Enzo said. Lita held out her hand to him. “Ah.” Uncle Enzo examined the ring. “I approve your choice, Lorenzo.” Uncle Enzo kissed Lita’s cheek.
Lorenzo glanced at his watch. “We need to be there in fifteen minutes.”
Uncle Enzo stood and went into the foyer for his coat.
Lorenzo kissed her, making her feel like she needed to sit down, but instead she put her arms around his neck and moved to kiss him back. He pulled away and said he had to go.
Lita dropped her arms to her sides. “Okay, have a good day. Will you call me later?” As the words left her mouth, she heard how they sounded, almost like a whine, too needy.
Lorenzo nodded and kissed her cheek. Like a deflating balloon she settled in her chair and exhaled a shaky breath. She gave herself a couple minutes before she rose and began her daily cleaning.
When she walked into the market that afternoon, Celeste greeted her with a smile.
“We missed you at church on Sunday.”
“I didn’t feel like going.” Lita should be happier. She’d have to fake it till she made it.
“Sophia mentioned you seemed troubled.”
“I’m fine.” Lita hoped that hadn’t sounded as rude as she thought it did. “I told Uncle Enzo I’d get some of your amaretti for him. He said to tell you he’s sorry he can’t be here himself, but he’s helping Lorenzo scout out office locations.”
“I shall miss his visit as well, but I’m sure to see him sooner or later. I see you and Lorenzo have made it official.” She took Lita’s hand. “A lovely ring, dear. I pray it will be the beginning of many happy years together. Now then,” she said, squeezing Lita’s hand, “can I do anything else for you?” She walked to the bakery case.
“Would you do me a favor,” Lita asked.
“Of course.”
“Would you come over for dinner tomorrow and help me? I’m making Lorenzo’s favorite, risotto and chicken cutlets, and I don’t want to mess it up.”
“I would be happy to. Is there something you wish to talk about? We could go upstairs.”
“Thank you, but I don’t want to take your time. It’s just…” Lita looked into Celeste’s eyes, so calm and understanding, like she remembered her grandma Lawson’s. “Lorenzo and I had a fight, more than one. I don’t think he wants to wait or get married in the church. I love him so much, but I have to do what I feel is right, don’t I?” Lita twisted her ring.
“Lorenzo’s mother, Annamaria, would have been very happy for you both. I’ve known him a long time and you mustn’t let him persuade you into anything you don’t feel good about. He’ll respect you for your convictions, even if he might not like them,” Celeste said as she folded the cookie bag.
“Thank you. You’ll be over tomorrow?”
“Yes, thank you for the invitation.”
Celeste helped Lita pick out the cheese and some olive oil while they discussed risotto, what lettuce was best this time of year, and how Celeste made her amaretti. Lita lingered, knowing she wouldn’t see Lorenzo, and Uncle Enzo would have dinner at his brother Vittorio’s.
“Do you have plans with Lorenzo this evening?”
“No, he and Uncle Enzo will both be out.”
“You’re welcome to join my grandsons and me. You and I haven’t visited in a while.”
Lita thanked her and followed her upstairs where they stored the groceries and chopped vegetables for minestrone soup. The heaviness which had settled on her lightened as they talked, though when Frankie and Michael joined them, it returned. Frankie teased her about her engagement and marrying young. When she reentered the kitchen after going into the bathroom, he was quiet and didn’t say much the rest of the evening. He and Michael offered to walk her home after dinner, but she wanted to try and see Lorenzo for a minute, as Nick’s was on the way.
If Lee was there, Lorenzo could surely step away for a minute or two. She just wanted to tell him she loved him. Maybe his meeting would even be over by
Lorenzo glanced at his watch. “We need to be there in fifteen minutes.”
Uncle Enzo stood and went into the foyer for his coat.
Lorenzo kissed her, making her feel like she needed to sit down, but instead she put her arms around his neck and moved to kiss him back. He pulled away and said he had to go.
Lita dropped her arms to her sides. “Okay, have a good day. Will you call me later?” As the words left her mouth, she heard how they sounded, almost like a whine, too needy.
Lorenzo nodded and kissed her cheek. Like a deflating balloon she settled in her chair and exhaled a shaky breath. She gave herself a couple minutes before she rose and began her daily cleaning.
When she walked into the market that afternoon, Celeste greeted her with a smile.
“We missed you at church on Sunday.”
“I didn’t feel like going.” Lita should be happier. She’d have to fake it till she made it.
“Sophia mentioned you seemed troubled.”
“I’m fine.” Lita hoped that hadn’t sounded as rude as she thought it did. “I told Uncle Enzo I’d get some of your amaretti for him. He said to tell you he’s sorry he can’t be here himself, but he’s helping Lorenzo scout out office locations.”
“I shall miss his visit as well, but I’m sure to see him sooner or later. I see you and Lorenzo have made it official.” She took Lita’s hand. “A lovely ring, dear. I pray it will be the beginning of many happy years together. Now then,” she said, squeezing Lita’s hand, “can I do anything else for you?” She walked to the bakery case.
“Would you do me a favor,” Lita asked.
“Of course.”
“Would you come over for dinner tomorrow and help me? I’m making Lorenzo’s favorite, risotto and chicken cutlets, and I don’t want to mess it up.”
“I would be happy to. Is there something you wish to talk about? We could go upstairs.”
“Thank you, but I don’t want to take your time. It’s just…” Lita looked into Celeste’s eyes, so calm and understanding, like she remembered her grandma Lawson’s. “Lorenzo and I had a fight, more than one. I don’t think he wants to wait or get married in the church. I love him so much, but I have to do what I feel is right, don’t I?” Lita twisted her ring.
“Lorenzo’s mother, Annamaria, would have been very happy for you both. I’ve known him a long time and you mustn’t let him persuade you into anything you don’t feel good about. He’ll respect you for your convictions, even if he might not like them,” Celeste said as she folded the cookie bag.
“Thank you. You’ll be over tomorrow?”
“Yes, thank you for the invitation.”
Celeste helped Lita pick out the cheese and some olive oil while they discussed risotto, what lettuce was best this time of year, and how Celeste made her amaretti. Lita lingered, knowing she wouldn’t see Lorenzo, and Uncle Enzo would have dinner at his brother Vittorio’s.
“Do you have plans with Lorenzo this evening?”
“No, he and Uncle Enzo will both be out.”
“You’re welcome to join my grandsons and me. You and I haven’t visited in a while.”
Lita thanked her and followed her upstairs where they stored the groceries and chopped vegetables for minestrone soup. The heaviness which had settled on her lightened as they talked, though when Frankie and Michael joined them, it returned. Frankie teased her about her engagement and marrying young. When she reentered the kitchen after going into the bathroom, he was quiet and didn’t say much the rest of the evening. He and Michael offered to walk her home after dinner, but she wanted to try and see Lorenzo for a minute, as Nick’s was on the way.
If Lee was there, Lorenzo could surely step away for a minute or two. She just wanted to tell him she loved him. Maybe his meeting would even be over by
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