“We want you home, Tirzah.” Mom’s voice trembled, and my resolve weakened hearing her pain.
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’m okay. I miss you both, but I’m fine.”
“We miss you too,” Dad said.
“Now, let’s talk about Jacob, the Donnelly’s son.” How Mom’s tone went from sad and trembly to joyous all of a sudden was beyond me. “He’s almost as good as Peter.”
That bad? “Mom, I don’t—”
“He might not be as handsome,” she said, “but he has very good character, and guess what?”
“What?”
“He’s a psychiatrist, which means he’s a doctor!” I could only attribute the glee in her voice to her need for a psychiatric consult?
“How old is this guy?” Why was I even asking? It didn’t matter. I wasn’t going to talk to him.
“He’s thirty-five,” Dad said. “But before you freak out, he’s a very young thirty-five. His first wife passed away, and they never had children.”
“A thirteen-year difference is nothing,” Mom said.
I remembered seeing him around at church, and I was not interested. It was now or never. “I have something I need to tell you.”
“Okay,” Mom said, warily.
“I’ve decided not to go through with this match.” I swallowed, waiting for their response.
“You haven’t met him, so it’s understandable that you have a few qualms,” Dad said. “But we would like for you to talk to him on the phone.”
“I don’t want a match…with anyone, and talking to this Jacob guy isn’t going to change my mind.”
Silence.
More silence.
I’d truly stunned them.
The fallout was coming.
Anytime now.
“What did you say?” Mom asked, a warning in her tone.
“I’ve decided not to be matched with anyone,” I repeated.
“Oh, my goodness. Oh, my goodness.” Mom went into full-blown panic mode. “I knew we shouldn’t have allowed her to go to California. This is all your fault, Adam.”
Dad didn’t take it lying down. “Miriam, we had no choice and you know it. Just breathe. This stress is not good for your health.” He cleared his throat. “Tirzah, your mother has been experiencing a lot of anxiety. Please don’t add to it.”
Mom took that as her cue to start crying, and she managed to throw in a few jabs my way before asking what concerned her the most. “Please tell me you haven’t been hanging around the bikers.” She said it like it was the last straw, and if I said yes, she might just keel over and die.
My silence was enough to get Dad involved. “Tirzah, have you been spending time with Carl’s biker club?” He waited for a fraction of a second. “Answer me!”
He was normally pretty calm under pressure. I’d never heard him that worked up before.
I had to hold my ground. If I didn’t, I would be right back to where I was at the beginning. “Yes, I have.”
“How could you?” Mom asked, sounding as if the end of the world was on its way.
“You’re making incorrect assumptions about Carl’s friends. They’re decent and kind, like a tight-knit family. I wish you wouldn’t pass judgment without even finding out more about them.”
“Peter described some of those guys,” Mom said. “I think you’re trying to cover up for Carl…or for some other purpose.”
“I’m not covering up for anyone. You are judging them based on stereotypes—what you imagine them to be like. Not how they actually are.”
“This is all very disturbing,” Mom said. She sounded as if she might faint.
“Have you crossed a line with any of the men?” Dad asked.
“No, of course not.” Heat spread through my body, and I grit my teeth. I had not done anything wrong, and I hated being accused. “You know me. I can’t believe you would even ask that.”
“Then let’s just leave it at that,” Dad said. “We all need some time to cool down. Besides, before you know it, you’ll be back home and we can forget all about this.”
The moment had come. I needed to tell them I didn’t plan on returning to Pennsylvania, except I wasn’t sure they could handle it right now. It seemed as though I’d already pushed them farther over the edge than I’d intended. It also occurred to me that I hadn’t asked Grandpa if I could hang around longer than what we had initially agreed upon. When the threat dissipated, Dex would move back to his own home. Maybe Grandpa would let me stay in the guest house if I paid rent.
I wanted to think through all of my options before I told my parents anything. They would have questions, and I needed to have answers ready.
“Will you at least talk to Jacob?” Mom asked.
“Miriam, let it go.” Dad cleared his throat. “We’ll talk to you again soon, Tirzah. In the meantime, we expect you to behave in a way that makes us proud and reflects well on the congregants of our church.”
“I understand.”
After we said our goodbyes, I slumped down in my chair and shook my head. This wasn’t going to be easy. In fact, it might be the hardest thing I’d ever done.
***
When Saturday rolled around, I got up and whipped up a quick breakfast for Grandpa and me. He preferred oatmeal, so I made two servings and cut up some fresh fruit. I set the bowls on the table, and we sat down, said a prayer over the meal, and then began to eat.
We were both quiet, lost in our own thoughts. The conversation with Mom and Dad earlier in the week had stayed with me the last few days. I had hoped to talk to Grandpa about my desire to stay, but a part of me was afraid to broach the subject. Once I voiced my plans out loud, they would be out there. It wasn’t as if I couldn’t change my mind, or even wanted to, but things were moving forward at a pace that scared me a little.
Even though I felt confident about what needed to happen, I still felt guilty—like maybe I was straying from what was right and good. Every time I thought that way, I tried to think about it logically. Grandpa’s church was exceptional. Pastor Chamberlain’s teaching was sound. They reached out to others more than my church back home did. Dex and Grandpa loved the Lord. I was doing nothing wrong by remaining in California.
Yet it was hard to chase away feelings that had been engrained in me since I was a young child. I didn’t want a rift between me and my parents. They frustrated me and had definitely gone too far, but I still loved them.
I set my spoon on the table and leaned forward, taking a breath. “Grandpa, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”
“Sure, what’s up?” He took a bite of his oatmeal and glanced at me curiously. Whatever he saw on my face must have made him sit up a little straighter because he put down his spoon and gave me his full attention. “What’s wrong?”
“I’ve been thinking. When the time comes, I don’t want to return to Pennsylvania. I want to stay here in California with you.”
His mouth opened wide, and he blinked as if not expecting this turn of events.
I continued. “Dad is eventually going to pay off his debt to Harry, and the threat against my life will go away. At that point, Dex will probably want to return to his condo. If that’s the case, I was hoping you’d let me rent the guest house.”
He leaned back in his chair and studied me. “I would love for you to stay, Tizzy. Nothing would make me happier. And I would never accept rent from you, so you don’t need to worry about that. But I just want to ensure you’ve thought this through. Your parents won’t be happy when they find out, and it may cause a good deal of friction.”
That was an understatement. It would cause a lot more than that. “I have. I know what I’m doing, and I’m prepared for the consequences.”
“You sure? Your parents are going to fight you on this—fight both of us.”
“I’m positive.” I considered for a moment. “But I didn’t stop to think how it may affect your relationship with Mom. I know you’re hoping things with her will get better, and this mig
ht upset that.”
“Let me worry about that. I can handle your Mom. If you want to stay, I would love to have you.” He wiped the corner of his eye. “It would actually mean a lot to me.”
“Me too.”
“Well, then…” He leaned forward and patted me on the hand. “We’ll deal with this together.” His eyes teared up, but he didn’t seem particularly concerned about hiding his emotions, and I liked that about him. He came across as this rough and tough guy at times, but he was a big softie underneath. “I won’t say I’m completely surprised you’ve come to this decision, considering your budding relationship with Dex.”
“Dex has a lot to do with it, but it’s not only about him. Being here with you…getting to know you…” Now it was my turn to tear up. “You’ve made me feel so loved and cared about. There was always so much pressure at home to measure up…” My words were coming out hoarse, so I cleared the gravel from my throat. “I just love being here with you.”
“You can stay as long as you want. This right here is the Lord blessing beyond what I even asked for. I never thought He’d give me another chance like this.”
Dex knocked on the door, and we both wiped away our tears. Grandpa got up to let him in, and we turned the conversation to other things. Members of the club, as well as others from the church, were heading to Skid Row later to bring food and reach out to the homeless.
I’d known about it, but I hadn’t declared what I planned to do either way, and no one had pressured me to join in if I didn’t want to. I’d been a little nervous since the man who attacked me during the strike had appeared homeless, but I knew Dex and Grandpa wouldn’t let anything happen to me. I also understood that being homeless didn’t make someone dangerous. To make a sweeping judgment because of my bad experience wouldn’t be fair.
Now that I had taken a huge leap in my personal growth by deciding to stay in California, I figured it was time to take another. Going to downtown L.A. and mixing with people I normally wouldn’t interact with would be challenging, but I felt the Lord leading me to put my fears aside and respond with love.
Grandpa returned, picking up his bowl and putting it in the sink. He wiped his hands on a towel and glanced at Dex over his shoulder. “We’d better get going. We have to meet everyone at eleven.”
I stood and brought my dishes to the sink as well. “I’m coming with you.”
Grandpa nodded as though he’d expected that response. “That’s my Tizzy.”
Dex walked over and put both hands on my shoulders. “Stick with me. I’ll make sure you’re safe. We’ll take care of you.”
I placed my hands over the tops of his. “I know you will, Dex.”
***
After we met up with others from the church, we headed to downtown L.A. Dex informed me that Skid Row was a specific area—Third and Seventh Streets to the North and South, and Alameda and Main, to the East and West. Apparently, it became Skid Row in the late 1800s when the Union Rescue Mission opened its doors.
The Union Rescue Mission was a private Christian shelter that offered a lot of different services, including vocational assistance, GED preparation, and English as a second language. It also happened to be the largest private shelter in the United States. One of our goals would be to direct people there and let them know what services were available to them.
Dex informed me that we all moved as a group and stayed close together for safety reasons. There were all kinds of individuals who gathered in that area: gang members, drug dealers, and the like.
We’d brought sack lunches with deli sandwiches purchased from a local grocery store, and we were instructed to hand them out and strike up a conversation with anyone willing to talk. I followed close behind Dex—with Grandpa behind me—and watched as Dex approached a man, lying on the ground, his clothes dirty and tattered.
“Hey, buddy. Would you like a sack lunch?”
He smiled slightly and nodded, sitting up. We learned his name was Frank. He was older, with graying hair and wrinkles on his forehead and around his mouth. Dex handed him one of the sack lunches and stooped down to give him an information packet. The two of them chatted for a while. Frank revealed that he was a veteran and had served our country during the Vietnam War. Dex was able to make a connection with him because of his service with the Marines. The conversation turned to the Lord, and Dex spoke of God’s love for him. Frank said he was aware of the Union Rescue Mission, and he promised to go there after he ate.
Not every situation was as easy. We tried to give a lunch to one lady who was talking to herself, but she screamed every time we got near, so we had to drop the sack lunch a few feet away and move on. It made me incredibly sad to leave her. Grandpa told me that a percentage of all homeless people were mentally ill, and it was something human services had been attempting to address for years.
The streets were full of debris and smelled of urine and body odor and random trash. I felt uncomfortable and ill at ease much of the time. Often, it felt like some of the men were staring at me, but at those moments, Dex or Grandpa always had a hand on my shoulder. The guys from the club were also around, and I knew they would look out for everyone.
After watching Dex and Grandpa talk to people, I decided to give it a try. I stooped down next to a woman who appeared to be somewhere in her thirties. She agreed to take the lunch and shared her story with me. After running away from home at sixteen, she had lived on the streets ever since. She came from a life of prostitution and drugs, though she said she’d distanced herself from both of those things for a while.
When I asked why she’d left home as a teenager, she told me a sad tale about a step-father who molested her and a mother who didn’t believe her. It was at that moment that God began to do something in my heart. I stiffened my back, wanting to remain strong, but my heart broke for her. I’d never met anyone in my life who had gone through so much. I shared with her about the shelter and all they had to offer, and when I said goodbye, she thanked me over and over for the lunch. The way she’d gobbled it down made it seem as though she hadn’t eaten in days. I couldn’t stop the tears this time. I hastily wiped them from my face and walked away.
No one should ever have to be that hungry.
I looked at everyone differently after that. Yes, some of the people were in this predicament because of poor choices and addiction, but others had suffered one difficult break after the next, and they were without family or friends to help them. It made me realize how much I took for granted.
Dex’s words from the day we walked along Hollywood Boulevard came back to me. Look at all these people, Tizzy. They come from all walks of life, and many are hurting just like I was. They need someone to care, to love them.
I watched the men from Grandpa’s club reach out to so many people, connecting in a way that others couldn’t because they had pasts of their own. My eyes fell on Dex again. He was talking to a man who was missing a tooth in the front, and they were both laughing about something. Dex was a complex guy. He held himself with confidence and even a measure of swagger at times. His demeanor was such that no one wanted to mess with him, yet, here he was, unassuming and kind and compassionate.
A feeling of warmth spread through me as I observed him stoop down to get closer to the man. I’d heard once that the definition of gentleness was power under control. It applied here because although Dex was strong and a little proud in some ways, he had no problem containing all that, humbling himself in order to get on the same level of someone experiencing pain. I felt so much admiration and respect and…love. I felt so much love.
He was unlike anyone I’d ever known.
How had I been so lucky to meet someone like him?
It was as if the Lord whispered in my ear. Luck has nothing to do with it. I brought you together under the most unique circumstances.
At that moment, I knew I would never be the same again. Dex had stolen my heart, and I would never ask for it back.
A black limo drove down the street,
and as it grew closer, a strange feeling came over me. What was a vehicle like that doing in this part of the city? It stopped next to us and the front passenger-side window lowered, revealing a man with snow-white hair.
“Dexter.”
Dex glanced over his shoulder and winced. “George. Of all the times…”
“Can I have a word? It’s important.”
“I’m in the middle of something,” Dex said. “However you tracked me down—it needs to stop.”
“We don’t have a lot of time. If you’ll just get in the car, I’ll explain everything.”
Dex shook his head. “If my father wanted to speak with me, he should have come himself.”
The back window lowered, and a handsome man with features similar to Dex looked out. “I did come. Now get in the vehicle.”
Chapter 18
Dex
People were starting to stare. A limo on this side of town would be associated with drug dealing or other unscrupulous activities. But they weren’t going to leave until I spoke with them.
“Dex, please,” my father said, his perfect composure crumbling for half a second. “I would really like to speak with you.”
I glanced at Tank and he nodded. “Go ahead. We’re fine here.”
I took one of Tizzy’s hands and held it firmly in my own. “Will you be okay?”
“Yes. This is your opportunity to talk things out.”
I swallowed. “I don’t want to leave you.”
“Look around. Grandpa and the guys from the club are not going to let anything happen to me. Don’t use me as an excuse. I’m fine.”
She was right, but the idea of sitting in that limo with my father left a sour feeling in my stomach. He was making a spectacle of us, and if I didn’t get in the limo, he might draw even more unwanted attention.
Blind Date with a Billionaire Biker (Blind Date Disasters Book 3) Page 17