Chapter Thirty-Three

BEULAH SAW ANNIE on Benito’s arm and all hope of keeping the mascara that Evelyn had so carefully applied that afternoon was lost. The accordion player pumped out “Here Comes the Bride” and the scene might have taken on a comical air had the participants not been so serious about their roles.

Benito stood straight as an arrow, his chest out, with Annie on his arm as they made their way down the central aisle with villagers crowding the tiny chapel. Body heat provided by all the attendees made the chapel downright cozy.

Jake’s face broke into a gigantic smile when he spotted his bride, and Annie radiated joy. Both had eyes only for each other during her approach to the altar.

Evelyn’s wedding dress had been transformed. The elegant, sleeveless gown accentuated Annie’s pretty figure, the length providing a small train in the back with gently flowing folds.

Scott began the simple ceremony, and Beulah grabbed the Kleenex from her purse, while Janice did double-duty as matron of honor and translator for the villagers who packed the chapel.

Beulah imagined that the Protestant wedding seemed strange to the Italians, but was overwhelmingly pleased that so many of Benito’s friends wanted to participate.

If it was at all like Somerville, curiosity about Benito’s new American family fueled villager attendance. These people were so much like those from back home. They spoke a foreign language, had different cultural preferences, and ate different foods, but as a whole, this small, rural town had much in common with Somerville.

Scott performed the ceremony well, quoting First Corinthians 13. It was the same passage Beulah and Fred had chosen to have read at their own wedding so many years ago. Thinking of Fred brought fresh tears.

Beulah looked across the aisle at Evelyn, watching her only son give himself to another woman. While Evelyn was over the moon with happiness at Jake’s choice, Beulah also knew that as a mother, she was likely to feel a twinge of loss. Tom held Evelyn’s hand through the entire ceremony; Beulah reckoned those two would follow suit before too long.

That meant changes to her relationship with Evelyn and the way they went in and out of each other’s houses, especially if Evelyn moved to town. How can I be sad for something so exciting for Evelyn? Jake’s father, Charlie, had been a wonderful husband for Evelyn, but Tom would bring her a new life and new experiences. No, she could not grieve her friend’s new happiness.

“Now that Jake and Annie have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands, and the giving and receiving of rings, I announce to you that they are husband and wife,” Scott intoned. “Those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder.”

Jake kissed Annie and grinned at her, and then, as if he couldn’t stop himself, went in for a longer kiss. Cheers erupted. Scott announced them as Mr. and Mrs. Wilder and they led the way out of the church to a bouncy accordion tune. The wedding party circled around and went back into the chapel for pictures while everyone else made their way to the reception.

Lindy snapped pictures right and left, posing each family together. At the end, the accordion player offered to take a picture of the whole group so Lindy could be in it.

The reception party had been moved to the Teatro di Montefollonico with high-beamed ceilings, something Paola and Angelina had decided to do after their friends had made it clear that they wanted to attend. She had heard the villagers were providing all the food, everything fresh and homemade.

Benito led Beulah to a seat in the front of the room, then left her when someone called for him across the room.

“Ciao bella,” a deep voice said. Beulah turned and saw a handsome older man, his white hair a stunning contrast to his olive skin. He sat next to her, a little close for Beulah’s comfort. “You very beautiful,” he said, looking at Beulah with such intensity, she shifted her eyes and blushed.

“You taste my wine?” he poured her a glass. “I make a vino nobile and eets the best.” She had learned from Rossella DeVechio that it was difficult to turn down an Italian when it came to sharing food or wine, so she took the glass and sipped.

“Very good,” she said. She preferred a big glass of iced sweet tea. Ice in anything, she found out, was unheard of around here.

“You taste my olive oil,” he said. “Harvest only November.” He poured out a vibrant green liquid on a plate and handed her a piece of bread. She took it and tasted the fresh, earthy oil.

“Very good,” she repeated.

“You like?”

“Giancarlo, cosa stai facendo? Questa è mia zia,” Benito put his hands on the man’s shoulders.

“Non puoi darmi la colpa per averci provato,” the man said, laughing. He got up and moved away.

Benito sat down next to her.

“This eez good day,” he said in English.

“A buongiorno,” she agreed. “And a bounanotte.”

Vincenzo joined them. “They are preparing antipasto now, then there will be a pasta course, and then a meat course, followed by sweets, cheese, and fruit.”

Beulah remembered the course order from the night Rossella DeVechio had made dinner for them at her house. Even though she made and dried pasta in her living room, Beulah couldn’t for the life of her remember the name of the pasta now. Before she met Rossella, everything was either a macaroni, noodle, or spaghetti. She hadn’t realized so many varieties of pasta existed.

“Do you have an answer yet?” Beulah asked Vincenzo.

Vincenzo translated for Benito.

“No, she is still thinking. I hope she will agree before you leave so we can make plans. It is the right thing. Papà and I are very sure.”

“Would you like me to speak with her? If she wants, that is,” Beulah said.

“Si, when the time comes, you must speak with her.”

Paola waved to them from across the room and motioned Benito to come up to where she was standing next to Annie and Jake as they received guests wishing them well. Beulah jumped as several pops sounded all over the room.

Waiters carried trays of small glasses sparkling in the candlelight. Tonight, there was no question about it. She reached for one and waited for the toast.

“Questo è un giorno molto felice per me. Sono nella mia città con la mia nuova famiglia americana e ho anche accompagnato mia cugina all’altare.” Benito paused and nodded to Vincenzo to translate.

“This day is very happy for me. I welcome my American family to Montefollonico, and I walk my cousin down the aisle.”

“Per me questa è una cugina speciale . . . E’ venuta qui a trovarmi, nonostante molti ostacoli, e mi ha voluto nella famiglia May.”

“This cousin is special to me. She came here, despite many obstacles, to find me and invite me into the May family.”

“Questo brindisi è per la sposa e lo sposo, Annie e Jake e per mia zia Beulah, che hanno portato molta felicità ai Gianellis. Cin Cin!”

“I raise this toast to the bride and groom, Annie and Jake, and to my aunt Beulah, all of whom have brought the Gianellis great happiness. Cheers!” Benito and Vincenzo lifted their glasses of prosecco and the whole room responded with “Chin-Chin,” then drank. There was nothing to do but follow suit. It was a wedding, after all.