by Elle Wright
At that moment, Frank, followed by Deputy Two Trees, Mrs. B, and Eddie, came out of the office. Frank didn’t say a word. Deputy Two Trees nodded and kept close on Frank’s heels. Eddie and Mrs. B flanked Gio at the counter.
Mrs. B reached across the counter and took Natalia’s hand. “I’m so sorry, Mirabelle. What a terrible way for your young man to meet us.” Then Mrs. B turned to Gio. “I’m Mrs. B, and I hope you don’t get the wrong idea about the people here.”
Gio placed both of his hands over one of hers. “My girl has told me all about you and how kind and welcoming you,” he looked over at Eddie, “and you have been to her. I already have an opinion of everyone, and it’s all good.”
Mrs. B looked over her shoulder to Natalia and smiled.
“Well then, you’ll have to come to dinner on Friday. Ethan will be home, and I know he’d enjoy meeting you.”
“It would be my pleasure, Mrs. B.”
After agreeing to have dinner on Saturday night at Eddie and Blake’s house, Gio and Natalia walked a block to where Gio parked the Corolla. Natalia looked around and saw Tommie’s SUV about two blocks down and across the street under a large shade tree.
“That’s gotta suck.” She tilted her head toward Tommie’s vehicle.
“I couldn’t do it, but I imagine he’s used to it. Goes with the job.”
They got in the car and buckled up. Gio turned to her and bust out laughing. He had to wipe under his eyes a few times before he could talk. “Holy shit. This place is crazier than you wrote me.”
“Today was a busy day,” she deadpanned.
“I can’t believe Frank is that stupid. Fucking some random, or not, in Eddie’s work truck. You gotta tell me what Eddie’s gonna do about Frank.”
“Mrs. B will tell me the whole story tomorrow. I’ll pass it along at lunch.”
He started up the car. “Speaking of, what’s for dinner?”
“There is nothing resembling good food at any of the restaurants around here. The only place I’d recommend is Cuppa Joe for coffee. Otherwise, we’re heading to Safeway to go grocery shopping.”
“Tell me where to go, Ace. I’m starving. Tommie and I had some shit pizza at the Carl’s Rita mentioned. I can’t ever tell my nonna I ate there. That wasn’t pizza. It was tomato paste spread on cardboard so undercooked the cheese barely melted.”
Natalia laughed. “It is rancid, but you have to admit, you are spoiled. Your grandmother is a world-class chef masquerading as a Siclian nonna.”
“She’d die a happy woman to hear you say that.”
“I’ll hold off since I want her around for a long, long time. I’ve got a lot of learning to do.”
After they parked in the Safeway lot, Gio leaned over, placed both his hands on her face, and kissed her long, and wet, and deep. It took her a while to open her eyes. “What was that for?”
“It was hours since the last time I tasted you, and I’m in heaven that you want to learn to cook for me.”
“You’re going to have to stick by me through the trial and error.”
“Baby, I’ll stick by you through any fucking thing life throws at us.”
The Natalia puddle slid out the door and reconstituted into a solid person somewhere in the produce section.
Their apartment
Fiddler’s Rest
Gio
“Thanks, Gio.” Tommie took the sliced steak sandwich, bag of fries, and wedge of pie Natalia made Gio carry out to the car. “’Preciate it.”
“We’re in for the night. Go get some sleep. She has to be at work at nine, so we’ll be leaving about eight forty-five.”
“See ya in the morning.” Tommie slid the window up and waited until Gio was back in the apartment building.
Dinner was great. Steak, thick-cut fries, a big salad, and a baguette. They had a store-bought cherry pie for dessert, and it was pretty good. That apartment, though, sucked. Clean enough to eat off the floors, with pretty scarves thrown over dingy lamps, and a colorful comforter covering an old sofa, but his girl deserved so much more. To live in one room with a tiny kitchen separated from the rest of the room by a short, narrow counter was unacceptable. The bathroom was slightly larger than the closet, with a shower stall Gio could barely fit in. Tomorrow, he was going to find them a better place to live, and then he’d convince her why they had to move.
He knew he was going to get an argument, but he didn’t care. She had to be here for another thirteen weeks, and she should be comfortable, especially since he wasn’t going to be with her for the last three of those weeks. Most importantly, he wanted her somewhere safe, and this place was so far from safe, it made him nervous.
When he threw the lock on the apartment door, he cringed at how rickety it was. “Tomorrow,” he muttered to himself.
“Huh?” she called from the sofa where she was sitting cross-legged, reading.
“Tommie said thanks for the food. He appreciated it.”
“Least we could do. The guy was stuck in that car by himself for hours.”
Gio sat at the other end of the sofa and picked up a packet lying between them. “Biology: 101.” He thumbed through the syllabus and had an idea. “You know what?”
“Hmmm.”
“I’m going to audit your classes.”
That got her nose out of what had to be the Spanish class syllabus. “Really? Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to have you sitting next to me in class, but why?”
“’Cause you’d love to have me sitting next to you in class.”
“Smug much?”
“You like that word.”
“If the conceit fits…”
He lunged across the sofa, rolling her on top of him. “Look at what I got, baby.” He squeezed her around the waist. “I have every right in the world to be smug.”
Her gaze roamed his face, then she lowered hers so their lips touched briefly. “Mmmm. Tastes yummy.”
“That’s good home cooking right there.”
“Hard to ruin steak and potatoes.”
“You’d be surprised.”
“Tell me true, why you want to audit my classes.”
“You. Being with you. And, did I mention, you.”
“You want me to get a big head?”
He smirked. “I wouldn’t mind you doing something to a big head.”
She smacked his shoulder. “Serious for two whole minutes. Try it.”
“Okay, buzzkill.” He winked. “Like you said, everyone speaks Spanish, and it’s similar enough to Italian that I should be able to pick it up easily. And bio, I’m taking a two hundred series class in the fall since I took AP in high school. I need a refresher, especially if I want to land an A.”
“You’re going for it, aren’t you?”
“Yeah. The more I think about it, the more it appeals. I’m not crazy self-directed like Evan, but I like the idea of helping people feel better. I’m thinking sports medicine. Orthopedics. I’ve seen enough injuries up close to know how important a good fix is, so, yeah, I could be that guy.”
She leaned down and laid a wet one on him. Lots of tongue, and she did that suck-his-bottom-lip thing he found sexy as fuck.
“I take it you approve.”
“Totally. It’s so you. I know med school takes mega long, but you’re going to be an amazing doctor.”
Jesus. His chest swelled, and his throat tightened. He never knew he had this much sap in him. And funny thing, he didn’t give that first fuck that she saw him getting choked up.
His phone rang. “Dig in my pocket, Ace.”
She grinned, nudged his hard-on, then pulled out his phone. Her eyes widened, and turned the phone to him. Sofia.
Shit. It was only a quarter to six in the morning in Sicily.
They sat up together as Gio took the call.
“Soph. What’s wrong?”’
“You need to tell Dad to call off his dogs.”
Whoa. That was so not what he was expecting her to say.
“Break it dow
n for me.”
She heaved a loud sigh. “You know Dad’s heading home today.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, last night at dinner, he tells me that if I’m not with Mom and Ro, and I want to leave the house, I have to have two of his ‘men’ accompany me everywhere. Two of his ‘men’ follow me, Mom, and Ro around like we can’t open a fucking car door by ourselves. It doesn’t matter if Uncle Enzo is with us, or anybody else in the family. Those guys are always around. There are two of them in the house, and like six of them outside patrolling. All. The. Time.” She yelled the last three words.
Natalia heard that and gave him big eyes. He shook his head.
“He’s worried about you.”
“Ain’t that sweet.”
“He’s going to be four thousand miles away from you and he wants to be reassured. You know how he is.”
“Then he should let me go home,” she yelled. “I told him last night. I want to go home. I want to go back to my school and be with my friends. And, of course, he said, ‘It’s best if you stay here.’ Best for who?” she yelled louder.
Gio felt for her. He knew when his father made a parental decision there was no swaying him. When the old man had decided Gio was going to finish high school at the prep academy, that was that. Gio had been miserable, but Don Alessandro had spoken, and only God might have changed his father’s mind. And even that was a definite maybe.
“Where are you?”
“In my room.”
“You have water next to the bed?”
“Yup.”
“Do me a favor, take a few sips.” He heard her doing as he asked. “Now I want you to listen to me, and don’t interrupt. ’Kay?”
“’Kay.”
“I won’t be able to change his mind, Soph, and you know that. Instead of focusing on him, I want you to think about why being watched so closely pisses you off so much, and then I want you to work that out with your therapist. You told me this woman is nice, speaks English perfectly, and you think she’ll be able to help. Well, let her help. I’m no shrink, but maybe you hate being reminded of feeling vulnerable. We all hate being reminded of feeling like that. Talk it out with her, and remember, I’m only a phone call away. Any time, Soph, for real. I’m here for you.”
“I know that, Gio,” she whispered. “Being here makes me feel like I’m being hidden from the world. Like I’m going to miss out on life.”
“So not true. Life is happening all around you right there in Sicily. Take it in and make it yours.”
“I’ll try. But I’m not making any promises.”
He smiled. “I’m not asking for any.”
“Thanks.”
“Any time. I mean that.”
“What time is it there?”
“Nine at night.”
“She there?”
“Yeah.”
“Mom said Nonna went on and on about her. That she’s smart, polite, real pretty, and is in love with you.”
“All true.”
“You love her.”
“Oh yeah.”
“Can I talk to her?”
“Sure.” Gio held out the phone.
“Hey, Sofia.”
“Hi, Natalia. Sorry to mess up your evening.”
“You didn’t, and never will.”
“Nonna said you go to Brown.”
“I do.”
“Maybe we’ll see each other when I visit Providence.”
“I’d like that.”
“Lemme say good night to my brother.”
“Okay. You take care, Sofia.”
“Thanks.”
Gio took the phone from Natalia.
“She sounds nice.”
“She is.”
“G’night, Gio.”
“Try to have a good day, Soph. I’ll call tonight your time.”
“Okay.” She hung up.
Gio looked at his phone, then at Natalia. “One more.”
She nodded.
He sighed, then dialed.
“Giovanni. What’s wrong?” It dawned on Gio that his family answered the phone that way a lot.
“Nothing, Dad. I’m fine. Natalia’s fine. Tommie’s on me like a blanket.”
“Good.”
“Listen. I just got off the phone with Sofia.”
“I had a feeling she would share her opinions about her security with you.”
“Yeah. But here’s the thing. She’s shaky and having your guys around reminds her of why she’s there. I told her to talk to her therapist about it. And she knows nothing is going to change about her security, but it would mean a lot if you spent some time with her before you leave. Just you and her.”
Silence. Which from his father rarely boded well.
“Did she say she wanted that?”
“No. But she does. She needs to know she can lean on you without getting told what to do. Just be her dad.”
More silence. Fuck.
“We’ll talk soon.”
Then the line went dead.
“How’d he take that?”
“Hard to say. I guess I’ll find out when I speak to Sofia tomorrow.”
“You were really good with her.”
He shrugged. “She’s my sister.”
Gusk’s Hardware
Fiddler’s Rest
Natalia
She wasn’t expecting to see Eddie when she and Gio walked through the front door. She figured now that she was back, he’d return to his old schedule of hanging with Bao in the morning and coming in around noon.
She waved, and Eddie said, “Just the woman I wanted to see.”
“What’s up?” Gio asked like asking was business as usual and he’d known Eddie for years. Actually, it’d been about about six months, in a long-distance sort of way.
Eddie put up his index finger. “Mrs. B,” he called out. “Can you mind the register for a few minutes?”
“I’ma coming,” she answered and came bustling down the power tools aisle. “Well, good morning, Gio. Nice to see you again.”
“’Morning, ma’am.” He tilted his head at her. “Good to see you too.”
“Your momma raised you right. You tell her I said so.”
Natalia thought Mrs. B swayed when Gio smiled. “I will.”
Eddie motioned to the office, and Natalia followed, Gio right behind her. Gio closed the door, and they stood around Eddie’s desk.
“This is awkward and I hate this shit.”
“What shit?” Natalia asked.
“The Frank shit.”
“Ah.”
“What happened with the sheriff?” Gio asked.
“Elam…Deputy Two Trees, said if I wanted to press charges I had grounds, but I told him no. I couldn’t do that to Mrs. B.”
Eddie, the nicest guy in the world.
“And?” Natalia asked.
“Mrs. B was so riled up, I thought she was going to beat Frank. Not that he didn’t have it coming. Did you hear her curse?”
She nodded.
“That should tell you how riled up she was.” He sighed. “Anyway, she told Frank that I was going to have the truck professionally cleaned to get rid of the ‘biological matter,’ and that I should dock Frank’s wages to pay for it.”
“He’ll feel that,” Gio said.
Eddie shook his head. “His check won’t cover what it’s going to cost to get that truck detailed.” He grimaced. “Little fucker. Made it so I had to fire him.”
She knew Eddie hated doing that, especially because of Mrs. B.
“That’s where you come in.” Eddie looked to Natalia as he pointed at the computer on his desk. “Make up some notices and post them at the college. You know what to say.”
“Part-time, afternoon hours?” she asked.
“Really, I need someone full time for the summer.”
“I’ll do it,” Gio said.
Eddie jerked his head back. “Thanks for the offer, man, but I can afford only eleven bucks an hour.”
�
��That’s okay. I’m here until the middle of August, and I can’t be mooching off my girl,” Gio looked at Natalia and smiled, “and this way I get to see her all day.”
“You sure?” Eddie asked.
“Yeah. I’ll fill out the paperwork now, and I’ll start tomorrow. That work for you?”
Eddie’s shoulders relaxed and his eyes brightened. “Totally. Thanks, man. This will help me out and give me peace of mind.”
Gio stuck out his hand and Eddie shook it. “Great. I’m going to steal her for a minute, and I’ll see you at nine tomorrow morning.”
“At noon,” Eddie clarified. “I spend the morning with my daughter, then drop her at Mom and Dad’s for the day. Blake picks her up after work.”
“Cool. Noon, then.” Gio touched Natalia’s elbow. They left Eddie’s office, Gio nodded at Mrs. B, then they went outside and walked to the car. “I have a few things to do today with Tommie. Finish the reconnoiter, but I’ll be here at six to pick you up.” He leaned down and kissed her lightly. “Call me at lunchtime. ’Kay?”
She nodded. “Have fun today.” She looked up. “Rain’s coming in. Be careful.”
“Will do. Later, Ace.”
She squeezed his hand. “Later.”
Natalia wasn’t inside the store but ten feet when Mrs. B called out, “How exciting.”
Okaaay. If Mrs. B knew Gio was starting tomorrow, half the town knew already. Natalia had a feeling Eddie was about to have the best summer in sales ever. She smiled. “Gotta say, I’m happy about it. But I’m sorry about Frank.”
Mrs. B waved her hand in a don’t-think-about-it move. “That boy should’ve been fired months ago. Eddie kept him on for me. I wish he woulda pressed charges. The judge would’ve given that idiot a few months of community service. Serve Frank right to have to work out in the hot sun all day for no money.”
Frank needs to spend a couple of days in a locked room with Tommie. That’d straighten out his skunky ass.
Blossom Woods Apartments
Fiddler’s Rest
Gio
When they’d been out scouting yesterday, Gio had noticed some buildings down a side road about a half-mile past the community college. He asked Tommie to go back there and they found a gated three-building newer-looking apartment complex with parking behind each building. The two-story brick structures made a horseshoe around an open park-like area with young trees where picnic benches with grills beside them were scattered. To get in they had to call the rental office. After a few minutes, a middle-aged woman came out of a door at the corner of the closest building to the gates to check them out before buzzing them in.