Journey of a Soul

Chapter 34

Billy worked in the 'Real Little Italy,' in the community of Belmont to be more accurate. It felt better giving Lexi the address of the bakery to meet him, instead of her coming to his place in Skyville. He knew no one would care if he and Lexi went upstairs to talk in a more private setting.

His great grandfather was a Sicilian immigrant who moved over from Italy in the early 1900s. He had used all his savings to open an Italian forno and market on Arthur Avenue, here in the Bronx.

Hi grandfather had died a few years back and up until just a few months ago, Billy had lived with his folks and his grandmother above the same bakery.

They were a close-knit family, and even though Billy had only been dating Susannah for less than a year, they had loved her as if she was one of their own.

The smell of fresh-baked bread filled the air as Lexi entered the bakery. To her delight, the décor was authentic. It looked like an Italian street scene — a cobbled courtyard with crumbling walls and peeling vintage posters.

With just a few days before Christmas, the bakery was full of people getting ready, and ordering the goods they needed for the traditional evening meal.

There were shelves upon shelves of freshly baked bread that you could buy by the weight instead of just a full loaf. There were all kinds of noodles for sale like the typical kind you find in a grocery store; Spaghetti, Lasagna, and Fettucine. There were also many other ones that she had never heard of before; Bigoli, Capellini, Mafalda, and Pici.

In a glass counter, she could see cornetti and flat Margherita pizza, which you could buy by the slice. Then she spotted the pastries. Oh, the pastries.

Lexi's favorite was the foot-long cannoli. So many ricotta cream fillings to choose from, chocolate, vanilla, pistachio, espresso, lemon, strawberry, peanut butter. The list went on. And, if that wasn't good enough, you could add all kinds of other goodies on top. She felt like she had died and gone to Heaven.

"Buongiorno," said the most authentic-looking Italian grandma that Lexi had ever laid eyes upon, apron and all. In a very thick Italian accent, the old lady called out, "Don't fawhget tuh pull a ticket." She was pointing to a take-a-number ticket dispenser by the door.

Lexi turned her head away from the mouth-watering cannoli to answer. "Oh. No, thank you, I am here to speak with Billy."

Waving a hand implying for Lexi to come her way, she yelled out, "Billy, your lady friend's la Sorella is here."

Understanding a little Italian, she knew la Sorella meant sister. Lexi's face went red as everyone in the bakery looked towards the person who the old lady was referring to.

"Nanna, how many times do I have tuh tell yuh, not tuh yell?" Billy said as he came out from the back kitchen into the front retail area. Not remembering what Lexi looked like, he looked around for a girl who looked like Susannah.

Lexi put up her hand for Billy to look her way.

He was surprised to find that Lexi didn't look anything like Susannah. She was so skinny, with dark hair, it must have been de mailman, he thought to himself. Seeing her, he waved just like his grandmother and said, "Make way fawh, Lexi." People seemed to part like the Red Sea, and she walked right on through the crowded room.

He greeted her by kissing her on both cheeks. Then quickly ushered her in through the kitchen to the private quarters upstairs where his family lived.

When she entered the suite, it brought back memories of when she had visited Italy. Her parents had bought her the trip as a gift to celebrate graduating from University. Being in this suite made her feel like she never left. The room's furnishings were very traditional, with the dinner table as the main focal point.

You could tell their Catholic religion was very important to them, for there was a very large cross mounted on the one wall, with a rosary hanging over it. On the other wall hung an incredible amount of family photos, generations of Billy's family telling a story if one cared to examine them.

A lady in her late fifties came out of an adjoining room and greeted her. "My Billy, tells me dat yuh are his sweet Susannah's sister?"

"Yes, I am." Trying to break the tension in the room, Lexi added, "Great business you guys have."

Ignoring the compliment that Lexi just made, his mother responded in broken English, "What is so impawhtant dat yuh had tuh come here and upset my Billy?"

"Ma, doan be rude. Go. Go downstairs." Billy almost pushed his mother out the door. "Overprotective mudder. Come, have a seat over here." Pointing to a sofa covered with an Italian textured Strato throw.

Lexi remembered seeing the blanket in Italy. Its texture was wave-like on one side and had stripes on the reverse. "I understand how you feel. This meeting is awkward for me, as well." Lexi said, as she pulled the bag her mom had given her out of her purse. As she did, the lamb fell out unnoticed and landed on the floor.

Billy took the bag from Lexi's outstretched hand. Opening it, "What de hell, is dis some sick joke?" Inside was the box with the engagement ring that he had given Susannah the night she died. Tears filled his eyes and ran down his cheeks. Slamming the box closed, he yelled, "Get out! Get out of here, and nevuh come back."

Startled Lexi stammered, "My mother thought it was best if you had it."

"I doan care. Get out." Billy got up and opened the door to the downstairs.

His mother was rushing up as Lexi started to descend. "What have yuh done?"

Lexi dashed out of there as fast as she could, trembling from the unexpected reaction. Getting into her car, she drove away.