Chapter 8

“Gus, honey! I didn't know you were coming,” Debbie said happily as she saw her oldest grandson outside her door with his father.

“Hi Grandma,” Gus greeted her and allowed her to engulf him in a crushing hug.

“God, what are they feeding you in New York? You're only skin and bones,” she complained as she released him from her arms and gave him a once-over.

“I am sure you and Grandma Jen will be feeding me tomorrow,” Gus replied jovially, knowing that it was true. He knew that both grandmothers had always complained about his fathers being too thin and now they had moved on to complain about him being too thin even though he didn't think he was. They just wanted to fatten him up.

“You bet on it, honey. It's not like he ever would,” she threw a glance in Brian's direction, shaking her head as she muttered. “No carbs after seven, my ass.”

“And what a nice one it is,” Brian snarked, before he followed Gus into the house, stopping shortly to leave a kiss on Debbie's cheek.

“You kids nowadays...,” Debbie shook her head, before she closed the door.

“I ate your tuna casserole yesterday and will eat the turkey tomorrow. I really don't know what you're complaining about,” Brian shrugged, giving her a winning smile.

Debbie shook her head in amusement, knowing that this was an argument she would never win. They just didn't know how to appreciate good food. Instead she decided to focus on Gus again.

“Honey, how are your classes going? Sunshine said you were busy finishing up some projects.”

“Yeah, I had to finish two paintings and a sculpture for my courses, but I am happy with the final result. I can show you some pictures when you come over tomorrow.”

“Who would have thought that I would end up with two Picassos in my family?” Debbie gushed, leaving another smack of her lips on Gus' cheeks.

“I wouldn't go that far yet,” Gus started, never quite sure how to react to people praising his work. As far as he was concerned his father was a true artist, but he was merely just dabbling around in the arts. He would be lucky if he would one day have half the career that his father had and could live of it. Most artists couldn't and he was well aware of how hard an artist's life was. Nonetheless his fathers had always supported him in his choices.

“Take the compliments while you can get them,” his father advised, squeezing Gus' shoulders. “Didn't I teach you anything?”

Everyone laughed at that before they moved further into the house.

“Gus, it's good to see you back. Did you have a good flight home?” Carl asked from his seat on the sofa where he was watching the news on TV.

Gus walked over and sat down next to the man who had pretty much been his grandfather for most of his life. “Yeah, it was good. Though going through security and all of that took longer than the flight itself.”

Carl nodded. “Well, if it keeps everyone safe.”

“I guess so. I just wish it was easier to come home, you know? But it's good to be back and see everyone again. I am really missing the family dinners. Eating alone on a Sunday is just not the same.”

“Awww, you know we miss you, too,” Carl said, smiling at the young man at his side.

Brian and Debbie watched the scene as they made their way into the kitchen.

“Where's Jenny?” Brian asked, noticing that the girl was nowhere to be seen.

“Upstairs in Sunshine's old room,” Debbie said.

Brian nodded, clearly having heard what she hadn't said. That it was also Michael's old room.

“She wanted to have some time on her own, she said.”

“Is she okay?” Brian frowned.

“I think so. It's just a lot to take in, you know? She's found out a lot of things in recent days and not all of it good. She seemed fine and I think she just needed a bit of time to process it all.”

Brian nodded. He could very well understand that. It wasn't easy to find out that you had a whole family that you had never heard about and to hear that your father who you thought was an anonymous sperm donor was anything but, but was indeed a convicted felon and practically the black sheep of the family you had only just found out about.

“How did Sunshine's trip to Florida go?” Debbie asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Don't ask,” Brian sighed as he leaned against the counter. “It was a disaster.”

“Did he get to speak to Melanie?”

“Yeah, but it didn't end well. Short summary: She's still a bitch, didn't even know that Jenny was gone and was more concerned about Justin being back with me than her own daughter. Oh and she wants to get the police involved if we don't send Jenny back on the next flight home because she doesn't want her daughter to interact with us.” Brian made a face that clearly told Debbie what he thought of that.

“The police? What for?” Debbie nearly screeched which also got the attention of Gus and Carl who looked over curiously. After checking that everything seemed okay, both men returned to their own conversation.

“She says we kidnapped Jenny. Fuck me if I know how that makes sense in her head.”

“You didn't do anything! You and Sunshine took care of her daughter when she didn't even know where Jenny was. How dare she?” Debbie erupted, her face red in anger. “God, that woman... I swear to God, if I ever lay eyes on her again, I will...”

“Get in line and wait until it's your turn,” Brian smirked. “Don't forget that I still have an ax to grind with her for what she did to sonny boy,” he added as he looked over at Gus in the living-room.

Debbie nodded, then took a deep breath. “What are you going to do?”

Brian shrugged. “Sunshine told her we would not be sending Jenny back and that she would have to come here and get her herself.”

“Good for him!”

“I spoke to our lawyer earlier, he said we have nothing to worry about as far as her claims of kidnapping go, but... aside from that. She's Jenny's mother, she's got custody and Jenny is underage,” Brian shrugged. “Not much we can do to argue with that.”

“So Jenny will have to go back?” Debbie seemed outraged and her hand flew to her mouth in shock. “No, we can't allow that.”

“As she's 17, her opinion would be taken into account. Also Melanie's apparent neglect, but...,” Brian sighed. “Custody issues are complicated. Justin and I were thinking that we should get together after the holidays, you guys, us, Gus and Jenny and talk about all options that we have. And then make a decision together.”

“Too right we should. I will not allow my granddaughter to go back to that woman!”

“But first, we should all try and have a nice Thanksgiving. I think we all need it after this week. And Jenny most of all,” Brian added. “Anything else can wait until after the holiday. I doubt that Melanie will do anything tonight or tomorrow. According to Justin she's got this really big case coming up next week and it seems that all her focus is on that.”

“That woman... What is wrong with her?”

“Do you really want me to get into that? It would be a long list.”

They were interrupted by Gus at that point, who had come over to the kitchen. “If it's okay, I'll go upstairs and check on Jenny.”

Debbie and Brian nodded and it was Debbie who spoke in a gentle voice. “You do that, honey. She will be happy to see you.”

Gus nodded, then made his way upstairs to what he knew used to be his Papa's old room when he used to live in his grandma's house when he was younger.

He stopped outside the door and knocked first, not just wanting to burst into the room. When he heard a quiet 'Come in', he opened the door.

“Hey Jenny,” he said as he slowly made his way inside. He saw Jenny turn around in surprise from where she had been standing looking at some pictures on a pin board over the desk and it was obvious that she clearly had expected someone else to come looking for her. Maybe Debbie or Carl, maybe even one of his fathers, but clearly not Gus himself.

Her eyes widened and she looked at him for the longest time. “Wow...you really look like a younger version of your father. I thought they were kidding.”

Gus just nodded, by now used to comments like that. “Yeah, it's a curse and a blessing.”

She shrugged. “It could be worse.”

“I guess it could be,” Gus agreed, as he made his way over. “Grandpa Carl said you have been up here for a while now. Are you okay?”

She shrugged, turning back to the pin board. “I guess. It's a lot to take in.”

“I can only imagine. My fathers told me that you didn't know anything about the Pittsburgh family.”

“No, nothing. I always thought it was just my mom and me. And now there is this whole family here with so much history and...,” she stopped, not quite sure how to continue.

“Shit?” Gus asked, wondering if that was what she wanted to refer to.

“Yeah,” she nodded. “It's a lot to process.”

“And I guess Grandma Debbie can take some time getting used to as well,” Gus winked, trying to break the sombre mood that had settled between them. “I can't believe you made it through a whole day with her after only getting to know her yesterday. That's brave.”

“She's so nice,” Jenny sighed. “Everyone has been so nice.”

“Yeah, they are. It's a great little family,” Gus said with a smile on his face. And he meant it. He loved his family, not only his fathers and his siblings, but also his grandparents, his uncles. Everyone. As mismatched as they might appear to someone on the outside, as great and loving they were to everyone in the family.

“You are so lucky,” Jenny said, before she turned away from the desk and back to Gus. “I didn't expect to find this when I came looking for you.”

“I can only imagine,” Gus nodded, before he moved towards the bed and plopped down on it. “I have to admit that I didn't expect to hear that you were here when I came home either.”

“I am sorry for just showing up like that. I guess I should have started with a letter or email or something before I just appeared like that,” Jenny hung her head and shoulders and Gus immediately felt bad for the way what he had said had sounded.

“That's not what I meant. I am glad you're here,” he immediately replied. When he saw Jenny's doubtful expression, he went on. “I really am. I have to admit that I was shocked at first, but when my fathers told me about you and your life with your mom... I am happy that you found us, that you found your family here. Everyone deserves people that love them.”

“They don't even know me.”

“That won't stop them from loving you. Especially Grandma Debs. She's over the moon to have you here. You're now part of the family, so you better get used to it. And from what I hear, Vicky has declared you her new sister, so...,” Gus winked.

“She's amazing. She's so open and welcoming. And so happy,” Jenny couldn't help but smile as she thought about the little girl who had welcomed her into her heart over the last two days.

“That would be Vicky,” Gus agreed with a smile.

“Everyone in your family has been great. I mean, your father just up and left and flew to Florida because of me. I'm sure he would have had better things to do, but he did it anyway.”

“Yeah, he's pretty great.”

“Is he back now?” Jenny asked as she moved over to the bed herself and sat down next to her brother.

“Yeah, he arrived back earlier this afternoon. He's at home preparing stuff for tomorrow with Luke and Vicky.”

“Do you know how his trip went? Did he get to see my mother?”

Gus nodded. “Yeah, he did, but from what he told me, it didn't go well.”

Jenny hung her head. “Yeah, I am not surprised.”

“Apparently your mom hadn't really noticed your absence and when she heard that you were staying with my fathers, she seemed to be more concerned about my Dad than about you,” Gus told her honestly. He had thought about lying to her at first, but Jenny was 17 and she knew her mother better than anyone, so Gus was sure that her expectations hadn't been too high anyway. And in any case, she had known that his father had flown to Florida because Melanie had ignored all their messages, so she knew the truth about how much her mother cared or rather didn't.

“They really can't stand each other, can they?” Jenny asked with a raised eyebrow. “I know your Dad has been trying to be nice about her for my sake every time he talked about her, but... he really can't stand her.”

“No, he can't. Most of the family here doesn't have a high opinion of her,” Gus confirmed. “Some things happened and there was a custody trial when I was younger and when my Dad was awarded custody of me, she never even said goodbye to me and just disappeared with you. She never talked to anyone in the family again after that. I know he never got on well with her before that either, but after that, he never forgave her for that.”

“And then there's what my father did to your brother... I am surprised he is this nice to me.”

“Of course he would be. You are not responsible for your parents' behaviour. My dad would never blame you for anything they did. No one here would. In our family everyone is really big on taking responsibility for your own actions. They will judge you for those, but not for what anyone else did. I mean... if you look at it, my biological mother is the one that tried to kidnap my brother. And here I am living with my dads...,” Gus said quietly.

“It really is one colourful family history, isn't it?” Jenny said, sounding slightly amused.

“And you don't even know half of it,” Gus joked, glad to see when Jenny smiled in return. “But at the end of the day, you couldn't wish for a better family. They are great!”

“Yeah, I am starting to see that. I really like your fathers and siblings. And Grandma Debbie and Carl are really nice.”

They stayed upstairs in Justin's old room for another half an hour, before they decided to return downstairs and join everyone there.

They found Brian and Carl on the sofa in the living room, deep in conversation and Debbie was in the kitchen cleaning up from their dinner.

“There you are,” Brian said as he got up from the sofa. He locked eyes with Gus, then Jenny. “You guys okay?”

When both nodded in reply and Brian could see that they really meant it, he felt relieved. “That's good.”

Debbie came over and joined them, clutching her dish towel close. “It's so good to see you guys together again. I never thought this day would ever come, but now that it's here,” her voice got teary as she spoke. “I am so happy.”

“So am I,” Jenny said as she came over and gave her grandmother a hug.

“We all are,” Gus agreed and Brian nodded in reply.

“Okay, before this gets too lesbionic even for me, let's head home. I still have plans for my husband tonight,” Brian smirked and was rewarded with an outraged 'Brian!' from Debbie and a disgusted 'Dad' from Gus. Jenny just looked at him as if she wasn't sure if he had really meant what he had said or not.

“You'll get used to him,” Gus just said as he nudged his sister's side with his elbow. “He's hopeless when it comes to Papa.”

Brian rolled his eyes, not even dignifying his son's statement with a response. Instead he walked over to Debbie and left a kiss on her cheek. “See you tomorrow, Ma!”

Debbie nodded as she kissed him back. “You give Sunshine my best.”

“Why?” He raised an eyebrow. “You'll see him in what? 12 hours? 13 hours? Do it yourself.”

“Brian Kinney-Taylor,” Debbie started, raising her hand which still held the dish towel.

“Alright, alright. Just saying,” Brian smirked, before he walked over to Carl and squeezed his shoulder. “See you tomorrow, Carl.”

“See you, son,” the older man said with a smile, before he got up and said goodbye to Gus and Jenny as well.

Lastly, Debbie said goodbye to her grandchildren, hugging both of them tight and kissing them on their cheeks.

“I had a nice day, Grandma. Thanks for inviting me,” Jenny smiled at her as she pulled back from the kiss.

“Anytime, honey. Anytime.”

Five minutes later Brian, Gus and Jenny were heading home, after all Brian still had plans for his husband as he had reminded everyone once again when they continued saying goodbye for another couple of minutes.