Call Me Lydia

by MaryAnn Myers

  "You don't need to watch me."

  "I said wait a minute."

  Lydia rolled her eyes. Such a crab. "All right, all right….I'll wait." Four laps later, she propped herself up on the side of the pool and checked the Band-Aids on her arm. "We're invited to my dad's for dinner today."

  Tony sipped his coffee. "I'll have to go home and change first."

  "Where is home?" she asked.

  "I have an apartment on the west side."

  Lydia smiled. He was a dream come true, sitting there in his suit pants, barefoot and bare-chested, his hair combed back.

  "Well then, we'll go over when you come back."

  "Oh no, you're going with me. I'm not letting you out of my sight."

  Lydia sighed. "So how long have you lived there?"

  "Awhile." He took another sip of his coffee and motioned toward the pool. "You talk too much in the morning. Swim."

  Lydia made a face at him, one that had him smiling and, after swimming two more laps, came back.

  Tony was staring off, thinking about something. "That's not a bad idea."

  "What?" Lydia said, with her chin on her folded arms, looking up at him.

  "Going to your dad's. Maybe you should stay there for a while. A couple days at least."

  Lydia got out and put her robe on. "Why? So I'm safe and sound?"

  "Ridiculous idea, wasn't it?"

  Lydia hesitated. She didn't want to fight with him, but…."I'm not going anywhere."

  Tony shook his head, wondering what would be wrong with her going to her father's for a few days, and Lydia told him.

  "I hate it there for one thing. My mother haunts the place." No sooner had she said this, though, than she gasped. "What a god-awful thing to say."

  Tony studied her eyes. "I just don't want you here alone. And I' m going to have to put in a lot of time at the shop, so..."

  "So I'll stay with you," Lydia said, sitting down next to him. "Who knows, maybe I'll even find something to do. What do you think?"

  Tony drew an exasperated breath, wondering how in the hell he was going to keep her out of this. "We'll talk about it later," he said, bracing his knee to get up for more coffee.

  "I'll get it," Lydia said, taking his cup. When she returned, she picked right up where she left off. "I don't want you thinking you can tuck me off somewhere and take care of everything for me."

  Tony looked at her. "Is there something wrong with wanting to do that?"

  Lydia shook her head, drawing an exasperated breath of her own. "You know, you're just like Greg when it comes to things like this."

  "Fuck Greg," Tony said.

  Lydia sighed and sat down, knowing better than to irritate him if she was going to make her point. "I hate fighting with you."

  Tony just looked at her.

  "So I'm not going to. Especially not today, not with you owing me and all."

  "Owing you?" Tony smiled, God, could she play him. "How do you figure?"

  "Last night didn't even the score." She chuckled. "It just put you ahead for in the future."

  Tony laughed, and having him in a more receptive mood now, Lydia tried reasoning with him. "Tony, please don't treat me like a child in this. I can see how you are. You wouldn't talk about what Bob said last night…."

  Tony looked into her eyes, defying her to read his mind as he leaned close and kissed her. "Not a child, Lydia. Just the woman I love. And now I'm going back to bed."

  Lydia draped herself across his legs to keep him from getting up. "How can you sleep when we have so many things to do? Which reminds me." She jumped up and went inside and came back with the accounting printouts.

  Tony yawned. "How many times are you going to go through those?"

  "Until I find something."

  Tony watched her for a moment. "Top of your class, huh?"

  Lydia glanced at him. "Actually, I was third. Sharon exaggerates."

  Tony smiled.

  "And everything I'm supposed to know tells me this is a waste of time. I'm not gonna find anything or I'd have found it by now."

  Tony kind of nodded, saying casually, "Probably not." And with that, Lydia frowned and started with page one again. Just like he knew she would.

  * * *

  When it came time to leave, Tony won the coin toss, which meant they took his car, and Lydia was pouting. As they arrived at his apartment building, she wondered how many women he'd driven there, opening the door for them the very same way.

  "I'll wait out here if you don't mind."

  Tony shook his head and took her by the hand. "Come on."

  Lydia followed reluctantly, rounding the corner about ten feet behind him as he unlocked the door. He had to coax her the rest of the way, and inside, she glanced around the living room with her heart in her mouth.

  She was afraid of what she might see, though she wasn't real sure what it was going to be. She just knew she didn't want to see it. And when the feeling was this strong....

  Tony motioned to the couch on his way into the other room, the room she was positive she wasn't going near, the one that probably had what she didn't want to see in it. She walked over warily, very warily, and sat down, ran her hand over the fabric, a horrible green, though soft and comfortable, then took another look around.

  There was a table off to the right with a radio and two empty beer bottles on it, and one to the left, that held a portable television. The kitchen was a walk-thru, with nothing on the counter but a few more empty beer bottles, seemingly harmless enough. With a sigh, confident now that she'd been overreacting, she stood up and meandered in there.

  `The refrigerator was bare except for some beer and a few Tupperware containers; pasta dishes in a previous life, she decided after opening one, and in the freezer, ice trays.

  Tony called something to her from the bedroom, and she jumped, then edged over toward the hall. "What did you say?"

  "I said, how far is your father's from here?"

  "Twenty minutes or so," she called back, refusing to even glance that way. "It's just beyond the beach house."

  She waited to hear if he was going to say anything else. He didn't, so she started peeking in and out of the cupboards. It amazed her that nothing was in them. Nothing. Not a thing. As if no one lived here, let alone Tony. But then she came to the one by the sink. This one she opened and shut with a gasp.

  "Son of a bitch!"

  She stood there a second, getting red in the face, her heart racing and hands shaking, then opened it again, and there they were. Condoms. Right next to a gun. Trojans. A whole box of them, opened and with several strewn about.

  Instantly, she pictured him reaching for them in a hurry, fumbling with the wrapper, maybe in the dark, maybe on his way in, or on his way out. Maybe taking several at a time. Staring long and hard, counting them, subtracting them, she picked up the gun, and with both hands, took aim.

  Tony watched her from the doorway. "What do you think you're doing?"

  "Uh...I was uh, snooping."

  Tony walked over and took the gun from her. "Pandora's box, ever hear of it?"

  "Yeah, and it's in there. What is that? A month's supply?"

  Tony put the gun away and leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms. "I thought you didn't want to talk about stuff like this."

  "I don't. You're right," Lydia said, tightening her jaw. "But you shouldn't have brought me here, knowing I might see that. Knowing how I feel."

  Tony touched the side of her face. "I'm sorry. Besides, that stuff's my brother's."

  "I thought you didn't have a brother."

  "I don't," Tony said, trying not to laugh. "But if I did, those would be his."

  "Very funny, Tony. Now let's get out of here before I torch the place."

  Laughing, Tony locked the door behind them, waving to a neighbor as they passed in the hall. Lydia felt like one of a hundred from the way the man smiled at her.

  This was a bad idea. Really bad. "I knew I shouldn't have come with you," sh
e said in the car. "I knew it. I should've refused. I should've just said that I wasn't going and that's it. But no...."

  Tony glanced at her as he pulled out onto the highway. "I've never known anyone like you, Lydia. You want every­thing your way. Your way and only your way."

  "No, I don't. I just don't like doing things I don't want to do."

  Tony shook his head, glancing at her again. "You're spoiled rotten, you know that."

  "I want a cigarette."

  Tony laughed. "See what I mean? You amaze me!"

  Lydia had to laugh herself, realizing how she'd sounded, and when they grew quiet: "So how come you never use them on me?"

  "I can if you want. I've got some in my wallet," Tony said, knowing that would get her.

  "Oh? And who have you been saving them for?"

  "I don't know, what day is it? Sunday? Okay, that would be...."

  Lydia's eyes widened. "Don't you dare say one name! I mean it, Tony! Not one!"

  Tony laughed. "I won't. I can't remember 'em anyway. Though I could probably tell you everything else…."

  Lydia grabbed the door handle, about to open it, and would have, had Tony not reached over and stopped her. "For someone who doesn't want to be treated like a child, you sure as hell act like one."

  Lydia pulled free and crossed her arms, furiously, her nostrils flaring and chest rising, not about to be outdone. "Oh, what's the difference - I hate rubbers anyway. Greg used to have to use them, and I always hated the wait."

  Tony wouldn't even look at her. "You know, you can be a real bitch sometimes."

  Lydia raised an eyebrow. "A minute ago, I was a child. Now I'm a bitch. Gee, what's next?"

  Tony swerved off to the side of the road and jammed the car into park. "You started this shit! And now you're going to make damned sure you finish it, aren't you?"

  Lydia turned away defiantly. "I shouldn't have gone to your apartment. Especially in this car!"

  Tony threw his hands up. "What do you want me to say here? Huh? Tell me and I'll say it."

  "I don't know," Lydia said, looking at him. "But it bothers me that you haven't been concerned.. .for me."

  Tony leaned back and stared out his window.

  "What if I got pregnant, like Sharon?"

  "I've asked you to marry me, Lydia."

  "Yeah…well, what if I'm pregnant now? And with Greg just here a few weeks ago."

  Tony turned, looking like he was going to hit her. "I've laid everything on the line to you, and yet, you can sit there and say something like that to me."

  Lydia couldn't believe she had said it and looked away, regretting it immediately.

  Tony shook his head. "I don't know what you want from me, Lydia. I really don't. Do you want me to lie and say I haven't fucked a lot of women? You want me to say I haven't fucked any at all? Is that what you want?"

  Lydia turned with tears in her eyes. "Yes. That's exactly what I want. Only I want it to be true." Her chin quivered. "I want it to be true."

  Tony swallowed hard. He'd give anything not to hurt her. He really would. "I'm sorry," he said and reached over and touched her hair, wrapping it gently around his fingers. "I can't lie to you, Lydia. And I won't. But I can tell you this. You're the first woman I've ever made love to. You have to know that."

  Lydia gazed into his eyes. "I do. I do know... and I’m sorry too. I just...."

  Tony leaned over and kissed her. "You're the only woman for me, Lydia. The only one."

  Lydia wiped her tears. "I really am sorry I said...."

  Tony kissed her again.

  “And I take birth control pills."

  Tony leaned back and put the car in gear. "I know. They're in the medicine cabinet next to the aspirin."

  Lydia really felt foolish now, to think he knew all along. But soon they were talking about other things, and then they were turning into her father's drive, a drive a quarter of a mile long.

  Looking around as they approached the large white colo­nial, complete with three story pillars, Tony could just imag­ine Lydia growing up here. The house reminded him of a governor's mansion, and the grounds, a golf course.

  "Nice place," he said, as they got out of the car.

  Lydia nodded and reached for his hand, thinking about yesterday when her father lied to her. She glanced up at his bedroom window. "Um…my dad's been acting strange lately, so be on the lookout and tell me if you pick up on anything."

  "Me? Aren't you the one with the sixth sense?"

  Lydia smiled. "Yeah, but I'm not real good when it comes to him. I pick up on some things, but they're never real clear."

  "What will I be looking for?"

  "I don't know. You met him. Didn't you think he acted strange?"

  Tony shook his head. "A little absent-minded maybe. But strange, no. Strange like what?"

  Lydia wrapped her arm in his as they started up the stairs. "Like doing jumping jacks on my mother's grave."

  Tony's eyes widened.

  "The doctor we went to see the other day...."

  Tony held up his hand, nodding his understanding.

  "But don't worry. Whatever it is, I don't think it's heredi­tary."

  "Are you sure?" Tony said, looking at her out of the corner of his eye. "I think I see signs of it already."

  "Very funny," Lydia said, laughing. Betty greeted them at the door, with her hands on her hips and a scowl on her face.

  "Betty, this is Tony Armato. The man I'm gonna marry. Tony...this is Betty."

  "Hmph," Betty said, like only Betty could. "How many kids does this'n want?"

  Tony didn't think being referred to as one of possibly many was particularly funny, though Lydia had to laugh. "I don't know." She dragged Tony past Betty and into the foyer. "We haven't discussed it yet."

  Betty closed the door and turned judiciously, folding her arms across her bosom. "Well...?" she said, drilling Tony with her eyes. "How many kids you want?"

  Tony glanced at Lydia. "I don't know. Two...maybe three."

  Betty nodded, mulling that over as she rocked back and forth, sizing him up. "Hmph...two or three." He looked like Mafia to her, even when he smiled. "Well, we'll see," she said. "And don't you's be thinkin' you's can sweep me off my feet with some good looks and sexy eyes." She pointed her finger. "I'll be watchin' you. Uh-huh, I'll be watchin' you."

  Tony just stood there, unsure what he should do. Lydia was no help; she was laughing again. Betty turned then, shouting, "George! Come on out here and meets Miss Lydia's latest feeeansayy!" From the kitchen came George, licking the fingers on one hand and extending the other.

  "Tony! Good to see you again!"

  Betty's eyes got big. Real big. "This ain't gonna be the same Tony you's bailed out of jail, is it?"

  George nodded, winking at Tony, and with that, Betty harped all the way to the kitchen. "Sweet Jesus...God and Savior, give me strength, Lord that child, I did my best. That's all a woman's can do."

  George followed her, winking again from the door, and Tony turned to Lydia, keeping his voice low. "Does your dad act stranger than that?"

  "Worse, I'm afraid," Lydia said.

  Tony sighed. "Oh great."

  John was waiting for them in the den and rose from his chair as they entered. "Lydia, dear...."

  Lydia hugged him tightly and then stepped aside. "Dad, you remember Tony?"

  John nodded, extending his hand. "Yes, yes...so nice to see you again."

  Tony smiled, shaking his hand firmly, saying something similar, and John motioned to the couch, waiting for them to be seated before sitting back down himself. "Betty tells me you two are talking about getting married."

  Tony glanced at Lydia. "Yes, we are."

  "May I ask what happened to the Greg Stewart who sat in that same position just recently?"

  "Tony happened, Dad," Lydia said, reaching for Tony's hand. "I love him. I love him to death."

  John smiled, looking from one to the other, a warm smile. Then his expression changed. "Oh, Lydia, i
f only your mother were alive."

  Lydia sighed. If only he'd stop living in the past. "Well she's not, Dad. So...."

  John lowered his eyes sadly, which had Lydia up in a flash and headed for the Scotch. "Want something?" she asked, glancing at Tony.

  Tony said no. John looked up then. "You'd think with her mother dying of cancer, she wouldn't drink."

  Lydia poured a double on that, and downed about half the glass. When she walked back over and sat down, Tony noticed her hands trembling.

  An awkward moment of silence followed, one that had Tony wondering, in spite of being warned about the strange behavior. What was truly strange was the way Lydia was acting.

  "How are things at the plant?" John asked.

  Lydia was about to reply with her customary, "Fine," but Tony answered first. "Hectic," he said. "For the next three weeks, we've got to put out double the amount of eight-seven-fives, and do it without the third shift."

  "Why?" John asked, sounding so genuinely interested, Lydia left the room flabbergasted, mumbling something about getting Tony a beer while he explained.

  "We're going to run and assemble them for Forrester. Lydia got the job subbed to us."

  John's face reddened. "It galls me to have lost that to them."

  Tony smiled. For the life of him, John didn't seem strange at all. "Yeah, well it galls me to have to run it for them. But for the time being, thanks to Bob Miller...."

  This only intensified the redness in John's face. "That bastard called me the other day."

  Tony studied his eyes, wondering just how far he could take this. "He's also been calling your daughter, and for more reasons than one."

  That didn't surprise John. "He was always after my wife too. And in my own home." He turned slightly as he said this, staring at the chair next to him, and Tony hesitated.

  "He set up what was supposed to be a meeting last night."

  John sighed, from deep within a memory. "In business, sometimes you have to put up with the Bob Millers of the world. You don't have to like them though."

  Again, Tony hesitated. "I believe Lydia may be in danger, John."

  John just stared at him for a second, as if he didn't understand, and in came Lydia, as cheerful as can be. "Betty says dinner's in five minutes." She handed Tony his beer and sat down next to him. "And don't worry, she's warming up to you. George and I were pleading your case."