Chapter 7 Malibu Elvis

Foster

Pulling into Henry's drive is like coming home. No flamingos. No storm debris. A place for my bike. A simple door I have the key to open.

When I walk in, Henry's sunning on the balcony. His old board shorts hang loose on his hips and he has to tie the drawstring tight to keep them up. He always says he wants to die the way he lived, with a golden suntan. He puts down the book he's reading and looks up at me.

"Foster? Where the hell have you been?"

I'm late for my Sunday morning check in. "I'm sorry. Got stuck in the storm. Had to take cover in a wine cellar." I set my helmet by the door and head to the john. "I need to take a piss. Be right back."

In the bathroom, I peel off my jeans and the long-sleeved shirt I wore to try and look acceptable to her stupid friends. I change into an extra pair of jeans and a T-shirt from the supply I keep at Henry's. When I come back out, he's engrossed in reading his autobiography.

I walk out onto the balcony and squint in the sun. Taking a seat next to him I ask, "That book still a bestseller? "

He takes off his reading glasses and grins. "Of course. Everyone wants to solve the mystery of Malibu Elvis and his Sherry." His hand rubs the picture of his wife and him on the back cover. His copy is wearing thin, he rubs that picture so much.

"So tell me about the party. Was she there?" He places the book on the small table next to his chair.

"Yeah." It seems like a long time ago I shared my plans with Henry. I'd told him I was going to the party to look for Donnie, but he knew I was hoping to see her.

"Still didn't recognize you?"

"Nope. No clue."

"Damn." He purses his lips and shakes his head.

"It's all right. I'd rather she didn't remember the night her brother pushed me in the pool."

He leans toward me, resting his elbow on the arm of his chair and leveling his old blue eyes on me. "She look beautiful?"

I slouch into the chair and throw my head back toward the sun. "Fucking gorgeous."

"What was she wearing?"

I turn my head to the side and open one eye. "Frilly white sundress over a red bikini with big gold rings on the straps."

He nods. "Hair up or down? "

"Down. It's so long now. Down to her hips. The front swept to the side, no jewelry." She looked carefree, stunning, sexy. If not for the storm, it would have been fun to watch her in action at a pool party. Does she work the room or clique up with her friends? She probably gives everyone equal time.

He sits back in his chair too and soaks up the sun. "The storm ruin the party?"

"Yeah. Can you believe the sunshine today when yesterday was a howling mess?"

He grunts.

The image of her coming outside and asking the servants to come inside appears in my mind. "We took cover in the wine cellar."

"How'd that go?"

"We talked. We drank wine."

"Did you bang her?"

"No, it wasn't like that. I wouldn't take advantage anyway."

"Good. You make plans to see her again?"

"Nope."

"Why not?"

"Her brother and father came looking for her. They were not happy to find her slumming with the likes of me. "

He sits up and I match his position. We need to look each other in the eye for this. "Did she say that?"

"No, but her brother said she was out of my league. Her father called me a street urchin and warned me off her."

"You gonna listen?" He takes a sip of water from the cup on his side table.

Am I? Our first meeting in years could not have gone worse. Is there any way it could get better? My teeth grate and I have to hold back my anger. It's not Henry's fault. "What the fuck am I supposed to do? She comes with her family. They hate me. She won't leave them, and they'll never let her go."

The lines on his forehead come together with his frown. "So, you're giving up?"

"Yeah." It sucks but Mila is a never ending frustration for me. I can't get close to her. Even if I can, she'll never be mine.

He slowly shakes his head. Disagreeing with me in the nicest way possible. He's good with people like that. He persuades with quiet compassion. "Then focus on your Round Table training."

"Nah. That's just a fantasy. Something I tell myself to keep me motivated for my workout."

"Why do you think you can't have what you want? Why do you follow that girl and say you can't have her? Why do you train for that competition and say you'll never win? "

I'm tired and Henry is hitting me hard. I give him an impatient glare. He knows me. He doesn't need to ask and I hate talking about it. "I don't have the best track record."

I sit back in my chair and squint as the sun hits my eyes, but Henry's still leaning toward me, not letting me out of this uncomfortable conversation. "Are we talking about her family or her now?"

"Both."

"You have a family now. I'm it. My kids are your siblings."

I shake my head. I never intrude on him when he's with his kids.

"If her father knew the man you are, he'd accept you. And she would love you if you didn't push her away like the others." Henry always has this unconditional confidence in me, but he has no concept how big the walls are between her world and mine.

"Maybe." I've been through a lot of girls who wanted me to open up and I never did. It didn't feel right.

"Have you ever told a girl you were dating about your mom?"

His mention of my mom makes me cringe. "No."

"Did you tell Mila last night?"

"Yep. "

He relaxes in his chair again like he's collected all the data he needs to make a judgement. "I don't think you should give up. So it's a challenge. Rise to the occasion."

"I don't know."

"Her brother's a jerk. He pushed you in the pool. Because of him, I saw you soaking wet on the side of the road and picked you up. Now I have an adoring son who is an undefeated fighter."

Oh man. When Henry calls me son, I love it. Add on a compliment about my fighting and I'm in heaven.

"We should thank Donnie Bianchi for bringing us together, the little shit." He tilts his head and grins.

I have to laugh at the truth in Henry's words.

"You don't know enough yet, so you can't decide. The father is controlling. You're assuming she'll take his side. Get in there and find out what's going on. Maybe she needs you."

He's right. Vaughn Bianchi's tone toward her made my skin crawl. I don't know what the hell is going on with her. I pick up his book and rub the picture with my hand. So much time has passed since he was my age. This book is his life. He doesn't get a chance to rewrite it. "Donnie yanked her arm."

He grunts in surprise. "And you didn't kill him?"

"Held back. "

"Good." He nods. We've had many talks over the years about my lack of self-control and the fights I've gotten into.

"She defended me to her father." I didn't realize it until now, but she was taking my side against her father and brother.

"Also a good sign. Sherry and I had our troubles in the beginning too."

"I know. I read the book." I hold it up and flip through the pages.

"The book didn't cover the most important part."

"There's stuff that's not in your autobiography?"

"I kept our deepest secrets private. There was a week in a hunting cabin in California I never told anyone about." He winks at me.

"What happened in the cabin?"

He smiles and looks out over the balcony. "We fought, we screwed, we decided to stay together no matter what."

That makes me laugh. "It worked."

"We stayed together. Ups and downs. I was an asshole. We fought like crazy, but I loved that woman till the day she died. Miss her."

"I know."

"I'll see her on the other side soon. "

"Don't talk like that."

He takes the book from my hands and rubs her picture again. "Someday you'll see what I mean. You won't want to be on this earth if she's left it."

Okay. That's enough. I can't handle anymore love talk from Henry today. I stand up and give him a hug. "I'm gonna get some food. I'll bring you something. Thanks for the talk." It makes me uncomfortable, but he's usually right on things.

"Here for you anytime." His hand feels fragile when he grasps my arm and looks me in the eye. "You're not alone, understand me? I'm here for you."

I gently squeeze his hand. "Appreciate it. Hoping someday I can pay it forward."

"You sitting on this balcony making me think back to the fishing cabin and getting Sherry to promise me forever? That's paying it forward. Can't think of anything better I'd want from any of my kids. Bring me her memories. Let me be young and so in love I couldn't keep my hands off her. Best days of my life. Well, apart from our wedding, my kids, and meeting you. Thank you, son."

Again with the son. I'm not sure how to express it all back. It's too jumbled in my head. Maybe I don't need to say anything. He wants someone to listen to him and appreciate his words. And I do.

I hug his slender frame. He pats my shoulder and grips my hand in an upright shake.

** *

Late Sunday night, I'm sitting in my apartment and a text comes through from her brother. Now I'm regretting giving that asshole my number before the last fight.

Donnie: Need a favor, bud.

I am not his buddy. Not at all. But I'll play along to see what he's aiming for.

Me: What kind?

Donnie: Deliver some packages for me.

Oh shit. He's dragging me into something. It's got to be a set up.

Me: I'm not an errand boy.

Donnie: My father wants to see if you can earn his trust.

What? His father wants me to deliver packages for Donnie? To earn trust?

It's shady as hell but damn, this is my chance. I want to know what Donnie is shipping and how his father treats people he trusts.

Me: What's my cut?

Donnie: 10%.

Me: Fuck that .

Donnie: 15%.

Me: 50% or nothing.

Nothing from him for a few minutes. He's probably shitting his pants because he wants to deliver for his dad but doesn't want to give me half of his profits.

Donnie: I'll text you the details.

Yes. I'm not sure what just happened, but if Henry's right, she needs me. Donnie's offering me an in. Her dad is interested in me. I gotta take it and see where it goes.