Down in the Zero

I stood where I was. She started to run to me, stopped suddenly, charged back to her car. She opened the door, reached behind the back seat, and came out with a big white box in her hands.

'Come on inside,' she said, as soon as she got close. 'I got it.'

I followed her inside. She was wearing her tennis outfit, a white sweatband around her forehead. 'Take a look,' she said, handing me the box.

red knitted waistband and matching collar. The back was blank, a broad expanse of white, just waiting for a billboard. On the front, right over the heart, a name in red script.

Sonny.

'TKO in the first round,' I told her.

She threw me a 'What the hell are you talking about?' look.

'It's just right,' I explained. 'Exactly what the kid needs,' I told her, kissing her just to the side of her mouth. 'You did great. How much was it?'

'Couldn't it be my gift too, Burke? I think it's so great he's going to be doing something…for himself, you know?'

'We'll split it,' I told her. 'How much?'

'Well, it was a rush job. And I really had to stay on their case. I know it's his right size… I got one of his jackets from— '

'How much, Fancy?'

She shifted her feet, like a guilty little girl. 'About three hundred.'

'Jesus!'

'Well, you said— '

'It's okay, girl,' I said, reaching in my pocket. I handed her a yard and a half, thinking she didn't care enough about money but she sure knew other people did. A sweet and classy thing for her to do. For her to feel.

'You really like it?' she asked.

'He'll get pre–orgasmic just putting it on,' I assured her.

'Ummm…'

'Never mind, bitch. You coming to the races?'

'Oh, could I?'

'Sure. Don't you want to see how he likes the jacket?'

'Yes. But I didn't want to— '

'You won't. How about if you keep it with you? Until then? I don't want him to see it up front.'

'Okay. Uh…Burke?'

'What?'

'I got you something too.'

'Fancy…'

'Just wait, all right? Come on out back. To the greenhouse. It'll look better there.' She held out her hand, then pulled me along like a kid wanting to show off a school project. 'Close your eyes and hold out your hand,' she said as soon as we went into the greenhouse. I gave her a look, but went along. 'Not that one,' she said, pushing my left hand away, taking my right. I felt her run her fingers gently over my hand, exploring.

'What are all these little white scars?' she asked. 'Around these two knuckles?'

'I broke it open once.'

'How?'

'I hit a brick wall. Hard.'

'Oh God! Because you were angry?'

'Because I missed— the other guy ducked.'

'Ugh! Well, this will make it look better. Hold still.'

I felt her slip something on my right ring finger, kept my eyes closed as she turned my hand back and forth. 'Look!' she said.

The ring was heavy, a soft, dull silver–gray. Platinum, I guessed. Supporting a fat, glistening diamond set in its center.

'Damn!'

'You like it, honey?'

'I…don't know what to say. It's a monster.'

'Just over two carats. I put a string around your finger while you were asleep.'

'Fancy, something like this must have— '