“Why didn’t you take me up to the box with you?”
“It was business and Sal wanted me to spend a little time with Brown and Freed. They were interested in his new associate.”
“Hey Senora,” you win!” Jose said, laughing and extending his hand with ten dollars. “Who you like in the next match?”
“Oh this is fun,” she laughed, tugging on Howie’s arm. They stuck around for three more matches; Shirley pocketing twenty-three dollars after insisting as she laughed, that Howie take back his forty-dollar stake.
On a Friday, two weeks later, Howie came in after midnight; smelling of liquor. His silk shirt was soiled and wrinkled.
“What’s with your shirt and how come so late?”” she asked, sitting up in bed.
“Ah nothin’, just got hung up with a few guys in a card game.”
“I was worried; you’ve been so quiet lately.”
“Ah, you know I’ve got some big deals workin’ and still being new here, I gotta make sure I know who and what I’m dealing with. Anyway, don’t worry, I can handle it.”
Clenching her teeth and breathing deeply she didn’t answer but watched his every move, finally saying in a somber tone, “Goddammit Howie after what you put David and me through back in Chicago, I’m not gonna put up with this crap.”
Leaning back close to the dresser, he let her words sink in before replying. “Look. Baby, in Chicago’ the streets are full of rough guys, but here everything is just business. The people here are tough and smart, not a bunch of gangsters. They like me but I gotta keep doin’ my job. So just lay off, will ya’.” Looking away he turned and went into the bathroom and came out a few moments later.
Slowly relaxing she had laid back, but hearing him return she propped herself up on an elbow.
“Anything I can do?”
She heard him laugh across the dark room. “Now that you mention it, how bout taking off that nightgown and I’ll join you in a minute.”
Sliding into bed, he was quickly on her, forcing himself into her. Tightening her jaw, she tried to slow him down, groaning, “Easy oww! You’re hurting me!” as she attempted to wrestle him off.
“Aaaah,” he grunted, rolling off with a sigh. “Oh that was good, baby.”
“For you maybe,” she hissed, turning away. “You hurt me when you’re so rough.”
She couldn’t tell if he even heard her over the deep breathing of his pleasure-induced sleepiness. Tense and sore, she slipped out of bed listening to him snore as she ran a hot bath to try to relax and soothe her aching body.
Propping her head up with a towel, she closed her eyes and sank into the warm water, thinking of Fred Berman. She had sent him a letter two weeks before with her phone number and instructions to call at times she thought Howie and David would not be at home.
Her mind drifting, she recalled the conversation she had with him. ”Remember what I told you,” he’d said as they were getting ready to hang up. “Any time you want to come back, just let me know, I’ll send you the money.”
She had rushed him off after that, telling him the doorbell was ringing. But not hanging up before eliciting a promise from him to call again soon.
Reaching for the towel under her head, she wrapped it around her hair and stood to dry herself, wondering how she would handle him when he called again.
Making a new life in Florida was bothering her. Is it going to be like Chicago, she thought?”
Shirley had met a few of her husband’s new acquaintances; bumping into some unexpectedly at restaurants and others once at a movie. After quick introductions that Howie appeared to be trying to avoid, he was abrupt and made excuses to move on. The men appeared coarse, and she could tell from their language, uneducated. If there were women with them, they dressed in flashy, tight-fitting clothing and wore heavy makeup, unlike the women she had met in the neighborhood. She wondered if they were hookers picked up at the race track or one of their other hangouts. Shirley was definitely not impressed, nor was she anxious to associate with them. She did notice however, they all treated Howie with respect and went out of their way to be friendly. It frightened her because it reminded her of some of the women she had met hanging around Paschey Cohen and his gambling buddies in Chicago.
They had been in Florida almost a year. David had just graduated from grade school when early one evening, Shirley saw on the news a story and several photographs of a man murdered in Miami who was reputed to be involved in loan sharking and illegal gambling. The man looked familiar and she remembered being introduced to him as one of Howie’s associates; when they went to the dog track several months before. Howie came in an hour later and she confronted him.
“I don’t even know that guy, the guy you met is someone else who I;ve only met a few times. His name is Arthur Mendez,” he whined moving away, “and a legitimate businessman. I don’t remember ever introducing you to anyone with this guy’s name,” Seeing his irritation at her questioning and quickly leaving for an appointment, he claimed he forgot; she merely bit her lip and retreated to the kitchen for a glass of wine and a cigarette; hoping that David had not heard them.
Two weeks later, on a hot muggy day in July, Shirley sat down across from Howie. He was finishing a late breakfast; cigarette in hand, with the sports section spread on the table, checking the previous day’s baseball scores. She poured some coffee for herself, topped off his cup and looked around, admiring her pretty kitchen as the radio played softly, giving the local traffic and weather reports in the background.
The soft yellow curtains and pale wood trim against the white walls in the light airy room was typical Florida. Looking through the glass doors out to the backyard, she could see the thick bunches of bright-colored flowers nestled around the neatly trimmed shrubs and lush green lawn. Two small palm trees on either side of the pool were barely moving in the faint breeze. She glanced at Howie and sucked her lower lip as if trying to make up her mind about something as he, hardly noticing her, read and drank coffee. When he looked up, she asked, “Can I get you anything?”
“No, “he murmured and went back to his paper..
Holding her cup between her two hands, she contemplated how to talk to him about what she knew was a delicate subject. Finally, taking a deep breath, she started. “Howie?”
She waited until he looked up, “I’ve been thinking. I’m concerned about David”
He nodded slowly, turning back to the paper. .
”You always said you wanted him to get the best education and how nice it would be if he could develop his athletic skills and be exposed to an environment that would provide a basis for a successful life in the future.”
He didn’t look up but she could see a vein pop near his temple as his jaw tightened.
Leaning in, she waited before starting again, “Well, I, uh…”
Howie slammed his cup down, coffee sloshing onto his hand, he raised his voice, wiping at his hand “Okay, get on with it! What’s on your mind?”
She had jumped up, reaching for a towel from the sink and wiped at the spill and his hand.
“Howie, I just“
Pulling his hand away and scattering the newspaper on the floor, he hissed through his teeth. “I know you. Always putting me down and pretending to be so high class. Just remember, I know where you come from and I’ m tired of hearing about how fancy your fucking family is. “
“Look Howie, it’s not that,” she said, wringing her hands on the soggy towel. . “But let’s face it, we haven’t ever talked about what happened to Paschey and why you left the way you did. Nor have we really discussed what you do here. But I’m not as dumb as those sluts you and your so-called associates hang out with. I can take care of myself, but if anything happened to David, I’d never forgive myself and neither would you.”
Attacking the table with the towel again, she knocked over her own cu
p muttering, “shit,” while he scrapped his chair hurriedly backing away from the table. His eyes, now open wide as he pulled away trying to avoid her fury, he hesitated, then spoke quietly. . “Shirley, you’re overreacting. Nothing’s going to happen to that kid on my watch. Now just—“
“Howie, you’re never around! And if something did happen, I have no idea how to even get hold of you to tell you! Please, listen to what I have to say.”
Retrieving the papers from the floor he moved his chair back to the table and sat; his eyes in narrow slits, watching her.
Slowly sliding back into her chair, she took a sip of coffee and swallowed hard, looking not at Howie but at her hands, now folded in front of her on the table.
“I’ve been checking out a few very exclusive private schools on the East Coast and think we should send David to one. That way we can protect him and still be sure that he gets everything he needs.”
“What!” he screeched in a whisper, “Are you out of your goddamned mind? Take him away from here and me?”
Pounding the table she jumped to her feet, toppling her chair. . “No, Howie, I don’t want to take him away. I just think—“
“Listen bitch,” he spat the words out. “Nobody is gonna take that kid away from me. Look at the beautiful life I‘ve given him…. and you too!”
Standing across the room from him, her chin jutting out she listened quietly then in a dull even voice answered. “Howie, he’ll come home for vacations and holidays and we can visit him whenever we want. And don’t you want him to have every chance? You’re the one who always said you want your son to have the best of everything.”
The muscles in his face tightened and his eyebrows formed a dark straight line over the thin slits of his eyes. “Goddammit,” he gasped, ”I’m busting my ass to take care of you two and now it’s not good enough? The least you can do is show some appreciation and keep your snotty ideas to yourself, you ungrateful bitch.”
Raising his hand he motioned to strike her, but stopped and turned muttering, “just leave me alone.”
“Howie, please I don’t want to send him away,” she said softly, reaching out to him but not coming closer.
Pounding his fist on the table he snarled, “Enough! I don’t want to talk about this. You and your fancy ideas, you’re full of shit if you think you can take my son from me. If you ever say anything like that to me again, I’ll beat the crap out of you.” Grabbing his car keys, he stormed out of the house.
She started to follow and stopped at the door, watching him gun the motor and pull away. “Son of a bitch,” she swore and under her breath….. “I’m going to take David and fly back to Chicago.”
She called the airlines for fares and then thought of calling her mother or Fred Berman, they would help. Ten minutes later, she pounded the table and got up. “God damn you Howie,” she cried out. “he’s going to school away from here.” By late afternoon, she decided to wait him out. He loved his son, but she was right. She also knew he lied about the man who had been killed two weeks before and didn’t want to talk about him. Howie’s work could prove to be dangerous and they both knew it. So she waited, knowing it was only a matter of time before he would agree that David should go away to school.
Howie didn’t come home for two days and she began to worry. Maybe she misjudged him or he was in some kind of trouble. Around three am she heard him come in and heard the door to the spare bedroom close. She laid awake for several minutes before deciding it was best to wait until morning to find out if he was ready to talk.
David was gone early for a day at the beach with friends. Seeing the door to the third bedroom was still closed, she took her time dressing. The morning radio news mentioned the Cuban shooting victim in Miami earlier in the month, reporting he was reputed to be laundering money for a drug running operation in south Florida. Shirley recalled that Howie had referred to him as his banker when she was introduced. She wondered if she should call Howie on his lie, or wait to see what kind of mood he was in before confronting him.
She heard the shower in their bathroom and waited in the kitchen with a cup of coffee. About eleven she could hear him in the bedroom and a few minutes later heard the bedroom radio go silent.
Entering the kitchen, he smiled, “Hi, is the coffee still hot?”
“Sure,” she smiled back, “how bout some eggs or a toasted bagel?”
“Bagel is fine,”
His dark hair still damp from the shower and clean shaven, wearing a light blue silk shirt, she thought he looked especially attractive and calm, recalling their last breakfast.
He reached for her hand and cleared his throat, taking a seat at the table.
Feeling his soft touch, she relaxed, raising her eyes to meet his.
“Look Shirley, I’ve thought it over and maybe you’re right, we should think of David. How about tellin’ me what you think we should do.”
A slow smile spread, as she poured a fresh cup of coffee for herself and one for him. .
“Thank you, Howie, I know you want whatever is good for David.”
She watched him closely as he raised the coffee to his lips and then continued, “I’ve looked at several brochures and made a lot of inquiries and think that this boys’ school near Atlanta is the best. It’s not too far from here, so we can visit and he can come home fairly often. The school has a terrific academic reputation and a great sports program. They also have a girls’ school close by that shares some of the same programs. I think David will love it once he gets used to it. I also think that starting him in the fall at the beginning of high school is an ideal time.”
He lit a cigarette and sipped his coffee as he listened quietly before saying, “Yeah, but how much is all this gonna cost?”
She grinned, her front teeth covering her lower lip, “I thought about that, too. Do you remember our interior decorator, Judy Fine? Well, she’s also in real estate and she offered me a job. She’ll send me to classes with a salary for the first year. After that, I know I can make it. You know how hot the housing market is in Florida.”
A thin, tight smile crossed his face as he shook his head. “No. I don’t want people thinking I can’t take care of my family.”
Leaning in close, she said,. “Please Howie, I want to do it and I don’t want you to have all the pressure.”
“Nah, you know me, I don’t want you workin’, “
Taking his hand, she cupped it ,kissing and licking his palm, at the same time dropping her shoe under the table and slipping her toes between his thighs.“Please Howie, I want to do this.” She purred.
The look on his face softened as he shook his head and grinned. “Man, you really want this, don’t you?”
Her smile widened and she leaned closer .
“Hummph, Shirley,” he said slowly and smiled.
“Okay,” You were always a smart broad; I knew you had the whole thing figured out when you brought it up the first time. But what about David, have you talked with him?”
“No, but I think he’ll be okay,” she answered, taking his hand and unbuttoning her blouse with the other. “He’s a bright boy, and has a lot of ambition, even at this age. He’ll know we’re doing the right thing for him. Let’s go to a nice dinner someplace special tonight and talk to him.”
“Sounds good,” he said softly, allowing her to pull him toward the bedroom. “By the way, what’s this school called, anyway?”
“Calhoun Prep, Oh, and thank you Howie, You are a good father.”
Chapter 22
In 1963 Wayne Construction built fifty six homes in the close-in suburbs north of the city. Working with a developer they also built two four unit co-op apartment buildings in Chicago. After several extended discussions Vic persuaded Frank that they should sell Wayne Supply to a competitor who had offered them a substantial sum of cash; which they would use
to expand into larger construction projects.
Once the sale was complete the brothers began building a ninety six home tract in Niles. They also built two apartment buildings, working with a group of out of town investors Frank had contacted that owned some vacant property in Skokie. As each project was completed, the brothers poured a large part of the profit back to the company to buy land and more equipment, hoping that Wayne Construction would become better known.
Frank joined the Standard Club the following year to have a place to meet and entertain customers. It also presented an opportunity to meet many of the members, who were some of city’s best known businessmen. The company also acquired season’s tickets for all Cubs, Sox and the Bears games which they handed out to customers and used for entertaining clients.
As the company expanded Vic hired two assistants to handle much of the day to day supervision of the jobs, giving him more time to find new sites, arrange financing, and directing all administrative work, planning and production. He also began taking an interest in politics when attending meetings and events hosted by the local Democratic Party organization during the 1964 presidential campaign. Darlene’s boss at the United Fund, John Donnelly, was raising funds for the party and angling for a job with the Johnson Administration so Vic tagged along. Rubbing elbows with congressmen, state and city officials he found was exciting and a good way to make contacts for business. He also was fascinated by his wife’s familiarity with the Campaign process and the movers and shakers of the government.
“You know sweetie,” he said one night at the conclusion of a campaign dinner she had organized at the Palmer House; that raised over seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars. “You certainly handled that well. I was really impressed when the mayor and Hubert Humphrey thanked you and called you by your first name.”
“Oh Hubert, I met him when he came here with Jack Kennedy in 1960. Like every good politician, he never forgets a name. And of course you know I’ve met the mayor at several events over the years.”
They were interrupted by Rich Daley, the mayor’s son, who whispered to Darlene that his father wanted a list of all the guests and the amount of their contributions for his files. In a livelier voice, he added smiling, “my dad really likes you and told me to keep an eye on you.”
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