by Amy Marie
Now it was time to be honest with Oli. If he didn’t answer his phone, I was going to track him down. I lifted my phone to call, but it rang in my hand.
“Jilly?” I knew Oli had given each of the kids a phone so that never again would they not be able to get in touch with him if they needed him, a problem at the Home I intended to address. But she’d never actually called me before. “Is everything okay?”
“Oli needs you.”
Chapter 22
Oli
As I waited for Mena, I sat on the stone windowsill, the only thing between me and about a two-hundred-foot drop was a wire screen. It was one of my favorite places, a place I’d spent a lot of time over the past couple of years. I hadn’t shown Mena yet, and I knew it was because I couldn’t show her without telling her the truth.
That time had come.
If she came.
I wanted to believe Jilly’s enthusiastic plan, but after all that had happened, I wouldn’t be surprised if Mena decided to leave me hanging. I’d made some choices lately that could have cost me greatly, but I was hoping—praying—for one more shot. And this was the best place for that, in more ways than one.
I checked my watch. It was five minutes after the time Jilly was going to ask Mena to meet me. Butterflies, or more likely bats given my location in a belfry, beat their wings against my stomach.
Car lights pulled into the parking lot below me, and a lone figure stepped out of the car. She was greeted by another. My breath caught. She’d come.
I’d asked Father John to meet her and guide her my way. It meant I still had about four to five minutes before she made it to me. I wiped my hands on my jeans and blew out an unsteady breath.
Finally, her head broke through to the landing. “Oh.” Her face glowed in wonder as she saw the giant bells that separated us.
I stepped around the corner. Here went nothing—or everything.
“I’m glad you came.”
She froze when she saw me. “Jilly said you needed me.” I wanted to take her hand and assist her the last few steps, but I didn’t want to push my luck.
“I do. I need you in so many ways, Mena, the first of which is to let me try to explain.”
Her lips quirked. “And you couldn’t have found a place that didn’t put me through an aerobic workout?”
I chuckled. “I figured once you were up here, you’d be too tired to run.”
She stood still, watching me. “I’d have come anywhere, Oli. This is different, though. Beautiful.”
The weather was warming, but even at just this little bit of elevation, the breeze was stronger. I took off my jacket and draped it over her shoulders, then leaned my arms on the rail. “It is. From up here, you can look over the entire city.”
“And not in any tour book,” she said, remembering what I’d told her once before.
We were high enough to see out across the city and some of its suburbs. Below us, cars traveled in all directions, and people gathered in groups or walked along sidewalks.
We stood silently for several minutes. I needed the time to think of all that I wanted and needed to tell her, and either she was allowing me that time, or she was trying to prepare to tell me what a jackass I was. But it was time.
“Do you see that bridge over there?” I pointed toward the roadway that crossed over a span of water. Its many arches were lit from underneath casting long columns of light on the dark river.
“It’s pretty.”
“It was also home for a time.”
Her head swung toward me. “Oli…”
“I lived in a tent community at that end.” I pointed toward the side farthest from the central city. “I thought I was content. I didn’t have to pay rent, I could pack up and leave at any time, and if you have the right equipment, it’s really not that bad, at least to me. I spent years just moving from place to place, just Abby and me. I saw all kinds of places in the country, some beautiful and some of its uglier sides, too. Circumstances brought me here, and for a while, I was content right there at the base of that bridge.
I pointed to an ugly cubic-looking cement building. “And over there is a warehouse where I worked for about a year and a half.”
I continued to point out places: where I took classes, the Children’s Home, her building, where I lived now, and even an evening tour of the Duck boat that was happening.
“I like it up here. I can see where I’ve come from. I used to dream that if I could just climb a little higher, people would see me differently. But it seemed that no matter how much I accomplished, I could never keep up. I got my GED, and they wanted a college education. They wanted an address, and the apartment wasn’t big enough.”
Her hand gripped my arm. I could see questions on her face, but she didn’t interrupt. She just continued to give me her rapt attention.
I stretched my arm out one more time. “And there, between those buildings, is the park where I first saw you. And this time, I knew I wanted something that was really beyond my reach. But when fate stepped in, and we met a second time, I thought I would take a chance.”
“I’m so glad you did, Oli.”
“You should know I showed up for our lunch date.”
Her hands lifted to her hips. “What happened?”
I turned to face her. “There have been times when I haven’t told you everything, but I never made things up, and I promise I’ll never lie to you. I need you to believe that because some of what I’m going to tell you is going to sound crazy.”
“Oli, I…”
“Shh. Please don’t say anything. Not yet. I need to tell you everything first.”
She nodded, then pulled me over to a bench. “Start. I’ll listen.”
I told her how I went to the Faris Building and about my encounter with Jeff and how he must have bribed someone to get information on me. “I’m not sure how he even knew about me.” She gasped and bolted to her feet when I told her what Jeff said to me. I pulled her back down. I’m not entirely sure she realized she was in my lap, but I wasn’t going to move her for anything.
She shook her head. “No, Oli. Please tell me you didn’t work for Jeff.”
“Shortest job ever.”
“What did he make you do?”
By the time I finished telling her about Jeff and meeting Gene and his offer of wishes, she just sat there staring at me. “Crazy, right?”
She was silent for several painstaking minutes while I waited for her to decide what to do with all the information I’d just thrown at her.
“You have got to be kidding me.” Suddenly, she stood back up and stomped around the bell tower, muttering curses while she dug into her purse.
“I know it sounds crazy, but you can ask Gene—”
“That son of a bitch.” She pulled out her phone.
“He’s really not, I promise.” I’d never seen her like this. She must be really pissed. This was not good.
She finally looked at me. “What? No! Not Gene. Jeff! Oh, my god, Oli. This is all my fault. I’m so sorry. None of this would have happened to you if it wasn’t for me.”
I stared at her. I wasn’t following at all. I wasn’t a scientist, but maybe it didn’t take much elevation to make a person lightheaded. “Are you crazy? How is this your fault?”
“Jeff. I bet he tapped my phone, too, just like Gene. That’s how he knew about you before you ever got to my building for lunch. He intercepted a phone call and met you himself.” She flipped her arms. “It all makes sense now. He knew all of my texts and phone calls. He knew my father emailed me that he was thinking about starting scholarships for those kids who worked for our supplier overseas. That’s why everything looked like it was on the up and up on our side, but on their side, there was miscommunication. Jeff is a master manipulator. But thanks to you and Gene, he was out-manipulated.”
Now it was me staring at her like she was the crazy one.
“Here.” She thrust out her phone. “Do something with it. Whatever you have to. Cru
sh it, throw it off the tower, whatever. I feel so violated.”
For now, I simply turned it off. “Come here.”
She came willingly into my arms. I held her, the moments ticking away with no notice.
“Does this mean you forgive me?” I murmured into her hair.
“Oh, I already did before I came here. I’m sorry I was so stubborn about it. I tried to call you this morning to tell you.”
“I wanted to call you back, but I was busy with your dad and Gene, as you now know. And then I knew you were busy, and I had to work some things out with the kids. They were mad at me, too.”
“Really? Why?”
“They want me around more. Turns out, they like me just for me.”
“Of course they do! Why would you think they wouldn’t?”
I didn’t want to lie, but it wasn’t easy to explain. I tried. “Same reason I didn’t tell you about my background. I always felt like I needed to be “more” in one way or another. More educated, more money, more house, more worthy. When you come from nothing, it’s hard not to believe you are something because there’s always someone to remind you. And when someone actually believes in you, it’s hard to trust they mean it.”
Her arms tightened around me, and I rested my chin on her head as she lay her head against my heart.
“It wasn’t hard to let Jeff’s words get to me. Most of my life, I’ve felt like I wasn’t good enough. For a change, I just wanted to be the person you thought I was; to see the man I’d fought to become, not the boy I was. Somewhere in my desire for more, I changed. I let it all get to me, and I lost sight of the reason I’d fought so hard to begin with. I’ll be honest, I enjoy having those creature comforts, but I’d give it all up in a heartbeat if you say you’ll give me another chance.”
She grabbed my hands and held them between us as she looked into my eyes. “Of course, I do! You’re not the only one who let people get into my head. I’m just as guilty about listening to those voices. I don’t care about your background, Oli. I love the man that you are, right here.” She poked me in the chest where her head had just been. “We could be broke, and I’d still feel rich.”
“Wait, say that last part again.”
“We could be poor—”
“Not that.”
“Oh, that other part.” I giggled. “I love you, Oli. You’re my diamond, and I’m your person.”
“Huh?”
“Never mind. Just know I love you. And every bit of you is worthy, I promise. I’ll show you forever if you let me.”
There was no holding me back now. I swung her around, our laughter echoing in the bells that I hoped would one day ring out as we pledged ourselves to each other.
I lowered her to her feet, cupping her beautiful face in my hands. “I love you, Jasmena Knight.” My lips captured hers, breaking only when we heard footsteps running up the stairs. “There’s just one thing…”
Jack and Jilly burst onto the landing. “What did she say?” Jack demanded.
A huffing Father John joined us. “I’m sorry, I tried to keep them downstairs, but they’re a bit determined.”
I laughed. “You’re just in time to help me ask her.”
“Mena, will you be ours?” Jilly yelled, her voice echoing on the bells. “Together forever?”
She looked at us, a threesome of once homeless, runaway orphans. But together, we were priceless. There would never again be any doubts about our value. Not for any of us.
Tears ran down her cheeks as she looked first at the kids and then at me. “Absolutely. I would be honored.”
“Yay!” Jack and Jilly both shrieked.
Mena and I opened our arms, and they rushed to close our circle. Mena looked at me. “Together forever.”
And that’s just how it went.
About M.E. Montgomery
M.E. Montgomery can’t remember a time she hasn’t had at least one book on the go. After years of falling headfirst into the lives and loves of other characters, M.E. decided to write her own. She enjoys creating the kind of realistic storybook friends you could actually meet somewhere, and sometimes she finds herself wondering what those characters are up to once she’s delivered their happily ever after.
She’s married to her best friend and has four children and two Boxer dogs. They live wherever the Navy sends her husband, usually the East coast of the U.S., but also once in Japan.
Whenever she’s not writing or substitute teaching, she often ponders the riddle of how the kitchen sink appears to automatically refill with dirty dishes as soon as her back is turned. On the occasions it stays empty, you can find her with a glass of wine or Scotch outside at their fireplace or curled up inside with a book, binge watching TV, or chatting with readers.
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Part Seventeen
Dick and Pussy By Morgan and Jennifer Locklear
A Dick Whittington and His Cat Retelling
Dick and Pussy
Dick Whittington went to London
With his heart, and some snot on his sleeve
The river was crud, the streets caked with mud
And it smelled like you wouldn’t believe
With a master to apprentice beneath
Who bought, and bartered in clothes
Dick learned the trade, and also got laid
By his daughter, right under his nose
That first night, Dick went to the kitchen
The cook fed him nothing but guck
Back to his attic, now a little asthmatic
Master’s daughter was waiting to fuck
Want to see my pussy, she asked
And opened her legs as she sat
Surprise in Dick’s eyes made them grow twice their size
He always thought pussy meant cat
They plundered each other all night
It certainly helped the time pass
After he jumped her, he humped and pumped her
While mice ran across his bare ass
The next day on the street, he saw an old lady
With a cat on top of her head
At once Dick knew, what he had to do
So he walked up to her and he said
Good day, my dear lady, I see your fine puss
And I wonder if you would be willing
To let me pet your little brunette
And then take it home for a shilling.
She hesitated, but finally agreed
Dick took his new pussy back home
The cat gave chase, and his little space
Became a well-maintained catacomb
Now, when he plucked his lovely lass
His backside was devoid of mice
He caught a fine break, for what was at stake
That pussy was such a nice price
Dick’s apprenticeship was quick to grow
And his technique in all matters improved
Already his cock, had given such shock
She suspected he might have been hooved
Once a sea fairing merchant came by the house
Looking for items to trade
He convinced Dick to part, with his pussy at heart
For twice what he had paid
The man also swore that he would bring back
Extra money that he got
For selling such a fine, and healthy feline
To the highest bidding lot
He said, there are kingdoms overseas
That could use a pussy so cunning
They rarely see many, let alone any
So ready and willing and stunning
Dick agreed, but his stomach turned green
He knew at once why he fretted it
He wasn’t prepared, for a pussy so scared
And absolutely regretted it
Dick missed his pussy a
s weeks turned to months
And he took little comfort from hugging
But his secret love kept him busy above
With multiple tugging and plugging
When the merchant returned with a bag full of gold
Paid by an Indian king
Dick in a rush, was financially flush
And bought his master’s daughter a ring
With new-found wealth he bought more fur
And sold it for coin on the streets
Prince of Pussy they said as he bought gingerbread
He could now afford nice linen sheets
Even King Henry favored the man
Because his chambers were so filled with rats
The rodents enslaved him, until someone saved him
A Dick with a box full of cats
As years passed, Dick’s enterprise swelled
His home was bigger than most
He and his wife, had the good things in life
Like clean water, and sometimes French toast
By then, London was dripping with pussy
Even Tabbies from the isle to the west
