It's Not About You (32 page)

Burt pushed himself up off the floor when Kevin stopped talking. Michael remained rooted where he was, dressed in nothing more than sweats, loafers and his glasses. Burt's nose was bleeding. So was his lip.
 

I looked at him and felt…nothing.
 

For the first time since the divorce, since the wedding, since Tanae was born I felt absolutely
nothing
for this man. Kevin was right. He wasn't someone to fear or to run from, to lock out or to even cower from.
 

Burt Murphy was someone to banish. And I was the only one to do that. On shaky legs I moved from behind Michael and put my hand on his arm. He didn't move or even flinch, but he did look down at me. Our eyes met and he gave me a nod.
 

Burt took a step back as I took several forward. I kept my voice low as the door opened down stairs and the kids started up the steps to stand by Melissa at the door. "I'm going to tell you this in front of all these people because that way you can't claim I was crazy. Or suffering from postpartum or menopause. For fifteen years it's been about you. Always about how you felt, what you did, where you went, the people you insulted, the horrible people you worked with, about how no one understands you and about how I don't understand you most of all.
 

"Burt, listen to me very, carefully. You will always be a part of Tanae's life, but on Tanae's terms and on mine. Nothing is stopping you from visiting her at college. Nothing is stopping you from making plans around
mine
because that's what you're going to do from now on. You will never darken my door again or I will have you thrown in jail and charged with burglary. You will never call me again; not on my cell and not on my home phone. You will never call my family so you can plead your poor, pitiful case to them because guess what—they don't care, Burt. The only reason Brad's not here is because he wants to kick your ass." I took another step. Burt couldn't move because the banister stopped him. He was looking at me with a mixture of hatred and fear in his face. A face I could no longer find anything attractive about.
 

He was nothing more than a lonely, pathetic man. And I finally felt…

Free.
 

I pointed to his chest and narrowed my eyes at him. "Because you need to get something through that diseased brain of yours. You are no longer the star of this drama. Your wants and your needs no longer matter. Not to me." And then poked his chest with my finger as I said, "It's not….about…you!"
 

Michael moved beside me. Silent. But he put a hand on my shoulder and I all I wanted to do was fall into his arms. But I stood my ground as everyone stood behind me.
 

I knew Tanae was angry at me. And confused. But she was going to have to make up her mind about her father. I couldn't do it for her.
 

Burt looked at everyone before he turned and headed down the stairs. He moved past Kevin, past Melissa and the kids, who scattered when he approached.
 

He didn't even look back as he went out the door.
 

Tanae looked at me, at Michael, at her friends and finally ran after her father.
 

The house was quiet for a few seconds before Skyler cleared her throat. "I think we're going to leave, Miss Murphy."
 

I took in a deep breath. "You're welcome to stay, Skyler. But the decision is yours."
 

They waved at us and filed out the door. Without Tanae around, there really wasn't
 
a reason to stay. I could see them pile into Skyler's car in the drive and back out.
 

I also saw Burt and Tanae at the end of the driveway. They were talking in hushed voices but pointing at the house and then at each other.
 

Kevin stepped to the door and looked out before he turned and looked up at me. "I'll follow him, make sure he behaves. And if Tanae goes with him I'll stay outside where ever they go and bring her home."
 

I nodded to him. He winked and left, closing the door behind him.
 

Melissa looked at the door for a few seconds before she looked up at us. She pointed outside. "Is he seeing anybody?"

Michael groaned and I broke out in a laugh. April released a long sigh. So did Kyle as he leaned on the banister.
 

Gerald was the only one that still looked tense. I watched him, unsure of what he would do. Two of his employees had just been in a domestic altercation, and a few things had been revealed that end both of their jobs. "I'm not sure I understand any of this. Kyle…are you and Grace married or not?"
 

Kyle shook his head. "No. We're not. Grace and I are best friends and we live together."
 

"Then why did you lie to me? Grace, why weren't you honest?"

I started to say something but Kyle held up his hand. "Because I'm gay, Gerald. I like men. Michael likes Grace and she likes him."
 

Quiet. I heard a pin drop. We all looked at each other and then looked at Kyle.
 

Gerald grunted. "That explains a lot."
 

"Am I fired?"
 

"Why would you be fired? Did you do something wrong at work?" Gerald narrowed his eyes at Kyle and then looked at me. "Were you two engineering this ruse because you thought I'd fire Kyle for being gay?"

Kyle and I nodded in unison. Wow it felt good to get that off my chest.
 

"You think I'd fire you because you're gay?"
 

Kyle shrugged. "You make gay jokes all the time. You're a Jesus freak, no offense April, and you condemn the news every time gays advance getting equal rights. I also heard you were responsible for getting gays fired."
 

"Who told you that?"
 

I was only half listening to the discussion. My knees had turned to Nerf balls and I needed to sit down. No…I needed to lay down. Before I collapsed. I was shaking. Bad.
 

Kyle said names as I turned but I ceased to care about other people's problems. I was more concerned about my own. Was Tanae going to hate me now? Was she going to spend more time with her father than me? Should it really matter? What was my sister going to think about Michael?
 

Oh God…I needed a drink. I pushed through everyone and headed down the hall to my bedroom. I slammed my door and fell on my bed.
 

I hadn't bawled like that in years. Not even when I knew my marriage was a farce and the love was long, long gone. Not even when I realized a year later there had never been real love.
 

I was unloveable. That was how I was starting to see myself. And it was that thought front and center that drove me deeper under the covers.
 

I think I slept and woke when someone sat on the edge of my bed. I assumed it was Michael, so when I moved the cover I was shocked to see April. "Oh…" I wiped at my eyes. "I thought you would leave."
 

"Why? Because you gave us such an entertaining Thanksgiving?" Her laughter had always been something I enjoyed. She stroked my hair and moved it from my cry-swollen face. "I don't think Burt's going to be bothering you for a while."
 

I sniffed. "He'll be quiet until Christmas."
 

"And we'll cross that when it comes. But right now we have to finish this holiday. Kyle, myself and Michael have heated everything back up. Michael took a shower and Melissa's getting one right now. You ready to eat? I think you need it."
 

I pushed myself up on my elbows. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Michael. I just…I didn't know how to tell you I was…"

"Dating a younger hottie?" April grinned. "Not my business, Grace. But let me let you in on a secret. I doubt Michael knows how wonderful me, and my kids, think he is. He stood up against Burt in a way no one ever has. He did what we've all wanted to do, and that's knock the bastard's lights out."
 

There it was again! A curse. "Who are you and what did you do with my sister?"

"Grace, he did something your own husband has never done. He stood up for
you
, and he did it with no thought for himself. All he wanted to do was protect you. And the story he and his sister told us about their day—" she laughed again. "Keep him. He's a fighter. And he's nice on the eyes. So…get up, get a shower and meet us at the table. We have Thanksgiving to get through." She stood and then snapped her fingers. "Oh, and by the way, Brad's here."
 

I laughed. I was happy her husband had joined us.
 

"…So, when Jack started waving the gun around, Kevin spoke into his walkie talkie and said, 'now' and six cop cars came out of nowhere. I mean…" Melissa was laughing along with us as she told the story. "I never saw them get there."
 

"Neither did I." Michael took a long swig of beer. His hair had sort of dried and hung in small curls around his face. He wore his black Nine Inch Nails teeshirt he left here and a pair of jeans.
 

We were all laughing at the antics the two of them had gone through with Kevin to get Melissa's ex arrested. After Michael hung up with Kevin, Jack showed up in a pick up truck, not his motorcycle or his cut (vest with his club's patches on it—I had to be told this because I didn't know anything about motorcycle clubs) and was patrolling the parking lot. Michael had his bike tucked into a spot between six other bikes while he and Melissa hid inside the office of the
Trade In Bean
. Flower had already noticed Michael and being the smart cookie she was, herded them inside.
 

Kevin showed up at the coffee shop just as Jack got out of his truck and started to go inside. Kevin recognized him from a pic Melissa sent to his phone.
 

Guests spending their Thanksgiving having coffee scattered when the two of them pulled out their guns.
 

Flower called after we started eating to tell me how exciting it was to work on Thanksgiving and she wanted to work on holidays from now on!

We had just finished dessert when the stories started and Michael made coffee with the press Gerald brought. Apparently Gerald was okay with Kyle's sexual standing, as long as he was allowed to come over now and then and enjoy the company and good food.
 

And the job always got done.
 

"So what happened after he was surrounded?" Gerald prompted. He had already sampled every dessert in the house and finished two cups of coffee.
 

"Oh," Michael sat forward and ran his finger around the rim of his coffee cup. "Apparently the idiot was driving around with coke on him. He was arrested and taken away. Detective Taylor let the officers do all the work." Michael picked up the cup. "He said he was going to make sure he got booked in, then he came here."
 

"And just in time," April said as she stood up and started gathering dishes into a stack. "I say we get this place cleaned. Brad and I have to get the kids over to his mother's."
 

Brad stood with a hand full of dishes. As he moved past me he squeezed my shoulder and then followed his wife into the kitchen.
 

Someone rang the doorbell. Kyle got up and let Kevin in. Tanae came in behind him and went immediately to her room. Detective Taylor came up the steps and lowered his shoulders as April came out of the kitchen. "Oh no…don't put it away. I haven't eaten yet."
 

April laughed and told him to sit and she'd fix him a plate. Kevin came and sat beside me, facing Michael. Within seconds April had a hot plate of food in front of him. Truth was she'd already made him a plate before we started and nuked it.
 

I looked in the direction of the hall as I started stacking dishes. Kevin put a hand on my arm. "I don't think it was a good visit."
 

"Oh no."
 

"I mean, I think they aired out a few things. I sat nearby but sort of out of hearing. Not that Burt's voice can't carry over a tornado." Kevin turned back to his plate. "I think the two of you need talk though. I can take Michael and Melissa with me to get his motorcycle."
 

Michael touched my hand. "I'll take Melissa to my house. You call me when you need me, okay?"

I squeezed his hand back as he got up and helped clear the dishes. Melissa stayed at the table and flirted with Kevin, so I pulled dishes into the kitchen. April was at the sink along with Brad and Kyle, who were having a heated discussion about Dr. Who.
 

I always figured those two nerds would hit it off if they ever spent time together. Gerald brought his own plate in and made his excuses for leaving. He gave me a hug, shook everyone else's hand and told Kyle and Michael he expected to see them bright and early Monday morning before he left.

It took about an hour to get the dishes cleared. The dishwasher hummed along, leftovers were on the stove, covered in lids and foil. The turkey and been carved up into plastic containers and stuffed in the over filled refrigerator.