Author's note: Like the other Challenge stories, this takes place in the same year. The bulk of this story starts in February. There aren't any cameos from previous chapters in this one, aside from Bob and the Bahamas.
The Challenge 6: Making Amends
Chapter 1
"Bob? You wanted to see me?" Janet, Bob's executive assistant knocked on the huge double doors of his office.
He surprised her by opening the door, smiling, waving her in. "Yes!"
Bob was rarely in the office anymore these days. His age and the fact he was a multi-millionaire who dabbled in side projects, kept him at home mostly. What work he did do, Janet helped, organizing his meetings, phone calls, paperwork and so on.
The 52-year-old, dark red haired, beauty entered his office, taking her seat across from his desk.
"So? What can I do for you?" Janet asked.
"Mmm, Janet. I love it when you ask that," Bob moaned. "I can't tell you how many erections you've given me over the years."
"That's very sweet of you Bob," Janet ignored her boss's sexual forwardness. She's worked for his company for over 20 years, fully aware that Bob knew of her wild exploits with clients and other employees. Janet had calmed down in recent years, maturing even, to focus on her husband, Harvey. She purposefully requested a demotion to secretary in order to remove herself from an environment where she could easily sleep with every coworker, client, or model at the various magazines the company published.
Bob respected her choice, however still flirted with her relentlessly. Janet didn't care, since Bob never mistreated her in any way; she never felt the need to file for sexual harassment, because to her, it was in good fun.
"How's Harvey?" Bob asked.
"Good. His kidneys are working fine. We're getting all good reports from his doctor checkups," Janet answered.
"That's great! Maybe you can invite me over for dinner and he and I can take you to bed," Bob suggested.
"Sure," Janet rolled her eyes.
"Forgive me. I'm old, I'm dirty, and I don't care anymore. On a serious note, you know how grateful I am for you. You know how much I appreciate you," Bob said.
"I know," Janet smiled.
"I'd love it if you spent the weekend with me. But that's your call," Bob said.
"I think your fiancée would have a problem with that. Don't you think?" Janet asked.
Bob shrugged. "She wouldn't know."
"Bob, why did you want to see me?"
"I'm going to write you a check for $1000 for every scrap of information you can provide to me about something," Bob said.
Janet thought for a moment. She had no inside information about competitors. Even if she did, Bob was so far removed from most business deals he wouldn't be someone she'd tell that to -- a vice president, yes.
"Well, alright. I'll do my best."
"Great. Take as long as you need to tell me everything you know. I want names, history, locations, relationships, everything."
"Fine," Janet said, confused. "What is this about? What do you want to know?"
"I want to know about your family, Janet. Tell me everything about your family," Bob said. He went to the bar area in his huge office.
"I almost forgot. Here's some hot chocolate," Bob offered a chuckling Janet a small mug.
"Thanks Bob."
"My pleasure. Now, please start from the beginning. Tell me everything. I'll explain why later. It'll make sense, trust me."
Janet inhaled deeply, thinking this should be an easy grand to make. She didn't care about Bob knowing family secrets, she knew he wasn't malicious, and no one else in her family was connected to him or his business -- that she knew of.
"Oh by the way," Bob spoke up right as Janet opened her mouth to speak. "Happy New Year."
******
Ken, a 32-year-old bartender in Miami, was working at the usual dingy, run-down tavern he worked on weeknights. He was looking forward to the weekend. He had Saturday night off for a change. It was a cut in money, because on Saturdays he tended bar at a much newer and nicer establishment a few miles away, but it was Valentine's Day weekend and he didn't want to be around people.
He was perfectly content with spending the evening alone. He had no wife or girlfriend; most of the few friends he had were already in relationships. "Fuck em," Ken thought, pushing away bitterness, looking forward to downing his favorite brew all night.
The bar wasn't busy that Thursday evening, it never usually was. He was doing dishes, cleaning glasses, putting them away to dry; hoping time would flow faster toward closing. He looked over his shoulder every few seconds to make sure no one was at the bar. Restocking some vodka, he looked over his shoulder and saw a tall, short-haired blonde smiling at him. Ken did a double-take; he knew her.
"Hey, Marie," Ken said, perplexed to see his cousin there. "What's going on? What are you doing here?"
"Hi Ken. Just wanted to stop by," Marie nervously said. They hadn't seen each other in over a year.
"Oh, alright. Well can I get you anything?"
"Just a Corona," Marie smiled.
"So how's your mom and dad?" Ken asked, opening the bottle, handing it to her, making small talk out of habit, asking about his Aunt Janet and Uncle Harvey.
"Great. Dad had some kidney problems, but he's doing much better now," The 32-year-old, Marie replied.
"Good, that's good to hear," Ken said, not looking at her, going about his busy work behind the bar.
"Yeah," Marie smiled.
Ken cleaned the bar top, nodding to a few leaving customers, occasionally glancing at Marie's Corona bottle.
"You still live over near south beach?" Ken asked.
"I do. But," Marie lowered her eyes. "Divorcing."
"Oh shit. I'm sorry Marie," Ken stopped drying a glass, giving his cousin a sympathetic look.
"It's fine," Marie said. "Things happen."
Ken nodded, partly understanding, thinking back to his own failed relationships over the years.
"Seen my mom much lately?" Ken asked. "You and her still close?"
"Yes, we've been hanging out a lot in the past month or so," Marie replied.
"Oh yeah? Going shopping or something?"
"Some yes. Actually, that's why I'm here. I'm inviting you over Saturday night. My mom is coming into town this weekend, she wants to see your mom and I figured it'd be great if you came by to see her too," Marie said.
"Uh, well, I'm not sure. I have plans," Ken lied.
"Please? Stop by for lunch. It'll be nice," Marie patted Ken's tattooed forearm.
Ken was in no mood to see his mother. They weren't exactly close. The last time he saw her was a few months prior at Thanksgiving. His mother, Darla, was too drunk to converse with him, much less stay awake. He remembered helping her to her bed, tucking her in. The last thing he saw was Darla drifting off to sleep in a drunken stupor.
"I don't know," Ken shrugged, glancing at her bottle.
"I know the family hasn't been very close since you and I were teens, but please? My parents are getting older, your mom is getting older, it'd be a great time to reconnect," Marie said, smiling softly at Ken.
Ken looked away from her blue eyes. "I haven't seen Aunt Janet in awhile."
"I know. She was asking about you. Remember we used to play together all the time as kids? She'd love to see us hang out as adults."
"Alright, well, keep the alcohol away from my mom and I'll stop by to say hello," Ken agreed.
"Great!"
Chapter 2
They made more small talk while she nursed her Corona. He was surprised she remembered where he worked. Ken didn't charge her for the drink. He closed the bar after Marie left, thinking it was very odd to see her there.
During high school, their lives diverged drastically. Marie was in the popular crowd, going out with friends, going to proms, dating and so on. Ken was the opposite. As much fun they had as kids, running, playing, laughing - when they hit their teen years, they couldn't be more different.
Ken watched his cousin hang out with jocks and cool kids, only giving him a nod or slight wave when they saw each other in the hallways.
As he and Marie aged, their family lives became noticeably different. Marie had a great life with her parents. Ken came from a broken home. His mother, in her psychotic ways, drove everyone away. His father left when he was 12. His twin sisters left two years earlier when they were 18. Ken was alone with his mom.
Darla drank more and more, becoming clingy to Ken, often begging him not to leave her like everyone else supposedly did. Ken promised he wouldn't, staying with her until he was 20, and then moving a few miles away to an apartment with some friends.
They stayed in touch regularly, but Ken saw less and less of her each year. One of his sisters took over, perhaps out of guilt, attempting to repair a broken relationship. Over time, that sister left her too, moving across the country.
Ken's mother had no one. None of her sisters, besides Janet would talk to her, none of her own children, besides an occasional checkup by Ken, would associate with her. It was all her own doing, her own mistreatment of others, and always playing the overdramatic victim that drove everyone away.
Darla's only friend was, for some odd reason, her niece Marie. Perhaps it was because Darla and Janet still got along, thus creating an obligatory friendship between her and Marie. Ken didn't know or care.
When Ken arrived to his apartment after work, he flipped on the TV, grabbed a beer and channel surfed. News of Kim Kardashian and Kayne West was on a celebrity news report show. Ken extended his middle finger to their image on the television and changed the channel.
He took several more swigs of his beer, thinking about his evening while finding the last few minutes of The Tonight Show to watch.
Ken didn't hate his mother, but had no desire to have a close relationship with her. He turned off the TV, debated showering to get the cigarette smell out of his hair, ultimately deciding to shower in the morning.
Sliding out of jeans, removing his t-shirt, he examined a new tattoo above his right pectoral. The skull with bat wing artwork was looking great.
Ken climbed into bed, coughed a few times and rolled over. "Shit," he said aloud, remembering to put on a fake polite face tomorrow when he saw his Aunt and mother.
******
"Ken! Come in!" His Aunt Janet exclaimed, opening Marie's front door the next morning. "I love that beard!"
"Thanks," Ken faked one of many smiles to come. He and his Aunt had the same dark red hair color, though Janet dyed hers regularly.
"I'm so glad you'll be spending the day with us!" She led him into Marie's fairly large home, her soon-to-be ex-husband nowhere in sight.
"Well, actually, I," Ken managed to get out before he was interrupted by a hug from Marie.
"Good to see you again!" she said.
