The following week was a frenzy of luncheons, dinner and cocktail parties, but Leticia took it all in stride, making the most of every moment. Wedding gifts were still arriving. Last minute fittings, last minute revisions with the caterers. She arranged things for everyone; while during the day the boys swam or played tennis, Dominic and Andrew played golf at the club which was a revelation for Dominic who learned a great deal about Andrew Stevens. Over lunch, they talked about everything. Dominic was impressed by Andrew’s knowledge of politics and world affairs. He wondered when Andrew had the time to indulge in anything except his profession.
“Well, Dominic, no one can live in a vacuum … not in today’s world. I spent my best years trying to save lives because I think there’s a sanctity in life. I can still remember the first World War … everybody marching off as though they were going to some kind of jousting match. Until we began to hear about this one’s son, or somebody’s husband getting killed, war was a remote thing … we still lived in a world of innocence.” He took a sip of water. “I remember as a small boy, somebody died and everyone in the neighborhood talked about it in solemn whispers … ‘You know, John died.’ It was very sad, someone dying. Then we had the second World War and we still felt pretty bad about young men dying, but it was in a damn good cause … we understood the reasons so it didn’t seem so tragic … then all of a sudden, we had a little thing called Korea … of course, that wasn’t a war at all, just a police action … well, what the hell, in a police action if some young kid gets shot up, it’s not the same as if it was a war, so we didn’t pay much attention to it. Then we get Vietnam. Congress never said we should be there, but every night we sat glued to our televisions and saw young men slaughtered by the thousands. Life becomes so unimportant, so expendable … so cheap. You wonder why the so-called younger generation didn’t think much of what we fed them? Why they thought it was okay—even moral—”
“You’re right, Andrew, but how the hell do you legislate conscience … morality … respect for life when you’re dealing with human nature … men who only give a damn about getting elected.”
“That’s right … get elected at any cost. But unfortunately some of those costs are human lives and that’s what I think the kids have been complaining about.”
While Andrew spoke, Dominic thought about his sons. Dominic greatly admired Andrew, but Andrew was an idealist … Dominic was not. He was tough, but if he hadn’t been tough his sons would be among the boys Andrew was now talking about. You bet it was heartbreaking to get that letter in the mail … “We regret to inform you that your son is missing in action.” Well, he was damned happy that his sons weren’t going to face that. It was the underprivileged … the Blacks … who mostly were taken. He’d move heaven and earth to spare his sons. Damned right, I’m patriotic, but I’m a father.
11
LETICIA WAS A WOMAN of enormous vitality, but this Monday morning, she indulged herself since she didn’t have to see the Rossis off till four this afternoon. Having breakfast in bed was something she did only when she was ill and she hadn’t been ill since she could remember. But after the past week’s events which climaxed with yesterday’s wedding, Leticia felt she had earned the luxury of a little leisure. Taking the last drop of coffee, she set the tray aside, snuggled back into the large pillows and relived the day … and what a day it had been.
Three hundred guests sat under the striped awning in that majestic garden holding their breath as Tish walked down the red carpeted aisle on the arm of her father toward the flower arbor where a nervous Dom waited with his brother, Tory, as best man. At that precise moment, Andrew Stevens was feeling the pangs of fatherhood … relinquishing his daughter into the care and protection of another man … a feeling he was not comfortable with. The thought that she would never be completely his again bothered him much more than he was willing to admit to himself. Suddenly his misgivings about Tish’s marriage gave way to a flood of doubts. He set them aside when he glanced at the radiant young eager face beside him. There was that unmistakable look of love in Tish’s violet eyes, velvet, shimmering … a look that made Andrew realize how unimportant he was. Slowly, they approached the white, satin-covered altar where he placed Tish’s hand in Dom’s, then looked searchingly at both of them, swallowed back the lump in his throat, kissed her gently on the cheek and took his place alongside of Leticia and held her hand. The gesture was more to comfort himself, thinking now there would be the two of them … but suddenly, his fears were dispelled as he saw his child kneeling alongside this handsome young man with whom she would spend the rest of her life. Yes … it all seemed so right when Dom reverently kissed Tish as they were pronounced man and wife after a solemn ceremony performed by Father Daini. A kiss of tender devotion as a promise of all their years to come. For a moment, they looked into each other’s eyes, a look so tender, so poignant that it brought tears Leticia could no longer hold back.
When the sounds of music were heard, a smiling Tish, dressed in exquisite white organza and delicate reembroidered lace encrusted with seed pearls, walked back up the aisle, now on the arm of her husband whose face needed no interpretation. He could see nothing but his wife … My God, she was beautiful, in the veil that had belonged to her grandmother, so carefully stored away through all these years, and the Juliet cap framing her fragile face, making her look almost ethereal. Vaguely, as he heard the whispering sounds … she’s positively magnificent … I’ve never seen anything so gorgeous … he felt the impulse to say out loud … she’s mine.
The bridal entourage of ushers (the twins, Bobby, Vincente and two of Dom’s best friends from Harvard) followed behind, walking beside the bridesmaids (the most excited of all was Gina Maria who had been the maid of honor) dressed in soft, tea rose yellow. They’d finally taken their places in the receiving line and were now awaiting the families. Catherine, dressed in printed, flowing chiffon, extravagantly wearing her diamond and emerald jewels (which shimmered dazzlingly in the sun), followed with Dominic’s arm on hers. Smiling broadly for all to see, she looked at his proud and happy face, thinking, I’ve beat you, Victoria Lang … you bet. Although her mother walked behind her, knowing looks of ‘I told you so’ were unnecessary, Mama’s thoughts and hers, at this moment, were one. Leticia, dressed in an elegantly simple blue Christian Dior, the same color as her eyes, held Andrew’s arm as she laughed softly, acknowledging the smiles of her friends. From that moment on, events moved so swiftly Leticia had difficulty trying to remember them all. First, there was the reception line which seemed to go on endlessly. Then the picture taking… first, the bride and groom … then the newlyweds with each set of parents … the grandmothers with Catherine and Dominic … Catherine and Dominic and the two of them … She could still hear the popping of champagne corks. How exquisite the buffet table was … the flowers and, of course, the wedding cake … how many tiers? Five … six? Well, no matter, what mattered was the way Dom held Tish’s hand when they took the wedding knife and made the first cut. She remembered dancing with Andrew and Dom and Dominic and all those fabulous Rossi boys … Catherine was to be complimented … she had certainly done a job, by George … gentlemen, all of them. She had a right to feel proud. And that daughter, Gina Maria … so unspoiled, so lovely, so precious. It took a lot of doing to accomplish that and Leticia could feel nothing but admiration.
Then all too quickly the hours slipped away and that one special day that she had dreamed of all these years, seeing her daughter marry, was coming to an end as Tish went upstairs to change into her going away pink silk suit. Now all the guests were assembled in the drawing room and entry foyer, waiting for her to walk down the circular staircase with her husband at her side. Leticia recalled watching them as out of a dream and the reality of the culmination of all the years brought tears of joy. Quickly, Andrew handed his handkerchief to her as she wiped them away. There were then the sounds of good-byes amid handshakes and kisses, embraces and best wishes, and hand waving … and it was over as the Stev
enses along with the Rossis and the guests waited on the front terrace watching the small convertible disappear. Leticia sighed … it had been a day long to be remembered. Now, after all the excitement, the house seemed so quiet… too quiet this morning. Then she smiled and thought it won’t be so quiet in a little while … there are compensations to being Catholic after all … and suddenly, the idea of being a grandmother pleased her very much.
It was a tearful Catherine who stood waiting at the air terminal. Her family had dispersed until flight time. She could see the boys at the newsstand. Dominic, his mother and the Stevenses had gone to the coffee shop, but here she sat with her mother alone.
“Won’t you please come on back and stay for just a little while longer, Mama?”
“No, darlin’, much as I’d love to, I think it’s time to go home.”
“But why, Mama … I really miss you so and I need your comfort and companionship.”
“I don’t think you need me that much anymore, Catherine, baby … we had a job to do and, with a lot of help from the Lord, we accomplished it, didn’t we?”
“Not we, you … it was you.”
“I only helped, but God was on your side.”
“I don’t know if he was or not … why kid ourselves, Mama … Dominic didn’t come back because he wanted to.”
“Well, even if that’s the case, the point is you wanted him for better or for worse … now, be honest with yourself … how was it livin’ without him? Isn’t this better … in spite of the compromises?”
“I suppose …”
“Of course, it is. You were Mrs. Dominic Rossi at your son’s wedding and you two were together … now, that was somethin’, wasn’t it?”
“I suppose …”
“Come now, Catherine, you’ve got an awful lot. You’ve got all the years ahead, watchin’ your children go through what we saw this last week.”
“I suppose I’m just not satisfied. I want Dominic to love me … really love.”
“I think he does, Catherine … not like he once did, don’t hope for that. But the point is, he’s kind, and considerate … livable with, let’s say, which is more than a lot of women have, livin’ out their lives with some men.”
“But Mama, I know he still loves her and wants her, a woman just knows at those moments … in bed.”
“Maybe, but she hasn’t got him, you have … no matter how. Now, Catherine, when you get home, try and do somethin’ … get interested in somethin’. If you do, then you won’t be dwellin’ about how much you’re needin’.”
Catherine sat with her hand holding her mother’s … “Mama … I’m really so lonely … won’t you come back for just a little while and then when you leave, I’ll take your advice and get interested in somethin’, but just for a while, come back … please?”
Violet Posata looked at her child … that’s what she was, a child calling out in the wilderness.
“Just until Dom comes home from his honeymoon … please?”
Violet sighed, “Catherine, baby, you have to understand everyone has to go home and I’ve got to go home. I have other children and I haven’t seen Rosa Ann in a long time.”
Catherine’s lips tightened, “I’m furious at Rosa Ann.”
“Now, that’s not fair, Catherine. She couldn’t leave her husband.”
“Oh, now, Mama, she could have come to the wedding. Nick had his stroke a year ago. After all, I wanted my own sister present. There were plenty of Rossis who came.”
“Maybe,” Violet said, “but not when he’s bedridden. I’m sorry, Catherine, you’re wrong.”
Catherine started to cry, “You’re angry at me now.”
Gently, she answered, “No, I just think you should be more understandin’ … try, Catherine … for the love of God, Catherine, try and you’ll be a happier person.”
She took Catherine’s head and placed it against her shoulder. “Don’t cry, darlin’, we have to learn to take the adjustments.”
“I know, Mama, but sometimes it’s not easy,” Catherine said, trying to hold back the tears.
“I know, love … but that’s why we have to learn not to be tempted with dreams of what we would like life to be … it’s so much easier to accept it as it is.”
Drying her tears, Catherine said, “You’re right, Mama … always so wise, you’re my strength … that’s why I miss you so much.”
“Well, sugar, as long as I’m still around, you’ve got me … but darlin’, you’ve gotta develop your own strengths.”
“I’ve never learned … learned how, and at this late date, I guess I never will.”
“I don’t believe we’re ever too old to learn or to change if we want to.”
Catherine heard the announcement, “Flight 82 will be boarding …” The voice trailed off as Catherine looked once again at her mother and the last remaining minutes were spent in good-byes as the family and the Stevenses now stood clustered around. Dominic shook hands with Andrew, kissed Leticia, as did the children, then Catherine embraced Leticia.
“It was beautiful … everythin’ was beautiful … I’m so happy about the children and happy the Stevenses have been added to our family.”
“What a lovely thing to say, Catherine, and the Stevenses are privileged to be a part of you.”
At the immediate moment, all the foolish resentment was forgotten … the preconceived determination to dislike Leticia she found impossible. Holding Leticia’s hand, she said, “Come and see us soon.”
“We will, Catherine, I promise … the minute Andrew finds the time.”
“Take care and … Leticia?”
“Yes, Catherine?”
“Thank you … thank you for everythin’ … the weddin’. What I’m tryin’ to say is thank you, for allowin’ the children to be married by Father Daini …” Catherine heard herself saying things she hadn’t been able to express till now because of pride … she would not allow the Stevenses nor give them the satisfaction to think they were bestowing a great favor upon the Rossis, giving Leticia a sense of superiority. But Mama’s words must have mellowed and humbled her. Also, the Stevens’s graciousness and hospitality had broken down her defenses … somewhere, deep down, the revelation had its reward. In spite of herself, she felt calmly happy. Catherine had made a friend in Leticia. Then things happened so quickly as Dominic took her by the arm and led her down the runway. Just before boarding, she looked back and saw the Stevenses standing with her mother. Grateful to them that they would wait and see Mama off… on her way back home … back to New Orleans. She walked up the landing steps with a feeling of foreboding … a feeling she could not dispel, even after they were airborne, that this would be the last time she would see her mother. The thought was too frightening to contemplate that one day, Mama would be gone and no longer would she be anyone’s child.
12
BUT THANK GOD HER fearful premonition had been an unfounded fantasy. A year and a half had passed since that day. “Mama,” Catherine said, excitedly, via long distance, “your Catherine’s a grandmother.”
“Oh, darlin’, I’ve been waitin’ for this happy moment … you must all be walkin’ on clouds.”
“Oh, Mama, you have no idea … I’m so excited, I forgot to tell you we’ve got a precious little boy.”
“Well, God bless you all. How’s Dominic holdin’ up?” she laughed.
“Like no one in the world’s been a grandfather before … guess what Tish named the baby?”
“Dominic.”
“That’s it … Dominic Andrew Rossi.”
“And Leticia …”
“Standin’ right here waitin’ to say hello.” Catherine handed the phone to her.
“Mama Posata, how are you?”
“I’m fine and I don’t have to ask how you are … tell me about Tish.”
“Came through it like a Rossi… the only problem was Dom. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a new father suffer so much … he just had the worst kind of labor pains.”
; They both laughed. “And Andrew?”
“Arguing with Dominic that the baby looks like him.”
“Well, I won’t say that was the worst fate in the world a child could suffer.”
Fairytales Page 28