A Love Like This (Book 1)

by Lane, Kimberly

  “That mean old man is still alive. Evil doesn’t die easily,” I say. The police officer hands my mother a card and she ambles over to us. We all hug her and head back into the house. We sit down at the kitchen table and Nickie hands Momma a glass of water. We all wait expectantly for her to tell us what happened.

  “He was tied to a chair,” My mother says looking over at me. “A woman broke into that nasty old man’s house over powered him and tied him to a chair.”

  “Was he hurt?” Sarah asks.

  “He bumped his head on the floor when the chair tipped over.”

  “So she broke into his house and tied him up but she didn’t hurt him in any way?” I ask.

  “No it gets even stranger than that, she broke in, over powered him and cleaned his whole house. She apologized for scaring him and she sat with him and read to him.”

  “Are you sure he didn’t get a concussion when he bumped his head?” Shauna says.

  “That’s what I thought until he told me that she broke in so that she could keep an eye on you,” She says pointing at me. My mouth goes dry.

  “Why does she need to keep an eye on me?”

  “He said she’s been following you every since you arrived. She said you have something that belongs to her and she came here to get it back,” My mother says raking her hands through her hair. “Tucker filed a police report.”

  My dad and Tucker come marching into the house. They look like black and white angry bulls. “Your father and I have decided that it would be better if you stayed here in LA for a while. This woman is completely out of her mind. So you shouldn’t go back to Berkeley with the rest of us.”

  At that moment I felt like everything inside me was about to erupt. Who the hell do they think they are?

  “Oh Shit hear it comes,” Nickie says moving away from the kitchen table.

  Breathe Leila I say to myself before speaking. I grit my teeth and look back and forth from my father to Tucker. I’m not going to yell or act unbecoming even though that’s how I feel right now. I’m going to act like an adult. “Thank you both for your concern. I understand that you’re worried and you have every reason to be because this clearly isn’t an ideal situation. Nevertheless, you both need to know that I will not stay here. I will go back to school and finish my degree and I might even redecorate my new house. I respect both of you tremendously but you’re not the boss of me,” I yell pointing at both of them before rushing towards my bedroom. I slam the door and pace the floor. Ok so the mature approach didn’t really work out. I’m seething but I don’t know who I’m angry at. I’m mad at Tucker and my dad for telling me what to do. I’m pissed at the crazy woman for making my vacation miserable and I’m angry at myself for straying so far away from my goals. I fish around in Tucker’s pants for the keys to the rental SUV. I grab my big red purse and creep out the front door. I pull away and head in the direction of Pookie’s house.

  *****

  Pookie is sitting on his couch editing and article about summer cardigans. He’s been doing his best to ignore the text messages and phone calls but the last few calls have come in so quickly that he can’t ignore them. When he hears the knock on the door he doesn’t bother looking through the peephole he just opens it wide for Leila to walk in. “Hey uncle,“ She says then stops herself. “I guess I can’t call you that anymore,” She says lugging herself into the living room and plopping down on the couch.

  “So I hear you ran away from home,” He says closing the door behind her.

  “Yes, our father and that man I married,” he stops her.

  “Please don’t do that.”

  “Do what?”

  “Don’t’ call Xavier my father,” He says walking into the kitchen.

  “I understand why you’re upset but he’s always been your father. He did every father and son thing imaginable with you. I always thought it was because he didn’t have a son but now that I know the truth it all makes since.” Pookie walks over to the couch with a mimosa.

  “The only thing I ever wanted was a father. I didn’t need a new car for my sixteenth birthday. I didn’t need to study abroad in Paris.”

  “I know you needed someone to talk to you about major life decisions and teach you how to do guy things. Daddy never did any of that right?” She says sarcastically. “My goodness you’re so spoiled.”

  “Don’t be a smart ass Leila. They fucked up ok. They should not have lied to me.”

  “They were doing what they thought was best,” I shout.

  “They were ashamed of me,” He retorts with tears streaming down his brown cheeks.

  “Oh Jermaine,” I say walking over to hug him. “No one could ever be ashamed of you. You’re the best person I know.”

  “I am aren’t I,” He says with a little laugh. “I know they had good intentions but they have been lying to me my whole life and I’m not ready to forgive them yet.”

  “Fine with me,” I say grabbing his drink and taking a sip. “You are the only man I know who keeps a supply of champagne on stock just for morning mimosas.

  “Oh little sister niece, sadness is no excuse not to live fabulously.” Pookie and Leila spend the next hour discussing the cleaning stalker. They get online an order a stun gun and pepper spray. They also order an alarm system for the house in Berkeley. “That should satisfy your father and your husband for now,” He says.

  Leila texts everyone and tells them where she is. Her plane doesn’t leave for hours so she and Pookie order Chinese food and watch old movies. Leila looks over at him and asks, “So are you going to meet Valery Callaway?”

  “Chris told me that she’s clean and sober now. I’m very proud of her for getting her life straight but I have no desire to meet my biological mother,” Pookie says. “I’m still working on getting use to having a father. Baby steps,” He says. There’s a knock on the door a few hours before Leila’s plane is scheduled to leave. Pookie looks through the peephole and opens the door. “Here we go,” He says as the entire family piles into his living room.

  Chapter 30

  My family walks into the room and the atmosphere changes from calm to chaotic. I missed them so much when I was away at school. I felt as if my heart might break every time I’d talk to one of them on the phone or looked at a family picture. However, after a week of absolutely no privacy and one strange occurrence after another I can’t wait to go back to the safety and predictability of the classrooms at Berkeley. I’m standing near the front door watching them all. They seem to suck the air out of the small condo. Keisha’s kids are running amuck opening drawers and looking in cabinets. Keisha hasn’t arrived yet and my mom is trying to wrangle them into seats. Nickie looks as if she might hurl at any moment and Mike is behind her rubbing her shoulders. I think they would be good for each other but who knows what will happen. Sarah and Nogood are on opposite ends of the room texting. I guess the honey moon is over. Pookie and my dad look like an older and younger version of the same person. They are standing a few feet from each other and I’m not sure if they’re going to hug or start throwing punches.

  Shauna walks over to me. “Your family is nuts,” she says. I see that Keisha has had quite an influence on her. She’s wearing tight jeans and high heel strappy sandals. Her blond hair is pulled into a sleek ponytail and she’s even showing a little cleavage.

  “I know you must be sick of all of this,” I say motioning around the room.

  “Are you kidding me? Keisha and I are Facebook friends now. She says she’s going to teach me how to be a fabulous full figured female,” Shauna says twisting her neck and waving her finger the way Keisha would. “Your mom is the sweetest woman I’ve ever met and your dad is hot. I love your family. I’m sad we have to leave.”

  “Yeah I guess I’ll miss my motley crew,” I say. We stand quietly for a bit watching little X wipe a booger on his shirt.

  Shauna shake
s her head and returns her gaze to me. He’s outside,” Shauna says when she sees me scanning the room.

  I turn around and head to the door. My family will have to work things out on their own. I step outside stand in front of the condo and watch Tucker. He’s leaning against the rented SUV looking at the ground. He crosses his arms over his chest when he looks up and notices me. I walk over and stand in front of him. I’ve only known him for a few months but I’ve memorized every curve of his face. Just standing near him makes my heart race and I still can’t believe he chose me. He looks down at me for a long time. Neither of us says a word. Then without warning he bends over and scoops me off my feet. I wrap my arms around his neck and he nuzzles against me.

  “Your dad told me that you would never agree to stay out here,” he says as he lowers me to the ground.

  “He knows me well,” I say shrugging my shoulders.

  “I just want you to be safe.”

  “Pookie and I ordered a security system for the house. We’ll change all of the locks and hire a bodyguard full time. I’ll do whatever you want,” I say touching his stomach, “As long as I get to wake up in your arms every morning.”

  He smiles down at me and says, “That was so corny.” I laugh and smack his arm. He pulls me close, runs his fingers through my hair and kisses the top of my head. It’s late afternoon and the sun is beaming down on my shoulders. “I can smell the ocean from here,” Tucker says.

  “Yeah it’s just a few blocks away. It’s too bad we didn’t go.”

  “You realize that we haven’t taken our honey moon yet,” He says.

  “You think we should run off and spend a few weeks on an island somewhere,” I say half jokingly.

  “I think we should spend a few months,” he says.

  “That sounds like so much fun. I’ve never been out of the country.”

  “My family owns a small house in Jamaica. You can take your classes online next semester and we’ll spend our days being beach bums.”

  “Are you serious?” I say looking up at his face.

  “We’ll climb a waterfall, zip line across a jungle and make love on a private beach.” “Getting a bunch of sand up my crack sounds appealing but I can’t just pack up and leave. I have an interview for an internship next week and what about your job.”

  “I’ll take a semester off and you don’t have to interview for an internship. Remember my dad, your father-in-law owns a real estate development company. You can start whenever you’re ready.”

  I can just picture myself drinking ice tea in an infinity pool or sketching a landscape with an ocean backdrop. I shake my head to bring myself back to reality. “Are you sure you’re not suggesting this impromptu vacation because you want to keep me away from my stalker.”

  “That’s part of the reason but I mostly want to see you in a bikini,” He says biting his bottom lip.

  “I really should show up for my interview next week. I don’t want to have a job handed to me. If I don’t earn what I have it won’t mean anything.”

  “We’ll put you in the mail room. You’ll start at the bottom and work your way up. There won’t be any preferential treatment.”

  He makes everything seem so simple. “How do you know your father will hire me?”

  “Didn’t you read the list of assets I gave you?” I open the rental car and take out the papers.

  “Here they are,” I say. “It only lists checking accounts, retirement and savings accounts. What does any of that have to do with me working for your dad?”

  “Look,” He says opening the second page and pointing at a list of numbers.

  “I didn’t realize there was another page,” I say looking down at the information about hedge funds and a bunch of other business lingo that I don’t understand.

  “Shauna and I both own twenty-five percent of the company. Our combined interest is more than my dad’s so you have the job if you want it.

  I was in shock when I found out he was a millionaire. Now that I know he’s actually a billionaire I feel a little nauseated because I’ve always thought of rich people as pompous and entitled. “This whole thing is surreal,” I say.

  “What’s wrong?” I’m sure my uneasiness is written all over my face.

  “You’re a billionaire.”

  He frowns, “I guess if I sold everything I own it would equal a billion dollars. Does that make you uncomfortable?”

  “A little,” I say. He takes the documents tosses them back into the car locks the door and grabs my hand.

  “You’re more important to me than all the money in the world. I’d give it all away if that would make you happy,” he says wrapping his arms around my waist and lifting me for a kiss. “We can live on Raman noodles and juice boxes like other college students.”

  “Would you really do that for me?”

  “I’ll call my accountant now and have him choose a charity.

  “You’re so dramatic,” I say taking his hand and walking back towards the house. He’s nuts if he thinks I’m giving up my new credit cards. The room is eerily quiet when we step inside. Everyone, even the kids are staring at each other blankly. I slide over to Sarah who is the only one in the room who appears to be amused. “What’s going on?”

  She is bubbling with excitement. “Jermaine just told everyone that he’s accepted a job in the Bay Area and that he will be moving in two weeks and Nickie just told everyone that she’s pregnant. This is good stuff,” she says delighted by the drama of it all. She leans over and whispers, “I think Riley might be the father. I still can’t believe she slept with my brother. It’s all fun and games until someone gets knocked up or catches Chlamydia.” Tucker walks over to talk to Mike and I look around the room for Pookie. I find him in his bedroom stretched out on his bed with his hands covering his face.

  “Why didn’t you tell me you got a new job?” I say sitting on the bed next to him.

  “I wasn’t sure if I was going to take it.”

  “Are you leaving because you’re upset with daddy?”

  “Your dad apologized and I believe he’s sincere but I’m not ready to embrace a father son relationship as if nothing’s happened.”

  “I understand,” I say looking around Pookie’s room. It looks like the cover of an interior design magazine. “So Nickie’s pregnant. That’s crazy right?”

  “Yeah that’s insane,” He says sitting up. “Can you imagine what it’s going to be like in the delivery room? Picture it. We’ll all be sitting on the edge of our seats waiting to see if the little bugger comes out black or white.”

  My eyes widen. “I hadn’t thought about that. I just assumed it was Riley’s baby. Having a baby by Damian would be the worst thing in the whole world.” There’s a knock on the bedroom door and my mother sticks her head into the room.

  “We’re going to head back to the house.” She looks over at Pookie with sorry eyes. He gazes down at his hands for a beat then stands up and walks over to hug her. “I hope that you’ll forgive me someday,” She says before turning and walking out of the room. I brush away tears and Pookie turns his head to hide his tears.

  “I should get going as well. Hey listen, Tucker and I might be taking a little trip. How would you like to house sit while we’re gone. You can keep the stalker away from my Manolo Blahnik’s. Or better yet I can pay you to redecorate while we’re gone.”

  “That might work. I haven’t found a place to stay yet.”

  “I’ll run it by Tucker and give you all of the details later.” I cross the room to hug him. “I love you. Please let this go so that we can be an almost normal family again.”

  *****

  I am both sad and relieved to leave LA. The trip was overwhelming. The hour long flight back to the Bay Area is mostly quiet. No one is saying much except for Sarah. She says that she and Nogood decided to just be friends. She says that she
could see herself getting serious about him and that terrified her. “Well at least you didn’t sleep with him,” I say looking at her hopefully.

  She rolls her eyes to the ceiling. “Well of course I hit it,” She says looking at me as if I’d made a ridiculous statement. How else would I know that I like him? I’m too exhausted to argue with her so I rest my head on Tucker’s shoulder, close my eyes and pretend to sleep while she tells the woman sitting on her other side about everything that happened this weekend. She tells her about the cleaning stalker, about my new brother uncle, about my surprise birthday party, and about Nickie potentially being pregnant by Riley. I listen while she tells the woman why Riley would be a terrible father. She says that he is selfish and dishonest. She says that he’s cheated on every girl he’s ever dated. I can no longer ignore her when she says that he’s forced the last three women he’s impregnated to abort the baby.

  “Don’t you think you should have shared this information with Nickie?” I say lifting my head to face her.

  “I did tell her. Nickie’s exact words were he may not have to force her to abort the little bastard.” I shake my head and grimace. I try to think of a response but what can I say. I return my head to Tucker’s shoulder. I can’t deal with Nickie’s problems. I hope she figure’s it all out because the family drama has left me exhausted.

  We reach the Oakland airport, retrieve our bags and order a car to drop us all off at our respective homes. Once everyone’s out of the car I lean against Tucker’s chest and close my eyes. I feel like this is the first moment of peace I’ve had in days. Tucker rubs my head. “Are you alright baby?”

  “Yes I’m fine. I just can’t believe what happened this week,” I say sitting up to stretch. “It’s left me pooped.”

  We pull up in front of the house. “I have a surprise for you,” he says placing a hand in front of my eyes. “It’s a late birthday gift.”

  “Why didn’t you give it to me in LA?”

  “It was too big to take with us. Now close your eyes,” He says helping me out of the car while the driver unloads our bags. I hold on tight to his arm walking with my eyes closed. We take a few steps and stop. “Ok now open them.”