Page 60 of Gary

Gary nodded. “I am going to enjoy her, enjoy what we have for a few more days before I have to wreck her world. I need that. Her mom invited me to dinner on Sunday and I am going. I promised her that I would introduce you to her and …” His voice tailed off as he bent his head to stare at the lush gold carpet.

“I would be honored to meet her.” His uncle’s quiet tone had him looking up. “Perhaps, she will see that we are not all monsters. And when the time comes for you to tell her, she will remember that we are somewhat different, that we had nothing to do with what happened to her dad.”

The hope that flared inside Gary’s chest died instantly. “She won’t think that. She loved her dad and what happened to him has scarred her.” He rose unsteadily. “Thanks for listening.”

“Gary.”

“Yes?” He turned at the door.

“I am sorry as hell.”

He nodded.

“Your dad has been asking after you. He is due out today.”

“Can you see to it? I cannot face him right now.”

Graham watched him leave and felt the familiar anger festering inside him. He had no doubt, his brothers had a hand in the man’s death. He knew their strategies and recalled them discussing that same apartment building and how furious they had been when the occupants refused to leave.

“Oh Christ!” He whispered, leaning back in the chair. His coffee was cold, but he had no appetite for the excellent brew. Sitting up, he reached for the phone and placed a call.

*****

After driving around for half an hour, he made his way to the construction area and parked a few feet away from where the sound of the building tearing down, bit by bit, could be heard. His phone had been ringing over since he left the corporate office, and he had ignored it.

His old man was calling, no doubt to find out if Gary would pick him up from the hospital, but he could not face him, not just yet. Switching the engine off, he stared blindly out the windshield. His phone rang again, and he was about to ignore it, when he turned it over and felt a jolt when he identified the number.

Forcing the hopelessness away, he picked up the phone. “You miss me.”

“You are absolutely right. I miss you. What are you doing?”

“I just drove up to the job site. You might hear the sounds of heavy machinery doing their thing.”

“And what will you be doing at the site? I would love to see a selfie with you holding a hammer.”

He laughed softly, feeling some of the incredible tension ebbing away. She did that to him.

“A hammer?”

“Hmm. Without your shirt of course.”

“You do know it’s very cold, right?”

“Oh yeah. Maybe take one inside the building.”

“I am not doing that.”

“I thought you loved me.”

He burst out laughing. “You catch on fast. Using my love to get what you want.”

“I am a quick learner. Gary, I do miss you.”

His heart turned right over and for a minute, he pretended that everything was as if should be, that he was really Gary Russo without the taint of his awful past and the burden of his family’s name. That he was free to court her and then suggest a December wedding.

“I miss you too,” he told her gruffly.

“Just had to get that out of the way. See you later.”