The Proverbial Mr. Universe

by Maria La Serra

  Dan lowered his gaze back down to his hands. “Well, Mom is not around anymore to keep an eye on you. So don’t take it personally if I take it upon myself to be concerned, because all I have left is you, asshole.”

  “Well, that’s not entirely accurate.” Nick paused from chewing on his second sandwich. “You still have Dad.” He smirked.

  “Okay, are you deliberately trying to piss me off tonight? Because if you are, I’m just going to go.”

  “I’m just saying if something should happen to me before the wedding, you could always ask him to be your best man. At least, he could be best at something—”

  Dan started to get up. “Okay, I see where this is headed.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “Home.”

  “Stay, I’ll stop,” Nick said as Dan sat back down. “Dan, I don’t usually skip meals. I don’t need someone to tell me exactly how to take care of myself.”

  The microwave chimed, and Nick removed the plate and placed it back on the counter.

  “It’s obvious you need someone to tell you.”

  Nick remained silent. He knew it was hopeless to argue.

  After several minutes of watching Nick dig into his vegetarian enchilada with his fork, Dan said, “So, are you going to tell me what the fuck happened tonight?”

  “I was waiting for you to ask me that question.” Nick smiled, putting his fork down into his dish and went to the fridge for his bottle of water. He threw a bottle at Dan and took one for himself. Dan waited impatiently for an answer as Nick sipped his water.

  “So are you going to tell me or what?”

  “Like I already told you, she ran a red light and got sideswiped.”

  “So tell me, how did you get involved in all this?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, should I be concerned … as in, are you stalking this girl?”

  “Seriously?” Nick dropped the fork, making a thud when it hits the floor. Now it was his turn to be upset.

  “I find it strange how you seem to be at the right place at the right time.”

  “Is that what you think of me? I was on my way to meet with you guys when I ran into her at the corner store. I don’t know what she was doing there.”

  “Okay, so you’re saying …”

  “Yeah, just pure luck, I guess.”

  Nick reached into his cabinet and pulled out his plastic seven-day pill box, another thirteen white and red pills before bed. Sure it was madness, but it was necessary to prevent any infections. There was a time when Nick couldn’t even swallow an aspirin. It used to take endless glasses of water to finally flush it down. How far he’d come!

  “Olivia’s mother invited me over for dinner next Saturday.”

  Dan let out a low whistle.

  “It’s no big deal. She probably wanted to thank me for helping her daughter.”

  “Are you going?”

  “I’m thinking about it.” Nick shrugged.

  From the distance, a familiar word caught Nick’s attention, and his eyes shot up to the TV across the room.

  “Oh, shit.”

  “What?”

  “Shhh,” Nick said as he got the remote and put the volume up higher “James Montiano, the chief executive of Montiano Inc. is due to appear in court this summer. Montiano had argued testifying at the inquiry would jeopardize his right to a fair trial … The Supreme Court dismissed the request.”

  Nick studied the picture of a man who he’d just met four hours earlier in the hospital. Now he appeared on the evening news.

  “Nick? What am I missing here?” Nick turned around to glance at his brother’s face. “You know this guy?”

  Of course, Nick knew him. “Yeah, that’s Olivia’s ... father.”

  After Dan had left, Nick sat down on the couch and closed his eyes for a moment. The whole situation was crazy. She had caught him off guard when she begged him not to leave her alone. At that point, he realized the effect she had on him. He would have done anything for her if she asked. Later, he found himself in the middle of a family drama. Every member of her family showed up at the hospital. It extended beyond her immediate family, so many of them that the nurses had asked them to leave. Only her immediate family was allowed to stay, and he, of course, managed to remain out of sight. He just wanted to sit quietly in the corner and not draw any attention to himself, but Olivia’s mother sought him out and sat next to him in the waiting room. Her father sat next to his wife, with his head down, and kept to himself most of the night. Now he knew why.

  He had Olivia’s sister, Nina, and brother, Paul, sitting in front of him. Olivia had a tight-knit family, all were genuinely concerned for her. Nick couldn’t help feeling that maybe it wasn’t his place to be there, especially when Olivia’s ex-fiancé showed up and made things a lot more awkward. Nick could feel a pair of eyes burning into his skin. They barely said two words to each other, but Nick could tell Dario wasn’t too pleased about him being there. Nick hated the guy, more so when he decided to get something to eat at a vending machine around the corner and found Dario leaning over a desk, flirting with one of the nurses on duty. Why was Dario even there? He showed no concern about Olivia what so ever.

  Dario had left way before the doctor came out, which he could tell Olivia’s family wasn’t too pleased about. The doctor told the family that she was okay, only a couple of stitches, and she would be able to go home right after.

  At some point that night, Nick doze off on the couch, with the TV on the evening news. He didn’t know how long he had been asleep when he began to dream, a dream that seemed too real. It was dark, and he was on the rooftop … or under? Where were the stars? No stars, no moon, it was as though the world was in total darkness. He thought he was alone until he heard a young male voice coming from behind him.

  “Can you help me?” the stranger asked.

  Nick turned around to see a shadowy figure standing not far from him. He couldn’t see his features.

  “Who are you?” Nick asked

  “You don’t know who I am?”

  “Sorry, but I don’t.”

  “You know who I am, Nick. Think …”

  “What do you want?” Nick asked.

  “It’s time.”

  “It’s time for what?”

  “Time to let go of the past and forgive your father.”

  “Did that prick send you to talk to me?”

  The young stranger ignored his question and continued. “We are built to make mistakes, and we all deserve a second chance. I should know you don’t always get second chances … so don’t waste it.”

  “What do you want from me, kid?”

  “Can you relay a message for me?”

  “Okay.”

  “Can you tell my parents that I’m sorry and that I am okay? But most importantly tell them … tell them I love them.”

  Nick woke up like he had just been underwater for some time and was now gasping for air. Puzzled and shaken up, it took a few moments before he realized where he was.

  God, he had to stop eating so late.

  Olivia pulled up to her parents’ house. It was a fifteen-minute drive from downtown, if she didn’t catch any traffic over the Champlain Bridge, the main route which led to the suburbs. This was one of the many reasons not to move back with her parents. Although the house was large, beautiful, Georgian-inspired home, this wasn’t the house where Olivia grew up in. Her parents built this home five years ago in a newly-developed gated community. After spending twenty-five years living in the same house, her mother thought it would be a great idea to move out to the suburbs, still relatively close to the city and her father’s office. Her father, wanting to keep his family close—and without discussing it—had purchased four lots, side by side, with the idea that soon enough his children would build their homes next to his. Olivia was appreciative of his generosity, but also burden by it. This was his dream, but she wasn’t sure if it was her own.

  She reached over to re
trieve the house keys from the glove compartment, and tiny pieces of folded paper came trickling out. Olivia had been finding these little notes everywhere. Most of the time they would be found under her windshield wipers. Other times they were written on her paper coffee cup or handed to her by the barista at Café Orleans. One Monday morning she even found a message written on the black menu board that hung above the counter for everyone to see.

  Blush.

  Her friend Jessica smiled at her very peculiar that morning, as though she was hiding something from her.

  “Seriously Olivia, do you think I would have the capability of doing something like this? Sweetness is not part of my MO,” she replied, half amused, half matter-of-fact.

  “Okay then, do you know who it is?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You very well know I can’t keep anything undercover.”

  It seemed whoever this Mr. Universe was; he had everyone in on the fun. No matter who Olivia asked, she was not able to persuade anyone to reveal his true identity. This person went out of his way to mastermind this whole scheme … but why? Was it someone she knew? It had to be. It could very well be Dario, but then she shook that idea as fast as it came to her. No, Dario would never have capacity or heart to do something like this, no matter how desperate he became to get her back. One thing was for sure: she began to look forward to the next note that would find her.

  Olivia unlocked the front door to her parents’ home.

  “Hey … hello?”

  The clicking of dishes and laughter came from the kitchen. The first thing she missed when she moved out was waking up on the weekend to the aroma of fresh sauce simmering on the stove top. Odd, she knew, but it was nostalgic to her. That scent had so many good memories attached to it and reminded her of a time that she could never go back to, like Sunday dinners with her grandparents she desperately wished to have back.

  Olivia had paused at the dining room doorway. Her mom’s best fine china and silverware were spread out on the dining room table. Olivia knew they only ate in the dining room when there would be a special guest arriving for dinner, and she wondered who it could be. She walked into the kitchen to find her mother and sister, nicely dressed for their ordinary family casual dinner. Her mother blinked beautiful hazel eyes while her sister let out a little laugh.

  “Gee, Olivia, what are you wearing?”

  “What? I always wear sweatpants on the weekends.”

  That was before Dario; she reminded herself. He hated when she wore her sweatpants even around the house. He said it made her look like a welfare case and now she felt liberated, no longer needed to please him.

  Peter, Olivia’s brother-in-law, walked past her.

  “Hey, you’re late … again,” Nina said.

  “Just to let you know, I set the table this time.”

  Peter was in his early thirties, average height, and a very typical Italian boy with dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. He wore black-framed glasses that made him look exactly what he was: book smart. Peter was an accountant like her sister. Olivia was grateful that Nina found someone who cared deeply for her family and was always there, ready to help. He was an overall genuine guy. “Buono come il pane (good as bread),” her mom would say when it came to describing Peter to others. He would have to be to put up with her sister. As much as Olivia loved Nina, it took someone with a passive nature to deal with her sister’s strong head and controlling character.

  “Congratulations, Peter. Do you want a medal?” Olivia smiled

  “Yeah, one that reads: best brother-in-law … ever—”

  “You’re the only one I have …”

  “Alright, I’ll settle for you doing the dishes tonight,” Peter replied.

  It was a running joke in her parents’ home that her mom had brand-new dishwashers and never used it. She had refused to use them because she didn’t think it washed the dishes properly.

  Peter glanced at her. “Hey, Liv, the eighties called, and they want their pants back.” He laughed at his lame joke.

  “Ha, ha … funny.”

  “Where did you find those ugly pants? Did you go shopping in MC Hammer’s closet?” He laughed even harder.

  “You’re so lame, Peter. I’ll have you know that these are very fashionable right now.” Olivia placed her hands in her pockets and twirled around to show them off.

  “Well, they are very much … ugly.” He picked up a tray of antipasto and walked into the dining room. Olivia grabbed the garlic bread off the platter, and Peter slapped her hand away.

  “Ah!” Olivia gasped.

  “Leave some for the rest of us, Liv,” Peter said.

  “Olivia, you didn’t eat today?” Her mom studied her, knowing her mind would go into overdrive.

  “No, I didn’t have lunch. I went into work this morning to catch up and lost track of time.” Olivia paused. “Now, I’m starving.” Olivia knew better than to lie. There was no point, not when it came to her mother.

  Olivia finally managed to steal a piece of bread before Peter pulled the plate away from her.

  “You shouldn’t starve yourself, Olivia. You’re going to get sick if you don’t eat,” her mom replied, and Olivia rolled her eyes.

  “Ma, I do eat. It’s just I got so wrapped up in work that’s all.”

  “Sure, sure. Ever since you moved out, you don’t eat.”

  Olivia looked at her sister knowingly and smiled because they could read each other’s mind.

  “Seriously? Ma, believe me if I were starving myself I wouldn’t look like this,” she said as she pointed to her body and took another bite from the garlic bread. Olivia never knew the word skinny. Come to think of it; she’d never been on a diet. She had accepted a long time ago that she had curves, and that was okay with her.

  “Poor girl, look at you!” Peter said, amused. “You’re withering away right before our eyes. For goodness sake, Ma, get the girl a plate of pasta.”

  Everyone started to laugh. It was a bit of relief because smiling these days was hard. Her family couldn’t catch a break. Besides the fact her father’s business was into some trouble, what was worse was her father’s illness. She wasn’t sure if she was ready for what was to come next.

  Her mother gave her a disapproving look.

  “What?”

  “Olivia! Please go and get changed. You still have clothes in your closet, see if you can find something decent.” Her mother had a distinct Italian accent, not too thick but a slight hint whenever she spoke English or French.

  “Why? I’m comfortable like this. Am I missing something here?” Olivia’s face dropped and her stomach twisted in knots. “Don’t tell me Dario is coming over.”

  It would be no surprise if her father invited him over tonight for some last desperate hope to patch things up. Since she wittily decided not to disclose any of Dario’s indiscretions, they would have no reason to hold anything against him.

  “No … don’t you remember that boy, Nicola, is coming over for supper?” Her mom looked her over as though she ought to have known, but Olivia’s stomach rolled uncomfortably.

  “What? Nobody told me,” Olivia said.

  “Oh, right! I was supposed to I tell you,” Nina said as she started the process of making lasagna, spreading tomato sauce on the long layers of pasta overlapping on the bottom of the pan.

  Olivia placed the bruschetta that she just picked up back the platter. “No, I can’t stay.”

  Olivia didn’t know what bothered her more: that she didn’t want him to see her with no makeup and dressed like such a slob, or the thought of him with her family.

  “Where are you going?” Nina said.

  This was an awkward situation she now found herself. These past couple of weeks she’d been trying to avoid Nick every possible way, by minimizing the chances of running into him on the streets or at Café Orleans. Nick was a nice guy, who possibly had some sort of thing for her, and for some unwanted reason, she had a difficult time getting him off her mi
nd.

  So much for a quiet family dinner, but then again it was rarely ever just that.

  “Where are you going? Nicola will be here any minute,” her mother stated.

  “Ma, don’t call him Nicola. His name is Nick,” Nina corrected their mother as she started to prepare the first layer of the lasagna.

  “Ma, I wish you mind your own business. Why did you have to invite him?” Olivia picked at the platter Peter was on his way to bring to the dining room table.

  “Why not? He saved your life. It’s the least we can do,” her mother said as she started to grate the parmesan cheese.

  “He didn’t save my life. He waited with me until help arrived. No big deal. My life was never in any danger,” Olivia said.

  She thought about the way it made her feel when he held her hand and how he managed to calmed her down. Olivia knew it would be awkward if she stayed. She was sure he probably realized she’d been deliberately avoiding him ever since the accident. She’d been making her coffee to-go in the morning and brought her lunch to work. She realized that Nick was a super guy, but he would never be able to fit in her life. Now she began not to trust herself around him.

  “Thank the saints Nicola was there. It was sweet of him to have waited for us at the hospital,” her mother replied.

  “How did you invited him anyhow?” Olivia asked.

  “What does it matter how I invited him?” Her mother looked puzzled.

  “Yeah, Mom got his number that night at the hospital,” Nina replied

  “Well, look at you, Mom, getting digits from a younger man,” her brother, Paul, said as he walked into the kitchen.

  Paul was the middle child. There was always a misconception about the middle child that they’re neglected and have a sense of not belonging. This was never the case for Paul. He was spoiled in every possible way, especially by their mother.

  “Please get out of the way, Paul, so I can finish.” Nina shushed him with her hands.