The Past I part 4

The Past I
part 4

He should have cared. Dan mentally kicked himself for missing the signs. He should have known that Archie-the-creep was up to something. All those unwanted visits to Saraid those last two weeks, the hovering through the funeral preparations, and the noisy, attention getting display of grief at the grave site. It had all been a part of the ploy.

Tessa and Dan had gone by taxi to St. Cecilia’s for 10:00 a.m. Mass. When they arrived home at noon, prepared to start moving Dan upstairs, they were surprised to find the caseworker assigned to both of them by social services waiting. Mrs. K had looked nervous, Mrs. Ramirez, the caseworker, looked upset, and Archie looked smug.

“What’s going on, Mrs. Ramirez?” Dan asked, casting a suspicious glare in the direction of Archie Kawolski.

“There’s been a...development in your situation, Daniel.” Mrs. Ramirez struggled to find the right words.

“Have they found Liam...my uncle?” Dan asked, allowing the slightest bit of hopeful excitement to creep into his voice. “Is he coming for me?”

“No, I’m afraid not.” The social worker hesitated, searching for the right words. “Daniel, Mr. Kawolski has produced evidence indicating that he and your mother were married before she died. He’s asking that he be named your legal guardian, and that he be granted custody of you.”

For a moment, Dan was rendered speechless. He could only stare blankly, trying to make sense of the words. Then reason returned in a flash and he blurted, “That’s a lie!” Desperately he looked at Mrs. Ramirez. “That isn’t true. It’s not even possible. He’s lying.”

“Listen here boy.” Archie spoke, his voice oily. “I know you weren’t happy when your ma and I started seeing each other, but that don’t change the facts. She was my wife. You’re my stepson, like it or not.” He turned his smug face to the social worker. “I’ve tried to give the boy some space in this difficult time. My wife,” he couldn’t help but smirk when he said the word. “My wife planned her funeral to spare us the pain, and I was willing to abide by her wishes. But I have a responsibility to raise her son, and I don’t see any reason to delay it.”

Dan looked from Mrs. Ramirez, to Mrs. K, to Archie, and back again. He was at a loss for words. In desperation, he turned to Tessa. She wore the same look of shock and disbelief that he felt on his own face.

It was Mrs. Ramirez who broke the tension filled silence. “As I told Mr. Kawolski, his papers appear to be genuine. The court, however, will make the final decision. Your mother’s written wishes were that your uncle be your guardian and custodian. That will stand unless another will is found, your uncle relinquishes his rights to you, or a judge terminates his rights.” She turned to Paula Kawolski. “Mrs. Kawolski has already been granted temporary custody as a foster parent. Mr. Kawolski will file his formal petition tomorrow. Until a decision can be reached, we’ll compromise. Daniel,” she touched his arm. “You will move into the extra bedroom in Mr. Kawolski’s apartment, but you’ll remain in Mrs. Kawolski’s care until otherwise informed. Is this agreeable to all parties?”

Paula Kawolski nodded. Archie looked a trifle disgruntled, but acquiesced. Dan just stared at them all, his mind racing. He barely noticed when the social worker picked up her bag and left the brownstone.

The next hours passed in a haze. Dan’s belongings were transferred from his room downstairs to the small room between Archie’s living room and Tessa’s room. Mrs. K went off to start dinner. Archie disappeared into the garage. Dan was left staring at the wall while Tessa folded and hung up his clothes.

“You know,” Tessa said. “I bet we could talk to each other through the wall. My bed is on the other side, and the walls aren’t that thick.”

“How did this happen?” Dan asked. “It’s a nightmare. It’s not real.”

His eyes were filled with such pain that Tessa thought her heart might break. She sat beside him and put her arm around his shoulder. He looked at her and continued, “She didn’t marry him. She wouldn’t.”

“I know,” Tessa replied in a soothing voice. “It has to be some kind of scam. Did you see the date on the marriage license?”

“No.” Dan shook his head. “I didn’t even look at it. I just couldn’t believe what was happening. Did you see it?”

Tessa nodded. “The date was a week ago Thursday. Four days before she died.”

“Mom was dying,” Dan reflected. “She was sleeping more than she was awake. How could she have gotten married? She couldn’t even get out of bed. Besides, I was there most of the time. I don’t think I would have missed a wedding.”

“I know.” Tessa’s forehead wrinkled in frustration. “I just know Archie’s up to something, but I don’t know what.”

“Me either.” Dan chewed on his lower lip. “But I think we’re going to find out, and I don’t think I’m going to like it.”

.

The first week of the new arrangement was tense. Saraid had paid the rent through June, and Paula Kawolski was in no hurry to find a new tenant. Dan spent his days at school, and the afternoons in his old apartment sorting through his family’s things, deciding what to send to storage and what to donate to charity. After dinner, Tessa would join Dan in the lounge and they would do homework together. Since all he did in Archie’s apartment was sleep, Dan was able to mostly avoid his noxious would-be stepfather. He quickly learned to hold his breath between the front door and his room in a vain attempt to avoid the haze of cigarette smoke that so often filled the living room.

The trouble began on Saturday. Mrs. K was in the kitchen preparing to bake. She asked Dan and Tessa to run down to the pantry in the garage and bring her up some pans and other supplies. Equipped with keys, they went to do her bidding. Sitting in the middle of the garage was a shiny red sports car. Tessa stopped short.

“Dan?” she asked. “Whose car is that?”

“That,” Dan said. “Is Archie’s baby. It’s not just a car. This is a 1967 Corvette 400 Ragtop Convertible Coupe and she is in cherry condition. I don’t think he even drives it. He just turns it on and runs the engine every once in a while.”

“It’s a pretty red sports car, but it’s just a car. What’s the point of having a car if you don’t drive it?”

“This is a collector’s item.” Dan lovingly ran his hand down the hood and back. “Marlboro Maroon is the color thank you, not ‘red’. Saddle leather interior, 427/400 horsepower, four speed engine. It has air conditioning, power brakes, power steering, power windows, and an a.m./f.m. radio. This,” he leaned against the bumper and grinned at her. “This is not a car. This is a wet dream on wheels. I’d kill to drive it.”

“Get your thieving hands off my car!” Dan and Tessa both jumped at the furious shout. Archie stood in the doorway, lit cigarette in his left hand, his right clenched in a fist. His face was red with anger, and his normally beady eyes were bulging.

“Whoa. Calm down!” Dan raised both of his hands and stepped away from the car. “We came down to get stuff from the pantry. We were just looking. That’s all.”

Archie moved swiftly toward Dan, shaking him roughly as he pinned him against the garage wall. “I know all about your sticky fingers, you little punk,” he hissed, his foul breath heavy with the stench of beer and cigarettes. “You keep ‘em off my ‘Vette or you’ll regret it.”

“I already do. Don’t you ever brush?” Dan mumbled. He instantly regretted his comment, as Archie moved quickly, his forearm across Dan’s throat, cigarette pointed at his face.

“You have a smart mouth, you little bastard. I guess someone should teach you some manners.” Almost casually, he moved the cigarette to his right hand and pressed its lit end against Dan’s jaw, directly in the hollow behind his left earlobe.

The pain was sharp and endless. Dan gasped and fought to keep from screaming as his skin burned and blistered. A low moan followed by a sharp whimper had managed to escape, when suddenly, Tessa was there, pulling on Archie’s arm and screaming at him to stop. Released, Dan caught himself before he dropped to the floor. Plastering his hand over the burn, he glared at Archie.

“This will go over good with Mrs. Ramirez.” Dan spat the words.

“You won’t say anything boy!” Archie retorted.

“Who’s going to stop me?” Dan’s ear felt like it was on fire, but he was defiant.

“You are.” Archie spoke calmly. “Because if you don’t keep our personal business personal, I might have to extend it to your little girlfriend.” He reached out and grabbed Tessa by one of her braids, waving his cigarette in front of her face. “How’d ya think she look with a couple of broken teeth? Maybe minus an eye?” He poked the cigarette at her eye, forcing her head back against his shoulder. “Accidents happen, you know. Especially to kids no one knows what to do with.”

“You bastard. You rat bastard. Leave her alone!” Dan’s voice was hoarse.

Archie grinned meanly. “Watch your mouth,” he said, advancing on Dan again, dragging Tessa with him. “You need to show some respect to your step-daddy.” He backhanded Dan across the mouth. “And you want to stay away from what’s mine. I think I’m justified in protecting my property, don’t you?” He hit Dan again, this time drawing blood. “Answer me.”

Dan refused. Archie hit him again, knocking him to the slab floor. “I said answer me, boy.” Archie pulled Tess close to his body, his arm holding her tight. He ran his hand up and down her body as she struggled against him. “Answer me, or else. Am I justified in protecting my property?”

Dan looked up into Archie’s furious eyes, which were gleaming with excitement. The man was insane, of that he was now sure. Tessa’s eyes were wide with fear. Closing his own eyes for a moment, Dan muttered, “Yes.”

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, sir.” Dan spat the words through gritted teeth, but fortunately Archie seemed satisfied. He chortled triumphantly, and thrust Tessa away before leaving the garage. Tessa stumbled over Dan and landed beside him. Throwing her arms around him she burst into tears. Dan returned her embrace, as they huddled on the cold concrete. He buried his face in her jasmine scented hair, holding her while she cried. He wished he could cry. His head felt as though it could explode at any moment, his ear was throbbing and his face was hot and sore. What was worse was that he was trapped. There really wasn’t anywhere to turn. He knew that he would die before he let Archie hurt Tessa. Licking the blood from his split lip, he just hoped he wouldn’t have to.

Dan held Tessa there on the floor until her crying stopped. Wiping her eyes, she apologized. “I’m sorry about the hysterics. I didn’t mean to get all girlie on you.

“Yeah,” Dan teased gently. “Girls make me sick.” Turning serious, he asked, “Did he hurt you?”

Tessa shook her head. “Not really. He pulled my hair, that’s all. And he touched me.” She shivered at the memory. “It was disgusting. He hurt you, though. Are you going to be okay?” She touched his face, and he flinched.

“Yeah. I’m tough.” Dan met her gaze and couldn’t lie. “My ear is killing me though. When he put that cigarette on me, I thought I was going to be sick. God, I hate him.”

They collected themselves and the requested supplies and returned to Mrs. Kawolski, who nearly had a conniption fit when she saw Dan’s swelling lip and the burn. She didn’t even ask how or why; she just handed Dan an ice pack, the first aid kit to Tessa, and went barreling down the hall yelling, “Archibald!”

The argument that ensued was loud, but indecipherable. A lot of yelling and a couple of loud thumps later and Archie went storming out the front door, slamming it behind him. Mrs. K returned to the kitchen, her eyes red and puffy. She saw Dan and Tessa frozen where she had left them, and pasted a smile on her face. “Let me have a look at that burn,” she said, pushing Dan into a chair. She worked methodically, spreading cooling gel on the burn and bandaging it to keep it clean. While she worked, she cautioned, “You two need to be careful with Archie. He is very protective of his car. It used to be his father’s car, you see, and Archie worked very hard to restore it. I’m not excusing his actions; he should never have done this, but I just want you to try and understand. Just try not to provoke him. He’s usually very sweet, as long as you don’t provoke him.”

Neither Dan nor Tessa could believe what they were hearing. Neither could manage a comment about Mrs. K’s defense of her son. After she finished ministering to Dan, Paula Kawolski returned to her baking, and the two teens escaped to the sanctuary of Dan’s old apartment. Tessa nervously worked through a series of ballet exercises, trying to calm down, while Dan paced. Finally she asked him, “What are we going to do?”

Dan stopped. “I don’t know, Tess. I don’t know. Did you hear her? Try to understand Archie’s feelings? Don’t provoke him? What’s that about? I thought...I thought I could trust her. I thought she was supposed to help us, but she didn’t do anything when her stupid son lied about marrying my mother, and she isn’t going to do anything about this either.” Dan’s frustration was spewing forth, and he didn’t try to stop it. “I don’t know how we can stay here, but I don’t know where else to go.”

“I think you should call Mrs. Ramirez.” Tessa chewed on her lip. “You can’t let him hurt you.”

“But I won’t let him hurt you, either.” Dan was adamant. “He’s crazy, Tess. Did you see his eyes? He...he was enjoying himself.”

“I know.” Tessa moved closer to Dan, putting her hands on his arms. “If we both tell, then maybe they’ll take us out of here, to someplace safe.”

Dan sighed. “Yeah. They might, but we won’t be together. Foster care is tricky. If we stay here, we’re together. If we get out of here, we get separated.” He looked into her eyes and said shyly. “I don’t want us not to be together.”

The smile she gave him was blinding. “Me either. I know we’ve only known each other for a couple of weeks, but I feel...like we’re supposed to be together. I feel happy when I’m with you...”

“...Even when we’re not doing anything.” Dan finished her sentence.

She nodded.

“I feel that way too,” Dan continued. “It’s like you’re what keeps me wanting to wake up in the morning. I get up because I want to see you, be close to you.” He touched her cheek with his fingertip. “Touch you, talk to you, to just be with you.”

“Do you want to kiss me?” Tessa asked shyly. “Because I think about that a lot. You. Me. Kissing.” She blushed. “I never really thought much about it before, but when I’m with you...” the words trailed off.

“All the time.” Dan’s voice was husky, barely more than a whisper. “I never used to think about kissing before either. But I want to kiss you. I want that a lot.”

“Have you kissed a lot of girls?”

“One.” Dan grinned a little. “Misty Harper in second grade. She wore my baseball cap all season. Before we left California she kissed me goodbye, and I kissed her back. On the cheek. How about you?”

“I’ve only kissed one girl too.” Tessa nearly laughed at the strange expression that crossed Dan’s face. “Last year,” she explained. “My best friend Lili and I were messing around after recital and we pretended to kiss goodnight. We both thought the car window was up, but it really wasn’t. I think we spent hours rinsing and spitting.”

Dan laughed with her, and then asked, “How about boys? Have you kissed many boys?”

“Nope. Not one. Should I start with you?”

In response, Dan led her to the sofa and pulled her down beside him. He licked his lips, and confessed, “I’m not sure where to start.”

Tessa giggled. “Me either. This is the blind leading the blind.” She thought for a minute, before saying, “Let’s try this.” She raised her face to his and gently brushed her lips against his.

Dan was so caught up in the touch that he forgot about his swollen lip. “Wow, “ he breathed, “Misty Harper’s got nothing on you.”

Tessa giggled and pressed her nouth to his again. This time, he caught her hair in his hands and pulled her closer, breathing her in, moving his lips against hers just as gently, but with a little more force. Tessa pulled away slightly and dropped small kisses on Dan’s mouth, tracing the contours with her lips. She shifted her position, entwining her fingers in his dark hair and pulling down his head so she could rain kisses on his eyes and brows.

Dan’s mind was racing and so was his heart. Other parts of his body started to think for themselves, as he pulled the girl closer and captured her lips again. Finally, they came up for air.

“Wow!” Dan repeated. “I think we need to stop.”

“Definitely,” Tess agreed. “But if I had known kissing was this much fun, I’d have started a lot sooner.” She leaned against him and smiled. “I think I’m completely warm for the first time in ages. I’m actually toasty.”

“I’ve moved way past toasty,” Dan admitted. “But I’ll say it again. Wow! Misty Harper’s got nothing on you.” This last comment sent Tessa into peals of giggles, and Dan was unable to keep himself from laughing. They snuggled together on the couch, and for a short while the world disappeared.

I Past 3
Index
I Past 5