Panzina's Passion

by Teresa D. Patterson

  “I said, Luther Vandross happens to be one of my favorite singers,” he repeated. “What about yourself?”

  “Oh, I love him too. I like all of his songs. I also love Patti LaBelle, and Anita Baker, but Lauren Hill is my favorite.”

  “Oh, I would have thought you were the rap type.”

  She turned to look him uncertain of whether he was kidding or not.

  “I’m not into that. I mean, I like music that I can relate to, as well as understand the words,” she replied. Genuine laughter rewarded her. She stared at him, amazed at how handsome he actually was when he relaxed.

  “How old are you anyway?” he asked. “If you care to reveal that information,” he added.

  “I’m twenty-one, Mr. Grant.”

  “Please, it’s Trevor. Call me Trevor. You’d think you were addressing someone’s grandfather,” he chuckled.

  Now Panzina laughed. “How old are you?” she asked, still smiling.

  “I’m twenty five, but I feel about ninety.”

  “It can’t be that bad,” she said.

  “If only you knew,” he answered.

  The atmosphere seemed to change as they traveled on in uncomfortable silence. Panzi wondered what had placed the rift between them so suddenly. Something troubled Trevor and she dared not ask what. She knew better than to pressure someone to talk. If he wanted to share his troubles with her, then he would have to open up of his own accord.

  Trevor had chosen an elegant, Italian restaurant for their business meeting. She figured most real estate deals were taken care of in offices and on paper, but she also considered Trevor a friend. So having dinner with him while they discussed the fate of her precious flower shop didn’t at all seem out of the ordinary. Panzina was impressed with the way that he asked her what she preferred to eat instead of simply ordering for her. Telvin had a habit of doing that, taking it for granted that she didn’t have a mind of her own.

  She chose shrimp scampi, for she had a taste for seafood. Their salads arrived and Trevor pushed his aside.

  “I’m a meat and potatoes type of man,” he said lightly. “I need something solid. A salad won’t cut it.”

  Panzina smiled at the relaxed look on his face. She could tell that he’d be at home in any environment. She noticed that he’d received a lot of admiring glances from the women and she got some envious stares herself.

  “How have you been? Really?” he questioned.

  Panzina shrugged, toying with her salad. His question ruined her chances of enjoying her own salad, so she released her fork and pushed it aside as well.

  “Hanging in there. I really miss aunt Gertie,” she told him, honestly. “My fiancé doesn’t seem to be able to deal with my problems. With him so far away-” Her words trailed off. She hadn’t noticed how Trevor had stiffened at the mention of her having a fiancé. “I never thought I could feel so – so alone,” she ended.

  Trevor gazed at her with gentle eyes, forgetting the disappointment he’d felt upon learning that she was engaged. “It’ll get easier with time,” he said. “I know.”

  “Sounds as though you’re speaking from experience,” she commented.

  “I know what it’s like to love and to lose.” He grew silent. “Here’s our food. Let’s eat,” he said softly.

  They ate their meals in a comfortable silence unlike the painful quiet on the car trip to the restaurant. He had unintentionally let his guard down then he had asked the one question that cut her to the quick. Add in her slip about her estranged fiancé, and it added up to a dinner that wasn’t going very well.

  After several bites where Panzina was aware of every muscle in her jaw, Trevor decided to lighten the mood. Playfully, he reached over and tried some of Panzina’s shrimp. Her mouth opened in good-humored shock as she cocked her head to one side. The expression on her face seemed to say, “Hey! Get out of my food.” But then she got caught up in the teasing moment, enjoying this playful side to Trevor. Retrieving her fork from her forgotten salad, she tasted his lasagna. They laughed, and for a moment, they were the only two people in the room.

  The dinner passed all too quickly after this. While they waited for dessert they nibbled on hot, delicious breadsticks. Panzina even got up the nerve to use one as a gavel on the table. She tapped it several times to get his attention.

  “So, when are we going to discuss business?” Panzina asked.

  Trevor’s face became serious once again, though there was a menacing gleam in his eyes after her lighthearted behavior.

  “I was getting to that part.” He let out a deep breath. “I’m willing to buy your boutique.” He mentioned a substantial amount that was much higher than she’d anticipated. Actually, she hadn’t even thought of an asking price yet. But she figured a smart, businessman like Trevor Grant would know what the shop was worth, so she eagerly shook her head. “The thing is,” he continued. “I know nothing about flowers. Would it be a problem for you to stay on as the manager?”

  Panzina’s heart jumped at the opportunity but she had some doubts. After all, hadn’t he accused her of being a poor manager? Why would he want a flower shop if he knew nothing about flowers?

  “Excuse me if I’m wrong,” she said curtly. “But, if I recall correctly, you said I was a child doing an adult’s job. What am I to make of that, Mr. Grant?” Her tone was half-serious and half-teasing over the misunderstanding of their first meeting.

  “My name is Trevor,” he corrected and tossed a small piece of breadstick at her. Apparently, he had picked up on the fact that she was joking. She took the offending lump of bread and dropped it in her salad bowl before shaking a finger at him in reprimand. “Panzina, let’s forget that little episode. That was not one of my better days and I’d just as soon forget it altogether. If you weren’t capable you wouldn’t have been the manager in the first place. Right?”

  “I agree.”

  “Do you have to discuss this with your fiancé?” he asked as an afterthought. He searched Panzina’s eyes for her true feelings about this man she had pledged her heart to.

  “No, I do not. I doubt if he’d care, one way or the other,” she retorted. They lapsed into a short silence, while she took a breath to clear her mind of Telvin and he relished the fact that their engagement was on the fritz.

  Trevor cleared his throat.

  “So, what do you say, Miss Panzina Wilson?” His eyes met hers. “Is it a deal or not?”

  “It’s a deal.” Her hand met his and they shook. If he held her hand a bit longer than necessary, she didn’t mind. No, she didn’t mind at all.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  After leaving the restaurant and driving her home again, Trevor insisted upon escorting Panzina to her front door. He wanted very much to kiss her, but instead he found himself offering to help her finish packing up the rest of her aunt’s belongings. It was the least he could do since he had been the one to whisk her away from the task in the first place. And that is exactly how he pled his case when at first she turned down his offer to help. Tonight, he wanted to spend every moment he could with her. Business meeting or not, he would not take no for an answer.

  After convincing her that she needed his muscles to lift the heavy boxes once they’d been packed by her careful hands Trevor took off his jacket and tie and set to work. It didn’t take long for him to discover a side of Panzina that he hadn’t known about before. It was a side that took painstaking care of the smallest details. Like the beautifully arranged bouquets that she sold in her shop, Panzina organized her aunt’s belongings to perfection.

  How could he have ever complained about her work that day when it was obvious that there was genius behind it? He stood in awe as she delicately coiled belts and secured them with trash bag ties. Then she placed them in a box designated only for belts. There was also a box for dress shoes, one for casual shoes, one for porcelain trinkets and collectibles, and so on. She even had plastic hanging bags for her aunt’s Sunday outfits. She kept each one together and complete, even w
ith matching hats, handbags, and accessories.

  He spent most of his time wrapping breakables in layers of newspaper. Ever so often she would declare a box full, so he would seal it with box tape, label it with a Sharpie, and carry it to the front room of the house. With Trevor near, it wasn’t as hard as it had been before. He talked to her, which actually took her mind off things. It was after midnight when he finally took a moment to stretch his back. The packed boxes were piled high in the center of the room. What a weight they had moved from Panzina’s heart. Soon, they would remove the weight entirely.

  Trevor had long ago unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled them up, but now he untucked his shirttail as he returned to Aunt Gertie’s old room. He peeked his head inside and saw Panzina sitting quietly on the edge of the stripped bed. Nothing remained in the room except a few treasures that Panzina wished to keep for memory’s sake.

  “If you want me to, tomorrow I could take some of this to the Salvation Army or Goodwill. Those places can always use donations,” he suggested.

  “I’d really appreciate that,” she replied solemnly but looked at him as if she wondered why he was being so nice and helpful even though he barely knew her. He didn’t blame her for continuing to be cautious. Their relationship started out on rocky footing and then took off like a whirlwind. Now in the aftermath of her aunt’s death and the disclosure of her engagement, it was understandable that she remained guarded. He hadn’t exactly been an open book himself, leaving her in suspense of his feelings and intentions.

  It was true that she barely knew him, but he knew more about her than he had ever dreamed. From the moment he cooled down after their heated discussion in the flower shop, he hadn’t stopped thinking about her. Since he had spent time with her, both personally and professionally, he had come to know her as a caring soul that gave of her self completely to those she loved. She cared for those loved ones with such attention to detail that he could only imagine the depth of that love. Her friends and family were like delicate flowers to Panzina. They could be compared to a field of flowers in full bloom growing wild on a hill. And though he knew that Panzina was off limits at the moment, he longed to sit in that field and breathe in the beautiful aroma.

  She made him want to recite poetry, but all he managed to say was, “So, I guess I’ll say goodnight.

  She nodded and smoothed the quilted lap blankets that were in her lap. Beside her on the bed were albums filled with old family photos. No doubt she would spend a sleepless night going through those pictures, and he would leave her to it. She needed the release.

  “Will you be okay here by yourself?” he asked in concern.

  “I’m a big girl, Trevor,” she said timidly, trying to show her appreciation through her sadness. “I’m sure I can manage.”

  “Why isn’t your fiancé around? You did say you were engaged, right?”

  “I- um- I-” she stammered over her response. “I really can’t answer that question,” she finally admitted, though she wasn’t sure which question she was answering. I really can’t answer that question, she thought. She didn’t know where her fiancé was at the moment or whether she even had a fiancé anymore. “Telvin just doesn’t seem to care much about anyone except himself.”

  “But you’re still going to marry him?” Trevor pried. “Do you think that’s wise?”

  Panzina leapt to her feet and busied herself by picking up a feather duster and swiping at the dusty furniture. She needed something to do with her back turned, so she wouldn’t have to look him in the eyes. How could she explain to him that her loyalty and fear of being alone ran so deep that she couldn’t even bring herself to end her relationship with Telvin? Instead, she went on the defensive.

  “I really don’t think it’s any of your concern,” she told him bluntly.

  Trevor’s eyebrows rose as he stared at her.

  “Well, excuse me. I’m sorry if I stepped on your toes. It really isn’t my business. It’s just that you’re only twenty-one years old. Marriage is a big step. Before you take that giant leap, you should be sure that it’s the right thing.” Panzina avoided his gaze and moved to dust a corner shelf. She looked anywhere but directly at him.

  “I’m quite capable of deciding what’s right for me, Mr. Grant,” she said testily, reverting back to her professional name for him. She didn’t know why she was getting so irritated and defensive all of a sudden. Maybe it was because Trevor had treaded on shaky grounds. She wasn’t ready to bring out all of the doubts and fears that she had about Telvin. She especially didn’t want to share her concerns with someone she hardly knew, no matter how kind he had been. He had touched on a sensitive nerve. “Look, I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me,” she said, looking him in the eye, finally. “You’ve helped me through a rough time. I am extremely grateful, more than you can ever know. But just because you helped me doesn’t mean you can pry into my personal business,” she ended.

  It amazed Trevor how beautiful she was when upset. Even with her face flushed and her lips in a tight line, she was exquisite. He had to get a grip on himself. His reaction to Panzina surprised him.

  Trevor cleared his throat in an effort to not give his feelings away when he spoke.

  “I’m sorry. You’re right,” he apologized. “It won’t happen again.” Panzina didn’t respond. “Anyway, I’ll be by tomorrow to pick up your aunt’s things. I’m sure you’re tired so I’ll bid you a good night.” Panzina moved toward the doorway, but he held up a hand. “Don’t trouble yourself, Miss Wilson,” he said tersely, in an effort to get back at her for calling him Mr. Grant. He wasn’t really all that angry about it, but he wanted Panzina to know that it bothered him. “I can find my own way to the door.” He turned and walked out leaving Panzina thoroughly confused. She held the feather duster in hands that had suddenly turned clammy.

  * * *

  Trevor had to put some distance between himself and Panzina. He didn’t know what had come over him. He’d felt a need to protect her but had come off all wrong. Once again, he had ended up treating her like a child. She’d had every right to go off on him. He promised himself that he would not step across that line again. He’d keep his nose in his own business. He could care less about her engagement. She could marry Denzel Washington for all he cared. It had nothing to do with him. As he headed for home his jaw tightened when he thought about this kid named Telvin who didn’t know what a good thing he had.

  * * *

  “I will not let that man get under my skin,” Panzina recited as she dressed the next morning. She had just slipped her slim foot into a pair of Nike’s when the doorbell sounded. She took a deep breath. “I will not let him get on my nerves. I will not let him get on my nerves,” she repeated all the way to the door.

  “Good morning,” Trevor greeted brightly when she opened the door. He pulled a red, single, long-stemmed rose from behind his back and handed it to her. “Truce?”

  The gesture touched Panzina as she slowly took the lovely flower and brought it up to her nose to sniff it. Corny though it may seem, roses really were her favorite.

  “Thank you. But you really didn’t have to do this,” she smiled.

  “Anything is worth the smile on your beautiful face,” he said.

  “Come on in,” she invited. As he stepped past she surveyed him. The nice fitting Polo jeans and logo tee shirt were much more suited to the job at hand than the suit he’d worn last night. But if there was one thing she liked about him, it was his spontaneity and that fact that he wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty no matter what he had on.

  And then it struck her that she was beginning to figure this man out. She knew something about him now, and it was something that she admired. All at once, she was overwhelmed with a sensation that she had never experienced before. And it had nothing to do with the cologne he wore. This was something new and much more potent. She turned from closing the door and discovered that he’d been watching her with the same scrutiny.

  “Eternity?
” It was more of a statement than a question and caught her completely off guard.

  “Excuse me?” she questioned.

  “Your perfume,” he clarified.

  “Oh, yes. Eternity.” She nodded in affirmation. “It smells nice,” he remarked.

  “Thank you,” she said, a little uneasy because of the potency in the air. “Would you care for some coffee?”

  “Nope. Don’t drink the stuff. It tastes like dirt.”

  “Have you ever tasted dirt?” she inquired, teasingly.

  “No,” he answered, honestly. “But it tastes like dirt smells. I assumed they would taste the same.”

  “Trust me. Coffee does not taste anything like dirt and I’m saying this because I know. When you work around plants and flowers it’s inevitable that you get to taste some real dirt.”

  “Really?” he laughed.

  “Yes really.” She smiled at him and he returned the smile. Her heart soared. “If you don’t mind, before we leave, I’ll just go and pour myself a cup of dirt,” she said lightly.

  “Go right ahead. I’ll start loading the truck.”

  He lifted the box nearest to him while Panzina walked around the stacks of boxes in the middle of the floor. She carefully inserted the single rose into a small, crystal vase as she passed. She would give the rose some water and plant food before she poured a cup of coffee.

  For several minutes, Panzina watched through the kitchen window as Trevor lifted boxes onto the back of a black Ford F150. His strong arms flexed and tightened as he loaded the bed of vehicle number three. She sipped her coffee and thought about what an incredibly handsome man he was. Just when she thought the view couldn’t get any better, he pulled his shirt off. Panzina’s heart caught in her throat. She almost spit out the mouthful of warm coffee she had been about to swallow, and started to cough.

  “What am I doing?” she scolded herself. “He is way out of my league. Besides, I am engaged to Telvin.” She quickly vacated the window and walked over to the sink to rinse out her coffee mug. Some dirty dishes from days before glared up at her, so she grabbed a sponge and started filling the sink with hot water without thinking. Her mind cluttered with thoughts of a shirtless Trevor had her frazzled. It was if she had sent her brain through the dishwasher. The next thing she knew, the dishes were clean and gleaming, and she was staring blankly into space as her hands dried them on autopilot.