132 - That's Amore

March 24, 2010

Ariana watched the people hustle and bustle along Mercer St. As promised, they had landed at Teterboro just before noon and headed straight to the city to pick up the kids. Jon had tried to convince her to come upstairs with him, but she kept her foot firmly planted and told him it wouldn’t be right. This was Dorothea’s home and even though she wouldn’t be home when they arrived, the last thing Dorothea needed to hear was that Ariana was in her home.

 

Jon didn’t see it that way at all. Ariana was his wife and now stepmother to his kids. And eventually, there would come a time when she would be the one picking them up when he could not. Not wanting to upset her, he pulled the lapels of her coat shut, kissed the tip of her nose, and promised he wouldn’t be long before disappearing into the building.

 

Leaning against the parked car, lost in thought, she hadn’t noticed the Bongiovi clan emerging from the building until she heard Romeo screaming her name, turning just in time to catch the boy's arms open wide and in mid-leap.

 

“Can we? Please? Just say yes?” he whispered into her ear.

 

Confused at his request, she helped him safely to the ground just as the rest of them arrived. Jon tossed a few bags into the back of the truck, then looked at his youngest, who was wearing one mischievous grin.

 

“I said no!” Jon pointed into the backseat. “Get in the car.”

 

“But…” Romeo opened his mouth, but Jon snapped his fingers in a shut it motion.

 

“No, what?” Ari asked innocently. It was obvious Romeo wanted something, otherwise he wouldn’t have whispered into her ear. Stopping him as he was climbing into the car, she looked up at Jon, then at the little boy. “Romeo, is there something you want.”

 

“Piiiiizzzzzzzzaaaaaaa!”

 

“Ooh! Yum!” She wagged her eyebrows at Jon.

 

“In!” Grinning, Jon nudged them one by one into the car, then he waited as Ari climbed into her seat and shut the door. Rounding the car, he climbed into the front seat, pulled his belt across his lap, and looked over at Gus. “Change of plans. Looks like we’re going to Sal’s.” A deafening roar of yes! erupted from the back of the car.

 

Sal’s Little Italy was a family operated restaurant in the heart of Manhattan’s Little Italy. A staple in the neighborhood for thirty years, it was a favorite of the Bongiovi brood for as long as they could remember. The spacious but cozy eatery played host to mostly local folks and tourists. However, they had hosted the occasional celebrities, too. But no matter who you were, the minute you walked through the door, you were treated like family. 

 

Angelo, a stout middle-aged man with a thick Italian accent, greeted them as they walked through the door. Shaking hands with Jesse and Jake, he kissed Stephanie on the cheek, and mussed Romeo’s hair when the little boy asked if they had lemon ice today. The man smiled politely as Jon introduced Ariana as his wife, then escorted them to a table in the back.

 

This being Ariana’s first time to Sal’s, the kids insisted she tried just about everything, and they did. From fried calamari to eggplant caponata and calzones to pizza. And not just any pizza. There was one pie to everyone’s liking. There was white pie for Stephanie and meatballs for Jesse. Opting for the more traditional, Jake chose cheese, but that didn’t stop him from tasting everyone else’s. Of course, Ariana and Romey had to have pepperoni. Jon was yelled at when he tried ordering his usual; mushrooms, tomatoes and green peppers but quickly changed and went with sausages but kept the peppers.

 

Over the next two hours, as they feasted on the exorbitant amount of food, the six talked and laughed. They talked about Jon and Ari getting married and the reasons behind its urgency. Discussing how they all felt about it and want it meant to them. They each had a chance to explain their feelings. There were questions which Ariana and Jon had no problem answering. Ariana spoke of her nightmares and fears, which seemed to help with the older ones understand the urgency more. Romeo was still a bit confused with the whole two mommies kinda thing, but that was understandable for his age. Jon reassured the boy that him marrying Ariana wouldn’t change who his mommy was. It made him extra special because he now had two. Content with what his father had told him, Romey promptly changed the subject to what had been going on with him. Talking about school and friends and after about fifteen minutes of the rights and wrongs of kindergarten, Jake teasingly told his younger brother to hush up so the rest of them could get a word in edge wise.

 

When Romeo stopped to pop a piece of pepperoni into his mouth, Jake took the opportunity to start talking. Ariana asked him how he was doing in school and got the typical nine-year-old reply of fine. Jon couldn’t really say much. He didn’t like school much either. All he asked of his son was to do his best, and he did. They all did. Jake got really excited when he told them he had tried out for the local youth league basketball team and made it. Jon was really excited about that. When weather and time had permitted, he often took Jake to the park to shoot some hoops. He was good, too. Jake was a little taken aback when Ariana asked when their games would be. He didn’t really think she would want to go. But he learned differently. He learned she had an avid love of sports. All sports, for that matter. He promised to print her a schedule as soon as they got back to the house.

 

Angelo stopped by with some boxes and to ask if they were ready for dessert. Looking towards her father, Stephanie asked, “Dad, can I have a cappuccino?”

 

“Sure. Jess, you want one too?” Jon asked.

 

“Nah. I’ll have an enormous glass a milk and a piece of cheesecake, Please.”

 

“Boys? Lemon or pineapple?” Angelo asked, even though he knew the answer. They never wavered, no matter what flavor they offered. Lemon, they sang in unison as he looked over at Ariana. Stating she couldn’t eat another bite, she declined and thanked him. Next, he bent down closer to Jon, who seemed to whisper something to him. When Ariana asked what he had just done, Jon just grinned and muttered nuttin’.  

 

While they waited for their coffee and dessert, Stephanie talked about the few colleges she was considering and how she would like to visit some of them soon, then she asked Ariana if she was up for a girl’s day of shopping since Ben had just asked her to the Junior prom and she needed something to wear. Rolling his eyes at the two of them, Jon turned to Jesse, asking him if he had anything just as exciting going on.  

 

“Actually, I do,” Jesse said in a matter-of-fact manner. “I’m going to the prom too.”

 

Shocked by his son’s statement, Jon wished he had asked Angelo for another glass of wine instead of what he ordered. “Don’t you need to be a Junior to go?”

 

“Yeah. Or you can go with a Junior.” A sheepish grin crept over his face. 

 

“Spill!”

 

“Troy’s sister asked me. Who was I to say no?”  

 

Jon was familiar with this family. Troy and Jesse had been friends for years and played on the school’s lacrosse team together, but this was the first he was hearing about his sister. “So, she just asked you out of nowhere?”

 

“Not really. We’re kinda seeing each other.”

 

Jon was just about to question him further, but Angelo had arrived with dessert. Starting with Jake and Romeo, he set the frozen lemons in front of each of them. Next, he set Stephanie’s cappuccino down along with a small dish of homemade biscotti. Jesse’s cheesecake barely hit the table before the teenager had a forkful ready for his mouth. Ariana’s eyes lit up when Angelo placed a single dish with a martini glass down in front of Jon. She knew exactly what was in the v-shaped glass. It must have been what Jon whispered to Angelo, because she didn’t recall seeing it on the menu. Reaching for the spoon, she dipped it deep into the glass, scooping from the bottom all the way to the top. She was about to bring the spoon up to her lips when Jon stopped her by placing his hand on her wrist.

 

“Nuh-uh!” he said, “You’re stuffed, remember?” Jon guided the spoon to his mouth and slipped it between his lips.

 

“Daaad! That’s not nice!” Romeo stood and walked around the table with his dish in his hands. Placing it next to Ariana, he climbed in her lap, scraped the edge of his spoon against the frozen dessert and shoved it up at her. “Here, I’ll share mine with you.”

 

“Thank you, sweetie,” Ariana gently lowered his spoon, “that’s very gentlemanly of you, but your Daddy’s gonna share his.”

 

“No, I’m not.” A smile crept on his face.

 

Snatching the spoon from his hand, Ariana slid the dish in front of her, spooned herself a heaping size of Zabaglione; ice cream and strawberries, then, in a very unladylike manner, shoved the whole thing into her mouth. She swished the oversized amount around her mouth, savoring all the delectable flavors for a moment. She swallowed, licked her lips and smiled at Jon. “You wouldn’t deny your pregnant wife food? Would you?”

 

“Yeah, Dad.” Jake looked up from his dessert. “Where are your manners?” 

 

“Okay… okay.” Jokingly, Jon threw his hands up in defeat.

 

“What is it anyway?” Jake asked.

 

“Just one of the best desserts known to man,” she stated. "It’s an Italian dessert called Zabaglione; made with egg yolks, sugar and a sweet wine. Some restaurants serve it cold like a custard, but this way” she used the spoon and pointed to the dessert, “hot with strawberries and ice cream on the bottom is the best way to eat it!” She scooped some on her spoon. “Anyone want to try it?”

 

Jon laughed. Of course she would share with them, and he was cool with that. He had ordered it for her anyway, as he was too stuffed to eat another bite. Reaching for his coffee, he sat back in his chair, enjoying the rare moment with his family.