chapter THIRTY-THREE
After meditating to calm my anger at Kevin’s stubbornness, I decided to clean the kitchen. It wasn’t dirty, but the thought of dinner with the two men in my life brought on a serious case of nerves. Kevin could be extremely antagonistic when he wanted to be, and I hoped he’d be on his best behavior.
The phone ringing startled me. It was Ms. Carmen.
“Elena, what did you say to my daughter?”
“Why? Is something wrong?” I worried Courtney had complained about me grabbing her arm and telling her off.
“No, she came home!” I heard the smile in her voice.
“That’s wonderful news!”
“She said she’d stay if I stop yelling at her about her new look and friends.”
I wanted to tell her she had nothing to worry about, but it would be a lie. I didn’t know Miriam, but Elizabeth was trouble, and not a good role model for a young girl. “Ms. Carmen, I learned a little more about the coven Courtney mentioned, and I don’t think it’s anything for you to worry about. Your daughter isn’t even involved with it.” Technically, that was the truth; Clavius wouldn’t let her in. Yet.
“Are you sure?”
“Pretty sure. She might just be going through a phase.” That was as far as I was willing to stretch the truth in order to comfort Ms. Carmen. I’d done the job she hired me for. She wasn’t paying me to play therapist.
“Well, if you say so. I’m just glad to have her home and know she’s safe. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. If I can ever be of assistance with anything else, you know my number.”
Unease washed through my body as I hung up the phone. Courtney was stubborn. Why had she gone home so easily? My words may have caused her to rethink her hatred of her mother, but I doubted they would have caused such a sudden change and convince her to go back home. Something wasn’t right.
“You are thinking too hard, mio amore,” Vittorio said.
I dropped my cell phone.
“Did I startle you?” He set grocery bags on the counter.
“I didn’t hear you come in.”
“What has you so deep in thought?”
I told him of my conversation with Ms. Carmen while helping him unpack the groceries.
“It does seem odd, but try not to worry. You can be very persuasive when you want to be.”
“Is that so?” I asked, then kissed him.
“A late dinner, then?” Vittorio said, lips just above my neck, his breath sending shivers down my spine.
Vittorio made fabulous tortellini for dinner. To my surprise, Kevin accepted a glass of wine with dinner and said he liked it. “I’ve usually only had cheap stuff from a box at parties. Guess I’ve never had good wine before,” he explained.
“I am pleased you like it,” Vittorio said. “Elena made sure I picked up some beer for you as well.”
“Thanks, I appreciate that.” Kevin finished the glass and poured some more for all of us. “So Elena said you graduated college when you were twenty. That’s pretty quick.”
“Yes. Once I was released from the hospital, I was determined not to lose any more time. I studied almost constantly and took a heavy course load.”
“I’m impressed man. I hated school.”
“It is not for everyone. But I wanted to prove to myself that I could do something worthwhile. My parents, then my doctors, had made me feel so worthless, and even at that young age I realized how short life is. Maybe it was because of what I’d been through that brought me to that realization. I didn’t really know how to do that, so I just studied as hard as I could. My parents wouldn’t answer my calls or letters to see that I was truly better, but at least I proved it to myself.”
“Why business?”
“As much as I admired Julian for what he did and how he’d helped me, medicine didn’t interest me. As I said, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do specifically, and business seemed to be the most versatile course of study. Between that and Julian teaching me how to control my power, how to be a good man, I think I’ve done well. I hope I have, at least.”
“Well, seeing how well you treat Elena, and how well you’ve done in your job, I’d have to agree with you,” Kevin said, taking another bite of tortellini.
“How did you get into working on cars?”
“My dad is a mechanic. I spent as much time as my mom would let me at his shop, watching and helping when he’d let me. She hated it - both of us coming home to dinner covered in grease. Every weekend he’d take me to little local car shows, or we’d be working on his old ’57 Chevy. Mom always tried to get me to read more, encouraged me to find something else to do with my life, but I was good with cars. I loved it. I never wanted to do anything else.”
“That is great that you found your passion at such a young age.”
“I’d like to open my own shop someday. I don’t want to work for someone else my whole life. That’s why I live in this dump. I could afford a nicer place, but who cares? I’d rather save my money. Plus I can keep an eye on Elena here.”
“You never told me you wanted your own shop!” I said.
“Yeah, well, I thought you’d laugh at me,” Kevin said, looking down at the table.
“Why on earth would I do that?”
“I don't know, so many small businesses fail.”
“I know a thing or two about business,” Vittorio said. “I would be happy to help you if you want.”
“That would be great man, thanks!”
When we finished the rest of the wine, Kevin helped me clear the dishes. “I may not understand this power stuff, but Vittorio’s okay. He has my seal of approval.”
“Thanks Kevin,” I said, then we returned to the living room.
“I’m going to head home, have to be up early for work tomorrow,” Kevin said. “Thanks again for offering to help, Vittorio.”
“Anything for a friend of Elena’s.”
Vittorio reached out to shake Kevin’s hand, then Kevin pulled him into a one-armed man hug. I tried to suppress a laugh at Vittorio’s awkwardness.
“Kevin is a good man. I am glad you have had him to take care of you,” Vittorio said as we went up to the bedroom.
“Me too,” I said, falling into bed. It was early, but the night had been my equivalent of bringing the boyfriend home to meet the parents. I fell asleep almost as soon as I was in bed.