Simone (The Ciprianos of Kellington Book 2) (5 page)

“What was that?”

“That I loved her, she
wanted me to tell her that I loved her and even though I was slowly getting to
that, I didn’t want to admit it just then. It took me years of figuring things
out in my life and what I wanted and who I wanted to spend my life with. You
know most of the women I’ve been with over the years have never seemed to
measure up with what I thought I wanted for my girlfriend much less who I
thought about spending the rest of my life with. But it took me all of this
time to realize that I fucked up, I fucked up big time, Ren, and now that she’s
happy with this guy, I really know I missed my chance with her.”

“Bro, just be happy for
her because she is happy now. This guy is everything to her right now and all
you can do is just be happy for her. You had the chance but now it’s time for
you to move on.”

Simone didn’t say a
word, maybe Renzo was right. Maybe he needed to let her just be happy.

Chapter Six

Sunday dinner at the
Ciprianos’ was always a big deal. The place was filled with the aroma of good
food and chatter from everybody. These were the times that Filomena enjoyed
having her sons around and now she also had Jaslyn, who she had hoped would be
her daughter-in-law one day. Soon, Andrew and Delia would be coming over to
join them and she had been so happy on Saturday when he told her that he and
Diane were going to have a baby. She loved both Andrew and Delia like her own
children. Hearing this wonderful news was something that she hoped eventually
would happen for her own sons one day.

“We’re here!” shouted
Andrew as he came from the backyard with Delia in tow.

The guys soon crowded
around Andrew as congrats and hugs were given to him. Delia walked over toward
Jaslyn
and
Filomena
giving them
hugs as well. “So, how does it feel, being an auntie?” Jaslyn smiled as they
went into the kitchen.

“I’m still in shock at
hearing that word being used in a sentence with me involved. But it’s wonderful
that I get to pick out clothes and other little things too. What do we need to
take out to the table, Mrs. C?”

“Nothing dear, we
already have everything out on the table so come on and let’s eat, everybody!”
Filomena told her while grabbing hold of her arm as they made their way to the
dining room.

When they started to
sit down, Delia headed toward the chair next to Andrew but Gianni sat down instead.
So, she grabbed the chair next to Filomena near the head of the table while
Jaslyn sat next to her along with Renzo. Simone sat down on the other side of
his mother along with Federico. Soon, food was being passed and plates were
filled with an array of pastas, meats and other good things. Filomena was happy
to see her family around her, enjoying each other’s company.

“Everything is amazing,
Mrs. C as always,” Delia told her as everybody else agreed.

“Thank you, I’m glad
that everybody is enjoying their food.” Filomena said with a smile before
taking a sip of red wine.

“Simone, what are you
up to next weekend?” asked Delia.

Simone looked at her
for a moment and it seemed like everybody at the table had gotten quiet. “I
don’t know yet, why you ask?”

“They are going to have
a double feature in town, Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein on Saturday.
Would you like to go?”

“Wow, those are my two
favorites, I’ll make sure to keep that day open then.” He smiled as she
continued eating.

“I swear I never could
understand you guys always liking those old movies.” Federico chuckled.

“Well, it’s like wine,
it’s an acquired taste, plus there is nothing better than the classics.” Simone
told him while Delia nodded in agreement.

“Simone and I would get
into deep debates over movies and characters all the time. I think one time we
got into such a heated debate that I stopped talking to him for about a month.”

“That’s right,” Andrew
chimed in. “I swear, when those two got into a debate it was a nonstop clash of
wills. What was the debate about anyways?”

It took a bit of time
of thinking before Simone laughed out loud, “It was whether or not Bela Lugosi
or Boris Karloff made for a better villain?” Soon Delia started laughing too.

“Who won?” asked
Jaslyn.

“No one did because we
couldn’t figure out who was right or who was wrong. Even though I thought that
Boris made for a better villain than Bela ever did.” Delia eyed Simone when she
said this.

“Now that’s where you
are wrong, Deedlebug. You know as well as I do that Bela was the man.”

“Whatever, I don’t know
whether you are delusional or just drunk for even saying something as crazy as
that.”

No one said a word and
it seemed like the moments right before the shootout at the OK Corral. Not a
breath was uttered as all eyes were on the two. “Do you really want to dive
headfirst into the shallow end of the pool with this, Simple Simon? Because you
know you will lose this once and for all.”

Simone laughed at her
comment, and stood up, taking a huge gulp of his wine before leaning toward her
to say, “
Sei
sicuro
di
voler
andare
lì
?”

A cute little smirk
grew across those lips of hers. Then she uttered, “Si”.

“Oh man, here we go
again,” Andrew said, shaking his head.

“Oh hush, Andy Panda!
Shall we take this outside, sir?”

Simone motioned toward
the entrance into the garden and watched as Delia got up from the table with a
glass of wine in hand as he grabbed his.

“What is going on
here?” Jaslyn asked, puzzled.

“World War three of the
minds, is what’s happening, sweetheart,” Renzo said as he got up along with the
rest of the men.

Jaslyn looked at
Filomena who could only laugh at the situation. “I swear, those two, it’s never
ending. The fight that they were talking about lasted all but three months when
they were young. Lord knows how long this one will last. We’d better put a stop
it now before it gets completely out of hand.”

“So, you were saying
that Bela was a better villain even though Boris got more acclaim than he did?”
asked Delia as she stood in front of Simone while everybody else stood around
them.

“You are asking for a
bruising, young lady.” Simone reminded her.

“Answer the
question--or are you afraid?”

“Bela took any role to
a different level. Hell, he took any role he got into and made it his own.”

“Very true, but that doesn’t
mean a thing because Boris was an artist in his own right too.”

“The only thing that
Boris Karloff is known for nowadays is for How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”
Simone folded his arms together, giving her that ‘I won’ smile of his.

Soon the oohs and
snickers came from the men as Filomena said, “Now, all of you back inside. I
will not be having you all debating during this time when we should be
celebrating, so stop all this childish nonsense, you two. I want the both of
you to give each other a hug and let’s eat dessert. Come on, Jaslyn.”

They looked at each
other and ended up laughing as they hugged.

“Next time, your momma
won’t be around to help you get out of trouble Simple Simon.”

Simone chuckled as he
looked down into Delia’s eyes.

“Come on, sis.” Andrew
said as he grabbed hold of Delia’s arm and they walked back inside.

After they all had
dessert and coffee or tea, Andrew wished everybody a good night as both he and
Delia left the Cipriano house. “I promise to call and send pictures when we get
sonograms of the baby, all right?” Andrew assured Filomena, giving her a kiss
on the cheek while she hugged him tight.

“I’m so glad that you
came and send Diane my love. I’m so happy for you both.” Filomena said as she
almost started to cry.

“Now, I won’t have any
tears unless they are happy ones.” Andrew said looking into those teary blue
eyes of hers. “I’ll see you soon.”

Filomena nodded, giving
him another hug as they both said their goodbyes. When they got into the car
and drove off, Andrew told Delia something that he knew would probably shock
his sister when he said it. “I don’t think you need to be spending so much time
with Simone.”

She looked at him as if
he was crazy or something. “What do you mean you don’t think I need to be
spending time with Simone, why not?”

“Because I am your
brother and I say so that’s why. Listen Delia, I know we’ve all been good
friends over the years but I just think that you don’t need to confuse things
between the two of you.”

“What in the hell are
you talking about? Nothing you are saying is making sense at all.”

“Just stay away from
him, Delia. Out of all the things we’ve been through together, I’ve never asked
you to do anything for me. But this I want you to do. I don’t want anybody to
get hurt, especially not you.”

“You’re still not
making a lick of sense. How in the world can Simone hurt me?”

He never did answer her
question which probably made Delia even madder than she already was. It would
be the first time in years that they would argue but he knew it only made her
want answers to her questions.

Chapter Seven

Work really did put a
damper on her mood when she got there on Monday. After their goodbyes that
morning, Delia still wanted Andrew to tell her what the hell was wrong with her
talking with Simone.

“Do you want some tea?”
asked Jaslyn

“Let me ask you a
question. Why would someone not want another person they’ve known most of their
life to not be around another person for?” Delia asked Jaslyn as the look in
her friend’s eyes made her suspicious.

She knew something.

“Spill it, Jaslyn, I
know that look in your eye.” Delia demanded.

“What in the hell are
you talking about, Delia? I was over here thinking about how to answer that
question you gave me.”

Breathing a heavy sigh,
Delia shook off what she’d said. “I’m sorry but it’s just that I don’t
understand why my brother doesn’t want me around Simone.”

“That was pretty weird,
especially when I noticed how Ren and Andrew both got quiet when you invited
Simone to go see the double feature. I asked Ren why he was acting so weird. He
told me that I wouldn’t understand and we just left it at that.” Jaslyn poured
some tea into a cup as Delia got some sugar from the bowl.

“Well, I can’t keep
dwelling on that much longer otherwise it will consume me. Plus, I have to deal
with Rodger’s mom for lunch.”

“Speaking of Rodger,
have you heard anything from him this weekend?”

“Not since Saturday,
Andrew and I were supposed to have lunch with him but he had to cancel. Why do
you ask?”

“Well, he called me and
told me he wouldn’t be in today because of family problems. I told him that I
hope things were all right, he told me everything was just fine. But that he
had to deal with some family business that needed to be taken care of.”

“I hope everything is all
right. Hopefully, his mother can clue me in. I’m hoping it’s nothing to do with
his dad.” Blowing the tea before taking a sip she could only imagine what news
she would get once lunchtime came around.

The next couple of
hours seemed to go by quickly and in a way Delia wished they hadn’t. She wished
time would just go by at a snail’s pace instead. That way, it would give her
time to comprehend all that had been going on within the last twenty-four
hours.

Luana’s was about
fifteen miles from Kellington but only about five miles from Bristol. Delia
guessed that it was easier for Rodger’s mother to make it there than just going
into town. When she pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant, there
weren’t many cars there even though it was lunchtime. Taking a deep breath and
saying a silent prayer, she grabbed her purse and got out. Walking toward the
door she opened it and walked inside to the podium where the hostess said,
“Welcome to Luana’s, I can seat you at a table or booth.”

“I am meeting someone
here. Did a Mrs. Smith come in?”

“Yes, please follow
me.” Grabbing a menu the young lady led Delia to the back of the restaurant toward
a booth. There the woman sat looking over toward her with a small smile. With
her dyed jet-black hair in a tight bun on the top of her head, Mrs. Smith wore
a cream-colored blouse with an emerald green brooch at her neck. Her makeup was
immaculate, for all she really wore was a bit of blush on her smooth skin and
what Delia would call “Killer red” lipstick. “What can I get you to drink,
ma’am?”

“Some water with lemon,
please.” The hostess left them alone as Delia let out a sigh. “It’s good to see
you Mrs. Smith.”

“You look well, Delia.
I’m glad that you were able to come meet me for lunch.”

“I appreciate you
asking me here to meet you for lunch. But I must ask though, why did you invite
me here?”

She watched the woman’s
demeanor turn just as cold as the look in her eyes. “I will be frank with you,
Delia. From the very first time Rodger brought you over to meet us, I have to
admit that I really didn’t care for you at all. You basically were not the type
of woman I had wanted for my son. In a way, you kind of reminded me of how I
was when I was your age. I didn’t want that for my son, I wanted a woman with
grace and poise and status--which are things that you don’t possess at all.”

Delia wasn’t about to
get mad even though the more this woman talked, the more Delia was getting
annoyed with her words. “How can you say that? Besides, I could tell that
neither you nor your husband cared for me because you thought that I was after
your son’s money. But I am sorry to tell you, Mrs. Smith, that Rodger never
told me anything about the fact that he was rich. He kept it from me for over a
year before he let me know. I told him like I am telling you, that I could have
cared less whether his family was rich or not, I love him for who he is.”