Forever in My Heart Read online

  “Ha, I seriously doubt that.”

  Vicky didn’t want to start an argument, so she didn’t push the issue.

  “I asked Nick to check out what Jamie’s been up to as well as his business partner. Right before I left today, I learned Jamie’s father was taken to the hospital last night for a heart attack.”

  Kate snorted. “Serves the man right for raising abusive and delinquent children. In my opinion, he deserves everything that’s coming to him.”

  Vicky nodded but wasn’t completely sure she agreed. Was it possible parents could raise three boys and have one who wasn’t as messed up as the other two? She supposed it didn’t matter because she had no intention of spending any time with Jamie DiSilva to get the answer to that question.

  Chapter Five

  Early that afternoon, after a nap and shower, Jamie took a cab to his parents’ house. He’d left Tristan the van and planned to borrow his parents’ car.

  After letting himself into the house and dropping his duffel bag in his old bedroom, he went looking for his mother. Surprisingly, he found her in the kitchen making cookies.

  “What’s up, Ma?”

  “I’m making your father’s favorite, chocolate chip,” she said.

  Jamie’s favorite, too.

  He snagged one from the rack and bit into the warm and gooey center while studying her. Shadows darkened her eyes and then there was the tight press of her lips. She was attempting to pull it together, but Jamie knew better.

  “I called the hospital, and they said Pop’s sleeping. I thought we’d go over a little later.”

  His mom placed the last bit of dough on the cookie sheet and slid the tray into the oven. She set the timer and stood with her back to him. He almost turned away but then noticed her shoulders shaking.

  He stepped toward her and spun her around. She collapsed into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Never having seen his mother break down this way, Jamie didn’t know what to do other than comfort her while she cried.

  “Tell me what’s wrong,” Jamie murmured, reaching onto the counter for a tissue.

  “Your father could have died, and I’m at fault,” she said through choked tears.

  “Why do you think you’re to blame?”

  “He probably called out to me. I should have heard him, and then I could have called for help sooner.”

  Seeing an opening to tell his mother about the psych appointment, Jamie braced himself.

  “It’s possible he did call for you, but it doesn’t matter now. You need to consider the reason why you couldn’t hear him.” He stepped back so he could see her face, placing his hands gently on her shoulders. “I scheduled an appointment with someone this afternoon who can help you.”

  She stiffened. “I don’t need any help.”

  He squeezed her shoulders. “Yeah, Ma, you do. I threw away dozens of opened liquor bottles around the house. I found dozens more in the recycle bin, most of which were not what Pop drinks.”

  She pulled out of his grasp and peeked in the oven. “So, I have a drink at the end of the day. That’s no crime.”

  “It is when you drink a bottle or more a day, every day.” He moved so she couldn’t avoid looking at him. “I’m not trying to be mean. I want you to get well. It kills me seeing you like this.” He couldn’t contain the emotion that took hold of his throat and caused his voice to crack.

  Tears streamed down her tired face. “It’s been so hard since your brothers died. All of my friends have abandoned me. I didn’t do anything wrong, but I’ve been exiled as though I have the plague. Even my best friend didn’t support me.”

  Her best friend being none other than Carmen DiFrancesco, Vicky’s mother. His parents and hers had been tight all during his childhood. The families had become closer when Mario married Kate and then when they’d had their son, Tony. Jamie cringed at the memory of his two-year-old nephew. He’d only met him once when he returned home while on leave, but he’d been completely enraptured with the boy’s sweet face and playful disposition.

  “Don’t you think it’s hard to blame her for pulling away considering Mario’s responsible for the death of their grandchild?”

  “Tony was my grandchild, too. Besides, we don’t know the accident was Mario’s fault.”

  Of course. Mario the saint could never do any wrong in his mother’s eyes. But Jamie knew better. His brother had a dark side. At first, marrying Kate had changed his brother—for the better. It was after he lost his job when things started going downhill.

  Even Jamie hadn’t understood the depth of madness that had possessed his brother until one fateful night when drunk, Mario had been involved in a car chase with Kate and Tony and caused the accident that claimed the lives of both himself and his son.

  “I realize you want to believe Mario wasn’t at fault, but did you ever try and find out what really happened?”

  She shook her head.

  The deaths of Mario and Tony had been the start of the end for his mother, the pivotal moment she couldn’t get beyond. It hadn’t helped that his older brother, Sal, was in prison for theft and aggravated assault and had only been released five months ago. Shortly after his parole, he was involved in a similar car chase with Kate that resulted in his own death. Jamie didn’t have all the details, but he had no doubt believing Sal had been up to no good.

  He sighed and leaned up against the counter. “Please go see the doctor. For me, Ma.” He pressed on, with what he hoped would be a motivator. “For the sake of any future grandchildren I may give you.”

  Her eyes brightened. “You’ve met someone?”

  A quick flash of Vicky in her sexy green dress jumped into his mind.

  “Maybe, but don’t start crocheting baby blankets just yet.”

  Before he could move on and give his mother the grandchild she desperately wanted, he needed to have closure to what happened—or didn’t happen—with Vicky all those years ago. As much as he believed his feelings were behind him, they weren’t. Given all the bad blood between their families, would a future together even be possible? And if not, would he be able to get thoughts of her out of his mind—and dreams?

  ****

  “Wow, you must have been down here early,” Lucy said after letting herself into the store the next morning.

  It was five a.m., yet Vicky had already made four different pies and was onto her second batch of muffins.

  “I couldn’t sleep and decided to get an early start.”

  The reality was she couldn’t close her eyes without thinking of Jamie. Between her conversation with her mother, Kate, and her own observations, Vicky was more confused than ever about the man.

  “How’d the shower go yesterday?” Lucy asked.

  “Meghan got a lot of beautiful gifts. The cake was a huge hit. I took pictures for you to post on the website.”

  “Nice. I’ll upload them later today. I was thinking, wouldn’t it be neat to print large pictures of your cakes and display them in the café? People like to see pictures, and it would be a great way to show off your designs.”

  “That’s a good idea. If we have time later, we could go through what I’ve taken and see if there are enough shots.”

  Vicky slid a triple batch of blueberry muffins in the oven and started working on the napoleons. “How did things go here, yesterday, with Jamie and Tristan?”

  “They didn’t give me a problem. Jamie seemed completely wiped out. They stayed for a little while and then left.”

  “I tried calling you last night when I got home, but it went to voicemail. What did you end up doing?”

  “Nothing much. Just went to a movie.”

  “Alone?”

  There was a slight hesitation before Lucy answered. “Sort of.”

  Vicky stopped mixing and cast suspicious eyes at her friend. Was it her imagination or was Lucy blushing?

  “Spill.”

  Lucy blew out a breath. “I may have run into Tristan at the movies, and we may have sat together.” />
  “I see. And was this an accidental encounter or planned?”

  Lucy poured the brownies she’d been mixing into several pans before replying. “Yesterday, he asked me to dinner and a movie.” She held up a hand before Vicky could interrupt. “I told him no.”

  “Yet somehow you managed to be at the same movie as him.”

  Lucy shifted her feet. “He let it slip what time and movie he’d be at in case I changed my mind. And I did.”

  “Well?”

  “Well, what?”

  Vicky rolled her eyes. “You’re really going to make me work for this, aren’t you?”

  “We sat together and watched the movie. I shared his popcorn and he my Raisinets.”

  “Anything happen?”

  Lucy giggled. “He held my hand about halfway through the movie, and he kissed me when he walked me to my car.”

  “What kind of kiss? The friend or lover kind.”

  “More like the want-to-be-your-lover kind. Soft and gentle with enough heat for me to know he’ll be great in bed.”

  “Damn, he’s good. He didn’t come on too strong, but enough to have you wanting more.”

  Lucy fanned herself. “And, boy, do I.”

  “Did he ask you out again?”

  “No. He gave me a sexy smile and said he’d see me today. So if I spontaneously combust later, you’ll know he walked in.”

  “Go for it. I may spontaneously combust if Jamie is with him, but that’s for entirely different reasons.”

  “You have to admit they are some fine-looking eye candy.”

  Vicky snorted. “Maybe, but I’m not interested. My only focus is on this business. Speaking of which, I’ve been giving more thought to the seating area. What if we section part of it off for birthday parties or cake decorating classes for older kids?”

  “My sister would be all over that for her daughter’s Girl Scout troop.”

  “The problem is I need to hire someone to do the interior work for me.”

  “Don’t forget your apartment upstairs. It could use serious work.”

  “I’ve been working on the cosmetics, but there are some things I can’t do.”

  Too many things she’d like to learn but didn’t have the time. Still, she liked having her own space and being out of her parents’ house. If that meant she had to deal with a less-than-modern apartment, then so be it.

  “I’ll do some web searching to see if I can have someone come out and give us an estimate,” Vicky said.

  “You know—”

  “Don’t go there. You’re going to suggest Two Guys, right?”

  “You have to admit, it makes sense. They need the work from what Tristan said.”

  “Too bad. No way will I engage Jamie’s help. Nothing could make me that desperate.”

  ****

  “Take your time up the stairs, Pop,” Jamie said.

  “I’m not an invalid, boy. I can walk up the damn steps myself,” his father grumbled.

  Jamie braced himself for a miserable few days. If his father was this grouchy on a regular basis, then it was no wonder his mother had started drinking.

  He followed his father into the house. There was the noticeable absence of noise that made the house seem abandoned.

  “I don’t know why you had to pick now to convince your mother to enter rehab. Damned poor timing if you ask me.”

  He hadn’t asked. Not that it mattered, though. Why should anything Jamie want be taken into consideration now when it hadn’t mattered his entire life?

  “Ma needs help even if you’re too stubborn to realize it. We met with the psychiatrist this afternoon, and she agreed it was best to bring Ma directly to rehab. I have to run over tomorrow with the list of personal belongings she requested.”

  His fathered puttered to his recliner chair and sat in front of the television. “Who’s going to make my meals?”

  “You’re on your own for breakfast and lunch. I’ll be making your dinner.”

  His father snorted. “Like you can cook.”

  Just goes to show how little his father knew him.

  “It may not be as great as Ma’s meals, but I can hold my own in the kitchen. Of course, you can always help.” He knew there was no way in hell his father would attempt cooking.

  His father muttered something unintelligible and turned on the TV. So much for father-son bonding.

  “I’m running out to the store to pick up groceries. Do you need anything before I go?”

  His father ignored him and continued his channel surfing. Figuring it was just as well, Jamie headed out.

  As he approached his parents’ SUV, he saw a movement in his peripheral vision. Thinking it was a neighbor wanting to see how his father was feeling, he fixed a smile on his face. The smile quickly vanished when Jimmy Parente and Tommy Lamberti, two punk friends of Sal’s, came into view.

  “Yo, DiSilva. Got a minute?” Jimmy asked.

  Jamie considered walking away but knew doing so would only delay dealing with them. These puny guidos weren’t going to get the best of him. Better to play along.

  “What’s up?” Jamie asked, straightening to his full six feet and assuming his “don’t fuck with me” face.

  “Heard your father was taken to the hospital last night,” Jimmy said.

  “That’s right.”

  “How’s he doing?”

  “Better.”

  “Glad to hear it.”

  Jamie had enough of the small talk. He wanted these scum off his parents’ lawn.

  “If you don’t mind, I’m on my way out—” Jamie said.

  “Not so fast. We have some business with you.”

  Like hell.

  “What kind of business?”

  “Your brother had a flash drive that was ours,” Jimmy said.

  “I don’t know anything about a flash drive,” Jamie replied.

  “Maybe, but I need you to find it.”

  Jamie crossed his arms, hoping they’d be intimidated by the size of his biceps. “Too bad Sal was the only one who knew where it is. And he’s dead, in case you forgot.”

  “Yeah.” Jimmy rubbed his unshaven face. “Which means now our unfinished business is with you.”

  Jamie could only imagine what sort of business his brother had with these clowns. And Jamie wanted no part of it.

  “See, that’s where you’re wrong.” Jamie took a step forward and was pleased when the slightest hint of worry crossed Jimmy’s face.

  “Maybe I need to pay your parents a visit. See what they know,” Jimmy sneered.

  The hair on the back of Jamie’s neck stood on end. “You leave my parents alone. They know nothing of any business you had with Sal.”

  “Then I suggest you help us find the drive.”

  The man was dense, for sure. Jamie didn’t know where his brother could have stashed the drive, but Jamie needed to get these guys off his back.

  “What’s on it?”

  “Don’t you go worrying about things that aren’t any of your business, ya hear? Find that drive or an accident may happen to Mommy or Daddy dearest. Capisce?” Jimmy sneered.

  Jamie was done wasting his time with these goons and took a step forward. “You’ve worn out your welcome here, Jimmy. So, unless you want to go a round, I suggest you leave.”

  Jimmy was quiet, as though he were considering what Jamie had said and his next move. “Fine. I’ll leave for now.” He started walking backward. “But I’d watch my back if I were you, DiSilva.”

  “You should rethink trying to fuck with me, Jimmy. I’m ex-army. I’ve fought and killed plenty of terrorists. A little pissant Italian isn’t going to scare me.”

  Jimmy didn’t respond but gave him a sleazy smirk and faded into the street.

  Afterward, while driving to the store, Jamie wondered what his brother was keeping hidden. How long before someone decided to do more than send a weasel like Jimmy to poke around?

  Chapter Six

  “Hey, Sis,” Nick called out a
s he sauntered into the café.

  “Your usual?” Vicky asked.

  “Make it your largest one. It’s been a rough night, and I haven’t gone to bed yet.”

  Vicky studied her eldest brother as he collapsed into a chair. Wearing tight jeans and a T-shirt snug against bulging muscles, he turned the heads of all the women in the place. When you factored in his olive complexion, dark brown hair that fell low on his neck, plus the chocolate brown eyes and dimpled chin, Nick could make an entire room of females drool with barely a glance. And he wasn’t even trying. When her brother flashed the DiFrancesco smile—well, look out, ladies.

  Vicky grabbed two coffees along with a plate of Nick’s favorite desserts and sat across from him.

  “You’re working the night shift now?”

  “The past couple days. We’ve been staking out a warehouse, which means we’ll survive on coffee and a few hours’ sleep each day until we bust the bastards.”

  “Sounds like a torturous job.”

  “It’s a good thing I get pleasure from keeping the scum out of our fine town.” He picked up a cannoli and bit down. “Mmmm. These may be better than Ma’s, but I’ll deny it if you ever tell her.”

  There was something other than lack of sleep behind her brother’s dark circles.

  “How are things with Gina and Joey?” she asked, referring to Nick’s thirteen- and ten-year-old kids.

  He shrugged. “It’s been difficult with the divorce pending. Franny has been dicking me around with visitation.”

  “She has some nerve. She cheated on you. What right does she have withholding your kids from you?”

  “Tell me something I haven’t said to my lawyer repeatedly over the past six months.”

  “Maybe you need a new one.”

  “Just got one. Buddy of mine’s divorce was recently finalized, and he made out pretty well. Gave me the name of the woman he used.”

  “What did she say?”

  “She’s changing our approach. Laying down a new visitation schedule as well as nixing the alimony payments. I’ll still have child support to pay, but half the house Franny’s living in is mine, and there’s no reason why she can’t get a job.”