Chapter 14
Friday morning, Brandon decides to go the Peach Pit for a second breakfast after dropping Sammy off at his last day of school. He also wants to spend some time with Nat since he hasn't been able to all week because he has been catching up with his family. As well as organizing his notes and thoughts for his meeting coming up in New York with his fellow travel mates and co-workers anytime that he isn't with Sammy or Kelly. Once Nat refills Brandon's coffee for the second time, a woman sits at the counter next to Brandon. He's thinking the woman looks familiar but he can't immediately place who she is.
"Hey Audrey, how are you doing this morning, what can I get you," Nat ask the lady who he seems to know.
"Thanks Nat, I'll just take some fried eggs, sausage, and a cup of coffee," she says.
As Nat goes to make her order, Brandon continues to read the paper and drink his coffee.
When Nat returns to pour her coffee she asks, "Nat, have you seen Kelly lately? I was just wondering how she's been doing, I haven't had a chance to see her for a couple of months. I wish I could've been there for Sammy's birthday party."
Brandon ears suddenly perked up at both Sammy's and Kelly's name being mentioned and Nat notices.
"Well, I actually haven't seen them since Saturday, but Brandon here has been with them everyday since then. Brandon you remember, Audrey Cutler, she's one of the directors at the Wyatt Foundation that Kelly worked for several years ago right out of college," Nat says.
"Brandon it's a pleasure, I thought I recognized you, but it has been what 10 or 12 years since I last saw you, I couldn't tell if you were familiar or just a stranger," she says.
"Yeah, I was kind of having the same feeling that I recognized you too, but I couldn't place when. Please forgive me, I've been out the country for a few years and just got back last week."
"Oh, it's okay. Where have you been, if you mind me asking?" she says.
"Well, I've been working for the New York Times for the last 12 years and about 7 years ago, we decided to partner up with National Geographic to research isolated islands with unique tribes and traditions located in the Pacific Ocean. I jumped at the chance to work with National Geographic, but it ended up taking more years and life out from me than my original contract due to complications. So the long story short, I am now back here in LA, catching up with family, friends, and especially Kelly and Sammy."
"That sounds like quite the adventure and please excuses my rudeness, but you're Sammy's father aren't you?" she asks as Nat delivers her food.
"Yeah, I am. I actually just found out the day that I got back because of my work assignment neither Kelly nor my parents knew where I was or how to get in contact with me. It's been an adjustment for all of us, but I think we are handling it well so far." Brandon explains.
"Well, that's good. Kelly has always been dear to my heart, I was sad to see her leave the foundation for all of the hard work she did, but I'm even happier that she is still following her passion and helping those high school kids. If you don't mind me asking, are you planning to continue working for the New York Times or do you have any other job prospects," she asks.
Brandon replies, "Well, I'm going to resign from the Times, I just have to make a trip out to New York and then I'm done. Honestly, I haven't had a lot of time to really think about what I would like to do next in my life besides staying here in LA with Kelly and Sammy."
"Well, I actually have a job position open, I haven't had a chance to advertise for it yet, but I get this feeling that you might be a good fit. You used to work a bit with politics, didn't you?" she asks.
"Yes, I was the Student Body President of CU my sophomore year. What is the position?" Brandon asks.
"Well, it's a liaison manager for the foundation. The position would entail working with foundation to lobby for support and financial aid from politicians, the government, local communities, and taxpayers. It also includes communicating with the public to educate them about how we can help when they are in need. The position is also responsible for about 10 employees in its department," she tells him.
"I see, it sounds interesting. I haven't worked in politics for awhile, so it would be an adjustment for me. Actually any job would be an adjustment for me, I just need to get back into the swing of things here in LA," Brandon says.
"I understand, well think about it over the weekend and come up by the office sometime next week if you think you might be interested. Here is my card, just call to set up an appointment with my secretary," she says as she hands him her card.
"Thank you, I'll consider it," Brandon says as he accepts the card.
"Good, now I'm interested to hear more about what you have been doing for the last 6 years," she says.
Brandon continues to tell Audrey and Nat about his time on the island for the next hour until she has to leave for a meeting. Then Brandon realizes that it's just time for him to go pick up Sammy from his last day of school.
"Well Nat, it was good to finally catch up a bit, I'll see you soon again, but Kelly and Sammy won't be here tonight. I'm taking Sammy for a camp out in Steve's backyard," Brandon explains.
"Oh, he will enjoy that. You boys have fun tonight," Nat says.
"We will, see ya later," Brandon says as he exits through the door.
That evening, Steve and Brandon have tons of fun with the boys in the backyard. They end up throwing the football around a little bit and then having a fire in a nice self-contained movable fire pit that Steve purchased a few years ago. After they settle the boys to bed in the tent, Brandon and Steve finally get a chance to talk.
Once they sit back down by the fire Brandon speaks up, "Hey bro, thanks for everything that you have done for me in my absence. I can never repay ya for taking care of Kelly and Sammy like you have. I'm truly indebt to you."
"No Bran, you're not in debt to me. I feel like I'm finally out of the debt to you. With all of the times in high school, college, and at the Beverly Beat that you pulled me out of trouble. You really showed me how to really live up to my true potential and not feel worthless. Kelly has always been close to my heart, there was no way that I couldn't be there for her. Sammy is a great kid, he's a hell of a hockey player too, Brandon, he has definitely got that from you. He the best player in the team," Steve says.
"Thanks man, I can't wait until I can get on the ice with him. How Kelly handling him playing hockey? It's not the nicest sport," Brandon asks.
"She was pretty hesitated at first, but Jim got him his first pair of skates when he first began to walk and he picked up skating faster than walking. He was holding the stick and shooting the puck into the goal by the time he was two. He was first on a team when he was four and it was with a lot of five and six year olds and he was better than every single one and still is. There was only one kid this last season that he had trouble getting past, but he was also twice his age, the oldest he has competed against. It was in a one-on-one competition during a special tournament," Steve says.
"Wow, it sounds like he's probably better than I was at his age. He probably can beat me right now; it's been so long since I've been in a pair of skates," Brandon realizes.
"Oh, don't worry about it bro, you're be fine. Once you get out there, it'll be like you've never stopped skating," Steve encourages him.
"I hope you're right man. So Kel told me that you're coaching the boy's T-ball team this summer," Brandon says.
"Yeah, none of the other dads were willing to step up last year. Joshua's coach was willing to help me with a few tips and pointers, so I said what the heck lets just do it. They were actually really good last year, only lost two out of ten games. You wanna join me this year, be assistant coach," Steve asks.
"Oh man, being an assistant to you, that will be weird. Yeah lets do it, count me in," Brandon says laughing.
"Good, I'm looking forward to it!" Steve says, "Man, Bran I'm really glad that you're here finally. Honestly, it's been harder and harder seeing Sammy lately."
"Yeah, why's that Steve?" Brandon asks a little confused.
"Brandon, you need to know that I've really struggled with this because you've always been my best friend and I didn't want to betray you. But a couple of months ago, Sammy started to ask Kelly a lot of questions about you and why he didn't have a dad. I know she did her best to answer him, but there was one time when I took just him out for some ice cream for some one-on-one man time because he was really struggling with not knowing you and Kelly just really needed a break. You're folks went to visit Brenda and Dylan at that time for a couple of weeks. Well anyways, he ended up calling me daddy when I dropped him off at home. Kelly heard it also and either of us really knew how to respond or what to say, so we kind of just ignored it. The next thing I said was bye and I acted like nothing happened when I saw him next. I've been feeling horrible about it and I've noticed Kelly calling me Uncle Steve more while he's around," Steve confesses.
"Steve, it's not your fault, it's no ones. Kel told me more about it last week after Sammy was asking what my name was and what he should call me. He told me that he tried to call you daddy even though he knew you weren't. He just thinks that you didn't hear him. Man Steve, I'm not mad at you by far, I just can't understand why I had to be on that island for so long, we were only suppose to be on the assignment for an original 12 to 18 months, that was what I signed on the contract," Brandon says angry. "There's so much that I've missed, not only from Sammy and Kelly's life, but I don't even know who the president is or what he stands for. I don't know want world events have happened, or who has won the Superbowl or the World Series. And I was so confused earlier at the store, there was this person behind me in line that I thought was talking to me and when I turned around to tell him that I don't know what he was talking about, he is pointed to his ear and turned away from me while still talking. What was that all about man? Have people gotten ruder? Oh and also when I was in the airport, I overheard someone say 'Google it", what does Google mean?" Brandon asks.
Steve can't help but to laugh a bit at Brandon.
"Man, why are you laughing at me? You see, this is what I mean, I'm completely clueless at everything going on in this world anymore," Brandon complains.
"Bran, it'll be okay, things are changing so quickly that in a couple of years half of these things won't be used anymore," Steve says as Brandon gives him the weirdest look.
"Okay, let me explain some of these things to you. For example, the guy talking in the store, he was talking in a wireless ear piece that is connected to his phone. And a lot of phone's these days are directly connected to the internet so people can easily look things up at a touch of a button in their hand instead of going to a computer. And Google is just a really popular search engine currently like Yahoo or AOL was in the past. The president's name is Barack Obama, he is the first black president of the United States, and he is democrat if you were wondering," Steve tells him.
They continue to talk about things that Brandon has missed in Steve's and their other friends lives late into the night that they hardly get any sleep before the boys wake up about seven in the morning.
