“And which man’s heart are we trying to infiltrate today, Mama? Who’s coming for lunch?” I asked, as I snuck a warm cornetti past her eagle eyes.
“Who said anything about guests?”
“Oh, come now, Mama. You’ve taken out the good china, polished the silver cutlery, and you’re wearing your best apron. The signs are blinding.”
My mother laughed as she cupped my chin in her palm. “There’s no fooling you, my smart girl. Your Papa has invited new clients for lunch, and Bria’s parents are joining us too.”
“Okay, Mama. I’ll have a quick shower, and then, I’ll be down to help.”
I poured myself a cup of coffee from the pot on the stove and headed for my room. After a refreshing shower, I made my way back to the kitchen once more to be the good Italian daughter. At least I wasn’t barefoot and pregnant. I could thank my progressive parents for that. Most girls my age were married with a bun in the oven or engaged to be married. I’d have none of that crap. It was the seventies—the women’s liberation was burning their bras for goodness sake!
My father popped his head around the door as my mother and I were chatting and clanging dishes, conjuring up the best that Italian cuisine had to offer.
“Ah, both my girls in the kitchen. Do I smell fresh cornetti?”
“Yes, my love. Go easy, lunch is going to be a big one.” My mother handed him a plate with his treat and a strong coffee, while he left us to cook.
My parents had worked hard to give me the advantages that they’d never had. My father started his company when he was very young, and after many years of sound business decisions and dedication, my family was doing alright. There was never a lack of anything in the Lastra household. Not that I was a spoiled brat, but I had never gone without. My father doted on my mother. He’d often say that she was his biggest achievement. They made a wonderful couple.
Joe’s face kept coming up in my mind's eye as I was chopping and stirring. I wondered what he was doing.
JOE
It required nothing short of Herculean effort to drag my whiskey pickled ass around the soccer field. It was hot as hell, and I was dehydrated from the late night before. Fabio, the president and founding member of the ADHD club, was all over the field like a spray gun, diving, leaping, kicking, and heckling.
After what seemed like hours, the game was done. I was more than relieved when the whistle saved me from certain death brought on by a hangover. I made a beeline for the changerooms. Fabio followed soon after.
“Hey, what happened to you?” He was wiping his face with a towel and glugging down his drink.
“It’s hot as hell out there, and I didn’t get much sleep last night.” I got out of my sweaty kit and headed for the shower.
“Can’t sleep, huh? I bet it had something to do with the gorgeous Eleanora,” he said as he sat down on the bench against the wall. “I saw you slipping her the tongue. She’s super hot but look who I’m telling.”
“Bria’s pretty hot herself. You give her the famous Fabio five star treatment? Or are you taking it slow for maximum impact?”
“Actually, I was thinking of changing things up a bit with this filly,” he grinned.
“Oh no! Don’t tell me the great manwhore Fabio has met his match. Someone, stop the press.”
He pulled a face as he stepped into the shower. “I’m not saying she’s the one, but I had a really good time with her. She’s different from the usual women that hang around Palermo’s clubs.”
“Instead of sweating our balls off in the searing heat, we should have shopped for a ball and chain for you. Or is she bringing hers?”
Fabio flicked me with the end of his towel. “Zip it, you! In case you haven’t noticed, you’re all puppy-eyed too, you big hero. Wanna make a wager on who’ll get hitched first? I know who my money’s on.”
“Oh, shut up, you pain in the ass. Let’s go to the beach. I need to work on my tan while I still can. My old man is giving me until the end of the summer to sow my wild oats. Then, I’ll be a working man.”
“Gotta payback that crazy tuition sometime, bud. Better you than me. My old man wants me to run his steelworks firm when he’s too old to do it. I’ll have to start from the ground up. You know what he’s like. ‘Hard work builds character, my boy, hard work!’ I’ll be lucky if I ever get to see the inside of a nightclub again.”
“So, stop complaining and let’s hit the beach before we’re both hitched, smelling of baby puke, and up to our eyeballs in responsibilities.”
ELEANORA
Lunch was ready, finally; my mother had prepared every known Italian dish and invented a few more. I was upstairs in my room when I heard Bria’s voice dancing down the passage toward me.
“Hey, Ella. You can run but you can’t hide,” she called as she came closer.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I retorted as she burst into my room like a whirlwind.
“Has he called yet? Is your sexy knight coming to whisk you away?” She flopped onto my bed and watched as I brushed my wet hair.
“Is that all you think about?”
“We're young and fertile. What else
