Lilly said curtly, “We never brought out the best in each other.”
Tony asked Frank, “What brought you here? ”
“Curious,” Frank said as he turned to Lilly.
“Well, curious, you’d better sit down for pancakes,” Lilly said, “TJ invited us to join his sons at the zoo.”
“The Z’s are zoo-bound?” Tony couldn’t resist. Then he asked Frank, “Where did you honeymoon?”
“The Poconos,” Debbie answered.
Tony grinned, like a cat that had a mouse cornered? “Did you have a heart-shaped tub?”
“No, but the bed was round. Frank fell out of bed,” Debbie said, oblivious to the teasing.
“Sounds disorienting,” Lilly said quickly. She called Tony off by changing the subject. “Frank what type of car do you drive?”
“A Ford. Where have you been all these years? You vanished off the face of the Earth.”
“Close. I have been to the ends of the Earth, I guess.”
“You lived in another country? Debbie said. “That sounds exciting. Where?”
“In the Dong Rak Mountains on the Thai-Cambodian border.”
“Thailand? I saw that movie with Yul Brynner. That’s the same, isn’t it? Siam?”
“I wasn’t in that part.”
“What part were you in?” Frank asked.
“I was in a refugee camp. Actually we moved locations once because The Khmer Rouge had annexed a section of the border and were making terrible raids. We packed up and ran deeper into Thailand.”
Debbie said, “It sounds like they’re going to kill each other on the news.”
“There are three main factions: the Khmer Rouge, the Khmer Vietminh, and those loyal to the prince, Norodom Sinanouk. It’s hard to tell, but somewhere between one and two million people have died in an area the size of Missouri. Americans aren’t guilt-free. We destabilized their government and bombed them to try to stop the use of the Ho Chi Minh Trail.”
Lilly stopped talking when she heard how preachy she sounded.
Debbie said, “This is depressing.” Then she said to Frank, “As long as we’re in the city, can’t we do something.”
“The Yankees are away,” Frank said.
“Thank God,” Debbie said to Lilly.
Lilly waited for Tony to suggest something, but realized he didn’t like Debbie so he wouldn’t say anything.
“How about the Guggenheim?”
“Museum? I haven’t been in a museum since those awful class trips.” Debbie made a face.
“Then it’s about time.” Lilly watched Tony gather his dishes and leave the kitchen.
“He’s so quiet. The strong, silent type?” Debbie asked.
“Tony’s going to shower. I’ll be back in a minute,” Lilly said. She hurried after him.
Tony was choosing clothes. He watched Lilly come into the bedroom. “What do you think of Debbie?” he asked.
Lilly pursed her lips to keep from laughing.
Tony added, “She sells cosmetics. Don’t let her rope you in, Belle.”
Lilly laughed. “You have to make an effort with her.” Tony didn’t answer so Lilly said, “All right, she’s a fucking idiot.”
Tony stopped and looked at her, “I’ve never heard you say fuck.”
“I’ve never met Debbie before.”
The afternoon dragged at an interminable pace. Lilly thought Tony looked at her in a different manner, as though studying her. She thought he might ask her to accompany him on the trail, but she tried to put the thought out of her mind.
The trail had become almost an adversary for her. The walks were wonderful, private times, but each walk brought closer the time he would walk out of her life.
She could picture him in some cozy campsite with a sweet young thing. She could picture herself alone, pining for him. This turbulence of mind translated to a greatly increased pace as she walked up the curving incline that was the architectural signature of the museum.
Frank teased Tony, “She takes uphill grades well.”
Tony ignored him, but caught Lilly’s arm, yielding her pace. “It must be difficult to appreciate art when you’re lost in thought.”
They stopped at a deli and went to Central Park for a picnic supper. Frank and Lilly recouped a little of the easy banter that had characterized their relationship.
Frank asked, “Where are all your freckles?” Then in an aside to Debbie he said, “Once, Tony connected all the freckles on her nose and cheeks with a blue felt tip pen. She looked like she was wearing a mask.”
Debbie asked, “You let him do that?”
Frank said, “She was asleep.” Tony smiled at the memory.
Lilly said to Debbie, “I couldn’t get it all off, even with Comet. I had to go to work with it under makeup. I worked then as a nurse’s aide. The head nurse asked if I had a problem. I was pissed at him for weeks.” She indicated Tony with her thumb.
Frank said to Debbie, “Lil was in a band, and the guys told her she should be in KISS.”
They returned to Tony’s home, where they drank coffee and listened to music. Tony brought out cards, and they decided on poker at the kitchen table. When the phone rang, Tony picked it up and said, “Lil, I think it’s Eileen.”
“Great. I want to visit her tomorrow.” Lilly jumped up.
Carolyn’s voice greeted her. “It’s Carolyn from Christiansted, Saint Croix.”
“Carolyn! How are you? How did you get this number?”
“Lilly, you mentioned your ex-husband’s name once. There is only one della Robbia listed for that street in Manhattan. I must say, when I got your letter, I was quite shocked. Shacking up with your ex-husband? Don’t you know the meaning of divorce?”
Lilly giggled.
Carolyn continued, “If you’re going to be a brazen hussy, you should come here to a steamy climate. Actually, that’s why I called. To offer your job early.”
“In Saint Croix?”
“Yes, you could start any time. It’s getting warm here, and the tourists are mostly gone. The rats are deserting the ship.”
“By that you mean nurses?”
“I suppose.”
“You could stay at my place. Will you come right away?’
“I don’t know, Carolyn.” Lilly hesitated, looking at the back of Tony’s head. Her eyes filled.
“Lilly, do you want to stay with your boyfriend until he goes to camp?”
“Carolyn, dear, save your claws for your other nurses. What is your number? I’ll get back to you Monday night.”
“When does he plan to leave you?”
“Two weeks,” Lilly said shortly. “I’ll call you Monday.”
Lilly excused herself and went upstairs to splash water on her face and collect herself. When she rejoined the party, everyone was now in the living room without cards. TJ and his sons had joined them.
“Hello Zeke, Zachary.” Lilly noticed their worn-out look. “Would you fellas like some cocoa and cinnamon toast?”
Zachary didn’t answer but took her hand. Zeke nodded and followed. The cocoa was only lukewarm, but they drank it gratefully Zachery looked at the cinnamon toast but wouldn’t try it. Zeke ate his piece and then took Zachery’s. Zachery whined, then grabbed it, then fell asleep mid-bite. Zeke climbed on her lap and started to doze.
“TJ?” Lilly called quietly.
Tony and TJ came into the kitchen.
TJ said, “You have a friend for life.” He picked up Zachery while Tony took Zeke. They left to walk around the block. Lilly rejoined Frank and Debbie in the living room. They stood to leave when Tony returned.
Frank said, “Lil, I suppose I’ll be seeing you.”
“It was nice meeting you, Debbie.”
Tony followed them out. Debbie got in the car.
Frank turned to Tony. “You better tell Pops soon. They know something’s up.”
“I’m going to Yonkers tomorrow.”
He returned to find Lilly cleaning in slow motion.
“Lilly, where have you been since the phone call?”
“I suppose in Saint Croix. Carolyn has offered me the job now.”
“Now?” He stayed behind her. “When are you leaving?”
Lilly kept her eyes on the glasses she was carrying. “I have to get back to her on Monday. I left it pretty much up in the air.”
She washed the dishes, feeling the silence like a wedge between them. He put the records away very slowly, keeping his thoughts contained. She followed him to bed. They undressed on their own sides of the bed. They lay silently in bed, not touching. She could feel his restlessness and knew he’d be getting back up to watch TV.
Lilly blurted, “I don’t want to go. Not now. That’s if you want me to stay. I mean you’re leaving in two weeks, anyway.”
Tony sat up, “Lil, I don’t want you to go. I want you to stay with me. Don’t you know that? Do you think when I say I love you, I’m kidding you?”
“No, no. It’s just … I don’t know. You’re going soon, and I want you to go. Not that I really want you to go, but I know this is important to you. This is something you’ll always have and remember. So, I’ll go to Saint Croix then. I couldn’t stay here, sleeping in your bed without you.”
“Sleep in my bed with me now,” he said, kissing her face and down her body.
The next morning they walked north through all the neighborhoods of Manhattan. By the time they reached Riverside, they saw people arriving at churches. They rated the church-going ladies.
The Presbyterians had the most fashionable ensembles. The Catholics appeared most God-fearing. The Episcopalians were the most ordinary-looking people.
Tony told Lilly he was going to his parents that afternoon. “I’m going to tell them about us.”
“Do you want me to come?” She offered half-heartedly.
“No. It would be better if I did it. I’m not sure of their response.”
“I’ll call Eileen. I want to visit her,” Lilly said easily.
Tony studied her and then asked, “Do you think you could have a job in September?”
Lilly answered, misunderstanding, “Sure, I’ll be there in September. Do you think you might visit me after the trail?”
Tony stopped walking, “Lillibelle, do you remember when we first planned to walk the trail? You were so enthused.”
“Yes.”
“Why don’t you come with me?”
“On the trail? Springer to Katahdin? Two thousand miles? Alone with you? May, June, July and August.” She said counting on her fingers. “Oh, I don’t know. Let me think about it.”
They resumed walking.
Lilly said, “I don’t even own a sleeping bag or a knapsack, or anything. Let me think. How much did equipment cost?”
“My equipment cost about four hundred, but you won’t need a tent or a burner stove. I could help you with money.”
“Tony, I don’t know if I could carry a pack every day. Sometimes my shoulder still hurts.”
“I was thinking about that. I think you could carry twenty pounds. We could build up the shoulder strap with padding and maybe use a belt to keep the weight lower.”
Lilly walked along smiling. She said, “Tomorrow, tomorrow if I can carry your pack with twenty-five pounds. Let’s walk the really hilly sections of Yonkers. If I can carry it and not get a terrible shoulder ache, I’ll go.”
Tony watched the idea grow on her.
Lilly bubbled, “You have a tree identification book and a wildflower and bird book. I’ll need a harmonica, maybe two, a little marine band, and a chromatic. The chromatic will be expensive, about seventy-five dollars.”
She became more serious. “I’m glad you asked me, even if I can’t go.”
Tony said, “Belle, you’ll come with me.”
Tito called as soon as they arrived home. Lilly answered and recognized his voice.
“Tony?” Tito hollered as Lilly lifted the receiver off the hook.
“I’ll get him,” Lilly said in a falsely deep voice. She put down the phone as if it had farted. She mouthed, “Your father.”
She was suddenly afraid of Tito and Isabel. She heard Tito holler in his phone voice, “Tony?”
“Pops.”
“Who’s the girl?”
“Pops, are you going to be home today?”
“Yeah. You coming? Your mother wants to see you.”
“Sure, Pops. I’ll be there soon.”
“Bring the girl.”
“No. That’s what I want to talk to you about, Pops. I’ll see you soon.”
Lilly called Eileen, but her family was going to a christening.
Eileen said, “I’ll be home by three. Will you come then? I’ve got some exciting news.”
“Me, too. I’ll be there at three.”
It was decided they would go to Yonkers separately.
Tony teased lightly, “I’ll watch the game at Pops and give you hens a chance to cackle.”
“Hens cackle, humph! That’s while you cocks watch grown men running around in circles after hitting a ball with a stick.”
“Don’t get your dander up, Irish.” Tony left.
Lilly was dazed by the enormity of the decision she faced. She tried to take a logical course, weighing the pros and cons, but after a short while the pros and cons blurred. She paced the living room.
Things were going even more turbulently for Tony. He arrived at his parents in time for one p. m. dinner. Tanta sat mumbling to herself on the sofa, while Joe, Nick, and Tito sat arguing about the Yankee rotation. Isabel and Joe’s wife, Rafiel, raced around putting food on the table. Tony sat with Tanta, appalled by the senility of his grandmother.
Isabel approached him, “Tony where have you been? You got yourself a girl? Why didn’t you bring her? You ashamed of us?”
“No, Ma, nothing like that,” Tony said helping Tanta to her feet and leading her to the table.
Tito looked up to him. “Tony, what do you think? I say they’re going to keep Mercer and Pinella and trade Roy White.”
Tony said, “They can’t trade Roy White unless he approves.”
“Baseball players with tenure,” Nick said in disgust.
Tito said, “Who’s this girlfriend? Where is she from?”
“Pops, we’ll talk later.”
Rafiel said, “You’re right Joe. She’s black.”
“What?” Tony said.
“If not Black, she’s Puerto Rican, or maybe some Oriental type,” Joe said.
“Joe, you have some imagination.” Tony turned to Nick. “Do you think Billy Martin will be coming back?”
“Why not? Comebacks are in style.” Nick smiled knowingly.
Tito said, “Frank said you’re going to let your girlfriend use your warehouse. Are you still going to go?”
“Yes, I’m going. Ma, when does Tanta go back to the doctor? She seems worse.”
Isabel said, “Doctors, what do they know? They’ll give her more pills, but that makes her worse. She wets herself and doesn’t even know it. She says her stomach’s sick. Mama, eat. It’s shells. You always liked my shells.”
The men stayed seated to watch the game. Frank arrived after the first inning, getting a plate of shells.
Tony ignored him, trying to think of a way to get his parents alone.
Frank said to Tony, “Debbie has been talking about the museum since yesterday. It really impressed her.”
“Museum?” Joe asked.
“We went to the Guggenheim yesterday. Then we had a picnic in Central Park.”
“You and Tony?” Joe asked.
“Me and Debbie and Tony and …” Frank caught himself.
Tito asked, “Is your girlfriend going to watch your place?”
“No, Pops,” Tony answered.
Frank said, “She might go with him.”
Tito said, “An Amazon? Tarzan and Jane?”
“No, Pops. Drop it.”
Tony remained motionless, never lifting his eyes from the screen. Frank
sat back, embarrassed by having almost betrayed his brother. A charitable-appeal commercial came on the TV.
“The Cambodians. That’s really something,” Frank said.
A moment passed before Isabel rushed to Tito. They exchanged a look, and Tito jumped up.
“Lilly? Lilly! You’re with Lilly?”
Tony’s jaw dropped. He was speechless.
Tito sputtered a bit. “Lilly? But how? She’s in Cambodia.”
“How did you know she went to Cambodia?” Tony asked.
“The nurse, her roommate, told us,” Isabel supplied.
“What nurse?”
“At the hospital. When your father was there so long last year. Carly, her roommate from nursing school. We got a letter she wrote.”
“Lilly! That witch left you once,” Tito interrupted.
“Pops don’t call her names. What letter, Ma?”
“She wrote a letter to Carly’s sister. It was so sad. Carly gave it to us.”
“To you. I have no part of a whore who leaves her husband.”
“Pops that’s enough,” Tony said evenly.
Isabel ran to the bedroom, came back panting, and handed Tony a letter. Tony considered it and then put it in his pocket.
“I’ll give it to her, Ma.”
Isabel asked, “Is she all right. She sounded so sad and hurt in the letter.”
“She’s fine, Ma. She spent twenty months there. It was very difficult. She cares about people a lot.”
“She’s a nurse, a real nurse. She’d be a good nurse.”
Tito said, “I won’t have you talk about her. Don’t bring her here.”
Isabel took a step back and said to Tony, “I want to see her.”
Tony looked at his father. “Ma, tomorrow no …” He remembered the decision Lilly had promised. “Tuesday, we’ll take you out to dinner. I’ll pick you up after work.”
Tito said, “No Isabel. You do not go.”
Isabel looked flustered. “I want to see her.”
Joe said, “She’s going for that walk with you in the mountains?”
“Maybe, I don’t know.” Tony knew he had spoken too soon. “She might go to Saint Croix. She has a job there. It was all settled then …”
“Where is Saint Croix?” Isabel asked.
“Saint Croix is a Caribbean Island, one of the U. S. Virgin Islands.”
Tito snorted. Tony looked at Nick.
A Yonkers Kinda Girl Page 36