Damaged Souls (Broken Man) (14 page)

“You can tell me,” Jack reassured him as he put his hand on his arm.

Greg looked intently at Jack as if to measure an opponent, still not quite able to open up. “I don’t think I ever really told you, but Mitch and I were best friends growing up. My dad handled the legal matters for Caldwell Development, and we played football together and our families were very close. I thought we would be friends forever.”

“What happened.”

“Everything just changed when my father died,” Greg brought up a subject he had never before discussed with Jack. “Everyone just disappeared, and my Mom and I were left alone to figure things out. She basically fell apart and I had no idea what to do.”

“That must have been tough,” Jack felt badly as he wondered where this was leading and he could sense Greg becoming emotional.

“It was, especially for her. Anyway, I had to take care of her, so I stopped playing football and pretty much any other activity. Mitch didn’t understand and we slowly drifted apart. Over the years, I watched from the sidelines as he became a different person, as he became more and more arrogant, more inhuman. I knew what he was when he asked Delaney to the prom and it was me who should have done something about it,” he paused and looked at Jack, almost as if asking for forgiveness.

“Let’s stop blaming ourselves for what happened, okay,” Jack reached an agreement with Greg as he realized there was still something he wasn’t telling him. “Greg, what is it you want to say,” Jack decided the direct approach was best.

“I don’t think it even matters.”

“Everything matters,” he tried to explain. “Look, I know I haven’t done a great job of communicating with you, and it’s something I regret, it’s something I’m going to change. If anything, if we had just communicated with each other, none of this would have happened,” Jack identified the true culprit. “What I’m trying to say is that I haven’t set a very good example and I’m not going to be that way anymore.”

“That’s not true either, Jack,” Greg again disagreed with him. “You set a great example for me, you never had to say anything. I just watched how you were with Amanda, Delaney, and Logan and I tried to copy you. A lot of who I am today is because of you.”

“That means a lot to me, Greg,” Jack said quietly as he fought away tears.

“I needed someone,” he continued as Jack realized he wasn’t done. “I needed someone after my father died. No one was there until you, Delaney, and Amanda came along. I remember the one time I thought someone was. It was a few months after my father died and I came home early from school one day. I remember seeing Mr. Caldwell’s car in the driveway and thinking he was there to help.”

Oh no, Jack didn’t need to be told what happened as he saw the tears form in Greg’s eyes and he felt his anger. I’m going to get that bastard, Jack recommitted to his cause as he tried to console him. “Greg, you don’t have to tell me.”

“No, it’s okay. When I saw him with my mom, something happened, it’s kind of hard to describe,” Greg tried to find the right words. “I think I gave up on people, if that makes any sense. At least until you guys came along.”

“Come here, Greg,” Jack stood up and took him into his arms as he felt him crying and understood his pain. “It’s okay. None of that was your fault, and it’s not your Mom’s fault either. It’s hard to lose someone you love and your mind does some funny things,” he did a poor job of describing his mother’s state of mind as he tried to comfort him.

“How do you mean,” Greg tried to regain his composure as he let go of Jack’s embrace and sat back down.

“I know how your mother felt,” Jack paused as he again felt the pain. “After Delaney’s mother passed away, I was a mess. I didn’t even know what I was doing, I wasn’t thinking rationally. I’m sure your mother felt the same way, and that prick took advantage of her. Don’t blame her, Greg.”

“I don’t,” he replied before shifting the focus back to Jack. “How did you recover.”

“I hate to admit it, but I don’t think I really did. I just couldn’t get her out of my head, even though I tried. Even now when I see Delaney sometimes, it reminds me of her and it still hurts,” Jack paused as he remembered Brittany. “I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t met Amanda. I guess I was just lucky to find love twice in one lifetime.”

“Jack, can I ask you something.”

“Sure, Greg.”

“Did you ever meet my father.”

I guess we are going to talk about all the things we never addressed over the years, Jack thought to himself as he considered Greg’s question. “I met him once, it was actually at one of the Caldwell’s parties.”

“What was he like.”

“We only talked for a minute, but he seemed nice,” Jack reassured him as he understood what he was really asking. “Greg, working with Mitch’s father was just a way for him to making a living. I’ve heard nothing but good things about him. Your father was nothing like that asshole.”

“I know, Jack. I can still remember him. He was a good father and he really did love my mother and me. I still miss him sometimes.”

“And you always will,” Jack again became choked up as he thought of Brittany.

“I better get back to bed,” Greg interrupted his thoughts as he stood up and seemed to realize they had talked enough for one night. “Thanks for talking with me.”

“No problem,” he responded with a greater appreciation of Greg than ever before. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

They shook hands, still not quite comfortable with the intimacy they had shared earlier. As he watched Greg slide open the door and walk inside, Jack thought back on their conversation and found a glimmer of optimism as he discovered a weakness in his opponent’s defense. Suddenly, he felt better about their chances, finding a fresh perspective as he plotted a new strategy and planned the coming week.

Maybe this isn’t so hopeless after all.

* * *

That was an interesting conversation, Greg thought to himself as he laid in bed, still unable to sleep.

It certainly wasn’t what I had planned to discuss. I wanted to talk about Delaney, but who am I kidding, I am never going to be able to talk about my feelings for her with Jack. No, that would be too strange, too awkward a conversation. Sure, if it was some other girl, it would be no problem, but Delaney is practically his daughter. It just wouldn’t be right.

I’ve never told anyone what I just told him. It feels good to get it off my chest, to get it out of my system. I don’t think I ever truly understood how much it bothered me until now.

But, it did. I guess the worst part is the betrayal. Here was this man who could have stepped up, who could have looked out for his deceased friend’s son. Mr. Caldwell could have done the right thing, he might have even been a father figure to me. But instead, he decided to violate any trust I may have had by taking advantage of my mother. What kind of a man would do such a thing?

Certainly not Jack, Greg was reassured as he rolled onto his side. Jack had been under no obligation to take me in or to look after me. I was just this awkward friend of Delaney’s when I first met him five years ago, he didn’t know me from Adam. It would have been easy for him to simply ignore me as everyone else had.

But, he hadn’t. He had somehow known how to get through to me without pushing too hard. Jack had managed to find the right balance, leading more by example while occasionally lending guidance with his words. I was lucky to have this man come into my life at such an important age and just when I thought it would never happen.

I don’t know why Jack doesn’t feel like he did a good job. Maybe I should have been more open about how I felt, how much I appreciated everything he did for me. I’m going to do a better job of that in the future.

Jack is a lot like my dad, they are so similar. Smart, ambitious, both with a good sense of humor. It’s too bad they never got to know each other, Greg thought about the two of them together as he closed his eyes.

I think they would have been friends.

Chapter Sixteen

“Slow down for a second, Jack,” Mike didn’t seem to know where their conversation was going as they sat in his downtown office on a beautiful Monday morning. “That’s not quite how it works.”

“I just want to go in a little different direction with this,” Jack tried to explain his strategy as he took a sip of coffee. “I think it’s time we go on the offensive.”

“That’s going to be difficult,” Mike again tried to explain the legal system. “The sheriff is dragging his feet on the investigation and basically grinding it to a halt. And as you saw in my report, most of the kids at the party are connected to the football team and aren’t saying anything.”

“You still have a good relationship with the District Attorney, right.”

“Yeah, we went to law school together,” Mike replied. “But, this isn’t a matter for the D.A. yet.”

“And I’m not sure I want it to be, at least not yet,” Jack didn’t unveil his entire plan. “Do you think you could set up a informal meeting with him.”

“I can probably make that happen.”

“Okay, that’s the first step,” Jack followed the diagram in his head. “And, I also need you to set up a meeting with Jeff Gross for this afternoon.”

“Now, I really don’t like where this is going,” Mike took on an entirely different tone. “I’ve got to warn you Jack, you are treading on thin ice.”

“Not any thinner than the ice they are treading on,” Jack explained his logic. “If they want to drag their feet, it’s fine with me. No charges have been filed yet and it’s my understanding that we are free to talk with anyone we choose, at least until charges are filed. Don’t worry, Mike, we are just going to have a nice, friendly chat with Mr. Gross.”

“Sure we are,” Mike seemed to better understand their direction. “Is there anything else you need.”

“Not yet, my friend,” Jack stood up and shook hands with Mike as he plotted his next move. “But I will let you know when there is.”

* * *

“Good morning, Delaney,” Amanda greeted her as she looked up from her coffee.

“Good morning,” Delaney replied and sat down, unsure of the time. “Where is everyone.”

“Jack had a meeting with the attorney, and I think Greg and Logan are still sleeping. How did you sleep.”

“Not too well,” she answered honestly.

“I’m sorry, honey,” Amanda looked concerned. “Do you want to talk about it.”

“I think I’m just being ridiculous,” Delaney questioned her actions and her thoughts. “It’s just that things are different with Greg.”

“How do you mean.”

“I thought everything was going to change when we got home, that we would feel differently about one another,” Delaney tried to put her finger on what was bothering her. “But, nothing has really changed, he barely even kissed me yesterday.”

“Maybe he’s just not feeling well, Delaney, have you thought about that. He’s been through a lot.”

“That’s not it,” Delaney rejected Amanda’s theory. “You know Greg. To him, what happened the other night was simply part of doing his job and the concussion just the cost of doing business. He looks at it like a little headache, do you know what I mean.”

“I think I do,” Amanda replied with a reassuring smile. “He is just like Jack.”

“He is,” Delaney couldn’t help but smile. “Do you know what those two were talking about last night. They were up awfully late.”

“I have no idea. Jack wasn’t exactly attentive to my needs last night either.”

Delaney understood exactly what Amanda was saying as she thought about Greg and tried to figure out what he was thinking. “I don’t know, maybe it’s just some kind of man thing we don’t know about. They have this need to drive us crazy.”

“That’s probably part of it,” Amanda laughed. “But I think it’s more about their need to protect us, to make sure we are safe. Do you know what I’m saying.”

“I think I do,” Delaney remembered how she felt in his hospital room. “But sometimes, they choose the wrong way to show it.”

“They sure do. But don’t worry, Greg will come around. He just has a lot on his mind.”

“I know he will,” Delaney agreed with Amanda and felt better after their conversation. “I think I’m going to run a couple errands this morning. Can I borrow your car.”

“Of course you can, I don’t need it until noon. Logan and I have orientation day at his new school.”

“That sounds like fun,” Delaney replied as she pictured Logan running wild. “I’ll be back before then.”

* * *

Calm down, Jack, he thought to himself as he sat in a quiet corner of the restaurant and took a sip of water. You need to be at your best here, you need to be convincing. He’s right on time, Jack realized as his target entered his sight line and the clock indicated high noon.

What a fat piece of shit, he thought to himself as Mitch spotted him from across the room and Jack waved a white flag of surrender. Make him feel like he won, appeal to his ego, Jack remembered his strategy as he stood to greet him. “Mitch, thanks for meeting me on such short notice,” Jack spoke first as he shook his hand.

“No problem, Jack,” Mitch replied suspiciously as he sat down.

Don’t be too eager, Jack, he remained calm as he again resorted to talking to himself and taking a sip water to settle his nerves. Let him make the first move.

“So what can I do for you,” Mitch obliged him.

“I just wanted to talk about the other day, maybe straighten some things out,” Jack offered an olive branch as he tried to appear defeated.

“Sounds like you have come to your senses,” Mitch arrogantly expected an apology.

“I was a little out of line,” Jack bit his tongue as he responded to Mitch. “It had been a long night.”

“I understand, it was a long night for us as well,” Mitch replied as Jack sensed him loosen up a little. “So what is it that you want.”

“Look, Mitch, there was a misunderstanding between Mitch and Delaney,” Jack managed to be convincing through clenched teeth. “I really want this to to go away, especially with graduation coming up. I just don’t want everyone gossiping and talking about what happened.”

“You read my mind,” Mitch fell for it hook, line, and sinker. “It would be better for everyone if this issue just disappeared.”