Actor's Birthday
Actor's natal day arrived cold, damp and raining. There was no mission scheduled so it was a good day to sit by a warm fire with a pipe and a good book. The Warden was in his office working on the never-ending pile of papers he had. Chief was holed up in his room upstairs working on some project of his own. And Goniff and Casino were playing poker quietly for once. Teresa had come downstairs and was banging pots and pans in the kitchen.
Wanting another cup of coffee, Actor got up and went to the kitchen. To his surprise, Teresa grabbed him, turned him around and marched him right back out with orders to 'stay the hell out of my kitchen' loudly enough to garner laughter from the three men downstairs. He stood at the swinging door long enough for a hand to appear through a little opening with a fresh cup of coffee. Garrison was watching him laughing as he walked past the open office door. He settled back in his chair, sipping coffee and tried to recall what he had seen in the brief moment he was inside the kitchen. There were mixing bowls. Flour seemed to be everywhere. He recalled a bottle of milk and a bowl of eggs. He reached the easy conclusion she was making a cake. The last person to bake a birthday cake for him had been his mother, and that was way too many years ago. Enough of this. If he was not careful he might get sentimental over it. Not a good thing for the consummate confidence man.
Lunchtime rolled around and a tray of sandwich fixings appeared on the table. It would appear they were on their own. If any of them wanted something, a hand would appear around the door with the requested item.
It was early afternoon when Terry emerged from her lair and picked up the phone. "Hey, Gallagher, you got any chocolate liqueur? Good, I need some. Okay. Thanks." She disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a canning jar. "Goniff, I know it's raining, but would you be a sweetheart and go to the Fox for me?"
"Sure, Love," agreed the Cockney brightly.
"I need two fingers worth," she said as she handed him the jar. She looked at the con man. "You better like chocolate."
"Oh I do," he assured her quickly.
"Hey, Babe," said Casino. "Anything with liquor in it is good."
"That is liqueur not liquor," corrected the Italian.
"Whatever, it's still alcohol." Casino reached in his pocket for money. "Hey, Limey, seein' as you're goin' to the bar, bring me back a pint of bourbon."
Garrison appeared at his door. "I don't recall hearing anyone asking my permission for him to leave."
"Oh, give over, Craig," shot back Terry. "You know you'd'a said yes."
Craig reached in his pocket and pulled out some money, peeling a couple bills off and holding them out to the pickpocket. "While you're at it, bring me a pint of bourbon too."
"Wot do I look like, a bleedin' delivery man?" asked Goniff.
Four voices replied 'yes' at the same time.
Later that evening, the table was set and the men took their seats. Actor was placed on the end opposite Garrison. He waited for the meal to be brought out with the anticipation he might get a decent portion this time. Terry came out of the kitchen carrying the roasting pan with pot holders and set it on trivets in front of her brother and the men. She disappeared back into the kitchen. Actor stared as the men all dug into the pan and filled their plates. As usual, he could not reach it and nobody offered to dish any up for him.
"Hey!" the con man protested loudly in a somewhat higher octave than his normal voice. "It is my birthday dinner. I should at least be able to have some of it!"
The four men stopped and looked at him silently. About that time the swinging door opened and Terry backed out carrying a china platter with a vegetable serving bowl full of chicken, vegetables and mushroom sauce. She placed it in front of the con man.
"Is that enough, Caro?" she asked.
Actor looked at the bowl of food and then up at Teresa sideways. She tilted her head and gave him a teasing grin. The others started laughing, happy they had actually pulled one on the Italian. He still was not used to being teased. To cover his embarrassment, he picked up his knife and fork and began cutting a piece of chicken.
Terry popped back into the kitchen and returned with her plate of food. She sat on the side next to Actor. As she settled into her place, she reached a hand stealthily under the table and patted the con man's knee, knowing he was covering his embarrassment.
His eyes tilted toward her. "Thank you, Cara," he said quietly.
"You are most welcome," she replied. "Just don't forget to save room for dessert."
After the main course was finished, Terry and Chief removed the dirty dishes. He came back out with clean dessert plates and a bottle of decent brandy. The bottle was passed and drinks were poured. A few minutes later, Terry appeared carrying a large layer cake dripping with chocolate icing. A single candle was burning in the center of the top. She set it in front of the man.
Craig raised his glass. "To Actor." They all touched glasses.
Then Actor raised his glass. "To Teresa for this wonderful meal and this beautiful cake."
The con man and the girl touched glasses.
"Just blow the damn candle out and cut the cake," groused Casino. "You know why there's only one candle?
"I am sure you are going to tell me," replied the Italian drolly.
"Well at your age, if she put all them candles in that frosting with the liquor, you'd burn the place down."
Actor looked at the safecracker sourly.
"Casino," said Terry slowly. "You better watch yourself there. It's his cake and he may decide not to give you any."
That brought more laughs. Actor blew out the candle to a rousing chorus of "Happy Birthday." Terry was surprised at how well the four male voices harmonized. She had never heard them all sing before. Actor cut the cake and looked at the inside with delight. It was two layers of white cake with a Bavarian crème filling, the outside covered with chocolate icing.
"Kind of like a chocolate éclair," explained Terry. She knew the con man had a fondness for éclairs as he always shared one with her.
There were five complements to her baking. Craig looked at his sister with a frown. "I'd like to know how you can make something like this with a war on and rationing?"
Terry looked at him nonchalantly. "You just have to know how to access the black market in London."
GGGGG
That night Actor lay down in bed and tried to get comfortable. His head hit the pillow and encountered a hard object underneath. With a frown, he sat up and turned the lamp on. Reaching under the pillow, he pulled out a rectangular object wrapped in brown paper and tied with twine. Now he sat on the edge of the bed and opened the bow. Inside the wrapping was a silver, obviously antique, flask. He judged it to be very early 1800's. It had been cleaned and polished. Not something that should have been done, but it was beautiful.
A piece of paper fluttered to the floor. He picked it up to read it.
Buon Compleanno, Mio Caro. I know I'm not supposed to clean it, but I wanted it to be usable. Hope you like it.
Il tuo Teresa
P.S. It's not hot!
Actor chuckled. He sobered, running fingers lightly over the patterned side of the flask. Care had obviously gone into the choosing and preparing of this gift. He continued to sit there, rather surprised at the warm feeling evoked by the thoughtfulness of the young woman. It was humorously ironic he had bought her an antique silver piece for her birthday present also. He stood the flask up on the night table beside his clock. With a last look, he turned the lamp off and slipped back under the covers.
Actor could not find a moment alone with Terry until the next morning when she was doing the breakfast dishes. He walked up behind her and bent around to kiss her cheek. She smiled up at him.
"Grazie mille, Cara," he said quietly. "It is magnificent."
"Can you use it?" she asked worriedly.
"Oh, yes," he replied. "It is already filled with cognac. Where did you find it?" he asked out of curiosity.
"An antique store in London," she replied. "I don't know anything about it, but I liked the engraving on it and I thought it fit you."
"I must study on it more, but it appears to be early 1800's."
"Not a reproduction I hope," said Terry.
"Oh, no," assured Actor, "it is genuine."
"I'm glad you like it," smiled the girl.
"I do very much," assured the con man.
He hesitated a second, then placed a hand on the inside of her upper arm, turning her toward him. She held her soapy hands out to the side as he pulled her to him in a short hug.
"Thank you, Cara," he said.
Terry stared at his back as he walked out of the kitchen, heedless of the water dripping on the floor from her wet hands. "I'll be damned," she whispered to herself. "He's learning."
The Party