"You mentioned both of your moms. Why don't you start there? We can talk about either or both of them," Joe suggested.

Rusty sat back, sighing, "I guess start with Sharon Beck. So, she's living outside Palm Springs now with Gary's parents. I guess it's going okay. She calls me about once a month. I have tried to call her, but she doesn't answer, saying she was busy with the baby. I'm just glad she's actually taking care of the baby."

Joe nodded, "Have you seen the baby-a girl, you said?"

Rusty shook his head, "Only in pictures. Get this, she named her Roxie. So, now she has two kids, at least that I know of, named Rusty and Roxie," he shook his head. "Not the name I would pick." Joe smiled slightly. "Gus suggested we take a road trip, to visit both our moms. His mom is in Vegas, so we could see them both on the way. I'm not ready for that."

"Not ready for Gus to see your mom?" Joe asked.

Rusty shook his head, "No, he's met her, and she actually likes him. No, I'm not ready to go see her, see Roxie. Not yet. Sharon told me I know when I'll be ready, to trust my instincts, Sharon, my mom, not Sharon Beck."

Joe chuckled at the statement; of course, Rusty would have two moms, both with the name Sharon.

"Do you think you'll want to be part of Roxie's life?" he asked.

Rusty looked off, "I think so, but I'm not ready yet. It's not her, but it's the idea of getting hurt again by Sharon. We'll see if she can stabilize. I'm trying with her, but it's hard. I afraid to get hurt again; I realize that is one of my issues. I don't want to actually like Roxie and then she just disappears. I'm hoping that as she gets older. I can at least be in contact with her, but it's too early to say. As far as the other Sharon, I want her to stay sober, but she has to do the work. Andy gives me a lot of insight to addiction all the time, and I'm hoping this will help her want to stay sober, you know, having Roxie now. It didn't work when she had me, but I know a lot for her has changed. I hope she can do it this time."

"You mention Andy, the lieutenant a lot, and it's a nice change to hear you call him Andy. Sounds like things are going well with him, with your mom too? Did I hear you say they were engaged?"

Rusty nodded, "Yeah, that's actually been great. I helped Andy with all that. He had all this off the wall idea on how to propose, and in the end, he did a good job. I helped, so did Gus. We setup the balcony at the condo, and he surprised her there. She's really happy, and that's all I want for her. She deserves it after the way Jack treated here, man, even how I treated her to start. Andy does too. He's a good guy; it was just weird with them first dating. Don't get me wrong-I am working on not cringing every time I see him late at night or early in the morning in his pajamas around the house, but it's getting better. It's weird, and it feels like family, I guess. I've not had that feeling to get it until now. We are getting along well, and I meant it when I said it strange to think I was homeless and now have a mom, Andy, and I guess two sisters and two brothers with them," he sighed. "Crazy. What is Andy, though? Like I said, it is weird to tell people he's my stepdad now. That always implies he's replacing a dad, but he's not. He's been the only one I've known," he frowned. "I guess that's what I'm realizing too-he's been like a dad to me for years. What do you call the guy who plays the part when you've never had one before? I'm just not sure."

Joe smiled, "Whatever you call him, I'm sure he's fine with it, and he is what he is to you. You both know your relationship. It will come in time. Remember, you called your mom, Sharon, for a long time, still do. You easily go back and forth with names. Maybe it will be like that for Andy. Whatever you do, I know you won't force it. You called him lieutenant for so long, and again, you sometimes still do. I hear that come out when you seem worried or anxious, not even at him, but at things. It's like a coping mechanism, so don't stress about it. Maybe get around it when introducing him by saying, 'These are my parents,' because as you just pointed out, that's what you are realizing he's been to you."

Rusty nodded, "Look at me, the abandoned street kid with like, real parents and siblings," he chuckled. "I almost look normal."

"Almost?" Joe asked.

Rusty shrugged, "So, yeah, I still have these issues about not wanting to be on my own or live with anyone else. I'm good staying with Mom and Andy; I feel at home. Gus wanted me to move in with him, and we ended up breaking up over it."

"I thought I caught a 'we got back together' in your confession earlier," he said.

Rusty nodded, "Yeah, we did, and I'm glad we did. My not wanting to live with Gus wasn't anything about him or our relationship; it was about me. I am not ready to leave. I'm in school, and Mom and Andy pay for just about everything I have. I will never be able to repay them."

"Rusty, you know they don't expect repayment, right? Neither one of them do," he added.

"I guess I know that, but I still feel that I owe them. I couldn't explain that to Gus at first, but Mom gave me some advice, and I finally spoke to Gus. He gets it; he doesn't necessarily like it, but he gets it. He's okay knowing that, so yeah, I almost feel normal. I can't get past that feeling of having to be on my own. I didn't like living on the streets, doing what I did, and I just want to be at home still. They both accept me at home and take care of anything I need, no questions asked, and for now, I need that. In time, I hope that I will be ready to move out, even move in with Gus. I want a future with him in it. I just am not ready. Now, I feel like my mom. She was always saying she wasn't dating Andy when she was, and I think she needed time to process it. I guess I need time to process things with Gus and the idea of a future with him, out of the condo."

"It sounds like you've been doing a lot of thinking and even some talking to others about your feelings. Those are all good things. The important thing it to keep talking to people, especially those you love, and from where we started long ago, you have a string of people in your life now who deeply love you, even if you don't want to hear it," he smiled. "Why don't we move to the chess board before our session is up, and you can tell me all about this law school stuff," Joe suggested. Rusty nodded, a small smile, as he stood to follow.