“What are you saying?” asked Tony, looking puzzled.
Dan spoke up. “I think Nick might be right. Renata cares for you. I would be concerned how she would react to Stacy as well. Stacy can spread poison like nobody’s business.”
“What am I to do?”
“Call Renata and talk to her,” suggested Simon.
Tony grinned. “I have a better idea—”
* * *
The next morning, around ten, the receptionist paged Renata to let her know there was a customer waiting to see her. She glanced at her appointment book. No names. But sometimes people just showed up, and that was fine. She saved the work she was doing on her laptop and closed the lid as the someone knocked on the partially open door.
“Come in.” She stood to move around her desk to greet the customer.
Tony walked in with a bouquet of flowers and a manila envelope.
Renata stopped and dropped the hand she was about to extend, eyes wide in shock. “Tony? Why aren’t you at work? Don’t you have food prep to do? The restaurant opens in an hour.”
“I had more important business, and I’m reforming my ways after someone told me I worked too much. I have other employees managing things.”
“Please come in and be seated.” Renata took a deep breath as she moved back to her chair and lowered herself into it, hugging her sling in front of her.
“So this is where you spend your days?” Tony glanced around the room with avid interest before seating himself.
“Mostly here, sometimes at corporate in Bayshore.”
“Cool.”
“What can I do for you?”
“Well, first you can take these roses. I bought them for you because I wanted to, and you are the prettiest girl I know.” Tony’s cheeks turned red.
Interesting, Renata thought.
Renata took the roses and inhaled. “Thank you. They are beautiful.” She laid them to the side. “I’ll get water for them in a little bit. Now, what has brought you here?”
“A couple of things, but here...these are my current investments, and I would appreciate you taking a look at them and giving me advice on whether I’m adequately diversified or if there are other changes I should consider making to my portfolio.” He handed a thick manila envelope to her.
She received it and set it down on the desk. “Are you sure you want me to open this?”
Tony nodded.
She considered him. It was one thing to look at someone’s portfolio when she didn’t know them, but the portfolio of someone she had dated? Someone she loved? Was it unethical? She had no other representative to refer him to at this office. It was not a conflict of interest to look. She licked her lips, flipped the end open, and slid out a stack of statements. She sat back in her chair to peruse the contents as Tony sat and watched. After several minutes had passed, she spoke. “I must say Tony, I’m impressed. You have a diverse portfolio, and I’m familiar with many of these funds and stocks. You’ve actually weathered this economic downturn well. You’ve taken losses, sure, but everyone has.”
“Any recommendations?”
“You might want to increase your input into retirement type funds. You can get a tax break for those, but you would need to see your accountant for a better idea of what would work best for you.”
“That’s it?”
She shrugged.
“You are not going to sell me anything?”
“No, Tony, I’m not. I’m not sure who set these up for you or advised you but, in my opinion, you are far ahead of most men your age.” She put the papers in a neat stack, inserted them back into the envelope, and handed it back to him.
“I have something else I wanted to talk to you about, too, if you don’t mind?”
“I have time right now. We’re fine.”
“Stacy is back in town.”
“I heard and saw on Sunday. Stephanie pointed her out after first service.”
Tony leaned his head back and groaned. “Don’t tell me you saw her doing the full body press and hanging all over me like a clinging vine?”
Renata smiled sadly and avoided making eye contact. “Yes, that is pretty much what I saw. How did the encounter go?” She glanced at him and saw him grimace.
“Torture. She thinks she can strike back up with me. She divorced the guy she had run off with and wants to take up where she left off.”
Why hadn’t she considered that, by stepping aside, she had opened the door for any woman to snatch him up? She gulped. “What do you want, Tony?”
“Don’t ask the question if you are not sure you want to hear the answer.”
“I’m still asking.” Renata dug her nails into the palms of her hands over what the answer might be but was determined to accept it, regardless. Her eyes rose to look at his, filled with unasked questions.
Tony leaned forward and met her gaze. Renata thought she had never seen his eyes look so intense. “I want you.”
“You want me. For what?”
Tony laughed. “I want you. By my side, laughing at my jokes, riding on the back of my bike with your arms around me. I want you sassing back to me as princess to my pirate. I want your face to be the first I wake up to in the morning and the last thing I see at night. I want to be able to kiss you, on the lips, any time I want to.”
Renata felt heat rise in her cheeks. She placed a hand over her heart. “What exactly are you saying, Tony?”
“I don’t want Stacy. I want to be safely married to you. I need you to protect me from her.”
Renata laughed. “Well, now there’s a great reason to marry. Come on, Tony, seriously now.”
“Is that a ‘no?’”
“Yes.”
“You are saying ‘yes’?”
“No.”
“I’m confused.”
Renata laughed. “Listen, Tony, I’m flattered you would say all those things. To be honest, they resonate so much with my heart it hurts. You and I know we are not ready for that step. Not yet. Don’t let Stacy force you to make rash decisions.”
“She’s brutal. I’m not going to group tonight to avoid her. Skip with me?”
“What would we do?”
“I don’t know. I’ll think of something if you will only trust me?”
“Are you trying to keep Stacy and me from meeting face to face?”
“No, I’m trying to keep you from whatever lies she may spread about her fantasies regarding a future with me.”
Renata smiled. “I hope I would know you better than to believe those kinds of lies.”
“I don’t want you hurt.”
“That’s sweet of you, Tony.”
“So a date, tonight? Just you and me?”
How could she resist the appeal in those dark eyes? Eyes she had missed so much in these past few weeks. “Okay. I’m game. You’ve been good the past few weeks at giving me space and I never meant I didn’t want time with you too—”
“Five thirty?”
“Sure.” She smiled as he jumped up and ran around the desk to give her a hug. She pried him loose. “You realize, Tony, the staff in the lobby can see us? Even though the blinds are partially levered. Please, let’s not make a scene here. My boss might not think kindly of the situation.”
Tony gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, grinned, and was gone.
Renata picked up the roses and wondered.
What have I just done?
CHAPTER TWENTY
At five thirty, Tony knocked on Renata’s apartment door. She opened and smiled as she grabbed her purse to go. They walked to the front door and heard a little voice from up the stairs.
“Hiya, hunk, long time, no see. Did you miss me?”
“Hi, Edith, of course I did.” Tony winked at Renata and took the stairs two at a time to bring himself to Edith’s side. “How can I serve you, milady?”
Edith smiled, her graying teeth looking even more so with the bright red lipstick she wore. She pointed to her cheek. “I’ll take one right here, ple
ase.”
Tony leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
“Oh, dearie, thank you!” She giggled and purred as she made her way unsteadily back to her apartment. She blew Tony a kiss as she shut the door.
He glanced at Renata struggling to contain her laughter. They ran out to the car and, once inside, they looked at each other and burst out laughing.
“Have there been any ninjas lately?”
Renata dried a tear from her laughter. “No, not lately. Poor thing has to be lonely. No family, only a social worker to visit with. You made her month, I think.” She smiled at him.
Tony’s smile faded as he looked into her eyes in the dark of the night. “I’d rather be making your month. Your year. Your life.”
Renata buckled herself and became businesslike. “Where are you taking me?”
“I thought dinner would be nice.”
“Well, I brought my appetite. What restaurant?”
“That, my dear, is a secret.” Tony put the car in gear, headed toward the highway, and followed it until Interstate 94 veered to the left toward downtown and Lake Michigan. He drove through various downtown streets until he found a parking space. He exited and came around to help her out. Tony walked her down the street, holding an arm around her waist so she would be close. He steered her down an alley and came to a door with nothing indicating what it was for.
“Tony? Where are we going?”
“We are spies, seeking a safe house. Food’s basic hamburgers, but the environment is very James Bond. I thought it would be fun.”
They walked in to face interrogation by the person at a small desk in a tiny room. No, they didn’t know the password. Sure, they would both try to pat their heads, rub their tummies, and march in a circle all at once. This was even more challenging with Renata’s sling. When they had finished, they couldn’t stop laughing. Their performance satisfied the agent, and they traveled through a dark hallway to a door leading into the bar area, where everyone applauded. Renata and Tony both laughed. They were seated, ordered their burgers, fries, and drinks, and talked.
“I wanted to thank you for being honest with me a few weeks ago. I’ve been thinking about what you said, and you are right.”
“What was I right about? I thought I had said way too much.”
“You told me my work and family were taking too much of my life. My mom had warned me not to make my work my god but, when I thought and prayed about your words as well, I realized maybe I had made my family a god. They advise me on everything. They’ve tried to keep pushing us together and tell me how to live my life. Kind of humbling to be twenty-eight and realize I’m still tied to my mamma’s apron strings in many ways. You are right. It does not bode well for a marriage.”
“That had to be painful to consider.”
“In some ways, yes. I announced to my family that I was making changes at work and in my private life. They, of course, wanted to know ‘what changes?’ I told them I was prepared to buy out every single one of their portions of the business, including my father’s. They balked at this, but I made generous offers, and soon their spouses were encouraging them to let go so they, too, could have more family time.”
“You are buying them out?”
“Yes.”
“You are the sole owner now?”
“I will be when the paperwork goes through in the next couple of weeks.”
“Can you afford to do this?”
“It won’t be easy. I had to cash in some of my investments, what you saw today was what I had left.”
“Wow.”
“There’s more.”
“More?”
“Yeah, I fired my brother and all my siblings as well. None of them work at De Luca’s anymore.”
“You fired your family? Even your dad?
Tony nodded. “Even Dad, although he’s been considering retirement for a while anyway.”
“Who is doing your books?”
“I’ve got a young woman who comes in three times a week to do the major work. I’ve hired more workers to keep things going when I’m not there, like tonight. I promoted a few to assistant managers, including Stephanie. I think she’s giving up her day job.”
“Tony, that’s wonderful! How has your family been taking this?”
“They’ve grumbled, especially as I’ve not been calling and texting them all the time. I’ve been missing more Sundays as well. Okay, only two since we last talked.”
“How does that feel?”
“Actually, quite freeing.” Tony grimaced and put a hand to his stomach.
“Are you sick?”
“Just a weird twinge in my gut, I’ve had them a few times today.”
“Hurts?”
“Sharp stabbing pain.”
“Maybe you should see a doctor?” Anxiety welled up within her.
Tony shrugged. “I’ll be fine and, if it gets worse, I will.”
“All right, if you insist.”
“How’s your elbow?”
“I’m about a week from being free of the sling. Generally, it feels good, but I cannot use it to carry any weight, and the sling is more there to keep me from undoing the healing. It will be nice to be able to get my coat fully on, though. It’s been a long, cold winter.”
“True.”
“Tony?”
“Yeah, Ren?”
“Will you forgive me if I hurt you when we met last?”
“I already have. I’m grateful. I was surprised, too.”
“About what?” The burgers and French fries had come, and they were getting ready to dig into them. Renata dipped one french fry in ketchup and placed it in Tony’s mouth. He chewed it.
“I was surprised at how much you have grown and changed since you moved here.”
“Me? How?”
“You’ve become surer of yourself. You don’t hide anymore. You are more willing to engage in conversation with others.”
“Probably because I know them now. Remember, when I moved I only knew Stephanie.”
“True. I want to apologize if my hovering was keeping you from spreading your wings. I often thought of you as my little wren, but now I wonder if you aren’t more of a colorful butterfly.”
“I’m not a butterfly. I’m only comfortable with those I’ve known a while. New people scare me.”
“I guess that’s understandable.”
Renata had taken a bite of her burger and chewed. After she swallowed, she continued. “I do think I’ve come a long way from being defined by my past. It’s still there. I have newspaper clippings I could show you. But, more and more, I’m beginning to believe what God’s word says about me. My Bible study group has been good for me. And Mary Beth as well. I am blessed to be a part of this church. A bunch of imperfect people who sometimes mess up but, with grace and love, keep moving forward, loving God and each other. It’s messy at times, but in so many ways it is beautiful.”
“I agree, probably why I love being a part of Orchard Hill Church.”
* * *
After dinner they escaped the restaurant through a secret passageway that had them giggling and laughing as they twisted and turned and ended up in an alley. They stepped into the blast of cold, and Tony had another sharp pain, this one doubling him over.
“Tony, how bad is it? On a scale of one to ten?”
“Maybe a five?”
“Can you walk?”
“Sure, give me a minute.” His breath was shallow, and he gritted his teeth.
Renata put her hand on his forehead. “You have a fever.” She put her right arm around him for support, but could see the pain contorting his face. “It’s not going away is it?”
“No.” He grit his teeth.
“Let’s get you to the car.” They made their way slowly down the alley with Tony leaning against Renata, who struggled to keep him upright. She was certain if he lay down he would be there to stay.
They reached the car, and Tony fumbled with the keys. Renata insisted he get in th
e passenger seat, and she got in on the driver’s side. Tony groaned again and leaned over, clutching his side. Renata buckled up and remembered she had never driven a stick shift.
“Tony?”
“Yeah.”
“Um, can you tell me what I’m supposed to do here? I don’t know how to drive a manual.”
“Get out and let me drive.”
“No, either I drive, or I call 911 for an ambulance. Your choice.”
“Fine, push the clutch in with your left foot. Yes. Now start the car.” The car hummed to life, and she cranked the heat. From there she managed to jerk the car onto the road. It died at the first stoplight, and the car shuddered hard with the shifting of gears, accompanied by Tony’s groans of pains as he leaned against the window, clutching his mid-section.
She found it challenging to navigate a stick shift with an arm in a sling, but she persevered. They hit the highway toward Menomonee Falls and the Emergency Room there. That part of the ride was smooth. She couldn’t avoid the rough starts and stops and shifting when she got into town. She drove up to the entrance, and the car died. She ran around the car to help Tony out.
“I’m going to be sick.”
“It’s all right, Tony.” She placed an arm on his back as he proceeded to throw up on the pavement next to the car. When he had finished, Renata rushed in to get a wheelchair and brought Tony in, pushing more with her waist than her arms. He soon had the attention of a doctor. Renata parked the car and sat in the waiting area. The doctor came to see her.
“Hi, I’m Dr. Reynolds. You are Tony’s friend?”
“Yes, Renata Blake, nice to meet you. How is Tony?”
“He is in serious condition. We did a CT scan of his abdomen and are prepping him for surgery. His appendix burst.”
Renata covered her mouth with her hand. “Can I go see him?”
“Only for a few minutes. He’s already been sedated.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
She was ushered into a small room and rushed over to the bed. “Tony. Surgery. Are you all right?”
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