“No thanks,” the boys answered simultaneously.
Gina grinned, her dimple making an appearance. “I’m sorry. You’re going to need to repeat that. It almost sounded like you were turning down the option of junk food.”
“We’re just not that hungry,” Stevie explained.
Gina raised her brow skeptically. “Okay,” she drawled. “Would you like popcorn, Roni?”
“I think you know me better than that,” Roni said with amusement and casually flipped her hair. “But you bought my ticket so let me get it. I’ll get the bigger tub so we can share.”
Off to the side, Stevie and Devin shared a conspiratorial smile as they waited for the two women to get their popcorn and drink. “Gretchen was right. You are a genius,” Devin said to his best friend.
“Let’s not celebrate until this is done.” Stevie did not want to jinx the plan by being arrogant. Confident, not cocky, like his dad always told him. “Are you ready? Your first part is coming up.”
Devin moved his bangs out of his eyes with a quick toss of his head. “I’m going to nail this.”
They found their screening room and Stevie was pleased to see that the back was mostly vacant. “Look, Gina,” he pointed to just below the projector. “Let’s sit up there.”
“All the way up there?” Stevie nodded vigorously. “Okay, if you want to try it.”
Once they took their seats, Devin made small talk with Stevie about the reviews of the movie, while he kept a keen eye on the watch Gretchen had given him. He had found the old clunky watch of hers when they were going through donation materials and took a shine to it. He studied the object until the second hand landed on the twelve. It was time. His acting debut. He and his mothers practiced his lines, getting his inflection just right. “That popcorn smells so good!” he said with a trace of envy.
“You can have some of ours, Devin. We have plenty.” Roni handed the large tub over to Gina so he could reach.
“I appreciate the offer, but my moms say I need to start advocating for my own wants and needs. I should go get it myself.” He stood and was slightly above eye-level with his seated friend. “Stevie, would you come with me? No one will pick on me if you’re there.”
“Sure thing.” Stevie guaranteed their safe return to his Mom before following Devin down the dimmed stairs and out of the theatre. They were very aware that Gina and Roni’s eyes followed them as they left, so they saved their high-five until they were out of sight.
Roni watched their two retreating forms and asked, “Does Devin do that a lot?”
“Never. But I have to say, I agree with Becky and Gretchen. He does need to be more assertive.” Just mentioning all three of them in the same statement made Gina’s thoughts turn dark. “I hope he gets a say if things change with custody.”
Roni groaned while she munched on her popcorn. “I don’t even want to think about it.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“It’s okay. We just have to be optimistic. A discussion is just that, a discussion. It’s not a decision or change. Plus, Gretchen has the ability to scare the piss out of Satan.”
“Absolutely.” Knowing Gretchen was there with Becky meant that there was no need to get overly upset. Becky and Devin were in great hands.
While they played along with the movie trivia and Gina occasionally brushed her fingers against Roni’s in the popcorn tub, she saw that Roni’s arm was covered in goosebumps. “Would you like my sweatshirt?” She gestured to the thick black fabric sitting on her lap.
“Is it that obvious?” Roni held her forearm up in front of her and saw the fine hair standing straight. “Guess so. Would you mind holding the popcorn?”
“Not at all.”
Gina held the popcorn and watched the process of Roni pulling on the sweatshirt. It was much more interesting than the word jumble of Marlon Brando. How Roni could make putting on clothes look graceful was something that was beyond Gina’s comprehension. Her long arms stretched through the sleeves. Her wrists rotated with a slight flourish when they emerged through the cuffs. Her back arched to allow the heavy fabric to come between herself and the back of the seat. And as a final move, Roni flipped her hair over the hood so it fell freely across her shoulders. Gina thought that she was still the most beautiful woman she had ever seen.
“Thank you.” After Roni swam through material that was a size too big, she felt Gina’s eyes on her. When Roni dared to glance at her, she saw an expression that she hadn’t seen in over fifteen years. “What is it?” Roni asked softly.
“You...you look good.” Gina felt that was a decent enough compromise for her thoughts.
A small smile tugged at the corners of Roni’s mouth. “I feel good.”
Stevie and Devin started eating their popcorn and watched the display from around the corner of the entrance. It was the best pre-movie show ever. Although, Stevie became slightly uncomfortable by the intimate looks being shared, but that feeling made the next phase of their plan even easier to commence. “I’m glad we’re going to be sitting away from those two.”
Stevie used the military infiltration signs Gina had taught them years ago to communicate. On the correct cue, Devin transitioned from stealthy popcorn eater to a boisterous preteen in a nanosecond. He zeroed in on the pair of empty seats ten rows ahead of Roni and Gina, and ran to them while laughing hysterically.
Roni saw his shaggy head sprint back into the theater and Stevie’s calmer and athletic frame follow. When Stevie reached the seats, both boys sat down and goofily turned in slow motion towards her and Gina. “What are you two doing?” Roni asked between laughs. Sometimes those boys together were just too much.
“Can we sit down here? Devin forgot his glasses,” Stevie explained.
“Devin doesn’t wear glasses.” Detective DiCarlo observed all.
“I forget them a lot,” Devin said and swung around to face the screen. This was actually a true statement. It drove his mothers crazy, but he hated wearing them. Plus, once he put his frames down somewhere, he couldn’t see well enough to find them.
“Well, do you want us to move down there?” Roni made the empty offer. She was very comfortable just where she was.
Gina wasn’t having any of that. “I’m sure they’ll be fine. You’ll be fine, right?” The boys gave her thumbs up while they faced the screen. “See, they’re fine. Besides, the trailers are going to start soon.”
Roni held back the smile she felt forming. “Well, if you say so.”
Despite the ridiculous premise of the movie, Roni and Gina had not laughed together like that in years. In fact, it was entertaining enough to make them completely forget about the situation with Becky. That was until Roni’s cell phone buzzed. She handed the nearly finished popcorn over to Gina and removed her phone from the purse at her feet. She used one hand to shield the emitted light once she flipped the device open. “Oh God, no.”
“What is it?” Gina asked with concern. Roni passed the open phone to her and allowed Gina to read the text. Could you please bring Devin straight home from the movies? I need to have my baby with me tonight. We took care of his dinner. Gina snapped the phone shut in frustration. “What are we going to tell Devin?”
“I guess we can just read him the text and tell him that Becky is worried about something?” Roni asked, very unsure of herself and the situation.
“Yeah. I think that’s the best thing to do.” Gina reached for Roni’s hand to offer the one comfort she could give. Gina knew that Roni felt Becky’s pain more than anyone. “Are you alright?”
“Let’s not talk about it right now.” Roni squeezed Gina’s hand tighter.
Stevie risked a glance over his shoulder before the end credits rolled. To him, they looked thoroughly depressed, but they were depressed and holding hands. “Remember, Devin, you have no idea what’s going on.”
“Don’t insult me.” Devin smiled confidently. “I got this.”
When Roni and Gina met the boys at t
he base of the stairs, they put on their happiest faces. It wasn’t until they were out of the theater Gina told Devin there had been an emergency. She didn’t know what had happened, but they had to skip dinner at the food court and he wasn’t going to be able to sleep over at Stevie’s house.
Stevie may have been the genius behind the plan, but Devin sold it. He played the surprise, disappointment, and confusion to a tee.
When they arrived at Devin’s house, Stevie gave him a brotherly pat on the shoulder. “If you need to talk to me, just call.” When he saw that his words caused Roni to grasp Gina’s hand tighter, he bit the inside of his cheek to prevent himself from smiling. Their hands had been inseparable throughout the entire drive.
“Thanks, Stevie.” Devin took his small overnight bag and carried it to the door. The trio in the car watched as Becky opened the door and hugged Devin tightly. His face was pulled awkwardly in the center of her bosom while she kissed the top of his head.
Roni wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “This is just awful.”
Oh, shit. Stevie wanted them to be sad, but not this sad. “I’m sure whatever is happening will get better,” he suggested.
Gina opened her center console and removed a travel package of tissues for Roni. “We don’t know the details, Stevie, and I don’t want to speculate, but Devin’s really going to need you to be a strong friend. Devin’s father came back into town today and we’re not exactly sure what that means yet.”
“Oh.” Early was right. Mom is going to kill me. Stevie spent the next five minutes of the drive home crafting a way he could reverse some of the damage. Luckily, his solution was simple and didn’t require anything extra on his part. He just hoped that either Gretchen or Becky picked up the phone when the inevitable call was made.
Gina had just cut the engine to her car when Stevie unbuckled his seat belt, opened the car door, sprinted to the house, unlocked the door, and slammed it in his wake.
“What was that about?” Gina asked.
“I have no idea. Maybe Stevie ran in to call Devin?” Roni folded the crumpled tissue in her lap. “I was having such a fantastic time and then this shit storm had to rain down on us.”
“I was having a good time too.” The fact that she had forgotten about Becky’s meeting with Devin’s father made her feel terrible. “Would it be okay if I came in for a little bit? I don’t really feel like being alone right now.”
“I completely understand. Come on,” Roni exited the car and Gina followed. “I think I’ll order some pizzas for dinner and definitely have some wine while we wait.” She turned the knob to the front door and pushed it open—a whole two inches.
The chain was in place.
“What the hell?” Roni quietly asked the chain. “Stevie! This is a terrible time to do a prank. Open the door,” she shouted into the gap.
Stevie took a deep breath, possibly his last on Earth before his mother killed him. “I’m sorry, Mom, but I can’t do that.”
“Steven Gino Fields, you will open this door right now!” In the opening, Roni saw Early walk by. “Early, open the door.”
“Sorry, honey. I can’t.”
Gina stepped forward, ready to kick the door open. “Early, you don’t understand. Something has happened and this is not the time for shenanigans.”
“Gina,” Stevie spoke with a calm voice, just as his father did in a crisis, “I think you should call Gretchen or Becky and see how they are.”
“Steven Gino Fields! They are emotional wrecks right now and I will not call them. So help me God, I will kick down this door if you don’t unchain it right now!”
“Call Gretchen,” was all Stevie could say, as he watched his life flash before his eyes.
Early caught the desperation in the boy’s inflection. “Gina, please call Gretchen. Everything will make sense. You still might want to kill us, but at least then the murder will have a clearer motive. You should appreciate that part.”
Gina arched an angry, confused eyebrow at Early and whipped her phone out of her pocket. She began to pace the driveway as her call went through. Gina tilted the phone so both she and Roni could hear the truth from Gretchen that Devin’s father never came into town. However, Gretchen pointed out that neither she nor Becky ever said anything about custody change—that was a part of Gina’s imagination. When the conversation was complete, Gina curtly said her goodbye.
Stevie instinctually backtracked when he saw the wrath on his mothers’ faces. “I understand that you’re mad,” he said through the slot in the door.
“I passed mad two minutes ago. I’m furious and you are grounded until next year,” Roni spat out.
Stevie held his ground. “I know I’m grounded and I accept that. We did this for a reason. You need to talk to each other. Really talk.” When the two women shared an uncertain look, he decided it was time to disclose the terms and conditions. “Early and I will unchain the door at ten. That gives you four hours to figure some stuff out. Go have dinner or something.” Stevie shut the door on his two mothers.
The door opened again with Early’s face peering out. “Or you can come home in the morning.” He winked and shut the door in their faces. Again.
Roni’s fist was almost at the door when she pulled it back and stomped the ground instead. Some inanimate object was going to feel her wrath. After the ground had been assaulted enough, she turned to see that Gina’s back was toward her, her shoulders bouncing. “You’re laughing?” Roni asked incredulously. “This isn’t funny. This is deceit and...and...we were deceived. And why are you laughing?”
“We were set up,” Gina answered with an embarrassed smile.
“What do you mean?”
Gina swept her arms around her. “This entire day was a setup. Devin’s dad, the popcorn, their seat change...the whole damn thing.”
Roni crossed her arms, calming down slightly, and joined Gina who was leaning on the hood of her car. “Why?” But as soon as she asked, she knew. “Oh. That.”
“Yeah. That,” Gina agreed. “But before we get to ‘that’, I should ask where you want to go since you can’t get back into the house for another four hours?”
“We could go somewhere for dinner?”
“We could, but to tell you the truth, I’m full from popcorn. If you want food, I can always get a drink. That wine you mentioned a minute ago sounds good right about now.”
Roni sighed, arms relaxed at her side. “No, I’m not hungry either. Want to go to the Box and Whiskers for that drink? The DJ’s don’t start for a few hours so it should still be quiet enough for us to talk.”
***
Jessica handed Roni a bottle of Amarone with a red bow tied around the wine’s neck. “Sorry ladies, but we aren’t accepting your business tonight. However, you are more than welcome to take this bottle and go anywhere you’d please.” Her gaze shifted to Gina. “If memory serves, your place isn’t too far away, right?”
This was just too much. “You’re really kicking us out?” Gina asked.
“I really am...even if it is bad business.”
***
Gina brought the wine into her kitchen while Roni toured the open living space, noticing a few new pictures. There was a folded frame, one side showed Steven and Gina in their dress blues from the first year they were partners and the other side a posed photo taken from Jack’s retirement party. Roni smiled nostalgically at how both of them had aged well in the twenty years or so they had both been on the force. Steven had some gray at the temples and Gina had more defined crow’s feet around her dark chocolate eyes, but they still had the same physiques.
Next to that frame was a recent picture of Gina and her youngest brother, Enzo, with his four children—all six outfitted in Steelers jerseys. The picture was taken that autumn at his birthday party in Pittsburgh. Enzo had reached out to Gina, having a change of heart that she wasn’t “choosing a lifestyle”.
The next photo Roni saw called out to her. Her hand gravitated towards the frame on the
end table and smiled as a wonderful memory flooded her system. The picture showed her, Gina, and Stevie, as a toddler, playing in the backyard. Roni, sporting her shortest haircut, held both of Stevie’s hands for balance as he rode on Gina’s back. All three of them were smiling and laughing, but Gina and Roni had their eyes locked on each other as if they were sharing a fantastic secret.
“We should let the wine breath a bit,” Gina said and saw Roni’s journey down memory lane. “I was looking through a photo album a month or so ago and pulled that one out.”
Roni nodded absently, still transfixed by the picture in her hands. They were so happy back then.
Gina watched Roni’s captivation and walked closer until she was shoulder to shoulder with the blonde. “I can scan it and make you a copy if you’d like.”
Suddenly, Roni’s mind fully grasped their situation and her heart felt the emotional weight of what could be happening. She was no longer occupied with concern for Becky, anger with Stevie, or annoyance at her friends. Her entire focus was on those two women in the picture. They were so happy and so in love.
Roni carefully put the frame back in its place. In Gina’s eyes, Roni saw that she was just as emotionally conflicted and vulnerable as she felt. And she knew she needed to put all of her heart on her sleeve before she would expect Gina to do the same. “We should sit down and have that talk,” Roni started towards the couch, leaving Gina’s side.
“Steven asked me if I wanted you back,” Gina blurted. “But I said that I didn’t think you’d ever take me back. Lately though, sometimes I think that...that you would.” Roni turned to face her when her voice quivered. “The way you held my hand today or how I sometimes catch you staring at the charm bracelet I got for you. I live for those moments. Those moments are my happiest—those few seconds when I think that we could be together again.”
Roni didn’t know how she could match a confession of that degree and looking into Gina’s teary, brown eyes didn’t make it easier. There was so much history, good and bad, to wade through. “I don’t know how to do this.”
“You don’t have to know how. I just need to know how you feel. About me. About us. Even if it hurts.”
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