Chapter Thirty-Five
Things had quieted down and it had been weeks since the truce and it seemed like Hanson had kept his word. The Elites didn't cross over into lower Yorkdare Bay and Public kept to their side. Mason, Kelley and Lee relaxed and Marella started working at a clothing store after school and on weekends. It was early on Saturday morning and Kelley had just finished his shift, now loading trucks with Mason and Lee on the docks since his wrist had healed and rehab had strengthened it.
Kelley pulled out his ringing phone as he walked to his Escalade. “Hello.”
“Is this Kelley Alexander?”
“Yes, who is this?” The voice on the other end of the telephone seemed almost relieved at the confirmation of his name.
“This is John Campbell and I’m sorry for calling so early but I’ve been looking for you for months.”
“Okay.” Kelley frowned at that. He'd never heard the name 'John Campbell' before.
“Can we meet? I need to discuss your father’s will with you.”
“My father’s will?” Kelley questioned. “As far as I know my father’s alive and well.”
“You don’t know … where are you? I’ll come to you, this is quite urgent, Mr Alexander.”
“I’m in Yorkdare Bay.”
“I’m in the city. I can be there in an hour. Is there somewhere we can meet?”
“There’s a diner on Long Road, I’ll meet you there.”
The call ended and Kelley looked at his phone with a frown. He got in his car and then smiled as a text from Juliana came through.
Juliana – Are you home yet?
Kelley – On my way now. Still picking you up at noon?
Juliana – Yes, see you later hot stuff.
Kelley chuckled as he drove to the house and headed up to his room to shower and change. He realized with a start that he was happy, truly happy. Even though he didn't have access to money or lived in a mansion anymore, he was the happiest he'd ever been. In the kitchen, he downed a quick cup of coffee just as Carey walked through the front door and placed her handbag on the dining room table.
“Hey, Carey.”
“Hi, Kelley, are you heading out again?”
“Yeah … I got a weird call from a man wanting to talk about my father’s will.”
“Isn’t your father still alive?”
“Which is why it’s weird.” Kelley shrugged as Carey studied him.
“Meet him in public … maybe tell Mason and Lee where you’ll be.”
“We’re meeting at the diner on Long Road.”
Carey smiled and then hugged Kelley. It still took him a minute or two of stiffening before he relaxed into the hug. “I’ll come with you if you want.”
“You’re tired …”
“I’m never too tired when one of you needs me.” Kelley's heart contracted at Carey's words. She really had no idea what she meant to all of them. She was so much more than just Mason's mother.
“I’d like that, Carey.”
“Do I have time to shower and change?”
Kelley glanced at his watch. “Twenty minutes enough?”
Carey smiled and rushed up the stairs. She walked into the kitchen twenty minutes later looking refreshed and dressed casually in jeans, sandals and a floral blouse. Kelley stood up and they walked outside to his car. He opened the door for Carey and then got inside on the driver’s side.
“How’s Juliana?”
Kelley smiled again. His relationship with Juliana had flourished. That Monday at school she’d slid into the role of his girlfriend just as Lee and Mason had said. They had started out slow and she’d blushed once when he asked her about that swirly tongue thing.
“She’s good. I’m seeing her later.”
They had taken time to get to know one another and Kelley knew she was nothing like Norah. Jule was happy with a milkshake, spending time with him, sitting on the bleachers when they had football practice and she never expected the latest designer bag or fancy restaurants.
“That’s good, no making me a grandma before I’m forty.”
Kelley coughed and blushed slightly. “We’re not there yet.”
“Really? That’s surprising and … good.”
Kelley avoided looking at her and drove to the diner. Discussing his sex life or lack thereof wasn’t something he wanted to discuss with Carey, even if she meant well. She was nothing like his own mother, Laura. He could actually talk to her about things. She was strong and independent and she never wavered away from what was right.
Kelley and Carey walked into the diner, seven minutes late and Kelley looked at the man in the back booth sporting a suit. He had stood up when Kelley walked in and he now headed towards him, the only other person looking out of place.
“You look just like him.” John Campbell smiled at Kelley and stuck his hand out. Kelley shook his hand and then motioned to Carey to slide in first.
“Actually I don’t look like my father at all.” Charles had light brown hair and his mother was blonde. Kelley himself had dark brown hair and green eyes. Charles had light blue eyes and his mother had brown eyes.
“I’m sorry, Kelley, but I expected you to arrive alone. This conversation needs to happen in private as it is confidential.” John was looking pointedly at Carey.
Kelley clenched his jaw and looked John in the eye before speaking. “She stays or I’m walking away.”
“It’s okay, Kelley, I can wait for you at the counter.” Her hand was on his arm and he covered it with his own hand just as she shifted to slide out of the booth.
Kelley shook his head as he looked at John. “This woman took me in after my father threw me out of the house. For all intents and purposes, she’s my mother and she’s staying.”
Emotion flooded Carey’s eyes and John nodded his head once and sat back down. He opened a large folder that lay on the table next to him and pulled out a stack of documents. They ordered coffee from the approaching waitress and waited until they’d been served. Kelley didn't care who John Campbell was or what he wanted to discuss. Carey wasn't going anywhere.
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