Past, Present and Future

Paul's Predicament

I unfold and read T's note every day. How do I respond to it without getting him in trouble is my biggest question. Finally it hits me! I'll call him to tell him we have some changes to go over and I need his approval. 

Of course, him being our road manager, he says he'll be there shortly. I'm waiting in the studio when he shows up. Watching through the window, I see him park and slowly get out. IS HE LIMPING? OH MY GOD! DID SOMEONE HURT HIM?

I hold the door open for him, trying not to stare. "Thanks for coming on short notice. Are you okay?" 

"You're welcome. I'm fine. I, um, fell and hurt my ankle." 

"Who hurt you?" I ask straight forward. "Are you being abused?" 

The look on his face gave me my answer. "I know it's not my place, but do you want me to get involved?" 

"No." "Could we just go over the changes?" 

"I don't actually have any. I just needed you to see me alone. I'm sorry I lied." 

Silence surrounded us for a few minutes. Finally his tears started as he slid to the floor. I sat next to him and just held him. "I won't tell anyone. Talk to me please." I whisper softly while stroking his hair. "Come on, sweetheart." 

Finally he tells me the whole story which is broken up by more crying and a lot of apologies. "I want you to move into the apartment above the studio. It's safe and you'll have security 24 hours a day." If he asks, tell him the upcoming tour is going to take a lot of your time and you need to be on call at all hours."

"Okay. Could you come with me? " he asks timidly. 

"Would it be better if Bruce or Eric did?" "I feel like you'd be caught in the middle of a fight if I show up." 

He nodded as I helped him to his feet. "I expect to see you in three hours or less." 

We wait on Gene to show up while I go upstairs to start cleaning the apartment. It's pretty clean so I head to the store to get groceries, the thought occurring too late that T can't cook. I stock up on pre-cooked meals that can be heated up quickly.

Two hours later the four of them show up with T's things and I breath a sigh of relief. Gene has bloody knuckles and Eric is pissed so I guess it didn't go as well as I hoped. Pulling Bruce to the side, I ask what happened. 

"His s/o wasn't too keen on him moving out but I think everything went okay. Gene got in his face so they came to an agreement."

It takes very little time to move him in since he hardly owns anything. I stick around offering to cook dinner but he tells me he'll be fine. I don't believe him but I say goodbye.