“For the love of God Liam, no!” Athena slammed her hand to the table. Silverware rattled, but she didn’t care who noticed. “They have nothing to do with this! Is it so wrong wanting to keep the father of my child alive-” she gasped, clipping the news she’d meant to give much more calmly.
Liam straightened on his side of the booth. “The father of-of your child?” The dead calm of his voice harbored a stunned, breathless tone. “Thea-”
“I’m...pregnant,” Athena looked everywhere but her husband’s face and then she nodded.
Liam pushed from his side of the booth and stumbled to where she sat. “How long?” he whispered, nearly collapsing next to her.
“I’ve known for a few weeks, I-I’d planned to tell you the night we were going out, but then... Tonelo.” She lowered her gaze, pressed her lips together. “After that, I waited. I was afraid you... you might think it wasn’t yours.”
He drew her tight to him. “Is this why you asked about moving?”
Her head on his shoulder, Athena nodded. “I just want away from all this.”
He put a hard kiss to her temple. “There is no way to escape such things. You know this, yes?”
“Yes, but...a nice house would help to forget such things exist.”
There was laughter, first on Liam’s part and then Athena was joining in.
“Liam? Are you happy?”
“Molto, molto felice. Grazi, Athena.” Very, very happy, he’d said.
The couple cuddled on the booth seat. Silently, they enjoyed the wonder of the steady rain pounding the street.
~8~
Three Months Later...
Another rainy evening found Athena on her way home after a long day at the factory. Liam had dropped her off at the market before he’d headed off for yet another meeting with one of his shipping contacts near the docks.
They had been spending fewer nights together, but there were no complaints. Both Tesanos were equally busy. Liam’s uniform manufacturing for New York’s black seamen, had parlayed into numerous shipping agreements. Within 6 months time, Liam Tesano had established an informal shipping fleet.
Athena was making strides as well. As she would be giving birth in 6 months time, it was important to get her staff trained on all aspects of the added responsibilities soon to encompass their jobs. She decided to shift many of her administrative duties toward the talented pool of seamstresses in her employ. They were crafting the kind of sturdy, well-made garments that was growing Tesano Textiles’ budding reputation for quality. Athena believed they were surely capable of understanding all that went into getting those garments into the hands of the merchants who were making bundles off their satisfied customers.
Athena took a taxi from the market. She smiled, smoothing both hands over her noticeable belly. The doctor hadn’t said she needed bed rest for the pregnancy, but considering her past history, she planned to take a self-imposed break from work long before her due date.
The driver announced their arrival and Athena withdrew the fare along with a nice tip. Bidding the cabby a good evening, she scooted from the backseat along with her bag of groceries. A man passed by on her way up the stoop. She noticed him holding the door open as she approached.
“Grazi,” she angled inside, mindful of her protruding tummy and the brown paper bag she carried. “Grazi!” she called another thank you over her shoulder and was about to ascend the stairway for the five flight walk.
“Your husband should be more attentive.”
Athena froze. The accent was all wrong for the neighborhood. While the occasional white face traveled through, it was usually during the weekend when curious adventure-seekers wandered in to see how the other half lived.
She turned, praying her expression betrayed no emotion when she looked up into the freckled face of a tall, dark blond man. He kept his hands in his pockets as he advanced.
“A lady in your condition should be careful.”
His soft voice and the easy smile he sported did nothing to fool Athena. “As should you, Sir. It could be dangerous for you in this neighborhood.”
“I don’t plan to stay that long,” he said. “I only wanted to see where the great man lived. I have to admit I expected more, given all the provisions he arrived with to get settled.”
Athena’s arms tightened around the bag and she willed her feet to stay firmly planted beneath her. “You don’t know us,” she said.
The man moved closer. His easy smile was near to a snarl then, his eyes narrowed to small cold orbs.
“I know I don’t like you people,” he breathed out the insult, “muddying up our great nation with your filth and disease or worse, the ones who don’t know their place. You think your money makes you better than the rest of us or gives you the right to take away what we have,” he took another step, that one bringing him close enough to nudge Athena’s grocery bag with his chest.
The crinkle of the bag seemed amplified in the dim vestibule. The man brushed Athena’s cheek with the back of his hand. “You’re a pretty one,” he said. “I guess I’ll let this be a warning. Tell your husband I decided not to finish what I planned...this time.”
“Athena?”
She was too terror stricken to speak when she heard her name.
“I thought that was you,” Giaimo came into view around the other man whom he outsized by height and mass. “Who’s your friend?” he asked.
The man half-turned toward the new arrival. Adam’s Apple bobbing, he took full measure of who glared down at him. “J-just helping the lady inside. It um-it being such a n-nasty night and all.”
“Yes it is that,” Giaimo’s voice resembled a sinister growl. “Funny how a nasty night could get nastier. Quickly too. Like all of a sudden a guy helping a lady out of the rain could find himself going home with his teeth shoved down his throat. You alright, Athena?” He didn’t look away from the man as he quizzed his sister-in-law.
“F-fine,” she managed, her voice barely a whisper.
“Glad to hear that. You have a good night then, guy. Like you said, it’s nasty out there.”
The man made haste. He rushed away so quickly, his feet skidded at the door. He fumbled with the knob and hit his shoulder on the doorframe in his effort to escape. The door hung open in his wake.
“American piss,” Giaimo shook his head, his brilliant greens sparkling with temper. “I knew he looked out of place. Tried to give him a minute to come out once he showed you in,” Giaimo went to push the door shut and then peered out at the slick street through the thin curtains over the door window. “Should’ve known the snowflake was up to something,” he sneered.
