Fairytales

by Cynthia Freeman

  “That’s true,” he said, kissing her again. Catherine felt peculiar pangs … before dismissing the thought … go raise a son for someone else.

  Driving to the hotel in one of the large rented limousines, Catherine sat between Tish and Gina Maria who had visions of some day looking and being what Tish Stevens was.

  “Tell me, darlin’, I suppose your Mama’s terribly busy with the weddin’ plans … how well I remember my own.”

  “Yes. But I think at this moment she’s happy I’m an only child,” Tish laughed.

  “Well, I hope you’re not gonna find us a little bit too much to handle bein’ as many as we are.”

  “Oh, no, Mrs. Rossi. I’m so excited that Dom has a large family, being an only child.”

  “That’s natural. We always want the thing we don’t have …”

  “Well, Dom has certainly provided me with what I’ve missed. I’m so thrilled with all of you.”

  “Why, thank you, darlin’. What makes me most happy is a silly little thing like you bein’ from the south.”

  Tish smiled, “That is nice. It’s almost like instant love.”

  “That’s right… both being raised in the south.”

  “Most of my life … except when my family sent me away to school in Switzerland.”

  “That’s why you don’t have an accent.”

  “I don’t?”

  “No … but one loses it anyway. I know I’ve lost mine.”

  “I don’t think so, Mama,” Gina Maria said.

  “I haven’t? I thought I did, darlin’.”

  “No, you haven’t, Mama.”

  “Oh, well, it doesn’t make too much difference if your grammar’s correct and besides I don’t think anyone should be embarrassed about what they are … do you, Tish?”

  “No … no, Mrs. Rossi. A person should be proud.”

  “My sentiments, exactly…”

  There was an awkward silence as Tish sat uncomfortably, not knowing what else to say, but as the car sped along the highway, she had the peculiar feeling that Mrs. Rossi had not been too taken with her. It was something she couldn’t put her finger on, but it was somehow in her manner. Still, Mrs. Rossi couldn’t have been more charming with the little she had said, but it was as though there were hidden meanings behind the words that made Tish feel strange without knowing why. Her thoughts took her far afield until she was brought up sharply as she heard Mrs. Rossi say, “Well, I guess we’re here.” And for a moment, Tish was never more grateful as they got out of the car and walked into the hotel lobby.

  Lunch was served out on the veranda where they all relaxed, talked about the graduation, how proud everyone was … the wedding … how the Rossis couldn’t wait to meet the Stevenses … Tish said how sorry they were not to be able to come, but Dr. Stevens was in New York on a case and Tish’s mother was busy with next week’s impending nuptials … she hoped they would understand.

  “How does your Mama feel about you marryin’ a westerner?”

  Tish looked slightly bewildered, “I don’t think my mother really ever thought about it.”

  “Oh … and you movin’ out west doesn’t bother her … your bein’ an only child?”

  “Well, I don’t suppose she’s thrilled about it, but she’s never said … One thing my mother never did was make a career out of me. She’s pretty independent,” Tish laughed.

  Well, I guess that’s the difference between Italians and … and just plain Gentiles … why my Mama cried for weeks, Catherine mused.

  That evening Catherine, dressed in pink chiffon, bedecked in her full regalia of rubies and diamonds, went to her mother’s room. While Mama dressed, Catherine sat on the bed. “Mama, what do you think?”

  “Of what, Catherine?”

  “You know damned well what.”

  “Now, Catherine, you’re gettin’ up your dander… I’d be careful. Now, what do I think of what?”

  “Of this girl.”

  “I think she’s very beautiful … very well suited to Dom’s temperament … as well educated … I think she’ll be a great asset to him in the future.”

  “Do you really, Mama?” Catherine said sarcastically. “Well, I think she’s a little … too … too … too non-Italian to fit into our family.”

  “Now, you listen to me, Catherine baby … I never lie to you, do I?”

  “No you don’t and I never get mad at you, do I?”

  “No … because you know in your heart I never try to appease you … I like to try and make you see things as they are.”

  “And how are they?”

  Quietly, Mama Posata said, “Catherine, you know what’s happenin’ to you?”

  “No, what?”

  “You got jealous Mama pangs.”

  “Why, that’s a terrible thing to say to me.”

  “You may not like it, but it’s the truth.”

  “That’s ridiculous. Doesn’t every mother want to see her children happy?”

  “Why, a’course and that’s just it in a nutshell … Dom is happy … he loves this girl and what’s happenin’ is you’re havin’ a reaction that most mothers have with sons.”

  A shocked Catherine looked at her mother. That was what she had felt today. Good Lord, was she that transparent … or was her mother psychic? “How do you know, Mama? You never had any sons.”

  “Well, a mother’s a mother … I know if I’d had a son, I probably would be feelin’ the same … thinkin’ I’d raised my son for someone else’s daughter.”

  Quietly, Catherine answered, “That’s the truth, Mama … there’s that little hurt that someone stole your property … it’s silly, I know, but that’s how it feels.”

  “Catherine, sugar, think about it this way … you had him all these years … now, if you’re good and careful, you’ll have ’im the rest of your life.”

  “Damned if Dominic didn’t say just about the same thing.”

  “See, and he’s a pretty smart man, Catherine.”

  “Alright, I admit I feel a little left out… but what about the other thing … her not bein’ Catholic … I don’t want Dom to be married by any Protestant minister.”

  “There again, Catherine, I’m just as religious as you are, but bein’ married don’t mean that she’s got to remain Protestant all her life, I have a feelin’ when she’s livin’ among the Rossis, she’s gonna have second thoughts on how her children are gonna be raised.”

  “Well, that’s somethin’ I already thought about. Guess I get some of my gray matter from you, Mama.”

  “That’s bein’ disrespectful to your Daddy’s memory.”

  “I didn’t mean it that way, Mama. I meant your tolerance, your logic … just a smidgin rubbed off.”

  “Well, thank you. Now, go on back to your husband and I’ll be dressed in just a few more minutes. What do you want me to wear … that printed chiffon or the violet taffeta silk I got last year in Paris?”

  “The silk taffeta.”

  At seven-thirty, Dom walked in with Tish who looked enchanting in a white embroidered organdy dress, empire style, which even enhanced the silhouette of her graceful figure. Her tawny hair hung softly to her shoulders and shone in the dimly-lit sitting room of Catherine’s and Dominic’s suite. The family was all assembled … the men dressed in summer dinner jackets and Gina Maria looked every bit as lovely, thought Catherine, in her yellow tea rose silk organza that Catherine had also bought in Paris. They had hors d’oeuvres and drinks. At eight thirty, they went down to the exquisite outside dining room overlooking the lake. At nine, the music began. First, Dom danced with Tish as Catherine observed from around Dominic’s arm. They were in love that pair … make no mistake about it, Catherine thought, wishing she could relive her romance, but this was different … nothing planned, no arrangements like hers had been.

  Gina Maria took turns dancing with her brothers, then Grandma Posata who, for her age, danced with grace. She’ll never grow old, thought Catherine. Then Dominic asked Tish, and Dom dance
d with his mother.

  The evening was balmy and romantic … a night for love and lovers. When Dominic returned Tish to Dom’s eager arms she said, holding his hand, “If I had seen him first, you wouldn’t have had a chance, Dom … your father’s more handsome and a better dancer than you are.”

  “I know, that’s my problem,” he said, smiling at his father, “he does everything better. I’m happy to be out of Harvard. You don’t know what I had to live up to.”

  “Okay, thanks for all the compliments, it helps an old man’s ego.”

  “Oh, Mr. Rossi, I only hope that Dom’s the same kind of an old man when he’s your age.” She laughed as Dom took her to him and held her around the waist, whisking her away.

  “Dom, I adore your father.”

  “I told you. Most everyone does … he’s one of a kind.”

  They were playing “Tender is the Night.” “That’s our song, Dom … funny how songs make you remember things … in school, we were studying F. Scott Fitzgerald … one thing made me so beautifully sad.”

  “What was that?”

  “You mean quote it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay, let’s see … The girls I once knew, with big brown eyes, real yellow hair in the fall of sixteen in the cool of the afternoon I met Caroline under a white moon. There was an orchestra—Bingo Bango, playing for us to dance the tango and the people all clapped as we arose for her sweet face and my new clothes’—life was like that after all.”

  “That’s lovely, darling, and so touching.”

  “Talk about touching … shall we go for a walk or am I being too forward, Mr. Rossi, attorney at law?”

  “You’re being very forward, Miss PhD., but where would we be tonight if not for a little forwardness … remind me to tell you I love you.”

  “I intend to for the rest of your life.”

  He held her hand and led her to the table. Catherine looked up, “You both looked so pretty dancin’.”

  “Did we? Thank you,” Tish said.

  “Mama, Papa, if you will excuse us, Tish and I want to walk.”

  Dominic got up from his seat. “We probably won’t be here when you get back so I’ll say good-night now.”

  “May I kiss you good night, Mr. Rossi?”

  “You may indeed.”

  She kissed him on the cheek, “Thank you both for having such a wonderful son.” Then she walked to Catherine … “And thank you for dinner, Mrs. Rossi. Today has simply been one of the most unforgettable I’ve ever had.” She kissed Catherine’s cheek.

  Tony said, “Don’t I even get a peck? After all, I’m going to be your favorite brother-in-law.”

  Going to his side, she kissed him, then all the others and said good-night. As the two walked down the wide stairs from the terrace leading to the garden, then to the lakefront, Mama Posata said, “I think she acts rather Italian, don’t you, Catherine?”

  “What do you mean by that?” Dominic asked.

  “Oh, nothin’. Mama’s just tryin’ to be smart,” Catherine answered, looking at her mother sideways.

  Dom looked at Tish in the moonlight. “You’re so beautiful, darling. God, I love you,” he said, holding her so close he could feel the rise of her breasts against him.

  “Dom,” Tish said, breathlessly, gently moving back, “I know this is not the time to talk, but I have to.”

  Holding her face in his hands, he kissed her, then asked softly, “Why now? Tish, let’s go to my room.”

  “Dom, wait… I have a few things I have to tell you.”

  “Now … at this moment… can’t it wait?”

  “No … I want you as badly, but, darling, please sit here on the bench.”

  “I’ve never felt so rejected, not since my acne when I was a kid.”

  “Be serious, Dom.”

  “I am serious … if only you knew how serious … it’s killing me … this better be important.”

  Taking his hand, she sat down … he moved closer. “Dom, move back or I’ll never be able to tell you … please.”

  He slid over, away from her. “Okay, let’s hear it because you’re driving me crazy.”

  “Dom, I’ve done a lot of thinking.”

  “About what?”

  “About our lives.”

  “And?”

  “I’ve decided we’re going to be married by a Catholic priest.”

  “What?”

  “Yes … I’ve already spoken to him.”

  Dom was so stunned, he could not speak … moving closer, taking her hand, he asked, “You know what that means?”

  “Yes … I’ve had a very long and involved talk with Father Daini.”

  “But, Tish, you were very adamant about this just a few months ago and we agreed to be married at your home by a judge so that neither of our parents would feel slighted …”

  “I know, but I’ve changed my mind … it’s a woman’s prerogative.”

  “Why are you doing this?”

  Gently, she said, “Because I love you, Dom.”

  “And you’d do this for me?”

  “And for me … and for our children. I’m not converting … not unless I’m ready … but our children will be what their father is.”

  He shook his head, then held her. “How did I ever get so lucky … but I’m not going to let you do this.”

  “Of course I’m going to do it… it’s been my decision. I’ve thought about it very carefully.”

  “Have you discussed this with your parents?”

  “Yes …”

  “And tell me honestly … what was their reaction?”

  “They said that whatever I had decided was fine with them.”

  “I feel so selfish, but I’m so happy, I could cry.”

  “Then cry.”

  “You’d even encourage me to do that.”

  “Of course … I love little boys who cry.” She kissed him and he returned the kiss too eagerly, too urgently. Again sliding away, she drew in her breath, “Okay, Dom, you heard the good news … now for the bad.”

  “Nothing could be that bad.”

  “Well, maybe, but no more sex until after we’re married.”

  “You’re right… that’s bad news … but why?”

  “Alright, Mr. Attorney at law, I threw my diaphragm away after speaking to Father Daini.”

  “That’s a good reason.”

  Standing in front of Tish’s door, Dom held her close … too close for comfort and kissed her too tenderly. Gently she removed herself from him, placing her hand against his chest. “Remember Father Daini,” she said, breathing a little too rapidly.

  “Couldn’t we forget him just for tonight?”

  “No, a little abstinence will be good for you. It will only make you want me more on our wedding night.”

  Bringing her closer once again, he said, “I never could want you more than I do now.”

  “Me, too, darling, but a deal’s a deal.”

  “Well… I suppose I can’t argue with logic like that. I’ll probably have to take three or four cold showers during the night. But for a whole week? I’ll be waterlogged by that time.”

  “The risks a girl takes when she marries.”

  They both laughed. “Good night, darling,” he said, running his hands up the nape of her neck, then under her hair, letting his fingers rest gently at the curled ends.

  “Good night… I love you,” she said.

  He started to kiss her, but she opened the door to her room, slipped inside and closed it. With decidedly mixed feelings, he walked down the hall. As he turned the corner, he saw Dominic coming out of his mother’s room. “Hi, Papa … been visiting with grandma?”

  “Yes … she’s so proud of you, Dom. That’s all we talked about.”

  “Thanks, Papa, but I had a pretty good teacher … thanks for everything … you’re quite a father.”

  Dominic looked at his son, remembering their talk that Thanksgiving day. What a young man, God, how much he had to be gratef
ul for.

  “What do you think of Tish, Papa?”

  “I think you’re a lucky man, Dom. She’s quite a girl,” he answered, taking Dom around the shoulder as they walked towards the suite of rooms.

  “You have no idea how lucky, Papa … incidentally, that’s all she talked about was you … anybody else, I would have been jealous of … I think the only reason she’s marrying me is because of you.”

  Dominic laughed, “I doubt that.”

  As they approached Dominic’s rooms, Dom said, “Papa, I have something to tell you and Mama … I can’t wait.”

  Dominic looked at his son’s beaming face, wondering what was so urgent. “If it can’t wait, be my guest,” he said, opening the door.

  Inside, Dom asked, “Papa, let’s have a drink.”

  Catherine’s door was open. “What about me?” she said, sitting up in bed, putting down Vogue magazine. “I’ll have Campari. I think there’s still some ice left.”

  “Okay, Mama,” Dom called out as he poured the drinks in the living room. Handing one to his father and taking his and Catherine’s, the two went into her room. Dominic sat in the big chair. Dom handed Catherine her drink as he stood. Raising his glass, he said, “I want to drink to your health.”

  “And to yours,” Dominic answered.

  Catherine raised hers and said, “To your happiness.”

  “Thank you, Mama.”

  They sipped. “What a proud and happy day this has been for your Papa and me,” Catherine said.

  Dom looked at his mother and father, overcome with joy that they were together again. It all seemed so right … the circle had been closed. “Mama … Papa, I have something to tell you. Tish insists we be married by a priest.” Catherine sat, stunned, then looked across the room to Dominic. “What do you think of that?” Dom asked, his voice almost hushed.

  “I’m the happiest mother in the world,” she said with tears in her eyes. “I simply can’t believe it… did the talk we had when you were home make that much of an impression after all?”

  Dom shook his head, “It had nothing to do with that, Mama. I never spoke to Tish about it.”

  “You didn’t? … Then how … why did she change her mind? You must have said somethin’?”

  “No … this was her decision. Her very own.”

  “I don’t understand, Dom … you said she was just as devoted to her beliefs as we are.”