Another Shot: A Modern-Day Ruth and Boaz Story Read Online Free PDF Page A

only one around here who didn't. Anyway, when we went out to Arizona, Vinny was the only one who ever called me that anymore, and little by little he just sort of switched over to calling me Laura. I don't know why I didn't want them saying Lulu. It just struck me wrong when I heard it. It's just because it's a happy name, I think."
    "I thought it sounded good when people said it. It fits you."
    "It used to."
    "It will again one day."
    She put her hand on mine. "I don't think I would have made it without you."
    "It should be me who's saying that," I said. "You have all these people over here who love you. I talked to Dominic today, and he seemed willing to bend over backwards to make me comfortable at Nic's."
    "You talked to Dominic? I was wondering when you'd meet him. He was such a precious little boy."
    Laura knew he was wealthy, and I'd told her about his business, but she still had no concept of just how successful he was. She hadn't been to the store, and I could tell she wasn't processing the magnitude of his empire.
    "I told him I wanted to learn how to take pictures and he said his love for photography was what got him started."
    "Yeah he's been doing that since he was a little boy. His mom used to mail me some of the pictures he took. I think he won some kind of art show or a scholarship, or maybe both. He's always been special."
    "It's nice to have people like him on your side, you know. He told me he'd do anything to make me comfortable there. You're lucky to have people like that looking out for you." I said.
    "What did he tell you?"
    "He just said for me to stay working for Nic's no matter what—said if I got tired of working in receiving he'd give me another job. He seemed like he wanted to do whatever to make me comfortable."
    She smiled at me and squeezed my hand. "It makes my heart happy that you've found favor with him. This makes me feel so much better about dragging you all the way out here."
    "I came because I wanted to."
    "I know, sweetheart, but you knew deep down I needed you, and it makes me feel good that my people are looking after you."
    "I needed you just as much," I said.
    She smiled at me but I could tell she thought I was just being nice.
    "I'm glad they're looking after me too," I said. "It's a good feeling, having someone like him on your side. He just seems so powerful, like he could help you out of any bind you got yourself in."
    "He is powerful," she said. "He was powerful before the business, so you can just imagine."
    "How so?" I asked.
    "What do you mean?"
    "You said he was powerful before he started his business. How so?"
    "Oh, because he comes from a powerful family," she said. "The Russos are well-known around here. His dad is Big Willy Russo, and his uncles and granddad go way back on these streets."
    I wanted to come out and ask if these guys were part of the mafia, but everything she'd said was vague enough that I'd feel bad if I assumed that and was wrong. I was in the middle of having that thought when someone pounded on the door with a heavy fist. I gasped and jumped and Laura looked at me with a curious expression as to who it could be. I shrugged.
    "It must have been someone with the code because we didn't buzz anyone up," she said.
    The mafia thoughts were fresh in my mind and I tried to think if I'd done anything wrong.
    "I got a delivery for you Ms. Laura," we heard a man's voice say as we approached the door.
    I reached up and peered through the peephole. "It's Mike," I said, reaching for the doorknob.
    "Hi ya Ms. Rae," he said coming to stand in the apartment. "Ms. Laura," he added, nodding at her. "Sorry your box got a little wet," he said, handing me the package he was holding. The box was barely wet, like it had just started to sprinkle outside.
    He took off his fedora and checked the top of it, smiling when he saw that it was barely wet too. He extended the hat in the direction of the box I was holding. "I knew the delivery guy down stairs. He was about to ring you,