Home to Italy (14 page)

The morning of the wedding,
Peppi arose early. The ceremony was to take place at noon, so Lucrezia had made him promise to be ready by nine-thirty to give them plenty of time to make the drive to Pescara. By Peppi's reckoning, especially taking into account the way that Lucrezia liked to drive, that would get them to the church a half hour or so early. He would have preferred to arrive just on time, but he supposed it was better to give themselves a little cushion.

Peppi went into the kitchen and made himself some coffee. As he sat at the table with his cup, he nibbled a biscotti while he looked over at the new suit hanging on the bedroom door. Below on the floor sat the box containing his new shoes. The new shirt and tie were already laid out on the bed.

Though he preferred to live simply, Peppi was quite secure financially. Just the same, he let out a sigh at the thought of the money he had spent on the clothes. Lucrezia had taken him to Michele's, the only men's clothing shop in Villa San Giuseppe. The fact that the shop was located in a little out-of-the-way town high in the Abruzzi mountains made it no less expensive. The prices rivalled anything Peppi might have found in Milan. When they walked in together, Lucrezia had beckoned for the owner.

“Michele,” she had announced with great solemnity, “in three weeks I must accompany this man to a wedding in Pescara. I don't wish to be embarrassed, so
per favore,
do
something
with him!”

“Si
,
subito, Signorina!”
said Michele with a quick bow of his head. He turned to Peppi, narrowed his gaze, and looked him up and down like a sculptor inspecting a fresh, unchiseled piece of marble for the first time. He frowned at what he saw, particularly Peppi's shoes. “Turn, please,” he said, shaking his head in disbelief.

Peppi turned around, allowing the tailor to scrutinize his back and shoulders. For a time, Michele stood there, scratching his chin thoughtfully while he assessed the situation. “You brought him in just in time, Signorina Lucrezia,” he said at last. “If he had stayed dressed like this for much longer, the damage might have been irreversible.”

“I agree,” replied Lucrezia, straight-faced. “That's why I brought him to you right away.”

Michele turned and gestured for them to follow. “Please, take him this way,” he told her, leading them to the fitting room. “You are very fortunate. Just this morning I got in some nice new fabrics that would be perfect for a summer suit. I'll get some samples for you to look at while I take his measurements.”

Peppi dutifully stood there in silence while the tailor measured his arms and legs and neck and shoulders. There wasn't much else for him to do for Lucrezia was running the show. She and Michele talked nonstop the whole time, debating the merits of one fabric over another and deciding which styles would look best on Peppi. It was almost as if they were dressing a mannequin. Now and then, though, Lucrezia would look up at Peppi and give him a brief smile before refocusing her attention on the serious business at hand. Peppi could not complain, for it was obvious that she was thoroughly enjoying herself. That had made him feel happy.

After breakfast, Peppi showered and dressed. When he came downstairs from his apartment, Lucrezia was already standing by the car, waiting for him. As always, she was dressed to perfection, but this day she looked softer, more feminine, not so businesslike. Instead of pulling her hair back tightly, she had let it fall down naturally to her shoulders. She wore a simple silk blouse and matching skirt. Lucrezia had that Italian sense of style that gave her a simple but elegant look that stopped men in their tracks.

Peppi gulped when he saw her for he suddenly realized how very out of place he would feel next to her. At seeing him approach, though, she allayed his fears by flashing him a brilliant smile. She lowered her sunglasses to get a better look at him.

“Ciao, bello,”
she said with an approving nod, gesturing for him to turn about so that she could get the whole effect. “Now
that's
more like it.”

“You don't think the slacks fit too tight?” said Peppi.

“This is Italy, Peppi,” she laughed. “Slacks are supposed to fit tight.”

“But I feel like Tom Jones,” sighed Peppi.

“Who?”

“Never mind,” he said. “I'll get used to them.
Andiamo.”

They climbed into the car. As he buckled himself in, Peppi could not help but notice Lucrezia's long slender legs as she revved the engine. He quickly looked away and directed his gaze straight ahead. “Remember, not too fast,” he told her. “I'm an old man, you know.”

“You're not so old,” she replied mischievously. Then she put the car in gear, stepped on the accelerator, and sped away from the house and down the road.

They were on their way.

As Peppi had expected,
they arrived in Pescara well before the start of the wedding. It was a warm, pleasant day with a gentle breeze drifting in off the nearby Adriatic. To pass the time until the ceremony began, Lucrezia suggested that they take a stroll around the piazza outside the church. As they ambled along, chatting about the weather and peeking into the windows of the shops, Peppi realized that there was something very familiar about the place. He stopped suddenly and looked out across the piazza.

“I remember now,” he said, breaking out in a smile.

“Remember what?” asked Lucrezia.

“I raced through this piazza once years ago, your father too. It was during a circuit race. We passed through here at least three or four times. I knew the church looked familiar. I remember because right in front of it I punctured a tire on the last lap and I had to walk my bike to the finish.”

“You're just like my father,” laughed Lucrezia. “How can the two of you remember such things from so long ago?”

“We old cyclists remember everything,” grinned Peppi, “especially races we might have won.”

They walked on until they came to a street vendor selling cold beverages from a little cart with a colorful umbrella overhead. Peppi bought two bottles of lemonade while Lucrezia secured them a free spot on a nearby bench. They sat there for a time in silence, sipping their lemonades while they watched the people come and go.

“Francesco was a cyclist,” Lucrezia said at last.

“I didn't know that,” said Peppi. “Did he race?”

“As much as he could before we were married, but then his business started to take up too much of his time. But still he liked to ride and train as often as he could.”

“Your father must have liked that about him,” said Peppi.

“Yes,” she said with a wistful smile. “He was always trying to get Francesco to ride with him on the weekends. Sometimes I think that the only reason my father gave us his blessing so quickly when we decided to get married was that he wanted someone else in the family to ride his bike with.”

“That's entirely possible,” said Peppi. Then he looked back to the church and saw that the wedding guests were starting to arrive. “Speaking of getting married,” he said with a nod toward the church, “I think it's time for us to go.”

There was still plenty of time before the start of the ceremony when they entered the church. Peppi helped Lucrezia choose a place for them to sit then left her for a few moments. It was his first time in church since Anna's funeral and he thought it would be nice to light a candle for her. He walked to the little alcove on the side aisle of the church where the rows of candles flickered in the dim light. Only two remained that had yet to be lit that day. He took a piece of straw and used it to light one of the two. Then, after tucking a sum of lira that far exceeded the suggested offering into the little metal box, he knelt on one of the two kneelers and began to pray for his wife.

A few moments later, Lucrezia appeared at his side. She took one of the thin pieces of straw, held it into the flame of the candle Peppi had just lit, and used it to light a candle of her own for Francesco. When the candle had flamed to life, she reached into her pocketbook to find some money to put into the offertory box. Peppi, though, reached out to stop her.

“Don't bother,” he whispered, touching her arm, “I put plenty in for both of us.”

Lucrezia nodded her thanks, took her place on the other kneeler, and the two of them bowed their heads in prayer.

“Signor Peppi,
you look wonderful!” exclaimed Loredana, throwing her arms around Peppi's neck.

They were at the reception on a beautiful terrace overlooking the sparkling Adriatic Sea. In the corner a quartet played while the other wedding guests who had already passed through the receiving line sipped their cocktails and nibbled on the antipasti. One and all wore sunglasses for it was a bright, gorgeous day. The air was full of laughter and talk as everyone took turns gazing out at the sundrenched beach below.

“Thank you so much for coming today,” Loredana gushed as she kissed Peppi's cheeks.

“Thank you for inviting me,” said Peppi.

“How could we not invite the man who brought the two of us together?” said Claudio, giving Peppi an embrace of his own. “You're family to us now!”

Embarrassed by all the sudden attention, Peppi gestured to Lucrezia. “This is Lucrezia,” he told them, “a good friend of mine. I couldn't have come today if it weren't for her.”

“Thank you for coming,” said Loredana, “and for bringing Signor Peppi. It means so much to us.”

“It was my pleasure,” said Lucrezia with a genuine smile. “Congratulations to both of you. Your wedding ceremony was beautiful and I just love your gown, Loredana. You have to tell me, was it made by a local designer?”

While Lucrezia and Loredana discussed bridal fashions, Claudio gave Peppi a pat on the shoulder. “Signor Peppi, my wife is right, you look very sharp in that suit,” he said with a nod of admiration, “and what great shoes!”

“I had a little help picking things out,” Peppi admitted.

“From your…friend?” said Claudio, giving Peppi an inquisitive look.

Peppi responded with a shrug.

Claudio leaned closer so that the others wouldn't hear. “She is very beautiful, Signor Peppi,” he said with a knowing smile. “I'm happy for you.”

Peppi blushed. “Oh, it's not what you think,” he said quickly. “At least, not what I think you are thinking.”

“I was only thinking the best,” Claudio assured him. He gave Peppi a conspiratorial wink before turning his attention back to the bride.

Later, after dinner had been served, the quartet gave way to a ten-piece band and the dancing began. Lucrezia and Peppi stayed off to the side at a little table from which they could watch the festivities. Lucrezia gazed pensively out at the dance floor where Loredana and Claudio were taking their first official dance as husband and wife.

“They make a nice couple, don't you think?” said Peppi.

“Very nice,” she agreed. “They're so young and happy and with so much in front of them. It's almost like watching two people being born, if you know what I mean.”

“I never thought of it that way, but I suppose you're right,” said Peppi. “They
are
starting a whole new life, so I guess that it is like being reborn in a way.”

“Strange, isn't it?” she continued. “Life always seems to be beginning then ending then beginning again, all within itself. It keeps changing and it's like we're always happy and sad at the same time.”

“It's hard to feel one if you haven't felt the other,” observed Peppi. “I think a little sadness now and then makes the happier times like these that much sweeter. It's not healthy to be one or the other all the time.”

Peppi paused and looked at her. “I couldn't help noticing some tears in your eyes during the ceremony today,” he said after a moment. “It made me sorry for making you come here today.”

“Nonsense,” said Lucrezia, touching his hand. “You can't pay attention to me at times like these. It happens to me all the time at weddings. I start to think about my own wedding day, wishing I could do it all over again, wishing Francesco were still here, wishing that we had never waited so long to start having children. It all comes out. You must have felt that way at least a little too.”

“I suppose everyone does who has ever been married,” said Peppi. “So you're not sorry you came?”

“Not at all,” she said, smiling. “I've had a wonderful time. But I was a little concerned when you convinced me to go up to communion with you at mass. I haven't taken communion in years and I haven't been to confession either. I thought for sure that the walls were going to start shaking or a lightning bolt was going to fall down from the sky and strike me.”

“No,” chuckled Peppi, “you had nothing to worry about. God doesn't hold grudges—so long as you don't hold one against Him.”

Lucrezia looked back out to the dance floor where the other couples had started to join Loredana and Claudio. “That's the real trick,” she replied. “Isn't it?”

Just then Peppi heard his name being called. He looked over at the dance floor and saw that it was Loredana and Claudio calling to him. They beckoned for him and Lucrezia to join them on the dance floor. Peppi turned nervous eyes to Lucrezia.

“I'm a terrible dancer,” she said with a pained expression. “If you want to dance with me, you'll do it at your own risk.”

Peppi pushed his chair away from the table and stood. “I don't want to disappoint them,” he said, reaching for her hand. Then he guided her to the dance floor amidst the applause of the entire wedding party. Claudio gave a nod to the band leader and the music started once more, a slow melodic waltz.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” asked Lucrezia as Peppi very tentatively took her hand and slipped his arm around her waist. “I really don't know what I'm doing on a dance floor.”

“Don't worry,” Peppi answered. “I'm not so sure of what I'm doing either. Just follow my lead—and try not to step on my new shoes.”

 

Lucrezia and Peppi remained at the reception, dancing and enjoying the music until the time came for Loredana and Claudio to bid farewell to everyone and hurry off to start their honeymoon. As he watched the newlyweds leave in a flurry of hugs and kisses, it occurred to Peppi that the day had passed very quickly. He was glad for not having given in to his initial reluctance to attend the wedding. All in all it had been a wonderful diversion. He was equally gladdened to see that Lucrezia had enjoyed herself as well. Now that it was time to go, he was surprised to find that he felt a little let down, as if inside he wished that the festivities could still go on.

It was well past nightfall by the time he and Lucrezia finally strolled back to the car and started on the way back home.

“It will be very late by the time we reach Villa San Giuseppe,” noted Lucrezia as she started the car. “Do you think my parents will be up waiting for me when I get home?” she added playfully.

“It's entirely possible,” chuckled Peppi. “They still worry about you, you know.”

“Ayyy, I know,” sighed Lucrezia. “Sometimes they act like I'm still sixteen.”

“Well, you certainly dance like you're still sixteen,” said Peppi with a smile.

“Hah!” laughed Lucrezia. “I don't know if that's an insult or a compliment.”

“It's a compliment,” Peppi assured her. “Believe me, it's a compliment.”

The remark seemed to please Lucrezia and a look of satisfaction came over her face as she steered the car toward the autostrada. With a sly grin she stepped hard on the accelerator, jolting both of them back against their seats.

“Hey!” said Peppi through his laughter. “If I had wanted to fly I would have gone to the airport.”

“But think of all the fun you would have missed,” she said.

The engine gave a roar and the car sped off down the highway.

An hour or so into their journey home, the two decided to stop for coffee. It was nighttime and there was still quite a long drive ahead of them, so it seemed like a good idea to take a little break along the way. Lucrezia pulled off the highway into a little
paese
named Montevecchio. It was a quiet village, but there were still plenty of people strolling about when the two walked onto the piazza. When Lucrezia spied an empty table at a little outdoor café, they hurried over to take it before someone else had the chance. Before long a waiter brought them coffee and the pair settled back to watch the people come and go.

“What a beautiful night,” noted Peppi as he sipped his coffee.

“Yes,” Lucrezia agreed, “it was a beautiful day as well. I'm happy things worked out so nicely for your friends.”

“They're your friends now too,” said Peppi.

Lucrezia smiled and looked out across the piazza. There a group of teenage boys were sitting on the stairs to the church, talking and laughing among themselves as they ogled the girls passing by.

“Sometimes it seems to me like yesterday when I was one of those girls walking past all the boys back home,” she mused.

“Well,” chuckled Peppi, “I have to admit that for me it seems a little bit longer than yesterday when I was one of those boys on the steps.”

“I can just imagine you back then”—she laughed—“and my father too!”

“Ah, now those were the days,” Peppi sighed.

Peppi and Lucrezia stayed there for quite a while just talking and enjoying the evening. It was late and they had far to drive, but neither seemed in a hurry to leave. Finally, though, when Lucrezia let out a little yawn, Peppi knew that it was time for them to get on their way.

Lucrezia yawned again when they returned to the car.
“Dio,
I'm so tired all of a sudden.”

“Then why don't you let me drive the rest of the way,” offered Peppi, reaching for the keys in her hand.

“Do you know how?” said Lucrezia, holding them back. “I've never seen you on anything but a bicycle.”

Peppi gave her a look of indignation. “Trust me, Signorina,” he told her. “I'm a very good driver. We may not get there as fast as we would if you were behind the wheel, but we'll get there.”

Lucrezia gave him a skeptical look of her own, but finally relinquished the keys.

“Well, just don't run into anything,” she told him, trying her best to stifle another a yawn, “or I'll be very upset.”

“I'll be careful,” he promised.

Lucrezia said very little once they were on their way, and after a while said nothing at all. Peppi wondered what it was that had suddenly made her so quiet until he looked over and saw that she had simply nodded off to sleep. She was out like a light. Peppi laughed to himself and started to reach over to turn on the radio. Some quiet music, he thought, would keep him company for the rest of the ride. Just then, however, Lucrezia gave a soft moan, curled her legs up, and to his surprise leaned over and rested her head against his shoulder. No longer able to move his arm, for he feared that to do so might wake her, Peppi forgot all about the radio. Instead, he just smiled and hummed a song to himself while Lucrezia slept and the two drew nearer and nearer to home.