Autumn, college and more
Chapter 4 Trouble in Surf City
When Marty arrived home, his brother Chester was sitting on the back veranda staring at the Pacific Ocean, unmoving. As Marty approached, Chester didn't stir, the only sign of life was his slow, soft breathing.
Marty sat down in the chair next to him and said, "Hey brother, what's up?"
"Glad you made it safely; I assume you got Kens settled?"
"Yeah, she even got a part time job at a little Italian place not too far from campus. She worked a shift Saturday evening; her roommate and I ate there. Pretty good food. So, what's up?"
"Syd."
"Trouble?"
"Yeah."
"I'll need more than 1-word answers if I'm going to help, Bro."
"I know."
"So?"
"She said she loved me."
"Exact words please."
" I. LOVE. YOU."
"Ok, and that's a problem because?"
"I couldn't say it back."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"Then what?"
"She slapped me, said she hated me and stomped off."
"You ran after her, right?"
"No."
"NO?!"
"No."
"Why the hell not?"
"I couldn't say it because I don't feel it, yet. I think I will, maybe. But not yet."
"Did you explain that to her?"
"Yeah, to her back."
"Backs don't listen."
"Obviously."
"Damn, Kensi is going to be pissed! Syd and she are BFF's."
"That's why I'm giving you a heads up."
"So, I can put on my Kevlar?"
"Yeah."
"What a brother you are! Do you want some advice?"
"What is it?"
"You need to explain to her face, softly and carefully. You want to salvage the friendship, don't you?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know! Why the hell not? You two have been tight all summer, you looked like a great couple."
"Maybe too tight!"
"Oh."
"Yeah, oh shit!"
"Damn, want to talk about it in the morning?"
"Yeah. Surf?"
"My car leaves at 05:00 sharp."
"I'll be there."
02:00am Ring, ring, ring Marty's cell.
"Deeks."
"What the hell is your little brother doing to my best friend? All summer he's been playing footsie with her, wooing her on the beach, sucking up to all her friends, impersonating Casanova or whoever the HELL else and NOW she tells him she loves him, and he sits there like a deaf, dumb, idiot!"
"Kens . . ."
"And something else, do you know about this? Has he told you? What are you going to do? Can you knock some sense into that dumb ass brother of yours?"
Oh boy!
"Kens, yes, I heard. Chester TXT me while I was driving home saying we needed to talk. Once I got here, he told me the bare facts. We are going to talk more at the beach in the morning. I am sure you know more than I do at this point! I will say this – I advised him to apologize and explain. I will reiterate tomorrow."
"So, did he tell you why he didn't tell Syd that he loves her?"
"Because he's not there yet; he thinks he will be, but he's not yet."
"Do you understand that, Marty?"
'Be careful' "Yes, he and I are similar when it comes to our words. When we come to the point of saying those three precious words, we mean them with all our heart! We don't say them until we are sure, absolutely sure."
"And are you sure?"
"In regard to . . .?"
"Me."
*Gulp* "Kens, I came really close to telling you that before I left you at Stanford. I'm so close I can taste it. Just like your pink peppermint lip gloss; God, I miss you! You will hear those words soon, very soon. When you do, you will know I mean them with every fiber of my being."
"I'll be waiting. And I miss you too, a bunch!"
"Anything you want me to pass on to Chester?"
"No, you know what he should do. Good-night sweetheart."
"Night Kens, be safe."
Marty and Chester walk out into the surf, then paddle out beyond the break. Marty starts. "Kensi called at 2:00, she wasn't as angry as I expected. I told her I told you to apologize and explain. Are you going to do that?"
"I don't know."
"Seriously Chester, tell me why you wouldn't want to salvage this friendship with Syd? At least to protect a little of your own dignity?"
"You don't understand."
"Enlighten me, please."
"When we were together it was fun. But . . . I disappeared. It felt like I was Mr. Syd. My opinion didn't matter, it wasn't even sought, all her plans, her likes, her friends, on and on. If I protested, I was being insensitive. The friendship was going in reverse. When she said those words, I didn't know what to say. Now, I don't know what to do."
"Can you give me specific examples to back up what you are saying?"
"Yes, of course."
"Good. Here is what I want you to do. Sit down with pad and pen and write out every example you can think of, large or small. DO NOT hold back! We're not going to throw all of them in her face. But I want to see them in writing. When you are done, tell me and we will look over the list. Ok?"
"Ok."
"Good, now let's catch some waves."
By the next evening Chester had his list done. He showed it to Marty, and they discussed it. Marty could even remember some of the items on the list; he couldn't refute any of them. What to do next?
"Chester, I would like to discuss this with Kensi, get her point of view as one of the girls. May I do that?"
"Will she keep the list a secret?"
"If she can't promise that, I won't share it with her."
"Ok then."
Marty calls Kensi; "Do you have time to talk?"
"Sure, it's a rare light homework evening, What's up?"
"Chester shared more details about what happened with him and Syd. Here is what he said to me."
FLASHBACK: "When we were together it was fun. But . . . I was gone. It felt like I was Mr. Syd. My opinion didn't matter, it wasn't even sought; all her plans, her likes, her friends, on and on. If I protested, I was being insensitive. The friendship was going in reverse. When she said those three words, I didn't know what to say. Now, I don't know what to do."
PRESENT
"I asked him for a list of specific examples and he wrote out a list. I remember some of these things, but I didn't think anything of them at the time. I asked if I could share this with you. He said yes, if you kept the list a secret. Are you willing to do that?"
"What are you asking me, Marty?"
"I just want your perspective as one of the girls."
"Ok, I'll do that, and keep the list secret. Do you intend to share this with Syd?"
"Yes, if I feel it will be at all helpful."
"Ok, what's on the list?"
After review and discussion Kensi says; "You know, after thinking back I can see that this is Syd's MO (has been for a long time). If Chester started out letting her run the show, she will just take over. I don't let her do that; I push back. Cam just ignores her when she does that."
"So, now what do we do? Can you talk to her, Kens?"
"I'm willing. But I can predict that she will just get angry with me and shut me out. I'm not anxious for that."
"I'm not going to ask you to put yourself in that position, babe. I will talk to my brother again and see what he wants to do. If she brings it up you can talk with her. Maybe mention her MO if you feel like it, but not the list please. Would you accept a call from Chester if he asks me?"
"Yes, he can call me. I have a little studying to do."
"Yeah, I'll let you go, thanks for the insight. BTW I hope to be up the weekend of Halloween. Is there a party we can dress up for?"
"I will check, night babe."
"Night sweetheart."
Next day
"Hey bro, I talked with Kensi. She says it is Syd's MO to 'take over'. So, if you started the friendship letting her hold the reins all the time, you are kind of behind the 8-ball now. What do you want to do?"
"I think it is hopeless. I am moving on."
"You sure?" Asks Deeks.
"Yeah, thanks for the help, brother."
"Any time."
That evening Marty and Kensi talk. "Kens, my brother is moving on, sad to say. If you want to talk with Syd, go ahead. I don't think he wants to invest much in a repair effort, but you never know."
"Sad, they were a really cute couple. BTW I found a Halloween party we should like. Not too rowdy by reputation. Can you come, it's on Halloween evening?"
"Yes, I'll be up."
"I better hit the books. Night babe."
"Night sweetheart."
The next day, Marty's cell rings, it is the chair of the Stanford-Law Dept.
"Hello, Marty Deeks."
"Hi Marty, good to talk with you. Do you know when you will be up here next?"
"I'll be up Halloween weekend, Kensi found us a party to go to."
"Great. Is there any chance you can be here early enough for a meeting on Friday with me and another person, or on Saturday?"
"I would prefer Saturday, say 11:00. Would that work?"
"I think it will, may I call you if not? Otherwise, we're on for Sat 11:00. OK?"
"OK. Can you give me a heads up?"
"Yes. The meeting is with the District Attorney of San Jose County. Their Public Defender's office is chronically under-staffed and the situation is becoming acute. He's starting a recruitment push with scholarship funds as an incentive. He wants to talk with promising young attorneys or law students, such as yourself, about his plan. No promises on your part up front. Are you willing to talk with him?"
"Yes, I will. I will TXT you when I arrive to make sure we're still on."
"That's great. See you then, and thanks."
TXT to Kensi:
M: I have a mtg Halloween weekend 11:00 Sat w Stanford-Law Chair & San Jose DA. More L8r, hope U can come w me!
K: O, man of mystery, in demand!
M: ha-ha
K: XOXOXO
M: XOXOXO