Chapter 16
Lexi watched the group mingling around Johnny and felt sadness overwhelming her. Everyone else seemed to have the perfect life. Sure, some of them had gone through difficulties, but they had all found a way to overcome them. She felt as if she were the only one present who was facing insurmountable odds. She was in a position of choosing the lesser of two evils – neither option was one she wanted to choose. Her life would soon be over, one way or another.
Realizing that everyone was preoccupied, her nefarious plan resurfaced. She stepped over to Joanne and whispered into her ear.
"Joanne, mind if I use your bathroom?"
Before Joanne could answer, everyone looked towards the sliding glass door as Roy's voice called out.
"Look who stopped by," the senior medic said, ushering Samford Bennett onto the deck.
Johnny waved his free hand in greeting while folding his lanky frame into a seated position at one of the picnic tables, then caught a glimpse of a couple of ladies behind the arson investigator. Before he was fully seated, he realized that Lily Campbell was standing in his presence.
Chet, who had been hovering near the ice chest where Johnny said he had been icing down the beer, turned in the direction of Roy's voice. "Hey, Sam," he said, jovially. "How 'bout a cold one?"
The Irishman opened the ice chest, cursing and stumbling backwards until he fell on his backside with green goop dripping from his face and hair. His muffled expletive was lost amid the high-pitched screams of Corrie and Jennifer which sent adults scrambling across the deck to the place where the red ice chest had been opened.
"Ppfffttt, GAGE!" Chet fumed.
Standing erect in the ice chest was a green blow-up doll resembling what most cartoonist often depicted as a Martian; a hand-written sign was taped to his chest indicating he was from Area 51. Attached to the lid of the ice chest, above the head of the big-eyed doll, was a spring-loaded device that, when tripped by the opening of the ice chest, had sent green goop flying right into Chet's face.
"Wow, that worked great, Uncle Johnny!" Chris cheered, giving away the trickster – not that anyone had any doubts as to his identity.
Thankfully, Jennifer's shrieks morphed quickly into giggles when she saw Chet's face.
The pranked lineman wiped the goo away from his eyes, slinging it over the edge of the deck, trying to get into an upright position while looking for Corrie. The little girl was clinging to her mother with both arms and both legs wrapped tightly around Caroline's torso – her initials cries of terror shifting into spurts of laughter. It was obvious that she thought her future stepfather looked funny in his current condition, but she wasn't quite ready to give up the safety of her mother's arms.
Chet's face reddened even more as he glared at his pigeon. "You've been doin' this to me for weeks now!" He pointed his finger at the red-faced paramedic. "You're gonna pay for this, Pal."
Johnny's wide eyes darted back and forth from an angry Chet, over to the sniveling little girl whose mother was giving Johnny evil looks, then back over to the place where a dark-haired beauty stood before him. His mouth was agape from the combination of shock, laughter, and the most wonderful surprise of his life.
His legs felt weak, and in his rush to get to Lily, his feet became entangled sending him sprawling onto the deck, landing with a thud on his back. "Oomph...Argh!"
Roy, seeing that his own daughter had settled down, stood by while waiting for Johnny's brain to kick into gear. When the younger man continued to stare in awe, while the others began welcoming Iris and Lily, Roy quickly reached beneath the card table, retrieving the golden box with the red bow. He offered Johnny a hand up, then pushed the flower box toward the younger man's hands. "Johnny, why don't you take these and do what you'd planned on doing Sunday."
Johnny looked at his friend, then down at the shiny gold box of flowers. He recognized the velvet box tied to the flowers by a white ribbon, and felt a lump forming in his throat. He looked over at Lily who was standing only a few steps away from him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears and a smile on her face.
"Duh, uh," the dark-haired paramedic couldn't decide what to do first. Realizing he hadn't even reached for her yet, he embraced her tightly, ignoring the proffered box.
Roy snickered, shaking his head as he continued to hold the flowers, feeling a hint of discomfort as he was holding flowers and jewelry for another woman his wife looked on with a knowing look on her face.
Johnny kissed Lily's cheek then pulled her head to his chest, running his hand down the length of her hair. He inhaled her scent, then pulled away to look into her beautiful eyes. "I…, um… I… When did you… How'd you…"
"I wanted to surprise you," Lily announced. "Sam picked us up from the airport."
With one hand, Roy nudged the box between the two lovebirds. With his other hand, he pressed on Johnny's shoulder, not-so-subtly, reminding him that he needed to assume the position of a suitor seeking the hand of a lovely lady.
"Oh… um…" He looked at the flowers and the tiny velvet box he was holding, slowly dropping to one knee on the DeSotos' deck. He propped the flower box on his raised knee, then retrieved the ring from the tiny box and reached for Lily's left hand. Everything he had planned to say suddenly disappeared from his mind. Instead of reciting what he had rehearsed, he simply allowed his heart to speak. "L-Lily… I've loved you since the day we met. Will you… marry me?"
Words escaped her. Lily nodded her agreement, completely in shock by the turn of events. She thought she was going to surprise Johnny by her presence – something she had obviously done; but instead, he had stunned her with a marriage proposal. Suddenly, she found herself swept up in the arms of the man she loved, not caring that his shirt was soaked with lemonade. Their lips met in a deep kiss. His hand reached up to the back of her head, pulling her tighter to him, his fingers carding through her dark hair. Their lips parted, and the kiss deepened.
Chet allowed a slight smile to escape from beneath his bushy mustache. Corrie was calming down and so was his anger at his friend. "Give her some air, Gage!" the Irishman called out, rounds of laughter following.
The kiss broke and their foreheads met, both of them smiling. Johnny's thumbs brushed her creamy tear-dampened face. "You… you said yes, right?" he asked, hoping his display of affection hadn't been wrong.
"Yes," she repeated, her voice merely a whisper. "But… how'd you know?" she asked, mesmerized.
Johnny laughed, hugging her tightly once more. He knew she was wondering how he had pulled off the proposal when he didn't even know she was going to be at the Halloween gathering. "Long, long story, babe," he chuckled. "Roy and Joanne will have to tell you… I don't even know where to begin."
Jennifer giggled, pulling on his hand to get his attention. "And me and Chris helped out too, 'cause we didn't want you to leave too early."
"What?" the dark-haired man questioned, giving Roy a quirked eyebrow. "Is that why you insisted on sharing a burger with me?"
"Uh-huh."
Johnny merely shook his head in disbelief. He had been planning on leaving as soon as they had made the rounds through the neighborhood, but Jennifer had seemed to attach herself to him, and would not have let him leave without finishing their so-called date. He looked at the group gathered around him, smiling faces all focused on the newly engaged couple. Even though he hadn't given her the most romantic proposal, it had certainly been a memorable one. 'Well done, partner,' he mused.
Hugs and handshakes were passed around among those who had gathered. Most of the ladies were circling Lily, all eyes looking at her left hand and the ring that now sparkled there. The men were slapping Johnny on the back and shaking his hand. Of course, Chet had to announce that Johnny screwed up his proposal even more than he had with Caroline. More laughter followed including the children as they, too, joined in with the merriment.
Chet grabbed a napkin, trying to wipe the disgusting mess off his shirt and face. "What is this sh.. uh, stuff?"
Johnny ran a finger beneath his nose, trying to hide his laughter. "Ah, ah-haha… I found it at the airport on my way back from Alabama. It's this new stuff called Slime."
Immediately, Chris' eyes lit up. "Dad, can I have-"
"NO!" Roy said sternly. Dealing with it at work had been bad enough; he did not want to see any of it around his house. He also didn't want his son to be tempted to torture Jennifer the way Johnny had been torturing Chet lately. Not to mention what Joanne would do to him if some of that stuff ended up in their shag carpet.
"Aww, man," the disappointed child mumbled, his shoulders slumping.
Johnny, feeling a little sorry for the mess Chet was in, decided to give him a bit of assistance. "Look, I have a few shirts in the guest room. Feel free to use one for the rest of the night," he offered to the slime-coated Irishman.
Chet pulled globs of slime from his curly hair. "Roy… Mind if I take a quick shower?" A part of him wanted to congratulate Johnny on a well-played prank, but another part was already plotting the Phantom's revenge.
"Down the hall, first door on the left. Guest room is across the hall," Roy instructed.
The reference to the bathroom jolted Joanne's memory. "Oh, Lexi, feel free to use the master bath in our bedroom upstairs," she said softly to her young guest. "Looks like my guest bath may be occupied for a while," she snickered.
"Thanks," Lexi replied. "I'll be right back."
As the young woman entered the DeSoto residence, she scurried up the stairs, grateful for being given easy access to what she was really after. The night was working out so much better than she had ever imagined.
Back on the deck, the group began loading up their plates with burgers, hotdogs, and chips. The kids were laughing, and the adults were chatting away about the events of the night. Sam managed to find a vacant seat near Bri. He smiled to himself and hurried over before someone else beat him to it.
"Is this seat taken?"
Bri felt her cheeks grow warm. "No, please sit down."
Sam looked around, noticing that Lexi seemed to have disappeared. "I thought maybe you were saving it for Lexi."
Bri, her mouth full of chips, held her napkin up so as not to offend him when she answered. "No… I don't know where she went." She looked around, growing suspicious. Had Bri decided to hitch-hike home? She looked around for Mike, hoping that if Lexi had decided to leave that maybe he had agreed to drive her home. He was standing near the deck railing, talking to Hank. She managed to catch his attention and gave him a questioning look. He mouthed the word 'bathroom' to her. She nodded her understanding, then returned her attention to the handsome man sitting beside her.
"I didn't know you were coming."
Sam gulped, his shyness seemed to grip his throat. "Um… Do you want me to leave?" Had he mistaken her earlier smile? Had the empty chair really been meant for someone else, after all?
"No, silly. I'm… I'm glad you came," she said, raising her hamburger to her mouth, hoping she didn't make a mess in front of him.
The two made small talk, falling into a comfortable conversation. It felt right to them both, although neither one was willing to admit it to the other. By the time they finished their food, Dixie walked by heading towards the door to the kitchen.
"Are you folks ready for some champagne to celebrate Johnny and Lily?"
They nodded their agreement. This was turning out to be a very good night.
Inside the house, Chet stepped out of the bathroom just as Lexi was walking down the stairs. He had dressed in such a hurry, donning Johnny's red tee shirt that he had found hanging in the closet of the guest room, that he forgot to complete one very important task. She took one look at him and giggled nervously.
"Um… don't let your horse get out of the barn," she chuckled, her dark brown eyes quickly scanning from his crotch back up to his quickly reddening face.
"Argh," Chet groaned, turning his back to her to zip up his jeans. "Sorry."
Lexi stepped off the lowest step, feeling a shift in the hidden contents of her bra.
Dixie, who had made her way inside the kitchen to retrieve the bottles of champagne that she and Kel had brought and placed in the refrigerator earlier, gasped when she stepped out of the kitchen, nearly bumping into Lexi who was adjusting her blouse, while behind her, Chet pulled up the zipper of his jeans. This sent Dixie's heart lurching into her throat.
"Oh, pardon me, Miss McCall," Lexi said a little too loudly.
"Hey, Dix… Need some help?" Chet offered, completely unaware of what the nurse had seen.
Dixie eyed them both suspiciously; had she interrupted something? Chet wouldn't… Dixie shook the thought from her head. No, Chet was a prankster, but he wasn't a womanizer. Besides, he was very much in love with Caroline Marks. But Lexi's behavior had been odd recently. She filed the information away in the back of her mind. Now wasn't the time to address what she had seen.
"That would be nice of you, Chet; if you don't mind," she said in her smoky voice.
"Ah, no… no, I don't mind at all," The Irishman said with a grin. "I'm always happy to help a lady out." He accepted the two bottles from her and headed for the door.
"I'll bet," Dixie responded softly, quirking an eyebrow in Lexi's direction. "Is… Everything okay, Lexi?"
"Oh," she responded, nervousness evident in her voice. "Yes, just needed to use the bathroom and," she jerked her thumb over her shoulder in the direction of the stairs. "Well, Chet was occupying the guest bathroom… so… I had to go upstairs."
"Hmm, I see," Dixie replied, grasping the third bottle of champagne and heading for the deck. She wasn't ready to so easily dismiss the odd behavior. She had been a witness to too many clandestine rendezvous between married doctors and her newly hired nurses who seemed more intent on snagging a healthy bank account than a career. Too often, both parties ended up being hurt and ultimately dismissed from their jobs. She had developed a keen eye for guilty behavior patterns and Lexi was certainly guilty of something.
Lexi scurried towards the door, feeling the heat of her predicament coloring her neck. She had thought for a moment that she had been caught red-handed, but now it seemed that she had gotten away with it. She just had to take a deep breath and relax. Maybe a glass of celebratory champagne would help. Dixie didn't seem to be suspicious and the rest of the guests were too busy celebrating outside to have heard or seen anything. Things seemed to be falling into place quite nicely. She would soon need to have a heart-to-heart talk with her brother and future sister-in-law. Then, as much as she hated to do it, she needed to string Mike along for just a few more weeks. He was a nice guy, and she hated to deceive him, but he was definitely her best hope for reaching her ultimate goal. His heart might be collateral damage, but he was a handsome fellow with a lot to offer a nice girl. He would recover, of that she was certain.
E!
By the time the children began to grow fatigued, the younger adults seemed to just be getting started with their fun. Marco and Chet decided it was time to take Antonio and Corrie home and put them to bed. Mrs. Lopez, Beverly, and Caroline began packing up their belongings.
Bri turned to the man who had occupied most of her time for the night. "Well, looks like my ride is leaving. Guess I'd better go."
"Um," Sam began scratching his arms, a habit that had developed early in his adolescence when his nerves were being tested. He hoped she wasn't noticing. "I… I'm going that way. I can take you home… I mean, if you want to stay a little longer." He rubbed his nose, hoping he wasn't about to break out in hives.
Bri smiled, curling a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "You mean, you don't mind?"
"No… I'd love to. I-I'm really enjoying t-talking with you."
Bri felt a blush creeping up her neck. "Me, too. Uh, let me go tell Mama Lopez."
Sam watched her walk away, silently chastising his body for the display of nervousness. He knew what she had been, but he also felt a sense of what Bri could become. She had a tainted past, but a pure heart. He had always been a good judge of character, and he knew he was right about her. But, would she be interested in someone like him?
In only a moment, Bri came bouncing back to him, her excitement obvious. "Okay, it's all set."
Across the deck, Mike walked over to the place where Lexi was standing. "Are you ready to go or do you want to stay a little longer?"
Lexi's dark eyes looked up at him. She slipped her fingers into the back pockets of her jeans, feeling the folded bills he had secretly given her earlier. She needed to talk to him, to get her plan going. "Um… Can we go to your place for a little while? I-I'd really like to talk to you."
Mike tilted his head back, eyeing her suspiciously. His blue eyes looked at her face, searching for any signs of deception. When she quickly cut her eyes away, he grew weary.
"I'm sorry, Michael. I… I had no right to ask you that. I'm sure you have other plans," she said, turning away. She knew exactly how to play on the emotions of most men, Mike was no different.
"No, I don't… C'mon, we can go to my place for a little while and talk. I'll take you home later."
Lexi turned around, offering him a slight smile. "Thanks… I'll just go let Mama know I'll be home later."
E!
After most everyone had left the DeSotos' home, Johnny whispered into Lily's ear. "Come home with me?"
She smiled at him, warmly. "Um, we'll have to take Mom home first. Sam brought us, remember."
Iris, who had been walking up to the young couple, had seen her future son-in-law whispering into her daughter's ear. She had been in love once, and figured she knew what was happening. She walked up behind them, placing a hand on a shoulder of each of them.
"Well… You two lovebirds have a good time. Dr. Brackett and Dixie have asked me to split a cab with them, so I'm going to leave you two alone."
Johnny's crooked grin brightened up his face. "I promise, I'll take very good care of her, Iris."
"Mmmhmm," the older woman said, a knowing look on her face.
"Thanks for understanding, Mom. It's been so long since we've seen each other."
Iris hugged her daughter's neck. She knew that Lily had found happiness, something she had long feared might not happen. She loved Johnny like a son, not just a son-in-law, and she couldn't be happier for the two of them. "I love you both, and I'm so happy for you."
Half an hour later, the deck was cleaned up and the guests were leaving. Both DeSoto kids were preparing for bed, and Roy slipped his arm around his wife, whispering into her ear. "You haven't forgotten what you promised, have you?"
Joanne leaned into her husbands embrace. "Not a chance. You go ahead and get cleaned up. As soon as I get the kids tucked in bed, I'll join you."
Roy could almost feel his jeans tighten with anticipation. "Yes, ma'am."
He took the stairs two at a time, walking into their bedroom and flipping on the light switch. The lamp beside their bed was on. Being on a tight budget, they never left lights on in a room that wasn't being used. He thought back to when they had been in the bedroom getting ready for the night's festivities. It had been early, and even though they had turned on the overhead light in the bedroom, there had been no reason to use the lamp, he was sure of it. Deciding that bringing it up to Jo might sour the mood, he filed it away in the back of his mind and turned off the overhead light. The bedside lamp created better ambient lighting anyway. He stripped off his clothes, tossing them in the hamper and headed for the shower.
By the time Joanne completed their children's bedtime routine, she walked in the bedroom to find Roy under the covers in their bed, a broad smile crossing his face. "Well, well… ready, I see."
"Yes, ma'am. Patiently waiting," he grinned, twitching his feet in anticipation.
E!
Samford Bennett opened the car door for Bri, offering her his hand as she stepped out onto the curb in front of the Lopez residence. The drive home had been a pleasant one, cordial and comfortable. Before he walked her to the door, he turned to face her, pleased when she leaned her hips against his car. She seemed to be completely at peace in his presence; for that, he was grateful.
"Bri, I wanted to talk to you about something," he said, slipping his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
"Oh?" she asked, her eyebrows knitting together. Was her wonderful night about to come to an abrupt end? She had thought things had gone well, but her insecurities were forever lurking in the shadows of her mind.
"Yea… I, um, I have a… well, a sort o' business proposition for you."
Bri's mouth hung open slightly. Was he about to proposition her? Were his hands in his pockets because he was about to pull out a few bills in exchange for a quick service? How could she have been so wrong about him? Her eyes began to cloud over, her defensive wall rose, and she pressed her lips into a thin line.
"Excuse me," she said curtly, crossing her arms over her chest and walking quickly past him towards the house. She wouldn't let him see her cry. No man would ever see her cry again.
Sam's eyes widened with the horror of what he had inadvertently done. He spun around, reaching out and lightly gripping her upper arm. He had to correct his mistake.
"Bri… No… that's not – UMPH!" The arson investigator doubled over from the unexpected punch in the stomach. "Owe."
Bri stood trembling, stunned by her own swift reaction to his words. "How… could you?" she asked, her voice thick with emotions. The lump in her throat was nearly blocking her breathing and her heart was pounding inside her chest. She had let her guard down… but resolved to never let it happen again.
"That… ugh," he groaned, rubbing his aching stomach muscles. "That was NOT what I was talking about, Bri. I," he shook his head, glancing down at the ground. How could he have been so careless with his words? He inhaled deeply, choosing his words with extreme caution. "Brittany," he began, hoping the use of her full name would convey his sincerity. "I am so sorry for how that came across to you. Please… forgive me for the misunderstanding. It was my fault, and I am truly sorry for upsetting you."
Bri stared at the handsome man with the mussed up blonde hair standing in front of her. His eyes were boring holes through the protective fortress she had just built between them. She felt her arms begin to tremble, her adrenaline wearing off.
"Are you cold?" he asked, seeing her shiver. "I have a jacket in my car," he said, reaching back for the door handle.
"No…" Bri said, her voice barely above a whisper. "No… I'm fine… I just… I thought you were…," she stopped looking at his eyes, preferring to stare into the darkness over his shoulder instead. She didn't want to see the look of pity she assumed would be displayed in his eyes.
"I know what you thought… I mean, it wasn't what I meant, but… Damn," he cursed, uncharacteristically. He was blowing the entire night with his own social ineptness. "But I understand why you thought that I was… If you only knew me better, you'd know that… I would never… ever… do anything like that… certainly not to you."
Bri hesitated. She wanted to believe him, but could she?
"Why not?" she quizzed, wanting to keep the conversation going a little longer.
Seeing his opening, Sam took a tentative step closer to her, but not enough to make her feel threatened again. "Because a lady doesn't deserve to be treated like that… And because… because… I don't treat… it, ahem," he coughed into his fist, feeling heat rising up his neck. "Um, s-sex, casually… that's not how it's supposed to be, you know?"
Her brown eyes looked up at him, seeing how uncomfortable he really was feeling at the moment. "Honestly? No… I really don't know anything other than, um, paid sex… Or worse…" She allowed her eyes to drift again. "I don't know anything about how it's supposed to be," she clarified. "I was thirteen when…" She turned her back to him. She wasn't ready to tell anyone that story, certainly not Sam… But she felt so comfortable talking to him. Why?
"Ahem," he cleared his throat, needing to get the conversation back on track. "So, anyway… I know that it'll be awhile before you can go back to work for Amy, and… Well, see… My mother is getting older and I'm an only child. She's… basically deaf and…" He paused when he saw her turn back around to face him. "Well, I was wondering if you'd consider moving in with us and sitting with her while I'm at work?"
Bri tilted her head sideways. Being a caregiver had never crossed her mind, but the thought was intriguing.
"I… I live with her in this big house… You'd have your own bedroom and… there'd only be some light housekeeping and meal preparation for her… keep her company when I'm working late… that kind of thing."
Bri lifted her chin. Was he really asking her to move into his house? "You mean… like a live-in housekeeper?"
"Well, yea, kind of. I couldn't pay you a large salary, but you wouldn't have to pay for any living expenses. My father's pension covers practically all of our living expenses. So, I'm prepared to offer you room and board and… um, $10 a day. It isn't much, but… If it works out, then maybe I could offer you a raise in six months or so."
"Have you talked to your mother about me?"
"Yes, she's in agreement that she needs someone with her. I think she'd feel safer and-"
"No, Sam… I mean, about ME… Have you told her you were going to ask a 'lady of the night,'" she said, rolling her eyes, "to sit with her?"
Samford closed the distance between them. Slowly, he reached out, gently placing his hands on her shoulders. When she didn't look at him, he used the crook of his finger to lift her chin upwards until she was looking at him. "No… Because I'm not asking a prostitute to see about my mother. I'm asking a wonderful young woman, with a strength of character and a pure heart like none other I've ever met, to take care of the most important woman in my life… Most important, for now," he added, allowing a hint of a smile to brighten his face.
Bri felt her eyes welling up with tears. A warm feeling like none she had ever felt before, filled her chest. A part of her wanted to wrap her arms around his shoulders and rest her head against his chest. Another part wanted to rise up on her tiptoes and kiss him. But she didn't. She took a step back from him, feeling as if the air around her was too thick to breathe.
"I'll… um, I'll think about it, okay?"
Samford, unable to hide his disappointment, repocketed his hands, toeing the grass beneath his feet. "Yea… Okay, um, please do that. You can… Um, let me know… when you decide, alright?"
Bri nodded her agreement. "Thank you for the ride home," she said, stepping backwards.
Samford raised his hand as he turned to walk to the driver's side of his car. "You're welcome. I had a good time," he replied, wanting to add 'with you,' but thinking better of it. He had made a big enough mess of things tonight.
Bri headed for the front door of the Lopez home, chastising herself with each step. She heard the car door slam shut, but he didn't crank up the car. She knew he was waiting to make sure she was safely inside before he left. He was a good man, a solid citizen… and she was sure that he was only interested in her as a sitter for his mother, nothing more. She swiped at an errant tear. There was no way she could live in the same house with him. It would cause her heart to break when he brought over a girlfriend or… if the job lasted long enough… his wife. No, she had to protect herself at all costs. She would have to tell him she couldn't accept the job.
E!
"Antonio sure seemed to have a good time tonight," Mike commented, hoping for a response from Lexi who sat beside him as he drove towards his apartment.
Mike had insisted that she speak with her mother privately about taking Antonio home and getting him ready for bed, so that she and Mike could discuss whatever she had on her mind. While Lexi had been talking to her mother, Mike had explained things to Marco. Neither man knew what to make of her unusual request. Now they were sitting in his pick-up truck, him in the driver's seat and her pressed against the passenger's door. He wondered briefly if she might try to jump out when he stopped at a traffic light. Her behavior had been very concerning over the past few weeks.
Lexi stared at the taillights on the vehicle in front of them, planning her next move. Only when she heard her name called loudly did she react.
"Alexia?"
"Oh, I'm sorry… Did you say something?"
Mike merely shook his head and turned on his blinker to make the turn into his apartment complex. His curiosity was piqued, but there was a sudden sense of dread weighing heavily in his chest. He didn't respond until he had parked in his usual parking place and turned off his vehicle. He turned to look at her, trying to read her face in the faint glow of the street light. That was when he realized that the only way he was going to find out what was on her mind was to have the conversation she seemed to want so desperately.
"C'mon, let's go inside," he said, opening his door.
Lexi didn't wait for him to open her door for her. Afterall, they were no longer a couple, so why should she expect him to treat her with that kind of respect?
They walked up the stairs in silence. Mike opened the door, flipped on the lights, and dropped his keys in the bowl in the foyer. He thought about the money that had gone missing the last time Lexi had been in his apartment and he felt his resentment begin to build.
"You want something to drink?" he asked, walking into his kitchen and grabbing a beer out of his refrigerator.
"Water would be nice," she said softly. She could tell that he really didn't want to be around her. She waited for him to bring their drinks into his living room before she said anything else.
Mike tossed a couple of coasters onto his coffee table, then set the drinks on them. He motioned for Lexi to have a seat on the sofa before he sat in his recliner beside her. He wasn't comfortable sitting near her at this point. He needed to see her face because he had a few things he needed to say to her.
"Thanks," Lexi mumbled, reaching for the glass to wet her dry throat.
He gave her a moment to collect her thoughts but when she failed to start the conversation, he felt his patience begin to wane. "I won't do it, Lexi."
"Pardon?"
Mike propped one elbow on the arm of the chair and stared at her. His cerulean gaze pinning her to her seat. "Whatever you're trying to pull, I won't be a part of it."
"I-I don't know what you're talking about, Michael."
"Like hell you don't," he spat out. "You're leaving again and we both know it. The only question is why?"
Lexi was taken aback by his comment. Were her intentions that obvious to everyone? He was angry, but he was also very cold towards her. If only she could be honest with someone… but that was too risky. She looked at him wishing that she could trust him, but she trusted no one, not even her own family. She was the only one who could make things right again, even if that meant risking collateral damage along the way. She felt her eyes begin to sting and her throat became scratchy.
"I'm not leaving, Michael."
His only response was a soft snort of disbelief. He shifted his position in his chair. "So… we're here… I'm listening… talk."
There was a long pause before she found her words. "Michael… I wanted to apologize to you."
"For what? Wasting my time? Lying to me? Damaging my reputation?" He waited for his words to sink in for a moment. He watched as she ran her fingers over the Pinocchio tattoo on her wrist. "Stealing from me?"
Her eyes closed, and her chin lowered. She had hoped he hadn't missed the money she had taken the last time she was here. "I really am sorry about that. I was wrong. I'll… I'll pay you back."
"With what?" He asked sarcastically. "With the money I paid you to go to Johnny's party tonight?"
Lexi leaned forward, removing the folded bills from her back jeans pocket and tossing them onto the coffee table. "There."
Mike exhaled loudly. "That's not why you came here. Either tell me what you want to talk about… or I'm going to drive you home."
"I need your help, Michael," she blurted out, rushing to say it before she lost her courage.
"Humph… Seems I'm about tapped out," he shot back.
"I don't blame you for being angry at me… but I really need some money… a lot actually… to get out of some trouble I'm in."
"I hate to break it to you, missy, but firemen don't make much money." He leaned forward, encroaching on her space until she looked up at him. "Besides, I wouldn't give it to you even if I had it."
"I'm not asking you to give it to me… I… I want to earn it," she said softly.
"Oh, yea… Lemme guess," he began, taking a long drink of his beer. He had been holding in his anger for a long time and now he was ready to let her have it. "You want me to let you come over after my next shift and provide me with a little company… for a nominal fee, of course… Or maybe, set you up with some of my male neighbors for a little door-to-door service?" He wanted to cringe at his own words, but he was finding it very difficult to control his tongue.
Lexi sat quiet and still on his sofa, allowing his rant to continue. It certainly wasn't the worst thing she had endured. But it was the truth in his words that hurt her the most. He was absolutely correct in everything he was saying.
When Mike finished his tirade, he leaned back in his chair and ran his fingers through his hair. His words had sliced through her heart and he regretted being so hateful to her. He saw her looking so small and defeated, and he wanted to kick himself in the pants. He was not known for having a loose tongue, but he had certainly let his get the better of him tonight. "Lex-"
"No… Let me say something, please."
"Okay."
"You're right… I don't have any job skills. I've never earned an honest dollar in my life. I've done things that I despise… but… I really need to earn some cash. I was hoping I could clean apartments or something… something honest and honorable. I wasn't talking about hooking anymore, Michael." She looked over at him, seeing the stunned expression on his face. "I'm never going back to that again."
Mike narrowed his eyes at her. He never knew when she was telling the truth or when she was lying, but something in her voice made him think she was telling the truth. He watched as she ran her fingers over the scars on her wrists, some were self-inflicted, others were not. "What kind of trouble are you in?"
"The kind that will cost me about $300 to get out of." She continued to stare at the Pinocchio tattoo, and an idea began to formulate in her mind. "I have a few bills I need to pay off – street bills. And then I have one major obstacle standing between me and total freedom."
Mike felt like he had been sucker-punched. He didn't know what kind of street bills she was talking about, but as he watched her run her fingers across the tattoo, he thought he understood what she meant. The Pinocchio tattoo was the last reminder of her enslavement. It was a mark she had not taken willingly, but one that she had been forced to endure. It was a mark that she was unable to completely hide. If she was determined to have the tattoo removed, then how could he refuse to help her? Was this mark of ownership the only thing that was keeping Antonio from having his mother back in his life permanently?
E!
Across town, Ricardo Gomez sat in his jail cell. He only had 45 more days until he would be released. A sneer crossed his face as he thought about the plan that was being leveraged on his behalf. His street name was G-man, referencing both his last name and the fictional character of Mr. Geppetto, and he marked all his girls with a Pinocchio tattoo. He was in total control of their every move… even when he was incarcerated. "When the G-man owns you," he whispered to himself. "He owns you mind, body, and soul… Forever. And if any one o' my bitches forgets that… She's gonna pay dearly for her mistake."
