“You haven’t changed your mind, have you?” Joey said as soon as I awoke. On the floor beside the mattress the candle had burned out, leaving a waxy puddle on the plate beneath it. I turned toward him.
“I can’t. We‘ve been making love all night.” I curled into his arms and pulled the ragged quilt up under my chin.
“But do you want to? Change your mind, I mean?”
“No.”
“Good. I have a surprise for you.” He sat up. “Because you’ve answered the question-of-the-day correctly, you’ve won cappuccino and brioche.” He applauded. “Last one up doesn’t get any.” I pushed him down and scurried out of his bed. Before he could catch me, I dashed into the little bathroom and locked the door.
“I want all of the brioche!” I called. “I’m hungry.”
He knocked on the door. “Let me in.”
“No!” I started the shower.
“Why not?”
“You’re not supposed to see me naked before the wedding.” I got into the shower and stood under the thin stream of warm water.
“But I already did.”
I didn’t know what to say. “It was a mistake. I have to go to confession.”
“A mistake? No. Let me in.” I got out of the shower and opened the door slightly.
Joey peered in at me. “When you said you would share my life, you didn’t say you were going to keep the door locked.”
I wrapped a towel around myself and opened the door. “Joey, I think this is wrong…I was supposed to…and we’ve been….”
“We sure have! I think we should get married today.”
“We can’t. We need to get my fathers’ blessings first.”
“Okay, if that’s what you want, but we have to get married right away. Before I’m inducted. Without those certificates, you and the baby won’t get anything. It takes time to get that stuff, especially in Italy.”
“Michel Losine will approve, but papà might not agree to see you or to give his blessing.”
“Not bless his only son-in-law?”
“I think it would be better if I went alone and told him myself.”
“Fina, we have to get married right away.” I dropped the towel, stepped back into the shower and closed the curtain behind me. “Are you always this modest?”
“Clearly not, but shouldn’t we have a longer engagement?” I said.
“Well, a longer engagement could be a lot of fun, but from the looks of things, we’re going to have some fun right now.” He got into the shower and kissed me all over. “Must be your lucky day. Good thing you’re not modest.”
In my mind, I resisted this new temptation, but my body paid no attention, and I returned Joey’s kisses.