Renzo (The Ciprianos of Kellington)

by Bergman, Jamallah

  When they got back to the parking lot, Renzo was cursing underneath his breath.

  “Well, that was something to hear, wasn’t it,” Delia said. Jaslyn looked up at Renzo’s distraught face.

  “I’m sorry, Jaslyn.”

  “Sorry, about what?” She didn’t understand why he was sorry for anything because none of this was his fault.

  “Sorry for putting you through all this crap. If I had known—”

  “But you didn’t know, none of us knew it would go this far, sweetheart, so don’t beat yourself up over it.” Resting her hand on his cheek, she saw the smile that reassured her that her words made sense to him. He kissed her lips and whispered something softly against her ear, which made her smirk a bit and she nodded. “I’ll hold you to that, Mr. Cipriano. Well, we better head onto work, Delia, another day another dollar.”

  “Listen, how about that dinner I promised? We can do it tonight, something to get us away from town. What do you say?”

  After the day she had, a little bit of time out of town would be nice she thought. “I think I’ll take you up on that, Mr. Cipriano.”

  “Good, I’ll call and make reservations for tonight. I’ll come and pick you up after work and we can go by your place to get your things that you’ll want to wear. Then we can go to my mom’s to get ready and we can go afterward,” Renzo told her.

  “I don’t know, Ren. I mean, I don’t think I need to stay at your mom’s again tonight.”

  “Sweetheart, I would rather have you at my mom’s house than alone with no car at yours. There’s no telling what Melanie could do, even though she’s in jail right now. She has her ways, believe me, and I know Delia will agree with me. We’d both feel better if you were some place safe. At least until all of this mess has died down a bit.”

  “Renzo is right, hon, we are only thinking about your safety, and you don’t know Melanie like the rest of us do.”

  Jaslyn completely understood. They were right. It would be foolish right now to stay at home. “All right, I’ll wait for you to pick me up after work then.” His lips kissed her forehead, which sent shivers through her body as they parted ways.

  While they drove back toward the square, Jaslyn heard Delia say, “Renzo and Jaslyn sitting in a tree…K. I. S. S. I. N. G!”

  Jaslyn didn’t say a word, she just shook her head as she continued, “First comes love and then comes marriage, then comes Jaslyn with a baby carriage.”

  “I swear you will so get it later on, girl.” She was trying her best not to laugh but it was funny.

  “With twins, you’ll have twins.” That’s when they both cackled before pulling up to the shop.

  “You are absolutely nuts, woman, I swear.” Jaslyn wiped a tear from her eye as they both got out. Another day another dollar, Jaslyn thought while opening the door.

  One of the problems with living in a small town is that gossip tends to run rampant. Word got out about Jaslyn’s car getting trashed and who was at fault. It seemed like everybody from the block was coming over to the shop, not to buy but to hear what had happened. “You want to know what I think?” asked Marilyn, who owned the fruit stand where Jaslyn got her fruit from. “I think that Renzo picked the right one in you, Jaslyn. Renzo and I graduated high school together, so I’ve known him for most of my life. When he was with Melanie, he was miserable. Even though he never wanted people to notice, I did along with some of his friends. Melanie was not his type from the get go, way too uppity. Always thought everybody in town was below her just because she was a model and had been all over the world.” Marilyn scoffed.

  “She always went around town in some of the most outlandish outfits, kind of like the dress she wore when she came in here. After they got the divorce, it seemed that she could get with whoever she wanted. But when it came to Renzo trying to find interest in any woman here in town or outside of town, she made sure he was miserable. I know she has someone spying on him at the restaurant because honestly how could she have known that you guys were having lunch here at the shop?” Delia pointed out to her.

  “Do you remember Rebecca, Delia?” Marilyn interrupted. Jaslyn listened to Delia groan when she said the girl’s name.

  “Who’s Rebecca?” Jaslyn asked.

  “Lord have mercy Rebecca, now that’s a name I haven’t heard in months. Actually, it’s been I would say about three and a half years now since that incident happened. Rebecca worked over at Tilly’s flower shop, she did some of the most beautiful arrangements you had ever seen in your life. She met Renzo by way of a delivery, one of the waitress’ husbands had some flowers sent for her birthday. Well, this was her first time going to the restaurant and she had been here for like what…I think it was about two months. She brought the bouquet there and he gloated on how beautiful the flowers were and introduced himself. That’s all it took for her to fall head over heels in love with him. So for the next couple of months, she would go and have lunch at the restaurant. Always sitting in the same booth, right where she could see him go walking by. I think this went on for about a year.” Delia looked over to Marilyn as if she was trying to remember whether she was right or not.

  “You’re right. It went on for about a year. It took Renzo no time to realize that she had a thing for him. He thought it was sweet because honestly Rebecca was a pretty girl, a bit on the thick side, but still a beautiful girl. He would go and chat with her when she came in. He was only being hospitable, but they soon struck up a good friendship. Well this particular day, Rebecca had come back from being out of town. Her mother had been really sick in the hospital. She came into the restaurant and of course sat in her booth. They struck up a conversation and of course she was pretty upset because she just found out that her mother had cancer.”

  “Oh no, that’s awful…wait a minute. How do you guys both know all of this anyways?” Jaslyn wondered.

  “Well, I found out from Renzo himself about her mother being sick,” Marilyn told her.

  “And I found out about the rest from Rebecca, we had been friends when she first moved here just like I am with you. Go on, Marilyn, finish it up.”

  “Well Renzo of course being the gentleman he is, comforted her by holding her hand and telling her that things would be all right. If she needed any help he would be willing to help her. While they had been talking, it seemed someone had sent word to Melanie about them holding hands because she came into the restaurant, stormed over toward them, and went off on Rebecca like a sailor. Poor Rebecca didn’t get a word in edgewise to defend herself. People were eyeing the three of them and when they brought out her food, Melanie took her plate and threw it in the poor girl’s face. And it was hot food too. Her face and arms ended up getting burned from the sauce. Rebecca of course pressed charges on Melanie and after this incident, she left town.”

  Jaslyn couldn’t believe what she was hearing, never had she heard anything so horrific in her life. “But what happened to Rebecca though?”

  “Thanks to Melanie embarrassing her like she did, she ended up leaving town. People being nosy would come into the flower shop to see if they could see what Melanie had done to her. So she packed up and left, went to live with her mother until she passed away…which I think was about three months later. It was hard on her big time, but now she’s living in New Orleans with a husband and a baby. She owns her own floral shop there and she’s way better off now than she was back then. But that’s what she had to deal with as far as Melanie and her wrath.”

  “Damn, that is insane. I honestly can’t believe that she went and did that to that poor girl. Can I ask you this…was there any others besides me?”

  “Oh yes, and every single one of them ended up getting into trouble with Melanie. I swear that woman has her own private cell in jail. But you my friend are totally different than the rest of the women that have come across Renzo’s path.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “Because you were the only one who stood up to her, you stood your ground with her. You didn’t ba
ck down from her crap and she couldn’t get over it. I really think you were meant to be together, Jaslyn, you both need each other. The love that you both are starting to have for each other will grow into something that neither one of you expect it to be. Just take your time, get to know and love one another. So what are you going to wear out on your date tonight?”

  Jaslyn smiled at the two women who had been her friends since she first came to Kellington. “Well, what I have in mind is something simple yet sexy. I wonder what he has planned for us tonight?”

  “With Renzo, there is no telling what he could be up to, either way it will be something for both of you to remember for a very long time.” Marilyn patted Jaslyn’s arm and left the two with a wave.

  “Do you really think we have a chance, me and Renzo?”

  “Of course I do, I honestly think you two were made for each other. Just take your time and when the moment comes, man it will be explosive between you two.”

  “What do you mean explosive between us two?” Jaslyn chuckled.

  “You know.” Delia rolled her eyes a bit even though Jaslyn knew what she meant but just wanted her to actually say it.

  “Go on and say it, woman, we are adults here, you know.”

  “When you guys make love for the first time.”

  “Well, if something does happen tonight, it won’t be the first time.” Grabbing a dust rag and some Pledge, she hurried toward the back when she heard her say, “Oh my God, no way, you guys did it?”

  Jaslyn nodded while spraying some of the polish on one of the desks. She watched while Delia came over, grabbed the rag from her hand she asked, “Was this last night?”

  “Uh-huh, it was last night.”

  “So, how was it?” Delia questioned her, a grin extend across her face as she poked Jaslyn in the side.

  “All I can say is that it was absolutely amazing, the whole experience was like nothing I’ve ever had with a man. He actually loved me, body and soul last night, Delia. I told him everything about what happened between me and Gerald.” She found her throat starting to tightened a bit and then tears started to form when she thought about that night. “And he accepted me even after all the crap I have been through. He just wanted to love me for who I am and nothing more.” Feeling her friend’s arms close around her, she continued to cry, and these would be the last tears of pain she would ever let fall again. The only tears she would cry were those of joy and laughter from now on.

  Chapter Nine

  Renzo had been in his office, making last minute details for dinner that evening. He had planned on taking her over to the town of Shelley, which was about twenty miles away from Kellington. He had planned the perfect night, just for the two of them, involving an intimate dinner at La Cote Basque, a carriage ride through town and dancing. He even decided to rent a small cottage over at the Overton Cottages and Inn. Renzo wanted to make sure their time away, even if it was only one night, would be an enjoyable one. He couldn’t wait until she saw all of the surprises he had planned for her.

  He heard the phone ring, and immediately picked it up. “Thank you for calling Filomena’s, this is Mr. Cipriano speaking.”

  “Hi there, Renzo, this is Megan over at Tilly’s. I wanted to let you know that those orchids just came in.”

  “Great, that’s fine. I wanted to just have a small corsage made for the wrist like we said.”

  “I will get on that right now. I’ll call you back to let you know when it’s ready to be picked up.”

  “Thanks, Megan, talk with you then. Goodbye.” When he hung up, he heard a knock on his door. He looked over and saw his mother standing in the doorway. “Mom, I see you are checking up on me.” Getting up from his chair, he greeted his mother with a kiss on her cheek.

  “I was heading over to pick up some things for the party and thought I’d come and see how everybody was. You seem so upbeat, my dear, I like this look on you. Does a certain young lady have anything to do with it?”

  Renzo took his mother’s hand, kissing it softly. “Yeah, a certain beautiful young woman has really made me see the world around me just a bit brighter. I’m planning something for us this evening over in Shelley. I think it will be perfect, especially after all that has happened to her as of late. We went to the police station and found out that Melanie had some alterative plans besides the trashing of Jaslyn’s car.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Renzo was hesitant about even letting his mother know what Officer Taylor had told them but, of course, it was something that had to be said. “It seems that Melanie had planned on doing more damage to Jaslyn by burning down her shop or her home.”

  He heard a gasp of shock come from his mother. “You can’t be serious. I mean he really said all that? What about poor Jaslyn or Delia? What if they had been in the shop or Jaslyn was at home?”

  “Well it seems that even if anyone was in the shop or at her home, Melanie wanted the job done.”

  “Buon Dio, I knew the woman was crazy but I didn’t think she was demented enough to want to do something like that.”

  “This is why I plan on getting her out of town for the evening, just so she can have some peace of mind without worry,” Renzo said, receiving a smile from her in return.

  “You are more like your father every day.” Getting up she kissed his forehead as he got up too. “So where are you taking her tonight?”

  “I’m taking her out for dinner, a carriage ride, and dancing. Are you going by Tilly’s?”

  “Actually, I had just come from over there before I went to Roberta’s about some things for the party I wanted. Why do you ask, dear?”

  “Could you go by there for me and pick up the flowers I got for Jaslyn for tonight?”

  “But of course, my dear. I would be happy to do that for you.” They started to pass through the kitchen when they saw Warren heading toward them with open arms. “Mrs. Cipriano, it’s so good to see you again.”

  “Hello, my dear Warren, it’s wonderful to see you as well. How are Priscilla and the children doing?”

  “Doing just fine, thank you, I’ll let them know you asked about them. I’m glad you are here. I want you to try something that I am testing out to see about adding to the menu sometime soon. I think it needs something, but I just don’t know what it could be.” They all walked back into the kitchen, some of the other chefs said their hellos to Filomena as she made her way over toward the stove. Once he took the lid off the pot, steam evaporated from whatever was cooking inside of it.

  “Whatever it is, it’s making my mouth water with the aroma,” Filomena told him while Renzo watched him stir what looked like lamb shank in a delicious brown sauce.

  “Let me get a bowl for you to taste.” Grabbing the spoon, he got some of the beef, which seemed to just fall from the bone as he ladled some of the sauce over it. Renzo grabbed a fork and handed it to his mother. Once she got herself a piece, she blew on it to cool it and took a bite. Both men watched and waited for her to say something. It was as if everybody in the kitchen had stopped what they were doing. They had respected her just that much for whatever comment or bit of advice she gave as far as cooking was concerned, they listened.

  “Do you have oranges?” She put the bowl down on the stainless steel table, walked over toward the huge refrigerator, opening it up to stand there staring at the array of food within it.

  “I think we have some blood oranges down in the bin.” They watched her go into the bin and grab three oranges then go over to where the knives were; she selected one from the magnetic strip from the wall. Just like the pro she was, Renzo watched his mom work magic in the kitchen after cutting and seeding the oranges, she began to squeeze the juice from two of them into the pot before stirring it up once more. “Now I want you to let this simmer for another five minutes, I think you will like the taste. It needed a bit of fresh squeezed orange juice to it. You will notice the flavor will really come out when you taste it. Now I must go, everybody have a wonderful afternoon.�
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  Everybody said their goodbyes when the two left the kitchen, walking arm in arm to the door. “I’ll talk with you later, my dear.” Giving him a kiss on the cheek, Renzo opened the door for his mother and she walked up the street. He looked over toward the shop. His heart beat just a bit faster, thinking about all that would happen tonight.

  * * * *

  When Jaslyn heard the grandfather clock chime throughout the shop, she knew that it was time to close up. After going around once more along with setting the alarm, both ladies walked out the door and Delia locked it. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” Jaslyn told her.

  “Have fun tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow.” They waved their goodbyes while Jaslyn walked her way toward the restaurant. When she walked inside, she was greeted by the hostess, “Why hello, Ms. Whitman, how are you?”

  “I’m doing just fine thanks. I’m here to meet with Mr. Cipriano, please.”

  Grabbing the phone, Jaslyn watch her press a button, silently waiting for him to answer. “Yes, Mr. Cipriano, you wanted me to call you when Ms. Whitman arrived and she has. All right, sir.” Hanging up the phone she smiled. “He’s on his way.”

  Jaslyn nodded while slowly moving away from the podium. It didn’t take long for him to come to the front and the first thing she heard him say was, “Hello, darling.” He took her in his arms. A low growl rose from his throat when he held her.

  “Are you ready for me?” she asked him.

  “I was going to ask you the same thing. Goodnight, Kelly.”

  They made their way out to his car and he hit the button on his key fob to open up the doors. Once he opened the door for her, she got inside as he made his way over to the driver’s side. “So where are we headed tonight for dinner?”

  When he started the car and pulled out onto the street, he said, “If I told you where we are going, then it wouldn’t be much of a surprise would it? All I can say is that when you go to get your clothes for tonight, make sure you have a change of clothes for tomorrow.”