Posted by hummingbird on 7/7/2014, 8:06 am VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
Ladies, I am determined to finish this story this week! I hope...
Chapter Thirty-Seven
It was New Year’s Eve. After Vinnie and Rita closed the restaurant, they invited their friends down to ring in the New Year and to try a new dish called “pizza”.
Actually, it wasn’t a new dish to Vinnie. Having come from Italy, he had eaten his own Mama’s pizza many times. Yet pizza wasn’t a well-known dish in America except in large cities like New York. Even then, New York style pizza was far different from the deep dish variety served in Italy.
Lately, they had encountered a few wounded soldiers sent home from a tour of duty in Italy who stopped by Salvadore's asking if they served pizza. Vinnie told them ‘no’ but said it would be on the menu very soon. He got his Mama’s recipe and was trying it out on the renters at their New Year’s Eve party.
“So...we’re the guinea pigs...” Bo said looking at the dish called ‘pizza’ bubbling in it’s crust.
“What the hell’s in it?” asked Reuven Berkovich gruffly looking at the same. “It’s liable to kill my stomach.”
The girls smiled at Mr. Berkovich’s gruffness. They were used to his brutal honesty while Vinnie was not.
“Well...I think you’ll like it, Mr. Berkovich,” Vinnie said kindly. “But that’s what we want to find out...I want some opinions before I put it on the menu. If you don’t like it, please tell me and I’ll work on improving it. That goes for everyone here,” Vinnie said in his Italian accent..
He dished up the pizza for everyone, and it was a hit. Even Mr. Berkovich gave it approval. They tried all of the varieties Vinnie had made, and the only suggestion given was to add a little more spiciness to the sauce. Bo was in love and totally stuffed himself.
They spent the rest of the evening playing cards and then some pool. Lena ended up partnering with Reuven for cards. He proved to be quite a card shark and he and Lena won the game. Bo and Nora once again attempted a game of pool, but she complained about being at a disadvantage because her belly didn’t allow her the freedom to bend over the table properly. So Bo beat Vinnie instead.
It was a nice evening. There was no reminiscing about 1944 and it’s happenings. Instead, they focused on enjoying each other’s company and the promise of better things in the year to come. At midnight, they raised their glasses in a toast and wished each other a Happy New Year and the party came to an end.
* * * * * * *
“I feel like you look,” groaned Bo as Nora snuggled close to his side that night.
She giggled at him. “It was delicious, wasn’t it? Vinnie may have something going there with that pizza recipe. Maybe it will catch on.”
“I think so,” Bo agreed. “I thought it was great.”
He pulled Nora close in his arms. “It’s a new year, Red. Wonder what this one will hold.”
“Hard to believe that we didn’t even know each other last New Year’s Eve, isn’t it?” Nora replied. “Now, here we are married for nearly eight months with a child on the way.”
Bo smiled. “Yes, it’s been quite a year...full of ups and downs. You’re one of the ups.”
“Well, I hope so,” she replied giving him a kiss.
They lay quietly for a few moments before Bo spoke again, “Mr. Berkovich seemed to enjoy the evening. I thanked him again for how he intervened on your behalf the night Debronsky attacked you. Every time I think about that, I just can’t help thinking about how it could have turned out...”
“Then don’t think about it. Yes, that was the beginning of the change in Reuven. He really looked out for us after that night. Such an enormous help to us. He’s a sweet man under that gruff exterior.”
“Maybe we should name the baby after him,” Bo suggested. “Reuven Beaufort if it’s a boy,” he said teasingly.
“Uh...no,” Nora replied swiftly. “That just won’t work, but we’ll have to decide on something else...and soon, don’t you think?”
“Mmhmm,” Bo responded. “We have a lot of decisions to make,” he said quietly, his mind obviously on other things.
Nora looked at Bo’s profile. He was deep in thought.
“Okay...what’s on your mind?”
He sighed and looked at her. “I’ve been thinking. My reason for being here in Chicago is gone...now that I’m no longer in the military…”
When she just looked at him, he continued, “So...I was wondering...how you would you feel about going back to Texas with me, Red? I really need to get back to work. I still have a position with BE or I can work on the ranch...maybe a little of both. The ranch house is huge...we could have a wing all to ourselves...Asa has already offered us the west wing...I hate to take you so far away from your family…”
She placed a hand on his cheek. “Bo...you and this baby are my family.” She paused briefly before continuing. “Sure...I’ll miss my family and my friends here, but...when we began this adventure through life together, you said our first stop was this apartment above Salvadore's. Now...if you say our next stop is Texas...then I’m ready to go. I love you, Bo Buchanan. I’ll go with you anywhere.”
He kissed her tenderly. “ I love you, Red,” he said. “Thank you.”
He snuggled her close and began telling her about Texas. “I think you’ll like the west wing, honey...it’s very spacious...we can make a nursery for the baby. Our room faces west, so you’ll enjoy the sunsets...the sunsets there are gorgeous, Red...all orange and pink and purple and they go on forever...I can’t wait for you to meet Maggie...I know you’re going to love Maggie...and the baby will have a yard to play in...and…”
Bo continued on and on until he realized that Nora could hardly keep her eyes open. When he stopped rambling, Nora said, “Go on...I’m listening…” in a soft voice beside him.
He brushed a strand of hair away from her eyes. “That’s okay. You get some sleep. Soon you’ll get to see it all for yourself…Happy New Year, Red…”
Nora smiled sleepily. “Happy New Year,” she whispered before laying her head on his chest and drifting to sleep.
