Chapter 19 #2
“That is up for discussion at another time,” Myra responded. “Meanwhile, enjoy your sandwiches.” The two women turned and went back upstairs.
Vinny and Jimmy didn’t know what to make of it. They had no idea where they were, or who these people were. More importantly, what were these people going to do to them?
Christmas Eve
Marco’s House
As predicted, Rosevita and Lucia took over the kitchen, much to Anita’s relief. Keeping the kids under control was challenging enough. They were normally well-behaved, but as with any other kid, the days leading up to Christmas were an exception.
A feast of seven fishes was mandatory. Rosevita and Lucia began preparing a few days before. After all these years, they were pros at it. Dinner for ten was a walk in the park.
Frankie helped with the tablescape. She set the table and lit the votive candles. Again, she showed her flare for creating a perfect atmosphere.
Frankie’s parents arrived at six-thirty, carrying several wrapped gifts.
The children’s eyes widened when they saw the glittery packages.
Bianca asked Anita if it would be alright for them to open the gifts after dinner so she and William could see the expression on their faces.
Sophia was yearning for a ballet outfit, and Lorenzo asked for a Mario Brothers interactive Lego set.
Dinner was served at seven to allow time for everyone to enjoy the meal, have dessert, and then get ready for midnight mass.
With each course, moans of delight and groans of overeating were rampant around the table, which gave Rosevita and Lucia the utmost satisfaction. Classic Christmas music played in the background, and lively conversation filled the room. It was a wonderful gastronomic experience.
By nine-thirty, it was time for dessert, and Lorenzo and Sophia were allowed to open their gifts from Frankie’s parents. They squealed with glee and effusively thanked Bianca and William.
With many hands and offers to help, the table was cleared, and the kitchen had no evidence that a feast had been prepared.
Giovanni hired a small van to take everyone to church except for the children, who were going to be supervised by their favorite babysitter.
Anita hoped they would be pooped enough to fall asleep and stay asleep so she and Marco could put their presents under the tree when they returned.
As the children had gotten older, hiding the gifts became more of a challenge.
This year they put everything in the attic, which required access by a disappearing ladder, something the children could not maneuver.
Anita and Marco put the children to bed and wished the sitter good luck.
With some time to spare, the group relaxed in the living room.
Frankie was anxious to give Rosevita the memory book, and they decided to exchange gifts before they left for church.
Frankie was a little surprised that Giovanni asked if they could exchange their gifts privately, but she preferred that moment of intimacy and was happy for the suggestion.
It didn’t take long for the beautifully wrapped gifts to quickly turn into piles of crumbled paper and ribbons and bows strewn about. Giovanni looked around and chuckled. “A paper explosion. I don’t know who is worse, you or the children!”
People were gushing over their presents while trying to keep their enthusiasm at a low decibel level. The last thing they wanted was to keep the children from slumberland.
When most of the gifts had been opened, Frankie presented the book to Rosevita.
For a moment, Rosevita had a perplexed expression on her face, until she noticed the dried flowers on the front and recalled the bouquet she carried when she got married to Giovanni’s father.
Frankie hoped it wouldn’t make Elio uncomfortable, but everyone has a past. It’s the present that counts.
As the expression goes: The gift is in the present .
Rosevita’s eyes welled up. She gingerly untied the cord and opened the book. With each turn of the page, she sniffled a little more. But it was all good. Frankie kept handing her tissues as Rosevita studied the entries, photos, tickets, and memorabilia.
Rosevita looked up at Frankie, who was also wiping away a few tears.
“This is the most beautiful gift you could give me. I cannot explain.” The woman was truly overwhelmed, and filled with gratitude, so much so that words escaped her.
She put the book aside, stood up, and gave Frankie the biggest hug she could muster.
For Frankie, that hug was the best gift Rosevita could have given her in return.
Giovanni, too, was taken by the thoughtfulness of the gift, and his mother’s reaction. He pulled out his handkerchief and wiped a tear from his eye, then handed it to Frankie.
Giovanni spotted the headlights of the van he’d hired pull into the driveway.
Hats, coats, new gloves, and scarves were donned, and everyone exited toward the van. As they began to climb into the vehicle, Frankie elbowed Giovanni, noting how Elio and Anthony graciously assisted Rosevita and Lucia. “Kinda sweet, don’t ya think?” she whispered.
Midnight mass was a beautiful experience. Frankie began to sing from her pew. All eyes were on her while her melodious voice followed along with the choir, yet she continued as if no one was watching.
By the time they returned home, it was almost two.
Frankie and Giovanni rode back to Frankie’s parents’ house, where the two of them finally found some private time.
Frankie handed Giovanni the beautifully wrapped box. He caught his breath at the gift box with the iconic logo. Something from Cartier.
He was stunned when he saw the beautiful cuff links, kissed Frankie amorously, and began to chuckle.
“What is so funny?” Frankie had no idea what was going on in his head. Laughing? At a gift?
“No. No. These are beautiful. But please, open your gift.” Tears of laughter were forming in the outer corners of his eyes.
Frankie quickly ripped the paper off the box. It, too, had the iconic Cartier panther logo on it.
Inside was a bracelet made with two half-circles; each half held two diamonds. To complete the enclosure, one must join them together with small screws with a tool that was provided. The purpose was for one partner to fasten the bracelet on the other one, declaring “forever love.”
It was the style that inspired the design for Giovanni’s cuff links. Tears were rolling down Frankie’s cheeks. What were the odds? Incredible.
Pinewood
It was only the four of them that evening. The rest of the crew would arrive for a Christmas Day feast. Charles prepared a simple dinner of pasta with a lemon and caper sauce, shrimp scampi, and a crisp salad.
“Charles, you said it was going to be a light meal,” Myra said, feigning a protest.
“It is light. Except for the garlic.” He grinned as he finished combining the ingredients for the scampi sauce.
“Good thing all of us will be eating it!” Myra laughed. “Where’s your sous chef?”
“I gave him the night off. It’s Christmas Eve, after all.”
“And tomorrow?” Myra teased.
“Tomorrow he’ll be back in an apron,” Charles said, and chuckled. “Speak of the devil, I hear Mario Andretti pulling in,” he said, joking about Annie’s fierce driving, even if it was only a golf cart.
Fergus made his entrance with his hands in his pockets, waiting for Lady and her pups to greet him.
Once they received their treats, they got out of his way.
“Smells bloody good, mate!” Fergus said, and slapped Charles on the back.
“Yum!” Annie said in agreement.
“Should be ready in short order,” Charles announced.
“I’ll get the dishes,” Annie offered.
“I’ll open the wine,” Fergus said, holding up a bottle of Sancerre. “White for fish, ay?”
“So, you’ve learned a few things about pairing food, have you?” Charles said.
“If he wants to take the credit, but I picked the bottle,” Annie replied with a grin.
“I am learning,” Fergus said, “to keep my bloody mouth shut.”
Just before they were about to sit, Myra suggested they fix plates for their basement guests. “I’m sure Vinny will enjoy two fishes for Christmas Eve.”
Charles plated the food and placed two dishes on a tray. “I am not certain they deserve such culinary pleasures, but. …”
Fergus jumped in with, “We’re not barbarians!”
Myra went into the atrium, fetched Vinny’s phone that was sitting on her desk, and slipped it into her pocket.
“What are you doing with that?” Annie asked.
“He has to call his mother and wish her a Merry Christmas. I am sure he is in deep trouble, and I don’t want her to worry. She wasn’t the one who created this situation.”
“You are right, my friend.”
Myra and Annie returned to the kitchen and brought the food downstairs.
Vinny immediately recognized the aroma. “That smells like home,” he said half-heartedly.
“Speaking of home, you are going to call your mother.”
“I am?” he said with a sense of fear. Was this going to be his last meal? His last goodbye?
“I am going to put you on speaker. One false word, and the call is over. Do I make myself clear?” Myra said in a stern tone.
“Crystal.”
“Good. Now dial her number and read what’s on this piece of paper.” Myra wrote out a little blurb for him to say. This is how the conversation went:
“Hello, Ma. It’s me, Vinny.”
“Vincent! Where are you? Where have you been? Why aren’t you home?”
He read from the script:
“I’m sorry, Ma. I got caught up here in Atlantic City. I was winning really big, and they kept comping me rooms and meals. It was too hard to break away from the craps table.”
He looked at Myra, wondering how she knew his weaknesses.
“That’s your problem, Vincent! You never know when to stop. I want you to come home right away. And Jimmy’s aunt and uncle are worried about him.”
Vinny kept reading the note in front of him.
“I’ll be back in a few days. Jimmy twisted his ankle, and he’s laid up right now. He’s okay, but the doctor said he can’t travel for a couple of days.”