Side Effects
…Tuesday afternoon's movie date
There was something under the surface that scared Drake Parker on the inside. It
wasn't until late last night when Josh was home in his bed snoring like a hobo with a
sinus infection that Drake with his hands crossed behind his head with his pillows
propped up even thought about it.
Drake was quite happy to have the house to himself and was relieved that yesterday
was not their movie date day as it was one of those of moments of what-end-do-you-
take-care-of-first. Not once, not twice, but ten times that day. Audrey recommended that
Drake and Emme cancel their date, but she knew the final decision was up to her son.
Drake said if he felt 'good' in the morning then he was going. He had the not-so-brilliant
idea to tell Emme this on the phone last night who almost sided with his mother. Drake
knew her heart was in the right place, but how much time did they have? If it wasn't a
chemo day or the after effects, it was just a general 'I feel crappy day'. Their social
calendar time together was more brief than the moon phases it seemed. The support
group seemed in the way, but they couldn't just stop going could they?
Why did they even have to have cancer? Drake thought as he went through his t-shirt
collection in his top dresser drawer.
Couldn't he and Emme have met somehow—someway?
St. Patrick's never competed in any sports events with Belleview. The Watson's lived in
that huge estate in the part of San Diego where the elite lived. Drake never went to the
stores Emme did her shopping in and she never went to the same clubs. Infact, she told
him quite nervously that the only concert that she ever saw was the Backstreet Boys
when she was in junior high with a bunch of screaming girls from her cheerleading
team.
He assured her it was all right.
As soon as Drake settled on his black and red Zero Gravity tour shirt the phone rang.
He knew without even glancing at the caller ID that it was Emme.
"How are you feeling, Drake?"
"Better than I was yesterday. Yourself?"
"Good."
"I'll be picking you up in about a half hour."
She laughed nervously, "You mean Josh is driving us. Didn't you say he had fourth
period lunch?"
"Yeah he does. But I'm still driving us."
"Drake, you don't have to get all macho and prove your manhood. Or should I call you
Don Juanoma?"
"Call me anything but late for dinner, Miss Priss. I'm perfectly capable of picking you up
and driving us to the Premiere."
Let's not argue over thisIt was hard enough getting Mom's okay.
Emme thought she could get him on a vanity call.
"But your car isn't repaired yet."
"I know. I have to drive the Honda."
Mom agreed to have Walter carpool with Crazy Gene the KDJY sports guy while she
drove his red Toyota Celica.
It was another sensible and safe boring car in the Nichols-Parker household.
"You don't want to be seen driving a Honda. That's not a cool car for a cool guy such as
yourself to be driving."
Drake laughed. What a cute effort. Her real personality was coming through each and
everyday. She really wasn't an angry stuck up princess it was just her persona.
"Nice try, Emme. I'll be there in a few minutes. See ya."
"Bye, Drake."
While Emme wanted to go downstairs and wait for Drake outside she really had no
interest in bumping into her mother. She gave him the alphanumeric pass code that
was below the intercom box so the gate would open.
She kept twisting and untwisting the cappuccino colored lipstick. If cancer had to come
why didn't it wait until she had her self-assurance?
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in, Mother."
But Beverly Watson who was still dressed in her pajamas just stuck her head in the
door.
"I want you to come home after the movie."
"you won't even notice if i'm late." Emme whispered putting on the lipstick nervously
"Excuse me?"
"I said I'll call you if I'm late."
Why couldn't her mother get dressed? Just because her mauve colored pajamas and
long flowing silk robe were expensive they were still pajamas. Her hair needed a good
combing too.
"Just don't be late."
Was there a glass in her hand?
Emme ran after her mother. Then she stopped her run to a slow walk so she could just
check the contents of that glass. Maybe, it was just orange juice and vodka need not
apply? Or it was orange juice until her mother used her not so secret stash from her
bedroom to spike it? Emme put her jean jacket on the doorknob while she waited for
her mother to put the glass on her vanity table and when she went to her bathroom that's
when she took the opportunity to pick it up and smell the contents.
"Just what do you think you are doing?" Mrs. Watson came back with an unopened box
of tissues to place on her vanity table.
Emme's stomach sank to the floor she knew this could only turn ugly.
"Mom—"
Mrs. Watson snatched the glass out of her daughter's hand.
"Are you disappointed that it's only orange juice? I told YOU I'd cut back since you
seem to think that I have a problem. Get off my back and remember whom the parent
is. So, I suggest you turn around and walk out of this house while you are still able to go
out on a date with Drake."
How did she mean that? She turned around knowing that the world stabbed her in the
back once again. Of all the people who left her, she couldn't bear if her own mother
wound up leaving her too. She noticed there were no healthy dried fruit snacks packed
for her and Drake to have at the Premiere. Emme jumped not expecting Drake to be
standing outside ready to ring the doorbell when she opened the door.
"Emme, are you all right?" She looked beautiful not hiding behind a tightly wound albeit
designer headscarf.
"Hi, Drake," she kissed him on the cheek, "Let's just go."
She closed the door behind them. It sounded like security chamber.
"What—"
"Damn it."
"What is it?"
"I left my jean jacket on the door knob of my mother's room." She punched the security
code so the doors would open without her key.
"I'll get it for you."
"And while you're up there…."
"Yeah?"
"Will you divert my Mother's attention and see if she put vodka in her orange juice
glass?"
Emme was surprised that she wasn't breaking down over the situation.
"It'll be all right." He squeezed her hand tight.
Drake tried to make her feel better, but he wasn't quite sure that he believed it himself.
He folded Emme's jacket over his arm and he didn't have to inspect what was inside
the tall glass when he saw Mrs. Watson with his own eyes drink some of the orange
juice off the top so she could fill it up with vodka.
Mrs. Watson always seemed so pulled together. Drake quietly turned around and left
the house. How was he going to tell his girlfriend what she didn't want to hear?
"Thank you for getting my jacket."
"Emme---"
"My Mom's drinking?"
"Yes. I saw her fill up her glass with vodka. I'm really sorry."
"Damn. Would you put your arm me while you drive?"
"Of course."
That would mean she couldn't wear her seat belt. All the safety that she needed was
Drake's touch.
For two hours it was bliss. Helen was there and said it was a shame that sprinkler
malfunctioned. She recommended that they "see" Elderly Nurse because no one
purchased tickets for it since they opened.
Apart from the two bathroom breaks (one his because yesterday's all day sickathon
apparently didn't count and one hers) there were no cancer interruptions. They kissed.
She let him french her; even though she was extremely nervous and thought she was
"doing it wrong". Drake never judged her and put her at ease. Not once did they think of
anything else, but the time in front of them. Drake hated dropping Emme off at her
house when their too short movie date was over. If she needed anything, he reminded
her she could call no matter what time it was. She offered the same and said she'd be
okay, as she had no plans of interacting with her mother today. Even though Drake
could tell it was tearing her up inside. They were really close. She was a complete
Mommy's girl in the best sense of the word. They were like sisters who enjoyed going
shopping, out to lunch, and other activities together. Drake told her again that it would
"be all right" but he still didn't believe his words to her. Neither one of them ended with
the words that they both wanted to say, maybe, that would happen on date number
three?
Drake went back home and went in through the back door. He was going to get himself
a bottle of apple juice because the Sprite that he had at the Premiere was not enough.
Mainly because he and Emme were too busy locking lips and swishing tongues about
to be bothered with "silly" things such as staying hydrated. Although, they both knew
they shouldn't tempt the cancer scales like that.
Walter was home about to make a sandwich.
"Hey," Drake said scanning the refrigerator for the bottle of apple juice, "You're home
early, Dad."
"Just for lunch. How did your date go with Emme?"
Crazy Gene only lived two blocks up so when he went home for lunch (which was
probably code for having a quickie with his live in girlfriend) Walter took the opportunity
to eat lunch at home. He thought Audrey would be back by now.
"Okay—I---I have a q---never mind." Drake took his bottle with him and was about to
head back upstairs to his room.
He stopped in his tracks and thought about one of the things that was keeping him from
sleeping.
Drake turned around and opened the door,
"Can we go somewhere for a drive?"
Was Drake reaching out to him? Walter almost choked on his ham on rye.
"Of course, son."
"Only on the condition that you do not tell anyone."
"You have my word, Drake."
Walter got up to get a Ziploc bag so he could take his sandwich with him.
"Do you only have an hour for lunch?"
"Don't worry about that. Have you eaten any lunch?"
"No."
Walter put the wrapped sandwich in the refrigerator.
"Instead of just a drive around town how about we go to Dave & Buster's?"
They did have good soup there.
"That's fine. Except for one thing---"
"What's that, Drake?"
"We'll talk in the car and have lunch at Dave & Buster's?"
Walter smiled. It was rare that he and Drake even after his cancer diagnosis bonded
like real people. People that went places together on purpose. If Emme was having this
effect on him then Walter was most appreciative.
"You got yourself a deal."
Walter took a piece of paper from the yellow pad that was on the counter and wrote a
note to his wife.
Audrey,
Drake and I went to Dave & Buster's.
Love,
Walter
"Thanks, Dad." Drake said as he held the swinging door open for his father.
Hoping that the father who may not have been his biological one but who was the one
counted more where it really mattered could help him. And Drake Parker never went to
anyone for help.
"You do realize you have to be seen in a Honda again?" Walter joked.
"If I keep this up, I might be able to make them actually cool." He handed his father the
keys.
"You do promise that you won't tell anyone?" Drake asked again for reassurance as he
buckled his seatbelt. He was thankful for having two stable parents.
"Drake," Walter buckled his seatbelt as well, aware that their relationship could improve
and progress to the next level today, "I promise."
"Thanks, Dad."