Sebastian of Messaline, whom I know you have heard
of. He left behind him myself and a sister, both
born in an hour: if the heavens had been pleased,
would we had so ended! but you, sir, altered that;
for some hour before you took me from the breach of
the sea was my sister drowned.
Calla went up on her toes in victory as Sam nodded his approval. Hortense’s hands went up in the air in a silent hallelujah, as the Palazzini family exhaled and relaxed back into their seats. Al DePino stayed upright, judging his future son-in-law with disdain. What kind of a man wears hosiery and why is that man in leotards marrying his daughter?
Connie looked around the theater. When she saw the audience approve of Nicky, it made his victory her own. A smile crept across her face and would remain there through the curtain call. Peachy, who was perspiring so heavily she was caught in her own rain shower, pulled the wet fabric away from her skin under her armpits to air it out.
Onstage Nicky eased into the play, recalling his lines through the blocking. Careful not to exaggerate or primp, he listened and moved and spoke with clarity. Sam noticed his daughter’s eyes follow Nicky in his scenes with particular interest. Calla caught her father looking at her. He didn’t have to say a word; he knew something was happening; so did she, and so did Frank Arrigo.
*
After the show, the families and some of the patrons waited for the cast in the lobby. Rosa broke out the Dixie cups and a few bottles of cold champagne left over from opening night to celebrate Nicky’s debut.
When Nicky entered the lobby, his aunt, uncle, and cousins surrounded him. Gio hugged him. “I can’t believe you made it through the whole thing.”
“So did you, Gio. Your first play. Right?”
“Yep. Unless you count Gert’s the Gal with Garters. Saw that in the Poconos.”
“Nothing but class, that’s my Gio. How did you memorize all those lines?” Mabel marveled.
“I’m just relieved they came out of my mouth when they were supposed to.”
“You were so handsome in the wedding scene!” Lena swooned.
“The language didn’t put you off?” Nicky asked them.
“After a while you understand it,” Uncle Dom admitted. “It’s like going to a foreign country, you listen long enough, eventually people make sense.”
As Rosa passed the paper cups filled with champagne, Nicky reveled in his family’s support. This might be what he loved most about being a part of a big family. The Palazzinis showed up for one another no matter the occasion. If any family member was receiving a sacrament, a diploma, or a driver’s license, every member of the family put on their best hat and went to bear witness to the achievement. If Nicky had any sense of self-confidence, it had come from the circle Aunt Jo and Uncle Dom had created; even though he was their nephew and not one of their sons, Nicky had always been made to feel he was inside of it.
Peachy stood back with her parents and watched the Palazzinis fawn over Nicky, waiting her turn to do the same. Her mother stuck her finger in her daughter’s back. “Get in there,” she hissed.
Peachy moved into the huddle of Palazzinis like a pink streak in the whipped cream of a cherries jubilee. She squeezed through until she got to her fiancé.
“You were wonderful, Nicky,” she said, throwing her arms around him.
“You think so?”
“I do. There was that awkward start where something happened, but then you bounced right back.”
The Palazzinis grew quiet.
“I mean, it was nothing,” Peachy covered. “No one noticed.”
“Then why did you mention it?” Mabel said under her breath.
“It was a glitch. Just a glitch. The rest of the play—you were Palmer Method perfect.”
Nicky put his arms around Peachy. “Thanks, honey. Your support means the world to me.”
Al DePino stood back and rolled his eyes into the top of his head until there was nothing left in his eye sockets but the whites.
“Behave yourself. Don’t say a word,” Connie whispered to her husband.
“Maybe you want to throw another peignoir set into the wedding trousseau for the groom.”
“I mean it, Al.” Connie glared at him. “If you can’t behave, go sit in the car.”
Calla and Frank joined the group. “Mr. Palazzini, I’m Calla Borelli, and I want to thank you for filling the theater.”
“It’s the least the boys at the Legion could do. I think they enjoyed the show.”
“We’re very grateful to you.”
“Mr. P? Calla’s fella is going to be mayor someday,” Peachy offered. “Mayor Frank Arrigo.”
“Peachy is a visionary.” Calla patted Peachy’s shoulder. “I hope this vision comes true.”
“Me too.” Frank smiled at Peachy.
“Really,” Dom said, looking Frank up and down. “You’re out of your mind if you think this city will ever elect an Italian American mayor.”
“Things are changing, sir.” Frank shrugged. “We are making inroads.”
“That’s only because we built them,” Dom fired back. “But good luck to you. You’re a tall man, and that goes a long way in politics. Usually it’s the only thing you need.”
“That and the purse,” Frank joked.
Dom nodded approval. “Hey, with that attitude, you may swing an election your way.”
Nicky made sure everyone was served champagne. Peachy held the tray and stayed by his side as he thanked every person in the lobby for coming to the show.
“We should get going.” Connie laced her arm through her husband’s. “We want to say good night.” She interrupted the small group Nicky was regaling with stories of the play. “We have a gown fitting in the morning. Can you get her home soon, Nicky?”
“Yes, of course.”
“I’m really tired, honey.” Peachy put her arm around Nicky’s waist.
“Just a sec, and we’ll go.” Nicky continued with his story.
Frank helped Rosa collect the empty paper cups. Calla stood by the box office with her father. “You tired, Dad?”
“Not when I come to the theater.”
“Who needs sleep when you’re doing what you love?”
“That’s right, Calla. Don’t forget it. When you love your work, you never need a vacation.”
“Is that true?”
“I think so.”
“I thought we didn’t go on vacation because we didn’t have any money.”
“Well, there was that too.” Sam laughed.
Calla looked across the lobby. Peachy had her head on Nicky’s shoulder. She looked over at Frank, chatting with Al DePino, then back at Nicky. She watched as Nicky took Peachy’s hand and walked out the glass doors, followed by the Palazzini clan.
“You all right?” her father asked her.
“That’s a big family.”
“Nothing like it.”
“I wish we had one, Dad.”
“It’s got its minuses.”
“I’m sure it does. But it seems you get so much more of everything,” Calla said wistfully. “More support. More love. Look at how they carry Nicky.”