Chapter 14 - Riker
The holidays rolled over us like a twelve-foot wave. Jonas, hot off his decorating win, was filled with the spirit. He asked if we could take a day or two and go back to the city so he could share some Christmas cheer in the old neighborhood. Even though it was against my better judgment, I agreed.
We left early on a Saturday morning. I’d booked us a room not far from his familiar hunting grounds and given him strict rules about curfew and staying out of trouble. I was pretty sure I could trust him, to some extent. He’d matured a lot over the months he’d spent with me. We set up a check-in plan using our cell phone apps and I let him go. It wouldn’t be long before I had to do that anyway.
While I was in town, I dropped in on my old friend Sgt. Stephens at the precinct. He seemed glad to see me, clasping my hand firmly and inviting me down to the corner for a little yuletide cheer.
“We’ve missed seeing you around the place,” Stephens told me as the bartender put two beers before us.
“Yeah, I’ll bet you have. You always did like trouble.”
“No, seriously, we’ve got a couple young men who could do with a little incarceration at Riker’s.”
My curiosity was piqued. “Really? Tell me about them.”
“They’re not bad boys, either one of them. They were friends in school, and when Talin, that’s the oldest one, quit, Jacoury followed him out the door. You know, the old story; they thought they knew it all and could pick up some shifts at the local burger joint and make enough to move out to a place of their own. Well, I don’t need to tell you that things didn’t go as planned. Pretty soon they were broke, got kicked out for not paying the rent, and wandered into a convenience store looking for help, if you get my drift.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard that story before,” I nodded.
“Okay, that said, they’re not bad boys, and I think if given the chance, they’d walk the straight and narrow without argument. They’re respectful and fairly intelligent. They just boxed themselves into a corner. Since you’ve been gone, I don’t have any options but the juvenile hall. The judge had a bad day and gave them each two years once they turn eighteen, which will be six months from now. I don’t suppose I could talk you in to helping them out?”
“You know, Stephens, it just so happens that I’ve expanded my operation, so speak. I bought a big Victorian and converted the second floor into dorms. I’ve got eight bedrooms there, and while I don’t think I want to take on eight boys at once, at least there’s room, even if it’s only temporary. You think you could get the judge to release them to my custody, out-of-state?”
Stephens nodded, downing half of his beer. “I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. Any judge would rather send a young kid to a place like yours than put him into the system. How soon could you take them?”
“I guess I could take them tomorrow. Jonas and I are heading back in the early afternoon and there’s room for them in my backseat.”
“See what I mean? We’ve missed you.”
Jonas kept his word and was back at the motel by the curfew. “Did you have a good time?”
“Well, sort of.”
“Why? What happened?”
He didn’t answer me right away. He wasn’t being stubborn; I could tell he was searching for the right words.
“Come on, tell me about it.”
“God, I don’t know. It was just different. All the guys were there, but I felt like I didn’t fit in, you know? I listened to them talk and every other word was ‘fuck,’ but all they were saying was nonsense. They were spoiling for trouble, a couple of them are selling drugs and the others are following along, not an ounce of common sense in their stupid heads. I can’t believe I was like that.”
“Don’t beat yourself up about it. When you don’t have options, you blend in for survival. It’s human instinct, Jonas. It wasn’t your choice. So, you got a break and now you’ve got options you didn’t have before. Any idea what you’re going to do when you turn eighteen?”
“To tell you the truth, I was sort of hoping I could stick around with you. Any chance you could give me a job?”
I knew if I turned him down, it would be the same as sending him back to the city to sink or swim among the same old crowd. That was counter-productive. At the same time, there was only so much I could do.
“Tell you what. There’s always a bed there for you, and enough to eat, but you’re going to have to find a way to support yourself. I hadn’t mentioned it yet, but there are a couple new guys riding back with us in the morning. I’d appreciate your help with them, setting a good example and all. That’s what I do, Jonas. I bring options and potential to guys who wouldn’t otherwise have it. The carpentry and so forth I do pays for the lights and gas, but it’s also therapy, for them and for me. It gives them something to do and begins to teach them a trade. Sure, I could add on more clients and be able to support you without a problem, but eventually you gotta go on your own.”
He nodded. “I know. I’ve got no problem with that. I appreciate the room and board, because honestly I don’t have anywhere else to go, at least anywhere that’s a good idea. I’ll help you with the new guys and anyone else you bring in, and I’ll find a job to contribute my share. You know, Riker, I know I’ve been a pain in the ass, but you’ve always had my respect, man. You don’t have to do what you do, and no one’s giving away trophies. You’re a hell of a man, in my opinion.”
Jonah stuck out his hand and I shook it. For the first time I saw him as a man, my equal. I knew I was looking at a success story, and I won’t lie, it felt good. I was a little choked up, so I said, “Hey, let’s get some shut-eye. Tomorrow will be a busy day.”
He nodded and flipped off the nightstand lamp.
The next day found us on the road again, two more responsibilities sitting in the backseat. I spent the journey explaining how things worked at the house, and I had to give them credit; they didn’t give me any attitude. I saw a change in Jonas. It was as if he had joined my side as a parent. He chimed in with anecdotes about his own exploits and how he’d seen the light. The two in the backseat said nothing, which wasn’t necessarily a good thing. Sometimes silence meant plotting, and I dearly hoped that wasn’t the case here.
We got back to the house and everyone settled in. I wanted to go see Lacy, but I wasn’t ready to leave our two new recruits on their own. School was out for the holidays, so there was little to keep them busy. I had turned the old carriage house into a workshop, and I took them out and gave them a tour. I realized as I showed them around that I had actually created a room full of weapons; everything from screwdrivers to chisels to hammers. I kept my eye on them and breathed a sigh of relief when they didn’t appear overly interested in any of that.
I couldn’t get Lacy off my mind. It was Christmas Eve, and I’d made her a gift. I’d found a nice piece of driftwood washed up from the lake and spent days sanding and varnishing it until it practically glowed. I carefully drilled a hole down the core and wired it to be a lamp. There was a lot of symbolism behind the gift, and I knew that she’d get it. I’d been that piece of driftwood, and she was the light that had drilled into my core. I put it in a box and did the best job I could to wrap it.
I headed over to her place, intending to surprise her. When I got there, the cottage was dark and her car was gone. I was disappointed and even pissed. At first with her, because she wasn’t there, and second with myself for having expected her to be.
Normally, I wasn’t the controlling type, but I felt empty when she wasn’t with me. There was nothing to do but leave the box on her doorstep and go home. I spent Christmas with my ragtag bunch, and although our Christmas dinner was a bucket of fried chicken and potatoes with gravy on the side, it was better than they would’ve had if they’d stayed in the city. It was enough for me.
Late on Christmas Day, my cell buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw that Lacy was calling. “Hi there, Merry Christmas,” I answered.
“Oh, Riker, it’s beautiful. You made this yourself, didn’t you?”
“I hope you like it.”
“It’s gorgeous. I’m just sad I wasn’t here when you delivered it.”
“Yeah, I was disappointed, too.”
“I have a little something for you, nothing big. How are things going?”
“Well, I came back with two more boarders, so to speak.”
“Are they going to be trouble?”
“No way to tell yet. I don’t know much about them. They’re acting decent right now, but I think they’re smart enough to plan trouble if they want to. Sorry, but it means I have to stay close by for a while.”
“I understand. Let me know if you want to do something. Merry Christmas, Riker.”
“Merry Christmas.” The line went dead, and it felt like someone had blown out all the Christmas lights. I walked into the living room and saw the three boys, their feet up on the coffee table as they watched a football game. God help me, but I felt selfish in that moment. I wanted to kick them all out onto the street and go bring Lacy home with me. Was that so wrong?
Maybe I’d taken on something I really wasn’t cut out to do. I could feel the blackness moving over me, and my crotch ached with the desire to fuck Lacy all night long. I slammed out the back door and opened the workshop, trying to calm down and get my mind off her. I was half buried in a box of scrap wood when I felt a rush of cold air as the door was opened. I lifted my head, knocking it on the bottom of the table saw. “God damn it!”
“Sorry, Riker.” It was Talin.
“What can I do for you?”
“I was wondering if I could use your phone to call my girl.”
I was immediately suspicious. “What girl?”
“Her name’s Jalissa. I haven’t seen her since we got arrested. She didn’t have any way to visit me, and well, this is Christmas and the best gift I could come up with is to talk to her. I need to explain what happened.”
I’d heard fabricated stories before, and until I knew these two better, I was going to assume this was a story. “Okay, you have to use my phone; there’s no landline here. Stand over there and make your call. Keep it under five minutes, and I’ll keep my eye on you.”
He looked a little disappointed at the lack of privacy. Guess what, buddy. It’s a tough world out there, and you just caught a break. Make the most of it. I was sweeping up sawdust, deciding whether to get started cutting some trim I’d need for one of my clients, as I watched him standing in the far corner with the phone. He’d turned his back to me, and I couldn’t overhear what he was saying, but his body language seemed innocent enough. He was probably doing exactly as he said, although the dark side of me wanted to believe he was talking to a drug dealer or trying to fence something he’d stolen. Damn! What the fuck was the matter with me? Was everybody going to be my enemy now?
The kid finished his call and walked toward me, holding out the phone.
“Hey, thanks. It meant a lot to her. I told her to move on, to meet somebody else. I can’t be there for her for a while. If it’s meant to be, someday we’ll get together.”
I had to give the kid credit. “That’s a pretty adult way of looking at it.”
“Well, you know, not much I can do about it.”
I nodded and handed him the broom. “Here you go. Sweep the floor and dump the dust in that bin over there.”
He took the broom and immediately started getting it done. I pulled out the trim, made my measurements and cut enough to finish up the project. When we were done, I shut off the lights and we headed back into the house. I flipped off the television and pointed my phone upstairs. “Good night, fellas.”
All three of them begrudgingly got up. I knew they’d rather stay up and watch another game, but discipline was important. Besides, I wanted some peace and quiet.
They were still on break the next day, so I took them with me to install the trim I’d cut. I was missing Lacy, and I was growing suspicious because she’d never explained where she was on Christmas Eve. In fact, the more I thought about it, the more it sounded like she was being intentionally evasive. It put me into sour-ass mood, and I snapped at the guys when they started telling dirty jokes. “Shut the fuck up. Learn some self-respect.”
We got to the client’s house and I made them haul in the trim. The client was out of town for the holidays and had left me a key so I could get the work done while they were gone. I’d forgotten to bring my nail gun, so I had to dig out my hammer from the toolbox in the truck. It was buried at the bottom, and when I jerked on the handle, the pipe wrench flew out and hit me in the knee.
“God fucking damn it to hell!” The boys stood there looking at me, and I could see the frown on Talin’s face. I finished up the project, still feeling the black mood. That night they had peanut butter sandwiches for dinner. I didn’t give a shit.
The judge had ordered that a social worker had to check in with us and interview the boys. On Monday morning she called to say she was on her way. I had things to do, but the visits had to be sporadic and without notice. I understood the system and I’d agreed to it.
She was a short, frumpy woman with a bad case of acne. The corners of her mouth were downturned and I suspected she seldom smiled. She introduced herself, keeping it short and professional, then took the boys, one at a time, into the living room. Notepad in hand, she sat on the edge of the couch cushion as though it were dirty and filled with bugs. I had to stay out of the room so I couldn’t listen in as she interviewed them.
She took her time; it was evening already when the boys were finally done. She asked them to go up to their rooms and then turned to me. I steeled myself for what I knew was coming. There was always something sanctimonious about people in the system. They were efficient, but they were highly judgmental. I was just about to sit down to begin the conversation when there was a knock at the front door.
“If you’ll excuse me a second,” I said as I got up and opened the door. There stood Lacy, a present in her hands and a smile on her face. I knew she was being spontaneous, and it made me want her all the more.
“I sneaked out for a while. Melanie was in one of her moods, and I’ve been missing you.”
“Good, come in. I’ve got someone here, though.”
She looked up, her eyes huge. “Oh, I’m sorry. I should’ve called first.”
“No, no, it’s all right. She’s a social worker. Has to stop in and interview the boys from time to time. Judge’s orders.”
“I don’t want to be in the way.”
“You won’t be, believe me.”
I showed Lacy into the living room where the social worker was waiting for me.
“I hope you don’t mind, but this is my friend, Miss Lacy Chatte. She owns a design firm here in town and has spent a good bit of time around Jonas. She hasn’t met the other two yet.”
“I’m not sure this is appropriate,” the woman began.
“Look, she’s a big part of my life and spends time over here. Don’t you think it would be a good idea for you to get to know her, as well as me?”
The woman looked at me blankly for a few seconds before nodding. “Maybe you’re right.”
She started at the top of her list, asking me about various things the boys had said. Evidently, the two new ones especially had reported that I was grumpy and cussed a lot. “Would you like to explain that, Riker?” she asked me.
“Look, I’m not perfect. Things get to me, and I might get a little crusty. But I guarantee you, I’m Little Bo Peep compared to where these boys come from. In fact, it’s my professional opinion that their transition is easier if I’m not so… pristine, so to speak. I don’t believe they could identify with that, and I think I temper my behavior with enough self-discipline to give them a good example.”
She nodded. “And you, Lacy? Do you feel the atmosphere here is conducive to raising young men?”
Lacy looked from the social worker to me and back again. “I can’t think of anyone who would do a better job. I don’t want to pick on Jonas, but he’s the only one I met. I’ve seen such a change in him, and I really mean that. When I first met him he was disrespectful, argumentative and sneaky. Riker is responsible for changing all that. In fact, I don’t know whether he told you, but Jonas won an award for decorating the house for the holidays. Does that sound like an inner-city boy to you?”
The social worker said nothing but made notes on her pad. She asked a few more questions, and each time Lacy came to my defense, but in a way that didn’t sound defensive. She was professional, almost clinical in her responses, and I could see the social worker was relating to her well. I was really glad Lacy had come by.
The social worker finally stood up and held out her hand to Lacy first. “It’s been a pleasure, and I thank you for taking the time to talk to me. Even though these boys have been in trouble, they deserve the protection of the system, and as far as I’m concerned, everything here seems to be the perfect environment for them. And you, Riker, I appreciate your candid answers and your time. I’ll be filing a positive report, and any paperwork you receive will be routine. The two of you have a good evening.” I walked her to the door, and she nodded and left quietly. I looked over my shoulder and saw the three boys leaning over the railing from the second floor. “The three of you get to bed,” I told them. I wanted some private time with Lacy.
We sat together in the living room and watched television until, one by one, I saw the lights go out beneath the boys’ doors. It had grown late when Lacy stood, gathering her things. “Well, it sounds like you’re in a good place. Hey, you haven’t opened your gift yet.”
“Don’t go.”
“It’s late, Riker. I need to get some sleep.”
“No, I mean it. Stay with me. It won’t be anything wild, but I need you. Just lie with me, will you?”
“Are you sure?”
The look on my face must’ve said it all. Her face softened and she nodded, bending to turn off the table lamps. I held out my hand and we went into my room, locking the door.
I tossed a shirt of mine to her for an impromptu nightgown. Lacy stood before me and pulled off her clothes slowly. I drank in every inch of her body and was disappointed when she picked up my shirt and buttoned it over herself. We climbed into the bed and I lay my head on her chest, rubbing her nipple through an opening between the buttons. “I missed you.”
“Me, too. I should’ve called before I came tonight.”
“No, I’m glad you didn’t. I would’ve told you that the social worker was here and you probably would’ve refused to come over. Glad you came.”
I kissed her, hard, and clung to her selfishly. I’d really meant it when I said I needed her. I gently kissed her body, exploring every inch with my tongue and my fingers. She was soft and pliant, welcoming my touches and caressing me in return. I was ready to explode when I slid into her. We didn’t need a long buildup; absence had taken care of that. I moved within her, generously slow although it took considerable restraint. I loved everything about us. When I was with her, it was a different world. It was a world I liked. We came together and I rolled to her side, pulling her against me. Her ass fit perfectly against my crotch, and I wrapped my arms around her as we fell asleep. It was a very merry late Christmas.