I placed the flowers down beside her and kissed her cheek. She gave me a hug in return, and then I held her hand and tried not to be a pussy by crying. Frannie was like a second mom to me, and the thought of losing her hurt me.
“Hey, I’m fine. Between you and Thea, I don’t think I will ever be able to convince you otherwise.”
“Well, it’s only because you are very special and we want you to get well.”
“I am already well and going home tomorrow.”
“That’s wonderful news, Frannie. My mom is home from her trip tonight, and I’m happy that I will be able to give her good news.”
“Yeah, me too. So, let’s not beat around the bush. You look like shit, Nick, and that’s saying something since I’m the one here in a hospital bed. What has you so conflicted?”
“Am I that obvious?”
“Yes, you kind of are. Is this about Thea? I’m sure you know that she is here?”
“And with a fiancé too,” I added. “Yes, I know, Frannie, and I have seen her as well.”
I tried to keep the sarcasm to myself, but it slipped out before I could stop myself. Frannie was all too familiar with me and simply over talked me.
“He’s very nice, Nick. She’s happy.”
“It appears that way, but looks can be deceiving.”
“Now, now, that was beneath you, son. I expected more from you.”
“I’m sorry, Frannie. It’s been a crazy couple of weeks since the luncheon, and my head seems to be set on the spin cycle.”
“Before your mom left for her trip, she called me and told me what she had said to you. Oh, Nick, you have to know how sorry she is for filling your head with unresolved questions. You and my daughter were always so close but very different in other matters of the heart. I knew it, and so did Stella, but we both felt that you two would eventually find your way. Maybe if we would have had a heart-to-heart with you and Thea sooner, maybe some of the heartache could have been avoided.”
“It’s not your fault, Frannie, and it’s not my mother’s either. It’s mine and Thea’s. The more I think about it, the more I am coming to realize how different we truly are. The Nick I was back then should have trusted enough to let her in and share my plans with her. Why didn’t I do that?”
“She did the same thing to you, and unfortunately, she didn’t learn from her mistakes. They almost cost her the relationship she has now with Carter. She hasn’t shared everything with me yet, but I have a feeling seeing you again pushed her into realizing what she had and what she wanted to fight for. It’s no secret that we wanted the happy ending for you and Thea, but the point is that there is still time for you to be happy with someone else and to just live your life to the fullest. Living in the past and struggling with what you didn’t say or do will just lead to more heartache, resentment, and regret.”
“You know, Frannie, I was supposed to be cheering you up, not the other way around.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s a gift and I love you as my own.”
“I love you too, and I am happy you are better. Stay that way, okay?”
“Yes, sir! I will do my best.”
“I have to be on my way, I’m hoping to meet up with a friend before she heads home for the night.”
“Karen, is that whom you are referring to?”
“What is it with you? Do you have secret powers or something?”
“So little faith in your elders.”
“Forgive me, your knowledge is vast and extensive. Yeah, it’s Karen. She’s kind of great, you know?”
“I do. A word of advice?” she asked.
“Do I have a choice to decline?”
“No, you do not. Karen didn’t always have the easiest time, and through the years that has hardened her a bit, but not so much where she cannot soften when it comes to the right person. You could be the man that does that for her, so be gentle with that diamond in the rough. With the right tender loving care, you can be the one to smooth out all of her edges.”
I leaned down and kissed Frannie on top of her head, and then I whispered, ‘Thank you,” leaving her room and knowing exactly where I needed to be.
By the time I arrived at Delfino’s, the dinner rush had switched over to the afterhours crowd. New York never stopped, and neither did the patrons who had become my regulars. When I bought Delfino’s a few years back from Salvatore, the family’s patriarch, he made me promise I would never change the name and keep it in the neighborhood. It was a successful family-owned business for over twenty years, but when he could no longer run it the way he wanted, he made the hard decision to sell it. This place meant a lot to me growing up, and it was easy to honor his request. Of course, I had to make some changes to bring it up to code, but once I did, the place was always hopping.
Karen was moving at lightning speed from one end of the bar to another. Shit! I didn’t know we were shorthanded tonight, and what’s with the crowd in the back? I wondered as I lifted the sidebar to help her out.
“Hey, thanks for pitching in. I need seven beers for that group over there, and while you are at it, can you make me two Grey Goose Martinis,” she called out.
“Of course! I got it, and take a breath before you pass out.”
“Easy for you to say, boss. It’s been like this for over an hour.”
Once the bar was covered and I handed off all the drink orders, I asked Karen again why the back of the bar had been so crazy with customers. I mean, that corner only had a few booths alongside the pool table area.
“Hey, how are you?” I asked as I brought her closer for a kiss. She hesitated at first, which caused me to question her. “Do you need a roadmap to where your lips need to be?”
“No, but kissing you in the middle of your bar is making this real. I didn’t know we were telling people about us.”
“First off, thank you for saying ‘us,’ and second, we have been real since the beginning, and I will never settle for anything less. So please put your mouth on mine and enjoy it.”
After relaxing the way I needed her to be, she kissed me back in earnest, which only turned me on more.
“That’s better, babe. As happy as I am to be busy, it’s Tuesday night, so what gives with the crowd in the back?” I asked.
“The crowd has to do with the couple sitting in the back booth. They came in for dinner, and halfway through their meal, he was recognized, and it’s been shrills and screams ever since.”
“Holy shit! We have a celebrity in the house! That’s awesome. I hope you comped their drinks.”
“Nick, it’s not what you think.”
And before she could say anything else, I grabbed her hand and began making my way through the small lingering crowd that had formed in the back.
I called out, “Okay guys, let’s break this party up and let…”
Oh shit! I mouthed silently as my eyes zeroed in on the guy who was the reason for my increased bar sales tonight.
Karen had to nudge me in my ribs to bring me back, and when I found my voice, I simply said, “Let’s allow the couple to enjoy their dinner in peace. Hi, is there anything else I can get for you?”
Of course, he answered for the both of them.
“No, thank you, just the check please,” Carter said as he never took his eyes away from me and his hand tightened around Thea’s.
She smiled politely at me, and then before I made a bigger ass out of myself, I pulled Karen along with me and walked back over to the bar to total out their bill.
“Nick, are you okay?” Karen asked.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be? Um, let them know that their bill has been comped and to visit us again soon.”
I kissed Karen and then told her that I would be in my office. When I walked through the door, I never expected to see her tonight, and in my fucking place. I mean, Frannie spoke of moving on and letting the past remain where it belonged, but then when I did, that past was staring back at me in my fucking bar. Damn it to hell, I’m trying here, but every time
I take a step forward, I seem to fall ten steps back.
A few minutes later, someone was knocking on my door, no doubt Karen. But when I opened it, it was Thea.
“May I come in?” she asked.
I sighed and moved aside for her. She placed her purse down and took a seat in front of my desk. I poured myself a drink, and then sat back down behind the desk and watched her as I downed my scotch.
“Thank you for dinner. That was very kind of you.”
“You are welcome, but is that why you are really here? And where’s your fiancé? I’m surprised he let you out of his sight.”
“I can say the same about Karen. So…that’s new.”
“It is, and I’m very happy about it.”
“Well if that’s true, then I am happy for you and for Karen, but don’t tell her that.”
“It is true, I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t mean it.”
“Okay, I’ll be on my way. See you, Nick.”
“Thea, wait a minute. You seem to say ‘See you Nick’ a whole hell of a lot, and every time you do that, it fucking frustrates me to no end. Why haven’t you returned any of my phone messages? I mean, seriously? I care about Frannie, and once again you proved how fucking selfish you are by avoiding me and not giving me the courtesy of just one phone call to let me know if she’s okay or not. Don’t worry. I saw her myself tonight, so no need on the call now.”
“I’m sorry, Nick, I really am, but I guess all pleasantries and manners go out the window when faced with something as great as your mother almost dying. I have been in a complete fog since I arrived here last Saturday night, not knowing what would happen with my mom. And to answer your question, Carter is not happy that I sent him back to the house so I could come back here to speak with you, but he will get over it. I know I owe you a talk, and that would have been the first thing I should have said when I came in here, but once again, you jump to conclusions and berate me.”
“I’m sorry. How does tomorrow work for you? We can meet somewhere and talk.”
“Bryant Park, let’s say, noon for lunch?” she offered.
“Sounds good. I’ll see you there.”
“Carter, let’s go somewhere else,” I said before he parked the car.
“Nonsense, love. I overheard some of the nurses talking about this place. I’m told they make a killer Penne a la Vodka, and you can’t find a dish like that out in LA, so let’s give it a try.”
“Carter, what you do not know is that Delfino’s is Nick’s bar and restaurant. He owns it. I only discovered this myself last week, strictly by accident, so let’s go.”
“No, we are staying. Sooner or later, your ex is going to have to deal with seeing me with you. Now, I have been looking forward to this meal all day long, so let’s go, my love.”
His tone was the ending of our conversation. Carter helped me from the car and entwined his arm with mine. He may have wanted pasta, but he was still making it known to whomever would be watching who I belonged to.
Please, no drama tonight, I silently prayed as we stepped inside.
Just my luck, the first person that saw us was Karen, who was busy working behind the bar. I halfheartedly smiled and then guided Carter to the back of the restaurant where the few booths were located. This was the same table I sat at with Trudie when I was there last time. Carter removed his leather jacket and hung it on the hook at the edge of the booth. He made himself comfortable and right at home as if he was coming here for years. He started to read the menu and wanted to order appetizers.
“Get comfortable, love. I plan on taking my time with this meal,” he said as he smiled and went back to reading the menu.
I wasn’t going to begin this here, but something told me that Carter was enjoying this a bit too much for my liking. I picked up my menu, and for once, nothing looked appealing to me, but I decided on Chicken Marsala. I kept my head down low and rubbed my temples to try to ward off my headache that was coming on at full speed ahead. When I looked up at the familiar sound of the waitress taking our drink orders, it was Karen, looking just as uncomfortable as I was.
“Hi, Karen, how are you?” I asked.
“I’m well, and you?”
“I’ve seen better days, but I’ll be okay.”
“I heard about your mother from Nick, and I’ve been praying for her. Mom too. Frannie is good people; she will pull through.”
“Thank you for that, and she’s doing much better.”
“So before I take your drink orders, care to introduce me to your friend?”
No, not really, but now that you have captured Carter’s attention, I have no choice now.
“Of course, Karen, this is my fiancé, Carter Newbanks. Carter, this is Karen Lombardi, an old friend from school.”
Carter, with his impeccable manners, extended his hand out to her with his dazzling smile to match, and Karen looked surprised to hear who he was to me.
She said, “Pleasure to meet you, Carter. I kind of feel like I already know you from the nightly news. My mom is a big fan and always watches you.”
“It’s always nice to hear that I have fans in New York. I am very popular with the mothers.”
He winked over at me, referencing my mother and the crush she had on him.
She said, “Well, like I said, my mom is a fan. I tend to stick to NBC.”
“Ouch, that one hurt, but no worries. Lester Holt is a good man and friend. Now, if you are ready to take our order, I would love two Grey Goose Martinis.”
“Sure, coming right up.”
Please, just kill me now!
I said to Carter, “Wipe that grin off your face, will you please? You are enjoying this a bit too much.”
“Oh, come on, Thea. Where is your sense of adventure? Your friend is quite the animated character. If I didn’t know any better, she might just be poisoning your drink.”
“You never know, she could be doing the same to yours.”
“Fine by me. I will die happily with the woman I love!”
“You suck, you know that?”
“Not as good as you tend to do, my love, but hey, the evening is young.”
Karen delivered our drinks and then took our dinner order. By the time we were through with our first round, a small crowd began to form around us.
“OMG, shut the front door, you are Carter Newbanks, right?” a girl called out as she walked away from her friends at the billiards table.
Of course, my Carter turned on the charm and engaged her by answering her question. He signed her jacket for her, took a selfie, and then her friends joined in on the photo op. While he was busy entertaining his groupies, I moved past them and went to the ladies’ room. As I raised my head to check my appearance, Karen was standing behind me.
“Oh shit! You fucking scared me, Karen. Damn, make a noise next time.”
“Sorry, but I saw you come in here and wanted to clear the air with you.”
“Oh, and what about? I think you made it perfectly clear on how you feel about me, so why apologize now?”
“Okay, I deserved that, but Thea, you don’t exactly make liking you easy, especially when you act all high and mighty and think you are better than the rest of us.”
“I never believed that, and you shouldn’t either. I am me, Karen, and for some reason you never liked who I was and who I was friends with, so message received.”
“Thea, I know I am a bitch, but I never made that a secret, so fucking sue me for all I care. I just wanted to tell you that I am sorry for going off on you like I did. I was out of line. Trudie has been nothing but nice to me, and I didn’t treat her very nice either. I already apologized to her, and now it’s your turn. You make me crazy. Don’t ask me why, but you do, and now since I saw you last, a few things have changed, and I want to be honest with you before you hear it from someone else.”
“Okay, you have my attention.”
“I’m seeing Nick, as in I’m dating Nick, and we are seeing where it leads.”
; “I guess you finally have what you always wanted, so now I have a question for you. What makes you think that I care?”
“Because I see how he looks at you and how you look at him. I am not blind, Thea. It’s pretty obvious that you two still have feelings for one another. I just need to know how deep they run. I can’t pursue anything with him until I know what the score is and somehow I can even out the playing field.”
“In case you missed it, I am engaged, and I am very happy with my fiancé.”
“If that’s true, then what happened at the luncheon?”
“It was a mistake in judgment, one that I will not be making again. Look, Nick and I have some unresolved issues that need to be discussed, but I can’t tell you when that is going to happen. What I will tell you is that he is a great guy and should be cherished by the woman he trusts enough to give his heart to. Karen, I was not that girl—maybe I never was—but if it’s you, then I wish you well.”
“You really mean that? Even after all the mean stuff I said to you?”
“Hard to believe, right? But yes, I do mean it. If anyone deserves a win, it’s you.”
“Now I feel like a total bitch, but thanks.”
“You are welcome. See you around, Karen.”
I made my way back over to the small group still lingering around our table. It was time to put an end to this circus.
“Okay, ladies, the fiancée is back, and yeah, I tend to be really cranky if I don’t get time with my man, so bye-bye!”
Carter was smiling from cheek to cheek, he loved it.
He said, “I was about to send out the search party for you. I thought you might have fallen in.”
“Yeah, no worries there. Just settling some old scores.”
“Are you okay?” his jovial mood now changed to a more serious one.
“I am. You remember how I told you about the friend from my past who told me off six ways to Sunday?”
“Yeah, she said some pretty crappy things to you.”
“She did, but now she apologized.”
“She’s here?” he asked incredulously.
“Yes, it’s our waitress, Karen, and here’s some more news for you: she’s dating Nick.”
Revive Page 16
