Say Ye by Celia Juliano Read Free Book Online Page A

his eyes as they greeted each other.
    “Lorenzo called me earlier,” he said as he hung his brown jacket in the hall closet.
    Lita’s cheeks burned. “Everything okay?”
    “His dad died yesterday. He’ll be leaving for Italy soon so his dad’s ashes can be placed in the Calabra family tomb.”
    Lita picked at imaginary lint on her black cashmere sweater. Lorenzo hadn’t said he’d be leaving town. He hadn’t said much at all. And he still hadn’t returned her call. She’d left him a brief message almost two hours before.
    “He’ll be okay, sweetie. You know they weren’t close. He did fine after his mom died. He must’ve been more upset then.”
    But Lorenzo wasn’t fine. He hadn’t acted himself last night. Maybe that’s why he’d kissed her. She rocked onto her heels. “I know.” She didn’t know anything. Lately, her life swayed like a boat on choppy seas, ready to either throw her into the chill, murky water or navigate her into a safe harbor.
    Lita shrugged and slid on her kitten heels. “I made a peach pie.” She glanced at the pie basket by the door. Her stomach cramped. What if Lorenzo called while she was out?
    Lee rubbed his hands. Pie was his favorite dessert.
    “You ready, then?” Lee said.
    Lita nodded and he picked up the pie basket, peeking inside. He smiled his lopsided smile at her and she laughed. Everything would be fine. It had to be.
    Once they reached Aunt Cass’s, where Emma was having a small party, Lita regretted coming. Emma’s friends were so Berkeley: young, hip—in a hippie, arty way—professionals and students where Lita was just…Emma said she was a nineteen fifties throwback, but Lita was sure Emma’s friends weren’t so nice about it. After attempting to mingle, Lita wandered into the kitchen, where at least she could make herself useful.
    As she washed dishes, Lita smiled, remembering how Lorenzo had held her, told her he wouldn’t let anyone hurt her. What was she doing here? She should be with Lorenzo, being there for him as he had for her. But she was stuck, unless she wanted to face a BART ride back into the city and then a bus ride into North Beach. She figured she’d already been accosted one too many times on public transit. Besides, one reason they’d come over was to pick up Emma, who was going to stay with Lita for the week—Emma was taking a vacation and Lee would be out of town on business. She shivered. Lee didn’t want her to be alone since all this stuff with Rich happened. But from what she’d heard, he’d left town. And she could take care of herself. It just got lonely sometimes.
    “Hey,” Emma called as she burst in the room. She snagged some cheese and crackers left on a platter and leaned on the counter. “Hiding in the kitchen?”
    “Someone needs to clean up.” Lita grabbed the platter, the last thing that needed washing.
    “Always so tidy. Let loose!”
    Lita splashed water at Emma before turning off the sink.
    Emma laughed. “What’re we going to do with you? You need to have sex.”
    Lita rolled her eyes. She and Emma had been arguing about this since Lita was sixteen.
    “And not with the likes of Lorenzo Calabra.”
    Lita’s face felt hot. “Shush. Lee will hear you.”
    “So you do want to have sex with him?”
    “I didn’t say that.” Was she that obvious? Great, who else knew? “Just drop it. Or you can stay here for your vacation.”
    “All right. But I’m taking you out this week.”
    Lita waved a hand at her cousin and followed her back to the party.
    ***
    A few days later, Lita sat at home alone, waiting for Emma to return. They’d gone out the night before, and Emma’d hooked up with some guy she knew. Emma tried to get Lita to do the same, but Lita didn’t want hook-ups. She wanted…now all she wanted was Lorenzo. But he still hadn’t returned her calls. She should’ve gone to see him, but she’d been busy with Emma. Today she was free but she felt too nervous. Some cleaning might settle her