Blind Man's Bluff

by Gene Lembrick

  Poppa De Luca shakes his son’s hand.

  “Hey son, who do we have here with you?”

  “Momma, Poppa, this is Rosa Battista, my girlfriend.”

  Mother De Luca gives Adriano a look that could kill. Father De Luca knows his wife very well; he looks at her and gestures for her to relax. Father De Luca takes it upon himself to make Rosa feel welcome. He walks over and gives her a soft embrace.

  “Welcome into our home.”

  “Thank you so much for having me,” says Rosa, feeling slightly more relaxed.

  Poppa De Luca goes to his son and nudges him in the arm. He puts his son in a headlock and says, “Look at you bringing Ms. Universe into the house.”

  Adriano and his father laugh, but Mother De Luca isn’t amused by their juvenile antics; she hasn’t moved her unblinking eyes away from Rosa for one second. Rosa tries to act like it doesn’t bother her.

  Mother De Luca looks at her son a long moment, then finally speaks,

  “Girlfriend? Adriano, what is this nonsense about a girlfriend? I haven’t agreed to this woman nor had I met her.”

  “Momma, you’re embarrassing me.”

  “I’m doing no such thing,” she replies defiantly. “Leave my home, madam!” Mother De Luca walks out of the office.

  “Momma!” Adriano yells.

  Father De Luca says, “Maybe you both should leave; you know how protective she is of you with women.”

  “Poppa, I’m 26 years old now. She has to let go. She has no right insulting Rosa like that!”

  “I agree. I’ll talk to her. Rosa, I’m sorry. Nice meeting you.”

  “Nice meeting you as well.” Father De Luca gives her a comforting rub of her shoulder to express his remorse, then walks out of the office.

  An angry Adriano says, “Let’s get out of here!” As he storms out of the mansion, Rosa has to speed-walk to try and catch up to him.

  “Sweetie, calm down.”

  Adriano stops and turns to face the woman he loves.

  “I can’t believe Momma could be so rude! Who is she to say that I can’t love whomever I want?”

  Rosa rubs his shoulder. “She just loves you; it’ll be okay.” Adriano begins to calm down. He can’t believe that Rosa understands, even though his mother treated her like trash.

  “A first impression is a lasting impression. She didn’t even give you a chance to say hello.”

  “Some other time, sweetie. As of now, I want to see your city. Let’s enjoy Milan!”

  From the upstairs bedroom window, Momma De Luca is looking out at her son, her only child, leaving with some evil stranger. Father De Luca enters the room.

  “Listen.”

  She turns to face him, and stops him mid-sentence. “No, you listen! I will not let an opportunist have my son! She wants what he has; all of them do.”

  “We don’t know that about her. Our boy is very intelligent; look how well he runs the business.”

  “I wouldn’t care if he ran the country; men are weak! If it weren’t for me watching out for him there’s no telling where he’d be today! She’s beautiful, but most likely common trash. I won’t allow a woman to bring him down.”

  “I doubt that he’ll allow that to happen. Have you forgotten that you raised him and taught him everything that you know? If you’re saying that, then you feel that you haven’t done a good job raising him.” He laughs at his own cleverness and kisses her on the cheek.

  “You think this a joke and now you want to spin my words up,” his wife says.

  • • •

  Adriano and Rosa are visiting the places he loves in Milan. As the sun sets, they arrive at a hill top overlooking the city. Adriano goes into the trunk of his Lamborghini and pulls out a bottle of wine and blanket. They enjoy watching the sunset in each other’s company. Mother De Luca’s rude behavior is a distant memory.

  • • •

  After a month, Adriano feels it’s time to get Rosa and his mother together again. With his father’s help, he convinces him to bring his mother out to eat in a restaurant, where he’ll bring Rosa, as well. Adriano figures if his mother is in a public setting, she’ll be less rude and won’t want to tarnish the family’s good name.

  Mr. and Mrs. De Luca enter the restaurant first as Adriano and Rosa watch from his car. He allows them a few minutes to get settled into their seats.

  “Are you ready?”

  “Of course, I am,” Rosa replies, with a kiss.

  They walk into the exclusive restaurant that only the wealthy can afford to frequent. Adriano says, “Mother. Father.” Mother De Luca is surprised and not happy to see Rosa. She and Adriano haven’t spoken about Rosa since that first meeting; Momma assumed Rosa was in his past.

  “Hello, son. Rosa,” says Mr. De Luca.

  “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. De Luca.” Mrs. De Luca just stares, but Rosa is no longer intimidated and just smiles at Mother De Luca, who looks at her son and asks, “Why is she here?”

  Father De Luca leans over toward his wife and whispers in her ear, “Please, don’t embarrass me in public.” Mother De Luca straightens herself up and asks in a softer tone, “Why is she here?”

  Just as Adriano is beginning to speak, Rosa stops him by squeezing his hand.

  “I’m here to make your acquaintance, Mr. and Mrs. De Luca,” Rosa says coolly.

  “Don’t get smart with me, missy,” Mother De Luca says quietly. “Well, don’t stand there looking foolish. Sit down, for now.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. De Luca.”

  “I’m not impressed with your politeness, hussy.”

  Rosa doesn’t let Mother De Luca’s insult get to her.

  “It’s just in my nature, ma’am.”

  Mother De Luca rolls her eyes.

  As Adriano and Rosa sit down, Mother De Luca leans over to her husband and whispers, “You have something to do with this. You’ll be hearing about this once we get home, mister. I don’t appreciate being ambushed.”

  Father just keeps smiling at his son and Rosa.

  They all place their orders. Father orders the brasato al vino-stew made from wine-marinated beef. Mother orders the paniscia di novara, rice with borlotti beans, salame sotto grasso and red wine. Adriano orders the carne cruda all’albese, steak tartare with truffles. At Adriano’s recommendation, Rosa orders the risotto alla piemontese risotto cooked with meat broth and seasoned with nutmeg.

  Dinner is quiet, but respectful. Mr. De Luca decides to break the tension with a story that he’s told often about Adriano. “This guy right here nearly gave me a heart attack when he was about two-years-old.” Adriano believes he knows the story; however, Mrs. De Luca isn’t as familiar with it. He has Rosa’s attention. She asks, “How so, Mr. De Luca?”

  “When Adriano was two, I gave his mother a chance to have a break and get out of the house, and I figured, ‘How hard could it be to take care of him at that age?’ This was before our company really took off; I was working 24/7 to make ends meet. I lay down with Adriano. I was exhausted. However, little Adriano was up and ready to go play with me. I told him, no, it’s time for an afternoon nap. When I lay back down with him, I held him in a headlock, thinking that it would softly secure him for maybe a brief half-hour nap. I dozed off for maybe 10 minutes or so, and when I woke up Adriano was nowhere to be found.”

  A shocked mother De Luca says, “You lost my child!”

  “Let me finish.”

  “Why are you laughing?” She looks at Adriano and asks, “Do you know this story?” Adriano shares his father’s laugh, and says, “Yes, Momma, it’s good, let him finish.”

  “I guess I’m the last to know, and I find out along with this stranger.”

  Father De Luca is now slightly annoyed with his wife. “Will you hush? Adriano is sitting right there so obviously everything turned out fine.”

>   An intrigued Rosa asks, “How did you find him?”

  “I searched the house from top to bottom. He was nowhere in sight. I looked under the bed, I looked in the closets. I checked all the doors. They were all locked, so there’s no way he could have gotten out or kidnapped. I checked the windows. They were sealed shut. My heart was racing; I couldn’t understand where my son could be. I was a nervous wreck. Suddenly, I heard a banging. I walked toward the noise; it got louder as I walked toward the kitchen. Once in the kitchen, it got louder as I approached the sink. I opened up the cabinet door underneath the sink and there I saw little Adriano inside. He was banging the pots and pans with a spoon as if it were a drum set. He smiled the biggest two-tooth smile I’ve ever seen. He was having a blast while I was having a heart attack.”

  Adriano, Rosa and Father De Luca laugh together. Even Mother De Luca cracks a smile, which Rosa happens to catch before it disappears.

  “To this very day I can’t figure out how the hell he managed to close the door behind himself. I walked in and out of that kitchen, twice, looking for him.”

  Mother De Luca taps her fingers on the table as she stares at Rosa, who answers her scowl with a pleasant smile.

  “So, Whore-sa, where do you come from?”

  “Momma!”

  Rosa pats Adriano on the hand to suggest that she has everything under control. Calmly, Rosa says, “It’s Rosa, Mrs. De Luca., R.O.S.A. I live in Bari.”

  “Oh, so you’re a southerner,” says Mrs. De Luca, unimpressed.

  “What does your family do?”

  “My parents are farmers, ma’am.”

  “Ah, so I am right about you. You’re an opportunist, no?”

  Adriano tries to keep his cool; however, it’s very noticeable by the way he rubs his temples that he’s upset.

  Rosa stands her ground and doesn’t allow Mrs. De Luca to upset her. Adriano is more bent out of shape than she is. As cool as can be, Rosa answers, “No, I’m not, ma’am. I come from a very proud family. When I met Adriano I knew nothing about him.”

  “This is true, Momma; Rosa knew nothing about me until much later.”

  “So you’re a farmer, as well?” Mrs. De Luca asks.

  “Yes, I do help out the family, but I’m also a chambermaid at a local hotel in Bari.”

  “Adriano is a great come-up for you.” Mrs. De Luca looks at her only child with pleading eyes. “Adriano, she’s so beneath you.”

  Adriano doesn’t say a word, but only looks disappointed in his mother. Mr. De Luca is embarrassed by his wife’s rudeness.

  “Yes, he’s a major come-up for me. I’ve found someone who loves me like none other.” Rosa lays her head on Adriano’s shoulder.

  Mr. De Luca smiles because he loves how Rosa’s words defeat his wife’s rudeness. “I like you, Rosa,” he says. “My son chose wisely.” Mrs. De Luca gives her husband a look that could kill.

  “Thank you, Mr. De Luca, I appreciate that.”

  “Thank you, Poppa. Your saying that means a lot to me.”

  Mrs. De Luca looks at her husband and says, “It’s time to go.”

  Adriano and Rosa stand up. “It was wonderful having dinner with you Mr. and Mrs. De Luca. I hope to see you soon. Goodnight.”

  Mrs. De Luca doesn’t address Rosa, only looks her up-and down.

  “It was great seeing you, as well,” Mr. De Luca says. “Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight, Momma, Poppa.”

  Mother De Luca gives her son a kiss on the cheek and walks ahead of Mr. De Luca out of the restaurant.

  Once outside, Rosa says, “Your mother is one tough one.”

  “She’ll eventually come around; she has no choice but to. She just has to get used to the idea of sharing me with another woman. I love how you handled yourself.”

  Rosa makes a fist, and then says, “Trust me, if it were any other woman than your mother, things would have been rather different.”

  “I’m sure of it,” Adriano says with a laugh.

  “Your father is a true gentleman; you must take after him,” Rosa says. They head out of the restaurant to enjoy the night-life of Milan.

  Rosa Hails Ronaldo Zaprini

  Six months have passed since Rosa had dinner with Mr. and Mrs. De Luca in Milan.

  She decides to catch a train from Bari to Milan to surprise Adriano on his return home from a business trip. As soon as he sees her, Adriano is planning on presenting Rosa with a 7.7-carat engagement ring and asking her to marry him. He figures the number seven will bring luck; that is, if she says yes. He chuckles at that thought, for he has no doubt that she’ll say yes.

  It’s a cold January, what locals call “giornate della merla,” “days of the black bird.” Rosa dresses warmly for her journey north. The train ride from Bari to Milan is 486 miles, nearly eight hours. A flight would be much quicker; however, it’s not in her budget. Her pride won’t allow her to use any of Adriano’s money; Rosa won’t give Mother De Luca any ammunition against her. An excited Rosa boards the train at 9 a.m.; she’ll be in Milan by dinnertime.

  Rosa isn’t the only one looking to surprise Adriano. His mother is going to fix him a hot meal to welcome him home from his week in Trieste. Adriano is a grown man, but in his mother’s heart and mind, he’s still eight. If he’d allow it, she’d wrap a bib around him and feed him herself. She’s planning to make Bolognese lasagna with porcini ricotta filling from scratch. A nice hearty meal after eating out every night will be just what he needs. She goes grocery shopping on her way to Adriano’s apartment; she knows he won’t have all her needed ingredients.

  It’s early in the afternoon when Mrs. De Luca arrives at Adriano’s second-floor flat in the heart of Milan, and she lets herself in with her spare key. Momma De Luca isn’t pleased to see framed photos of Rosa throughout his apartment. There’s one of Adriano and Rosa together, and Momma De Luca lays it down, a small victory; at least that’s how she feels, and she celebrates with a laugh. She hasn’t seen or heard of Rosa Battista since dinner months ago. She hopes that woman is a part of Adriano’s past; unfortunately for Momma, that’s not the case. She begins to prepare a meal for her son.

  • • •

  Rosa arrives in the city at a little past 5 p.m.; Adriano’s flight is to arrive at 7. Since there’s a little bit of sun-light left, Rosa decides to walk around and get a bite to eat before heading to Adriano’s apartment.

  • • •

  Adriano is on his flight home, tired from a long week away from home, and away from Rosa. He pulls out the ring he purchased for her and he admires it; he has visions of placing it on her finger the moment he sees her.

  • • •

  Rosa is now exhausted from her walking, and the evening air is growing colder. She digs into her pocket for her key, grateful there’s just one flight of stairs to walk up.

  Once on the second floor, Rosa pauses to gather herself. Those sixteen steps felt like sixty. She turns the key to the apartment door and enters. Before she can close the door behind her, Mother De Luca comes from the kitchen wiping her hands on a dish-towel.

  Expecting her son, Mrs. De Luca says, “Welcome home!” Both women are shocked to see the other.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” an enraged Mother De Luca asks. “Are you trying to steal from my son?”

  Rosa is frozen stiff in front of the open door.

  “Well?” the older woman asks.

  “No,” Rosa finally says. “I’m no thief; I came up to surprise Adriano.”

  “How did you get in? Did you play with the lock?”

  Rosa shows Mrs. De Luca her key.

  Mother De Luca tries to snatch the key out of Rosa’s hand, but Rosa quickly puts it back into her pocket.

  “Well, you need to go, now,” says Mother De Luca, nudging Rosa back out of the open door.

  Rosa stands
her ground, despite her fatigue. “I will do no such thing,” she says; “You’re the one that will be leaving!” This is the first time Rosa gives Mrs. De Luca some attitude, which isn’t something Momma is used to. Mother De Luca is rude to nearly everyone, but she can’t remember when someone fed her some of her own medicine.

  “How dare you speak to me in that tone!”

  “I’ve had just about enough of you and your horrible attitude!” says Rosa, “My kindness has waned; you’ve mistaken my kindness as a weakness!”

  They tussle. Mrs. De Luca slaps Rosa, which makes her fall backward into the hallway. Mrs. De Luca slams the door behind her. Rosa is already exhausted and feels dizzy. She attempts to stand, but before Rosa can gather her wits, she loses her balance, falls down the stairs, and is knocked out cold.

  Once she regains consciousness, she notices blood by her feet and her forehead. In a panic, she gets up from the floor, and runs out to the street to hail a taxi. While a taxi is pulling up to her, she gets in; just before closing the taxi door, she spits out blood onto the curb.

  “Where to?” says the driver, glancing behind him. “My God, woman, you don’t look so good!”

  Rosa is breathing heavily while holding her stomach. “Hospital!”

  The taxi driver presses hard on the pedal, and the car takes off. Rosa removes her hat, releasing her long hair from bondage. She is sweating like she’s run a mile and opens her coat to cool down.

  “Hurry, I’m pregnant!” Rosa screams.

  Her surprise trip to Milan is to inform Adriano that he’s going to be a father of a little girl in approximately four more months; Rosa found out yesterday the child’s gender. Adriano knew that he is going to be a dad, but unfortunately he had to take a sudden business trip that wouldn’t allow him to go with Rosa to her doctor’s appointment.

  The driver keeps his focus on the road, while also checking on Rosa in his rearview mirror. Even in her distress, her beauty is breathtaking.

  The driver arrives at the entrance to the emergency room. Rosa is leaning against the window, eyes closed. The driver blesses himself with the sign of the cross and kisses his fist.