The Inheritance (The Donatelli Series) (23 page)

The sun was shining and the roads were dry, a good day for a kid’s first bike ride. Keeping an eye out for Sunny’s car, Blade rode out to Sophia’s house. Maria’s car wasn’t in the driveway, but Andy stood on the porch, wearing his helmet and leather jacket, ready for his ride. Blade smiled at the kid’s enthusiasm. He parked the bike and turned off the engine. “Where’s your mom?”

“Right here.” Maria walked out the front door with Jimmy. “My car died again. Angelo brought us home from church.”

“You can drive mine.”
Until we buy you a new one.

Andy checked out the bike, while Jimmy held back. One kid was afraid and the other was so excited he couldn’t stand still. Blade showed Andy how to sit on the bike and hold on, and then he started the engine. Little arms squeezed around Blade’s waist. “Hang on tight, Andy.”

He rode slowly around the cul-de-sac and Andy screamed, “More.”

Blade waved to Maria and Jimmy and rode down the street to the main road, out of Maria’s sight. He knew she’d worry the whole time they were gone, so they didn’t go far. Three miles to the waterfront park, where they turned around in the parking lot, and back home to Mommy and Kid Number Two. Judging from the look on Jimmy’s face, the kid was afraid to go that far, so Blade went through his little speech about how to sit and hold on, and then he took Jimmy around the cul-de-sac down to the end of the street and back. This little guy was too scared to go beyond that.

Maria plucked Jimmy off the bike as soon as Blade pulled into the driveway. “You did good, Jimmy,” said Blade. “Now it’s Mommy’s turn.”

Are you crazy?

I want you to know how it feels.

I don’t have a helmet.

Blade held up the one he’d stashed in his saddle bag.
I brought a spare.

“If she won’t go, I will,” said Molly.

Blade hadn’t seen her come out. He motioned with his head, and the kid pulled the helmet on and climbed on behind him. “Hang on, Molly.” He took her to the park and back home, where Maria stood on the front porch with the two younger boys.

“Where’s Robbie?”

“He’s with Nick and Cara this afternoon. Nick is doing some work on the radar system on the boat, and Robbie wanted to help. He knows more about the internal workings of the radar than anyone else in the family.”

“Smart kid. Okay, kids, it’s Mommy’s turn. I’m taking you to get my car, so bring your purse.”

I don’t know about this.

“I’ll turn you into a motorcycle mama.”
You’ll love it, I promise.

The kids giggled and gathered around, and they showed their mother where to sit and how to hold on. After one ride, they were all experts, especially Andy. Blade started the Harley, and they rode away. He stayed on the back roads and drove slowly, because although she wouldn’t show it in front of her kids, she was more scared than Jimmy.

Minutes later, he pulled into the parking lot at the storage facility and cut the engine. The owner came out, probably to make sure Blade didn’t park the Harley in the storage unit again. Blade ignored him.

Maria climbed off the back and handed him the helmet. “That was absolutely exhilarating. No wonder you love it so much.”

“The exhilarating part was holding onto your husband.”
I miss you, Maria.

I miss you, too, Blade.

He walked her to his car and handed her the keys. “I circled a couple ads in the paper, someplace to rent until the house is finished. I’m going out to see them this afternoon.”
We’ll find a way to be together.

He gave her a long, warm hug and reluctantly sent her home to her family.

<>

After Maria got home, Blade called her. “There’s a cluster of tiny waterfront homes on Colvos Passage. You have to walk across the neighbor’s property to get to the homes. There’s a little house on the water for rent here, fully furnished. What do you think?”

“Is there a tall, steep hill behind the house?”

She heard footsteps and then he said, “Yeah, it’s a big one.”

“Every few years one of those little houses slides into the water. I know it’s pretty, but I wouldn’t want to live there.”

“Okay, scratch this one.” The next place advertised was out by Key Center.

Blade followed the directions to a run-down single-wide mobile home in the middle of several areas of recently logged land. The blue metal house was rusted and dirty on the outside, and the two cars on blocks beside it had weeds growing around them. He didn’t get off his Harley.

A man with a pot belly came out puffing on a cigar, and Blade asked, “Is this the place for rent?”

“Yeah. You want to see inside?”

“No, thanks.” Blade waved him off and rode away. He’d lived in his share of dumps, and he wouldn’t bring Maria to a place like this.

On the way back, he spotted a sign by the highway that said DUPLEX FOR RENT. He turned in and followed the signs back to a community of duplexes. It wasn’t what he had in mind, but it would do in a pinch. He parked and walked up to the front door. A woman greeted him, and Blade asked, “Is this the place for rent?”

“Yes, it is.”

“I’m looking for a furnished place to live in until I get my new house built.”

By the time he left, his wallet felt lighter and he had a place to live for the next six months. The furniture didn’t look like much and the place wasn’t as private as he’d like, but it was clean and the lawn had been mowed this year.

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Lucas helped Blade move into the duplex Monday morning. As soon as Lucas left and Blade got his clothes hung in the closet, two old women knocked on his door. They looked a lot alike, except one had bright red hair and the other was a blonde. They were wearing their wigs like some people wore hats—slightly askew.

“I’m Betty and this is my sister, Judy,” the blonde said. “We live across the street, and we couldn’t help but notice your motor-sickle. Now this is a quiet neighborhood and we have rules about noise.”

Blade invited them to come inside and sit down. Betty talked non-stop about all the ‘rules’ of the neighborhood. Judy nodded at everything her sister said, but she didn’t speak.

“I know you young people like to tear through the streets on your motor-sickles, but this is a quiet neighborhood, and we intend to keep it that way.”

Blade bit down on his tongue to keep from laughing out loud. The old ladies thought they’d been invaded by the Hell’s Angels. Okay, he’d play along. “What about sex? Is that allowed?”

“Oh, my, yes,” said Betty, “as long as it’s in the privacy of your own home and you don’t have women running in and out all the time.”

“I usually only have one at a time,” Blade said with a straight face. Judy’s eyebrows shot up and her face turned bright pink.
One down and one to go.
“I suppose this means no riding naked down the middle of the street.”

Betty gasped.
Two down.
Blade stood. “Thanks for coming by, ladies. I appreciate the warm welcome.” He opened the door and the women rushed out. As soon as they left, he leaned on the door and burst out laughing.

Maria arrived a few minutes later with sheets and towels, enough kitchen things to get by, and three bags of groceries. Blade spotted two sets of eyes peeking around the drapes in the window across the street and decided to give them a show to remember. He stood in the open doorway and gave Maria a big smooch.

She helped him make the bed, and then they messed it up, their first time together since they stood before an Elvis look-alike and recited their wedding vows. It wasn’t a luxurious bedroom like the one in New York, but it didn’t matter. They were together, and he could kiss her and touch her, feel her loving arms around him, and make love to her.

They snuggled in the aftermath of a very hot session of lovemaking. He thought it would get less intense over time, but every time with Maria was as passionate at the first. “Maybe we should keep this place after we get the house built. It’s nice and private, except for the neighbors. They informed me of the neighborhood ‘rules.’ We can’t tear down the streets or ride the motor-sickle naked, and I can only have one woman in my bed at a time. Otherwise...”

She burst out laughing.

“Hey, what are you laughing at?”

She pulled his towel off and smacked his bare behind.

“Hey, I’m pretty sure that beating on the residents is against the ‘rules.’ You want me to go across the street and ask Betty?”

She looked him over and giggled. “Not in that condition.”

He wiggled his eyebrows. “Do you suppose two times in one afternoon is allowed in the ‘rules?’“ She silenced him with a kiss and they ended up back in bed.

<>

Before she left, Maria helped Blade get his kitchen set up. Blade seemed content today, and it felt so nice to have him all to herself again. She’d once thought of him as a crude man, but he treated her kids with respect and kindness, and she’d never had a more sensitive lover. He always left her well satisfied. She didn’t know how long their relationship would last, but she’d enjoy it as long as they were together.

The kids should be home by now. Teresa had offered to pick them up from the bus stop today. Maria loved having her and Angelo right down the street.

Maria kissed Blade goodbye and drove home. As she neared the house, she spotted Sunny’s car parked on the street in front of Mom’s house. A flash of panic rose inside her as she pulled into the driveway and got out to face Blade’s stepmother. “What are you doing here?”

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the woman from Blade’s house. Maria, isn’t it? Where is Blade?”

“I don’t know.”

“Don’t you? You’re driving his car. That must mean he’s riding that disgusting motorcycle.”

“Mommm,” Molly called from the doorway. “Blade is on the phone.”

“Tell him I need to speak with him,” said Sunny. “It’s urgent.”

Maria walked inside the house and grabbed the kitchen phone. “Blade, Sunny is here.”

“Aw, shit.”

“She said she needs to speak with you, that it’s urgent. I don’t want her around the kids.” Maria peeked out the window. Sunny was still out front.

“I don’t want her there either. Send her out to the park, and tell her to come alone. I’ll be there in an hour.”

Andy headed for the front door. Maria covered the mouthpiece. “Andy, no. Stay inside.” She didn’t want her kids around that woman.

Before Andy could close the door Daisy ran outside, and Andy ran after her. “Blade, Daisy just got out. I have to go. One hour, at the park?”

“Yeah.”

Maria hurried outside and called Daisy. Sunny squatted beside her car, petting the dog, and Andy stood nearby. “Such a sweet little dog, and is this your little boy?”

A chill washed over Maria as she rushed out to snatch Daisy away from Sunny. She was tempted not to tell Sunny to meet Blade, tempted to go inside and call Angelo and Nick instead, but she did what Blade asked her to do.

“Blade said he’d meet you at the park in an hour and to come alone. Turn right at the main road. It’s about three miles down.”

“Thank you, Maria.”

“Don’t come here again.”

“If Blade does what he’s told, I won’t have to.” Sunny’s words sent a chill down Maria’s spine. This woman knew her name and where they lived, and she’d seen the kids.

Maria took Daisy and Andy inside and locked the door. “Nobody goes outside, not even Daisy.” Surprisingly, none of the kids complained.

“Who is that woman, Mom?” Molly asked.

“Blade had her arrested for stealing his mail before we went to New York. If you ever see her again, tell me or Blade immediately.”

Molly, eyes as wide as Andy’s, said, “Okay.”

Maria couldn’t let Blade go out to the park alone. As soon as Sunny drove away, she called Angelo and told him what happened. “I don’t know what to do.”