Lou’s Triumph

Anytime Salvatore was going to be present, Lou always made sure that Rachael was dressed appropriately. Tonight, Sal knew at a glance that Rachael was not dressed in usual style. Her red shirt, with several buttons open at the top, was tight and revealing. She had tied the ends, so that there were several inches of bare skin between her shirt and the tight jeans she wore. Diamond-studded clogs enhanced the bright red, nail polish on her toes. Rachael is a beauty, and Sal caught his breath.

“Hi,” she said with a smile, as she indicated Salvatore should enter.

Much aware of an uncommon stillness, he entered the room cautiously. “I told Derek I’d meet him here,” Sal said uncertainly.

“Derek will be here in a minute,” said Rachael. And with an inviting smile, she indicated he should follow her into the living room. They walked through the unlit, dining room, and into the living room. The lights there were dim, too.

“Are your parents not home?” Sal asked. He intuitively hesitated to follow her into the room. “Mom left something at the shop, and Joy went with them. They plan to stop at the restaurant for ice cream. They’ll be here soon,” she assured him. “And Derek will be coming,” she added.

Her eyes were bright and teasing as she motioned toward the couch. When Salvatore walked over and warily sat down on the sofa, Rachael seated herself beside him. Then, with a twinkle in her eyes, she suddenly slid over close to him, very close. He could smell her perfume. He had sisters, and he recognized that fragrance….Black Diamond.

Salvatore had to smile. He was, after all, quite experienced with the opposite sex. He had not led a sheltered life in Brazil. And his college escapade earlier this, school year was still fresh in his mind. Rachael was young, but he knew she was well aware of the effect she had on men, and that she was using him for sport.

But she’s just a kid…..did Derek say she is thirteen? Sal was considering how to handle this, when suddenly, Rachael perched herself on his lap and reached up to twirl the hair hanging over his forehead.

“Rachael!” Sal exclaimed with a laugh, as he tried to lift her off. “Derek will have my head!.... And if he misses, Abel won’t!”

Rachael stayed where she was and purred in a teasing tone, “Are you afraid of me, Sal?”

His friends back home would never believe that Salvatore Ridenti would respond with reserve at a moment like this. The temptation was great. Rachael is a beauty, he thought. And, young though she is, I’m most definitely attracted to her. But …. this is Derek’s sister. I know the family.

“Yeah,” he answered her tease truthfully. “Of course, I am.”

As she leaned in to play with his hair, he endeavored not to look below her eyes. She may be only thirteen, he thought, but Rachael is surprisingly developed. He put both of his hands on her shoulders. He was determined to move her off his lap.

At that moment, the back door opened, and Derek was speaking as he entered. “Sal,” he said, “I’m sorry I’m…..”

But stopping just inside the doorway, he could see the scene on the couch. A red color rose up Derek’s neck and spread to his face. The pleasant greeting was forgotten, as Rachael righted herself.

"Oh!" she said and stormed out of the room. Sal had risen, too, and was endeavoring to straighten his clothes. He pushed his hair back off his forehead, and struggled to meet Derek’s eyes.

“Hey,” he said. “Nothing happened…….. You know I wouldn’t,” he implored, hoping to see a more reasonable expression from Derek.

“Where are my parents?” Derek asked abruptly.

“Rachael said your mother had to return to her shop. Joy went with them,” Sal explained quietly. Derek’s emotions were in turmoil.

Mom knew Sal was meeting me here, he thought. But, of course, she hadn’t known I would be late. Even so, I will definitely speak to her about leaving Rachael alone at times like this.

Sal was embarrassed. “Derek, nothing happened,” he repeated. “Rachael was just teasing me. She knew I wouldn’t do anything……You’d have my scalp, and she knows that.”

He knew Sal well now. In spite of that folly with Diane, Derek trusted him. And Derek knew Rachael was probably the instigator of any playfulness that had occurred between them. He sought for calm and decided to put a reasonable interpretation on the moment. Though frustrated, he finally mumbled, “She has a crush on you, Sal. I trust you to handle Rachael wisely.”

Inwardly, Sal realized he was a bit enamored with Rachael, too. But, what he replied was, “Of course.”

Rachael has interfered enough for one evening, thought Derek.

Sal and I need to leave at once. “We’re going to be late,” he said. And the two, young men left the house together.

On the drive to Burnswick, Sal expressed what Derek was thinking.

“I have sisters, too,” Sal said. “They drive me crazy. They should be locked in the house until they’re given in marriage!”

“Are they as pretty as Rachael?” Derek asked morosely.

“Rachael is very pretty,” Sal agreed.

“And, she doesn’t have a bit of sense about men!” The thought stirred Derek’s anger again. Then he chose to dismiss it. There was no further discussion about Rachael.

Later that night, as he prepared for bed, Derek let himself think about his sister’s actions. Why can’t Rachael be like Joy, he fretted? How should I handle this? He didn’t want to tell his mother how Rachael had behaved with Sal. He had no ideas. Fortunately, he was too tired to stay awake and worry.

As for Sal…sleep evaded him. He couldn’t erase the memory of the beautiful, teasing, young ….girl?....woman?....who had sat on his lap.