by Melissa Keir
He motioned them to stand by him. “Welcome. And you are?”
A middle-aged man stood on Tony’s left. “My name is James Marterski.”
“Are you local, James?”
“Nope, drove all the way from Ohio for this event. You’re my favorite author.”
Tony turned toward the young woman who stood on his right. “And you are?”
“I’m Bianca Blane. I’m from Baltimore, and I’m your biggest fan.” She tackled him with a hug. He extricated himself and turned toward the young man who stood next to the girl.
“And your name is?”
“I’m Anthony Cane. I’m here with my mom.” The boy pointed toward the audience. “We won tickets on the radio because I could answer a question correct about your books.”
Tony looked out into the hall. Could it be? There had to be a million Canes in the area. What were the odds it’d be the one girl he couldn’t forget?
“Are you local, Anthony?” Tony was proud of how little his voice shook.
“Close enough. We live in Maryland, but not in Baltimore. You know, that new character sorta looks like my mom.”
Tony swallowed then grinned.
“Is that the case? Hmm…I want to present each of you with one of the images I drew today while on stage as a small thank-you for being a part of the Tony Steele fan group. Thank you for coming to my show. I’ll be back down on the event floor after lunch, signing comics and selling SEAL Team merchandise. Please stop by.”
He handed each person one of the images. When he stopped in front of Anthony, he scanned the boy’s expression, hoping to see something which would indicate his mother had been his former girlfriend. Nothing stood out, however, the boy’s blue eyes sent his stomach into a tailspin.
“I’d like to meet your mom. See if the resemblance is true, Anthony.”
“Sure. She’s right over here.”
Tony followed the young man off the stage.
***
Carina’s heart thudded like a drum; she thought it would jump out of her chest. With Tony and Anthony side by side, the resemblance was striking, but what scared her was facing Tony. Thirteen years since she’d seen him. Thirteen years of not knowing where he’d been or what he’d been doing. Seeing him standing there, she realized her feelings hadn’t changed. She still felt the same need to protect him. Her feelings of love flamed back. Clutching the strap of her bag, she stood and ambled off to the side of the hall, allowing the others to pass. She longed to hightail it back to her car and leave, but she’d never disappear on her son.
She bit down on her lip. What would she say to him? Would Tony even realize she was the girl he’d known all those years ago? And what would he say when they were face-to-face? Did he still share her feelings?
Tony waved to the departing fans. Almost everyone was gone, and Anthony and Tony strode toward her.. Seeing them together was a blessing she’d never thought to experience.
Disbelief, surprise then happiness slid across Tony’s visage at his first look at her.
“Carina? Is that you?” he choked out. His steps faltered.
She smiled then nodded. “Yes, Tony. Is it Steele, now?”
He came closer and took her hands in his. “Steele is my pen name. It’s been a while. How long? We should catch up. What are you doing for lunch?”
His questions came fast. Her head spun. Small shocks slid from her fingertips to her shoulders when he touched her. Tony, Tony, Tony. His name flew through her mind. Seeing him. Being close to him again. She couldn’t stop smiling. It was as if they were alone in the room.
“Mom, you know Tony Steele?” The words broke her bubble. Anthony twisted his head, looking from Tony to her. His question whipped all happiness from her mind. How could she explain? How would she tell him…both of them? Her stomach burned.
“I’ll let you guys talk it over. I’m going to gather my things.” Tony released her hands and turned toward the stage. “If you can have lunch with me, great, but if not… I’d sure like to get your number. We have a lot to talk about.” He strode away.
Carina’s heart plummeted. Was his comment some veiled threat? Did he suspect? Know?
She turned toward her son. “Yes. Anthony. I’ve known him since I was in high school, but his name wasn’t Tony Steele, it was DeMarco. So, I didn’t realize he was your comic idol.”
“Sweet. Are we going to have lunch with him? Can we? Please?”
Carina’s gaze swept over her beaming son. He looked as if Christmas had come right then and there. She wanted to make him happy, but wasn’t ready to spill the beans. Lunch wouldn’t be the place. Maybe Tony wouldn’t see the resemblance or ask. She didn’t want to have this conversation in front of Anthony. All he knew about his father was that she had loved him, he’d left for the military, and they hadn’t seen each other since.
Carina wiggled her lips while she considered all the problems that might come up. Then she glanced at her son again. Anything to see him happy.
“Yes. We can go to lunch with Tony.”
“Woot!” Anthony jumped in the air.
Carina wrapped her arm around her son’s shoulders. “Let’s see if he needs any help with his things.”
Chapter Eight
Tony dropped his things off at the exhibit floor. He would meet Carina and Anthony in the lobby to hike the two blocks to the Galleria at Harborplace and grab some lunch at one of the many restaurants there.
He couldn’t believe when the kid said his mom looked like his character. But when he realized it was his old girlfriend, Carina…the kid was right. Tony had designed his female SEAL team member from his memories of her. They’d been friends and lovers during the summer before he was rescued by Child Protective Services and placed with the military family then ended up enlisting.
He’d lost touch with her, but he’d never forgotten her. Once he’d moved, he hadn’t been able to go back. However, he compared every woman he met to her. Or at least his memories of her. Over the years, he’d wondered where life had taken her. To see her today was a pleasant shock. Knowing she had a twelve-year-old son, he felt like he’d lost out on a treasure.
Tony spotted the two of them standing by the doors. Carina stood talking with her son, refreshing compared to the millions of parents on cell phones who didn’t speak to their children, let alone support their passions—such as coming to Comic-Con. Last year at the Pittsburgh event, a parent just dropped off her ten-year-old at the door and let him run around for the day unsupervised. While the child wasn’t hurt, no one within their right mind would let a child loose in a place alone in this day and age. He gritted his teeth then brushed his hands over his face. I can’t police the world. I’m going to enjoy lunch.
Plastering on a smile, Tony approached the pair. “Hey, guys. Are you ready?”
They nodded.
“Make sure to keep your lanyard tickets handy, you’ll need them to get back in. The door people can be demanding. Last year, my buddy Mike forgot his when he went back to the car to get something. What a mess getting back in.” He held open the door. “Do you have any dietary restrictions? Anything sound good for lunch?”
Anthony pipped up, “Don’t know what’s there, but Mom says I’ll eat anything. I don’t have a preference. And Mom likes a bunch of things, just not seafood. So unless it’s squid or sushi or something like that, we should be fine.”
Tony caught Carina’s gaze over Anthony’s head. He raised his brows.
“Yep. We should be fine. Anthony is right. We can find something at just about anywhere. Tell us about your career in comics. I thought you’d joined the military.”
“Eight years overseas. Drawing was an escape from the things I saw. Sorta fell into the comic deal.
The three of them kept pace as they strolled along the sidewalk. Anthony asked questions about the SEAL team and how Tony had come up with the characters, if he had taken any classes in drawing, and if he was doing any other comics. He answered, however, only half his b
rain was focused on the kid. The rest of the time, he studied Carina and watched her interactions with her son. She enjoyed Anthony.
“Eight years. What a long time. I’m sure you saw it all.” She tilted her head as she looked at him.
“Did you kill anyone?” Anthony’s question came out in a whisper.
He stopped. “Yes. But it wasn’t easy. Killing never is.” He continued, “Tell me about yourself, Carina. What’s been going on in your life? A son? A husband?”
Once again, Anthony butted in. “Just me. My dad isn’t a part of our family. He left before I was born.”
Carina’s steps faltered. “Sorry. Clumsy. Better keep an eye on where I’m going.”
She focused on the sidewalk, her skin a rosy hue. Was she embarrassed about Anthony’s parentage? Or her own awkwardness? This meeting had proven to him that all he’d known or believed to have known about his first love was shaded in mystery. Maybe they were just memories he should have released.
He longed to know the woman who walked beside him. Not just the one from his past. He tried again. “What’s your occupation, Carina? Did you go to medical school like you wanted?”
“Nope. Ended up being a school teacher.” She chuckled. “I couldn’t handle the blood and gore. Turns out my nurturing side was stronger than my heroic side.”
“Good for you. Society needs more quality teachers and, from what I’ve seen of you with Anthony, I’m sure you are amazing at it.” He pointed to the two-story brick building with the large bank of windows overlooking the pier on their left. “How about this place? M&S Grill has the best burgers.”
“Oh yeah. Talking my favorite.” Anthony mimicked throwing a basketball into the hoop.
Carina smiled. “I knew anyplace you’d find would work for him.”
Tony laughed and opened the door to the small restaurant on the edge of the Inner Harbor area of Downtown Baltimore. “A man after my own heart. Ladies first.”
***
Lunch was delicious, but the company made the time memorable. Carina had dreamed of running into Tony and sharing her secret many times. She’d imagined how eager he would be to become involved in his son’s life.
But, facing reality, her fears swamped her. Would Tony be angry at missing out on Anthony’s early years? She longed for her ex to become a part of their lives, but what if he wanted her son only…instead of the ready-made family? What if he was so angry at her he took Anthony away from her? She placed a hand on her stomach to settle the churning inside.
“Carina, was the meatloaf sandwich overdone? You ate little more than a bite,” Tony inquired.
“It was good. I guess I wasn’t as hungry as I thought.” She picked up her water and guzzled more down. After setting the glass back on the table, she brushed her napkin over her lips and across her forehead. “I feel a little warm. I hope I’m not coming down with a bug. There’ve been a few of the kids out sick.” She placed her napkin on her plate. “Maybe we should head back. I know Anthony has plans to visit many of the stores on the exhibit floor, including yours.”
Tony waved for the check. “I hope you aren’t ill. But I imagine, as a teacher, you come in contact with many germs.”
Anthony touched her arm. “If you’re sick, we can just head home.” He sounded sincere, but a note of disappointment deepened his voice.
“No, Anthony. I don’t want you to lose out. If I need to, I can take some pain relievers, and we’ll be good to go.” She glanced at the bill the waitress had laid on the table. “Let us pay for your lunch.”
“You’ll do no such thing. It’s nice to see you again, Carina. I’ve missed you and our many talks about changing the world.” Tony placed his credit card on the tray along with the bill. “If you do need to rest, come to my booth in the convention center, and I’ll take Anthony around while you rest. No need for him to forgo all the fun.”
Her cheeks heated. Worried he’d caught her lie, she nodded. “Thank you, but I’m sure it won’t be necessary. Anthony, we should hit the bathrooms before we go back.” She stood and let Anthony head off before facing the one man she’d never forgotten. “Thank you for lunch. It was fun catching up. There’s no need for you to wait for us. We don’t want to keep you any longer.”
“I’ll head back with you. I want to make sure you get back in and…” He paused. “I don’t want to skip out on you again without getting your number.”
Carina’s heart sank. Turning, she headed toward the bathroom where she could give herself a pep talk in private.
The short stroll back to the convention center was more somber than the one to lunch had been. Once again, Anthony dominated the conversation, telling Tony about his own interest in drawing and his favorite subjects at school. Carina listened with half her attention as her mind wandered again into fear.
When she focused, they stood in front of the convention center, and she had no recollection of the trip back. “Well, here we are.” She stuck her hand out. “Thank you for lunch and for entertaining my son, Tony. He is your biggest fan.”
“What? No hug?” He enveloped her in his arms.
His body pressed tight against hers. The smell of pine and citrus reminded her of the old days. She closed her eyes and placed her hands on his back, memories overtaking her for just a moment. After all, this might be the last time she’d see him. She couldn’t bear to let him go, but she couldn’t risk losing the one person who meant the world to her.
Reluctantly, she released him and watched lust, sadness, and hope flash across his face.
“You know, why don’t you two come with me to my booth? I have a friend I want you to meet.” He sounded so excited, she couldn’t say no. She didn’t want to say no. She longed to spend a little longer with the man of her dreams. She nodded and followed Tony into the convention center.
Have I made the biggest mistake of my life by not escaping when we could?
Chapter Nine
Anthony’s head swung from side to side when people shouted out hellos to Tony. The boy beamed as if he was parading with royalty, rather than just a hick kid from the foster care system. Lunch had gone a little longer than he’d thought to take, but spending time with Carina was worth it. He’d missed her. It wasn’t like there were many people from his childhood besides Carina and Lane he cared about. Losing either of them would cut his list in half.
Approaching the familiar banners for Dark Dreams Comics, he could hear Mike’s booming voice. He should have grabbed some grub for his buddy. It would have softened the long time gone.
“Hey, Mike. I’ve got some people I want you to meet.”
“About time.” Mike scowled then wiped the expression away and addressed the fans streaming past. “Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the owner genius behind Dark Dreams Comics, Mr. Tony Steele.” A large mob of people swarmed toward Tony. Carina and Anthony headed toward the booth without being mobbed, so, flashing his salesman grin, Tony greeted his fans.
After spending some time with the attendees, Tony directed their attention to the signed artwork, merchandise, and comics for sale. The line at the register had grown longer as hopefully, had, Mike’s proceeds.
Carina and Anthony were in a heated discussion by the comic book section of his booth. It appeared her son had found something he wanted and, like any good mother, she was trying to get him to think before his purchase. Carina’s too stubborn to take the book for free, but maybe I can defuse the situation. “Anthony, there’s someone I want you to meet.”
The pair headed toward him. “This is my friend, Mike Reese. He helps run the merchandising part of Dark Dreams Comics.” He motioned toward the man in the wheelchair. “Mike, this is Carina Cane and her son, Anthony. She’s one of the two people I still talk to from my childhood.”
Mike rolled out from behind the register and joined them. “Hey, Tony. That kid looks so much like you. And the woman— Wow! She’s a dead ringer for your new female SEAL member.”
Carina pushed herself in front and held
out her hand. “I’ve heard I am. Nice to meet you, Mr. Reese.”
“Call me Mike.” He placed his hand in hers.
“So how do you know Tony?”
“We served together. It’s how I ended up with these spiffy wheels. I gave up and almost took my life until Tony and Dark Dreams gave me purpose. But, you must know how he is. I’m sure you have your own Tony stories to share. We should get together and compare notes.”
Tony watched his friend hit on his ex. He clenched his teeth as jealousy flooded his body. Even though he and Carina hadn’t dated in over ten years, he still thought of her as his. Mike’s a good guy. He’d treat her right. Even though as the thought crossed his mind, he knew he wouldn’t be okay with it. He couldn’t see Carina with anyone else. His childhood feelings of love remained in his heart. He longed to deepen it and prove to her how much he felt. And now that he knew she wasn’t married, he was determined to win his way back into her life.
***
Carina welcomed the distraction of Mike, after his comment about her son. Guilt ate at her insides for telling neither Anthony nor Tony the truth. Her son deserved to know his father. As she got to know more about the man he was today, she could feel how much she still cared for Tony. However, she’d kept her secret for so long. She should have said something right when she saw him today. But she couldn’t blurt the news out over burgers and sandwiches. How could she explain her reasoning? Would either of them give her a chance?
Carina looked at the time on her cell phone. “We need to hit some of the other booths if we want to have a chance of making an educated decision on how to spend your money, Anthony.”
“Aw, Mom.” Anthony stomped closer.
“Mike.” She held out her hand again. “It was a pleasure meeting you.”
The good-looking man bent over and kissed it. “My pleasure.” He offered her his business card. “My personal cell phone number is on here. If you ever want to get together and trade Tony stories, call me.”
