A Changed Life Read online

  “Can I join you for a minute?” He asked me. I stopped him.

  “Please don’t, Seth. I have nothing to say, and I don’t want to cause a scene here in the restaurant.” He didn’t sit down. Seth just told me how sorry he was that Michael hurt me the way he did. He had wished he could have helped his friend. Seth looked extremely distraught in the way he mentioned Michael.

  Before I could even say anything to Seth, Simon was back and in Seth’s face. Simon glared at Seth asking him what he wanted. I interrupted the two, and told Simon that Seth was just apologizing to me. Simon glared back at Seth with disgust.

  “We don’t have anything to say to you, or your frat buddies, so stay the hell away from us.” Seth just ran one hand over the back of his neck, and told Simon that he gets why he’s upset, but not all of his frat brothers including him were like Michael. Seth turned to me, and one more time told me how sorry he was, and if he was needed to testify in court for me, he would do it.

  I remained quiet as Seth turned to leave the restaurant. Simon sat down with me, and asked me to look at him. I was trembling by now, trying not to break down again. “Nicolette, please look at me”. I did as he asked. “I need you to breathe baby, and take calm breathes. It’s going to be okay, Nicolette.” Pulling me into his chest, I relaxed my cheek against him. I felt instantly better and breathing in his beautiful scent. We held each other’s hands throughout lunch, never separating our linked hands.

  Simon carried my bag as we walked hand in hand through my door. Uncle Jack was on the phone, and gestured to me that he would be a minute. We brought my things upstairs to my room, and then walked back down to look for mom and dad. Uncle Jack told me that my parents were not home, and they had some final things to wrap up on their work project with Paramount. My parents wanted to sever all ties to Clayton St. Clair. They enjoyed working with everyone from Paramount and Sony, but as long as he was connected to those companies, they would not be.

  The song that mom wrote for John was beautiful. My parents worked extremely hard to achieve their success, and I was proud of them. They are an inspiring couple. It makes me grateful for Simon to be in my life, and appreciate the love he shows me every day.

  Uncle Jack gave me a hug, and called me Nickel. He was terribly sorry for his role in this entire cluster of drama we have been dealing with. Uncle Jack always wanted to be honest with me and tell me the truth. I told him once again I wasn’t angry with him.

  I just can’t be pushed anymore to do what I’m not ready for. After my tirade yesterday, he said he and my parents finally get it, and will not pressure me into anything anymore.

  “You scared me, Nicolette, when we discovered you ran away.” said Uncle Jack.

  “I’m sorry Uncle Jack for leaving, and will not run away again. It seems I have been making that same promise to a lot of people lately.” I looked over at Simon as he winked at me knowing what I meant.

  After my talk with Uncle Jack, my parents arrived home shortly after. They both hugged me with death grips around my body. Mom was crying and yelling at me at the same time for driving her crazy, and leaving the way I did. My father was more sympathetic as usual.

  He said he was sorry over and over again until I finally stopped them. “Enough with the apologies…you are my parents, and I love you. I promise never to run away again, now can we eat? I’m starving.” Everyone laughed, and we all went into the dining room, enjoying the amazing smells coming from the stove. Gracie was cooking up a storm. I felt a twinge of pain again down my lower abdomen, and this time I asked my mom if she can come up to my room.

  Simon look worried as I climbed the stairs to my bedroom with my mom, but he stayed with dad and Uncle Jack. Mom asked me, “What’s wrong honey, are you sick?” I told my mom, that I have been experiencing a weird pain all day down my lower abdomen, and that it got worse after I vomited. She asked me a million questions, and then checked my forehead for a fever, but I didn’t have one. I just said the pain comes and goes. “Nicolette, sometimes when you are pregnant for the first time, a woman’s body can go through all kinds of changes. You feel many pulls and stretches.” It sounded reasonable enough to me. I wasn’t bleeding and the pain had subsided.

  “Nicolette, if the pain returns and you feel sick, you must promise to tell me at once.” Playfully waving her finger at me.

  “I will mom, I promise. You made me feel better, thanks for the help.”

  “No need to thank me honey, this is my job as your mom. I’m surprised you are speaking to me at all after how we behaved.” Mom hugged me and we made our way downstairs. Simon was waiting with bated breath for me to return. As soon as he saw me, he came over to me, asking me if I was sick again. I just gave him a reassuring hug, and told him not to worry. I could feel the tension leave his body once he knew I was ok.

  Dinner was ready. Gracie called all of us to the table, and I asked if I could say grace. My family and Simon all held hands. I thanked all of them for being constants in my life, and for getting me through these past couple of months. I asked for their continued patience, and thanked them for their love that each of them showed me every day. Dinner was incredible as usual, and Gracie out did herself. I walked Simon out while Sam waited for him in our driveway.

  “I want you to climb into your bed, snuggle under your covers, and get some real sleep.” Simon kissed my nose, and waited for my answer. I promised him no more running, and I would fall asleep to all the new music he had put on my I pod.

  He kissed me so gently on my lips that I almost didn’t feel it. Taking him by surprise, I kissed him hard, and sucked at his tongue. I knew this would drive him crazy, but I didn’t care. He once had asked me to do that to him, but I had never done that before. He kind of showed me how, and then I never really did it again until tonight. Simon’s eyes lit up when he realized how I was kissing him. Yes! I needed to show him how much I loved and wanted him. Simon let out a soft moan from his throat, telling me he knew. He waived his fingers at me and said I don’t play fair. I just giggled, and we hugged each other until Sam leaned down on the horn. Simon put his finger up to him, and hugged and kissed me some more until I insisted he leave so I could catch up on my sleep. Before he ran to Sam’s waiting car, he called out to me.

  “Nicolette, can you do me a favor tonight?” I smiled and waited for his question. I would do anything for Simon. “Dream of me?” I crossed my arms over my chest, and gave him the sexiest grin. He blew me a kiss, and I caught it. I watched them drive away, and I couldn’t help myself from day dreaming that one day I’m going to marry Simon. Tonight, I would dream of only him, and the future he has promised me. I draw my strength from his love, and link my soul around his promises of a happy life for us.

  I was about to go upstairs when Uncle Jack asked me to sit with him and Aunt Sara for a few minutes. Uncle Jack told me that he was going home to Chicago tonight. I was surprised by his news, and I had thought they were planning on staying longer.

  He took my face into his large strong hands, and said. “I love you with all that I am. I will never regret helping my brother become your father, and you will always hold a special place in my heart Nickel.”

  We both had tears in our eyes as we said goodbye. Uncle Jack promised to always watch over me. I didn’t know how he could do that living in Chicago, but didn’t question him about it. I had many people out here supporting me. “I wish we could have visited you on happier terms.” Hugging Aunt Sara, I told her any visit from her was welcomed.

  “Nicolette, you will always have us in your corner. We love you like our own. Chicago will be waiting for you, if you ever decide to come back to us.” Aunt Sara’s words saddened me. How could I tell my aunt that leaving California now would never be an option, especially with Simon in my life? I just hugged her back and didn’t voice what I was thinking.

  I hated goodbyes with Uncle Jack. He scooped me up into his arms one more time, and then I ran upstairs. He knew I was hurting, but gave me the space I needed. Leavi
ng Chicago the first time was difficult enough; it tore my heart out when we drove away, and having to watch Uncle Jack wave us away.

  “Are you ready to go?” My father asked his brother Jack, eyeing the suitcases by the door. “I’m all set, but we need to discuss a few things before I leave.”

  “We can talk privately in my office.”

  “Massimo, I need you to understand a few things before I leave.” Uncle Jack explained. “Please call me, Mason. We have discussed this Jack; I am not that person anymore.”

  “Massimo, you have forgotten many things about our past, and about our family. You can create all the fake personas you want, but it will never replace who you truly are.”

  “Jack, we have been over this a thousand times already. Mama and Papa changed our names to give us a new start. They didn’t want the stigma of their past to cling to their future, which was me and you, their sons. They worked so hard when they arrived from Italy, countless hours at work leaving us alone so they could give us a better life. Jack, you are my older brother, and you have always taken care of me. You gave me the most precious gift in the world, our Nicolette, and I will always be grateful to you. All I’m asking you is to let me continue to take care of my daughter. I make this promise to you with all the breath in my body that I will not let her be hurt again.”

  Jack rubbed his face before answering my father, and then spoke again. “Massimo, when I first heard about Nicolette being raped by that animal, I snapped and lost all logical thinking. I wanted that fucker dead, and all it would have taken would be one phone call, and he would have been taken care of. As much as I was fueled by anger, I knew if I had followed through with my threat, it would have destroyed all of our lives. Mama and papa risked everything by bringing us to America. All their sacrifices would have been for nothing. I have a good life in Chicago, as do you here in California.

  You know I ran with some tough people back in the day, which I still have connections with. Anyone of them would do anything for me. You and Christina convinced me not to, and I thank you for not letting up on me.”

  “Massimo, I will keep my word and not harm Michael St. Clair for now. I will trust that he will be held accountable for his crimes against our daughter. If that happens, I will never go back on my word. Having said that brother, if this fucker walks than all bets are off. I will not hesitate to call my boys in, and will not be able to keep the promises I have made to you here today. You need to agree with what I have just told you, and I need to hear the words Massimo, do you agree?”

  “I agree with you Jack.”

  Dreaming of my angel always makes my heart sing. I was dreaming of our wedding day as I finally made her mine, and our commitment was sealed forever. I can hear the vows I would recite to her, and I could see the tears in her eyes when we were finally pronounced husband and wife. My dream felt so real. I never wanted to wake up, but that was about to change when three giants, I call my brothers stomped on my body to wake me up.

  “Come on track star! Wake Up!” My brother Andrew shouted... I tried to punch him away, but then Jacob and Cameron joined in on pulling me out of my contented sleep to the early morning dawn. It was Saturday, my track meet. I knew how important this day was, not only for me, but for my coach and team.

  “Ok I’m up, and you three can get off my bed.” I shouted at my brothers. “Oh baby brother, don’t go crying on us now. We hope the California sunshine hasn’t gone and whipped your ass into a little girl now.” Andrew teased Simon.

  “Get the fuck out of my room. How’s that for not being whipped?” Simon shouted. His language of course, summoned his mother to his room, and she was shaking her head with disapproval on how Simon spoke to his brothers.

  “Now Simon, they’re only fooling around. Do you seriously need to speak that way?” Simon got up and kissed his mom on her cheek. “Yes, that is exactly how I speak to your brawny spawns.”

  His brothers laughed heartily at him as Simon closed the door to his bathroom. “So little bro, when do we get to meet the love of your life?”, asked Cameron. Simon returned after his short shower and answered his brother’s question. “You all can meet Nicolette today at the track meet. She will be there along with her parents, so please be on your best behavior.” Jacob addressed what his other two brothers were afraid to ask. They had all known about Nicolette, and what she has been through, and what Simon has been through. They could razz him all they liked, but they never wanted to hurt their brother.

  “Simon, can we talk?” Jacob asked. Simon replied, “If you three are going to talk down about my relationship with Nicolette, then you can forget it. I will not have this discussion with you. Dad has already put me through it for months now, and I’m sick of it.”

  “Relax Simon! We weren’t going to say anything negative about your girl.” Cameron put his hand on his shoulder to calm him. “Simon, we just want to have an open and honest conversation with you. Can you please hear us out?” Andrew asked.

  “We always have your back little brother, please don’t shut us out. We know we haven’t been here for you, like the way we should have been. Simon, please understand how much we love you, and as brothers, when you hurt, we hurt.” Simon let his defenses down and leaned in for a group hug with his brothers, even shedding some tears that he has been holding back.

  “We don’t need to get into anything heavy right now, but we just wanted to make sure you are okay with all of this.” Andrew sincerely asked Simon.

  “You three do not have to worry about me. I am one hundred percent sure of my love for Nicolette, and I am fully prepared for anything life throws our way.”

  “Like a baby?” Cameron asked...Simon’s facial expression went ashen with the revelation that his brothers knew about the baby. “How did you know?” Simon questioned Cameron. “We overheard mom talking it over with dad.” Jacob had said.

  “Yes it’s true. Nicolette is pregnant with Michael’s baby. We recently found out, and she hasn’t made any decisions about what to do about it.”

  “Simon, please don’t take this the wrong way, but bro you can’t honestly consider raising this kid as your own? Under normal circumstances, if your girl had gotten knocked up by cheating that would be hard enough, but this Simon? Your girl was raped, and now she’s going to keep the baby?” Jacob had said.

  Simon finished getting dressed, trying to avoid his brothers, but they were relentless with their line of questions. “Please, Simon, tell us what you are thinking man?”

  “What do you want from me, Andrew? Simon cursed under his breath. Nicolette is my whole world and she is my future. Do you all think I want her to be pregnant, and like this? No, I don’t. It kills me and it rips through my heart like a flaming sword.

  There you have it, my answer to your question. Now get the hell out of my room, and leave me be. Fuck!” Simon now shouting and pounding his fists on to his dresser.

  Andrew bear hugged his little brother, and let him get out all the emotions Simon had been holding in for Nicolette’s sake. He never wanted to show her how angry and how much pain he was suffering with.

  Simon was calmer now, after he released all of his anger and pent up emotion onto his brothers shoulders. All three of them let him cry, hit, and scream until he could do no more. Andrew, Jacob, and Cameron knew Simon very well.

  They all had the same ability to read him like a book, and they knew he needed to finally release his feelings. “So who was the one that said we weren’t going to get into anything heavy this morning?” Jacob laughed and then they all made their way downstairs for breakfast.

  Mom and dad were waiting for their brood of men to join them. They all sat down and just relaxed as a family. These times were special being all together, and mom of all people didn’t want their reunion to be spoiled. Dad raised his glass to Simon, wishing him well today and bringing home the long awaited win their school was praying for. “I need to get going”. Simon had said. “Everyone is waiting on me and my phone has been going off a
ll morning.”

  Simon said his goodbyes to his family. They all would join him later at the school. Simon couldn’t wait to see Nicolette, cheering him on from the stands. While talking with some of the guys from the team, his phone went off a couple of times. Nicolette was greeting him with good morning messages and promising to see him soon along with all their friends.

  “Come on Paulson, get warmed up.” Coach Johnson shouted at Simon. Simon told his coach he was more than ready for his three events today, and to trust he would bring it for his team. Jimmy greeted Simon with a hard slap to his back. “Dude, I am so pumped for today. Did you see who was in the stands?” Simon looked around and spotted the scout from Stanford.

  “Best of luck today, Jimmy, You will do great man.” Simon returned the slap to Jimmy’s back. They fist pumped, and his team was so ready to get things underway.

  I looked around and my eyes met hers watching me from the stands above. My world was returned right again at the sight of my angel. Nicolette waved to me, and she and Bailey held up their signs. It read: Team Simon while Alexis held hers that read, Team Jimmy. I laughed out loud, and couldn’t believe that Miss Ice Princess was finally in love.

  My excitement could be read all over my face, as the gun went off to start the day’s events. Simon was competing in the 100, 400 meter dashes, and in the 4x400 meter relay race, and this was his event to win. Simon was set to compete in the hurdles, along with Jimmy. Simon chose not to run at the last minute. He was feeling some tension in his Achilles tendon, and didn’t want to risk injury. He asked Coach Johnson to pick an alternate to take his place, and was praying he made the right decision. Simon easily dominated the 100 meter dash, and his team was doing remarkably well in all their track and field events today.

  Jimmy was beginning to feel some anxiety about the 400 coming up. Simon knew no matter how today turned out; he had already made the decision not to run for his chosen college. His heart resided elsewhere, and he wanted to leave his wins behind in his high school career, and move on to bigger things in college. This disappointed his dad, since Simon’s father loved the thrill of sports, and how easily his sons took to them. When the triplets all went out for football, he thought his heart would burst with joy. Then to be awarded with scholarships, it was heaven sent for a father and his pride. Simon’s brothers were all being scouted to play in the NFL.