Risky Negotiations (10 page)

Laci thought about that for a moment and considered being offended. She didn’t like the idea of Sal arriving for their traditional Sunday lunches with various other women. But then Laci remembered that her sister was married to one of these men and they might not think it very strange that their sister in law’s sister was coming to lunch.

Sal raised an eyebrow at his brothers’ ridiculous argument, then ignored them, leading Laci through the house. She tried to peek in each of the rooms they passed, but she was getting dizzy with all the variety. There was a library larger than her whole apartment with floor to ceiling shelves filled with books, what appeared to be a music room if all the black, odd looking containers on one shelf were any indication, a large formal living room, another sitting room and a game room before they reached the back of the house where the kitchen was located.

The kitchen was a chef’s dream. The cabinets were all white with brass knobs. The counter tops were black granite and the floors were a shiny, black hard wood. There were several sinks for various work stations but the largest sink had a huge window over the top. And above each of the cabinets on the outer wall were more windows. The eating area contained a white iron table and eight chairs with a large green rug underneath. The wall was made up of French doors with large windows above them. The doors opened onto a patio with more white iron furniture and surrounded by a flagstone patio that stretched out to a semi circle with potted plants and bushes making the scene more inviting and cozy.

There were four older women chatting and chopping, making some sort of meal. They stopped as soon as they saw Sal and smiled their greeting. “You must be Laci,” a beautiful blond woman said. “I’m Brenda, Sal’s Aunt.” She looked over at Sal and smiled fondly. “You’re uncle is around here somewhere, probably trying to hide from your nephews. I’m sure there’s a dirty diaper that needs to be changed on one of them. And I think Antonia has also arrived.”

Laci laughed, warmed by the woman’s instant friendliness. Sal’s Aunt wiped her hands on a towel and scanned the other occupants of the room before continuing with the introductions. “Over by the sink is Marsha and the one sitting with the vegetables is Sal’s Aunt Frieda,” both Marsha and Frieda stopped their task and waived to Laci. Brenda continued in a conspiratorial whisper, “She’s ornery so stay away from her,” she explained and laughed when Frieda winked at Laci, enjoying the teasing which was obviously done with a great deal of love and kindness.

“
Don’t listen to her Laci,” Marsha said as she dried off her hands. “Frieda’s only ornery fifty percent of the time. The rest of the time she’s just downright cantankerous,” she laughed.

Frieda grabbed a carrot and munched, ignoring her sisters but she smiled and winked at Laci. “Only when I don’t get food fast enough because of chatterbox women,” Frieda said.

“
Can you cook?” Brenda asked.

Laci shook her head. “I can microwave,” she replied, suddenly wishing she could do something more than simply chop an onion for flavoring in her tuna salad.

Brenda laughed and pointed to the room next door. “Then you are in charge of babysitting if you can get one of the babies away from the men,” she said, pointing to a large room with several men, two babies and one energetic toddler, all of them playing on the floor.

“
Is Victoria around somewhere?” she asked.

“
She’s in the family room as well I think. Probably enjoying a little freedom while Josh and Max’s uncles take care of the little hellions for a while.

Laci didn’t realize that Sal had taken her hand and was leading her into the family room. She was too curious to understand the dynamics of all these large, Italian men taking care of little babies. Weren’t men supposed to be sitting in front of the television watching football on Sunday afternoon while the women took the children to another part of the house? Children were loud, messy and curious. In Laci’s experience, most men pushed the children onto the mothers at every opportunity.

The television was indeed turned on, a large screen version off in the corner of the substantial room. But none of the men were really paying attention to the game. They were all bragging about how well each of their kids were doing. Two were betting on who would drool on the ball first. Another was bouncing what appeared to be a deliriously happy two year old on his back, all of them perfectly comfortable among the noise and commotion.

Victoria was in the family room and her eyes widened in surprise when Laci entered. As soon as Laci saw Victoria’s gaze on her clasped hands with Sal, she pulled her hand free and stepped away, not wanting her older sister to make too much of the fact that she was here with her brother in law.

“
Hello!” Victoria said, not mentioning the hand-holding gesture. “Glad you could join us,’ she said. Laci accepted the hug from her sister and followed her back to the sofa where she could watch Josh and Max play with the ball.

“
You remember Michael and Carlo from the wedding, right?” Victoria said, introducing the two men who were sitting on the floor playing with her sons.

“
Yes, how are you doing?” Laci said politely to the two younger versions of Sal.

“
Great!” Michael said. “Hey Gus, you wanted a turn with this little guy, didn’t you?” he called out to the man sitting at the bar talking to a tall, handsome man with sandy blond hair.

“
Absolutely,” Gus said and instantly jumped up to take the little boy from Michael. “It’s you and me buddy,” Gus crooned and held the boy up to his face. Josh smiled and tried to bite Gus’ nose.

Suddenly Gus pulled back and crinkled his nose. “Michael! Not fair!” Gus said and his arms shot out to hold the stinky fellow farther away.

Michael was laughing as he exited the room. “Possession is nine tenths of the law, bro!”

Victoria laughed at the scene and started to stand up. “I’ll change him,” she said and reached out to take her son who had apparently pooped in his diaper.

But Gus wouldn’t relinquish the little fellow. “No, that’s okay. I’ll change him.” He sighed and held the boy closer, nuzzling his neck. “I know how it works in this family. I won’t get him back if I give him up.”

Gus bounced the baby in his arms and carried him out of the room to some mysterious place where he knew there would be a cache of diapers and baby wipes.

Laci smiled at all the men enjoying the children. According to what Victoria had said, it was amazing that the men even got close to the kids. Michael, who had just abandoned Josh and his dirty diaper was the dare devil of the group. Carlo, who was still sitting on the floor, tossing a ball to little Max, inciting little gurgling noises from him, was apparently the strong, silent brother of the group. Gus was passionate about everything and liked to enjoy life to the fullest, with not a conservative bone in his body.

Laci looked at these tall, strong men and wondered how they had turned out so normal and yet all of them were over achievers. How did two parents raise six children that were intellectually and emotionally strong and resilient? She wasn’t sure she could raise just one, much less six.

She glanced at Sal who was sitting at a bar, talking to his youngest sister’s husband, Brett Hancock. She was amazed at the strength in Sal’s personality. He had been the head of this family and the company for the past ten years and had held the family together, making sure they understood their roots. Seeing this family all together made her respect Sal even more.

Victoria sat back down and crossed her legs, sighing with joy. “Ah, I love Sunday afternoons,” she said and smiled as she watched Carlo playing quietly on the floor with Max.

Laci chortled at her sister. “You just love the fact that you don’t have to change Josh’s diaper.”

“
Can you blame me?” she asked, giggling at Max’s happy face when he found Carlo’s ear. “I have to change what seems to be hundreds of diapers every week.”

“
No, I don’t blame you at all. I watched these two last week while you and Thomas went to that party,” Laci replied, thinking back to the night when Max and Josh were hers alone. “I don’t know how you do that seven days a week.” Laci was always thrilled when she got time alone with her nephews. But she wouldn’t want to do twins all the time. “You’re really a saint.”

Victoria shook her head. “No, they are. They are so much fun, I don’t know what I did before these two little gangsters came along,’ she said, smiling fondly at her son. Josh came back into the room and was plopped down next to his brother, clean and thrilled with being close to two of his uncles.

A half hour later, fifteen people sat down at a huge table in Sal’s dining room. After a prayer of thanksgiving, the laughter and teasing began once again. It lasted throughout the whole meal. Laci sat next to her sister on one side and Sal, at the head of the table, on the other. She sipped fragrant tea and ate a wonderful brunch of eggs benedict, warm blueberry muffins, fresh fruit and orange juice while holding her nephew Max in her arms. Josh was being held by his Uncle Gus and loving the fact that he got several bites of blueberry muffin to try, his Uncle Gus sneaking forbidden snacks to the little guy.

Everyone lingered over the meal, relaxing and discussing the events of the past week and what was to come. The children didn’t mind sitting at the table since they were fast asleep in someone’s arms. Even two year old Emma was sleeping in her father’s strong arms, her long, black eyelashes resting against her perfect, rosy cheeks.

When everyone was finished, the men picked up all the plates and serving platters to carry into the kitchen. Laci was startled, never having seen her father clean up after a meal except on Mother’s Day. Even Sal was helping to load the dishwasher and wash the serving plates, which was a staggering sight.

Victoria pulled Laci into the family room and Laci could see that her older sister wanted to question her about the previous evening as well as her presence at lunch today. But Josh and Max woke up at that moment, sparing Laci the need to explain.

Sal’s aunts were the first to leave, then his brothers and eventually Victoria and Thomas with their boys left, leaving Laci alone with Sal. Turning awkwardly to face him, she smiled, not sure what to say or do. “I’ll call a cab to get home.”

He stopped her with a hand to her shoulder. “Stay and watch a movie with me. It’s always a little depressing when everyone leaves on Sundays.”

“
You get depressed?” she mocked. “I doubt it.”

He smiled wolfishly at her. “Well, I’ll admit, I don’t mind being alone with you,” he said and moved closer to take her hand and lead her into the opposite end of the house. “Where are you taking me?” she asked nervously after they’d walked for a few minutes in a new section of the huge house.

He looked back at her. “Don’t you trust me?” he asked, a gleam in his eye.

“
No,” she said quickly and tried pulling her hand out of his but he wouldn’t let her.

He chucked at her response. “Smart woman.”

“
You’re admitting I should be wary?”

His smile held the assurance of a sensual anticipation. “Of course. But I give you my word to behave through the movie,” he promised.

“
I’m not sure that’s a very good guarantee,” she said, wary of his look.

Sal just put an arm around her shoulders and guided her down the hallway. “You have nothing to fear from me. I won’t do anything you don’t want me to,” he said.

That was part of the problem, she said, but only to herself. In the end, she let him lead her to what he called the theatre room. She didn’t want to leave him. She liked his company and she didn’t have anything better to do other than clean her apartment or research her arguments for the coming week. Neither option seemed to overpower her with urgency at the moment.

They stopped a moment later and he opened a double door and revealed a mini movie theater. “What do you want to watch?” he asked, walking to a cabinet that held hundreds of movies.

Laci dropped down into a large lazy boy chair. “You choose,” she said, too overwhelmed by the luxury of the house. She’d carefully chosen the chair because it only had space for one person as opposed to the comfortable looking sofas that could seat several people, but also allowed two people to sit closely together.

He raised an eyebrow but turned back to the shelf containing the various movie selections. He put in a movie and adjusted the sound, nodding in satisfaction when the lights automatically dimmed and the screen flickered indicating that the movie would start playing. The introductory music started and he walked back to her. She watched him warily, wondering if she should be nervous of the secretive glimmer in his eyes.

She should have trusted her instincts because he walked over to where she sat in her one person chair, took both her hands in his strong ones and pulled her up. She gasped when her body came into contact with his, the two of them standing there for what seemed like a whole minute but in reality, was probably only a second or two. She thought he was going to kiss her but, without a word, he led her over to a comfortable loveseat in the middle of the room, pulled her down next to him and put his arm around her.