Tempted In The City

“All right,” Tony said. “Is this a stopover visit on your way to rehab?”

Joseph cursed in Italian the same second Tony’s mother said, “Yes. This stubborn mule of a husband thinks he’s wasting his time. You’d think the second heart attack would have gotten through his thick head.”

It actually felt good, hearing the two of them bicker. Like home.

Tony had to take a phone call, so he went to his office. It was Dave, the metalworker he’d called about Catherine’s staircase and fireplaces. Tony gave him some preliminary measurements and Catherine’s number.

Just as he ended the call, he realized his father had entered the room. He was looking at all the things Tony had changed. Slowly. Making a mental tally. The expression on his face broke Tony’s heart. Made him wish he’d never changed anything at all.

“It’s good,” Joe said. “You taking over.”

“It’s necessary,” Tony told him, walking around the desk to sit on the front corner to free up his pop’s old chair. “We need you to stick around as our dad way more than we need you to run this place.”

“I know the reasons. There’s just so damn many hours in the day. Even with three meals and a visit to the torture room, I’ve still got too much empty space.”

“Ma hasn’t put you to work?”

“Stupid things, sure. A real project, like painting that spare room? She thinks I’ll die on her Persian carpet.”

“Have you tried going to the park like we talked about?”

“I don’t like the way they changed the park. Too many strangers and kids.”

“They’re only strangers until you talk to them. You like chess. They play chess.”

“I like playing with people I know.”

“And what do you mean you don’t like kids? That’s not true.”

“I want grandkids,” Joe grumbled. “Not strangers’ kids. You and Angie should’ve had two bambinos by now, instead of getting divorced.”

Tony’s insides coiled into a knot. “Come on, Pop, we’re not going to talk about that.”

Joe shrugged. “So, I hear you’re working personally with Catherine Fox.”

“How do you know that?”

“I got ears that work. She’s got big pockets, that one. Very deep. She has some crazy ideas, but they’re not so crazy if you think about them.”

“You mean the restoration?”

“The value of the house will go up, you know that. Along with making the upgrades.”

“She wants a rooftop garden.”

Joe’s eyes widened. “No kidding.”

“What’s worse? She wants to live there. Full-time.”

Joe moved across the room and settled into his old black chair.

Tony smiled to himself and took one of the guest chairs.

“She could make a fortune selling that place. When she gets done with it, garden or no, it’ll be a jewel on that street.”

“I know. But she doesn’t want to go.”

“With those old ladies she’s got for neighbors? She’ll want to.”

Tony knew more about those two than he’d like. They’d both called him in the last couple days. Asked every question in the book about Catherine. He’d cut them off, refused to discuss his client with them. When all he’d wanted to do was tell them both where to go. But he was his mother’s son, so he’d been nice...ish.

Speaking of his mother, she walked in right at that moment and made her famous whimper of exasperation while throwing her hands up in the air. As if the world itself was ending.

She slapped Tony’s shoulder. “You just let him take over? The first time we come to visit you start talking business?”

Shaking his head, Tony held back a smile.

“What business?” his father said, gesturing expansively. “I’m sitting in my old chair. Is that a crime?”

She put her hands on her hips and glared at him.

“Fine. A little about business, but I was just making an observation. That’s not work.”

“Is that true, Tony?”

“That’s true.”

“Why am I listening to you?” she asked. “You’re your father’s son. We have to leave now, but next time I see you, Anthony Paladino, I expect you to be more careful with your father. He’s not a healthy man.”

She was right, although Tony couldn’t see cutting him off from the business cold turkey. But he’d try to make both his parents happy. Which hadn’t been possible in thirty-three years, so why he should keep trying was anyone’s guess.

“Try the park again,” Tony said, as they were leaving. “Play some chess.”

“And you...go make me some grandkids.”

“Stop it.” His mother bumped his dad’s shoulder. “What’s the matter with you? He’s divorced.” She glanced at Tony and shook her head. “Don’t listen to him. Angie was a nice girl, but she was too modern.”

He didn’t say a word. Angie was from the neighborhood. His parents had known her parents for years. She wasn’t a great cook, but that meant she wasn’t competition for the crown of Tony’s Favorite, which actually made his mother like Angie even more. She was exactly the kind of girl everyone had imagined for him, but the marriage hadn’t worked out. At least they’d parted amicably.

When his folks had left, he had to make two more phone calls, and then pay a visit to a new customer in Chinatown.

After that, he knew exactly where he was going.

Exactly where he shouldn’t.

Where he couldn’t wait to go.

* * *