Albany Park (61 page)

They were awakened by the doorbell chimes at eight o’clock. Darlene got up to see who was there and returned quickly. “It’s a reporter. There’s a car in the driveway and I heard another pulling in. Let’s decide what to do before we answer. No matter what though, we better get going. This is gonna be a big day.”

Entering the bathroom, Vic kissed Darlene’s neck as she bent brushing her teeth.

She looked up, continuing to brush and winked, garbling, through the foam, “mmm, that’s nice.”

The chimes continued as three more cars arrived. Vic yelled through the door. “Give us a few minutes.” He had slipped into his clothes from the precious night and plugged in a phone which started ringing immediately. Laughing, he unplugged it.

Ten minutes later, holding hands, they opened the door. Questions started immediately. Raising his arms, Vic grinned, “Yes, guys it’s true and we’re on our way to our campaign office. We’ll try to have a news conference there about noon today. Please meet us there.”

Both waving they retreated into the house. They left minutes later, taking both cars.

Chapter 50
 

The day after Coop’s column appeared, the Chicago TV stations, including the Tribune-owned WGN, featured the story on the ten o’clock news. ABC verified the details in a split screen hook-up, with Vic in Chicago at his desk at the campaign office with a picture of Darlene and his sons in the background and David in the ABC studio in Atlanta. Vic mentioned that David and he had talked by phone after the article appeared, but hadn’t met in person. Both were quick to state they were looking forward to a meeting soon after the election. By Wednesday of that week, Vic was leading the polls.

On Election Day, Victor Wayne carried the district by a margin of fifty three to forty seven percent for Palmer. A week later he, Darlene and the two boys flew to Atlanta to meet David Rabin.

The meeting took place in the lobby at the Marriott near the airport. Vic and his sons in dark suits and ties and Darlene in a grey pants suit, holding Vic’s arm, waited near the hotel entrance. As David came up to the door, looking casual, in light grey slacks and a navy blue sweater with a short leather jacket, Spotting him, Ben exclaimed, “I can’t believe how much he looks like Dad!”

Darlene laughed. “Dad? Look at all of you. He’s thinner, but you’re all about the same height and coloring. And did you notice how he walks with that little bounce? It’s just like the three of you. It’s spooky seeing how you all resemble one another.”

Vic squeezed Darlene’s hand as David came through the door. She squeezed back. “We’ll wait for you in the lounge,” she said, “to give you two a few minutes alone.”

Vic broke away to greet him while Darlene, Ben and Jeff hung back. David smiled shyly as he shook Vic’s extended hand.

Clearing his throat, David said quietly, “I want to thank you for saving my life. I know it couldn’t have been an easy decision for you. You risked a lot to help someone you’d never met, or even knew was related. I will forever be grateful.”

Vic put his hand on David’s shoulder. “It was the right thing to do. Once I got over the shock, It wasn’t a hard decision at all.”

David smiled. “I’m sure you’ve heard many things about my mother and father.”

Vic nodded, silently squeezing his shoulder as David continued. “They may not have been ideal parents or led conventional lives, but I want you to know that they always tried to do what they believed was best for their son; and if they hadn’t sacrificed for me, I would never have succeeded in my chosen career. There were values they taught me that I respect and will never forget.”

Grasping his hand again, Vic responded. ”The Shirley Siegal that I knew was a wonderful girl and I will always remember her. And I know that she loves you very much David. You mean the world to her. That’s all I care about.”

Stepping back for a moment, he moved closer and embraced David. He was welcomed with a heartfelt hug.

Sighing Vic said, “why don’t you come into the lounge with me? I’d like you to meet the rest of our family.”

Chapter 51
 

As he exited the professional building at Old Orchard, Vic glanced to his left and saw at a distance, a striking woman with frosted hair strolling through the Mall. He stopped, thinking she looked familiar and as he waited for a closer look, he saw it was Shirley. He hadn’t seen her since their lunch at Gianotti’s, seventeen years before. But now here she was, heading in his direction, without realizing he was there.

His heart skipped a beat as he hesitated. She was dressed tastefully in high heels and black slacks, a long sleeved white top with a black sweater draped over her shoulders and a frilly peach-colored scarf tied loosely around her neck.

Vic hesitated and then began slowly walking toward her; dodging around school kids, women with tots, several men, a few with ties, most in jeans and the usual families, many gabbing in foreign languages. The ideal Indian summer afternoon had brought out a large bunch of shoppers.

Approaching, he deliberately placed himself in her way, causing her to look up from about five feet and stop abruptly. Seeing her wide eyed look of annoyance, he smiled and said, “You look exactly like my high school girlfriend.”

Raising a hand to her mouth she gasped. “Oh my God,.. Victor! How are you? Let me look at you.” Slowly, her lips curled into a bright smile as she shook her head.

A few in the passing crowd gave the stopped older couple an irritated glance while weaving around them. A little boy backed into Vic’s leg and shrieked. Vic glanced down chuckling as the boy ran away, then turned back to Shirley.

With a hand at her chin, she gazed back. “You, -you are still the handsomest man I’ve-I’ve ever known,” she stuttered.

“C’mon Shirley, we’re over seventy years old,” he replied, holding back a smile and extending his hand. “I don’t know about you, but I’ve got plenty of mileage on me. But I have to admit, you still look gorgeous.”

“Cut it out, Victor,” she laughed, reaching for his outstretched hand. “I’m as big as a house and have plenty of help just managing to maintain this weight.”

“Okay. So you gained a few pounds. Who hasn’t? But you look great with curves. And I don’t weigh 155 lbs. anymore, either.”

They stood silent for a moment, holding each other’s hand and appraising one another.

Letting go of her hand, he brushed self-consciously at his thinning hair, and asked, “Have you time for a cup of coffee?”

“I’d love one,” she said grinning.

“C’mon,” he said, “remember the little restaurant called ‘The Bagel’ from Kedzie and Lawrence? They’ve got one here now. Of course, it’s got more than a small counter with twelve stools and a few booths, but it still has some of the flavor of the old place. We can go there and do a little catching up,” he said taking her arm and turning in the direction of the restaurant.

They entered through the revolving door and Shirley’s heels clicked across the tiny, old-fashioned ceramic tiles as the hostess directed them to a dark high-backed, wooden booth in the nearly empty eatery at this mid-afternoon hour. Shirley slipped into the booth on one side of the red table, Vic on the other, asking, “how is David? I haven’t talked to him for some time.”

“He’s busy as ever and is making his old mother proud as always. We still try to get together at least once a month but it’s getting more difficult because his kids are both busy with school and all their other activities. If it weren’t for Marla making arrangements with me it would be impossible. Have you met his wife? She’s wonderful. I love her, although I must admit I was shocked and disappointed when they eloped before I even met her.

“Yes she is. We’ve only met once, about seven years ago,when they came to Washington, he wanted her to meet me. I could see she makes him happy. His little kids were great, too.”

Smiling, Shirley studied him and sighed softly. An image of Vic as he was in high school, more than fifty years before, flashed through her mind. The full dark eyebrows now were grey, as was his hair that was swept back, showing an expanding brow with a prominent crease over one side of his nose. His eyes, deeper set and crinkled at the corners, were still soft and penetrating. An impulse to reach for his hand made her pull hers back.

Instead, she smiled. “Tell me about Victor. How was it being in Congress? Did you like Washington? And how about your family, Darlene and your children, how are they? I do get some sketchy information from David from time to time, and I know you occasionally talk with him on the phone. Is everything okay?”

“Darlene is good and my boys and their families are terrific. My brother Frank had a heart attack but he’s doing okay and so are my three sisters.”

Pausing he returned her smile and went on, “I came back from Washington after three terms because Frank’ was sick and I was needed to run our company. That was about five years ago. Last year, we turned the company over to my sons and Frank’s daughter. They earned it and are doing a great job.”

Leaning back, he watched her. Stirring her coffee, she tilted her head and looked at him with a twinkle as a smile crossed her face.

Just the way she did as a little girl, he thought. Isn’t it crazy; I still love looking at her.

A tall, heavyset man stopped at the booth and shook Vic’s hand. “Hi, Congressman, we haven’t seen you for a while. Anything I can get you?”

“No thanks, I’m just having a cup of coffee with an old friend,” Vic replied with a nod. “Michael, meet Mrs. Rabin from Florida, she remembers your place from Kedzie Avenue, back when we were kids.”

Shirley smiled, holding out her hand. “My father used to bring home kippers and onions from there.”

“Hey that’s great,” the big man said with a quick shake. “Sure you don’t want a piece of our famous gefilte fish or one of our omelets?”

“God no, it’s three in the afternoon and I have to eat dinner in a couple of hours. Thanks anyway,” she said, laughing.

“Michael’s the owner now, he took over from his father,” Vic explained as the man walked back to the kitchen.

“Is it as good as it was on Kedzie?”

“The fish and omelets are.”

“Now, Congressman, tell me about Washington.”

“As far as Washington, it’s hard to describe, except to say it’s exciting and I loved it. When Darlene and I got there fifteen years ago, we were like two little kids from the old neighborhood. For the first year, we did a lot of sightseeing and were introduced to people you hear about or see only on the news.”

“Dan Rostenkowski, the head of our Illinois Congressional delegation, took me under his wing and through him I met several senators and congressmen, as well as cabinet officers and diplomats. I worked hard on three committees and evenings Darlene and I regularly attended political functions or social gatherings. That first term was quite a whirlwind.”

“I’ll bet. It must have been exciting.”

“The biggest thrill was the first time I introduced a bill to fund a program at the University of Illinois. I was scared to death to speak on the floor of the House of Representatives, but when it passed and I received congratulations from the speaker of the house I almost cried thinking of when we were all just kids from our old neighborhood.”

“Hmm,” she smiled, “that sounds like the Victor Wayne I knew. You loved it didn’t you?”

“Yeah, I guess I did.”

“What about your wife, how did she like it?”

‘Darlene loved the initial excitement of Washington and took a lot of interest in my work, but once the work kicked in, she realized that the hectic schedule left us with little time for ourselves. She never did like how public our life had become and she missed Highland Park, especially when our sons married and had children. She missed being near the grand children.”

“I know that feeling,” Shirley smiled. “I’ve even thought about moving or getting a place in Atlanta to be near my grandkids.”

He stifled a chuckle, remembering all that he knew about her. Being a grandmother didn’t seem to fit.

With a smile he went on. “It wasn’t until Darlene was offered a job with a consulting firm that ran election campaigns for candidates seeking congressional seats that she changed her mind. They had heard about the job she did taking over my campaign and wanted her. I told her to go for it, knowing she would like the excitement of being involved. The only thing I didn’t want her to do is travel, because I needed her to be with me. She took the job and we both were happy. But enough about me,” he said, looking up. “How about you? What brings you to Chicago?”

“I’m in for my sister’s grandson’s wedding. I also have a little business to attend to,” she said smiling. “And I can tell from that look that you’re wondering what kind of business I have in mind.”

“No not really” said Vic, holding his palms up. “I wouldn’t do that. Being in politics, I’ve learned not to pre-judge anyone’s business.”

Shirley giggled. ”Well don’t jump to any conclusions, it’s not the business I used to be in,” she said. “It’s real estate and I know a lot about it,” and burst out laughing.

Holding back a laugh, Vic raised his eyebrows.

Her smile faded as she bit her bottom lip before she spoke again. “Victor, I know you must think I’m awful, but it’s a long story and I did what I had to at the time.”

Raising his hand, he stopped her. “Shirley, I have never made assumptions about you or questioned your choices; you don’t have to explain yourself to me.”

“Thank you,” she sighed, “but I know I haven’t been an angel and most people wouldn’t approve of my lifestyle. I survived, though, because I loved David,” she said, looking up to see his reaction.

He started to respond, but held back as she continued.

The words tumbled out quietly. “My marriage was never good and once we left Chicago it only got worse. And when Howie went to jail, I took over his business because we owed a lot of money and I had nowhere else to turn. I don’t make excuses other than that. I hope you understand.”

Vic nodded as she went on.

“I’ve always been very sorry about disrupting your life and hope that you have found it in your heart to forgive me. I regret that I felt that I had to threaten you, and I hope that you can understand that if it hadn’t been David’s life at stake, I never would have gone to that extreme. But more than anything else, I want you to know that I will always be grateful that you saved David’s life.”