by Jim Wygand
“Well, you are not going to go back down to the garage now, mister”, and Gina pushed Charlie toward the bedroom. He fell onto the bed and she quickly jumped on top of him. “Got time for a quickie, Mullins?”
Charlie started tearing at his clothes while Gina removed hers and in a matter of seconds they were both naked on the bed. He made love to her as passionately as before and she responded in equal measure. When they were both satiated, Gina climbed off him and laid down next to him. “Thanks, I needed that!” she kidded. “That was quite a reception,” Charlie panted, “will that be standard practice in our home?”
“Any reason why it shouldn’t be my dear?” Gina laughed.
They rested in the bed for about half-an-hour and Charlie said, “Well, I guess I can go back down and get my bag now.”
“Now there’s an idea, Mr. Mullins. C’mon, start moving in. I want to hear the pitter patter of big feet in my house.”
Charlie pulled on his pants, put on his shirt, and slipped into his moccasins without putting on his socks. He went downstairs to the guest parking slot in the garage of Gina’s building, removed his bag from the trunk and carried it to the elevator. When he got back to the apartment, Gina was dressed again and she showed him where to put his clothes. “Want me to put your name on the closet door, Charlie?” she kidded.
“I think I can remember, Gina, but thanks anyway. This isn’t summer camp. I’m here to stay until further notice. Please note that I didn’t sew on any labels with my name on them either.”
“What would you like for dinner, Charlie? I prepared lasagna. Is that OK with you? There’s some wine in a rack in the kitchen. You can pick one and open it to let it breathe a bit.”
“My God, she can cook too!” Charlie exclaimed, “a beautiful woman who can cook. Who woulda thought it?”
“All right Mullins, that’s quite enough. Of course I can cook! I’m Italian, right? How many Italian women do you know that can’t cook?”
“None, Gina but they all look like they can cook, know what I mean?”
Gina broke out laughing, “You mean ‘mamas’ Charlie?”
“Well, yeah. Some of them are not so big yet, but you can see it happening. They get married looking like models. A year of so later they look like they’re ready to pose for a Renaissance painting. After a couple more years they look like Santa’s wife. Most of the women I know in Shoreville are in the transition phase from Renaissance model to Santa’s wife.”
“All of them, Charlie?”
“Well, no. Tony Mazza’s wife has kept her figure pretty well. But I think it’s because Tony is always grabbing at her. He’s nuts about her and she makes it a point to look good for him.”
“See what love can do, Charlie? Keep loving me and I promise I will never be a ‘mama’, deal?”
“Deal? No! It’s a contract. I’ll take it as a promise. And don’t worry I’ll stick to my end of the contract too.”
“I’ll remember that every time I look at a plate of manicotti, Charlie. Make sure you continue to work out so you don’t get that big belly that Italian men call ‘prosperity’.”
Charlie finished putting his clothes in the closet and went to the kitchen to open a bottle of wine. Gina followed closely behind to heat the lasagna in the oven. While the meal was heating up, she set a table for two on a small circular table in the kitchen. “You mind eating here, Charlie? I don’t feel like carting this stuff into the dining room and back. Is that all right or do you want me to serve you in the dining room like a good Italian ‘mama’?”
“Well, since you put it that way, far be it from me to have you serving me. You might change your mind and look like a ‘mama’. Then what would I do?”
“I just knew you would see it my way”, Gina kidded.
The lasagna was delicious and Charlie remarked on how good it tasted. “It was a recipe I found in my mother’s stuff. Uncle Carlo said she was a terrific cook. The important thing is not to overcook the pasta. There is nothing worse to an Italian than overcooked pasta. It’s like…ah…what, Charlie? What tastes awful to an Irishman?”
“Absolutely NOTHING, Gina! Maybe bad mashed potatoes, I don’t know.” Gina broke out in a belly laugh. “Is it that bad, Charlie?”
“Look, Gina, my mother would never have gone down in history as a gourmet cook. She was the ‘here, eat it if you want to’ type. She had some favorite recipes that she picked up from those TV programs that teach you how to make a Christmas tree table centerpiece with a pineapple. You know what I mean?”
Gina laughed again. “How did you manage to acquire a taste for good food, Charlie?”
Charlie laughed, “First it was the Army. It was an improvement over Mom’s cooking. I figured if the Army could cook better than Mom, there must be more out there worthy of taste. When I came back from the service and joined Shaw, I went out to some nice restaurants and cultivated a taste for good food. Unfortunately, Mary Jo thought pots and pans were kitchen decorations. She couldn’t boil water without burning it!”
“Poor Charlie, gastronomically challenged! Never more my darling. If you promise not to get fat, I will feed you the food of Roman gods! OK?”
“Word of honor!”
Charlie was at a bit of a loss for what to do next. He was so used to going out with Gina that he wondered if she expected it. “Gina, you want to go out somewhere?”
“Why, Charlie? Aren’t you settled in yet? Would you feel better if we went out? I’m perfectly content to watch a movie on TV or just sit and talk with you. But if you want to go somewhere we can.”
“No, actually I kind of wondered if you expected to go out. We always did.”
“That was before you had a key to this place and had your clothes in the closet. I’m more than happy just to curl up on the couch with your arm around me and watch a movie. You’re the first man to enter this apartment and I’d like to know what’s it’s like to sit with my man and just watch the tube.”
“OK, let me show you”, Charlie said.
Neither saw very much television as Charlie told Gina about his week and what conclusions he had reached. “You were right about my life changing, Gina. As soon as everyone knows that you are mine, I am certain that people will relate to me differently. I’m sure that some things like losing a government security clearance is a distinct possibility. That would put a ceiling above me in terms of my moving up in the company. More likely, it would cost my job.”
“I was sure of that, Charlie. I’ve seen what my uncle went through. Are you really prepared for all of that?”
“Gina, for the first time in my life, I had to ask myself ‘what did I really want from life?’ For the first time I looked around me and saw just how sterile my life had become. Bowling on Wednesday, softball practice or games on Saturday, work around a psychotic boss who would fire me in an instant if he could – regardless of how well I do my work. I asked myself if the company would fire me if you and I got together or I lost my security clearance and I figured I probably would get the ax. It wouldn’t be fair but it would be likely. I work for a corporation, not a bunch of friends. The company would drop me in a flash if it thought its interests were at risk. My father’s service wouldn’t matter. My years of honest service wouldn’t either. I was just used to going to work, doing my job as well as I could, and not looking around me. I also took a close look at my friends. I love them all dearly, but they all have wives and children to go home to. They have things to talk about and someone to talk to. I don’t. I didn’t think about it much until I met you. But I miss talking to you, being around you, and coming home to someone.”
“I didn’t want to say anything that would seem like I was trying to influence your decision. I knew your life was sterile. I saw how you enjoyed yourself with my friends and at the events we went to together. It was pretty clear that you were starved for interesting company and things to do. You had just isolated yourself. But I could not in good conscience talk to you about any of that without thinking th
at I was manipulating you into what you might regret later.”
“I love you for that, Gina. I arrived at my conclusions on my own steam. I am as certain as I was before about us. If I have to find a job somewhere else I’ll do it. If we have to move to Seattle to have peace, I’ll move. I might have a problem with a place like Ohio, but even if we have to go there, I’m game. I was only hanging around the Shaw Corporation because it was a comfortable niche. It was better than working in a strange environment and having to claw my way to the top. At Shaw it was easy for me because a lot of people knew my father. Maybe even some of them felt guilty because he died on the job. He lived for the company and he busted his butt to help build it, at least insofar as he was able. I never had any reason to question what I was doing until we met. Gina, the truth of the matter is, I don’t give a shit what I have to do to be with you. I’ll do it! I have to admit that I don’t have the slightest idea how to talk to your uncle, but I’ll figure it out by the end of the week. I keep telling myself that he puts his pants on, one leg at a time. I know he does and at the right time I will be ready.”
“Charlie, I’m speechless. I think you are fantastic. You know what you want and you sure as hell know how to go about getting it. You’ll do just fine with my uncle.”
They watched television for a while longer and then went to bed. Charlie made love to her again and they fell asleep in each other’s arms.
Wednesday morning Charlie woke up at the usual 6:30. He wandered sleepily into the bathroom, almost losing his way in the new environment. While he was brushing his teeth, Gina got up and started making coffee. Gina’s coffee was European style – strong. Charlie liked it. He thought to ask Gina for the name of the brand she purchased, but he remembered that he could have it every day if he simply came back to the apartment at night. Then he remembered that he would not be able to stay at Gina’s place every night. He would have to first talk to her uncle and then work out his strategy for being with Gina. He couldn’t just leave Shoreville and move in with Gina. He couldn’t announce a new love in his life – not yet. He needed to think about what to do because he was not going to lose his job and depend on Gina and her uncle to support the house. Charlie would not live that way no matter how much money Gina had. He was proud and he would be the man of the house and the provider.
He showered and dressed and made his way to the kitchen. Gina had fresh fruit, cereal, and her strong coffee with fresh cream. Charlie was used to a couple of pieces of toast and instant coffee swallowed quickly as he went out to his car. He sat down to the table and Gina came over and kissed him. “Good morning, Mr. Mullins. You look nice and buttoned up this morning. You’re so handsome in your executive costume.” Gina smiled at him.
“Costume it is, Gina. It’s a uniform. We’re part of the army of corporate bureaucrats – ‘corpocrats’ is the word I have heard before.”
“Well, you’re handsome in your armor, Charlie.”
“Thanks, baby.” Charlie finished his breakfast, kissed Gina tenderly and said, “Gina, look, I’m going to have to go to Shoreville tonight. It’s Wednesday and league night at the bowling alley. I don’t want to start that stuff about following me around again.”
“I know, Charlie, I understand. Once we have talked to my Uncle Carlo and he has given us his blessing, we will figure out what to do. Now go off to work and have a nice day thinking about me.”
“I’ll call you from home tonight. I love you.” He kissed Gina and went to the elevator to get his car in the garage.
XVII
Charlie continued his work on the operating department draft budget revisions. He would have them ready for submission to the department heads by Friday. He worked through lunch, picking up a sandwich and a soft drink from a vending machine. He left at the usual 5-o-clock and went home. The traffic was heavy as usual at that time. He got home an hour later and got out his bowling gear. He quickly fixed a microwave frozen meal. He always bought a few frozen meals for when he just didn’t feel like cooking something, and today he did not feel like cooking. At 7:30 he got into his car and headed for the bowling alley.
All the guys in the league were there. Art Samuels yelled to him, “Hey Mullins! How ya doin’. We gonna win tonight?”
“You bet, Artie! I’m ready to rock and roll!” Charlie yelled back.
“Hey, Charlie,” Tony Mazza said, “you up for it tonight?”
“Couldn’t be better, Tony. Let’s kick butt!”
He saw Bill Gallagher and Bob Simms and waved to them. He was in a good mood and after seeing that he was not being followed any more he was no longer upset with Bill and Bob. It wasn’t their fault anyway. “Hey guys,” Charlie said.
“Charlie,” Bill Gallagher approached him, “I thought you might not make it tonight.”
“Why is that, Bill? I almost always show, don’t I?”
“Well, Sharon said she thought you might be sick or something.”
“Why would she think that, Bill? I’m just fine, as you can see.”
“Well, she said you didn’t even turn on your lights at home last night.”
“Oh shit!” thought Charlie, “are we back to that crap again?”
“Sharon was watching my house, Bill?”
“Oh no, Charlie, she just said she drove by your place on the way back from the supermarket and it was dark as a tomb.”
Charlie’s house was not on the way to the Gallagher’s from the supermarket. “Bill, is Sharon getting antsy about my life again?”
“God no! I put her in her place after you and I talked. No, she just made a comment. I think she was just worried that you might be sick, that’s all. You know, flu going around and all that.”
“OK, Bill. Well just tell her you saw me and I’m fine and not to worry about me. OK?”
“Will do, Charlie, will do.”
“A fat lot of good your talk did, Bill!” Charlie said to himself, “She didn’t have to go by my house last night. She’s still got her nosy ass in a fit. I’m going to have to keep watching.”
They bowled and lost that night. When the evening was over, they all went for pizza and beer and to talk about what they did wrong. Tony Mazza looked at Art Samuels, “Shit, Artie, what happened tonight? If you had just bowled two more strikes we would have taken those guys!”
“Ah, hell Tony, I guess I’m just in a slump. To tell the truth, I was thinkin’ that I have to start painting the house this weekend. I hate that shit! Just thinking about it drives me nuts.”
Tony laughed, “Wow, that’s the first time I ever heard that a guy would bowl a lousy game because he has to paint his house!”
“Aw, c’mon, Tony, it wasn’t a lousy game, I was just a little off, that’s all. Old Charlie here had a damned good night, though.”
Charlie smiled and took a sip of his beer. “Yeah I guess I was on my game tonight.”
“Hey Charlie!” It was Mildred calling from the bar, “you need anything tonight?”
“Thanks anyway, Mildred. Would you respect me in the morning?”
“God, I hope not!” and she laughed heartily.
The group broke out laughing. Tony Mazza leaned over to Charlie and said, “Charlie, that broad is so horny, she must be the best piece of ass in town.”
“Thanks Tony, but I don’t need problems and Mildred would be one.”
Tony laughed, “Boy, you got that right. Three husbands! Must be some kind of hysteria surrounding her!”
“Yeah, and you want to throw me into it? Thanks, Tony!” They both laughed.
Charlie was light throughout the evening but observant, particularly of Bill Gallagher and Bob Simms. He was sure that their wives would once again start invading his privacy. They were like guerrilla fighters who would go to ground when necessary only to surface later and catch the “enemy” by surprise.
* * * * *
Thursday morning Charlie left the house half-an-hour earlier than usual in case his “spotters” might be waiting for him. He was apprehensive
again after Bill Gallagher’s comment at the bowling alley. He was only going to work, but he did not want the aggravation of being followed around. He drove to the bridge and over to Wilmington without incident. This night he would drive up to Philly and stay with Gina.
Charlie poured himself into the draft budget revisions and got them finished by the end of the day – one day sooner than necessary. On Friday he would make sure there were no omissions or errors and have them all delivered to the operating department heads. If they needed the time, they would have the weekend as well as all of next week to prepare for their meetings with Fred Perkins. He called Gina’s apartment and left a message on her answering machine that he would be going to the apartment after work.
He left the office punctually at 5 pm and watched carefully for Sharon Gallagher’s car as he walked to the parking lot. The coast was clear so he headed toward I-95 and Philly. When he checked his rear view mirror he again saw a car following him but it was not Sharon’s. Two women were in the vehicle. He slowed and the car behind him slowed. He passed a truck and the car behind him did the same. He was being followed again. As before, he got off in Chester and did evasive maneuvers. The car exited behind him. Again, he noted the license number. He thought he recognized the car, but he was not sure.
He lost his surveillance again in Chester and this time, instead of picking up the Chester Pike, he went back on I-95 by doubling back on his route. The trailing car was nowhere in sight and he headed to Philly. When he arrived to Gina’s building he entered the basement parking garage. Gina was already home and this time he let himself in with his key.
“Gina!” he called.
“In the kitchen, Charlie, I’m fixing dinner.”
He walked into the kitchen and kissed Gina. “Hello, beautiful. I’ve missed you if even for just a day. How are ya?”
Gina turned away from the pot she was stirring and kissed him back. “Doin’ fine. I’m making some minestrone. I figured you might not want pasta every day so you could keep your dashing figure and avoid accumulating too much ‘prosperity’. Is that OK? I also got some good Italian bread from the bakery. Why don’t you open a bottle of wine while you’re standing there watching me. I hate to see a man idle!”
