My grandmother took Doug’s hand in hers. “None taken, caro ragazzo.”
In less than five minutes Doug had my sweet grandmother thinking he was a dear boy. This wasn’t a good sign for me. She had that same twinkle in her eye whenever a male doctor or staff person popped in while I was visiting. I knew without a doubt she was going to do her best to bring Doug and I together.
Nonnina understood and supported my decision to focus on my career, but she was old school, and wanted me to marry sooner rather than later. She had been married to the love of her life for fifty-one years and she wanted me to find mine. She was a strong woman who treasured family above all. She had her opinions, but ultimately my grandfather was the head of their household. Nonnina knew I wasn’t close to either of my parents and she wanted to make sure I had someone to take care of me when she was gone. Although, I told her in no uncertain terms that I didn’t need someone to take care of me, I couldn’t be mad at her love for me.
“Sophia, I see you brought a bag from Toffino’s.”
“Of course, Nonnina.” I walked to the dresser to get the bag of goodies. As I made my way back to my grandmother, I looked inside the bag. “I brought you a little bit of all your favorites. Amaretti cookies, biscotti to have with your tea, and cannoli.”
Clasping her hands together, my grandmother’s pale violet eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. “Grazie mille. You always bring the most wonderful goodies. Now get the good plates in the cabinet.”
“You mean your china?” I said a bit confused.
“Sì.”
“Nonnina, there’s no need for your china. We can use napkins.”
“Sophia Giavanna, we have a special guest. Please get four plates. You can put the goodies on one and we will use the others.”
A slight smirk crossed Doug’s face.
Jackass.
While I did as I was told, Nonnina directed Doug to the small bistro table in the corner of her room.
“Douglas, please move that chair so I can roll up to the table, then sit down by me.”
“Your wish is my command, Mrs. Cipriano.”
When I turned around with plates and cookies in hand, my sweet little grandmother was cozying up with my pain in the ass.
Placing the plates on the table, I said, “Here ya go.”
“Grazie, bellissima,” Nonnina said taking my hand. “You know where they have the coffee and tea in the sunroom?”
“Sì.”
“I’d like my usual tea. And Douglas, what would you like?”
Doug looked at me, smiling like the cat who swallowed the canary. It was quite obvious my grandmother was enamored of him and he knew it.
“I too would like a spot of tea, Sophia Giavanna.” He winked.
Smug bastard.
Against my better judgment, I headed out of Nonnina’s room and down the hallway to get tea, all the while wishing I had a shot of something much stronger.
WHEN IT WAS clear Sophie was out of range, her grandmother turned toward me with a sweet smile lighting up her face.
“I’m so glad my Sophia brought you today, Douglas.”
“Actually, I brought her. She’s having car trouble.”
“Oh dear, I hope it’s nothing serious. I worry about her. She never tells me when she’s having trouble.”
“She’s pretty independent,” I said.
She leaned in like she was going to tell me a secret. “And stubborn.”
“That she is. But you don’t have anything to worry about. Soph is a smart lady. Besides, I’ll keep an eye on her.”
She sat back in her chair with a look of contentment and pushed the plate of Italian goodies toward me.
“So Douglas, did you grow up here?”
I picked up one of the cream-filled cannoli. “Some would say I haven’t grown up yet. But yes, my family moved to town when I was a kid.”
She handed me a napkin. “And your family… are they still in town?”
“No, ma’am.” Running my finger around the edge of the pastry, I scooped up a heap of cream on the tip, then stuck it in my mouth. “Well, my brother lives here, but my parents live in Florida.”
“What do you do for a living?”
“I’m a biotechnologist,” I said with a mouth full of pastry.
“Oh my. That’s very impressive.”
“Eh, it’s a living.” I continued to eat.
“You must make a very good living. Certainly enough to provide you with a good home and car. Not to mention a good pension plan.”
I was beginning to get the impression that this was more than chit-chat to pass the time until Soph got back.
“I don’t want to brag, but I do all right.” I smiled.
Her shoulders shook slightly as a small laugh floated from her ruby red lips.
“Sophia has never mentioned you to me before. How long have you known each other?”
“Oh, about five years.”
“She’s beautiful both inside and out. Don’t you think?”
I shifted in my chair. “Yes, ma’am.”
Not that I’ve seen the inside beauty.
“The two of you seem very comfortable with each other,” she continued.
The hair on the back of my neck stood up. “Like I said, we’ve known each other for a long time.”
“Yes. Five years. How many of those years have you been taken with my granddaughter?”
I shoved the last bit of cannoli in my mouth and sat up straight. “Excuse me?”
“Taken. Smitten. Fancy. Carry a torch. Crush. Have the… um… hots for. Is that the term?”
My jaw went slack. “Yes, ma’am. That’s the term.”
With an aura of innocence, she blinked a couple of times waiting for my response.
“Well, Douglas, how many years?”
My gaze frantically swung between this sweet, but nosey, old lady and the door, wondering what the hell was keeping Sophie. It was just tea for God’s sake.
I scooted to the edge of my chair. “Maybe I should go see if Sophie needs help.”
She grabbed my arm with one hand while waving the other hand dismissively. “No, no, no. Sophia will be back soon enough. Although, there are quite a few handsome and successful doctors who routinely roam the premises. Perhaps she’s caught the eye of one of them.”
The old lady peered at me, looking for any signs of jealousy. Well, she was out of luck. I didn’t have a jealous bone in my body. I didn’t even know the meaning of the word jealous. The idea of Soph with some douche doctor was ridiculous.
I tilted my head from side to side, loosening my muscles that had all of a sudden become tense.
Soph needed a man who would challenge her. Set her ablaze with desire. Any doctor I ever met was uptight and boring.
As time ticked by and still no Sophie, the air in the room got stifling, making it harder to breathe. A few drops of sweat trickled down the back of my hot neck. My jaw ached from the hard clench it was in. And I felt lightheaded. I must have caught some kind of old person sickness. Holding the edge of the table, I shimmied my head and shoulders, trying to shake off the symptoms.
“Douglas, are you feeling all right?”
I blinked a couple of times to clear my noggin. “Yeah. I’m fine. Why?”
“You look a little green around the gills.” She placed her hand on top of mine. “I hope I didn’t upset you.”
“I’m not upset.”
“You seem upset.”
“Why would I be upset?”
“I don’t blame you. The idea of losing someone you’re meant to be with can cause discomfort, physically and emotionally.”
I chuckled. “With all due to respect, I think it’s time for your medication.”
“My Sophia has spent many years building walls. This I blame on her mother, my ex-daughter-in-law.” She rolled her eyes. “Sophia appears hard on the outside, but is really soft on the inside. She loves deeply and hurts deeply. All that’s needed is a little patience.”
“Call me Nonnina.” She smiled.
“Um… I’m very fond of your granddaughter, but…”
“And she is very fond of you, Douglas.”
“That’s debatable.”
Suddenly, the unmistakable sound of Sophie’s high heels came clicking down the hall and into the room. I was always happy to see Sophie, but no more so than at that moment.
I jumped out of my chair and met her in the middle of the room. “Soph! Let me help you.” I took the tray with the hot tea, sugar, and creamer on it. Placing the tray on the table, I indicated my chair. “Soph, sit down and spend time with your grandmother.” My words came out at lightning speed.
Sophie stared at me as she slowly slid into the chair. “Okay, keep your pants on.”
My eyes opened wide as nervous laughter bubbled from my mouth.
My gaze swung to Nonnina. “I’ll have you know, I always keep my pants on around your granddaughter.”
“Doug!” Sophie snapped.
“I mean, she’s never seen me without my pants. Well, except for a couple of…”
“Doug!” Sophie shouted.
“Uh… I need some air. I’ll take my drink and go wait in the hallway.” I took a few steps away, then doubled back. “A cookie would go nice with the tea.”
I fumbled with the delicacy before making a beeline out the door to the safety of the hallway where the air was clear.
For the next forty-five minutes, I roamed the halls of the assisted living facility. It wasn’t at all what I expected. Instead of being dreary and depressing, it was bright, cheery, and full of life. I chatted about the good ‘ol days with a couple of old dudes and eyed a few cute nurses before getting a text from Sophie telling me she was ready to leave.
When I got to the room, I stopped in the doorway and watched Sophie and her grandmother. Their arms were wrapped around each other. Neither in any rush to break the hug. Nonnina pulled back, cupped Sophie’s face in her hands, and brought their foreheads together. She said something to Sophie, too softly for me to hear. But by the emotion on Sophie’s face, it was obvious the words touched her heart. Seemingly sensing I was there, Sophie looked up, and locked eyes with me. She wasn’t crying, but her eyes were very watery.
Sophie straightened. “Ti voglio bene.”
“Ti voglio bene anch’io,” Nonnina said with a tremble in her voice.
Nonnina’s misty eyes followed Sophie as she grabbed her things and walked out the door. Sophie passed me without uttering a word.
“Douglas, come give me a hug before you go.”
I walked over, bent down, and gave the frail lady a gentle hug. Nonnina mimicked the same movement she had done with her granddaughter. Cupping the sides of my face, she looked deep into my eyes.
“You take care of my Sophia,” she whispered.
I kept my voice low and reassured her. “I will.”
Nonnina smiled, placed a kiss on my forehead, and let go of me.
As Sophie and I walked in silence to the car, I stole a few glances. To the naked eye she was fine, but I knew better. I could see and feel how much love Sophie had for her grandmother. This was a different Sophie. One that she rarely, if ever, showed to anyone besides her grandmother and probably Bryson.
I opened the door to the passenger side of the car and Sophie quietly slid into the seat. When I got behind the wheel, she surprisingly broke the silence.
“Thank you for bringing me here today,” she said with a quiver in her voice.
“No problem. I had fun. Your grandmother is a special lady.”
Keeping her gaze aimed straight ahead, she said, “Yes, she is. After my parent’s divorce, I bounced back and forth between their respective places. But the only place I felt at home was my grandparent’s house. I loved being there with them. The smells alone from Nonnina’s kitchen would make your mouth water and stomach growl. She had the patience of a saint trying to teach me how to make traditional Italian dishes like chicken parm, steak pizzaiola, and braciole. Not to mention the fresh pasta.”
On cue, a very loud rumble came roaring from my stomach. “Apparently, the mere mention of her food has an effect.” We exchanged slight smiles. “Wait a second. You know how to cook?”
The corners of her mouth drooped. “No. The lessons never stuck. But I don’t think that time was really about learning to cook. It was her way of letting me know I had a home filled with unconditional love and tradition. I don’t know what I’d do without her. Leaving her gets harder each time. Even saying goodbye to her on the phone every night is…”
Her voice cracked, not letting her finish the last sentence. I was mesmerized by her. I stayed silent and thought, Nonnina spoke the truth. Her granddaughter was beautiful inside and out.
“God, I don’t know why I’m telling you all of this,” she said with a sniffle.
Sophie turned her head in my direction. A small tear spilled down her face. Before she had a chance to catch it, I raised my hand, and ran my finger across her soft cheek, wiping the tear away.
“It’s nice to see the softer side of you,” I said, my voice low.
She pulled her gaze from mine, and said, “Don’t get used to it.”
But it was too late. I was already used to it. I wanted more of it. And that scared the bejesus out of me.
AFTER THE VISIT with Nonnina, Doug and I went to Hart and Bryson’s for dinner. Neither one of us spoke to the other much, using our friends as buffers. It was as if we both needed space to process what had happened in the car. In a very short period of time, my view of Doug was shifting. There were moments I saw a real person behind his cockiness. Maybe even someone I could be friends with.
For example, the next day when I went to work, I found out I had to go on a short unexpected business trip. I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of leaving my house in the hands of Doug, but I had no choice.
Since my car was still in the shop at the time, he drove me to the airport. All the way there Doug quizzed me on whether or not I had my tickets, had I already checked in online, etc. At first it was annoying, but then I thought, he was trying to be a friend and make sure I was all set for my trip. Regardless that I’m a grown woman who has gotten along by herself for many years and didn’t need his help.
While I was gone, he made a point of FaceTiming me each night, walking around the house so I could see that everything was in its spot and no wildness had taken place. Oddly enough, I trusted what he was showing me. And when I ubered home from the airport today, I was surprised to see my car parked in the driveway with what appeared to be new tires. That was odd. Burt, my mechanic, never mentioned new tires.
I walked into an empty house. Doug had only been living my house for a week, yet somehow it felt strange for him not to be here. It was probably just the side effects of finally getting the promotion I’d been waiting on, and that I had my car back.
While away, I spoke with Bryson a few times. She knew how much I wanted the promotion, so it was only right for her to be the first one to hear the news. Plus, she gave me updates on my roomie and if my house was indeed still standing. She left me a voicemail this morning before I boarded the plane, telling me to meet her and Julia at The Cocktail Club tonight. Bryson was an amazing woman, mother, wife, and friend, but a lousy secret keeper. She giggled all the way through her message. So I knew she had something up her sleeve. Not wanting to douse her sweet enthusiasm, I played along.
I took a cat-nap, then showered. I changed into my black sleeveless shift dress and patent leather black heels. My jewelry was a pair of silver hoop earrings and a few bangles stacked around my wrist. I smoked up my eyes, lightly brushed on some blush, and glossed my lips. I checked myself out in the mirror, liked what I saw, and decided to leave my hair down. Wrapping my black shawl around my shoulders, I grabbed my clutch and was out the door.
As I pulled into the crowded parking lot, I spotted Bryson’s car. Luckily, the spot right next to her wa
s empty, so I parked there. I got out of my car and scanned the parking lot for Julia’s car, but didn’t see it. I made my way across the concrete lot toward the historic brick building.
Walking through the entrance was like stepping back in time. The Cocktail Club was housed in the historic Upper King Street building. The custom bar was made of reclaimed wood salvaged from the original structure, which dated back to 1881. Exposed walls showcased original beams and doors. And the three lounge areas were decorated with leather sofas, chairs, and fireplaces. I loved the history of the place, not to mention the drinks were works of art.
Bryson met me at the door as soon as I entered.
“Hey, Miss Executive!” She wrapped her arms around me. “I knew it was going to happen. It was just a matter of when.”
There are very few people in your life who are truly happy for you when something good happens. Bryson was one of those people. She was so excited, it was as if she had gotten the promotion.
I returned her hug. “Thank you for that and for this. I needed a girl’s night out. This week has been great but exhausting.”
She pulled away beaming at me. “I’m so proud of you.”
“I’m kind of proud of myself.” The corners of my mouth curled up into a big grin. “Where’s Julia?”
“She’s already at our table.” Bryson hesitated for a moment. “I have a little surprise for you.”
The corners of my mouth unraveled into a long frown. “Bryson, you know I don’t like surprises.”
“Yadda, yadda, yadda. It’ll be fun.”
She took me by the hand and led me through the place. We weaved through the crowd toward the small stage that was used for live music on Saturday nights. In front of the stage was a large table where Julia along with the rest of my friends sat. Ronnie sat next to Julia. Hart sat at one end of the table, while Colin was at the other end, with of all people, Hazel perched next to him. I was glad Colin wouldn’t be the third wheel tonight. Apparently that honor was bestowed upon me, because there was no sign of Doug. I hated the disappointment I felt in the pit of my stomach.
“Congratulations, Sophie!” they all said in unison.
“Thanks, guys.”
Crazy Sexy Love Page 9