LITMIR.BIZ

      The next day Charlie went early to his parents’ gravesite. He sat down on the grass facing their grave markers and “talked” to them as he had done since they died. “Mom, Dad, I still miss you guys a lot. I always want you to know how much I appreciate the sacrifices you made for me. The job at Shaw is going along well. A couple of weeks ago Joey Esposito, you remember him from my days at La Salle, introduced me to a really wonderful gal. She’s the first person I’ve met since my divorce that has really impressed me. You’d like her. There’s a little bit of a glitch because apparently she is very rich. Her uncle is a businessman in Philly and she gave me the impression that he has a lot of money. She went to Bryn Mawr and doesn’t have to work. Her uncle gives her an allowance. She might be too rich for my kind of upbringing but she is a real down-to-earth person. I feel good around her and I guess she feels good around me too. She’s hardly the Shoreville type and I have to admit that I feel a little intimidated around her. But she is so unpretentious that you would never know she is rich. I wish you were here so I could hear what you think. I like her but I don’t want to seem to be after her money, you know? I don’t want to ruin the first easy relationship I have ever had. She is so unlike Mary Jo that I hardly know how to act around her. So, as you have said before, Dad, I just relax and try to be me. Well, that’s the news for this week. God keep both of you.” Charlie said a silent prayer for his parents and then went back to his car and drove home.

      When he got home he called Joey Esposito. “Joey? Charlie here, you in the mood for a cheese steak sandwich? I gotta talk to you.”

      “Sure Charlie, c’mon by. I was gonna watch the Eagles game but a cheese steak and a beer sounds like a better idea.”

      “Be there in about an hour, Joey. Bye.” Charlie rang off and walked to his car. He needed to talk to Tony about Gina.

      He pulled up to Joey’s apartment building in Philly. Joey was in his usual weekend attire of sweat pants and a cut-off sweat shirt. “Hey Charlie, what’s up? Want a beer?” Before Charlie could even answer, Joey tossed him a can of beer. Charlie popped open the can and sat down. “What do you think of the Eagles’ lineup this year, Charlie? They goin’ to the Super Bowl?”

      “Who knows, Joey? They always surprise me. Some years you think they have a shitty team and they go to the finals. Other years they have a five-star lineup and they tank. Just have to wait and see, I guess. But I need to talk to you about something else, Tony. You remember Gina, the gal you introduced me to a few weeks ago?”

      “Everybody remembers Gina, Charlie. You don’t forget a gal like that. Yeah, you guys seemed to hit it off pretty good that night. What about her?”

      “Well, Joey, I am really impressed by her. I mean, really! I barely know her but last night she showed up at the trattoria looking like a million bucks and alone. She suggested that instead of sitting around over a couple glasses of wine, we go out for dinner. Joey, I swear to God, I never had such a pleasant evening in my life. She is a terrific person. And I think she likes being around me, too.”

      “OK, I see nothing special about Gina looking like a million bucks. She’d look that way dressed in rags, Charlie. As for going out to dinner, so what? I mean she does eat, you know. And she probably likes being around you. There are so many phony guys that hit on her that you are probably somebody she can relate to easily. What’s the beef?”

      “I don’t know, Joey. She told me that she doesn’t have to work for a living because her uncle, the guy who raised her, is a wealthy businessman who doesn’t want her to have to work. Joey, I’ve worked all my life and she has never worked. Know what I mean? Would we hit if off?”

      “C’mon, Charlie. You’ve only known her for a couple of weeks. You’re hitting it off so far. Why not just relax and enjoy her company? She seems to like you and you like her. Just relax my friend. It’s a little early to be in love, isn’t it?”

      “Oh yeah, I’m not talking about being in love. In fact, I don’t know what I am talking about. I guess it’s just that I have never met a woman like Gina. I think about her all the time. I can’t wait to see her at the trattoria. The other day the guys in the bowling league thought I was daydreaming, and I was! I was thinking about meeting Gina at the trattoria on Saturday.”

      “Holy shit! Charlie my Sicilian grandfather would say you were hit by the ‘thunderbolt’. You’re about to fall in love, Charlie! Let’s go have that cheese steak sandwich – I want to hear this story! The most eligible bachelor in Shoreville, New Jersey meets the most beautiful girl in Philadelphia, what a story!”

      “C’mon Joey, I’m serious. This is not some movie. I’m really confused.”

      “I don’t doubt that one bit, Charlie. Let’s go. We’ll talk about it at my favorite greasy spoon.”

      They took the elevator to the street and walked to Joey’s favorite sandwich shop where they ordered a couple of beers and a superb Philly Cheesesteak – the trademark sandwich of the city. When they were served, Joey said, “OK Charlie, start talkin’. I’m all ears!”

      Charlie told him about meeting Gina at the trattoria the week after they met. He talked about how easy it was to be with her, about her friends that showed up with her, and about their dinner. “Joey, I hardly know this woman but it feels like I’ve known her forever. I mean besides being a real class act, she is just so composed and relaxed anywhere. I don’t want to push her but I love being around her. Know what I mean?”

      “Look Charlie, I’ve known Gina for a while. I was never close to her but we went to the same grammar school. She was a class act even when she was 9 years old. I also know a lot of her friends, so I know exactly what you mean. You have to understand only that she is a very special person, Charlie. She detests phonies and those ‘fast track’ attorneys and bankers that cross her path. She is as comfortable going out for a meatball sandwich as she is at some hoity-toity joint. Her uncle is very rich and very discreet. He is protective of her and loves her even more than a father probably could. He is a widower and never had any kids, so Gina is his only child.”

      “What about this guy, Joey? Gina only told me that he is a wealthy businessman.”

      “Why don’t you just let Gina tell you herself? You don’t like gossip and second-hand information and neither do I. She’ll tell you when she is ready. There are no secrets so just relax. If you like her and she likes you, I wouldn’t go any further. Things will either develop or they won’t. Gina is cool and believe it or not really works hard in her volunteer work. She probably works harder than she would if she had a regular job like the rest of us working stiffs. She loves the kids at the grammar school and she is always involved in community stuff. Like I said, she has been chased by every phony asshole in this city. You’re a genuine guy, Charlie, and probably someone she can be comfortable with. You’re not somebody who has to have the latest BMW, a thousand-dollar fountain pen, a fat salary, and maxed out credit cards to impress people. I’ve always known you as a genuinely nice guy and maybe that’s the way Gina sees you too. If it doesn’t turn into romance, it will be an easy friendship so just relax. Frankly, I’m betting it turns into romance, but what do I know?”

      “Yeah, I guess you’re right Joey. I’ve got nothing else to do anyway, so why not go out with an intelligent, beautiful woman?” Charlie laughed. “Gina is smart, fun, and easy to know. I’ll take your advice and just take it easy. It’s just that she blew me away, you know?”

      “Yep, the ‘thunderbolt’ Charlie. My grandfather was an ignorant peasant but he wasn’t dumb. He knew people and a lot about life. He died sitting in his rocking chair after busting his ass in construction work all his life. Tough guy!”

      Charlie and Joey finished their meal and then made small talk about old times, the outlook for the Eagles this season, what a boring place Shoreville was for a bachelor, and a little about work. Joey was a loan officer at a large

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