“You want another beer, Charlie?”
“Naw, thanks Joey. I’m going back to Shoreville. Gotta put the house in order and do some yard work. It keeps my mind busy. Not a helluva lot to do in Shoreville on a Sunday so I keep busy with the house.”
“Boy, it is a good thing you met Gina, Charlie. That’s a real exciting life you got over there!” They both laughed and Charlie headed home.
* * * * *
Gina, too, was talking about her feelings that Sunday. She went over to her uncle’s place for Sunday brunch and to tell him about Charlie.
“Uncle Carlo, I met a guy a couple of weeks ago.” she started.
“Nothing new about that, Gina. You got guys chasing you all over this town.”
“But this guy is different, Uncle Carlo. He is really a nice guy. He lives over in Jersey and we met through some mutual friends a couple of weeks ago. He’s different than all those other guys I’ve met. He listens. He is nice. He doesn’t treat me like a china doll and he doesn’t try to impress me with who he knows and how important he is.”
“Sounds to me like he did impress you, Gina. You say he is different and that you like him. That’s the first time I’ve heard that from you about a guy you met.”
“Yeah, I even asked him to take me to dinner last night. I’d never done that before.”
“You invited him, Gina?” Carlo laughed, “That’s a new twist. Usually you’re turning down dinner invitations.”
“I know. We met at the trattoria that I always go to with my friends and got together there again a week later. He seemed a bit shy about asking me out, so I thought I would take the initiative. I showed up alone and dressed for an evening out. He is such a gentleman and so different that I thought it would be nice to get to know him one-on-one, you know?”
“Well, he might be timid, but you sure aren’t Gina. You’ve always known your own mind. I’m not surprised. Tell me something about this guy.”
Gina told her uncle everything that Charlie had told her over dinner. Her uncle listened attentively and when she was finished he said, “Mullins? Irish? Jeez Gina, you never did anything by half measures!” Carlo laughed and continued “You gonna teach him to dance the tarantella? Couldn’t find a nice Italian boy?”
Gina laughed. “No Uncle Carlo, I couldn’t care less about that kind of stuff. You know that. He’s just a nice guy. I mean we’re not talking marriage or anything like that. It’s just so hard for me to find genuine male friends. He doesn’t seem to care about my money. In fact, he seemed to be a little bit uncomfortable when I told him that I didn’t work at a regular job.”
“Well, that’s a good sign, I guess. If you like the guy, I don’t see any harm in going out with him. I care about you, Gina and I just want you to be happy. You are my only child, my sister’s beautiful daughter, and I have been your father as best as I know how. I trust your judgment and if someone makes you happy, what the hell! If it winds up getting serious, I’m sure you will tell me.”
Gina kissed her uncle. “Thanks, Uncle Carlo. You know I would never disappoint you. You have been more than a father to me. You have been a friend and a counselor. You brought me up to always do the right thing and to be faithful to my principles. You can be sure I will tell you if this becomes more than friendship.”
“I’m not worried Gina. I know your life has been lonely sometimes. You’re a beautiful young woman and a great catch for a guy. You’re the only heir of a rich uncle and you are right to be cautious about guys who approach you. You’re demanding about the kind of guy you want to meet. Not many can measure up to your standards and that is tough for you. You’ve suffered a lot of disappointments as a result. If this guy makes you feel good, then go with the flow, as your generation puts it, and see what happens. I get the impression from what you told me that he is not pushing, so if you are happy around him, enjoy! If this guy gives you a hard time, just let me know.”
“It doesn’t bother you that his family is Irish, Uncle Carlo? He does like Italian food.” Gina said innocently.
“Everybody likes Italian food, Gina. Besides, the Irish flag has a green stripe and a white stripe in it, just like the Italian flag so what the hell, he’s two-thirds Italian. If you get serious about this guy, bring him around.”
“Thank you, Uncle Carlo. We’re still a long way from that. So far it’s just a nice easy relationship that makes me comfortable. But, yes, if it were to develop, I would certainly bring him around to meet you. You’re my father, right?”
“You bet, sweetheart. Now, forget about this for a while and enjoy your meal, OK?”
They finished their brunch while Gina told her uncle about her volunteer work and they made small talk. She felt good that she had told her uncle about Charlie and even better that he seemed to approve of their friendship. He was a doting uncle and protective of her but he always gave her the freedom she needed to be independent. He trusted her and the upbringing he had given her. She never gave him a reason to mistrust her and she did not want to hide her relationship with Charlie from him. If he found out from anyone else but her, he would have been disappointed.
After their brunch, Gina went home, relieved and anxious to see Charlie again. She too, was confused by her feelings. The word “love” had not entered her thoughts but she had to admit to herself that Charlie was a special person and that she wanted to see him again, and soon.
VI
Exceptionally light traffic allowed Charlie to arrive early to his office Monday morning. He bought a cup of coffee from a street vendor and made his way to his office. Since no one was around, he put his feet up on his desk, allowed himself a few moments of reverie and thought about his career at Shaw and his life before meeting Gina.
When he joined the Shaw Corporation immediately after mustering out of the Army, Fred Perkins was Charlie’s first boss. One day, after Charlie had been in the company for about a month, Perkins started on him about a financial report that had not been folded properly. He told Charlie that the spreadsheets were not folded the way they were supposed to be in the Treasurer’s Department of the Shaw Corporation. Taken aback at first Charlie just stood there while Fred appeared to be ready to start foaming at the mouth. However, unlike the other employees who would tense up and get stiff as a board when Fred Perkins started into them, Charlie relaxed his body and looked Perkins straight in the eye. Perkins was suddenly shaken by Charlie’s reaction. Here was a guy who would not be bullied. Perkins did not know how to react and his voice immediately began to lower. Charlie said, “Sorry, Fred. I’m new to the company. If you just give me the report I will fold the spreadsheets properly and get it right back to you. It won’t happen again and I thank you for calling my attention to my mistake.”
A number of other employees were watching the incident and they were amazed at Charlie’s cool. No one had ever dealt with Perkins that way. Everybody else just lowered their eyes and took the verbal beating.
Perkins shoved the report at Charlie who took it gently and stood there until Perkins said “Get it back to me quick. I need that report in a hurry!” Charlie knew that was bullshit, but Perkins needed a closing statement. As soon as Perkins did an about face and stormed off to his office, Charlie went into his cubicle, folded the spreadsheets the way Perkins wanted them folded, and almost followed Perkins to his office. Perkins was knocking back a couple of Maalox pills when Charlie knocked on his door. “Here’s the report, Fred. I think you will find it appropriately folded. And, thanks again for the constructive criticism.”
Perkins wasn’t sure if Charlie was mocking him or if he really did consider the criticism as constructive. Providing constructive criticism, of course, was not Perkins’ intent. He wanted the new employee terrified of him and