Part 12 (2/2)
Peppi returned her gaze, unsure of what it was he saw in her eyes-and of what she saw in his. Lucrezia lifted her hand and, for a hypnotic moment, he was certain that she was going to touch his face. The moment pa.s.sed quickly, though, and Lucrezia came back to herself. Looking a bit fl.u.s.tered, she stood and gave his s.h.i.+rtsleeve a tug.
”Come on,” she said, ”let's go find my parents before they get lost somewhere.”
As Peppi stood he saw a brilliant full moon rising over the mountains in the distance. At the sight of it he gave a sigh of his own. ”Che bella notte,” ”Che bella notte,” he said. ”What a beautiful night.” he said. ”What a beautiful night.”
”Yes, it truly is,” said Lucrezia.
Peppi smiled and gave her a nod. He let her slip her arm through his and together the two strolled off into the moonlight.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX.
One day, after the three frenzied weeks of the Giro had pa.s.sed and June's warm weather had settled in to stay, a letter came to the post office in the village addressed to: after the three frenzied weeks of the Giro had pa.s.sed and June's warm weather had settled in to stay, a letter came to the post office in the village addressed to:
Signor PeppiIl MulinoVilla San Giuseppe
By this time the men in the local post office knew that Peppi was the American who lived in the apartment above Luca's factory; they tucked the letter in with the bundle of business correspondence that would be delivered to the factory later that morning.
Peppi was out back working in the gardens when Lucrezia came out with the letter.
”Peppi, you have some mail,” she called.
At hearing her approach, Peppi stood and brushed the dirt off his hands and knees. ”From America?” he said, wiping his hands on his trousers.
”No, Pescara.”
”Pescara?” said Peppi. ”Who's sending me letters from Pescara?”
”Open it and see.”
”Please, you do it for me,” said Peppi. ”My hands are a mess right now.”
Lucrezia opened the envelope, pulled out the engraved card inside, and began to read. ”It's a wedding invitation,” she announced.
”To whose wedding?” asked Peppi, now totally perplexed.
”Let's see...two people named Loredana and Claudio.”
Peppi scratched his head, repeating the names to himself. Then he suddenly remembered. ”Of course, Loredana and Claudio!” he exclaimed. ”Now I remember. Who would have thought?”
”Who are they?” asked Lucrezia.
”Two young friends of mine. I met them on the train,” said Peppi. ”When are they getting married?”
”In three weeks.”
”And they want me to come,” mused Peppi. ”That's nice of them to invite me. But my word, they only just met this past winter.”
”Remember, this is Italy, Peppi,” said Lucrezia, looking over the invitation. ”Things happen fast when people fall in love here.”
Peppi nodded. ”I guess so.”
Lucrezia tucked the invitation back into the envelope and handed it to Peppi. ”So, will you go?” she asked. ”The sh.o.r.e at Pescara is beautiful this time of year.”
Peppi shook his head. ”No, I don't think so.”
”But why not?”
Peppi walked over to the bench beneath the arbor and sat down. ”I don't know,” he said with a shrug. ”Anna and I were married in June. Our anniversary is coming up soon.”
”I didn't know that,” said Lucrezia. She walked up beside him. ”May I?” she asked, gesturing to the bench.
”Of course,” said Peppi, dusting the spot off for her.
Lucrezia sat next to him and gazed past him into the distance for a time without speaking. In her eyes Peppi could see the colorful reflection of the flower beds behind him.
”Francesco and I were married in July,” Lucrezia said wistfully. ”Don't ask me why we waited till the middle of the summer. Even now I don't know why. Mannagia Mannagia, it was so hot that day! Our anniversary will be coming up soon too.”
”Should I start to measure the window panes again?” asked Peppi.
”No, you don't have to worry about the windows,” replied Lucrezia, swatting him on the arm with the back of her hand. ”But I think you should go to the wedding. It would be good for you.”
”I don't know,” said Peppi, ”I'm not sure if I'm ready yet for that sort of thing again. And don't forget, I don't even have a car to drive there. Besides, I'd feel funny going all alone even if I did.”
”Hmm,” sighed Lucrezia. ”I know what you mean.”
Peppi stared at the envelope. ”Then again, maybe I should go,” he said thoughtfully. ”I haven't been to ma.s.s since Anna's funeral. It's probably time I went.”
”Weddings and funerals are the only times I go to church these days,” said Lucrezia.
Peppi nodded to show he understood. Patting her shoulder, he stood and tucked the invitation into his back pocket. Then he walked away toward the flower beds.
”So, what are you going to do?” said Lucrezia.
”Well, for now I'm going to finish weeding the garden,” he replied. ”Then I'm going to take a nap. I'll worry about the wedding later on.”
That evening after dinner, Peppi walked up to Luca's house to watch the news, something he liked to do once or twice a week. In truth, Luca and Filomena would have welcomed him every night if he wanted to come, but Peppi didn't like to intrude too much. As he strolled up the path, it occurred to him that in addition to going back to church on a more regular basis, it was probably about time he bought himself a television for the apartment. He made a mental note to look into it soon.
When Peppi came in, Luca and Filomena were in the living room. Filomena was just turning the television on while Luca read the newspaper. He looked up from his reading and gave Peppi a nod.
”Any good news?” said Peppi.
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