“Do you mind if I make a phone call while you’re doing that?”
“Who are you calling?”
“Lil.”
“You really like him, don’t you?”
“I love him, Dad.”
“You’ve known him for two weeks, son. Get real.”
“I know what I feel.”
“You’re impossible,” Santino grumbled, but he cupped Grier’s cheek and smiled, making the words much more palatable.
Grier went out to the garage while his dad called Bob to set up the impromptu meeting. Lil answered on the second ring.
“Hey.”
“Is everything okay?” Lil’s anxious tone seeped through the connection.
“It’s all good.”
“What happened, love?”
Grier told Lil about his father’s reaction to his confession and his mother’s surprising letter.
“That certainly changes things, doesn’t it?”
“I hope so,” Grier said.
“It’s impossible to deny your rights now that you have the proof. What are you planning on doing with it?”
“Dad’s calling his friend, the retired judge, to see if he’ll come with us and be my legal support.”
“You think you’ll need a lawyer?”
“He seems to think so.”
“You sound a little hoarse.”
“I’m okay.”
“I miss you already.”
“Ditto.”
“Call me as soon as the meeting is over and done with.”
“I will.”
“I love you, Grier.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you?”
Grier laughed nervously. “You know what I mean.”
“I think I do.”
“Consider yourself kissed,” Grier said huskily. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“Bye, love.”
LIL DISCONNECTED and dialed Jody’s phone number. Fortunately, his best friend answered the phone. “Thank God you’re not on rotation.”
“Not until three o’clock,” Jody replied. “What’s going on?”
“I need you to talk me off the ledge.”
“What happened?”
“Grier’s back in Chicago, and all I can think about is jumping on a plane to be with him.”
“Do it.”
“What are you saying? My career is here.”
“So commute.”
“Sure, I’ll just hop on my Learjet and take off whenever I want.”
“You have to come here anyway because we want to build a house in Barrington.”
“Since when?”
“Since Clark came home with three Alaskan Husky puppies.”
“Are you serious?”
“He said he wanted a dog.”
“A dog is singular. Is he planning on running in the Iditarod?”
Jody laughed. “Fuck if I know. His heart is much bigger than his brain, but bottom line, we need a yard.”
“So you’re going to spend half a million dollars because you need a yard?”
“It’s not fair to the animals to be cooped up in the house while we’re at work.”
“Shouldn’t you have discussed this?”
“I knew he wanted a pet, but I figured he’d settle for a cat.”
“Your husband needs animals that can frolic with him. He’s a big baby himself.”
“I wouldn’t touch the age issue, Lil, considering you have an infant in your life.”
“Fuck you, Dr. Williams.”
“Yes, well… speaking of fucking.”
“Shut up.”
“Did you have a wonderful visit?”
“Oh God, you have no idea.”
“I can only imagine,” Jody chuckled. “Can we get back to the subject at hand? We’re in need of an architect, so why not hire my best friend?”
“Is this a ploy to get me out there?”
“It’s killing two birds with one stone. You need more than two weeks with your boy toy to figure out where you’re going with this.”
“I know where I’m going. It’s him I’m worried about.”
“Aren’t the feelings mutual?”
“I’m pretty sure they are, but I’m competing with a seven-year-old.”
“I thought you liked his kid?”
“I love the kid, but Grier would never leave the area unless he could bring Luca.”
“Yet another reason for you to come out here for a while. You guys need more time together.”
“You’ve already said that.”
“And how did you respond?”
“I didn’t.”
“Precisely. Think about it, Lil. I need to give Clark an answer on the house issue.”
“How much time do I have?”
“Twenty-four hours.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Deal with it.”
“Fucker.”
“I love you too. Bye, sweetheart.”
“Jeez….” Lil hung up and stared out the window. He loved his city, but the idea of having a legitimate excuse to pull up roots temporarily and move to Chicago to oversee the building of Jody and Clark’s house was very tempting. He’d have to give it some serious thought.
BOB STERLING waved his lollipop around like a baton while he talked to Grier and Santino. The seventy-two-year-old retired judge had given up cigars almost ten years ago, mollifying his oral fixation with Dum Dum lollipops. He surmised that cavities and weight gain were a far better option than lung or tongue cancer, so he became the Kojak of the legal system, prowling up and down the courthouse with the perennial stick of candy jutting out of his mouth. His fondness for the sweet had made the candy maker even more famous in Chicago, and they sent the judge several bags a year as a token of appreciation. Today was no different, and he stuck the lollipop back in his mouth and tucked it against one cheek while he talked.
“This piece of paper your late mother has provided, however illegally obtained, is proof positive that the boy is your child.”
“Illegally?”
“The court can dismiss this because it was done without Jillian’s consent.”
“So it’s worthless?”
“It serves the purpose,” Bob replied. “We now know that your paternity can be proven. If Jillian or her family refuses to accept this form of proof, we can file a court order demanding a retest and make your claim as putative father.”
“Do you think we can settle a custody case out of court?” Santino asked. “It’s obvious that Grier loves his son. He takes care of him three days a week, and he’s just informed me that he opened a trust fund for Luca when he was born. Christ, that kid has more money than I do between what Grier has saved up and what Meredith left him.”
“Money isn’t always the answer,” Bob said, “but it certainly shows that you are responsible and care about your son’s future.”
“Very much so,” Grier replied.
“What do you hope to gain out of this confrontation?” Bob asked.
“I want my name on his birth certificate, and I want joint custody. I’m more than willing to share in his expenses, but I also want to share his time. I’d like to work out some arrangement whereby he lives with me part of the week. And one last thing.”
“What’s that,” Bob said.
“I want to change his last name to Dilorio.”
“Naturally,” Bob said, nodding. “Do you work?”
“Yes, but so do Jillian and Ali. Luca spends half his life with people other than his mother. This is nothing new.”
“You’ll have to prove that quality time will be spent with Luca. How do I know that you won’t just pick him up from school, feed him, and throw him in bed?”
“Talk to Luca, by all means. He’ll tell you that we spend a lot of quality time together. That’s never been a problem for us. Jillian’s hours are long, and not always predictable. When she’s at work, Luca is either at school, with his grandparents, or with me. I doubt sh
e spends more quality time with him than I do, but I don’t want this to be a contest, Judge. I want what’s fair. We can both share in his life and give him all the love and time he needs if we work out a schedule as we have in the past.”
“Why do you think she’ll contest your rights?”
“Because she’s getting married, and she’d like her new husband to adopt Luca. Plus, I’m gay, and now that he’s older, she’s afraid I’ll contaminate him with my orientation.”
Bob raised an eyebrow. “That’s a crock of shit.”
“Thank you, I’m glad you realize that.”
“I may be old and retired, but I’m not senile. Homosexuality is not a disease, and can’t be transmitted by close contact. It confounds me that some people still believe that, especially someone who’s educated. Jillian must not be very bright,” Bob concluded.
“She’s more than bright, but she’s scared of losing Ali, and she’s using my orientation as an excuse.”
“Ali?”
“My brother.”
“Sorry?”
“You heard right,” Santino heaved mournfully. “She’s marrying my other son. Could this be any more complicated?”
Bob waved away his concerns with the orange Dum Dum. “The gay issue shouldn’t be a factor, but of course, what should be and what actually takes place in a courtroom doesn’t always coincide.”
“But I’ve proven over and over that I’m a responsible and caring parent.”
“How?”
Grier mentioned the college fund, the days and times he’d watched Luca, the medical power of attorney, the speech therapist. “She’s trusted me with him since he was two years old. I don’t see how she can prove that I’m not capable of being a good father or how being gay will change any of that.”
“I hate to admit it, Grier, but a lot of people will judge you for your appearance, which isn’t exactly conservative, and your orientation. You may end up with the most tolerant judge in the world who will overlook everything but your legitimate efforts to be a good parent, or you may end up with his counterpart who will look at you askance and invalidate everything because he’s a homophobe. There’s no way of knowing until you actually go to court. I wish I had better guarantees, but this isn’t Iowa.”
“Well, that fucking sucks.”
“Yes, it does,” Bob nodded. “Your best bet is to come to an agreement out of court. I can work out the details after I interview Luca and all the parties concerned. My primary role is to be your son’s advocate while helping you and Jillian come to a mutual agreement, but make no mistake, Grier; Luca will be my only concern if I’m to take on this role. If I think he’ll be better off with Jillian, I’ll remove myself from the case, simply because your father and I are friends. Once it goes into the public forum, you have to abide by whatever the courts decide.”
“I’d rather take my chances with you,” Grier said honestly. “I have nothing to hide, and I think my record with Luca speaks for itself.”
“Are there any surprises Jillian may spring on us?” Bob asked. “I want complete honesty from you.”
Panties? “There is… one thing,” Grier stammered. “Dad, do you mind?”
Santino stood immediately. “Call me when you need me,” he said, exiting the room.
Bob Sterling waited until they were alone. “What is it, Grier?”
“Jillian knows I like to cross-dress in private.”
“How would she know this?”
“It started out when we were kids. Playacting and stuff.”
“Have you ever done it in public?”
“Never.”
“What you do in the privacy of your bedroom is completely irrelevant.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely!”
“She’s threatened to use my kink against me.”
“Unless you subject Luca to any of this, your sexual toys or activities behind locked doors have nothing to do with your ability to parent. Has Luca ever seen any of your female attire?”
“Fuck no!”
“As it should be. Keep it away from him, and you’ll be fine. Do you have a boyfriend?”
“Sort of.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’m in a new relationship with an architect from San Francisco.”
“How’s that working out?” Bob queried. “Seeing as how you live two thousand miles apart?”
“As I said, it’s a new relationship. I met Lil a couple of weeks ago during the Taste of Chicago, and we hit it off.”
“Is he planning on moving here? I can tell you right now, if you have any hope of joint custody, it won’t be out of state.”
Grier nodded. “I understand. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Well, I guess that’s it for now.” Bob gripped the edge of the kitchen table and pushed himself up. “Give me a dollar and let’s get the ball rolling.”
“A dollar?”
“You’ve got to hire me, don’t you?”
“But, sir, a dollar?”
“That’s for starters,” Bob explained. “I’ll bill you for every second I spend on this case.”
Grier handed over the money.
THE THREE men made their way out of the Dilorio home, crossed the street, and walked down a couple of blocks to where the Garcias lived. There were three cars in the driveway, and one of them was Ali’s BMW. “Well, your brother’s here, so at least all the players will be around,” Santino noted.
Grier felt a wave of anxiety slam him in the stomach. The last thing he wanted was a confrontation with Ali, but he was prepared for the worst. The aroma of fresh garlic was redolent in the air as they walked through the front door. It reminded him of his childhood, and the many hours he’d spent sitting at the Garcias’ table, partaking of the Filipino cuisine while waiting for his mom or dad to get home. His mouth watered at the thought of lumpia and pancit, his two favorite things. “God, that smells good, Tita,” Grier said, bending down to kiss Nita on the cheek. She’d come to the front door to see who’d arrived.
“We’re preparing for the party tomorrow, but you can have some if you’re hungry.”
“Maybe later.”
“What’s going on?” Enteng said, sauntering out from the kitchen. He was holding a wooden spoon in his hand and looked like he’d been elbow deep in frosting.
“We need to talk,” Santino said. “You know Judge Sterling, don’t you?”
“Sure,” Enteng replied easily. “You live down the street.”
“How’s it going?” Bob nodded, pulling out his candy and extending his hand for the proffered shake.”
“Pretty good. I apologize for the mess, but my daughter is marrying Santino’s son tomorrow.”
“That’s what I heard,” Bob replied.
“Where’s Luca?” Grier interrupted.
“He’s with his friend Nathan. We thought it would be best if he stayed out of our hair while we’re preparing all the food.”
“Oh.” Grier’s mouth turned down in disappointment. “Is it okay if I get him later? I have some presents for him.”
“Sure,” Nita replied. “You know where Nathan lives, right?”
“Near the high school?”
“Yeah, that’s the house.”
Jillian and Ali walked into the foyer, and her eyes rounded in surprise. “You’re back.”
Grier nodded. “We need to talk.”
“About what?”
“You know what.”
“Your timing is spectacular.”
“It needs to be addressed.”
“Not now.”
“What are you guys talking about?” Ali asked. “Jill?”
“It’s nothing, hon. Why don’t you go in the living room with Mom and Dad? I’ll follow in a minute,” Jillian said, smiling sweetly.
“Don’t linger,” Ali said, giving her arm a squeeze.
“Let’s gather around a table, shall we?” Bob Sterling directed the group, accustomed to leading and being obeyed
.
Jillian held back and tugged at Grier’s sleeve, dragging him into another room off the hallway. “Will you tell me what the fuck you’re doing here?”
“What I should have done a long time ago. I’m claiming my son.”
“You piece of shit!”
“I’m sorry, Jillian. I won’t let you put Ali’s name on Luca’s birth certificate. He’s mine, and I want the world to know it. You and Ali will probably have your own children, but Luca is all I have. Give me the opportunity to be a real father, not just his sitter.”
“Ali will leave me when he finds out.”
“No, he won’t. Ali loves you.”
“Yes, but can he handle this situation?”
“Come on, Jillian. The man is marrying you tomorrow.”
“I don’t know that he will if he finds out I’ve slept with you.”
“You have to give him more credit.”
“If you insist on doing this, I will destroy you.”
“Why? Why does this have to be so difficult when all I’ve ever wanted was to make Luca happy?”
“What about me and everything I ever wished for? I wanted to be your wife, and have a family with you, but you had to go and destroy everything.”
“I never lied to you.”
“Yes, you did. All those years when we were growing up you played along.”
“Jillian, we were children, and I didn’t know any better. You must know that I care for you deeply, and you’ll always have a special place in my heart for the simple reason that you’re the mother of my child. Regardless of the circumstances of his birth, I consider Luca a gift, and you made it possible.”
“If you love me that much, drop this whole notion of claiming him. What difference does it make whose name is on the birth certificate? You’ll have access to Luca whenever you want him.”
“I want him to know I’m his father.”
“It doesn’t matter what’s on paper,” Jillian blurted.
“It matters to me.”
Santino came around the corner and stood there looking at the pair with his arms akimbo. “Are we doing this or what?”
“Coming, Dad.” They trailed Santino into the dining room, and Jillian kept slanting dagger looks at Grier, hoping he’d change his mind. Finally, they took their positions around the large table and listened as Bob began to speak.
Dreamspinner Press Year Four Greatest Hits Page 152