by S. J. Bishop
Just when I thought I’d crumble, my phone rang. Thank God! “Martin!” I yelled into the poor caller’s ear.
“This is Caroline,” the voice paused, “with Hospice.”
14
Vanessa
Whatever was on the other end of Martin’s phone call had to be bad. His face fell, and he walked off, not even looking at me. Dejected, I turned back to my wardrobe. I’d been considering wearing mom’s dress to my graduation, the one she’d picked out to wear. Although she was much more blessed in some key areas, I felt I could make the dress work with some minor alterations. However, I wasn’t sure I could emotionally handle seeing myself in the mirror in mom’s dress. The pressure of the graduation ceremony, and all this nonsense with Daddy’s associates, was enough to break the strongest woman. I wasn’t sure if I could handle the blatant reminder of my mom’s absence on top of it.
The rest of that day and evening, we kept to ourselves – he in a mood in his room and me amusing myself with television, cards, and books. I’d gotten so desperately bored that I even wished for a gaming system or premium channels. So I was immensely happy when Cruz arrived the next morning with bagels and coffee. I even flung my arms around him in an exaggerated show of gratitude, which — much to my delight — placed a permanent scowl on Martin’s face.
Cruz noticed the scowl as well and abruptly peeled me off of him. He and Martin hurried off to the back room to have some private meeting, while I helped myself to the goodies. Although they were talking in hushed tones, I could make out some of the conversation, specifically the word ‘mother’. I wanted to barge in and ask if they had news about my mother’s death but thought better of it. Whatever they were doing in there, it seemed hush-hush and quite intense. I didn’t want to bring the wrath of Martin down upon me, as I was in enough trouble already after trying to seduce him. Something about his rebuff made me want him more.
Still, in the meantime, I was content smearing on gobs of strawberry cream cheese and dumping a ton of cream and sugar into the black coffees Cruz had set on the table. If we were going to be stuck having a marvelously boring time in this house, then so be it. The last thing I wanted was drama, or for Martin to have any excuse to nix my graduation. I was so close. The ceremony was tonight, and I’d be damned if I let anyone or anything stop me from accepting the diploma I’d worked so hard for.
Which is why I said nothing the first time I saw the black SUV drive slowly past the living room window. The second time, I also talked myself out of interrupting their conversation, rationalizing that we’d been getting followed by a black Cadillac, not a Pathfinder. However, by the third trip, I set down my half-eaten bagel and cold coffee, still not sweet enough for my taste, and snuck up to the window. Hiding behind the floor-length, thick, red drapes that reminded me of old-timey hotel rooms, I watched as a dark-tanned man drove by in the Pathfinder, the black-tinted driver’s window cracked enough for me to see the sunglasses on his face and the top of his nose. He definitely saw me as plainly as I saw him.
“Martin! Cruz!” I shoved the curtains closed and ran toward the hall.
Both men came barreling out of the room, shoving past each other to reach me first. “What?” they yelled in unison.
“There’s a car out there! It’s been circling the block!” Not knowing what else to do, I grabbed ahold of Martin’s arm and hid behind him, not letting go.
They jumped into action like the well-oiled machine I’m sure they were in the Navy. Cruz whipped a gun from his hip and one from his sock and ran to the door, staring out the peephole. “I don’t see anything.” I could see he was breathing hard, his head turning back and forth as he stared both ways down the road.
“I saw it, I swear,” I said from behind Martin, trembling with fear. “It wasn’t a car this time. It was an SUV. A Nissan Pathfinder.”
As soon as the words came out of my mouth, Cruz’s head spun around, and he and Martin stared at each other. It looked like they were communicating with just their eyes, forming some plan that I wasn’t aware of. Were they expecting it to be a new car?
Martin pulled me off his back and said something I didn’t catch. He shook me and tried again. “You have one minute to gather your things, then meet me in the kitchen. Go to the door leading to the garage and stay there until I tell you to move.” Then he was off, gliding across the room in less than three steps. He stopped at the door, which I watched Cruz open as I turned the corner into my room.
Without much thought, I shoved my mother’s green dress and some other clothes in a bag and ran full speed to the garage door. I stood there, shaking and panting with the effort and fear but not daring to move. I heard Cruz shout something from outside. It sounded like he was in the front yard. Then I heard an engine roar to life and peel out the driveway. Then a honk from the garage, and Martin’s voice calling my name.
I opened the door and saw Martin waving furiously at me to ‘come on.’ I ran to Rhonda, climbed in quickly, and slammed the door. Looking back, I noticed that I hadn’t even closed the door to the house. Martin said, his voice high with adrenaline, “Don’t worry about it! Get down!” Martin shoved my head down in the seat.
As we tore out of the driveway, I watched as Cruz turned one way down the street and we turned the other, right in the direction of the SUV. With my head buried, I heard squealing tires, smelled the rubber, and wondered if this was the same fear my mom had felt as she’d tumbled down the stairs to her death.
15
Martin
Alright, you can sit up.”
Vanessa slowly lifted her head and peered out of her window. She appeared smaller somehow, helpless and afraid. It took everything I had not to take her into my arms and promise that everything would be alright. But I knew, at that moment, that if I allowed myself to touch her, I’d never stop.
“I’m sorry. I should have told you about the car sooner.” Vanessa smoothed her hair down and adjusted the black bag in her lap.
“It’s fine. We’re fine. Let’s just take some deep breaths and calm down.” That was for both our benefits, not just hers. The excitement I always felt on a mission was gone. Instead, dread filled every waking moment of this job. Protecting Vanessa wasn’t just a way to make money; it was becoming something more. Something I didn’t want to analyze too closely.
“I didn’t want to interrupt you. It seemed like you guys were talking about some important stuff.” Vanessa looked at me and did that glasses thing again. The sight of it, so mundane and so her, melted me.
“Nothing for you to worry about.” I couldn’t bring myself to tell her how dire Ma’s situation was. I’d been rude to the nurse, I know. Ma was going downhill fast, and it wasn’t the nurse’s fault. We’d known this day would come. I just thought I’d have more time. “Let’s get you graduated!” I put on my best happy face, and she put on her best ‘buying it’ face.
Later that night, at the ceremony, tensions were on high alert. Marco tried to talk to me, to get a run-down of the situation, but I just didn’t have time to talk to him. There was no police presence at the arena. Hell, there wasn’t even a security guard anywhere on site. It was up to Cruz and myself to secure the entire perimeter and keep an eye on Vanessa. That last part was proving nearly impossible with the wardrobe changes, rehearsal walks, and last-minute dress alterations in the private green room.
Marco didn’t seem to get the hint, though. Wherever I was, there he appeared. I fought the urge to push him aside and remind him that his daughter was my only concern. I realized, a little too slowly, what this night must be like for him. His only child graduating college. He’d said so many times, tonight included, how she was just like her mother. I could see that the loss of his wife weighed heavily on his shoulders. He’d seemed to age years in the three weeks I’d been working for him.
“All my dreams,” he was saying as I attempted to keep one ear on him and one on Vanessa’s door. “I had everything at my fingertips, and I squandered it.”
I e
yed his thousand-dollar suit and shiny, black-heeled dress shoes. “Doesn’t look like you’ve done too bad for yourself, sir.”
Marco waved a dismissive hand at his clothes. “This? Ah, this stuff means nothing in the grand scheme of things.” He stared at the stage where Vanessa would soon be receiving her diploma. “That,” he added, pointing toward the door where Vanessa was having her dress altered, “that’s the only thing that really matters in my life now.”
“Have you been drinking, Mr. Genovese?”
“Ah,” he sighed, “maybe a little to calm the nerves.”
“Well, I’m gonna need you to focus. Drink some water or something. Maybe some coffee if they have it.” I checked in with Cruz on radio, perimeter check secured.
“I’ve done many things in my life that I’m not proud of Martin. Many, many things. But that girl in there, my little princess, she’s the best part of me. And her dear sweet mother.” Marco crossed himself. “Did I show you my ring?”
“What?” I asked, distracted.
“My ring.” He shoved his hand, wearing a massive platinum ring, in my face. “After my darling Carlotta passed, I had this made. Melted our wedding rings into one. Never to be separated again.” He kissed the ring and placed the hand back in his pocket.
“That’s actually very sweet,” I told him, wondering if I could do something like that with Ma and Pop’s rings.
“I love her still, so much. I only wish I’d made sure she knew while she was live.”
“I’m sure she did.” My eyes wandered toward the entrances, scanning every new face in the crowd.
“I wasn’t the best husband, as I’m sure Vanessa told you. But I loved my wife. The things I did, everyone in the life does, it just is. I wish I’d never met Mr. Amara.”
I couldn’t argue with him. I’d had the same thoughts myself. How could he have put his family in this situation? How could he have stayed in the life, knowing his wife and daughter wanted out? Yet I wasn’t going to berate him here. He was obviously doing enough of that himself. “I’m sure your wife knew you loved her. That’s why she tried to get you to come with her. And Ms. Genovese, Vanessa, knows you love her.” I paused for a moment to listen to Cruz confirm the perimeter check. “You’ve raised a strong, independent woman, and you should be very proud.”
“Headstrong as her mother, she is.”
“Not gonna argue there.”
We both shared a laugh, and I felt some of the sadness lift from the room. Whatever this man had done, it was his cross to bear. It was obvious he loved his wife and daughter more than anything.
16
Vanessa
The lights in the arena bore down on me, making me glad I’d worn my mother’s light green dress under my cap and gown and not something more substantial. As I stood in the wing of the stage, off to the right, waiting for my turn to walk out, my knees gave way. The pressure, adrenaline, danger, and loss of my mother all hit me at once. Everything I’d worked for until now culminated in this moment. And she wasn’t here to see it.
I looked out into the crowd, searching for that face. Martin smiled, and the weight on my shoulders fell away. There he is. Then I saw Daddy’s face next to Martin’s, and the tears in his eyes. I wiped my own eyes and stepped forward, closer to my destiny. Two people stood between me and the stage. Then one.
Dr. Francis, the Dean of Academics, called my name, and I didn’t move. The girl behind me cleared her throat and then patted my back. I stumbled forward, afraid my knees would give, and somehow made it across the stage to Dr. Francis’s waiting hand. As practiced, with my left hand, I shook her’s, and with my right, I accepted my diploma. We nodded at each other, and I turned toward the audience, blinded by the lights, and smiled. Then I walked the three steps to Mr. Abel and accepted my Honors broach. Concentrating on the mechanics of each step helped me make it through the entire rehearsed ordeal without falling on my face.
As I descended the steps on the other end of the stage, a dark figure approached me. I couldn’t make out more than an outline with the lights blaring down on me, but I did see his hand reach into a front pocket. My eyes zeroed in on that hand as the rest of me ducked down almost completely under the stage.
Two large figures rushed the stage, tackling the man and throwing him to the ground. I heard two distinctive grunts — one from Martin and another from Cruz — and then a pained groan from… “Greg?” I asked from under the stairs.
“What the hell?” It was definitely Greg’s voice that carried up from beneath Martin and Cruz.
I crawled out and raised myself up, smoothing out my gown. Cruz was on top of Martin, and both were struggling to subdue Greg, who kicked and flopped like a fish on the floor. “Guys, get off!” I tapped Cruz hard on his back to break his concentration. “I know him! That’s my…friend.”
Martin huffed Cruz off his back like he weighed nothing and stood up. His head snapped in my direction at the hesitation before ‘friend.’ I could tell he didn’t buy it. It was sort of true, which I tried to convey with my eyes. We had been more than friends at the beginning of the year, but things had run their course, as they do with your senior year.
Martin stepped over to me, covering my body with his, a little closer than usual it felt, while Cruz helped Greg up off the ground. When Greg recovered, he rose to his full height, head to head with Martin. Both men squared off like silver back gorillas in the wild. I half expected them to start pounding their chests at each other. Instead, Cruz slid himself between them and apologized to Greg.
“Sorry, man. No hard feelings.”
Greg looked down his nose at Cruz and then right past him, locking eyes with Martin again. To me, he asked, “What’s all this?”
“My dad hired them.” I attempted to push past Martin, extending my arms for a conciliatory hug. Martin was having none of that.
“Ms. Genovese was just leaving.” He glared at Greg, then tapped Cruz on the back to signal our escape. It was at that moment that I realized the eyes of the entire stadium were upon us, me. I shrank behind Martin.
Greg held out his hand, his arm stiff against Martin’s chest. “Hold on. I just wanted to give Vanessa this.” He reached into his pocket, the one that had started this whole mess, and retrieved a gold envelope.
Martin grabbed Greg’s wrist and twisted it almost to breaking. “Slow down.”
“Dammit!” Greg screamed. “Vanessa, call off your dog!”
“Martin, stop!” I slapped Martin’s back. “You’re hurting him.”
“I’ll take that.” Martin snatched the envelope and stuffed it in his own pocket. Then he released Greg’s wrist and shooed him away with a flick of his own wrist. “Run along now.”
Greg didn’t run along. He stood firm, bowing up his chest at Martin and making a visible effort to not rub his wrist. “Vanessa, sweetie,” he added for Martin’s ear, “I’m very proud of you. Mother and Father would love for you to come back to the house for a little get together.”
Martin butted in, “No parties.”
“Why don’t we let Vanessa decide what she wants, big guy?” Greg raised his hand as if to pat Martin on the shoulder but thought better of it and lowered the already pained arm. Then, to me, “I’d love to see you there. You remember the address, I’m sure.”
“Alright, you two, that’s quite enough. Honestly!” I pushed past Martin and Greg both and put my arm around Cruz. He glanced sheepishly back at Martin and then escorted me out of the arena. I still felt every eye in the place boring a hole in me, so I was grateful to him for helping me make my escape.
As we reached the side exit, I fought every urge to turn back and check on Martin and Greg. Curiosity had me wondering which one would break their staring contest first. But pride held my head firmly forward, my eyes locked on Cruz’s dark, curly hair.
17
Martin
Seriously!” she barked at me through the car window before I’d even unlocked my door. I’d given her a few minutes to cool off a
fter dealing with lover boy. Maybe she could have used a few more.
“How the hell was I supposed to know your little boyfriend would show up?” I snatched the door open and poked my head in first to see if she would bite it off.
“He’s not my — ugh!” Vanessa climbed from the front seat to the back, slapping my headrest as she went.
“Now you don’t even want to sit by me? That’s mature.” I regretted it as soon as the words left my mouth.
She bit her lip to keep from saying something I’d probably regret more. “I’m changing for the party.”
“You’re not going to that guy’s party. No way!” I slammed the door behind me, adjusting the rear-view mirror that she’d knocked out of place.
“Not his party.” She held out her hand. “And give me my letter!”
“It’s a card.” I said, almost under my breath, as I fished it from my pocket and gave it to her. Every ounce of my being wanted to know what was in the damned thing. What’s gotten into you, Martin? “Where’s Cruz?” I asked, willing myself not to look back to where she was.
“How the hell should I know?” Through the mirror, I watched her shove the card into her bag. “Just take me to the Bellmonte.”
“No.”
“Excuse me?”
“No, no parties. It’s too dangerous. You saw what—”
“What? What did I see? You and my ex make fools of yourselves, and me, in front of my entire graduating class?”
“But if he’d been a hostile, we might not have made it to you in time. I could have lost you.”