Better than myself Part 8

(Sequel to As a Man)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, I'm not making any money, and all the wonderful characters belong to the lovely JE. I would steal them if I could, just to make Stephanie make a choice.

Disclaimer: for language and subject matter

Jason's POV

How do you tell your wife that you suspect your father of abusing your son? I don't know how as parents we are supposed to handle this? Camille is an amazing woman; she is a loving mother, a fabulous lawyer and still manages to run this house like a well oiled machine. She is my best friend in the entire world. I know our marriage is not typical, she has always known I was gay, probably even before I was ready to admit it. Even with that knowledge, she is committed to our family and our friendship. I have told her for years that she needs to find love, true all encompassing love. But she says that she is content with what we share. I have found that love, a love that does not require me to change my life for him, he respects my family. Hell, he is practically part of our family; I just want her to find love also. I don't want to lose her, but I want the best for her. Because I love her and you always want the best for those you love.

I find Cami in the kitchen, cooking something that smells wonderful, humming under her breath. I don't want to ruin her mood, but I have spent too much time denying and avoiding the truth. I won't let my son live in hell, just because I don't want to face anything.

"Cami, we need to talk." I know that is never the best beginning to any conversation.

She sits at the kitchen island, I start to tell her that Thomas abused Ricky for years; I don't know any real details. But from what I was able to piece together, from the time Ricky was born until he was 14 years old, Thomas beat and molested Ricky. I never knew what went on in our house, I never wanted to know. I am finally admitting to her how Ricky was treated. I have never told her why exactly we never saw him, why he never came around for holidays. I never admitted that I knew he was verbally abused, how he was fed different meals than the rest of us, lived in a separate part of the house than Arielle and myself. That if Ricky was going somewhere with us as a family, which was very rare, that we took the older van, because Thomas didn't think that Ricky deserved the nicer car. That Thomas never called him by his name, only that boy or that spic. That is only the things that I witnessed firsthand, and now I know I what I knew, which would be horrible for any child to endure, didn't even scratch the surface.

"Jason, that is awful, I see why Ricky didn't attend the funeral. But why are you telling me this now? Did something else happen to Ricky?"

This is what I am dreading, I don't want to tell her, I don't want to face this. Time for me to man up.

"Camille, I am worried about all of the time JJ has spent with Thomas, you know they are very close. And knowing what I know now, I am afraid."

I can tell by the look in her eyes as soon as she figures out what I am trying to say. I want to hold her, but she waves me off.

"Jason, do you really think that your father, JJ's grandfather, would do that to him?"

I want to tell her no, but after what he did to Ricky and how proud and unrepentant he sounded. I wouldn't put it past him.

"I don't know Camille, but we have to ask him."

She stands up and sits back down, several times, so full of indecision. I feel guilty, because my ignorance might have caused or allowed the most horrible thing to happen.

I never asked or tried to talk to Ricky about his childhood. Ricky would never bring up anything in the past. Our relationship, as little as it was, was based in the present. I think he had to do that in order not to hate me. I would hate me. I lived a charmed life compared to his, and I never questioned anything. I never stuck up for him; I never tried to comfort him. I just believed Father when he said that Ricky wanted to run with the gangs and deal drugs, more than he wanted to live with us. That was the truth, but I never tried to find out why. But Ricky was so scary and angry all of the time. For years you couldn't approach him without him flying off into a rage. Then the older he got, he just shut down and stopped talking to us at all. I didn't push him, I didn't want to deal with him, I honestly didn't know how. I failed him, but I won't fail my son.

I grab Camille's hand and we walk up the stairs together to JJ's room. My little 10 year old ball of energy is actually sitting down, playing a video game, and wearing the 'ARMY' hat that Ricky sent him.

We sit on his bed and motion for him to sit next to us. He plops down in the way only kids do and looks at us. Cami starts telling him how much we love him and he and his sister are the most important people in the world to us. That we will love him no matter what he does or whatever happens to him. But please don't lie.

"Mom, I know, I love you, too. Are we done? I want to finish this game, Mike is online, too."

She looks to me; I guess it is my turn to speak.

"It's about Grandpa; I need to ask you a very important question. Has Grandpa ever hurt you? Has he ever touched you?"

His entire expression changes, all of a sudden it is like looking directly into Ricky's eyes. That is all the answer I need.

A/N: My muse led me here. I hope everyone enjoys this chapter.

I have plans for the POV's that I was given suggestions for in the next few chapters.

Reviews always make me happy, keep them coming.