by J. S. Cooper
“Well, it gets better.” Zane’s eyes sparkled. “The next day, the teacher who had caused the fuss about his CD player in the first place had to go sheepishly to the principal’s office and tell him that there had been a mistake. No one had stolen his CD player; he had taken it home over the weekend so he could listen to some music while he washed his car.”
“No way.”
“Yeah.” Zane laughed. “The principal reinstated my brother and the rest of the tennis team and had to issue a public apology to Jerome and Harry, who got a settlement from the county.”
“That’s crazy and kind of sad.”
“Yeah.” Zane shook his head. “It was horrible, but it doesn’t have a horrible ending. Harry and Jerome are both in med school right now at Stanford University.”
“Good for them.” Sidney smiled. “I like to hear those endings. Too many of those stories end up with the kids winding up on the streets or in jail.”
“Yeah.” I nodded my head. “The statistics are horrible for low income and minority families. Well, for the most part. The system is failing so many people.”
“Don’t tell me you believe in handouts?” Zane said, and I frowned.
“It’s not about handouts.” I shook my head. “It’s about fixing a broken system, it’s about righting wrongs. It’s about being able to go to school and not being judged based on your race or gender, or even your social class. It’s about poor people being able to go to college and not be in debt for the rest of their lives.”
“I was just joking, Lucky.” Zane looked at me in concern and I smiled at him.
“Sorry, I just get a little incensed at times.” I smiled. “That’s a side of me you didn’t know.”
“It’s a side of you that I like.” Zane stared at me. “The more I get to know the multi-facets of you, the more I love you.”
“Oh, Zane.” My heart melted at his words and I wanted to reach over and kiss him. “I love you, too.”
“And on that note, kids, I think we should take a break,” Sidney said. “Zane, will you go and help Betty in the kitchen while Lucky and I have a brief chat?”
“Sure.” Zane jumped up, walked over to me, and kissed me quickly on the head before walking out of the room.
“You’re good for him.” Sidney’s face was serious as he stared at me. “Noah would be happy.”
“Oh?” I looked at him curiously.
“Noah was worried about his brother. He was worried that Zane would never know what it was like to feel love.”
“He told you that?” I was surprised at just how close they seemed to have gotten.
“I told you he was like my son.” He smiled. “He talked to me about everything. It was me who told him about the website, you know.”
“The website?” I frowned, not understanding what he was saying.
“To find his mom.”
“Oh?” My heart started pounding. “He found their mom?”
“I’m not sure.” Sidney paused. “Other things came up.”
“Oh.” I was disappointed. “It would have been nice if he would have found her.”
“Maybe.” Sidney frowned. “Sometimes people are best left in the past.”
“What do you mean?” I sat forward.
“Sometimes things are as they are meant to be,” Sidney sighed. “But I see Zane still carries the pain.”
“I think he’s still really hurt, you know?” My voice broke. “His mom leaving and then Noah dying, it’s too much heartbreak for one person to deal with.”
“He has you now.” Sidney looked away from me and I saw him clutching something on his desk. “You know, Lucky, I like you. I like you a lot. From that first time that I saw you, I could tell you have a kind heart and soul.”
“Thank you.” I felt touched by his words. “I really like you a lot as well, Sidney.”
“You’re good for Zane. He needs love. And he needs someone who is patient enough to love him. There are a lot of things that have made him the man that he is.”
“I love him so much.” I bit my lip. “But sometimes it’s hard. Really hard.”
“He loves you a lot.” Sidney smiled. “Noah would be happy. That was his greatest wish for his brother, to find love.”
“But look where love took him,” I continued sadly. “It breaks my heart that he took his own life.”
Sidney cleared his throat. “Life is what we make of it. Everything is not always as it seems. Sometimes we have to make decisions that are for the greater good.”
“Killing yourself isn’t for the greater good!” I cried out.
Sidney’s eyes looked at me sorrowfully. “Lucky, I wish I could tell you that I knew what was right and wrong. What was good and bad. Hell, what makes people happy and what makes people sad? But I don’t have those answers. I can just be the man I was meant to be, and do the job that God wants me to do. I’m just a simple man, but I’m good to those I love and I keep their secrets. It’s the least I can do.” He leaned towards me again. “Lucky, you have a kind heart. I trust you will do what you think is best.”
“Do you think I should continue the search for Zane’s mom?” My brain was churning. “Maybe that would give him the answers he needs. Maybe they can even reconnect?”
“Whatever you decide to do, just be there for him,” Sidney sighed. “I’ve a feeling that there is going to be a couple more rollercoaster rides to come.”
“What do you mean?” I peered at him wonderingly.
“Nothing.” He smiled. “Let’s talk about my movie.”
“Okay,” I sighed. I wanted to ask him more questions but I didn’t want to be rude.
“I don’t have the answers for you, Lucky.” He smiled at me gently. “I can’t tell you what you want to know, but I think you should do what your heart tells you to do. Follow your heart, my dear; it will never guide you in the wrong direction.”
“What will never guide you in the wrong direction?” Zane walked back into the room. “Don’t say a GPS. Those things take me to the wrong destination fifty percent of the time.”
“Those things get me all confused.” Sidney stood up and winked at me. “I swear they are made to confuse the old folks like me.”
“You’re not that old, Sidney.” I laughed.
“Well, you sure do know what words to say to butter me up, dearie. Just don’t let my Betty hear you; she’s a jealous one.” Sidney grinned at me and we burst out laughing with Zane just standing there shaking his head.
I walked over to him and took his hand and squeezed it. I wanted to let him know that we were okay. I was okay. I understood him now. Well, a little better than I had before. And I was going to finish what Noah had started. I was going to find Zane’s mom. I was going to give Zane his happy ending. Maybe once he had his mom back in his life and he understood why she left, he would feel a little better, a little lighter, and a little more trusting and believing in love. I felt like she was the key to fixing the broken piece of his heart.
***
“Hey, that was a really good session.” Zane grinned at me as we drove out of the Johnsons’ driveway. “I think this documentary is going to be awesome.”
“Really?” I hesitated. “I know you did this for me and I don’t want you to be bored by everything.”
“How could I be bored? It’s fascinating.” He looked at me and laughed. “Okay, maybe not fascinating fascinating, but eye-opening.”
“I still can’t believe you took over Noah’s project just to get me to come to Los Angeles with you.”
“I don’t think I was thinking it through properly,” he chortled. “I just needed a chance to get to know you better.”
“Well, it worked.”
“Better than I would have imagined.” He winked at me and I blushed.
“Why didn’t you tell me when I found out about the party?”
“Honestly, I didn’t even think about it.” He looked at me sideways. “Sorry.”
“Is there anything else I should
know?” I stared at him seriously. “As much as I love that you tried everything you could to get to know me better, I don’t want to find out a new secret every week.”
Zane swallowed and continued driving. He turned on the radio and a Mumford and Sons song reverberated through the car.
“Zane?” I held my breath and tried to control my nerves. I was slightly angry that Zane wasn’t answering me and I was fed up with always trying to get something out of him. It was frustrating and tiring trying to get him to open up.
“I don’t want to tell you,” he sighed. “I wasn’t going to tell you and I think that you’ll be mad, but …”
“What is it, Zane?” My face grew warm. “Oh my God, what is it?”
“Don’t get upset, okay?” He didn’t look at me and I could barely hear his words over the blaring of the song.
“Can you turn the radio back off please?” I reached over to turn it off without waiting for him to do it.
“Hold on, let’s go somewhere first.” He looked at me quickly. “I promise I’ll tell you, okay? I just want to be able to look into your eyes when I do, so I can explain.”
“You’re scaring me, Zane.” My mind was whirling with possibilities. What was it that he was hiding from me?
“Can we discuss it later?” His voice was pleading.
I sighed. “As long as we get wherever we’re going soon.”
“We will.” He pulled onto the freeway and tapped his fingers against the steering wheel. The sound irritated me, so I turned the radio back on. I pulled out my phone to see if I had any messages, and was surprised to see messages from both Leeza and Braydon. I read them quickly and then closed my phone.
“Leeza wants to come to visit us this weekend,” I spoke aloud. “Is that okay?”
I wasn’t sure if I wanted Leeza to come after our last call, but I didn’t want to tell her no. She had been my best friend for a while, and she had been there for me when my parents had died. She and her long-term boyfriend had been on a break for a few months, and I don’t think she had really gotten over the fact that the relationship wasn’t going well. I couldn’t believe she was now interested in that guy Evan. I hadn’t liked him at the party, and sure didn’t like the sound of him now.
“Sure, I’d love for your friends to visit.”
“Well, just Leeza.” I paused. “I think she’s dating that guy Evan. What’s he like?”
“He’s scum.” Zane’s voice was angry. “He hangs with Braydon. I don’t trust him.”
“But it seems like you’re part of that group? Isn’t that how you met Leeza originally?”
“Do I hang out with them? Yes. Am I friends with them? No.” He sighed. “This last year I’ve done a lot of things I wouldn’t normally do. It’s for Noah.”
“Huh?” I looked at him in confusion. “You befriended his friends to stay close to him?”
“No,” he replied. “I infiltrated the group to get as much dirt on Braydon as possible. He is responsible for my brother’s death. I will do anything to bring him down.”
“Oh.” I looked at him hesitantly. “Is that safe?”
I was scared. I understood why he hated Braydon, and that was why I wasn’t going to tell him that Braydon had texted me and asked me to go to lunch with him so he could apologize to me.
“I’m working with the FBI and the DEA.” His voice was short. “I’m helping them with the case.”
“Are you qualified to do that?” I reached over and grabbed his arm. “That sounds dangerous.” FBI and DEA? I didn’t know Zane terribly well, but he certainly didn’t strike me as a government official sort of guy.
“I already had an in with the group, thanks to Noah.” He sighed. “It was easier for me to get in closer with them.”
“But Braydon knows you don’t like him.”
“He knows I blame him for my brother’s death.” Zane’s voice was angry. “He thinks it’s because he was there when my brother jumped. He doesn’t know that he is suspected of being a part of a drug trafficking ring.”
“Oh.” I paled. “You’re scaring me.” My skin ran cold thinking of the danger Zane was putting himself in. “This sounds a whole lot more serious than I thought before.”
“Lucky, did I tell you that I wasn’t even able to say goodbye to my brother properly? I wasn’t even able to kiss his body goodbye one last time.”
“What? Why?”
“They cremated him.” His voice was angry. “I don’t really know what happened. I guess my dad gave permission. But they cremated him and all I have left of him are his ashes.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
“I didn’t even get to see his body one last time. I suppose it was because his body must have been splattered from jumping.” His voice was cold. “Braydon did that, Lucky. I can’t let him get away with it.”
“I understand.” My voice was tight and I looked out the window so he couldn’t see the tears in my eyes. I couldn’t imagine what he was going through. I knew the pain and heartache of losing someone, yes, but the gravity of his pain was so much deeper than mine.
“I’m sorry, Lucky.” He sighed and touched my arm. I realized that he had parked the car as well.
“Where are we?” I looked around and saw a couple of girls wearing bathing suits, walking and giggling. “The beach?”
“I know it’s not South Beach, but I love Santa Monica.” He nodded. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“No.” I got out of the car. “I actually like walking on the beach.” I watched as Zane took his shoes off and he motioned to me to do the same. “The sand will be too hot,” I protested, but he grinned and pulled a plastic bag out of the car. He pulled out some flip-flops and smiled.
“I bought these for us.” He threw me a pair and I caught them, laughing. I looked down and saw that they were size 8, the exact same size as my feet.
“How did you know I was a size 8?”
“I checked your shoes.” He grinned. “I was hoping we could go to the beach later this week. They were going to be a surprise.”
“Another gift?” I giggled. “You’re spoiling me.”
“I want to spend my life spoiling you.” He smiled at me tenderly. “Now take off your shoes.”
“Yes, sir.” I laughed at him. “You should have been a Sergeant in the Army.”
“If you want me to order you around just say the words.”
“You wish.”
“Don’t you know it!” He winked at me and we both laughed.
“So tell me, Zane,” I couldn’t hold it in any longer, “what exactly did you want to tell me?”
“It’s about Leo.” He bit his bottom lip and looked at me seriously. “I want you to listen and not get mad.”
“Uh, I can’t promise that.” I frowned. “What about Leo?”
“Well, I want you to spend more time with him.” He paused and studied my face, a slight worry in his blue eyes.
“Why?” My heart was beating quickly as we walked along the beach. I was in such anticipation of what he was going to say that I didn’t notice the white sand of the beaches or the aquamarine of the ocean. I was so caught up in what he had to say that I almost got hit by a stray volleyball before he grabbed me out of the way.
“Lucky, pay attention.” Zane shook his head at me and mumbled something under his breath.
“What was that?” I spoke sharply. “I didn’t quite hear you.”
“I said, this is why you need Leo!”
“Why I need Leo?” I turned toward him. “Are you trying to hook me up with Leo? Are you crazy, Zane Beaumont? Are you fucking crazy?” I started shouting at him. I could feel the blood rushing to my ears as I got more and more angry. “You think it’s a good idea to set me up with your best friend? What was last week? A meet-and-greet? Make sure that I was good enough for him? You’re sick, Zane. Do you know that? You’re sick.”
“Are you done?” He looked at me and there was a slight smile on his face and I could tell that he was trying not
to laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
“You.” He pulled me towards him and I struggled free from him as he kissed me on the lips. “You’re so feisty, Worzel.”
I glared at him, which caused him to laugh again before he continued talking. “Leo is one of my best friends, but he is also a bodyguard. I’ve asked him to be your bodyguard.”
“What?” For a second, I was speechless. Bodyguard? What was he talking about? “Bodyguard for what?”
“For you, silly.” He sighed. “I want to make sure you’re safe, I don’t know what Braydon is capable of doing. I thought it was for the best. It’s the only way I could think of to ensure your safety.”
“And you weren’t going to tell me?”
“No.” He averted his gaze sheepishly. “I thought you would say no if you knew.”
“This is what you were arguing about with Leo, isn’t it?” I tried to contain my anger. “This is what you didn’t want to tell me.”
“Don’t be mad, Lucky.” He stared at me with puppy-dog eyes. “I just wanted to make sure that you were protected when I wasn’t with you.”
“How were you planning on getting away with that, Zane?” I shook my head. “Didn’t you think I would notice Leo by my side every time I went out? Or was he going to follow me?”
“I just wanted you guys to become friends and hang out.”
“Really?” I scoffed.
“He’s going to call you tomorrow to go to dinner.” He laughed. “I have a, uh, business meeting I have to go to tomorrow, so I figured you and him could go eat and get to know each other better.”
“Oh, Zane,” I sighed. “You’re incorrigible.”
“Please, Lucky. It will make me feel better to know that he is with you when I can’t be.”
“This is crazy.” I shook my head. “I don’t want to go everywhere with either you or him.”
“Just until we get Braydon,” he pleaded with me. “Please, Lucky. I need to make sure you’re safe. I need to make sure I’m not worrying about you when I’m not with you. I’ve already lost two people I love in my life. I can’t afford to lose another one. I don’t even want to think about it.”
“I …” I paused and stared into his eyes. The pain and worry that shone out of them made my heart stop. I was vehemently against having a bodyguard, but maybe I would acquiesce for now. “I’ll see how it goes.” I smiled at him weakly, Sidney’s words ringing in my ears. Love means following your heart. Well, okay, Sidney, I hope you’re right.
