by Cora Brent
However, what emerged from the dark shadows was not an enemy. Nor was he a threat.
“Eli,” I said with surprise.
My old friend stepped into the yellow light of the streetlamp and smiled at me sheepishly.
“Hey, Conway,” he said hoarsely and crossed his arms over his chest with a shiver.
Eli had been part of my faithful old crew and we’d had some good times when we were all living in an old downtown hotel. Then our buddy Jackson died unexpectedly and left the lot of us reeling. To those of us who remained – me, Eli and Kilt – Jackson’s death seemed like a sign that we ought to move on. By that time I already had an idea that I wanted a different kind of future with Roslyn, Kilt planned to return home to his family’s Montana ranch and Eli decided to give an old romance another try. Since then we’d texted here and there but he hadn’t given out many hints what he was up to and I’d purged most of my old contacts so I hadn’t heard any news.
But one look at Eli now and I could tell he was somewhat worse for the wear. He’d lost weight, his ragged clothes hung on his bony frame and his black hair looked unwashed. The scar that ran the length of his left cheek from an ancient knife fight gave him even more of a terrible look. As he stepped closer I saw how he trembled.
“Come inside,” I said gently, putting a hand on his shoulder and leading him toward the door.
Once we were indoors I turned on the lights and motioned to the chairs in the waiting area. Eli sank into one and I sat beside him. His shoulders slumped and his dark eyes regarded me almost fearfully behind his greasy black hair. At the moment he seemed nothing like the rakish tough guy I’d known for years.
“What’s going on?” I asked, feeling a little wary. Whatever had gone wrong in Eli’s life I wasn’t sure I wanted to know about it.
He sighed. “Look man, I’m really fucking sorry to show up like this. I didn’t want to, Con. I know you were looking to make a clean break and believe me I’m not trying to drag you down.”
I noticed how chapped his hands were, like he’d been spending most of his time out in the elements. Despite my unease, I couldn’t deny that Eli had been a good, loyal friend in a time and place when friends like that were in short supply. I hated seeing him in a bad way.
Slowly, haltingly, Eli told me his story, although it was obvious that he was withholding a few details. I didn’t press him though. Sometimes too much information was hazardous.
After we’d parted ways some months back, Eli had tried to go straight. He moved in with the mother of one of his kids, trying to be a dad and a good boyfriend while working a regular job as a bartender. For a little while all seemed well. He was making decent money and getting used to family life. Then his little girl, Annie, got sick. After a weeklong hospital stay she emerged thin, exhausted and with a diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes. And the medicine was hellishly expensive. Eli took a second job and worked as much possible to try and cover the costs but he worried it wouldn’t be enough. Panic didn’t take long to set in.
At this point Eli paused and lowered his eyes, his words growing rather vague. I could read between the lines and figure out that he’d turned to illegal endeavors in the hopes of improving his finances. He must have pissed someone off along the way because he was now on the run. What little money he had he’d given to his girlfriend before shipping her and the kid off to Los Angeles. She had family there and they’d be able to get Annie the care she needed while staying out of harm’s way until all this nasty business blew over.
“What kind of nasty business are we talking about?” I asked slowly.
Eli coughed. “Small time by our standards. Truth is I could make some calls, battle it out and probably come out on top but that will just put me in the hole again. Jacy thought I should just say fuck it all and go to LA with her.”
“Why the hell didn’t you?”
His chin jutted out and he crossed his arms. “Was born in Phoenix. Always lived in Phoenix.”
“Well, for fuck’s sake, you don’t want to die in Phoenix right now, do you?”
Eli shook his head. “No. But Con, I just went through this whole carnival of starting over. It’s not easy to do. You know that. To run away with nothing to a strange city, having no options other than living in Jacy’s sister’s basement…” His voice trailed off and he sighed. “I can’t.”
I shook my head. “Better to be alive in an LA basement with your girl and your kid rather than laid out cold in a Phoenix alley.”
He grimaced. “It won’t come to that.”
My voice rose. “I’m gonna guess that if you really believed that you wouldn’t be hiding out behind my dumpster after dark.”
Eli looked at me with beseeching eyes. “I’ve been staying out of the city. I had enough cash for a few nights in a shitty motel but I’ve been on the street for days, parking my car in a grocery store lot by the university and sleeping there. Then yesterday morning I went inside to get cleaned up in the bathroom. I came out to find some damn cop crawling all over my car. Cops ask a lot of question and I didn’t want to give out answers so I made myself scarce for a few hours. When I got back my car was gone.”
“Gone? You mean towed away?”
“I’m guessing. Fuck, it was a dumb idea to keep parking in the same place night after night. Someone must have noticed and called it in.”
I took a minute to digest this. What Eli was really saying was that he was now out on the street with no car, no money and trying to evade some mystery menace who was trying to hunt him down.
“Well,” I said, running a tense hand through my hair. “Shit.”
Eli leaned forward. “Look, a few more days is all I need to wait this out.”
I was skeptical. My hands flexed into a fist and I found myself wishing with all my might that I hadn’t quit smoking. “Eli. Don’t even fucking tell me that you’re thinking the spirit of Christmas will save you.”
He shook his head vigorously. “Nope, not Christmas. Somebody a whole lot more practical than Santa Claus and who wears a black robe and sits behind a big desk.”
“I’m not following.”
Eli looked like he was mulling over how much information he ought to share. “Let’s just say there’s a courtroom event on the horizon.”
I understood. At least I thought I did. Whoever Eli had crossed was probably some petty dealer who was currently out on bail and facing an imminent trial. Eli must be figuring once the trial started the guy would have bigger problems than chasing down a grudge. Of course, that would depend on just how badly Eli had fucked him over. Moreover, even assholes had friends. Just because the boss was going down didn’t mean Eli was home free, and there was always the chance the guy would be found not guilty of whatever he was being dragged into court for. There were still too many holes in this story and I didn’t even want to try to plug them all in. Plus I still didn’t know what Eli was expecting by showing up here.
“I’m sorry, Con,” Eli said like he was reading my thoughts. “It was a shit move on my part tracking you down.” He stood up, wincing a little, and I wondered if his clothes hid evidence of a recent beating. Despite all my misgivings my heart hurt over the sight of my old friend in trouble.
“What do you need, Eli?” I asked quietly. There was no way in hell I’d be willing to dive headfirst back into the underworld now that I had a wife and baby on the way, but I could part with a few dollars if that would be of any help. I took out my wallet and counted out the cash I had. It wasn’t much, forty-three dollars, but there was a little more in the petty cash safe. I’d have to replace it before Stone realized it was gone but I could take care of that tomorrow.
“I hate taking your money,” Eli said miserably, not meeting my eyes as he pocketed the bills.
“I know.”
“I’ll pay you back as soon things return to normal.”
“I know that too.”
I looked around. The garage wasn’t the most comfortable place in the world but at least it was i
nside out of the cold. Eli protested at first when I told him to spend the night here. I dragged out some old tarps and set them on the floor, figuring he could make something bed-like out that. From the sound of it he’d made do with far less lately. A twinge of doubt struck me when I remembered Stone and how he would be less than thrilled to find out I’d invited a wayward old friend to crash on our floor as he hid from whatever was chasing him.
But then Eli murmured a heartfelt thanks and I saw from the way his lip trembled that he was desperate. I also remembered how once upon a time he’d stepped in when some sore loser tried to bash a hole in my skull after the guy had come up short in a street race and lost the pink slip to his Camaro. I’d only turned my back for a second and that motherfucker came roaring my way with a crowbar swinging. He might have gotten in a solid hit before I could react but Eli was standing four feet away and he was quick about putting that nonsense down, breaking the guy’s arm in the process in case he had any more ideas about hitting anyone with anything. That wasn’t the only time Eli had stepped between violence and me. I just couldn’t forget about all that.
Besides, I reasoned, no one would think to look for him here. I slipped Eli a spare key, warning him to be gone at least an hour before sunrise and not to come back until he saw that Stone’s silver Ford truck was gone for the day tomorrow.
Before I left a raided the small cupboard in the office, gathering the chips and other snacks Stone and I always kept handy in case we needed to grab a bite during the day. The tiny fridge in the front held bottled waters for the customers so I told Eli to help himself to that too. He gave me a grateful wave and smiled with a mouth full of Cheetos when I walked out the door. I realized I’d need to come in extra early in the morning to make sure Eli had put the place back together so Stone wouldn’t realize we’d had an overnight guest. Suddenly I was really glad I’d convinced him to go home early.
As I drove home my doubts started to disappear. Everything would be all right. I was just helping out a buddy. Stone didn’t really need to know about it. He’d just worry if he did know.
I felt even better when I walked through my front door and saw an angel. A very pregnant angel. One who smiled at me and walked my way with her arms held wide. I hugged Roslyn carefully and felt our child turn over in her belly.
“Missed you,” she sighed into my neck.
“Missed you too.” I put a hand on her stomach and felt the occupant’s tiny kick in return. For so many years I’d shut myself off from the possibilities of love. Yet now my heart couldn’t be fuller.
“Feels like Tadpole Gentry has been working out in there,” she said wryly. “Still, there’s no sign that departure is imminent.”
“Soon enough,” I said with confidence.
Roslyn rested her head on my chest and spoke with a dreamy kind of amazement in her voice. “Seems like so long ago since I found out I was pregnant and yet it also seems like we’ve been waiting for this baby forever.”
Briefly the events of the past year flashed through my mind. The story started with an unlikely meeting and a girl from a painful past. Not long after was the slow realization that I was falling in love. Then came the cruel and painful death of a friend, followed by the knowledge that I wanted to make the most of my life before I met my own end. There was the shock of hearing that I would be a father. And finally, the happy ending that landed me right here.
Roslyn peered up at me. “You okay, Conway?”
“I’m fine, honey.”
She flashed a beautiful smile. “I really did miss you all day long.”
“Yeah?” I pushed her long hair aside and kissed her. “Well, I’m home now. I’m home.”
CHAPTER FOUR
STONE
Evie had fallen asleep before the end of the movie so I carried her to the bedroom. After I tucked her beneath the covers I stood by her side for a moment, just admiring what I had. Shortly after we’d gotten together I’d made a vow that I would never take a minute of her love for granted. Evie curled her body up with a sleepy moan and I thought about joining her under the warm covers. It was still pretty early but on this cold winter’s night I couldn’t think of anything I’d rather do than fall asleep early while holding the girl I loved.
Then my phone buzzed in my jeans so I quickly left the room before the noise woke her up. There was just a text from Conway, reminding me that he’d drive himself over to work in the morning since he’d taken the Chevy home. I texted back with a thumbs up and started to ask about Roslyn, but then figured if there was any news he certainly would have said so. Maybe it even got annoying on some level, people asking all day every day, “Is it time yet?”
Dinner had been hastily reheated leftovers in front of the television and there were a handful of dishes in the sink so I decided to take a few minutes and clean up. By the time I was done with basic housekeeping I was no longer tired in the slightest so I returned to the couch to see if there was anything worth watching on television.
Almost every one of the movie channels showcased some sappy holiday programming. There was one about a man who’d hated the holidays since he was nine because his dog got run over by a drunk driver on Christmas morning. He was kind of a dick to everyone and frankly I wondered why no one told him to just go fuck himself. Then a female colleague who happened to be Santa’s granddaughter decided to make him see the beauty of the season whether he wanted to or not. It wasn’t exactly a realistic concept and I would have just turned the channel but the woman reminded me a little of Evie with her boundless energy and her infectious enthusiasm. Of course they fell in love and the guy decided Christmas wasn’t so bad after all. The couple even visited Grandpa Santa to get his blessing for their upcoming marriage. Even though it wasn’t really my kind of movie I found myself smiling along and even got a little misty-eyed, especially at the end when there was a glimpse of the happy couple a year into the future where they were happily married and expecting a baby.
The movie also reminded me that Evie and I had had a few important conversations lately. The gist was simple; Evie wanted a baby and she wanted one now. I wanted to make Evie happy. And in truth nothing turned my heart over like the idea of Evie holding our child in her arms. I wanted to make that vision come true almost as much as she did. I’d been watching all the Gentry men with their kids for years and lately I’d been feeling like I could picture myself in the same role. And now that my little brother was even having a kid of his own (though Roslyn’s pregnancy had been totally unplanned) it seemed like even more of a sign that I ought to be ready.
Yet I still hesitated.
Evie was never able to hide her feelings, especially not from me. I could tell how disappointed she was when I said I wanted to wait another year.
Just a year, baby.
That was all I needed to make the business work and put us on solid ground. Maybe part of me was superstitious, afraid to have too much faith. Even after those long prison years were done I wouldn’t have dared dream of a future like this. I figured I’d be lucky if I could just keep my head down, hold a job and make things right with my brother.
“Stone?”
Evie had spoken softly but I was so deep in my own thoughts that the sound of her voice startled me. The television remote dropped out of my hand.
“Something wrong?” she asked, gazing at me a little worriedly. I’d closed the door to the bedroom before I’d left her in there sleeping but I hadn’t heard it open, hadn’t noticed her bare feet padding down the hallway.
“Of course nothing’s wrong,” I said cheerfully, shutting off the movie and stretching my arms to the ceiling until I heard the satisfying crack of joints.
Evie tightened the belt of her pink terrycloth robe and waited for me to come to her.
“Did I wake you up?” I asked, pulling her petite body close to me. Evie was always such a powerful presence, so full of vitality that sometimes I forgot how small she was until I held her.
“No,” she said, her voice muff
led as she burrowed against my chest. “In my dreams I was lonely so I woke up. But then the bed was lonely too so I figured I should drag you in there to keep me company. What were you watching?”
“A heartwarming Christmas movie.”
“Oh yeah? I bet I’ve seen it. What was it called?”
“Holiday Healing Heart.”
“But you looked sad. Was it sad?”
“It was sad when the dog died.”
Evie frowned up at me. “What the hell kind of heartwarming Christmas movie features a dead dog?”
“The dead dog wasn’t featured. He was just a minor plot point.”
“Charming. But that reminds me, did you feed Teddy tonight?”
I looked over at the corner where our pet guinea pig slept peacefully in his cozy enclosure. Teddy’s presence in Evie’s life actually preceded me. He didn’t really do much except eat, sleep and crap. In fact he was something like a fat, furry rat but Evie adored him for some reason.
“I’ll feed him before I hit the sack,” I answered, wondering how long guinea pigs lived and then feeling like a douchebag for letting the thought cross my mind. I really wasn’t wishing for poor Teddy to receive a visit from the Grim Reaper.
Evie lifted her head and looked up. “What’s that noise? Is that rain?”
I listened. “I’m no meteorologist but it sure sounds like it.”
She walked over to the sliding glass door that led to the small backyard patio. I followed.
“Oh, it is raining,” she said with some dismay.
I slid the door open and poked my head outside. It was quite cold out, but apparently not cold enough. Fat raindrops fell in soft rhythm, collecting in small puddles all over the backyard.