Seeking Safety (21 page)

He begins, his voice quavering with emotion,
"When I was a kid growing up in Louisiana my best friend and the
love of my life was a girl named Jasmine Leblanc. As we grew older
we fell deeply in love and planned to marry as soon as she turned
sixteen, the legal age of consent in Louisiana. My senior year in
high school, when she was fifteen, I took Jasmine to my senior prom
and afterwards we went to a little motel in the next parish where
she gave me her virginity. I was floating on air, the happiest guy
in Louisiana and so in love I couldn't see straight. I couldn't
wait until she turned sixteen in a couple of months and we could
get married."

Barry notices that Pinky's hands are shaking
and his eyes are filled with tears. Barry is amazed. He has never
seen any emotion from Pinky.

Taking another deep breath and wiping
moisture from his eyes, he continues, "Then the very next day, her
little brother came running up to the Dairy Queen where I was
working, screaming and crying." His voice cracks as he says the
next few words, "He told me that Jasmine had been eaten by an
alligator in the swamp. I couldn't believe it."

He pauses again, shaking his head and taking
several deep breaths, then continues,"I made him take me out to the
swamp so I could see for myself. When I saw her beautiful auburn
hair hanging out of that gator's mouth, the pain was so great I
thought I was going to die right on the banks of that swamp. I
wanted to die. I begged God to take me right then."

Openly crying now, he takes a few more deep
breaths and continues, "I got my shotgun out of my truck and killed
that gator. I shot him right between his eyes and blew his brains
out. The next day, I enlisted in the Marines. I figured I could
easily step in front of a bullet and end the pain. Then I met you
guys, and you gave me a reason to go on."

He looks up at Barry with tears streaming
down his face and says, "I guess what I am trying to say is keep
fighting Barry. As long as she is alive, you always have hope."

Barry looks at his friend and his heart
bleeds at the pain he sees in Pinky's eyes. He nods and says,
"Thanks man. Your secret is safe with me."

After Pinky leaves Barry thinks about what he
said for a long time. Then he remembers what Mark Brentwood had
said to him about not giving up on Melanie. Yeah, Pinky's right.
After this charity auction thing is over, he will go to Seattle and
find Melanie. He'll fight for her!

******

Late one night a week later, Mark Brentwood
joins the conference call with Bob and Virginia Kenner, Scoot and
the other members of the Drake Security team, Jacob and Jason
Murray, and Barry's agent.

"Well?" Mark asks.

"He agreed. It took some begging on my part
but he said he would participate in the auction," the agent informs
the group.

Scoot says, "He is working out trying to get
his body back in shape. He asked us to help him and we are putting
him through the paces. We'll make sure he is ready."

"How are things going on your end Mark?" asks
the agent.

"I think the counseling sessions are working.
Melanie is wearing makeup every day now and she has begun to put on
weight again. Her self-confidence is coming back," replies
Mark.

"You do know this whole thing might blow up
in our faces if she doesn't agree to purchase him at the auction,"
warns Jacob.

Mark says, "I've got that covered. If I can't
get Melanie to the auction or if she refuses to bid on him,
Patricia will purchase him and bring him home to dinner. We'll make
sure they sit face to face. Unfortunately, that may be all we can
do. The rest will be up to them."

Virginia Kenner says, "I'm not really sure
what has happened in the past few days, but Barry's attitude seems
to be improving. He seems to have regained his fighting spirit. He
is smiling some again and venturing out of the study. Bud says he
is talking to him more too. I can't tell you how relieved I
am."

Scoot looks at Pinky and they smile. Good, it
has to be because of the talk Pinky had with him. Scoot wonders
what Pinky said to cause the change in Barry's attitude. Maybe
someday, he'll share his story with the rest of the guys too.

Barry's agent says, "I have made arrangements
with one of the big tabloids to publish some file photos of Barry
with a local celebrity and a totally bogus story about their
dating. She is agreeable to the publicity. Also, the cancer society
has agreed to only advertise him as a celebrity bachelor, not give
his name until he walks out on the stage. I made it a requirement
for his participation."

"Good touch," says Scoot. "As far as Barry's
concerned, we'll make certain he's at the auction even if we have
to hogtie him."

"Good, we'll get together again same time
next week," says Mark.

A week after the conference call, Eric and
his grandfather are at one of the large supermarkets near their
home in Seattle and as expected, Eric spots the picture of Barry on
the cover of the tabloid with the beautiful young actress.

"Oh no, look Papa! Barry's got a new
girlfriend!" cries Eric extremely disappointed. He looks so
distressed that Mark almost tells him the truth. Deciding to stick
to his original plan, instead he encourages,

"Grab that magazine Eric! We need to make
sure your Mom reads that story. A little jealousy sometimes can
work miracles!"

Eric is skeptical. The actress in the picture
with Barry is very pretty. What if his Mom still doesn't think
anyone can care for her? What if the magazine makes her give up
completely and she never gets back with Barry? But, with his Papa's
encouragement, hope springs to life inside Eric.

When he walks into their Seattle home Eric
cries, "Mom, look! Barry has a girlfriend! He's on the cover of
this magazine." He holds the magazine out toward me.

My stomach drops into my toes at Eric's
words. Well, Melanie, what did you expect? That a virile man like
Barry Farrady would stay celibate for the rest of his life? I knew
he wouldn't wait forever. I have been making progress in my
counseling sessions. My doctor has made me understand how Darren
manipulated my mind with his words and I no longer think of myself
as plain. I know I'm beautiful just like Barry told me and I
realize I am worthy of his love. Now, it may be too late.

I take the magazine from Eric's hand and sit
down in a chair to read the article. When I finish I look up at my
father, tears in my eyes, "Oh Daddy, I really messed up, didn't
I?"

Mark Brentwood looks into Melanie's sad eyes
and says, "Oh, I don't know Melanie. If you love Barry, maybe you
should fight for him. He hasn't married the woman yet. The way I
see it you have as good a chance as she does of capturing his
heart."

I think about my Dad's words. Yes, I do have
as good a chance as that actress does, maybe ever better. After
all, Barry did tell me he loved me once. Maybe I can make him love
me again. I will fight for him. I'll talk to my doctor about it at
my appointment this week.

******

A few days later Mark comes in from the
office one evening and says, "Everyone, we are going on a little
trip to Los Angeles! The National Cancer Society is having a
charity event that I want to attend and you are all going with me.
We need the break so pack your bags, we leave on Friday."

In spite of feeling scared to death about
going to a High Society Charity Event in Los Angeles, I am excited.
It will give me an opportunity to test my new self confidence. My
hair has finally grown off the sable brown color and is back to my
natural blonde and I have it styled in a short, cute pixie cut. Mom
and I went shopping and we both have designer gowns to wear to the
event. Mom even carried me to one of the big department stores
where I learned the latest techniques of how to properly apply my
makeup. Mark and Eric are both wearing tuxedoes.

On the night of the auction when I walk out
of the hotel bathroom in my beautiful, full length red silk dress
and strappy high heel sandals my father gives me a wolf whistle,
"Wow, Melanie, you look fantastic!"

Blushing, I reply, "Oh Daddy, I would expect
you to say something like that."

Eric says, "No Mom. You really look pretty!
You are even prettier than that girl in the picture with
Barry!"

I hug him close, "Why, thank you Eric. You
look pretty spiffy yourself, young man."

So when we walk into the ballroom where the
charity auction is being held, I feel very confident in my
appearance. I notice several handsome men turn to look at me with
interest as I pass. A warm blush slides up my neck and I smile to
myself.

The Brentwoods find their reserved table at
the very front of the room right below the stage. That is when my
father tells me the event is a bachelor auction.

My heart pounding, I grab the program and
scan the names of all the bachelors making sure Barry isn't one of
them. I am not sure I could stand seeing him auctioned off to some
other woman. When I don't see his name, relief flows through
me.

As the evening progresses I find myself
having fun watching the bidding. Whenever a bachelor is sold, the
winning bidder gets to go onto the stage and escort them back to
their table.

Barry is at the auction, he is standing in
the shadows at the back of the room with his four buddies from
Drake Security watching the proceedings. He would even be enjoying
himself if he didn't know he had to get up on the stage in a few
minutes. He really dreads having to spend time with some woman who
is not Melanie. Even if it's just dinner, he is dreading every
minute.

Barry's agent grabs his arm, "Come on, we
need to get you out of sight!" He pulls him back stage and is
flitting around him like a mother hen. Frank is very relieved and
pleased with Barry's appearance. He really does look much better
than that day at the ranch. The dark circles under his eyes are
gone and his muscles are back in shape. He has gained some weight
and no longer looks sickly. He hopes the rest of tonight goes as
planned.

Barry's stomach is full of butterflies, which
is stupid. He has been through so many things like this. It must
just be the dread. He'll be glad when this whole thing is over and
done. Then he is going to Seattle to find Melanie. He is going to
win her heart if it is the last thing he ever does.

When the time comes and the announcer calls
his name, he takes a deep breath, plasters his trademark smile on
his face, and walks to the front of the stage to a thundering
applause with catcalls and whistles. Nothing like feeling like a
piece of meat he thinks disgustedly.

The lights are so bright that Barry can't see
anyone in the audience so he smiles and struts back and forth the
length of the stage. He removes his jacket and shows off the
muscles he has been working so hard to redevelop over the past few
weeks. Scoot and his buddies have been helping him by putting him
through workouts similar to boot camp and he is proud of what he
has accomplished in such a short time.

One of the women in the audience yells, "Show
us your six pack!" The audience starts chanting, "Six pack, six
pack, six pack," Barry slowly unbuttons his shirt and parts the
sides revealing his rock hard abs. The audience goes wild!

Barry thinks to himself I didn't realize I
was going to have to strip for these people. He hopes they don't
ask for anything else! Then the auctioneer starts the bidding and
Barry buttons his shirt and replaces his tuxedo jacket. Still
smiling he is waiting to see what happens.

******

When the auctioneer calls Barry's name I
think I am going to faint, I start to stand but my father pulls me
back down in my chair and hands me a bidding sign. "Bid on him," he
encourages. "Bid as high as it takes to win him," he adds.

I nod at him. The time has come for me to
fight for Barry.

Patricia whispers in Eric's ear, "Be very
quiet and watch. Your Mom is going to bid on Barry and he doesn't
know she's here!"

Eric's eyes are as big as saucers with
excitement. Are his Mom and Barry going to get back together? Wow!
Won't that be great! His heart is pounding with anticipation.

So when the announcer calls for bids Melanie
joins the fray. When the bidding gets up to six figures she looks
at her Dad and he encourages her to keep bidding, so she does. When
Melanie's bid reaches one million dollars a collective sigh rumbles
through the audience. The announcer says, "Sold to the beautiful
young lady up here in the front in the red dress!"

Barry is absolutely shocked! Some woman in
the audience wants to have dinner with him so badly that they are
willing to pay a million dollars! He just can't believe it! He is
extremely curious to see the woman. The auctioneer said she's
beautiful but he was probably just making talk. He looks toward the
steps leading up to the stage, waiting. His heart is pounding with
anticipation.

My Dad grabs my arm and escorts me to the
stairs. He is so excited. He prays that his idea to get them back
together works. He is about to find out!

I am so nervous I am shaking from head to
toe. I hug my father's neck, "Thank you Daddy." My old self doubts
begin to push their way into my mind. What if Barry is
disappointed? What if he really cares about the woman he was
pictured with in that tabloid? I shake my head. No! I am going to
fight for Barry. I am going to win his heart!

With tears in my eyes and determination in my
heart, I step onto the stage and watch for his reaction as Barry
sees me for the first time.

Barry is waiting patiently for the winning
bidder to step onto the stage. His heart is pounding with
anticipation and those butterflies in his stomach are flitting
around and around. When he sees her, his eyes widen, and a huge
grin spreads across his face. Joy engulfs him in waves. It's
Melanie! Melanie bid one million dollars to have dinner with
him!