Say Ye (25 page)

“Hey!” Lee yelled.

Janetta said he wasn’t in the room, but he was now. Lita took a step back, stumbling again. Lorenzo caught her.

“Lita?” he said, pulling off her mask. She paled and drew in a breath. “What the hell?” He stood in front of her and glanced back at the other guys. “What’re you thinking?”

“Don’t yell at her,” Janetta said, coming up behind Lita.

“Janetta? What’s going on? Was this your idea?” Lee said.

“Gianni!” Lorenzo yelled, turning.

Lita moved her hands as she tried to figure out how to cover herself, but there was no help. Her arms dropped, useless. Vincente stood in front of Lorenzo.

“Gianni,” Vincente said, “take those who want to go to the club. Party’s over here.”

Gianni ushered Lorenzo’s friends out, with the help of Jim and Joe D’Angelo, and Pete. What had she been thinking? She hugged herself.

“Do you have a coat, Lita?” Vincente asked.

Lita nodded and pointed to the door she’d come out.

“I’ll get it,” he said before walking out.

“You’ve gone too far this time,” Lorenzo said. “Lita would never come up with a stupid stunt like this.”

Vincente put her coat around her shoulders. She slid it on and looked back at him, mouthing “Thank you.” He nodded and said goodbye.

“She was upset. Shouldn’t she take action instead of sitting around whining about it?” Janetta asked.

Lita blanched, wondering if that’s how she’d sounded.

“You knew Gianni hired a stripper?” Lee said. Janetta nodded. “You should have told me. I would’ve handled it. How could you do this to Lita?”

“I agreed to, it’s my fault,” Lita whispered. “I wanted…I thought…Janetta said it was no big deal, like being seen in a swimsuit.” It had made so much sense before. A way to prevent Lorenzo from being tempted. She shook her head, realizing she wouldn’t feel that way if she really trusted him, believed in his love.

“It’s not the same,” Lee said.

Lita studied Lorenzo, whose face was red. He clenched and unclenched his hands and his jaw.

“I’m not going to ask you to quit, Janetta,” Lee said. “But I don’t want to see you outside the office again.”

“Come on, you don’t mean that,” Janetta said.

Lita wondered when they’d been seeing each other.

“Yes, I do. Lita, will you be okay? Do you want me to take you home?”

“I’ll take her,” Lorenzo said.

Lee shrugged, kissed Lita’s cheek, and left. Lita took a deep breath.

“I’m telling your dad about this,” he said to Janetta.

“You wouldn’t.”

“Don’t, Lorenzo. I don’t want anyone to know,” Lita said.

“Too late for that. Let’s go.”

Carlo had already heard. “Go to your room,” he yelled at Janetta when the three walked into the kitchen.

“Dad…”

“You heard your father, Janetta,” Sophia said.

Carlo paced before he stopped to look out the window in the side door. “Either go up or pack your things.”

“Fine, see you in the morning.” Janetta shrugged at Lita, but her eyes showed hurt.

“I’m sorry,” Lita said as Janetta walked out.

Carlo turned. “You shouldn’t apologize, Janetta should. And Gianni. Wait until I get my hands on him.”

“Who told you?” Lorenzo said.

“My son, of course. Thought I might want to know. I don’t think Gianni will be at the wedding.”

“Good,” Lorenzo said. “I think I’ll go find him.”

“No need. Joe, Pete, and Jim will take care of him,” Carlo said.

Lita quavered at his tone.

“You take Lita to the living room. Sophia and I need to finish discussing our daughter.”

Lita looked at Sophia, but she was busy making tea. “It was my choice,” Lita said. She let Lorenzo lead her out.

Lita sat on the couch watching Lorenzo walk back and forth. “Please sit with me,” she said.

He stopped. “Are you drunk or something?”

“A bit tipsy, I guess. You know I don’t usually drink.”

He shook his head. “This is nuts.”

“What?”

“You don’t respect me. You don’t trust me.”

“What about you? You looked happy to see me when you thought I was some stripper.”

“I’ve been faithful to you. We’ve waited, like you wanted. So I appreciate beautiful women--”

“So…” Lita interrupted before she covered her face with her hands.

Lorenzo sat next to her. “Please don’t,” he said, smoothing her hair back. He pulled her into his chest and she threw her arms around his neck. “Do I get to see that little outfit again sometime?” he asked in his teasing tone, moving his fingers under the lapel of her coat.

She didn’t answer. She snuggled into him more closely. He held her until she sat up.

“I better get some sleep, tomorrow’s the big day,” she said, glancing at him.

“I’ll go.”

They both stood. Lita leaned into him and kissed him. He didn’t smile as he walked out.

“I love you,” she said.

“Me too,” he replied with a wave.

Lita hunched her shoulders and bent her head. It would be okay. She believed. She had to believe.

After breakfast the next morning, Lita and Janetta took a walk. Janetta had apologized before teasing Lita for her outfit, a pale pink sweat suit from Victoria’s Secret, “angel” printed on the sweater back and “sexy” on the pants. Lita blushed and said Lorenzo bought it for her. Janetta replied “He would.” Janetta wouldn’t talk about what her parents said while Lita had changed, but she knew they must have laid into her. Carlo still had fury in his eyes when they left.

“Well, Aunt Janice, what are you doing here so early?” Janetta said when she and Lita stopped at the side door of Nick’s, where Nick and Janice sat having coffee.

“It’s not early, unless you were out late,” Janice said with a wicked grin on her face exactly like Lorenzo’s. “Care to share?”

“It was nothing,” Janetta said, telling briefly what happened before Lita could stop her.

“Did Lorenzo tell you about last night?” Janice asked Nick. He nodded. Lita rubbed her stomach.

“How can you let him get away with that? You men are big talkers, saying how you won’t let him hurt Lita, but then you excuse all his bad behavior. She should kick him to the curb before it’s too late.”

Nick chuckled as she finished, her arms crossed. “Always arguing. This isn’t the courtroom, this is life, love. Lorenzo’s intentions were good. He’s still learning.”

“Intentions, bah. There’s enough evidence of his guilt. He’s a repeat offender. And, he’s still learning? Surely you’re joking.”

“Janice, I’m standing right here,” Lita said.

“Yes, and it’s your happy day. You’re going to be a beautiful bride. You and Lorenzo are fortunate to have each other,” Nick said.

“Always the romantic.” Janice sighed.

“My darling, how else can one get by in this life?” At which they both laughed.

Janetta whispered to Lita that was an old joke between the two and she smiled. This faded on seeing Lorenzo, who walked up behind them with a frown.

“Come to beg Nick to use my apartment?” he asked Janetta.

“Sorry about last night. I admit it wasn’t my best idea.”

“You think? If you would have arranged a private show…”

“You need to give up your macho interests.”

“Hell no. Always trying to ruin a man’s excitement.”

“I would’ve thought you had enough of that last night.”

“That’s cold,” Lorenzo said. He chuckled.

Lita’s face burned. This was not happening, not on her wedding day.

“Take your fiancée home,” Nick admonished Lorenzo. “We’ll see you later, honey.”

Lita tried to smile at him and waved goodbye. She strode just ahead of Lorenzo.

“He shouldn’t need to tell you that.”

“And I shouldn’t need to know that every guy who saw you last night will picture you that way as you walk down the aisle.”

“They’re not you.”

“They’re guys.”

“Lee’s not like that.”

“Don’t be so sure. Didn’t you hear what he said to Janetta? She goes out a lot a night, doesn’t she?”

Lita walked faster and ran up the steps of Sophia and Carlo’s. “I have to be at the hair salon soon. I’ll see you at the church.”

“Yeah,” he said as she shut the door on him.

***

“You look like a fairytale princess,” Sophia said as she fluffed the back of Lita’s veil.

They stood in the dressing room at church. Sophia, Celeste, and Joanna fussed over her. Lita smiled. She looked as she’d dreamed she would on her wedding day, with her twinkling tiara, frothy gown, flawless hair and makeup, all perfect except for the sadness in her eyes.

“We’re so happy for you,” Celeste said.

“Are you ready?” Sophia asked.

Joanna handed Lita her bouquet of blush pink roses. Lita nodded. She waited as Celeste and Sophia went out, watched as Joanna took her place. Lita took Uncle Enzo’s arm and walked out and into the church aisle. Faces turned to her and she smiled. The walk was long and slow but Lorenzo waited at the altar.

She felt nothing she thought she would, except now, that nearly overwhelming wave of longing for him. Her ears throbbed but she glanced around. She took comfort in the familiar faces shadowed slightly in the muted sunlight as it filtered through the stained glass windows, as well as the old church, now awash with the same roses she held in her trembling hand. Joanna took her bouquet again and she whispered her vows while Lorenzo said his with a surety she wanted to believe he felt. As he slid the ring on her finger, she smiled up at him, but he only studied her, serious, holding his hand steady as she put his ring on, pushing it down his finger. Father Grihalva said the final words and Lorenzo kissed her, quick and soft. They walked down the aisle together. Her dream had come true: she was Mrs. Lorenzo Calabra.

Lita’s stomach growled. She hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast and it was dinnertime. There had been the rounds of photos and congratulations, a short limo ride with the bridal party to the Fairmont, where they now stood in the receiving line.

“Here, drink this,” Janetta said when it was her turn. “It’s a smoothie, you didn’t eat lunch.”

Lita thanked her and sipped the cold strawberry banana concoction through the straw.

“No rum in there?” Lorenzo said before he grinned.

“Kiddie-friendly,” Janetta said as Lita handed the cup back.

“Thanks Janetta,” Lee said. “Are you hungry, Lit? Let’s get you to the table.”

Lita let herself be led away.

She ate, listened to Lee and Joanna’s affectionate toasts, and glanced around the room. It looked lovely and lavish. Lorenzo had insisted on the blue and gold Venetian Room at the Fairmont. Roses graced the round tables with their crisp white linens. Shiny silver, gleaming china and glassware reflected the mellow lighting, which bathed her family and friends in a warm glow as they all sat on damask covered chairs. Celeste, Uncle Enzo, Sophia, Carlo, and Nick beamed smiles at her, but she avoided the eyes of some of the others, many of whom later asked her to dance. She could barely face her partners, those who witnessed or knew about the previous night.

“Lorenzo’s lucky to have you,” Vincente said as they swayed around the dance floor.

“You’re a good friend,” she said. He was the only one she could even try to glance at, though doing so made her blush.

“Don’t let what happened ruin your night. Nobody saw much we couldn’t have seen at a pool party.”

Lita kissed his cheek. “Some girl’s going to be lucky to find you,” she said as the dance ended.