Chapter 114: Her real family
1125words
I haven't ever seen lynn this carefree or happy. She was all smiles and laughter as we sat around the table with her true family. They were telling stories about their childhood, but I could tell lynn didn't remember any of them. She seemed to just be happy that she was a part of these stories. From what I've been hearing, she came from a good, loving family and I was so happy for her. My girl was finally free.
"So, what exactly is Tuffin lynn asked.
Her brother Bobby was the one to answer her. "We make the technology that space shuttles and military planes use."
Damn, I wasn't expecting that at all. Even though lynn didn't grow up a Tuffin, I couldn't help but point out the huge difference between us. She came from money, and I came from the ghetto of Chicago. We couldn't be on a more opposite plane and that scared the hell out of me. Would she see the difference and leave? I refuse to believe that, though. Lynn loved me.
"Wow," lynn sighed. "I'm just glad to see that the family still has the company after everything."
Bobby snorted. "Gene tried like hell to take over but he wasn't able to." Lynn shifted in her seat and I knew it made her uncomfortable. She was finally meeting her real family after years apart knowing what Gene and Kathy had done. It couldn't be easy on her.
"We're so glad to have you back, lynn," Mama Bell cooed from her spot. "We have never given up on you and you're finally home."
Lynn looked over at me as I gave her a little wink.
"Well, I actually live in Florida now. I just moved there not long ago for a job."
"Oh? What do you do?" Careen asked before she took the final bite of her desert.
"I'm a still-photographer." She looked over at Luis and smiled. "Luis saved my life, actually."
He waved her off nonchalantly. "Please. You're the strong one, I just showed you what life could be like without that monster of a husband you had."
Lynn chuckled before she continued, "luis got me the job in Florida. He interviews and I take the photos." I could tell she was trying to give them a short and sweet answer. That was like her, though, always trying to be humble. Damn, I loved this woman.
"What about you, Drake? What do you do?"
Surprised that they were asking me, I blinked a few times and looked at lynn. Did I tell them the truth? Her expression gave nothing away. Fuck it.
"I'm in the adult film industry," I blurted out.
"I knew it!" Bobby gasped. "I thought you looked familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it."
Mama Bell looked confused by my revelation, Bobby grinned, and Careen's cheeks turned three shades redder. I was never ashamed of my line of work, but it was never an easy subject to bring up. I wish things would have been different for me and I never got into the industry, but I wouldn't be where I am today without it.
"This guy is a legend!" Bobby laughed as he reached over and grabbed his drink. "What's it like?"
This question made lynn shift in her seat next to me as I looked over at her. Her eyes were doe-eyed and I knew she was uncomfortable with the subject. She accepted my career choice, but I knew she didn't want to hear any details about it.
I laughed and turned my gaze back to Bobby. "It's like any other job."
Bobby snorted. "Bullshit, man. I can promise you that my job at Tuffin Aerospace is nothing like yours. I don't leave work with a smile on my face."
"Well, you'll be disappointed to know that I rarely leave work with a smile on my face. It really is just a job..." I looked over at lynn as my heart tightened in my chest. "It's a very lonely career."
The table went silent as I continued to stare into Molly's eyes. There was so much there she wasn't saying and I hated that we weren't alone right now. I'd love to hear what she had on her mind.
"He's getting out, though," lynn stated as she tore her gaze from mine and faced her family. "He's interested in starting his own studio behind the camera."
"Yeah?" Bobby asked, sounding completely intrigued as he leaned forward and really got into the conversation. "Do you have the funding you need? If not, I'd love to help in any way that I can. I know how hard it can be to start something from the bottom."
"Thanks, man, but I'm covered." And that was the truth. I had enough money to get started, but my financial fate was yet to be determined. If my studio and films didn't take off right away, I'd be crunching pennies for quite awhile, but it would be worth it in the end.
"You just let me know if you need anything," Bobby added.
The waitress approached the table with a warm smile. "Hey, folks, I know you're still visiting and I'm not trying to rush you out, but I just wanted to let you know that the restaurant has closed for the evening."
"Oh, you poor thing," Mama Bell sighed as she grabbed her small jeweled purse, "You probably want to go home. Here, honey, this should cover the bill and leave you with something extra." I watched her pull out what looked like five-hundred-dollars, and handed it to the waitress. Her eyes lit up before shock swam through them.
"Well," Bobby said as he stood up from the table and stretched.
Mama Bell looked over at lynn and I knew she didn't want to say goodbye yet. We were leaving for Florida early in the morning and I knew we wouldn't have time to meet with them again. I hated that lynn finally got her family back and she was leaving again. Then my mind went to thoughts of her leaving Florida to come back here and I immediately felt my anxiety tighten in my gut. Would she leave me to return to her family? I mean, I could always try to start my studio out here, but I knew the adult film industry wasn't huge out here like it was in Florida and California.
"Please don't be a stranger, lynn," Careen stated as she hugged Molly first. They hugged for several long seconds.
Molly looked up at me and I saw her eyes mist over. Yeah, she was about to cry and there was nothing I could do to make her feel better.
