Home is a Long Time Ago

by William F Lee

  The reception is held in the main dining area of the all new "Gallagher's" restaurant. It's set up with a small head table for the bride and groom, and they are surrounded by Sean, Grace, Colt, Gina and Father Grace. A small area is cleared for dancing and off to its side is a small band from Manahawkin. Young, not polished, but good and eager to please. The other tables are decorated with flowers and a sit-down dinner will be served to all with dancing after. This is also the first test of the restaurant's staff.

  When the time is right, Sean rises from his seat, calls for silence by tapping on his glass, and offers a toast. He goes directly behind Pete and Anna. Kisses Anna on the cheek, hugs Pete, then says, "Folks, I have two toasts. One is Irish of course, the other an old Italian custom which I will offer later. And speaking of custom, I remind you gentlemen that our beautiful bride, Anna, is wearing a satin bag around her neck. As many of you know, it's a La Bossa. You may place your envelopes in it if you choose, and also for you gentlemen, you merely place a bit of cash in the bag for a dance with the bride."

  Sean then raises his glass of wine and says, "A toast to Ponzio and Anna." He turns to face the two, says, "An Irish toast. May you enjoy the four greatest blessings: Pete, honest work to occupy you. A hearty appetite to sustain you. A good woman to love you. And Anna, a wink from the God above."

  The crowd on their feet shout, "Here. Here," and drink their wine. The ladies a sip, most of the men guzzle the entire glass. Pete and Anna hug Sean, Grace, Colt, and Gina. They politely nod to the priest.

  When all have settled, Grace asks for quiet. When the guests, still on their feet, settle, Grace says, "And I have a toast as well." She turns to Pete and Anna, says, "First in Gaelic, or in the Irish as we say:

  Slancha ga shell agat

  Ban ir da vian agat

  Toluv gan kis agat

  Lanov gach blean agat

  Iss solas na vlahas taraish antail sha agat.

  Which means, Health for life to you. A wife of your choice to you. Land without rent to you. A child every year to you. And the light of heaven after the world for you." She smiles, then adds, "I like it, but perhaps you should think about the fourth line," she laughs softly, then adds, "Cheers." Grace raises her glass and takes a sip of wine as do all the others.

  Anna pushes Pete playfully and retorts for all to hear, "No bambinos. Ponzio is enough." The gathering boo and laugh at the humor.

  Dinner is served and halfway through the meal Sean rises again, gains attention of the guests and shouts, "A toast for the newlyweds. The other one I spoke of earlier. It is a traditional Italian toast which should be followed by thunderous applause. It is: Evviva gli sposini! It means, 'Hurray for the newlyweds'." The guests repeat the toast, drink wine and Sean starts the applause. The guests follow. Then Sean shouts again, "The reason for the toast is to keep the party alive. Any time it starts to get too quiet, someone should rise and offer the toast again." The guests applaud again and one of the fishing boat captains rises and shouts, "Evviva gli sposini!" and the guests drink and respond with applause again.

  There are several of the traditional Italian toasts throughout the meal and dessert. When all have finished, Sean rises again, gets the attention of the guests, some of whom are now standing at the bar. "Folks, we have just two more traditions to follow before the dancing. First a blessing by the good Father Grace."

  Father Grace, white haired and slightly bent, is long out of his robes and in his traditional black suit and collar. With his gentle face and quiet voice he waits for the people to settle. Then says simply, "Go mbeannai Dia is Muire duit, or for possibly all with the exception of Grace and myself: May God and Mary bless you," and he nods to Anna and Pete. The guests say in unison, "God and Mary bless you." The glasses go up once again and several of the fishing captains blurt out, "Evviva gli sposini," and the applause thunders again with some good old fashion American yelps and "Ouh Rahs" from Sean, followed by Colt.

  Sean gets everyone's attention once again. Calls Anna and Pete to the front edge of the table and says, "One last tradition." He puts a wine glass on a small tarp that has been placed on the carpet in front of the head table for just this occasion. He says to the guests, "Pete must break this glass, and the number of shattered pieces will symbolize the years they'll share together." He looks to Pete, "My ol' friend, the time is now."

  Pete, with Anna at his side, stomps the glass. It shatters into dozens and dozens of pieces. Anna smiles, "Thank goodness. There are more years than we have left." She smiles and adds, Evviva gli sposnini and let's dance.

  The guests applaud once again; the music starts; the first dance is with Ponzio but not before he must give his bride a long, meaningful kiss for all to see. After the first dance the gentlemen come forward placing money in Anna's La Bossa; and the party is on. After the dishes have been cleared, Sean invites the staff to join the party. Time passes all too quickly, and it's time for Anna and Pete to leave. Anna tosses her bouquet as discreetly as possible, but directly to Grace. All cheer. Then Pete removes Anna's garter, and instead of tossing it, simply walks over and hands it to Sean. Colt, standing next to his Mom, pumps his fist, and shouts, "Yeah!" Sean and Grace look at Colt who has flushed a deep red beneath his tan. Then all smile.

  Pete and Anna leave, running to Sean's pick-up. They'll use it for their trip to JFK, an overnight stay at an airport hotel. Then tomorrow their trip to Rome.

  * * *

  When all the guests have departed, Sean and Grace stroll hand in hand to the Wanderer. They find Colt there, taking the ribbons down. He smiles, gives his mom a hug and whispers in her ear, "Home by eleven. Tomorrow's a workday." She pushes him away and both laugh.

  Sean asks, "What was that about?"

  "Nothin'. Tell you later."

  Sean smiles at Colt, "Thanks, Skipper. For the cleanup."

  Colt pulls Sean aside and in a whisper tells him about his visit with the old man, and the oath of secrecy. Sean pulls away, pauses, then says, "Okay, this one time we'll let the old man have his secret," and he smiles, then pats Colt on the shoulder.

  Colt whispers, "Thanks, Dad," then loud enough his mom can hear, "I have a bottle of that good Chianti set out for you two. Have a good time," and he's off to his mother's car and home.

  * * *

  Once topside in the suite, Sean takes off his tie and jacket. Grace is wearing a creamy beige pants suit with matching heels. She, too, takes off her jacket revealing a green silk long sleeve blouse that highlights her auburn hair. Her jewelry consists of a lone, inexpensive old ID bracelet that Sean gave her many years ago. She hasn't worn it in over eighteen years; it has been resting in its original case in a bottom drawer of her dresser awaiting a never expected rebirth.

  She steps next to Sean at the cabinet where he is about to pour two glasses of the Chianti. She takes his arm, turns him facing her, and says, "First, what was Colt whispering to you about?"

  Sean explains. Grace nods and says, "You'll have to show me everything. Please? No secrets, right?"

  "I will one day soon."

  Then Grace pulls Sean closer and whispers, "Thank you for a wonderful day and on behalf of everyone, thank you for what you have done for Anna and Pete. The wedding. The reception. The beautiful toasts. Your pick-up. The hotel. And the marvelous trip to Rome. You're a good man, Sean Gallagher," and she kisses him on the cheek. Pauses, looks him in the eyes and murmurs, "Hell, I can do better that that . . . and will." She puts both arms around him, kisses him on the mouth. He responds. Grace responds. One kiss turns into two; three potato, four.

  Grace takes in a tiny gasp and whispers, "We better stop or I'll be in a heap of trouble, Laddie." Both laugh. Sean pours each a glass of wine, and they stroll out onto the outer deck and stand by the rail taking in the smells of the bay, the flickering lights from docked fishing boats and yachts, and the seemingly thousands of blinking stars in the vastness of a darkened coastal night.

  Grace slips out of her heels and kicks them under the table behind
them. "That feels better." Takes a sip of wine, looks up to Sean and says, "We make a good pair, don't we?"

  "We do at that." An odd look creeps across his face. He reaches down and lifts Grace's wrist. His jaw drops open for a brief moment. Then a slight grin steals across his face, and he asks, "Is this the--"

  "Yes."

  "You kept this all these years. My God, what for? I mean I would have thought you would have tossed it, or if nothing else, it would have simply gotten lost."

  "No, not this. This was all I had of you until Colt came along. Then I had him every day. A much better keepsake. This," raising her wrist, "I put away for . . . for a special occasion. I never thought one would come, but tonight is just that." She pauses, takes a sip of her wine, followed by another breath. "At first I hoped you would return to me. Then as time passed I went from one emotion to another. Every one imaginable. It's been a roller coaster ride, but it has ended well." She takes in another breath of air, adds, "So, there you have it."

  "My God, Grace. Amazing. What did I ever do to deserve you? And Colt?"

  She smiles coyly, "I can answer the second question easily, but I would have thought you knew," and laughs softly.

  Sean shakes his head slowly, smiles and says, "Geez, what to do with you?"

  "You can make an honest woman of me, if you have a mind to, Sean Padraig Gallagher."

  Sean stands gazing into Grace's eyes. Those same morn-mist-on-the-heather eyes he fell in love with years ago. A few moments pass in silence. Then he says, "You're not kidding, are you?"

  "No. Not a bit. I love you. I always have. I rarely dated. I never married. I just went from love, through however many emotions there are, to hate. Back and forth. To and from. Through longing, frustration, wanting, hoping, and many more, and oh so many times. I'm back to love, where I've always been, I suppose. I knew it again the day I saw you walking away from the bank weeks ago. I panicked a little, but I was like a school girl with her first crush. Sean, I love you. Still. Always." She leans up and gives him a peck on the cheek, then a quick bite on the ear lobe.

  Sean puts his arm around her waist, pulls her tight and says, "I wish I could go back and live life over again and do this right. But, I can't. However, I'm not going to lose you a second time. I love you too, Grace, and we'll just have to make up for those lost years I brought upon us."

  "Can we start tonight?" She giggles like a schoolgirl, then turns her face up to his and they kiss again, and again.

  Sean takes her by the hand and leads her inside saying as they go, "We can," and he picks her up in his arms and continues into the bedroom suite. "And we will."

  "Sounds wonderful to me, but Colt told me I had to be home by eleven. It's a workday tomorrow." She giggles. Then, "That's what he whispered in my ear when we came on board." She nips Sean on the ear lobe as he puts her down.

  "He did, did he? Well, you're not going to make it."

  "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

  That saved a wretch like me....

  I once was lost but now am found,

  Was blind, but now, I see.

  John Newton

  EPILOGUE

  Peter and Anna cross St. Peter's Piazza to the church. Stand for a moment with their group of tourists, led by the ever present guide. They stare up at the two statues. The guide says, "These two huge statues are of the first century apostles to Rome. Saint Peter and Saint Paul." He waits for a moment then announces, "Come, we will enter now."

  Inside the great cathedral the group stands in awe. The guides takes in a deep breath. One of pride for sure. He says in his best broken English, "This is The Papal Basillica of Saint Peter, in Latin it is," he pauses collecting himself. Goes on, "Basillica Sancti Petri. And officially known in Italian as the Basillica Papale de San Pietro in Vaticano. It is the largest interior of any Christian Church in the world, holding 60,000 people." As he continues his tour monologue, Ponzio creeps away from the group. Wanders to a spot of solitude, head up gazing at the beauty and the sanctity of this most holy place.

  Quietly he drops to his knees on a prayer rail in a pew, tears begin running down his cheeks. He looks up toward a ceiling that seems to reach to the heavens and says softly, "God, I thank you for bringing my Sean and Grace together. And their son, Colt. Please forgive them for their sins, and bless them with love and peace hereafter. May their troubles be less, and your blessing be more. And nothing but happiness comes through their door. Thank you, God." Pete gets up, turns to rejoin the group that is moving toward him, guide still talking. Pete stops, turns again facing in the direction he had just knelt and whispers, "God, I didn't mean to interfere with your plan. I won't again. No more secrets." He blesses himself in the sign of the cross, tilts his head listening for the sound of thunder. Hearing none, he smiles and he rejoins the group and Anna.

  She whispers, "Where have you been?" Then sees the tears in the old man's eyes. "Never mind. I know. All is good now."

  The Lord has promised good to me...

  His word my hope secures.

  He will my shield and portion be...

  as long as life endures.

  John Newton

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  William F. Lee is a retired Marine Officer and a fomer business executive of EDS. His Corps career spanned twenty years, two wars, and included nine personal decorations and five unit citations. He retired from business as Director, EDS International Human Resources. He’s published five novels, two winning Book of the Year awards from the NTBF in 2007 and 2008. These were The Light Side of Damnation and The Boys in Blue White Dress. His short story, Reincarnation of Bernarr was published in the anthology, Patchwork Path: Dad’s Bowtie. Once Upon a Nightmare was next. This is his fifth novel, entitled, Home is a Long Time Ago published by Sunbury Press, Inc.

  He is a member of the Lesser North Texas Writer’s Group; Writer’s Guild of Texas (WGT); Military Writer’s Society of America (MWSA); Marine Corps Association (MCA); Military Officers Association of American (MOAA), he is a Founding Director of the Iwo Jima Memorial Flags Foundation; member of Center House Association (CHA); a member of the 8th and “I” Reunion Association; and a member and actor of the Heritage Ranch Theater Guild. .

  He lives with his wife, JoAnn, in Heritage Ranch, Fairview, Texas. They've been married 56 years. Their children, grandchildren, and one great-grandchild live nearby in Texas.