells him.

“I can see why you would feel that way, and hope things work out for you. If you’ll excuse Mel and me, we have some things to discuss,” Harry says, walking into his office.

Jenny and Carl left before I could say anything to downplay Jenny’s speech. I took a breath, calming myself before going to find out what Harry wanted. He sat behind his desk, making it a point to say this wasn’t going to be a friendly discussion. I sat thinking of how to make what Jenny said not sound like I was some villain. 

“Was anything she said about Lindsay the truth?” Harry asks me.

“Why does it matter… Lindsay was the one who cheated, and I wasn’t going to pretend what she did wasn’t her fucking up our lives. I thought it was better for the kids to go on since they didn’t need to have to take care of her when she left them. Gus and Jenny will both admit the truth, that while I wasn’t perfect, I never intentionally hurt them,” I tell him.

“The truth is why I decided against taking your case,” Harry tells me.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“I told you that in order for me to help you, you had to be straight with me. Instead, after checking up on a few things…” 

I cut him off. “I expected you to trust me,” angry that once again I couldn’t make a fucking mistake without paying for it, unlike the asshole, who has made hundreds and never paid for any of them.

“Which was fortunate I did and always have believed in verifying what I’m told, before ending up with egg on my face. Something that, as a lawyer, I expected you to understand. I don’t feel I could represent someone willing to lie to me, even if it wouldn’t have affected the case you wanted me to help you with,” Harry tells me.

“So they want to make me pay, using my daughter to punish me with. I never thought you’d end up being a coward,” I tell him.

“I couldn’t care less if they threatened me, which they didn’t do, just gave me a friendly warning of what you would do if I thought to rehire you. What you don’t get is that I would still have taken the case, if you’d been honest with me. Which you can’t seem to be, even when you know it would be to your benefit to tell me everything. You can file for the child support on your own, and likely will win… but I doubt you’ll see the money if Gabriel informs the court he’s representing Gus in a suit against you for custody of Jenny,” he tells me.

“That bastard… He’s the one who mentioned I could sue for support. He wanted me to come here so I’d be fighting both of them at the same time. I need you to help me, for old times sake,” I tell Harry.

“I just don’t feel our past friendship is worth anything. Since you didn’t, by not trusting me with the truth.” He tells me.