The Thief of Todays and Tomorrows

When Francis DeLucia returns home at the end of WWII, he encounters a job and housing market crowded with other returning veterans. Desperate to support his growing family, Francis accepts a job from a suspected Mob boss.

Katie, his young Irish wife, does her best to support her husband. When she realizes what he may be doing to support them though, she makes a life-altering decision.

The Thief of

Todays and Tomorrows

Susan Wells Bennett

SMASHWORDS EDITION

* * * * *

PUBLISHED BY:

Inknbeans Press on Smashwords

The Thief of Todays and Tomorrows

Copyright © 2009 by Susan Wells Bennett

And Inknbeans Press

Cover art by Nikki McBroom

(nikkimcbroom@cox.net)

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

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For my grandmother and best friend, Christine Wells, who has always encouraged me to pursue my dreams and live my life to the fullest.

And in memory of my grandfather, Howard Wells.

"I am disgusted with my life.

 Let me complain freely.

 My bitter soul must complain.

 I will say to God, ‘Don’t simply condemn me—

 tell me the charge you are bringing against me.

 What do you gain by oppressing me?

 Why do you reject me, the work of your own hands,

 while smiling on the schemes of the wicked?

 Are your eyes like those of a human?

 Do you see things only as people see them?

 Is your lifetime only as long as ours?

 Is your life so short

 that you must quickly probe for my guilt

 and search for my sin?

 Although you know I am not guilty,

 no one can rescue me from your hands."

Job 10:1-8 (NLT)

Part I – Today

We came back to Chicago because of Frankie.

We’d been driving to Arizona to start our new life as a couple after living with my sister Jane and her husband for months. The influx of returning GIs had caused both a housing and a job shortage, and Francis was having a terrible time finding work. My brother-in-law, Tommy, offered to help him get a position at the bank, but Francis was either too proud or too determined to take it.

I’d never ridden in a car for more than half an hour in my whole life. When I was nauseous on the first day of our trip, we put it down to car sickness. By the afternoon, I was feeling much better. The next morning, though, I was sick again. This time we wondered if I had the flu, since my symptoms appeared before we’d even started the car.

By the time we reached Tulsa on the fourth day, Francis was really worried about me. He found a doctor, an older man with gentle hands who poked and prodded me for five minutes before saying, Congratulations. You’re going to have a baby.

What are we going to do? I was sure I’d ruined Francis’s future. Even though we wanted a lot of children, we weren’t planning on having them so soon.

Francis looked at me with tears in his eyes and a smile on his face. We’re going to have a baby.

You’re…you’re not upset?

Never, Katie. I could never be upset about news like this. He turned to the doctor and said, Thank you, sir. God bless you. Do we need to do anything particular?

No, nothing particular. She’ll need to have regular care from a physician – just to be sure things are progressing properly. Will you be staying in Tulsa?

No, said Francis, we’re going home.

Three days later, we knocked on Jane and Tommy’s door. Jane opened the door, let out a whoop, and hugged me like I’d been gone forever – perhaps she’d already begun to think of me that way. After all, it wasn’t likely that Tommy would be taking her on a vacation to Arizona anytime in the near future.

Tommy had lost an arm in France only a year after he was drafted. But Tommy was always an upbeat guy: after he was back home, he’d call himself the one-armed bandit and chase Jane around the house yelling that he was coming to steal his heart back from her. He’d found a job at a bank and was apparently content.

When we came back, Tommy was sitting at the kitchen table eating dinner. He looked up and deadpanned, Jane and I had just run out of things to talk about, Katie. Perfect timing, as always.

Jane was over the moon when she found out I was pregnant. She and Tommy wanted children, but, so far, she hadn’t gotten pregnant. She treated me like a queen instead of her silly little sister and wouldn’t let me do anything at all around the house.

That Sunday, Francis and I went to Mass at his parents’ parish so that he could tell his mother that she would soon have another grandchild. When we walked in and sat down near her, she refused to look at us. Francis spent the whole hour trying to get her to acknowledge us. At the end of the service, he told me to wait in the pew while he approached her.

I sat silently watching as his mother slapped him, spit in his face, and yelled at him in Italian. He took out his handkerchief and wiped her spittle off before turning back to me and smiling apologetically.

I motioned for him to come over and sit next to me. I’d ask what she said, but I think I can guess.

Yeah.

Remember what you said to me a couple weeks ago? ‘We’re a family.’ I put his hand on my belly, and my hand over his. Now we really are. We’re a family, Francis. We don’t need anyone’s approval.

It’s really going to be okay, isn’t it? he said.

Yes, I answered, it really is.

Most of my savings from the factory job I’d had during the war had gone toward purchasing a reliable car for our trip to Arizona. After the trip, we had only a few hundred dollars left. Francis tried to return the car, but the dealership refused to accept it. Now we were living on the charity of Jane and Tommy.

Francis kept looking for a job. He wasn’t finding anything in the automotive industry, though. When I was seven months pregnant, he finally decided to go see his uncle for a leg up. His uncle had him meet with a friend of the family named Tony Acardi. I’d never heard of the man, but Tommy recognized the name. Jane told me that Tommy had read about Acardi in the newspapers. The morning of the meeting, Tommy offered again to hire Francis at the bank.

Come on, Francis, you’re a smart guy. Don’t go wasting your life as a grease monkey.

Breakfast is served, Jane said, setting plates of eggs and bacon in front of Tommy and Francis.

Francis’s fists were clenched and he wouldn’t look up at Tommy. You know, Tom, I don’t call you names just because you’re a banker.

Tommy sat silently staring at the table before saying quietly, Hey, I’m sorry. You’re right. Grease monkey or suit monkey – I guess we’re all monkeys. I’m just saying that there’s a place for you at the bank if you want it. Tommy had been promoted to head cashier a few months before, so I supposed he really could hire Francis. But Francis wouldn’t take the job, no matter how often Tommy offered.

Francis stood up and headed for the door without taking even one bite of the breakfast Jane had prepared. I pushed myself up off my chair and followed him.

When he got to the door, he turned around and said to me, Tell Jane I’m sorry. I’m just not hungry this morning.

It’s okay. Francis, are you sure…

No, baby, I’m not. But I gotta do something. You’re about to pop and we need to get out of here. Henhouses only have one rooster for a reason, he said, smiling for the first time that morning. I love you, Katie. I’ll be fine. We’ll be fine.

He kissed me goodbye like it was the last time we were going to see each other and I knew he was as nervous as I was. I went back to the table and ate his breakfast, not wanting the food to go to waste.

Just after lunch, Francis came back home smiling and holding a bouquet of yellow chrysanthemums for Jane and a red rose for me. And how are the two most beautiful women in the world? he asked, handing us our flowers.

Jane blushed and smiled, but then her forehead creased.

It’s okay, Jane. I bought them, Francis said. He pulled a wad of cash out of his pocket. It’s a starting bonus. Two hundred and fifty dollars! Can you believe it!

Jane crossed her arms and said, No.

Neither could I! But Mr. Acardi, he said, ‘How long have you been out of work, son?’ and I said, ‘Since I returned from the war, sir,’ and he pulled out this money and said, ‘Take your wife out for a nice dinner. Tomorrow, you start working for me.’

Oh, Francis! That’s wonderful! I exclaimed, hugging him. I stood next to him as Jane continued her interrogation.

Doing what? asked Jane, ever the practical one.

Mr. Acardi owns a garage. He just had to get rid of the old manager a couple of days ago, and he wants me to be the new one.

But Francis, Jane said, you don’t have any management experience.

Well, that’s not exactly true. I was in charge of the mechanical crew on my ship. I wasn’t an officer, but I was the top enlisted man.

He gave you this job based on that?

That, and Uncle Stefano’s word that I’m a good guy. Look, he’s going to pay me two-hundred-and-fifty dollars a month.

That’s more than Tommy makes at the bank!

I know, Jane. I told you I needed to work in a garage. That’s where I’m most valuable. He gave me another hug and said, What are you waiting for? Go get dressed. We’re going out on the town.

But it’s only one o’clock! What are we going to do?

We’re gonna be tourists for a day! Let’s get some culture, baby. When was the last time you were at the Art Institute?

But Francis…

And then we’ll take a walk in the park, sit by the fountain and talk.

But…

And we’re going to have a great dinner, too! Go get ready.

It was Jane who finally stopped him. She’s seven months pregnant, Francis. I doubt she can do even half of that.

Francis looked crestfallen. Oh. I suppose you’re right.

I think I’ll be fine, Jane. I’m just not sure I have anything suitable to wear!

Francis smiled and said, Wear that navy-blue dress with the sailor collar. You look adorable in that.

I went to our bedroom, leaving Francis and Jane in the kitchen. I certainly didn’t feel adorable. I was beginning to resemble a dirigible at that point. But I had a man who thought I was desirable no matter how I looked. I put on the sailor-style maternity dress and fixed my hair.

We drove to the Art Institute and walked through the gallery slowly. Francis made sure I rested often. We sat down on every empty bench and contemplated the paintings in front of us. Francis held my hand and talked to me about our future. He was so excited about the job – he was sure that our future was looking up. I believed in him.

After a few hours, we walked to the Buckingham Fountain. It was already dusk when we got there, and we watched the water in the half light of evening. I was tired, but I didn’t want the day to end. It had been months since he’d been happy, though he tried to hide his frustration from me. Now, we were like we’d been when we’d first met: enthralled with each other and certain that the world was at our feet.

He took us to dinner at a fancy Italian restaurant. Luckily, Francis was still wearing the suit he’d worn to his meeting with Mr. Acardi. He ordered a bottle of wine, ossobuco alla Milanese, and a side dish of risotto.

The waiter returned with the wine, and Francis approved it. He poured half a glass of the deep red liquid for each of us and retreated from the table. Francis picked up his glass and indicated I should do the same. Salute, he said, clinking his glass against mine.

I’d never had any alcohol before. As the daughter of a drunken Irishman, I’d stayed as far away from the stuff as I could. I sniffed at the glass. It smelled more like a library than a beverage: a combination of leather and wood, with some crushed flowers mixed in.

I think you’ll like it, baby. Just give it a try.

I tried a sip. It was dry as the dust on the shelves of a library. I must have made a face because Francis laughed.

Take a little in your mouth, then breathe in.

I looked at him like he was nuts, but I did as he asked. It was still dry, but the flavors came alive in my throat.

Now breathe out through your nose.

My nose warmed and responded to the scents produced by this action. Suddenly, the wine was good. I swallowed and smiled at Francis.

Sometimes I forget you’re not Italian, he said.

How could you forget? I asked, laughing.

It’s just that wine is a big part of our culture. I was taught about wine from an early age, and so were all the kids in my neighborhood. Wine is served with dinner almost every night in my parents’ home.

I smiled and confessed, This is the first time I’ve ever had any alcohol at all.

Oh, Katie! This isn’t ‘alcohol.’ This is wine! This is what Jesus transformed the water into at the wedding in Cana. This is what Jesus called his blood. Alcohol is for getting lost. Wine is for gathering together.

I reached across the table and put my hand over his. We’ll serve wine in our home, too, then.

He smiled at me as a lone tear slid down his cheek. I love you more than anyone in this world, Katie. You and our children – this one and the dozen to follow – are my world now.

I love you, too, Francis. And I’m proud to be your wife.

The food arrived, and we enjoyed a wonderful meal. We sat in the restaurant for two hours, then wandered back onto the street and toward our car. On the way home, Francis drove us through his old neighborhood and pointed out the homes of his friends and told me stories from his childhood.

It was after ten o’clock when we pulled up to Jane and Tommy’s house. I saw the light in the kitchen go out as we parked the car. Jane was waiting up for us. She’s in the habit of watching out for me.

That’s my job now. You don’t have to worry anymore, Katie. And neither does Jane. Everything is going to be great from now on.

Francis started his job the next day. He came home that night wearing coveralls that looked like they’d been soaked in oil, and a big smile. He ate Jane’s dinner with gusto, showered, and went to bed. For the next two months, that was the routine: leave for work early, come home late and filthy, eat, shower, and sleep. Sundays were the only days he had off – it was nice to see him clean at least once a week.

One day in late fall, my water broke while Francis was at work. The first contractions ripped through me as Jane drove me to the hospital. She stayed with me until the doctor gave me something to help me relax; then she drove to the garage to let Francis know that the baby was coming. I don’t know exactly what happened, but when I woke up, Francis was at my side. His eyes were bloodshot and he had his rosary wrapped around one hand.

Where is our baby? I managed to croak out.

My voice startled him, and he grabbed my hand. Katie…my God, I’ve been so scared.

Baby? I asked again.

He’s fine. I named him Francis, Jr. That’s okay, isn’t it?

I nodded and closed my eyes again. Everything would be okay.

Sometime later, the nurse was there with my son. She helped me sit up and I held Francis for the first time and fed him with the bottle she handed me. He had a shock of black hair but his skin was as pale as mine. He was bigger than I had expected, probably ten pounds if he was an ounce.

I’m so happy to meet you, Francis, I whispered in his ear. You are going to be as handsome as your father.

He opened his eyes and looked at me. His expression had a haunting loneliness to it.

Don’t worry, Francis. You won’t be alone for long. Your daddy and I will give you a sister or brother as soon as we can!

Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw the nurse react to something I said. When I looked up, though, she was standing placidly to the side reviewing my chart.

A few minutes later, she took the baby from me, saying I needed my rest. As she left with him, Jane came in with a small vase of carnations.

Hi, Jane.

Hi, sweetie. How are you feeling? Jane asked as she set the flowers on the bedside table.

Pretty well. I’m sore, of course. I feel like I’ve been lying here for days already. I can’t believe we have to stay a whole week.

She bit her lip, a nervous gesture that she and I shared. You know there were complications, don’t you, Katie?

I ignored her question. Francis looked like he hadn’t slept when he was here earlier. Where did he go?

Jane sat down and took my hand in hers. After you fell asleep, he went to work.

I laughed a little at that. They couldn’t give him the rest of the day off?

He’s been here for more than a week, right by your side every possible hour.

A week? Now, Jane, don’t be ridiculous. I mean, I know something went wrong, but…

We thought we’d lost you. The doctors weren’t sure if you’d ever wake up again. My rational, reasonable sister started crying and suddenly I understood how scared my family had been. Francis was too big for your frame and he was breach. Before Dr. Green realized there was a problem, you were bleeding internally. They almost lost both of you.

Oh, God, I inhaled.

They anesthetized you and performed an emergency Caesarean section.

Reflexively, I reached down and felt for the stitches.

There’s more, but maybe we should wait before talking about it.

No, I said, I’m okay. I’m alive and so is the baby. Nothing could be that bad.

The doctor…Katie, you won’t be able to have any more children.

I felt like I’d been slammed against a wall. But…Francis and I…we were going to…

He loves you so much, Katie. If I had any doubts before, they are all gone now.

I stared at the blank white wall across the room. The future Francis and I had envisioned together was gone. Our home wouldn’t be full of noisy, joyful children. Just Francis, Jr.. Just Francis and me. I cried silently as my sister continued to talk about Francis’s devotion to me and to our son. I had to wonder, though: would he really stay with me? I wasn’t the same woman anymore. I’d never be the same woman again.

A week later, Dr. Green signed my release form. Francis took another day off of work to pick me and the baby up. He told me he had a surprise.

He drove us to a small bungalow a few blocks away from Jane’s house. He got out of the car and stood in the yard. Ta da! he said and spread his arms wide. Our new home!

I stepped out of the car with Frankie in my arms. From the outside, it looked a little shabby, but bigger than Tommy and Jane’s house. It’s nice, Francis. Can we really afford it?

Mr. Acardi owns it, but he’s going to sell it to us. Rent to own, he’s calling it. He’s only charging us $75 a month, and he says he’ll count $50 of each month’s rent toward the purchase. He’s also going to send some extra work my way, and we’ll put all of that money on the house.

Seventy-five dollars seems like a lot.

Wait until you see the inside, Katie. It’s really nice. It’s got new appliances, too. And he and the guys at the garage all helped to furnish it.

I crinkled my nose, imagining the rejected furniture I would find inside.

Don’t make that face, baby! I promise you, you’re going to like it.

I don’t understand. Why would they do this for us?

He shrugged. Mr. Acardi says he sees a bright future for me. He wants me and my family – you and Frankie – to be happy. Let’s go inside.

He ran up the front stairs and unlocked the door. I followed him into the house. He was right about the furniture – every single piece in the home was beautiful. In fact, it looked brand new. The sofa and chairs in the living room were covered in a matching leafy green fabric and a matching rug was under the coffee table. A console radio even sat between the chairs.

Through the archway between the living room and the dining room, I could see a beautiful polished-wood table and six chairs with a matching buffet.

Francis. This is new furniture.

No, it’s not, he said. He walked into the dining room and sat down in one of the two captain’s chairs. I told you, Katie, they like me at the garage. They were worried about us – they know you almost died. They wanted to give us a good start.

The galley-style kitchen, located to the left of the dining room, was fully stocked. The cabinets had dishes in them, the drawers had utensils and silverware, and the appliances, including the toaster, were new. The refrigerator even had food in it. A door led from the kitchen to a screened porch and a green lawn beyond that.

The house had three bedrooms and one bathroom on the main level, as well as an added bathroom in the basement. The largest bedroom contained a double bed, two nightstands, and a dresser. Of the other two, one was empty and the other was furnished for the baby.

I laid Frankie down in the blue and white crib and sat down in the rocking chair next to it. Francis stood in the doorway, his hands gripping the top of the doorjamb. What do you think? he asked.

I like it, Francis. Are you sure we can afford it?

Yeah, we can. Seventy-five dollars is just a little more that a quarter of what I’m making every month. That leaves plenty of money for everything else. Heck, we’ll probably even be able to save fifty bucks a month!

What kind of extra jobs is Mr. Acardi going to give you?

I’m not sure yet. He said they’d just be little things. Errands he doesn’t want to handle personally or he’d rather pay someone else to do. He’s a busy man, you know. He’s always going on business trips. The jobs’ll probably be like deliveries and stuff.

I wondered if Mr. Acardi was always so generous.

Someone knocked at the door and Francis went to see who it was. I heard him say, "Bienvenuto!" and then I heard my sister’s laugh. I was still sore from the surgery, but I stood up gingerly and went to greet Jane and Tommy, who were admiring the living room.

Katie! Jane exclaimed. It’s so great to see you out of that hospital! Where’s my adorable nephew?

Sleeping in his new crib.

Well, the house is very nice, isn’t it? Francis brought me by to look at it a couple days ago. The living room furniture wasn’t here yet, but everything else was. This furniture is beautiful, isn’t it? They must really like him down at the garage.

Tommy snorted, and Jane glared at him.

Let me show you the porch, Tom, Francis said, and the men walked toward the kitchen.

Please, Jane. Have a seat, I said as I sat down in one of the chairs next to the radio.

Thank you, Katie, she said, sitting on the sofa and running her hand over the upholstery. This is very nice, she said again.

Are you okay?

She looked up at me. Yes, of course. Why do you ask?

You seem…uncomfortable.

She let out a small laugh. I guess it’s just strange to me, seeing my little sister in her own home. I mean, I always knew that…eventually…you would live somewhere else. But, you know, I can’t really remember a time in my life when you weren’t there. I mean, I even brought you with me into…

We sat in silence for a moment. I knew we were thinking about the same day: the day our father had dropped me off at her and Tommy’s.

Jane could actually remember our mama Sarah but I couldn’t. She died of an infection shortly after I was born. Jane told me that Papa started drinking after Mama died, but I don’t know for sure – I don’t remember ever seeing him sober. Papa couldn’t even look at me for the first ten years of my life. Then, one day, I saw something strange in his eyes. He reached for me and said, You look just like your mother. I should have named you Sarah.