Things had been so overwhelming, although in a good way. Here out back it was so peaceful. They’d kept the creek, and it was quite serene, with little wildflowers growing around it and tiny fish swimming about. He enjoyed the feeling of gratitude that touched his heart.
Mrs. Florence, this is all ’cause of you. Working with Axel so I could save up money, afford to go to school and pay my bills. This restaurant. My friends all around me… And that beautiful woman I get the luxury to call my wife. Thank you for pullin’ strings with God, to bring her to me. I told you everything I couldn’t do, and you told me everything I could.
I’m sure you don’t approve of how I handled everything, but you know me… it had to be that way. I can finally go to sleep without seein’ their faces. The nightmares have stopped completely. I don’t turn the other cheek. I bash their heads in. Period.
He took a deep breath and watched a butterfly flitting about.
I can’t believe it. I’m going to be a daddy. He smiled proudly. I was already a daddy to Kaylee, but to actually know that I created life, and it wasn’t an accident, or cause for panic… I can’t even describe this feeling. I’m going to make mistakes, but my kids, both of ’em, and any others that may come down the line, are going to know how much I love them. They’ll have a damn good mother. An active father that loves them, and shows it. They will be safe! Protected! Children need protection!His eyes watered, and he blinked the emotions away.They need to be believed! They need soft discipline, and hard love!
He patted his eyes, and smiled as the butterfly flew away towards a tree. Turning around, he came back inside of the restaurant, immediately jumping into action. He checked on the orders in the computer system, then went to the kitchen to see what the cooks were up to. He redirected one of the sous chefs, and told the staff on the floor to hang in there. He praised them on a job well done.
Things were hella busy, and he was delighted that so many people had attended his opening day. That cash register kept ringing up from drink orders and appetizers, and the instrumental rap tunes set the mood of the place just right. Desiree buzzed by him, a cocktail in her hand to give someone, but stopped just to give him a big kiss on the cheek. Then, she raced away to another table, to check on the customers, and all he could think was,‘My woman is baaaad. Damn, I am so lucky.’
He glanced around, and his eyes rested on a framed photo of Mrs. Florence on one of the restaurant walls. His lips curled in a smile. “Thank you…” he mouthed before throwing on his chef apron to go help his crew out.
“Okay! We got an order of fried turkey wings that is runnin’ late! Fred, get on that mofongo! Tony, I need that tostones platter like yesterday! Harold, we got a grilled veggie platter that should’ve been servedbeforethe spicy deviled eggs! Natasha, how’s those collard greens comin’, baby?!”
“Fifteen minutes, Legend!”
“Okay! Let’s go! Let’s make these customers wanna come back every week! What type of food do we make?!”
“LEGENDARY!!!”
“That’s right! CHURCH!”
The run-down nursinghome was dark and gloomy. It smelled of piss and Pine Sol. The sounds of gospel music filled the hallways as orderlies and nurses roamed through them, talking amongst themselves more than paying attention to visitors and patients.
Legend was a bit surprised, pleasantly so, at how easy it had been to slip into Major Greenwald’s room. He closed the door and pulled up a chair, right beside the bastard’s bed. The old man’s eyes slowly opened and blinked several times. He’d had a stroke about eight years prior, and had been hospitalized ever since.
“Greenwald. It’s Soldier Vidal, at your service…”
The man’s eyes trained on him, an oxygen mask over his face.
“I look different, right? I know you’re surprised. I went from a scrawny little thing to a giant. Time changes everything, don’t it? But a leopard never changes its spots. I think you know why I’m here. I told you back then, that I came to your room to killyou on base. I didn’t succeed ’cause your friends came and saved you. I hate leavin’ loose strings though.” Legend slowly rose to his feet.
Greenwald’s eyes grew big, and he struggled to speak. His body was weak and worn. A shell of the man he once was. Legend took his time pacing around the bed, then removed one of the pillows from behind his head. The man began to murmur, to become agitated, but there was nothing much he could do.
“When I checked in, I showed them a special ID, a fake one of course, that proved I was someone from the VA, here to talk about your benefits. Since I’m in this suit and all, they believed me I guess. Not that security is top notch here in the first place. I thought I was gonna have to go harder in the paint.” He removed the man’s oxygen mask, placed it over the faux breathing apparatus used in medic classes that he’d brought to ensure the machines didn’t go off and alert the staff, and knocked the man’s hand away as he tried to push a button for help.
Greenwald began gasping for breath, struggling to get wind in his airways. Legend gently placed the pillow over his face, and pushed down.
“MMMMMM!!!” The muffled sounds began, indicating desperation to breathe.
Music to his ears…
“…I told you to not call me pretty boy, you son of a bitch. You called me skinny boy… freckles… all the shit I hated…”
“MMMM! MMMM!!!” The man began to flail about, arms flapping and legs jerking about.
“You saw my vulnerability at that time. You knew I had a dark history. Predators always know when somebody has been abused in the past. Y’all can smell it on us. You could see it in my eyes, and you loved trying to crush me. I went to the Army to start over, and you ruined it for me. You saw how determined I was. I was a damn good soldier. I loved being there. I could havemade a career of that, but instead of helpin’ me achieve my goals, you tried to break me down. Now, I’m going to breakyoudown. The final straw for me though,” Legend pressed down harder, his muscles straining, “was when I saw those photos of naked children on your computer, Greenwald.
“I knew somethin’ was creepy about you beforehand, but that confirmed it. Do you know what first got my suspicions going about you? The shower incident. Why in the hell would a grown man in your position be watching the new recruits shower? I reported you, told ’em you were coming into our dorm area when it was shower time, looking at all the young men with lust in your eyes. After that, you stepped up your verbal abuse of me. You denied the allegations, and I got made into a target. From that point on, I decided I was going to take you outta here… but first, I needed just a bit more proof that my suspicions were right about you, and went beyond you just being a Peepin’ Tom.”
“Mmmm…uhh….” His body slowed down, the limbs losing strength.
“I went into your office, logged onto your computer, opened a few folders, and boom. There they were. Photo after photo after photo. That’s when I saw all those poor children. You sick fuck… I had already gotten your password weeks prior. I’m methodical like that. I watched you log on when I pretended to walk in your office accidentally, and memorized the password. See, I’vealwaysbeen smart, and I read people well, Greenwald. I know how to survive. No matter how many alligators and sharks are in the water with me, I know I can make it. I had military trainin’, drug dealin’, and prison as my teachers. You combine those three, and you get a beast. Those were my schools of hard knocks, and I was an A plus student. Just ask Ms. Florence…
“You’ve officially gone Elvis. I’d say this would be a good time to play his hit song, ‘Devil in Disguise,’ but really you’vebeen right here. Out in the open this whole time.” He slipped the pillow off Greenwald’s face.
The man’s foggy blue eyes were looking straight up at the ceiling, and his mouth was open and twisted. Legend slipped the pillow back under his head, placed the oxygen mask back on his face, then began whistling ‘The Army Song,’ as he casually strolled, with his briefcase in hand, right out the door…
I fear noone but God. Love is conditional. I protect those I love, even if it means sacrificing myself. I’m a soldier. Always was, always will be. I’m a proud Kentuckian, a country boy, through and through. I don’t give a fuck about anyone’s opinion of me, unless it’s my woman, my children, or my loyal friends. Everyone else can go straight to Hell, cause sometimes Hell is here on Earth, so you might already be in it.
I chose to make my time here as pleasant as possible. I want my heavennow. I want the money. I want the happiness. I want the big house, big pool, and big trucks. So glad I got my slice of heaven by my side, despite the odds being stacked against me. I get to sleep with it, and hold it close at night. My heaven’s name is Desiree, and she’s havin’ my baby. She knows of the evil of men, and she knows of our blessings, too. In me, she gets both. I see righteousness. I see evil.
My eyes are wide open, and now, I see love…
CHURCH!
~THE END~