The Price We Pay (10 page)

“Figures.”

“I have to let you go.”

“Be safe, Kenny.”

“Always babe, love you.”

“Love you.”

I hung up before my father got back on the phone. Seriously, there was no point to that call. No point at all. But I got to talk to Kennedy so I’m glad Latch let me make the call.

I walked back to the island and handed the phone over to Latch. “That was pointless.”

“Thanks for not saying anything.”

“Your welcome. I did get to hear Kenny’s voice again so that was a plus.”

“He’s still at the hospital?” he asked, with a beer in his hand.

“My father? Yes.”

“Christ,” Jaxon muttered from the other end of the island, also with a beer in his hand.

“My father gets what he wants,” I told them.

“Not this time,” Latch said walking away towards the bedroom, to check on Marvey, no doubt. I turned to Jaxon. “With all the chaos these two days I forgot something very important.”

He gave me a pointed look, and his silence conveyed his annoyance at my next request.

“I’ve got finals next week.”

Kennedy

I sat on the edge of the hospital bed. “I’m leaving,
Mother
.”

It was the morning after Sofia visited me and there was no way in hell I was staying here any longer. The bed was hard, the nurses were constantly flirting with me, and it stunk of bleach and a faint smell of vomit. I wasn’t sure why it stunk all the time but it did. Or maybe it didn’t and I just imagined it. Either way, I was getting out of this room.

She huffed and puffed, pacing the small space by the window with her white purse clutched in her hand over her shoulder. “It’s too soon.”

“You got me a nurse,” I reminded her, looking back down to the floor. “I’ll be fine.”

I saw her feet stop and she turned to face me. “Why won’t you come home?” she said on the verge of tears.

I looked up at her. She was two feet away with one of her perfectly manicured hands on her chest. Her hair pinned back tight, wearing a sleek black pantsuit. She was a bit on the thin side these days, so she preferred to wear pant suits.

“I’m a grown man. I live on my own. I’m engaged to a beautiful woman whom I’m marrying in a few weeks,” I briefly paused, looking up at her.

“So yes
Mother
, I’m going home.”

“I
am
your mother,” she said softly. “I want to take care of you.”

I gave her a bigger smile. “I’ll be okay.”

“It’s almost Mother’s Day,” she declared while giving me a small smile.

“I know this also.”

She took a step toward me. “This could be my present.”

“You want me home that bad?”

“Of course, I do,” she said dramatically. “You’re my son. You were shot.”

I would never hear the end of it. She was never going to give up, and pretty soon she would start crying. My mother was very similar to Sofia’s mother but my mother acted like she loved me from time to time.

“You can stay in the guest bedroom,” I told her.

She gasped and put her hand over her mouth, nodding her head up and down, agreeing.

“Two days.”

Her jaw dropped. “But Mother’s Day is three days away.”

“Then you can come back over on Mother’s Day, or I’ll come to you.”

“No! You’re not going anywhere.” She put her arm out, and I reached out for it. I stood slowly and she gripped me tight. “I’ll come to you.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

We walked out of the room and headed down the hallway, slowly. The officer was still lingering around, even though I knew my father and Sofia’s father hired a bodyguard for me. I wasn’t sure how I felt about a man following me around all day, but if someone was trying to kill me then I’d deal with it. Sofia would be home soon and I needed to keep her safe. She doesn’t want to move in until after she graduates, but that’s only two weeks away so I’m sure she’ll be fine moving in early. She has finals next week and she couldn’t miss those. I needed to get things done this weekend so she could be home by Sunday night.

I grunted a few times during the drive home. I couldn’t help it. I’m sure my mother worried but I just stared out the window. I had people to call and plans to make to get my girl home.

The nurse was waiting for me in the lobby, just like my mother had told me. She was probably in her late forties, had a good smile, and came highly recommended. Other than changing my dressing and keep an eye on my blood pressure, I’m sure she was going to be bored.

“John’s bringing my bags over,” my mother said coming into the living room where I was sitting. John was our driver, had been since before I was born. She set her purse on the ottoman and then sat in the chair. “I’ve always loved your furniture.”

My five-bedroom condo faced downtown San Diego. The entire living room wall had floor to ceiling windows so you could get a view of the city from anywhere in this room or kitchen. It made the place bright and welcoming. My black leather sectional sofa matched my chair and ottoman. The sixty-inch flat screen TV hid in the ceiling. That was Sofia’s idea and she found someone that could do it for me. This way we could see the city immediately after coming home without the TV in the way.

“Should we order in?” my mom asked reaching for her purse. “Are you hungry?”

“Sure Mom, whatever you want.”

She stood with her purse in hand and I listened to the click of her heels until they ended in the kitchen. I heard her open the drawer, the one I’m sure held all of the takeout menus I had collected since living here. I could have a personal chef but I wasn’t home much, and Sofia and I liked ordering takeout when it was just us. She felt like it was something
normal
people did, and we enjoyed it.

The nurse came to my side with the blood pressure cuff and her notebook.

“Won’t take but a minute, sir,” she said leaning over.

I pushed my sleeve up for her, trying not to show the pain on my face, I gave her a small smile. “Please don’t call me sir.”

“Okay.”

“Jenkins,” I said firmly and she nodded.

“Jenkins.”

She put the cuff on, took my blood pressure, and recorded it in her notebook. I felt bad that she had nothing to do so I told her she could do whatever she wanted and offered the library to her so she could relax.

Sofia should be here.

I grabbed my phone, and scrolled through the contacts and hit send on Gabe’s name.

“Yo,” he answered.

“It’s Kennedy.”

“No shit,” he gasped.

“I-”

“It’s been way too long, brother.” He was one of my fraternity brothers from college, someone I haven’t seen or spoken to in a while. “Don’t worry, I know you’ve got a stick up your ass.”

“I-”

“Your parents,” he cut me off and continued, “
They’re
the stick. You need to shake that shit off.”

“I told you I’d be busy after college.”

“I know. You went to go work in the family business and ain’t got no time for us poor folk,” he joked.

“Fuck off, asshole,” I said with a laugh.

“Okay, okay. What’s up? You in trouble?”

“Um, kind of. I was shot.”

“Fuck.”

“I’m good, home. But my girl was with me.”

“She okay?”

“Yes, in protective custody right now, but I want her out. I want her home.”

“Need help?”

“If you could.” I silently begged sitting on the edge of the couch. “I know it’s been a while and-”

“Shit, we’re brothers. Always, man.”

“Thanks.”

I filled him in on the details, told him everything I knew, and he said he’d be in touch. I trusted all my frat brothers, but Gabe and I were the closest during college.

The food arrived, we ate, and I sent the nurse home after a bandage change and blood pressure check my mom insisted on having done.

“I’ve always liked these pictures.” My mom said stopping in the hallway. She was talking about the ones from college that I had hung up in the hallway. My father didn’t like them being in the main room. Most of them were with my frat brothers and some were of Sofia and me.

“I had fun in college,” I said, looking at my favorite one of the entire frat house.

“Do you have fun now?” she asked, walking slowly, still looking at the pictures.

“I’m fine, Mom.”

We made our way to the guest bedroom, where she’d be staying. My housekeeper kept the linens fresh and all my extra rooms cleaned at all times.

“Do you think that’s wise?” my mother asked when we got inside the room.

“What?” I asked pulling the curtains open. The city lights shine nice and bright through the only window in the room. It wasn’t as elaborate as the living room, but she still had a good view.

“Getting your friend involved?”

“He works in private security now.”

“Really?”

My mother met Gabe a few times but didn’t ask about my friends that weren’t in our social circle.

“Yes, he has contacts. He’ll stay under the radar and won’t cause any problems.” I turned around and saw her sitting on the edge of the bed, watching me.

“I’m glad you’re here, Mother.” She smiled and dropped her eyes. “I need some rest, though.”

She stood. “Of course, dear.”

She shut the door behind me and I made my way to my room for the night. I slept as best as I could, lying on my back and praying that Sofia would be home sooner than later.

“Kennedy’s home,” Sofia said sitting next to me on the steps.

“It’s a good day then.”

“Yes,” she said sounding somewhat depressed, “I suppose it is.”

I took my last drag and put the butt out in the tin can I kept on the steps. “Why so sad then?”

“I love this house, I do, but I want to go home.”

“We all want to go home.”

She turned towards me. “Where’s your home?”

I don’t share too much about my past because it’s fucked up, and it needs to stay in the past, but I told her the truth. “This is my home.”

“Oh, then why did you say that?”

“Say what?” Harper asked sitting two steps down facing me.

“Isn’t the saying, ‘Home is where the heart is?’” Sofia said with a soft smile.

“That’s the saying.”

“I have Kennedy,” Sofia started, “and even though my parents are…my parents,” she grimaced, “I know they love me. Just in their own way.”

“And Marvey?” I asked.

Sofia looked off into the distance. “She only has me; she’s part of
my
family.”

I was like Marvey, I had no one. I did it to myself and there was no one to blame but me. I take full responsibility for my stupid actions.

“This has been my home for a year,” I stared out into the yard and sky not looking at anything in particular, “I have nothing outside of this house.”

“How much longer do you have to stay here?” Harper asked.

“No clue, but I never want to leave,” I told them honestly.

“It’s peaceful,” Harper said, flashing me a soft and calming smile.

“It is,” I said watching the sunset. Every day I came out to watch it, absorb its beauty, and remind myself how thankful I was to be clean, sober, and alive.

The prosecutor told me that it could take this long before the case went to trial and I’d have to testify. Now that it’s been a year, I’m starting to worry. What happens to me after I testify? The only thing I was good at was getting high, lying, stealing, and killing people.

A life I no longer belonged to.

I’m a changed man now, but no one will hire me with my history and lack of experience.

“What do you think Jaxon and Latch are doing?” Harper asked, turning on the steps so her back was against the rail.

They had left right after dinner. They were never out here this much but I was enjoying everyone’s company. The girls were a hoot, especially when they were sparring with the guys. Pure entertainment. Harper and I got along the best, talked the most, and hung out a lot.

“Working,” I replied.

“Think they’ll remember to bring the new movies?” Sofia asked looking directly at me. There was something about her, so calm and naive. It made me question why she did what she did, to land her ass here.

“I hope so,” I added. “Haven’t had any in a while.”

“We declared it movie night,” Harper reminded us. “So it would be nice if they remembered.”

“I’m sure they will, but we don’t know what time they’ll be back.”

Harper stood. “Let’s grab a beer.”

Sofia stood. “And start a movie. We can always change it when they get back.”

“What about Marvey?” I asked standing.

“I doubt she can stay awake,” Sofia commented, “but I’ll ask her.

We went inside and I grabbed a chick flick movie and put it in while Harper grabbed the beers. Marvey joined us and snuggled beside Sofia on the couch. Harper sat next to her and I sat in the chair, propping my feet up on the coffee table.

“Alright ladies, let’s get this movie started.”

I’ve seen it a few times, so I really didn’t pay much attention to it. I kept thinking about what would happen to me after I testified.

Nothing.

Nothing was going to happen to me.

I had no life.

No friends.

No place to live.

No money.

I was screwed.

But not tonight.

Tonight I had the company of three amazingly strong women, and I was going to enjoy it.