Say Ye (14 page)

Uncle Enzo stood and took Lita’s hand, as Celeste sat, her hands clasped.

“She was not spying on you. She was walking back from Celeste’s in the hope of talking to you. I can’t say I blame her for the way she reacted, all things considered. Why you would hire someone you used to…I think we all know what I mean.”

At his uncle’s words, Lorenzo pushed himself up and away from the table.

“What’s the point? You both have me guilty already. Celeste, I’m sorry you had to be here for this. ‘Night,” Lorenzo said before he walked out.

He would leave. Lita cried, but better a few tears now than what he might cause if he stayed. He grabbed his coat, but Uncle Enzo blocked the door.

“You won’t leave my girl like that,” Uncle Enzo said, his voice rising dangerously.

“None of you want me with her anyway,” he growled.

“Don’t put this off on us,” Uncle Enzo yelled.

“Why not? Maybe if you left us alone, we might have a chance at happiness.”

“What do you know? You’re still a boy! Twenty-eight and no idea how to be a man!”

Celeste appeared behind Uncle Enzo and put her hand on his arm. He stopped mid-sentence, glanced at her and exhaled.

“What do you suggest?”

“Perhaps Lorenzo and Lita should talk? That is what she wants. She told me she doesn’t want you to go, Lorenzo,” Celeste said as Lorenzo looked toward the kitchen.

For a moment, he softened. When he was a boy, he believed. He had hopes and dreams, the same hopes and dreams Lita had. He couldn’t smash all that out of her, the way it had been slammed out of him.

Celeste turned and Uncle Enzo took her arm as they walked back into the kitchen. Lorenzo followed. Lita’s eyes were wide and hopeful, though they sparkled with tears.

“Enzo and I are going to make some coffee and I’ll get out the tarts you made. We’ll bake amaretti next time. You two go and talk,” Celeste said in an even, firm tone.

Lita wiped away the last of her tears and smoothed her skirt before he followed her out, across the foyer, into the living room. He turned and shut the pocket doors after looking across the foyer as Uncle Enzo swung the kitchen door shut.

He sat on the sofa, legs crossed, arms splayed over the back of the cushions.

Lita stood, nervously gripping her hands. “I shouldn’t have said that in front of them and I know I’ve been sounding…”

“Petulant? Childish?” Lorenzo finished for her. Maybe he didn’t know how not to be an asshole.

Lita crossed her arms. “Whatever.” She continued. “I’m right about her, aren’t I? There was an item about you both in the paper.”

“We saw each other for a bit, but it didn’t work out. I was in love with you.”

“Are you still?”

“What do you think?” he said. He sat forward and studied her.

“I’m starting to wonder. Why would you hire someone you’d had, well, an affair with? Why am I not important enough to call? I don’t care how late it was, you said you’d call. Didn’t it cross your mind I might want to talk to you?”

Lorenzo exhaled and ran his hands along the sides of his hair. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“I want the truth, Lorenzo, even if it will hurt.”

“Come sit with me.” Lita did and sat near him on the sofa, turning herself toward him. “You are important to me. I’m used to doing things my own way and not answering to anyone, not having anyone to be responsible to or for. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to change,” he said, wanting to stop the hurt in her eyes. “We didn’t sign a contract with her. I think Lee was wondering about her. He said he wanted to think about it. If it’ll make you feel better, we’ll go with someone else.”

“How about a man this time?”

Lorenzo chuckled. “I’ll see what I can do. I know my past gives you reason to be suspicious, but I don’t see how this is going to work if you don’t trust me. I always believed you did, but I can see you don’t, not anymore.” He tried to sound like he didn’t care, but his heart gripped, as if someone had torn open his chest and squeezed it.

“I did trust you, but things are different now. You’re not just my brother’s friend or my protector. You’re my fiancé, my husband.”

“Not yet, not ever if you can’t trust me.”

“Is that a threat?”

“No, it’s the truth.” He needed her to believe in him, even if he didn’t.

Lita looked away. “You promise nothing happened with her?”

“I promise. Nothing happened. Maybe I flirt sometimes, but can you say you don’t? I can’t promise I won’t look at other women. I can’t promise I won’t flirt. But I can promise to be faithful to you. I think I can do that.”

“You think? You don’t sound sure. This is harsh, you know? We haven’t even been a couple for two weeks and you’re already tempted?” Lita rubbed her thighs, still averting her eyes from him.

“This is why I stayed away from you. I knew you wouldn’t be able to accept my past, or how I am around women.” She was too good for him, too naïve and sweet. He shook his head and stood.

“No, I accept you. It’s enough, if you can be faithful. I only hope I’ll be enough.” She studied her hands, her voice low and unsure.

Enough? How could she not know? “I should have left you alone. I shouldn’t have given in to what I wanted. I should’ve protected you.”

“I don’t need protecting from you. I love you,” Lita said. She rose, faced him, and took his hand. “You’re going to be my husband. I’ve known since the first time we kissed.” She edged closer. He focused on the door. He should leave before it was too late. “You know you can’t stay away from me. You know if you leave you still won’t be free of me,” Lita whispered.

She moved her hands up his chest and leaned toward him. He gazed down at her and she turned her face up to him, returning his look.

Her eyes sparked and her smile curved seductively. She slid her hands around the back of his neck, pressing herself to him. He let out a small sound of pleasure and kissed her. He couldn’t leave, never. She responded as he drew her closer, his hands pressed on the small of her back. She parted her lips, letting his searching tongue find hers, giving a little moan as he moved his hands down, gripping, pulling her up. Her skirt hiked as she wrapped her legs around his waist. He carried her to the couch. She would fill the emptiness in him. Leaning them both down, he straddled her, supporting himself as he continued his exploration of her full, warm mouth. She was tiny and delicate beneath him, her hand cupped his chin. No. He stopped and got up. Lita lay there, her eyes wide.

“Uncle and Celeste are waiting. We better get back in there,” he said, not very convincingly.

“Just a few more minutes?” Lita said, gazing up at him.

He blew out a long breath and closed his eyes. “In a few more minutes, I’ll have to take you upstairs and I promised you I wouldn’t.” And Lee, and Carlo, only Uncle Enzo hadn’t asked, yet. Everyone was in his business, except him.

Lita still reclined, her hands fluttered over her skirt.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he said. “I only have so much restraint.”

“I’m sorry.” How could she look so disappointed when this was her choice?

She excused herself to freshen up, smoothing her skirt and hair as she walked out. He exhaled. His stomach flip-flopped. He hadn’t been so indecisive and unsure in years. It was as unfamiliar as how Lita made him feel.

Lorenzo walked into the kitchen alone, almost expressionless. Uncle Enzo’s smile faded into a dark frown.

“Where is Lita?”

“Freshening up. Everything okay in here?” Lorenzo grinned as he stood next to the table.

Uncle Enzo nodded and his face relaxed. Lita entered a moment later and walked to Lorenzo. He put his arms around her.

“I’m glad to see you’ve worked things out,” Uncle Enzo said. He glanced at Celeste before frowning again at Lorenzo. “I must remind you, Lita is my niece and I will not see her hurt. However, I want you both to know how happy I am for you, so, with your permission, I would like to give you an engagement party the weekend before Christmas. Celeste has agreed to help me with the planning.”

“Thank you,” Lorenzo said. He and Uncle Enzo stared at each other. The irritation Lorenzo felt was reflected in his uncle’s look.

Lita protested, but Uncle Enzo held up his hands. “Let me do this, please. It will bring me great joy.” Lita smiled and agreed, thanking him and Celeste. “Will the twentieth suit? I hope Janetta and Celeste’s granddaughter Gina will be home by then.”

The four talked a bit more about the plans until Celeste said she should be going.

“I’m sorry we didn’t have a chance to make amaretti, Lita. I hope to next time.”

“I’ll be baking tomorrow morning. Would you like to come over again?”

“Please do, you could join us for lunch. Vittorio will be here as well. We would appreciate your company,” Uncle Enzo said.

Celeste paused.
Please say yes and distract this man from Lita and me.

“Yes, thank you,” Celeste said. Lorenzo smiled.

 “Now, shall I drive you home?”

Before she could answer, Lorenzo cut in. “I’ll take her home, Uncle Enzo. It’s right near my place and I should go too.”

Uncle Enzo started to protest, but stopped with a look from Celeste. Lita leaned against him, fingering his hands. Celeste took Uncle Enzo’s arm and they walked into the foyer for her coat.

“Why didn’t you let him drive Celeste?” Lita whispered.

“I’ll call you when I get home.” He kissed her neck and grasped her hand. “Walk me out?”

Lita nodded. He escorted Celeste to his car, Lita and Uncle Enzo watched from the front door. She looked as confused and hurt as Lorenzo felt.

Lorenzo and Celeste sat in silence as they drove away until he thanked her for stepping in when he argued with his uncle.

“I’m glad I could help.”

“I would’ve left if you hadn’t been there.” He blew out a breath.

“Did you have something on your mind?”

“You must’ve noticed how naïve Lita is. We already have problems. I’ve spent the last two years convincing myself she’s too young and she’d be happier without me. But now…”

“Yes, but I also see she loves you. If you both are sure marriage is what you want, I don’t see the problem. You are not your father, remember that. Could you really leave Lita if you decided she would be happier?”

“Maybe, if I left town. Do you think she’d be better off without me?”

“No, do you?”

“I don’t know. She’s young. She could find someone else.”

“Did Nick? He told me you know the truth. Is that what you want for Lita? I know Nick is happy now, but I can tell you he spent a lot of rough years trying to forget your mother before he found that feeling again. If your mother was here, what do you think she would say?”

“She’d tell me to stop doubting and questioning and just love Lita.”

“That sounds like good advice.”

“Thanks.”

“I loved your mother very much,” Celeste said when Lorenzo pulled up outside the market. “I know she would have been over the moon about your engagement to Lita. Have faith, as she did. Miracles happen every day.” She patted him on the cheek, as his mother used to, something he wouldn’t let anyone else do. She thanked him for the ride and they said goodbye.

Parking his car, he frowned. He didn’t believe in miracles, not even the little ones his mother had wanted for him, like faith, forgiveness, and love. Yet he loved Lita, though he sometimes wished he didn’t.

When Lorenzo walked into his apartment, he hung up his coat, took off his shoes, grabbed the phone, went into his room, lay on the bed, and called Lita, as promised. It took her seven rings to answer and he laughed at her flustered hello.

“I thought you’d be waiting for my call.”

“I was just getting changed.”

Lorenzo was silent a moment, contemplating that picture. “Lita, would you get married to someone else if I weren’t around?”

“No. I would…I don’t know.”

“You’d have married someone else,” he said, thinking of Uncle Enzo’s comment about his cousin Joe before he’d gone to Italy.