Fantasy A New Day Dawns for Susan by TMaskedWriter

[Ramesh_Rocky]

The TV was tuned to an international news channel recapping a story from earlier in the week. Helen was standing at a podium and talking to reporters about "admiring the people's honesty" and that she loved the joke so much that she wanted to make it an annual "Festival of Cupid" event, encouraging tourists to come see how they'll top it next year. "Come to San Finzione! But, ah, this time, leave the kids home," La Contessa said with a wink. That quote and image of her would later become the slogan and posters for their tourism ads.

She was also appointing a representative from amongst those involved in the joke to bring any of the group's concerns to her. A reporter asked why a young man with no experience beyond being a butcher's delivery boy would be appointed to such a position, and she replied with a smile "My top advisor has recommended him and has spoken to me at length about his qualifications. They shall be working together very closely on this matter," briefly turning and smiling at a pretty young woman standing behind her whom Julie smiled at and pointed out to me as Maria.

I asked Julie if her new Ferrari (That Troy was off getting a building permit to add an extension on the garage so she could keep.) and the gift bag she brought back for me were related to that and she nodded affirmatively. She switched the channel to some Light Alternative Music station where we could listen to douches with plaid shirts and acoustic guitars sing-whine about how much they wanted to fuck us.

"The bag is Helen's way of saying that she's sorry about what she did to you at the party and wants to be your friend. She's never really figured out the whole people/things/emotions deal. I'd suggest just accepting it and I'll tell her you said thanks; unless you have something you want to say to her yourself. If we just send it back, she'll keep doubling down and adding to it until you either agree or every surface of this house is covered with high-end electronics."

"I don't even remember talking to her the first time," I said, enjoying the last sip of my glass and debating pouring another. "And Troy would dig that last bit." Settled on a 'yes' on another glass, poured it, then took the shiny 18 karat white gold Lady Datejust watch from the bag and dangled it from my fingers. (I checked Amazon to see how much it cost. Holy Fuck!) "Well, I never thought I'd have a Rolex."

"Girl never forgets her first," Julie said, grabbing the bottle once I was done and refilling her own glass. I slipped it on my wrist. "Troy seemed eager to give the bag to me, so I guess it's important to him. I'll accept. And I'll thank her myself later."

Julie smiled and took a drink. "My Math Boy likes it when all his women get along."

"Might've been easier to get along if I'd met her," I half-said, half-mumbled into my wine glass before taking a sip.

Julie slid over and put her arm around me.

"Troy thought he was protecting you. Helen brings a lot of stuff out of him, not all of it good. He's cute when he gets that whole John Wayne 'stay here, little lady, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do' thing going, though."

I shrugged in agreement, but not in a way to suggest she should remove her arm. "Still, when you were there, he was talking about how you two think I'm ready to learn your thing and I agree, but he's barely said anything about it since you got back." I slid my arm between her back and the couch to put it around her as well. Julie leaned in closer until I could smell the wine on her breath as she spoke.

"He's a care-er, that one. He still sees the frightened, wet, shivering little girl in muddy, ripped pajamas that showed up on his doorstep one night when we were all eight. He always needs a little time to recover after seeing Helen."

"And is that how he sees me," I asked. "Still wearing long sleeves and sunglasses to hide the bruises Chad gave me and sheepishly asking to use the library computer?"

"Oh, no, dear," Julie said, giving me a little kiss for emphasis. "You never got to meet Troy's Propappou, but he loved Helen too. He even tried to adopt her a few times, but her father wouldn't let go of his favorite victim. By the time they locked the piece of shit away for good, the adoption people said Propappou was too old to take care of her."

I took another drink and set the glass down to put my other arm around Julie. "Everything you two have told me about Propappou makes me sad I never met him." Propappou is Greek for "Great Grandfather," by the way. I had to ask about that.

Julie's hand had inched its way down my back and casually wriggled its way under my shirt. It was moving back up now in what would soon become an effort to remove my shirt. I let it do its work and looked into her eyes. No Makeup and No Underwear were the only two rules of a Sweats & Wine session. She didn't need the former and neither of us needed the latter.