More Wrongs

Chapter Three CAN’T STAY AWAY Moms was putting the finishing touches on a strawberry pie she had baked. While she was admiring her work, she was interrupted by a man’s voice. “Well, hello, Ms. Taylor!” “Huh? Oh, hey there, Mr. Sabino! You startled me.” Mr. Sabino was the known-by-everyone ‘head gangster’ in town. He wasn’t into killing or robbing, but he was still respected as someone not to mess with. It turns out that Sabino was none other than Moms ‘deceased’ husband, Thomas Taylor, in disguise. His sons, Victor and Vincent found him out years ago and he even made a deal with the boys that he would either leave town or if he stayed, he would steer clear of Moms. He wound up doing neither. “Sorry about that. Wasn’t my intention, you know” Sabino said. “Yeah, I know. I was just so wrapped up in this catering job, I didn’t even hear you come in. It’s not the biggest function I’ve done, but it doesn’t matter to me. I want to do a good job every time!” “Yeah, I know. I’m the same way. If it ain’t damn near perfect, then why even put it out, right?” “That’s right!” Moms said. “There! All finished. What brings you over here, Mr. Sabino?” “Look, how many times I gotta tell you? Call me Antony…or Tony…or ‘Bino. Anything but Mr. Sabino. That was my dad’s name. Ha ha!” “Okay…Tony? What brings you all the way over here? I know it wasn’t just to see me, was it?” Sabino acted shy. “Well, it is always nice to see you, Ms. Taylor. I realize you have your own business and I know your man isn’t around anymore, so I like to help when I can? Besides, can’t I come and view you sometimes?” “View me? See there? Men won’t act right.” “What? What did I do wrong?” “You want me to call you something other than ‘Mister’, but you still call me ‘Ms.’ I have a name, too.” “Oh. Sorry. So, what should I call you? Moms? What is your name, anyway?” “It’s Elaine. Don’t call me Moms. Call me Elaine. Not everyone can do that, you know?” “Is that right? So, I must be special, huh?” he asked. “Your fishing, Tony. I’m not saying you’re special. I’m just saying what I said. Now, you were saying something about how nice it was to see me…or in your words, view me?” Moms was smiling by now. “Oh, yeah, yeah. I was just saying that it’s always nice to see your pretty face.” “Okay, Mr. Flattermouth. That’s enough. First you were fishing for a compliment, but now you’re fishing for a catch! Careful. Your pole may not be strong enough to hold this one.” “My…uh…pole?” “Okay…uh, that didn’t come out the way I intended. Get your mind out of the gutter.” “Ha, hee, hee!” Sabino laughed. “Yeah, that’s funny. Stop laughing. Since you are here, you wanna help me load my truck with all this food instead of setting me up to say the wrong things?” “I’d be glad to! What do you want me to put in first?” “Put in? Oh, the truck.” Moms was blushing now. She felt like all she could say led to the gutter. She would try to be careful with her words from now on. “Grab those fruit trays, please.” “Okay.” With that, Sabino grabbed one of the fruit trays and headed out the door to Mom’s catering truck. Moms took notice at his movements. “You know something, Tony?” “Yeah?” Sabino whirled around to face Moms. “I just noticed something. You remind me of my Thomas. Sorry, I don’t mean to compare you two and I hope it doesn’t offend. A little, that is. Little things you do.” “Really? Well, I’m not offended, but I’m going to have to work on that. Wouldn’t want to make you feel bad thinking about him.” “Nope” Moms said. “Don’t change a thing. I like it.” “So, I can keep wiggling my butt?” Sabino grinned as he exited the shop. Moms blushed…and grinned, too. “I wanna see Mammaw!” Vasyl was restless and wanted to get out of the house. He was throwing a mini tantrum and it wasn’t pretty. Vasyl. That’s what Vincent and Terri named their son: Vasyl Edmond Taylor. Edmond was Terri’s father’s name and Vasyl was just another boys name that started with a V. Don’t ask why. They don’t even know. They did look up the meaning first and they wanted their son to have a name that would personify his character. He was born on Christmas Eve, so he was used to getting almost anything he wanted and Vasyl realized his birthday was just a couple of weeks away. He also realized being the only child around in this family won a lot of attention from everyone. “We can’t see Mammaw now. She’s working today, Vas.” Terri tried to explain. “So. She can work if she wanna. I still wanna see her!” “Vas!” Vas’s father walked in and his booming voice kicked in. “You stop all that noise! You cannot see Mammaw today. We will try to see her tomorrow, okay?” Vas calmed down at the sound of his V’s sternness. “Okay, Daddy. But, now you and Mama have to take me to the movies.” “What? Who says?” V asked. “I say! That’s who” the little boy responded. “Boy! You don’t talk to m…” Terri interrupted. “Okay, Vas. Go and get your coat.” “Yay!” Vas went running out the room to retrieve his jacket. “Now why did you interrupt me? And why did you agree to that?” V asked. “Come on, V. You know that was cute, right? Besides, it shouldn’t bother you that your son likes spending time with the both of us…or does it?” “Naw, it doesn’t bother me. It’s just that he can’t have every damn thing he wants. We’re the parents here. Not him and the one thing he will know in this household, is that Mama and Daddy make the rules. Are you okay with that?” “Not only am I okay with it, it’s kinda sexy! You being the man and shit.” “Good. Because if it isn’t alright, then I may have to find someone else who likes it.” V paused. “Sexy, huh?” “Yep.” Terri said with bedroom eyes. “VAS! Come on, boy! Hurry your little butt up!” V looked at Terri and smiled. “Maybe we can catch an earlier matinee and then come back home and put his little ass to bed” V whispered to Terri. She playfully bit his ear. “I was thinking the same thing, Tiger!” Chapter Four NICE & FUN “This is nice!” Lisa Vasquez was enjoying her wine, cheese and fruit with her fiancé, Chase Morton. She used to be Victor Taylor’s secretary and then Vincent’s; when he took over the firm. She still works at the firm, but she answers to Belinda Jett, who was promoted after V left. Chase used to be Victor’s number one attorney and was called on to cover big cases that Victor didn’t cover himself. He no longer worked there, but his relationship with Lisa grew. He decided to take her on an impromptu brunch at Jacques’. It was December and there was a little nip in the air. That wasn’t exactly true…it was cold! That didn’t stop Chase from being romantic. It was this same location just a year ago that he asked Lisa to be his wife. There was no better feeling in his mind when she said ‘yes.’ His plan now was to make her the happiest woman alive and maybe even one day, take her away from the position of ‘administrative assistant’. “Yes, it is” he replied, “but it wouldn’t be half as nice if I wasn’t with you. I never knew I could love someone as much as I love you.” “Aw. You are a smooth talker, Mr. Morton.” “Nah. You make it easy.” “Anyway, I want to talk to you about something.”’ “Not before you make amends.” “Amends? For what?” “I just told you that I never knew I could love someone as much as I love you and all you did was compliment my ability to talk smooth.” “Oh, baby, I’m sorry. I love you more.” “Really? We’ll see about that.” “I guess so. So, can we talk now?”