Violet
I've got almost an entire day off and have no idea what I'm going to do with it.
Since I'm this undecided, I pull out a tub of ice cream, move to my couch, snatch up a blanket, let Felix get comfortable, and start channel surfing.
I land on my favorite show, or one of them: home makeovers.
I've always wanted to be a nurse, for as long as I can remember, but after coming down with a nasty cold and watching my first HGTV show, I've been hooked.
It just looks so damn satisfying ripping walls down and cabinets, imagining a whole new look and making something beautiful out of something ugly and abandoned.
The doctors insisted on keeping Marcello at least another night, which was to be expected, since he had just had major surgery on his skull.
Plus, he just woke up from a medically induced coma.
No matter his pull or how much the hospital wants to get rid of the man, they're even more worried about a lawsuit in the event this homecare plan goes sideways.
My phone beeps notifying me of an incoming text.
Luciano:
Nurse Ratched just ordered Amoxicillin, is that OK?
I start to reply but pause, remembering how everything spiraled the moment I agreed to be his nurse. Marcello and Luciano both demanded my number like rival mafia bosses claiming territory—Give me your number. Now.
And naturally, I gave it to them, like a complete idiot.
Me:
Is he allergic to Penicillin?
Luciano:
Hold on.
I wait and watch the three dancing dots, since a commercial for some blue pill is currently running. Unbidden, my mind wanders to Marcello. I bet he doesn't need a blue pill.
My giggle startles Felix, and he gives me the annoyed cat eye.
Luciano:
No.
Me:
Then it's okay. It's to prevent an infection. When are they going to let him out?
Luciano:
As soon as the drip is done. An hour?
Me:
I should probably head to his place, make sure everything is set up right.
Luciano:
I'll have a car come get you. The driver's name is Alejandro, and you can trust him.
I stare at the phone. A car? For me? With a driver? Wow!
Me:
Alright. I'll be ready in twenty.
Luciano:
Wear something sexy
I nearly choke on my last bite of ice cream. What?
Me:
***
Luciano:
…
My nails nervously click against my phone. What the hell was that? I try to think of whether I've given him the wrong impression or led him on somehow. But draw a blank.
Luciano:
Sorrythat was meant for Lexy.
Lexy?
Me:
Lexy?
Luciano:
…
It's complicated
Oh! Nervously, I giggle again.
Me:
Luciano! After all this time, you never said anything about a gf. My heart is broken
Luciano:
…
I'm sorry. I didn't
…
She's not a gf…
…
I'm really, really sorry. I didn't know. I'm sorry.
I decide to let him off the hook.
Me:
Just kidding you. It's all good. I'd like to meet her, though.
Luciano:
…
It's complicated.
Me:
Hmm. Sounds like we need to talk
Luciano:
Not anytime soon. Car is on its way.
Oh shit! The car.
I jump up, startling Felix once more. "I'm sorry, got to go to work, bub. You'll like my new work schedule, though. I promise."
I rush into the bedroom. Thankfully, I don't have to worry about what I'll wear. The only choice I have to make is whether to wear green, brown, or auburn scrubs.
I decide on the auburn and pull my hair up into a ponytail. A quick glimpse in the mirror tells me that I should have probably taken the time to put on some makeup, but the ringing of the doorbell puts an end to that idea.
"Alejandro?" I ask, staring at the unmistakably Italian gangster in front of me. Probably about twenty-six, he looks striking in his dark suit and sunglasses.
He whips the glasses off and says, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Meade. Luciano sent me. I'll be your driver until Mr. Orsi doesn't need you any longer."
"Nice to meet you, Alejandro. Hold on, let me grab—damn it, Felix."
My black and white cat decides this is the best moment for a jailbreak.
Alejandro steps out of the way, while I throw myself forward, grabbing the cat by the tail to stop him. He meows in protest before I load him into my arms, kissing his forehead and ignoring his judgmental green eyes that promise death to me.
"I told you, Mommy has to go to work, you ungrateful little worm. Here. Let me see. I didn't hurt you, did I? It's your fault anyway. You know we don't have time to call the fire department again."
"Again?" Alejandro raises an eyebrow and stares at Felix as if he were a contagious disease.
"Long story. Let's just say, he knows how to get up a tree, but not down." I give Felix another big kiss between the ears, ignoring him swiping at me, and push him back into the house, closing the door quickly.
"Okay, I'm ready." I send a wide smile at Alejandro, who looks as if he's about to shake his head at me.
"You know there's a better way to get a cat out of a tree, " he says as we walk toward a huge black SUV parked in front of the duplex where I'm renting a unit.
"Oh, what's that?"
His grin should have warned me, but when he makes a pew, pew motion with his hand toward the tree, I stare at him, aghast. He laughs heartily and opens the back door for me.
"Do you mind if I sit up front with you?" I ask. I might want to be close enough to throttle you. My mind adds.
"Not at all."
He opens the front passenger door and helps me in.
"So, how long have you worked for Mr. Orsi?" I ask to make conversation when he merges onto the main road.
"Four years. I've been with him since Sicily."
That's right. I'd almost forgotten that Luciano told me Marcello only came back to the States a year ago, when his brother was killed.
Alejandro is a good driver, but he sucks at making small talk. Good thing I'm schooled in it. Working as a nurse has made me perfect at one-sided conversations. "Do you like it?"
His head whips from the road to me. Yeah, I guess that was a stupid question. I might as well have asked if there was a status quo on how many people he had to kill a year.
"Mr. Orsi is a good boss. Generous. He takes good care of the people working for him."
"Oh yes? That's good. I'm glad you like him and what you do." Shit. I did it again. I'm not sure if biting off my tongue at this point will actually do anything for me. Alejandro snickers under his breath. I wish I could see his eyes, but they're hidden by dark shades once again.
"Are you nervous, Miss Meade?"
"A little," I confess, grateful he let my faux pas slip and finally decided to join in the conversation.
"No reason to be. Like I said, he's a good boss." He turns, lowers his sunglasses, and winks, "as long as you don't piss him off."