Weekends

by Lindy S Hudis

  "Sorry, dude!” Beverly retorted.

  "Piglet!” Allison flitted over to their table. She extended a friendly hand to Justin. “You must be the man who stole my daughter's heart."

  "Why, yes, I am.” Justin grinned, winking at Beverly and shaking Allison's hand. She turned to face Joe and Angela.

  "And you two are an adorable couple.” Allison said, smiling.

  "Thank you, Allison.” Angela smirked and crunched an apple.

  "All's well that ends well.” Joe said, kissing Angela on the cheek.

  "I heard that,” she agreed.

  "One thing I can say about this weekend, it sure wasn't dull.” Jason cracked. The whole table burst out laughing.

  * * * *

  The hot noonday sun beat down hard on the driveway of the Hotel Del Moor. The valets were sweating under their uniforms, and the dark pavement absorbed the notorious California heat, making the interior of the cars almost unbearable.

  Beverly and Justin placed their luggage in the trunk of a taxi, then turned to say their goodbyes.

  "So, did you pack your winter clothes?” Angela asked, grinning.

  "Nope, I'm going with the clothes on my back. Mom is going to send me a care package with all my winter things as soon as I'm settled in New York.” Beverly explained.

  "Care package?” Angela asked, eyebrow raised.

  "If she wants to baby me, I'll let her.” Beverly answered.

  The two girls looked at each other in silence for a moment, then tightly embraced. Angela tenderly ran her hands up and down Beverly's back, touching her hair. “Call me when you get to Philly.” Angela whispered.

  "You bet.” she answered. She pulled away and kissed her on the lips. “I'll be seeing you in New York soon anyway. Right?"

  "You know it.” Angela smiled and kissed her forehead. Beverly winked and scooted into the taxi, waving goodbye.

  Lilly stood close by Andrew, who had an affectionate arm around the child. “Justin will get you settled in. I'll be back to Philly in a couple of weeks. Don't worry, you're safe now,” he told her. She gazed up at him, mute. “And when I get back, we are going to make it official. You will be Lilly Bell."

  "Lilly Bell? Sounds like an old Burlesque performer.” Justin chimed in, patting his father on the shoulder.

  "You take care of her, understand?” Andrew instructed. Justin nodded as his brother and Shauna appeared. Shauna went around to the other side of the taxi and knocked on Beverly's window.

  Beverly rolled it down and hugged her cousin. “Are you all right?” she asked her softly.

  "No, but I will be. I have a great shoulder to lean on.” Shauna smiled and nodded towards Jason.

  "I'm sorry we didn't get to spend any time alone together.” Beverly told her

  "That's okay, we both had our hands full.” Shauna said.

  Beverly reached out the window and held her hands with both of hers. “You are going to be fine, do you hear me?” she told her firmly.

  "I need some time, but I'm surrounded by the best people in the world.” She answered.

  "Give me a hug.” Beverly demanded, and the cousins embraced. “You are a secure, wonderful woman. I mean that,” she whispered.

  "Thank you.” Shauna answered, tearful. She pulled away and smiled. Beverly waved as she rolled the window up.

  "So, what's the plan with you?” Justin asked his brother.

  "Dad is going to fly back to L.A. with John and Joyce. Shauna, Joe, Angela, and I are going to rent a car and drive back down P.C.H..” Jason explained. Paul and Allison appeared to say goodbye.

  "Hey, Paul, be careful with my Miata. Got it, bro?” Beverly called out to him.

  He gave her a ‘thumbs up’ and gave Lilly a hug. “She kicked my ass at Pac Man.” he told them all.

  She giggled and climbed into the back of the taxi and sat next to Beverly. She was off on a new adventure, and loved every minute of it.

  Justin hugged his father. “Okay, Dad. I'll see you in a couple of weeks.” he said.

  "I'm just gonna spend a little more time with Stephen. I'll call you.” Andrew told his son.

  "Sure thing.” Justin replied and climbed into the taxi with Beverly and Lilly.

  Justin rolled down the window as the taxi was pulling out. “Hey, Joe, tell your dad he throws great weekend getaways.” he shouted.

  "I'll tell him.” Joe called and waved as the taxi disappeared out of the parking lot and disappeared down the Pacific Coast Highway.

  He turned to Jason and the girls. “So, you guys want to rent a Mustang Convertible?” he asked.

  "You know, I've always had this fantasy.” Jason started.

  "About what?” Shauna asked.

  "About driving down the California Coast in a convertible with the wind in my hair.” he told them.

  "Well, I think your fantasy is about to come true.” Angela ribbed him.

  "You guys ready?” Joe asked, duffel bag over his shoulder.

  "I was born ready.” Jason answered.

  John appeared by the group and put a friendly arm around Jason's shoulder. “See you guys in L.A.!” he said.

  "You got it, Dad.” Joe smiled, and the four of them clamored into a taxi that would take them to Enterprise Car Rental. John watched as the taxi vanished into the distance.

  "Taxi for you, sir?” a valet asked him politely.

  "Please.” John answered. Allison and Patrick appeared by his side.

  "Johnny, if you need anything, please do not hesitate to call, okay?” she told him, kissing him on the cheek.

  "Thanks, Ally. It was wonderful to see you again,” he told her.

  She reached up to hug her brother. “You keep in touch, understand me?” she said.

  Patrick gave John a handshake. “Thanks for everything, John. You take care of yourself,” he told his brother-in-law.

  "No problem. I wanted to see you guys,” he said.

  "Bye, love.” Allison waved ‘bye’ to Joyce in the cab.

  "See you, Ally.” Joyce smiled and waved.

  Then the valets brought Allison's Mercedes around, she and her husband climbed in, and drove away. Andrew scooted into the back seat of the taxi next to Joyce.

  "Sweetie, we have to go now if we want to catch our plane.” Joyce called out to John.

  "All right, hun.” he answered. John took one last look at the stately hotel and the weekend that changed all their lives. He would never forget the Hotel Del Moor, or the fateful weekend that he spent here. He smiled slightly, as if to say goodbye.

  "John?” Joyce called out again.

  "I'm coming,” he said. He took one last gaze, climbed into the taxi and closed the door behind him. He looked out the back window and watched the building get smaller and smaller as the taxi pulled out of the drive and sped down the main road leading towards the Pacific Coast Highway.

  Epilogue

  Six Months Later

  John arranged for Stephen to be transported to his mansion, La Boheme, located just south of Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills. John hired a private nurse to look after him around the clock. Stephen was given the best of care and had an amazing recovery. Stephen even managed to play a little tennis on his brother's private court, and did some light swimming in the mosaic tiled pool. He was forever grateful to his brother for his help and kindness and also to his dear friend, Andrew, for his help in saving his family.

  * * * *

  John continued with his chemotherapy treatments, got plenty of rest, ate well, and exercised. Although he lost a lot of weight, he still looked rugged and handsome and was doing fine. He also was eternally grateful that Andrew was there for his family when the radiation treatments took their toll on him. He was glad that he had the undying support of his wife and family during this crucial time.

  * * * *

  Andrew stayed with John and Stephen at La Boheme for several weeks. When he was no longer needed, he bade them goodbye and headed back east. When he returned to Philadelphia, he filled out the prop
er paperwork to adopt Lilly. John acted as their attorney; through his connections, the process took only a few months. Andrew promised Lilly that her dark days were behind her, and he was a wonderful, loving adoptive father.

  * * * *

  Lilly loved her new name, new family, and most of all, her new life. In no time at all, she learned to read and write and when the fall came around, she started her sophomore year at an elite, private school. Even though she was a little behind, she studied hard and caught up, making straight ‘A's. She also made plenty of friends and hung out at the mall like all teenage girls should do. She never thought about her father, Diamond, and her horrible, past experiences again. Most of all, she had a family that loved her, and that was all she ever wanted.

  * * * *

  Donnie was transferred from Santa Barbara County Jail to Vacaville State Prison. When he found out, through his Public Defender, that Stephen Peterson had lived, he was livid and planned his escape along with a couple of other inmates. He stole a container of sulfuric acid during his garden duty and when it was recreation time, he and his two buddies burned a hole in the metal fence. They successfully escaped. Donnie was once again a free man—free to plan his revenge.

  * * * *

  Diamond was busted on Hollywood Boulevard for trying to buy crack from an undercover police officer. He called Jordan pleading with her to come bail him out, but she merely laughed and hung up on him. He spent three months at a L.A. County Men's Jail and had a very hard time. On his first day, he was raped in the shower and beaten up in the cafeteria.

  Later, after the judge saw his record of felonies, he was sentenced to five years at Kern County State Correctional Facility, where he shared a cell with an enormous, Mexican, bank robber named Paco. Paco instantly took a liking to Diamond, but the feeling was not mutual. Diamond didn't enjoy being someone's ‘bitch'.

  * * * *

  When Diamond was arrested, D.J. and Jordan got revenge. They raided his apartment of all his valuables and sold them on Hollywood Boulevard. Then they hitchhiked to San Francisco, where D.J. started beauty school and Jordan got a job as a receptionist for a private investigator. Sometimes, when they needed money, they did a shift at GiGi's, a local, nudie bar. They were propositioned numerous times by customers who wanted more than a lap dance, but they turned them down. Neither of the girls had any desire to get back into the ‘life’ and were doing fine.

  * * * *

  Christina, Nikita, and Damian lived in Runyon Canyon Park for a few more weeks, until the police raided the place. Damian was picked up off the street by an older gentleman in a Jaguar who promised to take him to Hawaii. Nikita decided to call her sister in Texas, who wired her money for bus fare to Dallas. She went to live with her sister, got off drugs, and went back to school. Things turned fine for her. Christina was not so lucky; she was standing in line at ‘Rock and Roll’ Denny's on Sunset Boulevard when a man who said he was a fashion photographer approached her. He promised her a modeling career if she went with him back to his studio. Excited about becoming a famous model, Christina happily got into his car with him. Nothing was ever heard of Christina again.

  * * * *

  Michael was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Shelly McCoy and booked on fifteen counts of rape. He was given a psychological evaluation where he was diagnosed to be a paranoid psychotic. He was brought to a mental institution instead of prison, when he attempted suicide by slitting his wrists with the sharp edge of the underside of his cot.

  One day, while he was having a session with his psychiatrist, he kicked her in the face and stole her pen. He then jabbed the pen in the eye of the armed guard that was looking on. He managed to escape the building and carjack a red Toyota that a teenage girl had pulled to the curb so she could make a phone call. He was never found.

  * * * *

  Shauna had a tough time recovering from being raped by her brother, but she did very well. She stayed with Jason, Angela, and Joe at Joe's house in Benedict Canyon, and shared a glorious summer with them. She had a couple of breakdowns, but with counseling and her friends’ and family's support she got through it.

  When Joe went to New York with Angela, she and Jason housesat in Joe's home, indefinitely. In the fall, she transferred to U.C.L.A. and made a bunch of new friends. She enjoyed school, but most importantly, she loved Jason and their life together.

  * * * *

  Jason loved living in Benedict Canyon with Shauna. Joe pointed out that the Sharon Tate-Charles Manson murders occurred just right up the street on Cielo Drive. Jason, ever the forensic specialist, found that exciting. He had no trouble securing work in L.A. The assignments he liked best were the movie star, stalker cases. He found famous people amusing and their lives so surreal. It was almost like living in a real life, mystery movie. Most of all, he loved Shauna.

  * * * *

  After his father came back to Philadelphia, Justin went with Beverly to New York. He got a job playing piano in a new, Broadway musical, called Brotherhood of Men. The show got excellent reviews and was an instant hit. He still dreamt of composing his musical and constantly wrote songs. He was totally in love with Beverly, and they were deliriously happy.

  * * * *

  After moving into Justin's Manhattan apartment, Beverly quickly got a dream job as a counselor for battered women. She loved living with Justin and her new job, but sometimes wished she could go back to Los Angeles and see a baseball game her famous brother was playing in. Every once in a while, Angela would call just to say ‘hello'. She and Joe lived down in Greenwich Village so she could be close to N.Y.U. Beverly and Angela would always love each other.

  * * * *

  Paul became a hot and sexy rookie for the L.A. Dodgers baseball team. His starting salary was one million dollars. Sports Illustrated called him one of the ‘Up and Comers to Watch'; he was also interviewed by the L.A. Times. He literally was having a ball hitting home runs. He loved being a baseball player and all the perks that came with the fame, especially the groupies.

  * * * *

  Allison and Patrick never missed one of their son's games. They often visited John and Stephen when they were in town. Allison loved to mother her brothers and found great pleasure in making sure they both took good care of themselves. She also forgave her daughter for her college indiscretions. She was glad her daughter and her friend, Angela, got on with their lives.

  * * * *

  Angela shared a one-room apartment at Eleven Waverly Place in Greenwich Village with Joe. She loved New York, and the bohemian lifestyle. She studied hard and found medical school at N.Y.U. fun, challenging, and stressful. To relieve stress, she and Joe would have a marathon, lovemaking session. They gave her the energy boost she needed to keep on studying.

  * * * *

  Even though ‘The Village’ was a far cry from Beverly Hills, Joe adored it. It brought back pleasant memories of Washington Square Park and his own N.Y.U. days.

  One night, when he and Angela were having dinner at Tavern on the Green, he ran into an old, film school chum named Peter Stein. Peter had just started an independent film production company in Manhattan. He was looking for a director for a low budget, romantic comedy called An American Romance, about love and dating in New York City. Joe showed Peter his reel and immediately got the job. Joe was directing his first feature film—his dream come true.

  But the best part of his life was waking up to Angela every morning. He had finally found his soul mate and for that he was endlessly thankful for that fateful weekend at the Hotel Del Moor.

  * * * *

  * * * *

  Lindy is a graduate of New York University, where she was a theater major and a film minor. She is a former actress, having appeared on the daytime drama, Sunset Beach. Her independent film, The Lesson, screened at the Seattle Underground Film Festival and Cine-Nights L.A. Weekends is her first novel. Her second novel, City of Toys, is inspired by her years as an actress in Hollywood. She lives in Bakersfield, California with her h
usband, daughter and newborn son.

  * * *

  Visit www.lachesispublishing.com for information on additional titles by this and other authors.