by Jim Wygand
“That’s fine, Gina. I agree with you. But I have to confess that I have already begun to miss you during the week. I think about you a lot and I can hardly wait to see you on the weekend.”
Charlie ordered espressos and Gina looked at him tenderly and said, “Charlie, why don’t you come back up to Philly tomorrow? We can do something simple. Maybe go to a park, walk around, feed the ducks, and have some lunch.”
“You’re on, Gina. I’ll be back up here at noon. Trattoria again?”
“For the time being, yes. Is that OK Charlie?”
“Sure, I think my car can get there on automatic pilot by now!”
Gina laughed.
They left the restaurant, flagged down a cab, and went as usual back to where Charlie’s car was parked. “Well, here we are again, Gina. I hate to have to leave, but I’ll be back tomorrow at noon – same time, same station.” Gina’s eyes were misty and when he turned to kiss her good night, she grabbed him and kissed him with passion. Charlie responded and when they separated both were breathing hard. “You’re wonderful Charlie, I just hope I am not dreaming. I really do think you are wonderful.”
“Don’t worry, Gina. I won’t do anything to hurt you and I certainly do not want to leave you.” He smiled and added, “and you don’t intimidate me either.”
She smiled back. “See you tomorrow, Charlie”
IX
Thus began Charlie’s weekend sojourns to Philly. Charlie accompanied Gina to art shows, book signings, theater, concerts, and sometimes they just had dinner together. He would go up on Saturdays and again on Sundays. They would go for Sunday brunch at one of the hotels and then walk around Olde Towne or one of the city’s parks.
This was when Shoreville started noticing Charlie’s absences. He would miss the occasional softball practice on Saturday. To have his house in order, and no longer able to organize on weekends he took to organizing during the week. He missed a couple of league nights at the bowling alley.
While grocery shopping after work one evening he ran into Tony Mazza. “Charlie, you missed softball practice on Saturday. I called your house but there was no answer. I didn’t bother to leave a message on the machine. You OK?”
“Yeah, Tony, I’m fine. I went up to Philly for an art show. I needed to get out of town. I’ve been too much of a shut-in since the divorce and I just wanted to do something different.”
“But you can’t miss practice, Charlie. Jeez, we might take the league trophy this year. The guys missed you.”
“I know, I’m sorry Tony, but I just had to get out. I’d been using my weekends just to straighten out the house, do laundry, go shopping, and all that kind of stuff. You guys have your kids and your wives. I just got tired of the routine and being shut in the house.”
“Bill Gallagher said he bet you found some gal.”
“Oh, Bill is full of shit, Tony. He sits around listening to Sharon talking about how I need a wife and a life. It’s none of his damned business if I found a girlfriend or not. For your information, I haven’t but don’t tell Bill. Just let him run his mouth and don’t tell him anything. He passes everything on to Sharon and she’s the biggest gossip in town. If he asks you anything, just tell him you don’t know.”
“You missed bowling night last Wednesday too, Charlie. Philly?”
“No, Tony, just extra work from the office and accumulated stuff around the house. I wanted to go, but I just had too much to do. I got promoted at Shaw and for the first time I had to take some stuff home,” Charlie lied “it couldn’t be helped.”
“I thought you swore you’d never take the office home with you.”
“I did, but the new job required that I make some changes in my routine and I got kind of backed up a little. No sweat, Tony, I won’t be doing that kind of stuff on a regular basis. I just need to get a new rhythm going. Know what I mean?”
“Yeah, I guess. Just try not to abandon your buddies. OK?”
“Right, Tony. I’ll see ya’ around.” Charlie and Tony each continued his shopping. Tony had a long list from his wife and couldn’t be standing around talking. Charlie wondered if he had given Tony a plausible story. He was not ready to talk about Gina to folks in Shoreville. The whole town would know about it in a matter of hours and his privacy would go to hell. He needed the privacy and the space to develop his relationship with Gina. He would tell the town when he was good and ready. Besides, what if it didn’t work out with Gina? Then he would have to put up with another wave of sympathy and renewed dinner invitations. He didn’t need it. Tony Mazza was an old friend. He would probably chalk off Charlie’s absence to his bachelor’s life and think nothing more of it. Bill Gallagher was another matter. He was a busybody and told Sharon everything. Charlie finished his grocery shopping, checked out and went home to put away his purchases.
Unlike Charlie, Gina did not have to and did not want to keep her friendship with Charlie such a secret. Her tight circle of friends knew about Charlie and was supportive. She told her uncle that their regular Sunday brunch might suffer and that she would stop by after Sunday Mass instead of having a leisurely late morning brunch. Her uncle was supportive but appropriately concerned. However, he trusted and deferred to Gina’s judgment and agreed to stay in the background for a while. He told her that she should decide when to bring Charlie by to meet him. He added that if she had any problems with her “Irish” she had only to tell him.
Gina would call Charlie a couple of times a week. They would talk about their respective activities. Charlie would tell her his Fred Perkins stories and Gina would both laugh and commiserate. “How do you stand that guy, Charlie? He’s a real piece of work and most unpleasant.”
Charlie would laugh. “He just thinks he’s tough, Gina. He is really a pretty good professional and doesn’t need the unpleasant façade. But, it’s just his nature. He has probably always been a bully and he doesn’t know any other way to relate to people. Sometimes I feel bad for the guy, but that doesn’t mean I give him any space. If you stay ahead of him, he can’t get to you. The guys I work with just get terrified even before he opens his mouth and that’s all he needs.”
“Why don’t you just leave Shaw, Charlie? Maybe you could move to Philly…”
“I’m not ready for that, Gina. My Dad worked at Shaw for 30 years. It killed him and I have something to prove to both his memory and to myself. But, when the conditions are right, I might think about getting out of there. Besides, I still have my friends in Shoreville and until I met you, they were an important factor in my life. They stood by me after the divorce. I know their wives and their kids. They kept me busy when my marriage collapsed. They were good friends. I have to admit though that now that we have met, I have a fuller life and my need for their support is no longer so great. You’ve filled a big void, Gina.”
“I know what you are talking about Charlie. I feel the same way. We do have fun together, don’t we?”
They talked a little more and Charlie said he could hardly wait for the weekend. Gina said she was anxious to see him too, and said “Kisses, Charlie. I’ll see you Saturday,” and rang off.
Charlie didn’t know it, but Sharon Gallagher was already talking to people about Charlie’s “lost weekends”. She and Diane Simms would get together and try to figure out what Charlie was doing. Her husband Bill had remarked that it was not like Charlie to miss softball practice and that he had even missed a bowling night. Sharon immediately said, “He’s got a girlfriend, Bill. I just know it. He’s found some gal in Philly and he’s keeping it a secret! I’m going to find out.”
“Stay out of it, Sharon. It’s Charlie’s business and it’s his life. Leave the guy alone.”
“No way, Bill. There’s not much that goes on here that I don’t know about. Besides, what harm can it do just to know what Charlie is up to? In fact, it’s fascinating! He’s the most eligible guy in this town and a lot of my friends who are divorced and some of the ones still looking around would love to catch him. I probably owe
it to my friends to find out if he is no longer available.”
“Sharon, I’m telling you it would be best to leave it. Charlie Mullins has always been a private guy. No one even knew he was having marital problems until Mary Jo left him. He keeps things to himself and you are going to piss him off. Just leave it be.”
“Oh Bill, you are such a silly. You know women like a good mystery and some hot gossip. Charlie is a bit of an icon in this town, especially among the women. He’s good looking, a helluva nice guy, and most of all available. I’m not going to pry; I’m just going to satisfy my curiosity.”
“OK, Sharon. But don’t you get Charlie pissed off. I know he won’t say anything, but he will be a lot cooler to me and I like him. Don’t get aggressive and once you have satisfied your curiosity, as you call it, then lay off. OK?”
“I promise, Bill.” But Bill Gallagher knew his wife would be relentless and she and Diane Simms would eventually do something stupid. Charlie would be pissed if he found out and Bill was right that he wouldn’t say anything, but he would cool off with Bill. He might lose a friend.
Charlie took to driving up to Philly on weeknights after work. He would pick up I-95 and drive straight up to Philly from Wilmington. He would head straight for the trattoria and meet Gina and her friends, now becoming his friends, for happy hour. Gina would call him at home and they would agree to meet and Charlie enthusiastically made his way up the highway at every opportunity. The change in Charlie was visible to everyone. He was more relaxed at work, and even more unflappable with Perkins.
The change was not wasted on his friends and their wives in Shoreville either. As usual, Bill Gallagher was the first to mention it. One night when the guys on the softball team were having their weekly pizza and beer he commented, “Old Charlie seems distracted these days. Think he’s got a broad somewhere?”
“Christ, Bill,” Tony Mazza said, “why can’t you just leave it? Jesus, you sound like a woman. Charlie was practically housebound after his divorce. He’s a young guy. So fucking what if he’s found somebody? C’mon Bill, give the guy a damned break.”
“Aw, I was just speculating. Hell, Charlie’s one of us. He’s a buddy. What’s the beef, Tony?”
“The beef is, Bill, if Charlie’s got a broad or not is none of our fucking business. It there was anything to be concerned about as Charlie’s friends it would be that he did not go out, not that he is seeing somebody! I think it would be a good idea for you to tell Sharon to soft-pedal it too. My wife told me she has been talking about following Charlie to Philly some day to see where he goes. Shit, Bill! That’s a bit much, no?”
“Hell, you know Sharon, Tony. She gets a wild hair and it’s hard as hell to control her.”
“Yeah, well I think it would be a good idea if we all, and I mean all, left Charlie alone. Maybe he’s finally got a life for himself. We should be glad that he’s getting a social life.”
“Well, no need to get upset, Tony. I was just commenting. I agree.”
“Good, let’s drop it and finish our beer.”
X
When Charlie met Gina during the week, he told her that he had missed softball practice the previous Saturday and he would have to show up on the field this Saturday so he might arrive a little later to the trattoria. Gina said it was OK but she was worried about Charlie missing practice. “Charlie, I don’t want you abandoning your friends in Shoreville. Get here when you can. If I have to leave, I’ll tell Johnny where I am going and he can put you in a cab.”
“Thanks, Gina, I hoped you would understand. I have not told anyone in Shoreville about us yet. You know it’s a small town and within minutes everybody would be discussing my private life. I told you how the wives tried to get me married. I just don’t want the hassle.”
“Not to worry, Charlie. I wouldn’t think you are ashamed of me,” she laughed.
“Gina, if I could I would have you on my arm everywhere I went. The problem is really my status in Shoreville and the fact that it is such a small place. People would start poking around your life too, trying to figure out who you are, who introduced us, and so on.”
“Oh, I know that Charlie. I was just kidding. I know you value your privacy and I value mine as well. We don’t need a bunch of busybodies down our throats. You’re a handsome guy Charlie and I am sure there will be a lot of disappointed women in Shoreville if you start telling people you’re dating.”
“I wish I could disappoint all of them Gina. Then maybe they would leave me alone and find something else to think about.”
“Yeah, Charlie, they would start thinking about me and trying to find fault. They don’t want you marrying outside the circle. They’d be calling me the Philadelphia hussy or worse. Don’t worry, Charlie, just get here when you can. I miss you.”
“Me, too Gina. I’ll probably get to the trattoria around 8, 9 at the most.”
Charlie worked his way through the rest of the week. He went to the bowling alley on Wednesday night and showed up for softball practice on Saturday morning. On Thursday he went to Philly after work and to the trattoria for a glass of wine. Johnny the waiter was there but Gina wasn’t. He ordered a glass of the house red, hoping that while he drank it Gina might show up. “Sorry, Mr. Mullins, Miss Gina hasn’t been in yet. She doesn’t always come here, you know. But if she shows later and you’re not here, I’ll tell her you came by.”
“Thanks, Johnny. This place seems empty without her around.”
“Yeah, Mr. Mullins, Miss Gina tends to light up a place. She is a very special lady. Everybody likes her.”
“Have you known her long, Johnny?”
“Well, yes and no. My kids study at the Catholic School and Miss Gina helps them with math. You know, sort of tutoring, I guess. I was always dumb as a rock in math so she helps them with what I can’t. The kids love her and so does the missus. So I guess you could say I know her. Of course, she also comes here with her friends often, so yeah, I guess I know her. But if you mean do I know her family, the answer is no.”
Charlie decided it would be best to leave this line of questioning. He didn’t want Gina thinking he was checking up on her. If Johnny said anything, she might not be flattered and indeed might think that Charlie was spying.
Johnny went off to take an order from another table, and Charlie nursed his glass of wine. It was the first time since meeting Gina that he had been in the trattoria without her. Gina seemed to give the place a different kind of life and Charlie felt alone and even a bit out of place without Gina present.
After about an hour and one more glass of wine, Charlie asked Johnny to tell Gina he had stopped by on a whim and in the hope that she would be there. He had not set anything up so Gina was probably off working on some project. He paid Johnny for his wine and walked slowly back to his car. He hoped that in the brief trip to the car, Gina might show up, but if he walked any slower people would think he was ill. Resigned, he sighed and got into his car and drove home.
Gina called before he left for work the next morning. “Charlie, I am so sorry I missed you. If I’d known you were going to drive up, I would have met you at the trattoria. I stopped in for a glass of wine about an hour after you left. Johnny told me you had been there. I was so disappointed to have missed you. I didn’t stay long even though I was with friends because the trattoria isn’t the same without you there.”
“That’s exactly how I felt without you there,” exclaimed Charlie, “it’s amazing how people can make a place!”
“Not people, Charlie, you. You make that place special for me now. When I go there alone now, I feel your absence.”
“Well, Gina, I can tell you that it was the lousiest glass of wine I have had in a long time.” Gina laughed.
“But we’re still on for Saturday, right? I mean you don’t have some sort of night game or anything, right?
Charlie laughed, “No Gina, no night game. I just want to make sure I practice with the guys to keep them from poking into my life and so they will tell their
damned wives that I was there and I was normal.”
Gina laughed out loud, “Charlie, you don’t know much about women, do you? Believe me the wives of Shoreville – that coven of witches – know that you are normal. Take my word for it. That’s their problem, in fact. You are normal. I’d bet half of them have erotic fantasies about you.”
“Oh Gina, I don’t know about ….”
“Take my word for it, Charlie Mullins, there are some pretty horny women in your town. I listened to your stories. Watch your step! In fact, get yourself up here as quickly as possible before one of them tosses a net over you.” Gina laughed heartily.
* * * * *
Saturday morning Charlie showed up for softball practice. He was not distracted and hit well. The guys were doing all their infield chatter and having a hell of a good time throwing the ball around and bonding. After practice he even joined them for some beer but begged off the pizza. “What? No pizza Charlie? You tryin’ to keep your silhouette or what?” Bob Simms asked. “Yeah Charlie, afraid the ladies won’t like you if you get a gut?” asked Art Samuels.
“C’mon guys, give me a break!” Charlie laughed, “I’m just trying to stay in shape. I’ve had a lot of work to do and I haven’t worked out as much as I should. I’m watching the intake, OK?”
Art Samuels stood up and made an obscene pumping gesture with his hips, “Yeah, we know what kind of workout you been doin’ Charlie.” The guys at the table broke out laughing.
“All right, who wants some more beer?” Charlie asked as he reached for the pitcher. He filled a few of the glasses and then proposed a toast to the league championship. Everybody forgot Art’s comment and gesture and raised their glasses, “Here here!” they all cheered. Charlie hung around a little while longer to let the beer dull his teammates’ attention then took his leave. “OK guys, I’m heading for the shower. See you tomorrow!”
