The Friend I Needed

Six.

“Monday! My favorite day of all,” Jack entered the building along with Oddie who smiled carelessly, Maya stared from the reception desk with a confused face. “Well hello there, dear Maya.”

“What’s up with you today? I’ve never seen such happiness in you on a Monday,” she asked looking at Oddie searching for an answer, but the young woman just shrugged, she had no idea of why he was so excited either.

“It’s because we,” he pointed at the three of them, “are going to plan a great house birthday party for Gabe, it’ll be the greatest party in the world.”

“You realize he’s turning 9 and not 19, right?” Oddie said crossing her arms under her chest causing Maya to laugh out loud.

“Dear Lord, you’re way too excited about this and Oddie has a point,” Maya told him softly smiling at the younger man. “He’s still a child and knowing him, he’s not looking forward to a big shiny party. I bet he just wants his friends and family to be there with him sharing a delicious cake.”

“Maya’s right, you know how Gabriel can be.” The now gloomy look on Jack made Oddie’s heart melt, he was trying so hard to make a great party but he was trying unnecessarily hard.

“Tell you what, today you and I have to work on a project together so, why don’t we work in my office and in the free times we get to have, we plan the party? After all, I will need my friend’s help,” Jack’s face lit up again but before he could say something she spoke once more. “I have my restrictions of course, clear?”

“Crystal, ma’am.” He mocked saluted her, Maya and Oddie just stared at each with a smile, it was indeed going to be a great party for everyone.

…

“So, Nick will bake the cake and his two workers Nora and Tommy will prepare the candy bags for the kids and also the drinks, non-alcoholic of course; Oddie along with Maya will cook the food for everyone, which will be something fast and easy to prepare, but filling enough to not let anyone hungry.”

Jack started listing, Maya and himself were currently in Oddie’s office sitting in the sofas around the center table drinking tea and eating lunch, they were on their break and took the time to plan the birthday party.

 “Sally and Jack will get the decorations around the inside of my house and yard, my dad and Mr. Roy will get the tables and seats arranged along with the lighting and the patio heaters as the afternoons are getting chillier every day.” Oddie typed in her laptop fast while eating some of the lunch-buffet they had created putting together everyone’s lunch. “Am I forgetting something?”

“We have the cake, which is the most important thing, also the candy bags and food,” Maya repeated looking through her glasses at the notes they all had. “The patio arrangement is ready as well, I guess the only thing left are the invitations.”

“Don’t worry about it, we already did that two weeks ago. Gabriel already invited some of his classmates and some cousins; so we’re done with that.” She sighed taking off her glasses rubbing the bridge of her nose.

“Oddie, what time does the brat get out of school?” Jack checked the clock on the wall with a frown.

“2:15 in the afternoon.”

“It’s 2:00pm already, babe.” Her eyes went wide and cursed under her breath standing up and putting away all the stuff.

“I still have to get back here to finish some work, he’ll kill me if he sees all this mess. I need to clean up.”

“Don’t worry dear, we’ll do it.” Maya offered getting a thankful smile from Oddie. “You grab your bag and go pick up your boy.”

“I love you guys so much,” she grabbed her bag and ran to the door.

“We know,” they smiled at her as she fled the place.

On her way down the stairs she saw some of the guards of the building who grinned at her opening the doors, she smiled back running as fast as she could on her high heels.

“Late again, Ms. Beaulieu?” A blonde guard asked amused.

“Aren’t I always?” She said while flying out the door.

“Take off your shoes, woman! You’ll trip again!” The shorter one exclaimed as she took off said shoes while still running like crazy.

“Thank you!”

“No problem!”

…

“I don’t get how you always come running, it’s not like I’m going to abandon Gabriel here, you know?” Sally smirked at her friend whose cheeks were red from running, she used Sally’s shoulder to put on her shoes again. “Also, I don’t understand why your feet are not hurt if you’re always running shoeless.”

“Sorry, I got caught up with something important in the office.”

“More important than coming for your kid? That’s rough.” Sally mocked with a grin on her perfectly red tinted lips, getting a glare in reply.

“You know better than that and for your information, because you do really need to know, I was with Jack and Maya talking about G’s birthday party this Friday. I barely have time to think right.”

“What’s my part?” She asked immediately looking more serious about the matter, it did really concern her too.

“We’ll talk about it at dinner, my house at 7:00pm?” Oddie smiled looking slightly at the inside of the building where Gabriel was helping Elliot tie his shoe laces, her heart melted for a sec as it was like looking at her nephew being protective of his little brother.

She was shocked for a moment, she had never really saw Elliot as hers to worry and it was weird that she suddenly had thought of it, but for some reason it felt right to think of them as siblings.

“Sure, should I bring something, Odd?” Sally brought her out of her own little messy world. “You alright there? You kind of went away for a moment.”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” She smiled at her friend, Oddie was a sight to see at the moment; totally well dressed, her hair and makeup gorgeous like usual, even her glasses looked adorably sexy, but there was something about her other than her body that caught many parents and guardians around off guard: she was barefooted. “Dessert? I think that’d be it.”

“Cool,” before she could say anything else, Gabriel came out with Elliot tagging along holding Gabe’s backpack like a baby elephant grabbing his mother’s tail. “Hey kids, ready to go home?”

“Yes,” they said at the same time.

“Marvelous. Oh, Elliot, I think they have arrived for you”. Sally smiled at him caressing his head lightly, he looked at the old car parked on the front and frowned at the lady who came out. “I’ll see you tomorrow, darling.”

“Thank you, Miss Sally.” He suddenly looked down, all the sweet smiles he had shared with Gabriel had gone away in a sec, he looked at his friend with a small side smile. “Bye, Gabriel.”

“See you tomorrow, we’ll share lunch.” The big one offered making Elliot a little bit happier.

“Goodbye, Mrs. Beaulieu.”

“Bye, sweetie.” She smiled at him and he blushed, his freckled face looking adorable as he took a hold of his backpack and walked slowly to the terribly bad looking woman beside the car, she looked like she needed to go see a doctor.

“Who’s that?” Oddie asked Sally, both looking at the short kid walking away.

“The so-called mother of his,” the blonde sighed absolutely annoyed and angered, heaving Oddie rise her eyebrow in confusion. “She rarely comes over to pick him up, only does it when she’s sober enough to remember he’s here.”

“I’m sorry?” She looked at her friend in disbelief. “What kind of parents he has?”

“Sadly, the worst kind.” Both women watched the car drive away, even when Elliot and his mother were long gone, they kept staring at the road. “We’ll talk about that as well over dinner, deal?”

“I better open a bottle,” Oddie sighed grabbing Gabe’s hand in hers.

“Are we going now, Oddie?” He looked up at her with his big bright eyes slightly hidden under his dark gray cap. He was feeling quite hungry and his tummy’s grumbling was making it obvious.

“Sure, Jack and Maya are waiting for us at the office.” Oddie looked at Sally smiling. “See you tonight, Blondie.”

“Obviously.”

…

“Luca! We’re home!”

Gabriel shouted as he entered the house, putting his jacket on the closet and running towards the staircase with a huge dog beside him wagging his tail in excitement.

“Hey boy, missed me?” The bark was an obvious answer.

“Oh, you guys’ back.” A voice from the kitchen door called, Oddie smiled warmly at her dad walking to him to get a hug. “Welcome home.”

“Hey, daddy.” She buried her face on his shoulders, she always needed a hug from her old man. “I saw your truck outside, are you staying the night again?”

“Well, I wanted to spend the week with my family as one night was not enough.” He kissed her forehead letting go from her to hug his grandson. “Come here, kid.”

“Papa!” He jumped on Liam’s arms hugging tight.

“Always good to see you, pumpkin.”

“Hey, sweetheart.” Roy’s rough voice caught her by surprise, but she hugged him happily nonetheless. “Hope you don’t mind me staying for dinner.”

“You’re always welcome, Roy. You already know this is your home too.” She kissed his cheek standing on her tiptoes, when she pulled away Gabriel jumped on his arms with a wide grin.

“Uncle Roy!”

“If it isn’t the little rascal.” Oddie looked at her family with a tired smile, it didn’t matter how hard her life could be, there was never a moment where she’d be alone.

“I’ll go change, be right back.” She smiled at Liam petting Luca’s head before walking slowly up the stairs to her room, she was holding her shoes on one hand and purse in the other. When she reached her door, she opened only to close it when she entered and let herself fall on the soft bed sighing.

“I need a break,” she mumbled on her pillow closing her eyes for a moment, before she even registered what had happened she fell asleep.

“She’s taking too long to come down.”

Liam commented while starting to cook dinner as he wanted to help her out, Roy was helping him too so Oddie was going to have a full table and also a full house considering Sally was coming to dinner too.

“Kiddo, can you go see if she’s ok?” Gabriel looked up from the kitchen island where he was doing some homework.

“Sure, papa.” He got up and went up the stairs with Luca behind him.

“Do you think she’s got a lot of work? I hope she’s doing fine; it’s been weeks since I last seen her at the gym.” Roy says while chopping some veggies, Liam just sighs closing his eyes.

“I don’t know, she’s been going with Henry the scheduled days and everything is going fine, at least that’s what she tells me.” He stirs the soup on the pot over the fire, the delicious smell filling the entire kitchen. “You know? I feel like she’s pushing herself over the top for Oliver.”

“Oliver? What are you talking about?”

“She always wanted to do a lot of impressive things to make him happy, she always loved to see him smile and vice versa, I remember their childhood days very well; both were never away from each other, Oddie was as reckless and careless than ever and Oliver was always there to guide her the right way, he was always there for her when she thought she was failing and made her see that she was good.” He smiled at the memory flashing through his eyes.

“He’s a good kid, always looking at the positive side of everything.” Roy smiled at his friend, he knew both brothers since kids and he found their relationship and oddness amusing.

“Indeed,” Liam chuckled happily. “He knew how to tame that woman since young, I remember how he got frustrated whenever she got hurt by her clumsiness.”

“It’s not like her clumsy self is gone.”

“Oh, I know that very well.” His smile became softer adding to the soup the veggies Roy was chopping. “It turned into a real issue after their mother died, Oddie couldn’t think straight and I was afraid she might lose her way. She became so rebellious and intolerant, but Oliver knew exactly what to do and brought her back to her sweet lovely self.”

“You did a lot too, I remember you were always there to hold her crying frame tight to you, you’ve been her shield and Oliver her guardian. Both never leaving her, that’s why she tries to be as perfect as possible for you all.” Roy’s words were true, but Liam couldn’t stop thinking of everything they went through.

“Ah, when Gabriel was born Oliver came home late at night crying desperate with a crying baby on his arms both soaking wet, not even I knew what to do but when Oddie came down stairs and saw the situation, it was like seeing her mother again, she was so strong and confident taking the baby in her arms soothing his cries. That day she became a mother and it was her turn to guide Oliver through the way of parenthood, something not even I could do.” He looked down feeling a few tears run down his cheeks shamelessly, his children were too much, too amazing to not be loved.

“Hey, give yourself some credit,” his friend laid a hand on his shoulder with a reassuring smile. “When Oliver had to go you were the one to help Oddie out with Gabriel and you did a damn great job, so that kid’s amazing heart and soul is what came out of the hard work of you all.”

“Thanks, that really does make me feel better.” They changed sides, so they could grab some meat for the next plate they were gonna cook. “But still, I wonder if Oliver being away so long it’s what’s keeping her so worn out.”

“Must be that, I guess that’s why she wanted to do that thing of the companionship with Henry, so she can get out of her painful thoughts of how much she misses him and just hang out with new people.”

“What are you old men talking about?”

The sleepy face of Oddie caught them out of guard so they almost dropped everything to the floor, Gabriel was holding her hand, and both shared a surprised and amused look, she smirked when she saw their red faces.

“Well, this is a nice way to wake up.”

“Oh quiet,” Liam blushed harder but before he could say anything the doorbell rang getting everyone’s attention. “I’ll go open up.”

“Sure, dad.” She yawns looking cute in her superhero pajama pants and black cotton t-shirt having black ankle socks as shoes, she sits on the stool next to kitchen island with Gabriel next to her keeping his eyes on his homework. “When did you arrived, Roy?”

“I’ve been here since before you arrived home,” he answered amused, she frowned dropping her face on her hands. “You even greeted me when you got home.”

“Have you? I did?”

“Yup.”

“I’m sorry, I’ve been feeling a little tired lately. I was supposed to cook dinner for everyone tonight; Sally’s coming to dinner too, by the way.”

“I got here first so you better get away from my kitchen.” He joked making her eyebrows go high. “And don’t worry, there’ll be food for everyone.”

“Your kitchen?” Before he could answer, Liam walked inside the kitchen with someone behind him, he was frowning crossing his arms over his broad chest. “Who was at the door, dad? Was it Sally?”

“A man,” his frown became more prominent.

“Uh?”

“Bear man!” Gabriel ran to Nathan who was standing behind Liam, when he saw the young boy’s excitement smiled widely.

“Hey, little one.” He accepted the hug he received and then looked up at Oddie smirking. “Hey, Odd.”

“Odd? Who are you and why are you so confident with her?” Roy walked to stand beside Liam both wearing the same frown.

“Yes, Oddie. Please tell us, who’s this guy?”

“Oh God, no.” She drops her head hard on the counter of the island, Gabriel looking at her worriedly. “I’m too old for this kind of awkward situations happening all over again,” she stood up and walked up to Nathan with a sleepy smile. “Hey, you”

“Sorry I came uninvited.” He scratched the back of his head, unconsciously flexing his arm showing his thick muscled tattooed arms.

“It’s alright, just let me introduce you to them before they murder you… Dad, Roy, this is Nathan Roux he’s the Captain at the fire department and also barista at the Maple,” he chuckled awkwardly nodding his head slowly at the big men before him.

Liam and Roy nodded their heads still giving him a hard look both with crossed arms, showing off they had good muscles too. She recognized their poses and expressions feeling her soul leaving her body.

“Oh damn, here come the questions.” Oddie covered her face with both hands absolutely embarrassed.

“You single?”

“What are your intentions with my girl?”

“Are you a criminal?”

“She doesn’t need another i***t in her life and we won’t accept another one.”

Gabriel laughed at the expression of both young adults, Nathan didn’t know what or how to answer at such questions looking at Oddie for help, but she was just blushing madly at how overprotective everyone was with her. She frowned and gave them a hard look, both instantly stopping with the aggressive questions.

“That’s enough, thank you officers.” She mocked annoyed, she was going to have to open a second bottle of wine if she wanted to survive the night. “Nathan and I have nothing to do with each other, there’s nothing more than a friendship and by the way you both are acting I doubt something could ever happen.”

When she realized what she said she closed her eyes blushing madly pursing her lips into a thin light, she really needed a drink after all of this. “Either way, Nathan your visit is a surprise, a good one but still a surprise.”

“Oh right, I wanted to ask you about…” he drifted his eyes to Gabriel slightly letting her know it was something about him. “I want to know in what I can help but I didn’t think it’d be good to just call as this is something of high importance.”

“Right, umm maybe you should talk about that with dad and Roy here, they are doing some of the big stuff and they might need an extra pair of hands,” Liam and Roy got the hint that they were talking about Gabriel’s birthday party, so they nodded at Nate in agreement.

“Great, then I guess I’ll have to have this talk with them.” He smiled at her and then looked at his watch. “It’s getting late and I have to get back or Tommy will start screaming at me, sharing the apartment with Nick and him is fun and pretty good but I swear, Tommy is like a mad wife.” They all chuckled nodding at that, Tommy worried over everything.

“Well then, I’ll see you during the week.” Oddie smiled brightly at him, “dad and Roy are always around, come over anytime you want to, my door is open for whenever you need.”

“Thank you, Oddie.” He shakes hands with the older man, “pleasure to meet you, I’ll answer all of your questions another day.”

“Sure, boy.”

“Take care,” Roy smiled at him. “And take care of her, she’s our special lady.”

“Of course, sir.” He winked at her, her blush was turning her whole face into a tomato, how did her evening even came to be like this? “I’d never hurt such a doll, she’s way too precious to do that.” And that was the moment she died out of embarrassment.

“Right, come on Nate I’ll walk you to the door.” She grabbed his wrist and walked with him to the front door.

“See ya later, Gabe!”

“Bye, bear man!” Liam stared curiously at the kid.

“Why you call him that?”

“He’s huge and fluffy, he’s a bear in my eyes.” Both older men shared a look before returning to the unfinished dinner and Gabriel back to his homework.

“I’m sorry they ask so many questions, Nathan.” She blushed more not noticing her hand was still holding his wrist. “They can be so awkward sometimes.”

“That’s fine, I’d be the same if I had a daughter.” Unconsciously he grabbed a hold of her hand, “I bet there’s a reason why they mentioned an ‘i***t’ on your life.”

“That’s an old story,” she looked down a little bit not meeting his blue eyes. “I’ll tell you about it some other time… that’s if you wish to listen.”

“I’d love to, doll.” He smiled at her opening the front door but not letting go of her just yet, he pulled her closer a little bit causing her to blush even more, “I gotta go, but I’ll keep texting you.”

“Of course…” she smiled at his handsome face and beautiful smile. “Bear man.” She mocked causing him to chuckle softly.

“Whatever you say, doll.” He got close enough to softly kiss her cheek, when he got away both were blushing madly but smiling nonetheless. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” she watched him climb into his truck and drive away from her house, right before she was going to close her door, a woman’s yell could be heard.

“Odette!” She looked up and the last thing she could see was blonde long hair flying as she fell to the floor with Sally on top of her, straddling her waist and pinning her arms on top of her head with a wide smile. “Was that the hottie from the fire department?”

“Hi Sally, what took you so long?” She asked from the floor sarcastically, after a few seconds of silence both started to laugh like crazy having the three men inside the house to stare at them with small smiles.

“Well, somethings will never get old.” Liam said hugging Gabriel to his side.

“That’s for sure, old man.” His friend laughed before helping the girls off the floor.