where he was washing the dishes.
“ You know I have to go see my father sometime .”
“ I know,” he agreed. “Do you want me to come with you?” I couldn’t believe he asked me that question.
“ Death wish?” I asked. “He carries a gun, you know.”
“ So do I,” he answered. Suddenly, he became very serious. “Your dad is just worried about your safety. I would be worried too if my daughter was dating someone like me.” I grimaced. “Seriously, I tried to stay away,” he continued. “But when I heard Bobby and Pierre were making moves on you…” He hesitated. “I lost control and came back.”
“ No need to be jealous.” I thought that was so funny. If he only knew how tortured I felt without him. “Bobby was using me to make his mother… I mean his girlfriend jealous.” Johnny laughed. “Whatever she was.”
“ Mother, huh? I don’t know,” he said. “Maybe this guy meant something to you.”
“ No,” I answered, “nothing.”
“ Pierre had a ring,” he said sarcastically.
“ Okay,” I replied. “Enough about Pierre.” I really didn’t want him to tell me he had him deported. “I think I need to go.”
He took my hands and kissed them. “I love when you do that,” I told him.
“ Go ahead and face the music. I’ll miss you.” I took a deep breath, kissed him lightly and turned for the door. “Lilly?” he called to me. I turned to look at him. He grabbed my hand and pulled me towards him. His arms went around my back pulling my body into his as he pulled my hands around his waist. He moved one hand to my cheek and ran one through my hair. “I just can’t let you go yet.” He said it so sorrowfully that I believed him. “Come and see me at the restaurant?” He smiled like he just remembered something. “You do know it’s Easter Sunday?”
I hadn’t thought about it. I can’t believe I forgot the holiest holiday of the year. He kissed me deeply and then his phone rang. We ignored it. He finally pulled it off his belt and said, “What Rudy.” He sounded annoyed. “Stop using them, Rudy, and just move them. Got it! I’m busy.” He shut the phone and put his body up against mine like before. His passion continuously consumed me like a fire suffocating a forest with its blaze. I was helplessly under his spell. “Okay,” he sighed, releasing me. For a moment I thought I might lose my balance and fall. “Good luck. I’ll see you later.”
“ I’ll try to come by but Easter is a pretty big deal at my house.” I stopped and looked at the pout on his face.
“ You’re my Easter Lilly, aren’t you.” He smiled again.
“ I love you,” I said before I left.
“ I love you more,” he replied. I walked to my car and he followed behind. He opened my door and let me in. “Be safe,” he said, “and always remember that I love you more.” I put the keys in the ignition and the car purred. I blew him a kiss as I drove off and he pretended to catch it.
As I drove away I noticed a black sedan following behind me. It was Ray, the man who had been watching me in the bar. Johnny must have sent him to keep an eye on me. This was starting to become a way of life. I wasn’t sure I liked it.
I pulled into my driveway and walked to the front door. The sedan was parked across the street. I breathed in deeply, remembering the events of the evening for my strength. Then, I pushed open the door.
“ Lillian Margaret O’Hara!” my father shouted. “Where in the bleeding hell have you been?” My father’s face was a new shade of red. He was standing with his hands folded and my mom was sitting on the couch, equally annoyed.
“ Dad, I’m a grown woman!” I shouted in anticipation of the upcoming argument.
“ Are you kidding me?” he asked. “Grown women don’t stay out all night.”
“ I’m fine,” I insisted. “I was with some friends.”
Suddenly his face changed. “Oh no, no not him!” He began pacing back and forth like a mad man. “Are