Part 3 (2/2)
She ran her fingers over her hair. ”And I really don't like the idea of you home alone if Phil comes creeping around again.”
”Me either. Even with the locks changed. I mean, if he isn't a criminal, he-” I was interrupted by a text. Stefan had sent a photograph.
On the screen was a mug shot of Phil Betancourt. He had a black eye and disheveled hair, but it was unmistakably him. The sign he was holding showed he'd been arrested in St. Paul, Minnesota. I showed it to Jill. ”So much for the idea he might not be a criminal.”
”Who's that from?”
”A friend,” I said, which was true.
”A friend?” Jill said, suspicious.
Another text came: If this is your man, he appears to operate under the alias Ernest Klugman. Or perhaps Betancourt is the alias. This arrest was for robbery, aggravated a.s.sault, and s.e.xual misconduct. The injuries were sustained in a scuffle with police. Still researching, but I would advise you not to get mixed up with this fellow. I showed it to her, too.
”A friend,” she pressed.
”He's... a security professional,” I said.
”That sounds a whole lot like a euphemism.”
”Okay, he's a bodyguard and a limo driver.”
”How did you meet him?” Her hackles were up.
”Oh, for f.u.c.k's sake, Jill. He works for a guy I met while waitressing for you!”
”Keep your voice down!” Jill yell-whispered at me. ”What guy? What guy!”
I yell-whispered back. ”The guy I went all the way to England to track down!”
She rolled her eyes and then forced herself to take a deep breath. ”Okay. Could he come here to be with you while I go back to New York?”
”You're a.s.suming I would want him here.”
”Karina. Whoever he is, he's obviously someone you trusted enough to tell about Mom's abuser.”
”Um, yeah.” This was the problem with all the secrets, all the hiding. It made my relations.h.i.+p with James-and with Stefan-impossible to explain.
Jill sighed. ”If you've got some kind of drama with him, fine, but a 'security expert' might be just what we need if Betancourt is as sketchy as this makes him out to be.”
I wondered if James was serious about doing anything I said to try to get back in my good graces. If I wanted him to keep watch from a distance, would he? For that matter, would he send Stefan alone if I asked? Was there some other way James could solve this problem? ”I'll... ask if it's possible,” I said, hating that I wasn't ready to explain everything to Jill yet.
Gee, like James wasn't ready to explain everything to me? Look how waiting too long had hurt us.
Jill was clearly waiting for me to say more. I resolved I wouldn't let keeping secrets be what drove us apart. I forced myself to look her right in the eye. ”I need to tell you something.”
She looked at me right back. ”Is this going to be one of those family secrets kind of moments?”
”I hope not. Listen. I was seeing this guy in the city for a while. Then we had a kind of... falling out, and I went to London to try to get him back. Only we had another big blowup, and now I'm not sure I want him back after all.”
”Oh, KayKay, I'm sorry.”
”Don't be. He... He wants a chance to make it up to me. I don't know whether to hope it works out or to hope he blows it terribly so I can move on. I'm still really... attracted to him. But I don't want to let him into my life until I'm sure I'm taking him back. Do you know what I mean?”
”You mean you don't want another Brad situation. Where Mom liked him better than you did.”
”Exactly. This guy is nothing like Brad, though.”
”An art-world type?”
”A rich art-world type and that doesn't even begin to describe him,” I said. ”Can we not talk about him right now? If I make up with him, I want you to like him. But right now all I want to do is rant about him.”
”I understand,” she said. ”Love's complicated, KayKay. But we better figure something out and soon, because I need to get back to the city.”
A funny thing happened after we left the luncheonette. The young waiter who had served us came running out behind us as we were unlocking the car. ”Ma'am? Miss?” He seemed unsure how to address Jill. ”I think you made a mistake. You left way too big a tip.”
He had a twenty in his hand and some loose change.
Jill cuffed him on the shoulder with her hand. ”That's for you. For good service.”
”But-”
”But nothing. I waited tables a long time. I know. Someday when you're making more money, remember what it was like and you'll tip big, too.”
His smile showed a crooked tooth and his sandy bangs fell into his eyes. ”Aw, thanks!”
She took her wallet out of her back pocket and for a second I thought she was going to give him more. Instead, she handed him a business card. ”When you get out of school, if you want a job waiting tables in New York, call me.”
”Awesome! Thank you! I better get back now, though!” He ran toward the luncheonette.
Once we were in the car, I asked, ”I wasn't paying attention. Was he that good?”
”Come on, Karina. You know the drill as well as I do. He brought water, refilled it before we asked, brought all the correct food, stayed out of the way, asked if we needed anything, didn't spill anything. The fact that you didn't notice him is a sign of a great waiter.”
”I don't think I was ever that good. You'd really hire him?”
”Look at how honest the kid is. Besides, if he's anything like me, he wants to get out of here and move to a big city.” She started the engine and pulled out.
”You think he's gay?”
”I'm sure of it.”
”How could you tell?”
”What other kind of boy has a tiny safety pin with rainbow beads pinned to his shoelace?”
”I didn't even notice that.”
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