No Ordinary Love (16 page)

“I mean, has
Trina
had a baby?” Tino asked.

“No,” Tony said. “Trina wants two daughters. I will give her a snowflake child.”

“A what?”

“A snowflake child,” Tony said. “Trina is dark brown and I am white. Our daughter will be a snowflake child.”

Tino nodded. “So you’re in love with Trina, huh?”

“I cannot be in love with Trina,” Tony said. “I have not met her yet.”

“Oh. Huh?” Tino cruised to a stop at a stoplight. He looked back. “You haven’t met her yet?”

“No,” Tony said. “I hope to meet her tonight at the hospital.”

The taxi pulled through the intersection. “Is she a doctor?”

“She is a nurse,” Tony said.

“Okay,” Tino said. He pulled up to the curb near the main entrance. “We’re here.” He opened his door, got out, and opened Tony’s door.

Tony stepped out. “Thank you.” He stared up at Tino. “You are very big.”

“Yeah,” Tino said. “I like to eat.”

“I like to eat, too.” Tony looked at Tino’s massive arms. “You are brown.”

“Yes,” Tino said. “I am Latino.”

“You speak Spanish,” Tony said.

“
Sí,
” Tino said.

“
Gracias,
” Tony said, and he started for the main entrance.

Tino walked beside him.

“I must talk to Trina alone,” Tony said, pushing through the double doors.

“I’m going to help you find her, okay?” Tino said. “And if you find her, I’ll leave you two alone to talk.”

“Okay.”

Tino led Tony to the information desk. “My friend Tony here wants to speak to Trina Woods.”

“Trina is a nurse here,” Tony said. He read her name tag. “Lily Williams.”

“Is she expecting you?” Lily asked.

“No,” Tony said. “You are brown and have an Afro.”

Lily widened her eyes. “Um, okay.”

“Um, Tony’s special,” Tino said.

“I have Asperger’s,” Tony said. “I am not special.”

“I’m sorry, Tony,” Tino said. “I meant no disrespect.”

“It is okay,” Tony said. “I need to see Trina Woods.”

Lily shook her head. “I can’t give out that information, sir.”

“I do not understand,” Tony said. “Trina works here. She said so on the Internet.”

“It’s okay, Tony,” Tino said. “HIPAA laws, right?”

“Right,” Lily said.

“Can you at least tell my friend Tony if she works here?” Tino asked. “He’s been in an airplane all day.”

“I can’t give out that information,” Lily said. She then nodded once.

“Thank you, Lily,” Tino said. “Is she working now?”

“I can’t give out that information,” Lily said. She then shook her head.

“Thank you again, Lily,” Tino said. “Thanks for not helping.” He winked.

“Are you in love with Lily?” Tony asked.

Tino laughed. “This is the first time I’ve ever met this lovely lady.”

“But you winked,” Tony said. “A wink means you love someone.”

Tino smiled at Lily. “Or it means you like what you see.”

Lily smiled.

“Come on, Tony,” Tino said. “We can go to your hotel now.”

Tony didn’t move. “I want to see Trina.”

“Didn’t you see Lily nodding and shaking her head?” Tino asked.

“No,” Tony said. “I have trouble looking at faces.”

“Okay,” Tino said. “Without saying so to protect her job, Lily told us Trina does work here, and she works during the day.”

“I will see Trina in the morning,” Tony said.

“Yes,” Tino said. “Let’s go to your hotel now.”

“Okay, Tino.”

“It’s just around the corner.” Tino waved at Lily. “Thank you, Lily.”

Lily held out a slip of paper. “In case you don’t need any information in the future, Tino.”

Tino took the paper. “I think I won’t need information very soon.” He smiled.

“Bye, Tony,” Lily said.

“Bye, Lily,” Tony said.

When they reached the Huntington, a doorman wearing white gloves and a dark uniform opened his door. “Welcome to the Huntington,” he said.

Tony got out and looked at the cable car going by, its bell clanging twice.

“Those are neat, huh?” Tino said. “You’ll have to ride one of those while you’re here. They’re a lot of fun.”

“I will ride one,” Tony said. “I know where it goes.”

“Come on,” Tino said.

Tony walked through the ornate entrance to the reception desk, Tino reaching the desk first. “My friend Tony has a reservation.”

Tony read her name tag. “Your name is Jeanie.”

“That’s right,” Jeanie said. “And what is your name?”

“Tony Santangelo, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, New York, USA.”

“One moment,” Jeanie said, tapping at her keyboard.

Tino leaned against the reception desk. “I didn’t know you were from Brooklyn. I have a cousin who lives in Bushwick. You lived there long?”

“All my life,” Tony said.

“You don’t have the accent,” Tino said.

“It is because I have Asperger’s,” Tony said. “My brother Angelo has the accent.”

“You’re staying with us for a week, Mr. Santangelo, and you’re already paid in full,” Jeanie said. “I’ll just need a credit card for any incidental charges you may accrue.”

Tony handed her his credit card. “You will give it back.”

Jeanie smiled. “Of course I will.” She swiped his card and returned it. “If you need anything, Mr. Santangelo, call the front desk and I’ll answer.”

“Okay,” Tony said.

“Are you here on vacation?” Jeanie asked.

“No,” Tony said. “I am here to meet Trina Woods.”

“Is she a guest at this hotel?” Jeanie asked.

“She is a nurse at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital,” Tony said.

Jeanie squinted at the computer screen. “You have requested a room facing the park.”

“Yes,” Tony said. “I like parks.”

“I have just the room.” Jeanie swiped, then handed him two key cards. “Here are your room keys.”

“They are not keys,” Tony said.

“They act like keys,” Jeanie said. “You’ll see when you get to your room. Are you hungry?”

“Yes,” Tony said.

“We can have your food sent up to your room,” Jeanie said. “What can we get you?”

“I eat pasta for dinner,” Tony said.

“We have plenty of that here,” Jeanie said. “We’ll send it up to you with some bread, okay?”

“Yes,” Tony said. “And Hires Root Beer.”

“Fine,” Jeanie said. She waved at an elderly bellhop. “Terry, please take Mr. Santangelo and his luggage up to his room.”

“He has no luggage,” Tino said. “Tony’s traveling light.”

“I will buy clothes here,” Tony said.

“You’ve come to the right place for buying clothes,” Jeanie said.

Tino extended his hand. “Take it easy, Tony.”

Tony shook his hand. “Thank you, Tino.”

“Good luck with Trina,” Tino said.

“Good luck with Lily,” Tony said.

Tino laughed. “You saw her give me her phone number.”

“I saw you flirting,” Tony said.

Tino nodded. “Glad I met you, Tony.”

Terry appeared beside Tony. “Right this way, sir.”

“I like your uniform,” Tony said, following Terry to the elevator.

“Thank you,” Terry said.

“You are black,” Tony said. “You have no hair. Your head is shiny.”

Terry pressed the UP button. “I used to have hair.”

“You have freckles on your head,” Tony said.

“You’re very observant,” Terry said. The elevator doors opened. “After you, Tony.”

Tony stepped inside, and the doors closed. “I have an elevator in my house in Brooklyn.”

“Yeah?” Terry said. “You must have a big house.”

“It is called the Castle,” Tony said. “The elevator goes up to the roof where I walk Silver.” Tony’s body shook. “I did not walk Silver five times today.”

“You all right, Tony?” Terry asked.

“I must tell Angelo to walk Silver.” He pressed the number one and waited. “My phone does not work.”

The elevator stopped at the eighth floor. “You don’t have a signal. As soon as you get out of the elevator, it should work fine.”

Tony pressed the number one again. “Hello? Angelo?”

“It’s me, Aika,” Aika said. “Tony, where are you?”

“You must walk Silver now,” Tony said.

“What?”

“You must walk Silver now,” Tony said.

“Tony, where are you?” Aika asked.

“I cannot tell you,” Tony said. “I must go now.” He ended the call.

“Follow me,” Terry said.

Tony walked behind Terry to his room.

“If you give me a key card, I’ll show you how to use it,” Terry said.

Tony handed Terry a key card and watched him slip it into a slot.

“When you pull it out, the green light goes on.” Terry pulled out the card.

“I see a green light.”

“That means your door is open,” Terry said. “Open it.”

Tony opened the door and saw two beds, a couch, two chairs, a wide-screen TV, and a desk. “There are two beds.”

“Yes,” Terry said.

“I only need one bed,” Tony said.

“You didn’t request two beds?” Terry asked.

“I will be okay,” Tony said. He went to the window. “I can see the park.”

“Yes,” Terry said, moving beside him.

“I see a fountain,” Tony said.

“It’s a strange one,” Terry said.

“Men are holding up a bowl,” Tony said.

“
Naked
men,” Terry said.

“Oh,” Tony said. “I like the red lights.”

“Will you need anything else, Tony?” Terry asked.

“No.” Tony extended his hand. “Glad to know you, Terry.”

Terry shook his hand. “Glad to know you, too. You have a good stay.”

After Terry left, Tony sat on the first bed.
I am here in San Francisco. I am safe. Trina is out there waiting for me.

He heard a knock on the door.

He opened the door, and a short woman carried a tray inside. It contained a huge plate of pasta with meat sauce, a small plate of bread sticks, and a glass of ice water.

“Where would you like this?” she asked.

He read her name tag. “I do not know, Lu Chu.”

“I can set it on the coffee table,” Lu said.

“Okay.”

Tony followed closely behind her. “You are Japanese.”

“I am Chinese,” Lu Chu said. She set down the tray.

“You are very pretty,” Tony said. “My friend Aika is from Japan, but she lives in Brooklyn. She will marry my brother, Angelo. He looks like me. Aika’s name means ‘love song.’ What does your name mean?”

Lu Chu looked up at Tony and smiled. “Green pearl.”

“You are not green,” Tony said. “But you are pretty.” He picked up the remote. “My name is Tony. I watch the Weather Channel.” He turned on the television.

“I can find it for you, Tony,” Lu Chu said.

“Okay.” He handed the remote to her. “You are short and have brown eyes.”

Lu Chu laughed as she found the right channel. “I have always been short.” She set the remote on the coffee table. “I’ll put this meal on your bill.”

“You just put it on the table,” Tony said.

Lu Chu squinted. “You’re funny.”

“Thank you,” Tony said.

“I will put the
cost
of this meal on your bill,” Lu Chu said.

“Yes.” Tony sat. He searched the table. “I need Hires Root Beer.”

“We didn’t have any, sir,” Lu Chu said.

“Do you have Doc’s Root Beer?” Tony asked.

“I couldn’t find any root beer down there,” Lu Chu said. “I could get you a Coke.”

“It is okay,” Tony said. “I already had too much root beer today.” He picked up his fork and started eating. “This is good.”

“I’ll tell the cook,” Lu Chu said. “Enjoy your meal, sir.”

Tony shot out his hand. “Thank you, Lu Chu.”

Lu Chu shook his hand. “You’re welcome, Tony.”

He ate most of his pasta and all of the breadsticks while watching an Alberta Clipper speeding across the country toward the Northeast.

His phone rang. “Hello?”

“Tony, where the hell are you?”

“Hello, Angelo,” Tony said. “You will have eight to twelve inches of snow in two days.”

“I’ve heard,” Angelo said. “Now, where are you?”

“You are angry with me,” Tony said.

“I’m not angry,” Angelo said. “I’m concerned. I’ve been worried to death. It’s nearly two o’clock in the morning, and you’re not home.”

“I am safe,” Tony said. “Do not worry about me.”

“Well, where are you?” Angelo asked. “I’ll come get you.”

“You cannot come get me,” Tony said. “I am meeting Trina tomorrow morning.”

“Right,” Angelo said. “Just tell me where you are.”

“I am in San Francisco,” Tony said. “I ate some pasta. It was not the same as Delores makes. They did not have root beer. I drank ice water.”

“You’re at a restaurant?” Angelo asked.

“No, I am in San Francisco,” Tony said. “I can see a fountain from my window. Naked men are holding up a big bowl.”

“Are you on something?” Angelo asked.

“I am on a couch,” Tony said.

“I meant . . .” Angelo sighed. “Look. I called Angela, and she said you left her shop around three. Where have you been for the last eleven hours? Did you go over to Mama and Poppa’s old house or something?”

“No,” Tony said. “I am in San Francisco. I flew in an airplane. I went to Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, but Trina was not there. She works during the day. I will see her in the morning. I am in a hotel. It is very hilly here. The city looks like Christmas.”

“Why are you lying to me?” Angelo asked.

“I am not lying,” Tony said. “I do not lie.”

“Well, then you’re pulling my leg or something,” Angelo said.

“I cannot reach your leg to pull it,” Tony said. “I am over three thousand miles away. I would need very long arms to pull your leg.”

“Look,” Angelo said, “if you don’t tell me where you are, I’m going to call the police.”

“They will not help,” Tony said. “I am not in Brooklyn, Angelo. I am in San Francisco.”

“You expect me to believe that you flew on an airplane all by yourself all the way to San Francisco.”

“Yes,” Tony said. “I am very tired. I must go to sleep now. I will see Trina in the morning.”

“Tony?”

“Yes.”

“Are you
really
in San Francisco?”

“Yes.”

“I can’t believe this!” Angelo shouted. “Who helped you get there?”