Pesto and Potholes

by Baganz, Susan M. ;

  “Sure.” Renata crumpled up the tiny fortune and threw it in the garbage. She shivered in distaste.

  Stephanie stifled a giggle. “It says, ‘Be a generous friend and a fair enemy.’” She flexed a bicep. “Watch out, men. You mess with Renata, and you’ll answer to me.” She growled and made a silly face.

  Tears of laughter flowed from the two women as the sun set, and they joked about television characters from old shows.

  * * *

  Tony entered his parents’ home, lugging the large laundry bag from the restaurant, and went to the washing machine to start a load. He could smell Mom’s signature spaghetti sauce simmering in the kitchen. Home. It smelled wonderful. He finished as small arms wrapped themselves around his leg.

  “Uncle Tony! Up!”

  Tony looked down to see his niece, all of two years of age and with large hazel eyes staring up at him under a mop of curly red hair. She had a big grin, and he bent down to pick her up.

  “Annalise, how’s my favorite girl?”

  Annalise giggled and gave him a big hug and kiss. “I’m your girl, Uncle Tony. Mama says you need a wife, an’ I gonna marry you.” Another kiss followed, and Tony put his face into her neck and blew loudly, causing the little girl to squeal and wiggle in his arms. Laughing, he set her down and squatted to her level.

  “You are going to be a beautiful woman someday, Annalise, and by the time you grow up enough to marry, I’ll be old and decrepit, and you’ll prefer some handsome young man. Thank you, though, for offering to save me from my bachelorhood.”

  Annalise looked at Tony with her eyes scrunched, and her forehead wrinkled in thought. “What derpt mean?”

  “Decrepit? Hmmm, old, worn out, broken down—”

  “Oh.” Annalise smiled and skipped out of the laundry room as fast as her little legs could carry her. “Mama, Uncle Tony gonna marry me when he decrept.” Tony laughed as he followed her to the kitchen where Mom and Ginger were.

  He greeted his mother with a kiss and a bear hug. He dipped his finger into the sauce to taste it, earning himself a whack with her wooden spoon. He grinned. “Mama, you make the best sauce this side of the Atlantic.”

  “Go on with you.” She laughed and swatted at him. “The boys are out in the back making up a game of football. Go join them and work off some mischief.”

  “Aye, aye, Mama.” He scooted out the side door to the yard where they traditionally played football.

  “Tony!” Paul walked up to him and gave him a hardy pat on the back, “What’d you think of Renata? Your sisters are already scheming to get you two hitched.”

  Tony groaned. “Not again. When I find the right girl, I’ll be glad to let them advocate for me. I only met Renata this morning. For Pete’s sake, give me some breathing room here.”

  “Did I hear my name taken in vain?” Peter was married to Tony’s sister, Ginger.

  “Yes, I hear the womenfolk are meddling in my love life again,” said Tony, rolling his eyes and giving his brother-in-law a strong handshake.

  “What love life would that be, Tony?” asked Michael, another brother-in-law who had to duck out of the way when Tony aimed his fist to tap Michael’s shoulder. Michael was married to Gianna, the twin of Ginger. Both Paul and Michael’s families exploded at the same rate, each father proudly boasting six kids.

  Alexandr came up behind Tony and grabbed him at his waist with one arm while giving him a nuggie on his head with the other. “Hey, little brother, you up for me trouncing you in football?”

  “Better to lose at football than at love, heh, Tony?” said Paul, laughing and running away as Tony chased and tackled him to the ground. They chose sides, with Nicholas, the eldest son of Peter and Ginger, age eleven, permitted to join in and even out the teams.

  The game lasted over an hour, and the men straggled into the kitchen, hot, sweaty, and covered with grass stains. Tony watched his siblings greet their respective spouses, and he experienced a pang of jealousy. At times like this, he wanted to curse Stacy for the way she’d left him for another man before their wedding. The dream of love he saw with his siblings could have been his. Here he was, in the midst of it all...alone. He thought he’d be over the pain by now.

  The younger children dragged Tony into the larger living room. He flopped as though dead on the carpeted floor, with as many kids as could manage it heaped on top of him. “Monkey pile!” they yelled and giggled as Tony grunted, pretended to be hurt, and tickled the children who got closest to his hands. Soon the pile toppled over, as gently as Tony could manage it, to the delight of all before they jumped on him again.

  Mr. DeLuca said grace and they finally started eating. Tony remained quiet through the boisterous meal. Of course, in his family, someone had to have a strong desire to say something if they wanted to be heard among the rabble. His sister, Gabby, shared about his upcoming “outing” with Renata, and Tony endured the teasing from the guys. He glared at his sisters, who told him how to hook this girl for a wife. Suggestions of chocolate and flowers and cards abounded. When the meal ended, he sighed with relief. After he collected the clean restaurant laundry and hauled it to his car, he returned to give his mom and dad a hug goodbye, and took off for his apartment.

  Tony washed his own load of dirty clothes when he got home in the complex’s basement laundry facility. A few quarters spent, and he would have the clean clothes he needed for the week. While waiting for the load to finish, he sat in his apartment and flipped channels on the television.

  I have over one hundred channels. Why can’t I find anything of interest to watch?

  He turned off the TV in frustration and pulled out his laptop to log on and check his Facebook account and e-mails. He leaned back in his favorite chair, smiling as he read posts by friends and responded to a few. It took time to clean up his e-mails, with most of them going to the recycle bin. The clothes made it to the dryer, and by nine o’clock he had them all folded and put away. Tony flopped into his bed and thought about his day.

  He enjoyed his family. He reflected on all the silly, cute things his nieces and nephews had said. He found their perspective refreshing. He remembered the football game and smiled at the fun he’d had with the guys as he rubbed muscles that would be sore tomorrow.

  The memory of Renata rose before him. What a unique name. Ren-a-ta. It sounded like a song. Her blue eyes were spectacular, brought out by the blue sweater she had worn. She acted shy, but their church was large and new to her so he could understand that.

  But why the reluctance to mention what she did before coming to this area?

  She puzzled him. Her melodic voice fit with her pretty, heart-shaped face. Tony shook his head at his fanciful thoughts. Soon he’d stray into thoughts he shouldn’t have. Renata was another sister in Christ, someone to introduce around so she would be comfortable. He had learned his lesson the hard way with Stacy. He would keep his distance. In spite of that, he looked forward to Thursday night.

  CHAPTER TWO

  It had been a dreary, rainy week. Renata hoped they would cancel the Thursday night bonfire due to wet weather. Thursday, however, dawned bright and clear, with a brisk, cool breeze to dry up the moisture of the previous days. Tony texted her.

  Looking forward to tonight. Dress warm. See ya @6:30 Tony

  Renata had never had a cell phone before her move to Milwaukee. Stephanie had convinced her it was vital and had shown her all the features. It overwhelmed her, and texting was new. She managed to reply.

  Got it—see ya. Ren

  She smiled because he had cared enough to contact her. She assumed the restaurant business could be crazy hectic, at least from what Stephanie shared. Anticipation replaced anxiety.

  Renata paced outside on the front patio. She wore jeans and her red corduroy shoes, as well as a shirt and sweatshirt. It wasn’t due to be a cold night, but there was a chill in the air.

  Tony pulled up in a gray sedan, and she was surprised a striking man like him drove such a practical car. It was
several years old but in good condition. Her opinion of him rose. He didn’t waste money on trying to impress others with material things.

  She smiled as Tony walked up to the building. She admired his build and confidence. Stephanie was right. This was a man she could trust. She needn’t fear with Tony by her side. Tony didn’t see her at first, but when he noticed her, he grinned and strode across the grass.

  “Hey, Renata. You ready?”

  She leaned forward and took a loud sniff.

  Tony raised an eyebrow.

  “Hmmmm, garlic. I wanted to make sure I was safe from vampires tonight.” She grinned.

  Tony laughed and said in a spooky voice. “Oh, but sweetheart, this is not the season for vampires. They are more eager for blood in the spring.” He stepped aside, and she came up next to him as he walked her to his car. He opened the passenger door and shut it behind her once she settled inside.

  This is what it’s like to be treated like a lady.

  She looked at Tony when he got in and buckled up. “Thank you.”

  He turned on the car and glanced over at her. Wrinkles marred his forehead and, combined with a crooked grin, gave him an adorable look of confusion. “For what? I haven’t done anything yet.”

  Renata smiled, but didn’t answer. She’d never driven a manual transmission before and admired how smoothly he shifted gears. They headed north past Germantown to the home out in the woods where they would spend the evening.

  “How was work today?” she asked.

  “Busy. We had a steady flow, including business meetings through the afternoon. The place was hopping when I left. Alexandr will have his hands full.”

  Renata watched Tony as he maneuvered through traffic heading north on Highway 41. “Alexandr is your brother?”

  “Yes, my older brother. He works as a mechanical engineer by day and moonlights at the restaurant when I need a night off. I try not to take advantage, but working Tuesday through Saturday from nine a.m. to at least ten or later each night can be a bit much sometimes, even though I love it. Pop takes care of the lunch prep on Wednesdays, so I can have brunch with my accountability group. Between work, church, my family, and an occasional trip to the Y, that’s pretty much my life.”

  “Stephanie said you’re a chef, and you manage the place?”

  “I am the primary chef and oversee personnel and scheduling. My pop does the books and helps out when he can, but he’s getting older, and I don’t want him working too hard.”

  “Sounds like you have a wonderful family,” said Renata, looking down at her hands. A cloud descended over her thoughts.

  “I’ve been blessed. You already met Gabby. She’s closest to me in age. In addition to Alex, who is the oldest, there are also Ginger and Gianna. They’re identical twins. All my siblings are happily married with children, and we see each other often. It’s crazy when all my nieces and nephews are around.” He chuckled. “I enjoy being Uncle Tony.”

  “Five of you? I’m one of five myself, but kind of stuck in the middle of the bunch. I am not close to my family.”

  “That’s sad. There were six of us. I had a younger brother, Alberto, who died at the age of four after a two-year illness. That was devastating. He was my buddy, and I was only six when he passed away. He had a rare disease that progressed fast and was hard to diagnose. My mom had a miscarriage around the time Bertie got sick and didn’t have any more kids after that.” Tony sighed. “Wow, I haven’t thought about Alberto in a while. I remember the entire house changed, and for a long time the laughter was gone. Eventually, it returned. I miss him. He was a great kid.”

  “I’m sorry. That must have been heartbreaking for all of you, especially your mom.” Grief was a constant companion of Renata’s. Tony’s attention was on the road. She hoped he didn’t notice as a tear snuck down her cheek. She wiped at it as she pretended to move her hair behind her ear.

  “It was. I don’t know if she ever got over it. I think she relives it every time one of her grandchildren hits the age of two, as she fears they show signs of the disease. Thankfully, none has. She is a proud grandmother of nineteen.”

  “Nineteen grandchildren? Christmas with your family must be like a zoo.”

  Tony laughed. “It is. A delightful laughter and love-filled zoo. I enjoy every minute of it.” Tony maneuvered the car off the highway and headed down a country road. “We are almost there. If you want to leave at any point, don’t hesitate to ask. I won’t mind.”

  “Did Stephanie talk to you?”

  He nodded. “She didn’t give away any secrets. I don’t want you uncomfortable for any reason. My job is to watch over you tonight.”

  “Thank you.”

  They arrived at the house and could see the flames from the fire down the path. Tony grabbed a flashlight and handed another one to Renata before getting out of the car and coming to her side to help her out. She shivered at the cooler air. The sun was setting, and she could make out the moon and stars. She stood by the car and stared up at the sky.

  “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” he whispered as he stood next to her.

  “Yes, it is.” She turned her head up to him and smiled.

  “Shall we go?” Tony nodded, and they headed up the path toward the clearing where others had gathered.

  Once they had passed through the trees the space opened up, Renata observed logs laid out in a wide circle around the fire, at a good distance from the flames. Tony touched her arm. She jerked away. He paused, hands up in surrender. “No harm. No foul. I just wanted to introduce you to a few people.” Renata took a deep breath.

  He’s not trying to hurt me!

  She nodded and let him lead her with his hand on her arm. “This is Pastor Dan Wink and his wife, Sharon. Dan is the Associate Pastor who works with the adult ministries at church. Dan, Sharon, this is Renata, she’s new to town. She’s Stephanie’s roommate.”

  “We’re glad you could join us. Here, let me introduce you to a few other women while the guys visit.” Sharon led her around, making introductions. A few were married or engaged, but most were single. Renata smiled in greeting to everyone and worked hard to remember names and faces, something she had never been good at.

  A shiver traversed her spine. She glanced around to see if someone watched her, but she couldn’t discover where the unease came from. Soon everyone was sitting on logs around the fire. She sat, and Tony took a spot next to her and smiled reassuringly at her. Pastor Dan brought out his guitar, and they sang worship songs before he opened up the discussion to talk about real life issues.

  Renata fidgeted. She continued to sense a malevolent stare, but when she looked over to the other side of the circle, where she thought it was coming from, she couldn’t figure out who was doing it. The darkness and the movement of the light from the dancing flames made it difficult to see faces. Maybe she was paranoid. Her pulse quickened, and her palms grew clammy. She leaned over to Tony. “I hear water. Is there a creek beyond those trees behind us?”

  “Yes,” Tony whispered back, “if you need space you could go there.”

  “I will.” Memories of childhood moments stolen to sit by a riverbank called to her to check it out. Renata grabbed her flashlight and made her way through a path in the trees until she reached the bank of the creek. The water gurgled over the rocks, and she could look up to the sky and gaze at the stars. The last of the sunlight was gone, and the sky was a deep blackish-blue. Stars shone brighter than any she had ever seen. She heard the rumble of voices from the bonfire. She sat in the grass with her back against a boulder.

  Putting her arms around her knees, she enjoyed the quiet and the movement of the water over the rocks. She practiced slowing her breathing as she silently prayed. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Her panic subsided, and peace washed over her. How hard had she fought to gain this kind of serenity? She sighed and closed her eyes to take in the sounds of the crickets singing.

  She never heard the sound of another person until it was too late. A h
and came over her mouth, and a whisper in her ear from behind demanded silence. Fear paralyzed Renata as her attacker’s alcohol-laden breath assaulted her nostrils. “Hi, beautiful. I knew you really wanted to come with me tonight. I had great plans for us, but that goody-two-shoes friend of mine spoiled it all. We know better, don’t we?”

  Bryan sank down in front of her, his hand still on her mouth. “You’ll be quiet?”

  Renata nodded, and he removed his hand. He leaned forward and placed his lips to hers and she bit his lip, spitting out the foul taste of beer and blood back in his face. “I never expressed any interest in you. How dare you attack me this way?” she hissed.

  “Like it rough, do ya? I looked you up on the Internet. Seems you aren’t as pure as you pretend. I like a woman with experience.” He backhanded her cheek, his ring drawing blood.

  Dizziness and nausea made it hard for her to think. He loomed over her as he pulled her to her feet by the hair at the nape of her neck. “Witch.” He mashed his lips to hers, and she struggled to repel him. She tried to kick him, but couldn’t aim high enough. She was too short. He toppled her backward against the rock and knocked the wind out of her. Her eyes widened, and he laughed as he put his full weight on top of her, straddling her legs.

  His hand replaced his lips. His voice was deep and sinister, even though he spoke in a whisper. “I saw you first at church. I wanted you then. I want you now. I get what I want.” He drew out a spring-loaded jackknife and turned it back and forth in front of her face before settling the tip at the side of her neck. “You are not going to make any noise. I know you want me, too. When I’m done, you’ll be bragging just how good it was and coming back for more.” His eyes were wild. She could hear the mumble of voices and occasional laughter from the other side of the trees. She whimpered as the knife broke her flesh at the neck, and warm blood trickled down and tickled her skin.

  The knife moved. Her shirt, sweatshirt, and even her bra, gave way under the sharp thrust as he brought it down, scraping her chest as it sliced her clothing like tissue paper. Cold air hit her exposed skin, even though her clothes did not leave more than a sliver open to the air. The knife came to rest back up by her neck as he started to unfasten his jeans. She closed her eyes in an effort to block out the horrid reality of what was happening.