Voyagers!: Tunnels of despair and tracks of hope

Chapter 14

Before entering the bakery, Phineas peeked inside. A man leaned over the counter with his hand on his cheek and strummed his fingers impatiently. His pale gaze was riveted on the woman behind the counter. Francesca wore a simple blue dress, and her hair tied away from her face with a matching ribbon. Her nose was streaked with flour and her apron stained with chocolate and vanilla creams. The man was Thomas McGuiness, the manipulative bomb maker from the last time zone.

Thomas seemed to be doing all the talking and Francesca was agitated. Phineas entered. The bells jangled and she glanced up very grateful for the distraction. Phineas tipped his hat and smiled, talking in his most friendly, booming tone of voice.

"Good afternoon, Miss! I couldn't help but come in after I got a whiff of the fine baked goods you have on display. I hear Cardinelli's is the best bakery this side of the Bowery." He looked at Thomas – who was definitely not pleased to have his conversation interrupted.

"And good day to you too, sir. Have you made a decision?" Phineas asked Thomas.

"Excuse me?"

"Did you pick out a pastry?"

"Frannie here was just wrapping up me raisin bread, weren't ya, sweets?"

Francesca smiled shyly at Phineas and tossed Thomas his bread. Thomas bowed. "You'll put that on my tab, I'm sure."

"Sure, Tom."

Thomas reached over and clutched her chin. "Now don't forget about the plans for tomorrow evening, you remember where, right?" His jaw tightened.

Francesca played with the colorful rope and twirled it over and over. His grip was unrelenting. "Of course I do. I'll be there."

"Good, because you know how important this is to the cause." He lowered his hand.

Phineas held back from interfering. It was on the tip of his tongue to tell him that the only cause he served was his own. Thomas caught Phineas glaring and approached, unafraid of his stature.

"Ya have a problem, Norsky?"

"Not at all, Mickey Finn. I just wondered what cause you served. If it's worthwhile, I might consider joining. I'm all for a good cause." Phineas answered coolly.

Thomas didn't trust this young man. He didn't appear to be a cop, but a distinct air of authority emanated from him. Thomas headed for the doorway.

"No thanks, we've got all the members we need, don't we, Frannie?"

Francesca would not look him in the eye and gripped the edges of the counter. "Yes, Tom." She whispered.

Thomas laughed and left the bakery. Phineas shrugged and pointed back with his thumb.

"Who's that odd fish?"

Phineas felt his heart leap to his throat when she stared at him. The painful events of the last time zone were still fresh in mind.

"Nobody, just a bossy Irishman that likes to come around and talk about change for Manhattan. He has some wild ideas, but nobody pays him any attention. I'm sorry for that, what can I get you?"

Phineas stared at the pastries and finally spotted Jeffrey's Cannoli. "I'll take two of these, they look tasty."

"Mama makes them the best. Good choice, sir."

"You can call me Phineas."

"Ahh, like the huckster Phineas Barnum who runs the circus." She giggled. "I'm Francesca, not 'Frannie' like that man insists on calling me."

Phineas found himself staring at her more longingly than he should've. "Believe me, you certainly don't look like a Frannie."

Francesca blushed and wrapped his desserts. "Are you from around here? I've never seen you before."

"I'm new, just blew in with my ward. His father was a good friend of mine and I've raised him since his parents died."

Francesca's face saddened. "I'm sorry for that. What a noble thing you're doing. I can imagine how thankful he is to have you. You've made quite a sacrifice."

Phineas grinned modestly. "Yeah, I guess, but I've grown attached, so has he. We're like a real family. So, uh, seriously, what is that man's cause about?"

Francesca came around the counter with a clean rag and bucket to wipe the display windows. She shook her head disgruntled.

"The only cause he wants to help is his own! Il furfante marcio!" She mumbled a series of insults in Italian then realized her audience did not understand. "I'm sorry, Phineas, I said he's a rotten scoundrel. He likes to influence people, but not necessarily for good. You know?"

"Yes, I know the type. Does he bother you a lot?"

Francesca lowered her rags and stood up. She folded her arms defiant and cocked an eyebrow. "You sure do ask lots of questions. Perhaps you are a cop?"

Phineas inched closer, but she held her ground. "And if I were? Is something shady going on here?" He decided to put his spur of the moment plan into action. "I could be an investigator, I could just be a drifter, but I heard there's a lot of unrest over the Subway construction. Wouldn't you agree?"

Francesca lost her nerve and returned to cleaning. "There will always be opposition no matter what the situation. That's the way the world turns. Does it personally matter to you?"

"Um, no, but, I know it matters to you. Everyone around here knows of poor widow Cardinelli and her beautiful, grieving daughter. A daughter who could possibly be bent on taking vengeance for her father's death caused by these heartless fat cats who run the city. People like Thomas help make that happen."

Phineas was being unrelenting again. Susan had been right when she said get to Francesca earlier in the year as opposed to later. Her mind was not made up and she was still very wary of the Un-Gilded faction. It was near perfect timing to step in and soften her. He watched her eyes light up tearfully as she stooped down to her bucket. She stayed upon her knees and cried. Phineas knelt beside her.

~Oo~

Jeffrey hated the sights and smells of the butcher shop, there were no freezers and neatly packaged cold cuts and salads–just huge slabs of bloody, dead, animals hanging off hooks and ready to be chopped up and wrapped for dinner. He made a vow to be more of a vegetable eater, though he figured he'd always love cheeseburgers. He spotted Dominic hanging his apron, ready to take a break. He called out to his bosses he was making a 'cake run.' Jeffrey casually waited out front, plucking his suspenders. Just as Dominic passed, Jeffrey pretended to bump into him and he fell backwards on his bottom. He stared up pained.

"Oww! Mister, is that how you treat customers?"

Dominic crouched beside him. "Hey kid, you gotta watch where you're going, ya know? You didn't see me coming out the door? I'm halfway to seven feet."

Jeffrey 'nursed' his arm and Dominic helped him up. He stared closely at him. "Hey, do I know you? I feel like I've seen ya before, but then again, there's a lot of dark-haired mop heads running around."

Jeffrey found it fascinating that in some voyages, despite being in an altered time zone, people they'd met had a sense of déjà vu. He figured it was yet another mystery of time mechanics he'd learn at Voyager School.

Jeffrey shrugged. "Maybe I just have that kind of face. I'm mostly Italian but I'm new around here and a little lost. My uncle and me got separated, but I'm not sure where he went?" Jeffrey poked his head around and looked at the streets.

"New, huh? It's easy to get lost in Manhattan, but not on this block. What's he look like? You?"

Jeffrey stifled a giggle. "Not at all, he's uh, a blonde, a strong Norwegian type, blue eyes. A real handsome guy. Ya can't miss him." Jeffrey rubbed it in.

Dominic stared in the direction of the bakery. "Are you sure he's your uncle? Where'd ya see him last?"

Jeffrey suddenly remembered Phineas didn't say he was an 'uncle.' "Well, he's my guardian, I think of him like an uncle. I don't know, we went past some alleyway. He, uh, he said he was gonna stop at the bakery."

Dominic grew concerned. "Really? Why?"

"Why not? I wanted a Cannoli. But he also said he had to meet widow Cardinelli's daughter. He heard some nice things about her and my uncle never passes up meeting a pretty lady." Jeffrey was almost afraid to meet Dominic's gaze, which turned more jealous by the minute.

"So, what's his name?" He cracked his knuckles.

"Phineas Bogg."

Dominic chuckled. "What kind of name is that?"

Jeffrey rolled his eyes. "I don't know–his? My name's Jeffrey Jones, what's yours?"

"Dominic Montanari. Say, who does your uncle think he is coming to this street out of nowhere and trying to make nice with Francesca?"

Jeffrey stood up taller. "Why not? Is she married? He don't mess with married women."

Dominic kicked a loose piece of rubbish into the curb. "No, she ain't married, but she will be soon! I mean, a woman like her is bound to find a husband."

Jeffrey stayed in step with Dominic as they walked away.

"Sure, all pretty women do, I guess. But what do I know?" As Jeffrey observed the growing tension in Dominic's face he suddenly had an idea that'd push him straight into Francesca's arms. "My uncle and I travel all over, he's no stranger to women, he's never left them crying at the altar or anything, but boy does Bogg love women."

Dominic glanced down alarmed. "You saying he's a rake? A womanizer?"

Jeffrey looked up innocently. "I wouldn't go that far. He's young, women swoon over him too and he has all the time in the world to settle down!" Jeffrey wanted to rub it in more. "He confides in me. I know deep down Bogg wants to settle; he's just waiting for that really special woman to come along. It's funny, he even said that this could be the day he meets her. But he says that in every city we land in…I mean travel to."

Dominic crossed his arms annoyed. "Bogg sounds like a real character that enjoys fooling around with women's hearts. He's not the best influence for ya, kid."

Jeffrey waved his hand. "Ah, me and Bogg are like night and day sometimes. My parents taught me all the right values and stuff, Bogg just is who he is. He's not hurting anyone."

They stopped before the green bakery awning. "Only the women who fall in love with him. He's a heart-breaker, whether he knows it or not. One day, it'll catch up to him. You can tell him that."

Jeffrey nodded and then casually peeked through the window. Aww no! Not now, Bogg! He thought.

Inside, Phineas held a crying Francesca in a close embrace. He quickly looked up at Dominic.

"Hey, uh, I like your advice. Do you got a little time, maybe you can show me a good place we can rent a room?" He tugged his arm.

It was no use for Jeffrey to block Dominic's view. He watched dismayed while the butcher's face tightened with anger and hurt as he waltzed inside. Phineas and Francesca pulled apart slowly. Jeffrey stood behind Dominic and threw up his hands with the shake of his head. Phineas stepped away and put his hat on his head. He cleared his throat.

"I…I know how hard it is to…to lose someone you love. You keep being strong, Francesca, um, and thank you for the dinner invitation, if your mother doesn't mind, I'd love to come."

Francesca grinned happily. "Oh, of course not! We always overcook anyway. I hope you like shrimp and eggplant. It's actually a great little recipe I threw together a while back."

"Sounds good."

"So you're giving out freebies before I even open my restaurant." Dominic finally spoke up. "I was planning on that being one of the big meals."

Francesca gazed at him startled. "Dominic! I didn't hear you come in!"

"The bells were loud enough."

"This…this is Phineas…"

"Phineas Bogg, I know, I just met your nephew Jeffrey." He pointed back. "He has a lot of interesting things to say, thinks highly of ya."

Phineas crept to the doorway and grasped Jeffrey's arm. "Ya, he looks up to me all right. I told him not too."

"That was smart of you." Dominic said and Phineas held back a retort.

Dominic turned to Francesca. "I came to see if you or your ma needed any boxes unloaded or things."

"No, it's okay, Dom, we're fine." She hurried behind the counter, and waved at Jeffrey.

"Is he your ward, Phineas? He's so cute! Reminds me of my little cousin, Matteo. Same curls! I'm Francesca, and I would love to have you and Bogg join me and mama for dinner tonight."

Jeffrey swallowed hard; trying to expel the last gruesome vision of her out of his mind. She'd mentioned Matteo then. It was heartbreaking. Right now she looked lovely and best of all – alive. "Sure, I'd like that. Bogg, we should go…now."

"See you boys tonight around six!" She called after them.

Jeffrey stormed ahead of Phineas, trying to keep from exploding in frustration. Phineas caught up to him.

"Jeffrey, it wasn't what it looked like. She was crying and I helped her up. She grabbed me and we hugged. She needed that, really."

Jeffrey swung around. "I know what would've happened if we'd come any later, a nice lip-lock!"

"Jeff! Give me more credit! What did you tell that man anyway? He could've killed me with the daggers in his eyes!"

"I told him the truth, Bogg."

"What truth?"

"That we travel and you meet a lot of women, but it's never too serious. You try not to break any hearts, and one day you'll settle down."

Phineas almost staggered backward. "What? Fine way to ruin a man's reputation, kid!"

"Is that the same reputation you had when I met you? Look, I did it on purpose. You said to make it like you were on the prowl. I wanted him to get jealous. Looks like it worked!"

Phineas ran a hand through his hair. "If he gets too upset he won't make a move on her. I can tell he thinks the world of her, and she's a great woman, intelligent and fiery…" Phineas nearly sighed, thinking of her sensual boldness and how she held her hand on her full hip. Jeffrey snapped his fingers between his eyes.

"Snap out of it! The mission is to get them together, not you and her. Remember?"

"You don't think I know that? Dominic needs a boot print in his tuba! In fact…" Phineas eyes lit up and he smiled.

"I got it! I know just the thing!"

"What? What have you got this time?"

Phineas rubbed his hands together. "If Dominic wants her so bad, he can have her, but he'll have to fight for her."

"Bogg! I wouldn't want to meet either of you guys in a dark alley. You'll cream each other!"

"I'll go easy on him, but just enough so he could prove his love for her. You have to make sure that Francesca sees it. Once she realizes the extent of Dominic's devotion she'll go right to him. It's a cinch, trust me. I've done this before."

Jeffrey grabbed the Cannoli box from under Phineas' arm and opened it.

"Wow, this looks great!" He took a large bite. "Delicious! More harebrained schemes, but I like this one! Now can we find a place to room?"

Phineas patted his back as they strolled along. "Sure, and we'll plan about tomorrow evening. That's gonna be harder."

"Why?"

"I have a feeling tomorrow night they'll finally recruit Francesca. She has to go to those Chelsea Piers to meet them, but she won't be alone."