“Sure, man. I’ll be right here.”
Saks slept though it was interrupted by nurses checking on him, and there was rumbling as the bed moved through the halls. He woke briefly when orderlies transferred him to another bed, but fell asleep again.
Sleep was good. He didn’t hurt when he slept. He didn’t have to think about Chrissy.
“Anthony?”
“He’s okay, Maria. Let him rest.”
“But, Whit, he’s so still. And all those tubes.”
His parents. He didn’t need this right now. “I’m fine,” groaned Saks. “I was sleeping.”
“You rest,” said his father.
“No.” Saks opened his eyes and fumbled for the controls to raise the bed. He managed to move the head so he could sit up.
“Oh, Anthony.” His mother’s eyes were lined red.
Saks winced when he tried to pull his body to a more upright position. He noticed the morphine machine was gone. Oh, well, he didn’t like how the morphine made him feel anyway. “Ma, I’m fine. Really.”
“This is worse than when they brought you home after you got beat up by that gang.”
“Ma, it’s nothing. Really. I’ll be walking around in no time.”
His mother turned to his father. “This is your fault. Our boy nearly got killed over Uncle Vits’ crazy scheme.”
“Maria,” said his father, “we don’t know what happened. Louis has the cops investigating it now.”
“You never should’ve dragged Anthony into this.”
“Ma, stop. Please. There’s no need for this.”
“Anthony,” said his mother sternly. “I want you to go to Florida and work for your cousin, Angelo, okay? Get away from this crazy place and these nutty goombahs!”
“Maria!”
“Ma!”
“I’m sorry,” she said, grabbing Saks’ hand. “I was wrong. You knew what you were doing the whole time. You’re a good son and tried to make everyone happy. Only, you can’t make these people happy. So, leave Connecticut, please, before you die.”
“Ma, I’m not going to die and I’m not going to leave Connecticut. I have a job here, one I like. And my club.”
“Your job,” she said, wringing her hands, “your club. What about your poor mother, eh? I couldn’t take it if I lost my only son.”
Saks was at a loss for words. His mother had no chance to get out of this life. Mafia kept their wives and children ignorant to the realities of their profession. Mafia women lived in their own isolated society. There was money in the bank, food on the table, and a nice car. Their husbands and children were the center of their worlds. Maybe his mom had hoped her children could escape when she couldn’t. She played like she didn’t know...
Until today.
“Mom, I’m a grown man. I make my own decisions.”
His father nodded. “Leave the boy alone.”
Saks shot his father a look. “Hey, Ma. How about you bring me some of your lasagna? That stuff can heal anything.”
“Sure, Anthony. I’ll do it.”
A nurse came in. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to check Mr. Parks’ dressings.”