Friends in High Places

by Toni DeMaio

  The only bad thing about breakfast was that Dad wasn’t acting like his real self. He seemed quiet and not very happy even though I could tell he was trying to hide it.

  “So, Dad,” I said, “Did you have any fun at that opera thing last night?”

  He shrugged. “It was okay, Tori . The music was good, but opera isn’t really my favorite.”

  “It sure is Nanna’s favorite!” Anthony chimed in.

  “If it’s not opera it’s that old-time guy Dean Martin,” Sal agreed, shaking his head.

  Mrs. Donovan laughed. “I guess I’m an old-time gal myself because I like Dean Martin, too.”

  Kat laughed at that even though I could tell she knew something was bothering Dad by the way she kept peeking over at him in a concerned way. “Everybody likes Dean Martin, Mom,” she said, “And you know age is mostly an attitude. Our life expectancy is soon going to go up to over a hundred years.”

  I was right. Dad wasn’t in a good mood because normally he would have smiled at Kat and said something funny back to her, but he just stared into his coffee cup, then pushed his chair back and stood. “Come on, Kids, we have to get moving. You know Nonna hates it when we come in late for Mass.”

  I had a sad feeling in the pit of my stomach watching Dad ignore Kat. She’s become one of my best friends even if she is old enough to be my m…mother.”

  ***

  We were just a little late for mass and Nonna gave Dad a mom-look as we all scooted into her usual pew. Dad was scrunched up so close against Isabella, Anthony and Sal had to move back a row and that put them next to Aunt Lisa and Uncle Mario.

  “Come here, Sal,” Aunt Lisa said, pulling him onto her lap and giving him a big hug and kiss. “I missed you both so much!” She reached out and stroked the back of Gia’s long dark hair.

  “You baby them too much, Lisa,” Uncle Mario grumbled. He looked pale and sickish and he kept squirming around in his seat and pulling at the collar of his shirt as if he hated being dressed up, even though he really wasn’t all that dressed up, if you ask me. “You’d think they were gone for a week instead of one lousy night,” he complained.

  Both Nonna and Dad looked over their shoulders at Uncle Mario as if they both thought he was as big of a jerk as I knew he was.

  I turned to the front to watch the choir sing, a little nervous so close to Uncle Mario, and missing Kat already…and my mom too, of course…

  ***

  Gia was actually shaking a little bit when we sat down to Sunday dinner at Nonna’s. I put my hand on her knee to comfort her and whispered, “It’s going to be okay Gia. You won’t have to worry about him until next Saturday and I’m going to be there with you. Remember, we’ve got Dr. Phil and Robin on our side.”

  She could barely eat dinner even though Nonna’s meatballs and cheese tortellini are her favorite. And Uncle Mario didn’t make it easy for her to relax. He sat across the table from us and whenever he was sure no one else was looking, he gave us a threatening look. He should have known we’d jump at the chance to stay overnight with Kat and Mrs. Donovan. What kids wouldn’t? Thank God we’d found a way to rain on his perverted party plans and it was obvious he didn’t like it one little bit. Well, too bad for him!

  I’ve never hated anyone in my life before, not for real, anyway, but I hated Uncle Mario and what he had done to my cousin. And the strange thing about it is that instead of being scared of him, which was probably the smart way to feel; I just felt mad. I was going to bring this scumbag down and even if Gia was too terrified to help me, I was going to get it done by the next time we sat down to Sunday dinner at Nonna’s!

  Just as I was thinking this, the painting of Archangel Michael, the warrior angel, Nonna has hanging on the wall right above where Uncle Mario sat fuming at us, suddenly jumped off the wall and the most amazing thing was it didn’t fall straight down, but instead it moved forward and came down right on the top of Uncle Mario’s head. Then it glanced off behind him and clattered to the floor.

  Uncle Mario grasped his head and moaned, “What the hell…!”

  Everybody jumped up, and Aunt Lisa screamed. Nonna made the sign of the cross and all my aunts and uncles and cousins were talking about it all at once. Dad was the one to pick the painting up.

  “That’s weird,” Dad said, examining the picture hanger that remained on the wall. “It’s on there good. I don’t understand how this huge painting just leaped off the wall like that. I don’t know Mario, maybe you pissed God off. Could be he didn’t like it when you were fussing at my sister in church this morning.”

  Everybody but Uncle Mario laughed nervously. He shot a nasty look at Dad who just stared right back at him.

  “You’d better get rid of that thing before it kills somebody,” he muttered.

  Then I noticed Nonna wasn’t laughing either. She kept watching Uncle Mario as if he’d suddenly turned into a stranger…a suspicious stranger. I decided this was a very good thing because next Saturday night, when the police showed up to save us, it would be much easier for the family to accept that Uncle Mario is a monster if Nonna and Dad had their doubts about him.

  Aunt Carmella was cutting cake and passing dessert around the table when I excused myself to go to the restroom. As I pushed my chair back under the table, I noticed there was a small purple feather on the floor. I snatched it up on my way out of the dining room; then slipped it into my pocket as I walked down the hall. “Thank you, Angel,” I whispered, “for reminding me I’m not alone.”

  I’d have a lot to write about in my diary tonight. I was so glad Aunt Lisa had given it to me for Christmas last year. Without my diary, and Angel’s visits, I might go nuts

  ***

  It was freezing cold in the school parking lot and with the wind whipping all around us, it made it even worse. This day was cooler than we’d all have wanted it to be but at least it wasn’t snowing and the sun was out so the homecoming game with Allentown was on as planned.

  All of us kids were bundled up in red and white scarves and jackets and hats, waving banners saying: Pocono Mt. Panthers Rock! We ate chips and sat on the tailgate of Mr. Potter’s pick-up, waiting for the rest of us to get there. I was glad we had the home town advantage today and I loved watching all of our friends walk by with their families, everyone rosy-cheeked and excited for a victory.

  Mr. Potter Sr. was running this little party, as our Mr. Potter Jr. was in the locker room giving a pep talk to his team. We were considered the underdogs in this game, but that didn’t stop us all from believing we would win and being very loud about it.

  I had to laugh at Mrs. Donovan. She was wearing a red and white striped stocking cap pulled down low over her hair and ears and she wore an enormous puffy red coat.

  Kat looked amazing, as usual, with her wild red curls flying around her face in the wind. She had a long red scarf wound around her neck just like a fashion model and her red suede boots were killer. She wasn’t even shivering, but her mom kept trying to get her to put on another crazy red and white striped cap just like her own. Kat kept laughing and darting off around the other side of the truck and not going for it at all.

  Only Dad seemed to be more quiet than usual and I figured it had something to do with Kat. He never looked at her anymore, and it just wasn’t like him to be rude to a friend. I couldn’t imagine what had happened between them, but I could see it bothered Kat as much as it did me. I wished I was better at figuring men out.

  In a few minutes, Isabella showed up with Nonna and the food. Isabella is really pretty and she has the brightest smile for Dad, but I could tell he doesn’t like her as much as she likes him. It was all very confusing and I wished there was something I could do to straighten everybody out.

  I was scared that if Dad was mad at Kat about something, I wouldn’t be able to see very much of her after this game because this was the last planned activity we all had together. Earlier this morning I’d checked the calendar with rainbow pictures we had hanging inside the pantry door just to
be sure.

  I wanted things to be back the way they were when we first met Kat and I had no idea what to do to fix it. I decided that the next time I saw Angel I’d ask her for some help.

  Dad’s friend Tom and his family came next and Kat looked really relieved to see Lilly, since Dad hadn’t been much good company for her. Daisy came running right over to me. I didn’t mind looking after her because she’s so cute and smart. And when Gia and her family finally showed up to join us it was obvious Little T. fit right in with Anthony and Sal.

  We all got warmer drinking from the thermoses of hot cocoa Mrs. Donovan gave us, and then Gia and Daisy and I held hands and followed everyone else into the stadium. It was almost time for the kick-off.

  Uncle Mario tried to lag behind the other grown-ups and fall into step beside us, but Nonna turned right around and said, “Mario, come here and let me lean on you a little bit; it’s a long walk for an old lady!” When Nonna shot me a quick look, I knew she knew something wasn’t right about him. If only she knew it all.

  Gia perked up as soon as Uncle Mario was out of earshot. “Has he tried to come into your room since that last time?” I asked in a low voice, leaning over Daisy’s head.

  She shook her head and shuddered. “Mom’s been home from work early every day this week because here’s a lot to do for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. I’ve been helping her in the kitchen…and yesterday I…I almost said something to her…but then he came into the kitchen to get a beer, and he gave me a death stare when Mom’s back was turned. I think he knows something’s up with me.”

  “He’ll know what it is soon enough,” I whispered back. “But if you want to tell Aunt Lisa instead, I’ll be there to back you up. You know I will.”

  Gia shook her head. “No. I can’t risk it. And I don’t want to shock her. She’s been through enough.” A tear ran down her red cheek and she quickly brushed it away.

  “Try not to worry, Gia,” I said, “I know Dr. Phil and Robin won’t let us down. You’ll see. It’s almost over. Just two more days…And Aunt Lisa is strong. She needs to know the truth.”

  The stadium was an exciting place to be today. The marching band and the baton twirlers, along with the cheerleaders were putting on a great show. Daisy sat on my lap and moved with the music.

  Gia, Daisy and I sat behind Kat and Lilly, while Dad ended up farther down the row from us kids between Isabella and Nonna.

  Lilly turned around and wiped at Daisy’s nose while she squealed and ducked her head. “No, Mommy!” she shouted. Lilly gave up after a while and gave her a lollipop to work on. “Would you girls like one?” she asked, and when we said no thanks, she turned back to her conversation with Kat.

  “I’ve always secretly hoped I can get the nerve up to try out for cheerleading when I get to high school,” I said to Gia.

  She said, “Not me, I’m too shy. Do you ever wonder about your biological mom, Tori? I mean, you are definitely more outgoing than the rest of us kids. I bet she was a cheerleader, or an actress, or something.”

  Mrs. Donovan overhead us and turned around in her seat. “Kat was a cheerleader in high school, Girls, and so was Lilly. They were so cute in their little outfits. I still have Kat’s in the attic. I’ll get it down and show it to you the next time you girls stay over. ”

  “Wow,” I said, “That is so cool. You never told me that, Kat.”

  Kat turned all the way around to grin at me and I was surprised to see tears in her eyes because she looked so happy. “It was a long time ago.”

  I’d never seen anybody look as happy as Kat did right then. She leaned over and grabbed Lilly’s hand and said in a very excited voice, “Did you hear that, Lilly? Tori

  wants to be a cheerleader someday. Maybe we can help her with some moves.”

  “We can try,” Lilly agreed, and then she hugged Kat for no good reason that I could see. “I can still do a split,” she said, “How about you, Kat?”

  Kat laughed. “I haven’t tried in years but we’ll have to get together with you Tori one of these Saturdays and we’ll get you started.”

  “I’d love that!” I said, puzzled over why this made Kat so happy all of a sudden.

  Dad was very quiet, but I caught him glance over at Kat every few minutes and I wished I could figure out what had gone wrong between them. It just didn’t make any sense. I had expected them to be friends forever.

  The band and cheerleaders from the Allentown team were on the field now doing their part of the pre-game show. Then I saw Mr. Potter Jr. get up from the bench where he’d been sitting with his players to stand in front of the bleachers and scan the crowd for us.

  His dad stood and waved, and then in a flash Mr. Potter was taking the stairs at a run. He went straight to where his dad sat with Mrs. Donovan, Kat, and Lilly, then squatted in front of Kat and took her hands and rubbed them both to warm them while he talked to her. He was smiling and it looked to me as if he was trying to be her boyfriend.

  I wasn’t the only one who thought so, because I saw dad follow Mr. Potter’s every move with his eyes and then he just looked mad and slumped down in his seat as if he wished he were somewhere else. So Mr. Potter wanted to get with Kat and it looked like Dad didn’t like that idea.

  Gia put her hand up to my ear and leaned in to whisper, “Looks like both Mr. Potter and your dad like Kat. I wonder which one she’ll pick?”

  I pulled away from Gia, knowing suddenly she was right. “But…I don’t want my dad to have a girlfriend,” I whispered back behind my own hand.

  Gia smiled, “Too late. And anyway, you love Kat!”

  “I do.” I said, more confused than ever.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  KAT

  Tori knows she’s adopted! Suddenly all of the sounds around me were louder and the colors were more vibrant and wonderful than ever before. My heart filled with this powerful love and when Lilly grabbed my hand and whispered that we needed to excuse ourselves and find a restroom, I was giddy and grateful and barely able to stand.

  Fortunately our team made a crucial touchdown and when everyone jumped to their feet it was easy to thread our way out to the end of the aisle and down the stairs toward the restrooms. As soon as we were around the corner and out of sight Lilly and I grabbed each other and hugged.

  We laughed and cried and jumped up and down. We must have looked crazy but neither one of us cared. It was clear Tori accepted her adoption and in my heart I knew for certain she was mine; and Lilly had known it first!

  “Now we need to get something with Tori’s DNA on it so we can have a test run so you proof that you’re her biological mom,” Lilly said, pacing back and forth before stopping and spinning toward me, “I know what we can do. Since the kids drank all of the cocoa before we even made it inside the stadium we can bring cocoa back for them and then we’ll make sure we collect the paper cups and save Tori’s for testing.”

  “Great idea!” I said, “I even have a clean plastic zip-lock bag in my purse. I carry them in case I don’t finish my lunch at work. I think we’d better mark the bottom of the cup we give Tori with my eyeliner pencil so we’ll be sure we save the right one to send to the lab.”

  “Now we have a plan. Let’s get the drinks and head back,” Lilly grinned, and squeezed both of my hands.

  ***

  It wasn’t hard to collect the cups and since Lilly had a huge tote for diapers and kid snacks, she was able to get Tori’s cup into the zip lock bag without drawing any attention. Lucky for us, all eyes were glued on the game while it got more exciting with each play.

  It was finally becoming real to me that Tori could be my daughter and I couldn’t concentrate on anything that was going on down on the field. I was practically jumping out of my skin, my mind whirling with possibilities, as I waited for the game to be over. The only way I knew we’d won was when everyone jumped to their feet cheering and high-fiving each other.

  I glanced over at Gino and wasn’t surprised to see Isabella had thrown herself i
nto his arms. It looked as if he’d decided to give up on me, but at that moment I couldn’t waste my time and energy worrying about it. My main concern was getting my proof and then finding a way to tell Gino and Tori I was her birth mother.

  “I insist everyone come back to our place to celebrate,” Lisa called out to us. “We were so sure the Panthers would win Mama and I have been cooking all week getting ready for a party.”

  Of course we all agreed to go to Lisa’s place. I especially wasn’t about to turn down any opportunity to spend time with Tori…and Gino…and little Anthony, who was growing on me too. He was such a little firecracker and so much like his dad.

  As we were gathering our things to leave, Brian Jr. leaped back up the stairs to bask in our praise and he was actually jumping with joy as all of the kids piled on top of him while his dad and my mom laughed and congratulated him.

  His team had exceeded all of the town’s expectations and brought Mt. Pocono High a great honor. He had proven himself to be an excellent mid-season replacement for beloved old coach Forester and I was proud of him. Actually, I’d already begun to think of him as a brother. All the kids adored him and in time I could see us becoming really good friends…as well as future siblings.

  It was obvious to everyone Mom and Brian Sr. were starry-eyed and blissful in their own little world and I wouldn’t be surprised if Mom was wearing his ring by Christmas. I, for one, would be happy to dance at their wedding, even if it looked as if the only date I’d have would be my new brother, Brian.

  Gino was definitely working hard to ignore me and although he didn’t look particularly happy, he was acting the part of Isabella’s escort once again, just as he had