Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
Mike
The day after Ren’s parents arrived, they said they weren’t up for touring around. I would’ve loved spending more time with Ren’s father, but man, oh, man was her mother scary.
The wedding was in two days, and I was concocting something special for the ceremony. After getting a resounding yes from the girls about the idea, I set things in motion.
I made a plan with Vicky to take Ren and her mother for a spa day the day before the wedding. I had something I wanted to do without Ren knowing, so I waited until Vicky texted to say they’d left the cottage before heading there.
Gathering my courage, I took a deep breath, stretched my neck back and forth like a boxer getting ready for a match, and rang the doorbell.
When no one answered, I waited a few minutes and rang it again.
Suddenly, Mrs. Valenti opened the door with a scowl that would’ve sent any Girl Scout running for the hills.
She wasn’t supposed to be here, and I could almost feel my resolve slipping.
Putting on my best smile, I said, “Good morning, Mrs. Valenti. How are you doing?”
She narrowed her eyes and answered, “Renata is not here.”
“I,I know. I’m actually here to speak to your husband, if that’s alright. I thought you might be out with the girls.”
Why aren’t you out with them like I planned? I wanted to ask.
She wore her hair short and styled much like the Granny Squad, which made her look older than she was. Or maybe it was the permanent scowl. She’d look so much younger, not to mention more approachable, if her mouth weren’t in a straight line. I wondered how she did that. It looked painful.
Mrs. Valenti wasn’t as tall as Ren, so I hunched over slightly, trying not to tower over her. She didn’t seem the kind to appreciate that sort of thing.
Looking me up and down, she finally stepped back enough to let me inside. “Why would I waste my money on something I can do myself?”
I wanted to ask her how she would give herself a massage, but decided I wanted to stay alive, so I let it go.
“Thank you. I promise not to take up too much of your time.” I walked to the living room, and she followed.
As she glared at me, I hunched even further, but my back was starting to ache.
We stood there in an awkward staring contest, I was reminded of how Ren’s gaze seemed to see into my soul.
The difference was that she had a warmth about her that her mother didn’t seem to possess. She seemed able to melt the sun.
Thankfully, Mr. Valenti stepped into the room, a book in his hand, surprised to find me standing in the living room, staring at his wife.
“Michael? Are you here to see Renata? Vicky took her out for a few hours. Something about a girl’s day or spa day,” he said. Leaning to look behind me, no doubt wondering why I was hunched over like a Neanderthal, he asked, “Are you feeling alright?”
“Me? Oh, yes, sir. Never better. And I’m not here for Ren.” My lower back was starting to spasm, and Mrs. Valenti was still staring. Good grief, this woman would scare off a grizzly bear.
Aren’t you supposed to stand taller when faced with one? I wonder what she’d do if I lifted my hands over my head like I’d seen them do in movies?
“Ah, Lucia, che succede?” he asked, looking back and forth between us.
“What’s going on?” she repeated. “I have no idea. I’m watching your future son-in-law crouched over like a cat. I was waiting to see what he was here for.”
I stood up straight, discreetly stretching my back. “Sorry, I wasn’t sure what was happening either,” I mumbled, feeling like an idiot. I also hadn’t missed her use of the term ‘your son-in-law.’
Mr. Valenti snorted. “My wife seems to have that effect on people. Come, Michael, please have a seat.”
Breaking her intense gaze, she sat on a chair on the other end of the living room from where I sat, grateful not to look directly at her unhappy expression. It gave me insight into how Ren grew up and made me understand her better.
“So, what can we do for you?” he asked, sitting on the sofa with me. His salt-and-pepper hair was all that revealed his age. He was still a handsome man. Strong jaw, kind eyes, easy smile. The little time that I’d spent with him was enough to know I liked him.
“Well, sir. I’d like to do something special for Ren tomorrow.
You see, we’re writing our own vows. The ceremony won’t be elaborate, but that was something we both agreed would make it special,” I said, trying to ignore the sigh coming from my future mother-in-law.
Or was it a growl? Wow, she made Wolverine look like a lamb.
Stop comparing your mother-in-law to scary, furry animals, dude.
“Sorry,” I said, my attention back on Mr. Valenti. “I was saying I need your help with my vows.”
A loud scoff came from the other side of the room. “You can’t even write your own vows to our daughter, Mr. Walker?”
I was starting to lose my cool, but I took a deep breath and smiled. “No, you misunderstand,” I said as kindly as I could. “I know exactly what I want to say to your daughter. But I want to say it in Italian.”
You could’ve heard a pin drop. It was as if all the air had been sucked out of the room. Ren’s mother was finally rendered speechless, her mouth comically hanging open in shock.
I looked back at her father, and he looked as if he was about to cry.
“Ah, did I say something wrong?” I asked, worried there was some Italian wedding rule I wasn’t aware of, and I’d just insulted or offended her parents. I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans, wishing I had just used Google Translate. But I didn’t trust it, so I wanted to go to the source.
Mr. Valenti cleared his throat and shook his head. “No, no, Michael. You didn’t say anything wrong. I think you just surprised us.” He looked at his wife, who had closed her mouth and sat staring at the rug. “It’s a beautiful gesture. One I think Ren will love and treasure.”
I smiled widely and pretended to wipe my brow. “You had me worried there. It is too important to trust a computer program, so I thought of you. Didn’t want to accidentally compare her to a goat or something,” I said, making him laugh loudly. Mrs. Valenti didn’t even smile.
Tough room.
“Tell me what you had in mind, and I can help you with the translation,” he said warmly, his posture relaxed. “If you have it written down, I could write it out for you.”
“I didn’t write it, but I have it memorized.” That made him smile wider.
“Okay, then. Let’s hear it.”
I side-eyed Mrs. Valenti, praying she didn’t make any more remarks.
Looking back at him, I started. “Ah, I want to say, Ren, when I look into your beautiful eyes, I see forever.” I swallowed loudly and continued. “So I vow to walk beside you and be your champion. Today, I give you my heart, my life. Everything I have is yours, now and forever.”
I cleared my throat, the words stirring my emotions. I saw Mrs. Valenti stand and walk to the back of the house without a word. Her husband watched her, pain in his eyes, and continued looking in the direction she’d gone.
Ren had told me her mother was disappointed when love didn’t follow after they married, but it looked like her father was at least trying now.
Maybe it was just too late. Remembering Ren’s concerns about her own feelings made me realize I’d have to double down on winning her.
If Mr. Valenti waited too long to show his wife he loved her, I wasn’t going to let that happen to us.
Slowly turning back to me, he said, “That’s beautiful. I’d be honored to help you with it.”
“Thank you so much, sir. I just have one request. Please call me Mike,” I said, smiling at him.
He put his hand on my shoulder. “Then call me Paolo, son.”
The morning of the wedding arrived with an unexpected phone call. When I reached for my phone, it was a video call from an unknown foreign number, and my heart raced, praying it was my parents and not some stranger telling me something had happened to them.
When my mom’s worried face came into view, I sighed in relief.
“Mom, I’m so glad you’re alright and that you got my message.
So much has happened,” I said, suddenly feeling like a kid again, one who needed his parents with him on such an important day, not to mention help with Grammy’s care.
I’d gotten so used to them not being in my everyday life that I’d pushed back the disappointment of them missing my wedding day.
We exchanged video calls as often as possible, except for when they were in the remote parts of Africa.
“Mike, oh my goodness, I’m so glad the call went through. The weather was horrible for over a week, then it took this long to get back to our base camp,” she said, holding back tears. “Please don’t tell me—”
I shook my head quickly. “No, Mom, Grammy is still with us.” I heard her sob of relief, and my father’s face came on the screen.
I didn’t realize how much I missed them until that moment.
The last time they’d been home was over six months ago, the longest they’d been gone to date.
They were due home in about a month to run their annual fundraising campaign.
“She had a heart attack,” I said roughly, the truth still painful.
“Apparently, she’s known about her heart condition for a few months and kept it from me.
I met her cardiologist, and he said even with the congestive heart failure, with lifestyle changes and medication, she could live for several more years.
” Mom had covered her mouth with her trembling hand.
“Mike, I’m so sorry you had to face that alone,” my mother cried, through tears as my father held her close. Her long hair was in her usual bun, and Dad looked like he needed a haircut badly. Dirt streaked their faces, and they looked exhausted.