by Donna Fasano
“I have to admit, if I feel like I’m out of my league I clam up. Hard to believe, eh? I love Grandma Evie though. She’s a pet.”
“When the wager started, she was my savior. I didn’t quite trust my family to play fair if I stayed in Chile, and so she invited me to come to Canada. Right from the start, she’s been good for me. Without her influence I probably wouldn’t have gotten up the nerve to have my breast reduction operation, and I needed it desperately. Those big babies were embarrassing, uncomfortable and were the cause of some my worst moments. Since she’d lived with a similar problem all her life, she was deeply aware of how they curtailed my activities and held me back. She coaxed me, saying if she’d had the chance at my age, she would have jumped at it. She’s been a wonderful mentor, an example of how to stand on my own two feet, and I love her dearly.”
“She is a sweetheart. You’re lucky to have her.”
“Thank goodness, she lets me make my own decisions, not like my family’s bossy men.”
“I wouldn’t mind some man being my boss if he cared about me.”
“You think you wouldn’t mind, but, trust me, it’s crippling. You, on the other hand, I’ve always admired. You are level-headed and full of self-confidence.”
Angelina had no idea why Coralee snorted or looked away.
Chapter 16
Without cattiness, Coralee’s thoughts took over. Poor little lucky rich girl doesn’t know how fortunate she is. Try a life where a father, soured from living with a mean-hearted woman, only stuck it out for two years of his daughter’s childhood. Try putting up with a mother who was more interested in her own love life than caring about the traumas and troubles her mixed-up child might have been experiencing.
Coralee’s mother’s way of parenting had been to ignore or belittle. Later, because she was never around, the teenaged Coralee grew up street-wise. The street became her teacher and the neighborhood her callous school of life.
She tried to explain to Angelina without divulging too much of her past. “Growing up was a never-ending struggle for me. I left home when I was very young, drifted in and out of trouble, and finally smartened up after a few good scares and one disturbing incident that I’ve put behind me. I worked a couple of jobs for three years and lived meagerly in a one-room basement suite. During that period, I saved every penny I could get my hands on to pay for my education. When I think back to my wild teenage years, the only bookkeeping I ever visualized myself doing then was as a bookie in some sleazy joint.” Coralee grinned unselfconsciously, not realizing how much she’d given away.
Angelina’s spoke softly, her hand gently caressing the agitated one in front of her. “Is your family still alive? Do you ever see them? You never talk about them, and I’ve been hesitant to question you in case there was a tragic happening you don’t like to speak of.” She had noticed that whenever family was brought up, Coralee became evasive.
“I dislike being in a bad mood. Thinking about my childhood always does that to me. You know those young kids on the street corners, the panhandlers I always catch you sneaking money to? Well, when I was younger, that would have been me. Now, I neither know nor care where my parents are. They never gave a hoot in hell about me. They left years ago, first my old man when I was still a baby and then her. When she left, it was at the worst period in my life. A time I don’t talk about—ever. I just want to forget.” Coralee’s cynical voice had risen dramatically and Angelina became worried.
“Coralee, you better know you’re loved now. If you ever do want to talk, I’ll always be here for you. You know that?”
“You’ll be in Chile, you mean.”
Chapter 17
Angelina sat beside Coralee’s hospital bed, and held her hand while her friend slept. Coralee’s long, amber-toned lashes held the only natural color on her face. The other shades were caused by yellow and mauve bruises with black and blue highlights. Tenderness welled up inside for this big-hearted, child-like girl, so smart and full of goodness.
When she returned to Chile, she’d miss Coralee terribly. Just thinking about it left an ache twisting and gouging inside her. A massive depression enveloped her that had her squirming in her seat.
She heard footsteps and twisted to face the gap in the curtain. When she saw the man with a spray of mixed flowers gripped tightly in his hands, she nodded and smiled at the brilliant red rose in the middle of the bouquet.
She put her finger over her lips and motioned for him to follow her outside the curtain and into the hall. As soon as they arrived, she turned and put her hands on her hips. “Are you single?”
“Yes,” he answered, “but if I’m lucky, not for long. How is our girl today?”
Angelina’s face changed instantly, her suspicions disappeared. She grinned at Lee; her sparkling blue eyes alight with affection. Gazing at him like a proud mama, watching her son take his first step, she said, “I’m so glad.”
“I’m glad you’re glad.” His lips curled in a sweet smile. “Is Coralee better?” The tips of his oversized ears tinged to red.
“She’s snoozing. I tired her out. It’s probably best for only one of us at a time to stay with her, so it’s your turn now. Tell her I’ll be back later.”
Angelina whirled around and returned to Coralee’s area, scooped up her bag of goodies and wiggled her fingers as a goodbye gesture toward the man who paid her absolutely no heed. His eyes were for one person only.
~*~
Later, after taking care of other business, Angelina arrived close to her office. The street and sidewalks were clogged with repair vehicles and piles of debris, waiting to be collected. The smell of smoke still permeated the air. Cracked walls, missing plaster, damaged bricks and open gaping holes where once there were windows disfigured many of the neighboring edifices.
Walking toward her building, she decided the mutilation wasn’t too apparent. Except for the boarded-up windows, the exterior walls looked to be fairly intact.
What worried her was seeing the mess inside for the first time. She wanted to be upbeat and put on a good show, but her hazy memories of yesterday’s devastation warned her to be prepared.
Gladness shocked her when she stepped through the doorway and saw Joe perusing the blueprints with her contractor, Ray. Stop it! He’s not for you!
“Hi, guys. I finally made it. Sorry I’m late.”
Upon seeing Angelina, Ray teared up, stepped forward and wrapped his big arms around her slight body. Hugging her, he rocked her from side to side. “It’s gonna be okay, bambino.”
Angelina laid her head on his shoulder. Sliding her arms around his wide back, she clung for minutes, absorbing his strength. When she looked over his back and caught Joe’s gaze, she couldn’t stop her smile.
Strangely, he closed down and turned away. His rejection made her feel numb and sad. What’s wrong with him?
Ray continued to pat and rub her back which ramped up her affection for the man. It pulsated throughout her whole body and when she pulled gently away, it gave her a reason to smile.
“I’m ready to see the damage. If I keep telling myself that it could have been worse, do you think it’ll help?” She turned to Joe, her eyes glittering with the tears she fought to hold back. “I’m glad you’re here.” She was being honest, though it made her feel uncomfortable, which steadied her.
Looking nervous, he cleared his throat and wiped both hands on the sides of his jeans. “Me, too. It’s not so terrible, Angel…ah, Angelina. The top floor is the worst, but Ray, who by the way has a good handle on this place, told me he hadn’t yet done the renovations up there. If he’d have finalized the job, all his work would have been destroyed. At least you haven’t already paid for those repairs, and that’s a blessing.”
“I’ll take all the blessings I can get.” She grinned and began feeling cautiously optimistic.
Ray interrupted. “Angie, I’m gonna leave you with Joe and start clearing debris on the staircase so you can check out the damage from the top landin
g. You’re probably anxious to see how bad we got hit.”
“Thanks, Ray. We’ll be there soon.”
Joe watched the contractor stomp out and turned back to Angelina. “The sad thing is much of the cosmetic work that had been finished on the first two floors will need some repairs. Since you were intelligent enough to recognize the beauty of the original hardwood floors, moldings and other architectural gems, it won’t be a major do-over. With some refinishing, those wooded areas will look new again. It’s mostly a cleanup from all the dust, fixing the cracked walls and so on that’s needed. Many of the windows will have to be replaced, but I can give you a name of someone I know who specializes in restoring old frames.”
“Oh, Joe, I already have most of these windows on order with a genius artist who works in stained-glass. They’re to be delivered in a few days. Imagine how unthinkable it would have been if they had already been installed.” Hands held instinctively in a prayer-like position, she breathed a sigh of relief.
“That’s wonderful. More good news.”
Angelina had the feeling that Joe was working hard at coaxing her into an upbeat attitude for a reason. Now, more than ever, she dreaded going upstairs.
They examined the rest of the first floor and moved on to the next level. “Because areas of the roof and the flooring on the third story collapsed, the second floor sustained a little more damage.” Joe spoke soothingly.
“Thankfully, in relatively small sections,” Angelina said, muttering out loud. Still, it looked to be mostly a case of a cleanup and minor repairs, which she observed with a sigh of relief.
The rooms, other than the ceilings in some places, needed various touch-ups in the same way as the first floor, not so much structural repairs but repainting and refinishing. Knowing Joe would’ve stopped her if there’d been any danger, she felt perfectly safe as she wandered through the offices making mental notes of the major problem areas.
“You’re not saying too much, Angelina. Look, don’t be upset. You’ve gotten off relatively lucky so far.” Joe came over to her, speaking consolingly.
“Yes, I know. I’ll admit, what’s waiting for me upstairs scares me.” She instinctively slipped her fingers into his, in the same way as she would have with any close friend. As they walked one flight up, side-by-side, she felt him stiffen, but then near the top his hand squeezed hers before letting go.
The third floor was utterly destroyed, an unholy mess. From the safety of the stairs she could see smashed desks and broken computers, felled filing cabinets and destroyed office paraphernalia. Mixed together with the rubble from the walls and roof, it created an unimaginable clutter.
The unmistakable odor of damp plaster prevailed, while the cold left her shivering. Tarps were positioned over openings in the roof and offered some protection from the birds and the weather; signs Ray had been at work either the night before or early this morning.
“We can’t go any further.” Joe held his hand across the railing at the top step of the staircase. “I don’t believe it’s safe past here.”
“My goodness, it’s a miracle we weren’t killed. I can’t imagine what the outcome would have been without the reinforcements Ray put in when he restructured many of the inside walls. I guess my building got hit pretty badly in comparison to others in the area.”
“When I go to work at the Search and Rescue office later this evening to catch up on filling in the various forms, I’ll have a much better idea of the outcome. It seems to me this block suffered immense damage in comparison to what else I witnessed while driving around. At the hospital earlier they were happy to report that, though there were a few major injuries, there were no deaths because of the earthquake. That alone is great news.”
He leaned into her and smiled. The whiff of his cologne made her imagine a forest full of tall grass and velvety moss, and that reminded her of his eyes. The same eyes that were now full of affection. Without knowing she would, she reached up to stroke his cheek and watched as discomfort replaced the fading grin. She dropped her hand like a hot coal. What is wrong with him?
Tentatively, she asked. “Do you have a few minutes for me to make a short list of plans for the next few days? It’ll help to do it while I’m here, and I can see what all has to be done. Also, would you mind checking it over to see if I’ve missed anything?”
“Sure, go ahead and take your time. If you need any help, I’m all yours,” he said, not realizing what images the words brought to her conjecturing mind.
Stomping down on her instinctive gladness, she made up her mind. I don’t want you with all your moody ups and downs.
Chapter 18
Retrieving a pad and pencil from in her purse, Angelina returned to the first floor. Wandering from room to room, surveying every little corner, she reeled in her emotions. Concentrating, she began writing down her strategy for the next few days. Totally involved in her list, she worked her way over to a closet area at the back of the staircase. After opening the door, a strange noise caught her attention. Something’s there!
In her stubborn standalone way, she forged ahead to see what the lump concealed. Breath abated, Angelina snuck forward and drew back the ragged blanket from a curled up sleeping form. She stopped—poised to take off, even scream for help if the need arose.
Squeezed together were two bodies. One looked to be a teenage girl still out cold and the other a pitifully small, very soiled and matted puppy. Only the pup looked up. Fear emanated in waves from his shaking fuzzy body and his weepy blinking eyes. Almost as an afterthought, there came a noise, supposedly a growl but sounding more like a disgruntled whimper. The somnambulant girl woke instantly and shushed the puppy, patting him gently and embracing him closer. Suddenly, she froze and peeked out from one very slightly open eye.
Clearly, Angelina, a lone woman, posed no real threat therefore she tried the offense is the best defense policy and hissed, “Hey, what are you doing?”
“I’m inspecting my building after the earthquake. What are you doing?”
“Duh! Sleeping. What does it look like?” The girl sat up, snaking back against the wall, clutching the pup reassuringly.
“It could look like a B&E to the police I’ll be calling real soon if you don’t lose that attitude,” Angelina sarcastically answered, using the same inflections as the ragamuffin.
“Go ahead and call. I haven’t touched a thing,” Raspy and hard to hear, the teen’s voice was still querulous and scrappy. “It rained last night, and the puppy had nowhere to go. So I brought him in here to keep him out of the wind.”
As the girl labored to her feet, Angelina noticed her painful grimace. She also noticed the well-worn, black cloth backpack the girl clung to and threw over her thin shoulder. Amazingly colorful, decorated with beads, embroidered dragons and carefully stitched edging, it evidently held her precious possessions. All the street people carried one or more totes and were very protective of these articles. Like any person would be if everything you owned fitted inside.
Losing the autocratic demeanor, Angelina reached over and gently helped the girl out from under the enclosure. Deep wrenching coughs broke out as she clutched her chest.
“I’m not on drugs,” she promised, sounding as if she hoped to escape without getting into trouble.
“Well, you should be,” Angelina said, putting a helping arm around the thin shoulders, and guiding her to the stairs where she could sit. “At the very least, decongestants and cold medications.” The puppy, still nestled safely in his protector’s arms, stared at Angelina and she saw intelligence mixed with apprehension—watching and waiting. “What’s the pup’s name?” She reached over and caressed her head.
“Don’t know. I found him last night. Some losers had tied tin cans around his neck. The noise terrified him.” The girl’s voice croaked and squeaked at the same time.
“You realize that you need to see a doctor immediately, don’t you? That’s an appalling cough and your chest seems to be congested. You could end up with
pneumonia.”
“Okay! I’ll look right into it!
The gutsy little twerp, still pushing buttons, made Angelina shake her head. “Don’t be a smart-ass. I mean it.”
“Look, now that it’s daytime we’ll take off.” The abrasive cough came again, harsh and surely painful. The girl forced herself upright and went over to retrieve her blanket. Putting the puppy down for a second, she efficiently folded the thin material and stuffed it into her pack. Quickly, she gathered the little one back into her arms.
“Where will you go?” Angelina couldn’t help but ask.
“Not your problem. Things were freaky last night. Black as hell, the streets were full of weirdoes, crazy dangerous. So I figured to wait it out. The door in the back was loose.” Shrugging, she continued, “I came in and closed it down best I could. You should be paying me night-guard wages instead of hassling me.” A crafty look appeared, and her hand shot out, palm open.
“I don’t think so,” Angelina grinned, taking the waif’s hand and shaking it. “I’m Angelina Serrano, and this is my building. What’s your name?”
“Tee—short for trouble,” the teen shot back, jerking her hand from Angelina’s as if it had been burned.
Getting a closer look at the girl now upright on her wobbly feet, Angelina saw a slim but well-muscled adolescent, of medium height and sporting the uniform of today’s youth—low-rise, stonewashed jeans, surprisingly clean, and topped with a layer of multi-colored t-shirts that suggested warmth more than style. Her plum-colored, almost pink hair, in drastic need of a cut, hung shaggy to medium length.
It was her eyes that caught the imagination. They weren’t brown, as brown was too paltry a description. They weren’t green or gray either. But all three colors combined. And they were eclipsed by ridiculously long reddish eyelashes that enriched her eyes with a distraction and density that caught the attention of anyone looking, and would have most people looking twice. Teary, shifty and wearily sad was the poignant haunting impression they left with Angelina.
