The Chainmakers (28 page)

‘But that doesn’t mean he’s a criminal. Just because he’s Italian and has money...’

‘What about his two henchmen? They were bodyguards Anna, I’m sure of it.’ Clancy downed his whisky. ‘Anyway, with luck we’ll never see Vittorio Vetti again, he won’t want to know us any more than we want to know him.’ He sighed, and put his arm round Anna. ‘I know you were fond of Paolo and I liked him too, after all the lad can’t help his family. But for Jennie’s sake, let it go darlin’.’

Anna’s face was filled with dismay. ‘I can’t believe it. You have no proof of what you say, and I think you must be wrong.’ She swallowed. ‘Nevertheless, just in case, I shall be careful.’

She stared at her husband. ‘Oh Clancy, if it’s true, what will happen?’

As soon as James saw Paolo in the park he began to run. It had been almost a month since he had seen his favourite uncle, and he knew there would be a surprise. His certainty was based on the celebration of his ninth birthday the week before. Paolo never forgot.

James had enjoyed his birthday. Eight of his classmates were invited to his party, which had been great fun, but he had missed Paolo, even though there was consolation in the shape of a new bicycle from his parents.

Paolo was leaning on a parapet looking at the water. James shouted, and immediately Paolo’s handsome face broke into a big smile.

‘Hello, little brother! How you doing?’

As James dashed towards him Paolo held out his arms in the way he always did, and James, too late to stop his headlong rush, suffered the indignity of being lifted up bodily and swung around, before being returned gently to the ground.

‘Stop it Paolo,’ he said, pushing his friend away with an impatient gesture. ‘People are looking.’

‘Oh...’ Paolo pulled a face, pretending to be hurt. ‘Too grown up for a swing now are you? Too much the young gentleman for old uncle Paolo?’

James flushed. ‘That’s for babies,’ he muttered.

Paolo relented. ‘Come on, let’s go to the refreshment tent, I expect you’re hungry.’ Amusement played around his lips as he said, ‘That hasn’t changed has it?’

‘No,’ said James, and followed Paolo to the crowded tent, where they queued for sandwiches and cake to take away in paper bags for a picnic.

‘Can I have coffee?’ James asked.

‘No. Milk.’ Paolo said, handing James the paper bags to hold.

‘But I am allowed coffee now...’

Paolo looked him closely. ‘Are you? Are you sure?’

‘Well... sometimes I’m allowed. If Mama is in a good mood.’

Paolo turned back to the waitress. ‘One coffee and one milk please.’

‘Oh, Paolo!’

‘Come on, and stop complaining.’

They made their way to the edge of the lake. There were several families enjoying picnics, but as they neared a space near the trees a man stepped forward and spread a rug. Paolo nodded to him and the man returned the nod, and walked away.

‘Is that your chauffeur?’ James asked.

‘Er... yes.’

They sat down on the rug and opened the paper bags. It was a warm day and as he munched his sandwich James felt his spirits rise. It was good to be with Paolo again, even though there was no birthday present after all. Paolo spoke first.

‘I’m sorry about swinging you. I can see you are a bit old for it now you are nine. I won’t do it any more.’

James was magnanimous. ‘That’s all right,’ he said loftily. ‘I know I used to like it when I was little.’

‘Where are you supposed to be?’ Paolo asked.

‘Having afternoon tea at Jacksons with Cummings.’

‘Who is Cummings?’

‘A boy in my class. His aunt is taking him out to tea this afternoon, so I got him to tell Matron I was invited too.’

‘How did you manage that?’ Paolo said with interest.

‘Gave him my treacle pudding.’

Paolo suppressed a smile at the matter of fact tone of the nine year old. He handed James another sandwich and said seriously, ‘Well old chap, I’m glad you’re growing up so fast. I feel I can ask your advice.’

James looked startled. ‘What about?’

‘It’s... it’s a matter of the heart,’ Paolo said solemnly. Seeing the puzzlement on James’s face he added confidentially, ‘A love affair, James.’

‘A what?’ James flushed. ‘Don’t be soppy!’ He took a bite of his sandwich and said, with his mouth full, ‘You’re always soppy you are. Girls and all that stuff.’

‘I’m not soppy this time James. This is serious. I’m going to get married.’

‘Married? You? What for?’

Paolo hesitated and then replied ‘Because it’s time. When you get older it’s quite natural to get married, everybody does it. Your Mother and Father for instance, if they hadn’t got married they wouldn’t have had you, and then where should we be?’

James considered. ‘I suppose so. Does that mean you’ll have children as well? Be a Father yourself?’

‘I expect so, in time.’

‘I don’t see why you need to,’ James said truculently. He held up a chocolate clair in case Paolo wanted it. Paolo shook his head with a smile and James bit into the clair with relish. He wagged the remains of it at Paolo. ‘You’ve got me. What do you want other children for?’

Paolo looked stunned. ‘But you’re not a child, you’re like my brother, a younger brother.’

James liked that. It was true, Paolo always called him “little brother”.

‘I suppose,’ he conceded. ‘I wanted a brother but I didn’t have one.’

‘Nor me,’ said Paolo gently. ‘I had four sisters.’

‘Where are they?’ James asked. This was news, Paolo had never mentioned sisters.

‘In Italy. They are all married now, I was the youngest,’ Paolo told him. ‘They were not allowed to come to America.’

‘Oh. Well... I suppose it will be alright for you to get married. You might as well start looking, but don’t get anyone too soppy.’

Paolo laughed out loud. ‘She’s not soppy at all, James.’

‘You’ve found one already?’ A knowing look crossed the boy’s face and he crowed ‘I know who it is... I know who it is... Jennie McCormack I bet!’

‘Good guess.’ Paolo looked at him keenly. ‘How did you know?’

‘I heard Father ask Mama if Jennie was still keen on you.’

‘Did you? When was that?’

‘A few weeks ago. Mama’s birthday, when the red roses arrived, the ones you always send her.’

Paolo smiled. ‘Did she like them?’

‘Yes, I think so. Father said...’ James stopped himself and flushed slightly.

‘What did he say?’ Paolo asked. ‘It’s alright James, I know he doesn’t like me.’

James hesitated and then blurted out in a rush, ‘When he saw the roses he said Wonder Boy is still around is he? And Mama said yes and it was kind you still sent her roses every birthday and Father was grumpy and said was Jennie still keen on you.’

‘Oh. What did your Mama say to that?’

‘I don’t know. She saw me and sent me out to see Lottie.’

James looked at Paolo anxiously. ‘Don’t worry Paolo,’ he consoled. ‘They are very good parents really, Father is very kind.’

‘But of course he is.’ Paolo laughed. ‘James, your parents are very good people, and I admire them both.’

‘I know, you said before. But they wouldn’t let me invite you to my party, well Father wouldn’t, and Mama does what he says.’

Paolo sighed. ‘I have explained many times that your parents and my family have different business interests. It’s only business, that’s all.’

‘I know. I think it’s soppy, business.’

‘Yes, it is. Anyway, you will all be invited to the wedding,’ Paolo said with a flourish.

‘Father too?’

‘Of course. I think he will come. He is Jennie’s employer after all.’

‘I think weddings are soppy, all that dressing up,’ said James.

‘There will be lots of good food,’ Paolo pointed out.

‘Will there? Oh look, here’s your chauffeur again.’

Paolo got to his feet and took a large parcel from the sweating man. ‘I wonder what we have here...?’

James flushed with pleasure. ‘For me?’

Paolo laughed. ‘You knew I wouldn’t forget. Open it.’

James struggled with the box and at length, with some difficulty and a little help, he extracted a large sailing boat.

‘Oh Paolo, it’s wonderful! Can we sail it now?’

‘Of course, that is why we met here.’ He looked at his watch. ‘We have an hour before I take you back to school. We must make sure you arrive at the same time as Cummings.’

James was already at the waters edge. ‘Wait a moment,’ Paolo said, ‘I have to show you how to trim the sails. There’s not much wind today...’ He showed the boy how to raise and lower the sails, and then watched as James put the boat carefully in the water.

‘Don’t loose hold of the string,’ Paolo instructed. He watched James fiddling with the boat, and wondered, not for the first time, how Anna’s tawny haired beauty and Clancy’s dark Irish good looks had combined to produce a child with such fine fair hair and pale aristocratic demeanour. In spite of his appearance however, the boy already showed a fiercely independent will, which Paolo recognised and appreciated. He would never do anything to harm his self adopted ‘little brother.’ He walked over and knelt down beside the boy. ‘Don’t forget our secret James,’ he said. ‘When you show the boat to your Father you must tell him the present was delivered to school, like last year.’

‘Yes, I know,’ said James, and pushed the lovely toy out onto the lake.

~

The arrangements for Paolo and Jennie's wedding caused the first serious quarrel that Anna and Clancy had ever had. When Jennie had shyly asked if Clancy would give her away, he accepted with alacrity, delighted and honoured by the request. As Jennie was an orphan, Anna and Clancy were unanimous in their desire to take over the parental role, and to provide the reception for the couple. As they now had twenty profitable restaurants as well as the hugely expanded core catering business, and a chain of fifty eight delicatessens, they could easily afford it.

Apart from their role as Jennie's employers, Anna and Clancy had watched her develop from a timid young girl to an accomplished woman under their tutelage, and both of them were genuinely fond of her. As Clancy put it, they 'wanted to give her a really good send-off,' but it was here that the difficulties began. Holding the reception at their home would mean inviting Vittorio Vetti and his guests, and it was by now common knowledge that the family were part of what was locally known as 'the mob'. Anna had always tried to distance herself from this knowledge, and as she saw Paolo rarely, when he picked up Jennie from her restaurant and Anna happened to be there, this was not difficult.