Jon was assigned to training Gus for his first day. He was Gus' field training officer. Jon decided that he was going to put Gus behind the wheel and show him the ropes of how everything worked. Never in his life would he have thought that Gus would be interested in working on the police force. Jon had confidence in his cousin but Gus wasn't the type to be mean and gritty with people. Jon on the other hand knew all too well about being mean and gritty with people. Jon knew Gus could handle himself if the wrong person pissed him off though. Plenty of times Gus had lost his cool and had hurt someone bad. Hopefully things would go smooth today. Gus had a date with Beatrix later that night. Like hell was he going to miss it. But right now, business before pleasure.
Jon was amazed at how friendly the other cops in the office were to Gus. Usually when a newcomer was in the building, no one really payed any attention to him. But Gus got acquainted with quite a few people with no problem. Even the boss. Gus just had that kind spirit about him that drew people towards him. Unfortunately, some people take advantage and just treat him like shit. Jon really hoped Beatriz was going to treat Gus right. He was slowly getting back on his feet after being layed off from his other job. Well, his ex would always take his car and would be gone for days at a time, causing him to miss work and ultimately get fired. What a bitch she was. Gus was moving onto something better. He never asked for much. Just to be with his family and simply to be happy. Ever since Jon and Adriana came back, he's been more than happy. He was so happy that he was chatty during the entire training process with Jon. Jon loved listening to Gus talk and talk and talk. Some might tell him to shut up. Not Jon. Jon could listen to Gus talk all day. He enjoyed being around Gus when he was little. The two of them were inseparable. Just like him and Adriana. And Samuel.
Jon's mind drifted to Samuel. All of the laughs and stuff that they shared too. Until Samuel was taken away from him in an instant. It still hurt Jon to think about it but there was nothing he could do about it. This made Jon really appreciate his family more.
"Man, everything looks the same here," Jon said. "Only a few things have changed."
"Yup. Hey, sorry about Jackie," Gus said. "She overheard Aunt Gwen was talking to Nonna about the problems you and Adriana were going through. I wasn't trying to be nosy myself but I did overhear them sometimes."
"She thinks she knows every damn thing and she doesn't know her ass from a hole in the ground," Jon said.
"I know she can be an idiot at times. She's just mad because her husband divorced her ass. And I don't blame him either," Gus said.
He almost missed a turn and quickly turned the car to the right. He hit the curb and drove on it for a second before getting back on the road.
"She is a hot mess," Jon said.
"Sorry about hitting that curb."
"It's fine."
"She honestly thinks it's your fault that you and Adriana are having problems. And apparently it's your fault that Adriana suffered from depression after having the children. I can't believe her. Then again she's never had children so she doesn't quite understand."
"When Adriana told me that Jasmine was going to be our last child, I immediately agreed with her. Jasmine gave her the blues when Adriana was pregnant with her. Adriana would cry so much. She never really cried when she was pregnant with J.J. and the twins. Honestly, I still can't believe I was drunk when I got Adriana pregnant with Jasmine. I was being stupid as hell. But like I said before, I wouldn't trade my family in for the world."
"I'm still glad you're here. You've been a great cousin and a great person. Thank you for helping me find work. I can finally put food in my house."
"Gus?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't tell me you've been starving at your house for the last few days?"
Gus fell silent.
"Gus, you can talk to me."
Gus still didn't say anything.
Jon quickly dropped the subject but definitely didn't forget about it. Gus didn't want to admit that he was indeed going to bed hungry many nights because he didn't want to burden his cousin with extra worries. But like hell was Jon going to let Gus go hungry for another night.
"These are nice houses," Gus murmured to himself.
They were driving past beautiful houses that had just been built.
"I would love to live in that house. Look at how beautiful it is!" Gus said.
"It is nice," Jon said.
And that was the house that Jon was going to get for Gus. But he wasn't going to tell him that.
Gus was panicking about how he looked and how smelled after work. He took a shower and still felt dirty for some reason. Gus' head was about to explode.
He nervously knocked on the front door of Beatrix's house.
Gus had bought her flowers and honestly wanted to hide behind them but couldn't.
Beatrix opened the door and saw Gus standing right there.
"Hi Gus! Come on in," she said.
Gus stepped into her home and quickly handed her the flowers.
"For you," he said.
"Oh! Roses! My favorite! Thank you so much! You're so kind," Beatrix said.
She gave Gus a kiss on the cheek.
"I'm going to put these in my vase on the dining table. I just finished making dinner. I'm going to make our plates right now."
Gus walked to the dining room table with Beatrix and quickly sat down.
"Smells good," he nervously said.
"I made BBQ chicken with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables," Beatrix said, placing the roses in the vase.
"Sounds great," Gus said.
"I hope it is. I don't think I'm that good of a cook."
"Ah, you're being too hard on yourself. You know what? I'll make your plate."
"No, you don't have to," Beatrix said.
"I insist," Gus said.
He went into the kitchen and washed his hands at the sink. Beatrix already had two plates out on the counter with the forks.
Beatrix went to wash her hands in the bathroom and came back to see Gus placing the food on the table.
"Wow. You're pretty fast! You must be very hungry," she said.
"A little," Gus said.
Gus pulled out Beatrix's seat and helped her get comfortable.
"You okay?" Gus asked.
"Yup. Thank you again," Beatrix said.
"No problem. Thanks for inviting me to dinner," Gus said.
He sat down and started eating.
'Damn, this food is good,' Gus thought to himself.
Beatrix noticed that Gus was cleaning his plate rather quickly.
'Damn, I hope he remembers to chew his food,' she thought to herself.
"I wonder how Gus is doing," Jon said.
He was taking a bubble bath with Adriana.
"Just fine. How did it go today?"
"He did pretty good. I don't think he has food at his house. I'm going to go buy him some tomorrow."
"I wonder why he never said anything."
"He doesn't want to be a burden. But I'm going to help him. He deserves it."
"My cousin got me a job on the police force. I, um, was out of work for some time. N-not because I was lazy. It was because...my ex would take my car and leave me stranded at home. One day I woke up and got a phone call from my boss saying how I was fired."
"This girl sounds like...shit. Excuse my French."
"That's alright."
Gus finished drinking his apple juice.
"Dinner was really good tonight," Gus said.
"I am surprised that you liked it! But thanks anyway," Beatrix said. "My ex said my food was cooking."
"Both of our exes are assholes I take it?" Gus said.
"Pretty much!"
"Good thing we are friends. You're such a great person," Gus said.
"Aww, you're such a sweet person yourself," Beatrix said.
Gus blushed.
"Th-thanks."
He lost track of time and unfortunately had to go home to get up work the next day.
"Oh damn," he muttered to himself. "I have to go."
Beatrix walked Gus to the front door.
"It was good seeing you. Thanks for stopping by," she said.
"Thanks for inviting me to dinner," Gus said.
"No problem," Beatrix said.
She gave Gus a goodnight kiss on his cheek. He gave her one back.
"Thanks again. Thanks for everything," Gus said.
"No problem," Beatrix said.
She watched as Gus walked to his car and got in. He turned on the engine, reversed out of her driveway, and drove off.
Jon was anxiously waiting for Gus to text him to tell him how the date went. Jon finally heard his phone vibrate and immediately looked at it:
"The date was amazing!"
Jon quickly texted back:
"I told you it would go just fine!"
"I know. Thanks again cousin :) Thanks to you, I now the courage to talk to Beatrix without turning bright red."
"I told you everything would work out fine. If there's anything else you need, I'm just a phone call away. Now, get some sleep so you can be well rested for tomorrow."
"Will do. Night Jon."
"Night Gus."
Jon placed his phone back on the charger and rested his head on his pillow. He was about to drift off to sleep until he heard the door burst open.
J.J. came running into the room and hopped on Jon's stomach, knocking the wind out of him.
"What in the hell!?" Jon said.
Adriana was woken up and turned on her light.
"Mommy! Daddy! I had a bad dream!" J.J. said.
"What was it?" Adriana asked.
"I was called on to read and the words looked all weird to me. And I couldn't read them and all of my classmates laughed at me," J.J. said. "I don't want to go to school anymore. I'm too stupid."
"No, you're not stupid," Adriana said.
"I am," J.J. said. "I'm the only one in the entire world who thinks that letters are backwards."
"You're not the only one who have dyslexia in this universe," Jon said.
"I don't?"
"Nope," Jon said. "Come lay next to me."
Jon pushed back the covers and let J.J. slide under them. Jon pulled the covers back over the both of them. Adriana got up and closed the door.
"I know reading is going to be tough for you but I want you to know that you are not dumb and you are not stupid. You're a very bright and smart. Just because you have dyslexia doesn't mean that you are not capable of learning. And if anyone messes with you again, I'm going to fuck them up."
"Jonathan!" Adriana said. She climbed into bed and pulled the covers over her.
"What?"
"Don't cuss in front of the children."
"Sorry. Like I said, I'm going to fuck them up."
"Jonathan!"
"I. Am. Going. To. Fuck. Them. Up," Jon repeated.
Adriana gave Jon a scowl. He simply raised his eyebrows.
"Yes?"
"When the children start walking around here swearing, you're to blame. Now J.J., before your father started cussing, he did make a good point. You are smart and you will go far in life. Just remember that we love you very much."
"Thanks Mommy."
J.J. gave his mother a kiss on her cheek.
"Thanks Daddy."
J.J. then gave his father a kiss on his cheek.
"You're welcome," Jon said.
"Alright. Goodnight," Adriana said.
"Night," Jon said.
"Night," J.J. said.
Adriana turned off her light.
During the night, J.J. slept wildly. Every time he would stretch he would kick his mother in her butt. He'd punch Jon right in the jaw, elbow him in his sides, and even kick him too.
But they all had a good night's rest which is all that mattered.
