"Sorry Junior, I have always been a DiNozzo, it was on all our paperwork," Senior continued.
"Dad, what happened to the paperwork? I mean you moved around and granddad is dead, as are both Angelina and Luzio. I haven't seen Petey in years. Is he still in New York?"
"As far as I know yes, he and Vincenzo used to get on well together, since Vincenzo doesn't have any children. Always, wondered about him, never had a girlfriend, never married, I wonder about you Junior, wonder if you turned out like him."
"Meaning, dad? And do you have Vincenzo's number?"
"Meaning are you coming out soon, could do with a drink. Junior if you want paperwork go and see your Uncle, Vincenzo."
-oOo-
Tony made his way to New York; it had been a while since he had actually been in the Big Apple.
He had rung his uncle, to see if he could call.
Excuse? None, and yes dad was still alive. Wanted to see, if he had any paperwork relating to our grandfather, grandfather Antonio. Yes he was getting old, needed to get into his ancestry. Oh Vincenzo had a box full of stuff.
Tony would drop by in a couple of days.
-oOo-
The shop seemed smaller than he had always imagined, Tony wondered how he still did business with all the big stores around. But he knew that small family butchers and deli's, as this now appeared to have become, were all the rage. But then again Northern New Jersey, was the bub of the Gay community, maybe his father was right, Vincenzo was.
Tony gingerly entered the shop to be met by a young man.
"Can I help you?" he enquired.
Tony took his shades from his eyes in full CSI Miami fashion, and smiling the DiNozzo smile replied, "Yes I'm looking for my uncle. And you are who?"
He didn't hear or see his uncle now enter the deli.
"Vince, this gentleman is looking for you."
As Tony now turned to see his uncle. He had aged so much, but he still had the height of the DiNozzo's and yes although slimmer, did look like his father.
"Thank you Pepe. Tony, how you have grown. Yes, you have your father's traits when he was younger, but please you said you wanted to see the family paperwork, come I will open a bottle of wine and some mozzarella. I import from Italy and it sells well," as he indicated to Pepe to carry on, and showed Tony the way through the back and upstairs to his flat. "Do not worry about Pepe, we are not lovers but I do give him lodgings."
-oOo-
Vince indicated to the table in the kitchenette and producing two glasses and a bottle of red, uncorked and poured.
"Where would you like to start?" Vince questioned.
"The beginning would be good and of course the paperwork."
Vince moved over to a chest and opened. It was full of old newspapers and tin boxes. Old papers now turning yellow with nicotine and age were in polythene bags.
"You still a Baltimore cop?" Vince began to ask, as he slowly took some of the bags from the chest and handed to Tony.
"Nah, been away some 12years now work for NCIS."
"Never married? Got a girl friend? If you are like me I could get Pepe to introduce you to some friends," Vince began to laugh. "Pepe lives here yes, I give him sanctuary and he works in the shop. I have been celibate some 5years now, but the company is good. I suppose he is the son I never had."
"Vince, I have loved and lost. Maybe one day I will find the girl of my dreams but right now I'm doing OK," Tony smiled as he watched Vince now open one of the bags.