BRIAN’S POV

Katie came in ready to help. I sat Deb down and explained what had been going on. Katie wanted to know if we wanted to pursue charges of abuse on Gus. I told her that was up to Gus. Katie told me she would have to contact the DA, they would pursue it.

She asked if JR and Mel knew Linds was using Gus’s card. I told her Mel would but JR probably wouldn’t have questioned it. Mel could be charged if any video surveillance has her using the card. I told her I want them both charged. She asked about the bail. I told her it was five thousand. She said the only issue will be that JR will have to be taken back until her bail is paid.

Ted interrupts and seem a little wary.

“Blake and I paid the bail. Blake talked to Carl and he is willing to have JR remanded to him,” Ted looks like he is waiting for an explosion.

“Ted it’s your money and I never asked anyone to take sides on this. How is that going to work, Mel and Michael have custody?” I need all the facts.

“The police in Canada want Trace, not JR. JR is still going to be charged but it will be as a minor. She will be expected to appear in court and Carl can get her sentenced here. He was able to get the police to agree, as long as JR doesn’t get in anymore trouble. Carl is talking to the parole officer assigned to JR. If Mel and Linds are sent to jail than JR is going to need someone to assume custody. Carl is recommending it not be Michael or you, Deb. He wants someone who can be impartial, and not automatically try to blame someone else,” Blake tells me.

“I won’t take her in this house. I can’t do that to my family,” I tell them.

“Carl called Ben. He is moving back to the area. He told Carl because they are still close but he didn’t want to deal with Michael. Hunter is staying in Philly because he is in college. Ben agreed but told Carl he’ll only do it if Michael gets supervised visitation and isn’t allowed to come to his home,” Ted tells us.

I watch Deb to see how she is taking the news. She is looking at the floor and finally looks at Ted.

“Is Ben happy?” She asks.

“He met someone new and they have been together for two years. They are moving here because the guy, Brad, is being transferred here for a promotion. Brad wants Ben to work part time and take care of himself. Brad is now the VP of Operations for Liberty Air. Carl has meet him, said that he takes care of Ben and is putting Hunter through college. So yes, his life is very happy,” Blake tells her.

“I am going to ask Michael to leave my house. I think it’s time I do what everyone has been telling me, make him face his responsibilities. He has his store, and can stay there until he finds a place to live. I also want to prove that I can trusted to be any part, big or small, in your lives. I can’t cut Michael completely out of my life, but I can stop letting him get away with things.” Deb tells us.

“You need to do it for you too, Doll. You’re killing yourself for your son, who would let you work yourself into a grave. I hope you really follow through,” Carl tells her as he walks in.

“Carl it’s great to see you. I should have listened when you told me. I’m a stubborn old broad,” Deb tells Carl.

“Ben’s husband Brad is sending Ben early to be here for JR. The Child Advocate is going over the requirements for them to have custody. If Michael is really out of your house, he can’t provide a place for JR to live that is acceptable, so he won’t be able to fight it. Deb, if you let Michael stay with you, he can probably get custody, and all the work Blake and I put in will be for nothing,” Carl tells her.

“He needs to leave. Can I get an officer to help me? I can tell him, but I can’t get him out on my own,” Deb asks.

“I’ll have two of my officers help you. You need to get your locks changed so he can’t get back in,” Carl tells her.

“I’ll handle that Deb,” Justin tells her as he goes to call the locksmith to meet Deb at her house.

Carl, Blake, and Deb leave to handle things. Ted sits down and waits. I ask him if he needs something else. Ted said no just waiting for me to berate him for helping. I rolled my eyes and told him he could wash my car if he needs to be punished.

LINDSAY’S POV

We finally got to Pittsburgh. I am ready for a hot bath and soft bed. I wake up Mel and JR telling them we need to check in. We walk to the reception desk and I tell them that I have a room reserved under Lindsay Peterson. She is clicking away and tells me it will be just a minute. Another employee comes up and asks us to follow him. We are walked into the manager’s office. Two police officers are there and tell us we are being arrested for Credit Card Fraud. I tell them my son gave us permission to use the card. He told me that I can tell it to the detective in charge.

Mel is yelling she didn’t know that I was using the card without permission and demands to be released. A third person tells JR that she needs to come with her. JR shrugs and leaves with her.

I told the cops they need to call my son. He can clear this up. The cop tells me he was just sent to pick us up, I need to tell the detective in charge. Mel tells me to shut up. I tell her to fuck off. Her kid is the reason our lives went to shit. If she and JR weren’t so demanding we could have lived well off of Brian. Mel tells me if I had learned not to let every dick I saw get in my snatch and paid attention to the kids we would have been better off. I lunge at her and we hit heads. The officer told us to sit in our seats.

I was raging all the way to the station. I picked a father who could support us. She picked a father who can’t even take care of himself. I realize that I am going to have to let the rats go down on the ship alone. I’ll apologize to Gus and tell him I should have listened. I’m sure if I play enough of the victim that even my Peter will forgive me. First I need to get out of this ridiculous charge of fraud.

MEL’S POV

If the bitch thinks I’m going down for this she is crazy, I try to remember if I used the card anywhere. I know I used it at the gas pump and I was the one who paid for food at Burger Queen. I didn’t sign any receipts because the purchases weren’t that high. That leaves them with burden of proof.

I ask the officer in the interrogation room where my daughter is. He told me that Child Services has her at the moment. A detective name Logan comes in with a laptop and sits across from me. I told him that I didn’t have any knowledge that Linds didn’t have permission to use the card, and that she purchased everything.

“Melanie, it’s not nice to lie to me. I want you to watch something,” Logan turns his laptop and there is surveillance video of the two purchases.

“It was maybe forty dollars in purchases. That is a misdemeanor and who would prosecute that?” It’s true, I would be asked to pay it back and any cost the court charges, but that is it.

“You're right about that, but your wife said you knew and forced her to help you. She says she was afraid of being beaten like you did to her son if she didn’t listen. I only came in to let you know what we have. It’s pretty cut and dry. Your wife can cry abuse but she was filmed too and we didn’t see any signs of duress. She is going to have to prove it,” He tells the officer to take me to a cell.

Linds thinks she can blame me. I’ll get her back for this.

GUS’S POV

Dad told me that my mother was going to try to call me. I was told what was going on. I told Dad that she stood by and allowed me to be thrown out, I guess I can stand by and let her deal with what she did.

Pop and I are taking the Sphynx to the vet. He wanted to know what kind of care it would require. He said that winter in Pitts couldn’t be good for a hairless animal.

Pop asked if I was okay. I told him I have to think of myself. I’m glad Ben is going to be there for JR. I know he won’t let her play him the way Michael and the mothers do. I asked if he believed Deb and he told me he is waiting for her to follow through. He can’t erase the last eight years. He admitted just like me, how do you let someone go who you once loved.

We got to the vet and, Vinny, my cat, is in perfect health and the vet wants to schedule regular visits because Vinny can have problems in the future. Pop asks about the cold. The doctor told him you dress him in sweaters. Pop started muttering that hopefully Armani doesn’t make cat suits. I burst out laughing. Pop was like “You know your Dad, nothing in his house comes from Big Q or chain stores, or Lord help me, the mall." Pop is trying to do a queening Dad. It’s fun to watch.

On the way home I see a call come in and answer it.

“Gus you need to help us. Tell your father you told me I could use the card. I could get put in jail for this. You wouldn’t want to do this, I know Justin put you up to this,” My mother can make it sound like she is innocent.

“Mom, I am willing to do for you exactly what you did for me. You should have called Mel before you committed a felony, maybe she could have tossed your room and thrown you out. Bye Mom,” I hang up the phone and lower my head, she’s my mom.

I feel the car stop and I lean over and cry into Pop’s shoulder. He tells me nothing was my fault, it was all them, and if I need to talk he’ll listen. Vinny mews at me and I smile. I looked at Pop and said we should buy matching sweaters at the Big Q for the animals. Pop tells me to look up, I do and we’re in the parking lot.  He told me Big Q is Dad’s punishment for allowing Deb in the house.

MICHAEL’S POV

I was munching on the stuff in the refrigerator and watching the Avengers. I could clean up a little, I made a mess in the kitchen. No, I don’t feel like it, Ma can do it. I tried to call Mel and Linds but they aren’t answering. I should open the store, but I’m having a crisis and need to be home. It’s also because I am almost two months behind on the rent and I am hiding from the landlord.

Ma comes in and behind her are two cops. I wonder if it’s about JR.

“Michael, I need you to pack your belonging and leave,”

What the hell is she saying?

“Ma, I live here. You can’t kick me out,” I tell her.

“Actually, I live here, you simply stay here for free. These gentleman will stay with you until you leave. You only have an hour,” She walks into the kitchen and starts cleaning.

I look over at the cop and figure I can fight Ma on this later. I grab some clothes and my comics, the Captain Astro action figure, and leave. I sneak in through the back door of the shop and lay on the couch and read my comics.