The Apology

by Essa Alroc

  Grigor nodded wordlessly and moved on to do his master’s bidding. It was going to be an interesting week.

  Chapter 4

  “Was he abusive?” Jesse rolled onto his side to appraise Gabrielle’s response. They were staying in a mid-range, family-focused hotel chain in a much less scary part of Miami than Liberty City. He’d gotten them a room with two double beds. Gabby had wanted separate rooms at first, but Jesse had talked her out of it. He wanted her to stay close.

  Gabrielle laid on her own bed, her eyes on the ceiling. She sighed. “No.” She shook her head negatively. “He could be a little intense, but he never hit me or anything.”

  “But you’re changing your identity and fleeing the country to avoid him?”

  Gabrielle rolled onto her side and focused her gaze on Jesse. “Listen, that part, Sal was right about. The less people who know, the better.”

  Jesse folded his arm behind his head and decided to let the issue drop for awhile. He’d get it out of her eventually. Instead, he went for a subject change. “How does someone like you get tangled up with someone like Sal, anyway?”

  Gabby smiled at the memory. “I met her about three years ago. I was driving past a renaissance fair and she was being chased by a group of villagers with pitchforks and torches.” Gabrielle snorted. “It was kind of surreal. I slammed on my brakes and let her in the passenger seat. I’m not even sure why I did.”

  “Please tell me you’re making this up?” Jesse was leaning forward with interest.

  Gabby shook her head negatively. “Nope. Turns out, she was having one of her ‘episodes’. She tried to organize a hostile takeover of an imaginary kingdom.”

  “One of her episodes?”

  “Yeah,” Gabby rolled onto her back. “She’s insane.”

  Jesse shot to a seated position. “Literally?”

  “Paranoid schizophrenia.”

  He turned towards Gabby, his face serious. “And you’re going to her for help?” He shot up from the bed. “Jesus, Gabby! How much trouble are you in that you’re going to a crazy person for help?”

  Gabby crossed her arms over her chest and refused to look at Jesse. “She’s not always crazy. Just sometimes. Most of the time, she’s normal.” Her brow wrinkled. “Well, not really normal, but as normal as she can get.”

  Jesse had started pacing the room. “How do you know that she’s even going to come through? How do you know that she can help you and get you out of the country?” He sat again, this time, on Gabby’s bed and she leaned up on her elbows to see him.

  “Because she’s done things like this before. All the time. It’s what she does.” Gabby lay back down. “Making a couple of ID cards for me is nothing.”

  Jesse leaned towards her again, trying to get her to look at him. “Gabby, what kind of trouble are you in? You’re getting fake ID’s so you can leave the country. You’re consorting with criminals?”

  Gabrielle snorted. “Says the guy who ran over my mailbox and drove away. That’s a federal offense, you know.”

  “I didn’t run over your mailbox!” He grabbed Gabby by the upper arms and gave her a rough shake. “Do you have any idea how stupid you’re being?”

  Gabby’s eyes flashed with anger. “I’m not stupid.” She shoved her way back. “Yeah, I might not be the smartest person in the world, but I’m not an idiot.”

  Jesse sighed and shook his head. “That’s not what I meant, Gabby.” He gave her shoulders a squeeze. “I just don’t think you’re thinking clearly.” He released her and turned so he was seated next to her, his head pressed against the headboard of the bed. “Have you thought that maybe if you told someone, they might have other ideas?”

  Gabby shook her head. “I can’t tell anyone. They could get hurt, too.”

  “I’ll never tell anyone. No one ever needs to know that I know.” When she stayed silent, he went on. “Anyway, if anyone was watching, they’re going to think I know, regardless. Think about it. You left in my jeep, after your housekeeper saw you talking to me. It won’t take long for anyone to find out who I am.”

  Gabby let out a gasp and her eyes suddenly clouded with tears. “I didn’t even think of that. Oh, God, Jesse, I’m so sorry.” She sprung out of the bed. “I have to get out of here. I’ll go back to Sal. Jesse, you need to leave town. You need to leave town tonight.” Her eyes were racing around the room, searching for things that belonged to her. Then she remembered; she had nothing. She made a dash towards the motel room door and hadn’t even made it a foot before Jesse’s arm was snaking around her waist.

  “I’m assuming that means you remember what happened in high school, then?” Jesse muttered against her ear as he pulled her back against his broad chest.

  “What the hell are you talking about? Let me go!” She struggled to break free, but his grip was like iron.

  “That was the deal. You remember what happened, you forgive me for it, I let you go. Until then, you’re not going anywhere.”

  “Damn it Jesse!” She struggled in his grip until she was facing him. She pulled back a hand to hit him and he caught it before her wild punch connected.

  “I really need to teach you how to punch.”

  Gabby glared at him with hate in her eyes. She lifted a dainty foot while he was focused on her face, still looking amused, and slammed it down on his instep as hard as she could.

  “Ow, Fuck!” Jesse yelped as he released her. “Well, at least you know how to do that right.” He plopped down on the edge of the bed and began rubbing his foot.

  “This is bigger than high school, Jesse. This is bigger than a couple of insults and fat jokes. This is the kind of big no one can help me with.”

  Jesse glared at his foot as he peeled off his sock. A bruise was already starting to form. “Well, maybe they could, if you would tell them what’s going on.”

  Gabby threw her hands up in the air. “Fine, you want to know, Jesse?” Her heart was pounding and when she managed to push the words out, they came out like a jerky burst of gunfire. “My husband is a Ukrainian mobster and when he finds me, he’s going to kill me.” She threw a wild gesture at Jesse, “And probably anybody I’m with.”

  Then she passed out.

  ***

  When Gabby awoke, she was staring at an eggshell-white motel room ceiling. There was a cold cloth on her neck and someone was talking to her in a low, soothing voice. She blinked once, blinked again and tried to focus.

  “Welcome back.” Jesse started rubbing her forehead with the cloth and she looked up at him stupidly. “So how did you lose the weight?”

  Her brown eyebrows crumpled in confusion. “What?”

  “The weight.” Jesse reached over to an ice bucket and dipped the cloth in the water again. He squeezed it out and put it back on her forehead. “You’ve dropped at least eighty pounds. How’d you do it?”

  Gabby sat up and pulled the cloth off her forehead. “Atkins.” She handed the cloth back to Jesse. “You’re not going to ask about my husband being a Ukrainian mobster?”

  Jesse shook his head. “Nope.” He dropped the cloth back in the ice bucket. “The way I see it, you’ve already been through enough. Truth be told, I already kind of figured out the whole ‘Ukrainian mobster’ angle anyway.”

  “Really? How?”

  “Well,” Jesse turned and picked up the ice bucket to dump it in the sink in the bathroom. “You live in a gigantic house in Miami with a wealthy Ukrainian man who has no definable career.”

  Gabby flopped back against the pillows. “I am an idiot.”

  Jesse smirked as he returned to the room with the empty ice bucket. “No you’re not.”

  “Really?” Gabby glared at him skeptically. “Then why am I the only person on the planet who apparently had no idea that my husband was a criminal? He was right. I am an idiot.”

  Jesse sat on the bed next to Gabby. “Again, no you’re not. You’re very smart.” He smiled. “You’re just a very sweet woman who only expects the best from peo
ple. Also, if he was calling you an idiot, then I’m glad you left him. No one should treat you like that.”

  Gabby’s face heated up and she was surprised to find tears prickling her eyelids. “Why are you being so nice to me?”

  Jesse stood and let out a sigh. “Because you’re nice. You’ve always been nice. Even in high school, when most people were complete pricks to you, you were still nice. I just think you deserve someone being nice to you for a change.” Jesse crossed his arms over his chest. “I made a mistake with you before. I really hurt you, even if you don’t remember it. The way I see it, this is karma. Karma brought me here for a reason and that reason is to help you.” Jesse’s serious eyes met hers. “I won’t force you to stay here if you don’t want to. If you want to take off into the night, I wouldn’t blame you. But if you do decide to stay, then know that I’m here and I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. Ok?”

  Gabby nodded. She couldn’t speak over the lump in her throat and she didn’t trust herself to, anyway.

  “Now let’s talk about something else” Jesse was uncomfortable with tears. “Something that doesn’t make you choke up every five seconds.” He plopped back down on the bed next to her. “How’d you do all this?” He gestured in her direction.

  “Do all what?”

  “Go from angst-filled chubby teen to smokin’ hot supermodel.”

  For the first time in hours, Gabby let out a genuine laugh. “My mom had an insurance policy. After she died, I got this fixed.” Gabby gestured at her nose. “While I was recovering from the nose job, I lost my appetite and fourteen pounds. I decided to just go with it and kept dieting.” Gabby leaned back on the pillows. “My family never had much money. We had to rely on non-perishable, starch-filled food to keep us fed.” She gave Jesse a knowing look. “When you’re eating mac and cheese four times a week, it’s hard to lose weight. When my mom passed, she left an insurance policy that paid out fifty thousand dollars. After I paid her doctors’ bills, there was still thirty five left. It was more money than I’d ever seen in my life.”

  Jesse stretched out on the bed beside her and Gabby stiffened. “Relax, I know you’re married. I just want to listen and lay down at the same time. I won’t try anything.”

  Gabby nodded, even though she was weirdly disappointed. “Anyway, with so much money, I decided that I could move to anywhere I wanted to go. I picked Miami. Being from Massachusetts, I always liked the idea of having a summer that never ended. I got my nose fixed and lost the weight. I was working as a bartender when a guy there offered me a job in the VIP room of his club. It was a great opportunity, because I was taking classes during the day.” Gabby let out a nostalgic sigh. “I was going to be a veterinarian.”

  Jesse leaned up off the pillows. “You worked in the animal shelter in high school.” He thought back to the way Gabby’s eyes would light up when she talked about the animals there.

  Gabby nodded. “I’ve always loved animals. They’re a lot easier to figure out than people.” She smiled ruefully. “Anyway, it was working out well for me. I only had to work a few hours a week and I could spend the rest of my time studying. Then one night, some really rich guy came in. Instead of wanting me to wait on him, he wanted me to sit at his table. So I did.”

  “I’m assuming the really rich guy is now your husband?”

  Gabby nodded. “I was really nervous at first. I kept spilling things and apologizing. Nick was surrounded by all these beautiful girls and I didn’t know how to act around him.” She shook her head. “He told me I was charming. Invited me out to dinner. Two months later, we were married. I always wondered what he saw in me.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He could have had anyone he wanted. Instead, he chose me.” Gabrielle’s expression turned bitter. “Turns out, I was just some beautiful idiot. All he wanted was pretty babies.”

  “You’re not a beautiful idiot.” Jesse informed her firmly. “Well, you’re beautiful, don’t get me wrong. But you’re not stupid, so please stop saying that.”

  “How do you know?”

  “What?”

  Gabby leaned up on her elbow and stared at him intently. “How do you know I’m not stupid? You barely know me.”

  Jesse laughed. “Well, you’re not stupid, but you have a terrible memory.” He took in Gabby’s questioning look. “You tutored me in biology for the last six months of my senior year. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have graduated.”

  Then it came back. Gabby remembered back to high school. A handsome dark-eyed boy she’d had a crush on. She’d been a year behind him in school, but Mr. Steer, her Advanced Biology teacher, had begged her anyway.

  “He’s going to fail without you, Gabby.”

  “Damn it, Mr. Steer, I’m a doctor, not a scientist!” They’d both laughed over her nerdy Star Trek reference and she’d agreed, because she liked Mr. Steer. And because Jesse was right. She was nice.

  She’d met him every day after school in the science lab. Thirty minutes every day of her explaining the finer points of biology and going over his homework with him. At first, he’d been angry and sullen over being forced to hang out with the fat girl in class when he could have been partying with his popular friends. But she’d always been nice. Over time, she thought they had become friends. They’d laughed together. They’d made jokes together. She’d developed a little crush on him, but she knew it was hopeless. He was the handsome, popular football quarterback. She was the dumpy intellectual. It was such a fucking cliché.

  Then came that day in the cafeteria. It was right after he’d passed his final exam and was about to graduate; thanks to her. He’d come up to her with a beautifully wrapped pink box.

  “Gabby,” He’d looked nervous and she’d wondered why. He’d already passed all his tests.

  “Yeah?”

  His friends were around him snickering. She didn’t know why; she only knew that Jesse was acting weird.

  “I wanted to ask you a question?”

  Gabby had nervously reached for her backpack. “Is it about biology, because I don’t have my…”

  Jesse had cut her off. “No. It’s about prom.”

  “Prom?” Prom had been her fantasy. She’d seen every John Hughes movie but she’d never allowed herself to hope. The girl didn’t get the guy, no matter how many times the script said she did. No way Jesse Turnblatt, the king of Essex High, was asking her to prom.

  “I want you to come with me.”

  Her heart had stopped. Her eyes had filled with joy. Jesse Turnblatt was asking her to prom. “I…I’d love to Jesse.” Her voice had cracked with emotions. She’d never been so happy.

  Jesse had cleared his throat. “Good, because I got something for you to wear.”

  Gabby had gasped. In all her fantasies, she’d never expected it to go this far. She’d always pictured herself picking out her own dress, magically dropping five sizes and dazzling Jesse in the doorway of her mother’s two-bedroom trailer. She’d rushed to open the box, plopping it on the lunch table. The lunchroom had gone still in anticipation. All her dreams were coming true. Then, after ripping off the pretty pink paper, she’d been dashed back to reality. She opened the box.

  Inside was a paper bag with two dark, black eyeholes cut out.

  Jesse’s mocking voice echoed in her ears. “Because the only way I’d ever go anywhere with you is with a bag on your head.”

  Gabby’s ears had started to ring and she had felt her face burning red. All she could hear was the cruel laughter of everyone in the senior class; their mocking looks intensified Jesse’s insult. Her eyes had filled with tears and she’d raced out of the lunchroom with their laughter following her. Echoing. Echoing louder than a carving knife. Echoing in a way that makes you take the first available man that makes you feel beautiful. Echoing in a way that messes you up for life. Echoing in a way that makes you black out the bad parts, because when the cruelest joke was played, your mother was already dying of cancer and you couldn’
t handle anything else.

  Gabby sucked in a gasp as she was dragged back to the present. Jesse, the same Jesse from high school, watching her with eyes filled with guilt. It was guilt he deserved. Gabby pulled her elbow back. She untucked her thumb. She shoved her fist out again, directly at Jesse’s nose. She threw the punch with all the weight in her body. And she felt the satisfaction as she felt it connect.

  It was wonderful.

  “Fuck you!” Gabby screamed as she pulled up from the bed. All of Jesse’s pretty words were forgotten. All she could remember was the humiliation in the cafeteria. Well, she wasn’t that fat little girl anymore. She was beautiful and she would never deal with his taunts gain. “Fuck you.”

  She didn’t even remember running. She could feel the door closing behind her. Slamming behind her. She could hear his desperate plea.

  “Gabby come back!”

  But she was never coming back. She was never coming back because she was never going to be the girl she had been before. Jesse was right. She was nice.

  As far as she was concerned, it was a massive character flaw.

  ***

  She hadn’t even made it to the parking lot when she realized she had no idea where to go. Sal had offered to let her stay at the Strangely Sober, but Gabby knew that if Nick found her there, Sal wouldn’t just turn her over. She’d probably start a war. Even seriously outnumbered, the Salvatori crew would never go down without a fight. It was just how they were built.

  She didn’t want anyone to get hurt because of her. Well, except maybe Jesse…and Nick. And she probably wouldn’t mind if Grigor were to suffer an injury or two.

  Gabby looked around uncertainly. They were in a tourism-heavy area of Miami. There were plenty of other motels, but she didn’t have a dime on her. All she had was a passbook to her savings account, completely useless until the banks were open in the morning.

  She focused her gaze at the bright lights of the strip, alive with music and bars that catered to tourists. With no destination in mind, she began walking towards them. She had no idea what she was going to do, but she would think of something. She had to.

  As always, she was on her own.