Cimarron, Denver Cereal Volume 4

by Claudia Hall Christian

  Confused, Valerie looked up at him.

  “Our boys,” Mike said. “The ones we lost.”

  “Oh… Oh…”

  Her sole focus on the painting, Valerie dropped down on the couch. Her eyes reviewed the blue eyes of the laughing boy and the darker eye of the boy holding the flower. They were an even mix of Mike’s Prussian and Valerie’s American mutt features.

  “I paint cherubs of people’s soon to come babies for Jake’s rehab business,” Mike said. “It’s one of our special services. The babies look like the cherubs most of the time.”

  “Which one is which?” Valerie said.

  “The laughing boy is the one we lost when your mom died,” Mike said.

  “Why is he laughing?” Valerie asked.

  “Because he was your secret,” Mike said.

  “He’s beautiful.” Valerie reached out her hand to touch the oil painting. “Why is Jack giving me a flower?”

  “He has a sister,” Mike said. “I think it’s kind of like, you don’t have me but you have my sister. I don’t really know. I just paint what I see in my head.”

  “It’s perfect,” Valerie said. “Do you mind if I…?”

  “Go ahead,” Mike said.

  He sat down on the couch. She sat down next to him and he put his arm around her. Valerie’s focus returned to the painting. She cried for a while. She laughed a couple of times. She sat and stared for over an hour. And Mike held on until she fell asleep with the painting in her arms.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Sunday night — 10:37 P.M.

  “I was thinking…” Jacob said.

  He was sitting on the side of the bed waiting for her.

  “Shh,” Jill pulled the door to their bedroom closed. “I just got Noelle to sleep. If she hears you she’ll be up again.”

  “When did she get so hyper?”

  “She’s very excited about getting a Mom,” Jill said. “She wanted to know everything about being a daughter. What do daughters do? What happens if she doesn’t do it right? What do mothers do? Fifty billion questions.”

  “Poor Noelle,” Jacob said.

  “We had it hard but at least we had Mom,” Jill said. “Noelle’s never had a mother. She and Nash have always wanted one. Nash is more subtle but Noelle is over the moon.”

  “They have a great mom in Sandy,” Jacob said.

  “Sandy’s one of the most loving people I’ve ever met,” Jill said. “When do you leave for hockey?”

  “In about a half hour,” he said.

  “Hmm… what would you like to do in the next half hour?” she asked.

  “It’s more like where I would like to do it,” he laughed.

  “Again? I’m liking the non-Lipson Construction Jacob.”

  Standing, he pulled her into his arms. He gave her a hard kiss.

  “I was thinking we should take our honeymoon,” Jacob said.

  “Six months later?”

  “Ok, it’s a little unconventional,” Jacob said.

  “After next week, I’m off school for a couple of weeks,” Jill said.

  “I know,” Jacob said.

  Jill rested her head against his shoulder.

  “Where were you thinking of going?” Jill asked.

  “I was thinking we could go to Mexico. It’s not too hot yet,” Jacob said.

  “Mexico?”

  “Actually, I was thinking we could spend a night at that hotel in Santa Monica. You know the one where…?”

  “We conceived Katy?”

  “Had the best, most amazing sex I’ve ever had in my entire life,” he said. “That’s what I was thinking.”

  “Better than nap time?” Jill asked.

  He laughed. She smiled at him.

  “Everyone will say you’re doing it because of that awful woman,” Jill said.

  “They may,” Jacob said. “But you and I will know that I’m doing it for the sex.”

  Jill laughed.

  “You asked if we could go back there,” Jacob said.

  “I did.”

  “Then what?”

  “I was excited about spending time with Katy while I was off school,” Jill said. “I feel like she’s growing up so fast and…”

  “Katy! Jill! When will we get time together?”

  Jill pushed away from him.

  “Jacob Marlowe, you have no right…” she started. Looking up she saw he was teasing her. “Well, you might have been serious.”

  “Yes, I transformed into Trevor while we were fishing,” Jacob said.

  “Could happen,” she said.

  “Come back.” He held out his arms and she tucked herself into them again.

  “You already have a plan,” Jill said.

  “I do,” Jacob said.

  “Do I get a say?” she asked.

  “If you’d like,” he said. “I thought you and I could go to Santa Monica for a night. Val and Mike agreed to take Katy to Cabo San Lucas. We’ll meet them there the next night.”

  “Val will be done with the movie,” Jill said.

  “She wants some beach time before she gets huge,” he said. “Her words, not mine. So don’t get mad again.”

  “I like your plan,” Jill said. “When do we leave?”

  “Two weeks,” he said. “Delphie and Dad might join us.”

  “Delphie?”

  “It’s part of her ‘whole new Delphie’ campaign,” he said. “She wants to visit Mexico. If Val’s there, Delphie will want to be there.”

  “We’re honeymooning with your entire family? Really Jacob. That’s not very romantic.”

  He laughed. She looked up to see that he knew she was teasing.

  “It sounds fabulous,” she said.

  “Are you sure you don’t want a trip with just us? A cruise to Fiji or Greece or Thailand or…”

  “This suits us better,” she said.

  “I’ll try to make up for the lack of romance,” he said.

  “You already have.”

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED and SEVEN

  Out of doors

  Sunday morning — 6:25 A.M.

  “You don’t mind?” Aden asked.

  They were riding the Hotel Teatro elevator down to the lobby.

  “No, I’ll get the car,” Sandy said. “You have to be there by eight, right?”

  “Sorry about that,” he said.

  “I’m not,” Sandy said. “Last night was…”

  Unable to find the right word, Sandy sighed.

  “Yeah,” he said. “Totally worth today’s bullshit.”

  The elevator stopped at the Lobby. Taking her hand, they walked to the front desk.

  “I’ll be right there,” Aden said.

  Nodding, Sandy walked through the lobby. She gave their valet ticket to the doorman. Because Aden was on house arrest, he needed to check in and check out of every location. He would pay the bill and check out of this location. He was then given an hour of travel time. He had to get her home and get back to the Department of Corrections by eight. If he was late, even one minute, they could arrest him and he’d go back to prison. Neither Aden nor Sandy wanted to take that risk. Sandy gave him a little wave and stepped out onto the sidewalk.

  The morning was cool but not cold. The air was moist with spring expectation. The street was deserted and quiet. A cab drove by in front of her to see if she needed a ride. Sandy blushed. Did she look like a prostitute after a long night? She pulled her overcoat close and turned away from the street.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a group of teenaged boys moving in her direction. Tracking their motion, Sandy turned to her face them. The boys were laughing and weaving down the street. They looked as if they’d been out all night. One pointed, said something and laughed.

  Sandy blushed. This had happened before. Strangers knew exactly who she was from all the press about her father and Aden. She was about to return to the hotel when she heard a boy call her name. Turning toward the sound, she saw the boys push at each other. While one bo
y slowed, the group of jeering boys walked by.

  “Sandy!” the boy said.

  Defensive, Sandy turned toward the sound.

  “Are you going to hit me?” he laughed.

  “Oh my God,” Sandy’s arms flew around her step-brother’s neck. “Charlie! What are you doing here? You smell like crap.”

  Laughing, the boy held her close. At least six feet tall, he bent down to rub his face on her neck. She squealed. He laughed.

  “You’re high,” she said.

  “Yep,” Charlie said. “I’m high.”

  “What are you doing here? How come you’re not at home?”

  “Mom kicked me out.”

  “What?” Sandy asked.

  “She’s broke, said she couldn’t deal with my crap anymore. I was ‘too expensive’ for her.” The boy shrugged. In a moment, he shifted from a cocky street kid to Sandy’s little brother. His big dark eyes blinked at the pain that lay in his heart. “We got in a big fight and she threw me out. Changed the locks.”

  “When?”

  “About a month ago,” he said. “I went by your place to see if I could stay with you. There was some bitch there. She ran me off so I’ve been out.”

  “Oh Charlie!” Sandy clutched him to her again. “I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s not that bad,” he said. “I stay with the guys. We find places to stay.”

  “How do you eat?” Sandy asked.

  “We spare change,” Charlie said. “It’s not a noble profession like Dad would have wanted for me but Dad’s dead.”

  Charlie sighed. A storm of rage and sorrow moved across his face and then he smiled.

  “I stay high,” he said. “If Dad was here, everything would be different. Mom wouldn’t be so crazy. You’d still be able to see us. All that crap with your prick father… Is it true?”

  Sandy nodded.

  “Oh God, Sandy,” Charlie hugged her. The boy wept into her shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault, Charlie,” Sandy said. “You were the best thing that ever happened to me. Period. You and Sissy.”

  “Why won’t Mom let you see us?” Charlie asked.

  “Money,” Sandy said.

  “Of course,” Charlie said.

  “Why does Mom need so much money? She has a good job. Dad’s pension pays her survivor benefits for you and Sissy,” Sandy said.

  “She’s addicted to QVS,” Charlie said.

  “What?”

  “Yeah, it’s weird,” Charlie said. “Any moment she’s not working, she’s watching QVS. She buys things. Sandy, she doesn’t even open the boxes. She has three or fifty of the same thing. The crap has filled the entire house. You remember how prissy Sissy is about her room?”

  Sandy nodded.

  “It’s the only empty space left,” Charlie said. “As soon as I was out, she started filling my room with crap.”

  “You go back?”

  “To check on Sissy,” Charlie said. “I walk her home from school. She gives me her lunch.”

  “Sandy?” Aden glared at the filthy boy. He slipped his arm around her.

  “Aden, this is my brother Charlie,” Sandy said. “You remember me talking about him.”

  Aden’s face shifted to neutral.

  “Nice to meet you,” Aden held his hand out for Charlie to shake.

  “Hey, this is the gym guy,” Charlie laughed. “I knew I’d seen your face somewhere.”

  Charlie shook his hand.

  “Whoa, I didn’t notice the rocks,” Charlie said. “Did you guys get married?”

  “A couple of days ago,” Sandy said. “Not a church wedding. We’ll do that next year.”

  “Good,” Charlie said.

  “Listen, Lizzie, Seth’s daughter is staying at my place this summer. I’ll talk to her,” Sandy said. “She had no right to…”

  “Like I said,” Charlie said. “I’m doing all right. Summer’s coming and I think it would be nice to be out for a while. Maybe I’ll come in this fall.”

  Charlie hugged Sandy again.

  “It’s really great to see you,” Charlie shifted to a street kid again.

  “Hey Charlie, quit talking to your girlfriend,” a boy yelled from the Denver Performing Arts Center. “We’re going to eat.”

  “I should go,” Charlie said.

  “My salon is on Colfax,” Sandy said. “Come by. You can at least take a shower. I can fix your hair.”

  Charlie hugged Sandy close again. For a moment, like he had when he was a toddler, he rested his head on her shoulder. When the moment passed, the street kid returned. He raised a hand in good-bye to Aden and sauntered down the street.

  “Charlie!”

  Sandy ran after him. She pulled the cash out of her wallet and shoved it into his hand.

  “I’m not Mom!” Charlie said. “I can take care of myself.”

  Sandy smiled and he laughed.

  “Thank you,” he gave her a smile. “I’ll come by the salon. Your car’s here.”

  “Come by,” Sandy said as she ran back to Aden. “A shower, a meal, hard to beat.”

  “Love you!” Charlie yelled.

  “Love you!” Sandy yelled back.

  Charlie ran off to meet his jeering friends. Aden held the passenger door open for her and she stepped into his SAAB sedan. He tipped the valet and took the driver’s seat. They had gone a few blocks before he spoke.

  “You know that Charlie was high,” Aden said.

  “Charlie has a problem with pot and meth,” Sandy said. “I paid for him to go to rehab a couple of years ago. Mom pitched a fit so he didn’t stay the whole thirty days.”

  “He can’t be around Pete,” Aden said.

  “I know,” Sandy said. “But he can be around me.”

  “Sandy, that’s not your little brother,” Aden said. “He’s a full blown street kid. There’s no way to know what he’s done to get drugs.”

  “Speaking from experience?” she asked.

  “Yes,” Aden said. “I am speaking from experience. And…”

  He shook his head and fell silent. They drove a few more blocks.

  “What?” Sandy asked.

  “I don’t want you to be hurt,” Aden said. “He seems like a great kid. Handsome and strong. Smart.”

  “He is a great kid,” Sandy said. “He and Dad were really close. He hasn’t gotten over Dad’s death. And Mom’s a wreck.”

  Sandy sighed.

  “What?” Aden asked.

  “I’m overwhelmed with my own life and responsibilities,” Sandy said. “I don’t know what I can do for Charlie but pray and love him.”

  “Did you give him money?” Aden asked.

  “I did,” Sandy said. “And don’t tell me not to Aden Norsen. I know he’ll spend some of it on drugs. He’s my brother and I love him.”

  “You know about tough love?” Aden asked.

  “Yes but not ten minutes after I stayed in a luxurious hotel where I was pampered by expensive food, spa services, and amazing sex,” Sandy said. “I’m not tough enough to deny a hungry little boy.”

  Aden smiled. He squeezed her hand.

  “You have to get him help,” Aden said.

  “I know,” Sandy said. “But I have to help myself first. Right?”

  “Right,” Aden pulled to a stoplight. He leaned over to kiss her.

  “I feel awful,” Sandy said. “I had no idea he was out of doors. Mom wouldn’t let me see him or Sissy. I’ve tried over and over again. I should have tried harder.”

  “He could have tried harder too. No one forces him to use drugs. Those are his choices. Plus…” Aden said. “He’s fifteen?”

  “Just turned sixteen,” Sandy said.

  “Out of doors isn’t such a bad place at sixteen,” Aden said. “He’s big enough to keep the predators away. I bet he’s having a grand time.”

  Sandy shrugged.

  “Don’t be sad,” Aden said.

  “I’m all right,” Sandy nodded. “I had a wonderful
night. I’m a little tired… sore in great ways…”

  He laughed. Pulling into the Castle driveway, he leaned over to kiss Sandy one more time. Grabbing her suitcase, she moved to get out of the car.

  “Good luck this morning,” she said. “Let me know where you are.”

  “See you soon.”

  Sandy watched him drive away. With a sad sigh, she turned into the Castle.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Sunday morning — 6:25 A.M.

  Waking slowly, Jill rolled onto her side. Jacob scooped her over to him. She lay with her head against his bare right shoulder. Her fingers traced the scars left by the impact of a pipe wrench and seven surgeries.

  “It’s been almost a year,” she said.

  His head turned to look at her.

  “Did you think you would be here a year later?”

  “I hoped, longed and dreamed I would be right here a year ago,” Jacob laughed.

  She smiled. She kissed his lips. Resting back against his shoulder, her fingers continued moving along the scars.

  “Do you still have the angina?”

  “Yes,” he said. “But much less. Exercise is really the best thing.”

  “What about the surgery?” she asked.

  “I think I’ve had enough of hospitals for a long time,” he said.

  “Wouldn’t the surgery stop the angina?”

  “No guarantee,” he said. “The docs aren’t sure that’s a piece of metal against my heart. It could be something else. Could be a genetic defect. I’d hate to go through all the trouble for nothing. Everything in my life is in flux right now. I don’t think I need to add surgery to the mix.”

  “But if it would make you better…” she started.

  Seeing his puzzled look, she stopped talking.

  “What’s bothering you, Jill?” Jacob asked.

  “I just don’t know if it was worth it,” she said. “I wish I’d…”

  Jacob sat up in bed. He turned to look at her. She sat up to meet his gaze.

  “Life isn’t really a 'tit for tat' equation,” Jacob said. “I didn’t pay for this life with you by getting assaulted by Ashforth. It’s just something that happened on the road to being here. Like meeting in Santa Monica. Like moving back to Denver.”