Part 4 (2/2)
”I don't believe it,” said his sister. ”All these years I thought that you were just someone Papa Luca made up in his imagination.”
”I've been gone a long time,” said Peppi with a shrug. ”It all seems like a dream even to me.”
”Vittoria, Gianni, stop staring at him!” exclaimed Filomena. ”Go sit down at the table. You too, Costanzo.”
”But they're right,” laughed Costanzo. ”It's almost like we're meeting a ghost. My father's talked about you for so many years.”
”That's what friends are for,” said Luca happily. ”Now, Peppi, let's get you some dry clothes and then we can all eat.”
The long, perfectly ch.o.r.eographed meal that followed surpa.s.sed even Luca's lofty predictions. When everyone finally gathered around the dinner table, Luca poured the wine while Filomena brought out for appetizers a platter of bruschetta and another of fried olives stuffed with prosciutto. Soon after came the pasta alla chitarra, pasta alla chitarra, thin strands of pasta tossed in a savory sauce of pancetta, chopped tomatoes, olive oil, and cheese. thin strands of pasta tossed in a savory sauce of pancetta, chopped tomatoes, olive oil, and cheese. Il secondo piatto Il secondo piatto consisted of tripe, the lining of the cow's stomach, boiled and served in a zesty tomato sauce. There is no more powerful reminder of days past than the aroma and flavors of the food one loves. Everything Peppi had tasted to that point, every morsel, had evoked some memory of his youth, but the tripe in particular pleased him for it had been one of his mother's specialties. He made a point of telling Filomena so as she was preparing to serve the main course of roasted lamb garnished with artichokes and fennel. Along with it she had prepared broccoli rabe and fried cardoons, a hearty, thistlelike vegetable that managed to flourish even in the chilly climate of the Abruzzi mountains. All in all, the meal was a staggering performance. consisted of tripe, the lining of the cow's stomach, boiled and served in a zesty tomato sauce. There is no more powerful reminder of days past than the aroma and flavors of the food one loves. Everything Peppi had tasted to that point, every morsel, had evoked some memory of his youth, but the tripe in particular pleased him for it had been one of his mother's specialties. He made a point of telling Filomena so as she was preparing to serve the main course of roasted lamb garnished with artichokes and fennel. Along with it she had prepared broccoli rabe and fried cardoons, a hearty, thistlelike vegetable that managed to flourish even in the chilly climate of the Abruzzi mountains. All in all, the meal was a staggering performance.
After dinner, while the men contemplated their bloated midsections, Maria and Vittoria cleared the dishes while Filomena prepared the coffee and dessert. Luca settled back in his chair and gave a contented sigh.
”What did I tell you, Peppi,” he said, patting his stomach. ”Is my wife the best cook in all Abruzzo or not?”
Peppi let out a contented sigh of his own, for it had been many weeks since he had eaten so robustly. He smiled and nodded in agreement as he eased back and looked up at the photographs displayed on the wall behind his friend. There were, he noticed, pictures from the early days when Luca was still racing and others from when he and Filomena first met. The wedding pictures dominated the center of the wall as did the pictures of the children and grandchildren.
Luca leaned back and looked over his shoulders at the photographs. ”You're in one of those, you know,” he said.
”Which one?” said Peppi.
Luca pointed to an old photograph hanging amidst several others taken years and years ago. Peppi stood and went to get a closer look. Tears came to his eyes when he saw it. It was a picture of Peppi and Luca after a race, their arms around each other's shoulders. They were smiling from ear to ear, so young, so full of strength and vitality.
”I remember that race,” said Peppi. ”It was our last one together. You won it easily.”
”That's because you let me,” replied Luca with a grin. ”For once he gave me a leadout in the sprint instead of the other way around,” he said to Costanzo and Gianni.
”It was the least I could do,” said Peppi, still gazing at the photograph and the others around it. Looking at them reminded him of so many places that were once familiar to him, but about which he had since forgotten. Mostly, though, he studied the faces of the people and friends that he had known and loved so well, many of whom he knew were long gone by now. He turned from the wall and sat back down at the table.
”You have a beautiful family, Luca,” said Peppi. ”You too, Costanzo.”
”Do you have children of your own?” asked Luca's son.
”No,” answered Peppi. ”My wife and I always wanted them, but none ever came along. That's just the way it goes sometimes in life.” He looked at Costanzo and smiled. ”So, do you work with your father?” he asked him.
”No,” Costanzo answered to his surprise.
Luca let out a low grumble of irritation. ”He works in Torino,” he said ruefully. ”Can you believe it? My son has a family business right here, but he decides to go work for strangers in Torino.”
”I'm an engineer!” Costanzo protested, but with a laugh. ”It's what you sent me to school for. There's nothing for me to do in a candy factory. Besides, you still have Lucrezia working for you.”
”Uff,” grunted Luca, rubbing his forehead. ”It's more like I work for her.” He looked at Peppi and shook his head. ”I don't know what I'm going to do with these kids.”
”I wouldn't worry,” grinned Peppi. ”I think you're all doing just fine.”
Filomena brought out coffee to go along with a simple cornmeal cake and a plate of fruit. Vittoria and Maria set out some fresh plates and they all sat down to have dessert with the men.
”So, Peppi, you've made my husband very happy today with your visit,” said Filomena. ”And to think I almost couldn't get him out of bed on time for the ride this morning.”
”I was sure he'd be there,” said Peppi.
Luca laughed. ”I wasn't.”
”It was a good ride,” said Peppi, ”and a wonderful meal, Filomena. I couldn't have hoped for more on my first day here.”
”Where are you staying?” asked Maria.
”In Sulmona,” replied Peppi. ”But I plan to move back into the house I grew up in. It's still in my name.”
”Where is the house?” she asked.
”A little ways outside of town,” explained Peppi. ”Just down the road, if I remember correctly. It's been so long. Perhaps you've seen it. It has a little mulino attached to it.”
They all glanced at one another.
”The mulino?” said Filomena, her eyes meeting Luca's.
”Yes,” said Peppi. ”You know, I'm really looking forward to seeing it again. For so long it was just a distant memory in the back of my mind, almost as if I had imagined it. I don't think I ever gave it a thought all the time I was in America. But now that I'm back here and so close to it, I'm starting to feel a little excited. Your husband promised to take me by to see it later on.”
”Yes, yes, of course,” said Luca expansively. ”But first we'll finish our dessert and then watch the television a little, eh? The last stage of the Tour of the Mediterranean is on this afternoon. We should relax, it's been a long day.”
By the time they had retired to the living room, the bicycle race was nearing the finish. Peppi watched with great interest for he had never before seen live television coverage of a bicycle race. Cycling was only just beginning to catch on as a spectator sport in America. Even then the broadcasts were almost always tape-delayed segments edited to fill up a thirty-minute program. It was engrossing to see the race in its entirety, to watch all the action unfolding as it happened.
The time pa.s.sed quickly and before Peppi knew it the sky had started to darken. Luca stood and stretched his arms over his head as he gazed out the window. The sun had already dropped from sight, leaving in its path a great splash of purple and orange across the tops of the mountains.
”It's getting late,” said Luca with a yawn. ”Soon it will be dark. I should probably drive you back to Sulmona. I can help you get your things and you can stay here for the night.”
”Yes,” Filomena agreed. ”That's a good idea. You're welcome to stay.”
”Thank you, but that's not necessary,” said Peppi. ”I've imposed enough on you for the first day.”
”Nonsense,” said Filomena. ”It's been a pleasure.”
”If we leave now, maybe it will still be light enough to see the mulino,” Peppi said hopefully.
”Well-we'll see,” said Luca. ”But first I just wanted to make one quick stop on the way.”
With Peppi's bike secured to the roof of Luca's car, they left the house soon after. Luca drove them to the piazza and stopped outside the local bar.
”Come on,” he told Peppi, ”there are some people inside I want you to meet.”
Luca led him into the bar and ordered a round of drinks for everyone. By then, word of Peppi's return had already spread around town. To his amazement, Peppi recognized several of the old, grizzled faces grinning at him as they all drank to his health to welcome him back to Villa San Giuseppe. The others were strangers to him, but they too welcomed him back as if he were a long lost relative. They stayed there till well into the night, drinking and talking and remembering, until it was time for Luca to bring Peppi back to Sulmona. By then it was too dark and late to visit the mulino, but as they stepped into his car, Luca vowed that they would ride their bicycles out to it first thing the next morning.
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