American Woman: Book 4

Chapter 61

Over the few days leading up to Devon's birthday went fairly smoothly. I discussed party and food ideas with Diana and Maria while also making a final decision on the cake I was preparing to make for the celebration. Per Devon's request, pink icing and pink sprinkles were the main ingredients.
Lenny and Mayte spent a lot of time to themselves and I wasn't sure if it was because they were diving into a physical relationship and wanted privacy or if they were trying to give the four of us some space. We did have dinner with them each night and after putting the girls to bed we would normally chat for awhile with them until we all turned in for the night. The night before Devon's birthday, we were all sitting in the living room visiting when Lenny's cell went off. He looked down at it and remarked that it was his dad.
"Oh lord." I blurted out before thinking.
"You wanna answer it for me?" Lenny chuckles and shoves the phone towards me.
"Not a chance." I roll my eyes and push it back towards him. "I'll let you have the pleasure."
Lenny sighs and flips the phone open. "Hey dad. What's up?" He says while rising off the couch and walking out of the room.
"Soooo I take it you aren't too fond of his dad?" Mayte asks.
"He's probably the biggest asshole I've ever known, to be honest. I still don't know how or why he and my dad were such good friends. They were such polar opposites." I reply.
Mayte looked a little uncomfortable, probably thinking about having to possibly meet him one day. Sensing this, Prince interjects, "he can't be worse than my father."
"He makes your dad look good...."
"Oh he can't be that bad." Prince cuts me off.
"Well, let's see, he was a serial cheater, and didn't even try to hide it. He basically flaunted it. Treated Roxie like shit. She took it and took it for years and I don't know why. Thankfully she finally left him. Lenny was always scared to death of him. I don't think he ever was violent but he was definitely mentally and emotionally abusive to Lenny and Roxie. Thankfully my interaction with him became very limited once they divorced. My dad still stayed close with him, again not sure why, but he rarely ever came to our house after that. My dad and him would just meet for dinner or drinks or things like that. Roxie and Lenny, of course, were still welcomed in our home all the time. I just wish they would have divorced before Lenny was an adult. I think everyone would have been better off if they had...."
"How old was he when they split?" Mayte asks curiously.
"Like 20 or 21. He had already left home. I guess maybe that's what Roxie was waiting on. When Lenny and I got married, I made him promise me that we would have limited interaction with his dad. It was selfish, I know, but I can't stand the man. I can probably count on both hands how many times we actually saw him all the years we were married. Lenny limited his involvement with Zoe too. I assume he still does...."
I was interrupted by Lenny coming back into the living room, looking a little flushed.
Again not being able to control my mouth, I ask "do we even want to know what he had to say to make you look like you've just seen a ghost?"
"No, probably not." Lenny lightly chuckles and sits back down next to Mayte on the sofa.
"Is everything ok?" She asks, worry evident in her face.
"Yeah. He, um, well, he called to tell me, he has leukemia..." he stutters.
"Oh, I-I'm so sorry." Mayte gasps.
I felt horrible. I had just been bashing the guy and here he was calling to say he had cancer. Knowing that son of a bitch, he will probably beat it though. "I'm sure he will beat it." I say half of my thoughts aloud.
"He's not even going to do treatments. He's 80 and said it's not worth it. It may just make him die sooner." Lenny explained.
"I'm sorry, man. You have any idea how long they're giving him?" Prince responds.
"A year, tops. So looks like I'll be in LA more than Bahamas for awhile. I'm pretty much all he has. As much as I dislike him most of he time, I'm his only child. I can't let him die alone. Somebody's gotta see him off to hell." He lightens the mood.
I nod my head in agreement and Prince lightly knocks me in the arm and gives me a stern look. "Well hate to put a damper on our evening. I think I'll turn in for the night." Lenny announces.
We all agree it was time to go to bed. It would be an eventful day tomorrow.
As Prince and I begin getting ready for bed, he shakes his head at me. "You can be really heartless sometimes, momma."
"What did I do?!" I exclaim.
"Well for starters, nodding your head in agreement that his dad will go to hell..."
"I have no doubt Sy will burn..."
"Jensen!!!"
"What?! Not just bc he's an motherfucking asshole. But bc he mocks religion...."
"Isn't he Jewish?"
"Yeah, but not a practicing one or whatever. He thinks anything spiritual is a bunch of hocus pocus, voodoo.."
"Well then maybe we should pray for him." Prince suggests.
"Not for God to heal him though..."
"Babe!!!"
"What?! He's 80! He's lived longer than he ever deserved to..."
"You are callous, woman! I hope this isn't how you responded when Roxie was diagnosed. Maybe I see now why Lenny spiraled...."
"Haha! Absolutely not. Roxie was like a second mom to me. I never felt Sy was my second dad. And Lenny is going to be just fine. It will be comparable to how you felt when your dad died. Sad, but not earth shattering. And if I recall, you made similar remarks about your dad that I'm making about Sy. I'm not going to sugarcoat things and act like he's this wonderful person just because he's dying. I just hope he hasn't somehow grown close to Zoe as she's gotten older. I would hate that for her." I reply as I get under the covers.
"Well I still think we should pray for him. Come on." He says, grasping my hands.
I roll my eyes and huff, "I guess it's the Christian thing to do."
"That's right, honey. And if you pray for his healing, daddy just might do some sexual healing on you..."
"Dear God." I begin my prayer immediately.