Say Ye (24 page)

Lorenzo looked out over the city skyline, shadowed and hilly.

“Have hope,” Sophia said.

“Faith and hope? I’m wearing thin on both.”

“All you need to do is say yes, like Lita does. Don’t roll your eyes.” Sophia and Lee smiled, but Lorenzo didn’t. “She says yes to love, to believing the best in people, to trusting what God, or whatever you want to call the unexplainable forces at work in the world, wants her to do.”

“Sorry, Sophia, but that doesn’t work for me. And please don’t tell me Lita hears a voice she thinks is God,” Lee said.

“No, it’s a feeling, though I believe we all have inner voices which guide us, if we listen.” Lee nodded at Sophia’s statement. “Lita’s young, I know, but mostly she has good instincts for what to say yes to. She knows life itself is a miracle.”

“Is there anymore of your delicious cheesecake left?” Lee said. He always changed the subject when he knew he couldn’t win an argument.

“For you, always,” she said taking Lee’s arm.

Lorenzo took a deep breath of the chill air, and followed.

He was the last guest in the house and even Janetta left, gone out for a drive. He waited, but Carlo sat on the living room sofa with Lita while Sophia made a pot of tea in the kitchen. Lorenzo paced, unable to sit still any longer.

“Aren’t you driving Janetta to the airport tomorrow morning?” Carlo asked.

Lorenzo stopped and nodded.

“Shouldn’t you be going? It’s after ten and her flight’s at seven.”

“Like I’ll be able to sleep.”

“You have no one to blame but yourself,” Carlo said as Sophia walked in.

Lita looked at her hands, her little smooth hands. He should be kissing them. He wondered if the gym was open.

“It’s Easter, forgiveness, new beginnings, right?” Sophia said.

Lorenzo almost hugged her. Lita glanced at him. He felt as if he sped down, then up as quickly. He rubbed his forehead and sat next to Lita on the couch. Carlo scowled, leaned back, and crossed his legs. He wouldn’t budge.

“Will you, Lita?” he whispered. Vanilla, warmth, sweetness embraced him.

“What?” She turned to him, so close, inches away.

“Forgive me.”

Carlo snorted. Sophia shushed him.

“Okay,” she whispered.

He grabbed her and kissed her. Such softness, he held on. Lita pushed at him and tried to break away. He couldn’t let go, he needed her to kiss back.

Carlo stood. “Lorenzo, don’t make me throw you out.”

Defeat.

“Goodnight,” Lita said.

She stood and hurried out of the room, steadying herself on the doorjamb on her way. Her steps disappeared upstairs. She didn’t like public displays of affection. He usually agreed, but since he couldn’t get her alone…

“I’ll go check on her,” Sophia said. She walked out.

“You’re pushing it,” Carlo said.

“Six weeks. Then none of you can keep me from her.”

“Don’t threaten me,” Carlo said.

“It’s not, it’s a fact.”

“Don’t be so sure. First, you have to make it all that time without screwing up. Then--”

“I’ll have her to myself.”

“You’re hopeless.”

“Maybe, but Lita’s not.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I don’t need to answer to you.”

“We’re family, whether you like it or not,” Carlo said.

Lorenzo shot him his fake smile and walked out. “Thanks,” he said over his shoulder.

“You’re welcome,” Carlo said.

Lorenzo slammed the front door. Six weeks.

17

On days like today, Lita almost wanted to forget the whole marriage plan and stay with Sophia and Carlo. She and Lorenzo fought earlier. What silly thing had started it this time she couldn’t remember. Then the bridal shop called, claiming they’d fixed her botched order, only to find they’d made another mistake, nearly a quarter of the guests still hadn’t replied and the wedding was only four days away. Of course, she didn’t expect most of those people to reply, as they were just old friends and family Lee insisted she invite. They could all stay away as far as she was concerned. She had a new family and new friends.

“I hope you’ll catch the bouquet,” Lita said with a wink to her friend Joanna. They were in Joanna’s car on their way to the bridal shop to try on their dresses. “And Pete should catch the garter.”

“Thanks for my part,” Joanna said, “but Pete hasn’t asked me yet and I’m not sure I want him to.”

Lita frowned and shrugged.

That night, she leaned on Sophia’s shoulder, sitting in between her and Carlo on the sofa, watching Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers twirl in black and white splendor. Lita sniffled.

“What’s Lorenzo done?” Carlo said.

Lita shook her head. “The movie…it’s beautiful.” She blinked and coughed, trying to combat the tight pressure of unshed tears.

“She’s probably having pre-wedding jitters. Remember how I was?” Sophia said.

Carlo chuckled. “Now you mention it, yes. I’d never seen you cry before and you couldn’t stop. I thought you’d call off the wedding.”

“I almost did.”

“Why?” Lita asked. She wondered why she tried to hide her feelings from Sophia and Carlo—they just knew.

“I knew I loved Carlo, but I was only twenty-two and I knew it would be for the rest of my life. It’s a big step to take. But I said yes and I’m not sorry.”

Carlo stood, bending over to kiss Sophia as he passed. Lita smiled and nodded when he asked if she wanted a cup of tea.

“Is there anything you want to talk about?” Sophia asked.

“I’m fine, really. You’ve done so much for me.”

“It’s been our pleasure.”

Lita looked back at the TV, her mind jumbled with all the questions she had, which would have to go unanswered.

The next evening, Lita went home to have dinner with Celeste. Though Lita loved Uncle Enzo’s, the house now held the unknown promises and worries of her soon-to-be married life. “Is Frankie moving?” Lita asked.

Uncle Enzo was at Vittorio’s. Lita missed Uncle Enzo and Celeste, but it was better for her to be at Sophia and Carlo’s so close to the wedding, especially since she could no longer tell Lorenzo the excuse of not being on birth control. She needed some excuse because she couldn’t admit the truth to Lorenzo: if they kept doing what they had been, she would give in to him, or, rather, give in to her own desires. Her strong feelings frightened her and she was ashamed of her lack of conviction. Yet she didn’t feel she could talk to anyone about something so personal.

“Yes, Frank and Michael leave Sunday to help him move. I’m going to be with Eva at the shop Monday.” Celeste’s usual smile faded.

“I know you’ll miss him. I like Michael’s new girlfriend, don’t you?”

“Yes. He told me what happened last week,” Celeste said, looking at her in the way she had, knowing yet reassuring. Still Lita blushed. “He’s worried about you, or rather Lorenzo’s temper.”

“You know Lorenzo would never hurt me.”

“I believe that, but I believed he would never try to hit a man younger and smaller than himself, my grandson no less.”

Now Celeste had a different look, steely and determined. Lita knew that’s where Celeste’s son Frank got it.

“He didn’t hurt him.” Lita stood and cleared the table.

“He would have.”

“He saw Michael hugging me.”

“I know, but that’s no reason. Friends should be able to show affection, don’t you think? I know Enzo and Lorenzo don’t believe in counseling, but perhaps you should speak to Lorenzo.” Celeste followed Lita to the sink.

“I have. He says things have just been sort of magnified because he had to stay away from me for so long. He says once we’re married he’ll be himself again.”

“Do you agree?” Celeste placed her hand on Lita’s shoulder.

“I trust him.” Lita hunched inward, as if Celeste would be able to read her mind through her touch.

“I suppose you wouldn’t marry him if you didn’t.”

Lita’s tummy hurt. She faced Celeste.

Celeste tilted her head slightly, studying Lita. “Are you well?”

“Fine, maybe I ate too much of your homemade bread.” Lita smiled, though she saw Celeste knew she lied.

“Would you like a cup of mint tea?”

Lita nodded and they finished cleaning up.

Lita’s stomach didn’t feel any better at the rehearsal dinner two nights later. There was so much going on, the rehearsal and all the people were a blur of faces and words, but she went through the motions. Dinner--penne alla Norma, chicken, or steak--smelled delicious, as Nick’s food always did, but she couldn’t eat much. She drank though, foolishly trying to match Lorenzo wine glass for wine glass. Fortunately, he wasn’t drinking much, though she knew it was only so he could have some drinks later at his bachelor party without getting sloppy drunk the night before the wedding. She didn’t want him to have a bachelor party at all; she’d just had a bridal shower, a tea at Sophia’s. Yet she couldn’t win the argument when he asserted Lee would be there, right in the private room at Nick’s, so nothing crazy would happen.

How it happened that Janetta drove her home, she couldn’t remember. Carlo had taken Sophia out for coffee, probably so they could be alone on a date. With Janetta, who had moved back home a few weeks before, and Lita in the house, they didn’t get much time to themselves. It was one more thing Lita felt guilty about.

“How about a nightcap?” Janetta asked as they hung up their coats.

“I don’t know.” Lita headed for the kitchen.

“What do you think Lorenzo’s doing?”

“Okay, just one.” Lita eased into a chair at the kitchen table.

Janetta poured them each a glass of cabernet.

“Salud,” Janetta said before taking a gulp. Lita sipped hers. “Are you sure you want to marry that no-good cousin of mine?”

“I still can’t tell when you’re kidding.”

“You’ll learn. I bet you don’t like this bachelor party happening.”

“Lee will be there.” As Lita rubbed her hand across the table, her engagement ring snagged on the crochet table runner.

“So? Gianni will too. He won’t give up easily.”

“You think he’s planning something?” Slipping her ring off, Lita worked to untangle it. She wished she could do the same for the knots in her stomach.

“I know it.” Janetta leaned against the counter with a superior air.

“What?”

“What do you think?”

“There’s nothing I can do.” Lita slid her ring back on and circled her finger on the top of her glass.

“Bull,” Janetta said as she poured herself more wine.

Lita stared at her. “Are you drunk?”

“Maybe. Do you want to take action or not?”

“What should I do?” Lita asked.

Janetta told her. It was crazy, but somehow Janetta’s plan started to sound good, funny even. Janetta made a call and then they laughed their way upstairs before they walked back to Nick’s.

Lorenzo’s laugh and deep masculine voices echoed from behind the door. Lita’s stomach dropped.

“I can’t do this,” she whispered to Janetta, who nodded and pushed her out into the room.

Lita couldn’t see very well through the half mask she wore and she stumbled before she found her stride. Catcalls and whistles greeted her along with the boom-boom-tap beat of “Still Not a Player.” Lita didn’t appreciate Gianni’s sense of humor. She approached Lorenzo. She could see well enough to recognize him. She crooked her finger at him and he came over to her, smiling his sexy grin, though this turned to a frown as he stood in front of her. More yells and whistles rang out.