11 — Noah Foster
“It’s four in the morning
I can't turn off my thoughts
Wishing these memories would disappear
But they never disappear”
Snap — Pink Linn
As soon as I enter the house, I head towards the stairs. However, a noise near the kitchen catches my attention, probably, my father must have had insomnia again, so I decide to go to him and see if everything is ok.
— Father! — I shout — Are you there? I ask, turning on the lights.
— You arrived early today, son, I thought you were going to spend the night with the boys — he says, a little uneasy.
— No, I left there with a girl, and then I decided to come here. — I arch an eyebrow. — Is everything okay, dad? — I insist, because seeing Jack Foster restless in the middle of the night, especially knowing that I don't usually get home in the morning, is suspicious, to say the least.
— Yes, I just came to get a cup of coffee — he replies, looking like a teenager in trouble and I stop myself from laughing.
— At four in the morning? Insomnia again? — At this moment I notice that there are two cups on the counter. —Are you going to say that you made coffee for me? — I ask to see if he admits that he is accompanied.
— Stop being a curious kid, I have company, but don't even think about trying to find out who it is! — He narrows his eyes, annoyed.
— How much mystery! I thought we had no secrets between us. — I poke at your weak point, that is, our father—son relationship.
I have to admit, I'm having fun, seeing my father out of his comfort zone and not being in control of the situation. As much as I'm teasing him, seeing him living and enjoying life being happy with someone makes me happy, the rest doesn't matter to me. And to be honest, chastity never suited a handsome old man like Jack Foster. I've seen several new employees at the company sighing for my father.
— We don't, Noah. But it's more complicated than you might think and it's not a subject I want to comment on right now. — He sighs, regretfully. — And I also don't want her to feel embarrassed, I don't know — he says, thoughtfully — I need to fix some mistakes, big mistakes... — He concludes, almost in a whisper.
— Okay, fine, I was just joking with you, but she must be very special — I comment. — Oh, don't even look at me like that, she's the first woman you've brought home, as far as I know... — I explain, seeing his confused expression.
— She's someone very special in my life, Noah — he says, taking the cups. — But for now, I can't explain everything to you.
— No problem, old Jack... And see if you can make me a little brother, I want a house full of children — I tease a little more, however, I would really like to have a brother.
What would our monotonous routine be like with a baby? Hilarious to say the least! — I think, smiling.
— Go to sleep, kid! I have more to do — he responds, laughing and leaving me alone.
I wait a bit and go up to my room. With my mind buzzing with curiosity, I look like a child who is at the stage of discovering something, however, my father is a tomb when he wants to be and I know he will only tell me about this woman when the time is right. Anyway, I hope to find out in the near future if our unconventional family will increase. I feel like this novel has a long story behind it.
For God's sake, Noah! No more thinking about your father's love life, when yours is non—existent! —I reproach myself.
I wake up to laughter coming from the garden and, for a change, the usual playlist, which consists of Roxette, ABBA, Queen, ACDC and so on.
What a drug!
I can't sleep even on a Sunday!
I take my cell phone from the bedside table and check the time, two in the afternoon. Holy shit! I slept too much, exhaustion took its toll. I get up with a lot of effort, because laziness is still here and I go to the shower, there's nothing better than a cold shower to wake up.
Minutes later, I finish getting dressed and hear someone knocking on the door, which then opens.
— Wake up, asshole! — Gael practically screams when he enters.
— Good morning too, asshole.
— It's a good afternoon, sleeping beauty. Lunch is ready, everyone is just waiting for the princess.
— Prince, your ass! — I punch you in the arm, in the camaraderie. — Come on, not because you came to get me, but because I'm hungry, just making it clear — I say and he laughs.
We arrive at the pool area, where my father is already gathered with my friends, all relaxed, enjoying their Sunday.
— Why didn't they tell me they were coming today? — I ask, grabbing a beer from the minibar.
— Jack woke everyone up, really early, just to make it clear! — Erik responds, with an apparent sign of a hangover.
— You are very weak, it was almost ten in the morning! — my father responds, laughing at the sight of other people's misfortune.
— Did you at least sleep, dad? — I say, stopping next to him.
— Noah… — he looks at me crookedly.
— Okay, I stopped! — I raise my hands.
My father loves this mess, having everyone together, so much so that at least two Saturdays a month, he brings my friends together here, for his traditional barbecue, but surely, to have called on a Sunday, the old man must have been planning something, it doesn't make a point without a knot.
— I arrived not to brighten up Sunday! — Dom arrives looking like he didn’t have the best night of his life.
—Are you in a bad mood? Didn't last night pay off? — I tease.
— Man, that one yesterday, all he had to do was let fire come out of his mouth. Gael and I had to hold him down — Beni comments, calmly.
— Explain this properly. — I got a beer.
— You can stop talking as if I weren't here. And it's none of your business — Dom says, nervously.
— Boys, let him lick his wounds alone, when Dominic wants, he'll tell you what got him in this dog mood — my father intervenes.
— And you, Noah, how was it with the brunette? The one I got, all he had to do was ask me to marry him! — Erik complains, making a face.
— Look man, I can't complain. — I take another sip, shrugging my shoulders. — Was it that bad? I ask.
— It wasn't bad, but she linked my name to her surname and I don't think I need to explain the rest, because you already know what happens, don't you?
— Erik, you need to get your act together, find someone. In fact, all of you, it wouldn't be a bad idea. — Here comes my father with that talk again.
—Are you crazy, Jack? Our life is very good like this — Beni says, opening another beer.
— Look who's talking! Did my brother do it yesterday? — I look directly at my father — Because, as I remember, we had company at home, my possible future mother. — Now I want to see him get out of this.
— Unfortunately, no, but I guarantee that I practiced more than you — he replies.
— Okay, too much information, dad.
—Then don't ask!
— Look, are you a little secret and not sharing, Jack? Was it delicious, at least? — Gael doesn’t miss one.
— Gael, if you say anything about who I brought here yesterday, I'll give you a beating that you won't forget, ever again — he threatens, in a voice that gives you goosebumps.
— Damn, whoever said that is no longer here. But look, jealousy isn't good for the heart, huh? — Gael still insists. — Even more so at your age…
— Dude, better stop teasing, then don’t come crying — Dom, warns.
— I'm really going to drink, that's all I have left, because it's your fault. — Points his index finger at Dominic. — I couldn't catch anyone yesterday, I looked like I'd been hit with a good pair of horns, or I had a sore elbow — Gael replies.
— Noah and Erik, I need to talk to you later. And, Beni, ask your father to call me when he can, regarding our matter.
— You can leave it, Jack. — Benício responds. — He's already aware, I'll go over there later to see how the situation is going.
— Can anyone here explain to me what’s going on? Gael and I are excluded from the Clube do Bolinha there... — Dom speaks.
— You won't stay for long, soon, I'll need you too and Gael, the boys' matter concerns that contract with Foster.
— Man, that man doesn't let me down — Gael comments.
“That's because you didn't see the ridiculous loving father speech last night,” I say. — And what a strange graduation, it seemed more like a gala dinner to close deals.
— True, there was no one close to her age, colleagues, friends, whatever, she seemed very out of place. What a body, my friends! — Erik whistles. — A beautiful and very friendly girl, by the way.
My blood boils when I hear him talk about her like that.
I couldn't see her, but the fact that someone was talking about that girl's body like that moves me insanely.
— Were you there to notice her body or find out something? — I say, in a bad mood.
— Calm down, Noah, what animal bit your white ass? You haven't even seen her up close. Or did you see it and didn't tell me? — He arches an eyebrow.
— Oh, screw you! — I can't tell you what she awakened in me, because even I don't know.
— I think you'd better forget about her body, leave the girl alone — Beni speaks as if he knew her and that leaves me intrigued. — A beautiful body can sometimes hide deep, unhealed wounds — he adds.
— Let's eat, boys! The barbecue is ready, for now, forget about it — Jack says.
We enjoyed the rest of the day, drinking and enjoying the sun. But the restlessness didn't let me relax as I wanted, a tangle of questions had been invading my head since the night before. An unknown sensation seems to have emerged from the ashes and settled throughout my body, however, I push this thought aside, I already have enough problems with a certain memory, which insists on fixing itself every night in my dreams.
The boys left around nine o'clock, only Erik and Beni remained, knowing that we would have a serious talk with Mr. Foster, aka my father. I went upstairs to take a quick shower and now head towards the office, where they will probably be waiting for me.
— I’ve arrived, let’s get straight to the topic that brought us here?
— Yes, my son. Sit down, we need to analyze all the information we have obtained so far.
Erik and I told everything we managed to discover at the event, of course we wanted to have achieved more, however, it wouldn't have been safe for us. I remember the image of that woman next to the window, I'm absolutely sure it was the girl who was graduating. I leave it aside, but the scene reminds me of the voice I heard, bringing up another subject.
— Dad, I need to tell you something. —Sigh. — I'm almost certain I recognized the voice of someone I haven't seen since I was eight.
— Damn, Noah! And just let me know now? — His face becomes dark. — You should have called me right away. — he runs his hand through his gray hair, nervously.
— The first thing I thought about yesterday was talking to you, but today during the day, I ended up forgetting, especially because I'm not sure if it was him.
— Was it that moment when you became static and pale like a ghost, when we were leaving? — my friend asks.
— Yes — I reply.
— Jack, do you want me to do a search? I can check on everyone who was there yesterday and put together a report — Beni asks my father.
— Can someone explain to me what's going on? — Erik appears worried. — Apparently, I'm the only one who doesn't know.
— My biological father. That's the big problem. — I get up, going to pour myself a shot of whiskey.
— I don't need to know what happened in your childhood, but if I can help in any way, man, you can count on me. You know we are brothers.
— Benício, investigate Otávio’s employees. First, whoever works in the house, we can go from there, am I right, son?
— Yes, I believe so. Erik, the story is long, but the fact is that I've been off his radar since I was eleven years old, actually since I was eight, but it was definitely three years later. For now, that's all you need to know, in fact, what I can tell you.
— Ok, no pressure, Noah, you know I'll do whatever it takes to help you, whenever you want — he says and turns to my father. — Jack, haven't you watched the man these last few years? At least, that's what I would do if I were in your position, just because of your tension, I already imagine that he is dangerous.
— Yes, I kept an eye on it, but as we had no more reason to worry, I decided to suspend monitoring, apparently, I made a serious mistake. — Sigh. — Noah, until Beni brings the report, I'd prefer you spend a few days working from home, just to be sure, until we know exactly who we're dealing with.
I agree with a subtle gesture, nodding my head. Really, it would be great, because I fear not for myself, but for this worried man, in front of me, who changed his entire routine and his life, when he saved me from hell.
I could never stand for someone to hurt Jackson Foster, just to get to me.
I need to get rid of this past, once and for all.