Chapter 8 – Liberty Diner

Justin chose his time carefully.

He had checked with Michael to find out when Deb was working that day. Justin knew the ebb and flow of traffic in the diner. He'd spent so many hours there. Ten o'clock in the morning was the quiet time. He badly needed some quiet time with Debbie.

As he came through the door, he saw Emmett Honeycutt sitting at the service bar chatting with Debbie and Justin immediately knew that quiet wasn't likely to happen. He also knew he wasn't ready to talk to Emmett about his father. He'd have to wait it out to talk to Deb.

Debbie spotted him and immediately walked out from behind the counter to give him a hug. "Sunshine! What the fuck are you doing in Pittsburgh?"

"Justin, sweetie!" Emmett squealed, interrupting before Justin had a chance to answer. He hopped off his stool to give Justin a quick hug. "Michael told me you might be coming in this morning."

Justin moved to a stool at the counter. He had to smile despite his mood. Debbie had on a lime green T-shirt under her red vest saying 'Heterosexuality is not normal. JUST COMMON!'

As Emmett chattered, Justin responded on auto-pilot, too distracted to give any real response. Emmett had broken up with his new boyfriend. Ted and Blake were doing great. Hunter was looking for a college. Mel and Linds had found a school in Toronto. Emmett was moving to New York.

"What?" Justin interrupted, startled. "You're moving to New York? Why?"

"I got a phone call from an independent TV station in Chelsea." Emmett tilted his head to one side with a smile. "Startime is sponsoring a new show and they want little old me. They said that my Fetch experience will draw in a ready made audience and that they liked me as the Queer Guy. So, they picked me for their show. Isn't it fabulous?" Emmett clapped his hands together in excitement.

Justin stared in bemusement for a moment before he could respond. "What's the show about?"

"Well," bubbled Emmett, "they want someone to go around interviewing people about their sexual kinks. Check out products. That sort of thing. We'll start off in New York, but eventually maybe travel around."

"So you're just going to say good-bye to Pittsburgh?" said Debbie.

Emmett paused for a moment, "Given that my last boyfriend just did not work out and that Drewsie is still out fucking everything that moves, I thought a change of scenery would be good."

Emmett cocked his head to one side and smiled hopefully at Justin, "What do you think? Is the Big Apple ready for me?"

"Definitely," responded Justin, starting to laugh. "I know I'll be watching every episode."

"We're sure as shit going to miss your bony ass around here." Debbie's response came complete with a hug. "Congratulations."

"I should run - lots to do before I can move." Emmett bounced off his stool. "Now, Justin, honey, I'm counting on you to help me settle in."

Justin stopped laughing. Hopefully, he'd figure out what to do about his father before Emmett needed help. Justin knew who he'd rather give his time to. "I'll do my best."

"Babylon tonight?"

"I'm not sure. I might go and hang out with Daphne. I'll give you a shout if I decide to go."

"Ta ta." With that, Emmett Honeycutt flounced out the front door.

Deb turned her stare to Justin.

"All right, where were we before we got interrupted? What are you doing in Pittsburgh?"

Justin smiled. That was Deb, straight to the point as always.

Debbie continued. "And don't bullshit me, Sunshine. I know you didn't just drop in. Is everything all right?"

"No, it's not." Justin was struggling to find a way to raise the topic of his father. The whole situation felt surreal. Justin found himself wondering when he'd wake up.

He tried to start. "Has my mom talked to you lately?"

"Oh, no," Debbie's eyes instantly softened with compassion and worry. "Is something wrong with Jen? She seemed fine at the show."

"Mom's fine." Justin paused.

"Is Brian okay?" Debbie pressed.

Justin knew then why he had come to Pittsburgh. Debbie would force him to face reality. She couldn't help herself. He smiled slightly and took a deep breath, "Brian's fine. It's my father." He continued quickly, before he lost his nerve. "He has cancer."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Sunshine. It's good that you came home to see him after all he's done." Debbie came around the bar and sat on the stool beside Justin, forcibly slowing her pace so she could focus on Justin. "You can show you still care."

"Yeah, I care." Justin repeated the word thoughtfully. "But do I care enough?"

"What the fuck does that mean?"

"My father has leukemia. They're having a hard time controlling it. He needs a bone marrow transplant. He called and asked me to get tested." Justin smiled disdainfully. "First civil thing he's said to me in years. I wasn't too polite to him after he told me it was my duty to go through surgery because I owe him."

"Shit, I'm sorry, honey. Your dad's an asshole." Debbie looked at him closely, trying to read his intentions. "Are you going to do it?"

"That's the question, isn't it?" Justin hesitated before continuing. "I want to walk away."

Debbie's response was soft, gentle. "I can't say that I blame you."

Justin was relieved. That Debbie could respond that way meant a lot. He'd been afraid that she'd think him a coward for not offering immediately.

"Hey, can we get some food here?" A loud voice yelled from the booth behind them.

"Keep yelling and you'll never get any. Didn't your mother teach you any fucking manners?" Debbie responded at the top of her lungs.

Turning back to Justin she queried softly, "Now where was I?" Debbie paused for a second, choosing her words carefully. "The way your father treated you, nobody should be surprised if you don't help." She smiled sadly. "I've watched you for years, Sunshine - handling shit no kid should have to go through, like your dad. You're going to have to live with your dad's rejection for the rest of your life. It's always gonna hurt, but it's okay to walk away."

Debbie locked Justin's gaze with her own, making sure she had his attention. "But I know you, and it isn't that easy, is it?"

Justin smiled wryly as he shook his head no.

"I didn't think so." Debbie gave Justin a look filled with pride before she continued.

"I don't give a shit if your dad dies." Debbie's blunt statement startled Justin. "But," she went on "you better be damn sure that you don't either, 'cause he's likely gonna die. And you're going to have to live with that the rest of your life, too." Debbie leaned over and gave Justin a kiss on the top of his head as she stood.

Debbie got the order, moving efficiently through the diner, taking requests and providing meals as the lunch-time crowd started to drift in. Justin remained on the stool, staring off into the distance, no conscious thoughts penetrating the churning noise from his subconscious. Images kept flashing into his mind, coming to him as completed paintings that his hands itched to put to canvas. Debbie kept a close eye on him as she worked, periodically coming back to give him an opportunity to talk, just wanting him to know she was there for him.

Finally, Justin came out of his trance to focus on Debbie. "Thanks, Deb."

"Anytime, honey."

"Now," Deb pulled out her pad, "how about a nice piece of pie?"