Where There's Smoke (24 page)
Only Oscar wasn't talking.
Father and son turned toward the stairs as the cursing grew louder and more distinct.
Mitch. Seth knew suddenly, sharply, why he was swearing. With energy and alertness he didn't know he'd recovered, Seth moved to the head of the stairs, between his father and the captain.
Seth had known Mitch all his life, but had never seen such a mixture of rage and pain on the man's face. He knew. At last he knew. Seth was almost relieved.
There was an eerie calmness in his eyes when he looked at Seth. “Stand aside, son."
"You don't want to do this here,” Seth said, holding out one hand.
"You're right, but it needs to be done.” When Seth wouldn't move, Mitch snapped, “Don't protect him from me."
Seth stood his ground, looked past Mitch to an anxious Valerie and a curious crew gathered around the stairs. He looked back at Mitch levelly. “No, sir. I wouldn't dream of it. I'm just saying another time and place would be better."
Mitch shook his head. “Here and now is fine with me. I don't want to go through you, son, but I will."
Seth felt Oscar behind him. “It's been a long time coming,” his father said.
"Are you sure you want everyone here to know what's going on?” Seth made one last desperate plea to Lauren's father.
"I have a pretty good idea I was the last to know. Step aside, Seth."
He did, reluctantly. He didn't want to watch his father beat the crap out of his best friend, but couldn't look away as the two men circled. Beyond them, Valerie watched with a mixture of horror and—God, was that pride?
Sorrow creased his father's face. Mitch's was twisted into a sort of disbelieving disgust as he circled his former best friend, hands loose at his sides. Oscar took more of a boxer's stance, moving on the balls of his feet, hands fisted above his waist. Then, like lightning, Mitch struck out, catching Oscar above the temple and staggering him off balance. Valerie gasped and Seth tensed but Mitch deserved to get the first shot.
Oscar recovered quickly and brought his hands up, but not before Mitch hit him again. Seth heard his dad's teeth snap together before he struck back, making contact with Mitch's nose. Blood gushed over Mitch's face, dripped onto his uniform, but didn't slow him down. With a shout of anger, he barreled forward, tackling Oscar's middle and carrying him over the weight bench and onto the floor. The two men rolled until they hit the weight machine. Oscar had the upper hand and sat up, straddling Mitch, and raised a fist.
"No!"
Valerie's shout was all the distraction Mitch needed. He plowed his fist into Oscar's gut. Oscar doubled over and Mitch took advantage to knock him backwards. Seth winced when his father's head hit the concrete floor, but the blow didn't slow Oscar down.
They scrambled after each other, slipping in the sweat and blood on the floor. The firemen who'd come up the stairs to watch stood silently behind Valerie. The participants may not be embarrassed by this display, but Seth was. What were his comrades thinking as they watched their captain fight his best friend?
A commotion downstairs alerted him and he moved to the window. Damn it, Lauren's car was in the lot. She was here for that stupid commercial. He had to stop her before she walked in on this.
The firemen on the stairs jostled and Seth knew she was on her way up. He moved to intercept her. “What's going on?” she demanded when he blocked her path, her face pale and drawn.
"Your dad knows."
"Yes, I know, my mom called me, but—” She looked past him to the firefighters who'd closed in on the path Seth had forged. “Seth, what's going on?"
"Mitch is taking out his frustrations."
She relaxed a little. “On a punching bag?"
One of the firefighters overheard. “On Oscar's face."
She paled further, then energized, trying to push through Seth. He held her shoulders and she looked up with panic and despair in her eyes. “Why don't you stop them?"
He shook his head. “They don't want to be stopped."
"Seth, my God—"
"It needs to get out. Mitch needs to do this. At least it's not a secret anymore."
A crash and a grunt of pain made her head snap up as she tried to see through the crowd.
"He's hurt,” she said.
"Yeah, he's hurt and he's bleeding. You can't take away the pain, and he wouldn't want you to see him like this. Go home, Lauren. I'll bring him to you when it's finished."
Every nerve in her body wanted to stay. Her father would need her when he came to his senses. Only a small part wanted to see him beat the crap out of Oscar for destroying his marriage and their friendship.
But Seth was right. After everything, Seth was trying to protect her. Her presence would only upset Mitch. She looked from the wall of firemen to Seth.
"All right. If he has to go to the hospital, call me."
"I will."
"Otherwise bring him to the house. I'll be waiting."
Engine 62 was called and firemen flowed into action, carrying Lauren down the stairs in a tide of blue uniforms. Still, she looked back at Seth until he signaled that he would bring her father to her.
Lauren moved restlessly about the house, not wanting to be there, but not wanting to be anywhere else in case Seth brought Mitch. She hated being out of the loop, the one waiting for word, resented Seth for being so damned logical. She shouldn't have let him chase her away. She could handle a little blood and sweat.
Still, the idea he'd been looking out for her touched the remaining tenderness she carried for Seth. She'd buried that feeling under the pain of their rift, but the pain was slowly evaporating revealing, if not love, then admiration, tinged with a little hope.
The doorbell rang just as she picked up the phone to call Seth. He and Mitch stood on the porch, Mitch kind of leaning on Seth, both eyes blackened, his nose bandaged. He'd cleaned up and changed, but still looked like he'd gone twelve rounds with Oscar De la Hoya instead of Oscar Escamilla. She moved toward him, her hands fluttering in a panicky feminine way that annoyed her. Mitch held up a hand.
"It looks worse than it is."
"You should be in the hospital,” she murmured, not knowing what to do as Seth helped him through the door. She caught the stench of whiskey and knew why he had to lean on Seth.
"He didn't want to go in, not that I know anyone like that.” Seth gave her a look. “I checked him over. No major damage other than the nose."
"Seth was a good boy and even bought me a bottle of whiskey."
"Yes, I smell. That was very—thoughtful of Seth.” She gave him a meaningful look.
Seth stumbled to a stop at the bottom of the stairs. “Hey, he deserves one night of oblivion."
"I'm sure he'll thank you in the morning. I know I will."
"I'll leave you kids to fight in private,” Mitch said, shoving away from Seth. “I need to sleep now."
"Dad, no, Seth isn't staying. Let me get you settled."
He waved her off and headed toward the stairs. “I just really need to lay down. Now."
"The room across from the bathroom is ready for you."
"Isn't that convenient.” He pulled himself up the stairs using the rail.
She turned to Seth, who lifted his hands, palms out. “Sorry. I just thought he'd feel better if he could push it away for awhile."
She shook her head. “No. I know. How's your dad? Or did my dad take the brunt of it?"
"No, Oscar's hobbling pretty good. I guess he figured he owed Mitch a few good ones."
She drew herself up. “You think Oscar let my dad beat him up? Like your dad didn't deserve it?"
"No, I'm not saying that. I'm saying my dad felt guilty, so—"
"So he threw the fight.” Is that what Seth thought? Is that how he excused his father's behavior?
Seth folded his arms and tilted his head back. “Look, Lauren, is it really going to do us any good to argue over who was right and who was wrong?"
She sighed and turned to look out the front window. “We're never going to be able to have a civil conversation again, are we?"
"I pretty much think we won't be having any conversations ever again."
Her world pitched and she turned back. “Seth—ever?"
"It's just—too hard for everyone."
"So you're just—it's just going to be like the past twenty-five years never happened? You're going to walk away?"
Seth had only cried in front of her once before, that time at the hospital, when he'd let down his guard for the first time. Now he did again, tears streaming unchecked. He didn't answer, looked everywhere but at her.
She exploded. “Yeah, you know what? Okay, fine. You walk away from me. Don't ever let me see you again. I never want to know if you get married or have kids, or make captain, or if you die!"
"It's just easier this way,” he said.
"You know what, Seth, maybe Oscar was right. Maybe I shouldn't have come to your defense. Maybe you do always think easier is better! Well, you know what? Sometimes easier is just easier!"
He looked at her then, eyes hot, but didn't deny her words. He didn't dare.
She shuddered. Was she doing the right thing, pushing him? Would it be better to let him walk away? No, damn it, this was worth fighting for, and if she had to be the one doing the fighting, well, so be it. Subtlety was wasted on Seth, so she'd reach him the way she knew best.
She slapped the end table, certainty giving her courage. She wanted this. “I'll show you it's not going to be as easy as you think. Let's make a bet."
Some of the heat left his eyes and a smile quirked his lips. “You'll bet me what?"
"I'll bet you can't go a month without seeing me."
"Seeing you?” he asked warily.
"You know. Face to face. Eye to eye."
He narrowed his eyes. “What's going to stop you from showing up at my gigs or at my apartment, just so you can win?"
My pride, she wanted to say, but she had swallowed enough of that. All because she didn't want to surrender him. All or nothing.
Still, this had to be his choice, or nothing. “I promise I won't, or it will all be pointless. I'm trying to prove you can't go a month without me."
"And if I can, what do I win?"
She took a deep breath. The prize would have to be good to make it fair. “A thousand dollars."
He choked. “A thousand. Lauren, you don't have that kind of money."
"Want to bet?"
He snuffled a laugh. “One bet at a time is enough, thanks. I'm not going to take this bet."
"Oh, no. You can't dismiss it out of hand. You haven't heard what I'll get."
He crossed his arms, amusement creasing his face. “What will you get?"
She mimicked his stance, looked him dead in the eye. “You."
"Lauren,” he said sadly, unfolding his arms and looking down. “Do you know how easy it will be for me to win this bet?"
"I'm kinda counting on the fact that it won't be easy at all. Is it a bet?"
She held out her hand. A tiny eternity passed before he took her hand to seal the deal.
The first week passed quickly. Lauren barely had time to think about the bet that could destroy her life. Her father moved in to avoid Oscar at the firehouse. Not a bad idea until he took a leave of absence at the same time. On the plus side, he had dinner ready every night when she came home. On the negative side—no, she'd stay positive. Her dad was setting that example.
Until he answered the phone when Valerie called. Lauren looked up from her magazine when she heard the shift in Mitch's tone, a low smooth rumble tinged with pain.
"Oscar didn't tell you I'd moved in with Lauren for awhile? I thought openness and honesty was what you valued. Oh, wait, that was me."
Lauren could imagine her mother's impatience on the other end. In Lauren's opinion, Mitch fared better without her. Maybe now he'd find the kind of woman he deserved. Wouldn't it be funny if he and Sandra got together?
Lauren turned back to the magazine with a private grin. Better not let Crystal get wind of that idea—Mitch and Sandra would be doomed.
"Your mother wants to talk to you,” Mitch said at last, holding the phone out.
She took it, stomach churning. Valerie called so rarely. This couldn't be good.
"Darling, can you talk?” her mother said.
Uh-oh. Way too much cheer there. “Of course I can talk.” She rolled her eyes at her father.
"I wanted you to be the first to know that Oscar asked me to marry him."
"Oh, God.” Lauren's hand flew to her mouth before she could stop it. This was it, the death toll of her relationship with Seth. She should have known it would come in the form of Valerie.
Valerie ignored the remark. “I just thought you'd be glad to know it all wasn't for nothing. We'll be married after his divorce is final. Until then, we're moving to Austin. We'll still be close enough for you kids, but far enough for Sandra and Mitch. See, we did think of you all."
"I hope it didn't hurt too much,” Lauren said. How could her mother not care about anyone else? This decision would destroy people and her mother sounded happy.
"I hope someday you can put your bitterness behind you and be happy for me. I'll call you when we get to our new place."
Lauren hung up slowly.
"What happened?” Mitch asked, leaning forward eagerly.
She was going to be the one to hurt him. God, she didn't want to be the one to hurt him.
"They're getting married."
Mitch slumped back against the couch with a sigh. He stared at the TV but tears gleamed in his eyes. “Well, that's good, I guess. It's what she's wanted."
"Did you know? Did you know all this time she still loved him?"
He turned to her. “I guess I probably did, on some level. I hoped I didn't, but yeah, I think so."
"I'm so sorry, Daddy.” She crossed the room to hug him.
He squeezed her a little too tight. “She has what she wants now. It's only going to get better for all of us."
Lauren hoped so. Still, she couldn't help thinking her ultimatum to Seth was as selfish as her mother and Oscar's decision. Would the families resent them for forcing their happiness on everyone?