The Town (Book 1, Lonstino & Greenwood Series)

Chapter 23 - Encounter

JADEN

It should be obligatory for people to take a course on car care before letting them buy one. That stupid kid filled his car with the wrong thing and screwed it so I had to spend the whole morning flushing the oil out. It might mean less clients for me if people took better care of their vehicles, but I have seen the most ridiculous damages due to lack of common sense or trying to save money. 

My muscles are sore from all that work I did today and I know the hot water of my shower will only be a temporary fix. When I'm done here, I will pop a few painkillers, and then I will head to talk with Julio about the proposal to join the food court at the fairgrounds. Charlie's idea has so much potential and I'll try my best to make a convincing case for it.

Since my talk with Ximena on Julio's grounds I have been giving it some thought on how to approach Jessica again. I miss being with her and how she made me feel. After all, she's the only woman I have ever loved in my life. I've been lying to my friends with tall tales about my dating life, when I barely go out. A few times, I've found myself feeling lonely and bored and have shared someone's bed, but never mine. Because my bed was the place where Jess and I made love and shared many moments. She's so beautiful, especially when she smiles, and at the same time she's tough, streetwise and smart. We could talk about anything and everything. She has dreams of opening her own atelier and has an incredible talent to design clothes, a path she pursued when she went to college and that she dropped to help her family. She's happy managing the café, but the happiest I have ever seen her is behind a sewing machine. 

I only wonder if Jess will still accept me. Ximena thinks I should try since Jess knows everything about me and she might have a point there. Instead of my usual scruffy clothes, I throw on a decent shirt and pants. If I'm going to talk business with Julio, I better wear something that represents the seriousness of my proposal, otherwise he's capable of handing me a tray and asking me to clean up the tables. After finishing getting ready, I head down the stairs and when I open the door, my blood freezes in my veins when I see who's leaning against my car... My uncle.

"What the fuck do you want Caleb?" I advance towards him and pull him away from my car which isn't difficult, seeing that he is drunk as hell.

"You ungrateful little thing. Is that how you greet your family?" The smell of alcohol and tobacco in his breath is so strong I take a few steps back. "Nice wheels you have here."

Caleb looks terrible. He used to be a good looking and charming man in his twenties. Now he looks so unkempt and his skin has a dark red tone to it, probably from too much alcohol.

"Family? I have no family," I struggle to keep my anger under control.

"So I'm dead to you," he chuckles. "Now, what a way to thank me for raising you."

I ball my fists next to my body. Yes, he raised me with shoves, hair pulls and cigarette burns. He raised me by selling my body to men and threatening to kill me if I didn't do it.

"You don't want to go to jail again. Don't you?" He comes closer and my nails cut into my palms as I try my best not to put my hands around his neck. "Put a finger on me and I will call the police. Who will save you then? Fiona? She is too old now to put up a battle."

I need to keep my calm for her, my friends, and for everything I've worked so hard for. I need to protect everything at all costs.

"What. The. Fuck. Do. You. Want."

"Look at this place, and your fancy clothes, and... Is this new?" He caresses the hood of my car. "I think you can spare some cash for your uncle."

I open my wallet and get out the seventy dollars in it. "Here! Now leave!"

I walk around the car and get into the driver's seat then back into the street. I hadn't seen him in years and he suddenly appears here. I've kept everything he did to me secret from doctors and police agents. Always a new lie: that I fell from my bike, that I fell from the stairs, that I didn't look where I was walking. As a kid, it was embarrassing to admit how things were at home. Then he brought the first man into a hotel room when he had told me we would go away on a short vacation to bond. It was the most horrible thing I went through. How I felt sick to my stomach and so dirty from what he did to me. It happened on other occasions until I couldn't take it anymore and ran away, only wearing sweatpants and socks. It was better than being at home with that sick bastard and his friends.

I spent the first night on a park bench crying my eyes out from being so scared about what would happen next and shivering. Going back was not an option. Caleb would have given me a massive beating and I couldn't go to my friends' houses as he had threatened everybody with calling the police and causing trouble. I begged for money, and people looked at me with disgust and made me feel so worthless. Then right when I thought I was finally safe at Victor's club, things just kept spiraling down. That life seems so far away in the past now. I've worked hard to make a name for myself and for people to get to know me and it's working. Caleb doesn't deserve my energy. I owe nothing to him.

I opt to park my car at the employee lot at Julio's and rest my head on the steering wheel for a moment to gather my thoughts and calm myself after the nasty encounter. It's past three in the afternoon; the dinner rush has not started and I should be able to talk to Julio without interruptions. I find him sitting at his desk, reading the newspaper and drinking from the tiniest cup of coffee I've seen.

"Jaden! What brings you here?" He stands up from his desk and comes around to shake my hand.

"I have a business proposal for you on behalf of Brian Connor. I'm trying to help him to bring more profit for the fairgrounds."

"You... You were always something special Jaden," he takes his glasses off and places them in his shirt pocket. "Always helping everybody. Tell me about this business proposal," he motions for me to take place in front of his desk while he returns to his chair.

"Lonstino has been losing visitors with all the attractions and restaurants popping along the coast and as you can imagine, Brian is having trouble keeping the fairgrounds afloat. He's looking for any ideas and possible ways to bring extra income because he doesn't want to lay off any employees. Charlie Monroe came with the idea of transforming an underutilized food court into a different dining experience by offering a limited menu of the restaurants around town. Visitors don't need to leave the grounds if they want to eat something else than the usual snacks. Brian will earn from the lease and you will profit from having a second location of Julio's that will give people a taste of your full menu. So there are big chances they'll come here to dine on another occasion. Hopefully, this will also bring more people to the fairgrounds, knowing there's a lot more than rides and snacks. It could also bring additional employment and vendor contracts. It's a winning situation for the whole town. What do you say, Julio? Will you be interested in more details?"

I then realize that my hands are shaking while Julio stares at me, processing everything.

"Whenever I listen to you, it's like listening to your father. He always said that this town could only grow if we stuck together. Everything he ever did was to benefit the community. Ask Connor to send me a proposal and if the price is right we can negotiate. And send my regards to his darling mother."

"Thank you so much, Julio! I know this isn't a yes, but it's a start."

He comes again around the desk as I stand up, and places an arm around my shoulders.

"Are you okay? Your face looked troubled when you walked in."

I let a deep breath out. "Caleb just came by the garage."

"That superior asshole. What did he want now? Money for sure," he says and I nod. "He doesn't deserve one penny from you Jaden."

"I wanted to hurt him to be honest with you. Looking at him wakes up the rage I've been trying to keep in check. I know that if I put a finger on him I'll end up in jail. I rather give him the money and get rid of him as fast as he came."

"Oh, my boy. Next time let him call the police. You have enough people here who have your back."

"Thanks, Julio," I say as he pats my cheek.

I leave his office and head to my car, looking forward to speaking to Brian and sharing the news. This town is all we have left. I should honor my dad's memory and do all I can to save it.