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FREE READS The following is a deleted chapter from Struck by Lightning. Enjoy! “Mama, are you sure you don’t want to come with me to see Gino?” Angela Girardi checked her hair in the hallway mirror and rearranged the strand that wasn’t to her satisfaction. “No. I done told you. I no gonna go.” Her mother pulled her sweater tighter around her thin body. “Too hot to go out.” “You think it’s too hot outside, but you sit in here or in your place all day with a sweater on.” Angela shook her head and picked up her purse and the shopping bag sitting beside it on the hall table. “I’ll see you later. I’m going to take these new sofa pillows over to Gino’s and some of his favorite cookies. He probably won’t be home, but I’ll leave them for a surprise.” Outside the heat blasted her in the face as it radiated from the sidewalk. Angela wondered if she’d made a mistake. Her mother was right. Hot didn’t come close to describing the day and it wasn’t even noon yet. Maybe she should do a few errands on the way. A stop by the coffee shop would give her a chance to cool off and catch up on the latest gossip. “Angela. Over here.” She’d stopped to enjoy the cool air on her skin, giving it a moment to dry some of the perspiration. Looking in the direction she heard her name called, she spied Rose, her sister-in-law. Everyone seemed to think this was a good place to escape the heat and Angela made her way toward the table in the back corner where Rose had set up court with a group of friends. She placed the shopping bag on the floor by the only empty chair at the small round table the four occupants had squeezed in to accommodate her. “I already ordered you iced coffee,” Rose told her while she got situated. “Your Bella finally has a man.” Angela looked up to find Sonya Wilkes, one of Rose’s close friends beaming at her. This had probably been the topic of conversation at this morning’s round table discussion since Rose had met Galvin on Saturday night. What a relief it was not to have to hang her head in shame or attempt to change the subject when discussion of her daughter’s marital status, or lack thereof, came up. All the women seated here had numerous grandchildren and with any luck she would have one on the way by this time next year. She had good feelings about Bella’s new man, and he even got along with Mama, which took some doing. “Rose says he’s Scandinavian or something like that.” Mary Figello’s face bore its usual sour look and her voice carried disapproval. Leave it to Mary to try and deflate a happy situation. “I don’t really know where his family’s from. He probably isn’t Italian with all that blonde hair,” Angela agreed. “Italians can be blonde.” Mary stuck her nose in the air. Angela resisted the urge to tell her that her Romanesque nose looked even bigger when she did that. The upturned position emphasized the bump in the middle. “True, Mary.” Rose had decided to put in her two cents. “But, I don’t think you’ll see too many Italians with all that red in with the blonde. His hair looks like it has streaks of fire flying out of it when the light hits it just so, don’t it Angela?” “He does have beautiful hair and his eyes are such a beautiful blue.” Angela almost sighed when she thought about how gorgeous Galvin Haldor looked when he walked in behind Bella. The man probably melted plenty of hearts and she had to make sure her daughter didn’t do something dumb to mess up her chances with this living god. The thought of the beautiful grandchildren he would help create gave her chills. “Have you started to plan the wedding yet?” Sonya leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Rose said this is the first man Bella has brought home so it must be serious.” “Sonya, he’s not even proposed. How can I plan a wedding?” Angela exchanged looks with Rose. They’d picked out the colors when they talked on the phone the morning after the party. Bella had always liked blue and they decided a powder blue tuxedo would make Galvin’s eyes stand out. The bridesmaid’s dresses would be light blue satin with off the shoulder ruffles. They would carry white roses with streamers to match the color of their gown. The bodice of Bella’s wedding gown would have a high collar of lace and trimmed in sequins and peals. Her skirt would be full with a long train. There were enough grandchildren between her and Lou’s siblings that coming up with the two pages to carry the train wouldn’t be a problem. Of course, they’d need flower girls and four would be perfect. Bella’s bouquet would be white roses and blue orchids. The church would look like a garden with all the flower arrangements. Vases of roses on the altar and sprays gathered with blue satin bows tied along the aisle Bella walked down would complete the effect. There has been one area of disagreement. Rose thought she should wear the same shade of blue as the bridesmaid’s dresses. She thought, as mother of the bride, her dress should contrast more and be a deeper shade. That would be something to discuss with Bella and let her make the final decision about. “I wouldn’t let a little thing like no official proposal stop me from planning my daughter’s wedding as long as you’ve had to wait,” Mary chirped in with a grin on her face. Angela ground her teeth together in order to not respond to what she knew Mary meant to be a snide remark. “I’ll think about it, but right now I have more important things to consider.” She reached in the shopping bag beside her and pulled out one of the sofa pillows she’d made for Gino’s living room. “What do you think, Rose? Will this go with his new furniture?” Rose took the black and tan checked pillow and examined it closely. “I haven’t seen his new couch, what color is it?” “He got a leather cream one. He says its so soft it feels like butter.” “Humph, I don’t like leather. It gets too hot in summer and cold in winter.” Mary didn’t notice the ‘drop dead’ look Angela sent her way when the dour woman reached over and took the pillow out of Rose’s hands. “Guess I’ve cooled down enough so I’ll be on my way.” Angela grabbed the pillow from Mary’s and stuffed it down in the bag. She didn’t want the crabby old biddy touching something she’d spent time making with love. Though she didn’t believe in such things, but the possibility of bad karma rubbing off on something that would assume residence in her son’s home didn’t seem like a good idea. When Angela stood to leave, Mary hit below the belt with a new comment. “I saw Gino yesterday. Looks like he has a new friend.” Angela wanted to wipe the smug smile off the old bat with a back hand like she did with the kids when they were little and sassed her. “Really. Gino has so many friends I can’t keep track of them.” “Yeah, well this one would be hard to forget. He’s got hair that’s so red it must glow in the dark and the way his ears stick out he could get a job as a crop duster because if he flapped them he’d leave the ground.” Mary looked around the group for approval on her little joke. The only man Angela knew who came close to fitting that description was Tom Waters, the young man she’d tried to fix Bella up with. What would Gino be doing with him? They did seem to hit it off at the party. Must have discovered they had a lot in common and went to a ball game or something. “Who Gino is friends with is not my business.” Angela gathered her shopping bag and purse. “Want to come with me Rose? You can see your nephew’s new furniture and tell me how you think the pillows look.” “Sure.” Rose got up from her chair and gave air kisses all around to her friends. Out on the sidewalk Angela demanded to know, “How can you stay friends with Mary? She’s not a nice person.” “She’s not so bad most of the time. When her arthritis acts up she gets a little testy.” “I don’t care how bad her arthritis is, she shouldn’t take it out on others.” Angela adjusted the weight of her shopping bag on her arm and headed in the direction they needed to go to get to Gino’s place. She considered taking a taxi, but all the ones going by were full. Besides, Rose needed the exercise since her backside seemed to be spreading from sitting on it so much these days. “Is Gino home this time of day?” Rose huffed, out of breath in her efforts to keep up with her sister-in-law. “No, I don’t think so. I have a key so it’s no problem.” Out in the heat again Angela began to feel like a head of lettuce looked when it was left out of the refrigerator overnight…wilted to the core. “You’re lucky your son gives you a key to his home. None of my kids ever have.” The touch of envy in Rose’s voice didn’t go unnoticed by Angela, but then it was understandable given how Rose always interfered in her children’s lives. She knew her relationship with her children was so good because she knew when not to stick her nose in their business. If only she could get both of them married and giving her grandbabies, life would be perfect. “Here we are.” Angela stopped in front of an aging brownstone building, identical to the others on the block. Fumbling in her purse she pulled out a set of keys and selected one which she inserted into the uncooperative lock. “I wish Gino would move. This old place is going to fall down around his head one of these days. Stupid lock is only one of the things wrong with it.” Success at last, she won the battle and the door gave them access to the cool air inside. “Don’t you like the way he arranged the furniture? Of course I had to give him a few ideas.” Angela took the pillows out of the shopping bag and placed them on the sofa. “What do you think?” “I think they look good, but it would be better if you make some more in color.” Rose studied the cream leather sofa on which Angela had placed the pillows. “Maybe some dark green and burgundy.” “Humph.” Angela didn’t tell Rose maybe she needed to make some changes in her own home decorations before telling other people what they needed to do. “I’ll think on it. Let’s see if Gino has some tea in the refrigerator. I don’t know about you, but I can use something cold to drink.” “I’d be happy with a glass of iced water.” Rose followed behind her to the kitchen and searched for glasses while Angela checked out the fridge. “Looks like it’ll have to be water. You fix us some and I’m going to check out the bedroom. Gino said he got a new bedspread and maybe he needs some throw pillows for the bed. I’ll see what might work.” Angela made her way down the long hallway toward Gino’s bedroom at the back of the house. A noise caught her attention and she paused, listening. She shrugged her shoulders when no other sounds followed. Must have been something outside. She pushed open the bedroom door and stood frozen in shock. Gino’s arms were wrapped around Tom Waters. Tom’s back pressed up against Gino and the slow gyrating movements and moans left no doubt what was happening. “Oh my god.” Angela didn’t realize she’d spoken the words screaming through her mind until Gino looked up and met her eyes. “Ma.” Blinded by tears, Angela turned and fled. She’d always thought Gino was making a joke when he told her he was gay, but this was no joke. Her son and the man she’d introduced him to, were in the middle of…of…there was no denying what she’d seen. They were having sex. All the denial that existed in her each time Gino made the statement fled as her legs carried her down the hall. The sound of Gino’s voice called from behind. “Ma, wait. We need to talk.” “Out Rose.” Angela grabbed her sister-in-law’s elbow. “We need to leave.” “Why? I hear Gino.” Rose tried to find a place to set down the glass of ice water in her hand as Angela dragged her toward the door. “Our purses, we need our purses.” “Later.” Angela pushed her reluctant companion out the door she’d opened. “But Gino’s asking us to wait. I thought you said he wasn’t home.” Rose turned to go back up the steps. “I wish to God he wasn’t.” Angela sobbed as she tugged on Rose’s arm. “Assai, you no look so good. You get too much of the sun?” “No, Mama. I just need to lie down for awhile. I’m going to bed.” Angela had been unable to tell Rose what she’d seen even though her sister-in-law had peppered her with questions until they parted company when their path took different ways to get home. She wasn’t ready to talk to her mother about it either. How could she explain to anyone that her only son preferred men over women? Would she be able to tell Lou what she had witnessed? How would he react? Her dreams of lots of grandchildren playing at her feet had just taken another beating. “Mama, please. I want to be alone right now.” Her mother had followed her into the bedroom wearing the determined look that said she wanted an answer. “Angela, something bad is wrong here. If you cannot tell your mother, who can you tell?” Pia sat down on the edge of the bed and patted the open space beside her. “So, did you see our Gino?” Wringing her hands, Angela ignored her mother’s invitation to take a seat. The scene that she had walked in on at her son’s apartment replayed through her mind in slow motion. It would all be out in the open soon enough. Rose would tell everyone in the family about something strange happening at Gino’s and the speculation would begin. He just didn’t seem to be able to keep his mouth shut about being gay when anyone in the family asked him about marriage. It was probably better coming from her than Mama overhearing about her grandson’s love of men through gossip. “Yes, Mama. I saw Gino, only I wish I hadn’t.” “What you mean. You always happy to see him. Was he with that Joey DeBenedetto?” Pia’s eagle eyes bore into Angela. Maybe this is something she should talk to Lou about before her mother. Then again, maybe it would be better if Lou didn’t know. He was bound to find out about Gino and Tom if they became a couple, but it would probably be best not to share with her husband what she had seen. No, she would tell Mama. Better a wedge in the relationship with his grandmother, than one between her husband and son. “Mama, I…” Angela started to cry. “I walked in on Gino in bed with a man.” She closed her eyes, not wanting to see the shock and humiliation she felt reflected in her mother’s eyes. “Oh my.” Pia wrapped her arms around her thin body and rocked back and forth on the side of the bed. “The thing that makes it even worse is…” Angela took a gulp of air into her lungs in hopes of it giving her enough breath to say the painful words. “I…I introduced them.” “What you talking about?” Her mother’s voice came to her through a fog. “The other man was the one I invited to dinner to meet Bella. The red headed one.” Silence in the room deepened, neither woman saying a word. Angela decided she needed to sit and flopped down on the bed beside the older woman. “Okay.” Pia turned and faced her daughter. “You know your son prefers men. He has been telling you that for a long time.” “What? How did you know? Who told you?” If Rose or one of the other sisters-in law shot off their mouths to Mama she would never speak to them again. They would be banned from her home. “I may be an old lady, Angela, but I’m not stupid or deaf. I hear things.” Pia reached over and took her daughter’s hands. “So, your son had made a different choice. Assai, you must put what you saw behind you. Remember your heritage.” “Mama, what does heritage have to do with my son being…” Angela straightened her shoulders and forged ahead. “My son is gay. There I’ve said it.” “A lot of men from my country have had the same leanings. Consider the history of Rome at its peak. Do you think those men lounging around in the baths were there just to discuss politics?” Angela smiled and wiped the tears from her face. Amazing how well Mama could speak a language she let people think she’d never mastered, when she chose. “True. The Romans were a bit of a wild bunch. Maybe Gino is just going back to his roots.” Angela shrugged and hugged her mother in thanks. “Tell, me Mama, since we’re discussing the ancestors, do we have others in our family tree who share Gino’s life style?” “No. Not that I have heard.” “Hmmm, maybe some kept it secret.” Angela looked at her mother’s flushed face. “Mama, are there family secret’s you aren’t sharing? “Never you mind, Assai. Some secrets are best left alone.” |