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Heath let out a deeply held breath. “Gimme a few minutes.”
“You said that a few minutes ago. Matter of fact, you’ve been saying that for the last half hour straight. At this point they probably know you’re out here.”
He could feel the heat of Micah’s stare. “What gives, Heath? Why aren’t we inside?”
He met his brother’s curious gaze. “I don’t know. I just want to make sure I’m ready to see them. They probably have a lot of questions for me.”
He felt Micah’s hand on his shoulder. “I know it won’t be easy, but I’m sure seeing you will be a way of reaching out and touching their son. I’m guessing they just want to spend time with you, not grill you.”
Micah was right. Vinny’s family were wonderful people. Maybe he was really afraid to relive the past. He’d come so far in the last few months. He couldn’t afford any setbacks.
“I’m here with you, Heath. I promise you, you’re good. It’s all going to be okay.” Micah’s voice was soothing and solid.
Heath nodded. “Let’s do this.” He unbuckled his seat belt and vaulted from the car before he could change his mind. He didn’t know why his limbs seemed shaky. He loved the Peretti family almost as much as he loved his own.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” he murmured, reciting his favorite verse from Philippians.
Micah joined him on the sidewalk and they proceeded to walk to up the steps to 11 Oglethorpe Street. As they stood on the porch, Heath took a moment to sink it all in. All the previous times he had visited Vinny’s home it had been at joyful times. Easter. New Year’s Eve. Today’s visit was decidedly different. He couldn’t imagine how much of a void existed in this household due to Vinny’s absence.
Heath reached out and rang the bell, his heart pounding like thunder as he shifted from one foot to another. Moments later the door swung open. Viola Peretti, Vinny’s mother, stood at the door with her arms outstretched. With her salt and pepper colored hair and warm grey eyes, Viola was a striking woman. Heath stepped into the house and into her arms. Before he knew it, the rest of the Peretti family was standing there, warmly greeting him. Tony, Vinny’s dad, embraced him in a bear hug that made Heath feel as if he might get crushed. At over six feet and two hundred and fifty pounds, Tony was a large man with a robust laugh and a zest for life. Vinny’s siblings were standing around, everyone greeting him warmly as if he was a member of their brood.
“Hey, everyone, this is my brother, Micah. He kept me company on the ride from Pelican Bay,” Heath said. He smirked as Vinny’s sisters looked admiringly at Micah. There were three of them in all. Missy. Tish. Stacia. Vinny had been the only son.
“Hello,” Micah said, smiling as he swung his gaze around at all the people he’d never met before. Micah always turned on the charm no matter what situation he found himself in. It was learned behavior from childhood. Once upon a time Micah had suffered from debilitating shyness. He had finally managed to conquer it by projecting an image of the comical, magnetic Micah Donahue. What most people didn’t know was that he still suffered from anxiety. It constantly ama
zed Heath that he was able to work successfully as a male model since it entailed lots of travel, working on photo shoots and dealing with stressful situations.
“We’re so happy to have the two of you here,” Viola said with a huge grin.
Viola ushered both him and Micah into the large living room, where everyone proceeded to sit down and get comfortable. Missy, Vinny’s youngest sister, brought in a tray with a pitcher of iced tea and glasses. She sat it down on the coffee table and began to pour the iced tea for Heath and Micah.
“Thanks, Missy,” Heath said, taking a huge gulp of the sweet tea. “I can’t believe how grown up you look.”
Missy, who couldn’t be more than sixteen, beamed at him. “Thanks, Heath.”
“How was the drive to Savannah?” Tony asked, his brown eyes twinkling.
“It was great,” Heath said. “We didn’t have much traffic to deal with and we took turns at the wheel.”
“We almost stopped off at Tybee Island,” Micah said in a teasing voice. “I’ve never been and I’ve heard there’s a great inn there right by the beach.”
“Savannah House,” Viola said with a nod. “It’s a wonderful establishment run by six beautiful and accomplished women.”
“We have a little connection to Savannah House,” Heath explained. “The story is complicated, but our cousin Mac who lives in Cape Cod was reunited a few years ago with his biological sister. She happens to be Callie Duvall Holden.”
“What a small world,” Viola remarked, shaking her head. “She’s a lovely woman. And her husband Jax adores her. Oh to be young again.”
After a short period of catching up, Heath broached the subject of his best friend. “I just want you all to know how much I miss Vinny. He was my closest friend. I can’t tell you how many times he saved me in Afghanistan. Without him I’m not sure I would have made it back home.” Heath winced. “And even saying that out loud makes me feel guilty since Vinny isn’t here with us.”
“Oh Heath, we were devastated by Vinny’s death, but we believe he’s still with us,” Viola said, her voice cracking with emotion. She motioned around the room with her hands. “He’s everywhere. I see him in the sunrise out of my bedroom window. I feel him in the kitchen every time I make meatballs.”
“When I walk on River Street down by the water I feel Vinny walking beside me,” Tony said. “He’s firmly entrenched in our hearts and minds…and our memories.”
Heath nodded. He felt the same in so many ways. Vinny had been such a dominant presence in life. His spirit still lingered in the hearts and minds of those who had loved him. “I know what you’re talking about. Whenever I go to the beach I feel as if Vinny is there. It’s powerful. He loved the ocean. When we were overseas he kept telling me how much he wanted to walk the beach when he came back home.”
“It’s been difficult dealing with the loss,” Viola said as she brushed moisture away from her cheeks. “But we’re healing as a family. We try to hold on to the love we shared with Vinny when he was alive. Don’t get me wrong. We’ve struggled with so many emotions. Anger. Confusion. Overwhelming grief. But as those emotions began to subside, we just wanted to be thankful for having him for as long as we did. We were so incredibly blessed to be his family.”
Viola’s words were heartfelt and powerful. Her strength in the face of tragedy was awe-inspiring. “He felt blessed to be a member of the Peretti family. Vinny talked about all of you non-stop. He used to love telling stories about growing up in this household.” Heath chuckled as memories of Vinny’s stories washed over him. All of the tales had been full of love and faith and heart. Well before Heath had met Vinny’s family, he had known instinctively that they were wonderful people. Much like Vinny himself. The best of the best. It was one of the reasons Heath had been so devastated by his friend’s death. A person like Vinny wouldn’t come this way again.
