Wilson

The Louvre, and it's amazing glass pyramid. I hope we can forget about everything that's going on at Leanne's Mom's place. I understand why her mom is blaming herself. I want to blame her for being a stupid drunk too. But Mom's right. We have to give her a chance to fix her addiction and make things right. It sounds like she wants to. Question is, will she be able too. I wish Dad would get it together and stop with the binge drinking every time he comes home.

He spotted a tour bus unloading across the plaza. The kids piling out were breaking up into pairs and groups. Then he spotted Mrs. Eckleberry and headed across with Leanne.

"We'll stick together for the first while. I want to point out the different periods of architecture. The Louvre's original building was a Gothic castle built in the late 1100's. That's underground for the most part and where we're headed first. As it was expanded, different types building techniques developed, and various styles became popular. Let's go inside." She led them toward the center of the plaza and stopped when they faced the pyramid squarely.

"Take your pictures here. It's the famous identifying view of the Louvre you see all over the web when you search for images."

Wilson said, "Stop right there, Leanne. It's the perfect picture. You're hair has caught the sun, and you're glowing. That green is a great color on you." He pulled out his phone and clicked away. "I want to remember every second of this trip."

Leanne's half smile bloomed into a full laugh when she pointed at the pigeons strutting across the stones around them.

"Looks like they congregate anywhere, where people feed them. Reminds me of the scene in Mary Poppins."

"Love the songs in that musical," Wilson said.

"Me too."

Wilson saw Jo-Jo coming across the plaza.

"Leanne, watch out." He pointed and hit video at the same time. Leanne whirled just in time to keep Jo-Jo from slamming her face first into the pavement.

Her glasses flew and she hit the stone tiles sideways on her right hip. Wilson slipped his phone into a pocket and ran over to drag the furious bully off Leanne. He rolled her over to one side and grabbed Leanne's hand.

Turning to put himself between the girls, he listened to Jo-Jo's shouts.

"It was your bitch of a mother who turned mine in. You need to pay for it. You always needed to pay for it. Get up so I can wipe your ugly face off the planet." Jo-Jo came at Wilson with her fists raised. "Get out of the way. Or I'll take you out too."

A police officer sprinted across from where he was directing traffic. Pulling Jo-Jo's arm down behind her, he snapped a handcuff shut on her wrist as she struggled to get free.

"Stop it, it will get much worse for you." He spoke passable English.

"Help me get up. I don't think anything's broken," Leanne demanded. "Where are my glasses?"

"Four eyes. Blind too. Can't even see he's a faggot." Jo-Jo yanked the officer with her trying to get at her victim again.

"Stop. Resisting is making it worse."

Jo-Jo scowled and stood still. "You're hurting me." She screamed at the top of her lungs.

Wilson found Leanne's glasses and handed them to her. "Are they okay?"

She put them on pushing them up her nose and nodded. Reaching for her hand, he hauled her to her feet. "Can you put weight on that leg?"

"Yeah." Leanne took a few limping steps over to where the policeman finished cuffing Jo-Jo.

"Can I say something, sir?"

The officer nodded.

"Do you know of Jason Maddison?"

"Continue. We deal with him for event planning often."

"He's her father. If you have to arrest her, call him. He really wants to help her."

"Get out of my business. You've wrecked my life you bitch," Jo-Jo hissed.

"I'll take that into consideration, Mademoiselle." The police officer took his offender by the elbow then asked, "Do you want her charged?"

"No. She's been abused by her mother for most of her life. Give her a break if you can," Leanne said. "She didn't deserve to be raised like she was."

Jo-Jo's eyes turned into suspicious slits. "Why are you helping me?"

"Because, I could have been you. Now you have a chance to take your father's offer. I'm sure this policeman won't give you any other choice." Leanne turned back toward Wilson.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket.

"Sir, do you want to see what happened?"

"Please. I might have to take your phone though, for the evidence. Until I can copy it to our computers."

Wilson opened the video and showed it to him.

"Wait a moment. You can transfer this to my phone, right? Share function, oui? Then all I need is your name and phone number, maybe where you are staying. Americans all of you right?" He shook his head. "This is a mess." He pointed at Leanne, "Your name and information as well."

Wilson gave the officer his mother's name and address as an after thought. He got a raised eyebrow. "Don't tell me, you know her too?"

"Just her building. The restaurant is fabulous. Get your girlfriend home. I'll speak to the chaperones and then everyone else can go on their way. I'll be taking Jo-Jo with me to the station. Our ride is here now." He pointed to a marked police car pulling to a stop.

While Mrs. Eckleberry spoke with the officer, Wilson guided Leanne to a bench and let her sit down. Dropping down beside her, he asked, "How can you forgive her like that?"

"Because I meant what I said. I don't know what made me choose to be kind instead of angry. To hide instead of striking out, but it would have crushed the life out of me to be mean like she is. I chose music and writing to let my feelings out. I hope she can get the help she needs with her father's influence in her life now."

Wilson framed her face with his hands. "I'm thinking about beating the crap out of my father the next time he walks in the door at home. I only have seventy four days left in that agreement he forced me into."

"You're counting down the days. I don't blame you for that, or for wanting to get back at him. Don't. It's your life you'll wreck, and then Garret wins again. We'll find a way to get you away from him."

"It's only two and half months."

"I know, but there still has to be a way." Leanne put her arms around his neck and kissed him. A tender sweet caress that gave him hope.

"Maybe," he whispered against her cheek when her lips wandered toward his ear.

"No. You're not going back to that hell hole," Leanne declared.

Wilson smiled. "Okay, then. We'll find a way."

"Good. Now, let's join the tour. I think I'm better off walking and not letting this stiffen up." Leanne pointed to the dirty scuff mark on her pants. "I've probably got a bruise to rival yours under that."

As Wilson turned to watch the two policemen force Jo-Jo their car, Mr. Grant came toward them.

"Lean on him, Leanne. I'll find you an Uber. I've already called your mother Wilson. Tomorrow is a free day for you two. The rest of the group is going to Notre Dame. You are ordered to take the time to heal. We'll see you at the Opera House on Monday. 14:00 for the matinee."

"I wanted to walk the stiffness off, Mr. Grant," Leanne said.

"Not negotiable."

"Geeze, I really wanted to see this."

"We'll be back part way through next week. That's soon enough. Go home."

Wilson nodded. "I'll get the Uber though. We need to make a stop along the way, and Leanne will get her walk from there. It's just a block or two from Mom's place."

"Your call, kid. Leanne, you are a classy young woman. I hope Jo-Jo takes your advice. See you on Monday." Mr. Grant turned to stride away, hurrying to catch up with the last students as they disappeared through the entrance to the Louvre.

I'm getting her that necklace. It's so right for her.

"Where are we stopping?" Leanne asked as he helped her into an Uber waiting in a line at the edge of the plaza.

"A surprise. You'll have to wait."

"Sweet. Can I try to guess?"

"Sure, but I'm going to call Mom first. I want to check and see if walking would be good for you. I know it always helps me after one of Dad's episodes."

"It will. And call it what it is. A beating. You're not going back to him." Leanne insisted again. "You're like me. Chose to be a caring human being instead of turning into an addict or going mean."

"Except around Garret. I hate him."

"From what Willa said, he turned sour in an instant. Maybe there's a reason you don't know about."

"What though? I mean he's convinced I'm gay, and I'm just a stupid idiot."

"You never know. Don't count it out, please?"

I don't know if I can. But look at how strong and kind she is. Always believing there's something good in the worst things that happen. Can I do it too?

"I'll try. I'm not sure I can, but I'll try."

Leanne threw her arms around him and kissed him again, when they surfaced after a long passionate tangle of tongues, their driver was pulling into the curb at the jewelry store.

He paid for their ride, then went around to the curb to help Leanne out. Her limp was worse, and he put an arm around her waist as he opened the door to the store. There was a chair by the window displays and he helped her into it.

"Wait here."

Damn, forgot all about calling Mom. I need to find the clerk. I think I saw her over by the diamond rings.

"I'll be right back."

"No problem. The jewelry is gorgeous. I'll be making my dream list."

I'll be starting your dream collection today. Can't wait to see your eyes when I show you your gift. There she is. She said she would be wearing red today when I called earlier.