The Queen of Minor Disasters (30 page)

So it’s not exactly chocolate
cake, but trust me ladies, there’s nothing as pleasant as chocolate when you’re
stressed. I should know. You know how stressed I’ve been lately.

1 cup chocolate ice cream

1/2 cup hot fudge

1 shot of espresso

1/2 cup milk

2
       
cups of ice

1)
     
Place all ingredients into a blender.

2)
     
Blend until all the ice is crushed.

3)
     
Drink your problems away.

On August 10 we’ll do
something we’ve never done before. We’ll close the restaurant on a Friday
night. Luckily, when Lorenzo and Lucy told me their plans a week ago I didn’t
have to cancel too many reservations. People understood, especially when I told
them we were having a family emergency and needed to close. In a lot of ways,
this wedding feels like an emergency, and I’m just hoping we can all get
through it without any major blowouts.

           
Lucy wakes up around 11:00 on the day of her wedding. She’s never been a
late sleeper; being a teacher she’s used to getting up at the crack of dawn. I
wonder how she’ll manage during the school year.

           
“Morning Mrs. DiLucio,” I say when she opens her eyes.

           
She smiles and stretches. “I’m still a Caulden for the next couple
hours.”

           
I throw a pillow at her and she swats it away.

           
“Good thing you woke up,” I say. “I’m starving.”

           
“Me too, I need a huge breakfast. Dinner won’t be until nine.”

           
I stand up and Lucy follows.

           
“Give me five minutes and I’ll be ready to go,” she says ducking into the
bathroom.

           
Cindy’s is packed for a Friday but, of course, she doesn’t make us wait.
She knows what a big day this is for Lucy and my brother, and wants to do
everything she can to make it special.

We follow her out to the deck
and take a seat at our usual table. As we settle into the white plastic chairs,
it hits me that this is the last time Lucy and I will be sitting here.

Everything will change after
her wedding. She’ll spend more time with my brother; they’ll raise a family;
buy a house together.

And where will I be?

I don’t even know what I’m
going to do for a job.

Worse, I don’t even know what
I
want
out of life.

My chest begins to tighten.

Oh my God. I can’t breathe…

The waitress comes to take our
order and miraculously, I catch my breath.

“Two short stacks?” she asks.
We’re regulars, and any good waitress would remember our order.

I nod my head.

“I think I’ll get an egg
sandwich,” Lucy says looking up at the waitress. “With extra bacon.”

I feel my eyes widen. Lucy is
changing
her order?

The waitress nods. “Do you
want the bacon extra crispy?”

“That would be great!” Lucy
squeals as if she’s acting normal.

I can’t help it; I start to
tear up.

           
“What’s wrong?” Lucy asks when the waitress walks away. She can always
sense when I’m about to freak out.

           
“This is our last time here together,” I say and as the words come out of
my mouth, the tears begin to roll.

           
“I’m getting married, I’m not going to die,” she laughs.

           
“I know, but
everything
’s
changing.”

           
“Is this about the egg sandwich?” she asks sincerely. “I read that
pregnant women need extra protein, if you want I can change my ord….”

“It’s not about
that
,” I interrupt.

“Well what the hell’s wrong
then?” She takes a sip of milk.

I sniffle. “You and Lorenzo
will have a family and I’ll still be single and alone.” I wipe away a few
tears. As much as I can, I try to push the thought out of my mind, but somehow,
it keeps coming back to me. So much for getting my spark back.

 Lucy gets up and puts her
arms around me. “It’ll all be fine Stella.”

           
“No it
won’t
,” I say
firmly. “Everyone is getting on with their lives and I’m stuck.”

           
“Who’s everyone?”

           
“You. Lorenzo…”

           
“Ok, me and Lorenzo are a different case. This just
happened
. If I weren’t pregnant we
wouldn’t be getting married so soon. And besides, I’m the one who’s stuck.” She
pats her stomach. “When this little one arrives I’ll be a stay at home mommy.”

           
This is news to me. “What about your teaching job?”

           
“I’m giving it up. Besides, Lorenzo and I have a new project in the
works.”

           
I look at her, confused. “What?”

“We’re opening a place in
Philly. Lorenzo found a small restaurant and signed the lease last week. We’re
telling everyone tonight.”

           
My heart leaps a little. I’m sure they’ll ask me to be the manager. This
solves everything.

           
I can imagine it already. I’ll be featured in
Philadelphia
magazine as the most stylish manager in the
city. For the photo shoot I’ll be wearing a one of a kind Marc Jacobs dress…

           
“Mario partnered up with us actually. He’s going to manage,” Lucy
explains.

           
“What about me?”

           
“You hate managing the restaurant.” Lucy looks shocked. “You always say
you’re just doing it for your family.”

           
 “But what am I supposed to do? I need a job.” I look down at the table
because I know that if I look at her I’ll cry.

           
“You’ll figure it out,” she says. How is this a logical response? Why
does everyone keep saying this to me? Just as I’m about to break down, Lucy
continues. “And if you don’t figure it out, you can just live with us and
babysit your godchild.”

           
“You want me as a godmother?”

           
“Only the best for my baby,” Lucy replies.

I’m moved. “What would I do
without you?”

“You’d be a freakin’ mess.”
She smiles. “But I’d be a bigger one without you.”

           
At 5:00 p.m. my mom, Gina, and I gather in the master bedroom to help
Lucy get dressed. Our hair is all curled and set with millions of little bobby
pins, lacquered with hair spray and gel. (After finding the perfect dress, Lucy
decided we needed to get our hair done. Thank God we have connections in this
town).

As I unzip the garment bag
containing Lucy’s dress Gina and my mom light up. They haven’t seen it yet and
if they like it now, I can’t wait to see their reactions when she puts it on.

Helping her into the dress is
a three-woman job. Gina holds her veil to make sure it doesn’t tangle in the
fabric. My mom holds the dress open low to the ground so Lucy can carefully
step into it and I hold her hand, keeping her balanced. I give her a squeeze
and she looks up at me full of bliss. She straightens up and smoothes the
fabric.

           
“Belissima,” my mom says and hugs Lucy. “You’re so beautiful, Lucia.”

Lucy beams.

           
“Girls,” my dad yells from downstairs. “It’s time.”

           
We look at the clock in the bedroom. “Crap.” I am still in my bra and
underwear. I reach into the closet to get my dress and step into it. This light
peach number is so hot that I almost wish I had a date. “You guys start going,
I’ll be down in a second.”

           
My mom and Gina help Lucy down the stairs, holding her train as they
walk.

           
I step into my sliver stiletto sandals and take one last look at myself
in the mirror. Gina did a fabulous job with the make-up. I look good. Really
Good. Like trouble.

           
I hurry down the stairs just in time to see Lucy hugging her dad. I feel
like I’m witnessing a miracle.

Deep down, I knew he’d come
around.

           
I place my arm on my mother’s shoulder. “I’m so happy he came.”

           
“Me too,” my mom whispers.

We follow Lucy and her father
into the driveway as they get into the limo. My mom asks if I want to ride with
her and my dad, but I’d rather walk the two blocks to the church.

           
I get halfway down the block when I see him.

           
Roberto Lancetti is walking towards me, wearing a black suit, white
shirt, and skinny black tie. His hair is ruffled up in a way that looks like he
spent too much time on it, and he’s wearing jet black aviators. I just watch
him for a minute and I have to admit, he looks good. Really good. Like trouble.
Still, I haven’t seen him since that night on the street and I really don’t
feel like explaining things.

           
“What are you doing here?” I ask when he comes closer.

           
“I was invited to the wedding,” he smiles. “You look beautiful.”

           
I can feel myself blushing. “Thanks. Did my mom put you up to this?”

           
He looks a little hurt. “No, Lorenzo invited me.”

           
“It was just supposed to be family members.”

           
He winks at me. “I’m practically family, aren’t I?’

           
I ignore the comment and start walking down the street and he strides
along beside me.

           
“Are you feeling better?” he asks.

           
I sigh. “Yeah, thanks. Look I sort of just want to forget that night,
ok?”

           
“What night?” he says with a smile.

           
I can’t help but smile back, though I am totally going to kill Lucy and Lorenzo
for inviting him. What’s with my family trying to push us together?

           
“Are you coming to the dinner too?” I ask.

           
“Yeah, actually, I’m your ride.”

           
I look at him for a second to see if he’s joking or not. Unfortunately
he’s serious.

           
We walk the next block in silence.

           
My brothers are already inside when we arrive. Roberto takes a seat as I
hang outside with Lucy.

           
“Did you like your surprise?” she asks. I swear, if it weren’t her
wedding day, I would kill her.