Mitch
David, the inspector, let me know he’s almost done here, so I sent Amelia a text to start heading back. I walk him to his truck, out of surveillance range. “David, I know I have to wait for the official report, but how bad is it?”
“Considering nothing has been touched for twenty-plus years, it’s not that bad. There are a few updates that will be needed but, all in all, I would say you can get it done for about two or three thousand dollars.”
“Thank you, David. Email me your bill with your report.” He leaves and I head back inside to wait for Amelia. I can’t help myself; I know the camera is watching but I slowly walk around, trying to remember what each room looked like when Peter first got it. I remember the house was in foreclosure, and he picked it up for a song. It was really trashed. The neighborhood was in a downturn, not like today with the gentrification of the different areas in Brooklyn. I thought he was nuts, but he saw something none of us did. He saw the future of what Brooklyn could become. Now these houses that have had nothing done to them are selling for a minimum of six-hundred thousand dollars. She only owes fifty-thousand dollars, so she could walk away with a nice chunk of change here. I try to not think like a realtor as I walk through the house. I need to think like Peter, like a thief. If I was Peter, where would I have hidden them? When I head upstairs, I stop in the doorway of Amelia’s room. I stare at the iron bed and I get a twitching in my cock. I can only imagine how unbelievably fantastic it would be to have her in that bed. Every inch of her at my disposal. Lost in my own desires, I didn’t hear the front door, that is until I hear that distinct growl. I slowly turn around and Rusty is staring at me with that curled lip. Amelia and Chloe are behind him with a look on their face like you just got busted. I try to ignore the obvious and focus on the house. “Hello, ladies. Rusty, my ass is not a prime cut of meat, thank you. The inspector just left. Did you have fun at the park?” I ask. Chloe pulls Rusty back and he finally calms down.
“Was there something wrong with my bedroom that I should be aware of?”
Everything would be right if we were in that bed together. “Not that I know of. I was just making sure everything was locked up before I head out.”
“When do you think we will have the report back?”
“Either tonight or tomorrow at the latest. I need to get to my next appointment. I’ll touch base with you later.” I quickly hightail it out of there. Rusty hates me and Chloe is suspicious of me, so, at this point, less is more.
Amelia
“Well, do you still get that feeling when it comes to Mitch? Could it be you’re remembering who he was then and not the man he is today?”
“Maybe, but I think I want to try and get reacquainted with the man. Figure out who he is today. I don’t want to base it on who I remember from my past. You know as time goes on the bad things fade away. The only thing remaining are the good memories. Does that make sense?”
“Yeah, it’s kind of like you can’t move where you vacation.”
I cock my head and look at her like she’s nuts, which some days she really is. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“You know the good and bad thing. Anyway, I’ve got stuff to do. Do you need me for anything?”
“Nope. Go; I’ve got this. As soon as I get the report, I’ll let you know what it says.” I shoo her on. She gives Rusty his usual back scratch and heads out the door.
I hope Mitch can get the report early enough to explain everything to me before Emma gets home. I know she’ll have so many questions. I only hope I have the answers. In the meantime, I need to research some more places to live. I’ve lived in Brooklyn my whole life. The thought of moving out is overwhelming but the thought of staying is just as stressful. If I sell the house and decide I want to say in New York, I couldn’t afford to buy anything. However, if I sell the house and move out of state, I could afford a lot more. Then there are capital gains. I looked it up, and we are talking thousands of dollars. My head is beginning to pound. I close the laptop and head into the kitchen for some wine. It’s been that kind of day.
Mitch
I hightailed it out of there. I don’t feel comfortable around Chloe. Maybe I should find out her past from Doug, that way I wouldn’t feel so intimidated. I just feel like she’s looking right through me. Like she knows what I’m feeling, what I felt all those years ago. How is that even possible since I don’t understand what I’m feeling or even why.
When I round the corner, I see Doug sitting outside with his daughter Vanni and my daughter Brook. She never said she was coming home this weekend. I quickly park in my driveway and head up the steps to Doug’s porch. Brook throws her arms around my neck like she always did as a little girl. Maybe dealing with Amelia is making me nostalgic or maybe the fact that Brook is in a serious relationship is doing it. When she finally let’s go, I pull back, squeeze her shoulders, and look into her eyes. “Everything okay?” Her eyes have always given away her secrets.
“Yes, Dad. I missed you, that’s all. I just got here and found Vanni outside with Uncle Doug. We were catching up. Everything okay with you?”
I smile and pull her into another hug, happy that I’m able to. “Yes, everything is great. Vanni, how is school?”
“Good. I came home to celebrate. I was offered a job when I graduate this year. It’s a really good position with The Veteran’s Association. I’m going to revamp their entire computer system. I’d bore you with all the details. Basically, it will eventually make the veteran’s life easier and hold the government more accountable.”
“That’s fantastic. I’m very proud of you.” Vanni has always been the one out there that is going to right all the wrongs in the world, which is really funny, considering who her father is: the most negative, conspiracy theory guy I know. I’m surprised she came home this weekend, with her mother out of town. Then again, maybe she didn’t know. “How about we all go out to Bella Gioia for dinner to celebrate? Vanni, I’m sure you can’t find true New York pizza in Dallas, Texas.”
“Nothing even close! Oh, don’t get me wrong, Uncle Mitch, they try, but I swear there’s something in the water here that can’t be duplicated anywhere else.”
“Okay, then Bella Gioia it is.” Doug heads down the steps and quickly tosses his beer can in the trash before getting into my car. He knows he’s been drinking and would never get behind the wheel. The rest of us climb into the car and head out, just like old times.
Amelia
How do I get reacquainted with Mitch? I mean, I’m not about to call him to come and help me like all of the sudden I’m some sort of damsel in distress. Besides, I’ve survived all these years on my own, so he would see right through it. Sometimes I think back to when we first met and how possessive Peter would act around him, like a dog lifting his leg to mark his territory. Is that what Peter was doing?
It was Mitch and Peter’s last year of college. Doug graduated the year before, but he never gave up on his friends. Peter brought me into the group as a friend, nothing more. Everyone in the group became inseparable. Mitch and I started to hang out together more and more. Then, all of a sudden, Peter decided to take our friendship to the next level. I was young, and it was surprising to say the least. Before I knew it, I was saying I do. Within a year after that, Peter was gone and I was pregnant. What a crazy rollercoaster my life has been. I was dumped at four into foster care and then left alone and pregnant. At least I did better than my birth mother. I held on to my daughter and put her needs before my own. I learned what real responsibility is. Emma and me . . . we did okay, and we will be okay. I head into the kitchen to put up a pot of tea and in walks Emma.
“I’m so happy to see you. I thought you were coming in tomorrow?”
“I only had one class tomorrow and it was canceled, so I decided to head out early.” I look at her with skepticism but decide to let it go.
“I was just putting up the tea kettle, do you want a cup?”
“Sure, then you can tell me abou
t the house and moving.” She heads into the living room while I put up the tea kettle. I head in and curl up on the couch next to her.
“Mom, what’s going on, you seem off.”
“Not really, it’s just that these decisions are life-altering. I’m too old to make a mistake.”
“Really?! You’re not that old. Maybe it’s the fact that you’re making major changes. Big changes can be very scary, especially when you’re the type of person who follows a routine their whole life.”
“Have I really been that kind of person?” I furrow my brow, thinking about it. She cocks her head to the side and bites her bottom lip, which is something her father did whenever he was trying not to laugh at me.
“Mom, you’ve lived in the same house for over twenty years. You’ve never done anything to update the place, not even a new coat of paint. You’ve been at the same job since Dad left. Hell, you’ve been there so long that they are forcing you out. Now you are thinking of selling your security blanket and going someplace where you know no one.”
Her words sting. I know she doesn’t mean them to sound so harsh, but they do. The kettle begins to whistle. I jump up and quickly head into the kitchen, trying to hold back my tears. I fix the tea and before I head back into the living room, I wipe away a tear that has finally escaped. I curl back on the couch and hand hers to her “Truth is, I haven’t decided what I’m going to do. I heard that you should move someplace where you have at least one friend. Like you said, I’ve lived my life in my little bubble, but I have to start somewhere. I’m just not sure where that somewhere is.”
“Let’s start with the house. Have you found out what it’s worth in today’s market and what you need to do to get it sold? I would think a paint job, at least.”
“I’m supposed to find out everything tomorrow since the inspector came today. Mitch is going to go over everything with me. I’m sure some repairs will need to be made.”
“Okay, no sense trying to figure out the house until we have all the facts, so let’s put that part of the equation aside for now. Where will you go? When you are looking for places to live, what are you looking for?”
“Well, I don’t know anyone outside of New York, but I know I can’t stay here, it’s so damn expensive. I looked into Florida, since I saw on the news that a lot of people are moving there. The economy is cheaper and there is no state income tax. However, I remember from our trips to Disney that I don’t like the weather. I was thinking North Carolina or Tennessee. Four seasons but more tempered. Tennessee has no state income tax, but I’m leaning towards North Carolina. Plus, I read that southern people are very friendly and welcoming.”
“Don’t you think you should visit before you decide?”
“Well, of course I plan on it, and Chloe will be coming with me, so you needn’t worry. Now, why don’t you tell me what’s bothering you?”
“It’s hard to put into words. The thought of you selling this house, the only home I’ve ever known, will be gone to me forever.”
“I told you I wouldn’t sell it if it bothered you. I can call Mitch and tell him to forget the whole thing.” I reach for my cell phone, and she stops me.
“That’s not what I want you to do. I know the best thing is to sell. I just need to come to grips with it all. Plus, I worry about you. Why don’t you take an apartment near me in Chicago? Give yourself a chance to research everything before you buy.”
“That would mean I’d move twice. I made myself a promise that when I got out of foster care, I would put down roots and never move.”
“Well, you can honestly say you keep your promises!” We both laugh, and it feels good.
“Mom, tell me about Mitch. You never spoke about Dad’s friends. What’s he like? Does he talk to you about Dad much?”
“It was weird, at first, seeing him after all these years. We made a deal that the past is behind us. I don’t want to look back, Emma; it’s not healthy. Besides, I had to grieve twice for the same man. The day he left and the day I declared him legally dead. I spent a whole day notifying all the agencies and getting his name off every single thing. It’s amazing how much work it is. The insurance company issued the check so that should be here soon. When that comes, you can wipe out your student loans. The total is two-hundred-fifty thousand dollars. Will that cover everything?” Her eyes open wide, registering her shock.
“Cover everything and then some. I’ll probably be able to buy my own place. It’s overwhelming to me that someone I’ve never met will be taking me to the next level in life.”
“You are a part of him. I’m grateful, and I look at it like a gift from heaven.”
“Do you think I can meet Mitch?”
“Actually, you will be meeting him tomorrow. In the meantime, I think we should call it a night. We will have a full day come the morning.” I give her a hug and watch her head up to bed with Rusty following closely behind.
Mitch
It’s very early. I head into the kitchen and grab a cup of coffee. I don’t want to wake her, so I head outside to read my morning paper. The sun has just come up and it’s going to be another beautiful day in New York City. I was happy that Brook and Vanni were able to catch up last night. I’m no fool; I know Brook came home this weekend to sooth the blow from the other night. The way she looked when she was talking about Benjamin told me all I needed to know—she’s in it with him for the long haul. I’m lost in my daydream until my vibrating phone dances across the café table. It’s a text from Amelia.
Amelia: Good morning. Emma came home early, so she will be here when you come over.
Me: I look forward to meeting her. I just checked my email and the report came in. I haven’t looked at it yet. What time would you like to get together?”
Amelia: How about eleven-ish.
Me: Okay, see you then.
Amelia: Be forewarned; she’s probably going to ask you a lot of questions.
Me: I’ll be ready for them.
I’ve never seen Emma, not even after she was born. I couldn’t bring myself to go visit. When Amelia went into labor, none of Peter’s friends were there to help her, me included. I think, for me, it was guilt. I don’t know why Doug stayed away. To this day, we’ve never spoken about it. For him, it was always about the jewels, nothing more. For me, I was a married man who was in love with another man’s wife. I loved my wife, but I was in love with Peter’s wife. I knew seeing her pregnant and alone would be the hardest test I would ever face as a husband. It would test my faith and I knew I would fail, so I decided the best thing—no—the safest thing I could do for me and for her was to stay away. It doesn’t mean I did nothing for them. When I heard Amelia was interviewing at the DMV, I called a friend and made sure she got the job. If it ever got to the point where she would lose her house or there was any danger for Emma, I would have come forward. I honestly believed she would meet someone and move on. I didn’t know what it took to get someone declared dead and how that could hinder her moving on.
I wonder what questions Emma will have for me. Hopefully, I can answer them without making her father look bad. Maybe I should bring Brook with me. She is around Emma’s age, and it would be a good ice breaker. I’m about to get a fresh cup of coffee when Brook comes out with two cups.
“Dad, did you even sleep last night?” I help her with the coffees as she sits next to me.
“Yes, but it was a broken sleep. So, tell me more about Benjamin.”
“What do you want to know?” Well, I guess this will be like pulling teeth.
“Let’s start with the basics, you know . . . how you met. Tell me about his family. That kind of stuff.” She’s staring into her coffee like it’s a magic eight ball.
“I tripped in the cafeteria and fell flat on my ass. My tray flew up in the air and landed in my lap as my books skidded across the room. I was covered in mac and cheese, along with my cup of coffee. All of the while, trying to break my fall. Even though there were a lot of people in the cafeteria, he was the onl
y one who came over to help me. That showed me what kind of person he is. He helped me up and cleaned up the mess. He even replaced my dinner. As far as his family, he is the oldest. He has a younger sister that thinks he walks on water. He grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. You’ve heard of food trucks; well, his parents own a food boat called Diamond Reef. They take their boat out to different areas that are very popular, drop anchor so other boats come by to buy lunch.”
“Wow, that’s very inventive. How did he end up in Boston?”
“He was given a scholarship for his first year and then after that, his parents paid the rest so he wouldn’t have any student loans. He’s very grateful to them for that, just like I am to you for paying my way. So many of my friends are in such debt when they graduate that they will never see the light of day.”
“I’m happy to be able to do that for you. I guess now might be a good time to ask you for a small favor. I don’t know if you remember me mentioning an old friend of mine, Peter Mach. Well, he passed away, and it looks like I’m going to be selling his house. I have an appointment today with Amelia, Peter’s widow, to go over the home inspection report. Her daughter Emma is in town from college. I was wondering if you would come along with me and maybe offer some moral support to Emma?” I didn’t tell her it took twenty years to declare him dead. That’s Amelia’s business.
“Of course. What time do we have to leave?”
“It’s not that far; around 10:30 will work. After that, we can do whatever you want.”
“Sounds great. Now how about we talk about you dating? You can’t sit around here every night commiserating with Uncle Doug.”
I pick up the New York Post and begin flipping the pages until she pulls the paper right out of my hands. “Maybe, Brook, I’m just not ready to put myself out there. I know you don’t think I loved your mom, but in my own way I did. We have a past and maybe I’m not ready to put it away.”
The Heist Page 5
