Chapter 76
Mary’s mother and Nonna had gone all out for Jake’s Sunday supper visit.
“You didn’t need to do all this,” Mary said to her mother, surveying the appetizers.
The Christmas decorations were still up, and the sideboard was filled with antipasti—asiago, provolone, and mortadella cheeses, plus olives, roasted peppers, mushrooms, and fried calamari.
“You even used the good china? Ma, this is nuts.”
“What? Can’t I use the good china when my baby is bringing home her friend?” Christine Russo asked. “I can’t send him home on an empty stomach.”
“You’re going to send him home weighing ten more pounds. He’ll have to pay for extra baggage at the airport.” Mary decided to lighten the mood and be happy her mom had gone to such lengths to make Jake feel welcome.
“Here, dear, I made you a plate. You look like you could use a few good meals,” Nonna said to Jake, handing him a dish filled with Italian appetizers. He took it and stood while Nonna got herself settled on the sofa. “Such a gentleman!” She looked at Mary and nodded her approval.
When they’d arrived, Tony and Christine had treated Jake like a long-lost son.
They asked about Grace and Joe Taylor and reminisced about their summer visit to the farm.
Mary’s brothers shook his hand firmly and peppered him with questions about the Packers, being a cop, and how Mary got around in the ice with her high heels.
“Very carefully,” he’d said.
Mary’s nieces and nephews wanted to show Jake their Christmas presents, and they all spoke at once trying to get his attention.
If he felt overwhelmed, he didn’t show it.
Occasionally, he’d look for Mary, catch her eye, and smile to reassure her he was enjoying himself.
She had to admit, he looked like he was doing just fine.
During the main course, Nonna insisted Jake sit next to her, and Christine was on her right. Mary sat across from Jake next to her brother, the priest.
Gabe led the table in saying grace and Jake complimented his prayer. “You know a way to a man’s heart,” Father Russo said.
“Yeah, through his stomach,” Tony said. “Let’s eat.”
The dinner guests laughed and started dishing out the food.
All eyes were on Jake as he tried every dish they put in front of him. He especially liked the gnocchi, carbonara, and braciole. He asked Nonna for her secret ingredients, and she said, “I’ve never told anyone this, but it’s . . .” whispering her secrets so quietly that no one else could hear her.
Mary’s sister-in-law leaned over to Mary and said, “Home run.”
“You think?”
“And he’s hot!”
Mary smiled and took another bite of sausage and peppers. Yes, he is, she thought. Her foot found his and they linked ankles under the table.
When it was time for Mary to take Jake to the airport, the goodbye took close to an hour.
Nonna had prewrapped treats in an insulated bag for him to take home and share with his parents.
Mary watched as everyone gave him a hug, including a young niece who clung to his leg and said she was going with him.
“All right, all right. Enough. I’m going to take Jake to the airport,” Mary said.
“You’re driving?” Her brother Frankie was incredulous. “To the airport? No one does that anymore.”
“It’s a new tradition,” Mary said. “It’s kind of our thing.” She walked out to her dad’s Mercedes.
“Will you come back?” Christine asked Jake as they said goodbye at the front door of the Russo’s home.
“If you’ll have me,” Jake said.
“I’ll have you,” she said. “You make her so happy. And you make a beautiful couple.”
“Hey now, don’t pressure him, Christine,” Tony said. Turning to Jake, he put out his hand and Jake took it. They shook firmly. “You’re a good man.”
“You too, sir. And Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Year indeed. Now get going. Don’t want you to miss your flight.” Tony and Christine wrapped their arms around one another, ignoring the cold, and watched them drive away.
“Well . . .” Christine said.
“Yep. I know,” he said. “I know.”
AS THEY EXITED the Staten Island Expressway, Jake let out the breath he’d been holding. “You are the classic New York driver,” he said. “I’d have given you four tickets by now.”
“Oh yeah? Hold on then.” She stepped on the gas and merged within inches of two cars.
Jake grabbed his stomach with both hands and groaned. “Don’t do that. I’m so full. I won’t eat for days.”
“Told you that you didn’t have to eat all of that.”
“How could I refuse,” he said. “I felt like I was being hazed.”
“Well, they loved you,” she said.
“They did?” he asked.
“Yes. They love you more than me now.”
“Well, I really liked seeing how you were raised. That’s a tough house—but a loving one. I had a great time. You have a wonderful family.” He reached for her hand, and she gave it to him. They rode the rest of the way in silence, dreading the next step.
An hour later at LaGuardia, Mary parked the car and went into the terminal with Jake.
“Wow. I’ve never done this before,” Mary said.
“What, tried a long-distance relationship?”
“Well, yes, that.” She half-smiled at his attempt to lighten the mood. She was rattled about having to say goodbye to him. “But usually I don’t even park—I just shove people out while the car’s still rolling. I don’t like to get yelled at by security.”
“I’m grateful to have some last moment with you instead of being tossed out at Departures,” Jake said.
She cocked her head and raised one brow, a catch in her throat preventing her from answering.
Instead, to fill the silence, he reached for her to put an arm around her.
They walked slowly with their legs pressed tightly together, Jake nearly holding her up with one arm while shouldering his backpack and wheeling his overnight bag with the other.
She matched his stride until at security, losing her composure, she wrapped her arms around his strong torso and turned her cheek to press against him as strongly as possible.
Neither of them needed to say anything—their energy passed back and forth, speaking volumes.
They embraced for a long time.
“It’s like in the movies,” she said, trying to lighten the mood.
“But better than the movies. Because it’s real,” he said.
“But how does it end?”
“Maybe it doesn’t end,” he murmured, his lips hovering just above hers long enough to make her breath catch. Impatient for the kiss, she tugged him closer to her. Then he bent his head to reach her lips “I’ll miss you, Mary.” His whispered words made her shiver.
She nodded into his chest. “I’ll miss you, too.”
“But it’s just three weeks until I’m back,” he said.
“I’ll be here,” she said. They lingered in a hug for a long couple of minutes before she couldn’t take it anymore. “Go. Or I’ll chain myself to your carry-on.”
Slowly, they disentangled, and Jake walked backward into the security line for a few steps before he turned around. He looked back a few times. When he could no longer see her, he stared straight ahead.
As he cleared the metal detector, he saw a poster that caught his eye.
“NYPD: Fighting crime, protecting the public.” A recruiting number displayed prominently. Jake considered it for a moment.
Then he took out his phone and snapped a photo.