“Tennyson?” Lilly asked tentatively.
“Byron,” he answered.
“Your brains,” she said, holding either side of his temple. “You’re the smartest person I’ve ever met. Even between semesters, you consumed books and retained their facts. I know why your father can’t follow you. You’ve exceeded his dreams.”
“Ahh, but that’s the catch,” Tony said. “I’m not really his son, and everyone knows it, at least everyone who matters to him. His real son didn’t go to a school like Brighton, or drive a fancy car, or own a building in the city.”
“What does Frank do?”
“He’s an assistant manager for a men’s clothing store in the Cross County Shopping Center.”
“Do you think Tito rejects you?”
“No, Pops loves me. He’s been pretty sick.”
“He’s sick?’
“His lungs. He always had emphysema, but it’s bad now. He gets bronchitis. He was in the hospital for a month last fall. He looks at me like Frank won’t measure up to his first-born son. But … It’s bittersweet.”
“It sounds Biblical.”
“Yes,” Tony whispered.
They held each other awhile then slept an uncomfortable night away. They walked miles to the nearest town in the morning for the Sunday paper, and they ate a second breakfast in town. The day was clear and under the full brilliance of spring sun, it felt warmer than sixty degrees.
Lilly teased until Tony promised to let her drive his Vette at least part way to New York.
“Tony this handles so nicely. It’s been so long since I’ve driven.”
“How long?” Tony asked nervously.
“A couple of years. I used to drive one of my roommate’s car when she’d get drunk.”
“Didn’t you have a car?”
“No.” Lilly smiled. “A motorcycle.”
“A motorcycle? You had a motorcycle?”
“Cheap transportation, fun, dangerous. I loved it.”
“Wow. What you said about your mother. Are you going to call her?”
“No, never. She punished me for everything. She never liked me. I was an expendable person to her, but she was my only parent. I deserved a loving parent. But now I’ve had my first non-antagonistic relationship with a woman in that generation. My friend, Carolyn Stoner, the woman in Saint Croix.”
“She’s middle-aged?”
“She’s fifty-one. She was an Army nurse in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. Her life was war nursing. She couldn’t handle American-hospital-type nursing, so she went to Thailand for the fix of working in desperate circumstances. Only it wasn’t Army enough, so she resigned herself to retiring in the Caribbean.”
“I thought she was a hospital supervisor.”
“She is, but after her last jobs, it seems like retiring.” Lilly laughed. “Once … right before she left, we stayed up half the night trying to think of all the different ways to say making love. It was funny. She knew some pretty creative ones.”
“How many did you come up with?”
“Maybe around forty.”
“That’s all?”
“Well, it had to mean intercourse, nothing like blow job, and she disqualified everything I could think of … she kept making new rules.”
It rained Monday morning, but they walked anyway, their mood jovial. She danced on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum as she sang “Singing in the Rain.” When she finished, he clapped. Then they picked up their stride.
Tony said, “I love you.”
Lilly stared for a second, noting the horrified expression creep over his face.
She said, “It’s really raining now. How ’bout some breakfast?”
Tuesday night, Frank went to his father’s early, anxious to see the fellas after his honeymoon.
Tito said, “Frank, I’m glad to see you. Have you seen your brother?”
“Not since the wedding. I spoke with him last night. Why?”
“I get the feeling something is up with him. Last week he was … his mind was someplace else. Now he calls, he’s going to meet us at the stadium. He’s not even coming before the game.”
“He’s busy, Pops. He sounded fine yesterday.”
“He hasn’t come around since the wedding. The Tuesday game –that’s it.”
“He went camping this weekend.”
Tony was at the stadium when the rest of the della Robbia men arrived.
“The newlywed. How’s married life treating you?” Tony asked, more for his father’s sake than his own curiosity.
Frank was able to tell something was different with Tony through the course of the evening.
Frank asked, “Where are you parked?” at the end of the game.
Tony answered, “I took the subway.”
“I’ll give you a ride,” Frank said.
“That’s OK,” Tony answered quickly.
“No one should ride the subways alone at night,” Frank said. “We can talk.”
Tony accepted, thinking Frank had a problem. They exited the stadium and found the car. Tony waited for Frank to start the conversation while they waited for the parking lot to empty.
Frank drove slowly, not disguising his probing. Tony became quiet. He only spoke to direct Frank to his home. Tony opened the car door.
“Wait,” Frank said. “A light went on inside your apartment and look another just came on.”
“That’s OK, Frank.”
Frank said, considering, “Yeah? Hey Tony what are you going to do with this place when you’re on the trail?”
“A friend is staying here.”
“You sublet it?”
“No, I’m letting her stay here.”
“Her?”
“She’s a good friend. Look, Frank, I have to get some sleep.”
“Your friend waiting?”
“Yes.”
Tito called Frank on Thursday. “What’s up with your brother?”
“It’s a woman. I know that.”
“Why doesn’t he bring her around?”
“He doesn’t want to talk about her. He’s going to let her stay at his place while he’s gone.”
“For free? This is something.”
“She’s living with him now.”
Lilly started to work at a prenatal clinic located away from the medical center proper. She was oriented in a casual way and was told that at the medical center she would have had a month’s orientation. Lilly decided she liked the more relaxed atmosphere of the clinic. She was all keyed up when Tony arrived home from work.
“It’s great. I’m being oriented for a couple of hours each morning for a week. All afternoon, I’m a nurse. They’ll pay tuition if I take classes towards a BSN. But I’ve forgotten so much, it’s terrifying. But I only have to work one Saturday a month.”
“You’ll be great. Get a subscription to a nursing magazine, reread some textbooks, talk to people.”
“I don’t have my textbooks. They’re with my keyboards in Issy’s parents’ basement.”
“Issy?”
“Issy, my old roommate.”
“Lil, you’ll do fine. You’re smart and compassionate.”
“Tony, you are such a booster.”
“I love you, Lil,” he said. This time it flowed off the tip of his tongue.
She jumped up. “I have to check the flounder.”
Tony arrived home Friday, elated. “I sold one of the games for more than the price I hoped for. Come on, we’re going out.”
“Where?”
“Anywhere. This is New York. Anything. Everything.”
“OK, but be more specific.”
“It’s too late for Broadway. Go put some shiny things in your hair. We’ll go dancing.”
Lilly raced upstairs, gathered clothing and hair stuff, and went to the junk room. Tony followed after checking his mail.
“Lil, where are you?”
“Stay out. You can’t be dazzled if you watch me become dazzling.”
***
*************
Tony rose early Saturday morning to take his walk before the crowds descended.
“Lil, wake up, you lazy wench.” He shook her hip.
She groaned and rolled to face him as he dressed.
“C’mon Lil. We’ll walk around Brooklyn today.”
“Go away,” she grumbled.
He pulled the blankets off her horizontal form.
“Jesus Christ, what a rat,” Lilly chewed as she jumped up to go to the bathroom. She came back and finding herself alone, climbed back into bed.
“Lilly, you lazy good-for-nothing. You’re back in bed. Do you want to stay home? I’ll be back later.”
She sprang from the bed searching through her clothing.
“You were beautiful last night.”
“You were pretty snazzy yourself. I hate disco, but it was fun.” She brushed her hair. “What a rats nest.” She tried to section it. “I’m going to cut it all off.”
“Don’t do that,” Tony responded. “It’s nice.”
“To look at. You don’t have to comb it out. This will teach me to dance all night and then make love all night without tying up my hair.”
“Poor, pitiful girl.”
“OK, that’s it. You’re going to get it,” Lilly said, wildly pulling her hair into a ponytail while she chased him.
“You can give it to me later. Let’s get going.” Tony changed the meaning with inflection.
She caught him in the living room. “Listen you big bully.”
Tony lifted her up to eye level, pinning her arms down. “I’m listening,” he said, infuriating her.
“Put me down you … you cur.” Lilly kicked him.
“OK, Lil,” he said more gently.
She turned away from him. He started to walk out. She ran after him. “Wait, Tony.”
“Lil, you are in a first-class mood today.” He sat waiting for an explanation.
She cried, “Go … go. It’s OK.”
“Lilly, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Go. I’m sorry I’m such a bitch.”
“What’s wrong, Lil?” Tony said softly.
“It’s just … when you go … it’s going to hurt so bad.”
“Lillibelle, I don’t understand. I love you, but every time I say so, you run away.”
“Tony, it’s not so easy. Tony, I never stopped … I can’t.” He sat on the sofa next to her.
She continued, “If I had seen you first, at the park, I would have turned tail and run.”
“Then it’s good I saw you first, Belle.” He kissed her head and then dropped kisses down her face to her mouth. He held her for a while.
“Lilly, I have to walk.”
“Go. I’ll see you later.”
Lilly felt she was shaking inside. She retreated into femininity, soaking in a bubble bath.
Lilly fixed her hair in a soft bun and dressed, wishing she had more clothes from which to choose. But she felt ready to meet Tony as a poised woman.
The doorbell rang and Lilly hurried to get it, thinking Tony had forgotten his keys. She opened the door, smiling, but her face fell as she saw Frank and his bride.
**************
Frank croaked, “You!”
Lilly answered, “Frank, hi. Come in.”
Frank’s wife stared back and forth between them.
“It’s OK,” Lilly told her.
Frank and Debbie entered. Frank turned back to Lilly and hugged her, spinning her around. Debbie looked shocked.
“Hi, I’m Lilly.”
“Lilly? Colleen’s sister?” Debbie said, her Yonkers accent emphasizing the T.
“Among other things.”
Frank shook his head. “Lil, I knew some woman was turning his life upside down.”
“How are you Frank?”
“Fine. You?’
“I’m fine now.”
“How long have you been here?”
“Two weeks.”
“Only two weeks?”
“Oh, congratulations. You must be Debbie.” Lilly said gently.
“Lil, is Tony home?” Frank asked.
“No, he’s walking. He’ll be home soon though.… Would you like some coffee?”
Frank and Debbie agreed and followed her to the kitchen. Debbie looked around.
“This is real nice. So much space, how many square feet?” Debbie asked Lilly.
“I don’t know. Is this your first time here?”
“Yeah, I thought it was a warehouse.”
“It is,” Frank said.
“Some warehouse. He’s got an upstairs too, right?”
“Yeah,” Frank said, then turned to Lilly. “You and Tony living together?”
Lilly smiled at him teasingly, and then answered, feigning shame, “Well, yes, but it’s platonic.”
Frank cracked up. “You’ve changed a lot. Are you driving my brother crazy?”
The doorbell rang. “That’s probably Tony.”
“He knocks at his own door now?” Frank said.
Lilly said to Debbie, “You have to train them right from the beginning.”
TJ made his usual explosive entrance followed by two little boys. “Hi, Lil, where’s Tony? Want to go to the Central Park Zoo? I’m taking my kids. Have you met them? This is Zeke and Zachery.”
“Hello Zeke. How do you do Zachery?” Lilly said, carefully identifying each.
Frank and Debbie came in from the kitchen.
Lilly asked, “TJ, Zeke, Zachery, have you met Tony’s brother, Frank, and his wife, Debbie?”
“We went to a couple of Knicks games,” TJ said, nodding at Frank.
Lilly sensed a slight animosity between them. “Tony’s not here.”
“It was only a thought,” TJ said. “Maybe I’ll catch you later.”
TJ left with his sons. Tony arrived shortly after.
“Lil?”he called.
Lilly came out from the kitchen.
Tony said, “I’ve got it worked out. The answer is so plain.”
“Tony,” Lilly whispered urgently. “Frank and Debbie are here.”
“Frank?”
“They’re in the kitchen.”
“We’ll talk later,” Tony said tenderly, hugging her.
Lilly nuzzled into him, feeling reassured. They turned to see Frank and Debbie watching from the kitchen doorway.
Lilly said, “I have to go to the store for milk. Debbie would you like to come along? This is an interesting neighborhood.”
“Is it safe?” Debbie said, thoughtlessly.
Lilly shrugged her shoulders and said, “Live dangerously.”
Debbie followed Lilly to the door looking nervous. Tony and Frank stood silently, each waiting for the other to say something.
Frank finally said, “Pops is going to hit the roof when you walk in with Lil, you know.”
Tony nodded agreement. “But Pops will get used to it. Think about Ma.”
Frank shook his head. “I like Lil, you know that, but I think you’re both nuts.”
“Frank, it’s going to be all right.”
“So what happened? You been seeing Lil awhile?”
“I saw her on your wedding day.”
“Two weeks ago. What? You see her and pow, she moves in with you? That day?” Frank gestured.
“Something like that,” Tony answered patiently, then added, “I love her, Frank, and she loves me. For all the hell we’ve put each other through, it always comes down to that.”
“You’re leaving in another couple of weeks.”
“I’m going to take her with me.”
“A woman climbing mountains like that, are you kidding? The Appalachian Trail?”
“One of the original trailblazers was a woman. A grandmother. She walked it three times, the first time in her sixties. Lilly’s tough. She can do it.”
“What does Lilly say?”
“I haven’t told …” Tony started.
“You haven’t talked her into it yet. She’s going to tell you
to blow it out your ear. That ought to be cute.”
Lilly and Debbie arrived back from the store.
Lilly said happily, “We got strawberries and Bisquick. We’ll make strawberry pancakes.”
Tony and Frank followed the women to the kitchen and watched a flurry of activity.
“So Lil, what are your plans?” Frank asked.
Tony shot Frank a dirty look, but knew Frank could never resist an opportunity to needle him.
“I’ve a job at a clinic affiliated with Saint Luke’s. I have a job in Saint Croix in September.”
“In the Caribbean?” Debbie asked in awe.
“Sure,” Lilly answered.
Debbie poured the batter onto the griddle, and then dropped strawberry pieces into the pancakes. Lilly stirred the strawberry sauce.
“Debbie, how many brothers and sisters do you have?”
“Five. I’m the oldest.”
“I thought so.”
“How did you know?”
“You pour pancakes well. Are you from Yonkers?”
“I went to Holy Sacrament. Colleen was my senior sister. I went to Saint Clare’s too. You were bad. I remember when you had to sit on the floor outside the principal’s office for weeks. We were not allowed to talk to you. You were expelled. Old Sister Mary Agatha used to kick you when she walked past.”
“Fun times,” Lilly said, looking at her plate.
“I didn’t see Colleen between her graduation and when I went to work for Lean Lady.”
“Lean Lady?”
“I’m an exercise instructor. David, that’s Colleen’s husband, owns Lean Lady. My mother knows your mother too, through Saint Clare’s parish. My parents live only about three blocks from yours. But their house isn’t one of those huge mansions, like yours. My mother invited yours to the wedding. Your mother sent regrets, but she also sent a beautiful tablecloth.”
Lilly was fighting to keep her smile from becoming a giggle. She caught Tony’s eye and saw amusement reflected there. Debbie stopped talking self-consciously.
“It’s not you. I could picture my mother meeting Tony in the reception line. That would have taxed even her manners.”
Tony nodded and snickered, “Mrs. O’D, long time no see.”
Lilly added sarcastically, “It was New Orleans, wasn’t it?”
Debbie turned pancakes and said, “Your mother seems really nice. And she’s a lady. She’s been through so much tragedy.”
A Yonkers Kinda Girl Page 35
