Renzo (The Ciprianos of Kellington)

by Bergman, Jamallah

  “Oh, just came in and looked around the place and then at me. Said she had seen all she needed to see and left.”

  Thank goodness, he thought to himself letting out a deep sigh when he heard her say nothing happened. “Well I’m glad she didn’t cause a scene, she called me up and told me that she had met my new girlfriend.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Yeah, really, I had to laugh and tell her that wasn’t true. Somehow she knew you and I had lunch together today. She hung up on me.”

  “Well, you don’t have to worry. I know how to handle someone like her.”

  “She’s always trying her best to make me unhappy.”

  “I’m sorry that she does that to you, it’s not right.”

  “Oh, it’s all right, just as long as she doesn’t bother you anymore.”

  “I want to thank you again for lunch.”

  “I really enjoyed the time we spent together today. Oh yeah, I plan on sending you another bouquet of flowers tomorrow.”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “I know I don’t, but I want to, Jaslyn.”

  “You don’t have to send me flowers every day thinking I’m going to like you because you give me such nice things.”

  “But I want to just because.”

  Jaslyn giggled. “You’re crazy you know that, Renzo.”

  “Only thing I’m crazy about is you, Jaslyn.”

  * * * *

  Her heart jumped into her throat. “Why did you tell me what you told me when we walked to the front door?”

  “I meant what I said, if only you let me into your life, Jaslyn, I would treat you like the queen you are.”

  It sounds too good to be true, she thought. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “You don’t have to say a thing, just think about it and let me know. I don’t want to rush you, la mia bellezza, but do expect some flowers tomorrow.”

  Jaslyn laughed shaking her head at his determination. “Fine, I’ll be waiting for them. Take care, Renzo.”

  “You too, Jaslyn, have a great day.”

  The rest of the week seemed like some kind of fairy-tale for Jaslyn. The following day she got not one, but two big bouquet of flowers. She decided to go out for lunch by herself this time and went to the farmers’ market for some fruit. When she tried to pay for it, the man told her, “It’s already been paid for, ma’am.”

  Confused as he handed her the bag she asked, “What do you mean it’s already paid for?”

  “Just as I said, ma’am, it’s already paid for.”

  Another gift from Renzo she thought. She nodded and walked away while reaching into her bag to get a plum. It tastes so good, she thought as some of the juice dribbled down her chin. Wiping it off with her napkin, she made her way back to work.

  “Oh, Ms. Whitman!” shouted someone from behind her. She turned around to see Mrs. Cipriano with Gianni and another man walking toward her. They all had big smiles on their faces when they saw her. She was happy to see Mrs. Cipriano again.

  “Why hello there, Filomena. Hello, Gianni. How’s everyone today?”

  Filomena started to say something, but looked over at the man on the phone, poking him she started spouting something in Italian and he got off the phone. “It’s so good to see you. It’s such a lovely day out today. I don’t know if you’ve met my sons, Gianni and Simone.”

  “I’ve already had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Gianni. He came to see me about a mahogany desk.”

  “That’s right, I’ve looking forward to seeing if you have that desk in yet.” Gianni shook her hand.

  “Nice to meet you, Ms. Whitman,” said Simone. He took her hand and kissed it lightly.

  “Smettere di fratello.” Gianni flashed his brother a glare that could cut glass. Filomena stepped in between the two.

  “I went by the shop looking for you, but Delia said that you had gone to the farmers’ market to get something to eat.”

  “Yes. I like to get fruit when I can. It helps with curbing my appetite before dinner. Was there something that you needed?”

  “Oh no, darling, no I wanted to invite you and Delia to a party I’m giving next Friday. I’m inviting most of the town and some out of town friends. It might be a good networking opportunity for you.”

  “That sounds great. I would love to come. Is it casual or formal?”

  “It’s formal, so find your prettiest dress. I left your invite with Delia. I can’t wait for you to see my home. I think you’ll enjoy it.”

  “I know I will, thank you, Filomena. I must go. I have an appointment. It was nice to see you again, Gianni, and nice to meet you, Simone. Goodbye.” She smiled as she left the group.

  Jaslyn had to laugh over her interaction with Simone. He was suave and just as handsome as Renzo. But of course he wasn’t Renzo at all. She had seen the glint in his eyes when he kissed her hand and she didn’t get the same reaction she got when Renzo touched her. A quick shot of pain hit her back making her hiss as she crossed the street to the shop. When she got in, Delia was overly excited when she came to her. “Look what we got!” She handed her the invitation from Filomena.

  “This is going to be amazing. I already saw Filomena in the Farmers’ market and she told me all about it. I haven’t been to a party where I had to really dress up in ages. Even though we have plenty of time and all, I’ve got to go shopping for a dress and make an appointment with Carol to get my hair done for next week. But for now, I’ve got to go and see Chi. Check you later.” Jaslyn grimaced as she grabbed her purse.

  Once outside, Jaslyn was bumped hard into a brick wall. “Watch where the hell you’re going, dammit!” she shouted.

  “Why don’t you watch where you are going?” Melanie stood in front of her still wearing the same fur coat. Under it she wore an extremely tight red bandage dress and red high heeled shoes.

  “Just watch your step next time.” Jaslyn headed toward her car. But soon the clicking of heels along the sidewalk behind her was getting closer. She turned around to see Melanie right in her face, a detestable look flashed from those emerald eyes of hers with a sneer on her face. “Stay away from Renzo if you know what’s good for you. He’s nothing but trouble.”

  “What the hell are you talking about? We aren’t even together. What business is it of yours who he’s with in the first place, you’re divorced,” Jaslyn reminded her.

  “So you’ve heard of me?”

  “Yeah, I have, but I don’t care to know any more about you other than what I’ve heard.” She looked her up and down with a cocked brow. “I think I’ve seen enough of you too. I don’t know why you are so damn jealous. Haven’t you moved the hell on?”

  “You must really want him, don’t you? He tried sweet talking you already?”

  Folding her arms in front of her and breathing out a deep annoyed sigh. “Listen, I’m going to tell you something funny. I know that you are trying to make sure I have nothing to do with Renzo because you think you can still control his life. I can tell you he has tried, but failed miserably to get me to go out with him. I told him I wasn’t interested. He took the hint and hasn’t bothered me since. So there you go. I’m one less woman you have to try and intimidate by following me everywhere. If I ever see you again, whether it’s in my shop or out on the street and you get in my way, I will call the cops on you as quick as you can say Holy Mary Mother of God!” Jaslyn was not in the mood to play and the glare of resentment she projected was good enough to make this woman take a step back.

  “You honestly turned him down?”

  Nodding her head slowly, Jaslyn continued to eyeball the woman while trying to control her anger. “I’ve dealt with men like Renzo before. That’s a road I don’t plan on going back down again. Now if you don’t mind, you are making me late for my appointment by playing these stupid games.” Jaslyn walked to her car, got in it, and quickly left. She took a deep breath and laughed. She only hoped maybe Melanie would get the hint and leave her alone.

 
* * * *

  “Once again, Warren, you’ve come up with a masterpiece.” Renzo smiled, taking another bite of the chicken in a white wine sauce.

  “Still needs a bit of a tweak here and there, but once I get it to where I want I’ll put it on the menu.”

  Giving him an okay sign, he continued to watch him cook until someone shouted, “Renzo, come quickly!”

  Running out of the kitchen he heard screams and plates crashing. Then he saw Melanie at one of the tables throwing stuff against the wall. “Melanie, what the hell are you doing?”

  She threw another plate and then another glass against the wall. Some of his patrons tried to hide underneath tables while some managed to leave the restaurant in one piece. “Linda, call the cops now!” shouted Renzo grabbing Melanie’s arms while she screamed trying to get out of his grip. He pushed her arms down in front of her so he could keep his hold on her. “Calm down, woman, what the fucking hell do you think you are doing in my restaurant?”

  “That skank bitch of yours threatened me on the street. She told me that she was going to beat my ass if I ever came up to her about you again. Who in the fucking hell does she think she is?” Melanie screeched trying her best to get out of his grip.

  “What the hell were you doing near her in the first place?”

  She never answered his question. She continued to struggle.

  “No use in doing all that shit, woman, stay away from that girl!”

  “Why should I? She told me she doesn’t want anything to do with you. Told me you tried to get with her and she turned your sorry ass down. She wants nothing to do with you whatsoever.” She cackled like a witch, whipping her hair into his face, the hint of flowers hit his nose. He spat hair from his mouth.

  “What do you want me to do about the patrons?” asked a terrified Linda.

  Looking around he saw some of the people looking wide-eyed with worry. A little kid whimpered, “Mommy.”

  It made his blood boil to think if anything had happened to that child. “Everybody, please stay here until the police come. I need witnesses to what happened and all of you to give your name, number, and address so we can compensate you for what has happened today.”

  When the police did come, the restaurant erupted in applause when they took Melanie away. The police took statements from most of the patrons, Linda, and another hostess. Renzo decided to close for the rest of the day. He was too angry to deal with anybody, but he needed to find out how Jaslyn was. He had to get some answers to some questions.

  * * * *

  “God, that feels so good, Chi.” Jaslyn groaned, feeling her knead the muscles in her back. Her eyes were closed. The smell of incense was enveloping her mind and senses.

  “I told you before you need to come more often to see me, Jaslyn. Once you come back to me on a schedule, then things will be a lot better for you,” Chi said, grunting while massaging Jaslyn’s shoulders. Even though she was a small woman, Chi had strength in her hands. If she could, Jaslyn figured Chi hands would be considered deadly weapons. Every time she would work on her back, she would work in one spot for a while before moving onto the next spot.

  Soon the phone rang as Chi told her, “Don’t worry about the phone. I have it set where it will automatically go to my voice mail. I can get the message from my blue tooth.” After about three more rings, it stopped and Chi stopped to listen to the message over her blue tooth. Jaslyn couldn’t see what was going on but soon she heard her gasp in shock. “What’s wrong?”

  “I got a call from one of my friends in town. She told me something happened down at Filomena’s restaurant just now. Renzo Cipriano’s ex-wife had a tantrum. Breaking plates and glasses against the walls, people were screaming and trying to hide. It was insane she said. Luckily Renzo grabbed hold of Melanie until the cops came to arrest her.”

  Jaslyn couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Did she say why it happened?”

  “Something about a woman is all she could tell me. Whoever she is really got under Melanie’s skin, big time because she completely trashed the place.” Chi giggled. Jaslyn’s cell phone rang in her purse. Chi grabbed it for her. “Thanks.” She saw it was the shop. “Yeah?”

  “Are you all right?” asked Delia.

  “Yes, I’m fine. Why?”

  “Oh, thank God. I just found out Melanie went ballistic over at Renzo’s. He came over here looking for you because he was worried.”

  “Bless both your hearts, but I’m fine. I’ve been here at Chi’s getting my massage. She got a call too. Tell him I’m sorry that happened. I know he’s upset.”

  “Upset is the understatement of the year. He is beyond pissed, but mainly worried about you.”

  “Can you please let him know I’m fine? I’ll try and call him when I get back to the shop or tell him to come by in about an hour.”

  “I sure will let him know, he was worried sick about if you were alright. Goodbye.”

  Closing her phone and putting it back in her purse, she laid back down as Chi asked, “Someone calling about the incident?”

  “Word is getting around quickly,” Jaslyn said, thinking about what had happened and hoping Renzo was all right.

  * * * *

  When Gianni, Filomena, and Simone arrived at the restaurant, most of the crowd had dispersed, except for a few cops and some gazers looking to see if they could see any more commotion. Filomena headed straight inside. A gasp escaped her mouth when she saw all the shattered plates and glass on the floor. “Buon Dio, che cosa è successo?” she asked looking for Renzo.

  “Mrs. Cipriano, how are you?” asked Linda who was helping with cleaning up.

  “I should be asking the same of you, my dear, where’s my son?”

  “He’s in his office.”

  She walked to the back. She had no doubt her son was going to be mad. She had told him when he had decided to marry that girl that she was nothing but trouble. It was a shame he had to finally see how just how conniving Melanie could actually be. When she walked into his office, he was on the phone. He looked at her, got up and helped her to a chair.

  “Thank you, goodbye. Sorry about that, trying to order some more plates and glasses.”

  “Oh, my darling, are you all right?” She held his hand.

  “No worries, Mom. I’m fine, just a bit angry at Melanie for putting a scare into my patrons and trashing my place like she did and worried about Jaslyn.” Grabbing his glass of scotch, he drank it down in one gulp.

  “Jaslyn, what does she have to do with what happened?”

  “She has plenty to do with it. For some reason Melanie thinks we are going together. She went to her shop and even confronted her on the street. That’s why she came here breaking everything. It seems they had words. Of course she didn’t like whatever Jaslyn had to say.”

  “Good grief, so where is Melanie now?”

  “In jail, where she can cool off for the time being until she gets out. Jaslyn is at some appointment from what Delia said.”

  Filomena shook her head in displeasure. She could only imagine how her son must be feeling. Looking at her son’s exhausted glare, she gave him a hug. It was all she could do to hold her tongue. She felt good when he held her while her small hand rubbed his back. “I know you’ll get everything squared away. Walk me to the door because I have things to get ready for next Friday.”

  “Next Friday, what’s going on next Friday?”

  “Oh yeah, that’s right. I’m having a formal party at the house. I’ve just given out the invitations today. It’s nothing too big, just a couple of friends enjoying a good evening.” They walked back up front.

  “So that’s what you were thinking up when we had the dinner.” He smiled. He saw his brothers helping to clean up.

  “Yes, I haven’t had a formal party in forever, so I just decided to have one. Don’t worry about the food that has already been handled.”

  “She really did a job on your place, bro,” Simone said sweeping up glass.

  A
frustrated sigh escaped his lips while he looked around his restaurant. At least he was happy she didn’t do any more damage than what she accomplished. He didn’t know what happened between Melanie and Jaslyn, but whatever it was, it must have been one hell of argument.

  * * * *

  The restaurant was empty when Jaslyn frantically knocked on the door. Renzo ran to see who it was. When he saw her standing there, he quickly opened the door. “Please come on in,” he said. He watched her looking around, not saying a word.

  She walked over to a half empty plastic garbage bin still standing near where the fiasco occurred. She turned and looked at him and he could see the concern in her eyes. “She didn’t hurt you did she?”

  “No, she didn’t. I was more worried about you than myself.” He noticed she let out a sigh of relief. It made him feel good she showed some compassion for him.

  “I was having massage therapy with Chi and she found out, then Delia called me about what happened too. I didn’t know she would go off the deep end like she did.”

  “Chi, you mean the lady who gives massages? Why do you go to her? Please come and sit down, would you like something to drink?” They walked over to a table.

  “Ice tea would be fine.”

  He walked over to the workers’ station, went into the small fridge, and brought out a pitcher of ice tea. Grabbing two glasses, he poured their tea before making his way toward the table. She grabbed one of the glasses from his hand. “Thank you, I go to Chi for my back. I’ve had problems with it for years; I was going to a therapist back home. She works wonders since I can’t take the pain meds the doctor gave me. So what happened here?”

  “You first, tell me what happened out in the street,” Renzo said taking a sip.

  “Well, I was walking to my car so I could go to my appointment, and that’s when someone bumped into me so hard I fell against the wall. I turned around and Melanie was standing there in front of me. We had words, and then she had the nerve to tell me to stay away from you. She basically thought we were together and was trying to warn me about you. I told her I knew what she was up to and didn’t appreciate it one bit and that if I ever saw her again, I would call the cops on her quicker than she could say Holy Mary Mother of God.”