Alec by Margaret McHeyzer
“It’s good to see you up and around. Are you here to help?” Pen asks as she sets up for the community cookout the station is putting on.
“As much as I can do considering I’m still on crutches.”
“Then you’re totally useless,” she jokingly says.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” Dean asks when he sees me.
“Here to help.” Dean eyes the crutches and shakes his head. “Can you man the grill?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“Hey, Alec, you’re getting around quite well,” Joanne, Dean’s fiancée, says as she comes over and gives me a kiss on the cheek.
“Not too long left on these things.” I tap one of the crutches against the tar of the driveway. “I can’t wait to be back here though.” I glance over to the station.
“I bet. If you need anything, just call out and I’ll help.”
Joanne really is such a sweet woman. “Thank you,” I say before she heads toward the storage shed to keep bringing out chairs. Dean places a table on its side, and swings out the legs to make it stand. “How you landed someone so nice still baffles me.”
“I’m a nice guy,” Dean says, trying to talk himself up.
I’ll never admit it, but yeah, he is. “Is that how you fall asleep at night? Stroking your own ego?”
“Whatever.”
“Why are you here?” I hear Rhett calling from behind.
“Thought I’d help.”
“Doing what? It’s not like you can walk around.” Rhett looks at my leg. “How are you feeling?”
“I can’t wait until I’m back here again, and I’m back in my own house. The moment I’m good, you’re back at Mom’s.”
“Don’t remind me.”
“You should get your own place, Rhett,” Dean says.
“Alec and I already had this conversation. I don’t think Mom would cope without at least one of us there. You know she loves having us around.”
“She might surprise you. Talk to her,” I say.
Rhett half shrugs. “Anyway, it’ll be good to have you back. Even if you’re all gimpy and shit.” A backhanded compliment. So Rhett.
“Let’s get the grill fired up, because people will start showing up soon,” Dean says.
“I’m on grill duty!” I proudly announce. Watching everyone working together is killing me. While I’d rather be more involved and mobile, I want to help, and I can work the grill.
The next two and a half hours fly by with a lot of the regulars turning up. Old Mr. Rickson shows up and sits at a table, talking with Joanne and her son, Thomas. People come and go, with most leaving a donation we can pass on to the shelter over in Faith Haven.
Whenever we put on community cookouts, homeless people always stop by, hoping to get fed. We’ve never turned anyone away. As I’m cooking the sausages and burgers, and handing them out, I see someone I instantly recognize.
Jesus, he looks like shit. “Hey,” he says as he scratches at his arms while looking down at what I’m cooking.
“Hi.” I’ve gotta try and have a conversation with him. “Jordan, right?”
He looks around suspiciously, his eyes darting everywhere. “Yeah, how did you know?”
He doesn’t remember the day we saw him outside The Narrow Table, where he raised his hand to hit Serena. He doesn’t recall how we intervened before he had a chance to strike. “I know your sister, Serena. She’s a friend of mine.” He turns back to look at me, narrowing his eyes with extreme paranoia and skepticism. “She’s my physiotherapist,” I quickly add.
He takes a breath, and nods. “Oh yeah.” He relaxes, dropping his guard if only for a moment. He looks down at what I’m grilling and licks his lips. He looks like he hasn’t eaten in a long time. He’s even skinnier then when I saw him at the restaurant. “How much?” He gestures toward the food.
“You hungry?”
“A bit.” He licks his lips again. Then shoves his hands into his dirty jacket pockets, then takes them out, and forces them back in again. Talk about fidgety. He lifts his right hand to scratch at his neck. He looks terrible. And he stinks. “Can I have one? I don’t have any money.”
I catch Rhett’s attention and I discreetly signal for him to come over. He sees the back of Jordan, and walks up, creating a bit of barrier between us. “Hey, how’s the leg?” Rhett asks as a cover up.
“It’s starting to hurt. Do you think you can take over for a bit? My friend and I are gonna sit and have something to eat. Aren’t we?” I look to Jordan who’s jumpy and looking around.
“Yeah, yeah,” Jordan says. “Whatever, man. Whatever.”
I load a paper plate up with sausages and burgers, and while trying to balance them and use the crutches, I head over to two available seats. “Jordan,” I call when I notice he’s so uptight and he hasn’t followed me.
“Yeah, yeah. Good, yeah.” He gives Rhett a thumbs up, then comes over to sit beside me.
I have to breathe through my mouth, because the wretched odor coming off of him is going to make me gag. I move my seat back a bit, hoping the offensive smell will waft in the opposite direction. “Hey, would you like a drink?” Joanne offers happily.
“Couple of waters, please.” I give Joanne a tight smile while silently messaging her to leave.
She catches on fast, and leaves to grab us two waters. From the small interaction Dean, Rhett, and I had with Jordan, I know he’s capable of lashing out. The fact he’s completely under the control of drugs, means he’ll do anything for that next hit. Including fighting, stealing, and most likely selling himself. But I’m not here to judge, I’m here to try to figure out a way to help him.
I look over my shoulder, and notice both my brothers are close by, in case I need them. They give me an unnoticeable nod. No one else will know their eyes are on us, but I’ll know. They’ve got my back.
I push the plate over to Jordan, who’s eating like he’s a starving man. “How you doing, Jordan?”
“Good, good.” He shoves food into his mouth.
“Have you seen your sister?”
“Yeah, yesterday.” I know this is a lie because she hasn’t seen him for weeks.
“Yeah? How is she?”
“Good, good.” He pushes more food into his mouth. “Do you have any money? She told me to get groceries, but I forgot my wallet at home. She’ll pay you back.” This is the drugs talking, not him.
“Nah, man. I’m out myself. I haven’t been working.” I point to the crutches and my foot.
“What happened?” I’m surprised, because this is the first glimpse of him being lucid and thoughtful.
“I’m a fireman, and while we were putting a fire out in a house, the roof buckled, and the garage door fell on my foot.”
He looks back to the firehouse. “You’re a fireman here?”
“I am. But I can’t come back to work until my leg has properly healed.”
His brows draw in together as he slows his chewing. “I wanted to be a paramedic before,” he pauses as he stares down at the half-eaten plate of food. “But I don’t think I can now.”
“Why not? You don’t want to do it anymore?” I’m being really careful in what I’m asking. I don’t want to spook him, or send him off on a paranoid ramble.
He leans in closer to me, and I hold my breath so I can’t breathe him in. “They’re watching me.”
There goes the moment of lucidity. “Who are?” I know his reply will be filled with incoherent ramblings of a drug addict.
He points up to the sky. “The government. They’ve been chasing me for a while, but I didn’t do it.”
“It’s silly they’d think you did.”
“That’s right.” Absentmindedly he starts scratching at his arms again. “They’ve put a location device in me, but I’ve got most of it out.” He keeps scratching, the sores on his arms are vile.
All I can think of is poor Serena. “If you had the chance, would you become a paramedic?” I’m trying to force his mind toward something more positive.
He stares past me and zones out. Nope, he’s done. There’ll be no way he’ll talk about anything that’s not a conspiracy theory, his demented thoughts brought on by the drug abuse. How sad. Without another word, he nods as if he’s been asked something, pushes his chair back, scoops up the remainder of the sausages and runs like he’s being chased by the police.
I let out a long sigh, and shake my head. “What happened?” Dean asks as he drags out the chair Jordan was sitting on, looks at it and sees the brown stains. “Did he shit himself?”
“I think it’s dirt more than shit. He stinks, though.”
Dean tips the chair so no one can sit on it, goes over to the grill, grabs paper towels and antibacterial spray, and he wipes the seat down.
I look over to Rhett, and whistle to get his attention. He hands the tongs over to Penelope and comes to sit with Dean and me. “That was Serena’s brother, right?”
“Yeah. He’s in a bad state,” I reply.
“What are you going to about it?” Dean asks. He clears his throat, looks to Rhett and says, “What are we going to do about it?”
“Serena is working three jobs trying to save enough money to send him to some rehab center that costs thirty-five K.”
“Shit, that’s a lot of money,” Rhett says. “I’ve got about fifteen.”
“I’ve got it all if you need it,” Dean says.
“How’s this, she’s managed to save nearly twenty thousand by saving the expense of living somewhere decent.”
“What do you mean?” Dean asks.
“She told me she’s living in a shitty part of Faith Haven, not because she can’t afford somewhere nicer, but because the rent is cheap and she can put more money into savings to help her brother.”
“Nah, we can’t let her do this. We’ll give her the money,” Rhett says.
“I offered it to her, and she shut me down. She won’t take it.”
“Brother, you’re a smart person. Figure out a way to get it to her.”
“I’ve been thinking about it. I’m going to find out which facility it is, and pay it. She’ll lose her shit about it, but I can’t have her working nearly eighteen-hour days just to get this money for her brother.”
“What about a loan?” Dean asks.
“She said the most she can get from the bank is ten thousand. Oh, and she’s being evicted too. She’s damn proud though, and she won’t accept my help.”
Rhett stands and pushes the chair in. “Figure it out, and tell me how much you need. Pen’s getting hammered, I’m going to go help.” I hold my fist out, and he hits it with his own closed hand.
“Between the three of us, we can get that kid the help he needs without her having to kill herself working all those hours.”
“I know.” I scrub my hand over my chin, trying to figure this out.
“Is she yours?” Dean asks.
“Not yet, but she will be.”
He stands and claps a hand to my shoulder. “Then she’s family, and we don’t let family drown.”
“I know. But try telling her that.”
“She of all people should know what we do for family. Look at what she’s putting herself through for her brother, who has no idea of the pain he’s causing.”
Dean starts to walk away, but a thought pops into my mind. “Hey, Dean?” He returns and leans on the back of the chair he was sitting on. “Joanne was living out at Hope River wasn’t she before she and Thomas moved in with you?”
“Yeah, and when their house is finished, we’ll be moving into that, and I’ll be renting my house out. But that won’t be for another month or so. Do you wanna put Serena up at my place?”
That’s a thought, or she could move in with me. But my house is even smaller than Dean’s. “I’m thinking, where was Joanne living before she moved in with you?”
“May’s house. Actually, it’s a stable that was converted into an apartment. That could be a good fit for Serena. But, I have to say, I’m worried about the brother.” He purposely looks toward the path Jordan took as he left. “I wouldn’t put him there. Not with May. She’s old, and frail, and I wouldn’t put it past him not try to break into her house.”
Closing my eyes, I rub my hand across my temple trying to figure all of this out. “If I can get him into this rehab place Serena wants him to go to, then we’ve got a fighting chance he’ll come out clean.”
“At thirty-five thousand, you’d hope it’s more than a fighting chance.” He claps my shoulder again. “Brother, I don’t envy you at this stage. Just give me a figure and I’ll have the money to you.”
“Thanks.”
He walks away, leaving me to think how the hell I’m going to swing this. Serena is too stubborn and proud to accept my help. And she’d be even more mortified if she knew I’d discussed this with my brothers. I somehow have to get Jordan into rehab, while trying to get Serena to see I’m doing this to help her.
I don’t know what to do.
But, first things first. Pulling my phone out of my jeans pocket, I dial her number. “Hey,” she answers nearly immediately.
“Hey. What are you doing?”
“Um, at the restaurant. I’m having a quick bite to eat before my shift starts. What are you doing?”
“I’m at the community cookout at the station.”
“Oh, that’s right. You told me about that the other day. I didn’t even realize that was today. I was going to come help, but I’m slammed. I’m sorry, I can’t make it. After my shift here, I need to get over to the Morrison’s house to clean. I probably won’t be home ’til late, and I have to keep packing too.” I can hear it in her voice. She’s frazzled and worried.
“Tomorrow you’ve got me, am I your last client for the night?”
“You are. And, when I’m finally home I’ll either keep packing, or go to bed early. Yay me!”
“Well, can I throw a monkey wrench in the works for you?”
She sighs, and I feel she’s overwhelmed through the phone. “Yeah, sure.”
“Have dinner with me. The only catch is, you have to drive, because I can’t do that yet.”
She chuckles, which brings a huge smile to my face. “I’ve got a lot to do, Alec.”
“I know, and I promise I won’t keep you out for too long. Just a quick dinner. I’ll have you home before curfew.” She laughs again. “What do you say?”
“So, is this a date-date, or a ‘let’s eat because we both need food date’?”
“Um, I’m confused.”
“Doesn’t take much,” she jokes.
“Hey!” I try to protest. “It’s an ‘I like you and want to take you out on a date-date’ type of date.”
“Ah, so it’s a date-date-date?”
“There are too many dates going on. Let me simplify this; I want us to go out and have dinner with you because I like you.”
She laughs again. “Okay, I’d like that.” Yes! I fist pump the air. “Crap, I have to go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Bye.”
“Bye,” she says and hangs up.
Operation Woo Serena is in full force. Now, I need to enlist Mom’s help with something else. I flick through my numbers and hit the green button to dial Mom’s number.
“Yes, son,” she says as she answers.
“I’m wondering if you can help me with something please?”
“Does it involve your brothers?”
“No, why?”
“Just wondering. Does it involve Serena?”
“Well, kinda, yeah. I need a chauffeur.”
“What? Now? I only took you down to the firehouse an hour ago. I’m not picking you up yet.”
“Not yet, later. But can you take me somewhere?”
“Where?”
“I need to go to the mall.” There’s silence on the other end of the phone. “Mom, are you still there?”
“The mall? As in the place where there’s stores?”
“Yeah, why?”
“You hate going there.” I nod in agreement. “And this is for Serena?”
“Yes!” I say again, with a touch of frustration.
“My boy is in love,” she happily cheers.
I roll my eyes and shake my head. “I’m not in love. I just like her.”
“My second favorite child is in love!” she cheers and claps her hands together.
“Hey? Second favorite? I should be your favorite.”
“You’re my equal second favorite, does that sound better?”
“Who am I equal with? It’s Dean right? I’m equal with Dean?”
“You’re equal with Dean and Rhett.”
I scratch my head. “That means you don’t have a first favorite. How does that work?”
“Because you all annoy the shit out of me from time to time. Anyway, you’re in love with Serena. So, yes, of course, I’ll take you to the mall. Are we buying her an engagement ring?”
“What? No! Mom, you’re getting ahead of yourself!”
“Oh, so it’s a promise ring. I’m fine with that too.”
“What the hell is a promise ring?” I look around trying to find someone who can sympathize with me. Apparently, I’m on my own. Jesus, did Dean go through this when he and Joanne were seeing each other?
“It’s fairly self-explanatory, son. You promise to marry her one day.”
I hit my forehead with the palm of my hand. “Mom, listen, we’re not anywhere near the stage of marriage yet.”
“You said YET!” she screams the last word. “Oh, my baby! He’s growing up into a real man. I’m so proud of you, Alec.”
“This conversation isn’t going where I want it to go. Can you take me to the mall when you come to pick me up? And no it’s not for an engagement, wedding, or promise ring.”
“Not yet it’s not! Eeeek. I’m so happy for you. Serena is a perfect addition to our family.”
“For God’s sake, Mom.”
“Alright, alright. Calm down before you give yourself a heart attack. Yes, I’ll take you to the mall.”
“Thank you.” Whoa, that was like pulling teeth with no anesthetic.
“To purchase an engagement ring,” she says so quickly I have to try and replay it in my head. “Bye, second-favorite son. I’ll see you soon.” She hangs up before I can say anything about the engagement ring saga.
I can’t wait until I’m back into my house. Because I have a strong feeling, Mom’s going to start preparing the wedding invitations soon. I let out a sigh, and tilt my head back, looking up at the sun as it slowly arches over the station.
Operation Woo Serena is moving forward like clockwork.
