Chapter 56: Dinner

Dinner was a loud, boisterous affair on a regular family night. Since it was Julianna’s last dinner until after her show opened, every last person who was invited came to wish her luck. The result was a cacophony of voices that made it all but impossible to have a quiet word with anyone.

Richie and Julianna were looking around at the sheer number of people gathered. They all pretty much just accepted Richie as Julianna’s ‘boyfriend’, but there were a few that were star-struck, and kept sneaking glances at him. He chuckled. These people had no clue that the rest of the band was here tonight. The others were still in the kitchen. They were planning to try to just slip in to the crowd once everyone had gathered. Richie smiled to himself. That was gonna be interesting. Jon could never just “slip into the crowd”.

Nonna kept an eye on Julianna, still showing some of the disapproval from last week, but her expression softened when Richie came up behind Julianna and put a hand on her shoulder. She could see that the pair had worked through things, and it did her heart good to see it.

Richie leaned down to whisper in Julianna’s ear. “Was your grandmother giving you the evil eye just then?” He made a show of trembling. “Scary thought.”

Julianna laughed. “No, silly, that was her disappointed face. If she gave me the evil eye, I’d be writhing on the floor in pain right about now.”

Richie laughed at her. “You’re too much.” He couldn’t quite tell if she was kidding, though. He knew a thing or two about Italian grandmothers. “Just to be safe, though, I’m gonna go make nice. She likes me.” He dropped a juicy kiss on Julianna’s neck and went to greet Francesca.

“Buena suerte, Signora,” Richie said, kissing the old woman’s cheeks.

Francesca grabbed onto Richie’s hands and pulled him in for a hug. “You will call me Nonna, like my grandchildren do. You have earned that right.” She pushed back from Richie, but kept hold of his forearms. “’Grazie’ is not enough for what you have done for this family. But, it will have to do.”

“Signo – Nonna – no thanks are necessary.” Richie looked into Francesca’s face. “I love your granddaughter. What hurts her hurts me. I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.” He turned to glance at his love, who was talking with her brothers. “I’m just glad she’s not mad at me for butting in.”

“Ah, she is stubborn, but not too stubborn to know when she is wrong,” Francesca said with a chuckle. “Although, for Julianna to know when she is wrong, sometimes it takes a slap, yes?”

Richie laughed. He resembled that remark. He looked around the room at Julianna’s family gathered there. Many faces he recognized from the last time he was there. But, there were so many new faces. These people were all there to give Julianna support and well wishes for her show. She was an incredibly blessed woman to have so many people in her life who loved her. He felt lucky to be included with them.

He saw the kitchen door open and watched as his friends tried to slip unobtrusively from the kitchen.

David came first, and had luck in running into one of Julianna’s brothers, and pulled him aside. Since he was fair, he blended in well with the Irish side of Julianna’s family.

Tico, with his dark coloring, was able to pass for Italian and blend in with Teresa’s side of the family. While people cast him a “which uncle is that?” look, nobody really thought twice.

When Jon entered the room however, somehow every female’s head in the room turned toward him – even Julianna’s. Richie shook his head. He never understood just what it was, but Jon was literally a chick magnet. Women couldn’t help but be drawn to him. Every female in the place, from Nonna to the youngest female cousin still in diapers, had her eyes locked on his best friend.

Richie chuckled and thought about going to rescue Jon, seeing that he looked uncomfortable – something you didn’t notice unless you knew him well. While Jon loved the attention when he was on stage, Richie knew that when he was trying to be ‘just John’, this kind of attention made him feel twitchy. Julianna noticed, which Richie thought was pretty amazing, and was making her way to his side. Richie decided he’d let her handle it.

“Welcome to the madness,” Julianna said to him, laughing softly. She looked around, startled to see Dave and Tico chatting with some of her cousins. “How do you do that?” she exclaimed. “I had my back to the kitchen door, and I didn’t notice Dave or Teek coming in, but I instinctively turned when you came through the door.” Jon blushed and shrugged, and just for a moment, he looked like he wanted to bolt back into the kitchen. Julianna latched onto his arm, kissed his cheek, looped a hand around his neck and none too discretely dragged him close for a sniff. Jon jumped a little at this brief contact.

“What the hell are you doing?” Jon was incredulous. He couldn’t recall ever being sniffed by a woman before.

“Just seeing if you were wearing some sort of ‘come and get it, baby’ cologne,” Julianna answered, making Jon laugh out loud. He wrapped his arms around Julianna and gave her a smacking kiss square on the mouth.

“Thanks, I needed that,” he said, as his laughter subsided into chuckles. “Now, introduce me around.” He looked around at all the women, young and old, just staring at him. “Jesus,” he said under his breath.

Julianna brought him around to everyone, and he exchanged handshakes or kisses with most people. He was very outgoing and comfortable with himself, and once he got over his initial shock, he relaxed and fit right in. Once Julianna’s family got over their shock, they treated Jon and the guys just like everyone else, trading insults and sharing jokes with them.

Soon it was time to bring out the food, and everyone, including Richie and the other guys, helped bring out heaping platters of meats and pastas, baskets of bread, and countless bottles of wine. The men found themselves spread around the room, engaged in conversation ranging from football to politics to cars to music. All of them laughed and talked comfortably, and felt like they knew these people forever. They were that quickly accepted into the fold simply by their association with Julianna. No questions, no second thoughts.

Jon envied his friend this new family he’d found.

After dinner, Teresa stood and the room instantly quieted.

Jon, who had moved to sit next to Richie, looked at him and whispered, “I see where Julianna gets her commanding presence from.” Richie grinned and nodded.

Riley rose to stand next to his wife, and they raised their glasses. “To our Julianna and to Tommy & Gina.” Teresa said, looking at her daughter. “Break a leg, cara.”

A chorus of cheers went up around the room, and Francesca stood to add to her daughter’s words. “And to our family and friends,” she caught Richie’s eye, “old and new. May you never know loneliness; never live without laughter or love, and may you always have joy in your hearts.” A ‘hear hear’ echoed through the room.

“Julianna,” Maddie called from the back of the room, “will you sing something for us? Not something from the show, because I don’t want you to spoil it for us, but can you sing something else?” She blushed and had a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “David said he’d accompany you.” When Julianna saw who was sitting next to Maddie, she laughed. She’d bet dollars to donuts that Dave had put her up to the request. Everyone clapped in encouragement.

“Okay, okay,” she said, rising.

Julianna cast a look down at Richie, who was grinning up at her like a fool. He took her hand and kissed it gently, letting his tongue run over her knuckles, making her shiver. Everyone followed them to the other room, where it looked like her brothers had been busy, setting up all the instruments. She laughed and shook her head. She consulted with David about what she wanted to sing, and how she wanted to do it, and he nodded. “I’ll follow your lead. I have done this before, you know.” She swatted him on the shoulder, called him a brat, and turned to take the microphone. Closing her eyes, and after clearing her throat, she began to sing as sweet as any angel ever had.

There’s a saying old that says love is blind
Still we’re often told, ‘seek and ye shall find’.
So I’m going to seek a certain lad I’ve had in mind

Julianna’s eyes sought out Richie’s and locked on, skipping the next little bit. Her voice was pure and soft and sensual, and more than one person cast glances at Richie, since that’s where Julianna’s attention was.

There’s a somebody I’m longing to see
I hope that he turns out to be
Someone who’ll watch over me

I’m a little lamb who’s lost in the wood
I know I could be very good
To one who’ll watch over me

Although he may not be the man some
Girls think of as handsome

Jon yelled out, “damn straight!” making everyone laugh. Richie flipped him off, then remembering where he was, ducked his head with a sheepish “Sorry.”

To my heart he carries the key

Won’t you tell him to put on some speed,
Follow my lead, oh how I need
Someone to watch over me.

David played the bridge, and Julianna sang the chorus one more time. When she was done, the room broke into applause. David stood and took Julianna in his arms, and dramatically dipped her over his arm and kissed her. Richie yelled from his seat aside the stage, “Hands off my woman, Rashbaum!” Everyone laughed, and Julianna blushed.

When Julianna and David left the stage, her cousins were all looking at each other, then throwing elbows at and whispering to Maddie, who seemed to be ‘in’ with these guys. Richie saw what was happening, and caught Jon’s eye. Jon had seen what was going on too, and nodded. He stood. “Folks,” Jon said, “we have had a fine time breaking bread with you tonight. As thanks for letting us share your family, we’d like to play a little, if that’s OK.”

He hardly got the words out of his mouth, when Julianna’s cousins started squealing and cheering and clapping. Jon laughed. The four went on stage, and played for a while, some songs of theirs, and some others. Julianna and her brothers joined them for some of the set, and everyone was singing along.

When they were done, Richie leaned over to Jon and said something. Jon nodded and addressed everyone. “Hey guys, Richie would like to do one more, and dedicate it to Julianna. Jules, stay here, baby.” To Julianna’s delight, she sat at Richie’s feet, and looked up into his eyes, seeing love and adoration in them. He started playing softly, and her breath caught in her throat. He was singing “I’ll Be There For You”. To her. And he meant every word – she could see it in his face.

I’ll be there for you
These five words I swear to you
When you breathe, I wanna be the air for you
I’ll be there for you

I’d live and I’d die for you
Steal the sun from the sky for you
Words can’t say what love can do
I’ll be there for you.

When he was done, Richie blindly stuck out his arm, waiting for someone to take the guitar from him. Nicky grabbed it before Richie could drop it. Richie reached for Julianna, pulled her to her feet, and kissed her stupid, right there in front of everyone. There were catcalls and whistles, until Riley finally put a stop to it, rising and clearing his throat. “Let’s go clean up then, everyone.” There were good natured groans and general rumblings, but they all left the room.

Julianna and Richie, still wrapped in each others arms and locked in a passionate kiss, were oblivious to it all.