The Dividing Line

by Victoria H. Smith

  Once I got my phone back, I would have to speak to her about arranging something different as far as our communication. If things continued to be the way they were, I wouldn’t be able to confide in her about some plans I had for my future. Since meeting Natalia, I realized something, and I needed my girlfriend by me more than ever. Natalia’s adoption story made me take a look at my own life. There needed to be some changes, and I was going to start that process.

  I also needed Natalia’s help for my plans, and I figured I would approach her about them later today. Perhaps I would after work. She might be at the Y. I could catch her there, ask her about the phone and my other idea. Thoughts of speaking to Lacey first came to mind, but I didn’t think she would mind me pulling in Natalia for help. Natalia was a go to resource for what I needed. She’d really get what I was about to do, and Lacey would understand that.

  My mind was still racing about everything I would say to Natalia when I got off at the bus stop outside of the garage, but my thoughts went another direction at the sight of cop cars and a small crowd on the sidewalk outside of the building.

  I rushed through the people on the walk, moving toward the garage. The front door was completely shattered, and I stepped over the glass at the entryway. The place was stripped bare. The rims, stereos, and even the cleaning products on display were all gone. The papers previously on the desk lay scattered on the floor, and the trashcans were tossed over, all that was inside strewn about. Whoever did this even failed to miss the windows. They were all broken out like getting through the door wasn’t enough.

  What the hell happened?

  “Hold on a minute, son.” A man in blue held out his hand to me. “This business is sealed off from the public today.”

  Lou gazed away from the officer he was speaking to behind the desk. “No. It’s fine officer. He works here.”

  The cop let me past, and I made it over. “What happened, Lou?” I asked.

  “We were robbed last night. Thank God for the neighbor who heard the ruckus and called the cops. The deadbeats didn’t make it far. I should get everything back.”

  Relief hit my chest. Lou was a good man, and I was glad they got the guy as well as his merchandise.

  “We’d like to get one last walkthrough in with you, Mr. Mackney,” the officer said.

  “Of course, officer,” he responded. “Drake, go ahead and take today off. I’ll send word about tomorrow. We’ll need everyone to get this place up and running.”

  I nodded, happy to do my part, and watched as Lou guided the officer in the back room. The pair passed Troy. He had his bag on his arm like he was leaving for the day too.

  “Hey. Fucked up, huh?” he said, making it over to me.

  “Right.” I placed my hands on my waist, gazing around. “Glad they got the guy.”

  “That’s what’s fucked up about it.” He drew in closer, hushing his voice. “It was Jermaine’s cousin. You know, the one that he recommended to work here? He stole Jermaine’s keys in the middle of the night. The alarms went off, and he and the dudes he brought with him panicked, breaking everything and stealing what they could.”

  My eyes twitched wide. “Shit. That is fucked up. What’s Jermaine said about this?”

  “He ain’t happy, that’s for sure. He’s in the back making sure all his tools are still there. Can’t even trust family these days.”

  Jermaine came from the back, and Troy snapped his mouth shut. He patted my chest. “See you later okay?”

  I turned to follow him. I had no interest in sticking around to deal with Jermaine. The dude was no doubt heated from what his cousin did, and I didn’t need to be the scapegoat for that. He touched my shoulder before I could go, and I immediately stiffened, going on the defense. My guard wasn’t met with any aggression, though. In fact, it was quite the opposite.

  He held out his hand to me. No other words. Just held out his hand.

  Slowly releasing the tension in my shoulders, I took it. He shook just once then let go. After tipping me a nod, he left the building, stepping over the shattered glass.

  Something told me Jermaine would no longer be a problem.

  *

  I let myself into the familiar room at the Y. Miss Jane was in the toddler room today and led me to the room with the older kids when I asked about Natalia. To my surprise, Mina sat at the front desk, her legs crossed as she read a newspaper.

  “Hey, Mina,” I said.

  Her dark head popped up, her long hair swaying like the wind. “Drake.” She tilted her head. “What brings you here?”

  I lounged against the counter. “Just looking for Natalia. I think I left my phone at her house the other night.” I purposely left out the other reason I was here.

  “Ah, okay. Well, she’s in the bathroom getting paper towels.” She pointed a ruby red fingernail in the general direction. “One of those kids had an accident. I don’t know why I agreed to help her here today. Kids…”

  She shuddered after she said that and something told me she was just as comfortable with children as I was. I chuckled.

  “She should be out in a minute,” she finished, then dove back into her newspaper.

  “Hi, Drake!”

  My attention was taken by a familiar pretty face. Little Whitney beamed at me, her mocha brown cheeks round and bright. She waved at me, holding the hand of another little girl. I of course waved back and gave her a nice wink for good measure. This sent the girls into a fit, and they giggled behind their hands.

  “You know him?” The girl with Whitney asked.

  “Yep. He wanted to be my boyfriend, but he couldn’t because he’s taken,” she responded.

  The girls scurried off, and Natalia’s light laugh followed after they did. She propped a roll of paper towels on the counter.

  “Flirting with the young ones, Drake?” She eyed me, taking a spot at the counter.

  I shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a lady-killer. Doesn’t matter what the age.” Joking with her more, I sighed at the awesomeness of me.

  She laughed but raised her finger like she remembered something. I watched her scurry behind the front desk with Mina. She grabbed her bag and out came my iPhone.

  “You’re a lifesaver,” I said, taking the phone from her. “Exactly the reason I’m here. Thanks.”

  She rested her arms on the counter. “Figured as much. It feels like my life is over without mine. I was going to drop it by the garage after work.”

  I clicked the buttons, but the phone was dead. I guess I’d have to wait to see if Lacey left me any texts or anything. I slipped the phone into my pocket. “Actually, I have something else I wanted to talk to you about while I’m here.”

  “Oh, okay. Shoot.”

  My eyes caught Mina. Though she was really into her newspaper, I didn’t want her to hear.

  I waved Natalia to the end of the desk to speak more privately. “I wanted to ask you something about what we were talking about before the group came over yesterday.”

  With one look, she understood completely why we moved from Mina. She leaned forward, listening intently. That was one thing I liked about Natalia. She was always understanding and conscious of others. That’s exactly why I felt comfortable asking for her help on this particular issue.

  “I think I want to find my mom. My birth mom that is.”

  She nodded once, and I knew my decision was right to go to her. She was going to help, no questions asked.

  “All right,” she said. “Well, first you’re going to need your adoption records. Do you have access to those?”

  “Where would those be exactly you think?”

  “Um, there’s a couple of places, but the best place to start would be your parents. They would most likely have copies of everything the agencies do.”

  Those were the last two people I intended to go to about this. My father kept all important documents in his study. I had no intention of setting foot in my parent’s house, but I bet with some convincing I could enlist Adele f
or help. “I think I know where the records might be kept. I can figure it out myself.”

  This answer didn’t really sit well with Natalia, and it read across her face. She placed her hands flat on the desk. “Drake, I don’t want to preach to you at all, but as a friend, I want to offer you some advice. I don’t recommend going at this alone. Having a strong support system is key and could really bring your family closer together.”

  I could hear what she was saying, but she didn’t know my family. Bringing up my adoption once again and seeking out my birth mother on top of that would only create more riffs in my family. No, I wouldn’t go to them. And I wouldn’t be going at this alone. I had Lacey, and as far as I was concerned, that was all I needed. “Thanks for the advice, Natalia, but I think this is something that I’m going to do without my parents.”

  She pushed off of the desk. “Okay. That’s the last I’ll mention of it. Once you have the records, they’ll lead you to the agencies both here and in your home country. It’s a step-by-step process after that.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

  She smiled. “No problem.”

  “Oh, oppa,” Mina said, then rattled off some random Korean phrases. “What this man does to me is sinful.”

  Mina practically hugged the newspaper to her chest. Snickering, Natalia rolled her eyes. “Don’t mind her. She’s just getting her daily dose of international heartthrobs. She can spend hours reading the gossip columns.”

  I found that funny. I always threw that part away when I read the paper. We obviously had different interests.

  Mina whipped around, sneering at her. “This isn’t just any heartthrob, sista. This is Jason Harrison.” She pressed a finger to the page she was on. “The delicious Asian Brit. That quarter Japanese does that man’s body good.”

  I choked down my laugh. Women.

  Sighing, Mina turned back to the paper. “What I wouldn’t give to see his new show in Paris. It was just announced he’s starring in an opera there. As a dashing prince. He couldn’t be more perfect!”

  Did she say his name was Jason? Starring as a prince? “What show is he going to be in?” I asked.

  She stated the name, and though her pronunciation on the French title wasn’t the best, I definitely got the gist. I made it over to her end of the desk in a single, long stride. “Do you mind if I see that?”

  Shrugging, she hand it off.

  Jason Harrison was definitely the same Jason Lacey had told me about. That confirmed with Mina’s statements. But what Lacey failed to mention about this Jason was that he was a stripper. Now I couldn’t verify that since most of the article was in symbols, most likely Korean, but his huge image the editor chose to lead into the article said it all. The guy was half naked, covered in cascading water like the chick from Flash Dance. Was this shit supposed to be artsy? Because it looked like porn.

  I flipped the page and the guy’s feature continued. I was biting back curses at this point, but at the sight of the images on this page, I know I muttered a heated “…the fuck?”

  These pictures were different from the one on the first page because they weren’t taken in a studio. They were candid, and they were with my girl. They had pictures that looked to be taken through a restaurant window of her eating with him and even ones of her coming out of a hotel with him. But what had my fist clenching was the one outside of Lacey’s apartment complex. I knew that’s where they were because of the staircase. I’d kissed her there many times before, as I was unable to wait to get her inside for more privacy. But the thing was, she wasn’t kissing me there. She was being held by him with her face pressed against his chest and his hand on her hair.

  A near-silent Natalia came up to my side.

  “What does the article say?” I asked her, my words straddling a thin line between calm and rage.

  She looked up at me. “It’s speculated they’re together.”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Lacey

  “I’m really sorry about this, Lacey,” Jason said.

  I stood on the stage, pre rehearsal movement roaming around me. I couldn’t be a part of it though as I stared at the newspaper Jason handed me. It was in French, but the images said it all. The biggest one was outside my flat when we were attacked. Swallowing hard, I gazed up at him. “How did they get so many pictures of us?”

  He shook his head. “They must have been following me. Had I known, I would have told you and definitely tried to be more discreet when we hung out. I didn’t want to drag you into this lifestyle.”

  His lifestyle… Was that really how this was in his life? People being so classless? Stalking you and hiding outside your home in the bushes for the sake of a picture? How long before this was my lifestyle? When I didn’t need to be beside a name like Jason to have my own paparazzi tailing my every move? I adjusted the scarf at my neck. It was so hot in here, and my stomach was turning, making me ill.

  “Lacey?”

  I raised my hand to my temple, feeling terribly light headed all the sudden. “I just need a minute, okay? I know this wasn’t your fault, but I just…”

  “It’s fine. I understand. I really am sorry.” Turning on his heel, he left me to my thoughts.

  I gazed at the spread again, but quickly realized I no longer wanted this rubbish in my hands. I stalked to the trash to dispose of it. Sophie met me just before I headed back to the stage, and she had her phone in hand.

  “Lacey, it’s Monsieur Drake for you. He said he tried to call your phone first.”

  Why was he calling in the middle of his work shift? I quickly let my question go. I really needed him right now and was so relieved that by fate he happened to call. I put the phone to my ear, and Sophie left me to my privacy. “Hey, baby. I’m so happy to hear from you.”

  He breathed what sounded like a long breath into the phone. “Do you have something to tell me, Lacey?”

  My eyes shifted. “Um, what do you mean—”

  “About Jason Harrison.”

  My eyes widen, and my heart ran rogue inside my chest. “What? How did you—”

  “In a gossip column, Lacey. A gossip column,” he seethed, heatedly cutting me off. “And through a quick Google search, the Internet.”

  Oh, God. We’re on the Internet too?

  “Are you seeing him?”

  My face flashed in heat. “What? No. Jason and I are just stage friends.”

  “Stage friends that go to each other’s hotels and hold each other outside of their flats?”

  “Drake, it’s not like that I swear. We were attacked by paparazzi. I was surprised and—”

  “And here I thought you weren’t calling me, only sending me quick texts because you were tired from work.”

  “I am tired, Drake. All the time. I didn’t lie to you about that. You know what long hours Madame has us doing. Then with my extra practices with Jason after rehearsal—”

  I closed my eyes. Crap…

  “Extra practices, huh? With him?”

  “Yes, but we were just working. It was strictly professional.”

  He didn’t speak immediately after that. My arms beaded in goose bumps during the long silence, and I thought my breakfast from this morning would surface.

  “That’s why you’re so tired I guess, right? God…” He paused, and I feared the worst. “I can’t believe I’m so stupid. I can’t believe—”

  When he cut himself off, I thought he was going to hang up the phone. Shaking, I pleaded with him. “Please,” I said, my lip quivering, “Please believe me when I say nothing was going on. You’re not stupid, baby. Jason and I are just work friends. What you read in that gossip column is not true. They take a picture, and they make up crap to go along with it to sell issues. It really is just gossip. Please, you have to believe me. I love you, Drake. I love you so much. You have to believe me.”

  The line went silent, and my heart raced a faster pace. He had to believe me.

  He had to.

  He let out a long breath
into the phone, and I held my own, waiting for his words.

  “Even if that’s true, Lacey, you should have told me about the extent of your relationship with him. I shouldn’t have been left to make up my own conclusions when a picture was shoved into my face. I should have known about him. You should have… You should have told me. Now, I have to go. I need some time to process this.”

  I gripped the phone, not wanting to let him go, not wanting to leave things this way with so much distance between us, but all I ended up saying was, “Okay.”

  The backlighting of the phone flashed. He’d ended the call.

  My eyes were threatening tears by the time I made it on stage, but I forced them away. I returned Sophie’s phone to her without meeting her eyes. I couldn’t bare the questions that would come if she looked at me.

  Without words, I headed toward the center of the stage to wait for rehearsal to begin. The girls were there and what was weird was Betsy. She wasn’t sick at all. Standing by Dara, she was happily chowing down on a croissant. The two laughed in their conversation, and I strode up to them.

  “You don’t look very sick, Betsy,” I bit out.

  The girls froze, and Betsy swallowed her food in a lump.

  Dara chewed on her lip. “How did, uh, how did your date go with Jason?”

  “It wasn’t a…” I hushed my words, hearing them escalate. “It wasn’t a date. And why isn’t she sick?” I pointed to Betsy.

  Betsy raised her hands slowly, as if trying to calm me down. “Lacey, don’t be mad. We thought we were doing you a favor.”

  My jaw worked. “A favor? What favor?”

  “We just got some major vibes off you two,” Betsy continued.

  “Yeah.” Dara stepped forward, her hands together. “We just wanted to give you guys some alone time.”

  I didn’t consider myself a violent person, but in that moment, I honestly didn’t know whether to laugh or deck the two in their faces. I lifted my finger, fighting my body from shaking as I pointed at them. “I want you two to get this through your heads. Jason and I are just friends. There is no romantic interest there whatsoever. And in all your ‘helping’, all you did was stir up bullshit. Jason and I were attacked outside of my flat by paparazzi. Drake found out about the pictures in a gossip column, and now he isn’t even speaking to me. So the next time you two want to help me, don’t.”