Fated Encounter

by Lesia Reid

  “I’ve got it,” Joey said. “Mom will be happy to see you. She’s been miserable for the past few days. I think she’s sick or something.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “She’s not been herself. Last night she was crying. I went to her room to keep her company, and she was locked in the bathroom crying. Then she came out, claimed she was okay and I didn’t need to keep her company. But this morning, her night table was filled with tissue like she’d been crying all night. And she called out sick this morning. Mom’s only cried this hard once and that was before we moved to Florida. Dad, what do you think is wrong with her?”

  “Let’s go for ice cream,” Sebastian suggested.

  “What about Mom?”

  “She’ll be okay.”

  “I don’t think so. I mean she’s a real mess. When you see her, you’ll know.”

  “I’m sure she’ll be fine.” “You know what’s wrong with her, don’t you?”

  “Ice cream first,” Sebastian said, pulling into the parking lot of the Whole Foods Market. “Then we’ll talk, okay?”

  They ordered ice cream then sat in a quiet shady corner. “There’s nothing wrong with your mom,” Sebastian said. “At least nothing she can’t bounce back from.”

  Joey stuck his spoon in his cup and looked at Sebastian. He sensed impending doom.

  “What is it?”

  “Deana and I will not be seeing each other any more. It—” “Is it because of me?”

  “No,” Sebastian said quickly. “No, we both love you and I will always be there for you.”

  “You don’t want to be my father?”

  “It’s not that simple or easy,” Sebastian said. “Of course, I want to be your father, and I hope you always think of me like that but unfortunately your mom and I are not working out right now.”

  “What did I do?” Tears welled in his eyes.

  “Joey, it’s not you. You didn’t do anything.”

  “Then why are you leaving? I thought you loved us.”

  “I am not leaving. I just won’t be sleeping over anymore. You and I will still play video games and read together. I’ll pick you up from school when I can. Joey, you will still be my son. I love you and I love Deana, but—”

  “If you love each other why don’t you work it out? It’s not the same when you’re not there. Is it because of Denver? I won’t go on another trip with you and if I do I won’t talk so much.”

  “Joey, listen to me,” Sebastian said. “I love you, and there will be many more trips and you can always be there with me as long as there’s no school. You are not the problem. You are the most perfect thing in our lives but—”

  “Did mom ground you again?”

  Sebastian didn’t want this to be him pitted against Deana. Worse, he didn’t want the boy hating his mother over this. He laughed a sad laugh and ruffled Joey’s already unruly hair.

  “No, I grounded her this time. How can I live without you in my life? You’re right, Joey. If we love each other we can work it out, and I love your mother. I’ll just have to unground her.”

  “Is that a word?”

  “I don’t know, but it sounds cool. I love you, Joey, and I will be your father. Don’t cry, let’s finish our ice cream then we can go home and try to cheer up Mom.”

  “No one’s ever treated us like you do,” Joey said. “And it’s not the cool things or the video games. It’s nice having you around.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Hey, how comes you send flowers when you’re grounded and Mom cries when she is grounded?”

  “To that, I have no answers. I guess that’s something you’ll have to learn on your own. But I’ll fix what’s broken between your mother and me. I promise.”

  “Cool.”

  Deana was in the kitchen when they got in the house. She was expecting Thelma, not Sebastian.

  “I’m not feeling well,” she shouted. “Thanks for dropping him off, I would have come over and picked him up.”

  “Hello, Deana.”

  She looked up to see Sebastian leaning against the opening of the kitchen. The glass of water fell from her hands.

  “Hi Mom,” Joey said. “I’m going to my room. You can call me when dinner’s ready. I think Dad wants us to go somewhere nice.”

  Deana nodded.

  Sebastian waited for the sound of Joey’s door closing before saying anything.

  “Thanks for picking him up,” Deana said. “I thought it was Thelma. I forgot you had a key.”

  “He’s my son too. I thought I would have a talk with him.” “You told him about us?”

  “I started to, but then he thought it was his fault. I told him it wasn’t. He’s concerned about you.”

  “I’ll be fine. I just had a bug today.”

  “Does that bug feel like butterflies in the pit of your stomach?” “More like wasps,” Deana said, moving to clean up the glass.

  “Leave it. We can deal with that later. Let’s just cut to the bones right now and please, let me say what I have to before you interrupt. If you want me out of your life, say so. If you want me to stay, I’ll tell you exactly what I want from you. I know you complain about having nothing to offer me, so I’m making it absolutely clear what I want. If you can’t do this, then tell me to go.

  “I want your love and your trust. I know there are some issues with Joey’s real father. I am giving you the benefit of the doubt on when to tell me about it. For now, you have to give me the benefit of the doubt when I say I love you and I want to be with you. Maybe I didn’t explain Anna clearly enough, but I didn’t think that would have mattered. If it wasn’t her, it would be any other woman whom you think is superior to you. You have nothing to be jealous of when it comes to me and other women. You’re all I need. It’s been that way from I met you.

  “The stuff I do for you and Joey is to make your lives better, our lives. So you get over all the little humps let’s set it straight. I don’t care that you work in a diner. I don’t care that you have a budget, personally, I think that’s great. I care about two things, you and Joey and I will always try to make your lives better. That’s it. I need an answer now, if you have to think about it, forget it.”

  “I want you in our lives,” she said. Tears ran done her cheek. “Are we good?”

  “Yes, I’m so sorry,” she stepped into his arms.

  Sebastian held her tightly. He missed her and wanted her more than anything he could think of.

  “I’m yours,” he said. “All of me.”

  “I am yours,” she replied. “I will give you all of me.”

  “I love you,” he kissed her lips then her tear-stained cheeks.

  “Let’s go get our son and have dinner. I think we have something to celebrate. He’d be happy to know you’re no longer grounded.”

  “Baby, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean what I said on Tuesday. I know we’re patching—”

  “Every healthy relationship has disagreements. The next time, let’s disagree on something as trivial as paper or plastic. And if you ever need an answer from me, just ask. I promise not to get mad. And, for the record, I didn’t beg Anna to stay. I’ve never wanted to get married in my life or have kids. Apparently, I hadn’t met the right person.”

  “That’s lucky for me. I love you, Sebastian.”

  “Good, now if you’re not sick, or the wasps have gone away, when our son’s in bed tonight, you can make it up to me. I understated when I said the sex was enjoyable. The truth is it’s incredible. While we are at this making up stage, I have one last thing to say. When Joey gets back from summer camp, I’m moving in here or you’re moving to my house.”

  “Let’s get dinner and stop wasting time for tonight.”

  Chapter 16

  They got home from dinner around nine o’clock. Joey wanted to stay up to play video games.

  “Sorry,” Sebastian said. “Your bus leaves at nine, you need to get some sleep, and we have to check to make sure you have everything.”


  “I have everything on the list,” Joey said. “Just one game please. I won’t have video games for two weeks. I’ll die.”

  Sebastian laughed.

  “Okay, one game. When I beat you, you go to bed, agreed?” “Can I choose the game?”

  “Sure.”

  “Let’s see,” Joey said, “Grand Turismo.”

  “Okay.”

  In five minutes Sebastian had him packing off to bed.

  “I don’t know how you do that,” Deana said when he finished reading to Joey and joined her in their bedroom.

  “What?”

  “Keep up with him.”

  “I want you here more than he wants to stay up. Or I was lucky.” “Well, I hope you can keep up with me.”

  “I’ll try.”

  Denver with Sebastian hadn’t scared her, but her eyes were teary as she waved good-bye to Joey when the bus pulled away from her house. Even though Trevor was with him, this was the first he would be truly alone.

  “He needs this,” Sebastian comforted, pulling her in his arms. “This is all a part of him growing up.”

  “I know, I’ve had that lecture with myself a hundred times, but he’s still my baby.”

  “And you’re a great mother for fussing.”

  “I’m glad you’re here, Sebastian.”

  “So am I, honey. It will be okay”

  And it was okay for the first three days. Joey called on time every day like he was supposed to. When Joey didn’t call at six o’clock Wednesday afternoon, Deana became worried. She’d reminded him at noon that he needs to keep the phone charged and that she was waiting for his six o’clock call. The line of customers at the cashier was growing, but that was not her primary concern. It was six o’clock, Joey should have called. At exactly a minute after six, she called him. The telephone was turned off. She got a generic message from a mechanical voice.

  For the next five minutes, she rang the number every fifteen seconds, holding her breath for an answer. It was the recording service. The customers were getting impatient and she was getting slower with worry. Finally at ten minutes after the hour, she left the register in search of Travis.

  “I have to go,” Deana said. “Joey hasn’t called.”

  “You can’t leave,” Travis said. “We are already two short and I need a full-time cashier on the shift. He’s at camp for god sake. He’s cutting the umbilical cord.”

  “Joey would have called me on time,” Deana said as the bell at the cashier register started to ring.

  “Deana, I need you here.”

  “And my son needs me. I have to go, Travis.”

  “If you go then your job won’t be here when you get back, not even making pies.”

  “Fine,” Deana said. “My son’s more important!”

  She took off her nametag and handed it to Travis. She brushed pass him to the office and retrieved her bag. She knew her son and she knew something was wrong. She dialed the camp as she headed for the door. A counselor picked up on the third ring.

  “This Deana Lang, I’m looking for my son Joey Lang.”

  “Oh Mrs. Lang,” the counselor said. “We are out looking for the boys also. They left with their guide around four this afternoon and we haven’t heard from them.”

  “Merda!” Deana swore as she hung up.

  She got in her car and broke every speed limit on the way home. She ran inside, packed a hasty bag and returned to her car. She drove to Thelma’s first to find out if they knew what was happening.

  Thelma was sniffing in a big handkerchief when Deana arrived. Carl was home with her. Deana could see the worried look on their faces, and Thelma was gripping her cell phone.

  “What is it?” Deana asked.

  “They found Trevor and the counselor in the woods. Joey is gone. Speak to Trevor, he was there.”

  Deana grabbed the phone and listened to Trevor’s account. Apparently some man had jumped then in the woods. He had knocked out the counselor and snatched Joey. The two boys tried to fight him, but they were no match and Trevor had been knocked out too. The man spoke Italian and he had a scar running the length of his face.

  “Sweet Jesus!” Deana said. “I have to go.”

  “Deana, what is going on? Where are you going?”

  “I’m going to get my son,” she said.

  “Let me take you to the camp,” Carl said. “You don’t look like you can drive right now.”

  “I’m not going to the camp,” Deana said. “Joey’s not there. I’m going to New York.”

  “Deana,” Carl pleaded.

  “I have to go.”

  She backed out of the driveway leaving her best friends in awe. She knew this day might have come. After nine years she hoped she was nothing but a memory to Antonio Pacelli, she was wrong. How long had he been watching her, waiting for the right time?

  “Call Sebastian,” Carl said. “She’s in trouble and she’s going to need some help.”

  Thelma didn’t have to finish her statement. Joey was missing and Deana was running off to New York. He punched the number for the Torrance corporate jet and instructed them to have it ready to fly to New York. He knew Deana was making for the Fort Lauderdale airport; there were a greater number of flights through there than the West Palm Beach locale. He made a quick illegal u-turn and headed south on Interstate 95.

  Deana scanned the flight schedule interested in only one city initial, NY. Delta had a flight leaving in twenty minutes, American Airlines in an hour. She made her way to the Delta terminal.

  “I need a ticket to New York,” she said.

  “I’m sorry but the current flight to New York is fully booked. Our next flight leaves in three hours, you could purchase a standby ticket for that flight. Your seat is not a guarantee.”

  “I have to get to New York immediately,” Deana said.

  “Miss, there is nothing we can do. We do not have any tickets for this flight and it already boarding.”

  Deana ran out of line and made for the American Airline counter. She was half way to the counter when her cell phone rang.

  “Joey?” she answered the phone.

  “Deana, it’s Sebastian. I’m in the parking lot of the airport. Meet me at Gate fifty-two.”

  “Sebastian?” she asked, losing her bearings for a minute. “What are you doing here?”

  “Thelma called me. Gate fifty-two, okay?”

  She hung up the telephone and looked at all the signs around her. No time to think about Thelma blabbering to Sebastian. If he could get her to New York, she could overlook the meddling. She followed the sign for gates 51-59. She jogged to the gate. She didn’t have a boarding pass or a ticket. Security would surely stop her.

  “Merda!”

  She got to the security booth and dropped her bag on the conveyor belt. She held a copy of her driver’s license and prayed they wouldn’t ask for a ticket.

  “Ticket,” the security officer said.

  “I don’t have one,” she said. “I’m meeting my friend at gate fifty- two.” “You cannot pass here without a ticket,” the security said. “I have to meet my friend at gate fifty-two,” she said.

  “Deana Lang?” A senior security officer walked up to her. “Yes,” she said and showed her ID.

  “Private flight,” the senior personnel told the security. “Put her through.”

  The security officer escorted her to gate fifty-two. Sebastian was not there as yet, and she wanted to wait outside for him, but the officer took her down the boarding tunnel and on to a private jet. She recognized three of the flight attendants. They had been on the yacht with them a few weeks ago. She greeted them by name as they showed her to a huge comfortable captain’s chair.

  “Miss Lang, we’ll be ready to leave as soon as Mr. Torrance comes on board,” the one she knew as Jacquelyn said.

  “Okay.”

  It took another five minutes for Sebastian to board the airplane. Deana all but collapsed in his arms as he hugged her. The horrid frightened look
on her face tormented him. He just hugged her while she sobbed softly on his shoulders. They were New York bound in another twenty minutes.

  “Talk to me,” Sebastian said.

  “Thanks for this, Sebastian,” she said. “You shouldn’t be here, but I’m happy you are. What would I have done if Ivy hadn’t taken sick and you happened to have fallen in love with my cheesecakes?”

  “Somehow, I believe we would have found each other to share this moment. What is going on?”

  “It’s Antonio Pacelli, Joey’s father. The bastard has kidnapped him.” “Tell me everything,” Sebastian said.

  Somewhere in New York, Joey Lang was in a huge white bedroom. He hated the color white for a bedroom, and he hated that the bad man had taken him from camp and hurt his friend Trevor. He was asleep during the flight here. They had flown first class on a commercial airliner, but the man had injected him with something that made him drowsy during the ride in the car. If it wasn’t for that, he might have kicked and screamed and raised hell. Il figlio di puttana had come and gotten him at camp. He surveyed the white room now. He was mad. His mother would never let him out of her sight again. But what if Mom doesn’t find me, he thought.

  The room was furnished with paintings, a few collectibles that looked expensive, and a television. Joey got up and walked to the door. It was locked. This made him ever madder. He balled his hands into fisted and knocked the door repeated, screaming for help at the same time. No one answered. He knocked until his hands were tired. No one came. But Joey Lang, almost nine going on forty was a fighter like his mom. If they didn’t come to him when he called, they would come if he started breaking things. Some of these looked expensive enough.

  The crystal Faberge egg shattered on the hood of Antonio’s new SUV, leaving a nasty dent in the hood. The sound of broken glass hitting the pavement followed. He had listened to his son bang against the door for ten minutes and screamed at him in English and Italian. So his mother wasn’t worthless after all, she taught him something about his heritage. He hadn’t expected the Faberge egg through the window though. This room was the best choice for the boy. It was the only room in the house with security bars on the window. It was his father’s old room. How he had rejoiced when his stepmother Simone Pacelli had agreed to have them up. The boy was resourceful. He would give him another thirty minutes to realize the situation was beyond his control, before he would approach him. Joey Lang was a happy well-adjusted boy. He never threw temper fits, but if his mother could see him now, she would be shocked. He followed the Faberge egg with shoes, clothes, and perfumes, everything his four feet and sixty pounds could manage. It hurt him to do this, but he found the old crutch useful as he whacked every painting on the wall and topped it off with a huge crash of the TV screen. The sound of the TV toppling and the broken glass topped off some of his anger.