Fallen Angel, Part II

by Tracie Podger

  I laughed as I made my way over. “Yes, he is.”

  Nestling between his legs he asked, “Still sore?”

  “Absolutely, last night was great,” I said, a little shyly.

  “Sure was,” he said. “Now, what do you want to do today?”

  “Well, when Evelyn gets back, I want to bring over the presents and put them under the tree. Then maybe we could, well, you know,” I said, raising my eyebrows and licking my lip.

  He took my tea cup and refreshed it, making himself a coffee at the same time. “No, Brooke, I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me exactly what you want to do,” he answered, his mouth just brushing the side of mine.

  Before I could reply we were interrupted by the sound of the front door.

  “Good morning, Travis,” I said with a sigh, as he came up the stairs.

  “Don’t know that it is. You might want to read this, Rob,” he replied.

  Placing a local paper on the bar, opened at the financial section, a headline screamed out.

  Robert Stone - Mafia or Businessman?

  “Oh fuck,” I said, just what he needs right now.

  The article alluded to his relationship with Luca and talked about the development in New York. There was nothing concrete but just enough detail on Luca’s family to sow a seed.

  “Where the fuck has this prick got that information from,” Robert growled. I watched his face, the tension mounting.

  “I don’t know yet, I’ve started some background checks on the journalist, names Guy Rogers, independent hack,” Travis replied.

  “Was he the same guy who called that time, wanting an interview?” he asked.

  “Yes, seems he’s trying another angle.”

  “What interview?” I asked.

  “Ages ago, someone I dated wanted to do a kiss and tell, spoke to him. He called and I declined his offer to put my side of the story over,” Robert said.

  “What do you want me to do, Rob?” Travis asked.

  “Can I make a suggestion?” I said, they turned to look at me.

  “It’s December twenty third, it’s a Washington newspaper so I doubt anyone in New York would have seen it. I would have your lawyer write a letter to the newspapers owners. You can’t retract the article and an apology will end up in a tiny column buried somewhere, so there is no point.”

  “Trouble is, Brooke, what they’ve printed is true,” Travis said.

  “No, it isn’t. Robert is not in business with Luca, Vassago is and they are not in business with Luca Gioletti, they are in business with one of his many companies, a perfectly legitimate one who supply labour to tons of building sites, not just yours.”

  “What about the Mafia bit?” Travis asked.

  “He’s not saying that Robert is Mafia, he’s implying that Luca is and by association, so is Robert. At the end of the day, I’m no expert but if every person in this country who has used one of Luca’s companies, or any other family company for that matter, is Mafia, there are a flipping lot of them here. The point to make is, knowing someone whose family may have been associated with Mafia and being one yourself are two different things.”

  “Why don’t we just find out what we can about Rogers and see if there is any dirt?” Travis said.

  “Because then you play straight into his hands, put the heavies on him and what impression do you give?” I asked.

  “You’re right, I’ll get the lawyers on it straight away,” Travis said as he made his way into Robert’s office.

  “Not only are you fucking hot, you’ve got brains as well,” Robert said, pulling me towards him. “Travis is a guns all blazing kind of guy, I would have ignore it but this Guy bothers me.”

  “I think you have to be careful though, you might need to disassociate yourself with Luca a little. Let Paul do the work, step back a bit. However, I do agree with Travis in that it wouldn’t hurt to dig a little on this journalist, if this is the second time he has wanted to write about you, you need to find out why.”

  I poured him another coffee.

  “You also need to think about anyone who is likely to talk, anyone stupid enough to talk. I hope you’re keeping tabs on them. You don’t want to run the risk of this journalist digging and finding someone who will talk. Now you go, do what you have to with Travis.”

  I left the two of them in the office and made my way over to Evelyn’s. She had the kettle on before I even reached the door.

  “Morning, Brooke, how’s Robert? Travis mentioned an article,” she said.

  “I’ve left them together, I think they’re going to get lawyers to contact the paper, see what can be done, he’s a bit stressed about it though.”

  “I’m sure he is, just what he needs right now.”

  “I told him to keep an eye on anyone from the past. If the journalist is warned off Robert, he might dig a little, see if there is something interesting. We’ll know more tomorrow once the lawyers have had a chance to look at the paper. The good thing is that the timing is crap really. Most people are focusing on Christmas and by the time everyone goes back to work, there’ll be something else in the paper to worry about. Back home we say, today’s news, tomorrows chip paper.”

  “I hope so, anyway shall I give you a hand with all these gifts?”

  It took a couple of journeys back and forth and as we placed the last one under the tree, Robert came out of his office.

  “Bloody hell, Brooke. Where did that lot come from?”

  “A present for every year you missed Christmas,” I said. “Next year you only get one though.”

  I had kept his main present downstairs, I wanted him to open that one while we were alone.

  After Travis and Evelyn left, we settled on the sofa. “Are you still worried about that article?” I asked.

  “No, not really, people have gossiped about me for years. Travis worries more because he doesn’t want any of his family reading about him. I’ll leave it to the lawyers tomorrow. Anyway, how were Sam and Scott?”

  “It sounds like they are having a great time and they say thank you for the room, Sam said it was wonderful. They’ve been on a dog sleigh and they’re off on snowmobiles next.”

  “Snowmobiles, I can just picture that,” Robert laughed.

  “Have you been on holiday anywhere?” I asked him.

  “No, never been out of the USA.”

  “Have you ever wanted to?”

  “I guess I’ve never thought about it, who would I have gone with?”

  “The worlds a big place, Robert. We should go somewhere next year.”

  We chatted and had lunch, he took a couple of calls and we just relaxed for the afternoon.

  ****

  The following morning Robert wanted to go into work for a couple of hours, to chat with the lawyers. While he was gone Evelyn and I went into town to food shop. We went from the butchers to the grocers and at every shop Evelyn was greeted like a long lost daughter. I lost count of the many embraces and kisses I received from the shop owners. It was like going back in time. At home I would hit the supermarket and be done. Evelyn went from one shop to another, each one owned by someone Italian. It was a lovely way of shopping and I was surprised at how long it took, having to stop and chat. We arrived back home and she helped me unpack.

  “I’m really looking forward to tomorrow,” she told me.

  “So am I. We’re off to the home first thing, then I thought, when you get here, we can open presents and then eat about three, does that give you plenty of time for church and visiting your sister?”

  “Absolutely. Every year I promise myself I would go to midnight mass but I never seem to make it, normally I’m too tired,” she laughed.

  Because we were out first thing, I started to prepare vegetables, anything that could be pre-done so it wouldn’t be a rush in the morning. I was so looking forward to seeing the kids, each had a bag full of gifts from us. I tried to picture what it must feel like, to not be at home with their parents or siblings and I was glad that
at least they got gifts to open, unlike some of the many kids still on the street, cold and hungry. What Robert would insist, as he did every year, was that old, unused toys and clothes would be boxed up in the New Year and taken to the homeless shelters. Each child would hand over their box and spend the day helping.

  Robert had sent a text to say that he would be longer than he thought, so once Evelyn left, I decided to set the dining table, another job I would not have to do the following day. I had bought a beautiful silver table cloth and matching napkins. I found the most wonderful silver candlesticks hidden at the back of a kitchen unit and finished the table with silver crackers and little stars that I scattered about. Once done, I took a photo with my phone to send to Sam, he would appreciate something like this.

  While waiting for Robert, I sat in the TV room with a glass of wine and watched the usual Christmas films. I thought back to last year, Michael and I had visited his parents. They were an elderly couple, very traditional, lunch would be at one, watch the Queens speech and open presents in the afternoon. I would normally receive a book I had already read or some form of cooking utensil. Michael would have the obligatory Boxing Day football match and I would sit at home, alone and vowing next year would be different.

  I heard the car approach on the gravel drive and went downstairs to meet Robert. I hoped that his meeting had gone well and judging by the smile on his face, I guessed it had.

  Hey baby,” he said as he got to the door.

  “Hey, how did your meeting go?”

  “Good, the lawyers drafted a letter, we’ll see what happens next,” he said as he headed to the bedroom to change.

  “Are you hungry, can I make you something?”

  “Let me show you what I’m hungry for,” he said, pulling me towards him.

  Lying in bed an hour later, I asked him again, “Now are you hungry, for food?”

  “Starving,” he replied.

  While he showered, I made us some dinner. As we sat at the breakfast bar, we chatted.

  “I looked through the file Travis had, on the father of Caroline’s child,” he told me.

  “Anything to worry about?” I asked.

  “I doubt it, took off while she was pregnant, saw the child when he was born but hasn’t been back since. He paid some form of child support for a little while but that’s all. Fixes up cars now.”

  “I wonder how Travis will do, if the relationship gets serious, I mean.”

  “I asked him that today, he thought it might be cool. He doesn’t do babies but he is great with the kids at the home, especially when we’ve had younger ones. Might be the making of him.”

  “How do you feel? Both you and Travis have such different lives now.”

  “It’s odd, I’ll be honest, but it had to happen at some point. He said that you had told him it was his turn now and you’re right. I hope this Caroline is the one for him.”

  “Will he tell her, about your past?”

  “I wouldn’t have thought so, not yet anyway. Let’s be fair, you wouldn’t have known if Joey hadn’t have returned.”

  “Would you have ever told me?” I asked.

  “Yes, at some point, once we were married and you couldn’t have run, but it’s not really the easiest conversation to have, is it?”

  “I wonder what he will say, it’s not like he can just come out with, ‘oh by the way honey, I used to be in the Mafia’, is it,” I laughed.

  He smiled. “Neither of us have been in a situation to have had to say anything until now and who knows, it might not have to happen for Travis.”

  “I hope it is serious for him and if it is, he should be honest but I worry that she has a child, it might not go down too well.”

  “We’ll have to cross that bridge when we come to it,” he said.

  I really hoped for Travis’s sake that she understood, that she accepted his past but having a child would put a totally different slant on everything. He deserved to find love, to have a family if he wanted it. If she was the one, I knew I would do everything I could to help her accept and adjust to what she would learn.

  As the evening drew in, I got increasingly excited. I wanted the day to end so tomorrow could start. I remembered as a kid I would go to bed super early, as if it would bring Christmas Day forward a little quicker.

  “Tell me about your Christmas days,” Robert asked as we sat on the sofa.

  “Well, as a kid I was excited. I never got as many presents as David but I still loved it, like now, sitting in front of the tree, watching the lights. There was always something magical about it. I think I started to get sad about Christmas as I got older, not about the day itself but I was more aware of how differently I was treated. In the end I would spend the day with Sam’s parents which was always fun.”

  “What about you and Michael,” he asked.

  “Last year we went to his parents, it was all right but, I don’t know, there was never anything special, no surprises and that’s what I missed I think.”

  “I hope you have a great Christmas this year,” he said.

  “I already am. I’ve already got the best gift ever, you,” I said snuggling against him.

  “Did you ever celebrate Christmas, even at your aunts?” I asked.

  “Kind of, we went to church for midnight mass, then again in the morning. We would stay and eat at the church, they had a communal dining room and people would eat together but no gifts or trees, she didn’t believe in making the day commercial.”

  “What about with Joe?”

  ‘He always invited us over but to be honest, when we were younger, Travis and I didn’t really feel comfortable about it. It felt like we were intruding and as we got older I guess we just never bothered about it. Don’t get me wrong, we would go over in the evening, that was good but it wasn’t like now. Now I’ve experienced the build up and to see you excited by it, makes me happy too.”

  Chapter Eight

  I woke before Robert and creeping to one of the other bedrooms, I retrieved the photo I’d had done. Climbing back on the bed, I gently kissed him awake.

  “Happy Christmas,” I said, as his eyes opened. “I have something I want you to open now.”

  He smiled as he propped himself up in bed and I placed the photo on his lap.

  “Go on, open it,” I said, bouncing about.

  He started to carefully pick open the tape.

  “No, not like that, tear it open,” I encouraged.

  Laughing, he ripped the paper from the front.

  “Fuck me, Brooke,” he said, his fingers tracing over the image. “This is stunning.”

  “I hoped you would like it.”

  “Like it? I love it. It’s perfect.”

  He sat for a moment, just holding the photo. “Where did you get it done? In fact, don’t tell me, I’m not sure I’d be too happy with them, seeing you like this.”

  “I found a photographer in the City. Taylor came with me, she got one done as well. Don’t worry, I got all the negatives and proofs,” I laughed.

  “Thank you, it’s the best gift I’ve ever been given.”

  “I wanted you to open this one now, before the others arrive.”

  He placed the photograph on the floor by the bed and pulled me onto his lap. Holding my face with his hands he just looked, the only way he could, his eyes locked on mine. There was sadness in his eyes and I reached up and stroked the side of his face before pulling him to me and kissing him. His first Christmas was always going to be emotional, I knew that and I just hoped that he would feel more joy than sadness.

  We got up, showered and dressed and Travis drove us over to the home. We had a boot full of gifts for the kids. Before we even cleared the gates, they came running down the path, surrounding the car. Helping us to unload, we made our way inside, Ted was waiting at the door. The kids were bouncing around all over the place with excitement. Each had found a stocking at the end of their bed and they wanted to show us what they had received. Kerry and I sat on the sofa a
nd between us we handed out presents. I left hers until last and watched as she opened the new clothes I had bought for her. I had something special though, a little bag with some items of makeup, something she’d never had.

  “Thank you,” she said, tears forming in her eyes.

  “You’re welcome, you deserve to have some pretty things,” I told her.

  The boys were over the moon with their new games, clothes and boxes of sweets. We stayed for a couple of hours before it was time to make our way home. Hugging each child, I was thankful that they were here and not on the streets. They followed the car to the gates, waving and throwing snowballs as we rounded the corner and out of sight.

  Once home I put the turkey in the oven and we waited for Evelyn. Robert opened a bottle of champagne and the three of us sat, eating pastries and toasting each other. I took a call from Sam, he was having such a ball and told me that, that evening, he and Scott would be off to a gala dinner.

  “Merry Christmas all,” I heard as Evelyn made her way to the lounge. She had an armful of gifts that she placed under the tree and joined us for a glass of champagne. She never normally drank but today was a special occasion, the first, four musketeers Christmas together.

  “How was your sister?” I asked her.

  “Not good, she has a serious chest infection and the doctors are struggling to get it under control.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that, will she be okay?”

  “I don’t know, Brooke. Time will tell I guess, but we won’t dwell on it today,” she said.

  “Present time then,” I said making them sit on the sofa while I dished out gifts.

  “Jesus, Brooke. You’ve really gone overboard,” Travis said, eyeing the pile in front of him.

  “I told you, a present for every year you missed, don’t expect the same next year though,” I laughed.

  Evelyn and I sat back and watched the boys, opting to save our gift opening for the moment. It was fun to see them laugh at the silly DVD or book that they opened. I had made a point of covering the last ten years top films and books. I noticed Robert pick up a gift and knowing what it was, I watched him. I saw his face change as he pulled out the photograph of him, Travis and Joe in a simple silver frame. He didn’t speak for a while and when he looked at me I could see how choked he was, I just smiled at him. He showed it to Travis and I watched the pair of them just look at each other, their silent communication saying all that was needed. The next one he opened was the picture I’d got from Ted, the last fight he’d had. He laughed when he saw it, him and Travis reminiscing.