“Well, I am happy to hear that, because he does love you.”
“That he does, and he is waiting for me. I love you, mama. I will call you in a few days.”
“I’ll be here, and I will be fine.”
“You better be, or Mrs. Benson will have some explaining to do. Do as you are told, so I don’t take out any unnecessary rage on the ones that I have in place to help you, okay?”
“I promise. Now, my future son-in-law is waiting.”
I hugged her hard and kissed her all over her smiling face.
“I love you, mama.”
“I love you too,” I heard as I turned and left her room, wiping away my tears.
After a slight delay with our plane and seven hours later, we were home. Carter kept a well-stocked closet here at my condo, as I did over at his place. We decided on staying at mine.
Carter was exhausted, his eyes were weary. We had spent more than two weeks in New York, which was only intended to be for two days. He was happy to be going back to work, but also happy that he was able to work at our sister station the last few days in New York.
We hadn’t discussed anything more with Nick. As far as he was concerned, the subject matter was closed, and Carter made it perfectly clear that he no longer wished to discuss him. I promised to the best of my ability that I would not intentionally mention Nick but reminded Carter that our mothers were best friends and sometimes it would be unavoidable.
“Are you okay, Thea?” Carter asked as we got ready for bed.
“Other than feeling quite full from too much take-out, I’m okay, babe.”
“You know that’s not what I am asking.”
“I am fine. Mom is fine. We are fine. Now, let’s go to bed.”
“Okay, but I want dessert first,” he said. Before I could blink, my back had hit the mattress, and Carter began untying my robe.
“Why do I even dress for bed when the minute I get in here, you take my clothes off?” I laughed.
“My thoughts exactly. New rule…we sleep naked, and I do mean bare as a baby.”
He was impossible, but I loved him so, and this was one rule that I would easily agree to.
I woke to what I believed to be the worst neck pain I ever had. And my mother standing over me with a steaming cup of coffee in hand.
“Mom?”
“Yup, that would be me. And before you ask, she left.”
Who left? Is she talking about Thea?
“I saw Karen getting into her car around six this morning. I guess all is well between you two?” she asked.
I craned my neck back and forth until my muscles relaxed. Sleeping on the floor was not my best idea, but after Karen had fallen asleep in my arms, I wasn’t going to move an inch. She looked worn out after our talk but then gave me the chance I begged her for. Mom handed me the coffee and grabbed a pillow beside me.
“Are you okay, son?”
“No, but I will be. Mom, I have made so many mistakes, past and present speaking, and I do not intend to make any more for my future.”
“Good for you. You have finally seen the light.”
“Yeah, and heard a lot of truth to make me get my head on straight. You were right, mom, about all of it. Right about Thea and me, all the years I wasted my life when I should have been living them.”
“That’s bull, and you know it! How could you say such a thing?”
“Excuse me? How can I not?”
“Oh, Nick, have I taught you nothing? Your life has been far from wasted. You graduated college with honors. Excelled in the fire academy. Successfully completed job after job until you reached the brass ring and excelled in that too. My kid climbed up onto a table and announced to the entire neighborhood that he was not only going to become a NYC firefighter, but the chief of his late father’s fire company. Yeah, they cheered you on, but I bet some of them never believed you would actually do it, and then you did. You run a successful business. You chair multiple foundations for our community, and you are probably one of the most handsome men I have ever laid eyes on, next to your father of course. Do I need to remind you that you were Mr. January last year? Not just anyone gets January, and the cover of the FDNY calendar.”
“You sure do know how to lift a guy’s ego when he’s feeling down about himself.”
“As your mother, it’s my job. I love you very much. How could you say you have wasted your life? You didn’t, baby. It just took a different path, that’s all. A long time ago, what you had with Thea was beautiful. It was a young love that grew with the friendship you shared, but in the end, that’s where it stopped. I am so sorry it took you so long to figure out the ‘why,’ but now you can be free and find love again with someone who is deserving of this amazing heart of yours.”
“I really want it to be Karen, but I’m not sure if she completely trusts me. I haven’t given her much reason to.”
“I thought you said she gave you another chance?”
“She did, but who knows? Maybe she woke up this morning and realized what a complication I am, and she ran for the hills.”
“I believe it was walking, and she didn’t look unhappy to me. Come on, get up, and let me make you some breakfast. Then, you are going to shower, dress, and go down to Park Florist and pick up the biggest bouquet of flowers he sells. You will bring them to Karen and invite her and her girls to spend the day with you. The sun is out, and who doesn’t love the Bronx Zoo on a Sunday afternoon?”
“Not anyone I know,” I responded.
“Then it’s decided.”
I kissed my mom on the cheek and ran upstairs to shower. I knew Karen would be home, since she had off from the bar today. I showered as quickly as I could and then made my way downstairs. I ate pancakes with mom, then grabbed a piece of bacon and left for Park Florist.
“Good luck,” she called out, as I grabbed my keys and wallet.
“Oh my boy, what you want does not come cheap,” the florist told me.
“No worries, Mr. Park, I got it. I want your best roses, and then I would also like two smaller arrangements for two little girls. I like the yellow roses for Trinity and the purple ones for Gigi.”
“Will do. Give me a half hour?”
“Less than that, if you can.”
I knew he had an army back there designing, so I wasn’t worried. Park Florist was the best in the neighborhood, and I was thankful they worked on Sundays, only until one, but I got here early enough to place my orders. I hoped by giving the girls their flowers, I would be able to melt some of the ice with Gigi. She was a great kid, and I couldn’t blame her for loving her father the way she did, but I could blame him for hurting them over and over again.
A change of heart was not going to do it for me. Alex Mancini had a lot to make up for, and a few thousand dollars was not going to wipe the slate clean. I knew I had to be careful with what I said about their father, but I promised Karen that I was going to be here for her and the girls. I knew she was a package deal, and I promised her that I would never hurt them.
Karen’s car was in the driveway, so I knew she was home. I rang the doorbell with flowers in hand, and let out one deep breath.
“You got this, Nick,” a pep talk always helped.
I rang the doorbell again, and then I heard little feet running toward the door.
“Hi, Nick, what do you have hiding behind your back?”
“Hi, Trinity, nothing gets past you. I have a surprise for you and Gigi.”
Her big smile faded and then looked sad.
I bent down to her level and asked, “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
“You forgot about mommy,” she sniffled.
“Oh, Trinity, I would never forget about mommy. I have a surprise for mommy too.” Just the sound of my words brightened her right up. She lunged forward and wrapped her small arms around my neck.
“Thank you, Nick. I’ll go get mommy. Come in. Mommy!” she shouted as she ran up the stairs.
A minute later, Karen was at the top lan
ding of her stairs with Gigi behind her. No daggers yet, so far so good.
“Hey, this is a surprise,” Karen said as she made her way over to me. “I was going to call you. Are you mad that I left without waking you?”
“No, not at all. I knew you had to get home before the girls woke up. I actually want to take you all out today, if you are up for it.”
“Depends on what you have in mind.”
“Nick!” Trinity pulled at my leg. “Can I have my surprise?”
“Trinity,” Karen warned her little girl. “You need to be patient, and please use your manners.”
“Okay, mommy. Nick! May I please have my surprise?”
Karen and I both covered our mouths from laughing out loud. She was too cute for words. I pulled out the bouquet of yellow roses for Trinity, but she was more focused on the smiley vase they were in and the teddy bear that accompanied the flowers.
“Are those for me?” Trinity asked with the widest of eyes sparkling back at me.
“They sure are, sweetheart, and the bear is too.”
“I love them, Nick, thank you. Look, mommy, these are big girl flowers.”
“They are very pretty, just like you.”
“Can I put them in my room?”
“You may. Would you like to give Nick a hug?”
“Okay. Thank you again, Nick,” she said as she gave me the biggest neck crushing hug.
“You are welcome, Trinity.”
She carried the vase of flowers all by herself and made her way up the stairs to her room. Karen was smiling, and then I looked over to Gigi, who had not made a sound since I arrived.
“Hi Gigi, how are you?” I asked as she shrugged her shoulders.
How can an eight-year-old look so sad?
“I have something for you too. I pulled out her vase from the carrying tote I brought with me. Mr. Park gave her not only purple roses, but a variety of bright colors. I added a Taylor Swift CD to hers. Once I handed them to her, she leaned in to smell the flowers, and then when I thought I would see a smile, I saw her lip quiver instead.
Her mother kneeled before her and held her face. “What’s wrong, baby? Don’t you like your gifts?” Gigi nodded quietly without looking up at Karen. “Honey, you need to talk to me. Nick was just trying to be nice.”
“I know he was,” Gigi said.
“Then, what’s wrong?” Karen asked.
“If I tell you, then you will be mad at me.”
“Oh, Gigi, I promise you can tell me anything.”
“I love the flowers. Thank you, Nick.”
“You are welcome, Gigi.”
“Honey, please tell me why you are upset,” Karen asked.
“I wish it was daddy giving me the flowers. He’s not here, and I’m going to miss the daddy-daughter dance next month at school because I don’t have a daddy to take me. All the girls get flowers and corsages. They wear pretty dresses and even make-up too.”
If it was possible for a heart to literally shatter in a thousand pieces, then mine was doing that right now. I couldn’t just stand here and watch this innocent little girl cry on Karen’s shoulder. She deserved so much better, and I just went for it.
I kneeled down so I could be level with Karen and Gigi. She wiped her eyes while her mother continued to comfort her.
I said, “Hey, I really was trying to just make you smile today, and I am very sorry my gift made you cry. Gigi, if you would do me the honor of allowing me to be your escort, I would be incredibly honored to do so.”
Karen looked over at me with an expression I couldn’t read at the moment. Surprised? Maybe?
With her lip still quivering and fighting off the tears that would surely fall at any moment, she said, “You would do that for me?” barely getting the words out.
God, this girl was so strong at eight years old, and it broke my heart that she felt she had to be.
“Of course, I would, but only if it’s okay with your mom.”
She looked over to Karen for an answer. Karen’s eyes were glazed over with tears as well, but she held her own and remained strong.
“I think that sounds wonderful, Gigi, and I can chaperone if you would like. I believe they still need some volunteers.”
Gigi brought her flowers up to her nose and took in a deep inhale and then smiled.
She said, “Are you sure, Nick? You know, I’ve been kind of mean to you, and if you were just asking to be nice, then it’s okay to back out.”
This girl is only eight, right?
“Gigi, I would not have asked if I didn’t want to take you, so this is me asking again. Gigi Mancini, would you please allow me to be your escort for your dance? It would be my honor, my lady.”
“Yes! You can take me, Nick, but only if mommy is there too.”
“I promise, baby, I will be there,” Karen said.
I was about to stand up, and without warning, Gigi gave me a hug and whispered in my ear, “Thank you Nick. Mommy, I’m going upstairs to put these in my room.”
“Okay sweetie, we will be down here.”
Karen waited until she heard Gigi’s bedroom door close, and then she grabbed me by the nape of my neck and pulled me closer to her. She crushed her mouth down to mine and kissed the ever-loving shit out of me. I welcomed it with delight and kissed her back.
“Thank you, Nick, thank you! What you did back there may not seem like a big deal to most, but to my girls, you just gave them the world.”
“Well, I’m not finished. Can I give their mother something too?” I swear, in all my life since I have known Karen Lombardi, she never once blushed, and if she did, I never saw it until the night of our first date, and now today. I told her to give me a minute. Her bouquet was too large to hide in a bag, so I left it outside on her porch. The door was ajar, as I called out for her to close her eyes. I asked her if they were closed, and she said they were. I walked back in and held the flowers out in front of her.
“Open your eyes,” I said.
When she did, she put her hand over her heart and smiled brightly at the sight of them.
“Nick, I don’t know what to say. These are absolutely beautiful.”
“Say you like them.”
“I don’t just like them, I love them.”
“And how about the guy who gave them to you? Do you like him just as much?”
She took the flowers from my hand and placed them down to the nearest table. Walking back over to where I was standing, she took my mouth again, but this time her kiss spoke volumes on how she felt. It was tender.
“You know how I feel about you, Nick, and if I say the words now, they may feel forced because it’s the obvious response. The next time I say those three words to you, they will be in response to hearing them from you first. What you did for Gigi today was amazing. You made her so happy, and Trinity too.”
“Well, my surprises are not over yet. Are you free now?”
“You know I am. What do you have in mind?”
“I was thinking of taking a trip to the Bronx Zoo with you and the girls. It’s too beautiful outside to waste another minute indoors. We can walk around for a couple of hours or more, totally up to you, and then we can go to lunch, whatever you want.”
She looked unsure. Have I overstepped here?
“Nick, thank you again for making the girls so happy today, and when they are happy, I am happy.”
“Great, then why do I feel you are pulling away from me?”
“I’m not trying to, Nick. We talked about so much last night, and now you are here and with the flowers, and I…”
This time it was me who pulled her closer and kissed her with all that I had within me.
“Please, Karen, all that I am asking is for you to give me a chance and prove to you and to your girls that…”
“What, Nick? That you’re one of the good guys? Isn’t that what you said to me?”
“Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. Karen, this is new to me. Half the time, I have no idea what I am d
oing in regards to you. You are so skittish, and every time I say or do something, I never know if it’s going to be the reason you run and give up on me. I have even less experience with kids, but I’m willing to try if you will allow me too.”
“Okay, Nick. I will give you your shot, but this is your last one. If it doesn’t work, then we can return to where we once were. I will be your friend, but nothing more than that. I am not going to lie, there is a part of me that is scared shitless right now. When you are wonderful as you are now, you have the ability to give the hopeless hope and turn a non-believer into a believer in love.”
She went upstairs and said nothing more; she didn’t have to. I got it, and I was more determined than ever to prove to Karen that her ex would be the last man that would ever hurt her again. A few minutes later, the girls came barreling down the stairs in excitement.
“I love the zoo. I love the zoo. I love the bears, and zebras too. I love the zoo. I love the zoo. Let’s go and see the giraffes too,” Trinity sang as she danced around the living room.
Karen was getting dizzy trying to put her coat on. That little munchkin was so excited.
“I love the zoo too. Are you ready to have some fun?” I asked.
“Yes,” they both said in unison.
“In case I forget to tell you later, I had a really good time today,” Karen whispered as I opened the door for her after getting the girls settled in the back seat.
“Did you just quote Pretty Woman?” I asked her.
“I did. I always wanted to say that to someone who makes me happy.”
“Thank you. And now, I’m happy. That may have been the nicest thing someone has said to me in a very long time.”
I kissed her quickly on her lips with the girls making kissing sounds from the backseat. I was getting ready for Trinity to break out in another song, but she just giggled along with her sister. Operation Win Karen’s Heart was going pretty well so far. Off to the zoo we go!
“As happy as I am to see you sitting behind your desk, this does not mean you get to miss production meetings,” Stan said as he walked into my office.
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