A Bookie's Odds (9 page)

“Better.” She patted his hand. “Now sit.”

Her concern over his well-being warmed him. The women he went out with never showed any compassion. It was all about them and what they got out of the time they spent together.

Nicholas sat cattycorner to Georgia and dug into his red beans and rice.

“Why’d you stop by the bar yesterday?”

He swallowed. “I figured your pops and I could hang for a bit.”

She stared as him as if he’d lost his mind.

“You don’t believe me?”

“I’d sooner believe you joined a monastery.”

Nicholas’s head fell back as he howled with laughter.

“Seriously, why’d you stop by?”

“To talk,” he replied once he caught his breath.

“I told you I was going on a date.”

“No, you said you were going out with an acquaintance of your father.” He slumped back in his chair, extended his legs in front of him, and folded his hands behind his head. “An acquaintance of your father is the widow who lives across the street from you, not a man who turns the head of every woman in a room.”

“Okay, I’m sorry I wasn’t clear. But what difference does it make anyway? I still wasn’t going to be home.”

If he’d known she was on a date, he would not have stopped by and had the displeasure of meeting the other man. Of course, knowing she would not appreciate that answer, he replied, “I wouldn’t have interrupted your date.”

Georgia leaned over her food and shoved a plantain in her mouth. Nicholas assumed the gesture meant she accepted his answer. If he ever decided to quit his current job, he could consider a career as a BS artist.

“Do you plan to go out with him again?”

She shrugged her shoulders as she continued eating.

“Why not? He seemed like a decent guy.”

“You’re starting to sound like Daddy. I’ll save you the trouble.” She held up a finger. “William is easy on the eye.” She ticked off another finger. “He’s a lawyer.” A third finger went up. “The man is going places.” She slumped back in her chair and dropped her hands in her lap. “And he’s going to need a good woman by his side, so why shouldn’t that woman be me.”

She had recited the list as if it had been repeated to her more than once. He would not have been surprised if her father had led the cheers. Not that he faulted the man. If he had a daughter, he’d try to steer her toward a successful man who had a bright future ahead of him.

“What’s wrong?” Nicholas leaned forward and took her hand. “Talk to me.”

“I don’t want to live Daddy’s dream—”

“You want to live your own.”

She slowly nodded her head, her eyes broadcasting her surprise.

“I understand more than you realize.”

“Then what can I do?”

Nicholas shrugged his shoulders. He wished he had an answer for her.

Aside from promising his wife that Celeste would marry a man with a legitimate career, his father had assured her Nicholas would earn an honest living. But, Nicholas was too strong-willed, and the man eventually had to accept that there was nothing he could do to about his son’s career choice.

It had been easier for him to defy his father than it would be for her. The expectations were different for women than they were for men. It was unfair for her, as all Georgia was asking was the chance to use her brain. If it were in his power, he’d grant her wish.

Chapter 7

“Admit it. I was right.”

Georgia rolled her eyes as she leaned against the black painted railing on the stoop.

Her father shook his finger at her. “I saw that, young lady.”

“I hope so. I wasn’t trying to hide it,” she replied.

“You need to watch yourself. You’re gettin’ too sassy.”

“That’s ’cause you’re gettin’ smug.”

“I have a right to be smug.” He pointed toward the street, where William played stick ball with the neighborhood boys. “I was right.”

Her father leaned back on the stoop, resting his elbows on the step behind him. The position pushed his chest out, not that it needed extra help; his arrogance did a good job of inflating his chest.

Georgia turned back to the street. Her father had predicted William would get along well with children. The younger man proved the older one right when he rolled up his sleeves and organized the game.

For the past week it had been obvious the men were on a mission to prove William was the best catch out there. Her father would crow about a positive trait he was certain the younger man possessed. The next day, William would appear and prove the man correct. Yet, despite his positive qualities, Georgia was not attracted to him.

She had told herself they were still getting to know each other and it was too early for feelings to have developed. But when they were apart she did not look forward to their next meeting.

William whistled and waved the boys to the side as a car turned the corner. With the children out of harm’s way, the vehicle cruised past.

Georgia’s father stood and folded his arms over his chest. He scowled as Earl Washington stuck a hand out the back passenger window, pointed at her father, and mimicked discharging a gun.

The car continued to the corner, then turned. Once it was out of sight, the boys ran back into the center of the street and resumed their game.

“What was that about?” she asked.

Her father stared at the empty corner. “Nothing for you to worry about,” he muttered as he sat back down.

The answer was far from satisfactory for Georgia. Despite her father’s attempt to be a role model for the younger man, Earl had decided he preferred the streets over an honest living. Besides working for the local ace, he sold drugs out of his apartment. It was rumored that he ordered a hit on his landlord when the man threatened to evict him.

“Billy told me he wants children.” Her father leaned back on the step. “Two boys and two girls.”

Georgia wished her father would talk to her about any problems he had. Didn’t he understand anything affecting him would also affect her?

His clenched jaw and the glare in his eyes said he either didn’t understand or he didn’t care. Either way, he was determined to shield her from his problems.

Deciding she did not want to start an argument she would lose, Georgia conceded to the change in the topic.

“What about what his wife wants? She’s the one who’s going to have to carry them.”

“Don’t be silly. Every woman wants to have children. That’s all you and Celeste used to talk about.”

No, that was all Celeste used to ramble on about. Georgia had yet to determine if she was willing to take the chance and felt it was unfair of any man to simply assume a woman wanted to put her body through those changes.

“I’ve heard childbirth is rough. Why should a man assume the woman will just deal with it? What if she can’t?”

“You’re not tellin’ me somethin’ I don’t know, girl.”

Georgia father’s voice was filled with grief. His shoulders slumped, and he stared at the sidewalk. Though it had been twenty years, he still mourned his wife.

“I’m sorry, Daddy.” She touched his arm.

After a second, he sighed. “I know you are.” He patted her hand. “There are better facilities up here for women. Unlike the south, here she would have the help she needs if there were problems…regardless of her skin color.”

“But still…”

“You can’t let your mother’s death scare you. Celeste’s mother survived two births, only to be taken out by a sickness.”

She remembered Nicholas telling her about the heartbreak of watching his mother get sicker and sicker from leukemia when he was six years old.

“But you’re right,” he added. “A man and woman should discuss what they want before they get too involved. Nothin’ breeds resentment quicker than one half of the relationship demandin’ somethin’ from the other with no regards to her wants or needs. In the end, no one, not the husband, wife, or the children, will be happy.”

Georgia wished her father had the same philosophy for a parent and child relationship. He never had problems making plans for her life. And, while she did not have a problem with going to college and getting a degree, she did not want to use her education to get a husband.

A horn beeped. Georgia squinted against the setting sun at the familiar red convertible parking on the corner.

“Celeste is home,” Nicholas shouted.

“It’s about time,” Georgia mumbled as she rose.

“You will not run to that boy.” Her father grabbed her wrist. “A gentleman would walk over to you.”

“Daddy, that only applies to couples.” She slipped her arm from his hand. “Nicholas and I are friends, so this doesn’t count.” She leaned over and pecked her father on the cheek. “I’m sure you’ll tell William the news.”

Georgia felt no qualms about leaving William, since they had not made any plans for the day. She had returned from the grocery store to find him organizing the stickball game and had only watched because her father insisted.

She sprinted up the street. When she was halfway to the car, Nicholas leaned over and pushed open the passenger door. She slipped into the seat and had barely closed the door before he hit the gas.

“When did she get home?”

“Pops called me a half hour ago and said she was at the house.”

“Thanks for stopping to get me.”

“I knew you’d want to give Celeste a piece of your mind for all the worry she’s caused.”

“We’ll be there a while. I’ve a lot to get off my chest.”

Nicholas stopped at a red light and drummed his fingers against the steering wheel. Georgia stared at his scruffy cheeks and the dark circles under his eyes. Yes, he teased Celeste, but in the end he loved his sister and worried about her.

The second the light turned to green, Nicholas leaned on his horn and shouted insults to the driver in the car in front of them. Then, instead of waiting for the vehicle to move, he darted into the opposite lane and passed it, swerving back into his lane seconds before an oncoming truck entered the intersection. Both of the unknown but endangered drivers honked their horns at such erratic driving.

“Nick, slow down before you get into an accident. We can’t give Celeste what for if we’re dead.”

He snorted. “I’ll haunt her if I have to.”

“I’d prefer if I was breathing, not an apparition.”

“Whatever.” He did not slow down. However, since he did not perform anymore foolish stunts, Georgia remained quiet for the rest of the drive.

Nicholas squealed to a stop in front of the house next to his father’s, climbed over the front seat to the back, and hopped out onto the sidewalk. He held the door Georgia had swung open, then shoved it closed before following her to the brownstone.

“We’re up here,” Mr. Santiano called from the living room.

They raced up the steps to the parlor floor. Celeste sat on the blue sofa next to her partner in crime. A bruise on Gianni’s left cheek indicated he had already been introduced to Mr. Santiano’s fist.

Nonna Sophie occupied a chair, her hand gripping the top of her cane. Mr. Santiano paced the length of the room. The tick in his jaw indicated it was taking all his strength not to further demonstrate his displeasure at the situation.

“You’ve got some explaining to do.”

“Please don’t be mad, Nicky.” Celeste jumped to her feet. She blocked her brother from reaching his friend. “We couldn’t think of any other way.”

Gianni did not flinch or display any sign he was concerned about the outcome of Nicholas reaching him.

“Sit down, Nick,” his father said. “It’s too late. There’s nothing we can do.”

Nicholas’s face displayed the same confusion she felt. “Whaddaya mean, it’s too late?”

“They’re married.”

Celeste held up her left hand. A band similar to the friendship ring a boy had purchased from Woolworth’s for Georgia when they were in the eighth grade decorated her friend’s third finger.

Georgia dropped into the chair next to the entryway. Her stomach lurched at the news.

“You’re married?” Nicholas asked.

“Of course I am. Gio’d only do right by me.”

Nicholas’s mouth dropped open. He glanced from his sister to his friend. A smile slowly took over his face.

“If you wanted to marry, why didn’t you say something instead of running off?”

“We were afraid Papa would say no if Gio asked for permission.” She moved to Georgia’s side. “Aren’t you going to say something?”

Georgia wanted to scream, “Have you lost your freakin’ mind?” and try to shake some sense into her friend. Instead of giving in to her first instinct, she gently shook her head as she whispered, “I can’t believe you’re married.”

“Neither can I. Everything’s happened so fast.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“How about ‘Congratulations’?”

That would have been the first word out of her mouth if there was any cause to celebrate. However, she did not see any good coming from the marriage and could not pretend to share in her friend’s joy.

Before they grew old waiting for Georgia to force the word from her mouth, Mr. Santiano stopped pacing. “Ladies, I need to discuss a few things with Gianni,” he announced. “Go upstairs and talk.”

Celeste took Georgia’s hand. “Come on.”

Georgia followed her friend out of the room. They ran up the two flights to the top floor, which Celeste and Nicholas had shared until he moved out.

“You still haven’t said anything,” Celeste said once they were in her bedroom.

“I’m in shock.” Georgia plopped down on the white floral quilt covering the full-sized bed. It was as honest as she could get without hurting her friend’s feelings.

“I know.” Celeste dropped to her knees in front of Georgia. “Things didn’t happen as I always said I wanted it. But you have to understand we had to do it this way. Papa would’ve never agreed.”

“Whose idea was it to elope?”

“Gio’s.”

Georgia had suspected as much. Celeste would never have come up with the idea of going behind her father’s back.

“I was so scared, and it took him a lot of convincing. But I finally agreed this was the best way.”

“But don’t you think this is sudden? I mean, how long have you’ve been going out?”

“It doesn’t matter. We’ve known each other most of our lives.”