Weekends

by Lindy S Hudis

  "Hey, Beverly!” Justin shouted. “You guys come in here with us. There's room!"

  Justin watched as Beverly said something to the girls, then all three made their way over to where the Jacuzzi was. Shauna, Justin, and Jason all scooted over to make room. All six of them fit in nicely. The water was just hot enough, but not too hot. It was comfortable.

  "Hey, guys!” They looked up to see Angela standing there, with Joe close behind. They were still in their clothes and soaking wet.

  "Are we having fun?” Joe raised an eyebrow at the gang in the hot tub.

  "Where have you two been?” Beverly asked abruptly.

  Angela ignored the question. “Is that my bikini?” she asked her lover accusingly.

  "Uh, yes. Shelly here wanted to go swimming, and she didn't have a bathing suit. I thought it would be all right to let her borrow it.” Beverly explained.

  "Sure, that's fine. It would have been nice if you asked, though.” Angela retorted.

  "You were nowhere to be found, Angela.” Beverly snapped back.

  Angela glared at her lover. Everybody was quiet for a tense moment. Justin looked over at Beverly, who looked at Joe who glanced at Angela. Lilly and Shelly stared down at the bubbling water.

  "HEY! WHAT THE FUCK?” The silence was broken by an ear-splitting, warlike whoop from Donnie. He was standing in the doorway, red-faced and shaking with fury. He stormed out onto the deck and over to the Jacuzzi.

  "What are you fuckin’ whores doing sitting half-naked with strange men? What the fuck is going on here?” Donnie raged furiously, flailing his clenched fists in the air at them.

  "Don't you dare speak to them like that! What is the matter with you?” Beverly vigorously jumped out of the water and challenged him, with the twins quickly following her lead.

  "I speak to bitches how I like, missy.” Donnie spat, approaching Beverly in an aggressive, threatening manner.

  Joe, Justin, and Jason hastily moved in. “Take it easy.” Justin shielded Beverly protectively. He wanted to make sure everybody remained calm. This guy was out of control.

  "You get your stinking asses out of there now, girlies! I mean right now!” Donnie reached in and grabbed Lilly and Shelly by the arms. He roughly yanked them out of the water. Jason and Justin immediately leaped to their defense.

  "Hey, careful, buddy.” Jason confronted the fat, stinking monster. “You don't grab a woman like that!"

  "You want some too?” Donnie turned to Jason, who laughed in his face.

  "I'm a good fifteen years younger than you and a black belt in karate. So is my brother.” Jason motioned to Justin, who stood by his brother's side. Lilly and Shelly remained still, not making eye contact with anybody. They were wet and shaking from the cold. Donnie did not allow them to even dry off.

  "You really want to take us on?” Justin said authoritatively, staring him down.

  Just then a hotel manager, having heard the scuffle, approached the group. “Is there a problem out here?” he asked Donnie.

  "No, no, problem. I just gotta get my daughter to bed.” Donnie gave Jason a nasty look and nudged the girls through the lobby in the direction of the elevator. They all watched in stunned silence.

  Beverly burst into tears, and Justin was quick to comfort her. Shauna looked at Jason with huge, questioning eyes. Joe put his arm around a distraught Angela. Everybody, at that very moment, decided they hated Donnie.

  "Well, I guess I have to get a new bathing suit.” Angela tried to make light of the situation, but nobody laughed.

  * * * *

  It was after midnight when Michael wandered into the hotel bar. He was surprised to find his father there. Stephen was sitting at a table with a black man whom he did not know. He spied his son and waved him over. “Michael!” Stephen called. “Andy, you remember my son Michael, don't you? This is an old family friend Andy Bell."

  "How are you doing, Michael?” Andrew held out his hand graciously.

  "Nice to meet you.” Michael shook Andrew's hand

  "Andy was married to your mother's cousin Kathy. You don't remember, but you and Shauna met him when you all were very little.” Stephen explained, taking a sip of his drink.

  "Oh yes, I remember.” Michael nodded, pulling out a cigarette and lighting up.

  "You have a good memory.” Andrew smiled. He scrutinized Michael. He was clearly a deeply disturbed, young man. His eyes darted back and forth when you spoke to him, and he always sat hunched over. He thought about his sons and was thankful.

  A brunette cocktail waitress came over to their table and set down a bowl of peanuts. “You again? Wow, you're starting to become a regular.” she looked over at Michael.

  "What are you talking about? I've never seen you before in my life.” he snarled at her, blowing smoke in her face.

  "I could have sworn I saw you in her a few hours ago.” she looked at him, puzzled.

  "I have no idea what your talking about.” he turned away and crunched on a peanut.

  "Well, if it wasn't you, it was your twin.” she smiled and sauntered away.

  Andrew observed the exchange with interest. Why was Michael being so defensive? The waitress was just asking him a question, that's all.

  Stephen faced his son. “So, where were you when we were having dinner?"

  "In the room watching T.V. I wasn't hungry.” Michael answered, puffing away on his cigarette.

  "You missed a great meal, and the chocolate mousse.” Andrew grinned fetchingly.

  "I'll live.” Michael nodded brusquely. He turned his attention to the late night news. There was a breaking story about a young girl's body that had been found in a deserted parking lot. She had been raped, beaten, and left to die in the cold. She had been identified as twenty-one-year-old Amy McDonald, a U.C.S.B. student. She allegedly had been working as a topless dancer, and had just finished work when she disappeared. No suspects have been found. Who cares about a stupid stripper? Michael thought.

  As Stephen ordered another Coke, Andrew and Michael made awkward eye contact. “Crazy[world we live in, right, Michael?” Andrew addressed him, popping a peanut in his mouth.

  "Pardon me?"

  "The rape and murder of that young girl. Sad, sad story.” Andrew indicated the television.

  "She probably got drunk and had sex with some guy she met on the street. She asked for it,” he told him smugly, stubbing out his cigarette and reaching for another.

  "No woman asks for that.” Andrew looked at the young man who thoughtlessly shrugged his shoulders. Was that his third cigarette? Andrew couldn't put his finger on it, but there was something about this guy that was peculiar. He was not going to mention anything to Stephen, but there was something about Michael that he just did not like, did not like at all.

  * * * *

  "Stop it! Please! You're going to kill her! Stop!” Shelly was pleading now. Donnie had beaten Lilly so badly that the young girl was sobbing, and bleeding from her nose and mouth.

  "Don't tell me what to do, slut. I'll wale the tar out of both of ya.” Donnie howled in a rage at her. Lilly had collapsed into a heap on the floor, bruised, bloody, and shaking.

  "I saw what ya'll were doing, I saw what you sluts did.” he shrieked. Donnie kept pounding her,

  Shelly sat motionless, afraid to move. “Donnie, sugar, we were just sitting with those friendly people. They invited us up to swim with them. I thought it might be okay.” Shelly begged, frightened for Lilly's safety.

  "Did I give you permission to speak, bitch?” Donnie raged. He held up an angry fist at her, and savored watching her flinch with fright. “You were gonna have sex with those men, weren't ya'? You were gonna suck them and fuck them.” Donnie shouted, smacking Shelly across the face hard. She cried out in anguish.

  "No, sugar. They was just being cordial.” Shelly cried, her face stinging. Donnie violently kicked her in the shoulder.

  "What have I told you about usin’ big words?” he screamed in her face. She recoiled, smacking the back of her
head against the wall.

  Finally, Donnie ceased the beatings and took a deep breath. He was still inebriated, and feeling extremely dizzy. All the drinking and the activities of the past few hours were starting to take their toll.

  "I'm tuckered out. You both are going to be the death of me.” Donnie said, breathing hard. He dropped down onto the bed, unmoving. He finally closed his eyes and fell into a drunken sleep. The girls scrambled madly for the bathroom, and locked the door behind them.

  "I can't take this anymore.” Lilly angrily cried. “Let's go."

  "How? We can't.” Shelly tried to comfort her. Both remembered they had left their clothes in Beverly's bungalow, and were still in wet bathing suits.

  "Look, while your Paw is asleep, I go down and try and find Miss. Beverly. I'll go and get our clothes back, ya’ hear? You stay in this bathroom and keep that there door locked.” Shelly held her firmly by both shoulders. “Ya’ promise?"

  "Yes.” Lilly nodded, her lips and cheeks bruised and bloody.

  Shelly grabbed a washcloth and began to clean the girl's face. “You just stay here, keep that door shut tight and don't let nobody in, ya’ hear me? I'll be right back.” Shelly got up and snuck out the door. Lilly heard the hotel room door close a few moments later.

  Lilly sat for a moment, contemplating what to do. She opened the bathroom door a crack and peeked out. She saw her fat father snoring loudly on his back, passed out. Should she make a run for it? She snuck out of the bathroom, and stared at her father. Ten years of abuse, ten years of hell, ten years of having to put his penis in her mouth. She hated that man with every inch of her being.

  She opened her ragged suitcase, and found an old t-shirt, and some tattered jogging shorts and her weathered running shoes. She quickly put them on. She grabbed her father's wallet and looked inside—two hundred dollars. That would be plenty. She tentatively snuck out the door and dashed down the hall. She jumped into an elevator and went down to the lobby. Nobody seemed to notice the frail, timid teenager as she made her way out the front door and outside to the valet parking. She stood looking forlorn and confused.

  "May I help you?” A nicely dressed valet approached Lilly.

  'I'm lookin’ to find a Greyhound bus. Can I get one here?” she asked softly.

  "The Greyhound bus terminal is downtown, about fifteen miles from here. Shall I call you a cab?” he asked her politely.

  "That would be fine, sir. Thank you,” she stammered shakily.

  In five minutes, a yellow taxi rolled into the driveway of the Hotel Del Moor. The valet opened the door for her, and she hesitated for a moment, looking up at the hotel. Did she really want to do this, venture out into the great unknown? Where would she go? What would she do? She thought about her father, how he beat her and molested her. How Shelly was powerless to help her. She thought about the bruises, welts and the drunken, nighttime tirades. She thought about the alternative. She quickly slid into the back seat of the cab and shut the door.

  "The Greyhound bus terminal, please.” she told the driver, holding tightly to her father's wallet, her only survival.

  "Sure, miss.” the driver said and sped off into the night.

  * * * *

  They sat in the sand, with their toes barely touching the incoming surf, gazing out at the mighty blue Pacific Ocean. None of them was quite sure what to say. That vile scene up on the pool deck certainly put a damper on everybody's good spirits. Joe kept apologizing to everybody, like it was his personal fault.

  "There's nothing you can do, Joe, there is really nothing anybody can do.” Angela told them all, trying her best to get everybody out of their somber mood.

  "Look, guys, tomorrow I'll dig around a little, and see if there is anything on this guy. If there is, I'll make his life living hell.” Jason promised.

  "She had hand shaped bruises on her butt. I was going to ask her about it but...” Beverly's voice trailed off. She started to weep.

  "Shhh, it's okay.” Justin put his arm around her.

  "And I thought my dad sucked, being overprotective of me and all.” Shauna simpered, making tiny grooves in the sand with her fingers. Seagulls flew overhead and called to each other, the noise filling the uncomfortable silence. The full moon made the ocean look luminous and tempting.

  "I'll get to the bottom of it tomorrow. But Angela is right. There is nothing we can do about it now. I can't arrest somebody for being a drunken asshole.” Jason looked thoughtful. “I think what we need is that midnight swim."

  "Jason, how can you think of swimming at a time like this?” Beverly protested.

  Justin rubbing her shoulder, said “Lighten up Bev, he's right. Let's just forget about it and have some fun. It's the weekend.” Angela piped up. Joe nodded his head in agreement.

  "Yeah, let's not let that guy ruin our night. Besides, we are already in our bathing suits.” Shauna jumped up and pulled Jason up with her.

  "Hey, what are you doing to me?” he mocked in protest.

  The two of them ran with a whoop into the sea, splashing and laughing. Joe and Angela quickly followed their lead. Justin and Beverly looked at each other.

  "You know, I've never touched the Pacific Ocean before.” Justin announced. Beverly sat, unmoving. “Come on.” Justin said, playfully nudging her with his shoulder. She smiled. “There you go. I got you to smile.” he chided.

  "Nobody has ever been able to do that before.” Beverly locked her gaze with his.

  "Do what?"

  "Cheer me up so fast.” she smiled. He smiled back; his slightly crooked teeth making her tummy do flip-flops.

  "Well I think it's about time you touched the Pacific Ocean. Come on.” Beverly grabbed him by his hands and pulled him into the surf. The six of them were splashing, frolicking and laughing. The laughter mushroomed upward to the majestic heights of the balmy California night.

  PART TWO

  SATURDAY

  CHAPTER 6

  Dawn crept through the open window and woke Justin up with a start. He looked at the clock—six a.m. Still on East Coast time, he rubbed his eyes and threw off the covers. He padded over to the window, clad only in his boxers and looked over at his sleeping brother in the other double bed. Jason was out cold, having partied hard the night before. Justin squinted and opened the sliding glass door that led to the little balcony overlooking the beach.

  He plopped down in a chair and put his feet up on the balcony railing, staring out at the deep blue sea. So far, the weekend had been fun. Meeting new people had been great, especially Beverly. They were only distantly related so he could still fall in love with her, but she probably had a boyfriend—the cute ones always did. Besides, they were going back to Philly with their father on Monday.

  He reached into his knapsack and pulled out a Marlboro, lit up, and took a deep drag. Beverly was that rare woman, beautiful and nice. Justin was moved by how she really wanted to come to the aid of poor Lilly and Shelly, and decided that she would make a wonderful social worker. Why was he so attracted to this girl—his third cousin of all people Whom he met an a family reunion. Justin was actually sick of being single. It was very difficult to meet the uppish women in New York, who cared more about Manolo Blanik shoes and Prada purses than love. This was not the case for Jason though, being Mr. Cocky. For some bizarre reason, he seemed to draw the chicks like magnets. Jason always told him that the kind of woman drawn to cockiness was not relationship material anyway. Jason was not ready to settle down, he was a party boy. That was not Justin's style. Justin was more of the spiritual type, a believer in soul mates.

  He puffed away on his cigarette, looking down at a man and woman jogging along the shoreline. They were laughing and holding hands, a little tan Chihuahua romping at their feet. The beach was lovely, but he could never live in California. He was ‘East Coast’ to his toes, and called Philly and New York home. What could ever come of him and Beverly anyway? She lived here and he lived there. Still, she definitely had captured his attention. He stubbed out h
is cigarette and sat back, feeling the warm wind in his curly hair. He took a deep whiff of the salt air and watched the morning sky turn the clouds into captivating, orange beams. It was starting to get light now, and it was already getting hot. Justin went back inside. He didn't feel like going back to bed, so he pulled on a pair of jeans and a white muscle shirt. He grabbed the room key and quietly shut the door, so not to disturb his sleeping brother.

  He milled around the lobby for a few minutes, searching for some coffee. To his dismay, the coffee shop and restaurant were closed. He wondered around for a few more minutes and noticed that the Velvet Room's doors were open. All the tables and chairs from the night before were stacked neatly against the wall, and the place seemed to be unoccupied. He ventured in with the hopes of finding somebody who could direct him to some caffeine.

  "Hello? Hello?” He called, but nobody answered. People must sleep in on the West Coast. What did people do who had early morning meetings? He continued searching the room, and finally, spied the piano from the night before. He grinned and went over to it. He never met a piano he did not like, and missed his own Steinway back home. It was true, that whenever he saw one, he had to go play it. To him, he was making love to the piano. Music was his spirit and his soul, and he couldn't do anything else with his life.

  He sat at the piano and began to play Chopin's Etude in ‘E’ flat minor, the piece that he had used for his Julliard audition. It always seemed to bring him serenity. Whenever he played, he and the musical instrument became one. Together they made the notes become the magic that was music. He felt it consume every atom in his body, from his fingertips, touching the ivory keys, all the way to his feet on the pedals. His soul and his inner being melted with the soul of the piano. He closed his eyes and let the music take him away.

  * * * *

  Beverly did not sleep at all. She tossed and turned all night, so many things on her mind. Angela lay asleep beside her. Paul stumbled in drunk at around three a.m. She kept thinking about Lilly and Shelly and how she was going to talk to them today. She thought about Angela and how scratchy she had acted the night before. But she mostly thought about Justin. She was so attracted to him. He was so exciting and sexy. What was she thinking? Firstly, he was a distant relative, but that was no big deal. Secondly, she was in a relationship with a woman. Thirdly, Justin lived on the other side of the country.