Author’s Note: Problems blew up at the Bauer BBQ.
Bauer BBQ 2017 by Robansuefarm Part 8
Scene 29
Jason Marler stood facing the Spaulding pond. He pitched a stone in it, as hard as he could, and then he picked up another, and another, and another….
Molly Spaulding watched from about 50 yards away. Slowly she walked up to Jason. “I saw you take off, what’s wrong?”
Jason gave a hollow laugh. “What isn’t wrong? What isn’t wrong in the entire freaking world?” He threw another stone.
Molly remained silent. So silent that with another person there it got akward. Words poured out of Jason to fill it. “I’m a Poly-Sci major. I really thought I could help save the world. I even had a Congressional internship, you know?” He broke off to throw another stone. “But after this last election, both sides, politics is broken, what can one person do? What’s the use of trying? Am I going to waste my life fighting a battle I can’t win?” Jason threw another rock.
Molly stared out at the pond, too. “You know I never met your dad. He was dead before we moved back here, but I’ve heard about him my whole life. He helped so many people in this town. He really made a difference you know. Michelle and Danny, they were talking right before you took off? He saved both of them from a phony murder charge. Maybe that’s the way to make a difference, not at the national level, but here in one place. Maybe if a whole bunch of people each in their own place make a difference, that’s how you change the whole country?”
“You know you’re pretty smart for a kid.”
Molly frowned. “I’m NOT a kid.”
Jason turned around and looked in her face. He really looked at her as if he hadn’t known her for years, as if he’d just seen for the first time in a class or across a bar. He lifted his hand to cup her cheek. “No, I guess you’re not.”
“Just what THE HELL do you think you’re doing? Get your hands OFF OF MY DAUGHTER!”
The immerative came out of nowhere and both Molly and Jason froze.
“I SAID get your hands off her!” Alan-Michael closed the rest of the distance between them and grabbed Jason’s arm pulling it off Molly and then shoved Jason whose reactions still slowed by shock fell to the ground.
“Daddy! What do you think you’re DOING?”
“Sweetheart, he’s so much older than you. I don’t want to take advantage of you and after what happened with your boyfriend Tom…..”
“God Dad! What part of back off, I’m a grown up now, aren’t you getting? Yes, there was an issue with Tom and I HANDLED IT. It’s what grown ups do! I know what I’m doing! I can make my own decisions and I can HANDLE whatever comes along. I’m so out of here.”
Molly sped off heading back across the Spaulding yard towards the Bauer house she nearly ran into Kat, Dylan, and Lillian on the way. Alan-Michael stared after her until she was almost out of sight. He shook himself, shot Jason a glare for good measure as he picked himself up, and took off after her calling, “Princess!”
Scene 30
Rick was talking on the phone in the Bauer Kitchen, “Yes, Dad. Everybody is missing you and Holly….No, nobody expects you here every year, but I’m glad you called. I hope you call tomorrow so you can talk to the grandkids they’re all scattered right now.” Rick puffed up with pride,”Yep, big success again this year. New record in number of hamburgers served, everyone loves them…..Give Holly my love, Dad, and Dad, don’t forget I love you too.” Rick ended the call.
Phillip walked in carrying a glass of iced tea. “There you are, buddy. I thought you’d be out there taking victory laps. It’s been a GREAT BBQ.”
Rick held up the phone, “I was talking to Dad.”
“How are Ed and Holly doing? I haven’t heard from them lately. The last time I heard they had just taken a cruise on the Queen Mary.”
“They loved it. I don’t know that we’ll ever gt them settled back here, but at least Dad hasn’t disappeared again. He’s sure to check in regularly now.”
“You know, it’s funny, this was so NOT Alan’s thing, but how many years did he’d say he wasn’t coming and then did? It’s almost been 10 years now…and you know…you know I STILL find myself expecting to find him somewhere here. I keep ranging around……all those years I was always trying to get away from him and I, and I’d give almost anything if he was still here.”
Buzz stuck his head in the door. “Rick, we’re out of Bauer Burgers and the crowd is getting restless.”
“OK, Buzz, I’m on it!” Rick opened the refrigerator, grabbed out a tray of prepped Bauer Burgers, and headed out to the patio.
Phillip stayed leaning up against the island and took a drink when suddenly his niece Molly came rushing blindly through. Phillip put down his glass and caught her by the arm. “Hey, what’s the trouble?”
Molly was vibrating with frustration. “Uncle Phillip…URRRGGHHHH! It’s Dad. He’s IMPOSSIBLE! He just totally humilated me in front of Jason Marler and everyone! Why can’t he see he’s a grown-up?”
“Well,” Phillip made a grimace and swallowed. “He can’t because he’s your dad and it’s a horrible thing for a dad to deal with. I’m sure you have every right to be mad, but I was just sitting here thinking that as crazy as my dad always drove me, I’d give just about anything to have him back. Be mad, but forgive him and keep that in mind.”
Alan-Michael came skidding into the kitchen. “Molly, stop let’s talk. I….”
“URRRGGGHH! Just give it a rest, DAD!” Molly pulled away from Phillip.
Lucy came in. “Molly, honey, come here. Dads, right? Come with me, let’s go talk about it.” Lucy put an arm around her shoulders and leading her off towards the living room. Alan-Michael started to follow.
“Hey,” Phillip wave Alan-Michael over, echoing Lucy by putting an arm around Alan-Michael’s shoulders. “Let the girls work on this.”
“Phillip, you just don’t understand, man! How am I supposed to NOT be there to protect her?”
“Peyton and Emma may not be there yet, but I went through all this and worse with Lizzie and Michelle. Look at them now. You WILL get through this. I didn’t handle it particularly well, but we’ll get through this. Together. That’s what family is for right?”
“I guess.” Alan-Michael walked over to the sunporch and stared out over to the garage apartment door where he’d once lived. “I certainly wouldn’t have guessed I’d have lived through all I have since I came back to Springfield at that Bauer BBQ. This is an anniversary of sorts I guess.”
“I know. Parachute into ONE party and people never forget it.”
Alan-Michael turned and found a geniune smile for his brother.
“I liked the piece of your mom’s you bought. How was your visit with Hope?”
Alan-Michael lost his smile and turned back to the window, but didn’t answer Phillip.
“How is she?”
Alan-Michael turned around again looking grim. “Not good. It’s been almost 10 years since Dad died, a lot longer since they were together, and she’s still not dealing with it. You saw that picture, sure it’s a beautiful piece, but it’s back to when they were on the island. All her art is about them. She still owns that island you know, Dad gave it to her as a present, put it in her name. She’s had a little cabin built on the island and she’s been spending time there. It’s dangerous, she’s fixated on it, and it’s so FRUSTRATING I can’t seem to help her move on.”
“You know I owe your mom a lot. Hope was always there to support me and to look out for me. I wouldn’t have known Justin and Jackie at all if it hadn’t been for her standing up for me. I wish I could do something.”
Alan-Michael turned suddenly furious. “Well, there isn’t! Not every thing in life can fall into place just because the GREAT Phillip Spaulding orders it to.”
“Whoa! Turn it down a notch. God if I could, (Phillip makes a click noise with his tongue) I’d change a lot of things. Don’t fall into the same trap I did. Don’t let your fear get control of your life. That cost me years! And it might cost you your daughter. (Click noise) I really meant I’d help if I could I’d be glad to visit Hope or you know, ask her to come and stay here. She can stay in the mansion or I’m sure Rick wouldn’t mind if she stayed here or in the garage apartment or we could buy her a condo. Being around family might be good for her.”
Alan-Michael looked for a minute like he might be willing to talk reasonably with Phillip, but then Danny came trotting in.
Danny asked, “Phillip, can I talk to you a minute?”
Alan-Michael flared up again. “Great! Just what we need. Another one of Dad’s pets. Have fun at your mutual admiration society. I’m out of here.” He stormed out looking for Lucy and Molly.
“What was that?”
“Alan-Michael. He’s all worked up. He just got back from a trip to see his mom, you know her Michelle’s cousin Hope. Apparently she’s not doing very well. She really hasn’t been overly well since Dad broke her heart. I think Alan-Michael is afraid he’ll lose her and he’s holding on too tight to Molly. I hope it works out. But you came in here for something.”
“Yes, I wanted to point out there is a woman here. She’s in a business suit with her hair pulled back. Have you seen her?”
“I’ve been busy, but I saw her a few times. Dressed like she was, she was pretty hard to miss. What about her?:
“Do you know who she is? Have you seen her before?”
“No, but that’s not unusual. You know today is an open house. There’s always people we don’t know.”
“I know, but there was something….off about her. I pointed her out to Frank and Ray, but I wanted to make sure you kept an eye on her, too.”
“OK, Danny. I trust your gut. Let’s take a look.” Phillip lead the way out to the patio.
Scene 31
The rider had one more stop before heading to the Bauers. He hadn’t been there in person since he was a toddler, but from the time Google Earth had come out he’d used it to go past this white church and into this cemetery. The clarity on Google Earth wasn’t good enough to pick out a particular grave, but his brother had told him where it was. He’d spent hours looking at it on various screens and now he was standing here in person. His eyes darted to the right and then he dropped to his knees. “Hello, Mom,” he whisphered.
Commercial Break
Robansuefarm is the handle of one of Manny and Guiding Light‘s biggest fans following in her family’s footsteps of Guiding Light fandom since 1939. This blog is an effort to make it easy to find Guiding Light and especially Manny online. Check back here for her blog, find fanfic previews and fake WSPR newscasts on her YouTube, find podcasts that look back to old shows and audios of her fanfics on Blog Talk Radio, and finally follow her on Twitter and Facebook.
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