30. Nick
30
NICK
I stayed at Sabrina’s house for the rest of the weekend. I did so not only because I wanted space from the hell at “home” but also because being here with her and her parents felt more like “home” than that mansion ever did.
Worry about my mom stayed present in my mind. But I had faith that she’d fight her own battles just fine with the way George seemed to care about her and the idea that she could’ve ever thought he was cheating on her.
Instead of only being with Sabrina, I spent time checking out the repairs that John Rosario was managing. After a while, it became easier and easier to talk to him about my dad. It started as mentioning my dad was my scout leader and that we’d done some carpentry projects when I was younger. With his genuine interest and listening ear, he got me to expand and talk about how my dad was an engineer and I was supposed to follow that focus as well.
I could see where Sabrina got her goodness from. John was a great, kind guy, hearing me out. He and Melody were the reasons Sabrina was likely so open to listening to others.
And the chance to talk to him soothed my soul. It was way too soon to assume Sabrina’s father could act like a father figure for me, but to start with, I was confident that he would be a good friend.
We got along so well that I spent most of Sunday working with him. It began as a discussion about what could be wrong with his pipe repairs, and by the end of the night, we were both filthy and sweaty from successfully finishing a couple of tricky window installations. Sabrina hadn’t minded. She was in her zone, studying and working on a paper due tomorrow. That was how tenacious she was about her schoolwork, unfazed by the drama to stay committed and focused.
Come Monday morning, though, we got up early to have breakfast with her parents before heading out.
With how close we were to the end of the semester, I didn’t have too much to worry about. That wasn’t true for Sabrina, though, with exams nearing. It was mutually decided that I’d have a place here, with her, and would pitch in to help John with the home repairs. He hadn’t protested too much when I offered the arrangement, and I was glad I could contribute to the Rosarios’ fortunes. It was a purpose. It was a challenge, something to preoccupy me.
And when Melody passed me in the kitchen after John left for work and Sabrina ran up to her apartment to get her bag, she smiled at me.
“Thank you, Nick.”
“For what?” I asked.
“For offering to help John.” She beamed at me. “He wanted to ask you to stay here and help him, but he didn’t want to be too forward.”
“Oh.”
She patted my shoulder. “He’s been looking forward to having a son-in-law someday…”
I could only smile back at her, unafraid and not at all intimidated. “Do you seriously think Sabrina would consider any discussion about marriage before she’s done with law school?”
She cracked up. “No! You do know her well.”
And I knew myself well, too. The day she graduated, I’d be ready with a ring.
Leaving early so we’d have time to talk to my mom before classes would start, I smiled at the feeling of Sabrina’s arms wrapped around my waist as I brought her back to the mansion.
I wasn’t bothered to see this huge-ass mansion. Now that I had found my “home” with Sabrina, I didn’t have to cringe with the distaste of trying to view this place as my home.
I belonged somewhere.
I belonged with someone.
And I never could have imagined how transformative that realization could be.
I held Sabrina’s hand and walked up the front steps like a whole new man. I led her inside the mansion knowing I had turned a leaf. I was moving on, at last, and I knew deep down in my heart, with my soul, and in the back of my mind that if my dad were here, he’d be damned proud of me now.
“Oh, there he is.”
Sabrina stopped short as we walked in the hall. I didn’t let go of her hand at my mom’s voice. Turning, I spotted my mom and George sitting at the island in the kitchen.
Holding hands.
Smiling.
At ease.
Bringing Sabrina into the room, I wondered if Tiffany would show up as well.
“And Sabrina,” George said. “Welcome.”
I didn’t miss how his gaze dropped to our joined hands. “This is a development.”
Sabrina smiled, taking it in stride. “It is, sir.”
“Just George,” he corrected her.
Sabrina nodded, then glanced up at me. “Our being together is a new development. Just as my decision to drop out of the running for your internship is.”
“No.” George frowned, shaking his head, disappointed.
“Yes. That’s what I wanted to speak with you about yesterday,” she admitted.
“Because of him?” my mom asked, furrowing her brow at me. “Or Tiffany?”
“Because of my passion. I’m not cut out to be a corporate lawyer. Seeing how you represented that client showed me that my interests are not aligned with Lorsen & Spengler.”
George smiled, nodding once. “That’s a brave choice to make.”
“It’s the right one. One I’d make regardless of Nick coming into my life the way he had. I might drop out of the current program and transfer to another school,” she added.
“Oh, honey, no.” My mom winced. “Don’t sacrifice just because of our family drama.”
“No, Mrs. Lorsen,” Sabrina said, all smiles. “I wouldn’t ever let a man make me change my goals.”
It was my turn to grin.
“But I’m growing and learning about myself as I seek my law degree, and I think going into criminal law to be a prosecutor would make more sense for me.”
George spoke a little more with her about her announcement to drop out as an intern, but I couldn’t escape how my mom watched me. Once George and Sabrina concluded their part of this conversation, I raised my brows at her. “Where’s Tiffany?”
George’s calm and slightly pleasant expression fell flat.
“He disowned her,” Mom said, smirking.
“She is no longer welcome here,” George explained. “Not in my house. Not in my classroom. Nowhere. I will not compromise with someone so cruel and manipulative.”
Mom cleared her throat. “She confessed to it all.” With a pained glance at Sabrina, she sighed. “How she wanted to remove you as competition, then started the lies about infidelity…”
“Neither of us has cheated,” George rushed to add. “Your mother and I are faithful, and after a long, hard talk?—”
“Several long, hard talks over the weekend,” my mom added.
“We are in a stronger place with hope for the future.” He proved it by lifting her hand and kissing her knuckles, a rare show of affection when he seldom showed any. “Moving on after grief isn’t a simple thing.”
“But we understand each other. We’re going to start couples’ counseling,” Mom said. “And I’m going to go back to therapy personally.”
I exhaled such a long, hard breath that my shoulders sagged. “Thank God.”
She smiled. “And no matter what, Nick, you have never been a coward in trying to support me.”
I blinked back the tears.
She had no clue how long I’d waited to hear something like that. Afraid I was a failure and too weak to step in as the man of the family she needed, aside from George, I welcomed the bliss of a burden off my shoulders.
“Oh, Mrs. Lorsen.” Sabrina released my hand and hurried to hug her. “I’m so glad you have help and hope.”
She hugged her back. “Just, Leslie, honey. And I’m so glad my son has you despite all the obstacles Tiffany put between you.”
We talked some more, all aware of how soon three of us would need to get to campus. Since we’d already eaten breakfast at Sabrina’s house, we declined anything more than coffee with them.
Before we all parted ways, though, George furrowed his brow and worried some more.
“Are you sure I can’t entice you to stay in the running for our internship? You’re the brightest mind we’ve got in the program.”
Sabrina shook her head. “I’m sure.”
“And are you sure ,” Mom asked me, “that you don’t want to stay here?”
“Nope.” I was excited to live with Sabrina and help John with the home repairs. “I’ll be moving in with Sabrina. I’ll go back and finish my engineering degree, and we’ll save up until we can get our own house.”
Sabrina leaned her head against my shoulder.
“But saving up for a house and a future would go quicker with the salary as a lawyer at my firm…” George said.
Leslie frowned at him. “She said no, George.”
“She’s the best student I’ve ever met,” he protested.
“No,” I said on Sabrina’s behalf as she stood, prompting me to get up as well. My girl would never tolerate being late to class.
“I want to go on a career path to help people, Professor Lorsen. Not appease criminals.”
I pulled her close and kissed her, loving how bright and good her heart was.
That was all she ever truly wanted to do. To help people.
As we left together, holding hands as we resumed chasing our dreams, I knew without a doubt that she’d helped me. She’d saved me.
And I would spend the rest of my life paying her back with all the love in my soul.