Chapter 31
Lorna and Angie enjoyed several Manhattans, pasta, and wine over the next couple of hours celebrating their victory.
“Angie, I can’t tell you how proud of you I was tonight. You found your voice, and I was in awe.”
“I don’t think I would have found it if you weren’t right there with me. I don’t know where it came from, like soul rocket fuel. For the first time in my life, I was in charge. Thanks for being there for me every step of the way; this whole thing could have gone south fast.”
“But it didn’t, and here we are. Why don’t you take tomorrow off? I think you did enough cleaning for two days.”
“Are you sure? I need to keep my job until my pension checks are coming in, and I don’t want Cookie trying to find reasons to fire me.”
“I don’t think you’re going to have to worry about her. My guess is she’ll be out the door tomorrow. I’m your manager, and if I say you get a day off, you get a day off.”
“Thank you. I’ll take it.”
Lorna and Angie split the bill and made their way outside to two awaiting taxis.
Angie threw her arms around Lorna and gave her a long, strong hug. “I love you, Lorna. I’m lucky our paths crossed. You’re never getting rid of me now.”
Angie watched as Lorna wiped a tear from her eye. “You’re the closest thing I’ve ever had to a sister, Ang. You’re never getting rid of me either. Who knows? We may have more capers ahead.”
“I’m thinking we should both take a break from caper town for now.” They shared a laugh. Angie hopped in her cab and waved goodbye to Lorna.
Angie got home, satisfied to her core in ways she never felt before. She slept better than she had in weeks.
When she awoke at seven the next morning, she made a strong pot of coffee.
She took her cup into the living room, sat in her chair, and put up her feet.
After a few sips, she looked over at Vinnie’s empty chair.
“I did it, honey. Took on the mayor and won! Thanks for any help you sent. I think the old Angie is gone. Not sure you’d like the new one, but I love her. ”
Angie phoned Louie around eight. She knew he would be at work; death never took a vacation. Sure enough, he picked up in his gruff, baritone voice. “Rago Brothers.”
“Hello there, Louie. Do you have a minute?” Angie asked.
“If it’s about Last Bite, I’m in no mood.”
“Please just listen to me and then you can hang up. You don’t even have to respond.”
He paused, then sighed. “Okay, I’m listening.”
“I’ll spare you all the details except that I was in the mayor’s office late last night, and Mario Longetti confessed to putting syrup of ipecac in the Jell-O shots that were served at the kids’ party. Oh, and by the way, he also poisoned Peggy Miggs’s kitchen staff.”
“Are you on drugs, Angie? This level of petty crime wouldn’t make it close to the mayor’s office. And I wouldn’t mess with Peggy on my best day.”
“That’s not why Mario was there. You’ll read about that in the papers soon enough. If you want to verify my facts, you can call the mayor, my friend Lorna, or Richie, the city attorney.”
“I know two out of three, not that I don’t trust you, Angie. I’ll give Richie a call, and if he confirms this then we’ll talk. I have to go; I have a body being delivered in the back.”
“Just so you know, he’s pretty busy today. City council starts at ten, and you know the city attorney has to be there the whole time. You may want to call him tomorrow.”
“My, aren’t you in the know, Angie. I’m impressed.”
“You have no idea. Please call me after you speak with Richie. You take care, Louie.”
Angie’s soul rocket fuel was still surging as she showered, got dressed for the day, made a nice breakfast, and set herself a lovely plate with a linen napkin and placed it on her TV tray.
She recalled how she always fussed over Vinnie—making everything just so—when she prepared and served his meals, and then she’d eat her meal standing up in the kitchen.
There may be something to the idea of treating yourself like your own best friend after all. Thanks, Oprah!
Angie watched her favorite local news station, relaxed, and enjoyed her breakfast. She was about to call Gina when she saw Gina was calling her. “Hello, honey, I was just about to call you. Do I have news.”
“I sure hope so. Kim and I should just move out of this town. Our name is mud now.”
“Oh, no, it’s not. Is Kim there?” Angie asked.
“Yes, she slept over. We got home so late last night, after we cleaned every nook and cranny in our kitchen space, we both collapsed.”
“You both get yourselves some strong coffee. I’m hopping a cab over to your house. I want to see your faces when I tell you my story.”
“Okay. You sound different.”
“I am different. See you soon.”
Angie walked into Gina’s apartment. Kim was sitting up on the couch in a daze. Gina was staring at her phone. A heaviness hung in the room.
Angie took one of the kitchen chairs and sat across from them in the living room. “Put your phones down and listen to me. I need your full attention.”
They both sat up straight, clutching their coffee cups.
As Angie shared every detail of the prior night’s caper with them, she watched their eyes widen and mouths gape as they leaned forward.
She saved the best for last. “So, I got right up in Mario’s face—this is after I slugged him, by the way—and asked, ‘What did you do to my niece’s food?’ He all but laughed in my face.”
“I knew it, I had a feeling,” Gina said.
“That’s your gut, Gina. Trust it. It knows more than your head, believe me,” Angie said.
Kim was still clutching her coffee cup, staring at Angie.
“He put syrup of ipecac in the Jell-O—that’s why everyone got so sick. He wanted to destroy your business.”
“He did destroy our business, Angie. Rago fired us, and our kitchen landlord is evicting us. Peggy Miggs promised to smear our names everywhere. Three strikes and we’re out. We’ll be lucky if we don’t get sued.”
Angie sat back in her chair. “Oh, ye of little faith. I got Mario to admit what he did to you in front of the mayor of Chicago and Richie, the city attorney. Can’t get better witnesses than that.
I spoke with Louie this morning and he and Richie are pals from long ago; I don’t think there’s a person Louie Rago doesn’t know. ”
“So, what did he say?” the stupefied Kim finally piped in.
“He’s going to call Richie and check out my story. He accused me of being on drugs.”
Almost on cue, Thad and Daisy walked into the apartment. “Yo, Ang—what’s up?”
Angie watched as Thad looked at Gina and then Kim. “Dude, did someone die? Like you look like you took a bunch of downers, man.” Daisy was by his side, humming.
“You guys stoned?” Angie asked.
“Uh, yeah, we’re celebrating. We had a blast at that kids’ party. I’d be down for those any time you want to throw them our way. I think I finally found my crowd,” Thad said.
Angie laughed. “There’s a place for everyone’s special talent, Thad, and I’m glad you have found yours.”
Gina looked up at him. “Thad, how did the kids enjoy the Jell-O shots?”
“I could have used twice the amount; they were downing them. I told the parents that you cut the sugar in half—they thought that was brilliant.”
“No one got sick while you were there?” Kim asked.
“Well, they ate a bunch of Jell-O shots, then went right into the Jumpy Jumpy, so I wouldn’t be surprised if there were some pukee lukees,” Thad said.
“Those bounce houses can make anyone throw up without any help. Turns out some idiot spiked the Jell-O shots and those poor kids were so sick their parents had to take them to the doctors. It wasn’t your fault. How would we have known?”
“That’s bad karma right there. That idiot—whoever he is—will get his. Sorry that happened,” Thad said.
“Thanks to both of you for doing that party on such short notice. You’ll be the first ones we call if we ever get another chance,” Gina said.
“Would you ever be down for putting me in charge of my own branch of your business, for kids’ parties?” Thad asked. “I can totally up my balloon skills, and with my inside connection at the dollar store, we could rake in some serious dough. Just an idea.”
Angie stood up and hugged Thad. “You’re the best. Love your spirit—more people should tap into theirs.”
Thad hugged her back. “Ang, you get me. Not many people your age do. So, like, I’m grateful for ya.”
There was a knock at Gina’s door. “UPS,” a man’s voice announced.
Thad opened the door; the guy handed him a sealed envelope and asked him to sign for it. He handed it to Gina. “This is for you.”
Angie watched her niece’s eyes narrow. “You want me to open it?” Angie asked.
“Nope, I’m a big girl. It’s probably a letter from an attorney saying we’re getting sued.” Gina opened up the envelope and took out the contents. She let out a huge sigh; inside was a note wrapped around what looked like baseball tickets, best Angie could tell.
Gina removed the note and placed the tickets aside. Angie watched as Gina read it and looked up at Angie and then read it again.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Angie knew her niece well enough to know when Gina was holding back.
“It’s from Ralph … Do you want to hear it?” Gina was focused on Angie, waiting for a response.
“I want nothing to do with him right now. What’s the saying? Men are like streetcars; there’s always another one coming along,” Angie said.
“Streetcars, dude? You were alive when there were streetcars?” Thad asked. He snickered to himself. “Like, did you also have a horse and buggy?”
Everyone burst out laughing. Except Daisy. She had returned from the kitchen with a bag of potato chips and dip and was sitting on the floor—oblivious—crunching away. Thad sat down next to her and shared the ultimate munchie treat.
Gina began reading the note out loud. “Gina, I heard about what Mario did to you and Kim. I am so sorry that happened. Your aunt Angie saved the day; she is an amazing woman. Enclosed please find tickets for the Cubs vs. Cardinals game today. There’s nothing like watching a baseball game to take your mind off your troubles.
I know how much you and your uncle Vinnie enjoyed long afternoons at Wrigley Field. Enjoy. Best, Ralph.”
“How sweet is that?” Kim said. “Very thoughtful.”
“How many tickets did he send?” Thad asked between crunches.
Gina counted them out. “Six. Enough for all of us here, plus one. Angie, please, please come with us. You’re off today. We haven’t been to a game together in a long time.”
Angie studied Gina’s face. “Why not? At least the jerk is good for Cubs tickets. Let’s all go to Murphy’s, have a beer and a brat, and walk over to the field and watch our boys play.”
Gina jumped off the couch and hugged Angie. “I’ll take a quick shower and we’ll all head over. It’s a 1:10 game.”
“Why not enjoy our day off? Who the hell knows what’s next?” Kim chimed in.
Angie checked her watch; it was only ten thirty. “I’ll call your mom and see if we can get her to play hooky too. Sound good?”
“Why not? There’s nothing we can do about our business until we hear back from Rago. No use sitting around feeling sorry for ourselves. This whole thing could turn out better than we had ever hoped.” Gina disappeared into the bathroom.
“That’s the spirit.” Angie looked down at Thad and Daisy sitting on the floor, blissfully munching away. She called Connie, who was totally in and said she’d meet them at Murphy’s in an hour.