My fears were put to rest the night I approached her by the train tracks, and she came to me like she had the night in the snow.
“At times I feel responsible for Scarlett’s life,” he said, his voice low. “I should have stepped in, made her life more…normal. But her talent overrode any fears that I had. She was destined for big things, and big things take hard work and determination to accomplish. Elliott had become, through it all, an angel for her. He made her laugh, made her feel human. Because if this was the expectation for other dancers—” he held his hand to his stomach, like he was measuring the height of something, and then lifted it above his head “—this was the expectation for Scarlett Rose. I daresay she has exceeded them.”
He took another long drink of beer and then cleared his throat. “She saved you that night, and like I say, that’s something to be thankful for.” He smiled. “She’s something, I’ll tell you that. You should have heard her this morning, ordering her daddy around! Tell you the truth, I was afraid she was going to come here and drag Jane Jones out by the hair.”
All I could do was grin.
“I overheard Stone asking you about your time in the Coast Guard. I’ve never got around to asking.” He looked at me not with apology, but with regret. He never got around to asking because he never found the time. Time was money in his world. “It’s true. You gave it up for Scarlett?”
“Yeah,” I said, taking an extra long pull of beer. “That kind of life wouldn’t have suited her.”
“You ask her about that?”
“No.” I shook my head. “But there’s no place to dance on ice. And it’s a demanding life. There are no two weeks on and then two weeks of freedom to look forward to.”
He nodded. “Offshore is the lesser of two evils.” He turned the opposite way, placing his bottle on top of the tomb. “I meant what I said back there. You are my son. I’ve always considered you as such. Hell, my wife tried to keep you plenty enough times. She was heartbroken when you didn’t want to stay.”
Pnina had tried to talk Maggie Beautiful into letting them adopt me, but I refused to leave Maggie Beautiful, even when I was too young to have known better. I was never too young. For as far back as I could remember, I thought like a man. It was never up for debate. She was too unsteady to leave alone. So I took care of her. No matter how unfit, the woman was still my mother.
We both became quiet for a while. Shadows danced across his face when the wind blew the branches of the old trees. He cleared his throat. “Scarlett was too young to remember this. When you’d come over, you’d feed her those little round pieces of cereal. Do you remember that?”
I thought back, searching my memories. “No,” I said, downing the last of my bottle. I hit foam. “I remember her, but I don’t have any specific memories.”
He laughed at whatever he thought about. “She was a picky eater. We’d always have to coerce her to eat. Drove Eunice insane! She’s a proud woman, you know, especially when it comes to her cooking. But Scarlett would push her plate forward, turn up her little nose, and say politely,aucun pour moi—none for me. You’d go get your lunch bag and share your round cereal pieces with her. You’d say, “One for you. One for me.” She’d only eat after you did.”
I laughed, the reaction almost wild. Nothing had changed since. I was still feeding her. He went on to tell a few more stories about the two of us. After his memories ran low, he became lost to his thoughts before he pushed on. “I’ll never forget the day Pnina brought you home with Elliott. None of the other kids would play with him. She was worried that they would make fun because he couldn’t hear. Just because he couldn’t hear didn’t mean he didn’t feel. She said that you hadn’t even noticed. If you did, you pretended not to. He followed you around the playground, and instead of screaming at him, trying to get him to listen or go away, you would only use your hands so he would understand. Christ,” he growled, wiping at his eyes. They had turned glossy. “I make men cry as part of my job. Here I am, weeping over a memory. You were good to my boy.”
Turning away, I wiped my own eyes and then grabbed for another beer.
He placed a hand on my shoulder. I could feel the depth of his sadness, of the longing. “The day you came home with Pnina, she introduced us, and you gave me your hand, like a man, and said, ‘Brando Fausti.’ You met my eyes and we shook. Nothing much has changed except—” he looked me over “—your height and build.” He grinned at that. “I have no worries. I know my baby is in good hands. I know you’ll take care of her, like you took care of my son. But.” He sighed. “I’m worried now.”
“My uncle assures me that she only has a touch of the flu,” I said.
“Wha—?” He shook his head. “I meant the trouble you find yourself in.”
“Trouble,” I repeated.
The man had connections. Whatever they had told him, I wanted him to tell me first. I had learned early on that just because someone didn’t come close, it didn’t mean that they didn’t watch from afar.
“Ettore Fausti. Your father’s brother, I believe. He’s been around town. If you are threatened, my daughter is threatened. I want to make it clear that you have a friend in me. Whatever you need, I can deliver.” He fixed me with a stare that meantno questions asked.
I turned to him, keeping eye contact. “Scarlett is my wife, and I’ll take care of her, even if it means my life. I’ll see to the rest.” I offered him my hand. “But I appreciate the offer. And for what it’s worth, I’ve always considered you the only father I’ve ever known.”
Chapter Four
Scarlett
Why would he…?
Maggie Beautiful turned to me, giving me a curious look. Rocco, who sat on the seat across, his two brothers next to him, put down his phone, giving me a look that matched Maggie Beautiful’s.
We were en route to Rosaria’s opening-night performance ofNorma, atragedia lirica. She would be in the starring role as Norma. The papers stated that if Rosaria delivered as she had been, she would become a certified living legend.
The five of us rode in one limo. Uncle Tito, Aunt Lola, and Rosaria’s family were in another.
Brando had texted me. We were discussing general things. Then apropos of nothing he said:Nick Stone. He made you laugh.
Why?I made sure to type the response back, instead of speaking it out loud this time. But in that moment, I realized where his curiosity had grown from. Sheriff Stone had planted the seed.But yes, he did.
