Page 13 of Don't Regret Me
And yet, standing here in front of the man he almost killed… he wanted to run. But he didn’t.
Bentley Drake wasn’t what he’d expected. He was younger, for one thing, and held no ill will in his eyes. A smile widened on his lips.
“Nick Jacobs.” He walked forward through the chapel’s small lobby, a limp in his steps. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you.” He stuck out his hand. “My wife was a big fan.”
He saidwas, and Nick didn’t know if that meant she was no longer a fan or no longer his wife. Either way, the statement made him uncomfortable. After a beat, he gripped the man’s hand. “Always happy to meet a fan. Is she here too?”
His smile fell a fraction. “Oh, no, Jessica died about three years ago. But I’m sure she’s looking down on me just as jealous as can be.” He clapped a hand on Nick’s shoulder. “I’ve got to say, I’m surprised you answered my letter, let alone took me up on the offer.”
He didn’t want to say he hadn’t been sure where else to go when court-ordered rehab ended, that something drew him to Gulf City and he wasn’t quite sure what. “You took the time to write. I figured the least I could do after everything was see what this was all about.”
“Well, we’re glad you’re here. The center is actually attached to our church here, so let’s head on back and I can introduce you to the kids. You’re going to love them.” There was a passion in the man Nick couldn’t remember ever experiencing for anything in his life, and it made him want to follow him, to see what could bring out such a thing.
They navigated through the chapel to where a newer-looking wing opened out from the lobby. Noise came from that direction, lots of voices arguing.
“The kids are having dinner right now,” Bentley said. “They go to school during the day, but we make sure they get help with their homework, a good meal, and some other things I’m sure you’ll see. Our goal is to give these kids a place to go rather than empty houses or places they can get into trouble. We bus them in after school from neighboring towns as well.”
He stopped in a doorway, and Nick stepped up beside him to find a room crowded with children of various ages. They sat around tables, forks clattering against plates filled with hot dogs, beans, and an array of vegetables. His eyes immediately found the arguing he’d heard. Three boys stood in the corner of the room, shoving each other and shouting.
An older man rushed toward them, pulling one away from the other two.
“Not again.” Bentley sighed as he went over to help. He yanked one of the others away, and all three fell silent at his presence. “How many times have we been over this?” He looked into each of their faces. “If you have a problem, come to me. There is no fighting here. You’re all better than that. Go sit in my office. I’ll be there in a minute.”
Without another word, the three of them scattered.
The older man chuckled. “You’ll get through to them one day, son.”
Bentley shook his head. “Jimmy, let me introduce you to Nick Jacobs. Nick, this is Jimmy, one of our volunteers. He’ll show you the ropes while I go handle this mess.” With that, he hurried away, leaving Nick staring after him.
“Come on.” Jimmy jerked his head toward the kitchen. “You can help me in there.”
They walked into a kitchen of chaos. Dirty pans littered every available surface. “And just what am I helping with?”
“Cleanup.” Jimmy grinned. “Welcome to the center.”
Nick couldn’t remember the last time he’d done dishes, or really cleaned much of anything, so he followed Jimmy’s lead, pulling on a pair of rubber gloves.
They worked side by side in silence, and Nick was starting to wonder if the man wanted him here.
Finally, Jimmy spoke. “That one isn’t clean enough.” He pointed to the pan Nick held under the water. “Try this.” He threw a strange sandpaper net at him. “It’s made from peach pits. It’ll get anything off.”
He was right. It did. “Thanks.”
Jimmy nodded. “I know who you are.” He paused. “And why you’re here.”
“Care to share? Because I don’t.”
He went quiet for a moment, his hands never ceasing their work. “I believe in second chances, young man. I hope you realize that’s what this is.” He set a pan on the towel to dry. “Come on, let’s introduce you to some of the kids.”
The next two hours were spent meeting more kids than he’d ever met in his life before. The only ones he’d ever been around were in his movies, and it wasn’t like he socialized with them off set.
Bentley returned and coordinated games for various age groups before it was time for their parents to pick them up.
As the hoard of kids and teenagers thinned, Nick followed the other volunteers’ lead in picking up. He stayed mostly quiet, wondering if all of this had been a giant mistake. These were good, genuine people. He didn’t belong with the likes of them, not when he only messed everything up.
Watching the kids reminded him of what he’d almost had, what he hadn’t realized he wanted so badly until he lost it. A child. Someone to love with no strings attached. Family.
He was still lost in these thoughts when Jimmy stopped in front of him. “Got big plans tonight, Nick?”
