Chapter 59 A Night in Brooklyn
James dressed quickly and left the room. He looked around but didn’t see Dallas. He went to the bartender.
“Where’s Dallas?”
“She went home. Asked for a taxi and just left!”
James stepped outside and spotted her taxi pulling away. He got in his car and followed it.
“I can’t believe I’m chasing after a whore…” James muttered to himself. He thought he was crazy—he could pay for sex anytime—but something about Dallas made him want only her. He smiled, deciding he’d always wear ties around her; he liked how she tamed him.
He reached a humble Brooklyn street. An ambulance was leaving as Dallas ran from the taxi into an old building. James got out and saw curious neighbors from the lobby.
“Mrs. Ceci got sick again!” one lady said.
“This time worse—they called an ambulance,” another replied.
James approached them.
“Ladies, good evening. What happened?”
“Mrs. Ceci, second floor, got sick and was taken to the hospital. She was alone with the boy…”
“But the mother just arrived!”
James realized it was Dallas’s place. He went up and found an open door. Dallas was kneeling, hugging a boy. The child saw James in the doorway.
“Mom, who is he?”
Dallas let go and turned.
“Mr. Larson, what are you doing here?”
“I got worried. You left so fast… I thought something serious happened.”
“It did. Aunt Ceci got sick. I called the ambulance. I was scared to be alone again!”
“Anthony, go change into warm clothes. We’re going to the hospital.”
Anthony obeyed. Dallas faced James furiously.
“You shouldn’t be here! Leave!”
“I thought Anthony was a boyfriend… Jonathan mentioned you had a kid…” James smiled.
“James, don’t cause more problems!”
“Lays, let me help. Accept my money for the hospital bill.”
Lays stepped close.
“You idiot—if I sleep with you, it’s because I want to, not for money! You’re the only one who knows Lays in bed. Dallas isn’t half of her!”
James smiled. She gave herself out of desire.
“I get it. Sorry. But accept my help today…”
Anthony appeared.
“Mom, I’m ready!”
“Great! Let’s go see Aunt Ceci.”
James waited by the car.
“No taxi at this hour!”
She got in reluctantly. James drove to the hospital. While Lays checked on Ceci, Anthony stared at James.
“Want to ask something, kid?”
“Are you my dad?” Anthony asked, hands on hips.
James laughed. Lays heard and scolded him.
“Anthony! Don’t embarrass me!”
“No, kid. Just a friend of your mom’s…”
“I see…” the boy laughed.
Lays talked to the doctor. James sat in the waiting area. Tired Anthony lay beside him, head on James’s lap. James covered him with his blazer. Lays visited Ceci, then sat beside James.
“You can go… Ceci’s staying. Her pressure spiked.”
“What about your son?”
“I’ll ask a neighbor to watch him while I’m out…”
“No way! No work until this is resolved. I’ll pay everything—just helping a friend.”
Lays agreed, defeated.
“Today?”
“Go home. Anthony to school. You back here.”
“You’ll have my company all day. Anything you need, I’ll get or drive.”
“That’s too much!”
“Don’t argue. Let’s go?”
James carried sleeping Anthony to the car, placed him on Lays’s lap, and drove home. He carried the boy to bed. Lays removed his shoes.
“Thank you, James. You can go now…”
“I’m staying tonight.” He pulled her close. “I could get used to this—a kid next door, beautiful woman in my arms.”
Lays laughed but sat on the couch. James joined her.
“Tell me about yourself. How did a psychology student end up here?”
“Born in Dallas, Texas—hence the nickname. Good childhood, simple adolescence. Dad’s gambling debts ruined us. He cut college, fired staff, then gave me as payment. The buyer took my innocence—he insisted on being first…”
“I’ll fix this. No more of that life. No night work so Anthony isn’t alone.” James stroked her hair.
“I’ll be grateful.”
“How’d you meet the lady here?”
“Ceci was our maid when I was little. After we lost everything, she lived with her son. I found her here. Her son helps but lives in Miami with family. She took me in.”
“Anthony’s father?”
“Don’t know his name. Early on, naive, I thought I’d pay the debt fast. Some clients asked no protection—I rarely gave in, got pregnant first month. Never told him.”
“Hard time?”
She nodded. Worked tables during pregnancy, learned drinks. After nearly a year post-birth, resumed sessions to support Anthony.
“Sorry about his questions. He’s obsessed with a father—fights at school over it.”
“What if I took him on? Give him Larson name.”
Lays laughed. James was charming, but she didn’t trust Larsons—the family that destroyed hers.
James pulled her onto his lap.
“Your room? How to stay quiet here…”
“No! I share bed with Anthony.”
“But I’ll kiss you!”
He kissed her deeply.
“Mom!” Anthony called from the door.
Lays jumped up.
“Son, I can explain!”
Anthony ran back.
“James, leave. I need to talk to him. Won’t be easy.”
“I’ll go. But if you want, say we’re more than friends. He’ll see me again—it’s better.”
James left. Lays went to explain to her son.