Forever in My Heart Read online

  “He’s still as stubborn as ever.”

  “Must run in the family.”

  She was right about that.

  “I think of it as determination. Knowing what you want and going for it,” he added.

  “Yeah, well I’ve been faced with one too many determined members of your family, lately.”

  What the hell did that mean?

  She lifted up the box. “I need to see if I can salvage these. You should go.”

  When she started to move toward the stairs to the café, he reached out to grab her arm. “Hey wait. What are you talking about?”

  She flinched as though she’d been burned and took a step back. “Don’t touch me.”

  The flicker of fear that crossed her face wasn’t an act. For a moment, it was as though she thought he’d hurt her. But that didn’t make sense given what they’d been to each other?

  “Tell me what you meant,” he demanded.

  She twisted out of his grasp. “Let go of me. I don’t need any more bruises from your family.”

  Although steaming mad, he stepped back and raised his hands. “I’m not going to hurt you, Vick. I would have thought you’d know this.”

  “I don’t know or want to know anything about you. Stay away from me unless you want the cops up your ass for harassment. Nick is waiting for me to give him the word so he can make your life miserable.” She backed away and ran up the stairs and into the store.

  What the hell just happened? And what did one of his brothers have to do with it? Jamie wasn’t sure, but he intended to find out.

  Chapter Four

  The tires of Vicky’s SUV squealed as she turned the corner and headed toward her parents’ house. Due to her encounter with Jamie, she was late. She pounded her hands on the steering wheel, hating that she let him get to her.

  Reflecting on their conversation, she considered Jamie’s confusion when she mentioned being hurt by one of his brothers. Could he not know what had transpired in her café a few months ago? It was possible, given that Nick ensured her name and her family’s business was left out of the report. And if the look on Jamie’s face was any indication, he was definitely clueless.

  She hadn’t meant to freak when he grabbed her, but occasionally she had flashbacks to this past New Year’s Eve when Sal held her prisoner in the café. There wasn’t much, if any, similarity between Jamie and his siblings, but something about the intensity with which he stared at her and the way he grabbed her made her think of that night with Sal.

  Hence the freaking.

  Afterward, back in Decadent DeLites—or D&D as she and Lucy nicknamed it—she assessed her alarm in the alley. What did Jamie expect, coming at her like that? He was a big guy, and a strong one. Surely he knew how intimidating he could be, with his six feet to her five foot six, despite her heels. Still, she felt guilty enough about her reaction to tell Lucy not to call in her brothers if Jamie entered the café, which he was certain to do with Tristan in the shop.

  Vicky screeched to a stop outside her parents’ home. It was a standalone house in a row of similar stone-faced houses squashed closely together. It was a respectable neighborhood, considering it was the city.

  Her mother planted annuals in the flower beds each spring, and her father meticulously maintained the tiny yard in the front of the house. It was far from big inside, especially with six people living there when she was younger, but it would always be home to her, despite her finally having moved out to live in the apartment above the café.

  After two quick toots of the horn, Vicky clicked off the ignition and ran up the walkway. Knowing her mother, she probably had fifteen bags to take with her for an overnight.

  Vicky reached the door, and sure enough, her mother was trying to juggle five bags. Why the woman didn’t pack in larger bags was a mystery. Wasn’t it better to carry three larger bags than five smaller ones? Despite what was logical to her, she knew better than try to argue with her mother. It wouldn’t matter, and they’d been delayed enough getting started.

  “Here, Ma. I’ll take a couple,” Vicky said, reaching for the larger bags.

  “Thanks, honey,” Carmen said, giving her youngest daughter a hug and kiss.

  After storing the bags in the back seat, Vicky headed toward Roosevelt Boulevard.

  “I got a call from Martha Tomasso right before you arrived,” her mother said.

  Vicky rolled her eyes. Martha was one of the biggest gossips and prided herself on being the first to share good or bad news with her circle of friends. And her numero uno friend was sitting in the seat next to Vicky.

  “What neighbor’s kids were caught banging each other in the car?” Vicky asked in what she hoped was a teasing tone.

  Her mother sniffed and Vicky cast a sideways glance at her. “Ma, what’s wrong?”

  “Martha called to tell me that Johnny DiSilva was taken to Nazareth hospital early this morning. Heart attack from what her cousin Rita, who works there, said.”

  “I heard that, too,” Vicky said.

  “From who? You’re usually the last to know these things.”

  There was no avoiding the subject of Jamie now.

  “I ran into Jamie earlier as he was coming back from the hospital, and he mentioned it.”

  Her mother shifted in the seat and Vicky could feel the barrage of questions form in her mother’s mind. “So the rumor’s true. Jamie’s home from the army.”

  “He returned about a month ago.”

  “You’ve seen him? When?”

  “A couple times. He came into the café the other day, and I ran into him in the alley while I was packing up to come here.”

  “You should be careful around him,” her mother said.

  “You’re as bad as Nick and Vinnie. Jamie has never given us a reason to think he’d do anything as horrible as his brothers.”

  “Neither had they until they did,” Carmen snapped. “Besides, we don’t know what kind of issues he may have from being deployed. A lot of young men have problems coming home and trying to resume a normal life.”

  “True, but it doesn’t mean Jamie has issues or inherited the psychotic DiSilva chromosome. Didn’t you teach us to not pass judgment on someone without cause?”

  “Except when it concerns the brother of one man who almost killed your sister and another who almost killed both of you and my grandson. What’s your sister going to say when she hears you’re hanging out with him?”

  Of course, let’s make this about Kate, now. Typical.

  “First of all, I’m not hanging out with him. Secondly, I can’t stop him from coming into the café.”

  Her mother was quiet a moment, and Vicky prayed that meant the conversation was over.

  “You’re still sweet on him, aren’t you?”

  What did her mom think, they were living in the fifties? There was never anything sweet about Vicky’s feelings for Jamie. When they were younger, she mostly ignored him. But starting the summer he turned fifteen, grew six inches, and started to lift weights, Vicky had seen him as more than the annoying kid brother of her parents’ friends. A lot of boys had an awkward phase with acne and a poor excuse for facial hair. Not Jamie. He seemed to go from boy to man overnight, and it became hard not to notice him.

  During a period of her life when she felt invisible, he took an interest in her. He liked to take chances, though. On more than one occasion, he dared her to jump train tracks—a completely idiotic thing to do. Then there was the time he snuck her into an abandoned warehouse and had a picnic waiting for her. Nothing criminal, but certainly risky. If her family had found out, she’d have been grounded for the rest of her life. How could she explain there was something about him that pulled at her? He had an air of excitement and adventure she’d always been afraid to embrace. Unlike her, he wasn’t afraid to try things.

  “I’m not sweet on him. I’m focused on making D&D a success and am not looking for any distractions.”

  “Well, good. The last thing you need is troubl
e. Especially from a DiSilva.”

  The last thing she needed was trouble. Period. Getting her life on track took long enough—as her family liked to remind her. No, she didn’t need any distractions or drama in her life. She was completely fine with avoiding Jamie as much as possible.

  ****

  Jamie stomped through the door to Decadent DeLites and took a seat at the table by the window where Tristan was drinking coffee and drawing.

  “How’s your father?” Tristan asked.

  “Stable at the moment. The hospital is keeping him for the day to do more tests. If he’s fine, they’ll release him tonight.”

  “That’s good news.”

  Jamie rubbed behind his neck. “I suppose. Although his heart attack was minor, he’s going to need to make some lifestyle changes. Better diet, daily exercising.”

  “Makes sense. Is that a problem?”

  “Possibly. My father’s a stubborn man. There’s no getting him to do anything he doesn’t want to do.”

  “Won’t your mom be able to persuade him?” Tristan asked.

  Jamie shrugged. “That’s a little more complicated.”

  He paused as the brunette who worked there sauntered over, a mug of coffee and plate of assorted muffins in her hands.

  She set them down in front of him. “You look like you could use some nourishment.”

  The bitter fragrance of the coffee filled his nostrils and awakened his senses. “Thanks. After the night I’ve had, I could use a pick-me-up.”

  “I’m Lucy, by the way.”

  “Nice to meet you, Lucy.”

  “I saw Vicky a little while ago, and she mentioned your father was taken to the hospital early this morning. Everything all right with him?”

  She mentioned him? Interesting that he wasn’t getting kicked out on his ass as Vicky had promised last time he came into the store.

  Jamie nodded. “He’ll be fine. Thanks for these.” He held up a blueberry muffin.

  Although it seemed she was trying to be discreet, he caught her stealing glances at his friend.

  “Can I get you a refill, Tristan?” she asked.

  “I’d appreciate it. Thanks.”

  Lucy gave Tristan a flirtatious smile and sauntered away.

  Jamie studied the stupid grin on his best friend’s face. “What the hell was that?”

  Tristan continued staring a moment longer before dragging his gaze over to Jamie. “I’m sorry, what?”

  “Lucy. You like her.”

  “Maybe.” He sighed when Jamie raised an eyebrow at him. “Okay, fine. Yes, I like her.”

  “I didn’t realize you knew her.”

  “I’ve come in the past few days while canvassing the neighborhood for work. She’s let me hang out here, and we’ve talked a few times.”

  “So go ask her out, already.”

  “After we’re done here. Now stop drilling me and finish telling me about your father.”

  “I’m going to spend the next few nights there. Besides getting my father settled in, I have my mother to worry about, too.”

  “How so?”

  Jamie stared into his coffee, hating to dump all this on his friend. But that’s what friends were for, right?

  “My mom started drinking after Mario and his son, Tony, died. From what I’ve learned since moving back, it’s gotten progressively worse since Sal died.”

  “What about rehab?”

  “Tried but she won’t stay. According to my dad, she’s checked herself out twice before. If she doesn’t get cleaned up, I’m afraid she’ll drink herself to death.”

  “That’s rough, man.”

  “I talked with my dad’s doctor, and he referred me to a shrink. She doesn’t know it yet, but Mom has an appointment there today at five. She’s not going to be happy about it.”

  “Is there something I can do?”

  “Can you handle the business yourself the next day or so until I get this figured out?”

  “You got it. Unless we get that basement job, there’s not much business to be handled.”

  “That’s another problem. Any ideas on how to boost our business?”

  Tristan glanced around the café and picked up the notepad he’d been drawing on earlier. “As a matter of a fact, yes.”

  ****

  Vicky arranged butterflies and teddy bears around the three-tiered cake she’d made for the baby shower. Meghan Weston and Kate had been best friends for many years, ever since Kate moved from Northeast Philly to Manhattan after the death of her first husband and young son. Now, they were each married to one of the Weston brothers, who owned a successful architectural firm in the Big Apple.

  Charles and Edward Weston were born and raised in London. The fraternal twins had lived on separate continents until last fall when Edward moved to New York to work with his brother. It had been about the same time when Charles had married Meghan. A few months later, Kate married Edward, the younger Weston twin.

  Now, Meghan was about to deliver twin girls next month, and Vicky had agreed to create a one-of-a-kind cake. She’d wanted something unique and had outdone her own expectations by creating multi-tiers of pink, lilac, and white. Surrounded by white building blocks with calligraphy-style letters piped in matching colors.

  Vicky examined the finished product for any flaws. Finding none, she reached in her bag for her phone and snapped multiple pictures for D&D’s website.

  “Wow, Vick. I’ve never seen a more amazing-looking cake. Meghan’s going to love it. It’s a masterpiece—almost too good to eat,” Kate said, coming up next to her.

  “Yeah, right. Like there’s ever been a cake you haven’t eaten,” Vicky teased.

  “Hey, is that a dig at my ass?” Kate exclaimed, running her hand along her curvaceous derriere.

  It was easy to get her sister riled up. All Vicky had to do was suggest Kate may be carrying a little extra weight and...bam, she’d get all defensive. In reality, Vicky thought Kate had a perfect figure—not that she’d ever admit that to her. Although Kate stood a few inches shorter, she had a glorious head of wavy auburn hair as compared to Vicky’s poker straight brown mess.

  Despite Kate’s larger chest and curvy figure, she was petite. She knew how to dress to accentuate her assets and whenever they were together, Vicky felt like an ugly duckling. Sure, she may be pretty, but it wasn’t in the knock-them-out kind of way of her sister. Vicky didn’t mind her size-B chest but wished she had a few of the fantastic curves Kate had rather than her boyishly straight waist and hips.

  “No, Sis. Your ass looks great,” Vicky said. “How are my favorite nephew and your charming husband?”

  Vicky studied her sister. Newly married, Kate still had that afterglow of marriage. Hard not to being married to the devilishly handsome Edward Weston.

  Kate’s face lit up. “They’re wonderful. Edward’s coaching Lucas’s soccer team. They have a game this afternoon, which means they’ll be on the field warming up about an hour before the game.”

  “Edward seems to be adapting to fatherhood.”

  “He is, which at times surprises him. It’s as though all the bottled up feelings from growing up in an unloving household have been unleashed. He spoils us both like crazy.”

  Tightness clenched Vicky’s heart. How she would have loved having someone spoil her a bit. Hell, she’d be happy for any attention at all. With the café opening this year, she hadn’t had any time for dating.

  “Lucas does miss his friends at the orphanage, though. He’s excited for the birthday party we’re having there in a few weeks.”

  “Right. Ma asked me to do a craft with the kids. We’ll be decorating cookies.”

  “They’ll love that.” Kate clasped her forearm. “Are you all right? You look tired.”

  “You sound as bad as Ma. I’m fine. Business is doing fantastic, which translates to me working my ass off, but I don’t mind.”

  “What do you do beside work? Are you dating anyone?”

  “Lucy and I go ou
t on the weekends, but no, I’m not dating anyone.”

  Who the hell needed a man in her life anyhow? She had a vibrator. What more did she need?

  “There are a couple cute guys in the office if you want me to set you up.”

  Typical of Kate to want to fix things, even if it wasn’t her business or, like in this case, there wasn’t anything to be fixed.

  “No, thanks. I need to focus on the business. I don’t have time for distractions.”

  “You’re still bitter after the divorce.”

  Vicky thought about her ex-husband, Mike Russo. They’d divorced two years ago when she’d learned he was gay. Of course, walking into her bedroom while he was having sex with his best friend didn’t help warm her heart toward the male gender. But she’d learned to accept it, and they’d even remained friends.

  “Not bitter as much as disillusioned about marriage. I’m happy for Mike and Rick. Seeing them together makes me realize what Mike and I were missing while we were together. But I’d be lying if I said the whole experience hasn’t given me some trust issues when it comes to men.”

  Kate reached out and clasped her hand. “That’s understandable. Your situation was unfortunate, but you can’t let it stop you from falling in love again.”

  Easier said than done, Sis.

  “Yeah, yeah. We’ll see.”

  She wasn’t ready to jump into a relationship any time soon. Besides, she had bigger worries than her ex.

  “Listen, you’re probably going to hear it from Ma, so I may as well tell you first.”

  Kate arched an eyebrow. “That sounds ominous.”

  “Jamie DiSilva is home.”

  Kate jerked her hand free. “Oh my God. I’d forgotten about Jamie. Have you seen him?”

  “Twice. At the café. He left the army and started a home improvement business with a friend.”

  “I hope you kicked his ass out.”

  “I told him he wasn’t welcome in my store.”

  No need to tell her the man had been sitting in the café hours ago.

  “I don’t believe he has the nerve to come into the café after what Sal did there.”

  “I got the impression he doesn’t know any of what happened between us and Sal on New Year’s Eve.”