“He loved her too.”
“Oh, I know.” She chuckled. “Don’t think ’cause this is Brooklyn and it’s so big that people don’t know each other. I been close with his family for over thirty years. I remember when Frankie was born and how proud Josephina was she had a grandson. You know that big, white rose bush in the backyard under the kitchen window?”
“Yeah, I just pruned it.”
“She planted that at his confirmation. She loved her granddaughter, Valerie, but Frankie was her special pet.”
Having no idea where this conversation was going, I kept my smile polite. “I know it’s very important that I keep the garden exactly as he tells me she would have liked it. Every time Jeannie and Carmine come by to see the progress, the first place she runs to is the garden.”
The longer Rose studied me, the more nervous I got.
“Jeannie talked to me after you started working on the house.”
“Oh?” Now that surprised me. Jeannie never said much when she came by, just walked around the house, nodding and pointing out things she’d like to see.
“She told me. About you and Frankie.”
The bottom dropped out of my stomach, and I struggled to maintain a pleasant face. I should’ve known. It didn’t matter if Frankie and I had been doing so well and were happy. Jeannie was always going to hate me.
“Wanna know what I told her?”
Probably not. “Sure, not that it’s gonna matter. I know how she feels.”
“I told her that if I had a son, I’d want him to be like you.”
Astonished, I knew my jaw dropped and my mouth hung open as I continued to listen to her.
“I seen what you’re trying to do for little Roberto. He don’t have many friends, and you took the time to notice. That’s the measure of a man—someone who cares about others and tries to help. Especially a child. I also know you made some mistakes, but that’s in the past, right?”
Her hard stare had me nodding. “Uh, yeah, definitely. I’m going to therapy, and I’m trying to get a job.”
“I thought you had one at the Terminal Market. That’s the last thing Jeannie told me.”
“I got fired. Not for anything I did wrong. They didn’t feel comfortable once they found out I was gay.”
“Well, their stupidity is my gain.”
Confused, I took off my baseball cap, scratched my head, and replaced it. “Um…huh? I don’t get it.”
“We never had kids, so me ’n Herb poured everything we had in this store. The people who work here are like my family. Javi out there? He’s my neighbor’s son—known him since he was born. Love him as if he were my own.”
“He’s lucky. I never knew my parents.”
She nodded. “I can see that. You got that lost look about you. But you’re on the verge of getting it together.”
Funny how a stranger could know you. Maybe I had that kind of face.
“I hope so. Once I get this construction job.”
“Oh. You got a job now?”
I shrugged. “Frankie’s friend Austin is with this guy who has these construction companies working for him. He said he could get me a job with one of the crews.”
“Is that what you want to do?”
“Not really. I wanted to do gardening, but I can’t find anything.” It had to be over five minutes we’d been sitting here. “Um, anyway, I’d love to keep talking, but I’d better get Roberto back to his mom before she sends out a search party on me.” I stood.
“How about me? Would you want to work with us here? We’re getting busier, and I need someone else to help me. I think you’d be perfect.”
