Don't Read in the Closet: Volume Four (112 page)

“I’ll respect him when he respects my brother!” Marcellus shot

back, taking Romeo’s arm.

“This…” Momma said, turning on Poppa. “This is your family.

Your brother—”

Poppa started. “He is not—”

“Easy, Mr. Balducci.” None of his sons would have dared, but

Ariana walked right up to Poppa, holding out a full glass. “Have a

drink.”

“Young lady—”

“Come on,” Marcellus muttered, propelling Romeo out the door.

In the hall he drew a deep breath. “Well, so much for Poppa’s idea that

gays are sissies. That was the bravest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“I should—”

“What, give them a chance to toss you out before they think? No.

Let Ariana do some damage control.”

“She knew,” Romeo said.

“Yeah, she guessed over Christmas. I thought she was dreaming,

but then I have some stereotypes stuck in my head too. Uncle Marino

is pretty feminine. Not saying he isn’t brave as hell too; coming out

twenty years ago had to be even worse.”

“I…need to sit down.”

“I bet.” Marcellus guided Romeo into the kitchen, sat him on a

stool and found a half-finished bottle of wine. “So,” he said as he

poured, “tell me about him.”

Julian. Romeo could talk about Julian now. Except— “He’s…I

don’t know if he’s…we haven’t talked…”

“So don’t tell me his name. He must be someone special, to have

you all confused.”

Don’t Read in the Closet – volume four 680

“Oh my God,” Romeo rubbed his face with both hands, took a

deep breath, took up his wine. “He’s brilliant, Marcellus. Beautiful.

And he draws. His hands…” Romeo shook his head. “I can’t even…”

Marcellus grinned. “Head over heels, huh?”

“More like flat on my face.”

“So does his family know?”

“I don’t think so.” Romeo shook his head. “There’s this girl…”

“Uh oh.”

“No. He doesn’t love her.”

“Well.” Marcellus sipped his drink. “When you claim your man,

big brother, if Poppa can’t see past the past—well, me and Marino are

two Balduccis-in-exile already. Might as well make it three.”

“You’re not in exile.”

“I am if I marry Ariana. Can you imagine her and Momma living

in the same village? We’re in negotiations—right now we’re stuck on

how many times a year I’ll try to drag her home for visits.”

“I’ll play wingman for her any time,” Romeo said. Marcellus

laughed.

“Yeah, we thought you were an ally.” He slapped Romeo’s good

shoulder. “You all right? I should go remind them that if they toss you

out, the Balducci Inn comes to an end. Ariana won’t think of that.”

“Thank you, Marcellus.”

“Thank you, Romeo, for never letting Gastone dunk me in the

toilet or lock me in the wine cellar.” He took the bottle and his glass

and left. Romeo sat alone in the kitchen that had been the center of his

world since he could remember and finally understood why Poppa

didn’t want a work-saving shiny stainless steel commercial

dishwashing unit. Why Momma resisted updating the oven to

something younger than she was. He tried to imagine cooking in

Marino’s apartment and he couldn’t.

Don’t Read in the Closet – volume four 681

He tried to imagine cooking in this kitchen for all the world except

Julian, and that was worse. Romeo set his glass down and stood.

When you claim your man
, Marcellus had said, and that was

exactly what he was going to do.

He started off by cleaning his room, planning what and how he

would pack if it came to that. He found all his financial statements and

put them in a folder. He found his best suit in the back of his closet

and washed and pressed it. He went out to the old barn and checked

the fluids on his car, took it out for a spin as he hadn’t lately and

brought it home and washed it as best he could in the dark.

When he went back into the inn he could hear Marcellus talking

fast and his mother crying, but he went on past the den and upstairs to

shower.

In the morning Romeo started breakfast before anyone else was

up. His mother and father joined in when they came, but they had a

hard time looking at him and the usual cheerful conversation was

replaced by terse requests and information.

Once Momma cornered Romeo. “I had a choice once,” she said

quickly, her eyes darting to Poppa across the room shredding cheese.

“I chose family. I never regretted it.”

Poppa wasn’t her first choice? Romeo would have asked more, but

she hurried off.

It didn’t matter.

When the dishes were done, Romeo went upstairs and showered.

He put on his best suit and combed his hair and wished he had time to

get it cut. He took his financial statements and his keys and trotted

down the stairs.

Only Ariana saw him go. She nodded approval of the suit, kissed

his cheek and wished him luck.

Don’t Read in the Closet – volume four 682

In Julian’s driveway—in Donata’s driveway—Romeo shut off the

car and took a deep breath before he got out. He left the statements in

the car. He really couldn’t imagine that Julian’s reason for clinging to

Donata was her money, but he wanted his argument ready.

When he came up the steps, Julian was coming out the door, a

bright red messenger bag on his shoulder.

“Oh,” Julian said. “I…thought you were the cab. You look really

nice.” His gaze slid by and fell on the car; his eyes widened. It was a

Ferrari, yeah, but not nearly as nice as the one Romeo had advertised

to earn it. “Is that yours?”

“Yes. Julian, give me a chance—”

“Romeo.” Julian grabbed his hand. “I’m sorry. I’ve made a mess of

everything and I’m a jerk besides, but will you help me?”

“Anything,” Romeo said. Julian winced.

“You’ll get over that. But please take me to the hospital anyway?

Donata sent a cab, but it’s still not here and my grandmother—”

Romeo took his arm and put him in the car. “Buckle up,” he

ordered as he slid into his seat.

“Thank you,” Julian said, dropping his bag on the floor. Romeo

reached over and snapped the seat belt around him.

“You’ll need it,” he said as he backed out, tires squealing on the

turn.

Romeo had been told he drove more aggressively than he played,

but Julian didn’t notice. Every time Romeo slowed for a traffic hazard,

Julian begged him to go faster. He almost beat his head on the dash

when they got stopped by a farm tractor trying to angle a trailer of hay

into a driveway, both vehicles sideways across the the road. Romeo

leaned out the window and yelled they were headed to the hospital

and the farmer backed up as far as he could. The car slipped by with

maybe three centimeters between Julian’s door and the tractor, but

Julian only urged Romeo on.

Don’t Read in the Closet – volume four 683

“What happened to your grandmother?” Romeo asked, flooring

the accelerator on the far side of the obstacle.

“She’s dying,” Julian said.

“I’m so sorry.”

“I don’t know…” Julian buried his face in his hands. “I don’t know

what to do,” he said softly.

“I’ll get you there.”

“She’s dying,” he said again, leaning his head on the window with

that lost look Romeo so hated to see. He wrapped his arms around

himself. “I don’t know what to do.”

Romeo reached over to take his hand.

“I love you,” Julian said. “I’m sorry.”

Romeo kept his eyes on the road. “You won’t be,” he promised.

“You’re crazy and I love you but I won’t go against my

grandmother on her deathbed. I’m sorry.”

Romeo bit his lip and drove. Despite what he’d said, Julian clung

to his hand. Even when Romeo needed it for twisting roads, he didn’t

take it back. He shifted with Julian’s hand in his. They drove into a

storm and rode in silence through grey and rain.

In the city it wasn’t raining. Romeo parked and was fast enough to

help Julian out of the car; Julian was so upset he was unsteady.

Romeo grabbed his bag and held his arm and ushered him inside.

In a pretty little room but for the medical equipment, Donata

leaned over a big bed with a small old woman in it. Donata shot Julian

a forced smile, stared at Romeo an instant, and stepped back. Romeo

wondered if he should have come in but didn’t want to leave, so he

stood against the wall by the door. Julian bent over the bed to take his

grandmother’s hand.

Don’t Read in the Closet – volume four 684

She said something soft and Julian answered, smoothing his

grandmother’s hair. She waved her free hand and Donata came back.

The old woman took Donata’s hand and put it in Julian’s.

All the world went dim and Romeo slipped out.

Beside the door was a bench. Romeo sank down on it.

He should go.

A nurse walked past.

Donata was there, with her cabs and her money. She would look

after Julian. He should go.

A cart went by with covered trays. A beeping noise down the hall

brought footsteps hurrying.

Someone guided a dustmop around Romeo’s feet and moved on.

A cart rolled by piled with trays and meal remnants.

He should go.

“Romeo! Are you all right?”

His mother. Oh hell, and his father and Gastone, how? Romeo

stood to kiss Momma and she let him. His father glared when Romeo

stepped towards him. Gastone stood to the side as if he wasn’t part of

the group.

“I’m fine, Momma,” Romeo answered. “What are you doing

here?”

“Did you think we wouldn’t hear?” his father snapped. “Romeo

Balducci, racing for the hospital like the hounds of hell chased him!

Your mother nearly fainted! Not a call, not a word!”

Romeo groaned. All the neighbors did know him, and his family.

“I’m sorry to scare you, Papa. My friend needed to get here. His

grandmother—”

Don’t Read in the Closet – volume four 685

“Your friend?” Momma asked. She stepped back against his

father. “Romeo, in
public?
”

Blessed Virgin, please not here! Romeo stepped towards the

lobby. “It’s a hospital, Momma. Let’s talk outside.”

“Now you have shame?” she hissed. “You come here racing so

everyone can see, but when it’s your parents you want to talk

outside?”

“It’s not about shame!” Romeo lowered his voice. “I’m not

ashamed and I
won’t
be ashamed, unless it’s of my close-minded

hidebound relations!”

She slapped him. He deserved it; he let her. But he wished with all

his soul Julian hadn’t come out of the room at that very moment.

“Romeo?” he asked. Romeo’s mother glared, so hard Julian took a

step back. Romeo stepped in front of Julian, swallowed as the glare

he’d feared from childhood centered on him.

“Momma,
please,
” he said. Can we talk outside?”

“Romeo, come home.” She stepped close, kissed his cheek where

she’d slapped him. “I’m so sorry. We’ll talk. Come home.”

“I can’t right now, Momma. His grandmother—”

“You’ll put him above your family? Some gigolo that you met—”

“I do hate to interrupt,” Donata said at Romeo’s elbow, “but could

you take your stupidity outside? She doesn’t need to listen to you.”

“My—” Momma drew herself to the top of her four-and-a-half

feet, but then she tilted her head. “Who is your mother?”

“Momma,” Romeo cut in, “Donata Vocelli.” Momma recoiled.

Romeo took her arm. “Donata, I’m sorry. We’ll go outside. Tell

Julian—”

“Where is Julian?” asked a new voice. A tall distinguished man, a

tall, fashionable woman—Romeo blinked and realized they must be

Donata’s parents.

Don’t Read in the Closet – volume four 686

“Arenza Lovato,” Romeo’s mother said and his heart sank even

further. He’d heard that name. Once his mother’s best friend—

“It’s Vocelli now, Lavinia. For the last thirty years.” The woman

turned to Donata. “Darling, is she awake?”

“Sleeping, Mother.” Donata kissed her parents. “And I want to

know too—” she turned to Romeo, “—where is Julian?”