How Trish Met Ethan..

Trish is the protagonist in my WIP Bruised Fruit. As in most novels there is a lot of background information that gets left out. Some events are alluded to because the story begins after the event. I will be posting my "out takes" here on occasion Looking forward to your feedback.


"Oh my God.... He is gorgeous!" We commented at the same time. June laughed and I looked

at Pam who had her head out the car window...

"Hey... you... walking ... You wanna ride?" Pam shouted. "Come get in." Pam embarrassed us,

but before we could blush, Mr. Gorgeous walked towards the car, opened up the rear door and

sat down next to me.

"So... what's your name?" June turned her head and asked.

"Ethan Roselli." His voice was low and his face without a smile. .

“Roselin?" I asked.

"NO! Roselli" He spoke louder and added. "I'm Italian."

"You don't look Italian," I said noting his dark blonde hair.

"I'm Sicilian."

"Oh... I'm Trish, this is June, and the screamer is Pam."

He responded with a nod and remained silent. After two blocks, he said, "Let me out here."

Pam stopped the car and Ethan exited.

"Sure wasn't too friendly... huh?" June began to giggle...

"Great looking guys are like that... it's why I turned down Tony Fusco's offer to the prom. I

don't like pretty boys."

"Madonn'! Fusco asked you to the prom and you didn't tell me? He's a senior! Are you nuts?"

June rolled her eyes.

Pam piped in, "And you guys say I'm loony? I'd go with him to the Prom."

"No surprise there, I want an ordinary guy....” I said and believed it, at least for the next three

months.

***

“Hey girls... where ya going?” A voice yelled from across the street.

“Up Mike’s and down Jakes," I yelled to the figure shouting to us. June and I looked at each

other.

“What’s it to you buddy?” June added.

“Com'on, doncha remember me? I wanna talk to you.”

“You wanna talk to us, you come here. We ain’t dogs.” June said.

When he was closer I said in a soft voice, “June...it’s Mr. Gorgeous, that guy we picked up."

“Ohhh .. So it is,” June said as he ran across the street.

“Remember me?” Ethan asked.

“How could we forget?” I said in my most sarcastic voice. 

"I was just thinkin about you girls," He said.

“Sure you were, bet you don’t remember our names.” June put out the challenge.

“Bet I do. She’s Trish,” he said pointing to me, “and you’re Pam.” Ethan said appearing oh so

smug.

“Wrong, Mr. Smarty-pants. I’m Trish and she’s Pam.” June said messing with him. It was one

of her many talents.

“I know she’s Trish, you’re fooling with me. You must be Jane.”

“Wrong again dufus,” June said and we both laughed.

“She is Trish. I never forget a pretty girl’s name... not that you aren’t pretty... I don’t mean

that.. Heck I was only in the car for a block.” Ethan said and I thought I saw him squirm.

“Okay guy, I’m June.”

“Whew... you’re tough.” Ethan said and went on “Nice to see you again June.”

“Same here.”

“Ya want some ice tea?” Ethan asked.

June and I looked at each other and exchanged our secret eye code. “ I don’t think so.” June said.

“Whatta mean, you don’t think so? You don’t know if you’re thirsty. Hey... my sister’s home.”

Ethan said as if he was offering some type of assurance..

“How old is your sister? Five?” I asked.

“No she’s sixteen. Com'on I’m not going to hurt you guys.”

Again, June and I exchanged our secret glance.

“Ahhh sure why not,” June said, shrugged her shoulders and gave me another eye signal. This

one said, “You owe me.”

Ethan opened the door for us and called “John, come here. Here’s the girls I just told you

about.”

John poked his head from around the corner... and said “Yup.. you were right.” and then

disappeared back to the kitchen.

“What’s that about?” I asked...

“Aghhh... he’s goofing on you. Younger brothers, ya know how they are.”

“No I don't.... Where’s your sister? Or did she leave?”

“Nope she’s here. Marie.... Marie... “ Ethan’s calls went unanswered.

“She went next door to use the phone.” John yelled..

“See I do have a sister. Com'on sit down,” Ethan said as he went over to the dinette table and

pulled out a chair.

I moved my head motioning to June to follow, she pulled out her own chair and sat down

across from me.

Ethan walked over the refrigerator and yelled, "John you hog! You drank all the ice tea!"

"So make more..." John said with a shrug.

"You guys want some water?" Ethan asked, holding two glasses in his hand..

"Nah... we're fine." June said.

"Just curious ... what were you thinking about us?" I asked Ethan.

"Oh.... yeah... back to that. I was telling John I wished I got your phone number."

"What makes you think I'd give it to yah? You were like so rude, no... grouchy."

"Umm... I thought you girls were someone else...I was meeting my cousin." Ethan's said.

His excuse was lame, and I didn't buy it..."That's no excuse for being grouchy."

"I'm sorry, didn't mean it.... Thursday's we meet... sing in the alcoves of the stores, after they

close... the echoes make the harmonizing sound sooo much better.. I'll teach you how to

harmonize, if you give me your number."

June and I exchange glances and laugh...

"I can't sing, but June can."

"Ahhhh anyone can harmonize." Ethan said with a wave of his hand and pulled out a pitch

pipe. "Just hum this tone, it's easy." Ethan said before blowing in the pipe.

"Hamm... " I started humming and Ethan motioned for John to join in and then June.. Then we

all busted out laughing...

"I told ya, you could do it. Now give me your number.." Ethan said handing me paper and pen.
I started to write my number 393-869 and before I put on the last digit, a woman and girl

walked in the door...

"Ethan... what are doing? Get these trollops out of my house!" The short stubby woman

demanded.
I dropped the pen and paper, looked at June and we ran out the door... We could hear Ethan

saying.... "But mom... they're good girls...” as we shut the door.

June and I ran until we reached the cemetery... the short cut we always take home from my

sister's.

"Boy, was she pissed!" June said.

"Yeah, nothing like making a good impression. June I like him"

"I know you do.." June said.

"I didn't finish writing the phone number. How can he call me?"

"He'll figure it out. He really, really likes you."

She was right, another one of her talents. An hour later my phone rang.

"Hello" I said

"Seven is my lucky number."

"Excuse me? Who is this?"

"It's Ethan... 393-869 SEVEN the number you left off... I called all the other numbers."

"I didn't leave it off on purpose," I said and motioned to June that Ethan was on the phone.

She shook her head and smiled.

"I know, sorry about that... my mother thought something was going on."

"I got that. Do you have girls over often?"

"Only once... and they weren't reputable." Ethan confessed.

"I take it your mom found out."

"That's what I like about you. You're smart."

"You aren't the kind of guy that likes girls for their brains."

"I'm not? What makes you so sure?"

"Name me one intelligent conversation we've had..."

"We haven't had any yet... but we will."

"Like what will talk about? "

"The John Birch Society, the Kennedy Assassination, WWII, I don't know.. Pick a subject."

"Shakespeare."

"You got me... English isn't my best subject."

"And I know nothing about your things.."

"We'll help each. It‘s perfect."

"Perfect? We haven’t gotten off to a good start."

"It's not the beginning, it's the ending, that matters.."

"Ya think so?"

"I know so. We were meant for each another."

"Yeah... sure." I said with sarcasm and tried to ruffle his feather's." Let's set the wedding date

than." I looked at June to see her laughing and twirling her finger by her ear.

"Doesn't the bride set the date?" Ethan loved having one-upsmenship.

That was the day Ethan Roselli took ownership of my heart.

Love Everlasting

"What the hell..." Carol mutters as a figure appears in the heart of the road. Like a statue, it stood still, not attempting to move out of the path of Carol's Toyota. Carol slams the brakes and the quick stop, sends the car spinning into a snow bank. Her car sits 180 degrees half buried, parallel to the frozen lake. She steps down from the car and looks for whoever was standing in the road, but no one is there. Carol kicks the back tire that sticks up in the air curses, and releases her tears.

The snow changes to ice and it stings her face, she tries to get back in the car. After several attempts, she opens the door, climbs in, and reaches for her purse. "Shit!" she cries out, "no freaking reception!"

A sudden shadow appears on her left and a woman is standing in the road, feet from her car. Her heart jumps along with her body, until she realizes it is Mrs. Borelli, Tony’s mother. Carol rolls the window down. "Hi, Mom! What are you doing here?" Mrs. Borelli is the only person Carol called Mom, beside her own.

"I work at the inn around the bend saw the car go into a spin, didn't know it was you. Come with me and I’ll heat up some soup. Were you going to the cemetery? Tony wouldn’t want you traveling in this weather, come with me. ”

Carol gets out of her car and embraces the woman and the two walk the road with arms intertwine keeping each other from falling as they reminisce.

“Carol I was crushed when you broke up with Tony. What happened? He didn’t say much, I'd always hoped the two of you would marry.”
“Me too Mom, however I couldn't compete with his mistress."
"Mistress? Tony wasn't seeing anyone that I know of. Who was she?"
Carol strains holding in tears and attempts to swallow the lump in her throat. She is about to start blubbering, when they reach White's Inn. The door of the inn opens to the kitchen and a myriad of aromas saturate Carol's nose, yeast from fresh bread, onions and beef from stew, apples from a crisp, and the unusual scent Carol couldn't place, but knew well.

"Take off that wet coat, I'll get you some soup." Mrs. Borelli continues to talk "I can't believe you're here! How long has it been?”

"Twenty years? I'm not sure, but it seems like yesterday." Carol thought back to the time she spent with Mom while dating Tony. Mom and her would prepare meals, go to the hairdressers, play hearts, and other mother/daughter activities. "How long, have you been working here?"

"Years, live here too. My house was empty without the kids or Jerry and this job was perfect. I make the breads, soups, desserts, and salads. Guess it has been 15 years give or take a few. I love the work and I can see Tony’s grave across the lake. Can you see it?” Mrs. Borelli points her index finger towards the window. “What about you Carol; Married? Kids?" Mrs. Borelli keeps chatting and places a bowl of minestrone in front of Carol. "Mangiare!"

"I’ve been divorced ten years, no children. One of my many regrets, I never could find another love like Tony." Carol stops and takes a spoonful the soup. "This soup is wonderful."
"It was one of Tony's favorites. Remember? You mentioned a mistress of Tony‘s. Who was she?"
"It wasn't a woman, it was...drugs. I'm surprised you didn't know."
"Oh sweetie, I knew. However, I'd always thought he started using because you left him. God, I wish I'd known. You should've talked with me, honey."

"I know, but I was scared, it never occurred to me to talk with you. I did everything else, threatened, screamed, and broke up with him. I thought that he'd come to his senses, but he didn't." Carol takes another spoonful of soup. "You are a wonderful cook, always were. Did Tony die from a drug overdose?"
"That’s what they say, but I say he died of a broken heart, he was lost without you. He stopped using drugs for long time... and then one night he...slipped. I never told him."
"Told him what?"

"Tony was doing well, but he was lonely. He dated some, but he never found the one. He mentioned, finding you and trying to work things out, but he didn't know where you were. One day I ran into your friend Trish, she told me you were living in Boston. I never told Tony. I thought you would hurt him again. I feel so guilty." Mrs. Borelli wipes a tear with the back of her hand. "I'm so sorry Carol."

Carol gives her a hug. "I'd run back to him barefoot in a snowstorm, if I only had the chance."

"I know that now sweetie, I need to let him know."

"Let him know?"

"Prayers, I talk to him everyday, hope he forgives me."

"He'll forgive you, Mom." Carol kisses Mrs. Borelli’s cheek. "But will he forgive me for moving away?" Mom, I have to go to the cemetery.”

"Wait, the storm will be over soon."

"No, I must go now. He's waiting for me."

"Carol, you need to wait, now is not the time." Mrs. Borelli's pleads.

Carol runs out the door before Mrs. Borelli gets up from her chair.

*****************************

"Miss, do you know where you are? Dr. Pulio’s voice stirred Carol.

“Yeah, I am in a hospital, or God looks a lot like a Doctor.”

“Glad you have a sense of humor. Why did you try to kill yourself?” The doctor asks and touches Carol's hand.

“What kind of question is that?” Carol's brow crinkled and her eyes meet the doctor's.

“Your car was in a ditch with the tailpipe in the snow, and your engine was running. Carbon monoxide. What were we to think? What were you doing on that road?"

“I was going to St. Mary’s Cemetery and made a wrong turn. Someone was standing in the road when I hit the brakes; my car spun and went into a snow bank... I went to White's Inn with ...”

“Can't be, White’s Inn closed 17 years ago, it’s in shambles, if it's still standing." The doctor tone is stern and no nonsense.

"Maybe I imagined going there, while I was out." Carol wonders how long she's been unconscious.

"You've been in here for two days, lots of time for dreams. . . An admirer sent you some flowers.”

Carol’s turns and sees the largest bouquet of vibrant red poppies she ever witnessed. "Is there a card?"

Dr. Pulio checks the flowers, grabs the envelope and hands it to Carol.


Neither death nor distance will destroy our love,
It is living and everlasting.
Stay here my love until the time is right,
And I’ll carry you in my arms to heaven
Where we will share our love forever.
Happy Valentine’s Day
Love T.