“Hey,” she said.
“Good morning.”
“How long have you been awake?”
Mick didn’t respond to that. To him it was a throwaway question not worthanswering. Roz was used to that abouthim too.
“How long are you going to be intown?” she asked him.
Apparently that question was worthy,because he answered her. “Just today,”he said. “I still have business to takecare of overseas.”
Roz felt defeated. She placed her hand on his thick chest andbegan rubbing him.
Mick saw the sadness in hereyes. “I’ll try to come back home assoon as I can,” he said. “But youunderstand. Don’t you, Rosalind?”
Sometimes it felt like manipulationto Roz. As if he wanted her to buy intoa lifestyle that might have been wonderful for him, but did little forher. She didn’t respond to thatquestion. She had one of her own. “Why did you come back,” she said, “if youhave to go right back again?”
“It was in my plans all along,” Micksaid.
“Really? Based on what?”
“You,” Mick said.
Roz stared at him. “Me? In what way?” she asked.
“I knew I was coming home for mybaby’s birthday,” Mick said.
Roz beamed when he referred to herthat way. And the idea that he’d comeall the way back from Rome just to celebrate her birthday with her, touched herdeeply. Getting Mick to say anythingromantic, let alone do something romantic, was a hard road to hoe.
“Happy birthday, Rosalind,” he said,and then he leaned over and kissed her. She wanted more. She desperatelywanted more. But Mick, instead, slappedher on her bare behind. “Get up,” he said. “Come and see what I got you for your birthday.”
Roz, excited, gladly got out ofbed. “Could I at least take a shower first?”clean freak Roz asked.
“Take one afterwards. Throw on some clothes and come on.”
Roz was so excited as she threw on apair of shorts and a jersey. But he didgive her a moment to at least pee, and she quickly brushed her teeth while shewas in the bathroom. Then he took herhand and escorted her out of their bedroom, and down the staircase.
She wondered what in the world itcould be. But when she realized he wasleading her outside, she was pretty certain she knew what it was. A car? Another brand new car? What kindthis time, she wondered excitedly.
“Happy birthday!” the group said inunison as soon as the double doors of the home opened, and Mick and Roz steppedout.
Roz was shocked. Not only were Joey and the twins out there towish her a happy birthday, but Teddy and his girlfriend Nikki were out there,too, as was Gloria Sinatra, all the way from Apple Valley, Florida. She noticed that Glo’s beau Oz Drakos wasn’tthere, but she also knew the couple had been having their share of problemstoo. Gloria didn’t exactly confide inRoz when it came to her love life, but she confided in her half-brother andbest friend Teddy, and Teddy told Roz it wasn’t going great. Oz, he said, needed to put that womanizinglife down, and step up.
But Roz was so blown away by thegesture, that she just went to Gloria and hugged her neck. “When did you get here?” she asked her.
“Early this morning. I almost thought I was going to be late. But I wasn’t. Thank God.”
“I’m so glad you came.” Then Roz looked at Teddy and Nikki too. “I’mso glad all of you came. I wasn’texpecting anything like this.”
“You deserve it, Mrs. Sinatra,” Nikkisaid.
“Thank you, Nikki,” Roz responded,squeezing her wrist. Then she looked atMick. “Is this the gift? All of you guys coming together for me? If it is, I’m happy!”
“Don’t say that, Ma,” Joey said. “Youalways let Pop off the hook too easily. The least he can do is give you a gift on your birthday, geez!”
Roz felt a little embarrassed. She knew everybody in the family felt as ifshe wasn’t hard enough on Mick and his ways.
But Mick didn’t seem to agree withhis son’s assessment. He gave Joey ahard, cold look.
“Or not,” Joey said and moved out ofhis father’s reach. All of Mick’schildren laughed, including the twins.
“Come on,” Mick said, taking Roz’shand again, “let me show you your gift.”
Roz was certain it had to be a newcar as she, Mick, and their children all made their way toward thegarages. But when Roz saw the drapingover something so tall and big it looked like it could be a house, she wasconfused. What on earth could thatbe, she wondered. “Is that it?” sheasked.
Mick smiled as if he was proud ofhimself. “That’s it,” he said.
“But what is it?”
Two of the household staff werewaiting beside the massive whatever it was, and Mick nodded for them todo the unveiling. And they unveiled it.
But as the draping came down, Roz wasstunned. The children were too. It was an RV. An RV? Roz, and the children,looked at Mick.
Mick was beaming with pride. “Love it?” he asked her. They all looked at it again.
“What do they call these things?” Rozasked.
“A mobile home,” Teddy said, shockedtoo.
“You got Ma a mobile home?” Joeyasked, frowning. “I don’t know if yourealize this, Pop,” he said, “but Ma tends more toward champagne and caviartaste. Her name might begin with an Rand an O, but it ain’t Roseanne!”
The grown children laughed, knowinghe was referring to Roseanne Barr.
Even Jackie was shaking her head, andDuke said it out loud. “Daddy, youbought Mommy a house on wheels?”
“It’s not a house on wheels. Nor isit a mobile home. The term is RV. It’s a recreational vehicle.”
“On wheels,” Jackie said, backing upher twin brother.
“What do you think, Ma?” Gloria askedRoz.
Roz was still trying to wrap herbrain around it. “I’m not quite sure,”she said. She looked at Mick. “What’s the plan? We’re going to do a trip across America in anRV?”
“Ha!” Teddy said. “Only if it’s a daytrip the way Dad’s rarely around.”
“That’s what I was thinking!” Joey said.
Mick smiled even greater, and then helaughed. “I’m just shitting with you,Roz. You know I wouldn’t be caught deadin an RV!”
They were all too
