“What does that mean?”
“No clue. Let’s just see what happens. By the way since your departure from Barrows I have become quite a cook. Got anything in the fridge that I might be able to work with?”
April smiled. “You are a dork. A big, big dork. But you’ve gotten even more beautiful than you were in high school, and I’ve missed you sooooo much.”
“Nuthin’ in the fridge, huh?”
“Nuthin’. Can’t cook to save my soul.”
“Do we want to go grocery shopping?”
“Can you cook with a can opener?”
“It would be a challenge. Order in?”
“I have seventy-five take-out places on my cell. What’s your fancy?”
“Chinese. Maybe a little later.”
“Chinese it is. I thought you only did Mexican?”
“I cook Mexican. I can be, how should we say, critical of poorly prepared, badly cooked fake Mexican cuisine.”
“You haven’t changed a bit, have you?”
“Some say I’ve gotten worse. A bigger pain in the rear. Arrogant, insufferable, selfish.”
“I don’t believe it.”
“No seriously, that’s the good stuff.”
***
April, and Adam sat on the sofa looking out over the city lights of some city in the distance in the LA area. They talked over old times, what they’d been up to, how things were. For once, Adam told April exactly how he was, how he felt; he thought he’d lost his heart when Hannah left. He was lost, and his guide to the world of “normal” was now gone. He was a wreck; he felt homeless and lost.
April, on the other hand, had devoted herself to college, and career; she had no time for romance, and all the guys she had met after her only boyfriend simply never measured up.
“He was you, by the way, in case you missed that.”
“No, I got that. It’s just that something being true, and hoping that something is true are two different things. I’ve missed you, April. We knew what was coming, but it didn’t make things any easier. The calls, and cards, and emails were all wonderful, something to look forward to. I watched your career grow online, then you got the part. You know, The Part.”
“And you, buddy for your part, I read something about you getting some patents. Working for the government? A rising start in the world of tech. A Ph.D., at sixteen or seventeen. What was that all about?”
“After I got my Masters, my dad started talking to folks, which led to some serious work which led to some pretty interesting stuff. Before that, I just did some stuff that Dad arranged. Small stuff. I have some patents, but they’re all in our family trust.”
“I read in the Wall Street Journal that you make some big bank. At like eighteen.”
“Wall Street Journal?”
“I majored in Econ, minored in Finance. Acting was just for fun. Dad said I needed something to fall back on. Don’t change the subject. Big bank or no?”
“Big. Very big. Large. Don’t know how much, but Rod does my compliance, and Cindy does the finances. They’re married, you know. Two girls.”
“You’re an uncle. Their rich uncle.”
“We’re all rich. Mom and Pops make big bank too. Dad has always made the ‘do-re-mi’. I think we’re somewhere in the neighborhood of 1.5 or so these days.”
“Million?”
“No, billion.”
“Holy macaroni! What are you doing later?”
“Having dinner in with my ex-girlfriend. I hope.”
Just then, April’s phone rang. It was Eli.
“Who’s the stiff, April? Get rid of him, and fast. I’m on my way, and I’m bringing party treats for the evening. Be ready and be cooperative.”
Adam motioned for April to give him her cell.
“Hi, is this Eli?”
“Yes, it is. Who are you? No, better, I don’t care who you are; just be gone by the time I get there. You have thirty minutes to clear out.”
“Nope, not possible. I’m April’s houseguest. Computer nerd. Come on over and we can all have a talk.”
Chapter 9
One half hour later, Eli was pounding on the door of April’s condo. Adam answered the door.
“You must be Eli,” he said.
“And you must be stupid. I told you to clear out; April, and I have some unfinished business.”
“No, you don’t. With me, perhaps. But with April, that train has already left the station.”
Eli was assessing the man standing in front of him and his assessment was that Adam posed no threat and could be easily cleared out before he got down to business with the delectable April Mayes. April had failed to dress appropriately for him as he had demanded, but he would deal with her later then move on to the rest of his plans for the night.
Eli pushed Adam back in the condo, then shut the door behind him. Eli was no coward; he worked out and could go a few rounds at the local gym. He could give and take a punch. Mixing it up could be fun; he’d taken on much bigger guys and walked away. Everyone else, who he decided not to take on, would meet up with his bodyguards, extras from Hollywood movies and shows; well known muscle around town.
Adam spoke first, “You’re going to stop your harassment of April immediately, and apologize to her for your boorish behavior. If I ever have to come back to LA, or any other city in which she resides due to your bad behavior, I will hurt you. I hope my meaning is clear. Please believe I am both capable and willing to carry out this promise. Now I think you should leave. Apologize first.”
“Who are you, you stupid little fuck? I’m going to kick your ass then hurt you bad. Nobody, I mean nobody talks to me like that. Especially some computer fucking nerd.”
He started toward Adam and took a swing. He missed. He squared up like a boxer and jabbed. Adam just avoided them, and didn’t try to counter, hands down to his side. Eli wasn’t connecting which Adam knew would cause him to lose his cool, then when he punched hard, Adam would pull his arm through, and put the punk in an arm lock. If he wanted to prolong his fun, he might push him down, and put him in an arm bar and cause intense pain for a good long while.
Eli took his swing, and Adam pulled him through, and placed him in an arm lock, pressure downward, pushing down and causing Eli immense pain.
Adam said, “From this position, I can actually do a lot of things, including grabbing your pretty monogrammed dress shirt, and choking you out or just put you in a rear naked choke. Then, down you go. But for today, in honor of my very beautiful, and talented friend, April Mayes, I’m going to let you go. But next time, heed my warning, I will hurt you. Are we clear?”
“Yeah, yeah. Now let me go. You’re killing me, man. That hurts”
Adam walked Eli to the door, gave him a quick kidney punch, then released him.
Eli shouted at Adam, “Do you know who I am man, I mean do you know?”
“You’re Eli Fenton, a sexual predator, and if you ever bother Miss Mayes again, I will hunt you down like the predator you are and make you wish you had never been born. You’ve been warned. Now, skedaddle.”
Eli turned and walked down the hall toward the elevator. He swore loudly, and cursed Adam up one side, and down the other. As the elevator door closed, Adam smiled, and walked back inside. April had hardly moved from the sofa but stood up and walked slowly to Adam.
“What was that? I mean what the hell was that?”
“Me dealing with your problem. With a sexual predator. Why? Did you think it was something else?”
“No, not at all. I was, I mean I am just speechless. You think it’s over? I mean with him?”
“Oh, hell no April! But I’m guessing it might be over by tomorrow, but for sure by Saturday. I promise.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I mean would you, you know, do what you said you would do? To him. I mean you wouldn’t do that, right.”
“Well, of course I would. I was being totally, and completely serious, I never threaten; I just follow through with
the things I commit to. You know, like Method Acting. So, yes, I would. Besides, I don’t like him. That first swing of his was a sucker punch. Pretty chicken shit.”
“Adam, no. You can’t do that to him. You’ll get arrested and go to jail. I don’t want that for you. It would break my heart.”
“April, please don’t worry about this. It won’t come to that, but I mean for him to understand that I will do that to him if he keeps this up. So tomorrow, or by the latest, Saturday, he’ll be coming for me to, you know, teach me a lesson. Then we bring this chapter to a close.”
“You’ve done this before? I mean besides me that one time in high school?”
“Yes.”
“But you didn’t, I mean you never … never, actually, you know, did that… thing.”
“Now we can go two ways here. I can be completely truthful with you or I can tell you what I think you want to hear. Think about it and let me know which you prefer.”
April thought for a moment. “I’m ordering Chinese, then I’m taking a shower, and getting in my jammies. No laughing.”
“Hearts or bears?”
“Hearts. No laughing. And yes, they’re flannel.”
***
Adam and April decided on their order, with a little extra for leftovers in case they got the munchies later. The order came in an hour, and they sat at the kitchen table, boxes of food everywhere, April in her jammies, sitting cross legged on the sofa.
April asked, “You still don’t partake?”
“Wine or weed? No and yes.”
“I have some you know. My friend Jenny brought some over when I knew you were coming for sure.”
“When did you become a bad girl? Weed in the home of April Mayes? I’m shocked. Shocked I say!”
“I’m not a prude you know. And I’m not an ingénue. I’m just careful. Conservative. Old fashioned.”
“I know exactly who you are April Mayes. And if I was lucky, as some guy is going to be, I’d want to be that man in your life. That man who knew how lucky he was, and thanked God every day for allowing you to choose him. I wish it could be me.”
“But it can’t?”
“No, never I’m afraid. You, April Mayes, are exactly who you appear to be. You are sweet, and kind, and smart. And determined, and driven, and beautiful. And adorable in jammies, whether hearts or bears. But I am not the male counterpart to that you. I am damaged, and I don’t know if I can ever be repaired. And I’m not what people think I am. I am who you think I am when I’m with you. You have always made me better, brought out the best in me.”
“I don’t…”
“But when I’m not with you, I can become something else. Something terrible; something broken, and horrible, and cruel, if I need to be. And I have seen that me, let it out and I have done some very bad things. You asked if I have ever done that thing, that thing I said to Eli. Which truth do you want to know?”
“The only truth. The one I know you would always tell me because it’s not in you to lie. Not to me, and not to anyone you love. And I hope that’s still me too, at least in some small corner of your heart.”
“You are big piece of my heart, the foundation and shape; that will never change. You were my North Star for so long; you still are. You’re still the one I compare to all the others. You are who I hoped I could love one day.”
“Then why…”
“I have killed seven people in my life, and there will be more. I have hurt people, some cruelly and, when it happens, I am the Other. I could never harm anyone I love, but, if I had to, I will do anything to protect those I love. I know you might try, but the weight of what you now know would burden you. I know you would think if you loved me just a little more you could change me. Change who, and what, I really am. Then, one day, you would wake up, and realize that what you want most in life for me, for me to be whole and happy as God intended, can never be.
“What God intends for me, I think I now know. And it doesn’t include hurting those who want to love me the most, who haven’t also been chosen for this path. You deserve more, and my life is adrift on a different, and much stormier sea. I am at peace with that voyage, and I am sad it could never be with you.”
April was now crying, as she had many times before thinking of Adam. She knew Adam was right, but desperately wanted him to be wrong. Maybe just to lie to her for tonight, one time when they could be safe and happy, with a huge future ahead of them with everything that God could grant two deserving souls. Just for a little while, before the morning came.
April rose and came to Adam, putting her arms around him, cheek to cheek as if nothing had changed, nor would it ever.
“I still love you. I just wish I didn’t.”
“Me too. It would be so much easier that way.”
Adam turned around, rose and wrapped his arms around April. “I have a great idea. Reruns of April Mayes, Seasons two and three. You act; I know you must have DVDs somewhere.”
“Popcorn and that stuff you like so much?”
“Yes please.”
“Cuddling will be mandatory and making out like teenagers on the menu.”
“This trip just keeps getting better all the time. You pop, and I’ll put my stuff in the other room.”
“You’ll put your stuff in my room, and there will be no arguments. I can’t have you forever, but I can have you right now.”
Chapter 10
Friday passed with not a ripple of hint that Eli was anywhere in sight. April worried less about Adam, and more that Eli would simply wait for Adam to leave. Adam staying would be wonderful, but she knew it wouldn’t last. Then she feared Adam would pre-emptively deal with Eli, and that wasn’t the plan.
On Saturday morning, the couple headed for Venice Beach, where he, and April could see and be seen. They hung out, roller skated along the famous boardwalk then, late in the day, packed up to go home. As they approached April’s convertible, Eli and two large men approached.
“So, April, I see you, and your friend are still hanging out. How’s that working out for you, you little prick tease? I’ve come to collect and give your boyfriend here a little lesson on respect. Boys…”
Adam was looking at one of the guys awkwardly and the guy didn’t like his look. The more Adam stared, the more he thought he recognized the guy; bigger, older, but he had met this guy, he was sure of it.
“What are you starin’ at, asswipe?”
“Are you guys coming at me one at a time or both at once?”
“Don’t matter. This won’t take but a minute.”
“Then I’d prefer to get my beat down from your colleague first. If you don’t mind.”
“Have it your way.”
The bout was over quickly, and the man lay face down on the pavement, his wrist broken, and a few chicklets on the pavement.
“Now before you give me my beat down, may I ask you a question?”
“Your funeral.”
“Are you Ziggy Arnold?”
The man looked at him and said, “Yeah. So? What if I am?”
“Ziggy, I’m crushed you don’t remember me. I’m Adam. Adam St. James. Your Dad knew my Dad back in the day. My Dad went to UCLA, and your Dad did stunt work for the Studios. He worked on a movie in Vancouver, and you guys came out to the Island for a visit. Remember now?”
“Yeah, yeah, you were just a skinny little dude, and we used to wrestle with that other kid. What was his name?”
“Rod, my brother Rod. You remember the girl you couldn’t take. That’s Cindy. They got married; two girls. How’s your Dad?”
“Retired, lives in Tucson. Better for his arthritis. Say what’s the beef with junior here?”
“My long-time friend April works on junior’s show, an actress, and he won’t leave her alone. Has designs, if you know what I mean. She wants no part of him.”
“Hey man, I’m sorry about that; I got two girls of my own. He didn’t mention April here. Just some dude that sucker punched him and tried to make him look bad in
front of his date for no reason.”
Ziggy turned to Eli.
“Dude you’re on your own. First thing, he’s a friend. Second thing, you lied to me. Third thing, this guy’s an outright stone-cold killer. I don’t want no piece of him today or ever. If I were you, I’d leave fast, and forget about the girl. And, I’m calling your old man. He doesn’t want no part of either of the St. James men. Besides, I thought your old man was trying to buy the rights to the book that Adam’s old man wrote? Your Daddy is old school; he doesn’t like this nasty shit.”
Ziggy turned to Adam. “I’ll put the word out, and we’ll watch junior here, and keep an eye on Miss Mayes. Here’s my card Miss Mayes. If you even feel someone even looking at you the wrong way, you call. I got boys everywhere.”
He turned to Adam, “Be nice if your old man came down to Tucson for a visit. Maybe ask him, if he’s ever in town; Dad would love to catch up.”
Adam said, “Maybe we can all meet up in Tucson. Ever since that thing in LA, the police have asked him to stay out of Dodge, so to speak.”
“Oh shit, no kidding. That was him? Dad said it was him. Like he’d know.”
“Yeah, that was Dad.”
“How many that make?”
“Mom says thirty-seven. But Dad won’t confirm. He’s cranky about taking credit for anything.”
“Yeah, yeah, that’s your Dad alright. Low key then – bam! You’re on your ass. My Dad has some great stories about your old man. Give him our love and tell him to call Papa; he’d love to hear from him.”
***
Eli departed quickly and quietly while Izzy collected his friend.
“Thirty-seven what?”, asked April on the drive home.
“Would you believe best-sellers? Olympic medals?”
“If you said so, then yes,” said April.
“It was thirty-six problems solved for the government of the United States plus one personal matter. That’s the truth.”
April was quiet, thinking.
“I suppose that means you’re going home now. Tomorrow?”
“I suppose.”
Resolution Page 6