Call Me Lydia

by MaryAnn Myers

  "No, I’ll have the red snapper," he said, reaching over and touching the collar on Lydia's dress. "And a side order of lobster and shrimp to share with my date."

  Tony shifted his weight and glanced off, but in doing so, caught a glimpse of Bob's hand as he let it slide down the side of Lydia's breast.

  Lydia seemed not to have noticed, but right after that, picked up her purse and excused herself. "I need to go to the little girls’ room."

  Tony downed the rest of his beer, waiting until she walked away. Then he propped his elbow on the table and motioned for Bob to lean in close and listen up. "If you touch her like that one more time," he said, "I'm going to break your arm off at the elbow and shove it up your ass. You got that?"

  Bob just stared for a second. Tony stared right back. Then Bob kind of nodded, gulping, and Tony sat back.

  Reed quickly tried to smooth things over. "You have to understand, Bob, we've all been having a contests of sorts over her, and Tony here seems to be in front right now and just a little possessive. I mean, we hate the bitch, but you gotta want her."

  Bob cleared his throat nervously, nodding again, and when Lydia returned, he was careful to keep his hands to himself for quite a while. During dinner, two more rounds of drinks were ordered, and just before dessert, another. Bob was starting to slur his words a little, all eyes again, rambling about, and Lydia appeared to be totally fascinated with every­thing he had to say.

  "What's this information you have for me, Bob?" she asked, leaning into his arm as he fed her a piece of cheesecake.

  "I'd heard something about a possible tax investigation, an audit."

  Lydia leaned in more and pressed her thigh against his. "At Merchant?"

  Bob nodded, lowering his eyes to her breasts, and Reed glanced nervously at Tony, who was watching both of them.

  "How would that affect my selling to you?"

  Bob worked his lips back and forth. "That won't be a problem, as long as there isn't a delay."

  Lydia leaned back and looked at Reed, knowing better than to even glance Tony's way. "I should probably do it. That way, maybe all the strange things that have been happening to me…."

  Reed shook his head, as if she shouldn't be telling anybody this, and Lydia covered her mouth, playing it up. "Oops!"

  "What strange things?" Bob asked.

  Lydia let out a sigh, one that seemed to imply, "I let it slip already so I might as well tell him," and Reed rolled his eyes as she began. "Dead animals have been showing up every­where I go. I'm getting threatening phone calls. People are missing. And uh...then there's my arm." She held it up and looked at it oddly. "It's really been scary."

  Bob hung on her every word, nodding, and she leaned into his arm again, purposely pressing her leg harder against his thigh. "But I feel so much better now, knowing you're going to take all of this off my hands. In fact, I haven't felt this good since I got back from school." She giggled. "Of course, that could simply be because I'm getting drunk."

  Bob smiled, hypnotized, as she edged over even closer now, with her hand to her mouth so Tony and Reed couldn't hear. "And I get so goddamned horny when I'm buzzed."

  Bob licked his lips incessantly, oblivious to the entire restaurant now, let alone anyone else at their table. "Well," he said. "Maybe I can offer some assistance there too."

  Lydia giggled again. "Oh, Bob…. What would Daddy think?"

  Bob shook his head as if it didn't matter, as if nothing mattered, and reached for her hand. "Feel like dancing?"

  When Lydia nodded, Tony leaned forward, about to stop her, but Reed grabbed his arm.

  "Oh don't worry," Lydia said. "You boys can leave if you like. I'm in experienced hands. Besides, any business dis­cussed from here on in is going to be a private matter."

  Reed answered for both of them, having to grip Tony's arm even tighter now. "That's okay. I think we'll stick around anyway, if you don't mind."

  Lydia shrugged. "Suit yourselves," she said. Out on the dance floor, she confided to Bob, "Those two are driving me crazy. I'll be glad when I don't have to deal with them anymore."

  Bob nodded, his arms around her, swaying more from the bourbon than the music, and delved right in, holding her close.

  "I don't trust them," Lydia said in a whisper, as if she was telling a guarded secret. "I don't trust them at all, which is why it feels so good to have someone to lean on."

  "It feels good to be here for you."

  "I've been so scared lately."

  "You don't have to be afraid anymore," Bob said, getting lost in his erection and sounding breathless. "Not anymore."

  Lydia pulled back a little to look into his eyes. "You mean, you can take care of all the scary things?"

  The music stopped. "I'll take care of everything. Don't you worry."

  Lydia felt like throwing up, but managed a somewhat seductive smile. "Then you know about the attempts to scare me?"

  Bob nodded, lowering his eyes to her breasts. "No one'll bother you anymore, I promise."

  Lydia turned slightly to look for Tony, desperately need­ing to make eye contact with him before she could take this any further. But he and Reed were walking toward them, and he wouldn't even look at her. He reached between them and took her by the arm. "Let's go."

  "But..." she stammered, "I'm not ready to go."

  Reed handed her purse to her, mumbling something incoher­ent about "knowing what they were up to and having con­tracts," giving her as anxious a look as she was giving him. She shook her head, trying to let him know she just needed a few more minutes, but he shook his head in return. He was more concerned with the look in Tony's eyes and the way Bob was backing away from him.

  "Come on," Reed urged. "Let's go."

  "But…."

  "It's all right, Lydia," Bob slurred, holding his hands up as he backed up further. "I'll get in touch with you Monday."

  Lydia waved over her shoulder at him, looking like a tipsy socialite being ushered out after one too many champagnes. The night air was sobering. Harsher yet was when she reached for Tony's hand and he pulled away.

  "Tony...?"

  "Just leave me alone. Okay!"

  "But I need to..." She needed to explain. She needed to tell him.

  "I mean it, Lydia. Just get in the goddamned car."

  "I'm sorry. But I had to.

  Tony swung around with fire in his eyes. "You had to?! Oh really! And was what you found out worth it?"

  Lydia nodded, biting at her bottom lip as tears filled her eyes. The tears soon spilled down over her cheeks, and Tony looked away, shaking his head as he ran his fingers through his hair. He couldn't stand seeing her cry. He just couldn't.

  He sighed and put his arms around her and pulled her close. "It's okay...all right. Come on, it's all right. Now what did he say?"

  Lydia looked up at him, wiping her face, wiping tears that wouldn't quit. "He admitted to knowing, Tony." Her voice trembled. "He admitted to knowing. And I think he's behind it all."

  Tony swallowed. "Are you sure?"

  Lydia nodded. "I'm positive."

  Tony stared back at the restaurant, holding her very tight, staring and just thinking, then he motioned Reed over.

  "Take her home and stay with her till I get there."

  Reed all but panicked. "Tony, don't do anything...."

  "Just take her home, Will. All right?"

  Reed nodded, but Lydia refused to let go. She was afraid to let go. "Tony..?."

  He pried her arms from around his waist and nudged her toward Reed. "Go on."

  Lydia looked back from the car. Tony nodded to reassure her. Then he loosened his tie and went back inside. Bob was still at his table, as if he were expecting him.

  Tony sat down and waved the waitress over to order another beer, then leaned forward, with his elbow on the table. "I'll cut right through the shit, Bob," he said. "We both know I've been on the take with Forrester...." He paused here to watch the waitress as she walked toward him. She was pretty,
and when she put his beer down in front of him, he reached up and touched her shoulder. She smiled shyly, obviously flat­tered, and he watched her walk away before turning back to Bob. "But all things considered, I think I can get more out of you."

  When Bob started to object, Tony grabbed him by the wrist. "I had no idea when I got into this just how big it was. And now that I know…."

  Bob pulled his arm free. "You don't know anything. If you did, you'd know I don't need you at all."

  Tony sat back and downed about half his beer, eyeing Bob over the bottle. "Maybe...but I know this. Lydia's the key. And I've made damned sure that in order to get to her, you're going to have to go through me."

  Bob let out a mocking laugh and shook his head. "You really think you're something, don't you?"

  "No. I just know what I'm good at," Tony said, glaring back at him. "And trust me, old man, whatever you thought you had going with her tonight wouldn't even begin to measure up."

  "Fuck you."

  Tony motioned over his shoulder. "No, I'm fucking Lydia. And let me tell you, so you don't have to wonder anymore. She's about the best I've ever had - does anything I ask and begs for more - anything. So, like I said, in order to do business with her, from here on in, you're going to have to go through me."

  * * *

  Lydia's first impulse when she and Reed arrived at the beach house was to head straight for the Scotch. While pouring one, though, she changed her mind and made coffee instead.

  Reed turned the television on to break the silence, and she sat down next to him on the couch. "I'm scared, Reed. I mean, really scared."

  Reed put his arm around her. "I know. It's hard not to be." She leaned against his shoulder, and there they sat. When Tony came in a little while later, he hardly glanced at them and went into the kitchen for a beer.

  "Well...?" Reed said.

  Tony shrugged and took a long drink. "I just had a talk with him."

  Lydia watched him anxiously, their eyes meeting only briefly before Tony looked away. He motioned for Reed to come outside with him, and standing by the cars, for a moment, he stared into the night.

  "I hope I can pull this off, Will."

  Reed touched his arm. "When you weigh everything that's at stake...."

  Tony looked at him. "What's at stake is Lydia. It all comes down to her, no matter how you look at it."

  Reed swallowed. "Did Miller give you any...?"

  Tony shook his head. "No, nothing."

  "So what's the next move?"

  Tony combed his fingers through his hair, and sighed. "I don't know. I stopped by and saw Frank on the way...." His voice trailed off as he looked at the house. "How is she?"

  "Scared."

  Tony nodded. "I'd better go back in."

  Lydia was just sitting down with another cup of coffee when he came inside. He locked the door and headed for another beer, stopping to make sure the patio doors were locked, then sat down in a chair across from her.

  Lydia watched his every move, and if ever there was somebody wanting to hide something… ."Tony?"

  He put his hand up, glancing at her. "Why don't you go to bed? I'll be in in a little while."

  "I don't want to go to bed."

  "I said I'd be in in a little while. Now go on."

  "No."

  Tony sighed heavily. "Lydia, please, just go to bed. Okay? I don't want you reading my mind."

  "Why?" Lydia's voice quivered. "What don't you want me to know?"

  Tony stared off, shaking his head. "Nothing."

  "Oh Jesus." Lydia put her coffee down and got up and walked over to the patio door, biting at her bottom Up.

  Tony swallowed hard, watching her. "Lydia...come on, don't. Don't cry."

  Lydia wiped her eyes, keeping her back to him. "I’m sorry. I'm trying not to. But you're lying to me, and whatever it is you're...."

  Tony stood up slowly and walked over and put his arms around her. He held her tight. "I love you so goddamned much," he whispered, his mouth against her ear. "You have no idea. You're everything to me."

  Lydia tried to turn around, but he wouldn't let her, holding her even tighter now.

  "Tony, you're scaring me again. Please, I want to know what happened between you and Bob."

  "I'm sorry," he said, his voice husky, the hardness of his body pressing against hers. "But you don't need to know. All you need to know is that I'm not going to let anything happen to you." And this time when she tried to turn, he let her, kissing her again and again as she clung to him.

  He pulled away to lead her down the hall to the bedroom, where he undressed her impatiently, ripping several buttons off her dress, and practically tore her panties off as he laid her on the bed.

  Lydia reached up to help him as he started taking his clothes off, but he pushed her hands away. He wanted her just lying there. Lying there and looking up at him.

  Lydia never wanted him more, watching him. He had such a way about him. But when he reached across her to turn out the light, there was something different in his eyes - some­thing that scared her. She wanted the light back on, and she wanted to see his eyes again, but he held her down, spreading her legs with his thigh as he moved on top of her.

  "Tony, wait.... Stop...."

  But he wouldn't, pushing harder to get inside her.

  "I said stop!"

  Tony froze for a second, pulling back and breathing heavily as he stared down at her. Then he rolled onto his back, drawing another breath as he ran his fingers through his hair.

  Lydia turned the light on, clutching the sheet to her chest as she sat up. "What's going on with you? Why would you want to do it like that?"

  Tony shook his head, staring up at the ceiling.

  "Tony…." Her voice cracked. "Say something."

  He shook his head again, and Lydia picked her dress up off the floor, fighting back the tears as she touched his arm lightly.

  Tony reached for her hand and brought it to his mouth. "I'm sorry. Jesus, Lydia, I never want to hurt you. Never."

  Lydia searched his eyes. "I don't understand what's going on with you. This wasn't going to be our last time. So I don't understand what I saw in your eyes." The desperation.

  Tony swallowed hard. How could he explain? "I'm so afraid of losing you, Lydia. That's all I can think about lately. Lydia shook her head, as if to say that could never happen, and Tony swallowed hard again. "I want to hold you so tight. I want to hold you right here." He pressed her hand to his heart. "So no one can hurt you. No one, and so nothing can come between us."

  "I love you, Tony. Nothing's going to come between us. I won't let it." Lydia leaned down and kissed him, then kissed him again, but he held back. "Don't," she whispered. "Don't do that. I want you."

  Tony brushed her lips with his. "Even after I almost just raped you…?" He brushed her lips again. "I don't think this is a good idea. Not now...."

  Lydia's heart skipped a beat when he said the word rape, frightened by it. And yet...the way he'd said it, the very thought of it, made her want him all the more.

  "Let me make love to you then," she said. "Let me make love to you."

  Tony smiled, but only for a second. His expression changed to one that made her shudder. "Anything you want, Lydia," he said. "I'm all yours."

  Lydia kissed him and then lowered her eyes over the length of his body. "I'm gonna go to hell for what you make me feel, Tony," she said, her voice low and throaty as she traced down his chest with her tongue. "For what you make me want to do."

  "Do it," Tony said, breathing through his mouth, watching her. "Just do it."

  And she did.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Lydia woke a little before eight, eased out from under Tony's arm to go make coffee and, on the way to the bathroom, peeked in on him. He was sound asleep, so to kill time, she sat down with the accounting sheets and was well into her third cup of coffee when she discovered something she couldn't believe she hadn't noticed before.

  "Dad's taking
a salary? Why?"

  Tony opened his eyes and rolled over, looked around the room for a second or two, then covered back up and dozed off.

  Lydia never knew her father to take a salary, and now, flipping ahead, she found more listings, with no set pattern, all seemingly withdrawn at random times and for varying amounts. Mumbling to herself about it, she picked up the phone.

  “Yesmmmm, Miss Lydia, you's daddy's awake."

  "I need to speak to him."

  "Don't you be upsettin' him now."

  Lydia sighed. She didn't know if it would upset him or not. "Never mind. It can wait until I see him."

  "Miss Lydia, you's come for dinner today? It sure would cheer him up."

  Lydia gave it some thought. "That sounds good. I have someone I want you to meet anyway."

  "Who's that, Miss Lydia?"

  "The man I'm going to marry."

  "I met him already. Remember?"

  "No, that was a different one. This one's for real."

  "Lord have mercy, child. I can't keeps up with you. Ever since you's went away to school."

  Lydia laughed. "You'll like him, Betty. Is dinner still at one?"

  "Yesmmmm."

  "All right, we'll see you then."

  "Wait, Miss Lydia.! What you's want for dinner?"

  Lydia didn't even have to think about it. "Anything but fish."

  Tony was still asleep when she peeked in again, so she decided to go for a swim. She changed in the bathroom, being as quiet as possible, put a new bandage on her arm - two large Band-Aids - then tiptoed down the hall and opened the patio doors.

  "Lydia!"

  She jumped, her heart in her mouth as she clutched her chest. "Jesus Christ! You scared the hell out of me. I was just going swimming."

  Tony ran his fingers through his hair and stretched. "Couldn't you have waited till I got up?"

  Lydia lowered her eyes, down and then up, and smiled. Posed just like he was, stretching in the doorway, she could see him as a centerfold in Playgirl, and the sole reason that month's issue would sell out the first day. "It's almost ten, Tony."

  Tony gave her one of those looks of his, grumbling about her keeping him up half the night, and went to get his pants. "Wait a minute and I'll watch you."