Page 10 of Trina Gabrini: Bring Him Back Home to Me

“Hell no. Who wants their wife staying at some office building all night long? She needs to take her ass home. What about Marie and the baby? Where they at?”

“Uncle Reno it’s late. They’re both asleep.”

“Since it’s so late why aren’t you sleep?”

“I will be soon.”

“What about your father? He’s sleep too?”

“He’s in his office.”

Reno began heading in that direction.

“But I don’t think he wants to be disturbed.”

“Tough,” Reno said as he made his way down the hall. When he got to the office door, he didn’t bother to knock. He walked on in.

Sal Gabrini was stretched out on his office sofa, fully clothed in his double-breasted suit, with his Ferragamo dress shoes perched on the bottom arm of the sofa, fast asleep. Reno stood in the doorway, staring at Sal, wondering if he should even tell him. Nobody wanted to relive that shit. But he had to tell somebody. And Tommy, his usual confidant, was in Seattle. But how would Sal take it, he wondered as he continued to linger at the door.

“If your ass coming in, come in,” Sal said with his eyes seemingly still closed. “Otherwise get away from my door.”

Reno decided in that moment to walk on in and close his door behind him. Then he put both hands in his pockets and made his way to the sofa.

When he sat on the edge of the sofa beside his cousin, Sal completely opened his eyes. First he saw Reno’s hair. Then his unshaven face. And then his suit. “You look like you haven’t slept in days.”

“It feels that way,” Reno responded as he leaned forward and ran both hands through his already messy hair.

“And when is it fashionable to come to a man’s house this time of night anyway? It’s almost midnight, Reno.” But Sal could tell something was horribly wrong. “Where you been?”

“Out.”

“Out doing what?”

“Searching.”

Sal found that an odd response. “Searching for whom?”

Reno was about to respond, but then he looked at Sal. “For whom?”

“Carmine said you’re supposed to say whom. But fuck that. Who your ass searching for?”

Reno took a long exhale, and then he looked back at Sal. “Lydia.”

At first Sal just stared at Reno. And then he sat straight up. “The fuck you say!”

“I saw her tonight, Sal.”

“Where?”

“At Canteen. That restaurant.”

“What did she say?”

“She didn’t say anything. As soon as we made eye contact, she darted inside the joint. I went in after her, but I couldn’t find her.”

Sal was doubtful. “How many drinks did you have, Reno?”

Reno frowned. “What are you talking? I wasn’t drunk!”