Fairytales

by Cynthia Freeman

  It was midnight when the Rossis arrived at the hotel in Rome … where they were less than strangers, having been guests here many times in the past twenty years.

  “Ah … Signora and Signore Rossi … it is with the same usual honor I welcome you and your most beautiful daughter,” said the distinguished manager in Italian. “We have been awaiting your arrival with most delighted enthusiasm.”

  “Thank you. With the same enthusiasm, we look forward to our stay here in Rome.”

  “Thank you, Signore … your suite is in order, now if you will register … I will turn you over to the desk clerk and for this evening I wish you good-night.”

  After Dominic had registered, the clerk said, “Ah, Signore, we have a message for you.”

  The young man reached into the tiny mail slot and handed it to Dominic. As he opened the envelope, Catherine asked, “Who’s it from?”

  “Dom,” he answered as the expression on his face changed.

  “What’s wrong, Dominic?”

  “Nothing,” he said, trying to appear casual. But Catherine became worried.

  “Here, let me read it.”

  “It’s nothing, Catherine …”

  Grabbing the cable from his hand, she read … Urgent … call immediately upon your arrival … Dom. Catherine grew faint. “Mother of God, it must be Tish … the new baby … somethin’ must be …”

  “Now, don’t start imagining,” he said, walking toward the elevator with Catherine and Gina Maria at his side, while the bellboy followed behind them, wheeling their luggage on a cart. Once in the suite, the bellboy was tipped and dismissed. Dominic went immediately into the bedroom, sat on the edge of the bed and called the overseas operator. Let’s see … it would be eight o’clock in San Francisco, so Dom would still be at home. Catherine stood stiffly, trying to put down her fears. Why is life always so jealous … they had just come away from one of the most joyous occasions in their lives and now … her thoughts were interrupted as she heard Dominic say, smiling at the small voice at the other end to Dominic III who now always ran to the phone each time it rang. “Hello … yes, it’s nonno … that’s right, nonno, Dominico … nonna? She’s right here …”

  “Let me talk to him,” Catherine said with tears in her eyes. Handing the phone to her, Catherine said, “It’s nonna, darlin’, … nonna … how’s my baby, my little love? Nonna’s gonna bring you home a lot of presents and I…”

  He was screaming because his father had taken the phone from him. “Mama?” she heard Dom say.

  “Yes, darlin’, I’m in tears, hearin’ that sweet voice … how’s Tish?” she asked anxiously.

  “Fine, Mama sends her love and is so happy about Gina Maria as we all are. And you, I suppose, are on cloud nine … How are you feeling, Mama?”

  “Couldn’t be better, now that I know everythin’s fine at home.” There was a long pause. “Everythin’ is … isn’t it, Dom?”

  “Yes, Mama … say hello to Gina Maria. Now, let me talk to Papa.”

  “Alright, here’s Papa.”

  Handing the phone back to Dominic, she stood quietly listening.

  “Yes, Dom … what? Repeat that again.” … his face had turned ashen gray.

  “That’s right, Papa, DeKaye dropped dead on the golf course this morning.”

  Dominic sat, looking at the receiver in his hand in stunned disbelief.

  “What is it, Dominic? What’s happened?”

  He looked blankly at her, then in a whisper, he said, “DeKaye dropped dead today.”

  “Oh, dear God,” she answered putting her hands up to her mouth.

  Finally recovering from the initial shock, he put the receiver back to his ear, “I simply can’t get over this, Dom …”

  “Neither could we … no warning, no nothing … I think you better come immediately because you know what this means. We have no candidate for state senator … after the thrust, the money poured in promoting DeKaye as the only one who could help fight the city’s problems from Sacramento. Not to be disrespectful to poor DeKaye … this leaves us with our candidates down.”

  “Naturally, nothing’s been proposed as an alternative … what am I talking about… you and our supporters must have been in a state of shock.”

  “That’s putting it mildly, Papa … but again in all due respect to DeKaye, we’ve been in conference all day …”

  “And?”

  “And, Papa, we’ve decided unanimously, there’s no one that can beat Pat Douglas except you.”

  Trying to measure the true impact of Dom’s suggestion, Dominic answered slowly, “Me?”

  “Why not, Papa … although DeKaye was a terrific state senator … who knows more about politics than you… knows more about and loves the city more than you … politics isn’t anything new to you … you’ve worked behind the scenes of national politics all your life … you’ve got more friends, power and influence in the party than anyone is aware of. We both know this has been a secret dream of yours for a long time and maybe, Papa, this unfortunate circumstance was meant so that you would be compelled to take up the lance … do it, Papa.”

  Looking at Catherine, he said, “We’ll see, Dom … we’ll have to wait and see.”

  “I know you’re really too big for the job. Washington is where you belong, but, Papa, for obvious reasons, it’s a beginning. Take it.”

  “Let me think about it.”

  “Okay … but, Papa, you’ve got to come home immediately.”

  “I’d do that in any event… DeKaye was a very dear and close friend … I’ll take the first plane I can get.”

  Dominic hung up and sat staring ahead of him. His mind was a jungle of conflicting thoughts. He lay back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. Catherine sat on the edge of the twin bed across from him and watched the struggle he was having with himself.

  “Dominic, what does all this mean … with election so near?”

  He turned his head and looked at her without answering.

  “Why you lookin’ at me like that, Dominic?”

  He said softly, “They want me to run for state senator.”

  “They what? Why, you’ve never held public office before. Why you?”

  “Because Dom said the committee was in conference all day kicking around the idea of who to run and decided I was the logical one to salvage our loss.”

  “I don’t know much about politics, but it’s only three months away from the primaries, and as well-known as you are in certain circles, the man on the street doesn’t know you from a bale of hay. You have no political record to back you up … after all, DeKaye was a state senator with a name.”

  Dominic smiled. “You know a lot more than you’re giving yourself credit for. That’s pretty damned close to the truth.”

  “Well, thank you, Dominic … now, what are you gonna do?”

  “I’m going to think about it.”

  “And after you’ve thought it out, what then? How do you propose to get elected with all the strikes against you?”

  “Well, it wouldn’t be easy … but on the other hand, it would be a hell of a challenge.”

  “And knowin’ your great feelin’s about challenges, you’d walk right in where angels fear to tread … but challenge or not, how you gonna get the people to know you in so short a time?”

  “Okay, if you’re asking.”

  “I’m askin’ …”

  “Alright, it will mean public appearances constantly … luncheons … ladies’ groups, organizations … I have a lot of support with the unions … business … I’m not sure about the newspapers.”

  “Is that enough?”

  “To a large extent, but I think there’s one big plus on my side.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Well, since the mayor endorsed DeKaye, and knows I was solidly behind him, I have a feeling he’d support me. After all, he knows I’m not exactly a novice.”

  “Well I’d certainly hope so. The way you worked for him when he was runnin
’ for mayor …”

  “And I’d do it again … he’s a good man … justified my belief in him.”

  “Okay … suppose he does help ya. That still doesn’t answer the questions of how the public’s gonna get to know you.”

  “Well … it takes exposure … if you want to get known in a real big hurry, television, radio. By God, Catherine, the more I talk about it, the more I think maybe we have more than an even chance … in fact, I don’t have as many strikes against me as you think … it always appeals to the masses … from rags to riches … the same American dream that Sergio talked about… everyone likes someone who’s made it on the way up … makes them think maybe they could do the same thing. I’ve already got the same organization together who were working their asses off for poor DeKaye. And it just occurred to me, maybe it’s a plus on my side that I have no political record, in this case, nobody can point a finger and say he did that wrong. I won’t vote for him because he doesn’t keep his promises … it just might prove to be one of the most important assets in my favor.”

  “Then you’ve decided to run?”

  “No, I’m still considering.”

  “Come on, Dominic … stop playing footsy with me. All I have to do is look in your eyes to find the answer.”

  “And if I did, how would you feel about it?”

  “I wondered if you’d ever ask.”

  “Well, I’m asking … You could be a great asset to me, Catherine …”

  “You’re makin’ it sound as though we went along with the package … like you’d be exploitin’ us like television and radio. That’s not very flatterin’.”

  “I’m sorry, Catherine, you felt it necessary to say that… a man needs his wife and children. I need you and if I do take it, I’m going to ask you to stand at my side.”

  “You really want this, don’t you, Dominic?”

  He ran his tongue over his dry lips. “You’ve known that for a long time, Catherine … this time, it’s been handed to me. I never sought it, but since it has … yes, will you help me?”

  She hesitated for a long time and thought carefully. Being the wife of the state senator from San Francisco was not the worst thing that could happen to a woman … in fact, it held a great many exciting promises. San Francisco was a city where foreign dignitaries visited … she might become the Perle Mesta of San Francisco … she would never have believed it but the idea suddenly appealed to her … New Orleans would be shocked out of their hominy grits … her, the senator’s lady … but above all, Dominic would be so consumed with the senate he’d no longer be able to be in active private practice which took him away constantly, trying cases … no, sir, instead he’d be in Sacramento only fifteen minutes away from home. The children were gradually getting married and in a few years, they’d all be gone … maybe it wasn’t such a terrible thing Dominic was doing, after all. It just might be the beginning of a very nice renewed relationship for them, him coming home every weekend and even during the week. Yes, sir, it just might be a whole new ball game … Okay, Victoria Lang, eat your heart out because I’m going to say, “Alright, Dominic, since you really need my help, I’m more than willin’ to give you all I’ve got.”

  Dominic looked at her, never believing he’d ever hear her say that, then slowly smiled, “Thank you, Catherine.”

  “You’re more than welcome, Dominic. It might just be like sharin’ some of the good things we had between us once.”

  “I think it might, Catherine …”

  She smiled back, then quietly she asked, “Now, Dominic, what are we gonna do … I suppose you have to get back for the funeral?”

  “Yes.”

  “Since we and the DeKayes were never social friends, I don’t think it’s necessary for me to attend. I’d like to remain in Florence, not wantin’ to deprive Gina Maria of her vacation. And since I’m already here, I’d like to get rollin’ on the weddin’. So, if you don’t mind, I won’t go back with you.”

  “Of course, Catherine, I understand … now, I’ll call the airport and make a reservation.”

  She handed him the phone.

  By the time Catherine and Gina Maria did arrive back in San Francisco, two weeks later, she was shocked as they drove from the airport into the city. There were huge campaign signs everywhere. Seeing Dominic’s handsome likeness smiling broadly from the blown-up posters and mounted atop the numerous headquarters buildings scattered about the city was a thrilling experience she hadn’t thought herself capable of responding to. Each automobile that passed with a Rossi bumper sticker enhanced her sudden feeling of importance. Talking about this in Florence was one thing, but to see the campaign in full swing in San Francisco was more exciting than she’d ever imagined.

  She found herself anxiously waiting and wanting to hear his voice being broadcast. When interviewed on television, Dominic conducted himself with such ease and charm, projecting the perfect image which he knew the people would relate to—saying just the right things at the right time was an instinct he was born with. Catherine was so mesmerized, she forgot for the moment he was her husband rather than some remote celebrity who she did not know. Hearing him … seeing him bigger than life on that screen, made her feel it would be impossible for anyone not to respond to his sincerity, his honesty, his devotion to the city of his birth. He worked tirelessly in behalf of the electorate. As their leader, their savior, their only way of repaying this selfless man was to render unto Caesar what was Caesar’s … their vote.

  However, as the campaign began to rapidly gather momentum and move into the final days before the primaries, Catherine began to feel the effects of campaigning and there were times (for all the promises she made earlier to Dominic for standing by his side) … she began to wonder if there wasn’t an easier way to make a living. She was getting bored with smiling and hand-shaking, exhausted with the pace, never having a moment’s solitude, and being on time was something she loathed and was never disciplined for. She was sick to death of fruit cup, unpalatable, dry, half-a-broiled chicken with green peas which were usually cold, ice cream and a small cookie, which was the standard fare for those donors who gave twenty-five dollars to hear the candidate make the same speech that he made at the dinners for hundred-dollar donors where tough roast beef was served accompanied by duchess potatoes, ahh … just mashed, made fancy … and for the five-hundred dollar donors, the waiters wore white gloves, but the food was just as bad (with a few variations) and the speech much the same (with a few variations). Yes … Catherine was becoming sick … sick … Had she not been so carried away with the idea of being madam senator and truly if she had realized how strenuous campaigning was, she might have had second thoughts about all of this … on the other hand, if she could ride the waves … get through the primary and should Dominic receive the nomination, then go on to become state senator (which at the last poll-taking seemed more than likely) she could go back to her former life of quiet and merely enjoy the joys of hostessing for the dignitaries, which it would be her pleasure to oblige Dominic with. Much more than that, she was sure, would not be expected of her … “I didn’t know what I was lettin’ myself in for when your sweet pappy-in-law asked me to stand at his side … Stand at his side! I guess I’m just about ready to fall on my face,” Catherine was saying on the phone to Tish, who was now very large with child.

  “Well, it’s just about over, Mama. Tomorrow night, you’ll see how rewarding it is when Papa and you stand up on the platform taking your deserved bows.”

  “Bows? I don’t think I’ll have the strength to have my hair done.”

  “Yes you will … Mama.” Tish laughed. “You’ve been a brick through this whole ordeal.”

  “Is that what I’ve been? At this point, I should have been twins … thank God for Gina Maria. She’s been workin’ so hard and relieved me of a lot of responsibilities, throwin’ herself into this with Papa. In fact, I think sometimes she forgets about Sergio.”

  “Maybe that’s why she’s worked so hard. It mak
es waiting a little easier.”

  “I suppose … well, darlin’, take care and don’t forget the whole family’s gonna be comin’ to dinner tomorrow night and wait out the agony till post time.”

  “I’ll be there earlier with a bottle of aspirin.”

  “I won’t need it when I see my baby Dom … who probably won’t even recognize his nonna with the way I’ve had to neglect him lately.”

  “He’ll recognize you, Mama, you only saw him yesterday.”

  “Yea, sure, runnin’ in and out of your house between the creamed chicken and mashed potatoes.” Catherine laughed, seeing at least some of the humor in it.

  After a good Italian dinner served in the Rossi family style everyone settled back and watched with nervous anticipation the jubilation that was going on at the main headquarters on Market Street. Every time the latest returns were announced that Dominic was leading by a wide majority, simultaneously the workers at headquarters across town screamed out whee …wowee … just as the Rossi clan did sequestered in the mansion overlooking the bay. By ten that evening, Tony said, “Papa, I think we’ve got it made …”

  “Don’t count your votes until they’re hatched.”