The Ricci family started showing up about an hour later and I was in no way ready for them. Her mom was tiny like her, with a big smile and from the way she treated my kids, a big heart.
She came bearing gifts, a lot of gifts. For what she called her grandchildren. There were about twelve of them, no joke. Aunts, uncles, cousins, her brother and sister.
It didn’t take me long to realize I was damn near superfluous, especially with the women. They were all about her and the kids. The ring got high praise. I think her aunt, the oldest of the bunch, took out a loop and checked it over before giving it her stamp of approval. I ain’t mad. The men though were a different story.
Richard
They stood together in a huddle with my dad. All I saw were nodding heads and every once in a while one of them would look in my direction. I figured since my dad was there they couldn’t be plotting my demise.
Jason was in the midst of them, chest puffed up with his own importance because these grown men were including him in whatever the hell it was they were up to over there.
There was a latecomer, another brother who came through the door and headed straight for my girl. He picked her up and twirled her around and I had to check the reflex to go grab her out of his arms.
“Why’re you late Tony?” She smiled down at him, still in his arms and he kissed her smack on the lips before putting her down. I’m gonna have to get used to this shit.
He reached in his pocket and pulled out a key. “Pop decided that since you’re staying here we should bring the Gran Turismo. The assholes at the harbor took a long time to clear the shit through.”
Did he say Gran Turismo? I might be into bikes but I know what the fuck that is. It’s a hundred thousand dollar plus car. What the fuck…
“Thanks Tony, I was thinking I’d grab it when I came back to get the rest of my stuff. This saves me the hassle.” She looked around her brother at me and I guess the stupefied look on my face gave my thoughts away.
It’s a good thing they were a loud preoccupied bunch otherwise they might’ve noticed my lost look. She brought her brother over to me and we shook hands.
I didn’t come out of my stupor until he brought up the fact that I build bikes. “I’ve always wanted a custom made bike. You got any pictures?” I pulled my phone, still not saying shit, still processing.
“Oh yeah. Carlo, get over here.” He called over his cousin who looked at the phone as well and the next thing I knew they were asking how long it would take to build five bikes for some crew they had back east.
I think I answered, but I was still getting my mind around him offering to drop quarter of a million or more just like that. Who the fuck are these people?
“We’ll talk later, right now it’s all about the engagement and shit and I don’t want my ma and aunties lighting into me for spoiling Olivia’s day.”
He slapped me on the shoulder and moved on to kneel in front of my daughter who was looking like she was in culture shock. She’s not accustomed to so much show of emotion from grownups except with me, and Olivia.
I saw she already had a life size doll in her hand from her new grandma and can I say, the smiles on my children’s faces made all the confusion I was feeling worth it?
Olivia came to stand next to me when I got a break from family members. “How rich are you?” I didn’t know how else to phrase that shit, but it was obvious she came from money. Lots of fucking money.
She shrugged like that shit was nothing. “Rich enough.”
“So why did you need a job?”
“I wanted to make my own way. Pop allowed me to do it but he was always there just in case. Don’t worry about it.”
She walked off and her uncle came to stand next to me. He’s the epitome of an Italian uncle. Unlit cigar in the corner of his mouth, built like a semi truck, and the proverbial pinky ring.
“So, boy, I’ve spoken to the lawyers and they came up with this.” He pulled a sheaf of folded papers from beneath his jacket and passed them to me.
I didn’t even get a chance to look at them before Olivia showed up and snatched them from my hand. I had a pretty good idea what they were from her next words.
“Knock it off uncle Sal, he’s not signing anything.” “I’m just looking out for you bambina.” She kissed him on the cheek and stole the shrimp from his hand.