The next several days were wonderful. Richie and Julianna woke tangled in each other’s arms, words of love on their lips. They would linger in bed in the mornings, making tender love (and fucking once in a while). They would spend the day together doing little domestic things, running errands, or playing in the studio. Julianna showed Richie how to ride a horse, and they would go on rides down to the lake and sit together watching the peaceful tranquility of the water, often staying to watch the sunset together. Julianna had forgotten all about Mark’s call last week. She had never mentioned it to Richie.
They felt at home with each other, and often communicated without words; each knowing instinctively what the other needed. More often than not, they went back to the main house for dinner, the pair cooking for their friends. The last night before Richie was going to accompany Julianna to Manhattan, her parents and grandmother were joining them. Julianna had laid out a beautiful table in the dining room, and she and Richie had been cooking up a storm.
They were preparing a simple chicken parmegian dinner, with freshly-made pasta and sauce, salad, loaves of homemade garlic bread, and tiramisu for dessert. By the time Riley, Teresa, and Francesca arrived, a loaf of bread had already disappeared. Seeing buttery traces on their lips, Julianna had laughed and scolded Dave and Tico for poaching. They sheepishly admitted they hadn’t eaten all day specifically because she and Rich were cooking, and they simply couldn’t wait anymore. They licked their lips and looked as if they were going to take something else.
“Go get some wine from the cellar,” she said sternly, “and stay out of my kitchen until dinnertime.”
Jon called from the other room, “Don’t let those philistines select the wine, for God’s sake. I’ll do it.”
Julianna laughed. “Fine, but take these two with you. I don’t want them pilfering any more of my food.”
The three men went in search of wine, trading insults as only brothers could. Richie laughed at them as he came into the kitchen. “OK, the car’s packed; your parents and grandmother are settled in the great room. Tomorrow, all we have to do in the morning is take off.”
“Take off what, dear,” Julianna said saucily.
“Ha ha,” Richie said, crossing to Julianna and taking her in his arms. He growled into her ear just exactly what and how he would take things off her later, making her blush and giggle. As natural as breathing, she hooked a leg high around his hips and kissed him deeply. That’s how Jon and the others found them when they came back into the kitchen a few minutes later.
“Jesus, you two,” Jon said, “you’re cooking food we gotta eat in here, you know.”
Tico whistled. “You’re pretty flexible there, little sister.”
The pair sprang apart, and turned to face the group. Dave clapped a hand over his eyes with a mock scream. “Rich, man, I don’t wanna see that. Go get yourself together before Julianna’s parents see you, for Christ’s sake.”
Julianna blushed and turned back to the stove, stirring the sauce for lack of something else to do. She heard her mother’s voice from the other room. “Everything alright in there, cara?”
Richie sprinted from the room, making everyone laugh. “Yes, Mama, we’re fine. Jon is coming out with wine.” She gave him a pointed look, and shooed him out the door. Dave and Tico came up alongside her; sniffing appreciatively at the pot she had simmering.
“Oh, baby, that looks so good. Can’t we please have a taste?” Dave begged.
“Yeah,” Tico chimed in, his voice deep and gravelly. “Just a nibble, querida.”
Richie called from the porch, “You two had better be talking about food in there.”
Julianna just shook her head. Taking two spoons from the drawer, she gave one to each man. “Just a taste,” she said. “And no double-dipping.”
The two men dug into the sauce and barely blew on it before putting it into their mouths and moaning loudly enough to get Riley into the kitchen, glass of wine in hand. “Those are happy noises I hear,” he said, crossing to the stove. He took his own spoon from the drawer and took a small taste of the sauce. “Perfect, my dear,” he said, kissing his daughter’s cheek.
Julianna put on a haughty expression. “Of course it is, sir,” she said. “I learned from the best cook there is.”
Riley smiled broadly for a moment, then the corners of his mouth began to falter. “Wait a minute, I didn’t teach you how to make sauce…” he trailed off as his mother-in-law swept into the kitchen.
“Feh, such an ego on you,” she said. Without being asked, Julianna gave her grandmother a sample. “Yes, it is good,” she said, nodding. “You continue to do me proud.”
“Where’s Mama?” Julianna asked.
“She’s in there drinking wine with the handsome blond; he’s how do you say, charming her socks off,” Francesca answered, causing Julianna to giggle. “They’re talking opera.”
David looked stricken. “Signora, am I not a handsome blond?” Richie had come back into the kitchen in time to hear that, and was shaking his head, giving his opinion on the matter.
Francesca considered David, tilting her head this way and that. “No,” she decided. “You, my child, are cute.” She pinched his cheeks like she would a toddler’s. “Like a puppy.”
Tico and Richie laughed loudly at that, patting Dave on the head. He glowered at them and surreptitiously flipped them off.
Julianna laughed and crossed to Dave, looping an arm around his waist, and kissing his cheek. “Don’t pay any attention to them. You will always be my sweet one,” she said to him, trying to get him to laugh.
“Are you sure you wanna be with Sambora over there?” David whined, as he slung an arm around her shoulders. “I like you. I’ll treat you right, I promise.”
“I like you too, sweetie,” she said gently, “and I’m sure you’d treat me like a queen. But I love Rich.”
“Well, shit,” David answered, earning a smack on the back of the head from Francesca.
“Such language!” she scolded.
“Sorry, Signora,” David said.
Julianna looked at her grandmother, and the two women burst out laughing. Riley took pity on a very puzzled David and told him, “You have not heard coarse language m’boy until you have heard my wonderfully delicate mother-in-law curse out somebody – in two languages no less.” He laughed at David’s shocked expression. “Trust me,” Riley said, sliding a knowing glance at his daughter. “You do not want to be on the receiving end of one of her tirades.”
* * * * *
After dinner, Richie left to take Francesca home; the older woman wanting another ride in the Humvee. Riley and the other men were in the library sipping brandy, and “talking of manly things”. Teresa and her daughter were in the kitchen cleaning up.
“Isn’t this wonderfully sexist?” Julianna commented.
Teresa laughed. “Yes, it is, but I do not mind – I do not like brandy,” she said. Turning serious, Teresa considered her daughter. “I have refrained from talking about what happened, but do not think I do not know about it.”
Julianna’s hands stilled, and she nearly dropped the pot she was washing. “Mama,” she began.
Teresa held up a hand to stop Julianna. “Do not ‘Mama’ me. I am not going to lecture you. I only want to say that I am sorry you felt you couldn’t come to me with this; that I had to hear it from my own mother.”
Julianna looked sheepishly at her mother. “Mama, Nonna only knew about it because Rich called her. Frankly, I wouldn’t have told any of you, and I would have killed any of the boys if they came squealing to you. I had it under control.”
“No, you did not,” Teresa said. “But that is neither here nor there. The important things are first, that you are okay, and second, that you feel guilty for keeping this from me.” She searched her daughter’s face, saw evidence of both, and nodded. Teresa cocked her head in perfect imitation of her own mother and asked, “So, what are you wearing for opening night?” The subject change caught Julianna off guard but she was grateful for it.
Julianna looked at her mother. “I don’t know, Mama. I haven’t found the perfect gown yet. I do want it to be a gown – I’m only doing this once, and I want to do it up right. Why? Do you want to come shopping with me?”
Teresa just smiled. “Something better; I have something for you. It is out in the car. Come with me.”
The two women made their way outside by way of the library, where they stopped to check on the men. They were all happily sipping brandy and Riley was regaling them with stories of his and Dev’s antics when they were young men.
Teresa led her daughter outside to the Cadillac that her husband had owned for a dog’s age. It looked as pristine as the day he drove it off the lot more than thirty years ago. Teresa opened the back door and pulled a garment bag from off the hook. As she was straightening, Richie returned from his errand. Teresa watched as her daughter’s face lit up. Richie came to the women; his face split by a beautiful smile, and kissed each on the cheek. “What’s this?” he asked Teresa, indicating the bag.
“This is the gown for Julianna to wear opening night when she sings,” Teresa said.
Richie looked at Julianna, surprise in his face. Julianna laughed. “Nicky told her way back when. She’s good at keeping secrets, though; Daddy still doesn’t know.” Richie just shook his head.
Richie took the hanger from Teresa, who lowered the zipper and drew out a long, burgundy gown. It was trimmed at the wrists and hem with fur, with a row of tiny covered buttons running up the back. There was a slight train that would trail gracefully along the stage behind her. The front had tiny delicate sequins swirling around in a graceful pattern. “Mama, this is beautiful!” Julianna exclaimed, running her fingers over the soft fur cuffs. The color was exquisite, perfect for a fall Opening, and the gown was simply gorgeous. It would drape her like a Goddess’ robes. “Why have I never seen this before?”
“I have not worn this gown since before you were born,” she answered. “Since the night I met your father. It has been in the cedar closet for decades, but looks just as beautiful as the day it was made for me.” Teresa’s eyes closed briefly in reminiscence. The gown was made for her years ago by her best friend for the after-party on the night she met Riley. The party she never quite made it to. “In any case,” she said, opening her eyes, “I would love for you to wear it for your debut.”
“Oh, Mama, thank you. It is perfect.” She looked at Richie, and saw he was just smiling at them. He carried the gown into the house and hung it in the hall closet. The two women each took one of Richie’s arms, and he escorted them to the library. Richie joined the others in a brandy, and the women opened another bottle of wine.
