Chapter 41
Angels, Rats, Secrets & Jack London
At just past ten o’clock, the next night miles away in Oakland, Nicholas watched the soft light mist that seemed more like fog than rain, as he leaned over the railing of the boat pier at Jack London square. He blew out a long breath watching the lone boat coming in. It seemed strange that it had been the only one he’d seen for hours as he stood there. The boat that slowly pulled in front of him was beautiful. He turned his head to see the name written on the back of it.
A tinkling sound like crystal bells filled the air. “Believe in Angels, what a name for a yacht,” a heavy Irish accent voice called out.
Nicholas looked up quickly. He murmured under his breath. “Another bum.” The old man closed the distance between them and joined Nicholas leaning against the railing.
For some reason the old man didn’t make Nicholas feel uneasy? He stood there beside him for several minutes in silence. The old man lifted his hand reaching into his jacket. His ghostly hand glowed in the dark night.
Nicholas turned his head to keep from staring.
The old man cleared his throat. “When a man gets older, he gets smarter and wiser, don’t you think?” The old man cleared his throat. “There’s no need for you to respond son, I’m just speaking out loud to no one in particular.”
Nicholas was glad that it was dark. He could not see the old man’s face. His words caused him to think. He spoke out loud without realizing it. “Some men get smarter. Others keep on making the same stupid mistakes; I know I’m one of them.”
The old man shrugged. “No… No, I think you may be too hard on yourself, son. You look like a man that’s done a good deed lately. Want to tell me about it?”
The old man was easy to talk to, Nicholas cleared his throat and continued. “Yeah maybe you’re right. Yesterday I did get my sister back with this Geeky best friend of mine who’s been in love with her since forever,” he grinned. “And I know she’s been in love with him forever too.”
The old man chuckled softly, “See my son; I can tell a man who’s done a good deed or two.”
Nicholas breathed slowly, “Perhaps…”
“Tell me what is wrong my son?”
The old man felt safe to be around. He made Nicholas believe in miracles. Nicholas smiled softly, “I guess I just can’t get over my family? My family kept secrets.” The old man stared ahead. “Huh, sounds to me like somebody got the courage to tell you about their secrets. That took a lot of strength to do that,” he said. “You know this life doesn’t come with an instruction book. Maybe your family kept secrets from you because they loved you.”
“Maybe,” Nicholas breathed out.
The old man’s manners were gentle, kind and regal. “Men are weak my son. It doesn’t mean your father didn’t love you because he didn’t tell you he was your true father. Maybe he didn’t tell you because he was scared. Women have all the strength. In mind, soul, and heart,” he said.” He clasped his hands together almost like he was praying. “Be open to forgiving others for the mistakes they made. In the end, it’s all just really about the love.
“Are you praying?”
“Forgiveness is real,” the old man said.
Nicholas pulled his jacket closer. It was really cold out tonight. “Yeah, I suppose, I could tell my mother was being truthful when she told me who my real father was. And I do look just like Horace the man who is my biological father. But Louis, he was my father, the one that raised me and is listed on my birth certificate. Well he and I we just never seemed to get along,” he paused. “In fact, I was arguing with him hours before he passed away. And I remembered what he kept saying. Take care of your sister Lacey she doesn’t know and keep her safe. At first it didn’t make sense and then when I saw my Grand mere Catherine and Mrs. Ina sitting in the kitchen I knew, and everything made sense.”
“It’s never too late to ask the ones you love for forgiveness.” He said. “Never turn your back on your family. They are all that you have. No matter what secrets they hold or that they’ve told you. They were probably only thinking of you when they told them.” The old man shrugged. “Son never be afraid to protect the females in the family predators and vermin. Too bad Jack London didn’t do a damn thing about the rat population in his day.”
Nicholas frowned. He was certain now the old man had to be crazy. The night was eerie quiet.
Nicholas stood there lost in his thoughts. After several minutes he checked his watch and stepped back from the railing. “And then all at once, he remembered the old man had mentioned Louis not being his true father before he’d even told him his story. How had he known, he wondered and turned to look back at the old man.
All at once loud violent gunshots pierced the air.
“They are shooting at us. Duck for cover my son,” the old man yelled. “Tell Jack London to get his gun.”
Nicholas jumped and dived low. He lay crouched down on the ground. The old man laid right beside him. He wasn’t slow on his feet.
Nicholas found himself staring back at deep emerald pools of green. Green eyes studied him. “Are you okay son?”
Nicholas stared back trying to remember where he’d seen those familiar green eyes before. Quickly he pulled himself up. He was amazed at how fast the old man followed his lead.
“Watch out, there’s a rat right over there,” the old man declared. His teeth were glistening white, “This town is overrun by rats. But then again, it’s overrun by gunfire too. Maybe somebody was just shooting at a rat.”
Nicholas just stared back at him in disbelief.
“Rats don’t just crawl in back alleys and gutters you know. Rats are everywhere!” The old man shook his head, “Some rats even have human bodies, did you know? Vermin are everywhere. Sometimes they stick closer than a brother and that’s the worse rat of them all.” Nicholas looked on in silence.
“Be careful son and know your friends. They are never the most honest and sincerest until they are betraying us.” The old man said as he pointed. “Look there’s a rat there!”
Nicholas looked where he pointed. When he turned back the old man was gone. Nicholas felt like he could really use a drink.
###
At just past midnight night, Nicholas sat in Sam’s place at the bar. He had been lucky he found a seat.
Sam’s place was packed tight that night.
He waited patiently for Quinn to come over. He checked in the mirror in front of him. He saw Quinn behind him talking to a man.
The two exchanged looks through the mirror. His cell phone humming vibration and flashing blue light signaled an incoming call. He checked the number. It was his sister, Lacey.
“Hello,” Nicholas yelled into the phone.
“Hi Nicky, it’s me, Lacey. I was worried about you. Where are you?”
“Lacey don’t worry, I’m fine,” he replied. “Are you still at Kienan’s?”
“Yes, I want to thank you, Nicky, for getting me and Kienan back together.” “That’s what big brothers are for,” he said.
“Oh, Nicky we are all going to have Sunday brunch at home. Please be there okay? And stop and get Grand mere her favorite bottle of wine,” Lacey said.
“Lacey you think you are slick. I know you are asking me to bring the wine to make sure I’m there but no worries I wouldn’t miss being there.”
“Good, then I’ll see you tomorrow. Good-bye Nicky,” Lacey said and hang up.
When Nicholas hung up he looked up and caught Quinn staring back at him. He hoped Quinn hadn’t heard who he was talking to.
Suddenly he stared back at Quinn astonished as flickering orbs of light appeared again. Quinn saw Nicholas staring and quickly came over with a bottle in hand.
“What’s wrong with you Nicholas? What are you staring at?” Quinn’s voice shouted. He tossed back his drink.
Nicholas took another swallow of bourbon. This time the warm liquid made him feel a little strange. He stared back into the mirror. All at once a shiver ran down his spine. He stared as smoky white misty orbs of light shifted rapidly before his eyes.
Nicholas rubbed his eyes and blinked hard several times trying to focus. The images disappeared. He gazed back at the mirror again. He saw a blue light flashing brightly in the mirror right next to his drink.
His cell phone humming vibration and flashing blue light signaled an incoming call. He checked the number it was his sister, Lacey again.
“Hello,” Nicholas yelled into the phone. “Lacey let me call you back, I can’t hear a thing.” Nicholas quickly looked up. He caught Quinn staring back at him.
He was astonished. The flickering orbs of light appeared again. This time they surrounded Quinn. Startled, he was sure he gasped out loud.
Quinn saw Nicholas staring and quickly came over with a bottle in hand. “What’s wrong with you Nicholas? What are you staring at?” Quinn’s voice shouted. He tossed back his drink.
Nicholas watched Quinn pour another glass.
Quinn’s eyes darted nervously. “Stop staring at me like that Nicholas!”
Nicholas averted his eyes and tried to think of something to say. “Sam said to always keep the bottle out of sight Quinn.”
Quinn swayed then took the bar seat next to Nicholas. “So, what, Sam ain’t the boss of me.”
The two exchanged looks.
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