Hapless By Leo 32

 Chapter thirty two:

Next Chapter 

Previous Chapter 

 

Ben was shocked that Victor didn't reacted in the way he had thought he would instead he sat on the torn sofa calmly.

'Listen kid , the world where I come from and belong is too dangerous for you. Do you think I was that stupid to let you in without knowing who you are. I recognized you the moment you popped at my door out of nowhere. Carla wanted to kill you but I refrained from that task and what happened shouldn't have happened I know I....I'm sorry kid for everything. Carla became insane. Now I don't know whether she'll be the same innocent girl I once knew.'' he sighed and took out a cigar from his case and lightened it, then he took a long puff and a cloud of smoke appeared in front of his face covering his eyes and chin leaving the dagger mark still visible.

He must have gotten that scar from someone in self defense after all Victor was a bounty hunter and he would do anything for money. He once sold her fiance for money and he still is facing the consequences of it. Ben although was still unaware why his father ended up marrying a woman who was not from his circle or class. He was only five years old when he married her. If only he knew. The cigar he was smoking was fine tobacco and one who can afford such tobacco ought not the money to get himself indulge in a luxury hotel? rather than this criminals inn. Ben sat in front of him on the edge of the half fallen bed and looked him straight in the eyes,

''I have an offer for you, the police is looking for you and sooner or later you'll end up there if you don't do as I say. You must take Carla with you and leave with her from here forever. I will give you enough for the two of you to live off it for the rest of your lives but you have to do as I say.'' Ben was crucial but the man in front of him was not the one who will be feeling even the little of it.

''Why? why help me when you can easily get rid of me and her.'' he was polite and took another puff of his cigar. The tobacco's essence filled the room as the smoke appeared although it soon vanished within the smell of mildew in the room. No doubt the green over the walls edge was old very old mildew.

''I don't know why in fact I should call the police right now but I know what happened that night. I don't want my father to find about you and Carla instead I'll explain him everything nevertheless my father wants to leave her anyway and he will be delighted that she is gone so will be I and the only one who can do this is you. You want her and now she's coming back with a great deal of money for which you left her. Now all of that will be yours.'' Ben stood up and looked at his wrist watch. It was late he must go back and he had left his phone in the car and he didn't have any idea how many people would have called him by now. 

''I'm late so whats your answer? Don't expect this offer to remain after I leave this place because you have none left. It would be wise to take the ransom of your bloody work and leave our lives forever.'' Ben stood there for a moment and Victor nodded.

''I accept. You kid I know won't betray me. You are your father's son.'' he came close to him and tapped his back.

''I'll tell you when to come.'' Ben nodded in agreement and opened the door to leave.

''Hey kid,'' Victor called him from behind.

Ben turned to him, ''You know I didn't want to kill your friend. It was an accident.''

''I know , that is the only reason I forgive you besides all that you have done.'' he left.

                                                               

The children were giggling and it was windy. Quiet windy. Tina brought Liz for a walk in the playground. All she could do to see her happy but still she felt as if she's always withdrawn from happiness. Rachel sat near Tina for moment after playing with Liz. She was panting. 

''Mom you shouldn't be doing all this you can get sick just from running.'' Tina handed her water.

''I don't care. All I want to do is play with my daughter.'' she kissed her and then looked at the  estranged Tina.

''Is anything wrong? did you talk with Ben how's everything?''

''I don't know mom, I_'' she paused for a moment to figure out the right words to elucidate her exact feeling. ''I try all I can, I handle the work , the home I do everything but I still see that Liz lacks something. When Ben's around she 's content but when she's alone with me she's quiet. She was  more attached to Taylor and now when Ben's around she forgets everything even me. Can I ask you something?'' she looked at Rachel with askance.

''Go ahead you don't have to take permissions from your mother to ask her anything even if its reckless.''

''How did you bring me up when dad was gone?''

Rachel sighed and took a deep breath. '' I used to cry at nights every night. It became a habit for me but I hid it from you. You took your father's death seriously doctors told me the only way to keep you happy was to be happy myself. It was hard for me but even after burying your father I never cried in front of you. I kept my sadness my grief locked inside me and never showed it to you neither to anybody. It became a way of life. I became a father and a mother both. People approached me , they wanted to marry me but I was the man of my life by that time and Ray was with me always I didn't have to search him in a form of a being. I was just more stronger than you are. My background was independent. I didn't have parents to cherish me comfort me, maybe that is why I was stronger than you. It's hard to state someone's condition with anyone else. If I had a support and friend such as Ben I would have reconsidered. Loves are hard to forget, but why don't we understand that those who are gone are always there and our love stays the same. Only we find companionship with new people. We don't replace the ones we love, they always stay with us till we meet them.''

She held her mother's hand tightly. ''I love you mom more than anything else.''

''I know. So did you forgave him or not?''

''I don't know. To be honest he didn't do anything that needs forgiveness.''

The sun was ready to set giving flashes of orange light in the sky.

                                                                             

It was her first day at work but she did it great. Everyone liked her and she also enjoyed her day at work. Although she still missed her old work. Working with Ben was more thrilling than any work she had ever done. ''Now comes the night and my loneliness.'' she said to herself when she came out of the office. Someone touched her shoulder and she quickly turned around to see, It was Sam. Dressed in a suit with properly set hair and a case in his hand. He definitely came from work. Sam was medium height brunette. His eyes were light grey and his face was broad. He was a good looking man. His age was the same as hers and his height was the same as hers. Even his style of speech and thought resembled hers. She had taken up these points in her mind long ago when she met him only twice. ''Good God Sam you scared me.'' she placed her hand over her chest. ''Did you commit a crime that you are scared that much.'' ''Come on what are you doing here?'' She began walking with him.

''Can you do me a favor, I am completely alone here I am currently living in a hotel and its really boring why don't we both spend some time together then I'll tell you what am I doing here.''

Jenny bought all the things for dinner and she brought him home instead of going somewhere else. Sam also favored this idea. ''I'm going to cook and you can go there and freshen up.'' she said placing the things on the kitchen counter. ''You really got a nice place Jen.'' 

''Thank you but its crappy I know it but even then thanks.''

She prepared a lovely table for two. By the time Sam came out he was astonished. 

''Wonderful but where's the wine?'' he sat and looked at the little bucket of ice in which a bottle could be seen. ''First look and then say.'' Jenny was a Jack of all tribes. She was beautiful , intelligent and a great organizer . ''This is the best food I've eaten in ages, I mostly dined half of my life outside now I know what real food feels and tastes like.'' he said with a mouthful of food.

''This is the best appreciation I've heard in ages, my father used to praise me like this for whatever I did. He loved me that much that he would praise my errors in such way too. '' she took a sip.

''Jen what happened in L.A?'' Sam was deliberate to know the truth.

''The suspense is killing me, you and Ben were perfect together what happened?''

''I just , I wasn't right for him and he was not right for me. If we had been married it would have been a complete disaster. Eventually I'd get over everything this is why I moved here. To get over everything to be a little lonely.''

''But then I came along what will you say to that, a girl like you shouldn't be lonely.'' he smirked at her.

''I'm not ready for anything at the moment but it was good to have you here Sam, you really helped me and Tina and Ben. You saved three lives and I'm thankful to you for it.'' she touched his hand and something inside him sparked.

Sam had been lonely all his life. He only met two girls and both of them left him when ever something sparked inside him. This was the same spark and he was not ready for such a spark. After the last incident when he woke up and found a note that said, ''I'm sorry move on I cannot be with you.'' he decided he needed a break. Then he met her but he was with Ben. Jenny's appearance had an effect on him the first time he saw her. It was the same spark but he shrugged it off himself with disbelief and here he was again with the same spark.

''Why didn't you go to Miami?'' Jenny filled his glass and hers.

''I didn't feel like going after I saw you at the restaurant I couldn't go Jenny I want to talk to you about everything and I want you to tell me everything. It's fine you can tell me. We all have been at the crossroads of life.''

''Quiet astute of you. You can stay all night if you want but if you want me to talk I'll have to get drunk for that.'' she flashed her brown eyes at him.

He laughed and brought another bottle of wine and placed it on the table.

It was hot September's night as they both sat in order to confess their secrets to each other.

''Would you like to take a walk outside it's windy and better out.'' he got up and picked up a bottle.

''Sure I was also getting exhausted inside.''

They began walking on the empty road. It was not that late but it was a work day due to which roads were deserted. 

''I'm so sorry I'm keeping you awake you would have to go to work tomorrow.''

''No it's fine. I feel like talking myself.'' her locks began to flow over her cheeks she tucked them behind her ear.

Sam sighted her and he looked away when her eyes caught his.

There was a bench nearby and she sat on it and Sam followed. Offering her the bottle and she took a sip.

''Everything was so shallow with him, at times I would convince my inner self that everything's fine that he'll be okay, I'll be okay but that remained a dream until thanks to you , you .........you saved all three of us. I thought I was the wall between the two. Now they'll be happy. I had to end it and I did. I told everything to Tina.'' she had tears in her eyes. Sam said nothing just curled her up in a hug. That was it for her. She began to cry like a child.

After quiet some time she felt really better and began saying,

''The first time I met him, I hated him more than anything in this world. I will never forget that day and I hate myself for feeling like that for him. I love him I really do. No matter what I do whatever I think about him even in the most imperfect way I think about him it will always be inadequate to hate him. I can't. I can't.'' she got up and began to wipe her cheeks with the back of her hand. Her eyes were red as blood and her cheeks had still tears trailing down on them.

''I'm so sorry, I apologize I had no right to make you my cry over shoulder I just.'' she looked at him and bit her lower lip.

''Jen it's nothing to be afraid and be ashamed of I know how you felt about him I knew it that moment when you asked me about him in the car when I dropped you home remember?'' he came closer to her and placed his hands over her shoulder.

She looked at him in disbelief.

''That's right that's what I am a fucking open sheet that everyone can read.''

''Come on let's go home it's late. You have had enough and the good that you deserve awaits you.'' he leaned down closer to her and kissed her.

She kissed him back. She had an urge or loneliness or mixed feeling or that she drunk she didn't know. 

''Hey Jen, its okay you are drunk. We don't have to do this now. Maybe when you are sober, and know what you are doing and I don't want to take advantage of you in such state.'' he whispered to her and curled her in a hug and kissed her hair. 

She remained quiet said nothing. 

 

----------------------------------------------------

 

The moon was shining and the calm waves were moving towards its attractive light.
Tina was sitting on the cold wet sand looking at the moon. All of them were now sitting in a circle around her. Ben and Jason had lit a good fire and Jenny and Gloria were making drinks. Sam was sitting with Tina doing nothing.
''Hey fancy pants might wanna help us?'' Jason who was trying to set a rotisserie above the fire asked Sam.
''Me no thank you Jessy.'' Jason threw a coal on him.
''Hey man take it easy.'' Ben gave them chilled beer.
''Anyone hungry?'' Jenny brought some sandwiches.
''Ben you made the right choice if I had met Jenny before you I would have married her instantly.'' Sam said taking a sandwich from the tray.
The wind was cold. The birds were singing in distance.
''Let's sing a song to relive the old memories. You know something Tina we never sang after college.'' Gloria said giving blanket over Tina's shoulder.
''Song and me, I don't think that would be a great idea, all you'll get out of me is elegy not a song.'' she drank from the can almost emptying it.
''You know something elegy is beautiful in its own kind. It's natural and everlasting not like a moment of desire or merriment that would end soon.'' Jenny sat down near the fire.  
''Come on now Tina cheer up let me begin and all of you join me. You just wait here.'' Jason went to his car and opened the trunk. He took a moment and returned with a guitar in his hand.
''Oh my goodness you are fucking kidding me right now.'' Ben got up and took the guitar from him.
Jason began singing and Ben was now thinking about which song he is singing so that he would play the melody right.
''Wise man say, only fools rush in....
But I can't help, falling in love with you....''
Ben played the guitar beautifully. Until one by one the song was accompanied with many voices. Each and everyone singing sighting each other. Jason was looking at Gloria and she back and him.
Archie was singing looking at the fire. Tina was lost in her own thoughts. Jenny was looking at Ben. Ben back at Tina. Sam was looking at his beer.
''applause guys well done.'' Tina cheered them up. ''I love it here, how nice it is to have you all back just as you were, except for me. Done and undone.'' she was drunk.
''No Tina it's not like you think you are only tragedy stricken. Everyone lives their own tragedy.'' Archie said and puffed a cigarette.
''What's the matter with you don't put your own boring story here.'' Sam punched him in the stomach and he fell down.
''What happened Archie?'' Jenny helped him up.
The wind was lighting a fierce fire. The sky was filled with infinite stars.
''That story again.'' Ben shrugged ash off his coat.
''I loved a girl back in college. She was pretty. We both liked each other. Everything was great. We would never get tired of each other until one day she got on , dumped me for another guy.'' he said abashed.
''This was your tragedy?'' Jenny laughed so did everyone.
''At least I made you all laugh come on give some appreciation and you Tina get over everything. Life's beautiful. It would be more if Taylor would be here but he is out there watching. Don't torture the poor soul. Live and let live. Think about Liz.'' Archie got up and brushed sand off his clothes.
''Yeah Tina we would love you to be truly back again.'' Gloria said and got up with Jason.
''Bye guys Archie would drop us off home it was truly a great night.'' Jason waved them goodbye.
''Let's go its almost dawn.'' Jenny got up but Ben was still sitting.
''Tina come on let's go home.'' Sam was still sitting beside her.
''You go I'll stay for sometime. The dawn is my thing I'll sit here for some while and then take a cab.'' she was looking at the fire which had turned to ashes and coals.
''Jenny you go ahead with Sam I'll wait here for Tins. She's drunk I'll have to get her home.'' Ben covered her with blanket.
''Yeah come , you guys should keep going too otherwise the seagulls will make noise and that would ruin your drunkenness.'' Sam got up and Jenny followed.
Ben came closer to Tina and Jenny turned looked at both of them.
 
''How did Ben got over himself and got engaged is a miracle Jenny. You know in college he used to be with every girl out there. We had to hide ours from him he was such a Casanova.'' Sam said laughing. Jenny was looking out of the windscreen she was silent.
''I don't know what can I say.'' Jenny sighed.
''I don't know him that well still. Do you think I'm making a hasty decision Sam. If you were in my place what would you do?'' Jenny looked at him and he got damn serious.
''Damn it I was just joking Jenny. If Ben finds out about all this it would be the last day of my not lived life.'' he was still looking at the road and not at Jenny. Jenny couldn't guess whether he was doing it because he was a responsible driver or not to make eye contact with her.
''I mean I know he's in love with...'' Jenny didn't complete her sentence and her lane had arrived.
''You both live together, have decided to make a commitment what is it that makes you wonder who he's in love with?'' Sam finally made an eye contact with her.
''Thank you Sam you are a great friend.'' Jenny kissed him slightly on the cheek and got off the car.
 
''How long was I on the beach and why did you not leave me there and went home with Jenny.'' Tina who found herself awake in her bedroom recalled the last thing she remembered and damn she remembered it right. But she wanted to wake on the beach, the cold sand and the sound of seagulls not her comfortable cozy bed.

 

 
Ben who was lying on the couch got up and looked at his watch. It was 10. He was late as usual.
''One day I'm going to sort everything out till then you must not interfere with anything I do. You understand me. Good now I have to go I'm late.''

Ben was hearing someone call his name. It was Tina he was dreaming about the day they all were happy at least for the night. Then he realized it was just a dream and today in reality Tina didn't even care to talk to him.

''What is it now you believe you can talk to me?''

''I was think about that night when you left Jenny and stayed with me all night at the beach and brought me here about which I have no idea how you did it.''

''Holy hell, I was just dreaming about it.'' he looked at his watch it was 11 already. He had to do a great deal of work today.

''What you just said?'' 

''Nothing. Anything specific you wanted to talk about or maybe its hard for you that you ave no one to quarrel with?''

''Stop it Ben. Listen to me don't make things any worse for me. I am trying hard but I can't swallow it in a jiffy. Today is my appointment be home. And don't sleep on the couch just to show how much you are being tortured sleep in the room.''
Tina stood there for a moment. Until her phone rang.

#hapless #novella #romancedrama #novels #stories 

Copyrights @leoleopards.blogspot.com