Читать книгу The Story of Charlie Mullins: The Man in the Middle - Jim Wygand - Страница 14

IX

Thus began Charlie’s weekend sojourns to Philly. Charlie accompanied Gina to art shows, book signings, theater, concerts, and sometimes they just had dinner together. He would go up on Saturdays and again on Sundays. They would go for Sunday brunch at one of the hotels and then walk around Olde Towne or one of the city’s parks.

This was when Shoreville started noticing Charlie’s absences. He would miss the occasional softball practice on Saturday. To have his house in order, and no longer able to organize on weekends he took to organizing during the week. He missed a couple of league nights at the bowling alley.

While grocery shopping after work one evening he ran into Tony Mazza. “Charlie, you missed softball practice on Saturday. I called your house but there was no answer. I didn’t bother to leave a message on the machine. You OK?”

“Yeah, Tony, I’m fine. I went up to Philly for an art show. I needed to get out of town. I’ve been too much of a shut-in since the divorce and I just wanted to do something different.”

“But you can’t miss practice, Charlie. Jeez, we might take the league trophy this year. The guys missed you.”

“I know, I’m sorry Tony, but I just had to get out. I’d been using my weekends just to straighten out the house, do laundry, go shopping, and all that kind of stuff. You guys have your kids and your wives. I just got tired of the routine and being shut in the house.”

“Bill Gallagher said he bet you found some gal.”

“Oh, Bill is full of shit, Tony. He sits around listening to Sharon talking about how I need a wife and a life. It’s none of his damned business if I found a girlfriend or not. For your information, I haven’t but don’t tell Bill. Just let him run his mouth and don’t tell him anything. He passes everything on to Sharon and she’s the biggest gossip in town. If he asks you anything, just tell him you don’t know.”

“You missed bowling night last Wednesday too, Charlie. Philly?”

“No, Tony, just extra work from the office and accumulated stuff around the house. I wanted to go, but I just had too much to do. I got promoted at Shaw and for the first time I had to take some stuff home,” Charlie lied “it couldn’t be helped.”

“I thought you swore you’d never take the office home with you.”

“I did, but the new job required that I make some changes in my routine and I got kind of backed up a little. No sweat, Tony, I won’t be doing that kind of stuff on a regular basis. I just need to get a new rhythm going. Know what I mean?”

“Yeah, I guess. Just try not to abandon your buddies. OK?”

“Right, Tony. I’ll see ya’ around.” Charlie and Tony each continued his shopping. Tony had a long list from his wife and couldn’t be standing around talking. Charlie wondered if he had given Tony a plausible story. He was not ready to talk about Gina to folks in Shoreville. The whole town would know about it in a matter of hours and his privacy would go to hell. He needed the privacy and the space to develop his relationship with Gina. He would tell the town when he was good and ready. Besides, what if it didn’t work out with Gina? Then he would have to put up with another wave of sympathy and renewed dinner invitations. He didn’t need it. Tony Mazza was an old friend. He would probably chalk off Charlie’s absence to his bachelor’s life and think nothing more of it. Bill Gallagher was another matter. He was a busybody and told Sharon everything. Charlie finished his grocery shopping, checked out and went home to put away his purchases.

Unlike Charlie, Gina did not have to and did not want to keep her friendship with Charlie such a secret. Her tight circle of friends knew about Charlie and was supportive. She told her uncle that their regular Sunday brunch might suffer and that she would stop by after Sunday Mass instead of having a leisurely late morning brunch. Her uncle was supportive but appropriately concerned. However, he trusted and deferred to Gina’s judgment and agreed to stay in the background for a while. He told her that she should decide when to bring Charlie by to meet him. He added that if she had any problems with her “Irish” she had only to tell him.

Gina would call Charlie a couple of times a week. They would talk about their respective activities. Charlie would tell her his Fred Perkins stories and Gina would both laugh and commiserate. “How do you stand that guy, Charlie? He’s a real piece of work and most unpleasant.”

Charlie would laugh. “He just thinks he’s tough, Gina. He is really a pretty good professional and doesn’t need the unpleasant façade. But, it’s just his nature. He has probably always been a bully and he doesn’t know any other way to relate to people. Sometimes I feel bad for the guy, but that doesn’t mean I give him any space. If you stay ahead of him, he can’t get to you. The guys I work with just get terrified even before he opens his mouth and that’s all he needs.”

“Why don’t you just leave Shaw, Charlie? Maybe you could move to Philly…”

“I’m not ready for that, Gina. My Dad worked at Shaw for 30 years. It killed him and I have something to prove to both his memory and to myself. But, when the conditions are right, I might think about getting out of there. Besides, I still have my friends in Shoreville and until I met you, they were an important factor in my life. They stood by me after the divorce. I know their wives and their kids. They kept me busy when my marriage collapsed. They were good friends. I have to admit though that now that we have met, I have a fuller life and my need for their support is no longer so great. You’ve filled a big void, Gina.”

“I know what you are talking about Charlie. I feel the same way. We do have fun together, don’t we?”

They talked a little more and Charlie said he could hardly wait for the weekend. Gina said she was anxious to see him too, and said “Kisses, Charlie. I’ll see you Saturday,” and rang off.

Charlie didn’t know it, but Sharon Gallagher was already talking to people about Charlie’s “lost weekends”. She and Diane Simms would get together and try to figure out what Charlie was doing. Her husband Bill had remarked that it was not like Charlie to miss softball practice and that he had even missed a bowling night. Sharon immediately said, “He’s got a girlfriend, Bill. I just know it. He’s found some gal in Philly and he’s keeping it a secret! I’m going to find out.”

“Stay out of it, Sharon. It’s Charlie’s business and it’s his life. Leave the guy alone.”

“No way, Bill. There’s not much that goes on here that I don’t know about. Besides, what harm can it do just to know what Charlie is up to? In fact, it’s fascinating! He’s the most eligible guy in this town and a lot of my friends who are divorced and some of the ones still looking around would love to catch him. I probably owe it to my friends to find out if he is no longer available.”

“Sharon, I’m telling you it would be best to leave it. Charlie Mullins has always been a private guy. No one even knew he was having marital problems until Mary Jo left him. He keeps things to himself and you are going to piss him off. Just leave it be.”

“Oh Bill, you are such a silly. You know women like a good mystery and some hot gossip. Charlie is a bit of an icon in this town, especially among the women. He’s good looking, a helluva nice guy, and most of all available. I’m not going to pry; I’m just going to satisfy my curiosity.”

“OK, Sharon. But don’t you get Charlie pissed off. I know he won’t say anything, but he will be a lot cooler to me and I like him. Don’t get aggressive and once you have satisfied your curiosity, as you call it, then lay off. OK?”

“I promise, Bill.” But Bill Gallagher knew his wife would be relentless and she and Diane Simms would eventually do something stupid. Charlie would be pissed if he found out and Bill was right that he wouldn’t say anything, but he would cool off with Bill. He might lose a friend.

Charlie took to driving up to Philly on weeknights after work. He would pick up I-95 and drive straight up to Philly from Wilmington. He would head straight for the trattoria and meet Gina and her friends, now becoming his friends, for happy hour. Gina would call him at home and they would agree to meet and Charlie enthusiastically made his way up the highway at every opportunity. The change in Charlie was visible to everyone. He was more relaxed at work, and even more unflappable with Perkins.

The change was not wasted on his friends and their wives in Shoreville either. As usual, Bill Gallagher was the first to mention it. One night when the guys on the softball team were having their weekly pizza and beer he commented, “Old Charlie seems distracted these days. Think he’s got a broad somewhere?”

“Christ, Bill,” Tony Mazza said, “why can’t you just leave it? Jesus, you sound like a woman. Charlie was practically housebound after his divorce. He’s a young guy. So fucking what if he’s found somebody? C’mon Bill, give the guy a damned break.”

“Aw, I was just speculating. Hell, Charlie’s one of us. He’s a buddy. What’s the beef, Tony?”

“The beef is, Bill, if Charlie’s got a broad or not is none of our fucking business. It there was anything to be concerned about as Charlie’s friends it would be that he did not go out, not that he is seeing somebody! I think it would be a good idea for you to tell Sharon to soft-pedal it too. My wife told me she has been talking about following Charlie to Philly some day to see where he goes. Shit, Bill! That’s a bit much, no?”

“Hell, you know Sharon, Tony. She gets a wild hair and it’s hard as hell to control her.”

“Yeah, well I think it would be a good idea if we all, and I mean all, left Charlie alone. Maybe he’s finally got a life for himself. We should be glad that he’s getting a social life.”

“Well, no need to get upset, Tony. I was just commenting. I agree.”

“Good, let’s drop it and finish our beer.”