Zenith Fulfilled (Zenith Trilogy, #3)

by Davis, Leanne

  Nick eyed his arms. “My mom hates tattoos.”

  “Just like she did on Joelle. You want Rebecca to find a nice guy like you; I get that. I really do. And not your wife’s ex-husband. I agree with that too. But...”

  “But what?”

  He ran a hand through his hair, looking completely frustrated. Far more frustrated with himself than Nick could ever be. “But I don’t know. We just kind of… work. I didn’t mean to end up at your niece’s party with your sister, any more than you intended to end up marrying Joelle.”

  Why did he come here? He could have avoided all of it, everything. He could have simply said no. But… here he was. Rebecca asked him, and he wanted to see her. He also wanted to see her daughters. And furthermore, he didn’t want to disappoint any of them.

  What was he supposed to do with that? Or the sudden sense of responsibility towards this woman and her kids? Her kids had nothing to do with him, but still, he felt compelled to be there for them... despite Nick, Joelle, Doug, and every other reason he could think of for why he and Rebecca made such an impossible match.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Rob pushed past Nick and entered the kitchen, only to be met by three women, all staring at him. They stopped what they were doing and gawked unapologetically at him. Rebecca’s mother and her two older sisters were staring as if he were a rack of lamb they intended to stick a steak knife through before roasting.

  Her mother took in his entire appearance, starting with his facial piercings and ending with his arms. “Mrs. Lassiter,” Rob finally said, drawing her gaze back up to his face.

  She started to open her mouth to respond when an unexpected squeal stopped her. Before Rob knew it, Kathy was there, wrapping her arms around his trunk, and hugging him happily, her eyes shining up at him. He patted her head and thought that wouldn’t go over very well with the prying eyes of Kathy’s grandmother and aunts staring at them.

  “Hey Kathy.”

  “We’re going to play a game of horse; will you play it with me? I’m not very good at it.”

  “Sure. I’ll meet you out there in a few minutes.” Thank God! Anything to avoid Rebecca’s mother! Nick was one thing, and Rob could’ve told him off twelve times in a single day. Not so, however, with Rebecca’s mom.

  He wasn’t sure how he could survive the day.

  Rob passed the ladies and was walking down the hallway when the bathroom door opened unexpectedly, and he found himself face-to-face with Trina. She was an attractive girl, with blond hair, neat clothes, and a pretty face. Her eyes however, looked icy and cruel. They were also bloodshot. She smiled at him, but it was more like a sneer, an expression he couldn’t name for sure, but it caused him to take a step back. The girl had something clutched tightly in her hands and her mood seemed completely different than it was only twenty minutes ago.

  Rob stared at her for a few moments and she stared back. “What are you doing with Becky? She can’t be your type.”

  He didn’t intend to discuss Rebecca with this bitch! “Tell me, Trina, what do you take? Valium? Oxycontin? What? What gets you through your day?”

  She stepped back, and her eyes grew rounder, before they narrowed. “How dare you suggest that, you... you addict, and freak!”

  “Takes one to know one,” he replied quietly. Rob could tell; and felt as sure as he was about his own addiction that the girl was juiced up on something. Her eyes looked unfocused, her mood changes were too drastic, not to mention the increase in their frequency that Rebecca remarked upon. Either Trina was a closet drinker, or she, more likely, just self-medicated with bogus prescription drugs to help her cope with the life she so obviously didn’t enjoy.

  Trina suddenly hauled back her hand to slap him, but he grabbed her wrist just before she connected. He held it firmly, using just enough pressure for her to stop resisting. “You fool all of them because they never even think about it, do they? They don’t need any help to get through their days. I know, Trina. I’ve been there. Must be hard, trying to keep it concealed from such a close-knit family and such normal siblings. Be careful though, Joelle will surely recognize the signs. If she hasn’t already.”

  Trina spat at him, but missed, and it slid down the wall behind him. He released her wrist. “Your secret, Trina. But you need to get help. Call me if it ever gets too much. I’m about the only one who knows what it’s like.”

  Rob walked past her, and thought perhaps he shouldn’t have let on about what he suspected. And what her hostile reaction tacitly confirmed. But he couldn’t help it. She seemed too vile, and so angry because she couldn’t stand living her own life while constantly trying to hide her addiction. She was nearly screaming for one of them to notice. But no one did. What did that say? They were just too nice to suspect such a thing? Or no one cared enough to notice? Or possibly, to confront her?

  Rob found Kathy waiting, and already bouncing a basketball on the concrete pad. He assumed Doug Randall probably poured it for his daughters to shoot hoops. It was about the only pavement around for at least a mile. It wasn’t long before several more of the fifteen nieces that comprised the Lassiter clan went out there and joined them. Rob assumed he must’ve drawn them to him because he looked so different from their own fathers. Several girls asked about his tattoos without any repulsion or disgust. On the contrary, they were utterly fascinated as they all traced and tried to figure out each design on his arms. Some, however, Rob did not identify for them or explain what they meant. At the time he originally got them, he wasn’t exactly looking for something that was kiddie-friendly.

  The princess and the spotlight of the party, however, was Karlee. She smiled and giggled and yelled, as she insisted on taking her turn first every time, while loudly proclaiming she was the “Birthday Girl.” Lunch was eventually served: a long buffet of salads, rolls, homemade dips, and breads. Everything was delicious, and all the women contributed. Rob had never eaten anything like it, much less, amidst so many members of the same family. Rebecca was busy, like hardly finding room to breathe-busy. She moved in and out of the house, filling drinks and clearing plates for kids, while taking orders from her siblings. She caught his eye a time or two and smiled. She even blushed, and her freckles stood out brightly against her pink complexion.

  Rob felt something… but what? His heartbeat increased with her smiles, and her blushes. Rob never thought of a blush as anything but a sign of embarrassment. With Rebecca, however, it became a tacit affirmation that she cared he was looking at her. She cared, and knowing that did something to him. It was also not lost on him that she invited him there against all the odds. She wanted him there, and called him her boyfriend.

  “Wob, thit by me, ‘kay?” Karlee said, holding out her princess plate with a peanut butter sandwich and fries. As it turned out, Karlee wouldn’t eat most of what was prepared in her honor.

  “It’d be a privilege, Your Highness,” he said, winking at her. Karlee giggled and led him to two chairs that were close together on the deck. Chatting away, Kathy came over to sit next to them, and much to his surprise, Kayla sat only two chairs away. She glanced over at him with a wary look, and he didn’t know what she thought. Or knew. Kayla probably knew more than the other two, who were so young and trusting. Kayla must have known better, Rob saw it in her face, and heard it in her attitude. She knew some men left, and some dads left, and any new men in her mom’s life right now might not be such a good thing.

  Rob didn’t know what to do about being Karlee’s guest of honor. She made sure he was always right next to her, and quite visible to everyone’s watchful eyes. Finally, when the meal was done, people wandered in, getting rid of their garbage and refilling their drinks. The afternoon soon became almost hot, reaching nearly eighty degrees. The sunlight dappled through the trees onto the lawn. With a blue, cloudless sky overhead, and various birds chirping, the air smelled fresh and clean, like newly mown grass. Rob looked down at the lawn, wondering who could’ve mown the two-plus acres of lawn surrounding them. Rebecc
a? Where the hell did she find the time?

  The thought of that made him start jonesing for a cigarette.

  “Mommy, can I open my pwethenth now?”

  Rebecca stopped rushing around and replied, “Of course. Just give me five minutes.” Rebecca gathered everyone on the deck, and brought the presents out, before grabbing a video camera, as well as a digital. Then she nodded at Karlee who clapped her hands with glee as she picked through the oversized pile. Rob wished he didn’t have to sit right next to the pink, ruffled princess, especially when everyone began looking their way. Then Karlee suddenly sat up, and turned.

  “Wob? Which one’th yorth?”

  He sighed. The sweet, little girl really didn’t know how she made things even more uncomfortable for him. Why did she care so much about him being there? Or his present when she had twenty others just sitting there? He reached into his pocket, and all eyes were fastened on him. Even Rebecca’s. Her face looked worried, like she was ready to rush over and cover Karlee’s ever-running mouth.

  Rob didn’t know what to buy a four-year-old girl, who could give an hour-long narrative about every princess that ever lived, right down to the dresses they wore and when.

  Rob handed Karlee the little box, wrapped in, what else? Pink paper. Even he noticed after seeing her pink and magenta bedroom, that her favorite color was pink. Karlee grinned up at him, her bright eyes shining. How could he get mad at such enthusiasm? Even if it were being directed towards him?

  She tore open the package, and flipped the top of the small box. With a shrill squeal, she ran to her mother, and pulled out the necklace she found in there. Rebecca took it from her and looked down at the gold chain with a small, crown-shaped pendant. A pink stone twinkled off the tip of the crown. Then Rebecca’s eyes met his. He felt everyone watching them, judging, and wondering. Rebecca finally smiled as she took the necklace and put it on Karlee’s neck, who pranced around gaily, and went straight to Nick, of all people, to show him what her friend, Wob, had given her.

  Rob didn’t often get embarrassed and usually didn’t care much about what others thought. Right then, however, he wished the damn deck would swallow him up. Then Karlee was beside him again, with her baby arms flung around his neck. “Thank you, Wob, it’th my mothe favowite pwethent ever.”

  He awkwardly patted her back, suddenly unsure of how he should react, or if he should hug her back when they were clearly the subject of the entire Lassiter family’s merciless scrutiny.

  Then Karlee returned to her other presents. Sitting on the ground, she plowed through them all. Barbies, dress-up clothes, regular new clothes, and the oohs followed the ahhs, one after another. Rob noticed Rebecca, however, was watching him, obviously with something on her mind.

  Then again, so were Nick, Joelle, Debbie and further back, so was Trina.

  ****

  Rebecca watched Rob playing around with the girls. It appeared to be some version of hide ‘n’ seek with a touch of tag. Whenever Karlee got confused, Rob picked her up and pretended to make her fly in order to catch her bigger cousins and sisters. He was good with the kids; no, great, actually. He soon had them all laughing and screaming with joy.

  “Rebecca? Need any help cleaning up?”

  Rebecca turned from watching Rob with her kids to her older sisters, now both standing there, Carrie and Sophie. They were both overweight, but wore it well, beneath expensive clothes and big hairdos. They were both happily married with lots of kids between them. Neither worked, but thrived as mothers, organized wives, and busy, soccer moms. Rebecca pushed some dishes towards them, and they all started washing and drying them together.

  “Do you guys remember the first night Joelle ever came to dinner with us? How we cornered her in the kitchen, and we weren’t very nice to her?”

  Carrie nodded. “Yes, because she was married to him,” she said, pointing out the window towards Rob.

  “We were wrong to do that to her that night. She was never fully accepted into this family because we all decided against her before we knew better.”

  “Is that what you’re saying here? That this guy is… what to you?”

  Rebecca shut her eyes. “I don’t know, Sophie. I don’t really know. Other than that I like him. And he likes me. And maybe when Nick told us that about Joelle, we should have listened to him and respected it.”

  “Joelle was married, remember?.”

  Rebecca opened her eyes. “So am I. But at the same time, I’m not married, not really. And maybe now, I know how Joelle felt. I’m tired and lonely. And he makes me feel better. I don’t know why he does. I really don’t. So don’t start. Don’t point out every reason why he’s wrong for me or them,” Rebecca said as she waved towards her girls.

  “Karlee’s already over the moon for him. How could you let that happen?”

  “I didn’t. It just did.”

  “What about Nick? That must kill him.”

  Rebecca bristled. “You know what? Since when do any of us care so much for Nick? Joelle makes him so happy, but we never even noticed. We ignored it. So we could be right about her. But we weren’t. She’s…”

  “She’s what?” They all turned towards the door at hearing Joelle’s voice.

  Rebecca smiled. “She’s my good friend.”

  Joelle smiled back, then looked at Sophie and Carrie. “Part of this is my fault. I backed off. I never gave any of you a chance, really, even after Nick and I got married.”

  “And I’m begging you guys not to do the same thing to Rob. It isn’t his fault. It’s mine. I pursued him. I wanted to write a book about him. Everything else, just happened. And I don’t regret it,” Rebecca finished.

  “How is that bestseller going? Sold it yet, Rebecca?”

  This coming from the laundry room where Trina was walking in. Rebecca slouched. She couldn’t talk about that with Trina listening, not about her most private hopes and dreams. It would just be fodder for her little, unhappy sister’s criticism.

  “No.”

  “You don’t have to be such a bitch. To me, to Nick, to Rob and certainly, not to your own sister,” Joelle spoke up.

  Everyone looked over as their mother came walking into the room. She looked from one daughter to the next. Finally, she stopped on Joelle, then turned towards Trina.

  “Joelle’s right. We never gave her a chance, and now years later, look where that got us! Now, if Rebecca says she’s writing a book, Trina, then she’s writing a book! And it will be a damn good one. So back off, and leave her alone. And you will, from now on, speak with a civil tongue in your head to your sisters and your sister-in-law. Understand me, young lady?”

  Trina turned and stomped out of the room. Carrie and Sophie eased the situation when they both started laughing, although it took a few moments before Rebecca could. “Where did that come from, Mother?”

  She shrugged. “I didn’t like her tone when she referred to your book.”

  “But…”

  “But I haven’t been any different. I know. But it doesn’t mean it was right,” she turned without another word and took Joelle’s hand. “Come, dear, and tell me Jody’s newest words.”

  Joelle glanced back at Rebecca, her expression puzzled, but very pleased at the sudden turnabout of their mother. Rebecca didn’t know how or why it happened either.

  ****

  Rebecca listened as conversations wound down, and all the kids ran off into the woods, while their parents chatted, full of food and relaxed. The dishes were done, the gifts piled high in the house, and Rob finally came over and sat next to her. Nick was standing nearby, listening some, and talking less. Joelle was relating an anecdote about Jody, looking more animated and talkative than usual. Was it due to Rob’s presence? Or Debbie’s newfound support? Rebecca wasn’t sure, but she felt glad to see it.

  “You should see her watching the cartoons. It’s like a magic box that hypnotizes her.”

  “Kayla used to stop dead, and drop whatever she was playing with while staring, as i
f transfixed. It always gave me at least a few moments of peace. Now Karlee, on the other hand, nothing stops her!”

  “Jody even likes the adult shows I watch. I have to turn them off because I’m afraid she’ll be addicted to them.”

  “Well, it’s no wonder, judging by the crap you like,” Nick said from behind her, his tone mild and joking.

  “You always did watch the lamest TV. One reality show after another.”

  The conversation stopped abruptly. Rob had finally spoken. He looked up at the sudden silence to see Nick, standing up straighter. Rob spoke without thinking. He had intimate knowledge of Joelle, and some familiarity. Rob dropped his legs where they were resting on the deck rails.

  Rebecca knew she had to get used to that. She had to learn to ignore the stab in her gut of jealousy. She knew, damn well of the long history Joelle and Rob shared. She chose to bring Rob into her life anyway, and her family’s life. And if it was going to happen, this was just a factor and a part of it. Still, she couldn’t say that she liked him knowing intimate details of Joelle. Or didn’t wish she could erase whatever they knew about each other.

  Joelle finally laughed. “Right. Like you have such grown-up tastes. Does Sponge Bob ring a bell? Or The Simpsons? You know, the shows that are primarily targeted for fourteen-year-old boys?”

  Rob finally smiled back. “We never could agree on what to watch.”

  “Or what to listen to.”

  “Or what to eat.”

  “It’s a wonder we stayed together long enough for you to even become an alcoholic.”

  His teeth flashed. “That was low, Joelle.”

  “But well deserved. You were making fun of my taste in TV shows, and it’s bad enough I have to listen to it from my husband, let alone my ex-husband.”