Chapter 39
Taylor shut the bathroom door behind him and leaned against it. Another day, another crisis, he thought. He threw his clean clothes on the floor and walked over to the sink and gazed at his reflection in the mirror. He smirked, well, he thought, at least I won't have to do that modeling thing when they get a look at me, I'm sure they'll retract that offer. He turned and reached in the shower turning the water on as hot as he could stand it. He took off his clothes and looked down at his body, he'd always been thin, but muscular. Though he'd lost a little weight, he didn't think it as bad as everyone acted like. His appetite had actually picked up lately. He got in the shower. As he went through the motions of washing his face and his body, his mind went over what he would face the next week. He would have to get through the press and then walk into a courtroom and face the man who had been in his nightmares every night for weeks now. He knew that this was it. He couldn't go in there and fall apart, yet, he realized that just looking at photographs the night before had triggered a panic attack that had left him reeling. Perhaps it had been because it was so unexpected. He poured shampoo in his hand and brought it up to his nose. Coconut, he loved the smell of it. As he rubbed the comforting scent into his hair, he decided that, whatever it took. He wouldn't be taken by surprise again. He would be prepared for the worst.
~~~~
Isaac lay in bed listening to the sounds of his family starting the day. Avery was a doubter, but Mack and Zoe were excited to know Santa was coming. He'd heard them reassure their mother more than once that they'd been really good this year, making sure she'd passed along that information to the big man. He'd heard Taylor make his way upstairs, he thought it funny how he could tell by the sound of his footsteps that it was his "little" brother. Oh God, how he missed the sound of his voice, though. He still couldn't believe he'd never hear it again. They had just taken it for granted that they would be singing together still in twenty or thirty years. Now, he had no idea where he'd be or what he'd be doing in one year, let alone the rest of his life. He still loved music and performing, but now, things were different... Taylor had been a natural frontman and Isaac had been content to be the enigmatic guitarist and sing lead on a few songs. His mind wandered back to the concerts, sometimes before 20,000 people, sometimes 2000 and even one before some 90,000 as they'd sung the National Anthem for the Soccer Championship.
Now, there were no guarantees he'd be able to make a living playing music. His father had handled the group's finances in a way that insured his sons' futures, no problem. At least he wouldn't have to worry about money, just happiness. He heard the front door, then the solid footsteps of Zac. He looked at the doorway waiting, and sure enough, his brother stepped into view. "Hey Ike, you awake?"
"Yeah." He answered.
"Are you all done shopping?" Zac asked.
"Thanks to Lee I am. She drug me out last week. She said she didn't want me to be one of those Christmas Eve guys."
Zac smiled. "Me too. I got stuck with Mom and Jess... but, now I'm glad. You know what Tay did?" Isaac shook his head. Zac continued, "He wrote $50 gift certificate on an index card and just went from store to store to store.... Ooohh," he flinched, "I guess I shouldn't have told you that. Act surprised, ok?"
Isaac laughed, "What about Marcy?"
"Bath 'n Body Works." Zac replied.
"At least it wasn't Victoria's Secret."
"No, I think he went there for somebody else." He said, thinking back on the lovely girl he'd talked with that morning.
"What? Really!?" Isaac asked.
Zac smiled, "I don't know man, I was just kidding. So, anyway, Mom said Marcy called and she's on her way over. She said Tay asked her last night to go over to the house and pick out some stuff to give to the kids over at Shelly's school and she's gonna make him stick to it. So, I was just wondering if you wanted to go too, many hands make light work, right?"
"Yep, that's what they say. Lee's working til 5 anyway. So, I guess that means I have to get up, huh?"
"Yep. Mom says everybody's gonna be here around 6, so we gotta get moving. The kids are gonna be at the school for their party at 4, so that gives us..." he looked at his watch. "Maybe 3 hours, if we want to get the stuff there by 3:30."
Isaac sat up and grimaced as he swallowed and felt the beginnings of a sore throat. Every Christmas he seemed to have a cold and it felt like this one would be no different.
"You're not going like that, are you?" Marcy's voice rang loud and clear as she stepped into the doorway. Zac and Isaac both looked at her. "Where's Taylor?" she asked.
"In the shower." Zac answered. She pointed down the hallway and Isaac smiled and nodded. She walked away and Zac looked at his brother and shook his head. "Hope Tay's ready for this."
"Well," Isaac replied, "I guess he'd better be." They looked at each other a moment, knowing the statement had to do with more than just Marcy. Isaac got up and the two of them stepped to the doorway and watched as Marcy banged on the door to the bathroom.
~~~~
"Hey!" she called. "What are you doing in there?! I've been downstairs for ten minutes! Chop, chop! Ike's gotta get in there, so we can go. C'mon!" The door opened and there stood Taylor in nothing but jeans and a toothbrush, his hair dripping on his shoulders. "Mmmm," she said, "you smell good." She turned to look at the two boys down the hall watching them. "Ike! You're up! C'mon!"
Taylor's face was a study. "What are we doing?" He signed.
Isaac and Zac walked up. "Ask Marcy." Zac said.
Taylor turned, went to the sink, spit out the toothpaste, rinsed and returned to her side. "What's up?" He asked Marcy. He'd thought he'd be uncomfortable the next time he saw her, but she hadn't given him the chance.
"Don't even act like you don't remember. We have a date with a thousand teddy bears, remember?" He sighed and looked at her. "What?" she asked. "You don't want to stand me up Taylor. You asked and I said 'yes'. That makes it a date. If you were hurt or sick, I'd let you out of it." She looked him up and down, "and you look just fine to me." She smiled at him and he grinned back, blushing. "Besides, don't you want to give some of that stuff to those kids?" He nodded. "Good. I'll be downstairs, hurry up." And she turned and went down the stairs. The three brothers watched after her, then looked at each other. Isaac tried to hold it in, but he laughed. He couldn't help it. "I don't hear water running!" Marcy called from downstairs.
Isaac quickly turned and went in the bathroom and turned on the shower. "Hope you didn't use up all the hot water, Tay." He mumbled before closing the door behind him.
"Man, you better get dressed." Zac said, grinning at Taylor. He nodded and went into his room.
~~~~
At 3:30 on the dot, Walker met the four of them at the school. He helped them take the various expressions of love that had been sent to his son up the stairs to the room where a large Christmas tree had been set up. Once again, the fans had shown their loyalty and feelings towards the boys in an incredible way. Though Taylor wouldn't be putting the things on a shelf in his bedroom as the gift givers had hoped, he was getting far more out of them by carefully choosing individual ones for the deaf children he'd met while attempting to introduce them to his passion for music. They all remembered Taylor and his brothers and were more than happy to see them again. They'd also brought many extras for the other children in the school. Still, the garage had remained stuffed with gifts of every shape, color, size and type imaginable. And, still more came every day.
As the party began, Walker watched Taylor signing with the children along with Zac and Isaac, glad that, for the moment, their worries had been pushed aside. Marcy watched, amazed at what was going on around her. She wasn't comfortable enough with her minimal skills at signing to join in, but she was fascinated as she watched and was able to understand some of what the children and the boys were saying to one another. Shelly was delighted, she hadn't imagined when the boys had offered to bring "a few things" for the children that there would be such an array of critters, from Teddy Bears to dolphins and monkeys, from Beanie Babies to Legos and art sets to video games and much more. The only thing they hadn't brought were bags for the children to carry it all home in.
After the party, they'd headed home dropping Taylor and Marcy off at her house. He walked her to the door and she invited him in. On the couch was Tim, Greg, and his girlfriend all watching "It's a Wonderful Life" on tv. It wouldn't have been Christmas Eve without it. Taylor watched a moment as George and Mary threw rocks at the old Granville Place and he smiled. The girl stood up from the couch and held her hand out to Taylor, pulling him away from Bedford Falls and back to Tulsa and the present. "I know we've met once or twice, but I don't know if you remember. I'm Rick and Rob's cousin, Sonya."
He shook her hand and smiled. "Taylor." He said.
"Yeah," she smiled, "I remember." She looked at Marcy, "Y'all staying? We can scoot over."
Taylor put up his hands and shook his head. "Taylor's got company coming, so he's gotta go, but I'm staying."
"Marcy?! Are you back?" Her mother called from the other room.
"No Mom, I'm still gone." She called back.
Her mother appeared in the doorway, "Don't be a smart aleck, Marcy... Oh, Taylor, I didn't know you were here." He smiled and waved at her.
Marcy rolled her eyes, "I know you sorta know each other but I'll introduce you properly. Mom, this is Taylor, Taylor, this is my mom, Suzanne."
He smiled and a blush crept across his cheeks, he found it very awkward as she probably wouldn't understand if he signed, so he just mouthed, "nice to meet you." And held out his hand.
She wiped her hands on her pants, "Sorry, I was doing dishes." And she shook his hand. "It's nice to meet you, too. I've heard a lot about you." He raised his eyebrows. "Oh, it was all good."
She smiled at him. Marcy saw relief on his face and she saw Greg look at Tim. Taylor looked at Marcy and signed and spoke, "I need to go."
"Tay's gotta leave Mom."
"Oh, alright. Well, come back anytime Taylor. Say 'hi' to your Mom for me." He nodded and turned towards the door. "Bye bye." She said and she went back to the kitchen.
Marcy opened the door and Taylor turned and waved at the three on the couch. "Merry Christmas, Taylor." Sonya said.
"You too." He smiled back at her.
"See ya 'round." Tim said.
Marcy stepped out the door behind him. She let out a deep breath, "Well, I had fun today Taylor. Those kids were amazing. I really envy how you can talk with them."
"I'm glad you liked it." He signed and spoke.
"I think I'm getting better at it. I'll bet I can understand, like, half of your signs now." She giggled and he pulled her in and hugged her.
They stood that way for a few moments before he released her then reached in his pocket for something to write on. Half is good. A good start. He wrote.
"Well," she said, "it is a start, isn't it?"
He smiled down at her. Slowly, he brought his lips to hers, kissing her softly. "Thanks." He said when she opened her eyes again.
"Thanks? Thanks for what?" she asked.
He looked away from her, then wrote again. I just felt so stupid about last night and I was afraid I'd ruined everything and you'd be afraid of me.
She read then scrunched her face up. "Afraid of what?"
He shook his head and looked away again, sighed and then wrote. Afraid you're going out with a mental case.
"Taylor, we're all mental cases. I'd be more worried about you if you weren't a mental case after what you've been through." She looked into his eyes, "Taylor, please, if you ever need to tell me anything, or you need anything, don't ever be afraid to come to me." He smiled at her, then pointed to his watch. "Yeah, I know, you gotta go. Have a wonderful Christmas. Don't worry about anything, ok?" He snorted. She put her hand on his cheek and he took it in his own and kissed it.
"See you tomorrow?" He asked.
"Sure, call or e-mail me." He kissed her one last time.
"Merry Christmas Marcy." He said.
"You too, bye." She waved.
"Bye." In his mind, he was singing "Merry Christmas Baby." It just popped in there and he could tell it would be on replay all night. He walked down the steps and down the walk out to the street.
When Greg trotted up behind Taylor, he was so startled he nearly stumbled. "Sorry man, didn't mean to scare ya." Greg said. Taylor stopped, took a deep breath then looked around. He looked back at Greg and raised his eyebrows. "You doin' alright?" He asked. Taylor looked at him suspiciously, then nodded. "Good. Y'know Taylor, I'm sorry I was such a dick to you, alright?"
Taylor just looked at him, "Yeah... and..." He said, making a motion with his hands for him to continue.
"BUT..." Taylor grinned. Now Greg put his arm around Taylor's shoulder, "I just want you to know, I'm still a little concerned about you going out with my sister." Taylor rolled his eyes. "Hear me out, dude." Greg said. Taylor turned and focused his eyes so intently upon him, that, for a moment, Greg forgot what he was going to say. "Don't freak on me man, if it was your sister, you'd feel the same way. Christ! I feel for Jessica when her boyfriends have to face you three!" Taylor softened a little. "I understand you hanging around Kimmy and her friends and stuff, I do. I love Kimmy—but, I wouldn't sleep with her, first of all, because I got a girlfriend, but also because I know there's been too many before me—including you now." Taylor looked away, the wind blew his hair in his eyes. He shook it away and looked back at Greg. "Look man, date her all you want, ok? Take her to the movies, go to Pizza Hut, football games, whatever, hell, take her to the prom, I don't care... just don't fuck her." Taylor glared at him. He continued, "At least, not 'til you get tested for AIDS and stuff, ok?"
Taylor furrowed his brow and spat back, "Kimmy doesn't have AIDS!"
"How do you know? Besides, we're not just talking about Kim, now are we?" And he made sure he looked Taylor in the eye. "All I'm sayin' is... do yourself a favor. That way, you will know and I'll get off your back."
"Fine." Taylor said back.
"What?" Greg hadn't been sure what Taylor had said.
As he took the pad of paper out of his pocket and scribbled on it, Greg watched him. The wind continually blew his hair in his face and he would flip it away, still writing. When he finished, he handed it to Greg. Fine. But nobody can know it's me. You take me to planned parenthood day after tomorrow so you can—and I quote—"Get off my back." My brothers can't take me and my Mom and Dad sure as shit aren't taking me. Greg looked up at him. "I'll be here at 9 a.m." He said and he pointed to the house.
"Huh?" Greg asked.
Taylor grabbed the paper back, I'll be here at 9 AM!!! Day after tomorrow—I got to go to New York after New Years so I need to do it fast. He wrote.
Greg read. "Boy, you are really wanting to screw my sister, aren't you?"
Taylor pushed him so hard he almost fell down. "NO! Don't start that shit with me, man! I just want you to leave me the fuck alone! What I do is none of your business! What Marcy does is none of your business! I don't want to fuck her, so quit saying that!!!"
Greg was laughing, "Dude, I
don't know what you said, but I love watching you say it! That is
just so cool, you have got to teach me that!" Taylor stood with his
mouth hanging open. "So, do you even know you're signing, or is it,
like, a reflex now?" Taylor shut his eyes for a moment. When
he opened them again, Greg was still watching him. Taylor shook his
head and shrugged at the same time. "Hmmm, well, I think it's reflex,
'cause, obviously I don't know sign language and yet you are just signing
away..." Greg did his best to emulate Taylor's earlier gestures as
he spoke. "So, we got a date?" Taylor looked at him incredulously,
then nodded. "Cool. Merry Christmas, man." He said and
he slapped Taylor on the back and headed back to his house leaving Taylor
standing in the middle of the street wondering what had just happened.
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