CSI:NY Part 8
Chapter Eight
It was the Monday before Thanksgiving, and Danny Messer was thankful that the dorms didn't close over the holiday weekend, and for his boyfriend, Don.
"I know its part of your agreement that you can't communicate with lawbreakers, but would you like to have dinner with your mom, tell her how your life's going?"
"I didn't think of that. You're a genius! Maybe arrange for off-peak dinner at the restaurant...Join me? You have a right to be there."
"Why don't you and your mom talk for a while, I'll come after you've ordered, give you a half-hour to explain things."
"Sounds like a plan, how about the last day of classes?"
"Mama, I know it’s been a while, but...there were some terms I had to agree to. I was reminded a few days ago that those terms didn't apply to you, so would you join me for dinner on the 10th? My treat. I want you to meet someone."
"I would have appreciated a note saying you weren't dead, but who am I to complain, you got out. You've settled down? Good, I was worried about you. As for dinner, that sounds nice. Where and what time?"
"That's still unknown, I'll send you a note in a couple days, OK?"
Bella Messer arrived at the front door of the restaurant in her Sunday best, a St John suit she'd gotten at a consignment store. She fit right in, at least until she grabbed her youngest in a hug.
"Danny! It's so good to see you. You look healthy, but a bit thin. Are you eating enough?"
"I'm fine, Mama. I have a dorm with room and board at school, and I work here part-time, so I get leftovers sometimes. Come on, sit down with me. There’s a lot to say. But first, isn't Dad gonna find out where you are?"
"I told him a friend from high school had come in from Albany and wanted me to meet her for dinner. He has leftover lasagne with microwave settings attached."
Relieved, Danny pulled out her chair for her.
After they'd sat down with their menus, and decided what they wanted to eat, she started in on the questions.
"When do I meet your girlfriend? Tell me about her."
Fidgeting, Danny answered, "Mama, he's joining us soon."
Her mouth fell open, then she gathered herself, "I suspected, but...it was dangerous for you at home. Tell me about him?"
"He's a senior. We met when I bumped into him the first week of school, where I dropped my ID, which he was nice enough to return. His dad was appointed recently to the committee that got me the scholarship, and he doesn’t like the idea much, but his mom and younger sisters know and are OK with it. We were friends that became more. He said he'd be by at 5, so any minute now."
"Sounds like a keeper, if he's willing to go against his father," she smirked slyly, "Is he handsome?"
Seeing Don over her shoulder, he said, "You can make your own opinion in a minute. Don, caro, this is my mother, Bella Messer. Mama, this is Donald Flack, Jr."
"Ma'am. It's great to meet you. I can see where he gets his manners and eyes."
"Well aren't you a charmer! And call me Mama, Danny tells me you call your mother, Ma, so something similar. Oh, here comes the waiter, better sit down."
The dinner, as a whole, went really well. Don and Bella got on like a house on fire. She had a grace that was rare to find in her situation, both financial and emotionally. She'd started her BA in Education, but Louis had come along by accident, and she had to stop school.
"You really need to meet my Ma. I hate to put it this way, but, she works as a social worker at a women's shelter. She could help."
"Thank you, Donny. If you could have her find me something in Staten Island, a support group or something. Danny, send it to Aunt Ruth, she'll give it to me, she's wanted me out for years." Changing tack, she asked, "So what are you doing for the holidays if you can't come to the house?"
"I was thinking of asking Cousin Helen if I could crash with her on Long Island from the end of exams until New Year's Eve. Its not too far out, Don, so you could catch the train and spend the day without tipping off your dad."
Exams went well, and both felt they'd done pretty well, though both were a bit worried about the English class, as the professor, or his TA, didn't appreciate their views on the works. They'd done all the work, and Devon and Lenny had come to see their points as interesting, so there was some hope.
"See you in a few days? I won't be able to even call you until the 27th, probably, but I'll miss you every minute."
"Ditto. Dream of me?"
"Always."
It was the Monday before Thanksgiving, and Danny Messer was thankful that the dorms didn't close over the holiday weekend, and for his boyfriend, Don.
"I know its part of your agreement that you can't communicate with lawbreakers, but would you like to have dinner with your mom, tell her how your life's going?"
"I didn't think of that. You're a genius! Maybe arrange for off-peak dinner at the restaurant...Join me? You have a right to be there."
"Why don't you and your mom talk for a while, I'll come after you've ordered, give you a half-hour to explain things."
"Sounds like a plan, how about the last day of classes?"
"Mama, I know it’s been a while, but...there were some terms I had to agree to. I was reminded a few days ago that those terms didn't apply to you, so would you join me for dinner on the 10th? My treat. I want you to meet someone."
"I would have appreciated a note saying you weren't dead, but who am I to complain, you got out. You've settled down? Good, I was worried about you. As for dinner, that sounds nice. Where and what time?"
"That's still unknown, I'll send you a note in a couple days, OK?"
Bella Messer arrived at the front door of the restaurant in her Sunday best, a St John suit she'd gotten at a consignment store. She fit right in, at least until she grabbed her youngest in a hug.
"Danny! It's so good to see you. You look healthy, but a bit thin. Are you eating enough?"
"I'm fine, Mama. I have a dorm with room and board at school, and I work here part-time, so I get leftovers sometimes. Come on, sit down with me. There’s a lot to say. But first, isn't Dad gonna find out where you are?"
"I told him a friend from high school had come in from Albany and wanted me to meet her for dinner. He has leftover lasagne with microwave settings attached."
Relieved, Danny pulled out her chair for her.
After they'd sat down with their menus, and decided what they wanted to eat, she started in on the questions.
"When do I meet your girlfriend? Tell me about her."
Fidgeting, Danny answered, "Mama, he's joining us soon."
Her mouth fell open, then she gathered herself, "I suspected, but...it was dangerous for you at home. Tell me about him?"
"He's a senior. We met when I bumped into him the first week of school, where I dropped my ID, which he was nice enough to return. His dad was appointed recently to the committee that got me the scholarship, and he doesn’t like the idea much, but his mom and younger sisters know and are OK with it. We were friends that became more. He said he'd be by at 5, so any minute now."
"Sounds like a keeper, if he's willing to go against his father," she smirked slyly, "Is he handsome?"
Seeing Don over her shoulder, he said, "You can make your own opinion in a minute. Don, caro, this is my mother, Bella Messer. Mama, this is Donald Flack, Jr."
"Ma'am. It's great to meet you. I can see where he gets his manners and eyes."
"Well aren't you a charmer! And call me Mama, Danny tells me you call your mother, Ma, so something similar. Oh, here comes the waiter, better sit down."
The dinner, as a whole, went really well. Don and Bella got on like a house on fire. She had a grace that was rare to find in her situation, both financial and emotionally. She'd started her BA in Education, but Louis had come along by accident, and she had to stop school.
"You really need to meet my Ma. I hate to put it this way, but, she works as a social worker at a women's shelter. She could help."
"Thank you, Donny. If you could have her find me something in Staten Island, a support group or something. Danny, send it to Aunt Ruth, she'll give it to me, she's wanted me out for years." Changing tack, she asked, "So what are you doing for the holidays if you can't come to the house?"
"I was thinking of asking Cousin Helen if I could crash with her on Long Island from the end of exams until New Year's Eve. Its not too far out, Don, so you could catch the train and spend the day without tipping off your dad."
Exams went well, and both felt they'd done pretty well, though both were a bit worried about the English class, as the professor, or his TA, didn't appreciate their views on the works. They'd done all the work, and Devon and Lenny had come to see their points as interesting, so there was some hope.
"See you in a few days? I won't be able to even call you until the 27th, probably, but I'll miss you every minute."
"Ditto. Dream of me?"
"Always."