by Cece Baker
“Where we goin’?” inquired the cabby.
Drake opened his eyes and mumbled “Mill City Park.”
“You got it,” the cabby responded and began weaving through the maze of one-way streets until he stopped at a drop off point for the park.
Drake reached into his wallet and pulled out the last bill. He tossed the twenty into the front seat and mumbled, “Keep the change,” and got out of the cab.
Two hundred feet below him the dark Mississippi River churned strong and menacingly, beginning its arduous journey south.
Drake walked onto the pedestrian bridge and stopped to look over the railing at the swirling water below. Within seconds, tears began to flow as he arched backward, faced the sky and let out a soul wrenching, angry wail filled with angst, frustration and self-hatred. A few late walkers passed by, giving him a wide berth. His nose ran sloppily, and he wiped it on his sleeve. He turned away from the railing and began to walk aimlessly. A mist had started to form, which soon became heavy drops of cold, October rain.
CHAPTER 16
Jill made sure Thea and family were okay before she left to go to work. If Thea noticed Jill’s change in mood, she never mentioned it. Jill had taken a cab home, packed a dinner to eat on break, and rode her bike to work.
Upon entering, Nate greeted her with his usual, “Hey, J-dub. What is shaking on this fine day?”
Jill, however, did not give her standard answer. “Hey, Nate,” she said as she threw her coat and bag on her desk chair.
Nate turned in his chair to look at her. “Who are you, and what have you done with my friend? If you’re an alien who has taken over Jill’s body, you should know that I’m on to you and am not afraid to call the authorities. Consider yourself on notice.”
Jill grinned meekly and sighed. “I’m sorry Nate, it’s just been a really shitty day.”
“Okay, hon. Come tell Nate all about it, and he’ll fix it for you.”
Gratefully she looked at her co-worker and friend and said, “Dinner. I’ll give you all the details when we break for dinner.”
“Suit yourself,” and Nate turned back to his computer, readjusted his headset and got back to work.
Surprisingly, the first four hours of her shift passed quickly, and she soon found herself seated across a table in the tiny break room spilling her guts to Nate.
“Ooh, baby. That is big,” Nate replied after Jill explained the events of the day in detail.
“Nate. I don’t know what to do. Do I tell Thea? Her husband? This is all just so unbelievable.”
“You know the answer to that question as well as I do. Sometimes the hardest things to do or say are the kindest and wisest way to go. You’re strong. I have no doubt that you’ll do the right thing. Now pass me some of those pretzels. I’ve been doing Atkins for the last four days and am ready to kill someone in exchange for a carb.”
Jill smiled knowingly and passed the snack to her friend.
~
The next morning Jill arose and dressed, then drank two cups of coffee as she contemplated what she should do about Drake. Resolute, she grabbed her coat, wheeled her bike to street level and took off for the hospital to meet Thea.
Thea greeted her friend with a tight hug and a quiet, “Thanks for being here.”
“Can I get you guys anything? Coffee, food, newspaper, anything?”
The Ellsworths were gathered in a family lounge near the nurse’s station that served the ICU patients.
Landen approached Jill, and he too greeted her with a hug. “Westin made it through surgery yesterday and is now in the ICU. He’s still unconscious. They are limiting his visitors to a maximum of two at a time. Mom and Grandma E are with him now. My mom won’t leave his side, so the rest of us take turns being with her in his room.”
“Landen, I’m so sorry this happened. You must be devastated. But Westin is young and strong; I’m sure he’ll be just fine.”
“Thanks, Jill. Appreciate you taking the time to be with Thee, and well, all of us.”
“You’re welcome. Let me know if you need anything.” Jill paused awkwardly. “Um, Landen there’s something I need to…”
Suddenly, a disheveled, dirty and blood-stained Drake appeared in the doorway, halting their conversation. There was a collective gasp when everyone noticed his unruly appearance.
William stood up, pointing at his middle son. Shouting, he said, “What in the devil have you done now? We really don’t have time to bail you out of whatever trouble you’ve gotten yourself into this time. Go home, clean up and come back when you can offer a little support to this family. Don’t let your mother see you in this condition. It will kill her.”
“Drake,” Landen chided, “What the hell?”
Drake held his hands up, palms facing forward. “I know. I know. I’m not here to cause more trouble, but there is something I need to tell you.” Drake’s voice cracked, he drew a deep breath and admitted, “It’s me! All of this, Westin, it’s all my fault. I’m the bastard here.”
“Drake,” Landen interrupted. “What the hell are you talking about?“
“It’s my fault. I’m the reason that Westin is lying in that hospital bed.”
A chorus of “Whats?” sounded in the small room.
“I’ve been playing in some games. Card games. High stake ones. I mean high stake card games with some not so very nice people. I was doing great until just recently when my luck went to shit, and I got in deep and owed this guy a shit load of money.”
“What does that have to do with your brother? I cannot believe he would knowingly take part in any scheme of yours,” William announced.
Landen grabbed his brother by the collar of his shirt and pulled him forward, his fist resting on Drake’s throat. “What. Are. You. Saying?” Landen asked in a very low and very menacing voice. “What does that have to do with Westin?”
Choking and gasping for air, Drake tried to speak. With a shake and a toss Landen finally released his hold on Drake’s throat and shirt. “I used his name,” Drake admitted quietly. Then he picked his head up and with his gaze locked onto Landen’s and repeated, “I used, well, I use Westin’s name. The players, the thugs, everyone at the Grand Hotel all think I’m Westin Ellsworth. When I lost again two nights ago, the word went down that I was to get a beat-down because I couldn’t pay, not only what I owed, but also the additional I borrowed to try and win it back. They let me go, initially, and I was able to hide and avoid them.
“Not knowing what I look like, the thugs they hired to beat me up went out looking for me. They found the real Westin Ellsworth instead, and he got what was meant for me.”
A deadly silence filled the room.
“Get. Out,” were the only words that were heard. William Ellsworth spoke. “You are dead to me,” he said as he walked to his middle son. With his index finger pressed into Drake’s chest he repeated, “You are dead to me. Take your sorry ass and get out of here. Don’t you ever show yourself to this family again. Do you understand?” The words came out fiercely and spit flew from William’s mouth, hitting Drake in the face. Drake didn’t flinch. He simply nodded his head once and turned to walk out of the room.
“Hey, Drake,” Landen said. Drake turned to face his older brother. Pain shot through Drake’s head as Landen’s fist connected with his jaw. Another blow came quickly after that and pain shot through his nose. Blood started flowing down Drake’s face. Landen shook his fist in pain. Thea came up behind him and put her arms around his middle and rested her head on his back just below his shoulder blades.
Drake put his hands to his face and pinched the bridge of his nose in an effort to stop the bleeding. Jill watched the whole exchange in horror and relief. Thankful that she didn’t have to be the one to have to tell them what had really happened and distraught knowing the person she was falling for was in pain. Ultimately, though, she knew he deserved it. Maybe now that he’s facing up to the truth he’ll be able to change his ways and live up to the man she knew he could
be.
CHAPTER 17
Jill threw her leg off the seat of her bike and walked it to the entrance to her condo building the next night after work. As she neared the entrance, she saw a man slumped on the pavement next to the door.
She approached cautiously, and when the man looked up she saw it was Drake.
She moved past him to unlock the outside door to her building.
“Jill,” Drake said in raspy voice. She ignored him as she fumbled for her key.
“Please. Jill.” Again she said nothing in response. She put the key in the lock, and it turned. Drake’s hand touched her foot. She pulled it out of his grasp.
“Jill. No. Please,” Drake begged. He began to cough and pulled his hand back, holding his rib cage in pain.
Jill took the opportunity to slip inside the building, never looking back as the door shut on Drake’s pleas.
She lifted her bike onto her shoulder and trudged up the stairs to the third floor. When she reached the landing she lowered her bike to the floor and walked it to her door. The silence in the hallway was filled with the clicking of the bike wheels as they turned. She paused, unlocked her door, walked into her living room and stood still.
She sighed audibly as she flicked the kickstand down with her toe. Her shoulders sank, and she tossed her messenger bag onto a chair.
She paused for another moment before she turned, walked out of her apartment, closed the door behind her and walked back down the stairs to the building entrance. Cautiously she opened the outside door so as not to hit the pathetic man sitting next to it.
She stepped outside and stood, arms crossed, her feet together and she looked down at Drake.
“What?” Jill asked impatiently.
With one eye swollen shut, Drake looked up at Jill, his cheek a dull blue like a bruise was starting to form; dried blood caked under his nose and mouth. “I need help,” Drake said, wincing in pain. “Fuck.”
“What happened to you?” she asked as she kneeled down to examine his face more closely.
“I went to Cunningham, the guy I borrowed the money from. He was surprised that I looked so good. I told him my real name and that I was the one who deserved to be taken out. He listened, said it was unfortunate that my brother had been hurt unnecessarily, then sucker-punched me in the gut. He called me a low life and a pussy for letting someone else take the fall for my fuck-up. That’s when he called his regular goons to come and beat me up. Unfortunately for me, they didn’t do as much damage as they did to Westin, and I’m still alive.”
“Drake,” Jill whispered and gently touched her hand to his face. He winced. “I’m still pissed off at you, but I’ll never fall asleep knowing you’re out here on the sidewalk. Let’s get you upstairs.” Jill reached under his arm in an effort to help him stand. When he was upright they entered the apartment building and slowly made their way up the stairs.
Once inside her place, she led Drake into the bathroom, making him sit on the toilet while she washed the dried blood from his face. “Let’s get some ice on that eye. It looks pretty bad.”
Nodding his agreement, Drake stood and followed Jill into the kitchen. Jill pulled out a bag of frozen vegetables and wrapped it in a kitchen towel. “Here, put this on your eye. Hopefully it will ease the swelling a bit. Do you need something to drink? Water? Coffee?”
“Coffee would be amazing if it’s not too much trouble.”
With tender eyes she looked at the bruised and battered man sitting before her. She couldn’t believe he was the same man who had burst into her apartment just a few months before.
“Coffee,” she responded. “Right. I can do coffee.” She turned and pulled out the filters from the cupboard.
Two hours and three cups of coffee later, Jill helped Drake get situated in her bed. “You really should see a doctor, Drake. I’m worried about your ribs.”
Drake shook his head and responded with a curt, “No. I’ll be fine. It’s Westin who needs all the care and attention, not me.”
Sighing, Jill didn’t press the issue; she turned off the lights and crawled under the covers as well.
“Am I going to be able to sleep, having just had three cups of coffee?”
Jill smiled and assured him that, “Yes, you’ll be able to sleep because the coffee was decaffeinated.”
“Thank god,” he muttered and promptly fell asleep.
CHAPTER 18
The next few days for Jill consisted of work, trips to the hospital, and caring for Drake. By the end of each day she was exhausted.
Drake was healing well, but Westin remained in ICU, still unconscious. A week had passed since Westin had been admitted when Drake decided to go to the hospital and face his family. Jill insisted on going with him.
The elevator doors opened with a ding onto the fourth floor where the medical ICU was housed. Calmly they approached the nurse’s desk and asked to see Westin Ellsworth.
“Mr. Ellsworth is limited to two visitors at a time, and currently two family members are with him. Are you family?” inquired the nurse.
“Yes,” Jill and Drake spoke at once. “I am,” Drake said. “I’m his brother.”
“Fine. When someone leaves his room you are welcome to go in. He’s in the third bay.”
“Great. Now what do I do?” asked Drake directing his question to Jill.
“Let’s try to find your family. The rest of the them have to be here somewhere.
“They’re probably in the family room at the end of the hallway. Let’s go. I’m ready to face them.”
With confident strides Drake approached the room in which the rest of his family was keeping vigil for their youngest member.
Drake entered the room. Before anyone could protest he began to speak. “I know I’m the last person you want to see right now, but that’s just too bad. I’m the person who is responsible for what’s happened to my baby brother, and so I’m going to be at his side from now on. I need to face up to the mistakes I’ve made and try to make things right. Hate me all you want. I deserve it. But I’m not leaving. I’m staying here until Westin gets better.”
The room was silent. Finally, Thea stood and approached Drake. “You look terrible. What happened to your face? Are you okay?”
“Don’t worry about me, Thea, I’ll be fine. Westin is the person we need to focus on.”
Agreeing, Thea told him, “Your mom has been with Westin nonstop since he’s been admitted. No one can get her to leave. Maybe you could try talking to her. She’s beyond exhausted, and all the stress and worry aren’t good for her.”
Drake nodded.
Landen stood, walked to the phone and called Westin’s room. His dad answered. “Dad, can you and mom come and join us in the family room? Drake has come to talk to us. Yes. I know, but he’s here, so let’s talk to him.” Landen placed the handset back into the cradle. “They’re on their way. You better brace yourself because Mom wants to have a word with you.”
Drake knew that when his mother had words to share with one of her children, she meant business. Drake was ready. He was ready to face everything his mother would say, and he’d take it like a man.
Moments later they heard Caroline say, “Drake Hamilton Ellsworth, I need to have a word with you.”
Drake approached his mother in her wheelchair and sat down so he could be eye to eye with her. “Everyone else out. This is between me and Drake.”
Landen, Thea, William and Jill all shuffled out of the room and closed the door as they left.
“Now, Drake. Tell me what happened. Start from the beginning and don’t leave anything out. What happened? Why is your brother lying unconscious in the ICU?”
Bowing his head, Drake related all the details of his dealings with Cunningham, his hired players and how he used Westin’s name as a means to make it all happen without any regard for the possible consequences.
“I’m so sorry, Mom. I can’t say that enough. Please forgive me.”
“I’m not the person you need to apol
ogize to, and I’m not the person who has to offer forgiveness. Go in that hospital room and speak to your brother. And as for forgiveness, you’ll need to talk to the man in the mirror for that. This doesn’t mean I’m not angry. I am. What you did hurt my baby boy. But, I’m also your mother, and I will always love you no matter what you do.”
Caroline’s eyes met her son’s and she saw tears forming in them.
“I only hope that you know how much I believe in you and know that you can do so much better. Stop listening to your father and Landen. Start fresh and earn something, some dignity and respect on your own. I don’t care what you do with your life, as long as you’re happy and doing an honest day’s work.”
With tears coursing down his cheeks he leaned over to kiss his mother on the cheek and whisper in her ear. His words were simple but powerful: “Love you, Mom.” Then he stood and walked out the door and to his brother’s bedside.
~
Early the next morning Drake awoke upon hearing a soft groan come from his brother. He sat up with a start. “West. Can you hear me? It’s Drake. West? Nurse!”
The on-duty nurse rushed in to the room.
“I think my brother is waking up.”
“Westin.” The nurse leaned over the bed to check Westin’s pupils. “You’re in the hospital. You’ve had an accident. Don’t try to speak. Just rest. I’m going to call the doctor and let her know that you’re awake.” She looked at Drake and told him she’d be right back.
A sense of relief flooded through his body. Then he remembered his mom and grabbed his cell phone from his pocket. As the phone rang he noticed it was only 4:30 in the morning.
“Hello,” said a deep voice rough from sleep.
“Dad. It’s Drake. Westin just woke up.”
“What?” William’s voice sounded clearer now. “Westin’s awake?”
“Yes. He’s started groaning and his eyes were fluttering open. He still has that tube down his throat so he can’t talk. They’re getting the doctor right now. I thought you and Mom would want to know.”