That she would dare threaten to leave him was unfathomable after all he had done for her. He could have easily left after the car accident, but nobly, he’d stayed. He’d stuck by Mary’s side despite her crippling injuries and the crippling medical bills. He’d stuck it out, practically as a single parent to two rambunctious boys, with the older one constantly testing the limits. He’d stuck by her side even though they’d not made love since the accident. At first she’d said sex was too painful, then she’d had no desire.
Naturally he’d had to turn elsewhere. Her overall lack of gratitude was appalling.
Then there was his first son. For four years he’d blocked all thoughts of Jason, and the boy’s surprise appearance had jolted him.
Jason was more like James than either wanted to admit.
Despite what she’d become, had he not met Mary, James knew he’d be in prison or maybe even a homeless alcoholic himself. Jason hadn’t encountered his Mary yet, and probably never would. James realized he was losing her — the woman who’d changed his life. But he’d fight to keep her.
James pushed himself harder as he began the fourth mile. It felt good for his lungs to burn and his legs to focus singularly on his pace. However, the sickening image of Leo’s forehead wound kept flashing in his mind. His son unconscious and bloodied…he’d gone way too far.
But Leo had to succeed, and James’s anger upon learning about the drug abuse had overtaken his senses. Leo was the one shining beacon for the family — the only sign James’s life mattered at all.
Sometimes the compliments he received about Leo’s swimming and school performances were the only thing that kept him going. He’d given up on Mary and Jason long ago, but Leo could save the family.
As James accelerated his pace again for the fifth mile, he started planning Leo’s glorious return to swimming. Now that the drug was out of his system, he might have a chance to come back for the state meet. James regretted that Leo’s bruises would prevent him from returning to practice anytime soon, but maybe he could sneak in some laps at the community pool.
He’d just have to keep him focused — no distractions from school and sport. Up to this point James had mostly ignored Audrey, but the second Leo’s grades slipped, he’d order an end to the relationship.
Suddenly James stopped on the track, hands on his knees and breathing heavily. He knew exactly where Leo had gone: Audrey’s.
James sprinted to his car. He had to retrieve his son and make his family whole again. It was his duty as a father.
20. Narcissus
Audrey peeled herself away from Leo, the leather making a scrunching noise as her weight shifted off the sofa. She bent down to retrieve the various clothing items strewn on the floor. Leo watched her intently. The only thing he wore was a look of bliss.
“You’re gorgeous, Aud.”
She blushed as she pulled up her pants. “Thank you.” She threw boxer shorts in his direction. “Get dressed, and I’ll make us something to eat. I’m starving!”
“Me too.” He grinned. “That’s the best workout I’ve had in days.” Audrey scooped up Leo’s jeans from the floor. As she held them out, she heard a strange rattling noise. Curious, she reached into the pocket as Leo lunged for her.
He was too late.
“What are these doing here?” She held up the bottle of pills, the name Mary Scott clearly visible on the prescription label.
Leo looked down and cursed under his breath.
“Did you take any of these?”
“No.”
She eyed him suspiciously — he looked quite guilty. “Then why do you have them?”
Leo continued to avoid her eyes. “I don’t know. When I came to after CS smashed my head against his desk, I wasn’t thinking straight. I guess I panicked. I’m not going to take them, Audrey…
going through withdrawal once was awful enough.”
“So you won’t mind if I return them to your mother myself.” She pocketed the pills.
He angrily grabbed his jeans and yanked them on. “Yeah, I do mind. Give them back to me now.”
“No.” She walked saucily into the kitchen.
“Audrey,” he warned, buttoning his jeans and trying to follow at the same time. “Hand them over.”
Feeling him behind her, Audrey ran, and he chased her through the house. At first he seemed dead serious about wanting the pills, and she felt almost scared, but then his mood changed. She was no match for his long sprinter legs, and wherever she went he ensnared her like his prey, then let her go with a goofy grin to catch her all over again.
Audrey screamed and giggled, trying to avoid his groping hands on her hips and pockets as they raced around the first level of the house. Finally Leo trapped her near the sofa and playfully pushed her down on the leather, lying on top of her in a flip flop of their previous position.
“Is that a bottle of pills in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?” he asked with a half smile, panting.
Audrey grinned, breathing heavily.
“Don’t you trust me?” Leo’s expression turned more solemn.
Her grin faded. “I trust you with a lot of things. I trust you to be faithful to me, for example.” Stabbing his chest with her index finger, she added, “And now that we’ve slept together, you better not cheat on me. You won’t be able to count the claw marks all across your back.”
“Whoa!” His eyes danced. “That sounds like fun.”
“Men.” She rolled her eyes, then placed her hands on his chest. “I don’t want you to be tempted by these pills, Leo. I’m scared for you.” He held his body over hers, balancing his weight on his elbows, and leaned down to kiss her. “I don’t deserve you. If it makes you feel better, you can give the pills back to my mom. Just don’t let CS see you.” She nodded, and he pulled her to her feet. They ambled together into the kitchen and Leo pulled his T-shirt back over his head.
Audrey ran down several options for a quick meal, and they decided on spaghetti with meat sauce and a salad. As they cooked together, chatting amicably, she felt like a real adult, making dinner after a long day at work. She couldn’t wait to have a house with him one day when he was in the Navy. She couldn’t imagine spending her life with anyone else.
They scarfed down their food, and Audrey was again in awe of how much Leo ate. She wondered where he put it all, but such was the metabolism of a swimmer. He belched loudly, patting his stomach.
“Classy.” She shook her head. “That was even louder than Elaine’s monster burps at practice today.”
“I have to get back in the pool. It’s been what, three days? I can’t remember ever being out of the water that long.”
“So then go to practice with me tomorrow.” Leo shook his head, pointing to his swollen face. “Too many questions. I can’t go back till these cuts and bruises fade.”
“Hmm, that is a dilemma.” She thought for a moment. “I have an idea.” She explained quickly to Leo, who seemed impressed by her cleverness.
A phone call set their plan in motion. “The only downside is we just made that buffoon the happiest guy in the school,” Leo said.
Then he looked up and froze.
Audrey followed his gaze and gasped to find Leo’s father standing in the kitchen doorway.
Leo scrambled out of his chair and stood beside the table, completely still. “Dad, I didn’t know you were here.” CS’s violet eyes bounced from Leo to Audrey. “The front door was unlocked, so I let myself in. You really should keep that door locked, Miss Rose.”
“Y-Y-Yes, Commander Scott. My mom has to remind me to lock it all the time.”
“And is your mother home?”
“No, sir. She’s in New Orleans.”
Her response seemed to placate him, and he turned his steely gaze to Leo, stepping closer. “We’ve been worried about you, Leo. You know you’re not supposed to leave the house without my permission.”
“Yes, sir.”
Leo’s father spoke so softly, yet with suc
h menace. Audrey felt goose bumps prickle her spine. When CS moved even closer, Leo’s hand gripped the edge of the table, as if to hold himself in place.
“There’ll be consequences for breaking the rules.”
“I’d expect nothing less, sir.”
He was disgusting. How could he be so cruel? Leo already wore the bruises of their first confrontation. The words were out of her mouth before she could stop herself. “Don’t hurt him, you, you jerk!” Leo’s eyes widened. “Shhh, Aud. Be quiet! Just go upstairs!”
“No.” CS smiled smugly, approaching her. “I’d like to hear what she has to say.”
Audrey felt her airway tighten as he neared. She could smell his sweaty running clothes.
“And where did you learn such excellent parenting advice, Miss Rose? It looks like your parents are nowhere to be seen.” Audrey had never been hit before, but she could easily read the impending violence. She braced herself.
Leo slammed into his father’s side with a lightning-quick surprise attack, throwing CS to the floor.
Audrey screamed as Leo whaled punches on his father. Years of caged rage seemed to tumble out, and CS tried to defend himself, but the blows were too swift. After his punches drew blood, Leo slammed his elbow into his father’s side, eliciting a weak groan.
Leo jumped up from the prone figure, only now seeming to realize what he’d done. He stared at his bloodied right hand.
His father didn’t move, just blinked several times, and a tear leaked out of his eye. Leo still seemed stunned.
As CS slowly gathered himself up off of the floor, Leo stepped in front of Audrey. He didn’t seem afraid anymore.
Brushing himself off, James lifted his hand to his face. He grabbed a paper towel and pressed it to his nose. “Time to go home, Leo.
Your mother’s worried sick.”
“Yes, sir.”
Leo turned and whispered to Audrey. “The pills.”
“No!” She shook her head.
“Please. It’s okay now,” he said.
Finally she reached into her pocket and gave him the bottle.
Taking a deep breath, Leo handed them to his father. “I stole these from Mom, sir. Sorry. I didn’t take any.” James accepted the bottle silently. “I’ll be waiting in the car.” Once he left, Leo enveloped Audrey in a hug. She trembled.
“I don’t want you going home with him.” Leo brushed his hand down her hair. “It’s okay. He knows I’ll hit him back now. Thank you for inspiring me to punch him.” Audrey looked up at him, her lip quivering. “I don’t think I’ve helped things any.”
Leo slid into the passenger seat of his father’s Chevrolet, and CS started the car. “What did you two do before I got here?”
“Uh, um, nothing, sir. We…had dinner.” His father studied him. “I hope you used protection.” Leo glanced at his father, startled. He looked out the window as they backed out of the driveway.
CS seemed to relax. “You know, you could do a lot worse.” Again, Leo had no idea how to respond.
“All I want is for you to be the best swimmer and student in the school,” his father said as they neared their home. “I just want to help you focus on your dreams.”
Leo stared at his father, feeling a jumble of surprise, longing, anger, and mistrust. All he’d ever wanted was his father to be proud of him, but that seemed the most unachievable dream.
They pulled to a stop in the driveway.
“Uh, yes, sir,” Leo finally managed. His heart pounded, and he had to get away from this enigma of a man.
He ran inside, swiftly ascended the stairs, and sank into his bed with relief. A couple of hours later Leo heard a soft knock. His mother poked her head inside the darkened room. “Are you asleep?”
“No, ma’am. Just thinking. You can come in if you want.” His mother maneuvered her way in and sat on the edge of his bed. She caressed the side of his face. “Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Your father’s face looks almost as roughed up as yours.”
“I’m sorry. I kind of lost it. I thought he was going to hurt Audrey.” She sighed. “He gave me back my pills, Leo. Why’d you take them?”
Leo looked away.
“I can get you into therapy,” she said after a moment. “He doesn’t need to know about it.”
“Mom, I just had my first semi-normal conversation with Dad in years. Let’s not press our luck. I’ll be okay. You don’t need to worry.”
“I do worry. I love you.”
“I love you too, Mom.” After a moment, Leo asked, “What’d Jason do? Why’s Dad threatening to turn him in?”
“He stole a bunch of cell phones and God knows what else when he was your age.” She shook her head. “I wonder if Jason can talk to Mr. Morrison again about you missing school for the next few days.”
“No need. I’m going back to school tomorrow.”
“How? You look like you’ve been attacked by a pack of wolves.”
“It was Audrey’s idea. I’ll tell everyone Billy Ryan kicked my butt.
He finally got revenge for the smack-down I gave him in September.” His mother took this in, slowly smiling. “Audrey seems like quite a smart young lady.”
“She is, Mom. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“Well, you’re the best thing that ever happened to me. I’m so glad you’re my son.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Get some sleep.”
“Yes, ma’am. Good night, Mom.”
Leo rolled over, his face flushed with warmth as he relived his time with Audrey.
21. Step Number Nine
Jason woke with a start and tried to figure out what kind of hole he’d landed himself in this time. A dull ache throbbed in his brain.
He noticed a photograph on the end table and recognized a younger version of Marcus Shale with one arm draped over the shoulder of a woman who must be his mother. Marcus wore a bright blue graduation gown and a bright, hopeful smile. Jason wasn’t sure he’d ever felt that sort of optimism.
The conversation with his sponsor still looped in his mind. After the AA meeting, Marcus had driven them back to his apartment in silence, and Jason was up half the night wrestling with the decision about how to make amends. He was tired of the merry-go-round of relapse and recovery. It was a misery-go-round.
Jason heard the groan of pipes as the water came on at the back of the apartment. Yawning, he shuffled over to the kitchen and rifled through the cabinets. By the time Marcus emerged from the shower, Jason had poured them both coffee and neatly folded his sheet and blanket.
“Coffee. Thank God.” Marcus smiled as he accepted his cup and took some creamer from the fridge. “How’d you sleep?”
“Not great. I’ve got a hangover — doesn’t seem right after only three drinks.”
“You said it’s been five months since your last relapse? You probably lost your tolerance.”
Jason snorted. “Great, now I can’t even enjoy my relapses.”
“What’s there to enjoy, Jason? A few seconds of relaxation followed by years of regret?” Marcus reached into the freezer and took out some cinnamon rolls, which he began to defrost in the microwave.
He shook his head. “Listen to me, talking like I have all the answers when I came this close to relapsing myself last night.” He turned to face Leo and leaned on the cabinet. “So, you called the airline to move up your flight?”
“Nope.” Jason looked away. The image of Leo’s bloodied face haunted him. “I think I’ll stay in Pensacola for a while.”
“I see. Won’t be a vacation though, will it? Instead of palm trees and ocean, you’ll have a view from behind bars.”
“Something like that.”
“How ’bout you talk to an attorney before you turn yourself in?
I know a few who’ve defended my clients on DUI charges.” Jason shook his head. “Can’t afford it. I used my last funds on the plane ticket and renting that car, and they probably won’t hold my job for me a
t the restaurant.”
“You’ve been working as a waiter?”
“Right now I’m only bussing tables.” Jason chuckled. “I was making good money as a bouncer, but my sponsor practically disowned me when he found out. So now I work at a restaurant without a liquor license.”
“I bet bouncing drunks out of a bar was way more satisfying than clearing tables,” Marcus said.
“You can say that again. Speaking of bars, can you drive me to my car at Navy Blue?” Jason smirked. “Take me back to the bar before I go behind bars?”
“Hilarious.” Marcus shook his head. “Don’t you want some breakfast first?”
Jason eyed the gooey cinnamon rolls. “How ’bout some toast? I don’t know how you eat that crap.”
Marcus’s laugh boomed. “Well, I don’t smoke, so I need some kind of addiction to replace booze. Junk food’s my main vice these days.” He patted his generous belly. “Too bad I inherited my dad’s slow metabolism.”
Jason didn’t respond. He hoped he hadn’t inherited anything from his dad. He’d recovered by the time the toast popped up, and they chatted through breakfast. After Jason showered, Marcus dropped him off at his rental car in the bar’s empty parking lot.
“You know where to find me if you or your brother need anything,” said Marcus. “Don’t be a stranger, Jason. And thanks for getting me out of here last night.”
One more addict — one more caring person, Jason thought. “I’m the grateful one. Thanks for helping us.”
Jason sat in the rental car, attempting to ignore his pounding heart as Marcus drove away. He had a vague notion of the closest police station, and he headed in that direction. He found it far too quickly. After a few tense minutes gripping the steering wheel, he forced himself to walk inside.
“I’m here to report a crime,” he announced to the officer at the desk.
“Let me get you a report form,” the man said, sounding bored.
“Uh, no — I mean…I’m the one who did the crime.” Jason stumbled over his words. “I guess I’m here to confess.” This time the officer looked more interested. He motioned to another cop, who frisked Jason, then led him down the hallway. They stopped at an office where a tall, voluptuous blonde sat frowning at her laptop. “Detective Easton? This gentleman would like to turn himself in.”
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