“Then it’s set. Bring your friend, we’ll cook out.”
“I think what I miss most is the high ceilings and open air. Of course my flower garden was to die for,” Steliana continued in a melancholy tone.
“No, dear, I think we’re full. We just can’t eat like we used to,” Steliana answered after a long moment, touching the young girls hand with the gentleness of a grandmother.
The waitress smiled and then moved off toward the entrance.
Across the street, Jack and Roland leaned against Jack’s mustang, eyeing the elderly couple with hunger. To Jack, like all the other old fucks he’s attacked, this was an easy mark if they had more cash than their monthly social security check, and by the way they were dressed he believed so.
“What do you think,” Roland asked, watching the old man pull his wallet from an inside breast pocket.
“Wait for it,” Jack answered.
Nicolae opened his wallet and withdrew a stack of bills about an inch thick. He then tilted his head, looking over his glasses, and fanned out the cash.
The waitress returned and stopped short when she saw the money in Nicolae’s hand. “Mr. Balitiu, you shouldn’t be flashing your money around like that.”
“It’s these damned glasses,” Nicolae complained. “I can’t see the denomination with these things.” He looked around. “Plus it’s so dark I can barely see my hands.”
“Nicolae, I swear, you really need to go back to the doctors.”
“Shush, woman,” Nicolae spat.
The waitress quickly sat the food bill on the table, and then picked up a few bills from beneath Nicolae’s trembling fingers, and covered the remaining cash with Nicolae’s napkin.
“Count it out for me, would you?”
The waitress stooped beside Nicolae and whispered, “You have over a thousand dollars here...” She took a hundred and put it on her tray. “Now put that back in your wallet and put your wallet away. I’ll be back with your change in a moment.”
“This is for you, dear,” Steliana said, sliding another hundred dollar bill over to her. “And you keep the change from the bill.”
“I can’t—“
“Yes, you can. And, you will,” Steliana said. She then nodded in Nicolae’s direction, “I think he has a crush on you.” The waitress laughed and then helped Nicolae to his feet. “You two be very careful going home, and please don’t carry so much cash on you. There are people here who would really hurt you for that kind of money.” Nicolae kissed the waitress on the cheek. “You are just so nice.” He blew out a sigh. “You remind me so much of our Anna.” He dabbed at his eyes, and then coughed as if clearing a horrible knot of remembrance. “I’m looking forward to you and your boyfriend to come by, did I say that correctly, my English you know. Royalty teaches you things but...”
“Your English is perfect,” the waitress said as she lightly swept her hand across his shoulder and back.
Nicolae then held out a trembling hand to Steliana. “Allow me, my dear,” and he held her hand as she stood.
Across the street Jack whistled. “You see the fucking money he has in his wallet. “Fuck me. He was advertising it.”
“Fuck no. I was looking at the young bitch sitting with him... Damn, son, that’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen...” Roland answered, then more to himself he continued, “I’m going to break me off a piece of that.” Jack gave Roland a look that said he had shit for brains and bad eyes.
“Fuck, man, you didn’t hit the pipe did you?”
“Nah, man,” Roland defended. He stopped, “Where’d the young babe go?”
Jack looked at him and started to say something but then thought better of it and looked back at the old man. “This is going to be fuckin’
easy.”
They watched as the elderly couple strolled across the patio. Then Nicolae stopped and glanced at the two guys and uttered something, which made Steliana take pause before walking a little faster.
“Fuck,” Jack mumbled, “they might be on to us.” Jack bounced off the car and slapped Roland on the chest. “Let’s go, then it’s in and out, mofo, in and out,” and they followed the elderly couple who walked somewhat hastily hand in hand down the street.
Nicolae stopped at the bottom of the steps and drew in a deep breath.
He dabbed beads of perspiration from his forehead and looked up at the entrance. “Five steps never looked so high.”
“After the walk we just had,” Steliana said. “Those piddly steps are nothing.” She then took his arm and helped him up the steps.
At the door, Nicolae hesitated before unlocking it. “I think we were being followed.”
“I think so, too, dear, let’s hurry inside before something happens.” He nodded and said, “Yes, yes, before something happens,” and shoved the key into the lock and gently pushed the door open.
She paused for a moment, “I’m still thinking about that lovely waitress, do you think she’ll stop by?”
“One can hope.” He stepped out of the way and let Steliana in. He said, “Don’t forget the alarm, dear.”
As Jack and Roland were rushing toward the steps, Steliana pressed in the code, disarming the alarm, and as Nicolae pushed on the door to close it, Jack banged through, slamming into Nicolae.
Nicolae crashed down with a loud yelp and before Steliana could turn to help her husband, Roland slammed into her, hurling her into the front room parlor. She crashed down on a center table with a loud scream that silenced before she hit the floor.
“Shut the fucking door, Ro,” Jack yelled out, and then kicked Nicolae in the face. “Lay still you old fuck or I’ll kick you back to wherever you came from.”
“Steliana,” Nicolae moaned. “Please don’t hurt her. She’s not well.”
“From the looks of it grandpa, you ain’t looking so fucking hot yourself,” said Jack with a laugh and a grin that made Nicolae lay back.
“Much better grandpa. Make this easy for us, okay.” Roland, laughing as he bolted the front door, shouted, “Fucking grandma must weight twenty pounds. I barely laid a fucking hand on her and she went flying.”
“Please,” Nicolae pleaded, “take what you want and leave.”
“What I want is the hot bitch that was with you at dinner,” Jordan shouted, “where the fuck is she!”
Nicolae sat up and Jack dropped down and slammed his fist in Nicolae’s face, two, three times, before the old man fell back, unconscious.
“Some people just don’t fucking listen,” said Jack as he reached inside Nicolae’s jacket and pulled out his wallet. He flipped the wallet opened and whistled, “Mother-fucker is carrying nothing but hundred dollar bills. Must be a couple thousand here.”
“Fucking foreigners. They come over here and take our shit and they’re rich to begin with,” Roland said, looking down at Nicolae. “Damned, dude, you did your Ranger thang on his ass. He’s out cold.” Jack stood, ripped the money out and shoved it in his jean pocket, and then rummaged through the wallet, pulling out a handful of credit cards.
“Man, this old fuck is loaded.” He threw the wallet over to Roland, laughing.
“You’re into wallets. Tuck that baby in your pocket, you might like it.”
“Fuckin’ A, man, looks like real leather,” Roland said while he looked through the wallet, dropping papers and cards, and then shoved it into his back pocket. “Nothin’ like a souvenir to take home.” Jack looked into what looked to be formal dining room and eyed a huge pair of silver candlesticks and a set of gold flatware. He whistled, then snapped at Roland, “Check in on granny, then let’s spread out. As old as this fucking place is they have to have shit we can hock.” As Roland turned toward the parlor, Nicolae grabbed at his ankle.