by Anna Collins
He continued to feed the ducks wearing yellow pants that were a little too high on the hips. He definitely had the style of the fifties, but this was the era that he was born in.
“I understand how life can change at the drop of a hat. I was married for 40 years to the most wonderful woman in the world, then god decided in his infinite wisdom that it was her time to come back to sit at his feet. I think the only advice that I can give you that would make any sense at all is that life is about changes and nothing stays the same. There will always be debts and issues with family, but you have to find time for yourself. It all works out in the end. As for your secret admirer, I think that you need to decide for yourself, if he’s the man that makes you think that there’s a future. Do yourself a favor and for god sake don’t settle for second best. Too many people these days are getting married and then divorcing no more than a few months later. It makes me sick to think that they’re probably dealing with the same kind of crap, but instead of sticking it out, they run for the nearest divorce lawyer.”
“I’m thankful for the counsel. I have to admit seeing it through your eyes makes me feel a little bit better. I think I know what I’m going to do about my secret admirer. He’s not exactly secret. Let’s just say that he sometimes rubs me the wrong way. Then there are those times that he can be the sweetest man alive. I just don’t know what his true face is.” It was nice to talk to someone that had seen and done it all.
“Everybody wears different faces all the time. I used to smile like an idiot at my boss every morning for 25 years. In reality, I wanted to punch him in the face. We all have to make allowances for others. When I retired, I could’ve easily called him on the carpet. I found that it wasn’t useful and walking away was the best that I could do. I think I knew deep down that karma is a bitch.” Hearing him say that word shocked me. Grandfathers were supposed to dispense wisdom with a kind word.
He didn’t say much after that, but I did see that he was relatively content. I think by talking to me he had ignited old memories that had brought a smile to his face. He would always have his wife in his heart and that was never going to change. He didn’t look like he was suffering from Alzheimer’s or any other debilitating disease. I think that he should’ve counted himself lucky that he was not in some kind of home.
I enjoyed talking to him and that was something that I was missing growing up. My father and mother thought that their children could find the tools on their own to deal with life’s little problems. They may have been helicopter parents, but their compassion was lacking. Getting sick was not an option and we were always told to walk it off. They were not what I would consider normal parents, but I did love them and still do in my own way.
I looked around at the city. Chicago wasn’t the one that I would’ve called home. I don’t really know how I got here, or why in god’s name that I took a job parading around in skimpy little outfits all day. I should’ve run the moment that I saw Vincent looking at me. He had given me this smile that felt wrong somehow. I guess I had settled, but maybe this proposal could get me out from underneath being made into one of the sheep. I didn’t want to be a follower. I wanted to be a leader or at the very least be able to decide my own fate without others having their foot on my neck. There were times that I went home and couldn’t breathe. I would look at my reflection and not like the person looking back.
By the time that I slipped underneath the covers completely naked that night, I think that I had already made my decision. Money may have been the root of all evil, but it was a necessity of life. It may not make me happy, but I was willing to give it a chance. I had struggled with this decision all day, but I think the old man put things into perspective for me. I had to do everything I could to make myself happy, even if it meant making a deal with the devil himself.
Chapter 5
I thought by morning that I would wake up and go over it one more time. Amazingly, I think I woke up refreshed and I was able to sleep those necessary 8 hours. Most often than not, I would toss and turn with all sorts of thoughts running through my head. I knew that there was nothing that I could do when I was sleeping, but that didn’t stop me from worrying needlessly.
This morning was different and with the sun shining, I bounded into a hot shower and gave myself a moment to really enjoy it. I did not step out of the enclosure, until the water started to become lukewarm. I looked into the mirror and instead of a frown; I actually saw the makings of a smile. Could it be that I was really looking forward to this?
I looked at the uniform and on this day, I decided that I would never put that thing on again. It was demeaning, but it had served its purpose. Without it and the job at Scooters’, I would never have met Mr. Peters. God does work in mysterious ways. That was never more evident than what had happened to me recently. I put on a nice pair of jeans with the same Gucci brown suede coat over a black cardigan sweater that hugged my every curve. This decision was not for anybody else and this was for me to feel better about myself.
Instead of taking the bus with the other commuters, I decided that I would walk. It made me feel good to look around and realize that I’d been missing out on living my life. It was the little things that mattered the most and even a kind word from a passerby or good morning went a long way to improving somebody’s disposition.
I saw the same grizzled veteran wearing his army fatigues sitting there with an open tattered guitar case. He wasn’t very good, but what he lacked in talent, he more than made up with enthusiasm. Usually, I would give him a couple of bucks, but today was different. That same feeling in the air caused me to reach down deep and give him $50.00. I had no idea what he would do with it. I could only hope that he would get a nice meal.
He looked down into the case and with weather beaten gloves that had holes in them; he picked it up to make sure that it was real.
“God bless you,” He said that with sincerity. “You have no idea what this means to me.” It brought this tear to my eye to see that kind of satisfaction coming from a man that was fighting every day for a reason to stay alive.
He must’ve had a lot of people walking by and not even giving him the time of day.
“I think I’ve learned that everybody deserves to have somebody come to their rescue. If I can help in some small way, then I think it is my responsibility to do so. Your contribution and your service to your country should not be overlooked. You put your life on the line to protect our liberties and for that I owe you a debt of gratitude that I can never pay back,” I said as I put my hand on his shoulder.
That hopeless look in his eyes turned into something of pride for a job well done. He reached out with his hand and I took it in between both of mine and gave him a solemn nod of my head.
I casually strolled down the sidewalk, taking a moment to look back to see that he had picked up that guitar. He started to play an old favorite that I loved to turn up anytime that it was on the radio.
I stepped into where I used to work and found Vincent there with his arms crossed. He was obviously angry that I was late, but then he showed surprise. I gave him the bag with that uniform in it. I was tempted to tell him to burn it, but it was not my place. He was saying something, but I had this tunnel vision. I saw Devlin and he was waiting patiently with his hand touching his watch to indicate that time was a commodity that was not on my side.
As my last act, I grabbed the green tea from behind the counter and made my way over to him. I placed a cup for him and then one for me and sat down on the other side of him.
“If the offer is still open to be the subject of one of your paintings, then I would like to take you up on it. To be honest, I’m kind of looking forward to seeing this private island of yours. Getting away from all of this, including my brother might be exactly what I need to open my eyes.”
He was wearing a black suit with a white shirt and red power tie. His smile was infectious and I found myself almost giddy with an anticipation running through my veins. It was not the feeling t
hat I was expecting. I think that I had every intention of telling him, no, but the old man had made me see that these kinds of opportunities didn’t come around all the time. You had to grab for them or risk letting them slip through your fingers.
“I’m glad to see that you’ve finally come to your senses. There are not that many people that would turn down an offer like I gave you. I will need you to sign some papers, but they are boilerplate and really only protects the both of us. If for any reason you decide that you want to leave, then the contract becomes null and void. I’m all about covering my own ass. When you’ve been burned more than one time, you take precautions to make sure that that doesn’t happen again.”
I wasn’t sure that he was talking about business or personal or maybe a combination of both.
“I was tempted to take your $25,000 and be done with it. I think that you knew that by giving me that brief peek at financial independence that you opened the door instead of a window. You’re very calculating and there’s a small part of me that is a little terrified of what that could mean. I don’t see you, as being someone that would hurt me purposely.”
I was breathing a sigh of relief that this chapter of my life was over and another one was about to begin. It made me feel good that the money that I would receive for one week would not only give me a new lease on life, but it might actually pull my brother out of the black abyss that had swallowed him whole.
“My black Porsche is waiting for us outside to take us to the airport. The island is off the coast of Honduras and the weather year round is pleasant. I need inspiration and the location along with you will do that. I’m looking to make my mark in this world and I think that I’ve begun to do that with some of my other creations. I do have to tell you that you are the first one that will see where I spend the bulk of my time. There are many things to do including tennis courts, a swimming pool and there’s a beach practically on your doorstep. I have an in-house chef that can make anything sing on a plate. There are no other servants. There’s a media room downstairs with a 50-inch projection television. There’s also a library with several books that would probably take you a lifetime to read them all.” The way that he talked about it made it sound too good to be true.
We walked out and I could see the girls and Vincent gawking from the window. They may have been jealous, but when opportunity knocks, you don’t think twice. Life is about taking chances and Devlin was offering me the world on a silver platter.
Who was I to refuse such a magnanimous offer, especially when there were no strings attached? I wasn’t exactly sure how that was possible. I suddenly got a shiver to think that maybe this was his way of getting me exactly where he wanted me.
The engine of this Porsche came alive underneath us. He peeled from the curb like a man that didn’t really care about traffic laws. I looked around nervously to see if any police officers were going to take exception.
“Oh my god… I don’t even have anything packed. We may have to stop at my place and pick up a few things on the way.” I said expecting him to turn around.
I told him where I lived, but I noticed that he wasn’t making any deviation towards the airfield. I think he was worried that I would change my mind.
“You won’t need anything on this trip. Whatever you need, I’ll be more than happy to get for you. I think it’s time that you shed the skin of the old Lucy Willis. You need to get used to the person that you’re going to become with money. I’ve done my research and I know that you’re going to become quite fortunate in the next five years. Five years might sound like not that long, but trust me five years could mean the difference between a life of luxury and a life of destitution.”
I suppose, a tropical getaway really didn’t require that many clothes to begin with. What I was wearing would suffice and I had a feeling that money was no object. I suddenly flashed on some kind of dungeon with no way out.
“I think I might be having a panic attack,” I said as I started to breath heavy.
I was taking a huge risk by going someplace private with a man that I hardly knew.
“You could have ulterior motives and I’m just deluding myself into thinking that you are a kind man with a lot of money,” I said as he passed me a paper bag to help me collect and compose myself.
“It’s a big step and one that I know that you didn’t take lightly. I’m not going to ask you to do anything that you don’t already want to do. I don’t think that you know how to really live. This is your chance to reinvent yourself and to become the woman that you’ve always wanted to be. You don’t have to be shy or introverted when confidence and sophistication are at the tip of your fingers. Immerse yourself into my world and you will never be the same again.”
We breezed through traffic. This was a private airfield that probably cost a lot of money. There was this Learjet gleaming in the sun with the prerequisite pilot standing there with his hat in his hand and underneath his arm. He had natural red hair, which was easily seen by the red beard on his face. He looked like some pirate, but his hair was not that long luscious look that you would see from Johnny Depp. That boy could be the role model for any man that wanted to make a woman’s knees shake from underneath her.
He exited the vehicle and went around to my side like a true gentleman. He opened the door and offered me his hand. It was like I was giving him license to give me a brief look behind the curtain. I hesitantly put my hand out and he helped me to stand on the cold hard pavement underneath my feet. We walked over to the pilot and he nodded his head, before climbing the stairs and disappearing into the cockpit.
“Lucy, I want you to look back and say goodbye to the life that you used to have. You’re better than all of these people. I’m about to show you the finer things in life. I’m going to give you a moment to yourself,” He said as he looked at me with the kindness of a father.
He walked ahead of me. I was at the top of the stairs looking at Chicago and thinking that I was never going to miss it. Swallowing hard, I turned my back on the only place that I knew for the past five years.
I found him sitting there working on his laptop. He hadn’t told me, as such, but I knew from what I had read about him that he was a man that liked to invest wisely. He had taught himself how to manipulate the markets in his favor.
He was considered a genius and his IQ was above that of Albert Einstein. I was impressed, but still slightly in awe that he had chosen me out of the several young ladies that had clamored to get that ring on their finger.
“You don’t have to look at me like that, Devlin. If you’re thinking that I’m having second thoughts, then you don’t have to. I’m nervous and I think that’s to be expected, but I believe in my heart that I’m doing the right thing,” I said as I stood and looked out the window. It was all, so surreal.
I sat down beside him half expecting him to touch me inappropriately, but he was too engrossed in what he was doing to give me the time of day.
Sitting there, as we taxied down the runway was a little nerve wracking. I was not what you would call an easy flier. I was chewing some spearmint gum to prevent my ears from popping and then I lay back with this air of calm surrounding me. I closed my eyes and listened to the drone of the engine; before my body started to relax enough that I fell into a deep slumber.
Chapter 6
“Lucy… It’s time to get up.” I heard a voice and someone was shaking me.
At first, I thought that my mother was coming in to get me ready for school. For some reason, I had the kind of dream that had my parents being the loving and nurturing parents that they were supposed to be. It was all a pipe dream and I had to wonder if maybe my subconscious was trying to tell me something.
“We’ve landed and I’m anxious to show you around the island.” Devlin’s words sounded like they were coming through a tunnel.
My eyes fluttered open and I came face to face with Devlin and that cocksure smile that caused me a moment of concern.
Working the sleep out of m
y eyes, I finally stood on shaky legs with him holding my elbow. We walked down the stairs and the runway was built on the back side of the island. There was a well-worn footpath through the woods and I could just make out a beach house. This was not your regular beach holiday getaway.
I was thankful that the aircraft was here, in case I did get cold feet and decided to bow out gracefully. I turned abruptly to watch the same Learjet that had come here, take off and disappear into the blue horizon. My heart sank at the realization that there was no way to get off this island. I decided to put that aside for the moment. I remembered signing my life away and not really having any idea of what I was doing. I should have taken the time to have a lawyer go over the fine print, but instead, I was too anxious and decided to let the chips fall where they may.
I had no idea how long I slept, but this place had the makings of paradise. The warm breeze and the tropical trees swayed back and forth like that of my own personal welcome. “I’m a little speechless. I don’t think that I’ve ever seen anything, so beautiful in my life.” He had his hands wrapped around my waist from behind with his chin rested nicely on my shoulder. He had definitely found a way to weasel his way into my personal space. I didn’t try to stop him because it felt nice to have him this close and in an intimate way.
