“I remember when I lost both of my parents,” Julian said, his voice sounding distant, reflective. “First I was told that my father died. Then that my mother committed suicide—”
“Suicide?” Nicole interrupted, her consciousness focusing back on him. “You never told me. That’s terrible. What happened?”
“It was a long time ago.” His voice switched to a nonchalant but impatient tone. “She always had a lot of problems. I wasn’t very close to her.”
“But she was still your mother.”
“Yeah. Whatever. The point I’m trying to make is that Elena took me to stay with neighbors and I never went to her funeral. Soon after that, we were on a boat heading for this country, leaving behind my whole past. I was six or seven.”
Nicole shuddered. “That must have been horrible.”
Her words seemed inadequate, but all sorts of images were flashing through her mind— images of Trey cloaking himself in a defensive silence and images of Julian as a bewildered child being dragged heartlessly around like an emotionless puppet.
“Don’t get me wrong. I definitely do not miss Cuba, not the way it is now,” Julian continued. “But I miss that I never got to say goodbye to my parents. It was like they just disappeared into some kind of cosmic black hole.” His eyes stared vacantly into space. “When I was first in Florida, I’d go down to the ocean and wait to see if a ship was coming that would bring my father back to me.”
“Julian.” Nicole’s voice was a quavering whisper. “Is that what I’ve done to Trey? Given him no sense of closure? I mean, I came running down here to Miami almost immediately after Warren…”
“No. Don’t do that,” Julian interrupted, his reflective tone transforming into a consoling, sympathetic one. “It wasn’t your fault. You were in a lot of pain yourself. We’re only human and we don’t always know what’s the right thing.” He slid his arms around her, holding her close.
Nicole closed her eyes for a second, burying her face against his chest, muffling her voice. “Maybe what Trey is doing with these pictures is a good thing. Maybe it’s his way of wanting to move on.”
“Sounds logical to me,” Julian said. “Are you going to ask him about it?”
“No. I’m just going to leave everything exactly the way he had it.” She slowly, deliberately placed the pictures back in the box and closed the lid. “I’m not even going to lecture him about snooping around in my room.”
Julian stepped back reluctantly as she returned the box to the drawer. “Much as I hate to leave, I’ve really got to go. I’ll be in Spain for a week or so.”
“Spain?” she repeated, the concept not immediately registering.
“Yeah, promotional stuff for my new CD.”
The words took her back to reality. “I really appreciate your staying here last night,” she said, almost shyly.
“Don’t thank me. I’m only being selfish,” Julian said. “I’m starting to think of you guys as my family.”
She smiled. There was really nothing else she could say on that matter. She was flattered, but she didn’t want to seem too obvious. “Make sure you don’t forget to speak to your security people.”
“I’ll give you my hotel phone number in Spain so you can call and remind me.”
She followed him to the door. He opened it, letting in the radiantly blinding sunshine. Except for the uprooted tree and strewn branches, there was little evidence that there had ever been a storm. Nicole tilted her head toward the sky and could see the faint etchings of a rainbow.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Trey rushed toward the ship’s railing so he could get a good look at the ocean. Nicole hurried to catch up with him. It was amazing that he still had so much energy after an entire day spent at the zoo, the planetarium, Bayfront Park, and finally a tour of the cruise ship Serenity. She wished she had just half of his stamina.
The ship was docked at the Port of Miami, being prepared to set sail for Puerto Rico on Monday. Nicole and a group of other people had been granted free passes just to tour the ship. It was a promotional tool that the cruise line used in an attempt to attract potential customers in the future. It would be a long time in the future before she would even consider such a trip, but she knew that Trey would enjoy the tour.
A perky tour guide had walked them all over the floating hotel before finally abandoning them to their own resources on the massive deck. The blazing sun was merciless, causing Nicole to gaze longingly at the numerous tables with bright tropical-colored umbrellas surrounding an Olympic-size swimming pool. She wanted to close her eyes and take a plunge right into the cool, sparkling water.
Trey tugged at her arm, pointing excitedly at another behemoth that was getting ready to depart with the assistance of a tiny tugboat. She leaned over the railing with him, temporarily forgetting the heat. It was fascinating to watch the tugboats in action as they guided the cumbersome giants who couldn’t maneuver without them. The tugboats were like metaphors for strength in unlikely sources—the mental and emotional strength of a slight woman among powerfully built men. She liked the image.
“Trey, you can keep watching,” she said finally, when the sun became unbearable. “I’m going to be right here sitting under the umbrella.”
He nodded. She adjusted the baseball cap on his head and started to move away just as his hands tightened around the railing and he made a motion to pull himself up higher.
“Don’t you dare! No climbing!” she shouted.
I’m not climbing, his irritated expression informed her.
“Make sure you don’t. I’ll be sitting right here watching.”
As she took a seat, Trey gave her another surly look, and she sighed. She wished he would just say what he was thinking, even if he was being bratty. It was disconcerting to realize that she was one of very few mothers who would be elated to hear any form of vocal disrespect from her child.
Nicole leaned back, removed her sunglasses and watched as a group of young people moved closer to where Trey was. They began shouting and waving at the other ship. Trey waved too.
Come on, Trey, let’s hear you yell along with them, she thought wistfully. But the small figure in the over-sized T-shirt and shorts remained silent and continued to wave. The departing ship’s journey had begun and it proceeded to let loose with a loud blast of its horn. The teenage onlookers clapped and whistled. Trey turned to flash her a smile. Nicole smiled back.
“Hey! One more time!” someone yelled.
The horn sounded again, a penetrating, booming wail that reverberated through her very soul. From where she was sitting, she caught a glimpse of the tugboat skimming the water, off to find another assignment. Trey remained watching and Nicole allowed her mind to focus on the tugboat metaphor again. Curiously, it made her think about Julian. She had not heard a thing from him since he’d left for Spain, but then he’d probably been very busy. She was sure he had a good reason for not calling—like maybe he’d met the love of his life, a beautiful senorita from Madrid, and would return to make the announcement that he was married. She laughed. It was just the sort of thing her mother would expect.
Her mother had called her only an hour after Julian had departed on the day after the storm.
“Nicole, are you there alone?” She had asked, without even saying hello.
“Hello, Mom. “Yes, I’m alone.”
“I called you last night and that young man answered.”
“Yes, Mother. Julian stayed to look after Shane because I had to work and Ally and Trey were at Lynette’s.”
“Was there any damage from the storm?”
“A little. Nothing serious ”
“That’s good.”
A long silence had followed, as if her mother had been waiting for her to volunteer more, as if she were expected to explain or justify herself in detail. But Nicole remained silent.
“I know you told me that Julian was just watching the dog, but when you came back from work, you and he were alone together. Nicole
, do I have to remind you about how that looks? I would expect that kind of behavior from your sister, but not you. You have a child to be responsible for.”
Indignant at the accusation, but struggling to contain it, Nicole sputtered. “I am perfectly well aware of my responsibilities, Mother. I’m not doing anything that would hurt Trey. Julian is a very good friend, and I’m sure you’ll be happy to know that ever since I’ve known him, Trey has been doing better in school. Julian’s giving him guitar lessons.”
“Really?” Her mother was speechless for a second. “Well, that’s…that’s nice. Nicole, are you in love with this man?”
“Mom, I really don’t know. We’re just taking it one day at a time.”
Her mother sighed heavily. “Couldn’t you have met someone else, someone in church who’s more like yourself? This Julian is…is Cuban. What do you really know about him?”
Everything and nothing, Nicole thought. “He loves children. He’s extremely talented, and he’s been very kind to Trey and me.”
“There are a lot of God-fearing men who are kind and love children.”
A lot of African-American men, Nicole interpreted. “Well, Mom, it’s not like I planned this. I haven’t exactly been in the market since Warren died. Julian just happened.”
“Well, I think you should talk to your father about this. He can tell you how men are.”
Tell me how men are? “Mother, I’m not thirteen anymore. I was married once…hello.”
“Nicole, I’m only telling you this because I don’t want to see him make a fool out of you.”
“Why do you always assume that someone is going to make a fool of me? It could be the other way around.”
“You know good and well that the woman has more to lose.” She shifted gears abruptly. “Are you and Trey coming up for Thanksgiving?”
Nicole exhaled slowly. “No. I thought I told you that before. We’ll be coming during the Christmas holiday.”
“Oh. So what are you doing Thanksgiving? Maybe your father and I can come down.”
“Julian invited us to dinner with his family.”
“Oh. You mean he wants you to meet his family?”
“That’s what I said,” Nicole replied irritably.
“Are they black or white?”
“They’re people, Mom!”
“I know they’re people. You don’t have to get an attitude with me.”
She almost laughed as she abruptly returned to the present when Trey plopped down on a chair beside her.
“Tired?” she asked.
He shook his head negatively. No matter what the circumstances, he would never admit to that.
“Well.” She consulted her watch. “It’s getting late and that means it’s time for us to start back home.”
The sun was starting to set as they made their way off the ship and entered the port’s parking lot. For a brief second, Nicole hesitated, not remembering where she had parked the car. Trey suddenly reached out and grabbed her hand tightly.
“What? What’s wrong?”
He stood still and looked around, squinting. She looked in the same direction, but only saw the retreating back of a person walking a distance away.
“That’s not someone we know, is it?” she asked him.
Trey scowled and shook his head. He held up his hands and mimicked the motions of a photographer taking a picture.
Nicole laughed. “Oh, Trey, that’s nothing. He’s just a tourist. People are always taking pictures around here. There’s so much to see in this spot. You know that.”
Trey’s scowl became fiercer and he bent down to pick up a stone. Nicole took him by his free hand and they moved swiftly toward their car. Once inside, she locked the door and searched her son’s face.
“Trey, did someone scare you?”
Trey indicated in sign language that he wanted to go home and he did not want to talk about it anymore. His odd reaction was making her nervous. She glanced in the rear view mirror, but there was nothing out of the ordinary. A few people were passing, going toward their cars. A young mother was pushing a baby in a stroller. There were no shadowy figures or monsters waiting to pounce on them. Nicole started the car.
“Honey, are you sure you’re okay?”
Trey shrugged, looked nonchalant and reached to switch on the radio. A raucous rap song disturbed the silence. It was not Nicole’s favorite station and it was too loud, but it seemed to be pacifying him, so she didn’t touch the dial until they were back home.
* * *
It seemed much later, but it was only around seven p.m. when Julian arrived back home. Spain’s time was at least six hours ahead of Miami’s and despite over a decade of constant European air travel, the varied time zones still had a disorienting effect on him. It was because of those differences and his hectic schedule that he had not been able to give Nicole a call. She had been on his mind constantly, though, and as he unlocked the door of his home he knew the first thing he was going to do was call her.
The whole concept of being excited about coming home was something new to him. In the past, when he wasn’t touring, he’d immediately rush off to one of South Beach’s hot spots and drown himself in wine and starry-eyed women to assuage his loneliness and feelings of despair. The hedonistic habit had never actually solved anything, but at least it had anesthetized his mind to the point where he no longer heard faceless voices from the past, and he didn’t have to think about the lack of unconditional love in his life.
A neat stack of mail greeted him from the table in the foyer. He groaned. Some of the more intelligent fans were getting the point and no longer sending stuff to his home, but there would always be the diehards. He remembered Nicole’s parting words to him pertaining to the alleged stalker. It had been at the back of his mind, but he had still not mentioned it to security. She was going to ask him about it and he was going to have to give her some kind of answer. Scowling, he rifled through the envelopes and stopped at the all too familiar purple one. There was only one—maybe that was a good sign.
He stepped into the living room, opening it. The phone was ringing and he started to go answer it, but he stopped dead in his tracks when he stared at the contents of the envelope. A photograph stared up at him—not a snapshot of himself, but a photograph of Nicole and Trey walking in a parking lot. His pulse surged and he felt the blood rush to his head. The phone stopped ringing as he continued to stare at the pictures. Nicole’s expression revealed that she was completely oblivious to the invasion, but Trey seemed to be staring straight ahead with eyes that were far too knowing and cynical for his years.
“Damn!” Julian dropped down on the couch. He could feel both rage and panic wash over him as he turned the photograph over. Letters cut out and pasted on the back spelled out the spiteful words. Your standards are slipping, and that could cost you.
“What am I going to do now?” he murmured aloud.
Threatening him was one thing, but involving Nicole and Trey was another. For a moment he felt an all encompassing urge to announce that he wanted nothing more to do with show business, that he was planning to leave the country permanently, maybe even leave the planet. Just when he was possibly on the brink of finding someone he really cared about, and who seemed to care about him, it was all about to be destroyed by some lunatic.
“We’ll just see who it’s going to cost,” he muttered fiercely. “You are not going to destroy us.”
He realized that he was going to have to tell Nicole and the final decision was going to be hers and not his. The stalker had already scored a major victory, because he had destroyed his whole plan for the evening. He couldn’t call Nicole now because he wasn’t prepared for her reaction to the news, and he couldn’t selfishly pretend he hadn’t seen the photos because he was too worried and he wasn’t that good an actor.
He would have to tell her tomorrow. Tonight he had some very urgent phone calls to make to assure that she and Trey were protected, and after that, the first phase of his p
lan would begin. Starting with tonight, he was going to have to spend some more shallow nights partying on South Beach after all.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“What gives you the right to look so good in the morning?” Julian asked, embracing her tightly.
Nicole smiled. “I think that’s entirely in the eyes of the beholder and his vision is a bit distorted by jet lag.” She studied Julian’s exotically handsome face. “It’s been a while. How come you didn’t call me?” She inhaled the scintillating scent of his cologne.
“Important things had to be taken care of,” Julian said.
It was early in the morning and Nicole had just returned home fifteen minutes ago after dropping Trey off at school. Allyson was at work, and Nicole was secretly pleased that Julian had chosen this time to make an unexpected visit. Ever since the night of the storm, she no longer felt as uncomfortable as she had about being alone with him.
Dressed in a steely gray suit jacket, matching pants and a black silk V-necked shirt, he looked as breathtakingly handsome as always. Her hands ached to separate him from the jacket, and slide up and down the silk of the shirt, feeling the ridges and nuances of his sleek body. She remained in his embrace studying the enigmatic reflections shifting in his eyes and gradually surrendered to a reality that she wanted desperately to deny, but could not. There was a glimmer of something troubling within the windows of his soul.
“Julian, is something wrong?” She involuntarily stepped back a little. It’s coming, she thought. He’s going to tell me that he met that senorita from Madrid.
“Well, I’m afraid what I have to tell you is not good. I think we should sit down.”
She allowed him to escort her to the couch and they both sat. The intensity of his gaze was too overwhelming now, and she avoided eye contact. Already she was feeling angry. Whatever they had shared was about to end. She had not wanted anything to get started and now the gorgeous devil was going to reveal himself for what she had known all along.
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