Chapter 10
Matteo
A DRESS. TO ride a Vespa.
Allegra looked sexy as shit this morning, but the getup wasn’t exactly practical.
Though, rather than mentioning that fact and winding up in an argument first thing, I instead slipped my sunglasses down my nose and took my time appreciating what I had no business appreciating.
I couldn’t help myself, the pink and white material clung to all the right places.
“Why don’t you bring that letter Sophia wrote to your great-aunt, and we’ll head that way while I give you a lesson?” I suggested.
“Oh, perfect. Thanks. I’ll be right back.”
I also failed at being a gentleman while watching her walk to the house. A minute later, she came out holding an envelope marked Anna, and I tucked it into the compartment under the Vespa seat for safekeeping.
“Hop on back of mine, yes?” I thumbed behind me.
“It’s da best way to give you a lesson before you try to ride on your own.
” I could’ve just as easily pointed out the basics while she stood alongside, but what fun would that be?
Allegra climbed onto the back of my scooter, and I looked up and offered Sophia a silent apology.
She’d know exactly what I was doing if she was watching from up there.
Damn, this woman smells amazing. Subtle. Expensive. Floral with a hint of vanilla. If I hadn’t already decided to have her wrap her arms around me and hold on tight, I would have now, just to be able to smell her on my clothes after we were done.
I gave her a quick lesson on operating the scooter—throttle, front and rear brakes, electric start, horn, lights—then put the key in and started it up. Allegra squealed and rubbed her hands together. It made her look like a teenager, and my insides felt about the same age as I smiled.
“Pull your helmet on, and we drive a few kilometers so you get used to da feel. Then we switch places.”
“Okay!”
I twisted the throttle, and the Vespa hummed to life.
“Wrap your arms around me. Make sure you hold tight.” That last part wasn’t absolutely necessary, but I was already acting like an ass making her ride behind me, so I figured I might as well go all in.
The way her body pressed to mine and her fingers gripped my stomach, I wasn’t regretting much.
I glided down the long dirt drive, taking it slow until we came to the paved road at the end, where I stopped. “You good?”
“Yes! I can’t wait to go fast!”
I chuckled. “Hang on, Mario Andretti.”
The roads were empty. Normally I’d open up the throttle, but today I took my time, explaining how to lean into the curves and press the brakes gently so you don’t jerk to a stop.
Once we were past the first few winding turns, there was a long stretch of straight road ahead of us, so I gave it a little more gas.
I kept my eyes on the road—mostly, except when I was stealing glances at the woman behind me in the tiny rearview mirror.
I couldn’t help it, not when Allegra was smiling from ear to ear, her hair whipping in the wind, and she tightened her hold around my waist. Her front felt so good pressed up against my back, it made me want to keep driving.
I rode to the edge of town, and then, only because I really did want to keep her safe, I pulled to the side and slowed to a stop.
“You ready to try?”
“Heck yeah!”
The smile hadn’t left her face since we’d started, and the inside of my chest felt warm knowing I was the one responsible for putting it there.
Allegra and I switched places on the scooter.
The only time I’d ever let someone drive me on the back of anything was a few years ago when things went to shit with Izzy, and I’d gotten piss drunk at the pub and had to be driven home by one of my buddies.
I was definitely looking forward to holding on to this driver more than I had Vincenzo.
Allegra hit the gas, and it turned out to be a damn good thing I’d actually put my arms around her because otherwise my ass would’ve been on the pavement.
“Sorry!” she yelled. “I guess I need to turn the throttle slower.”
“Just be careful.”
We drove about a kilometer before we came to an intersection. When we did, I pointed to the right.
“Turn here.”
Allegra steered the scooter through quieter side roads for the next ten minutes. She actually did better than I’d expected after seeing how she handled the Fiat. The road we were on led to a dirt driveway, and Allegra slowed as we approached.
“Keep going.” I pointed ahead. “We’re going to the house up on da hill.”
She navigated up the drive, dirt kicking up in a cloud behind us as we went.
Once we got to the top of the driveway, I lowered my feet and skimmed them over the ground to make sure we stayed upright as she came to a stop.
“Park it anywhere.” I reached around her for the key and killed the engine before taking off my helmet. “This is your great-aunt Anna’s house.”
Allegra hopped off the scooter and removed her helmet. “How did I do?”
“Not bad.”
She grinned. “You’re full of shit. I did really good!”
I hid my smile under my helmet as I pulled up the seat and removed the letter her grandmother had written. Then I took her helmet and hung it from the handlebars before slipping off my own.
The front door was open, so I knocked on the bottom metal part of the screen.
“Anna, sono Matteo Lucchese. Sono qui con la tua pronipote, Allegra.” It’s Matteo Lucchese. I’m here with your grandniece, Allegra.
“Entra,” a voice yelled from inside. Her tone grew more stern. “Ma se è la parente del traditrice, lasciala fuori.”
I frowned and looked at Allegra. “She wants me to come in but leave you outside.”
“Really?”
I shrugged. “That’s what she said.”
“All right. Well…” She extended the letter to me. “I guess just give her this and let her know where I got it.”
“Will do.”
The rickety screen door creaked open, and I found Anna sitting at the kitchen table. She had on a housecoat and a pair of glasses with lenses thicker than a Coke bottle.
“Come sta?” I asked. How are you?
She pursed her lips. “Ho novant’anni. Non esiste più il bene o il male. Sono solo qui.” I’m ninety. There is no more good or bad. I’m just here.
I smiled and held out the letter. “Ho qualcosa da parte di tua sorella.” I have something for you, from your sister.
Anna pursed her lips, turned her head, and spat on the kitchen floor. “Per me è morta.” She’s dead to me.
I didn’t think it wise to point out that Sophia was dead to everyone. Ninety-year-old, four-foot-nine Italian women who’d survived Mussolini and World War II were better at nailing you in the head with a shoe than a marksman.
“Che ne dici se te lo lascio sul tavolo?” How about I leave it on the table for you?
She pointed to her glasses. “Non ci vedo più un accidente. Leggimelo prima che lo bruci.” I can’t see shit anymore. Read it to me before I burn it.
I shook my head. How the hell did I get myself into this?
Anna folded her arms across her chest, perhaps only a few heartbeats away from grabbing that shoe, so I tore open the seal to the back of the envelope and slipped out the letter inside.
I had experience with pissing off Italian women, so to be safe, I scanned the page for a quick read before starting.
Oh fuck. This wasn’t going to be good. I tossed around making up something different from what the letter actually said, but then I’d be pissing off a dead Italian woman, and I wasn’t sure which of the sisters could do me more damage.
So I bit the bullet and began reading in Italian.
Anna,
If you’re reading this, I’m dead, which is the only way you’d get another word out of me after what you did.
Congratulations for outliving me, just like you outlasted the three husbands you slept next to, two of them actually yours, along with your Thanksgiving invitation, and the shame of serving my lasagna recipe and calling it your own.
I’m leaving you nothing. Not a dollar. Not the pearls that have been in the family for two hundred years. Not even my unmatched Tupperware lids.
Rot in guilt. Or better yet, choke on your bad lasagna.
No love,
Sophia
P.S. You can no longer be buried with our family. I donated your plot to a hooker who died of syphilis. I figured at least she earned it, not stole her way through life, like you.
I wasn’t sure what the hell to do after that. Anna’s face was beet red, and it looked like she wanted to hold someone accountable for the letter. Since I was the only one around, I decided it was time to go. I set the letter down on the table and held up a hand in a wave.
“Ciao. Stammi bene.” Bye. Take care.
I made it as far as the door before she caught up to me.
Anna had the letter in one hand and a lit Bic lighter in the other.
She caught the bottom of the page, and the sheet went up in flames.
I opened the door, and Anna tossed the paper on the front lawn before spitting at Allegra’s feet and marching back into her house.
Slam! The door flew closed.
Allegra’s face wrinkled. “What the hell?”
I put my arm around her shoulder and started her toward the scooter. “I’ll explain after we are out of shotgun range, yes?”