Chapter 58

It was getting late and I was more than ready to go home. Vendors were packing up and most of the attendees were making their way out of the park. Exhausted children were being carried, dragged, or pushed in strollers by equally tired parents. Mary Ellen was talking with Karen as they packed up the leftover brochures and tablecloths while I essentially stood guard. Despite the success of the fundraiser, unease lingered within me, overshadowing the sense of accomplishment that I should have been feeling. I kept waiting for Cole to jump out of the shadows.

"I'll fold up this table," I said once the ladies had cleared it.

"I'll help," Mary Ellen volunteered.

While we were working, my father approached with a proud smile. I had thought he went home hours ago. "Dad, I didn't know you were still here."

"I got dinner with some friends and thought I would come by before I went home," he said. "This went much longer than I thought it would."

I laughed. "Yeah, no kidding. None of us were expecting to go this long but we got a second wave and everyone just decided to stick around. Vendors were making money. They weren't about to leave."

"Quite the success, wasn't it?" he remarked, his voice tinged with genuine admiration.

I couldn't help but smile. "Yes, it was. We had an impressive turnout."

"I'm going to tell your mother that she made a mistake not coming today," he said. "She thought it was going to be a couple of people. You really knocked it out of the park, son. Great job."

"It wasn't just me. This was Mary Ellen's idea. I just had the time and connections to make it happen."

"You can accept the compliment," he said with a smile. He put his hand on my shoulder. "I don't know if this fundraiser was enough to save the library, but the effort you put into it impresses me. It was organized and fun for the target audience. I look forward to seeing what you can do in the future."

"Thanks, Dad."

It wasn't that I didn't appreciate my father's praise but my mind was preoccupied with Cole. I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"Goodnight, son," my father said, breaking through my thoughts with his parting words. "We'll talk soon."

I watched him go, wondering if my mother would ever come around. It was nice to have my father's acceptance, but it wasn't everything. I knew I shouldn't care, but I did. My parents had always been so proud of me. It sucked to lose their respect.

It was my own fault, but it didn't make it any easier. I glanced over at Mary Ellen. She was talking animatedly with her friends. I could tell she was happy. The fundraiser had been a huge success. She was practically glowing with excitement. She must have sensed me. She looked over and smiled. I smiled in return and went back to packing up.

"She likes you," Murray observed.

I couldn't help but laugh. "I hope so. I like her."

"She's proud of you," he commented.

I nodded in agreement, a flicker of pride stirring within me at the sight of Mary Ellen's joy. She had poured her heart and soul into making this event a success, and seeing her happiness was a reminder of why we had embarked on this journey in the first place. "Thanks."

"You should be proud of yourself for pulling this off," he said. "I honestly didn't think it was going to be this big of a deal. When you told me about a fundraiser for a library, I thought you were just a little nuts. But it worked out."

"Thanks—I think."

"I'm serious," he said. "This was a lot of work. I know because I've put together small events and it was a pain in the ass."

"Thanks."

"Well done, Gene," Murray continued, his hand slapping my shoulder. "Dad's right. Mom should have come. It's her loss."

"Thanks. I'm glad you and Dad showed up. It means a lot."

"Of course." He nodded. "I'll talk to you later."

It had been a long day, filled with highs and one obvious low. I was beat and ready to fall into bed. I had devoted almost every waking minute this last week to the fundraiser. To have it over was both a relief and somewhat of a strange loss. Now that it was over, I wasn't sure what I was going to do with my time. It had felt good to have a project. To have something to focus on.

Jenny and Ward were preparing to leave. Their daughter Sunny was sporting a vibrant array of neon colors painted on her face. She gave me a shy smile. I smiled back at her. "Are you a fairy princess?" I asked her.

She grinned and nodded. "Yes."

"It's very pretty."

"How come you didn't get your face painted?" she asked. "My dad did."

I looked at her father who had some paint smeared on his face. "I see that."

"Alright, let's get you home and in the tub," Jenny said.

"I don't want to wash my face," Sunny pouted.

"We'll wash around it, but it's probably going to rub off on your pillow," Jenny replied calmly.

Sunny looked thoughtful. "I'll stay up."

"Not a chance," Ward said firmly. "Let's go."

Sunny turned and waved at me. I waved back at her, imagining the fight they were in for once they got home. Eventually, everyone else left and it was just Mary Ellen and me and a couple of boxes we were taking back to the car.

"How are you feeling about today?" I asked her as we carried them.

"It was a success," she gushed, her eyes shining with pride. "So many people told me they want to do it again next year, and the vendors all reported higher profits than expected. It's been a good day. I can't wait to see how much money we raised."

I smiled, watching Mary Ellen's eyes sparkle with excitement. As we loaded the boxes into the trunk of my car, I wondered, what did we do next? She didn't have a job. I had no idea what I was doing.

"I'm so proud of you, Mary Ellen," I said sincerely. "You put your heart and soul into making today a success, and it really paid off."

She blushed at the praise. "This was you. I would have never had a clue how to do this. I thought putting up a few cheesy flyers was the way to go. You showed me differently. Thank you so much for making this your fight."

"Our fight." I smiled.

We got into the car, both taking a second to catch our breath. Mary Ellen reached across the center console and took my hand. "You've had me worried all day. What's really going on with you and Cole?"

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. Mary Ellen deserved the truth.

"Something happened the other week," I began. "You could say we had a falling out."

"Do you want to tell me what the falling out was about?"

I didn't, but I supposed I probably owed her an explanation. After the bullshit with Samantha last week, I didn't want her to think I was holding back and keeping secrets. I loved and respected Mary Ellen and that meant I needed to be honest with her.

"Cole's cousin robbed me," I said.

"What?" she exclaimed, her eyes widening in disbelief.

"The night we were at my place in the pool," I said, jogging her memory.

She nodded. "Yes, I remember."

"When I took you home, I don't know if I left the garage door open or if he found another way in, but he got in and stole a bunch of shit."

"You didn't tell me!"

"It was nothing," I said. "I called Cole and threatened him. I got all my stuff back, at least most of it. I made it clear to Cole that he was no longer welcome around the house. He was pissed. He said he didn't know his cousin was going to do it, but I told him to leave. I don't want that bullshit around me. Cole had a chance to keep his nose clean and he is falling back in with the same old group that landed his ass in prison. I wanted to help him, but not at my own sacrifice."

"Why didn't you call the police?" she asked. "They might come back."

I shrugged, a bitter taste in my mouth at the thought of involving law enforcement. "Because they wouldn't have done anything. They know who I am. It wouldn't have changed anything, especially since I got everything back. They would have blamed me for associating with criminals and then they would laugh because I'm a criminal."

"You are not a criminal," she argued.

"Technically, I am," I said softly.

"But what if this cousin comes back? Is he dangerous?"

"I'm not worried," I assured her.

"Why was Cole here today?" she pressed.

"He wanted to borrow money," I replied. "I already gave him money once before. I opened my home to him. I'm not about to make that mistake again."

"And why does Cole need money?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. He said he was trying to get an apartment and get back on his feet."

She snorted. "Why is it your problem? He took advantage of you. He used you."

"It's not my problem," I replied, though even as the words left my lips, I couldn't shake the sense of responsibility that weighed heavily on me. "Cole and Vinny are gone. Let's move on. I told him to stay away from me. He made his choices and now he gets to live with them. I don't have to think about him anymore. I tried to help and it didn't work. Some people don't really want to change."

But even as I spoke the words, a nagging doubt lingered in the back of my mind, a reminder that some problems couldn't simply be swept under the rug. Cole and Vinny weren't really the kind of people that just went away quietly.

I had to keep my guard up, and I couldn't let myself get complacent. I drove away from the park, taking her back to her place.

"Do you think he'll come back?" she finally asked, breaking the silence.

I took a deep breath, contemplating my response. "I don't know. But if he does, I'm going to be there. I do have an alarm on the house. I changed the code and I'll start using it. I was lax. I won't be again."

Mary Ellen nodded. "You should still be careful. I don't like the thought of him lurking around you. Is he dangerous?"

"Nah." I shrugged, trying to play it off. In the back of my mind, I knew men pushed into a corner could be very dangerous. "I think he got the message today."

"What did he mean about watching your back in prison?" she asked.

"I think that's pretty self-explanatory. Prison is no joke. You need friends. He was my friend. I owed him but that debt is paid. He doesn't get to keep cashing in on it. His world was in there. We're in my world now. I don't need him. He needed me. I offered him help and he took advantage of it. But he crossed a line, and that's on him. I have to look out for myself and the people in my life, like you."

Mary Ellen leaned back against the seat. "I trust you," she said quietly. "Just promise me you'll be careful."

I reached out and took her hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "I promise," I said firmly. "I won't let anything happen to you. I'll make sure we're both safe."

Mary Ellen might very well be my future, and I damn sure wouldn't let my past ruin it.