Part 3 – Chapter 3 – Gus
Melanie opened the letter from her doctor. The cyst had grown again, and the pills hadn't helped. The doctor said her stress level was the main reason the pills hadn't worked.
Mel had to agree the stress was the major cause of her illness.
When she had moved back in May 2007, she thought that everything would be fine. The cyst had even shrunk a bit. She had settled down, found an unexpected welcome from the family who had stayed in Pittsburgh, and somehow managed to get along with Brian. That was a first. After more than fourteen years she was now able to remain in the same room as him and almost get along smoothly. They still had something between them, but it was less annoying than in the early years.
When Lindsay moved back a few months later, Mel thought that they had finally found some equilibrium in their unconventional family.
It was too simple, too easy, and too good.
Lindsay dropped the bomb of her moving to France just after New Year 2008. She finally chose to leave the country after Brian and Justin's announcement that Daphne was pregnant.
Lindsay organized everything, and finally moved away the last week of February about 2 weeks ago…. Gus went with her.
The calls began almost immediately. Gus didn't bother to look at the clock to know what time it was in Pittsburgh. He waited for Lindsay to fall asleep, grabbed her cell phone and dialed Mel's or Brian's phone number. The first time Gus told them that everything was all right, but that he missed everyone. After a few days, the messages began to change. Gus was often crying and Mel had a hard time coping with that.
It was even more difficult for Mel when her doctor called a few days previously telling her that she needed to be hospitalized for a biopsy and maybe for surgery depending on the results.
When Lindsay and Gus had been in France for three weeks, Brian got a late night call from his son. Brian could tell that the little boy was depressed. He hadn't reacted to his father's attempt to cheer him up, and most importantly for Brian, Gus hadn't asked after Justin, something he always did when he called.
The next morning, Brian called Lindsay in an attempt to understand what was happening in their new home.
He caught Lindsay at a bad moment. Gus was crying and Lindsay too. When she asked Brian what he would do in such situation he simply said, "I would come home!"
Lindsay argued with him, telling him this was her best opportunity for a job. That's when Brian told her to bring Gus home and that she should live her dream. He used the same arguments he used for Justin. "No matter what, we will stay here, and be there for you!"
Reluctantly, Lindsay agreed that Gus would be better off in Pittsburgh, under Mel, Brian, and the family's care. She had to agree that Gus really was depressed and that since their arrival he had lost weight. It's not that he didn't like the food but rather that he didn't eat at all.
After a few more phone calls, it was determined that Gus would stay at Mel's. Melanie agreed to unlimited visits for Brian and Justin.
Brian, Justin, Mel and Jennifer were all at the airport, waiting for Gus.
Brian was the first to see his son, and immediately tensed. His son looked thinner than he remembered paler too and most of all tired.
As soon as Gus saw his father, he left the steward's side and ran to Brian, who reached down to pick him up. Before Brian could say anything, Gus said, "I didn't like it a bit in France!"
Brian laughed and said, "Well hello to you too Gus."
"Hello Dad," said Gus stifling a yawn. "I'm tired."
"Did you notice that everyone else is here?"
"Hi," Gus said with a little smile, reaching out for Mel to give her a kiss, but staying in Brian's arms.
They all went to the loft, and it was decided that Mel would have Gus for a few days since Brian had to leave for Baltimore, and he didn't want to leave Gus with a baby-sitter.
The only other person who knew everything about Mel's condition was Daphne. When Daphne miscarried in February, Mel was at her side, knowing exactly in what state of mind the young woman would be. She went with Daphne to her doctor and her support group.
When Mel went to her doctor for the biopsy, Daphne went with her, and waited in the waiting room. She brought her home and stayed with her and Gus.
While Brian was in Baltimore, Mel got a phone call from her doctor, telling her she should come to his office for the test results.
Daphne went with her, keeping an eye on Gus. But after an hour, Daphne knew the results weren't good. Mel left her doctor's office with bloodshot eyes and a puffy face.
She had an appointment in three weeks at the Women's Clinic in Chicago, for an ablation and probable follow up treatment.
When Mel called Lindsay, she couldn't come home to take care of the kids so Mel decided on the best option for both her kids.
First she spent time with her attorney to put everything in order just in case something went wrong. Once that was done, she made Daphne promise to not tell the rest of the family about the arrangements she was making.
Daphne told her that between her studies and her work, she hadn't time to blabber around about what would, could or may happen in her friend's life.
Through Daphne, Melanie knew that Brian was at the house each time he had Gus, and that he never left the little boy alone with anyone. That Babylon was no longer his playground, and that Justin was home more often than not.
Beginning June 2008
Melanie had to leave tomorrow. Everything was prepared; she just had to put everything in motion. First, she dropped Jenny at Michael's telling him that she had to lead a big conference in Boston, and that she would be away for a week, ten days tops. Because Michael still had legal rights for Jenny she had no problems dropping her at her father's.
It was more complicated with Brian. Even if she had made sure that he could keep Gus sometimes, he hadn't regained full care of his son.
That would change today.
Mel knew that Brian was staying at the loft after he came back from Atlanta he won a new account for Kinnetik.
It was early and Mel hoped that Brian was up.
It was around 8:00 a.m. when she knocked on the door.
"God, hold your horses, I'm coming," he muttered to himself.
He opened the door and saw Mel standing in front of him. He frowned and looked at her.
"Holly shit, it was a perfect day, until I opened the door."
"Good morning to you too, do you mind if we come in?"
"Yes I mind plenty, what are you doing here? Is everyone all right?"
"Coming to see you, and sort of yes. Can I come in? I'm not here to fight with you."
Brian frowned when he heard Melanie's statement, "All right, com'on in. Do you want some coffee? I made some for Daphne."
"I still can't believe that you are almost roommates - you and her. That's really weird"
As Brian turned around, he saw Melanie pushing a sleeping Gus into the loft, "Let me deal with him." He crouched in front of his son, "Hey Sonnyboy, how are you?"
The young boy looked at him and folded his arms around Brian's neck, "Sleepy; mommy not nice, she woke me up early."
Brian frowned as he lifted his son to tuck him in his own bed.
As he stepped out from the bedroom, Melanie was sitting at the kitchen counter, papers in front of her.
"What's this?" he asked, "Do you need me to sign some more papers about Gus?"
"Yeah, some custody papers."
Brian, who was pouring some coffee, almost dropped the pot, "What did you just say?"
"Some custody papers," replied Melanie, and inhaling deeply added in a whisper, "I'm going to Ibiza."
At that comment, Brian looked up, "What?"
"I'm going to Ibiza."
"Yeah I heard you. When?"
"I have surgery planned on Monday, but I have a lot to do, and Lindsay is at an Italian art convention for three weeks. I thought that this was the best time to pull this together."
"Why didn't you tell me anything?"
"Did you tell anyone that you were having surgery?"
Point taken thought Brian.
"Anyway, that's not the debate. The debate is about Gus."
Brian nodded, waiting for Melanie to continue, "I want you to have full custody before I get to the hospital. If something happens to me, I don't want Gus to be put into the system. I want him with someone who loves him enough to say it to him."
Brian was shocked, he cleared his throat, "Mel, you do know that if I sign those papers, I won't sign them over to you again. Do you realize that?"
Mel nodded, "Yeah I realize that," she added bitterly. She knew from the start that if he were going to sign the papers she would never get her rights back.
"What about JR?" asked Brian suddenly.
"She's at her father's; she will be ok there."
"Did you say something to Michael?"
Mel shook her head, "No need to stress him, if something happens, I know they will take care of her."
Brian nodded.
"Hey, Hi Mel."
"Hi Daphne."
"Did you tell him?" Daphne asked while gesturing between Mel and Brian. Mel nodded slowly, "Good, I told you it would be better if you came by yourself."
"You knew?" Brian asked.
"Yeah. I was with her when she got her biopsy results."
"Daph you should talk to him too," Mel added, as Daphne slowly shook her head.
"What should you tell me?" asked Brian suspiciously.
Daphne played with her spoon in the coffee mug and told Brian in one rapid sentence, "I want to try again to get pregnant. I know I should wait, but I don't want to. I waited until I was sure that all my tests were clear, but the doctor told me that I had Hepatitis B and there's a risk for my baby and me."
"No," whispered Brian, "No, everything will be fine, it has to be."
"Brian?" whispered Daphne, "Brian, listen to me. Not everything can go the way you, Justin, or I want. Sometimes, you have to accept that life has its own reasons."
"No."
"Brian, the risk is simple. Because of my tests, I had to get vaccinated against many things and one of those was Hepatitis B. I was vaccinated. Last summer I wanted to give some blood, and they wrote me a letter saying they couldn't take it because it was infected, or rather because I had Hepatitis B. I told them it couldn't be possible, because I'm immune to it." She sighed deeply. "I had some tests, and I got the news that I had the virus and the antiviral in me. This could put my pregnancy in danger. Brian, I want a child, I really want one. I won't let Justin down, and if you, both of you, have to choose between me and the baby, choose the one that has the best chance to come through."
"Why are you saying that?"
"Because I'm a high risk case. Because I have everything from Hepatitis in me, it could be possible that they would have to choose between the baby, and me it's fifty-fifty, nothing more, nothing less. Brian, like I said before, life doesn't always go the way we want. But we have to take every chance we get."
Brian sighed. He knew that Daphne was holding something from him he just never thought it would be that big. He passed his hand over his face, "Does Justin know?"
"He knows that my last boyfriend wasn't perfect, that he screwed up big time, and that he gave me an STD. I never told him what. He lectured me enough. That's why I want that baby, Brian, I really want it, and I know that everything will be all right." She smiled at him.
Brian didn't return the smile, watching how Daphne moved around the loft, putting Gus's bags in their new place, "I'll stay home today, so you can go to work," added Daphne with a smile as she disappeared downstairs again.
"You knew?" Brian asked Mel.
She slowly nodded her head.
"What are the chances that she and the baby will be safe?"
"It depends on her first condition. Now, if I remember what the doctor said, it would be near zero, but in a few weeks, she should be better and then …" Melanie stopped, "Honestly, Brian, I don't know," she sighed deeply and drank from her coffee cup.
