Guided Love (Prick #1)

by Tracie Redmond

  “No man, she is excited because Samantha made the New York Times Best Sellers list. It’s the ultimate achievement for an author and our Samantha did it.”

  I can see that, for a moment, his prick mask falters and he is happy to hear about her success, but it doesn't last long, the asshole is out and I love to egg on the asshole.

  “When did she become ‘our Sam’? Dude, she is my Sam, remember that.”

  “Yeah, not sure about that, asshole. Remember you fucked that up all on your own. Oh wait, you did have help and she is standing right next to you. You should be happy I’m a nice guy and willing to share. Just know if you ever treat or talk to her in any way that gets her upset, I’ll fuck you up, man—that is a promise.”

  “What the fuck, Axel? Are you with Sam now?”

  “Nope, we are friends, but I care about her and if you treat her badly, in any way, I’ll handle it.”

  “Friends, really? You go around threatening to kick people’s ass for upsetting your friends?” I laugh at his comment and this just pisses him off more.

  “Nope, only Samantha.”

  “Fuck you, Axel, it’s Sam and I’m not going to do or say anything that will upset her. She is my friend, man, and I’m not going to let that go again. So just back the fuck off, she doesn't need you.”

  I hear Roni in her annoying little voice start bitching about something or another and I just walk past them and leave them to their own drama. As I am about to turn towards the front desk, I turn around and call out to Roni.

  “Hey, Roni, that promise goes to you too. If I hear anything come out of your mouth, anything at all, you won’t like what is coming to you darlin'.”

  She rolls her eyes at me and I can't help but smile.

  After the drama with Camaron and Roni, the day went without a hiccup. We are closing up and I am completely exhausted. I back out of Kester's tonight, letting Paul and Carrie have some time to themselves, since I’m about to pass out just standing here.

  I get to my apartment, throw everything on the coffee table, and make my way to the kitchen. I am searching through the fridge when my phone goes off.

  I look at the number and don't recognize it.

  “Hello?”

  “Hello Axel?”

  “Yes, who is this?”

  “Hi Axel, it’s Gary Williams, I'm neighbors with Eleanor Martinelli.”

  “Oh yes, Mr. Williams, how are you? What can I do for you?”

  “Well, I was coming home from my daughters and found Ellie walking down our road in her robe. I stopped and picked her up. She seemed a bit confused, but she is better now. I have her at my house since her house is all locked up and she doesn't have a key.”

  “Wow, okay, I am on my way. Thank you so much, Mr. Williams, I should be there within 20 minutes.”

  “Okay, son, I’ll have my porch light on and I’m the white house, four houses down from Ellie's, on the right.”

  “Thank you again, I’ll be there soon.”

  I’m wide awake now and rushing through the apartment, grabbing my keys and I’m on my way to Ma's. The trip took fifteen minutes, because I drove like a madman and ran a few red lights. I walk up to Mr. Williams’s door and knock. My stomach is in knots and I still have panic coursing through my body. What the hell happened and why was Ma walking down the road in her robe?

  Mr. Williams opens the door and we walk to his kitchen where Ma is seated with a glass of milk in front of her.

  “Hey, Ma, how are you feeling?”

  She looks good, I wouldn't be able to tell that she just was found walking down the road all confused if she wasn't sitting at her neighbors in her robe. She smiles up at me with pure happiness.

  “Oh, Axel, sweet boy, I am doing well. Just sitting with Gary, having a glass of warm milk. I forgot my key and can’t get in. I’m sorry you had to travel all this way, maybe I should give Gary an extra key just in case I forget mine again.”

  “Okay, Ma, let me take you home now? It’s pretty late.”

  She smiles up at me, stands, and takes my hand. “Okay, son. Gary, thank you so much for your help.”

  Gary has a look of concern and smiles at Ma. “My pleasure, Ellie. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  She pats his hand and we make our way to the front door.

  I turn and shake his hand. “Thank you, Mr. Williams, I truly appreciate your help.”

  The look of concern is still there.

  “Axel, Evelyn, my wife, and I are always here if you need us to just check in on her, alright, son. Please don't hesitate to ask.”

  “Thank you so much, Mr. Williams, I really do appreciate it. I may take you up on that offer, it’s hard since I am not right next door.”

  “I understand, son, I do, and everything will be okay.”

  I walk to my car and help Ma in. I walk around the front, get in, head down the street, and pull into the driveway. I look over and I see, for a split second, how she looks vulnerable. For the first time in my life, she looks scared. I help Ma out of the car and inside of the house and I get her settled. I lock up, head up to my old room, and try to figure out what I am going to do.

  “Oh my god, Sam, that looks freaking amazing!” Gabby is standing behind Lonn, my hairdresser, with her mouth hanging open. I am so nervous right now. I have been a ball of nerves for the last two hours. I haven’t heard from Axel for the last three days. I tried to call but it goes to voicemail every time and when I sent a message all I got back was:

  Sorry, things are complicated here will call or text when I can.

  What the hell happened? I tried to call Carrie but each time I call she says they are completely backed up and that she will call and explain when things settle down. I don't want to push but, damn, they aren't calling me. To take my mind off what went wrong or what I did that they are all avoiding me, I decided I would check off another bucket: do something wild and crazy with my appearance.

  I called Lonn and got an appointment for this morning. Now, after two hours of a manicure, pedicure and cut and color, I am about to be turned around to look at the “new me.” I take a deep breath and slowly look up and see my reflection. Gone is the girl with long, mousey brown hair and staring back at me is a woman with short, dark walnut, brown hair, with hot pink highlights throughout. The cut and color are a shock and I am left to only one word.

  “WOW.”

  Lonn is standing with his hands on my shoulders looking at me in the mirror.

  “Wow good or Wow bad?”

  I keep turning my head from side to side—completely shocked. I look like a whole new woman. I honestly feel great.

  I place my hand over his on my shoulder and look at him and with the biggest smile I can give, I tell him exactly what I feel. “Wow good, Lonn. Oh my, I’m looking at myself and am speechless. I look like a whole new person and, honestly, I feel so good.”

  I can feel the tears starting to pool in my eyes.

  “Babe, you should always feel good, this just brought out the natural beauty that you possess.” I am nodding, trying to keep the tears from falling.

  “Now, stop with the water works because next, you are going to get all new makeup—no more cherry Chap Stick, sweetie, we are going to make those gorgeous lips pop.”

  After another hour of makeup, Gabby and I walk out with a whole new look. I can actually say the makeup artist really choose well. She gave me a look that brings out my eyes and lips, without being able to tell I’m really wearing anything; I totally love it.

  We head home and pick up a few salads for lunch. I am about to take the first bite of my salad when my phone chimes with a message. I look down and see Axel’s name and I start to get nervous. I know it’s silly, but I am afraid to look at it. I am just waiting for the dismissal that I obviously am going to get. What I don’t expect was what he wrote. I drop my fork and feel the color drain from my face.

  “Sam, what’s wrong? Talk to me what’s happened?”

  I am shaking my head back and forth an
d finally look up at Gabby and hand her my phone.

  Axel: Samantha, I am so sorry that I haven't had time to call or write, things here are really complicated and hectic. I have been staying with ma and taking her to the doctors—things aren't looking good. A few nights ago I got a call from her neighbor saying he found her walking in her robe down the road. He called immediately; I went and picked her up and haven't left. I took her to the doctor the following day and he explained that he diagnosed ma with dementia months ago and that things are only going to get worse. I would be calling you to tell you this but talking about it out loud only upsets her and I am rarely away from her. That’s why you are getting this via messenger. I am not sure what is going to happen and I am completely lost right now. I had to take some time off from Pricks and Camaron has been good, pulling the weight along with Paul and Allen. Jay has been taking on all the business down in Cherry Hill and doing great. Carrie did tell me that you called but she is swamped with both shops and couldn't tell you about ma, as I should be the one sharing it with you. Don't be mad at her, she was just trying to keep this quiet for me. I hope all things are going well for you and I’ll call when I can. Not sure when. Take care of yourself, babe

  Axel

  I am immediately up and walking to my bedroom. Gabby comes in behind me as I am at my closet gathering my suitcases.

  “What are you doing, chica?”

  “I have to go, Gabs. I need to help. You read it she isn't doing well and all things are in pure chaos since Axel has always been the one in charge. He will never ask me to come there and help. He won't and he shouldn't have to. I need to go and help him, Gabs.” I turn my eyes to look at her prepared for her to tell me that she thinks I am crazy, that I am about to do the same thing I did for Camaron that I am throwing myself and dreams away just so I can help a friend. Yet, she is smiling her crazy little smile.

  “Sounds good, I could use a change of scenery.”

  “What?”

  “Chica, your friend needs help with Ellie, the woman that helped my friend when I wasn't there to help her myself. He also needs help with his business and getting everything in order. I am not going to let you fly across the country and sit here and not help. So, I’m coming with you. Luckily, right now, I am between jobs and we already paid our rent. My thoughts are, we pay another month’s rent and get our asses on the next plane to Pennsylvania and help out the prick.” She starts to laugh because she just referred to Axel as a prick. She truly is a great friend.

  I don't respond or call Axel, I just get my two suitcases and fill them and call my assistant, Jessica, to let her know of my plans and tell her that I’ll email her once I land. Gabby and I get on a direct flight to Philadelphia, arriving there at 7:00PM. The flight was great and we are now waiting for a rental car. Gabby is fighting with the salesman because she want us to have a sports car, but none of them have a GPS and we need to have a GPS. After twenty minutes and a phone number for Gabby, we are on our way to Ellie's. I just hope that Axel is there and awake. The drive is quiet—the closer I get to the house the more nervous I become. What if I shouldn’t have come? What if this is crossing a line of friendship that I shouldn't be crossing? I think all will be all right—Ellie was there for me when I needed someone, so I don't see Axel getting upset with me being there for her. The silence is broken when Gabby brings up another elephant that is weighing on my mind.

  “How do you think Camaron will react to seeing you here?”

  Just the thought of Camaron has me getting even more anxious. We have texted here and there but our friendship isn’t the same.

  “I really don't know. Just thinking about it makes me want to puke. Ugh, I never thought of it before we jumped on a plane.”

  “Should it make a difference? You are here to help Ellie, to help Axel, and all the other pricks. Camaron and how he is or who he is dating is no concern for you, got it?” I nod but that isn't good enough for her because she is a little sterner with her question. “GOT IT?”

  “Yes, Gabby, I got it.”

  “Good. Now, let’s get to the hotel, you can drop me off and head to Ellie's.”

  I drop her off and have the bellboy help her with the bags and she tells me she’ll text me the room number, because I want to touch base with Axel tonight, in regards to Ellie and what I can do to help.

  Pulling up to Ellie's house, I am about to puke—my hands are shaking and my heart is beginning to race. I see Axel's car is in the driveway and the living room lights are on. I shut off the car, head to the front door, and softly knock. I am looking down at my feet when the door opens. I look up and see Axel standing there staring at me with shock on his face.

  “Hi, Axel.” Yeah, that’s all I could come up with is “Hi, Axel.”

  “Samantha? Wow . . . you look . . . what are you doing here?”

  I start to fidget as I am questioning myself on if I should have come. I smile up at him and he is staring at me with an expression I haven't seen.

  “I got your text and I had to come and help. So . . . here I am. I want to help.”

  I am staring up into his beautiful brown eyes and they soften. I look at his face and I can see a weight has been lifted and I am just so happy that I was able to get here.

  “What about your writing? Sam, I don't expect you to give up on anything you already have planned. I can't ask you to do that.”

  I hold up my hand and stop him right there. “First, I am a writer—I can do that in California or here at Ellie's. This is not you asking me to give anything up. Ellie is important to me, you are important to me. Hell, Axel, you have become my best friend and I know if I need you, you will be there for me. I am not going anywhere! I’ll work and get what I have already set in stone, completed. There is no option, buddy, you are not getting rid of me.” I wink at him and he opens the door and nods his head to let me in.

  “Well, Ma will be very happy to see you.”

  “Is she okay?”

  “She has been struggling. Come, let’s go into the kitchen—she can't hear anything from the kitchen.”

  We walk into the kitchen where everything is the same as I remember. Axel pulls out a chair for me and I take a seat and watch as he takes two bottles of water out of the refrigerator. He walks back to me, sitting across from me at the table.

  “So, Axel, talk to me, what happened?”

  He tells me about the incident that happened the day I made the best seller list. I told him that she was a bit odd on the phone but she sounded normal to me, nothing out of the ordinary. He then starts to tell me what happened the next day.

  “I stayed here with her, that night, just to make sure she wouldn't walk out of the house again. I didn't get much sleep that night, as you can imagine, and when she woke up, I was already in the kitchen making breakfast. She came in like everything was normal. When I asked her what happened last night, she looked off into space. I knew she had no idea what I was talking about, but she just patted my hand and told me that it wouldn't happen again. When she went to garden, instead of going to her walking group, I knew something was wrong. So I called the doctor and asked if we could get her in. Doctor Boonin was great and gave her an appointment for that morning. When I took her in, he checked her over and had a nurse come in to talk with her while I went to speak with him in his office. Luckily, Ma has me down as her Power of Attorney and Doctor Boonin had that noted so he was able to discuss her diagnosis with me. Ma went to the doctor, about a year ago, because she was becoming forgetful and she thought that she was suffering some side effects of her medication, yet that wasn't it. He actually diagnosed her with dementia. It was something she never told me, if I would have known I wouldn't have allowed her to stay here all alone, ya know.”

  “I know, Axel, I lived here for two weeks, honey, and I didn't see anything out of the ordinary. She was her feisty self.”

  “Well, what he said was that from the last time he saw her and compared to now, she went from what they would call a level one to a lev
el five.”

  “Okay, what does this all mean? How many levels are there and what can we do to help her stop increasing the levels?”

  Shaking his head, he brings his hands through his hair and exhales. I could feel the tension rolling off him.

  “There is nothing that is going to stop this. He said that with the late diagnosis and the fast pace it is taking, there really isn't much that can stop this. There are seven levels and with each level, they lose more. Right now, she just sits quietly and looks around. She sometimes will look at me and see me, remember me, ya know. Those moments are rare, but I soak them in. The doctor said that she wrote her wishes down and she doesn't want life support.”

  “What do you mean?”

  I am so nervous for what he is about to say to me, I grab the water and start to guzzle it down.

  “What he explained was she doesn't want a feeding tube or IV’s and this disease is going to have her body shut down with no nutrition. She will become weak and I am not going to be able to do anything about it.”

  I’m out of my seat and in front of him in a flash. I wrap my arms around his neck, bringing his head to my chest as he is still sitting. Axel wraps his arms around my waist and just holds onto me. I lower my head to bring my chin to the top of his head and whisper to him, “You are going to be okay. Axel, we will handle this, all right. I’m going to help you the entire time.”

  He doesn't say anything, he just pulls me onto his lap and continues to hold me tight. We sit there for a few moments and then his hold loosens a bit. I get up and walk back to my seat, but I don't sit, I just stand there and look at him.

  “Samantha, thank you.”

  “For what?”