LUCA WAS already in his room when he got out of the shower. “Hey! When did you get here?”
Luca looked up at him and smiled. “Juth now.”
Grier returned the smile, instantly in a better mood. “What are you watching?”
“Barney.”
Grier plopped himself down beside his boy and put his arm around Luca’s shoulders. “What’s that purple beast up to these days?”
“ANYTHING SPECIAL on your agenda today?” Jody asked over a cup of coffee. It was closer to lunch than breakfast, but Lil had just made an appearance, exhausted after last night’s drama.
“I’m waiting for Grier’s call.”
“Can I ask you a question?”
“No, but I’m sure you will anyhow.”
“Where are you going with this?”
“Why does it have to be going anywhere?”
“Lil, come on….”
“I’m trying to be realistic,” Lil sighed and took another sip of his coffee. “I know I’m leaving on Monday, which doesn’t give us much more time together, and his issues are not going to be resolved in two days. I have to wonder why my feelings and my common sense aren’t in sync.”
“You’re seriously in love with this guy?”
“I am, even though I’m aware of all the pitfalls.”
“You couldn’t fall for someone less complicated?”
Lil raised an eyebrow. “If it were that simple, I would have been partnered years ago.”
“Partner? Now you’re really scaring me,” Jody teased. “Where’s the carefree, man-hopping Lil I used to know?”
“I haven’t a clue,” Lil said dolefully. “What the fuck am I going to do?”
“If you were king of the world, what would you do?”
“I’d throw that conniving bitch over a cliff and take Grier and Luca back to San Francisco.”
“That might not be such a bad idea.”
“You’re advocating murder?” Lil looked astounded.
“You lovesick lunatic! Why don’t you ask Grier to visit you in San Francisco?”
“I’m not sure he can.”
“Have you asked?”
“No.”
“You can’t win the lotto if you don’t buy a ticket.”
“Good point.”
“Get him away from this environment and show him the City by the Bay. Who knows where it will go from there?”
“He’d never leave Luca―not now with all this upheaval.”
“You’re not asking for something permanent, just a short breather to relieve the stress. From everything you’ve told me, he’s been working like a dog for everyone but himself. Maybe a new locale will bring a fresh perspective and allow him to make choices he’s never considered.”
Lil perked up instantly. “That does sound like a good plan.”
“It’s worth a shot.”
“I’ll broach the subject and see where it leads.”
“Let me know if there’s anything we can do. Clark is really worried about you.”
“He’s sweet to be concerned, but Grier is not a walking stick of dynamite. I honestly believe what happened last night was an isolated incident. You should have seen the look in his eyes this morning. I’ve never seen anyone so tortured.”
“That may well be, but anger issues aren’t always predictable. You know as well as I what Clark went through, and he’s putting himself in your shoes, and rightly so. That’s what friends do.”
“And I appreciate it more than you know, but my general impression and gut feelings tell me that Grier doesn’t have anger-management issues. Sure, he’s upset with Jillian right now, and this unfair situation with Luca, but he’s a pretty upbeat guy, considering he’s put his life on pause for everyone these last few years.”
“And you’re confident this sacrifice hasn’t turned him into an angry and frustrated individual?”
“I’m not saying he’s perfect, Jodes. I’m pretty sure he’d rather take charge of his life, and his son’s, but I don’t see him going postal on us.”
“I hope you’re right, Lil, but the truth is you hardly know him.”
“I know enough.”
“We’re not just talking sex, are we?”
“Oh, please… this is so beyond that.”
“I’m really glad to hear that.”
“Not that the sex isn’t fucking unbelievable.”
“Okay, TMI.”
“You always were such a prude,” Lil said, giggling. “I thought marriage would loosen you up, if you’ll pardon the pun.”
“You’re disgusting,” Jody groused.
“I know.” Lil smiled. “But you expect that from me, don’t you?”
“So far you’ve been completely unpredictable.”
“It’s this love bug I’m dealing with―frightening.”
“No kidding. Tweet me updates, will you?”
“I don’t tweet,” Lil said. “Who has the time?”
“Seriously, who does?” Jody agreed.
“Demi and Ashton.”
Jody grinned. “I’ve got to get ready for work. I’ll be home around midnight.”
“Your hours suck.”
“The wonderful life of an ER doc.”
“But you wouldn’t have it any other way, would you?”
“No.”
“Clark deals with the strange schedule?”
“We’ve learned how to fuck in our sleep.”
Lil choked on his coffee and spat out half the cup. “You could warn a guy you know.”
“Gotcha,” Jody snickered.
LIL WAS drying his hair when his phone began to vibrate, and he picked it up quickly after he saw Grier’s name on caller ID.
“Hey,” Lil greeted him warmly. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m good. Listen, there’s been a change in plans. I’ve got Luca.”
“That’s cool. Do you guys want to do something?”
“How do you feel about pet stores?”
“I have a cat, don’t I?”
“I promised to take Luca.”
“You do realize that you’ll walk out of that store with some kind of warm and fuzzy creature.”
“I’m aware, but he’s latched on to this idea like a pit bull.”
“Okay. How do we meet?”
“You can take a cab out to the ’burbs, or the Metra blue line. I’ll pick you up at the Rosemont station.”
“How long is the train ride?”
“About forty minutes.”
“And the cab?”
“Over an hour with the traffic, and the fare will kill you.”
“Train it is. I’ll call you when I’m about to board.”
“Lil?”
“What, love?”
“I miss you.”
Lil sucked in a breath and let it out really slowly. He wanted to say I love you and want you in my life so badly I can taste it, but he held his tongue for once. “I miss you too.”
“Hurry.”
“I’m almost dressed so I shouldn’t be more than an hour.”
“Okay.”
HE WAS less than an hour, and when he walked down the stairs and out the main entrance of the Rosemont station, Grier and Luca were parked right in front. They were in a red truck, and Luca was hanging out the window waving his arms frantically. “Tito Lil! Here we are.”
Lil walked a little quicker. He opened the door and was touched when Luca hugged him as if he were a long lost relative. “Hey, little guy. How are you?”
“We’re going to Pet Land.”
“We are indeed. Get in the back, sweetie.”
Grier smiled at him, and Lil noticed that all evidence of last night’s trauma seemed to have disappeared, no doubt due to Luca’s presence. Seeing father and son so close together was a little overwhelming. They were both beautiful, in different ways, yet so similar, and Lil was struck by this wave of longing to have them permanently in his life. He’d had no idea he could want something this badly, especial
ly when he hadn’t even known it was missing.
Grier helped get the harness over Luca, so he was firmly secured in his Britax car seat, which was a permanent fixture in the Silverado 1500. He’d bought the truck a few years ago when he realized he wouldn’t be able to haul Luca back and forth on his Harley. That was out of the question for now, and possibly forever. The truck also served to carry smaller items the company didn’t want loaded on the giant eighteen-wheelers. It sat five comfortably, and Luca was very much at home in his special spot.
“Are we ready?”
“Go, go, Tito G.”
Grier laughed and headed out toward Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg. The pet store wasn’t actually in the mall. It was in a strip mall close by that was much more parking-friendly. Trying to get a spot at Woodfield was next to impossible on a weekend. They lucked out and found parking almost in front of Pet Land, and they clambered out of the truck, infected by Luca’s enthusiasm. He grabbed Grier’s hand and dragged him into the store, squealing happily when he saw the line of cages housing the different cats and dogs for sale.
“I want to thee that cat,” Luca demanded, pointing to what appeared to be a Himalayan kitten dozing in the corner of a cage. He turned toward Grier. “Will they let me hold it?”
“I think so,” Grier said. “Let me go find someone to help us.”
Lil stood in front of the enclosures and eyed the different animals. They were adorable, and one would have to have a heart of stone to be immune to their charms. “Which one do you like, sweetie?”
Luca walked up and down inspecting the animals and ended up back at the cage where he’d originally pointed out the cat to Grier. “That one.”
“A decisive man; I like that.”
“Huh?”
“He’s very pretty.”
“Ith he a boy?”
“Let’s wait until they take him out so we can find out for sure. Did you want a boy or girl kitty?”
“I want a girl tho I can buy a pink Hello Kitty collar.”
“Boys can wear pink,” Lil said easily.
Luca’s eyes rounded like marbles. “Noooo.”
“No?”
“Mommy thed only a girl can wear pink.”
“Did she?”
“Yeth,” Luca nodded vigorously. “Tito Ali threw away my pink pajamath.”
LIL’S AUTOMATIC response to the sexist and blatantly homophobic idea Jillian and her supposed boyfriend had planted in poor Luca’s fertile mind was interrupted by Grier’s happy countenance. The young salesgirl he had in tow opened up the cage and put a soft collar and leash around the sleepy white kitten. She picked up the animal and handed it to Luca as soon as they were in an enclosed area where people who were interested in buying could hold the animals without fear of them escaping and running around the store.
“There you go.”
“Ith it a girl or boy kitty?”
“It’s a girl, hon.”
“Good,” Luca smiled.
“Good?” Grier said, looking at Lil for answers.
“Later,” Lil said, frowning.
“Can I have her?” Luca asked.
“Let’s play with her first,” Grier suggested. Luca sat cross-legged and held the kitten on his lap. She began to purr like a small motorboat as soon as Luca scratched behind her ears. “Lithen to her,” he chortled happily.
“That means she’s content,” Lil said.
“Content?” Luca turned to Grier.
“Happy, Luca. When cats purr that means they’re happy.”
Luca picked up the kitten, rubbed his cheek against her fur, and growled. “I’m purring, too, Tito G.”
Grier squatted and swept the soft fringe away from his son’s eyes. “That’s a super-sized purr, buddy. What are you going to name her?”
“Can I bring her home?”
“Yes.”
Luca beamed at his father and kissed him quickly on the cheek. “Thank you,” he whispered. “You have to be quiet, or you’ll wake her up.”
Okay,” Grier whispered back. “What’s her name?”
“Bianca.”
“How’d you come up with that?”
“From the movie.”
“What movie?”
“The one with Bernard and Bianca and the Rethcue Aid Thothiety.”
“A mouthful of S’s,” Grier laughed. “I remember it vaguely―The Rescuers.”
“Yeah,” Luca exclaimed. “Can I name her that? It meanth white in Italian, you know.”
“Sure, buddy. Bianca it is.”
Grier stood and moved over to Lil who’d watched the whole scene with an indulgent smile on his face. “He’s precious.”
“I know,” Grier nodded. “I love listening to him talk, but that lisp has got to go. I’ve just forked over a small fortune to a speech therapist who swears she’ll fix it.”
“It’s charming, actually.”
“It may be cute right now, but it won’t be as he gets older. I don’t want him to be teased, and you know how tough it can get in school. I’ve asked Jillian repeatedly to take him to speech therapy, but she’s ignored me, so I took care of it on my own.”
“I’m sure the therapist will knock that lisp right out of him.”
“I hope so.”
“Still,” Lil mused, “I rather like it, but I do see your point.”
“Why did you comment on the cat’s gender earlier?”
“Oh, let’s not go there,” Lil said with an eye roll.
“Why not?”
“I’d rather raise your blood pressure in more lascivious ways.”
“What did Luca say?” Grier frowned.
Lil recounted the conversation, watching Grier’s transformation from mild to prickly in about one minute.
“This is why I don’t want Ali in the picture,” Grier fumed.
“You need a lawyer.”
“You’re probably right.”
“I am right, and the sooner you do it, the better off you and Luca will be.”
“Once I hire someone, the secret will be out.”
“It’s necessary, Grier.”
“I’ve got to get her to see reason.”
“She doesn’t strike me as being very reasonable.”
Grier snorted. “You don’t know the half of it.”
“I’m all ears, love.”
“Later.”
Luca tugged on Grier’s T-shirt. “We need to get her a bed, Tito G, and food,” he added. “And thomwhere to go potty, and a bowl for food and water, and, oh, her collar,” Luca rattled off, mentally working through his check list. “How about fleath? Bianca hath to be clean or Mommy won’t like her.”
Mommy can go fuck herself, Grier bitched, more pissed off after hearing the list of mommy phobias. He sighed loudly. “We’ll get her a scratching post and a flea collar.”
“But I wanted a Hello Kitty collar?” Luca whined.
“She’ll have both.”
“And a partridge in a pear tree,” Lil sang. Grier jabbed him with his elbow.
With an armful of supplies, and minus many dollars, they marched out to the truck and threw everything into the vinyl-lined truck bed, except for Bianca who slept happily in her carrying case, which was perched beside Luca’s car seat.
“What an adventure.” Lil turned his head toward the backseat. “Your kitty is beautiful, Luca.”
Luca nodded, smiling happily. “Like your Thebathtian?”
“They’re different but equally loveable.”
Grier drove back to Elk Grove Village, glancing at the time to make certain Luca’s grandfather would be home. The moderate ranch-style house was similar to theirs, only it had blue siding instead of white like the Dilorios. He unhooked Luca, and soon they had their arms filled with Bianca’s paraphernalia, which they trudged up to the front door. Enteng opened it as soon as he saw the familiar red truck.
“My goodness! What did you buy, Luca?”
“Tito G bought me a kitty. Can I keep it, Lolo?”
“Sure.” The white haired man smiled agreeably, and let Grier and Lil into the house.
“This is my friend Lil,” Grier called out on his way to the kitchen to dump the supplies. When he got back to the living room, Enteng was urging Lil to make himself at home.
“Please sit down. Do you guys want anything to eat or drink? I think we have some leftovers I can heat up.”
“No thanks. We’re going out to dinner.”
“Are you from Chicago, Lil?”
“No. I live in San Francisco.”
“That’s a great city, lots of good Filipino food.”
“We do have a huge Asian community out there.”
“I know. I order sweets from a Filipino bakery in the Bay Area. Do you know them? Goldilocks?”
“No, I’ve never heard of them.”
“Masarap, huh, Luca?”
“It meanth yummy,” Luca said. “I can thpeak Filipino.”
“I’m impressed,” Lil praised. “I can only speak English.”
“My grandson is very smart,” Enteng said proudly. “He’s just like his mother.”
“Indeed,” Lil said softly, never taking his eyes off Grier. “Shall we get going?”
“Whatever.” Grier’s displeasure at hearing that comment was quite obvious. His mood had plunged drastically.
Lil got down on his knees to be at eye level with Luca and shook his little hand. “You make sure and let me know how Bianca is doing. Send me a postcard, okay?”
Luca nodded vigorously. “I can write, Tito Lil. I will write you.”
“That sounds great, Luca.” Lil gave him a quick peck on the cheek. He stood and shook Enteng’s hand. “It was nice meeting you, sir.”
“Don’t mention it. Grier, will I see you at the Taste later on?”
“Not tonight but maybe tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow is closing day, so I could use your help.”
“I’ll be there,” Grier replied, bending down to give Luca a hug. “I’ve got to go, buddy.”
Luca wrapped his slim arms around Grier’s neck and squeezed. “Thank you for my Bianca.”
“You’re welcome. Be good to her. She’s your responsibility now.”
Dreamspinner Press Year Four Greatest Hits Page 143
