Last Dance, Last Chance

his mother, leaving his children to be cared for by Caroline Rago or Carmine and his wife. Lena welcomed him with open arms and was once again completely supportive. Except for her fury over Tami, she had always given him whatever he wanted. Apparently, he had managed to explain that to her satisfaction, somehow managing to blame Debbie for all their marital problems.
     
    Everyone in Debbie’s neighborhood knew that she was very ill, but no one beyond her own family and, of course, Anthony’s family knew about the poisoning diagnosis. Shelly Palombaro lived around the corner from the Pignataros’ house. Although she and Debbie had never known each other very well, Shelly felt an urgent sense of needing to visit Debbie. Her son, D.J., had always been welcome in Debbie’s house and was friendly with Ralph. Her daughter, Aly, was Lauren’s age, and both girls were avid gymnasts.
    “I kept calling and calling Anthony,” Shelly said, “and asking him if I could go see Debbie, but he kept putting me off. I asked him what was wrong with her, and he told me this complicated medical thing and then said she had a rare virus infection of her nervous system.”
    For all Shelly knew about diagnoses, maybe Debbie did have that, but she was still determined to visit her. She left messages on Carmine Rago’s phone and on Caroline’s phone for Debbie. Finally, she went to the hospital, although Anthony obviously didn’t want her there.
    “I talked to the guard, and he let me in,” Shelly said, “and I finally got to see Deb—and I couldn’t believe how she looked.”
    Shelly was a hairdresser, and she had cut Anthony’s hair before, but she didn’t particularly like him—there was such an arrogance about him. Now, Debbie was telling her how good he’d been about coming to see her and standing by her, and it made Shelly’s stomach go flip-flop. Like Rose, she had her suspicions.
    One day Lena Pignataro came along with Anthony to visit Debbie. Caroline and Carmine Rago were there, too. They had planned to discuss what would be best for the children: who would take care of them until Debbie recovered.
    It was the first time that Lena had come to visit Debbie since her hospitalization, and she swept into the room with an angry look on her face.
    “What’s wrong, Lena?” Debbie asked, puzzled.
    “You know what’s wrong,” Lena said. “You did this to yourself, and you’re trying to frame my son.”
    “If you believe that,” Debbie said weakly, “get out of here.”
    Lena turned to Caroline and shouted, “You can have the kids!”
    “Well, I’ll gladly take the kids,” Caroline said.
    Lena left, with Anthony scampering along behind her. Caroline just stood there, stunned, but Carmine’s hands gripped the arms of the chair he sat in. Carmine Rago was a huge man, a man that Chuck Craven described as “someone Pat and I never wanted to have mad at us… never.”
    Carmine’s hands alone would dwarf a football, but like many big men he was rarely angry at anybody. Now his face flushed dark red, and the veins stood out in his forehead.
    Anthony had coaxed his mother to come back into the room and she stood with a pinched look around her mouth, staring at her paralyzed daughter-in-law with disapproval.
    “My brother will take care of the kids,” Debbie said quietly to Lena.
    Whatever Anthony might have told Lena, she seemed completely brainwashed. “You know what you did—you liar,” she spat at Debbie, who was completely confused by her attitude. “Liar!”
    On this day, however, Lena Pignataro went too far. Carmine erupted before either Debbie or Caroline could respond. He picked up a table and threw it across the room as easily as if it were a pillow. His language was not polite as he ordered Lena to get out. It wasn’t something that anyone ever expected Carmine to do, but he was worried sick about his sister.
    “She left,” Debbie said, “and Anthony just trailed after her. He had to stay on her good side.”
    A phalanx of nurses came running down the hall at the sound of the shouting and the clackety-clack of the table hitting the wall.
    It was as if all their family relationships were turning inside out. It was unbelievable, and Debbie felt as though she were living inside a soap opera.
    Lena didn’t come back, but Anthony came back—again and again. He kept reminding Debbie that they were a team and that they must not let anyone on the outside try to split them up. As long as we stick