by Donna Fasano
Joe quickly worked his way to the back window where he could barely make out the silhouette of the boy’s head. The glow from his flashlight illuminated the tear-stained cheeks of a five-year-old, his huge eyes filled with terror.
The older van, engine still running, was perilously wedged on the cusp of the cliff and the slightest mistake could make the entire weight shift, allowing it to swing over.
Softly, Joe called to the boy, his voice calm. “Hi, Louie! Okay, little man, Lee and I are here to get you out. But for now, I want you to stay right where you are until I say to move. Got it?” Joe’s voice was mesmerizing, reassuring, keeping the child quiet and focused.
“Okay, Joe. I won’t move. I promise.”
“Not even your nose or your nose hairs.”
“I don’t have nose hairs.”
“You will when you’re my age. You have to pluck them or they get in your food.” Joe checked under the car to see if there was one side more stable than the other.
“Gross! My dad doesn’t have them.”
“I guess I’m just lucky. Attaboy, Louie, keep still. I’m almost ready.”
“I wanna get out now, Joe. I don’t like it here anymore.” The wavering voice let Joe know that the child was barely holding it together.
“Right, let’s get you out! Do you know where the button is to open the window?”
“I’m not ‘lowed to touch that button. Mommy will be mad.”
“No, she won’t, because I’m giving you permission. I want you to slowly move your hand and push it down. Don’t let go. Open the window all the way. Great! Attaboy!”
“Can I get out now, Joe?”
“Hey, look at the front of the car. You see Lee there, holding it steady? You’re fine, big boy. He won’t let anything happen to you, right?”
“R-righ-right!” Crouching with his hands covering his face, Louie peeked through his fingers.
“See. Lee’s like Superman. He’ll keep the car from going anywhere. Everything’s fine, sport. Just remember to move real slow. Now… slide over to this window where I’m waiting. Don’t move too fast.”
Joe, as close to the side of the vehicle as he could safely get, anticipated diving into the unstable car to grab the boy and yank him out at the first sign of trouble.
“When I reach in, let me lift you out. Understand? Don’t try to help. I’ll carry you. Yes?”
“Yes-s.”
Joe, careful not to touch or put weight on the vehicle in any way, leaned in to grip the little boy’s body.
At that precise moment, he heard a horrific crack and the car began to shift.
Chapter 30
With only seconds left on the time clock, Joe knew he had only one choice. He heard the engine’s noise in the background, sounding like an eerie warning. “Louie, stop crying and listen to me. I promise everything will be just fine. Stand up again. ”
“I don’t wanna, Joe. I’m scared.” Sobbing, the child’s tearful reply made his heart drop.
“Hey, it’s okay to be scared, son. Just means you’re smart. I’m kinda scared too. But if we do this together, it won’t be so bad, right?”
“I guess s-so.” Louie’s form once again filled the window space.
“That’s my brave boy.” Joe used the velvet tone he’d learned worked best with frightened individuals.
Oh, God, no! The rumbling sound of the ledge’s final collapse made Joe lunge swiftly and grab at the little body, clearing the window just as Lee let out a furious yell and the car continued to plummet forward into the darkness.
~*~
Pandemonium broke out from the top of the hill.
The twins were cheering, and as Joe carried Louie closer to his mom’s reaching arms, Peg’s wet face, now wreathed in smiles, was a sight to behold.
Angelina, getting her share of hugs along with Joe and Lee, felt wonderful. She’d never again question why a person would volunteer in this way. When a rescue was successful, no other feeling in the world was as beautiful. And who knew that relief mixed with joy could be an incredible aphrodisiac, also.
She shared spontaneous embraces with everyone. But when Joe lifted her off her feet, his arms scooping her up and holding her tightly, not only did she crave his lips on hers, her heart burst open and love filled up all the empty spaces.
Chapter 31
When the two men drove away after dropping off a very quiet Angelina, they laughed, remembering the embarrassment of five-year-old Louie over his mother’s behavior.
Shame-faced when they’d brought him up, Louie braced himself in Joe’s arms, obviously expecting dire results for his naughtiness. Instead, Peg had swept him into her arms and covered his face with sloppy smooches full of love and forgiveness. His twin sisters soon had their turn and swamped him with even more kisses and hugs.
Being a male, even if he was still a child, Louie had glanced over at the men and sighed, bogus disgust evident in his voice. “Girls!” he’d said as he’d shaken his head.
Recounting the story again, the men howled with laughter. Sobering finally, Joe glanced over at his tired partner, whose arm leaned on the open windowsill, letting in the unique island smells of newly-opened cherry blossoms from a multitude of trees decorating the highway. Western music played on the radio and the relaxed atmosphere was nice.
He glanced out the window and saw the full moon riding high, wedged between streaky, shifting clouds. Yep, he felt good. But his mood instantly soured with Lee’s tentative question.
“How come you haven’t checked out Angelina’s place in the last few days?”
“I’ve been busy. Who’s this Johnnie fellow you were painting with?”
“He’s a great guy, an accountant who works with the girls in the office. He was out of town during the earthquake and came back early to help out. We could use more hands, if you’re interested.”
“I’m not.” Joe hated the pang of jealously that resulted from his partner’s explanation. Ignoring Lee’s fixed stare, he questioned. “What else have you been up to? Every time I’ve called, you’re never home.”
“I’ve been spending a lot of time with Coralee. She’s a great girl, Joe. Plus, we’ve all been on the lookout for that runaway, Tee.”
“I still say it’s strange she took off like she did. There had to have been a reason. ”
“You know kids. There’s no rhyme or reason to a lot of the decisions they make. Doesn’t stop Angelina from caring. Coralee’s worried about her.”
“Worried about which one—Angelina or Tee?”
Lee laughed. “Sorry. It’s Angie. Coralee says she’s been acting very strange lately.”
“Strange? How?”
Lee’s answer came so slow, Joe had to clench his teeth, holding back his frustration. “We figure it must be her office building. Coralee says if we don’t help, Angie will work like a dog to get her place up and running again, especially since she’s got less than two months left to win the bet she made with her father.”
Swerving, fighting to get the truck back in the proper lane, Joe cussed while Lee grabbed the dash.
“Say again? She gambled with her father?”
His voice sounded rough. Joe knew it but couldn’t seem to stop. Uncomfortable with the way Lee checked him out, he toned it down, and asked once again. “Tell me?”
“I’m not sure I should. Coralee told me this in private.”
“We’re buddies, and you know I won’t say anything to anyone else.”
“Why do you care? You’ve not been back since the first day.”
“I care. Tell me, Lee, or by God, I’ll stop this truck and we’ll have words.”
“Sheesh! Fine. Until the earthquake, Coralee didn’t understand what drove Angie so hard, making her work like a demon. She’d kept it a secret. But during the earthquake, she came clean. Seems she has to own the building and her business outright by the end of next month, or she forfeits something important to her father. That part Coralee wouldn’t talk about. Just th
at we had to help her get back up and running as soon as possible.”
“Well, hell!” What a putz!
“Not being able to pitch in is driving Coralee nuts and she’s getting more ditzy every day, and taking the rest of us with her. But I’m crazy for her, Joe—didn’t know it would be like this.”
Joe looked over at his friend. Envy and isolation ate away at him, making him feel like a shit when he should be feeling only gladness for his buddy’s happiness.
Nattering on, Lee added, “Did I tell you about the operation Coralee had?”
“I know about it already. In fact, I made damn sure they followed up with more tests. I stopped in to see her the day I left the hospital and found her sleeping. I took the six readings on her pulse, and noticed other symptoms, so I had a little talk with one of the physicians.”
Joe, a very astute, serious practitioner, knew the hospital staff respected his knowledge. Chinese medicine attracted a lot of western doctors. In fact, many of them signed up for courses to learn acupuncture, allowing them to give pain relief to their patients without having to write expensive, and in many cases, risky drug prescriptions. In Chinese medicine, the idea was for the body to heal itself, with help from a trained professional.
Breaking into Joe’s thoughts, Lee added, “You know Coralee’s crazy for me too. Can you believe it? Me! In love at last!”
Chuckling, relief coating his shame for believing the worst about Angelina, Joe said, “Just so you know. Those neon hearts flashing in your eyes, and your cocky asinine grin, are real turn-offs. Trust me, dude, it’s disgustingly obvious.”
“I’m so happy! I have nightmares of jinxing it up, man. I can’t believe how much she’s come to mean to me in such a short time.”
Not really teasing, Joe insisted, “As long as your lovesickness doesn’t rub off on me.”
Chapter 32
Her name shattered the silence. “Angelina?” Three knocks followed.
It was late, and she was alone at the office, still unwrapping her newly arrived office furniture. Packaging, bubble-wrap and scads of plastic surrounded her. She clutched a utility knife and was diligently cutting the cardboard covering from another office chair.
At the sound of the disembodied voice filtering through the recently installed, opaque, stained-glass window, Angelina started and peered out warily, gripping the tool harder. A mask-like, menacing face stared back at her. It was the same face she had been spending hours searching for. She dropped the utensil, rushed to unlock the door, and Tee stepped inside.
“Tee! Peewee!” Angelina exclaimed, gleefully reaching for both bodies at the same time.
Holding herself stiffly, Tee spoke as if the words had been practiced. “I know this is intense, but I have nowhere else to go.” A hitch in Tee’s unsteady, hoarse voice contradicted her cocky stance. “All I’m asking for is a job.” She coughed once, twice, three times. “Yes or no! I’m not here to bother you.” Talking seemed to make her throat worse. The bitter hacking became harsher and it was patently difficult for her to stop.
Right then a lolling tongue in a furry face peeked out of her grimy jacket, and the wiggly body language exhibited sparks of recognition. The irrepressibly happy puppy was fighting to get out, get closer to Angelina.
~*~
Staring, not fully believing what her eyes were plainly witnessing, Tee shook her head and closed her mouth. This pup was the biggest scaredy-dog she’d ever seen. Invariably, he spent as much time as she’d let him hiding in her jacket, cowering from any human contact other than her own.
The sound of a voice he’d only heard once, and the mutt was turning traitor. Bummer!
Angelina, ignoring Tee’s stiffness, swept them close.
Engulfed in a hug, surrounded by the most wonderful smell of Shalimar, and arms full of welcome, Tee let herself and the pup melt into Angelina’s affection. A wonderful feeling of coming home began to sink in until she remembered to put up her usual guard.
Hauling them further into the warm, well-lit room Angelina demanded, “Where did you go? I was so worried. After you disappeared, Ray, Lee and I spent days searching for you in every place we could think of. They say Joe has been looking for you also. I suppose he felt responsible because of what you must have overheard. He didn’t mean for you to leave. He was expressing cynical, unasked-for opinions, which weren’t welcome. But in his defense, I suppose he was only trying to protect me.” Obvious sarcasm had entered Angelina’s tone. “He was sorry as soon as he realized you must’ve overheard him and misunderstood. We really, truly want to help you.”
Angelina’s anxiety came across as being sincere. Tee got it. In a flash of insight, intuitively she understood something radical. Angelina was solid, and she cared.
Stiffly, more out of habit than desire, Tee pulled out of the embrace. Hope blossoming against her will, she demanded roughly. “I need a job. No freebies, no charity—no one else involved. Just you and me. I’m a hard worker, and you won’t be sorry. That I can promise. So? What do you say? Yes or no?”
Without hesitation, Angelina agreed. “Yes, absolutely yes. But with two conditions. No—don’t get your tail in a knot. They’re small conditions. One, I want to call Joe. If he’s available to see you right now, we’ll go to him for help with your cold. If not, we go to a walk-in clinic. Your cough is worse, and it could turn into pneumonia if we don’t do something about it.”
Tee thought it over for a few seconds and then agreed. She felt so shitty that if anyone could help her feel more like herself again, she’d gladly accept their aid. “Okay, so what’s the second one?”
“I want you guys to come and stay with me at my house. Until we can come up with a better solution, I need to know you’re safe and not roaming the streets. This one is non-negotiable.”
Relief poured into Tee. She closed her eyes to hide her reaction to this almost-stranger’s kindness. After sensing she was under control, she peeked up into Angelina’s troubled face and nodded. “For Peewee’s sake, I accept. The mutt’s pretty freaked out on the streets. Plus, he’s hungry and needs a bath.”
“You’re calling him Peewee?”
“Seemed like a good idea. No biggie!”
Chapter 33
Sometime later, after they’d given up trying to contact Joe and instead got a prescription at the nearest clinic, both Tee and the pup were shiny-clean, medicated and fed. The exhausted canine was nestled in Angelina’s cuddling arms, while Tee, swathed in flannel jammies, donated by Angelina, enjoyed a hot chocolate and a blazing fire.
Completely out of her comfort zone, Tee glanced around the room. It was a family area off the large kitchen, and decorated in such a way that one instantly thought of an old Spanish villa. Gigantic Boston ferns, their fronds trailing, were perched on top of two white marble pillars and showcased the identical red and gold plush couches that angled toward the modern fireplace. A large-screen television, erected on the wall above, played music in the background. Swathed draperies in reds and gold lush fabrics subtly draped the windows in such a way that the night sky and the lit gardens outside were a mesmerizing scene to those inside.
Angelina cut into her inspection. “Tee, tell me about yourself. I’m not prying; I’m truly interested.”
Tee lowered her head, her shaggy, damp locks covering her face. For the first time in her life, she felt she could open up, tell the truth, share herself. She hesitated, but the need to connect finally broke her normally rigid control. “I have a dream, you know, a kind of goal for a good life. But I guess my reality has been more of a nightmare. Like—they say how a person will hit a low point, and everything after is uphill? Well—like, I keep sinking.”
“I’m so sorry, Tee. Things have been pretty bad for you. I get the feeling you’re running from something or someone. Is it from your family?”
“I don’t have a family.”
Angelina stared and waited.
“The system, for many kids, actually does work out sometimes. But in my ca
se the whole thing collapsed. I went from one foster joke to another. Some of the families were nice but they never lasted. My lousy attitude was the excuse they used. Most of the social workers—and I had many—were shitty. Oops, sorry! Like—rotten, to say the least.”
“Hey, kiddo, it’s not your fault. Life shouldn’t be so hard for young people in your situation. You’re the innocent minor, and the system should be able to find the right notch for every child to fit into.” Angelina was furious, picturing Tee as this square peg being forced into a round hole. No wonder so many of the young people today rebelled.
Once started, Tee was on a roll. The deluge of words wouldn’t be stopped. Finally there was someone she felt an affinity with, and the intense need to talk was like an overloaded pitcher of milk flooding the sides. For the first time, her sick feeling of utter loneliness vanished, to be replaced with a vibrancy and friendship totally new to her.
“There was one social worker who was sincere,” Tee admitted. “She didn’t try to spoon-feed me the yada-yada routine. She was straight-up.” Hands clasped, trying to think of the right words, she closed her eyes for a minute.
“Tell me about her.” Her voice full of interest, Angelina prompted Tee to continue.
“Well, she seemed truly eager to be a support. She kept telling me that she wanted to make a difference. That she cared about her job and the kids. I liked her. In fact, I trusted her.”
As if she knew this wasn’t going to end well, Angelina seemed to hesitate but then came to a decision. “Go on. Tell me what happened.”
Tee couldn’t look at the woman next to her. Instead she stared at the crystal rocks scattered amongst the flames. “I used her. To give me information she shouldn’t have. But it was my life I was fighting for.” She turned to Angelina and all she saw on her face was interest, no disapproval or judgmental frowns. “I’d been after her forever to tell me about my parents, and where I came from. I’d always wanted to know, and no one would tell me. All they’d say was I had to wait till I was the appropriate age and go through the proper channels.” Tee sighed, trying to gather her composure. Every time she thought about her begging and the refusals, her bitterness returned
