CHAPTER 14
ROMAN
I’m not sure what I'm most concerned about. The fact Carter drew his name on my dick or the fact I'm not even shocked that he did it. I stare in stunned silence at the picture on his phone, then the beaming smile on his face. He's very clearly pleased with himself and any annoyance I felt initially at being woken up with a marker all over my junk evaporates. His energy is infectious. It’s like being mad at a puppy for chewing up your shoes. It’s just what puppies do. Carter is just being his natural himbo self.
“Um, it's beautiful, Tatts. Just don’t expect me to actually get that. You are welcome to touch up any of the others if they are annoying you that much.” I offer and reach down to pull him back to the top end of the bed for a quick kiss before I slide out of bed to shower the marker and the puddle of precum off my body before it dries. If only he had decided to draw on some other part of my body, we could have had some fun before he heads to the shop and I meet with my parole officer.
I had time to think while working out yesterday and I think maybe I should look into some kind of therapy. I’m hoping Sienna can help with that. Maybe there is a program for ex-cons wanting to work on their mental health.
I should have known Carter would follow me into the shower. It should be strange that we seem to have fallen into this domestic routine almost instantly. I don’t hate it, so I’m just going to roll with it. Why question a good thing. Especially when a good thing leads to morning orgasms and shared breakfasts.
“Good morning, Roman. You look like you have been sleeping much better since the last time I saw you.” Sienna gets straight to the point. I haven't even got my ass in the chair and she's skipping past small talk apparently. Shaking her outstretched hand, I nod.
“Yeah, I moved into a new place and have had more time with my brother. I still have my moments but they aren't as frequent or as debilitating. That’s actually what I want to discuss with you today. I was wondering if there are any therapy options available for ex-cons?”
She scribbles something onto the notepad in front of her. “I can absolutely organize that for you. There will likely be a waiting list but I can get the ball rolling. Looking after your mental health is important in keeping on the right side of the law. There is something I want to tell you first though.” Shifting on my seat I wait for her to carry on. Thankfully, she has a smile on her face that makes me think it’s good news.
“I received a call from Derek Johnston, the manager over at the youth center in town. He mentioned you applied for a volunteer position.” I nod and sit up straighter. I had little hope that I would be allowed to volunteer there with my record, but if Sienna is smiling then surely this is good news.
“Unfortunately, you cannot volunteer for the first year after release. I’m sure you understand that they want to make sure you are on the right track before you mentor any young minds. Derek has worked with many volunteers over the years and has a strong gut instinct about you.” My whole body deflates. I really feel a connection to that place and I want to help those kids. I guess I will just have to reapply in a year's time. I should probably be spending all my time on finding a job anyway.
“Okay, I understand, I will apply again next year,” I say solemnly. She is still smiling though and I'm starting to wonder if I read her all wrong. Why is she smiling when she knows how much I wanted that? I’m about ready to get up and leave, maybe demand a new parole officer, when she holds up her hand to halt my thoughts like she could hear them.
“Mr. Johnston would like to offer you a janitor position at the center. It’s not great pay, the hours kind of suck and it's on a probationary period. If after three months there are no issues then the position will be yours permanently. It’s not perfect, but it's a job. Personally I think you should take it, but it is up to you of course.” She pushes what looks like a contract across the table for me to read. For the second time this morning I'm stunned silent. I can’t volunteer but I can work for the center during the hours when the teens aren’t around. It's early mornings and late nights for pretty shitty money but I'm over the moon.
“Yes, where do I sign and when do I start?” I ask, sitting forward to grab a pen, showing my excitement over this development. Her smile widens and now it all makes sense. I was right, she's a good egg.
“You start first thing tomorrow morning if you are willing. Derek said you could swing by the center today to complete the paperwork and get a more detailed description of your duties.” I’m honestly fighting the urge to stand up and try doing that floss dance Carter does far too often.
“Can you call him and tell him I'm on my way?” I ask and she chuckles and nods.
“I’m happy for you, Roman. I have no doubt you will do a great job.”
Derek is waiting for me when I arrive at the center. His hand is outstretched to shake mine but I completely bypass it and pull him into a hug, drawing a chuckle from him.
“I don’t know how I can repay you for giving me a chance, man. Thank you so much, I won’t let you down,” I promise him with my hand to my chest. I can’t express how much this means to me. He probably thinks he’s just doing a good deed for a guy down on his luck, but it's so much more than that. This shitty job is my chance to redeem myself in a place I feel safe, without judgment, and that is all I can ask for.
“I have no doubt about that, Roman. Come on, let me show you around again and get you familiar with the role before we complete the necessary paperwork. You can always change your mind if after seeing the job you don’t think it's for you, I won’t even hold it against you.” He winks and I laugh.
“There is absolutely zero chance of that happening, so let's get this tour on the road. I'm excited to see all of the toilets I have to keep clean.”
So it turns out there are a lot of toilets that need to be kept clean. As well as a kitchen and food hall, library and study hall and two small offices used by Derek and James, the center's finance guy who is in charge of the budget and fundraising. Apparently he's out at a meeting right now and I'll get to meet him later. With it being lunchtime the only people hanging around the center are a few teens studying and a few others eating sandwiches while watching YouTube videos.
I’m not allowed to engage with the teens, but I do offer them a quick wave and a cheery hello because I’m a big guy with a lot of tattoos and if they happen to see me around the place, I don’t want them to be intimidated by me. We finish up the tour and sit down with coffee and sandwiches, which I learn are given out to the kids and the teens at the shelter for free. Derek explains that some of them don’t have homes or parents or any reliable way to get food.
It’s very sobering and really puts things into perspective. I may have some issues to work through but at least I have a roof over my head and family and friends who would never see me go hungry. Hearing just these small snippets of what some of the kids here go through has me even more determined to do good work here.
The contract states that I am to be here at six a.m. three days a week to complete my janitor duties by nine a.m. opening. I ask Derek if I can come by a few extra days to fix up some things around the place that might save them money on repairs. I did a woodworking class in prison and was pretty good at it. I also did an electrical and plumbing course. With so much time to kill in prison, I wanted to sign up for everything they would let me. Fifteen years is a long time, at least now I can put those skills to use here and at Carter's place. He hasn’t mentioned the repairs again but I don’t want to keep feeling like a freeloader.
Along with the three mornings a week, I am expected to be here Friday and Saturday evenings every other weekend from nine to eleven p.m to clear up after the event nights they hold for the teens. These might seem like shitty hours to most but this gives me the whole day to work on Carter's place while he's at work and then most evenings to hang out with him and Ryan.
I happily complete all of the paperwork while chatting with Derek. He asks about Ryan and my mom. It touches my heart that he remembered me talking about them. My pen hovers over the emergency contact information and I hesitate. Should I put Carter? Is that too much too soon? The door to the food hall opening has my head lifting from my dilemma, I see a guy in a suit with an exasperated look on his face walking toward us.
“James, I take it that things didn't go to plan at the council meeting?” Derek asks and I turn to offer a smile to the guy. I'm going to be working with him after all but I don’t want them to think I'm eavesdropping so I go back to my paperwork. Tapping my pen over the line for the name of my emergency contact I’m hoping the right information is going to just appear all by itself.
“Those old timers haven't got a clue. They can't see past their own nose for long enough to see what really matters. It’s beyond frustrating that they would vote to put more of the town's funding into pointless sculptures of the town's founder than helping kids who have nothing and no one.” This guy is really pissed. I don’t dare look up at him in case I somehow manage to piss him off even more. I do admire his passion for the center though.
Before Derek has a chance to respond a shrill ringing pierces the tension.“James Chesterfield speaking.” I’ve always wondered why people answer their phone with their name, who else would answer his phone that he needs to announce himself… Wait, James Chesterfield? Why do I know that name? Something is niggling at the back of my brain. I know that name, but from where?
Abandoning my paperwork I turn in my seat to fully take in the man now pacing as he talks about grants and applications. There is something familiar about him for sure but I just can’t place him. Not wanting this to be another occasion like the one at the bar, I quickly drop the notion. Even if I did know this James guy back then I certainly don’t want to point that out and give him a chance to change Derek's opinion of me. So I just smile sympathetically and hope that he doesn’t pay too much attention to me right now.