These Foolish Things (29 page)

Ty looked puzzled. “But Liz, I’ve had it thoroughly cleaned.”

“No.”

“I had the den repainted. The furniture’s been replaced and
I had someone clean and repair my rug.”

“No.”

Ty was exasperated. “Do you want me to have an exorcist come
in?”

Liz shook her head. “No.”

“Well, do you expect me to move in here?” He didn’t sound
pleased with the idea.

“No.”

“Okay, I give. What’s your idea?”

Liz pulled him close and kissed the top of his head. “Can’t
we find a new place together? Something that hasn’t been exclusively yours or
mine.”

Caught off guard, Ty froze, his lips close enough that Liz
inhaled his breath. “What just happened?” His tone was a mixture of confusion
and passion.

Liz tried to wriggle out from under him. “On second thought,
I do need clothes. And a towel. Now. Move.” She pushed at Ty, who obligingly
rolled out of the way. Liz kissed him quickly as she slid out of bed and ran
for the bathroom.

While she was lathering up, Liz heard Ty enter the bathroom.
He stuck his arm into the shower, towel in hand. “I hear and obey. Now, what’s
going on and do you want me to scrub your back for you?”

“Tempting, but no thank you,” she replied. “In fact, you may
want to leave. Now.”

Liz jumped as the shower curtain was suddenly shoved aside
and she found herself face to face with an angry Ty.

“What the hell, Liz? One minute you’re seducing me and the
next you’re throwing me out. I want to know what’s going on!”

Liz reached a soapy hand towards Ty’s face. “I’m sorry, but
I forgot that I have company coming,” she glanced at his watch. “Almost any
time now.”

“So who’s coming?” Ty was thoroughly confused now.

Liz turned off the water and stepped out of the shower,
taking the towel from Ty. “As far as you’re concerned, it’s a lynch mob.”

Ty understood immediately. “Millie, John, Joey…”

“Jenna, Angie and Vinnie.” Liz finished. “Sure you want to
stay?”

She was amused to watch Ty’s internal debate. Of course,
being Ty, it didn’t last long. He looked up and smiled.

“Just two questions. Am I dressed right and does Angie know
where you keep your big knife?”

Liz stopped combing her hair long enough to smile and nod.
“You’re dressed fine. As for Angie, you’re almost certainly screwed, Big Boy.” She
pushed Ty out the door. “Be with you in a minute.”

When she got to her bedroom, Liz noticed that although most
of her clothes were still missing, Ty had returned the dress she’d worn on
their one and only date.

She stared, then blinked to keep from crying. He loved her.
Still.

Liz shed her towel, slipped into underwear and with a tiny
pause, pulled on the dress.

“Here. Zippers are my duty.” Ty spoke quietly as he zipped
up her dress, just like the first time. Liz hadn’t heard him come up behind
her. When he finished, Ty turned Liz to face him. She twined her arms around
his neck and looked into his eyes.

“Really going back to the beginning, huh?” Liz asked.

“Why not? In my mind’s eye, I always see you in this dress,
unzipped and barefoot chasing Beanie down the street. Not a bad mental picture.”
Ty smiled down into her face, eyes warm and dancing. Liz noted how the life was
back in them and silently gave thanks.

Ty kissed her forehead. “Any interest in hanging out with a
dry drunk? Just for the next 40 or 50 years.”

Liz looked at him, almost afraid that she’d put the wrong
spin on his words. Ty returned her gaze.

“Marry me, Liz.”

“I will.” The words came automatically.

Liz had thought highly of Ty’s kissing skills, but this
time, he outdid himself. They weren’t aware of anything around them until…

“Ahem.”

They broke off their kiss to discover Angela DiNardo glaring
at them, arms crossed, back straight. Angie was as angry as Liz had ever seen
her.

“Angie, Hi!” Liz’s voice sounded breathy and distracted. She
and Ty were still clinched. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

Ty made a quick recovery. “Angie! I’m glad to see you.”

Angie was angry. “Well, I can’t say the same, Tyrone.” She
turned towards the stairs. “Vincenzo! I need a big knife!”

Ty looked sharply at Liz. “She’s kidding, right?”

“No, she’s not.”

“Vinnie!” Angie yelled again. “Where’s that knife?”

Liz hastily separated herself from Ty. “No, Angie. You don’t
understand! Vinnie!” Liz yelled. “Forget the knife!”

Angie was not amused. She pointed her finger at Ty. “You! I
warned you about breaking our girl’s heart and you didn’t listen. Two months
we’ve been worried sick, wondering if she’d ever get over you. Two months
praying and lighting candles…”

“I guess I’m an answer to a prayer, then.” Ty interrupted.

“Don’t be a smartass!” Angie snapped. “Two months! Where
have you been all this time while my Lizabetta is crying her heart out over you
and making herself sick? And you have the nerve to stand here and paw her like
she’s some kind of slut? You’ve got a lot to answer for and you’ll do it right
now. I want the big knife.”

Liz stepped in between Angie and Ty. Unconsciously, she
spread her arms out. “Look, Angie, you don’t know the whole story…”

“I don’t care.” Angie bit off the words. “Get out of my way.”

“No.” The firmness in Liz’s refusal surprised even her. “I
left him, remember? You want to get to him, you’ve got to go through me.” Liz
straightened up. “And I’m not letting you through. Mama Angie, I love you and I
respect you, but I love Ty. If you hurt him, you hurt me. Is that what you want?”

Angie was astonished. “Lizabetta! You’ve never talked to me
like this.”

“I’ve never felt like this about anyone,” Liz said with all
the passion she felt. Ty put his arms around her waist and squeeze slightly.
“Not even Joey. You still want the big knife? Fine. You’ll have to use it on me
first.”

Angie looked at Ty. “Did you hear that?”

“Yes, Ma’am. Couldn’t help it.”

The finger came up. “Don’t be flippant with me, Tyrone. I’ll
smack you upside the head.”

“Sorry, Angie.” Ty was contrite, but Liz could hear the underlying
amusement.

“Elizabeth, your guests are here. Vinnie’s unpacking an
antipasto. You go help.” Angela DiNardo was somewhat calmer, but she wasn’t
done yet. “The Kissing Bandit and I are gonna have a little chat. Go.”

Liz opened her mouth to protest, but Angie cut her off with,
“Don’t you sass me or I’ll smack your head.” Liz obeyed and heard her bedroom
door slam shut behind her. Oy vey, thought Liz.

She found Vinnie and Joey in the kitchen unpacking not only
antipasto, but melon with prosciutto and several other dishes.

“Vinnie, I said a salad. A salad. Singular,” Liz kissed
Vinnie on the cheek. “Joey, why didn’t you stop him?”

“Ma smacked me and Jenna told me not to be disrespectful to
my parents.” Liz got a bear hug from Joey. “What’s going on, Liz? Why is Ma so
upset? Where is she?”

Before Liz could answer, Vinnie paused in his labors and
peered at Liz’s face. Frowning, he took her face between his hands and looked
more closely. “You’re glowing,” he said. Vinnie kissed her. “Much better than
last time, eh, Joe?”

Joey stopped to look at Liz’s face. “Pop’s right. You look
like you’ve just been thoroughly…” Liz saw Joey figure it out and heard him
swear under his breath. “That fucking bastard! I’ll kill him.”

“No, you’re not.” Liz blocked Joey’s path out of the
kitchen. “If either you or Rocco raise a hand to him, I’ll kick both of your
sorry asses from here to Key West. Capice?”

Joey still looked like he wanted to push past Liz and head
upstairs, but he stayed in the kitchen. Liz continued.

“Joey, he came for me. Ty is here for me, asking me to give
him a second chance. If you needed one, wouldn’t you want Jenna to give you a
second chance? Think of how you feel about your wife, Joe. I feel the same
about Ty.” Liz paused, watching Joey’s face. “Joe, things are different, okay?
You told him to get help and he did. He’s not the same man he was two months
ago. It’s okay, Joey.” She hugged him and kissed his cheek. Joey hugged her
back. Liz looked at Vinnie and smiled. Vinnie was smiling, too.

“All right. Let me see if I can stave off any assassinations
from the living room gang. That is, if there’s anything left of Ty by the time
Angie gets done with him.” With that, Liz headed out towards the living room.
Two furry blurs bolted by Liz and fled in terror for the safety of upstairs. In
pursuit was a determined toddler. Liz intercepted Vincent Joseph DiNardo and
scooped him up.

He looked at Liz, a huge smile on his face. “Kitties!” announced
Little Vinnie.

“Yup. Those were kitties and you’ve probably seen the last
of them for today.” Liz said. “Where’s Mumma?”

Little Vinnie pointed towards the living room and Liz
carried him in that direction where Jenna, John and Millie sat in the middle of
what looked like a toy factory explosion. She shook her head at the sight.

“Guess I don’t need to tell you to make yourselves at home.
Mrs. DiNardo,” Liz took on a mock severe tone. “Haven’t we warned you about
Salem’s leash laws? Next time, he goes to the pound.” Liz handed Little Vinnie
to his mother.

Millie was looking hard at Liz, suspicion all over her face.
“You didn’t open the door. I had to let everyone in.”

Liz looked back at her. “I was getting dressed.”

Millie arched an eyebrow. “Nice dress. Kind of fancy for a
backyard barbecue, isn’t it, Liz?”

Liz folded her arms and shrugged. “I didn’t have anything
else.”

“Where’d the second kitten come from, Liz? Last time I
checked, you only had Dodger.”

“Got a do-it-yourself cloning kit from an infomercial. It
was a lot cheaper than buying another kitten from Corey. All you need is a
little kitten spit and you’re in business. His name’s Norton, by the way.”

Millie ignored the humor. “There’s a car just like Ty’s
parked out front and it appears to be full of clothes just like yours.”

Liz remained cool. “And now you know why I only had this to
wear. Someone broke in while I was in the shower. I guess the thief didn’t like
periwinkle blue.”

Millie was still undeterred. “For someone who’s been
suffering badly from a broken heart, you look pretty chipper right now.”

John chimed in, “She looks like she just got extremely
well…”

“Not in front of the baby, John!” Jenna yelped.

Liz shrugged again. “In the words of Abraham Lincoln, folks
are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

Millie said nothing, but Liz could see the mental wheels
turning. Jenna held up the “In Need of Good Home” sign, keeping it away from
her destructive son. “Liz, what’s this?”

“It’s a joke to go with Norton. Furry face and a hard luck
story.”

“So Ty has a beard now?” Millie asked innocently.

“He did, but he shaved, AW DAMMIT!” Liz had walked right
into Millie’s trap.

“Lizabetta! Language!” from the kitchen.

“Sorry, Angie!” Liz threw up her hands. “Yeah. Ty showed up
this morning. We talked…”

Millie snickered. “Looking at your face, I’ll bet that’s not
all you did.”

Liz ignored her. “Anyway, the bottom line is that we’re
getting back together.”

The three adults regarded her silently. Their emotions
ranged from disbelief and bewilderment to frustration and anger at Liz’s
apparent folly.

Millie asked quietly, trying to keep control, “Why?”

“Because we love each other too much to be apart,” Ty
answered, stealing up behind Liz and encircling her waist with his arms. He
kissed the side of Liz’s face. “Two months of misery was about all either of us
could take.”

Ty smiled at Millie, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. Liz
prayed that she wasn’t going to have to choose between her love and her friend.

“I’m sorry I missed your wedding, Millie and John.
Congratulations. We’d be disappointed if you missed ours,” Ty very casually
dropped the bomb.

Millie shot a startled look at Liz. “You’re getting married?”

Liz nodded. She felt Ty’s grip tighten, lending her support.
“It’s a shotgun wedding. Ty says he’s pregnant.”

It took a minute, but people started to laugh. Millie hugged
Ty, whispering something Liz couldn’t hear, but it made him relax and return
the embrace. “Wait a minute.” Angie spoke and the room fell silent. “Where’s
the ring?” She looked at Ty. “I don’t see a ring on that girl’s finger and let
me tell you, Tyrone, you’d better give her a good one.”

Liz held up her hands. “So, we’ll take care of that later.”

Angie was adamant. “I refuse to believe the Kissing Bandit
here is serious until I see a ring.” The others nodded their agreement.

“C’mon you guys. This is supposed to be a private, intimate
moment between my fiancé,” Liz savored the phrase, “and me. We don’t need an
audience.”

“Wrong!” Millie contradicted. “My engagement was public.
It’s payback time, Gardner. I want to see this happen.”

Liz smiled back at her, “Up yours, Mrs. Reynolds.”

Ty handed Little Vinnie to his grandmother and reached into
his pocket. Liz felt her chest getting tight.

Ty knelt before Liz and with a smile that was almost shy, he
deftly thumbed open the box. Taking Liz’s left hand, Ty kissed it, then said as
he slid a ring onto her finger. “It would give me tremendous honor and lifelong
pleasure if you, Elizabeth Duer Gardner, would be my wife.”

Liz was dumbfounded. The emerald cut blue diamond ring they
had seen on their first date was now on her hand. It sparkled in its platinum
setting, the smaller blue-white diamonds adding their own glints.

“I don’t know what to say.”

Ty was looking in surprise at the ring. “I thought it was
going to have to be sized.” He looked up into Liz’s eyes. “I guess it was meant
to be yours.”