A Million Little Pieces - James Frey [185]
I look at the card, look up at Leonard.
There are five different last names on here, Leonard.
He smiles.
I use different names in different places. The numbers correspond to the names. The Vegas number is the best, but they can me find at any of them.
I put the card in my pocket.
Thank you, Leonard.
He nods.
I also heard Lilly was having some financial issues. I don’t want you to worry about them anymore. She is going to stay here and she is going to be fine.
I smile.
What?
He smiles.
Love is a beautiful thing, Kid.
You shouldn’t have done that, Leonard. You—
Say thank you, Kid.
I smile.
Thank you, Leonard. Thank you so much.
He nods again.
One last thing.
What?
Before I say this, I want to say that I mean no disrespect to you or your Family or your Father, so if you feel or you think he’ll be uncomfortable with what I’m going to tell you, let me know.
Okay.
He takes a deep breath holds it for a moment, exhales. He looks as nervous as I’ve ever seen him.
I have always wanted to be married. I have always wanted to have Children. More specifically, I have always wanted to have a Son. I have been thinking about this for a while now, basically since the first day I met you, and I have decided that from now on, I would like you to be my Son. I will watch out for you as I would if you were my real Son, and I will offer you advice and help guide you through your life. When you are with me, and I plan on seeing you after we both leave here, you will be introduced as my Son and you will be treated as such. In return, I ask that you keep me involved in what you are doing and allow me to take part in it. Outside of here, I see our relationship functioning, to a certain extent, just like it did in here. We are friends, we trust each other, we help each other make it through shitty times, we enjoy the good times together. If there are ever issues with your real Father, I will insist you defer to and respect him before me and over me.
Is this a joke, Leonard?
He shakes his head.
No, not even close.
You want me to be your Son?
He nods.
Yes.
You sure about that, Leonard? I’m kind of fucked up.
I know what your problems are, Kid. Believe me. But if I had a Son, I would want him to be like you.
I smile.
Sounds cool to me.
You sure about that, Kid?
Yeah.
I’m kind of fucked up.
I laugh.
Doesn’t bother me.
He laughs.
Good.
He stands.
Now pick up one these goddamn bags and walk me out of here. This isn’t gonna be all fun and fucking games.
I laugh and I stand and I pick up the suitcase. Leonard grabs his garment bag and he puts it over his shoulder and we walk out of the Room.
We walk through the Halls. He asks me to say good-bye to everyone for him tells me he didn’t want to do it himself. He doesn’t like good-byes and he has said too many of them in his life. He asks me to give Miles and Matty and Ted the number on the card that corresponds to his real name and I tell him I will and he asks me not to show to the card to anyone else. I tell I him I will keep it safe and I will keep it private.
We walk through the Lobby of the Clinic and past the Receptionist and through the front door. There is a large, white, brand-new Mercedes-Benz sitting at the curb. The Driver’s door opens and a tall, thick man in a black silk suit steps out. The man has a long, deep scar along one of his cheeks and he looks like a bear. A mean bear. A bear who would eat a person alive if given the chance. Leonard smiles.
Snapper.
The man speaks.
Hey, Boss.
They hug and they separate. Leonard speaks.
Thanks for coming.
Of course.
This the new Car?
Yeah, you like it?
I do. It’s white and it’s new. Just what I wanted.
Good.
Leonard turns to me, motions me forward.
James.
I step toward him.
This is the Snapper. He’s one of my closest friends and an Associate of mine. They don’t call him the Snapper ’cause he likes fish, so be careful. Snapper, this is my Son, James.
We shake hands. The Snapper looks at Leonard.
This the one you told me about?
Leonard nods.
Yeah, and