Chapter 4: Surprise!

A week later, Eileen indeed started to train as a bartender/barista at the Tulips, under Lisa’s tutoring. Lisa would go to FLETC in a month, enough time for her to give Eileen a thorough introduction. Tess arranged for a reliable cabbie to pick Eileen up after closing time, and often, Lisa would come along, to join Tess in her bed. There were few romantic feelings between the two women, but they liked each other and were compatible under the sheets. With Lisa leaving soon, there was a definitive expiration date, but both appreciated a fuck buddy to bridge the time until fall.

Tess’s internship at Maureen’s firm was also coming to an end, but she still had no idea what to do in the fall. She had lined up some teaching at her dojo for the fall, to keep the rust away, and Felix had grudgingly agreed to let Tess work a few low level details for Di Rosa Security, but she was still undecided on her real goals.

A week after Lisa had left for Glynco and FLETC, on a Saturday morning, Tess was having her first coffee of the day. Eileen was still asleep after coming home from work at the Tulips at 2:30, and Tess had the kitchen to herself, when the land line phone rang. That was a rare occurrence, and Tess readied herself to tear into the expected telemarketer on the other end, but the voice sounded official.

“Ms. Teresa M. Di Rosa?”

“Speaking,” Tess answered guardedly.

“I am Supervisory Special Agent Tomlinson. I am in charge of our Glynco training facility. You applied for a spot with the Secret Service?”

“Yes, I did, Sir,” Tess answered seriously.

“Well, one of the Secret Service trainees washed out yesterday, a female, and we went through the list of female applicants. Your name popped up first. Could you be here by Sunday evening?”

Tess thought briefly. She would have to make a few urgent phone calls, but it was doable.

“Yes, Sir,” she answered. “How long would I be away, Sir? Just to arrange for somebody to look after the house?”

“The CITP takes 13 weeks, but you’ll be entering a week late. The SATC in Laurel is 18 weeks. Weekend leave will not be granted, except for family emergencies. You’re single?”

“Yes, Sir, and not looking.”

“Another thing, the woman you’ll replace could not cope with rooming with an openly homosexual trainee. Will that cause problems?”

“She was rooming with Lisa Miles?” Tess asked with a laugh.

“You know her?”

“She’s from Philly, too, Sir. I gave her self defense lessons. And no, no problems. I am cool with her.”

“Okay, try to arrive here by 3 p.m. on Sunday, so we can process you in. Any questions?”

“No, Sir. I’ll be there.”

“Well, have a good day,” Tomlinson ended the call. Tess’s “You, too, Sir” was already met by the call sign. Tess sat back on her chair.

“Well, fuck me!”

“You what!” Joey’s voice came over the phone. “I thought you got accepted at Cornell. What got into you?”

“Cool your jets, Joey! There are several reasons, but the most important is that I don’t want to spend my life behind a desk. I know this is short notice, but somebody flunked, and I can get the slot immediately. You met Eileen. She’s going to be the caretaker while I’m gone, but it would be great if you and Deirdre could come maybe twice a month to check. Maureen and Numi will also help.”

“You are sure that’s what you want?”

“Nope, but it sounds exciting and something completely different from what everybody expects of me.”

“What does Uncle Vince say to this?”

“He told me it’s my choice to make. Felix is okay with it, too. I guess he sees me taking over DRS in a few years with what I’ll learn.”

“How long are you going to be away?”

“Seven months, give or take. Twelve weeks in Glynco, and then eighteen weeks in Laurel.”

“Oh, man, when you shake things up, you sure shake them up. Should we come down tonight?”

“Would you? I’d like that.”

“Naw, I was offering and hoping you’d brush me off. Duh!”

Tess had to smile. Of course, Joey would not miss the chance to see her before she disappeared for a half year and more.

“Let’s do it then. I’ll get Maureen and Numi to join us with Carla.”

Carla DiRosa was the daughter Joey and Maureen had conceived during the dark time after Deirdre had left Philadelphia and Joey, and she was a little sunshine. Tess would probably miss her the most.

“You do that. We can be there by four. That okay? You’ve got the time to cook?”

“Nope, but I’ll ring the Blue Grotto for pizza delivery.”

“Okay, Tess, see you later. I have to tell Deirdre. Bye!”

“Bye, Joey! Drive safely!”

Much later, Tess would remember that evening as the end of her youth. The next time they would gather, Tess would be a federal agent. Joey and Deirdre would also soon defend their dissertations, and they already had offers for their first post-doctoral jobs from the Sloan Kettering Institute in New York, allowing them at least monthly visits to see Maureen and Carla. With Tess gone, too, and not likely to get assigned to the Philadelphia office anytime soon, they would probably rent out the house at some point. Felix was now running a very complex business conglomerate, and his easygoing days were definitely over. Gabbie was head nurse and in charge of the ICU now and barely spent time with patients anymore. Numi was trying for the next career step at the PPD, aiming for a lieutenancy, and Maureen was now firmly embedded in the leadership of the firm and getting rich in the bargain.