Baby Come Back(43)

Tristan and I weren’t working tonight other than ‘over-seeing’ the various areas. It allowed us to mingle with many of the regulars, as well as to keep an eye out to make sure that things were running smoothly on both levels.

We made our rounds, taking our time to talk to the customers and members of the band that were getting ready to take stage. We went up to the mezzanine at Tristan’s insistence. He said he wanted to make sure that Eddie and Jo Anna were set up with all of the help they needed. Once the band started, the mezzanine usually got slammed with the over forty patrons.

Tristan had had a portion of it walled off from the balcony so that customers that preferred to be able to hear themselves speak could. Tristan had been acting a bit peculiar this evening; constantly looking around and making sure that I was close by his side. I had finally had enough of his strangeness.

“Tristan, for Chrissake, you’re walking around here like you’re expecting a hit man. What the hell is going on?”

I caught his sheepish smile just as someone came up behind me, putting their hands over my eyes and saying, “Guess who?”

“Pete?” I sputtered, wrenching his hands from my forehead and turning to face my big brother who was wall-to-wall grins.

“Oh My God,’ I said, launching myself into his arms, hugging him tightly. “What the hell are you doing in Atlanta?”

“Surprising my little sister, obviously,” he said with a grin, giving me a brotherly kiss on the cheek.

“It’s a great surprise,” I shrieked, grabbing his hand. “I want you to meet, Tristan -”

“We’ve met,” Pete said with a laugh, “Earlier today when I came in to the club. He knew about the surprise since this afternoon.”

“No wonder you were acting so weird,” I said to Tristan.

“How long are you staying?”

“We actually came with the band,” he said, “Tommy Hall, their lead guitarist is a neighbor of ours. When I heard where his New Year’s Eve gig was, I decided a visit to my sister was in order. Amie and I flew down this afternoon. We’re spending two nights.”

“Where’s Amie?” I asked looking around the crowded mezzanine.

“She’ll be here in a sec. I’ve got another surprise for you,” he said smiling. “Someone else tagged along; Amie should be back in just a minute with them. Their flight just got in about an hour ago.”

“Mom and Dad?” I asked, hopefully.

“Not quite,” he chuckled. I looked up at Tristan; he shrugged. Apparently, this was going to be a surprise for him as well.

Pete was craning his neck now, looking out over the people mingling on the mezzanine.

“Ah, here they come,” he said, grinning, raising his arm up to wave them over to where we stood.

I followed his gaze into the crowd and suddenly I felt as if my heart had dropped to my knees. I recognized Amie weaving her way through the throng of people; another woman was with her; following closely behind them was Nick Camerucci. His dark, brooding eyes locked with mine. I saw his mouth twitch into a half smile.

I immediately turned to Pete.

“Are you f*cking crazy? Why in the hell would you invite Nick Camerucci to be anywhere within a hundred miles of me?”

I saw Pete’s mouth drop open; Tristan’s eye darkened as he stepped closer to me. There was nothing to do at the moment but to stand my ground. I wouldn’t let Nick Camerucci have power over me again. Besides, he was on my turf, now.

“We’ll talk later, Pete,” I said, turning to greet Amie. I hugged her, genuinely glad to see my sister-in-law. She turned then to introduce me to the dark-haired, slender woman beside her.

“Gina, this is Teresa Camerucci, Nick’s wife,” she said. “Teresa, this is Gina Hatton, my sister-in-law.”

“Actually, I go by Valenti again,” I said, holding my hand out to shake Teresa’s. She accepted my hand, squeezing it lightly. She gave me a shy smile. She appeared almost fragile. It made me wonder if she had always been that way or just since she had known Nick.

“It’s good to meet you, Gina. Nick is always talking about the good old days in Hoboken. Your name comes up often.”

(What f*cking good old days? He must still be getting high.)

Nick came over to me, putting his hands on my shoulders and kissing me on my cheek. I could feel Tristan stiffen beside me.

“Gina,” he said, smoothly, “You are even more beautiful than I remember. I missed you at Mother’s funeral.”

“Nick, of course you have my condolences,” I replied, turning away from him quickly to introduce Tristan.

Tristan managed to be cordial to Amie and Teresa; he was struggling to maintain civility with Nick. It was apparent to me, though I wasn’t sure if anyone else had noticed. I saw the slight twitch in Tristan’s cheek that did not appear often; only when he was livid.

“How about if I find a table for you all?” Tristan offered. “Gina, why don’t you and Pete go to the bar and get some drinks on the house; the rest of you follow me.”

“The regular for us,” Nick called after him. Tristan had done this purposely so that I could have a couple of minutes alone with Pete to ask him what the hell he had been thinking.

Over at the bar, Pete was waiting for me to say something. I wasn’t sure what to say since apparently my mother had not given him any explanation for my sudden departure before Angie Camerucci’s funeral.