Say Ye (31 page)

Lita pulled Lorenzo into a dance, the first dance. Joanna and Pete already swayed to Tony Bennett’s smooth voice singing “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” Lorenzo’s arms circled her waist and she glanced around the room. Nick danced with Janice, a spark in his eye, Uncle Enzo twirled Celeste, Pete and Joanna laughed as they held each other, Gianni danced with a cousin of Joanna’s. He winked at Lita. She gazed at Lorenzo.

“Enjoying yourself?” he said.

“Yes, but I’ll be ready to go soon.”

“I think Pete and Joanna will oblige. I know they want to get to Point Reyes before dark.”

“I want to get you home before dark,” Lita whispered. Flames tickled inside.

“Are you sure we can’t leave now?” he said.

“Soon,” she whispered. Her tongue fondled his ear. He held her closer. Waves of love and longing tidal waved through her. “Very soon.”

Shortly after, Lita danced with Nick.

“You and Janice make a striking couple,” Lita said as he spun her to the snappy beat of “The Best Is Yet to Come.”

“Thank you, as do you and your husband. Ah, I see you want more information. Let’s say I’d be open to the possibility, but with the DeGrazias, one must wait on their timetable.”

Lita giggled. “I think Lorenzo should change his last name. He’s all DeGrazia.”

“So he wishes.”

“He wishes he were a D’Angelo, like you.”

“It is enough he calls me dad,” Nick said in a low voice. “He and Silvo are the sons I never had.”

“You have them now,” Lita said. “And a daughter.”

She kissed his cheek. He dipped her as the song ended.

“Thank you, my darling girl,” he said and kissed her hand with a bow. She curtseyed.

“May I be so bold as to claim a dance with the princess?” Gianni asked.

“You may, Casanova,” she said, adopting an important tone.

She glanced around. Lorenzo stood by the doors, glaring. Too bad for him, she could dance with her friends when she wanted. She’d never done anything to cause his jealousy.

“Haven’t you heard of my reputation?” Gianni asked as he slid his arms around her. They swayed to the slow, mellow tones of “(How Little It Matters) How Little We Know.”

“Yes, you are a wicked fellow, but I care not,” she said, batting her eyelashes.

Gianni chuckled. “Be careful, I’m known to carry women off and ravage them.”

“I must disappoint. I am a married woman.”

“But he must be some old, ugly man, or you wouldn’t be dancing with me.”

He grinned, reminding her of Lorenzo. She peeped over Gianni’s shoulder. Lorenzo wasn’t there.

A hollow began in her belly. She glanced at Gianni. He studied her, his eyes fiery. Oh. Oh no.

“Thanks for the dance,” she said.

She pulled away and swiftly went outside. Lorenzo leaned on the lower wall across the lawn. She ran downstairs and across the grass, stopping to take off her heels, which stuck in the damp ground. Her hose would get ruined, but she didn’t have time to worry about that.

She wrapped her arms around him and he faced her.

“Tired of dancing?” he said.

“Missing you,” she said. She wouldn’t tell him about Gianni. No need to fan those flames.

He fingered her hair. His fingertip traced the shell of her ear. She flittered.

“Lita,” Terry Polito called. “Joanna and Pete are getting ready to go.”

“Be right there,” she said.

“Just in time,” Lorenzo said as he took her hand and led her inside.

***

 “I love that dress on you. Kind of like Marilyn Monroe’s in ‘The Seven Year Itch.’ I don’t think Lorenzo will take you anywhere,” Joanna said. She smiled as she helped Lita with her hair before placing the halo and wings on. Lorenzo and Pete waited downstairs to take them to a Halloween party at the St. Francis.

“Thanks, but he prefers to go out these days.” Lorenzo seemed to be experiencing the five-month itch.

Lita had complimented Joanna on her provocative nineteen forties red dress when she’d first entered the room. Lita loved her own dress, but saw now that the halter bodice didn’t make up for the virginal white and longer length of it. Lorenzo wouldn’t be impressed, no doubt.

“I have to drag Pete out.” Joanna laughed.

Lita tried to smile and brushed her hand across her throat.

“Things aren’t any better?”

“Slowly. After our talk, I tried a few new things. I hope it’s enough.”

“If not, that’s Lorenzo’s problem, not yours.”

“Thanks,” Lita said.

She probably wouldn’t have found the courage to try anything different if Joanna hadn’t given her those pep talks.

“We better go downstairs, it’s getting late.”

Lita followed her friend out and down the stairs, trying to keep her mind off all the problems.

Lita remained uneasy. As Lorenzo studied Lita, though, his gaze warmed her and she laughed at herself. Everything would be fine. After compliments all around, they drove in separate cars to the party. Lita guessed Pete and Joanna wanted to have the freedom to leave early, since they didn’t enjoy large parties as much as Lorenzo did. Lita always had fun, though not as much as she used to. These last several months she had the worry of Lorenzo’s flirtatiousness.

Lita didn’t notice where Lorenzo was sometimes, as she got caught up dancing and talking to friends, mostly Joanna and Pete. Lorenzo made his presence known, however, when Gianni led her to the floor for a slow dance. As he slid his hands around Lita’s waist, Lorenzo walked behind him, grabbed his arms, and pinned them behind his back. Lita’s heat rose and she placed a hand on her hip.

“Lorenzo,” she said in an angry whisper as Gianni struggled to free himself.

“Keep your hands off my wife,” Lorenzo said from behind Gianni, almost in a whisper, but loud enough Lita heard him as well as his furious tone. It would almost be funny, Lorenzo in his sheriff’s costume like he was arresting Gianni’s Casanova. But Lita wasn’t laughing.

“Let him go,” Pete said as he approached.

He pulled Lorenzo away from Gianni, who shrugged, as if to rid himself of the lingering pain of Lorenzo’s grip. Lita sighed in relief that not only had Pete been there, but also that they were on the edge of the dance floor, out of the way of the other revelers.

“Why don’t you keep more than one eye on her? You haven’t danced with her all night,” Gianni said.

Lita blushed, but was about to speak when Lorenzo did.

“Have you been watching us? Trying to find the best time to make your move?”

“You’re impossible,” Gianni said with a shake of his head. “Hope you have a good night, Lita.”

“Thanks, you too.”

He touched her back before he walked away. Pete and Joanna said goodnight. Lita tried to rush away, but Lorenzo took her arm.

“Don’t you see--” he began.

“I see I don’t want to be around you right now. Gianni is my friend, my cousin.”

“He--”

Lita faced him and put up her hand. “I don’t want to hear it. Should I get a ride from Joanna and Pete? I think I can still catch them.”

“Do what you want.”

She watched him walk away, angry at him for his crazy jealous behavior and herself for still feeling he was the sexiest man in the room. She smoothed her dress, hoping the movement would brush away the sharp pull toward him, but it didn’t. She turned to try and find her friends.

The valet told her Pete and Joanna had already left, so she made her way back inside. It was late and despite his behavior, she wanted to kiss and make things okay with Lorenzo.

Pushing past the crowd in the hallway, she peeped around them to find Lorenzo. There he was, in a shadowed corner by the back doors. She smiled at how he leaned against the wall, in that careless but upright way he had, but this faded when she noticed the pretty woman laughing with him. Lita nudged her way over, but not with much speed, as part of her wanted to run the other way. The gripping, pulling sensation wasn’t pleasant anymore, but made her stomach cramp.

As the devils, sexy maids, pirates, and Princess Leias milled around her, Lita’s head throbbed. The woman threw her arms around Lorenzo and kissed him and he kissed back, his hands on her waist. She approached and opened her mouth to speak. Sour bile rose in her throat.

“That’s my husband,” she said. Her voice shook.

They’d stopped kissing and the woman, a flapper vampiress, stepped away with a strawberry red smile, contrasting her creamy skin, but she smelled musky. Lita couldn’t look at Lorenzo.

“Just a friendly kiss, Happy Halloween,” she said as she walked away.

Lita raised her arm to smack her, but Lorenzo grabbed it.

“Don’t do something you’ll regret,” he said in her ear. Even still his nearness gripped her.

“I guess I should take that from the expert.” She knocked his hand away. “Pete and Joanna left. I’ll get a cab.”

“I’ll take you.”

“No,” she said as she fled across the same path she had just entered.

He followed. “I’m not letting you go out alone.”

“You didn’t care fifteen minutes ago.”

“I thought Pete and Joanna were still here, inside.”

“Too bad for you they weren’t.”

“She kissed me.”

“I’ve heard that before.”

Lita took a deep breath when they exited the front doors, hoping the chill air would cool her inside as the breeze did her face and arms, but all she inhaled was exhaust fumes.

“I’m sorry.”

“Not very original, are you?”

“Sarcasm doesn’t suit you,” he said. His shoes scuffled on the stairs behind her.

“Neither do you.” She stood a moment, looking for the bright yellow of a cab.

He grasped her arm and pulled her toward him. “You don’t mean that.”

“Try me.”

“I’d like to.”

She pushed him away. “Maybe I’d like to try something new. I bet Gianni would give me a ride.” She hoped she sounded convincing, though she changed her mind when a hurt but angry look flashed on his face.

“Do you really want to do this now? The holidays are coming.” He knew her too well.

“Fine, you can take me home,” she said.

He ushered her to the valet stand, where they waited. As they drove home, she glanced at him. He drew her to him every time, but this time she reminded herself of the many other women he had the same effect on. Unfamiliar scents mingled with his in the heated car. She leaned her head on the cold window and closed her eyes.

***

“Did you hurt your neck?” Celeste asked her the next morning as they baked bread in the warm kitchen where Uncle Enzo sat reading the Chronicle.

Even their companionship and the sweet yeasty smells didn’t comfort her. Lorenzo had gone to the gym.

“Slept on it wrong, I guess.” Lita didn’t say she’d spent half the night curled up on the armchair in her and Lorenzo’s room. “I’ll be fine.”

“Are you going somewhere?” she said to Lorenzo two hours later as he walked downstairs with a suitcase.

She hugged herself. Maybe he’d decided to leave her. He’d tried to apologize again that morning and she’d threatened to call Janice about a divorce but she hadn’t meant it.

“Yes. I’m taking you on vacation. We haven’t been anywhere since our honeymoon.”

Lita stood in the kitchen doorway, her mind turning over the excuses she could make.

“Do you need help packing?” Celeste asked. She and Uncle Enzo had heard.

“Where are you taking her?” Uncle Enzo said. “When will you be back?”

“I can’t go,” Lita said. “I have plans.”

“To Tahoe for the week,” Lorenzo said.

“You go and enjoy yourselves,” Celeste put in. “Baking and shopping can wait.”