For Love of Livvy

by J. M. Griffin

  "If you'd stay out of things that don't concern you, the world would be a safer place for everyone, Lavinia."

  My voice rose and I think I yelled at him. I'd lost my temper and there'd be hell to pay, by God.

  "For once in your life, can't you just see things from my point of view? I teach law and order every freakin’ day and I know what you're saying. However, this concerns me and my family. My mother is devastated, my father is too and I,” hesitating a second I said, “Well, so am I.” I ended on a huff and slammed back in the chair, uncurling fists that had Marcus on his guard.

  He nodded and stood up. His hat placed back on his head, he turned toward the door to leave. At the last second, Marcus reached back across the counter and squeezed my hand.

  "I know, Vinnie, I know. We're doing the best we can. Just be careful and please be patient. This will be over soon, I promise.” With that said, he left me alone in the kitchen, wishing I believed it would end well for Livvy, my parents and me.

  Around two o'clock, Lola popped in and gave me a ride to pick up my new wheels. She dropped me at the dealership and scooted back to work. The car was ready, and I drove around and into Scituate for an hour or so getting the feel of it. It was a neat vehicle with more buttons than I'd ever figure out how to use and the stereo was awesome.

  I parked the car in the driveway and locked it before entering the house. As I glanced around, I realized Aaron's truck was nowhere to be seen. With a shrug, I unlocked the back entry door and went inside.

  Too tired to go to Cranston, I lounged around in front of the television. Another night sped past as I watched reruns of I Love Lucy and fell asleep on the sofa.

  Around three in the morning, I awoke to popcorn splayed across my torso after the bowl had slipped from my grasp. Kernels lay scattered over me and strewn onto the freshly cleaned floor. I shook off the kernels and stumbled to bed. Again, sleep overtook me and I dreamed of hazel eyes and a warm mouth.

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  Chapter 18

  I had the whole day ahead of me and nothing to fill it with. With a mental shake, I could hear my little voice nagging me. It was all Richmond's fault that you feel so down, it said. If he was more forthcoming, you'd feel better, the voice nagged. With a moan, I turned over and huddled farther under the covers.

  I could smell coffee brewing and figured I may as well face the day. My mother had invited me to dinner last night and I'd never gone. She must wonder what had happened and it would give me a good reason to go down and show her my new car.

  Straddling the side of the bed I tried to get my bearings. I slipped my robe over my short pj's. Wandering into the kitchen, I pulled a coffee mug from the cupboard. The rich, black, steaming brew filled my cup.

  Birds chorused outside the kitchen windows and I opened the French doors for a whiff of fresh summer scent. Glorious weather lifted my spirits as bright sunlight filtered into the room. The deck was surrounded by lush flowerbeds and bees hummed as they went about their daily routine. I stepped outside and watched the fat, puffy bodies bumble from flower to flower.

  Toward the end of the house, Aaron's truck sat parked next to my car. He must have come in very late, because I hadn't heard a sound. For such a giant, the man was light on his feet.

  The upstairs sliding doors glided open and he stepped outside as I glanced upward. He peered down and smiled with those sparkling teeth. Dark eyes took in my appearance. He raised his coffee cup to me and leaned forward.

  I smiled and said, “When did you get home? I never heard a thing."

  "Late, very late. I could hear you snoring when I went upstairs though.” His laughter boomed around the back yard and birds fluttered in all directions.

  "I do not snore.” I laughed self-righteously.

  "Yeah, right. Like a lumberjack, I might add."

  We chuckled at that as I admitted to it. My darling twin had always teased me about it so I knew it was true. I'd even awakened myself on an occasion or two.

  "Got any fresh coffee down there?” Aaron asked, as he drained his cup.

  "Sure do, come on down.” I headed inside, scraped a comb through my mop of hair and unlocked the door for him.

  When he strolled in, he wore gym shorts and a t-shirt, accompanied by boat mocs on his feet. Handsome as all get out. All that muscle and tan skin was just too good to be true.

  Across the counter, I poured coffee into his proffered cup. He grinned and sipped the rich liquid.

  "You and Lola were at the shop yesterday, huh?” he asked in a mild manner.

  Not fooled for a moment, I smiled my brightest and best as I said, “Yeah, Richmond saw us as we left. We didn't want to interrupt your conversation with the two beauties."

  "He was quite angry that you were down there. I tried to convince him that it might have been a shopping trip, but he didn't buy the story. It wasn't shopping though was it, Vinnie?"

  "No, it wasn't. We wanted to talk to the two bimbos about the stones. I need to get this squared away soon. Threats have been made on my life. I'm nervous about where and when it'll happen. I know it sounds dramatic, but it's serious."

  "You're right, it is serious. We can't watch you all the time and still get the job done. You need to be careful and watch your every step. I'm not trying to scare you, but it's true."

  His eyes beseeched me to listen and obey. Two things that I found difficult on a good day, never mind when I'm under threat for my life. With a weak smile, I nodded and made another pot of coffee.

  A car pulled into the driveway and I heard a door close with a thunk. A knock sounded on the outer door of the colonial. Aaron put his hand up to stop me from answering it and headed to open it himself. I waited with bated breath to see who was on my doorstep so early.

  Mumbled words and laughter filled the hallway as the door to my apartment swung wide. Lola stepped inside followed by Aaron. She proffered a bag of something sweet smelling and luscious so I opened it. Several freshly made Danish lay nestled in individual wrappers. Still warm from the oven, they were loaded with glaze that oozed over the surface.

  My mouth watered and my eyes closed at the heavenly scent. Lola cracked a laugh and Aaron grinned behind her. I glanced at them and laughed, too. You'd think I never ate, right?

  "There's enough for everyone, but you go first Vinnie,” Lola said with a warm smile.

  "If you insist.” Diving into the bag, I pulled the delicious morsels out onto the counter. I spread them on a nearby plate and pushed the dish forward. The coffee was ready and I poured a cup for Lola and another for Aaron.

  Idle chitchat was the order of the meal. Once the food was gone, Aaron continued with his plea for my non-intervention in the investigation.

  "You'll consider what I've said, won't you?"

  With a final nod of my head and empty words of acknowledgement over his concern and that of Marcus as well, I said I'd back off. Needless to say I had my fingers crossed under the counter the whole time so the matter was moot.

  Satisfied with my pledge to obey, Aaron pushed the chair away from the counter to leave. He kissed my cheek and that of Lola before he left with thanks for the breakfast. The truck started and rolled from the driveway.

  A giggle escaped her as Aaron drove away. I watched the lovely face before me and realized Lola had it bad.

  "You think I've got it bad, you should see your face at this moment.” I chuckled as her eyes sparkled, and I got the Julia smile.

  "He is such a hunk, isn't he?"

  "Indeed, and a nice guy, too. Very gentlemanly and all that stuff."

  "What are you up to today?"

  "I plan to show my mom the new car and try to stay out of trouble. Richmond came by last night with the same line of “listen and obey” that we just got from Aaron. Think they're on the same wave length or what?” I said, with a smirk.

  Lola cackled wickedly and agreed that I was right on the mark. She stepped away from the counter and said, “I've got to get back to the deli. Sto
p by later and have a coffee or something. I've got some leftover pasta fagioli if you want some."

  "Sure, later,” I said and walked her to the door.

  Within an hour, I locked the house, left the air conditioner on and headed toward Cranston. I had called my mother and left a message that I was on my way. As I turned onto her street, I noticed a couple of cars at the end of the driveway.

  Panic stricken, I slid to a halt and ran toward the back door. I vaulted the three steps to the deck and hauled ass into the kitchen. With an abrupt halt, I stared at the surprised faces in front of me.

  My mother stared, as did Auntie Josephine and Aunt Mafalda. I'd overreacted and wasn't that becoming a bad habit? A smile pasted to my face at their look of surprise, I made the rounds and kissed cheeks as I went.

  "Sorry I burst in like that, but I was excited to see all of you in one spot at the same time.” Lame excuse, but what could I say? I was on my way to hell anyway, one more lie didn't matter.

  Aunt Muffy looked me over and smiled that know it all smile she kept just for me. If Livvy hadn't been my first ally during my childhood, Muffy would have stepped in to fit the bill. She was a strong, straight-backed, bodacious woman with a sharp tongue and great sense of humor. The four lettered “F” word was her favorite, much to Aunt Josephine's dismay. Mafalda had dated mob wise guys for as long as I could remember and Aunt Josephine objected to that, also.

  The most recent man about town that Muffy had dated was indicted for racketeering not long ago. He was a numbers man and football was his most profitable racket. He and my father would laugh their butts off over the stupido's who'd bet their last buck on some game or other.

  "So Lavinia, how are you, my dear?” Muffy asked with a sharp, uplifted brow. Her freshly colored, jet black hair glowed in the light that filtered through the windows. Perfect, nearly flawless and wrinkle free skin stretched over high cheekbones as she grinned at me.

  "I'm good auntie, and you look wonderful as ever, I might add. So do you, Aunt Josephine,” I added belatedly. Aunt Josephine's bright Henna red hair most certainly came from the hairdresser. She also had the wonderful bone structure that ran in our family though she was much shorter than the rest of us. Must have been a pigmy somewhere in the genes, I imagine.

  Aunt Josephine's beady little eyes warmed at the compliment and she smiled. “It's good to see you, my dear. The boys tell me you're considering selling the business to them. That's wonderful. You should all work together as a family. Family is so important, don't you think?” Her innocence was endearing, but she did manage to turn a blind eye in order to avoid reality.

  God, where were this woman's brains? I wondered this as I smiled at her. Josephine was definitely from the land of the little people. Her feet didn't touch the floor when she sat and her stature was under five feet tall. The rest of us were Amazon's by comparison.

  Ringed hands fluttered and huge diamonds sparkled on the petite fingers. My uncle had managed to keep her loaded with jewelry, if nothing else. I grinned at the thought and considered what to say about the business. Muffy spoke up and saved my having to come up with a good line.

  "She's not about to sell that business to your boys. For Chrissake, she's only just inherited it. Think about what you're saying Josephine, what would they do with the damned thing anyway?"

  "It's a business investment for their future. It would be so good for them, too. Legitimate, you know?"

  "Those bums never did a damned legitimate thing in their friggin’ lives, Jo. What're you thinkin'?"

  Her volume was loud as usual and I could feel a blow out coming on. I glanced at my mother with a silent plea. She stood up and announced her new variety of chocolates that everyone must try.

  Thank you God, I said, in silent prayer. My mother rounded the table with a new batch of scrumptious delicacies. The aunties made sucking noises as their hands went from the box to their mouths. I, on the other hand, stood in wonder at the way my mother had handled them so deftly.

  My arm slid across her shoulder as a shadow crossed the door. We glanced up at the same time to see Trooper Richmond outside staring in. My heart leapt in my chest and pounded against my ribs. The man had a presence, that was for certain. I smiled when he grinned at us.

  My mother stepped to the door and opened it wide, ushering him inside. The sucking noises at the table suddenly ceased. Muffy became aware of the handsome trooper as he stood just inside the kitchen door. Her black eyes gave him the once over and she glanced at me with a silent question.

  "These are my Aunts, Mafalda and Josephine,” I said.

  I turned to the two women at the table and said, “I'd like you to meet Trooper Richmond. We're working a case together."

  Rather than sound rattled, I tried to sound matter of fact. Rattled all the way to my feet, a sense of lust raged through my system. I turned back to the man who curled my toes and other parts.

  "I thought the super cops didn't need any help,” Muffy said with a sly grin.

  "That's what Dad said, too.” I chuckled. “I've only been asked to give qualified opinions, not anything of major importance, Auntie."

  Trooper Richmond stepped forward and smiled that dazzling sexy trooper smile. The one that makes women of all ages melt. He removed his hat and said, “Now Lavinia's just being modest. We have asked her to confer on several things and appreciate her assistance. She's very knowledgeable and is an expert in many fields."

  I clamped my mouth shut lest my chin drop to the floor at the bold faced lie. In order to pull this off, he'd need to be extremely charming. But then, he was good at that as were most troopers who wanted something badly.

  Since he was here, it meant he was in that category or I was in trouble again. It could be either, and my anxiety mounted to extreme proportions by the moment. I glanced at my mother and smiled at the aunties.

  My mother gave me a nudge which snapped me to attention. I stepped toward Marcus with a false smile pasted to my lips and said, “Maybe we should talk outside."

  With a nod, he held the door open. I walked out ahead of him. When we reached the street, I leaned against my Taurus and folded my arms, waiting. His glance took in my appearance and the car in one full sweep.

  "Nice car. Get it yesterday?” he asked, with a half grin.

  "Yep, Lola took me and we picked it up after you left. What do you want, Richmond?” It was rude, I know, but I couldn't stand the suspense and small talk annoyed the snot out of me.

  "Just wanted to let you know that we've had a break in the case. We should wrap things up soon, so please be careful.” He stepped closer, and I glanced past him to see the kitchen curtains twitch. Too late for me to move, I allowed the caress of his knuckles on my face.

  "Don't do anything foolish and stay away from the two dummies, okay?” Hazel eyes peered into mine as he searched for confirmation that I'd cooperate.

  "Very well, I'll stay as far from them as I can and you have my word on that.” I moved aside as he leaned in closer.

  "You're on display here,” I whispered. “My aunts and my mother will have us married off if you're not careful.” I chuckled as he spun around to stare at the house. He turned back with a smile that rocked me to my roots.

  "And that's such a bad thing?” His grin wide.

  "Yeah, it is.” I wormed away from the car.

  With laughter in his voice, he called me a chicken and made clucking noises as I walked back to the house. I turned and flipped him a smile that stopped him dead in his tracks. He waited a second and then swaggered toward me.

  "You really do make me crazy, you know that, don't you?” His hand ran over the skin on my bare arm.

  The sizzle reached all the way to my feet.

  "Yeah, I know. It's the same way you make me feel.” I grinned and turned away.

  His car started seconds later as I climbed up the steps to the deck. Three sly grins met me when I walked through the door and I laughed out loud.

  "You couldn't have been more obvi
ous if you'd tried, ladies.” I chuckled.

  Unabashed, the three women grinned and settled back at the table, nibbling the few chocolates left in the box. I picked one up and the sweet confection melted in my mouth. A glass of water accompanied the delicacy, and I thanked my mother for it.

  Aunt Josephine, a dog with a bone type of woman, glanced up at me again. “Do you think you'll sell that shop to my boys soon, Lavinia?"

  "No auntie, not soon. But rest assured that when I decide what to do with it, I'll give you a call.” This sidestepping thing would be great if I was a politician, but alas, I'm not, so it gets on my nerves. It's not like the lies by omission thing.

  My mother fed us lunch while we caught up on all the family gossip. The hours fled, and the two aunties finally left. With relief, I glanced at my mother and cleared the table. She loaded the dishwasher and then filled a doggy bag for me to take home. Bless my Mom.

  I took my leave and headed back to Scituate. I'd spent the better part of it with the family and was better for it. Besides which I had a bag full of food to keep me well fed. At this rate, I'd only need milk and bread from the deli.

  My car eased into the parking lot next to Lola's Mini Cooper. I cut the motor, locked the doors and ambled toward the deli's back steps. When I entered the huge room, I noticed two girls behind the counter. A woman near the door read a newspaper and munched a sandwich. Another patron stretched across the sofa in front of the windows with a book and a steaming beverage. The counter help motioned that Lola was in the back room. I poked my head around the door to see what was cooking.

  Aroma's assaulted my nose and I inhaled deeply. Fried calamari and hot peppers sat on the sideboard. Linguine cooked in the pot on the stove. I watched Lola dump olive oil into a pan loaded with chopped garlic. My taste buds went into overdrive at the thought of her cooking. Even though I was full from lunch, I would have eaten the pasta if it had been offered.

  "It's not for you and by the way, Trooper Richmond came in earlier. He said he'd seen you in Cranston, so you won't need any of this food.” Her face crinkled into a smile as she finished the pasta dish and sent it out front.