Novel Square
Chapter 68
The first thing we did was go back to the clothing store and get an entirely new outfit for Lucia.
The ecstasy on her face when she walked out of the dressing room in a new set of clean, dry clothes?
It was an expression I normally only saw when she was having an orgasm.
“OH MY GOD, THIS FEELS SO GOOD,” she moaned theatrically.
They didn’t have jeans or flannels in my size, but I was able to get a new XXL t-shirt, underwear, and a rainproof parka. After weeks of wearing the same clothes, it felt absolutely luxurious.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
Not only that, I bought two of everything – so we could change into something dry when we reached our destination for the night.
“And umbrellas… please, let’s get some umbrellas,” Lucia begged.
I laughed and grabbed a couple of extendable folding umbrellas, too.
We left the shop holding the umbrellas over our heads – but still holding hands.
“Can we eat lunch in a restaurant?” she asked.
“No, I still want to get out of town as soon as possible. But we can buy anything you want at the grocery store.”
“Fine…”
We got a 70-euro bottle of champagne at the grocery store – the most expensive one they had – plus tins of smoked oysters and lobster claws, and even locally-made tiramisu in a plastic take-out container.
When we found the tiramisu in the cold case, Lucia also saw tubs of gelato – Italian ice cream.
“Can we?” she asked in excitement.
“They’ll melt before we get back.”
“Let’s eat them now!”
“Isn’t it a little cold for gelato?”
“I don’t care!”
I paid the grocer for two containers. Then we got some plastic spoons and proceeded to have an orgy of Italian ice cream. She got amaretto and I got banana.
“Sooooo goooooood,” Lucia groaned as she put a spoonful in her mouth.
After weeks of tuna fish and canned beans, the gelato was the best ice cream I’d ever tasted.
As we ate, we talked.
“So what’s the plan for tomorrow?” she asked.
“Lars is going to drive here with some of our guys and take us back. He’s still out of town, or he’d come today.”
After all the stories I’d told her over the last three weeks, Lucia knew exactly who I was talking about – and her eyes grew wide. “If they’re waiting to send Lars specifically… that sounds serious.”
“Niccolo doesn’t want to take any chances.”
“What happens when…”
“When it’s time for you to go home to Venice?” I said softly.
She nodded, her face worried.
I put my finger under her chin and lifted her head lovingly. “I’ll have a talk with your grandmother and my brothers. But no matter what, I’m not ever letting you go.”
She beamed happily and we kissed.
“Don’t worry,” she said impishly. “If Nona throws a fit, I’ll just tell her you knocked me up.”
I laughed. “Let’s tell her a little more diplomatically than that.”
“Aaaah, don’t worry – she’s not gonna kill the father of her great-grandchild.”
“So you think you’re pregnant?” I teased her.
“Why, do I look fat?” she asked as she poked out her belly underneath her new clothes. She held her stomach with one hand underneath, the way a very pregnant woman would. “It’s just a food baby.”
“A what?”
“Ice cream and Danishes. You know – a food baby.”
“Too bad.”
She grinned. “Remember – you said if I got pregnant, you’d marry me.”
“And I meant it.”
She put down her cup of gelato, unfolded a napkin, and put it over her head like a veil.
“I’d make a beautiful bride, wouldn’t I?” she asked as she fluttered her eyelashes like a Disney princess.
I laughed. “Yes, you would.”
Then I looked over Lucia’s head and saw something.
“Hold on,” I said as I walked past her.
“You’re not leaving me at the altar, are you?” she said in mock outrage.
“Nope. Far from it.”
I went over to the gumball machine, checked to make sure it had what I wanted, and started pumping in coins and turning the handle.
It took me seven tries to get what I wanted.
Lucia knew I was messing with the gumball machine. The krrrccck when I turned the handle could be heard throughout the small store.
“What, are you getting me some wedding tattoos?” she joked. “Maybe some bubblegum for the reception?”
“No…” I said as I walked over…
Got down on one knee in front of her…
And held a tiny plastic gold ring with a tiny plastic red ruby on it.
Lucia looked utterly and totally shocked – almost like she’d seen a ghost – and took a step back from me.
I certainly didn’t expect that reaction.
I looked up at her with concern. “Are you okay?”
Her eyes filled with tears. “…do you mean it?”
I didn’t answer right away.
One second we’d been joking around… and then things had gotten very serious, very quickly.
When I didn’t immediately answer, she whispered, “I was joking around before, Massimo, and it’s okay if you don’t want it for real… but… don’t do this if you don’t mean it.”
As I knelt there, I gave it some real thought.
About the previous three weeks…
And all the trials we’d gone through together…
And how every night when I went to sleep, I was happy holding her in my arms…
And how when I woke up, I was happy because I got to see her face.
Like she’d said earlier, the previous three weeks – no matter how tough the circumstances – had been the happiest three weeks of my life.
I made my decision.
“I know this isn’t the ring you deserve, and I’ll get you a better one… but Lucia Fioretti… will you marry me?” I asked quietly.
A sob wracked her body. She put one hand to her mouth…
And then she laughed through her tears and rapidly nodded her head ‘yes.’
Then, smiling with joy, she held out her left hand.
I slipped the toy on her ring finger, stood up… and kissed her.
Suddenly there was a noise behind us.
The only other person in the shop – the old man behind the register – was clapping. He had a big smile on his face.
“Meraviglioso! Congratulazioni!”
Wonderful! Congratulations!
Lucia and I both laughed as we walked over to the register.
“Ma devi comunque pagare la spesa,” he said seriously.
But you still have to pay for your groceries.