“Okay, but I’m forgetting what that’s like.”
“We’ll figure it out. When is your next doctor appointment for the baby?”
“Tomorrow afternoon. Ultrasound, bloodwork, the whole enchilada.”
Niko chuckled. “I’ll come with you.”
“You want a sneak peek at little Nikolette?”
“Of course.” Niko rose and gave her a kiss before he headed for the shower.
Tia picked up the phone and set up the date for the band to do the interview. She followed with a text to the group to let them know.
* * *
After the doctor appointment, Tia drove over to Mom and Pop Acton’s house, where their new sport utility vehicle was parked.
“Ah, my Nikolos and Tia!” Mom Acton embraced them both as they entered the house. “You’re home. Let us get a gander at the momma-to-be.” Mom Acton stepped back and shook her head as she smiled. “You make me so happy.”
They sat down for lunch and talked about what was next for them. After lunch, Mr. Acton handed over the keys to their sport utility vehicle and walked them over to inspect their new home.
Niko opened the door and escorted Tia in. The house was now empty, and polished hardwood floors reflected the sunlight pouring in the windows. The scent of pine greeted them. Tia wandered from room to room.
“What do you think of this one for the nursery? The one on the far end could be a guest room.”
“I thought it might be your office,” Niko offered
“The small sunroom would suffice.”
“Okay. Now we need to figure out what we need to furnish this with.”
“And what colors to paint the walls,” Tia commented.
“You will not be painting,” Niko scolded.
“I can pick out colors, though, right?” Tia patted his cheek as she walked to the kitchen. “We don’t own much right now. We could move in this weekend and give up the other place. We could make it work.”
“I like the way you think, wife.” Niko winked at her. “I’ll call the boys, and we’ll get moved on Saturday. The girls will come and clean the apartment for you.”
“I can…”
“No. Tia. You could, but you won’t. For once, you will let others do the work.”
“Fine. Friday we have that interview downtown.”
“That’ll work.”
They left and drove the two vehicles home.
Tia wandered around the tiny apartment. She hadn’t lived in any place for long since coming to the Milwaukee area. The bus was the most constant housing she had for the past several years. What would it be like to set down roots? To have neighbors? Mow a lawn? Park her car in a garage? Walk to the playground with their child to run and swing? She couldn’t wrap her mind around it. Her insides churned with anxiety. Up to this point, she had been calm and collected as they made decisions about moving, but now faced with the reality, she was terrified.
Niko walked into the room with the laundry. “Ready to go?”
She nodded.
“First thing we buy is a washer and drier for you. No more laundromat.”
Tia smiled as she grabbed her coat and her purse, where the quarters were. At least she would be doing something familiar at the moment. How sad that visiting a laundromat was as normal as she could relate to.
* * *
The television interview went well. Niko and the band played for a national audience and talked about the accident. A weird vibe existed among the members as they packed up their equipment and instruments. Johnny sat and watched. He hadn’t been able to play but at least could sing and give his two cents. A studio date was tentatively set two months out, and they would start rehearsals next week at Johnny’s, but after that? Full rehearsals couldn’t take place until Johnny’s arm healed. Then what?
The next day, his brothers and brothers-in-law helped move their few items, and the rest of the old furniture and thrift store belongings were taken to the dump. The women cleaned, so Tia left to go to the grocery store and returned. The guys wouldn’t even let her bring in the bags from the attached garage.
Niko smiled, but he could tell Tia wasn’t liking having nothing to do. When it was all done, the crew descended at his parents’ house for dinner. Tia was quiet. Too quiet. It unnerved him.
During the after-dinner chaos, he offered his goodbyes to his parents and snuck Tia out the door to walk the few doors down to their house.
“Penny for your thoughts.” Niko let their hands swing between them as he held hers.
“I don’t know. I’m off-kilter. Nothing seems normal anymore. I’m confused and uncomfortable and unsettled inside.”
“One thing is the same.”
“Yeah?”
“Me. You have me.”
Tia leaned into him. “Yeah. I’ve got you, and it makes a world of difference.”
Niko held her close as they settled into such a large space. He decided one of the first things he wanted to buy his wife was a new and bigger bed. He rubbed her belly as it took up its own space. Soon. Before he knew it, the baby would be here.
* * *
Sunday at Orchard Hill was sweet. Niko ran into many friends and introduced Tia to those who didn’t know her. Tia was quiet. He’d informed her he’d be joining a worship team to at least play guitar and maybe occasionally lead worship. He was excited about the possibilities of being local for a while. During the two-year hiatus as Johnny coped with cancer, Niko had done some solo stuff and had led worship often here at Orchard Hill. He had toured locally as a solo act and had enjoyed connecting with his church and friends. Being part of the congregation instead of a long-range extension.
He still had no clue what happened in Tia’s life during that time. He’d have to ask. He didn’t remember seeing her around here then.
CHAPTER TWENTY
A loving heart is the truest wisdom.
Charles Dickens
Niko took Tia home after church, and she fixed a simple meal of soup and sandwiches for them. They sat down at the tiny table together. He held her hand as he prayed over their meal, and they dug in.
“Tia?”
“Hmmm?”
“What happened to you when Johnny was diagnosed with cancer?”
Tia set her spoon down and peeked up at him. “Why do you ask?”
“It’s like a black hole in my understanding of your history.”
Tia shook her head and chuckled. “Sweetheart, your understanding of my history looks more like a large piece of Swiss cheese. You could lose yourself in the gaps. I know I did.”
“I’m asking. What happened? I was so wrapped up in Johnny, I never even gave a thought to how our stepping out of the spotlight impacted you.”
“Understandable. You and Johnny are closer than most brothers are. His diagnosis shook you. I was around. You probably don’t remember. I made the doctor appointment. I drove you both to it. When the diagnosis came, you told me to get lost. Specific Gravity didn’t exist without Johnny, and if I couldn’t cure him, I wasn’t wanted.”
“I never said that.”
Tia raised her eyebrows. “Ask Johnny. He might have been drowning in the horror of it all, but he was aware. He told me he needed me, but you kicked me out. I think to you, I was the record label, the management who forced such a grueling schedule. None of that caused the cancer, but it sure did leave you with few reserves to cope with the news.”
“Johnny said you used to visit and send cards and gifts.”
“When I could predict you wouldn’t be around, I came by. I did as much as I could. I prayed for you all.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t remember any of it.”
“It’s okay, Niko. I was nothing to you. I understood.”
“You loved me even then?”
Tia gave a half-smile and gazed out the window. “You were the reason I had asked to be assigned to your band. It didn’t look too good on my resume when you fired me. You called the company and railed against me and them, and,
well, it wasn’t good.”
“I’m sorry. I was a jerk.”
“You were hurting.”
“That didn’t give me an excuse to damage your career, though.”
“Yeah. Well, they reassigned me to another struggling up-and-coming band, but they lacked your integrity. And my mom died, so I was out of work for some time while I went home to take care of her estate.”
“Who was the band?”
“Purple Mud.”
Niko grimaced. “I’ve heard bad things about them. They left you alone?”
“I learned how to disappear into the background and only emerge when necessary. They didn’t even see me most of the time. You didn’t either.”
“When did you give up having an apartment?”
“I gave it up after you fired me. I couldn’t afford it and didn’t really need the space. I sold everything except what I needed to dress and survive.”
“Where’d you sleep?”
“On the road, I slept in the van if they couldn’t afford a hotel room for me. Or on the floor of one of their rooms. When I came back here to work with Specific Gravity, we hit the road pretty quick. It didn’t pay for me to maintain a space, and given the deal I struck with Jazzy Records to be with you guys again, well, I couldn’t afford it.”
“Jazzy didn’t remember we had fired you before?”
“People change jobs, so the ones in charge back then were not around anymore. I had approached the company, and they gave me another chance, not realizing the history. You didn’t remember either. Ultimately, it was your choice who you hired on as a management company. You welcomed me back as an old friend who knew the band and the ropes.”
Niko shook his head. “I can’t believe you let me get away with that.”
“It was a job, Niko. I never expected you to love me in return. If I could serve you and the band and support you, maybe God would redeem my past. Perhaps somehow I might be worthy of the crown He promised. Yeah, I know. We don’t gain our salvation through works, but I had been raised to think that, and part of me thought I still had to earn God’s approval somehow. Plus, you guys always treated me with respect.”
“Except for when I fired you.”
“Yeah, well, there is that. Johnny was ticked. He was angry with me for leaving too, but there was no band to manage. Specific Gravity didn’t need me. If you hadn’t fired me, I would have still been out of work. Perhaps a more natural moving on to something else, instead of fighting a bad reputation, but it is what it is.”
“No wonder Johnny was on my case and asking about it. I don’t deserve you.”
Tia stared at him. “None of us deserves anything. That’s why it’s called grace, right?”
“I wish…”
She placed a finger over his lips. “It’s done. Over. I forgave you long ago. You’ve more than proven your love and devotion to me.” She finished her soup and shoved her dishes to the side.
“You need to eat more.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“What do you want to do?”
“Take a nap?”
Niko grinned. “You go. I’ll clean this up and join you.”
Tia rose and kissed his dark curls. Her hand moved slowly across his back from shoulder to shoulder until she let it drop, and she walked out of the room.
He put the food away and quickly washed the dishes. He looked at the mismatched patterns and chipped edges. His wife deserved better than this, didn’t she?
Niko rested with Tia until she drifted off. He rose, left a note, and headed over to Johnny’s.
Johnny let him in. “Hey, coz. Long time no see. What’s up?”
“Anyone else here?”
“Who, my harem? Nope. I’m alone.”
“Sorry.” Niko sat on the sofa.
“Don’t apologize. I’ve not made myself appealing to the ladies since Donna.”
“I talked to Tia.”
“About?”
“What happened when you got your cancer diagnosis.”
“Oh.” Johnny plopped into an overstuffed chair. “That must have been an eye-opener.”
“She didn’t let me come out smelling too good.”
“You were a skunk. If I hadn’t been so sick, I’d have pummeled you.”
“Maybe I would have opened my eyes sooner to what was before me.”
“No. You were too wrapped up in the next gig, the next song. You didn’t stop, though. You kept writing and performing. That time alone matured you.”
“Sometimes I doubt I’ve grown all that much.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I went and volunteered for stuff at church, and I didn’t even think to ask her about it. I never even asked her if there was anything she might want to do. I’m still too selfish. Johnny, I’m a husband, and I’m going to be a father, and I’ve been screwing things up for so long I wonder if I could ever change.”
“You’ve changed a lot since those early days. Tia’s not a saint. I wanted her to stand up to you back then, and she refused. I was surprised when she stood up to that pastor like she did. And she confronted that guy with the gun too. I’m not saying she should have let him shoot you, but still, she didn’t concede defeat. She’s grown, but when we railed at her on the bus about the cancelled gig, she took it. She didn’t fight back or defend herself or tell us to go to a really hot place. Roger was the one who figuratively slapped my face.”
“I’m glad you apologized.”
“I had to. I was a jerk. Listen. I’m not the one to go to for marriage advice. Considering how well mine worked out. Obviously, I know nothing.”
“Nah. You see things I don’t. You’ve been helpful, buddy.”
“Return to your wife. Make a new life. Don’t forget your cousin.”
Niko gave Johnny a hug. “Thanks. I’ll see you at rehearsal.”
Johnny waved his casted arm like a chicken. “Don’t worry, I’m managing to keep my callouses. When this comes off, I’ll be ready to rock and roll.”
“I never doubted it.”
* * *
Stephanie came over on Monday with Levi. He toddled around the wide-open spaces. “Wow. You’ve a lot of space to fill here.”
“Yeah. I’ve never had a place to make my own. I’m clueless as to what I even like.”
“Do you have any ideas?”
“I have stuff in storage I want to show you. Perhaps we can use some of it. If not, I’ll sell it.”
“Where did it come from?”
“My grandmother left me her belongings and a small inheritance.”
“Wow. What did Niko say?”
“I keep forgetting to mention it to him.”
“Tia. That’s not good.”
“Come with me to see it. It’s been so long I can’t even remember what’s there.”
“Okay. Let’s go. We’ll take my van since Levi’s car seat is in there. I have a small stroller too, so we can keep him confined when we get there.”
Tia fidgeted with her purse strap all the way to the storage unit. They pulled up, the key opened the door, they walked in, and she flipped on the lights. “The stuff is kind of old, but might have value. I’m not sure…”
“Tia,” gasped Stephanie. “You know I used to work selling furniture, right?”
“Yeah. That’s why I thought maybe you could tell me what I should do with this.”
“You have an entire household here. Girl, this stuff is beautiful. Much of it is antique, and it’s in fabulous condition. All of it would work great in your house.”
“I need to paint first.”
“You have to tell Niko.”
“Okay. How about now?”
“Where is he?”
“At the gym, but he should be done.” Tia texted Niko and asked him to come to the address. Stephanie wheeled Levi around as she oohed and awed at things.
“Tia, this rug is beautiful. It would be great in your family room with the gas fireplace. Use a color or two from here for y
our walls.” She paused at another piece of furniture. “This headboard is for a king-size bed. You have a frame and baseboard here too. That would work in the master bedroom. You’d need a mattress and box spring.”
A knock at the door preceded Niko’s entrance. “Hey, Tia. Stephanie. Hi, Levi.” Niko bent down to tickle the little boy. “Why are we here?”
“Your wife has something to tell you,” Stephanie said. “I’m leaving. Niko can take you home.” She walked out the door.
“Wow, this place is cool. Who owns it?”
“We do.”
Niko spun around. “What?”
“I forgot about this space. My grandmother died a few years ago and left me a small inheritance and all of this. It’s mine. I mean—ours. Stephanie said most of it is antique and in great condition and we should move it into our house.”
Niko walked along the aisle, lightly touching the dusty pieces. He got to the headboard. “King?”
“That’s what Stephanie said.” Niko walked further. “I’m sorry, Niko. I haven’t been here in so long I had forgotten about it.”
“How much?”
“How much what?”
“How much of an inheritance?”
“I’m not sure. At the time I received it, there was around 90 grand, but it’s invested and I let it roll over year after year. I have to pay capital gains. It grows, but I try not to pay attention to it. The rent for this place comes out of there as does the insurance.”
“It’s continued to grow even with all the downturns in the stock market?”
“Generally speaking, year after year? Yes.”
“Amazing.”
“What?”
“You lived like a homeless person when you had money at your disposal? You could have lived off that money or even sold all this and made even more. Why didn’t you?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged.
“Come on, Tia.”
“I guess I wanted to prove to myself I could make it on my own. I didn’t need anyone’s help, and I didn’t have to steal like my dad. The money was grandma’s. It wasn’t mine. This stuff was hers.”
“Was being the key word. It is yours now. Ours, since I married you. What other riches are you hiding from me? Did I marry a reclusive millionaire?”
Feta and Freeways Page 22
