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Raymond turns his attention to me, taking offense to my statement. “I told him that if you found out the truth, it would only hurt you,” he snaps. “I told him that if he really loved you, he needed to let you go.”
I look past Raymond, out the bus window. I stare at the wintery scenery that has changed from open fields to city lights as we approach Greeley. I let his words sink in; not only about the night my dad died, but about the advice he gave Brooks.
After several more minutes, Raymond’s voice breaks through my thoughts. “Vivian, we are almost there, is there anything else you would like to ask me?”
I blink and shake my head, attempting to bring myself back to the present. “I’m sorry, what did you say?” I murmur.
“I asked if there was anything I could help you with?” he asks once more.
“Actually, yes, there is something I want you to do,” I say, clearing my throat. “I have a proposition for you.”
“I’m an ex-con on parole for murder, Vivian. I have absolutely no skills, no reputable co
I gather as much courage as I can scrape together and look him straight in the eye. “That is exactly why you need to do what I’m going to ask of you. It’s time I forgive, and it’s time that you find redemption within yourself.”
Squaring his shoulders to me like I was going to deliver some underworld job to him, I match his posture. “My husband died last year in an accident where the driver fell asleep,” I begin. With that information, his shoulders slouch, deflating as my words hit him. “Every man that I’ve ever loved has been taken from me because of the mistakes of others.”
“I don’t understand, Vivian. How can I help here? I can’t change the past.”
“No, but you can help change the future of those that are on the same path you were on. I want to start a foundation to help at-risk teens get their lives on track. Help them go to college, get training, find a support system so that they don’t end up where you and I are now.”
“What would you need me to do?”
“Do what you did today; share your story. I want you to be a mentor for these kids, just like you were for the guys in prison. Help steer these kids onto the right path; they need to see how hard the wrong path can be. Only you can show them that.”
“Why are you doing this? Most people wouldn’t want anything to do with someone that’s done the things I’ve done.”
The brakes on the bus screech, and we all lurch forward from the sudden stop. When the bus driver a
Raymond stands when I enter the aisle to let him pass. “My family has endured a lot because of bad choices. It’s only right that something positive be born from that misery,” I say, placing my card in his hand. He only stares down at the card lying flat on his palm, not moving any further into the aisle. “If I can prevent one family from experiencing what mine has, then this was all worth it.”
He closes his fingers around my card and begins to pass by me, but before he can get out of reach, I grab his elbow, forcing him to stop. “When you’re ready to travel down the path of redemption, let me know.”
His eyes finally reach mine, and I briefly hold his gaze until the doors of the bus begin to close. I pull down on the cord above our seats, alerting the driver that a passenger needs to get off the bus just as Raymond yells to the driver. Without looking at me again, he runs down the aisle of the bus and exits.
I sit back down and pull out my phone to put in motion the next step of my plan. I’m going to need the help of the entire crew. After I text everyone, I lean back and settle in for the ride home. I have more than an hour before I’ll be back at my car. Hopefully, it’s enough time to come up with how to explain everything to Amanda. I’ve left her pretty much in the dark, so the much-needed conversation won’t exactly be pretty. To say I’m not looking forward to the argument headed my way is putting it lightly.
Wednesday
Brooks
I about shit myself when I got the call Saturday evening from Jen, of all people. She didn’t say much just that I needed to meet with her tonight, Wednesday, at Three Kings Tavern. Just the place I want to be, reliving one of the worst fucking days of my life. She didn’t have to say what she wanted to talk about; I know what’s on her agenda, and it probably includes some kind of humiliating public torture, followed by testicle removal. Considering I might lose an appendage, I guess tonight might get bumped up to the worst night of my life. Good thing we’ll be at a bar. I’m going to need a lot of alcohol.
I told Lakin to show up in an hour to save me from the she-devil. Of course, being my brother and wanting forgiveness for his support system fuck-up Friday night, he not only agreed, but also promised to show up sooner and hang out in the wings.
I’m not surprised when I walk through the doors to see that the place is not all that busy. It’s a Wednesday, after all. I came straight from work, so I’m still in my pristine charcoal suit and black dress shoes. Needless to say, I don’t match the décor. I dressed up on Friday because I thought I was going to get my girl back and propose. Tonight, I just stick out like a sore thumb, and the looks that I’m getting as I pass the people enjoying their evening tells me that I’m right–I look like an out-of-place douche.
I squeeze through the small clusters of patrons in my hunt for Jen. Finally, I find her, sitting alone at a bar top that would seat a whole hell of a lot more people than just the two of us. The size of the table leads me to believe that I’m walking into an ambush. I look around, sca
I saunter up to the table and give Jen my best ‘hi, but what the fuck is going on?’ look. Her response is a little-miss-i
“They are here somewhere. The band is playing again tonight, so Campbell is probably backstage, and knowing Carly, she’s in the bathroom calling home to check on Olivia,” she answers before tipping back her Coors Light beer to take a quick drink. She wipes her mouth and then calls a server over. “I wasn’t sure what you would be in the mood for, or I would have ordered you something.”
“Well, my order would kind of depend on what type of meeting this is. Do I need something to dull the pain, or am I here on friendly terms?”
She looks past me into the crowd, then up to the server, and then back to me, causing me to turn around in my chair in an attempt to follow her visual search. “He’ll have a beer, as well, please,” she says to the waitress without addressing me at all. I don’t really appreciate her speaking over me. I should order something different just to piss her off, but if she’s going to play nice, then, I suppose I will, too.
“Okay, Jen, what is this all about? You and I both know that I’ve lost Vivian for good, so I’m not quite sure why I’m here unless you’re just looking for extra bitch points and want to rub it in my face. If that’s the case, I don’t plan on sticking around.”
The server returns with my drink and I take a long pull, staring at her over the neck of the bottle. Her response is only to tap her fingers on the table like I’m boring her.