A TWIST OF FATE
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Emerging into the light from the subway
station they set off to the house to meet everyone. Jack knew most of Maria's
family a little, but Maria's mother had planned a special dinner in Jack's honor
so they could all meet again.
"A dinner in my honor?" Jack asked Fabri, quite surprised.
"Of course. To welcome you to the Di Rossi household." Fabri looked
around and gestured. "Do you recognize this Jack?"
"Yeah, I know where I am now," said Jack recognizing the area.
"The bakery is down at the bottom of this road."
"Yes. Remember that alleyway? We slept there with big rat that night"
"I remember" grinned Jack "A rat as big as a cat!"
Laughing, they made their way down the tree-lined road. The smell of the bakery
wafted to them as they approached.
"Something smells good," said Jack. He stood outside the bakery,
remembering the days they came here, starving and hardly a cent to their name.
As it was so late in the day, the bakery shop was closed. Fabri led Jack round
the back to where the yard, bake house and living quarters were. They went
through a door and up the white washed stairs. The smell of cooking was
overpowering Jack who suddenly realized he hadn't eaten since the morning. The
stairs led to a small landing and through to a large kitchen and dining room
that was alive with activity. Pots and pans bubbled on the stove and people
bustled round the table and stove. To Jack, it resembled mayhem.
"Fabri" Maria wiped her hands on her apron and rushed over to greet
them. She was petite with long raven black hair and eyes. She greeted Fabri
warmly and turned to Jack.
"It's good to see you again Jack. Thank you for coming."
"I wouldn't miss it for the world" Jack grinned. She was very pretty;
Fabri was a lucky man.
"Let me introduce you" She took Jacks arm and led him towards the
table. A petite woman with olive skin and salt and pepper hair was stirring a
large bowl on the table.
"Mama, you remember Jack",
"Jack, yes I remember. How are you?" She also wiped her hands on her
apron and to Jacks surprise she hugged him. He must have looked surprise.
"You are most welcome. Tonight we have a dinner for you."
"Thank you".
"You hungry?"
"Yes ma'am"
Maria pointed out people to Jack. They all smiled and shouted hello in turn.
"That is Theresa, my sister. That is my cousin Antonella. That is my
brother Marco. This is my Aunt Rosa. This is my baby sister Gianna."
Jack smiled and greeted them all back. Everyone looked so busy. There was so
much food. Jack wondered just how many were coming for dinner.
Fabri turned to Jack.
"Shall I go and show you where you stay and we can leave them to it?"
"Can I help out at all?" Jack surveyed the organized chaos that was
going on around him.
"The guest of honor cannot cook his own meal!" Maria laughed.
"You two go. You must a lot to talk about. Go!"
Fabri led Jack back down the stairs and across the yard. His room was above one
of the storehouses round the back. They went some rickety wooden steps and
through the door. The room was quite large and clean. It had been used for
storing flour sacks, but scrubbed and painted, it had provided a home for
Fabri. There was a bed, a table, a wardrobe a dresser with a pitcher of water
and a bowl upon it and another bed made up near the window.
"You share with me Jack, 'til Sunday", said Fabri excitedly.
"Then I go to my new home with my wife."
Jack sat on his bed.
"This is nice. We slept in some terrible places!"
"You should see my new apartment. It has a kitchen and a dining room and
two bedrooms!"
"I hope I'll see it. Now I'll have a quick wash and change."
"Dinner will be a while yet," Fabri smiled mischievously. "And
there is a bar across the way. I have only a little time left as a single
man!"