Two Wrongs

by Morgan Mandel

  Chapter Six

  Danny

  IT WAS HOMECOMING day. After the national anthem, Danny scanned the Allstate Arena. Almost every seat was filled, except for the two in the fourth row. He frowned. The weather was fine. The apartment wasn’t far. Mom was supposed to drive Dad over after breakfast. Where were they?

  He’d taken extra steps to ensure their attendance. His parent’s Chevy was in the shop, so Danny had gotten a lift from Tony and left them his trusty Buick.

  He hoped Dad’s arthritis hadn’t flared up. Maybe he couldn’t move and Mom was having trouble helping him. Or, maybe they’d forgotten to bring the tickets and had turned back for them.

  It wouldn’t take long. They’d probably show up any minute. They knew how important it was for them to be here. At half-time, all the seniors’ parents would walk out to mid-court with the players.

  The first quarter began. Danny blocked everything out of his mind and focused on playing. He scored tons of points and some exciting slam dunks. The crowd was getting into the game.

  Toward half-time, the two seats were still empty. Where were his parents? They needed to get here soon. They had to be on their way. When he saw them, the mystery would be solved.

  The announcements began. Each senior was called out onto the court, flanked by his parents. Danny’s name was announced. Mom and Dad did not appear. Trying to hide his disappointment, he stepped out by himself and received his plaque, forcing a smile onto his face. The fans cheered and Danny waved.

  His eyes caught a flash of color on the sidelines in the front row. Catherine’s curls glittered beneath the gym lights. The sight warmed him, making him optimistic. He shouldn’t worry. There had to be a logical reason for his parents’ absence. He’d find out about it later.

  DePaul emerged victorious. As Danny approached the locker room after the game, he glimpsed Cathy standing beside the door. His heart beat faster.

  “Danny, you played great. You’re very talented.”

  Her face turned a lovely shade of pink. Feeling his own cheeks grow hot, he stared at her flushed face. He wanted Catherine more than was good for either of them.

  “Thanks, Cathy, I do my best. I’ve always liked basketball,” he said, fighting a wave of longing.

  Her attention still didn’t take his mind from the fact his parents had not arrived. He wondered if she sensed his hurt. He’d wanted his family to share this important game with him.

  He looked into Cathy’s pure, sincere face. She was an angel, so much different than the evil person he was inside. What should he say next?

  His problem was solved when one of the opposing players approached.

  “Way to go, Danny,” Rolf Stallworthy said, patting him on the back.

  Cathy came out of her spell and turned to her friends. “Well, I better be going.”

  “It was nice to see you, Cathy,” Danny said.

  Watching her retreating figure, he felt a pang of regret. If only he could keep her alongside him forever. Before he could prevent it, the vision again entered his mind of Cathy stretched out beside him as he counted and kissed her freckles and tasted her fair skin. At the thought, his body strained to find release inside of her.

  Tony Vanetti stopped by, bringing him down to earth.

  “Danny, Tracy’s waiting in the Mustang.”

  Tracy Santore had been Tony’s constant companion since grammar school. She was so familiar she seemed like one of the guys.

  Danny came to. “Oh, yeah, pizza at Tobasco’s. I’ll shower and be right out.”

  He needed to cool off bad. Cathy did strange things to him. Did Tony get the way over Tracy or did he take her for granted?

  Danny turned the water on full blast, almost punishing himself with its force. He had to forget Cathy. She’d be better off without him. The demon in his soul would only do her harm. His family was cursed. He’d hate to have his bad luck extend to her.

  That reminded him. What about his parents? What had happened to them? The small, niggling voice grew louder, refusing to be drowned by the gushing stream of water. Something was wrong. They’d said they’d be here. Was it Dad’s back? Had the car broken down? He wished he had a cell phone to call from, but couldn’t afford one. Neither could his friends. He seemed to remember a booth near the exit. He’d try there.

  He quickly toweled himself and threw on his clothes. With the cotton shirt clinging to his damp skin, he rushed out to place the call. The phone rang with no answer. Where were they?

  Maybe a tow truck was picking them up. The next time he called they’d be home and apologizing for missing the game. Fighting a sense of urgency, he silently climbed into Tony’s back seat and barely listened as his friends discussed the win.

  After Tony pulled up at Tobasco’s, Danny jumped out, intent on finding a phone. If his folks didn’t answer this time, he’d ask his friend to drive him home. He got as far as the door, where Ritchie, hands clasped and lips quivering, blocked his way. Danny had seen that look before. His heart pounded.

  “Danny,” Ritchie’s voice cracked. “Danny, I heard on the radio there was an accident in our neighborhood.”

  Accidents happened all the time, but somehow Danny knew this one was different. Ritchie put an arm around Danny’s shoulders.

  “I heard the description, so I called the police. I’m sorry, Danny, but I think it’s your Mom and Dad. They hit a telephone pole. They’re dead.”

  Tony and Tracy came up behind them. “Are you sure?” Tracy asked. “There might be a mistake.”

  “I hope to God I’m wrong, but it sounded like them. Danny, the police want identification. I’ll take you there.”

  “I’ll come, too,” Tony said.

  Danny spoke up. “No, please. You and Tracy go inside.”

  “I can’t or I’ll puke,” Tony said, turning from the restaurant. “Let’s get out of here. Listen, Danny, if you need anything, let me know.”

  Ritchie quietly opened the passenger door of his Pontiac. Danny slumped onto the passenger seat. Icy fingers of fear clutched him. This couldn’t be happening. They couldn’t be gone. They were all he had. When he arrived at the morgue, there would be two other bodies waiting, not theirs.

  All too soon they pulled up before the weathered brownstone building.

  “Good luck, Danny,” Ritchie whispered, as Danny stepped inside the quiet, icy room.

  The bright light hit his eyes, making them water. He shivered as an attendant pulled out the fifth drawer from the wall.

  He closed his eyes and prayed, then opened them and looked.

  A sinking feeling hit him at the sight. “Mom,” he said in a strangled voice.

  Nodding at Danny’s confirmation, the man pulled out the adjoining drawer. Danny forced his smarting eyes to gaze at the shell of the man who’d struggled hard to provide for his family despite constant back pain. This shouldn’t be.

  Closing his eyes tight, he jammed his knuckles into them. He would not cry. He stood there for God knows how long. Time had no meaning. The sound of a throat clearing jarred Danny from his trance. “Sir...”

  He was at the morgue. The attendant was waiting. No use wasting the man’s time. On wobbly legs, Danny started to move.

  “Sir,” the man began again. Danny stopped and turned.

  “If it’s any consolation, it appears they died instantly.”

  “Thank you,” Danny said, appreciating the attempt to ease his pain.

  He hoped it was true. At least their faces had remained unblemished. They’d looked almost as if they were sleeping.

  He sighed. Well, now they were at peace. They’d joined Mary Alice and wouldn’t miss her any more. The problem was they’d left him behind. He wanted them back. He wasn’t a child, yet he longed for Mom’s embrace and Dad’s pat on the back.

  He found Ritchie waiting in the hallway, where the temperature had turned stifling. As if from a distance, his friend’s voice echoed. “Are you okay, Danny? Is there anything I c
an do?”

  He shook his head. There was nothing anyone could do.

  WHEN DANNY ENTERED the empty apartment, he still expected to see Mom and Dad inside. Sinking onto the couch, he stared at the pathetic reminders of his parent’s existence—Mom’s reading glasses beside the lamp, Dad’s slippers on the floor next to his chair.

  Chills raced up and down his spine. His body shook and he couldn’t stop it. This was worse than Mary Alice’s death, or maybe it seemed that way because the pain was so fresh. He had no family. How could he survive?

  With the support of Ritchie and Tony, somehow he got through the funeral arrangements, though he was close to cracking.

  A few days later, as he walked behind the coffin at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, the wind picked up, turning the air bitter cold. It was not a typical day for mid-April, but nothing was normal any more.

  At the cemetery chapel, Ritchie and Tony stood guard beside him. Others were present, but his mind didn’t register their identities. All he could think of was he’d never see his parents again. Like Mary Alice, they’d disappeared from his life.

  When the service was done, he trudged out into the blustery, cold world. The cruel wind froze the tears to his cheeks.

  As he turned toward Tony’s car, his angel appeared. Cathy seemed to almost float up to him with her brilliant red hair flying in the wind. The sight made his heart ache. Mom hadn’t even met her. They would have liked each other.

  Her cold hand clasped his. “Danny, I was out of town. I just heard about your parents this morning. I got here as fast as I could. I’m so sorry. If there’s anything I can do...” Her eyes filled.

  “Thanks for coming, Cathy. It means a lot to me.”

  His voice sounded strange to his own ears, but he felt totally drained and past hiding his feelings. He could only gaze at the soft vision, soak in her beauty and drown in her tranquil blue eyes. She was his one slim hope in an unpredictable world, yet a dream he dare not pursue. Resolutely he turned from her.

  That evening, as he lay in bed, emptiness hit him. He listened to other footsteps on the apartment building’s stairway, knowing they could never be Mom’s or Dad’s. Other people had families. He had none.

  LIFE WENT ON. Danny filled his days, doing his best to cope with his loss. He excelled at basketball. Pro scouts approached him, but he decided to graduate first. It had been his parent’s wish for him to get his degree.

  His obsession with Cathy grew, perhaps due to his loneliness. He knew better than to lead her on, but he couldn’t deny himself a few small pleasures, such as taking her out to lunch. It felt so right to be near her. Still, that was as far as he went.

  A month before graduation, Cathy approached him. “Danny, I was wondering. There’s a party I’ve been invited to, but I’ve got no one to take me. Would you mind?”

  He raised his eyebrows at what had to be a lie. What guy in his right mind wouldn’t escort her? Not that she encouraged any of them.

  Here she was, practically begging him. This was his chance, but his conscience told him not to take it. She didn’t fit into his plan. Innocence and revenge were a bad combination.

  The beautiful Cathy stood before him, biting her lip. He hated seeing her feel bad. Wavering, he glanced at her reddening lip. He ached to run his tongue over the spot and soothe it, then go further.

  His eyes traveled down to her pert, upturned breasts, her minuscule waist, and her long, slim legs. Not for the first time, he wondered if Cathy had ever made love to anyone. The thought made him break into a sweat, almost like it was Mary Alice’s rape all over again. Cathy was his, though he hadn’t claimed her.

  Her face flushed. His strength fled. Taking a deep breath, he plunged in. “Sure Cathy. When do you need my services?” He’d tried to sound like it didn’t matter, though his mouth felt dry. A real man was always in control. That’s what women wanted.

  Her forehead puckered. He wondered if she regretted asking him out. Maybe he’d sounded too macho. Quickly he added, “Seriously, Cathy, it would be my pleasure.”

  Her forehead cleared. “The party’s this Saturday at Don Grant’s house.”

  “Oh, yeah. He asked me, but I didn’t think I could make it. My work schedule got switched, so now I can.”

  He’d call in sick if he had to.

  Now that he’d made the commitment, he looked forward to the night he’d be with her. The week dragged. Finally it was Saturday and Danny stood before the hall monitor at Cathy’s dorm, waiting to be announced.

  As fresh as the spring evening, Cathy glided down the stairs in a denim mini dress. Her legs stretched long and lean. Her dainty feet were tucked into smooth leather sandals, with pink polished toenails peaking out.

  She was really something, a temptation too great to resist. While he strolled across the parking lot with his arm around her waist, he swore he heard the birds sing.

  As they approached his much-repaired beater, his face grew warm. Someone like Cathy deserved better.

  It got worse. When they arrived at Don Grant’s place, Corvettes, Mustangs, even Porsches were parked out front. They made his old Buick look like a piece of junk. As if sensing his discomfiture, Cathy glanced at Danny and smiled, putting him at ease. The gesture confirmed she was beautiful inside as well as out.

  At the party, another incident strengthened that notion. A buffet was set up in the basement, where Danny and Cathy waited in line. When Cathy leaned against the brick wall something moved.

  “Cathy, watch out, there’s a spider.”

  He reached for a napkin to kill it.

  Her hand caught his. “No, Danny, don’t. It deserves a life too.”

  Had he heard right? Most women would have been only too eager to dispose of the insect, yet Cathy thought of the spider’s life..

  He felt the pressure of her fingertips on his arm. His pulse raced and his pants tightened. He felt like pushing her against the wall, crushing his lips into hers and prying her teeth open with his tongue.

  She looked back at him innocently as an alarm rang in his mind. Was he no better than Kevin Green?

  That reminded him. He had no right to lead Cathy on, not with that unfinished business to attend to. He had to let her go. Sooner or later she’d find someone better.

  He wrestled with his conscience, but, for the time being, it lost. He couldn’t make the break, not now. She’d become too important to him. If Cathy were gone, who would he have?

  A week later, when she invited him to her parents’ home, against his better judgment he accepted.

  AT CATHY’S HOUSE, Ted McGuire reached out, almost crushing Danny’s palm in his strong grip. “Your last game was a dandy. Great job, young man.”

  Danny smiled in embarrassment until Cathy’s Mom, Nancy, appeared in a cool cotton dress and calmly announced that dinner was ready.

  When his leg accidentally brushed against Cathy’s under the table, he was grateful for the cover provided by the napkin in his lap. He looked around, wondering if anyone had noticed his reaction.

  Cathy’s sister, Dora, younger by a year, sat across from him. With a leather barrette firmly clasping her long, straight, dark hair away from her face, she bore scant resemblance to her sibling. Her knowing amber eyes bore into Danny’s soul, threatening to expose its dark secrets. Something about her made him uneasy. It was almost as if she were a witch casting a dangerous spell. If it weren’t for Cathy, he might be tempted.

  Ted caught the direction of Danny’s gaze. He was only too glad to fill him in. “Did you know that our Dora is entering law school?”

  “Is that right?”

  He’d always admired independent women. This one was a knockout to boot. Ted had a right to expand his chest.

  “Dora’s one smart cookie,” Cathy said.

  “So are you,” Danny added.

  Almost with relief his eyes fastened on her. Cathy was smart in ways that counted. She’d make a loving wife and a wonderful mother. She obviously to
ok after her mom, who was in her element caring for her family. Not only that, Cathy was the type who saw the good in everyone. She was tactful, funny and sweet, with a knack for making people feel special.

  He fought back a small doubt, but it escaped anyway. At times her goodness made him nervous. He was far from perfect. Cathy, who didn’t notice the inner battle waging inside him, flushed at his praise.

  “Well, I wouldn’t dream of being a lawyer myself. Owning my own floral shop will be quite enough for me. I love being surrounded by flowers and plants. They’re so beautiful. I can’t wait to make my own creations and share them with my customers.”

  Her mother smiled. “Cathy, dear, you do a marvelous job in our garden. I remember how in San Francisco our neighbors were always jealous. You really are very clever.”

  Danny glanced with renewed appreciation at Cathy. He couldn’t ask for a more ideal companion. She had it all and he couldn’t blame any man for wanting her. There were so many other guys she could pick—ones with looks, brains and money. Why did she want him?

  Cathy leaned against Danny, saying in a soft voice, “I have enough intelligence not to let you slip away.”

  Once again she’d read his mind and dispelled his doubts. Danny flashed her a grateful smile. Picking up on the exchange, Dora eyed them thoughtfully.

  Talk turned to the variations in climate between San Francisco and Chicago and the reason why the family had moved. Holding her husband’s hand, Nancy explained they’d decided to be closer to Ted’s dad, Nelson, after he’d suffered a heat attack.

  They’d discovered this wonderful Georgian home in Park Ridge, which was just perfect. Unfortunately, Nelson had died shortly after their relocation. They didn’t feel like facing another upheaval, so they’d stayed on.

  “I like it better here. There’s something about battling the elements that makes everything more real,” Dora added.

  She talked about the first snowfall she’d seen. Danny hardly paid attention. Something had dawned on him. Since Mary Alice’s death had been a local story and had not claimed national attention, the McGuires hadn’t heard about it. It was a relief not to have to discuss it with them. Some things were better left unsaid.

  “I’m glad you decided to stay,” Danny said, giving Cathy a special smile. “I got the best part of the deal.”

  The McGuires had started a new life in a new locale. He could understand how fresh habits caught on, especially pleasant ones like spending time with Cathy. He was doing way too much of that, but couldn’t stop himself.

  He drifted along. Soon it was graduation day. Because there were so many graduates, the ceremony was held at the McCormick Place Auditorium.

  From his vantage point in the middle of the line, Danny watched proudly as Cathy marched up to the stage and was awarded her diploma. Then it was his turn. As he stepped up, his eyes filled. Through a mist he grasped the precious paper and scanned the crowd for Cathy. Their eyes met. She blew him a kiss.

  Then, against reason, he sought out his parents. Of course they weren’t here. Sadness pierced him. They’d wanted this diploma so bad. They’d have been proud of his degree in Computer Sciences.

  Through a wet film, Danny stumbled down the aisle. He’d almost reached his seat when he caught sight of the McGuires. Ted flashed a thumbs-up sign. Nancy and Dora smiled encouragingly. His heartstrings tugged. They were his family.

  Through the conclusion of the ceremony, he sat lost in thought. He cared for the McGuires too much. If he were a normal guy, he’d propose to Cathy before it was too late. With all his heart, he ached to do that.

  Everyone clapped. He stumbled from his seat to join the other exiting grads. Stepping into the June sunlight, he blinked.

  Out front were Tony, Tracy and Ritchie, donned in mortarboards and gowns also, beaming triumphantly. It had been a tough road for them. They hadn’t earned basketball scholarships like he had, yet they’d persevered. This was an occasion to celebrate. The only bad part of it all was Danny’s conscience, which kept tearing at him, reminding him that he was taking advantage of Cathy.

  “Notice anything different?” Tracy asked.

  What a crazy question. They all looked the same in their caps and gowns. She brought up her left hand directly in front of his eyes before he caught on. A small diamond winked. Danny groaned inside. This development would not help matters.

  He tried to smile.

  “Congratulations, Tracy. I wish you both the best.”

  Almost on cue, Cathy stepped up beside him.

  Tony grinned devilishly. “It’ll be your turn next, buddy.”

  Danny didn’t answer. He’d give anything to be like his friend, but he wasn’t. Not with the image of Kevin Green dogging him.