Tony looked almost amused. "Lydia?"
"Yeah, Lydia. She's mine."
Tony laughed, shaking his head. "We've never had the same taste in women before, Will. Why worry now?"
Reed walked toward him. "I told you. I want her. And I don't want to have to go up against you."
"All right then, she's yours," Tony said, in a tone emphasizing how ridiculous this conversation was. "So, why don't you go chase after her and tell her that?"
Reed's jaw grew rigid. "Go ahead and make fun. But I want your word you'll stay away from her."
Now Tony's expression hardened, and for a moment the two of them just stared at one another. Then Tony turned to leave.
"Don't you dare walk out on this!" Reed shouted. "Not without giving me your word. I know you!"
Tony slapped the wall, the sound echoing like a gunshot, and swung back around. "You don't know me! You know someone you grew up with! And you've got no right to ask me anything! So don't go giving me this shit! You understand?"
Reed's anger quickly turned to regret, and lowering his eyes then, he swallowed hard. That was the first time Tony had ever thrown that up to him. "I'm sorry. I know. I just..."
Tony held his hands up. This had gone beyond apologies. Walking out, he left Reed standing there with a closed door between them.
Chapter Twelve
Lydia stopped for a short visit with her father and got to the beach house just after dark. He’d upset her with his vague memory and lack of concern over the checkbook error, and she was racing inside. She poured a Scotch and downed it quickly, changed into a bathing suit, and went out and swam three laps before coming up for air. Then the phone rang.
She dove back underwater in hopes it would stop before she resurfaced. It didn’t. She got out, dried herself off, and went inside to answer it. Only Sharon would let it ring this many times.
“Did you just get home?”
“No, I was out in the pool giving my buoyant boobs a float test.”
Sharon laughed, though she never could understand Lydia’s hang-up about being busty, particularly since she was a little on the flat-chested side herself. “I’m going to kill Brian. I’ve got it all planned.”
“That’s nice.”
“Come on, how come you don’t believe me? I’ve been practicing that delivery for hours.”
“You try too hard. What did he do this time?”
“He said it was done to him.”
“God…gag me!”
“No, not that,” Sharon said, laughing. “Worse. He’s ruining my plans for next weekend.”
Lydia played along. “Okay, where were you supposed to go?”
“You mean you can’t sense it?”
“I can sense I’m about to hang up.”
“Okay, I’ll tell you. We were supposed to go down the coast, and now he tells me we’re off. All because he has some distant cousin coming in from New York.”
“That’s it?”
“Yeah! Isn’t that enough?”
“More than enough! You’re right, kill him! Only torture him first!”
Sharon laughed. “I really wanted to go though. I know! Why don’t you come with me? We’ll have a blast!”
“No, that’s okay. I’m having a blast here.”
“How are things going?”
Lydia sighed. “I couldn’t tell you if I took all night.”
“Then let’s do it tomorrow. We’ll start early. I’ll bring over some lobsters and we’ll boil the little suckers.”
“All right. But make it late. I want to spend some time with my dad.”
“How’s he doing?”
“Not well. It scares me, you know.” Lydia stared off, thinking about him. “But let’s not get into that. I’ll see you tomorrow. I’ll make some pasta and garlic bread or something to go with the lobster. Come around six.”
The next morning, Lydia finally went about getting settled in. She put all her clothes away, straightened up a little, did some laundry, and took a walk on the beach, then left to go see her father.
Halfway there, she decided to swing by the plant for the checkbooks, thinking maybe if she had them with her, it would help jog his memory. Turning down the parkway however, she remembered just how spooky the plant was when empty and was just about to change her mind, when she noticed two cars parked by the back entrance. One was Tony’s.
She parked next to them, ran a comb through her hair, then got out and went to unlock the door, when suddenly it opened from inside. She jumped back. “Damn! Scare the hell out of my, why don’t you! You almost gave me a heart attack!”
Bill laughed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“What are you here on a Saturday for anyway? Don’t you have a lawn to mow or something?”
Bill laughed again. “One of the Mayfrans went down. We have to get it running before first shift on Monday. I’m going to pick up a part now. We had it flown in.”
“Wouldn’t they deliver it?”
“Sure, Monday. But that would be too late. It’s going to take a while to put it back together.”
Lydia waved. “Then go. Don’t let me hold you up.”
Bill nodded, smiling, and motioned to the door. “Lock it after you go in.”
Lydia turned, looking hesitant.
“Don’t worry, you’re not alone,” Bill said, walking around to his car. “Tony’s up at the other end.”
Oh great, Lydia thought, I’m alone with a voluntary manslaughterer. I feel so safe now. “Um, when will you be back?”
“An hour or so.”
When Bill pulled out, Lydia went inside, locking the door behind her. She took the back way through the shop, tiptoeing as she rounded the machining area, and was just starting up the stairs when she heard a loud noise.
“Son of a bitch!” Tony shouted.
Lydia froze, sucking her breath in. What if he was hurt? She took a step back, listening for a moment. Nothing. She counted to ten. Still nothing. And ever so reluctantly then, she went to check on him.
She crept around the end machine, edged up close to it, and took a peek first. He was done on one knee, bent to the side with his back to her, bare from the waist up. “Tony?”
He stopped what he was doing, swearing he heard something, and listened for a second, then bent back down.
Lydia walked toward him. “Tony, are you okay?”
He turned and seeing who it was, nodded and smiled. “What are you doing here?”
“I came in for the checkbooks,” she said, as if he had the right to ask and she had to answer him. “I’m taking them over to my dad’s.”
Tony nodded, looking at her, and Lydia couldn’t have felt more self-conscious standing there if she tried. It was bad enough that he always made her nervous, let alone being in this situation with him.
“So, um…” She decided she’d ask a casual question or two and get out of there fast. “Do you think you’ll have it fixed by Monday?” Only, she looked anything but casual, staring straight ahead like a statue.
Tony seemed amused. “Do you have a stiff neck?” he asked.
Lydia smiled, in spite of his cockiness. “No, I was trying not to stare at you. You’re half-naked,” she said, running her eyes down over his shoulders, chest and stomach. “And built rather well I might add. It’s hard not to stare.”
Now it was Tony’s turn to feel somewhat self-conscious. He even blushed a little, which surprised Lydia. Then he stood up, using the machine for balance as he pushed down on his right knee. “I’ll get my shirt,” he said.
It was lying on a table about ten feet away, and as he walked over, Lydia struggled to close her gaped mouth before he turned back around. “Well,” she said, managing, but speaking in a voice she would have sworn wasn’t hers. “Not that you’re decent, how did it go after I left yesterday?”
“Come Monday, we’ll see,” Tony said, walking back. “I have a feeling we lost at least eight. The paper’s full of ads this morning, so I imagine we’
ll have some calling in sick so they can go check them out.”
“I hope they leave quickly, because like I said, I don’t have much…”
“Monday will tell. And if not, we’ll force it Tuesday.”
Lydia watched him finish buttoning his shirt. His hands were greasy so he was being careful. When he looked up, she glanced down the aisle. “Um, are you going to be all right without anyone around?”
Tony nodded, just looking at her. And again, she glanced away. “I wouldn’t want you getting hurt, here alone and all…”
Tony crossed his arms, smiling. “Why, Miss Lydia, are you trying to tell me you care?”
Lydia blushed modestly. “Please don’t call me that. And yes, I care. You’d probably sue me.”
Tony’s eyes softened. “Oh, I don’t know about that. Though I might be tempted to settle for your first born.”
Lydia swallowed, feeling her face get warm. “Um…” She drew a breath. “It’s really nice of you to come in on a Saturday, especially since I cut your pay.”
Tony smiled, then turned and got back down on one knee to continue working on the machine. “I can wait for the money. But just for the record, I’ve been here since yesterday.”
Lydia studied his profile. “Reed was right when he sang your praises.”
Tony’s shoulders tightened.
“Um, can I get you something to eat?”
Tony looked up. “No, that’s okay. But thanks. Bill’s picking up something on the way back.”
Lydia nodded, then asked, “What do you know about him?”
“All I need to,” Tony said, trying to get his other knee to bend. It wouldn’t cooperate though, so he stood up slowly. “He’s a good worker.”
“You make it sound as if that’s all that matters.”
Tony looked into her eyes. “That’s because here, that is all that matters.” He stepped back and wincing a little, pointed over her shoulder. “It works a lot better if they leave everything else right out there.”
Lydia smiled, then fearing she might’ve been staring again, turned slightly. “Well, I have to go get the checkbooks.”
Tony watched her walk all the way down to the end of the aisle. When she was about to make the turn she looked back at him. He just nodded, smiling, and she waved.
* * *
Her father was in the garden when she arrived, fussing over the roses her mother had planted. “Oh, Lydia, dear. I didn’t know you were coming by.”
“No, and I like it that way,” Lydia said, hugging him tightly.
“Come sit with me on the glider,” John said. Once seated, he patted her hand. “Aren’t mother’s roses just beautiful this year?”
Lydia nodded. “Yes, they are.”
John smiled distantly.
“Did you eat a good breakfast, Dad?”
John sighed. “I had some toast.” Eating wasn’t important. “The Sweethearts are especially colorful this year, don’t you think?”
Lydia only glanced at them. She was more concerned with how he looked. He had bags under his eyes and was paler than usual. “Weren’t those Mom’s favorites?”
John nodded, and in doing so, dislodged a tear which trickled down his cheek. “She used to have a nickname for them. Do you remember what it was?”
Lydia gazed at them sadly. “Yes, she used to call them, ‘Breaths of Life.’”
John wiped at his eyes, then stood up and walked over to admire them more closely. “I hear your Greg called.”
Lydia didn’t reply, she could only swallow.
“What’s he like?”
Lydia cleared her throat. “Um, he’s very nice.”
“I’d like to meet him.”
“You will.”
“Soon?” John asked, as if there was an urgency to it.
“Yes, very soon, as a matter of fact. He’s coming down for a visit tomorrow, so I’ll bring him by to meet you then.”
John nodded, acknowledging that, then leaned down and sniffed the roses. “They’ve never looked better, don’t you think?”
Lydia drew a deep breath, wanting to scream and yet wanting to cry at the same time. “Yes.”
“I’m having George cut some, so I can take them with me when I visit…”
“Dad, please, stop this! I can’t handle it! I mean it! You have got to stop!”
John looked regretful, but helpless. “I’m sorry, dear. I know how you feel. But everyday…”
Betty came rushing out through the doorway. “What’s all the fussin’ about? You’s in scarin’ me.”
“Yeah, well Dad’s scaring me,” Lydia said.
Betty looked from one to the other, as only she could, scolding them both with her eyes, and John walked back and sat down. “I do so enjoy your visits, dear. I don’t want to drive you away. I just…”
Lydia wrapped her arm around his and leaned against his shoulder. She sighed. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m here to spend the afternoon with you.” But no sooner had she said this than she felt him tense up. She leaned back to look into his eyes. “I know, the roses, you want to take them to Mom.”
“Will you come with me?”
Lydia shook her head. “No, but let’s go inside. I’ve brought some things over I need to talk to you about. You’ll have plenty of time to go after I leave.”
“You’s be hungry, Miss Lydia?” Betty asked with a big smile, happy to see things smoothed over.
“Starved, Betty, All of a sudden I’m starved.”
“Then let me fix you’s something.”
* * *
The checkbooks didn’t help. Her father wasn’t able to remember a thing. He said it so often it started to sound like a chant, and once home, Lydia was barely through the door when she reached for the Scotch.
She downed about three more over the next five hours, swam a good thirty laps, and dozed off in the chaise at least twice. Finally noticing the time, she hurried and cooked some pasta, melted butter to put on it, added Romano cheese, mixed it together and put it in a casserole dish to keep warm. She buttered some bread and sprinkled garlic on it, wrapping it in foil and putting it in the oven to warm also, and was just throwing a salad together when Sharon arrived.
“My God, you look terrible!” Sharon said, plopping the lobsters down on the kitchen counter. “Christ, these lobsters even look better than you do!”
Lydia laughed. “That’s because they haven’t had the week I’ve had.”
“Oh, no doubt!” Sharon said. “They were just caught in a net, separated from their families and thrown in a smelly boat, just so they could be starved nearly to death, and now they’re going to be cooked alive! They’d trade places with you, you know. Look! The poor things even have their hands tied!”
“Oh great!” Lydia said. “Not only have you cheered me up, I’ll never eat lobster again!”
Sharon laughed. “Tell me all about your week, only do it quick. I have to tell you about the fight Brian and I had this morning.”
Lydia poured them both a drink and motioned to the patio. “I don’t want to talk about it. Tell me about the fight.”
“Okay, all that work stuff bores me anyway,” Sharon said, sitting down across from her on one of the chaises. “All except for the parts about my foreman. I’ve been dreaming about him all week and I don’t even know what he looks like.”
Lydia laughed. “Did you wake up bent over the bed every morning?”
“Now that you mention it, I did wake up in some pretty odd positions!”
Lydia pushed at her, laughing. “Come on, tell me about the fight.”
Sharon got comfortable. “Well, it all started when I called him. I was trying to get him to reconsider next weekend.”
“Does this mean I don’t have to go now? Damn, and I was giving it serious thought.”
“Very cute. But it’s going to backfire on you, because he still won’t do. And now we’re finished, kaput!”
Lydia sipped her drink. “I find that hard to believe. Especially t
he way you brag about his extraordinary talents.”
Sharon made a face. “Boy, you are in rare form. But listen, I’m not done. We really are finished this time. I told him I never want to see him again.”
“I’ll bet you call him in less than a day.”
“Nah, maybe two.”
“You’ve got not pride! He waves his magic wand and you come running!”
“And let no one get in my way!” Sharon said, laughing. “Now come on, be quiet so I can finish telling you what happened.”
Lydia rolled her eyes. “For what? You’re gonna make me listen to you all night about this so-called firth, then call me tomorrow and tell me you two made up, and providing more detail than I care to hear, I might add.” She laughed.
“You’re such a prude!”
“Not quite. I just don’t get into these graphic play-by-play descriptions of yours.”
Sharon laughed. “Just you wait, little miss never-had-the-earth-move. You’re going to fall so hard one of these days, we’re going to have to have you operated on to uncross your eyes.”
“Oh Christ! I can hardly wait!”
Laughing, giggling, and kicking their feet, they carried on until their sides hurt. Just when it seemed as if they were about to run down, Lydia pointed to the kitchen counter. “Oh shit!” she said, trying to sound serious. “One of the lobsters is looking at me and I think its eyes are crossed!” That started them laughing all over again.
Finally, out of exhaustion and hunger, they cooked the lobsters, set the table out on the patio, and sat down to eat. “So now’s my foreman?” Sharon asked, stuffing her mouth full.
“What is it with you? Why is he so goddamned fascinating?”
Sharon shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe it was the look on your face when you told me about him.”
Lydia assumed a stoney-faced expression. “I had no look.”
Sharon laughed. “You can do that now, but back when you first told me about him…” She shook her head.
“You’re imagining things.”
“Oh? Afraid he might make somebody’s earth move?”
“No…”
Sharon touched her forehead theatrically. “I’m sensing doubt.”
Call Me Lydia Page 16