The Proverbial Mr. Universe

by Maria La Serra

  She paused and looked out the door, making sure Nick was still outside, before continuing.

  “But there’s more. Over the years, Beth not only refused Greg any relationship with his sons, she also refused any financial help from him. Over the years Greg made good money and put some aside for the boys. Even though Beth never accepted it, the money was there for them. That’s how Dan has the bar and Nick has his condo.”

  “But I don’t understand, you said …”

  “The boys think they’re borrowing the money from me and paying me back slowly, but it’s their own money their using.”

  Olivia shook her head. “Why wouldn’t you tell the truth?”

  “Nick wouldn’t take the money if I did.”

  “So why are you telling me this?”

  “I feel you can help me straighten this mess. See, my dear, if there is one thing you need to know about my grandson it’s that he is quite proud. When he decides to close that door, you can be sure he won’t ever open it.”

  Olivia looked away, trying to process this whole secret that been shared, and now there were two things she was keeping from Nick.

  “I’m an old woman with a shortage of time. There is nothing more I would love than to see my son and his boys together.”

  “So what is it that you want me to do?”

  “I think Nick would listen to you.”

  “Me?” Olivia shook her head “No, Nick won’t listen, not to me and not to anyone.”

  “What won’t I listen to?” Nick said as he appeared in the doorway.

  “Moving to Knowlton.” She smiled with ease.

  “Nana, as much as I love it here, you know I need to be in the city.”

  “I know, but it would be nice for my grandsons to be close by,” she winked at Olivia.

  “I’m going to get my bag from the car,” Olivia said.

  “Wait, I’ll go and get it,” Nick said.

  “No, stay. You have a lot of catching up to do with your grandmother.” She gave Nick a quick kiss on the cheek before heading down the hall. From the distance she could still hear them talking.

  “She’s wonderful, Nick.”

  “She is, isn’t she? Someday I’m going to marry that girl. It would be nice knowing that every time she leaves the room, she’ll come right back to me.”

  Nick could hear the music of a live band flowing from Olivia’s parents’ backyard. What did he know about Italian music, except for Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin?

  “Wait, was Dean Martin even Italian?”

  “Yes, his parents were.” Olivia frowned. “But they’re not Italian singers, they’re American.” She smiled.

  He shrugged. “I like this tune. Who sings this song?” Nick pulled her into his arms and began swaying from side to side, but the song didn’t sound like music that you could slow dance to. He didn’t care. It was just an excuse for his hands to caress her curves. It was a good thing they were alone on the side of the house, hidden by the trees, far from anyone’s eyes.

  “‘Canzone,’ by Lucio Dalla.” She smiled as she sang a few words to him. Nick had no idea what they meant, but it sounded quite sexy.

  “That’s pretty good.” He smiled at her.

  She laughed. “Yeah? Should I quit my day job?” She looked stunning in a white cotton dress. He liked it when she wore her hair in a ponytail. All the small hairs stood up as though she was charged with current.

  “Are you ready to meet the rest of the gang?”

  “You sure this is what you want?” he said, holding onto Olivia’s hands.

  She searched his eyes. If she looked carefully enough, she’d see how scared he was of losing her. If Olivia’s father didn’t accept him, that would be a definite possibility.

  “More than anything else. We’re together and my family is a big part of my life, but so are you. If you guys love me, then you’ll find a way to get along.”

  “One big happy family, huh?” Nick’s hands naturally went around her waist.

  She kissed him before they walked into full view of everyone. He knew by the amount of cars parked in front of the house and street there was going to be several people, but this was insane. He could barely get around without bumping into anyone or stopping to be introduced to some cousin of a cousin.

  “An artist? That’s interesting.”

  “Yes, I mostly paint abstract art.”

  “How old are you?”

  “Twenty-six.”

  “Oh, you’re a little younger than Dario.”

  It was going to be a long night. Where was the alcohol? Ha! Nick gave up alcohol long before he went into heart failure. Besides, it wasn’t recommended and on page six of the “Life After a Transplant” pamphlet, under the heading: COMMIT TO A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, it said: no alcohol. He was even the proud owner of a medical alert bracelet that he refused to wear because he hated when people kept asking him questions about it. The night wouldn’t be half-bad if he wasn’t constantly being compared to Dario by people with high social standings.

  “Where’s the birthday boy?” Nick asked when he was reunited with Olivia.

  At some point they got separated in the crowd.

  “My dad? That’s a good question. He was just here a minute ago.” She glanced around.

  Nick never told her about the time her father came to his studio. There was no point. It was one time only and he never saw him again. He didn’t want to cause any friction between Olivia and her father. Whatever issues they had were between Nick and James.

  “Here, let me take them off your hands,” Nick said as he reached for the gift boxes piled up in her arms.

  “Where do you want me to bring them?”

  “You can place them anywhere inside.”

  Inside the house Nick unexpectedly found James standing half in the shadows, watching the party from the kitchen window.

  “Mr. Montiano, is everything okay?”

  “Nick?” He paused. “It’s just this confusion … the noise … the music … it’s bothering me.”

  “Is there anything I can get you? Should I get Olivia?”

  “No, no. I’m fine. I just need a minute.”

  He motioned for him to sit at the kitchen table. Nick was a bit apprehensive since their last conversation,

  “Some party.” Nick sat in a chair across from him.

  “You think? This was my wife’s idea. I’m not much for this kind of thing. I would have been happy enjoying a plate of pasta, surrounded by my family.”

  He made Nick smile.

  James looked out his patio door. “Sixty-six years. Where does the time go?” He shook his head.

  “Sixty-six? You don’t look a day over twenty-five.” Nick smiled.

  James waved his hand in the air. “A young twenty-two.” He smiled back at Nick.

  For a moment it seemed the awkwardness disappeared into the music and laughter in the background.

  “I met my wife, Lorena, in 1967 when I was nineteen. I was sitting in my car, waiting for my mother to finish work, when I saw Lorena come from around the corner … What a vision! She left me breathless. I don’t know what it was, but at that precise moment I thought to myself, ‘I need that girl in my life or I will surely die.’” He smiled and looked at Nick. “Well, needless to say I got the girl and the kids came much later. It was devastating for Lorena when we first learned we weren’t able to have children. I was thirty-six when we had Nina. Paul and Olivia came later. I guess the doctors were wrong.” James removed his glasses and carefully folded them.

  “We have been married for forty-four years. We had some ups and downs, but through it all we managed to stay together. See, it lasted this long because I believe we were cut from the same cloth. Same beliefs, same heritage, same values.” He paused to look at Nick, who decided to remain quiet in his chair. “I suppose you think this has nothing to do with you, but it all has to do with you and Olivia. Everything is so easy for you young ones. Everyone thinks it’s forever until things get tough.
See, love can only get you so far. There are other things to sustain a relationship: trust, security, safety, and dependability. If you don’t start with that, then what are you going to end up with?” He paused. “If the foundation of the relationship is not strong from the beginning, then with any small bruise the walls will inevitably shake and crumble down all around you. What I am trying to say is that your relationship is built on shaky ground. You two are very different on so many levels. On top of that, you have your issues with your health. What sort of outcome are expecting from all this? What kind of future do you have together?”

  “Well, sir…” he cleared his throat “…I know you have some concerns about my health, but I assure you—”

  “What can you assure me? It’s not your health I’m worried about. My fears is that my daughter will be tied to you.” He pointed at him. “What will happen if you get severely sick? How will you support yourselves financially? Olivia is used to a particular lifestyle. What kind of life would that be for her?”

  Nick didn’t need James Montgomery to remind him. The fear of a relapse always overshadowed his future, and he loved her too much to put her through something like that.

  “I’m running out of time, son. I need to know she will be taken care of. I’m not sure you’re the right person.”

  “And you think Dario is?” Nick snapped his eyes up.

  “No. I have come to realized that Dario might not be the person I thought him to be.”

  James calmly played with his glasses between his fingers. “At some point you have to understand where I’m coming from. I’ve loved Olivia since the day she was born. I’ll love her every minute, up to my very last breath I will take. I can tell you you’ll never experience that kind of love until you have children. I can only hope she meets a man who is worthy of her. Someone who will love her and respect her and will take care of her like I do. And you must know, I have great shoes to fill.” He narrowed his eyes at him. “Do you think you are capable of filling my shoes, Mr. Montgomery?” he asked.

  “No, sir … I mean, I don’t believe that any man is capable. But I love your daughter, sir.”

  His eyes softened. “Maybe so, or maybe this is not love. Maybe it’s just some infatuation,” he murmured. “Love is more than something you feel, son. More than indulging yourself for the moment. Loving someone means putting someone above your needs, and it also means letting go when needed.” James leaned in closer.

  Nick got that James Montiano might never accept him, but in the long run did it even matter? He felt ashamed that thought came to mind. But he wasn’t a bad person. He did deserve Olivia. He wasn’t going to walk away from the woman he loved, and James Montiano needed to accept that. Nick got up slowly from his chair.

  “I feel there is something else I should tell you, but I’m not sure it’s my place to do so.”

  “Is it something that has to do with Olivia?”

  “Yes, it always has something to do with Olivia.”

  The mood of the party transformed into something else once the sun went down. It was a festival of lights. The candles inside the mason jars lit up the walkway from the house to the gazebo and all along the perimeters of the dance floor. Olivia was sitting underneath the gazebo when Nick finally joined their little group. She studied him for a moment. Something didn’t seem right. She could tell from the depths of his eyes that he wanted to talk, but then his eyes shifted to Paul.

  “Hey, Nick,” Paul said. “Can I get you a beer or something?”

  “Water would be good, thanks,”

  “I assume you can’t drink alcohol?” Paul opened the cooler beside him and pitched a bottle to Nick.

  “Let’s just say it’s better that I don’t.”

  Paul’s eyebrows knitted together. “Olivia tells me you take a shit load of pills.”

  Nick shrugged. “Well, it’s a small penance. At least I’m alive.”

  “No kidding.”

  Nick looked over at Elise and smiled. “When are you due?”

  “Three more months.” She rubbed her hand on the length of her stomach. “But I’m ready to have my baby boy right now.” Elise laughed.

  “No, it’s okay. I can wait.” The perspiration forming at the edge of Paul’s hairline made Olivia wonder if Paul was more stressed out then he claimed. Maybe it was the summer heat.

  Nick frowned. “Are you alright, bro?”

  “Not really. Since the day we found out that we were expecting, I’ve been waking up at night in a cold sweat.” Paul smiled nervously as Elise settled a gentle hand on his arm.

  “He’s worried that he won’t be good at it … at being a father.”

  Olivia knew that Paul had been a little apprehensive, probably because the pregnancy was not planned and Paul had to grow up and be responsible for the first time in his life. Now he had a family to take care of.

  “Well, if you ask me, you’re doing all right. I know nothing about being a father, but your anxiety only proves you’ve taken the first step in becoming a father.” Nick tapped Paul’s shoulder. “I would be more concerned if you weren’t worried.”

  Seeing Nick interact with her brother made Olivia feel warm and content, an overwhelming feeling that this might work out for them and everyone would see how kind and lovable Nick is.

  “Somebody hide me,” Nina said as she climbed the steps of the gazebo.

  “Is Mrs. Simon talking your ear off again?” Paul smiled.

  “I swear that lady has more stories to tell than Walt Disney,” Nina said.

  Nick got up and offered his chair to Nina and then came over to stand next to Olivia.

  “Where’s Peter?” Olivia asked.

  “He’s upstairs putting Anthony to bed.”

  “Wow, look at Uncle Dominic go. He’s really burning up the dance floor.” Paul laughed.

  They looked back at the sixty-year-old man busting awkward moves on the dance floor, so much so that people around him began to move away.

  Olivia glanced up, but Nick carefully avoided her eyes until she tugged on his hand, forcing him to look down at her. She stood up to pull Nick down into her chair so she could sit on his lap, placing her arms around his neck. He was careful where he placed his hands.

  “Are you okay?” Olivia searched his face, but she couldn’t read him.

  “Yeah, sure.”

  “Oh … oh … don’t look now,” Nina said in a half-whisper, which made them all turn.

  Olivia was sure she went whiter than her outfit. Dario, who was overly dressed for a hot and humid garden party, walked towards them, so self-assured in every step he took.

  Paul looked back at his sister. “Don’t look at me. I didn’t invite him. I don’t know how much more of him I can deal with. It’s bad enough I’ve got to work with the asshole all week.”

  Before Olivia could comment, Dario was in front of them. She felt Nick’s body tense underneath her, and she wondered if this was the reason he seemed so distant and cold towards her. She was afraid that Dario had got to him at some point in the evening, and told him about the kiss they shared in his condo. She should have told Nick, but what was the use of him getting upset? What was the use of Nick judging her, because she had no business being there in the first place?

  “Buonasera,” Dario said in greeting. Olivia could feel his eyes burning her, but she didn’t look in Dario’s direction. Instead, she kept her eyes on Nick. The group low mumbles, indicating it was just as awkward for them as it was for her. Nick finally looked at her with a weak smile, evidence he was not pleased with the turn of events.

  Paul handed Dario a Corona, and Olivia’s ex found a spot leaning on the wooden railing across from her.

  “Hey, Nick, I didn’t think you were going to be here tonight,” Dario said, like he just saw him for the first time.

  “Likewise,” Nick replied.

  Olivia didn’t like where this was going. Everyone remained silent, shifting uncomfortably in their chairs.

  “Nick, I love you
r tattoo. Is it a compass?” Nina asked in some attempt to change the air.

  “Oh cool, you got a tattoo.” Dario raised the bottle to his lips as Nick looked up at him, trying to figure out if it was sarcasm.

  Olivia knew better. Dario hated tattoos. He thought the people who had them were beneath him. Olivia thought it was sexy, especially since it had some personal meaning. Nick had once told her he got the tattoo on the inside of his forearm long ago. He chose a simple style of compass: thin lines, three circles overlapping each other, and the axis in the middle. He told her every time he looked down at it, it was a reminder of where he had been and where he needed to be, almost like a spiritual compass.

  “Do you have one, Olivia?” Elise asked.

  Before Olivia could get a chance to answer, Dario took the opportunity to speak. “Oh, are you kidding me? Olivia would never get one.”

  Olivia pretended not to hear. “No, I don’t have one, but I love the white tattoos. Something small behind my neck,”

  “What kind of tattoo would you get?”

  “Olivia’s too afraid of needles,” Dario interrupted.

  “Why don’t you let her speak for herself,” Nick said in a protective tone that made everyone in the gazebo look up, as if it was inevitable that Nick and Dario would get into a scuffle.

  Dario gave a cocky shrug. “No offense, Nick, but I seem to know Olivia a hell of a lot better than you do, seeing how I’ve been with her the longest.”

  “You must like it don’t you? You think you still have some pull on her.” Nick gently removed Olivia’s legs from his lap and stood up. “That’s why you’re here. That’s why you won’t sell the apartment.”

  “I’m here because I was invited. Like it or not, I’m still apart of the family and apart of Olivia’s life.”

  “Nick, please let’s just go.” Olivia, not able to get Nick’s attention, turned back to Paul, who was now standing. She was so afraid this situation was getting out of hand.

  “Nick, I need your help.” Nina tried to defuse the situation. “Come with me to the garage. I need more chairs for the guests.”