Unforeseen

Chapter II

Time always seemed to pass with ease in Danny and I's relationship. Each sunrise held the same activities in store, but it was a new day for us to share. There wasn't a moment that went by that I felt regret for any of my choices. Not for telling my parents, not for living with Danny, not for choosing to love and one day marry him, not even for selling all those boxes of clothes so we could have extra money. I couldn't believe it had been three years with no contact – no interruptions. It was as if I cease to exist and that everyone forgot about what happened and what should've happened. Nevertheless, it was the best feeling to wake up every morning happy and thankful – so thankful for our wonderful life together. 

Danny was still passing the hours of each day in that café; however, I could be seen across the street in the flower shop. It was a very convenient location for our jobs. Not only because we lived just around the corner from both of them but also because next to it was the market, making it so effortless to stop and buy the food we needed. I always did enjoy scooping up a green apple on the way home. Then one evening as we sat together to devour our dinner Danny started a very serious conversation. 

"Dear...we need to talk." His face was stuck somewhere between brave and afraid. 

"Oh, what about?" I could hear the curiosity through the pitch of my voice.

"I was offered a job today at the café. It's going to bring us in a lot more money, and it's going to give me more of an opportunity so to speak."

With both eyebrows raised high I couldn't help but question. "Really?" I said as the excitement continued to rise in my voice, "what is this opportunity?"

Silence soon filled the air between us for a long while. And the anticipation dissolved once I realized something wasn't quite right. It wasn't like him not to jump to tell me anything and everything. There was something off about this new opportunity. 

Minutes felt like hours passing by until I could take it no longer. I began to stare intently, slowly narrowing my eyes to put the pressure on him. 

"Well..." I said, using a little harsher of a tone than I should have. 

Lifting his head, he announced that the Manchini's had come in for lunch. The Manchini's were a well-known mafia family who migrated here from a small village in Italy called Vernazza, La Spezia many years ago. They settled here in Chicago and through their years of reign they had gained many admirers and made many enemies. However, no one would dare cross them, and it was well known that they were never afraid to make an example out of anyone who tried. After hearing they had come into the café my heart sank into my stomach. I knew all too well where this was going. 

Sadly, I barely heard a word Danny spoke after the name Manchini crossed his lips. My betrothed Nicholas was a Manchini, beloved by his family for he was the oldest son. As Danny spoke my mind wandered, trying to recall a memory of me telling him that my parents and I were from Vernazza as well. As a child in my family, our belief is when you are betrothed to another you must go with them wherever that may be – even the parents follow obediently until the day of marriage. The Manchini's were the whole reason why we were here in Chicago, if not for the relocation we would still be in Italy. Shaking my head to try to push my thoughts aside I found Danny staring at me with wide eyes. 

"Are you alright?" he asked. 

"I'm sorry, I got lost in thought for a little while," I said as I continued to shake my head from side to side. 

"So, you didn't hear about the opportunity?" He innocently circled back to start again. 

While blankly staring at him, Danny told me how they thought he had a great personality, and they saw that he had a gift for creating relationships with people, making them trust him. He paused but I remained quiet, unsure of what to say and also pondering if I should let him finish and then respond at the end. 

"They want me to be a delivery boy of some sort," he said. His hands moved at a wild pace on every word he spoke, and I had no doubt it was nerves.

Hanging my head, I knew what this meant. 

"Hey now, I know it doesn't sound like the most exciting job in the world, but they are going to pay me money. Good money, cash under the table, more than I am making now to support us," he said. 

When I still didn't say anything, Danny came back with, "This will be good for us, think about the baby. We need this money. I know that this is a big risk and that it's dangerous, but I am trying to think of our future. I mean heck if it's enough maybe we could finally have the cash we need to get married and have a real wedding...this is the right choice." 

Between sniffles I managed to get out, "No Danny you don't understand, you will be killed. I've seen their delivery boy act so many times before. Do you remember me telling you I grew up with this or maybe I never did tell you the whole story? When they make someone a delivery boy it means just that, they give you a package or multiple ones to be transported to risky places for them with dangerous people and bring back the money from their dealers. You can be killed going there, when you get there, or when you get back. Yes, I know they tell you it's a lot of money and I'm sure that it is but this is not worth it. We can find something else, there has to be another way. 

"Peering down at my unnoticeable belly I began to rub it lightly. "The baby and I don't need you to put yourself in harm's way to provide more of a life for us. We just need you to come home every day so we can continue building our future together. That's what's important, our family, not their dirty money," I said, trying my best not to sound argumentative. 

"I will be careful and watch my back and I will come home to you and the baby every day. You've just got to trust me, don't think about them, think about me, trust me. Don't make me turn them down but not only that let me be a man, let me make this decision for us. I need to do this." His whispers of endless begging meant nothing to me, nor would I let the innocence in his eyes sway me one way or the other. There was no convincing me. 

Shakily standing I couldn't help but give a mocked response back to him. "I hope you know what kind of a decision you are making, and for the record, it doesn't make you any less of a man to turn them down. Now lastly tell me who I should be giving praise to for this proposal.

"Nicholas was the only word he muttered.