“Good. Hear that, guys? She’s off limits. You are sure, right?” Lorenzo said. He tightened his hold on her.
“Since the first time you kissed me. I’ve been waiting for you to catch up.”
“I’m caught,” he said before he kissed her again.
“Thank heaven,” she heard someone say, as if they’d read her thoughts.
Miracles really did happen.
“Yes, thank heaven,” Uncle Enzo echoed as he stood with Lee to hug them both.
8
“We need to talk,” Lee whispered in Lorenzo’s ear as he hugged him.
Lita passed from arm to arm with the congratulatory hugs and kisses from the family. Lorenzo nodded though he’d rather be alone with Lita just then. He went to her where she and Sophia laughed and talked.
“Lee and I forgot to go over a few papers,” he said. “I’ll be back soon.”
She nodded and kissed him. It was criminal to leave her now, but Lee meant what he said. Lorenzo followed him to Uncle Enzo’s office.
Lee stood by Uncle Enzo’s desk, his arms crossed. “I said I didn’t mind if you dated for a while. You said you’d help me convince her to concentrate on finding a career, maybe going back to Jane’s bookstore.”
“I can’t do that. You didn’t see the way she looked at me. If she wants to get a job, that’s fine by me.”
“Right. Do you even want to get married? You haven’t mentioned it for years.”
“I want to marry Lita. It doesn’t have to be right away. Maybe we could live together--”
“What? Man, what was I thinking?” Lee shook his head and leaned over the desk, gripping the edge.
“You want Lita to be happy.”
Lee faced him. “And you’re the only one who will make her happy? Come on.”
“You’ve never really been in love.” Lorenzo agreed with Lee. He wouldn’t make Lita happy, but he didn’t want to admit it, not now. He loved her. He’d waited long enough.
“Maybe not, but I love Lita. I want what’s best for her.”
“She’s an adult. She can make her own choices,” Lorenzo said. And she chose him. He tried to grimace instead of grinning.
Lee frowned. “She’s only twenty-two.” Someone knocked on the door. “Shit. I want to see those tests from your doctor this week. I’m trusting you--”
Uncle Enzo opened the door.
“Your fiancée misses you. What’s going on?” he asked. He stepped into the room and shut the door.
“I’m worried about my sister,” Lee said, still frowning.
“Don’t. I’m here. I’ll see she’s taken care of.”
“Thanks,” Lee said, shaking his head as he shoved past Lorenzo.
Did Lee think so little of him he thought he’d risk giving Lita a STD? If he had anything, he’d never touch her. Then again, maybe his diseased soul would damage her more.
Lorenzo followed the two out, into the living room. The euphoria of ten minutes before was crushed, replaced by a sinking pit in his stomach. But he smiled when he saw Lita. She rose and hugged him. He caressed the small of her back and inhaled. The feeling lifted him again.
They sat in the oversized sofa chair, pressed close together. She put her head on his shoulder and held his hand. He didn’t even care that Janice and his cousins grimaced at him or shook their heads, the indulgent smiles of Uncle Enzo, Celeste, and Sophia didn’t annoy him. He had Lita, they would finally be together.
“We need to get you a ring,” he said when they sat in the living room alone. Some of the family were still there, in the kitchen.
“If you want.” She twined her fingers in his.
“I want you happy.” When they were alone like this, Lita’s softness close, he almost believed they would be.
“I am. Sophia said we should call Father Grihalva soon. The church gets booked fast.”
“Church? What?” He shifted, but Lita didn’t move.
“Didn’t Uncle Enzo mention I’ve been going to church with him?”
“Yeah, but I thought you did that for him.”
“No, I’ve been going since I got confirmed in eighth grade. I snuck out to go every Sunday to the church by Jane’s. You know how Jane and even Lee feel about religion.”
“Okay. So, where are you sleeping tonight?” He eased his hand a little higher on her stomach.
“In my room.”
“You could come back to my apartment--”
“No.” She sat up and smoothed her skirt.
“How about I stay in the guest room here? The bed is comfortable.” Big enough for two.
“Sounds like Sophia and Carlo are leaving,” she said as she got up.
He exhaled. This was not going how he’d imagined.
Once everyone left, Uncle Enzo wouldn’t.
“I’m tired,” Lorenzo said. He glanced at Lita. “Why don’t--”
“We’ll see you tomorrow, perhaps?” Uncle Enzo said.
“Lita and I need to talk.”
Uncle Enzo raised an eyebrow but Lorenzo stood still.
“Thank you for my party,” Lita said before she kissed Uncle Enzo’s cheek. “I’ll see Lorenzo out.”
“Very well,” Uncle Enzo said.
He and Lorenzo exchanged goodbyes and Uncle Enzo went into his sitting room. He left the door open. Lorenzo rolled his eyes. He took Lita’s hand and kissed it.
“Let’s talk upstairs, it’s more private.”
“I’m tired too. Can’t we talk tomorrow?”
“Sure.” He grabbed her and kissed her until she melded herself into him. He gripped her hand and moved toward the stairs.
“Lita,” Uncle Enzo called. She stopped. Lorenzo tilted his head to the ceiling. “Do you know where I left my reading glasses?” He walked into the foyer and gave Lorenzo a fake surprised look.
Lorenzo frowned, his special “you are on my list” frown, one he’d learned from Uncle Enzo.
“Have you checked your study?”
Uncle Enzo shook his head and went into the other room.
“Do you want to have breakfast with us?” Lita said.
“Will I be here that early?
“Make it lunch, then.” She walked to the door.
“Have I entered an alternate universe?”
“Welcome to my world.” Lita smiled.
He shook his head then kissed her as Uncle Enzo walked past. She didn’t let go of his hand until Uncle Enzo placed his hands on her shoulders. They all said goodnight and Lorenzo drove home, flipping the radio control the whole way.
He and Lita were alone after lunch the next day, sort of. Uncle Enzo went into his study to make some phone calls, not that it mattered, as Lita wiped down the counters while he stood nearby, waiting to make his move.
“Uncle Enzo gave me Father Grihalva’s number. I thought you could call since you’ve known him longer.”
“We could get married at the courthouse in a week or two.”
“I know, but I want to get married in the church. We’ve never even been on a date. You know what I mean. Please don’t try to talk me out of this. Don’t you think we’ll need some guidance? Look at our families: my mother never even married and your parents…”
“I know what my parents’ marriage was, what everyone thinks. Are you saying if we got married now I’d screw up? How is church marriage preparation going to change that?”
“I don’t think that. I’m just saying I think we need time to learn more about each other and what it’s like to be married. Uncle Enzo said--”
“I’ll call Father Grihalva now.” Uncle Enzo, who knows what he’d said to Lita. Something to make her not want to look him in the eyes. But he knew arguing with her would only put him further from her.
The fulfillment of his desires seemed less likely as the next few days passed. Uncle Enzo stayed with him and Lita like a bouncer tracking a suspicious drunk. Lita did her part and kept her distance, as if he was a customer at the old club, able to look but not touch. Then he was simu
ltaneously aroused and disgusted, thinking of Lita that way. A few goodnight kisses and snuggling on the couch wasn’t enough and she wouldn’t talk to him about anything important. She chatted with him about her favorite Christmas movies or if he thought they could get tickets for “The Nutcracker” as if they weren’t in love, as if they were just friends.
“I thought you and Celeste were seeing each other,” he asked Uncle Enzo as they waited for Lita to join them in the living room one evening.
“I don’t think that’s your business.”
“You’re making it my concern.” Lorenzo crossed his arms.
“This is my house--”
“And Lita’s.”
“Yes, and she shows me the proper respect.” Uncle Enzo leaned forward.
“Respect? Why don’t you--”
“Lorenzo,” Lita said when she entered.
“What?” he snapped and stood.
“What’s going on?” She pursed her lips, his least favorite expression.
“Absolutely nothing.” He kissed her cheek and wished them goodnight.
Two nights later, two days and nights without Lita, he sat at the bar in Nick’s with Vincente while Nick cleaned and restocked behind the bar.
“Is Lita out of town?” Nick asked.
“No.”
“What are you doing here?” Vincente said.
“What does it look like?” Lorenzo rubbed a finger along the cool surface of his glass of vodka.
“Like she’s mad at you. Flowers and candy work.” Vincente clapped his shoulder.
Lorenzo supposed Vincente would know, having been married for eight years before his wife died of cancer. “You coming to dinner tomorrow?”
“I’ll be there. Grandpop’s away for the weekend.”
“Lucky him.” Lorenzo took a swig of his drink.
“Do I need to remind you how long you’ve waited for Lita,” Nick asked. “Don’t forget you chose that, not her.”
Like he chose to avoid her the last two days. “I tried to do the right thing.”
“Are you now?”
“Goodnight,” he said, sliding off the barstool. He strode out and upstairs to his deserted apartment.
He arrived the next evening at Uncle Enzo’s early, or so he thought. Sophia, Carlo, and Joe were there. Carlo and Uncle Enzo sat at the kitchen table while Sophia washed greens at the sink and Lita and Joe worked together at the pasta machine, cranking out fresh fettuccine. Lita laughed and bumped Joe’s hip. Lorenzo squeezed the roses in his hand so hard a thorn pierced his finger. Everyone greeted him, except Lita, who continued bundling the pasta. Sophia shot Carlo a look.
“Lita, Carlo can take over for a bit,” Sophia said. “Lorenzo, let me put those in water.”
Lorenzo handed her the flowers. Blood trickled down his hand.
“You’re bleeding,” Lita said. A tiny crease appeared between her brows.
He splayed his fingers and viewed the cut. “Just a scratch.”
She took his other hand and pulled him into the half bath next to Uncle Enzo’s study. Her hand was small and warm, still a bit tacky from the pasta dough, but her slight touch made him tremble a moment. She let go and got out a first aid kit. She cleaned the tiny wound, dabbed it with Neosporin, and covered it with a band-aid.
“Okay?” Now her mouth pursed, like the expression she’d had a few nights before.
“A kiss would’ve been better,” he said.
She turned and washed her hands. “Two days. That’s almost half the time we’ve been engaged. When you don’t get what you want, is this what I should expect?”
“What do you want from me?”
“Show me I’m not just another woman, that I matter.” She faced him, her arms crossed.
“I’ve tried, but you won’t--”
She pushed at the door, slamming it open. “Everything isn’t about sex,” she said in an angry whisper. “If I had a ring, I’d throw it at you right now.” She stepped into the foyer. He grabbed her arm. “Let go.” She tried to pry his fingers off.
“Not until we talk,” he said.
Her cheeks deepened from a rosy pink to a reddish glow. She slammed the heel of her shoe into his foot. He released her and she ran upstairs. Carlo jogged out of the kitchen.
“What happened?”
Lorenzo gritted his teeth and stared at the wall. Carlo waited. “She broke up. I’m gone.”
“What did you do?”
Lorenzo waved and walked out.
9
Lita woke up late. Not that she wanted to get up at all, but she forced herself to shower and dress, all in black, her one concession to her mood. She greeted Uncle Enzo, who sat reading the Chronicle. His dark look only made her guilt rise up, like the thorns surrounding Sleeping Beauty’s castle.
She started breakfast, first tying on an oversized white apron. She sliced bread for garlic toast, got out homemade tomato sauce to poach the eggs in, and some baby spinach. Deciding on pears for fruit, she diced them, placing them in a shallow baking dish to roast in the oven under the garlic toast. A little mascarpone cheese to top the pears--she checked the fridge to make sure they had some. She grabbed a few potatoes from the bin in the cabinet, along with some peppers, all of which she diced and fried with a sliced onion in her cast iron skillet. Then, she finished with the eggs.
Lorenzo entered and said hello to them. No hint of his authoritative tone now. He had no idea how she hated that tone, how it made her defiant anger bristle and strike, like a threatened cat.
“Would you like some breakfast?” Uncle Enzo said as he folded the paper and set it next to him.
Lorenzo sat and Lita served them. Her hands trembled so she gave up eating and washed the pans.
“Can we talk in the living room?” Lorenzo asked when he set his plate by the sink.
Lita nodded and dried her hands on the dishtowel. Uncle Enzo snapped the paper out.
Why did Lorenzo have to be so sexy? It gave him an unfair advantage. She walked behind him into the living room. He turned to her and sank to his knees before he clasped her hand. He pulled a ring from his pocket and held it out to her. The diamond flashed bright, like his eyes. A classic Tiffany ring: a beveled thin gold band with a large round diamond, simple and elegant.
“Will you marry me?”
“Two knees?” She smiled.
“The romantic apologetic proposal.”
“You asked before.”
“And you said yes. Say yes again?”
“Yes.” He eased the ring onto her finger. This was forever.
“Promise no throwing the ring?” He stood and gazed at her.
“This ring?” she asked, admiring it again. “Never. Promise you won’t leave again?” He raised an eyebrow. “You know what I mean.”
“Promise.”
“What should the handsome prince do?” Lita slid her hands up his chest.
“I wouldn’t know.”
“I guess you need to watch some movies with me.” She eased her palms onto his neck.
He grinned, shook his head, and kissed her. He edged back, but she kept her arms around him.
“I’d like to continue, but I have an appointment. Uncle Enzo’s helping me look for office space.”
“Will I see you later?” she said as they walked back into the kitchen.
“No, I’ve got a dinner meeting with Lee and a designer.”
“Why not meet here?” Uncle Enzo said.
“Do you have plans today?” Lorenzo said to Lita.
“I might go to D’Angelo’s Market.” She’d rather spend the day with Lorenzo. It cut into her happiness that he seemed so off-hand about wanting to spend time with her.
“If you do, please give my regards to Celeste and pick up some amaretti,” Uncle Enzo said. Lita held out her hand to him. “Ah.” Uncle Enzo examined the ring. “I approve your choice, Lorenzo.” Uncle Enzo kissed Lita’s cheek.
Lorenzo glanced at his watch. “We need to be there in fifteen minutes.”<
br />
Uncle Enzo stood and went into the foyer for his coat.
Lorenzo kissed her, making her feel like she needed to sit down, but instead she put her arms around his neck and moved to kiss him back. He pulled away and said he had to go.
Lita dropped her arms to her sides. “Okay, have a good day. Will you call me later?” As the words left her mouth, she heard how they sounded, almost like a whine, too needy.
Lorenzo nodded and kissed her cheek. Like a deflating balloon she settled in her chair and exhaled a shaky breath. She gave herself a couple minutes before she rose and began her daily cleaning.
When she walked into the market that afternoon, Celeste greeted her with a smile.
“We missed you at church on Sunday.”
“I didn’t feel like going.” Lita should be happier. She’d have to fake it till she made it.
“Sophia mentioned you seemed troubled.”
“I’m fine.” Lita hoped that hadn’t sounded as rude as she thought it did. “I told Uncle Enzo I’d get some of your amaretti for him. He said to tell you he’s sorry he can’t be here himself, but he’s helping Lorenzo scout out office locations.”
“I shall miss his visit as well, but I’m sure to see him sooner or later. I see you and Lorenzo have made it official.” She took Lita’s hand. “A lovely ring, dear. I pray it will be the beginning of many happy years together. Now then,” she said, squeezing Lita’s hand, “can I do anything else for you?” She walked to the bakery case.
“Would you do me a favor,” Lita asked.
“Of course.”
“Would you come over for dinner tomorrow and help me? I’m making Lorenzo’s favorite, risotto and chicken cutlets, and I don’t want to mess it up.”
“I would be happy to. Is there something you wish to talk about? We could go upstairs.”
“Thank you, but I don’t want to take your time. It’s just…” Lita looked into Celeste’s eyes, so calm and understanding, like she remembered her grandma Lawson’s. “Lorenzo and I had a fight, more than one. I don’t think he wants to wait or get married in the church. I love him so much, but I have to do what I feel is right, don’t I?” Lita twisted her ring.
“Lorenzo’s mother, Annamaria, would have been very happy for you both. I’ve known him a long time and you mustn’t let him persuade you into anything you don’t feel good about. He’ll respect you for your convictions, even if he might not like them,” Celeste said as she folded the cookie bag.
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