Derrick uncrossed his arms. “Slept? Yeah, I know the spot. There’s an old dude who sleeps there, named – “
“Georgio,” Tony interrupted. “Yes. He gave me tips for surviving the winter. Glad to hear he’s still alive. One of his tips was to go into churches during services to get warm. A lot of churches serve coffee and pastries afterward, too. I went into Boston Central Bible Church one cold night and it changed my life forever.”
Margaret entered, pushing a service cart. Tony stood and thanked her, taking the cart from her and rolling it to where Derrick sat. He lifted the silver dome off a plate and found roast beef with mashed potatoes and green peas. Bless Margaret, he thought, who knew, despite the early hour, to bring something other than croissants and fruit. He set the plate in front of Derrick. He watched the boy’s hungry face light up and heard the audible sound of his stomach growling. He quickly poured him a cup of hot tea and sat down. “Let me bless this food before you eat,” he said, not handing over the silverware wrapped in a cloth napkin just yet. He bowed his head and said, very quickly so that he did not torture the boy, “Father God, thank You for working in our lives and bringing Derrick and me together. I pray You bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies. In Your holy name we pray, Amen.”
He handed Derrick the bundle of utensils and sat back with his own cup of tea while the young man attacked the plate of food. When it was empty, he lifted the dome on another identical plate and set that in front of him as well. This time, he ate more slowly.
“What do you mean, it changed your life?” Derrick asked with his mouth full.
“What?”
“The church. How did church do anything for you? Never did nothin’ for me I tell ya that.”
“Ah.” Tony smiled and poured more tea for both of them. “Let me tell you a story about forgiveness and redemption.”
OBIN’S worn out car shuddered to a stop about 12 feet shy of the valet stand in front of the Boston Viscolli Hotel. She opened the door before the valet could get to her. “I’m so sorry, Ryan,” she said, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. “I hope you can get it started.”
“No problem, Miss Bartlett,” he said smoothly. “We’ll take care of it for you. Please don’t concern yourself.”
Rushing, she opened the back door and grabbed her purse and notepad, then slammed it shut and hit it with her hip to make sure it latched. She knew she was going to have to replace this car, and soon. The cold winter seemed to bring out the worst in the machine. Since her promotion from head bartender to restaurant manager at Hank’s Place, she finally had the extra money to put away and had been saving for a more reliable used car, but she didn’t have enough put aside yet. She had to limp the thing along for just another couple of months.
The frigid Boston wind bit at her cheeks and she rushed into the warm lobby of the hotel. Most people working there knew her by now. Tony’s executive offices were on the top floor of the hotel, and she had been there several times in the last few months. She thought back to the first time she’d come there, how angry she’d been at Tony, how offended by him. Now she came in smiling, walking on air, coming to meet Maxine and a wedding planner, saying, “Hi,” to the people she knew personally and basking in their smiles and returned greetings.
Green marble, shiny brass, brown leather, thick oriental rugs – it all worked together to create an atmosphere of luxury and style. As many times as she’d come through those doors, she still didn’t stop from marveling at the ambiance. It was so beautiful and so rich feeling. Furniture was arranged in different seating areas around the lobby, and Robin wove her way through to the fireplace, where she’d arranged to meet the wedding planner.
A tall woman in a red suit with silver hair in a tight bun stood next to the hearth. Robin went straight for her. “Stephanie?” she said, holding out her hand, “I’m Robin. I’m so sorry I’m late.”
If Maxine were already there, Robin imagined her sister would offer something very droll along the lines of, “Car trouble?”
Stephanie looked her up and down, from the toes of her brown boots, past her jeans and Harvard sweatshirt, to the top of her head, where she had her long blonde hair pulled back in a pony tail. “Robin Bartlett?” Stephanie asked. “I never would have guessed you were Maxine’s sister.”
Used to such confusion about their looks, Robin said, “I look like our mom. She looks like her dad.” She waved at her outfit. “Sorry I’m so dressed down. I’ve been in the freezer of my restaurant since four this morning trying to organize a meat delivery.” She pushed her coat off of her shoulders as a uniformed concierge approached. She held it out to him with a smile and continued speaking. “We were up to our eyeballs in Angus steaks and I didn’t hear the alarm on my phone going off reminding me of this breakfast.”
Stephanie smiled, but Robin could read the hesitation on her face. Then she asked, “Are they going to let you in? Isn’t there a dress code in the restaurant?”
“It’s not a problem.” She gestured toward the restaurant. “Maxine will be here shortly. She got tied up in traffic. Cassandra texted me that she had a table waiting for us in the restaurant. Maxine will just meet us there.”
“I’ve worked with Cassandra here before,” Stephanie said as they approached the hostess stand. “She is one of the most helpful entertainment coordinators in any hotel around Boston.”
“I know. Tony can’t say enough about her.”
Stephanie put a hand on Robin’s arm. “Wait, Tony?”
Robin raised an eyebrow as the hostess approached. “Yeah, Tony. Tony Viscolli. My fiancé.”
“You are Tony Viscolli’s fiancée? How did I miss that?”
With a shrug, Robin laughed. “You never asked.” She turned to the hostess. “Hi, Amy.”
“Hi, Robin. Cassandra is already waiting for you. Right this way, please.”
Cassandra smiled and held out her hand as Robin approached. “Hi, Robin. It’s nice to meet you in person.”
“Likewise,” she said as she shook the brunette’s hand. Cassandra had a round face with dimples that lit her face up when she smiled. Robin gestured at Stephanie. “You’ve met Stephanie Giordano. She’s still reeling over the fact that she’s going to be working on the Viscolli wedding.”
“The Bartlett-Viscolli wedding,” Cassandra enthused.
Stephanie sat across from Cassandra. “I guess I’d read your name in the paper, but never associated it with Maxine. When she called, she wasn’t specific.” She asked for a diet soda from the waitress and continued. “I am so honored to be asked to do this.”
Maxine breezed toward their table, well over six-feet-tall in her three-inch boots, suede skirt, and silk blouse. “Sorry! There was a tow truck – oh, never mind.” She said as she took the chair across from Robin. “It’s good to see you all.” She looked at the waitress who had finished taking drink orders. “Coffee please, black.”
Stephanie pulled out her tablet and set it on the table in front of her, wiping some lint from the screen before waking it up. “April 21st?”
Robin nodded. “Yes. We’re thinking late afternoon with a reception early evening.”
“How many guests?” Stephanie asked while nodding and typing.
Robin deferred to Cassandra. “How many can we accommodate here?”
“We’re going to use the Grand Ball Room. I can fit up to seven-fifty and maintain fire-code. We can also open the doors and use the patio area. And, we can bring in heated tents if we need to.”
Stephanie paused, fingers on the screen. “Seven hundred and fifty?” She repeated in a near whisper.
Maxine laughed. “Think of the Viscolli wedding on your company’s resume.”
“Bartlett-Viscolli wedding,” Cassandra corrected automatically.
Robin felt her heart skitter. Her mouth went dry and she suddenly felt overwhelmed by the concept. Trying to clear her head, she gave it a short shake. “Seven hundred and fifty people? Seriously?”
Maxine reac
hed over and took her hand. “Easily. Just think of the church congregates alone. Tony’s managers and supervisors, their spouses or guests, all of his ministries, his business contacts. I bet we reach a thousand before it’s all done.”
Cassandra opened her notebook. “We need to set a number now, if it’s possible. I need to make sure I can accommodate with table settings and staff.”
Robin held up a hand. “Let’s limit it to what will fit inside. That will keep it simple.”
“Okay, seven-fifty. Easily done.” Cassandra wrote on a legal pad with a fine-tip pen while Stephanie typed.
“We need a guest list soon,” Stephanie said. “That’s a lot of envelopes to address. I will likely hire that out.”
“Tony’s secretary is already working on it,” Cassandra said. “Her name is Margaret. I’ll get you her contact info.”
Stephanie jumped. “Oh, right. Here’s my card.”
Cassandra nodded. “And here’s mine.”
The women handed out business cards all around then Stephanie turned back to Robin. “Give me some ideas of what you’re thinking about in terms of style or theme.”
Robin raised an eyebrow. “Style?”
Maxine interjected, “She wants simple but elegant. Nothing ostentatious but nothing flashy, either. No swans or doves. Like they say in showbiz, never follow children or animals. And no elaborate foods, just tasteful simple fare.”
Stephanie nodded and typed. Cassandra asked, “Are you going to do sit-down dinner?”
Finally, something to which she could speak with authority due to her years as a waitress. “Yes. But, I don’t want to have too many choices for people. I want to do a small red meat, like maybe lamb, and a small poultry portion on the same plate with two simple sides. That will save the chefs a lot of headache and ensure that meals are set out hot. I do want to accommodate vegetarians if we need to, and make sure the vegetarian plates are fully organic, only fruits and vegetables with whole grains. Nothing processed at all, especially soy. Oh, maybe a nice tomato soup or consommé. My sister, Sarah, will thank us.”
While Cassandra made notes, the waitress arrived with drinks and took their breakfast orders. As they waited for meals to arrive, Robin and Maxine – mainly Maxine – answered questions and let Stephanie and Cassandra work between them to get the initial outline of their planning started. Robin pondered just how quickly four short months could pass. How would they ever get it all done on time?
OBIN hugged Maxine good-bye and watched her get into her little green sports car. After three hours of meeting with such competent women who seemed to know exactly what to say and do, she felt a little less overwhelmed by the process, but still a little anxious about the timing. Maybe Tony would consider pushing the wedding back to June. Or maybe next January. That would be even better. Or maybe they could just go to a Justice of the Peace and that would be that. Better still.
Shaking her head, knowing he wanted to get married as soon as possible and in their church, she waited for the valet, who pulled up in a sleek and shiny royal blue sedan. He walked toward her. “Hi, Ryan. Did you get it started?”
“Mr. V. took care of it, Robin.”
She waited, but he didn’t move. After several heartbeats, she said, “I don’t understand.”
He pointed with his thumb over his shoulder. “That’s yours, now, ma’am.”
His thumb loosely pointed at a brand new four dour sedan that looked like it had just rolled off of a high end showroom. Robin shook her head. “No, it’s not.”
“Yes, ma’am. Your other car was towed away and this one was brought in. The stuff that was in your trunk and back seat has already been transferred.” He held out brand new shiny car keys that were absolutely not hers hanging on her key chain beside her apartment key and the keys to Hank’s place.
She suddenly remembered Maxine mentioning a tow truck. Nice of her sister not to mention that her car was strapped to it. Without another word, Robin pivoted on her heel with military precision and marched back into the hotel. She stalked to the elevators and hit the top floor button harder than she should have. Thankfully, she had no wait and the elevator shot up twenty stories with efficient speed, but the ride seemed interminable to her.
The receptionist sitting behind a large half-moon desk saw her and smiled. “Good afternoon, Miss Bartlett,” she greeted.
Robin nodded but did not speak. Instead, she stormed off the elevator and into the lobby of the office floor. She barely realized that her feet sank into the lush carpet nor did she pay any attention to the leather furniture and black granite tables.
Her eyes caught the scrolling brass on the wall behind the desk that read: He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8.
She proceeded down the corridor and entered Tony’s outer office. His secretary sat poised with hands on her keyboard but looked up when Robin entered. “Hello, Robin,” Margaret said with a smile. “Mr. Viscolli will certainly be happy to see you.”
“I doubt it,” she said through gritted teeth. “Is he available?”
“He is in this morning, but he has someone in there. Let me call him out.” She stood and walked around her desk, stopping at the large double oak doors. With a quick tap, she opened the door a crack and stuck her head in, speaking in a low tone. As she finished speaking, she stepped back and the doors opened wider.
Tony came out, looking like he had just stepped out of a shoot for the cover of a fashion magazine in his gray silk suit and dark green tie. He grinned and held his hands out to her. “Cara, my love. What a wonderful surprise.”
Robin held her hands up to ward him off. “Where did you take my car?”
Tony stopped and raised his eyebrows, slipping his hands into his pockets. “Ah, so it’s like that is it?” His smile grew infuriatingly broad. “I seem to remember the first time you ever came to this office. You threw a fist full of money at my chest like throwing a stone. Are we to metaphorically commemorate that act? Is today an anniversary or something?”
“Tony, where is my car?”
He gestured toward some double doors on the other side of the room. “Let’s take this conversation into my conference room.”
Robin stormed behind him and waited to speak until he had shut the door. “Answer me. Right now. Where is my car?”
“You mean where is that rusty junk heap that refused to start and had to be towed away?”
“Yeah, I mean my rusty junk heap that you had towed without my permission.”
“I stand corrected. Your rusty, unreliable, and unsafe junk heap is at a mechanic’s shop. I had a feeling you wouldn’t approve of the new car, so I’m getting the old one fixed until I can charm you into accepting the gift of your new car.” He smiled an endearing smile that started to melt her anger.
“Charm me?” She shook her head. “I don’t want cars from you, Tony.”
“I know that, Robin. I also don’t care,” He held up a hand, palm facing her, at her gasp. “Understand that my wife, when she becomes my wife, will drive a safe and reliable car that will not break down on her. Ever. Because, you see, I will take my God ordained responsibilities to my wife very seriously. My wife will be protected and provided for in a way that glorifies our Creator’s design for husbands and wives. And as for giving you gifts, I cannot imagine a time when that will ever stop. You are the love of my life and I would give you the moon and stars.”
Robin took a deep breath and released it. She rubbed her forehead. “Can we just wait to do things like buy me expensive new cars and such until after we’re married? We aren’t married yet, and I really, really don’t feel right about this.”
Tony stepped forward and put his hands on her shoulders. “We are married in my heart. The rest is just ceremony and tradition. But, yes, of course. We can wait. Your car should be back soon. Apparently, it only needs the engine and transmission replaced. And new tires, of course.”
She stepped forward and let him wrap her up in his arms. He smelled so good, and she buried her face in his neck and just breathed. “And brakes. And that back door and window fixed. Just a few details like that.”
“Tony …” she warned.
Tony cleared his throat. “Cara
, I need to talk to you about something. A bit more serious than your inexplicable anger that I took care of your car for you, if I may.”
She lifted her head, but before she could step back, he framed her face with his hands and leaned forward and kissed her. She wondered if there would ever come a day that the feel of his lips didn’t warm her body all the way to her soul. Would her heart ever not pause between beats in her chest just long enough to trip forward at an impossible rate? Would her skin ever not tingle for want of his touch? As she stepped closer and deepened the kiss, her arms slipped around his neck and she sighed.
Tony lifted his head and looked at her, his eyes so dark they looked nearly black. He stared at her for a long time before giving her another quick kiss and stepping away.
Robin smiled. “You need to talk to me about something?”
“Yes.” He pulled out a chair at the conference table and gestured toward it. Robin sat down and he sat next to her. “Last month, when I was in my old neighborhood, I met a boy. A young man, that is.”
Robin grimaced, knowing exactly why he’d been in that neighborhood. “Go on.”
“The Holy Spirit spoke to me, almost audibly, and told me to reach out to him. I gave him my card and told him to come see me when he turned eighteen. His birthday was yesterday.”
Robin cocked her head, a little confused. “Did he come see you?”
“Yes. He’s been here since about eight-thirty.”
“And?”
Tony reached for her hand. She placed it in his. He ran his thumb over the sapphire. “And, I’m going to bring him home with me tonight. I’ve been gutting the apartment rooms, prepping for you and your sisters. Maxine let me know at church Sunday that she will not be moving in with us because she’s purchasing that place on Newbury Street. Since I’d already started the work on a suite of rooms for her, I have the space nearly ready. I’m going to offer him a job and a home.”
Greater Than Rubies, a Novella inspired by the Jewel Trilogy Page 3