CHAPTER FOUR

"Del, you look awful. What is going on? Isn't Michael due back today?" Andrea asked her best friend.

Della sighed, "yes he is supposed to pick me up about seven. I have not been sleeping well. I hope I'm not coming down with something. We have to go for our next to last fitting for our dresses today, and there is the wedding shower in two days."

Andrea looked her over as she commented, "you don't seem very enthusiastic. What is really bothering you? You haven't been the same since that USO dance. Don't tell me you are still mooning over that guy."

"Of course I'm not. I think mom is right it is pre-wedding jitters. Although she has everything under control. I'm excited to see Michael, and once the wedding is over and we are settled it will be fine." Della explained.

Her friend didn't look convinced. "I hope you are going to get things settled with him about your living situation. Maybe that will help you to relax and enjoy this time."

Smiling Della hugged Andrea, "Oh I think you are right. What we need is a quiet place to talk and make final decisions. Once that is settled then I can relax and enjoy all the festivities. Who are you bringing to the rehearsal and wedding sweetie?"

"I guess it will be Jeff. He figures we are going together. I do have to agree with you those guys we met were great looking. Can you imagine the looks we would get at the country club if we walked in with them?" Andrea asked with a big grin on her face.

"Scandalous," Della said, "they would say it was scandalous. Bringing two men no one knows to the country club to tease the men we have known our whole lives. Our mothers, not to mention Grandmother Street, would think I had lost my mind. We wouldn't want that, would we?"

They began to laugh. "You have to admit it is tempting," Andrea choked out.

"You know you are a bad influence on me young lady." Della tried to stop laughing.

Getting up off the bed her best friend explained, "well I better get out of here, so you can get ready for tonight. I don't want everyone blaming me if you aren't ready. You know how Michael hates to wait. I'll meet you at the bridal shop at 2."

As she walked Andrea to the door Della agreed, "Yes I need to wash my hair and do my nails. We are having dinner at the compound. I need to look my best." The girls hugged, and Della promised to meet her on time for the fittings.

By 6:45, she was dressed in an emerald green sleeveless sheath with a matching jacket, gold peep toe heels, and her mother's pearls and matching earrings. Exactly at seven Della Street ran down the stairs into her fiancé arms, "I missed you sweetheart," she murmured.

Tall, dark, and handsome Michael Domenico twirled her around and said, "you look gorgeous. Wait until my family sees you."

She looked at him quizzically. "They have all met me."

"Not my Aunts, Uncles, and cousins from New York. They are here for the wedding. You will impress them alright," he stated.

Pulling back from him she said, "Michael you should have told me. I want to make a good impression for your sake."

He put an arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry my dear you are the most beautiful young woman in this town."

Della blushed. "I appreciate you saying this, but I am not anything special."

"You are when you are with me. Let's say goodnight to your folks and be on our way. You know how I hate to be late."

By the time she got home about eleven that night Della Street had a blazing headache. Her mother was still up and asked about her evening. "It was alright. I'm just tired. A good night's sleep will help lot."

"How was Michael's family? Did you enjoy meeting his relatives?"

Sitting up suddenly Della inquired. "How did you know I was meeting new members of Michael's family tonight?"

"Why dear," he mother explained, "Michael called earlier today and told me."

"He told you and not me?" Della was outraged.

Trying to soothe her daughter Kathleen Street explained, "Darling you have been so much on edge lately we thought it would be better not to tell you until you had to know."

"How long has this been going on Mother? You and Michael talking behind my back. Making plans for my life I don't know about?"

"Della Mae you know that we wouldn't do anything to hurt you. We are just trying to make things easier for you."

Tears were running down her cheeks as she sobbed, "you, Michael, his mother, Uncle Joe, all of you making decisions for my life, and I have no say. This is too much, it is just too much." Pushing past her mother she ran up to her room and slammed the door.

It was another sleepless night. At dawn the next day she was up and dressed and walking to her best friend's home. What was she going to do? There was a little over a week until the wedding. Invitations had been out for weeks, dresses were bought and paid for, everything was ready, but Della. She couldn't back out, everyone would be furious with her, and her family would lose a lot of money. Where would she go anyway.

Sitting in the park across from Andrea's house she waited for her friend to come out to head to her classes. Her friend was going to a teacher's college about a half hour away. As she headed for her car Della called to her.

Seeing the dark circles under her friend's eyes Andrea came running across the street. "What in the world happened?"

"Andrea," she cried, "what am I going to do?"

"Get in my car. You can go with me this morning and I'll bring you back after my finals."

On the way to the college she explained everything that had happened the night before. "I was faced with three aunts and uncles, half a dozen cousins, plus Tony, Uncle Joe and Aunt Maria, and the priest. Mildred, Michael's mother is moving in with us with Tony, she is doing all the decorating, and they talked about how soon I would get pregnant. I wanted to run screaming out of there. To top it off when I got home I found out my mother knew all about it, they have all been talking about things behind my back. It is as if I am a little child who can't run my own life."

Glancing as she drove at her distraught friend Andrea asked, "So what do you want to do?"

"I don't see any way out," Della was dismayed. "where would I go?"

Let me think Del. You know we are having finals this week. I am planning on taking a vacation once the wedding is over. Say you could go with me. You could just postpone the wedding."

Looking skeptical Della said, "you know I can't do that to my family. They would kill me."

"Then you have to speak to Michael and clear things up before the wedding." Andrea told her.

"You're right, I have no choice. Thanks, you are the best friend I could ask for."

Andrea laughed, "Remember that when I come crying on your shoulder."

"You can be sure of that," Della assured her.

Later that afternoon Michael called saying he had to go with his uncle to Chicago for a meeting. He would call her when they got back, and they would make plans for that evening. Della wasn't sure if she was relieved or not since she had decided there needed to be an understanding before they said, "I do".

Kathleen Street was happy her daughter was home for the first part of the evening as she wanted to talk to her daughter and try to make her understand that she had not gone behind her back with her future son-in-law and his family. That what they had tried to do was take any stress off Della.

After dinner she suggested they go and sit on the porch. Reluctantly Della agreed, but was cautious feeling betrayed by people she thought she could trust.

Taking her daughter's hand Kathleen announced, "We got good news to your Aunt Mae arrived today for the shower and the wedding."

"I hope," the young woman began, "I recognize her it has been a long time since we saw her."

In a reassuring tone her mother replied, "I don't think she has changed that much."

"What is it she does for a living?" Della inquired.

Kathleen thought for a minute. "I know she is a buyer for a large department store in Los Angeles and travels a lot. In fact, she came in from New York City where she was on a buying trip."

"She must have an interesting life," Della commented.

Her mother smiled, "she is considered the black sheep of the family. She got a divorce from a very nice man and decided she needed to have a career. From what your father told me she refused alimony from her husband. I don't imagine your grandmother will be happy she is here, but she is your father's only sibling. I have always gotten along with Mae."

"Has it occurred to you that she might have had a good reason for her divorce?" Della asked.

"Darling you know your grandmother. Nothing must besmirch the Street name, even from California."

Giving a big sigh Della suggested, "well there are two sides to every story."

Squeezing her daughter's hand Kathleen said, "I'm glad you feel that way. I want you to know that there was nothing suspicious about my talking to Michael and his family. We just wanted to take any pressure off you."

The younger woman turned to face her mom, "I appreciate your concern, but I have to make my own decisions. I am an adult and soon to be a wife. You have to trust my judgment."

Her mother looked sad, "I know but it is hard to let your baby leave the nest."

Della hugged her and remarked, "I won't be so far away and I'm sure I will be needing advice on a lot of things. You aren't being pushed out of my life. I think after a good night's rest everything will look clearer."

Little did Della Street know events would be pushing her farther and farther away from people she thought she could love and trust.