Monday, April 1, 1991
Dani's ears were still ringing from the midday underground concert Jon took her to.
"What was that?" she said.
"The future of rock 'n roll."
Dani rolled her eyes. "Thought that was supposed to be us."
"We've got five years to make our mark," Jon said. "Tops."
"You can't really think this stuff will catch on?"
"Wave of the future," Jon said, donning shades as he slid into his Fiero.
"It's punk repackaged, except they can't play or sing. And that look. Seriously? Lumberjack chic?"
"Dunno," he said, leaning over the stick shift to kiss her. "You'd look hot in flannel."
She half gagged, half giggled as she cranked the radio. "Ah, real music. Nothing good ever came out of Seattle."
Dani spent the next half hour with her bare feet on the dash, hair blowing in the wind, holding Jon's hand and thinking about how amazing her life had become. Sure, they'd both had to fib a little, but Daddy approved of their relationship. Vic seemed to be OK with it since Jon had gone to the altar and prayed to receive Christ last Sunday. Daddy was even trying to be supportive of her music. She wasn't so sure she'd convinced him it wasn't bad, and she knew he'd have a conniption if he knew she'd skipped school today to go to a concert, but you only turn eighteen once, right?
Not the first time I've done something like that lately. But what Daddy doesn't know won't hurt me.
"This isn't the way home," she said as Jon took a rural exit.
Jon smirked, pulling into a remote lot, shielded from the road by a stand of pines. "Thought we'd hang out here a while."
"If we're not to the party on time…"
"What'll they do? Take your presents back?"
He kissed her deeply, taking her breath away.
"Maybe a few minutes." She snuggled into him. "But our lights must have cost him a fortune. Least I can do is be on time for my own party."
"We can be quick."
"C'mon, no touching there." She moved his hand back to her knee. "We talked about this."
"You're eighteen now." He pulled back, sighing at the roof. "Not Daddy's little girl."
That stung, but she reached for him.
"Remember what Kari said?" She held up her hand, waggling her fingers. She hadn't taken the silver "Love Waits" band off since Kari gave them out. "Besides, why are you asking for a present on my birthday?"
"I stopped smoking. Quit pot. Haven't had a drink in a month. Just saying." A red tint crept into his face, and it sounded like he fought to keep his tone down. "What do you expect me to do, marry you first?"
***
Vic looked at his watch for the thousandth time. Friends, clients, the church family, everybody who was anybody to him and his sister would start showing up over the next couple hours. The Callahan grandparents were coming in from Iowa. Dad had even talked about inviting his brothers and sisters, but Vic was pretty sure he'd decided against it. Vic only remembered seeing them once, at Grandma Grassigli's funeral. He didn't remember much about the only time he'd seen his grandmother other than baby Dani's wails echoing through the Bronx cathedral.
Dad had asked him repeatedly over the last few weeks whether Dani was ready to take a bigger role in the business. Vic had done his best to give his answers a positive spin. Hope the questions have something to do with her birthday present. Nothing could possiblyfit my plans better than Dad giving the business over to her. Lord knows, she's the one who likes it. And she got all the talent for it. He checked his watch again. Not going to help if she's late. Again.
"C'mon, let's get this over with," he muttered. He had enough on his mind, figuring out how to tell everyone he'd taken the preliminary steps toward going on the mission field. Thailand! Imagine that. Probably best I broke it off with Julie first. He felt terrible for only trying to call her once since that night. He scolded himself for thinking he could lead her to Christ by dating her. Seemed to work for Dani, though. And I really do like her. He shook his head. "I'll call her tomorrow." He'd been telling himself that for more than two weeks.
"Hey, you!"
Vic jumped in his chair. Figures Kari would be the first one here. He made his best attempt at a warm smile while she glanced around the shop, all teeth when she realized they were alone. She sat beside him, closer than he'd have liked, playing footsie and making small talk until other guests mercifully started arriving half an hour later.
Within an hour, Dad was there, the grands were there, half the church was there, the shop buzzed with wall-to-wall conversation. Still no Dani.
Dad had been grinning nonstop for a week. No doubt, he'd planned for this party to be a big deal. It was unlikely anyone else could tell, but Vic saw from across the room that Dad was quickly losing any sense of humor he might have about her absence.
***
Dani rolled down her window to give Jon one more kiss. As they parted, she tapped her watch.
"An hour, got it." Jon's tone suggested he was trying to pretend he wasn't still frustrated over what didn't happen on the side of the road.
Dani checked the time, let a word she'd never used slip, jumped in her GTO, and floored it. She smiled into the rearview as Jon jumped back, gravel pelting his jeans. Hope he brushes his hair. Grands are gonna be there.
She wished they could go together, but that would raise too many questions. As is, she would have to write another school excuse note with Daddy's signature. Last one, hopefully. School's out in two and a half months.
She pushed the speed limit as much as she dared. Last thing I need is to get pulled over. Local cops had figured out the road leading from the Starks' place, where she and Jon had met that morning, offered plentiful opportunities to bust drivers under the influence as they came and went from Inferno's rehearsals and impromptu shows. She smiled, knowing Jon had quit that stuff for her. He'd even taken to performing with a tequila bottle filled with water after Basil complained he was hurting the band's image. But the crowds who came to hear Inferno jam still drank. And smoked pot. And used who knows what else. And got pulled over. All the time.
Quicker if I take the back road.
Dani took the corner sharp onto the gravel road. She was going to be late. No helping that. But if she sped up a little more, she could keep it to fashionably late.
I can talk my way out of fashionably late.
Pop!
Dani clutched the steering wheel for dear life as the car fishtailed.