8. Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Lilah

W ith the shop closed I had some time in my hands so I got the ingredients to make a lasagna for dinner for Gene, Connor and his friends. When my hands are busy I feel more relaxed and in control. It's been a couple of hours since I last saw Gene and I wonder what he thinks he can do to help our situation.

I'm just sad because I think me and Connor will have to leave Woodland Falls. I don't even know if I'll be able to open up the shop somewhere else or if I'll have to take on a job working for someone else. I'll probably work less hours but there's nothing like the feeling that you are your own boss. I'll miss that.

I spend the rest of the afternoon filling out the paperwork the man at the bank gave me. It's definitely a reality check for me. When it's almost time for dinner I hear the front door open. I'm glad to see Connor's face and a couple of other ones behind him. Trailing them is Gene and I give him a big smile.

"Lilah, these are my friends, Brad and Owen."

"Hey boys, it's nice to meet you. Are you guys hungry? I made lasagna."

Their eyes pop open like I've just told them they've won a million dollars. Connor just rolls his eyes and sits down in the couch in front of the TV. He's got his gaming system set up so they start talking about the games they like.

Gene comes over to me in the kitchen. I can tell he wants to give me a kiss but doesn't want to do it in front of an audience.

"How was the rest of your day, sweetheart?" He whispers.

"Okay, I guess."

"Do you need me to help you with dinner?"

"I can handle it, but I'm glad for the company."

He sits in one of the stools behind the kitchen counter and watches me intently from there. I find it stimulating the way his eyes follow me around the kitchen. Like he can't get enough from me. When I go set up the table he follows me and helps me.

Before long I'm calling the boys to sit down to dinner. It's like having a big family. The boys are polite and thank me for the food. Then they all dive in and it's a little bit scary watching these three young men devour their food like they don't know where their next meal is coming from.

"So boys, how are things with your foster parents?"

Their movements freeze in mid air and tension swallows me whole.

"They're fine." Brad says.

"Yeah, fine." Owen says.

"Is that why you guys have been getting into all sorts of trouble in school and out of it?" Gene asks.

If the air around us was tense, it increases considerably.

"That's none of your business." Connor barks.

"It is if it's affecting you and therefore your sister. She's very important to me."

Connor looks at his friends and nods.

"They don't really care about us. They have three other foster kids and two of their own. For now it's just a place to lay down our heads. We're saving up." Brad says.

"Maybe I should talk to them." Gene says.

"Please, no. That will make things worse for us." Owen says.

"Okay, but if you need anything, don't hesitate to come to me or Lilah. We'll help any way we can."

After they finished their dinner, the kids claimed they were full. That is, until I told them there was ice cream for dessert. They ate it while playing video games. I sat with Gene watching them have fun. Right now the only thing on their mind was that game, all other things forgotten.

"Do you think we should talk to the foster parents anyway? Or their social worker?" I ask him.

"I'm not sure. I do think we need to keep an eye on them for the time being. Everything they do affects Connor's behavior."

"I know."

"I have a present for you. You might not want to accept it, though."

"Oh?"

He hands me an envelope and I open it up. Paid in full, it says. I keep reading page after page and realize that my mortgage has been paid in full and my credit card debt too. I stand up, distraught.

"Gene, what did you do!"

I start pacing around the dining room table, rereading the papers over and over again.

"This is too much, I can't possibly accept it."

"What's going on?" Connor asks.

"He paid everything. We're in the clear." I hesitate. "It's too much money, I'll never be able to repay you."

I hand Connor the papers. I don't know if he'll understand them, but he needs to see what Gene Mitchell has done for us. Who does something like this? I know he has changed, but this is ridiculous.

"Will you calm down, Lilah."

I walk up to him and grab his shirt with both my hands. My fists scrunch up his shirt as I pull him to me.

"Why, Gene?"

"You're important to me. I had the money to do it, so I did."

I bury my head in his chest and sigh in relief.

"I don't think you should keep working the flower shop, though. I have a better idea." He says.

My brother approaches us, a weird look on his face. He wants to be thankful for what has happened, but still resents Gene.

"We'll pay you back." Connor says.

"It's a gift, Connor, but you, Lilah and the Mcallister boys here can help me on my new project as thanks."

"We're in!" The twins shout from the living room.

I don't know what to say or how to feel about all this. Is it real? Has Gene really solved all my problems? This affects the way I feel about him. How could it not? I sit down on one of the stools around the kitchen counter and watch Gene warily.

"What's this great idea you have?"

"I think Woodland Falls needs a Youth Center. And I want you to run it, Lilah."

"Wow, that's a big project. I don't know if I'm capable of running a non profit like that."

"Well, we can't start building right now, unless we find a suitable building that's already available. So that means you have the rest of winter to figure out everything. I'll help as much as I can, of course, but I want you to think of it as your baby."

"Gene…"

"Think about it, Lilah. Kids like me would have somewhere to go after school and maybe even get the support they need." Connor says.

"Okay, I'll help run the place, on one condition."

"Name it." Gene says.

"That's it actually. I want to name it the Mirna Mitchell Youth Center."

Gene's eyes become shiny, but he's able to hold back the tears. He's not able to hold back his hug and he puts his arms around me and whispers in my ear.

"Thank you, sweetheart."

This man is digging himself a place inside my heart and I don't know what to do about it or if I should do anything. I mean, what does a life with Gene Mitchell, town pariah look like? I let go of him and step back. I don't want to give my brother and his friends a show.

"So what's the first step?" I ask.

"Simple. We brainstorm about everything we'd like to see in this youth center and then make a plan to make it come alive."

"Do you think the Hoffers will let you do it?"

"I don't see why not. I'll go talk to the major early tomorrow. You can come with me to soften him up."

I giggle because the Hoffer brothers really have it in for him. When Gene Mitchell was bad, he was really bad. He's going to need all my support in that meeting. We all gather around the living room and I start taking notes.

We spend over two hours brainstorming ideas for the center and in the end we have the beginning of a business plan. It's got concrete ideas that we can show the mayor and maybe even get their help. I know Gene wants to pay it all himself, but projects like these need help from the town itself, otherwise they won't be successful.

After the Mcallister boys leave and Connor goes to his room, I'm left alone with Gene. He's sitting down on the couch frowning at the notes we took during the meeting. My thoughts have gone to another place. It's a bit forward of me, but I want Gene to take my innocence, and I'm not going to be shy about asking him.

I'm standing next to him, but he seems completely absorbed by the document in front of him, so I place my hand on his shoulder to get his attention. He looks up at me and smiles, but I can see the change in him as soon as he locks his gaze to my heated one.

I extend my hand to him and when he goes to protest I simply say 'shhh' and put my index finger over his lips to keep him from objecting.