Burned (28 page)

She stretched. “I didn’t want you to leave for work without a good breakfast. But when I turned over in bed you weren’t there and then I smelled coffee.”

“Are you hungry?  I’ll fix you something to eat. I just made coffee for now.”

She rubbed her stomach. “No, I’ll eat a few crackers to settle my stomach. This little guy is not happy this morning.”

“Aww, baby, is there anything I can do?”  He rubbed her stomach gently. She hadn’t developed a baby bump yet and couldn’t wait until she would. He was excited to watch his baby grow in her womb.

“Unfortunately there isn’t. The morning sickness will pass in a couple of hours.”

“Go lay down on the sofa. I’ll get your crackers and a bottle of water.”

He returned to the living room putting the crackers and water on the table. “Um, I have to run out for a minute.”

She plucked a saltine cracker from the wrapper. “Where are you going this early in the morning?”

He took a deep breath. She would eventually know about his mother being in Cleveland. He sat next to her. “Lincoln, I gotta call from my mother. She’s in town; actually, she’s at the bus station. I’m going to get her.”

Lincoln raised her brows and sat back on the sofa. “Oh. Nick, you have to work today.”

“I know. She can hang out at my apartment until I think of something to do with her.”

“You don’t want to tell her about me and the baby I take it.”

He shook his head. “It’s the opposite. I do want to tell her. Today I don’t have time for her to find a priest to exorcise my ass. I’ll do it on my next day off.”

“I have clothes in your closet and other personal items there. She will see them.”

“She’ll think they belong to whatever woman I’m entertaining at the moment. I’ll put her in the spare bedroom. We don’t have anything in there.”

“I hate this. I hate we have to keep our marriage a secret. Regan and Orlando are married and my mom and Carter will be leaving in a few days. I want them to know about us before they leave, Nick. I’m telling them today as planned. It will be a shock that we got married, but they won’t hate you like your mother will hate me.”

He caressed her shoulder. “We can work through this, baby. Don’t give up on me.”

“I’m not giving up on you.” She got off the sofa. “People can hate me, but the baby I’m carrying will be hated by a grandparent because of the color of my skin is absurd. How do you feel knowing your brothers and sisters kids are loved by your parents, but your baby won’t be?”

Nick walked over to her and hugged her from behind. “This kid ain’t missing no love from my family. If the need arises, we’ll adopt a nice Italian family to serve as grandparents for him.”

“You’re kidding and I'm serious. Anyhow, you’d better go. You don’t want to leave your mother sitting alone in a dirty bus station.”

*****

Nick hardly recognized his mother sitting in the bus station with an old fashioned suitcase sitting next to her. Her once pitch black hair had grayed all over and her olive skin shriveled.
She has more wrinkles then an old Walrus
, he thought as he approached her. “Mom, I’m here.”

The frumpy older woman struggled to get out of the chair. “Nicky, oh look at you. You are such a handsome boy.”

Nick looked at his mother. Franco had worn her down to nothing. He couldn’t get over how much she had aged since the last time he saw her. She was barely into her sixties and looked more into her seventies. The missing teeth Franco had knocked out during one of his drunken rages changed the way she smiled. She covered her mouth to hide the gaps.

“Mom, who did you come with?” He took her suitcase and led her outside to his truck.

“I took the bus by myself.”

“How did you get away from Pop is what I’m asking?” He opened the door and helped her inside the truck. He put the suitcase on the floor in the back seat.

“Nicky, your father is in the hospital. He had gallbladder surgery and I left while I had the chance.”

He slid behind the wheel of the truck. “You know he’s gonna track you down here.”

“I know he will look for me. I’m not staying here though. In a few days, I hope to fly to Sicily. My family there wants me to come home.”

He blinked. Sicily as in Italy?”

She nodded. “Yes. I’m old and tired, Nicky. For thirty-seven years, I have been Franco’s punching bag. At my age, my body can’t take it anymore. I want to live the rest of my life free of pain and suffering. My kids are grown and don’t need me. It’s time for me to be free of that prison.”

“You should have done it years ago. I understand you’re tired of Pop’s shit, but you said you hoped to fly to Sicily. What are you waiting on?”

“Nicky, I don’t have money for the airfare. I was wondering if you could buy my plane ticket. I only need a one-way ticket. I’m never coming back to the United States.”

He sighed deeply. Giving her the money would not have been a problem months ago but now, his savings were designated for things more important. A one-way ticket to Italy would be costly.

“So you’re going to abandon your kids and grandkids for the rest of your life?”

Her eyes were glossy and droopy. “No, Nick, I just have no choice. You kids don’t respect me. I heard how you talked about me when you were old enough to understand what Franco was doing.”

“Yeah, we did talk about you. We didn’t understand how you let him beat on you and us like we were nothing. The horror going on inside that house would make Dr. Phil run for cover. You accepted it forty-years, what is the real reason you want out?”

“My sister needs me. She is dying, Nicky. I promised her I would come. My helping her will help me finally escape the hell I endure with Franco every day.”

He shifted the truck into gear and checked the clock on the dash. He had to report to the firehouse soon. He wanted to check on Lincoln before going to work. “Mom, I want to help you, I really do, but it isn’t up to me anymore. I have a wife now. I’ll have to discuss it with her first.”

“You got married again and didn’t tell the family?  When did you get married? Where is she?  What is this one like?”

“I will answer your questions but I have to report to the firehouse today. You’ll stay at my apartment until I figure out a way to get you to Italy,” he said checking the mirror before pulling into traffic.

“Will your wife be coming there?  Can you at least tell me her name?”

“She won’t be coming there. Her apartment is our home until we decide on a house to buy. My lease isn’t up yet so don’t worry about not having a place to sleep. The fridge is full of food, and the cable is on too, so make yourself at home. However, since you are running away from Pop, don’t open the door for anyone you aren’t expecting and don’t go wandering around outside by yourself. Do you understand me?”

“Okay, Nicky.”

Nick got his mother settled and drove back to Lincoln’s apartment to check on her. He would have just enough time to grab his uniform, kiss her goodbye, and make it to work on time.

He smelled food as he walked up the short patio. She must be feeling better he thought as he unlocked the door.

He was stunned to see Lincoln’s mother and sister sitting with her at the dining room table. Lincoln had called her mother and sister over. “Um, hello, Ms. Hathaway, Carter. How are you all doing?”  He felt tiny beads of sweat cover his forehead.

The look Lynette Hathaway gave him was a sign that Lincoln had told them everything. The woman’s gaze was piercing but not in a hateful way. He couldn’t get over the difference between Lincoln’s mother and his. Lynette looked refreshing in a yellow chiffon sundress with her hair pulled back in a tight chignon. Not a winkle graced her perfectly made-up face. Then Lynette didn’t have a man that beat on her daily or six kids hanging onto her apron. She was blessed with three girls that knew how to behave.

Lincoln got up from the table backing Nick into the living room. “I didn’t expect you back. Is everything okay?”

He kissed her gently on the lips. “Yeah, I have to grab my uniform and I wanted to make sure you were okay before I went to work.”

“I’m fine. I’m able to eat. I’ll get your uniforms. I ironed two for you,” she said going to the bedroom.

Lynette joined him in the living room. “I know everything, Nick. You can stop sweating bullets. I cannot believe you went and married my daughter without asking me.”

He tugged at the neck of his t-shirt. “We did it on impulse.”

“I understand why you did it and you acted very selfless in keeping your marriage private. But you kept my grandchild a secret. That is what I’m mad about.”

Nick was at a loss for words. “Ma’am, I…”

Lynette grabbed him in a bear hug. She smelled as good as she looked. “Boy, I’m teasing you. Welcome to the family, Nick.”

“Thank you. I would like to sit down with you all, but I gotta get moving.”  Lincoln came from the bedroom carrying his uniforms on a hanger. He took them from her. “Babe, I’ll check on you. Make sure you take your vitamins and get a nap.”

“Mom and Carter got it covered. Nick, be careful, please.”

Nick caressed the side of her face. “My first priority is coming home to you in one piece. Have fun with your family and I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

Chapter Thirty

Nick changed his into his uniform and put the extra one in his locker. He reached in his duffel bag for a fresh can of shaving lotion and saw the ring on his finger. He had forgotten to take it off. He started to remove it and stopped. He mumbled lowly, “Fuck it! I’m not taking it off.”

“Who are you talking to?” Jon walked around from the other side of the lockers.

“Myself,” Nick answered covering his hand.

“You always curse at yourself?”

He grinned. “Really, don’t I have reasons to curse at myself?  I’m Nick remember.”

Jon joined in his laughter. “You shouldn’t. You and Lincoln looked great together last night. She even shoved Melanie’s face in the floor with class.”

“You saw that?”

“Yeah. Anthony didn’t though. But Melanie told him. He came looking for you, but you all had left.”

“It was an accident. Melanie shouldn’t have jumped in front of her.”

Jon raised an eyebrow and chuckled. “Yeah okay, stick to that story.”

Nick just nodded. “My mom is in town. She showed up unexpectedly this morning.”

Jon’s head snapped in his direction. “Where is she staying?”

“She’s at my place for now. She asked me to buy her a one-way ticket to Italy. She claims she’s left my old man.”

“You don’t believe her?  She might be telling you the truth, Nick. Have you talked to your dad or any of your sisters or brothers?”

“Nah, not yet. I want to believe her and buy her a ticket, but that’s a lot of money I don’t have to spare. But I’ll talk it over with Lincoln.”

Jon leaned against the lockers. “That’s cool you want to include her in your decision, but she isn’t going to stop you from helping your mom.”

“My decision will affect her in a significant way.”  He held up his hand.

Jon’s mouth dropped open. “What the hell did you do?  You got married?”

“Yeah, we did. And could the surprise in your voice at least sound happy for me.”

“I could if I knew the reason you did it! Did you do it to get back at Ant?”

“This doesn’t have shit to do with him. Jon…Lincoln is pregnant. You are the only person that knows. Can you keep it to yourself?”

Anthony stormed into the locker room. In a booming voice he shouted, “Lincoln is what!”  His eyes bulged out his head and his nostrils flared so wide, the bruise from his broken nose spread from under his eyes to his cheeks. “You fucking moron! You have ruined her damn life!  I hope you’re happy with yourself.”

Jon jumped between Anthony and Nick. “I thought you were gone, Ant.”

“Move, Jon!” Anthony demanded trying to shove Jon aside.

The muscles in Jon’s arms strained as he held back Anthony. “I’m not moving and you’re leaving; that’s an order.”

“Let him go, Jon,” Nick said slamming his locker shut. “If he thinks he can take me down again, let him try. I’ve been waiting for this.”

An irate Anthony spat, “I’m gonna beat your ass to a sloppy pulp.”

Nick’s mouth twisted into a rueful smile. “Why are you so angry, Ant?  Are you mad at me because she is pregnant by me or that she married me?  Yeah, we’re married. I stepped up to the plate to take care of my responsibility.”

Anthony stopped pushing against Jon and straightened his body. “She is stupid! She doesn’t know what she’s gotten herself into with you.”

Nick’s eyes glared and his chest puffed up ready to take on Anthony if it came to it. “The fool is Melanie. You’re here picking a fight with me about Lincoln. How do you think Melanie would feel about that?  Would she be happy that her husband is devastated that another man married the women he once loved?  Or are you still in love with her and realize you will never have her again because she’s mine now?”

Anthony’s breaths were quick and heavy. “Don’t bring Melanie into this. This is about you and Lincoln. You did it to get back at me.”

Nick’s lips thinned. He pointed an angry finger at Anthony. “I love my wife. I intend to be with her for the rest of my life regardless of what you or anyone else thinks about me as a person. But I don’t have shit to prove to you. Lincoln believes in me and she is the only person I have to please.”

Anthony turned a darker shade than his normal color as the steam in his head came to a boil. “This is not over!” He stormed from the locker room leaving Jon and Nick behind to wonder what his next step would be.

Jon shook his head. “This is one freaking mess!”

Nick face flushed a dark red and his lips stretched so thin they almost disappeared. “If he fucks with Lincoln, I’ll kill him, Jon.”

Chapter Thirty One

Lincoln removed three cups from the cabinet and turned off the pot of water on the stove. Tea seemed to calm her stomach and since she had to cut down on caffeine, tea would be her drink of choice in the mornings.

She dug three herbal tea bags from the box placing one inside each cup. As she reached for the pot of boiling water, she heard the commotion coming from the living room.