The Planning
It wasn't until after breakfast when Terry finally got Actor alone in the library. He eyed her smile with caution. She was up to something and that usually was not good.
"Your dossier, if there is any part of it that isn't a fabrication, says your birthday is the first of March. Come clean. Is it, Caro?" she asked, parking herself directly in front of him.
He thought about not answering her for a second, not sure what she might do with the information. Finally, he nodded. "Yes it is, Cara. Why?"
"Well, I was thinking, if we aren't in some godforsaken place on the continent that day, I would like to make you a birthday dinner." He looked a little surprised at the idea and started to open his mouth. Terry interrupted him. "And don't tell me it is not necessary. Just tell me what you would like me to make you." If he says pork chops I may kill him before his birthday, thought the woman. Goniff, Casino and Craig loved her pork chops. Chief just never said what he liked and ate everything.
Actor thought about it. He had not celebrated his birthday in many years. After his mother died, he had never had anyone who knew or was interested until Teresa. He remembered birthdays at the villa when his mother put out a feast of all his favorites dishes and a cake beyond belief, at least to a young boy. Actor eyed the young woman in front of him warily. She was watching him with anticipation. There was no sign she was mocking him. Almost self consciously he said quietly, "That chicken dish you make with the roasted vegetables and the mushroom cream sauce."
Terry stared at him. That was an everyday hot dish she had learned from her mother. She cocked her head, "You never eat much of it."
He gave her a frustrated look. "You never place it on the table close enough for me to get any of it before the others gobble it up like pigs."
Terry burst out laughing. "Actor, I promise you I will make Mushroom Chicken especially for you on your birthday. And I will try to remember to set the pan closer to you whenever I make it from now on."
She stopped laughing and studied the con man's face. It struck her that she had just made a crack in the armor he kept around him. He was looking away from her, definitely self-conscious now.
Very quietly, he said, "It is very nice of you, Teresa, to think of me and to want to do something special for me." He put on a smile and looked at her as though he were being polite.
Terry realized for the space of that one little sentence, she had seen a glimpse of the real man. The armor was back in place. She treated it a little more casually. "I would assume it didn't get celebrated in stir, except maybe to give you a hard time."
Actor's eyebrows shrugged. He remembered the jeers and taunts from the screws if they found out it was his birthday. It had been even worse from the inmates, almost like having dozens of Casinos sending jabs at him. He shoved that thought away and raised an eyebrow and half a grin at the young woman. "And I overheard the Warden and Christine talking about it being your birthday in March also. However, I did not catch the date. You have no dossier. I have looked for one. So you have me at a disadvantage, Cara." He waited expectantly.
Terry grinned. "Beware the Ides of March."
Actor chuckled. "Why does that not surprise me, Little One?"
"Yeah, I know, me and Julius Caesar," she lamented with humor.
"What is it you would like to do on your birthday?" Actor asked.
Terry thought about it. "I don't know. I know what I don't want to do on my birthday. I don't want to work the bar and I don't want to be on a mission. The first I have some control over. The second, we will have to see, same as you."
"Think about it," urged the con man. "If you do not wish to tell me, tell the Warden and we will see what we can do."
Terry nodded. She stopped and looked up at him. "Actor, how old are you?"
"You know how old I am," he said evasively. The age difference between them bothered him and the fact he was the eldest of the group, ten years older than the Lieutenant.
"I know how old it says you are. . ."
He smiled. "I am fifteen years older than you."
"Eh, that's not so old."
"I'm glad you think so," he said with a laugh. He never understood why it did not seem to bother the woman.
They had just left the library when Garrison called the two into his office. Their immediate thought was some con the Warden had come up with for a mission. They hoped it was a good one. They both liked working a complicated con together. Garrison was sitting behind his desk, chewing on his cheek. Now that did not bode well. The two watched warily.
"The guys and I would like to take you two somewhere for dinner and a little party. Kind of celebrate the two birthdays together in between them," he broached. "Anywhere in particular you would like to go?"
Actor eyed the lieutenant back. "I know where I would like to take Teresa, but I am afraid it is more than you can afford, especially with all of us."
"You're right, I can't afford the Savoy," said Garrison sarcastically.
Terry was just staring at the Italian in surprise.
Actor had a grin on his face. "Am I not correct in matters such as this, is it not the choice of the person whose birthday it is as to where it takes place? If so, then I choose the Savoy. And as it is much more than you can afford, I will pay for it."
"You can't pay for your own party!" insisted Craig. "Besides, the guys and I decided we want to do this."
"It is our first birthday party for Teresa. I believe she deserves someplace a little more elegant than the Doves. Don't you? May I suggest you and the others contribute what is comfortable for you and I will make up the difference? I can afford it."
"Oh, no," objected Terry firmly before Craig could react. "It is both our birthdays so if you are going to make up the difference, then I am paying half of that."
Garrison stared at his sister. "You can't afford the Savoy." Terry gave him an exasperated look. His eyebrows raised. "You can afford it?"
Terry smiled and nodded. "You really should talk to Actor. He gives very sound investment advice."
Garrison was stunned. A few months ago, Terry had been flat broke. He had allowed her to have a share in whatever take the cons pulled in off a mission. Apparently that was a lot more than what he originally thought it would be. Maybe he shouldn't have allowed them to include her. On his salary, he couldn't afford to support her too and she did not make enough tending bar to cover the rent on the flat. He had to admit he was denying knowledge of her income when he did not look too closely at the bits of money that were being added to his private fund in the safe. It had paid back the amount he had spent on her with a small bit of interest.
Craig looked between the two insincerely smiling faces. "All right, set it up," he capitulated.
"Thank you, Warden."
"Thank you, Craig."
The two turned away and started for the door. Actor said in Italian, "You are not paying for half of this."
"I'm paying for half or I'm not going," shot back the young woman also in Italian.
Garrison watched the two leave, argument escalating in volume, about what he could not understand. This had turned more into a surprise to him than one to them. His sister was not only becoming wealthy from the takes, she also seemed to be becoming friends with his second. Thinking further, Craig had to admit, Terry was being groomed into a very competent confidence woman by the Italian. And what was with Actor wanting to take his sister to an expensive restaurant? He looked at his watch. What had he gotten them into, allowing his sister to stay here with his cons? It was only 9:30, too early for a drink. Sounds of Italian arguing could be heard in the common room. He shook his head and chuckled to himself. Only those two could make an issue out of a party.
GGGGG
Actor's mind dwelt on the birthday dinner Teresa offered him. He was not accustomed to anyone making a fuss over him. He loved the attention of women, but that was a different kind of attention than what Teresa was offering him. The con man was unsure how to accept it.
Actor wandered into the kitchen while Terry was preparing lunch. He stood at the end of the table watching her slice cheese. His fingers lifted a piece from the plate she was adding slices to. She noticed he didn't eat it, but was toying with it instead, a sure sign he was bothered about something. She continued what she was doing, waiting for him to speak in his own good time.
"Teresa," he finally said, "now that we are having a birthday party for both of us, it is not necessary for you to go to the trouble of making a special dinner for me." He said it with nonchalance as though it was of no concern.
There it was. She had almost been waiting for it to come. Terry set the block of cheese and the cutter down, wiped her hands on a towel and turned to the confidence man. "Actor, this is your first birthday outside of stir. It is the first one you can celebrate. I cook dinner for you guys anyway. I would just like to make this one a little special for you."
"I do not wish you to go to a lot of bother," said the con man offhandedly.
Terry shook her head, "Actor, I consider you to be a friend. And anything I do for a friend I do not consider to be a bother. So, My Friend, you will have a birthday dinner whether you like it or not. Okay?"
He looked at the twinkle in her eye and nodded. "Thank you, Teresa."
Terry took a step forward, pushed his arms out of the way and wrapped hers around his waist giving him a quick hard hug before stepping back again.
"Basta," she said with a small grin. "Out. Let me finish getting lunch." Not for the first time, Terry wondered when the last time was anyone had shown the con man any affection.
He found himself in the dining room with a smile on his face. He was touched that she really did wish to do something especially for him. The hug had been a surprise, but a nice one. He looked at the cheese in his hand. It was rolled into a ball. With a shrug, he popped it into his mouth and went back to the common room.
