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"Mr. Gallagher, the loan officer, Mama. He's wanted the property for a long time now. He wants to make a parking lot out of it. If I miss a payment, he'll do it, too. You know they're tearing down a lot of the older buildings, and putting up big sky-scrappers. Well, they need parking spaces too. If I don't pay the note off, he'll have the land, Mama."
Mama frowned, as though she didn't believe a word of it, but she walked slowly around the yard, entranced by its beauty. Nick could tell she was trying her best not to agree with this move, out of stubbornness, and disbelief. But the house sold itself.
The house was in a well-developed neighborhood. It was an older home, but Mama liked it immediately.
"It's got trees, Nicky. Real trees."
"I know, Mama. It's a beautiful place. I know you're going to like it. Let's go inside and see what you think."
Tina and Tony were already in the house, wandering about. Tina hollered out to them several times. "My own room, look Mama, my own room."
"Look Mama, new carpet," she exclaimed moments later, her eyes wide with appreciation as her fingers delved into the plush carpeting. Mama nodded and smiled vaguely, but Nick knew he hadn't completely satisfied her curiosity. There would be more lying before this became a reality, and he knew it. But the central air and heat unit decided the matter. Mama was sold, despite all her other objections. No longer would she have to run two fans in the kitchen during the summer to cook, or thump the old radiator, and light the stove to heat the place. This was her heaven.
"What do you think, Tony?" Nick came to stand beside his brother.
"It's so big. It's gotta lot of room. And with that back porch, I could sleep out there and use it as my room."
"I got debs on that, little brother. I'm the one that comes and goes around here. I'll sleep out there. You'll have your own room, and privacy," Nick decided. "You can hang posters and school banners on your walls. Paint it a different color if you want to."
"My own room?" Tony's deep set brown eyes got bigger. "Did you hear that, Mama?"
"I heard, but I still don't think . . . ,"
Nick went to grab his mother around the shoulders and pulled her into the kitchen, knowing this was another one of her weak spots. If it passed her inspection, the house was as good as theirs. "Look at this Mama."
He showed her the refrigerator and her eyes widened. "It's beautiful, oh so beautiful. But…"
"No buts Mama. It's ours, if you like it."
"Nicky, you should be buying your own home, not a home for us," Mama protested. Even so, she leaned closer to examine the stove. Putting her hand over her mouth, she gasped when she realized it didn't require matches to light. "Oh, Nicky, it's so wonderful."
"Then it's ours."
"It's not right, I just feel it," Mama kept insisting, as she went from room to room, with exclamations of happiness and worry combined. Nick smiled to himself. Even if he had sacrificed his beliefs for their happiness. It was worth it to see the smiles on all their faces. And when he learned to live with his decision he'd be happy too. He prayed God understood.
Kelsey was right about one thing, sometimes sacrifices were worth it. He'd never forget her as long as he lived, and somehow, he'd see that his baby was properly taken care of. He didn't know how he'd do it, but he knew he would.
This much he promised himself as he turned to hug his family and welcome them to their new home.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Rain pattered against the tin roof of the garage, a lulling sound that Nick tried to ignore, even though he found himself yawning incessantly. People should sleep when it rained.
"You gonna shut this place down, boss, now that you moved your family to Queens?" Jimmy, the part-time mechanic asked as he removed his overalls, and cleaned his hands at the makeshift sink on the far counter.
Nick slid out from under the '57 Chevy and glanced at him, his face screwed into a slight frown. Jimmy worked for peanuts, enjoying the job for what it was, a chance to tinker with classic automobiles. "What gave you that idea?"
"I dunno know, I just thought you might…"
"Get outta here." Nick threw a greasy rag at him and continued at his task. "This is my heaven, right here, Jimmy. And you and everybody else that knows me, knows it. I'm not about to give it up. I just got less to worry about now," Nick explained as he reached for a wrench and went back under.
"I guess it's a good thing. The kids that hang out here on Tuesdays sure would miss you. Where would they go without you? They'd be little hoods again, that's where. But look, the word's out you've moved and everyone expects you to fold up."
Nick slid back out, disengaging himself from his task. "Then spread the word, Jimmy, I haven't left, and I don't intend to. This is where I belong. And those kids mean a lot to me. Make sure they know I'm here to stay. Let them know I'm not going anywhere."
"That's a relief. I like working here. I gotta admit, you had me worried. You know I thought the first time I saw you with them kids you were just showing off. But you're pretty dedicated to teaching them how to take care of themselves. I even learned a few Karate moves by watching'. And the kids, they look up to you. Ever thought about opening up one of those places-that teach Karate, professionally." Jimmy was saying as he buttoned his shirt and wiped a grease smudge from his face and stared in the small, cracked mirror on the far wall. His red hair and face full of freckles made him look younger than his twenty two years.
"Nah. I'm just trying to help those kids stay straight and learn to defend themselves, Jimmy. You gotta know that kind of stuff these days. Bein' a cop's kid, you should know. It's important that they know how to handle themselves. Give them a little positive self-confidence."
