Michael woke up, stretching his arms above his head. Glancing at the clock he saw that it was ten. 'Better get up,' he thought. Today was the day that he was going to put his Get Justin Away From Brian plan into action. Walking into the living room, he picked up the cordless phone and the phone book. Finding the number for information in Hazelhurst, Mississippi, he asked for any Taylors that they had listed. Ten minutes later, he had a list of ten Taylors. He smiled. At least there weren't many Taylors in Hazelhurst.
He didn't know what he was going to say if, when, he reached Justin's family. He shrugged. He'd just play it by ear. After the fifth time of being told that he had the wrong number, he growled in frustration as he looked at the next number on the list. Sighing, he punched in the phone number and counted the rings. 'One... Two... Thr--'
His counting was interrupted when the phone was answered with a gruff, "Hello."
"Um... Is this where Justin Taylor lived?"
There was silence for a minute, before the man asked, "You know where my son is?"
Michael smiled, 'Bingo!' He felt like cheering, he was so happy. "Well, I know a Justin Taylor. He's got blonde hair, blue eyes, is deaf."
"Yeah. Sounds like him. Where is he?"
'This might be easier than I thought,' Michael told himself.
"Well, he's in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Look, the reason I'm calling is because I want him gone. Can't you talk him into going home? I'm sure you all miss him."
There was a disdainful snort on the other end of the line. "Miss him? Hell no! But, we do need him here. Where exactly is he?"
Michael was a little shocked at the man's attitude. It had never occured to him that Justin's family might not want him. He started to feel the first stabbings of guilt. But when an image of him and Brian together, entered his mind, the guilt disappeared.
He was doing what he had to do. For him and Brian. "He's staying with his cousin Emmett."
"Great," mumbled Criag.
"So Mister Taylor, what are you going to do?"
"I'm coming up there and bringing the fairy home." Craig sighed.
"Great! When?"
"I'll be there in a day or so. Why exactly are you wanting him gone so badly?"
Michael knew that if he said that it was because he was in love with Brian, Mister Taylor would start saying things. He wasn't ashamed, but he needed this man to come and get his son. "We just don't get along and I want him out of here."
"Alright. Thanks for the help on where to find Justin." With that said, Michael was greeted with a dial tone. Michael happily clapped his hands and did a little dance when he hung up the phone. In a few days, Justin would be gone. Just a vague memory in all of their minds. He just knew that if he could get the blonde out of the Pitts, Brian would forget about him. Brian would turn to Michael. They would be together. Michael would make sure of it, or die tryin'.
"Who was that on the phone, Craig?" Jennifer asked. She had heard Justin mentioned and she wanted to know what was going on.
"I know where Justin is. I'm going to bring him home and he's going to do this job."
Jennifer shook her head. "Craig, can't we just let him be. You wanted him gone. He's go--" Jennifer didn't get to finish as Craig gave her a sharp slap across the face.
"Don't start," he flatly said. "He's coming back if I have to drag him. Now, why don't you go and get supper on? Think you can handle that?"
Jennifer gave a nod and walked out of Craig's study. She saw Molly standing in the hallway, and knew that she had heard everything. Jennifer wiped the tear tracks off Molly's face and tightly hugged her, before leading her to the kitchen.
"What's goin' on? Why is dad going after Justin?"
Jennifer sighed. "He wants to bring him home, sweetie."
"But, why? He told him to leave." Molly touched Jennifer's reddened cheek. "Why did he hit you? Why do you let him hit you?" Jennifer felt the tears welling up in her eyes. How do you answer those questions? Jennifer just gave her another hug and said, "Why don't you go out and play until supper?" At Molly's hesitancy, Jennifer urged her. "Go on."
After Molly left the kitchen, Jennifer sank down into a chair, and let the tears fall. 'How did I become such a bad mother?' she silently wondered. She had let Craig kick her oldest child out. Had stood by while he treated Justin like shit all his life. Now, Craig wanted to go and drag Justin back here. 'Just so he can get that inheritance and business,' she thought. Standing up, she wiped her tears and set about getting supper fixed. She knew what she had to do. She had to find some way to warn Justin what Craig was up to. Then, she needed to get herself and Molly out of the hell that they called home. She was going to quit being scared of Craig. Her children were going to be her first priority, now. As they always should've been.