Three Cheers

We arrived at Gerard's mother's house and the rain had let up just a little. I grabbed the umbrella Mikey handed me and opened it outside the car door and was able to get out with Busy. I lingered around the trunk with Gerard, keeping the umbrella all of us; I also wanted Gerard to go inside the house first. He took hold of my hand, with Mikey leading the way with our bags and Busy up. We climbed the porch, the door opened then, letting warmth and the smell of cherry wood hit us.

"Ooh, I likes that." Busy murmured.

"I'm so glad you're here!" a familiar voice said to us, I wasn't able to see Donna just yet.

"Hey ma," Gerard greeted her happily, "How--"

He stopped just short as we all came in and shut the door. I let Busy down and closed the umbrella. Gerard was stuck as I looked over and saw an older, grey haired man sitting on a recliner. Busy stood beside Gerard, I couldn't see his face, but the air was suddenly thick with tension.

"Gerard," his mom began, "He came to talk, so don't blow your top." Donna replied and I finally saw her; her eyes flicked over to me, "Hello October."

"Hi," I said softly, "Uh, say hi, Busy." I put my hand on Busy's shoulder.

Busy looked at me, then back at Donna, "Hi, I B!"

Donna's face lit up, Gerard stepped back, his hand suddenly finding mind desperately. Donna picked Busy up, "Hi B, do you know who I am?"

Busy nodded, "Grandma Donna." 

Donna grinned, her long, acrylic nails touched her nose, "Yep. And that's," she turned to the man on the couch, "That's your grandpa Don."

I looked over at Gerard who squeezed my hand. I looked at Mikey, he was leaning against the sofa, with the same sour look at he usually gave. I swallowed thickly, as Busy waved, "Hi!"

Gerard sighed, "Uh, we're gonna put our stuff up in the guest room, and then we're gonna feed Busy."

Donna turned back, "I'll feed her, the food is warm."

Gerard's tightened his grip on my hand, "Yeah... Be on your best behavior." I knew he wasn't talking to B.

"I is daddy!" she pouted at him.

His anger eased, he stepped over to her, letting go of my hand, "I know, B." he kissed her forehead, "I love you."

She giggled, "I loves you too."

Gerard turned to me, "C'mon."

I followed Gerard up the stairs that was far from the couch. He didn't grasp my hand, bye grabbed out bags, his steps were heavy up the stairs. He got to the second room on the right; there was three other rooms, and pushed opened the door. I turned on the light for him; he tossed the bags on the floor and I literally felt all his anger fill the entire room. I put my hand on his shoulder, "Is that your dad?" it was a rhetorical question.

"I don't know why the fuck he's here! Mikey gave me no fuckin' warning! They all know what he used to do to me, they did nothing about it!" Gerard snapped quietly, to not let them hear downstairs.

I pulled him into a hug out of instinct, "I know it's fucked up, but you should listen to what he has to say."

Gerard pushed me away, "What he has to say? Ain't shit he can say that'll make me forgive him for the shit he put me through!" he seethed through clenched teeth.

I felt hurt from his sudden outburst he directed toward me, "Don't take it out on me," I told him with just as much anger as he shot at me, "This is upsetting you, but I'm behind you, Gerard. I'm not the bad guy."

"What about all the times you got angry with me for no reason?" he shot back.

My anger dissolved, "I... Sorry."

He sighed, his feet moved toward the made up bed and he sat, "Fuck, I hate that man downstairs, October. You don't understand... He used to... He did some terrible stuff to me. I wish I could just blink my eyes and he'd be gone." Gerard hung his head and placed his hand to his neck and rubbed it.

I went over and sat beside him; I put my hand on his back, "I'm sorry, Gee," I put my head on his shoulder, "I wish he never touched you."

He sucked in a breath, "I don't want him to touch Busy. I need to go down there." his pace became erratic in a blink of an eye, "Let's go."

Gerard shot up, his hand clamped into mine and he pulled me up and out the room. We practically flew down the stairs, I nearly fell down them; "Slow down!" I snapped at him.

We got down the stairs and into the kitchen. Busy was happily sitting on Donna's lap talking. She could talk for hours, she looked okay, there was no trouble in the air. Not until Gerard and I entered the room. Don looked over at us, I had looked at Gerard; his eyes were narrowed and his nostrils were flared.

"Mama, this yummy," Busy got my attention, "Eat."

I let Gerard's hand go and patted his back, "Calm down." I whispered in his ear.

I went over and sat beside Donna and Busy, "What is it?" I asked her.

"Its rav-ee-oh-lees." Busy annunciated, "I likes it. Daddy, eat!"

Gerard looked away from his dad, and then came and sat beside me, "Make sure you eat it all, B." he told her with a smile.

"I is." Donna gave her a spoonful.

"You and October have some. Mikey already ate."

Gerard exhaled, "Sit, I'll get it." he told me.

"You sure?" I asked.

He nodded, "Yeah."

I was alone with Donna and Don, along with mumbling Busy. I tried to smile at Don, but all that kept going off in my head was the fact that my husband hated him. Gerard didn't want anything to do with Don.

"How long have you and Gerard been married?" Don asked suddenly.

I tugged at my bottom lip, "A little over 4 months."

"They were married for 2 years before little B was born." Donna added while bouncing Busy on her knee.

"How'd you meet?" Don asked next.

I opened my mouth, but couldn't think of how to answer it. Gerard came in then, he set a plate down in front of me, then sat back beside me; "We met at the group therapy the social workers forced me to go to." Gerard spat; it was pure anger in his tone.

I couldn't look at Don, I looked down at my plate of raviolis. The silence was thick, Busy kept humming to herself, making the silence of everyone else bearable. I sighed softly and took a bite.

"So I guess those meetings did good." Don stated.

I felt the anger radiate off of Gerard's body. I looked at him, "Have some," I tried I smile at him, but he shook his head, not even looking at me.

"Yeah, they did. Do you think I should be thanking you or somethin'?" Gerard growled.

Now I couldn't pry my eyes away from my husband. I knew he was going to explode.

"Maybe." Don laughed.

I tried to eat again, but I couldn't lift my hand or look away. Gerard's jaw was clenched so hard, I swear I thought his teeth would break. I've never seen him so angry before.

"Maybe?" Gerard growled, "I should thank you for beating me up? Did you tell mom all that while you're over here trying to mend this bullshit relationship?" Gerard was ready to let it out, everyone stared, gawking, "Did you tell her that after she left you that you put me in her place? I was mom!" 

Gerard banged his fist against the table, the dishes rattled and Busy's bottom lip poked out. I got up and took her from Donna and carried her away. Busy began to cry as I took her up the stairs; Gerard started to tell as soon as we left the room.