It was a bit past lunchtime, when I collapsed on the couch next to Daniel. "Hey!" I hollered at him, but he didn't move. I grabbed some paper that had been used to pack the chandelier and chucked it at him. I did it a few more times, and he finally started to budge. "Hey!" I shouted again. When he woke up, his eyes settled on the light fixture, looking confused. "Happy birthday, the dining set requires assembly, so tag, you're it."
"Where did this come from?" He held up a wad of paper I had thrown at him.
"Don't know, must be raining tree crap."
"Tree crap?"
"Mashed up wood bits, tree poop," I said, like it was obvious.
"You threw tree poop at me?" He took a handful of the wads and tossed them at me. I batted a few away, smacking them back at him. A tree poop fight ensued, and shit was flying everywhere.
He hoarded all the ammo, and I was left defenseless. "Daniel, please…"
"You threw them at me while I was sleeping," he accused playfully.
"I told you, it was the trees!"
"I'll show you trees." He prepared to throw, but I stopped him.
"Don't make me pull out the big guns, you won't like it."
"What are you going to do? I've got all the tree poop."
I gave him a wicked grin and tackled him, tickling him like mad. He squirmed and hollered and finally pinned me down. It was only when I threatened to pee on him did he let me up.
"You, little girl, have a mess of crap to clean up. These trees never pooped until you moved out here."
"Maybe they just weren't comfortable around you. You tend to be a little stiff."
When I said stiff, he jumped up and cleared his throat. "I'll get lunch going." I realized he probably thought I was talking about something else on him I had felt that had gotten stiff, and I hoped I didn't scare him off for good.
I sat outside, staring in the opened back door. I could see him pouting as he worked. I hoped if I gave him the space he needed, he wouldn't stay freaked out.
"I have lunch ready," he called from the doorway and took a good look at his present for the first time. "This place looks amazing, Gabby, thank you."
"Yeah, remind me never to get anything that requires paving stones again," I stood, cracking my back. My body felt achy again, but I wasn't sure if it was because of the stones or Daniel.
He laughed a little, thinking I was joking, but I was serious. "You should crash on my bed, while I work on the dining set. My room is cooler than yours."
"I do like being in your room," I pushed, teasing when I probably shouldn't have. He looked at me like he knew I was implying something, but didn't understand what it was. I wasn't going to tell him. I had scared his stiffy off once today. I wouldn't be doing it again.
I took another hot shower after lunch and stretched like Daniel suggested. I snuggled into his bed and listened to him moving the pieces of the dining set around. I considered going out to help him, but I heard him mumble something that gave me an idea.
"I don't know why we need six chairs. I've never had six people out here at once," he grumped.
I knew it was most likely true. He had said his family didn't like it out here, but I hoped with the new addition they would. Of course, they wouldn't know to come out to see it unless I called them.
I knew Daniel's phone was in his study, charging on the desk. I snuck over and opened it. Daniel's birthday was coming, and he deserved to have a party. I found the number I wanted and dialed it.
"Hello, Ann Marie, it's Gabby."
Chapter 22 – Blowout
Throwing a birthday partying for Daniel seemed like a good idea at the time, but the closer his birthday got, the more nervous I became. I knew there were people in Daniel's family whom he was not fond of. Ann Marie promised to take care of the guest list and the cake. I could get away with buying extra groceries, but a giant cake would look suspicious.
Daniel kept looking at me funny. I was pretty sure he knew something was up. He hadn't stopped shaving, though, so I was still in the clear.
Like I had hoped, we spent breakfasts and lunches outside, and we occasionally hung out in our outdoor living room.
"You know, you were a bit excessive, it's only the two of us out here," he commented.
"Well, we could invite people out to sit in the extra seats," I tested the waters.
"Who would we invite? I'm pretty sure we scared Jerry away for some time, even if that Amy woman let him up."
"You could always invite your family out. The few I've met seemed nice enough." I looked at him carefully, worried about his response. If he didn't want his family out here, I was screwed.
He didn't answer, he just got up and walked away.
It was Saturday, his actual birthday, and we fed the animals first thing in the morning to get it out of the way. We were done by nine, and we decided not to go into town, until it was time for our date later today. That in itself had my insides jumping on edge.
We had plans to go into town for dinner and a movie that evening. He was awkward when he had suggested it, so I knew it was a date, our first date. I hoped it really was our first date. He had been sitting across from me at the dinner table, when he had mentioned that he liked movies.
"We should go see one sometime," I suggested.
He peeked at me and nodded. "Yeah, we could have dinner, too." He was avoiding all eye contact.
"I'd really like to go to dinner in town and see a movie. That'd be fun. Don't you think?"
He nodded his head, still keeping his eyes on his plate. "Next weekend, Saturday?"
"Isn't that your birthday? It could be like our own little celebration."
He finally made eye contact, smiling huge. "Yeah, it'll be great."
I wondered if he thought my strange behavior was because I was nervous about our date. I hoped not, because I didn't want to discourage any advancement in our relationship, but I also hoped he did, so he wouldn't know what I was really up to.
It just happened to work to my advantage, so I could get all the side dishes and hors d'oeuvres made before ten. I had bought a couple of family packs of steaks under the guise of it being cheaper. They were marinating in a tub, hidden in the refrigerator's bottom drawer. Luke planned on giving Daniel a grill for his birthday and was going to set it up, so we could use it by lunch. I still had to make side dishes and some meat and veggie trays. I didn't think it would be possible to make the last two without him knowing something was up.
I got to work, and when Daniel questioned why I was making so much food, I told him it was so we could have some during the week. He really knew I was acting weird now, but he still hadn't figured it out.
Ann Marie invited most of his siblings. There were only two left out, but I didn't know their names or why. I didn't think it was my place to push it, either. All Valente spouses were left behind, so it was only immediate family. They would have lunch and then head back home that afternoon. I prayed Daniel didn't send me packing with them.
When I pulled out the five bags of lunchmeat to make the meat tray, he asked me what I was doing. A tray of meat didn't make sense, if I was making food for later on in the week.
"Okay, I know something is definitely up."
Car tires crunching on the driveway distracted him. I could tell it was more than one car, and I wondered who all had made it, as Daniel walked out onto the porch.
"Daniel, my baby, look at that face! You're not covered in hair anymore, so handsome." I didn't recognize the voice and could tell it was an older woman. My knees nearly buckled. It hadn't settled in until that very moment that I would be meeting Daniel's parents. The parents of the man I wanted to keep all to myself for a very long time. I hoped to god they liked me.
"Where’s this pretty girl everyone is talking about? Ann Marie assured me you weren't really living in sin, that she has her own room. How is that even possible in this place?"
"She sleeps on the chair in the study, Mom. You remember, it folds out into a bed," he answered her
as they walked in. She glanced over to the study and smiled, when she saw the folded blankets, some of my shoes, and my stack of books on the nightstand.
She turned around and looked me up and down. "Come here, child, let me get a better look at you."
I did as she asked, trying to hide the fact that I was shaking. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Bartoli."
"It's nice to meet the girl who’s making my son smile. Now, put me to work. I know there's a mess of my children on their way."
"What?" Daniel didn't seem all that happy.
"Gabby here is throwing you a birthday party, honey. Be a good boy and thank her. I know she went to a lot of trouble. She and Ann Marie spent all week working on it."
He frowned at me and walked out the back door. I did my best to hold back my tears.
"Dan, honey, go talk to your son. Junior's being a stick in the mud."
A tall, fit man came walking in. He and Daniel looked a lot alike, except for the gray-haired temples and wrinkles. His dad had striking blue eyes, instead of Daniels rich copper color, though.
His dad looked at me and gave me a tight smile. "Gabriella," he nodded and walked straight out the back door.
Ann Marie showed up with Teresa and Dora, all carrying food and presents. She saw me looking stressed and hugged me once her arms were empty.
"Do you think he'll kick me out for this?" I whispered.
"No, sweetie, he just needs a moment to let it all settle in. I'll reassure him that I didn't invite the troublemakers. I'm certain he'll come around," Ann Marie whispered to me.
The girls made it out the back door and started squealing as they greeted Daniel.
"Oh my goodness, Gabby, Annie said you spruced this place up, but this is beautiful," the sister I knew as Dora came prancing in. "Mama, you've got to see this." She hooked her mother's arm, dragging her out the back door.
I went back to making the meat tray, glad that at least part of his family liked me.
"There's the sandwich goddess, in the kitchen like a good little woman. Danny’s a lucky man," Santino said, as he came in with Luke.
"Where do you want the grill, honey? Me and Santino will bring it around the back," Luke offered.
"Right out here. We added a new section made with paving stones to set it up on."
Once they stepped out the back door and saw the gazebo, they got excited.
"Thank you, Jesus! I didn't know how yous was gonna fit us all in that tiny hut he calls a house," Santino exclaimed.
"The place looks nice. You did good, shorty," Luke patted my shoulder. "Come on, let's get the grill going, I'm starving," he nodded at Santino.
Sergio, Victor and Joey all rode together. They came in, greeting me warmly, and I told them to set the presents on the table outside. They glanced at my arms as they passed. It was funny how I had forgotten all about my scars, until they all showed up and looked at them. Joey actually stopped and asked to examine them. "Does the skin feel tight or pull, or is it working out for you?" he pressed around the white scar tissue.
"It feels fine. I haven't had any problems with it."
"That's good, I'm glad you're doing better, Gabby. Now, where's everybody hiding?"
I grabbed the tub of steaks to bring outside to Luke and led the way. Luke clapped his hands, shaking them out like he was ready to jump into a game. "Come on, girl, lay ‘em on me."
I turned them over to him and Santino, who I would swear did a happy dance.
I looked for Daniel nervously. He and Ann Marie were sitting on the loveseat. She was petting his hair, and when they saw me watching, she waved me over. "Come here, honey. I told you it'd be alright."
Daniel looked chastened as he apologized. "I'm sorry I freaked out. Thanks for the party."
He said the words, but it didn't feel like he meant them. I was scared he would be asking Ann Marie to find somewhere else for me to stay, once the party was over.
By the end of the party, he was smiling. His mother and Ann Marie fussed over him as if he were an infant. I was surprised they weren't feeding him like a baby with the way they went at him.
The gifts his family brought were actually really thoughtful. Most had to do with the outdoors and animals. His parents brought a wedding chapel birdhouse. His mother gave him an expectant look, glancing over at me. Daniel blushed, and everyone burst out laughing. It was very obvious what she was implying.
I thought I was in the clear, as we watched the last family member leave, and he hadn't shoved me in the car with them. I wasn't home free, though. When we stepped back into the house, he shut the door hard. I knew I was in for it. "Gabriella, don't you ever invite anyone to my house ever again. Do you understand?"
I held back my tears. "Yes, I'm sorry, I…"
He walked out, slamming his bedroom door before I could finish. He could have been packing my things this very moment, but I hoped he wasn't. I pulled out my bed, so I could hide in it and cry. I guessed we wouldn't be having our first date after all.
I didn't know how long I had been crying into my pillow, but I about leaped out of my skin, when Daniel said my name. His face was still stern, but his eyes looked softer.
"Daniel, I'm so sorry. I didn't think…"
"No, you didn't. I don't have them out here for a reason, Gabby. Neither you nor Ann Marie had any right to invite anyone out here. If I'd known you were buying that stuff to invite them, I would've told you no. You have no right to interfere with my family. I don't need them out here. I don't want them out here. I thought I'd made that very clear to you," his voice raised, and my tears streamed down my face.
He glared down at me for a beat and then stormed out the back door. I knew I was screwed. I had no place to stay. I did remember there being some sort of seedy motel in the tiny town about half an hour away. That would be six hours on foot.
I pulled my knees up to my chin, as I considered my options, and none of them were good. I really had nowhere to go. My best bet would be to start out for that little town. I would be able to find transportation from there to…wherever.
My chest was so tight I could barely breathe. I wasn't wanted here anymore, so I didn't want to be here, but then again, I didn't want to leave, either. Daniel was furious. I had never seen him so mad before. I didn't think he would ever forgive me for what I had done.
I went to the bedroom and looked around in the closet at what I had. Ann Marie had included a large duffle bag in which I could easily fit a couple of changes of clothes and some toiletries. I took out two outfits and tried to put them in the bag, but ended up on the floor crying my eyes out. I didn't want to leave.
That was where Daniel found me. I didn't dare look at his face, not wanting to see his anger. "I'm sorry," I whimpered and tried to shove my clothes into the bag, but I couldn't see through the tears.
"Gabby," he said my name so softly, it just made me sob harder.
He picked me up in his arms, holding me tightly against him. "I'm sorry, baby, please don't cry, I'm so sorry." He carried me over to his bed and held me in his arms until I settled down.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
He kissed my forehead and whispered, "No, I'm sorry." He held my face, so he was looking me right in the eyes. "Gabby, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you."
"But you were right, they're your family, not mine, and I need to remember that. I shouldn't have interfered." I pushed away, trying to get out of his lap.
"No, Gabby, no, don't say that. My family loves you, they do. They can be yours, too. I'm sorry I was so upset. I just don't like surprises or uninvited guests. I don't do well with them. I don't know why Ann Marie ever let you think a party would be a good idea. She knows I don't like people."
My insides were twisting like mad. I wanted to get away and stay at the same time. I wanted to leave, because it was my fault. I was the one who had called and said we should have a party. Ann Marie thought it would be alright if we kept the group small. That should have been the first clue for me to stop the tr
ain wreck, but I was stupid and selfish. I had wanted to do something special for Daniel, and to show off the new patio set. If I was being truly honest, I also wanted to show off how good I was for Daniel, but I had done the opposite.
He had been quiet and clipped with me all through the family luncheon. He very seldom made eye contact, and he never smiled at me once.
He pulled me back tightly into his arms, tucking my legs up into a ball. He squeezed me and kissed the top of my head. "I'm sorry," he said one more time. "Please, don't leave. It looks like you were trying to pack. You weren't, were you? You wouldn't leave me, would you?"
I smooshed my face into his neck. "I didn't want to, but I didn't think you'd let me stay."
"I never once thought about making you leave. No matter how upset I get, Gabby, I'm always gonna want to keep you here with me."
I let out a shuddering breath of relief. "I'm sorry," I whispered one more time.
He rubbed my back. "I know. Everything is going to be alright. Why don't you go take a shower and get ready to go out to the movies? I owe you a nice dinner to make up for being a jerk. Can you forgive me?"
I nodded yes with a snotty-nosed smile.
He helped me off the bed and walked me over to the bathroom. He glanced at the bag on the floor and grimaced. "I really am so very sorry, Gabby. Do you believe me? I don't ever want you to leave me."
I hugged him tightly to try and reassure him. I felt his lips in my hair.
"I believe you," I whispered.
"Good, now go get ready, we have dinner and a movie to catch." He sent me off feeling a lot lighter. I hoped our first date turned out to be a good one.
Chapter 23 – It's a Date
I showered and used cold water, trying to get rid of my puffy red eyes. I had a little makeup his sisters had brought out for me, but I only used the mascara and lip gloss. I honestly wasn't well versed at putting on makeup, and I was scared if I tried to put any more on, I would look like a clown.
I pulled out a little summer dress Ann Marie had brought for me. It hit just below the knees and had matching sandals. I slipped those on and stared at myself in the mirror. I was scared out of my mind. It was my first date with Daniel, and I really didn't want to mess it up. I was worried I would ruin it, and he wouldn't ever take me on a date again. I really wanted him to take me out again and again.
Straight Up Interfererence Page 16
