Taming Theresa (31 page)

"But I was attracted to her right away." John
leaned forward earnestly. "She's so beautiful and she has such a
fire in her."

"Yes, I heard about your first meeting." His
eyes twinkled. "I knew my Rose was the only one for me when I saw
her in church one Sunday when I was home on leave."

"Then you have no objections?"

"Theresa is still getting over her engagement
to Tony.” He leaned in, pointing his finger in John’s face. “You
know, he never had the courtesy to ask for my blessing and I never
gave it. We are friendly with his family and one evening they were
here for dinner and he had the nerve to announce his intention to
marry my daughter at the dinner table." Dominick lifted one eyebrow
and gestured with his glass. "I should have voiced my objections
then. It would have avoided a lot of trouble had I done so."

Panic began to seize him. "I want your
blessing, Mr. Buonadies, but I'll still ask her even without it.
I'm going to marry her, if she'll have me.” John shifted in the
comfortable armchair, glancing around him at the family pictures on
the wall. He saw the glass of scotch at his elbow and took a
healthy swallow, sending a wave of warm courage directly to his
head.

"I let her make up her own mind with Tony. I
failed to see that she was only trying to please us. She was wrong.
I want her to marry for love."

"I love her," John insisted.

Now Dominick was glowering at him. "I don't
want my daughter to make another mistake. You say you love her. I
believe that, but does she love you? Perhaps it would be wiser for
you to give her more time."

"I am not asking for permission, but your
blessing. A few weeks ago, I couldn't imagine getting married, but
that was before I met her. Theresa is a very special person." He
felt anger and frustration rising in him, fueled by the whiskey. A
slight tremor crept into his voice. "Do I have your blessing?"

Dominick sipped at his drink, the two men
regarding one another in silence for a moment until Dominick sighed
heavily and smiled. "Yes," he said. "Any man that will put himself
between a bullet and my daughter must love her."

John exhaled audibly, unaware that he'd been
holding his breath.

"But," continued Dominick, unsmiling. "You
still must ask Theresa and I will tell you this, I don't know what
she'll say." He fiddled with his cut glass tumbler. "She has a mind
of her own, my Theresa."

John rose, took the two steps to Dominick,
and shook his hand. "Thank you, Mr. Buonadies."

"Please, call me Dominick," said the older
man, rising. "My wife will be very pleased that you are proposing
to Theresa. Let me tell you, if you don't already know this, with
marriage, family, and the home, it is always the woman who has the
final say. It is impossible to predict what a woman will do. Most
other things are predictable, but women...."

Aunt Rose informed everyone that Theresa had
called. “She'll be a little late returning from work so, we’ll
start dinner without her.”

John sat at the big dining room table next to
Dominick. The older man insisted John sit in this place of honor,
near Theresa's brothers. It was Sunday dinner at the Buonadies
home. They all took their seats and food began appearing from the
cornucopia of Rose’s kitchen.

Once again amazed at the abundance and
variety of dishes, John watched, a little bewildered, as bowls and
platters appeared from the kitchen. At the center of the table, a
huge dish of lasagna bubbled and steamed between baskets of crusty
Italian bread. A large platter of sausages, meatballs and some
other meats that had simmered all morning in the tomato gravy, sat
before Dominick at the table's head. There was an enormous green
salad, and dishes of broccoli, pickled peppers, and olives.
Surrounded by ordered chaos, a dozen people talked, laughed, and
passed bowls and platters.

The dining room was filled with tantalizing
aromas. Everyone began filling plates and exclaiming over Rose's
food. Paul and Frank kept the wine glasses filled. John ate little
and drank less. Fear that Terry might refuse him dampened his
appetite and roiled his insides.

Cousin Carol's twin girls, each clutching a
slice of bread, sat in high chairs next to Uncle Dominick at the
end of the table, where he fed them bits of meatball and pasta.

"Theresa doesn't know that you've come for
dinner, Johnny. It will be such a nice surprise for her, I'm sure,"
said Rose, beaming at him as she set a bowl of freshly grated
Parmesan cheese on the table.

“I sure hope so, Mrs. Buonadies.”

“I told you, it’s Rose.” She gestured to
Carol and Mario. “Have you met my niece and her husband?”

“Yes, I have.” John nodded, acknowledging the
couple across from him.

“And their beautiful babies?” She pointed to
the twins and said wistfully, “My brother and his wife have been
blessed with five grandchildren.”

“Oh, Aunt Rose. You’ll have grandchildren
someday,” said Carol.

She clutched her hands under her chin in
prayer and cast her gaze toward heaven, “From your lips to God’s
ears.”

John shifted nervously as Theresa’s mother
studied him.

“You like children, Johnny?”

He began to cough as Dominick came to his
rescue.

“Rose.” He lifted a brow and nodded toward
her chair. “Shall we say Grace?”

The Buonadies family home, a substantial
three story Dutch colonial, was centered on a well-manicured lawn
dotted with oaks and maples on a quiet tree lined street.

Theresa turned into the driveway and drove
down to where her father had an extra parking area off the kitchen.
Switching off the engine, she let out a breath and sat with her
head against the seatback with her eyes closed. I am so not ready
for this.

She noticed the mini-van with its car seats
parked nearby. Carol and her family were here for dinner, and her
mother would be fussing over the babies and bemoaning the fact that
she has no grandchildren. Hinting again, that I should get
married.

Jack and Vicky were here too, back from their
honeymoon. Don’t even go there, Mom. She groaned and rubbed her
temples. Seeing Jack and Vicky will only remind me of John, and I
want to forget him.

Since returning to New Jersey, she'd tried
working longer hours than necessary at the restaurant, to keep
thoughts of him from creeping back in. Nothing seemed to work. She
needed to forget John completely. It’s simply going to take more
time.

John is no good for me. I can’t stay with a
man like him. We’re too different. He’s determined to stay single.
He'll never want a family like I do. Can you picture him at one of
our big Sunday dinners with children running all around and babies
crying? Impossible. She sighed, got out of her car, and made her
way slowly up the steps and through the kitchen door.

The familiar sounds of her family came from
the dining room. Conversation, laughter, and the musical clink and
clatter of silver and glassware came to her along with the smell of
her mother’s lasagna.

Putting on a forced smile, she entered the
room. “Hello everyone. Sorry I’m late.” Faces turned toward her and
the conversation died. Carol's twins squealed with glee when they
saw her. Lily was on Dom’s lap, tugging on his favorite paisley tie
with one buttery hand, waving a piece of bread like a flag with the
other. Theresa looked around the table, and then wrenched her head
back to stare at John with little Grace on his lap. What’s he doing
here? Right there, between her father and Paul. The baby waved a
half eaten meatball at her.

“Whose idea was this? What are you doing
here?" she rasped out, without thinking.

There was silence in the room. Even the twins
had ceased chattering. Everyone looked at her.

"I'm here because I love you," said John
softly.

She thought her ears must have been playing
tricks on her. “What did you say?”

“Can we talk?” John stood, handed the baby to
Paul, and wiped a smear of tomato gravy from his hands, tossing his
napkin on the table. Abandoned by her new friend, Grace began to
howl.

"Forget about it!” Theresa sobbed, "I don't
want to talk about it!"

"Yes, we’re going to talk.” John started
around the table. “I have something to say to you."

"No.” She stepped back, shaking her head.
“I'm not talking to you. I'm not talking to anybody.”

"Theresa," began her father and Lily joined
her sister, screaming in anger.

“Oh my god, I can't believe this is
happening," the shrill tone of her voice rising. “Why did you have
to show up here?” She turned and stalked from the room.

He couldn't help noticing Theresa's beautiful
sexy ass, wiggling as she stormed out. It only strengthened his
resolve. Nothing could discourage him now.

"Oh dear, maybe I can talk to her," muttered
Vicky. Rising, she started after her cousin.

"No Vicky, stay here," said John, waving her
back. "Excuse me, everyone. We'll be right back." He followed
Theresa into the kitchen.

The dining room was quiet for a full minute
before the buzz of conversation slowly started and gradually rose
to its former level.

Theresa sat, her head in her hands, with her
long wavy hair shielding her face. Looking up, she saw John
standing beside her. She hadn't heard him enter.

"I'm sorry. That was very bitchy of me. "

"Yeah, your mother said you'd be
surprised."

Theresa giggled.

He pulled out a chair and sat close to her.
"You asked me why I'm here. I'm here because I love you."

"You're crazy," she said, wiping her misty
eyes.

"Yeah, I probably am crazy, but so what.”

"I've been trying so hard to forget you, but
I can't."

He didn't answer, but pulled the little box
from his pocket and opened it, removing the sparkling diamond ring.
Taking her slim hand, he asked, “Theresa, will you marry me?"

"Oh my god, John. You are crazy." The tears
began flooding down her cheeks.

“This was my grandmother's ring.” He slipped
it on her finger. “Do you like it? If it’s not right, I’ll buy you
any ring you want.”

Theresa studied the way the ring glittered on
her finger and whispered, “It’s perfect. I love it.”

"Is that a yes?"

"My father would never permit it. We've only
known each other for a couple of weeks."

"We've known each other for three weeks. More
than that, it's been twenty three days and besides, I already asked
for your father’s blessing.”

“You spoke with my father?” She looked
amazed. “You asked him if you could marry me?"

“Of course I did. Isn't that what I just
said? I think he wanted to say no, but he said it's up to you. Will
you marry me?" A note of nervous impatience crept into his voice,
as he held tightly to her hand.

"My father said yes? That's impossible!”

"You're the most important thing in the world
to me. Now, will you marry me?"

"I don't know! I need to talk to my father
first."

"Terry, your father and I had a long talk and
he gave us his blessing. Jack and Vicky want us to get married. Not
that they need to approve or anything, but you're the only one who
doesn't seem to know what to do. Please say yes."

"Oh my god. I can't deal with this now,"
wailed Theresa.

"Please will you marry me?" His voice cracked
and he began to tear up. This can't be happening. After everything
I’ve tried to do, she’s going to say no. He sniffed, cleared his
throat, and a single tear slipped down and glistened on his
cheek.

“It's too soon. You don't know me well
enough. You don't even want to get married! You have no idea what
you’re getting into!" She looked at him angrily, but then her face
softened. "John, are you crying?"

"No. Well, maybe a little. Terry, please. I'm
not leaving until you say yes. You love me. I know you do."

"Oh my god! You know I do, you bastard!” She
flung herself into his arms and buried her face in his neck. "You
know what the answer is."

"I do?" He pulled her on his lap, and
struggled to free himself from her death grip embrace. "Theresa, is
it yes, or no? Tell me!"

"Of course, I'll marry you. You know I will.”
She threw her arms around him and whispered in his ear, “I can't
believe my father didn't throw you out of the house."

John laughed and whispered back, "He's not
like that. Your dad is great.” He lifted her up. “Hey. You did say
yes, right?"

“Yes, now kiss me.”

Neither of them noticed Rose peeking around
the door, delighted by what she saw. They didn't hear her as she
slipped back into her seat at the dining room table, and said in a
stage whisper, "They’re going to get married. My Theresa and Johnny
are going to get married! Isn't it wonderful? May God forgive me,
when I heard that Johnny was coming for dinner, I called Father
Francis at the church, and reserved a date in June. How about
that?"

Laughing, Dominick came over to hug his wife.
“Rose, you’re wonderful, I love you.”

When they joined the family in the dining
room, John made an announcement. “Everyone, Terry has made me the
happiest man in the world. We’re getting married!”

The room erupted with enthusiastic
congratulations, laughter, and applause.

Theresa displayed her hand with the
glittering diamond and everyone admired it.

“Yes,” said Rose smugly. “The wedding’s going
to be on June first at our Lady of the Lake.”

“What?” John looked at Theresa confused.
“Where? When?”

Theresa smiled at him and sighed. “It’s the
church in Sparta. I’m sure Ma has already booked the date. I told
you that you had no idea what you were getting into, marrying
me.”

He grinned. “You’re worth it.”

Carol got up and gave her seat to Theresa.
She and John sat together as Rose bustled about with coffee cups
and platters of cookies. Paul and Frank both got up and began to
refill the wine glasses.