Chapter 5: The First Meeting
It was only a scant week after the dinner with Maretti when the first face to face meeting between the proposed bride and groom occurred high above the streets of Port Charles on the terrace of the Metro Court restaurant. Carly had reserved the entire outdoor seating area for the intimates of both parties. The bride's side was represented by Maretti, his two sons, Carmine and Paolo, and, of course, Laura herself. The putative groom's party consisted of Sonny, Jason, Sam, Spinelli, Carly and Jax. When Carly heard about the reason for the private reservation, she insisted that she be present to check out the suitability of the potential bride and her familial connections. Privately, Jason was banking on Carly demanding that precise concession. He knew that Carly loved Spinelli as much as any of her children and that she would be fiercely protective of both his interests and his heart. Jason wanted there to be a sizable contingent of people at the meal whose only outlook was Spinelli's welfare. As far as Jason was concerned, Sonny was to be considered a member of the enemy encampment.
Sonny hadn't lied, Laura was pretty but her looks weren't of the kind Jason appreciated. She had platinum blond hair which was teased and styled into a frozen cascade of waves and ringlets that added a good four inches to her petite build. Her blue eyes were heavily made up with bright, azure-colored eye shadow and her eyelashes were long and spiky enough that Jason thought they might be designated weapons in their own right. Laura's mouth was a broad slash of crimson in her pale face while her teeth were sparkling white and even, an obvious result of expensive orthodontics. Jason idly wondered what her naked face might look like but it was difficult to tell since she was wearing so much makeup that it was almost as obscuring of her true features as a Kabuki mask would have been.
She wore a stark white pantsuit which clung carelessly to every curve of her body. Her breasts were too large for her small frame and it was probable they were a result of artificial enhancement, most likely a companion treatment to the effort which had created her perfect teeth. Laura and her stocky, open faced brother, Carmine, appeared to be in some sort of sibling competition as to which one could wear more jewelry. They were each adorned with a number of large and clunky gold chains which managed to look simultaneously expensive and vulgar. In addition to the necklaces, they also both wore several bracelets which clinked distractingly every time either of them reached for a glass or one of the hors d'oeuvres the circulating waiters brought by as they all stood around awkwardly chatting prior to sitting down to eat. In stark contrast to his siblings, Laura's other brother, was a oasis of calm in this rampant sea of materialism. Easily half a foot taller than his brother, he was dressed entirely in black-shirt, jacket, pants and shoes-but it was the telltale gleam of white at his neck which clearly delineated his vocation.
Giovanni confirmed it when he introduced his children, "This is Paolo, my youngest" he said proudly, "He'll be performing the wedding mass."
Ever alert to an opportunity to sabotage Sonny and Giovanni's unpalatable alliance, Jason eagerly grabbed at the first potential chink he had seen in their arrangement, "Well, that might not be possible," he said trying to sound regretful, "Spinelli's not Catholic."
"He's not?" Giovanni's tone was sharp as he stared accusingly at Sonny. "Why didn't you tell me this before, Sonny? With a name like Spinelli, I just assumed..." A vertical crease appeared between his eyes as the other mobster appeared to be quite upset at the unwelcome news. Gratified at Giovanni's displeased reaction, Jason began to relax; it seemed that this debacle might be over before it started. Then the worse thing about the occasion would be that Sam had forced him into wearing a suit and tie.
Sonny looked equally disconcerted to discover that Spinelli wasn't a declared member of the Catholic Church. It was obvious that he hadn't thought of the religious aspect of the pairing. Still, Sonny recovered quickly and shrugging made a dismissive gesture with his hand as though he were shooing away a pesky fly. "I didn't know," he admitted candidly, "Still, it's no problem, Giovanni. The kid can take instruction and convert before the wedding. Right, Spinelli?" Sonny looked inquiringly at the young private investigator.
Spinelli cocked his head as he pondered what Sonny had said. Then he shrugged in return, "The Jackal has no objection to taking on the external trappings of a faith based observation but he must be honest, he doesn't believe in a supreme universal deity."
There it was, the reprieve he had been searching for! Jason let out a sigh of relief, Spinelli's admission of being an atheist was all that was required to end this farce. If they were really lucky, they wouldn't even need to stay and eat lunch. He, Sam and Spinelli could all order some Chinese, change out of these stifling clothes and watch a movie to celebrate his roommate's narrow escape.
Giovanni looked sharply at Sonny who returned his speculative stare with interest. Then together they turned as one and said to Spinelli, "Yeah, that'll work."
"It will?" Jason was dazed, if he knew of her, he might have felt a kinship with Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole.
"Sure," Giovanni said with an easy bonhomie. He reached over and wrapping his arm around Jason's shoulders leaned in and said in a whisper that everyone within a five feet radius could easily discern, "The kid takes instruction, converts so he can go to mass, take communion and everybody's happy. Believing…" he gave an uncaring shrug, "That's personal, between a man's soul and God. It's Spinelli's choice to risk his chances at not making it to the afterlife."
Jason scowled at the mob boss as he shook his unwelcome arm away. He didn't like being freely touched by anyone but his avowed romantic partner. In addition, he surely hadn't invited Giovanni's intimate confidences about his religious views or his easygoing prediction that Spinelli, by not believing in God, was risking going to hell.
"Spinelli," he said with a hot conviction which astonished himself and everyone in the luncheon party who all knew how rare it was for him to react to a situation with such raw emotion, "Is the single best person I have ever known. If there is a God or a heaven, his admission ticket has long since been punched."
Spinelli was staring at Jason, awestruck by his openly expressed words of faith in him. He blushed and ducked his head, embarrassed that his most private beliefs and personal integrity were being bandied around in open discussion.
Giovanni further surprised everyone by laughing out loud at Jason's fervent defense of his friend. Chuckling, he nodded his head approvingly, "I like that, the kid's already handed his admission ticket over to the conductor on the heavenly express. You got a handle on some great imagery there, Jason." He reached over and punched the mobster in his right bicep, "Still, ticket or no, Spinelli's got to convert or there's not gonna be a wedding. There's no way my little girl's marrying a nonbeliever cause my grandkids gotta be raised right, raised in the church as good and proper Catholics."
"Jason!" Sonny's voice was loud and peremptory, brooking no allowance for disobedience. He had seen his friend's face grow set and cold when Giovanni dared to punch Jason and he correctly interpreted the fact that the enforcer was a hair's breadth away from retaliating. Sonny realized that a violent reaction to such an innocuous act would quite possibly result in a mob war rather than a wedding. "Why don't we all take our seats," he added, casting a frazzled glance in Carly's direction as he silently pleaded with her for help.
Carly pursed her lips as she stared at Sonny in stony disapproval for his part in arranging this charade of a social gathering. Then with a resigned sigh, she adopted her hostess persona and, pasting on a falsely bright smile, began shepherding everyone to their seats at a large round table, protected from the bright spring sunshine by a large and cheerful yellow umbrella. The rest of the terrace was empty of any other guests in order to assure the complete dining privacy of the two families as they became acquainted with one another.
At first, the divergent assemblage of guests managed to compensate for the expected discomfiture of a group of strangers sitting down together for a meal by focusing on the customary initial period when everyone was busy ordering their drinks. Then the inevitable silence settled over the table and it looked as though this all important first encounter might instead end as a disastrous fiasco without the young couple or their family members interacting with one another. Jason was one of the few people at the table not in the least disconcerted by the sudden quietude. Instead, he was actually beginning to hope that the uncomfortable social interlude might manage to convince everyone else what a very bad idea this whole arranged marriage was turning out to be.
Jason scowled in uncomplicated irritation at Jax who was the first to throw a wrench into his simple plan for sabotage by turning and speaking to the young bride-to-be. "So, Laura," he began flashing the young woman a muted version of his patented brilliant smile, "What sorts of things keep you occupied?"
Laura paused and looked up from her bright red nails which she had been scanning with a bored scrutiny in a vain search for a nick or a scratch in their glossy enameled perfection. She started to shrug her shoulders as she popped her gum and then her gaze sharpened as she took in the smiling appearance of the handsome blond Australian. Her demeanor subtly altered and she leaned across her brother Paolo, who was sitting between her and Jax. The deliberate movement stretched the fine silky fabric of the blouse she was wearing under her white jacket so that it clearly delineated her perfectly molded breasts as the thin material caught against the erect nipples. It was suddenly uncomfortably evident to every person sitting at the round table that Laura wasn't wearing a bra.
"Well," she flashed her sharp white teeth at Jax in a predatory smile, "I like to go shopping, take trips to the Caribbean or get a spa treatment but," she paused dramatically, aware without having to check that every person at the table was listening in fascination to her litany, "The thing I like to do best is something I just can't discuss in mixed company." She giggled maliciously as she glanced at her younger brother who was flushing in embarrassment.
Laura sat back languorously in her chair and reached for her class of chardonnay all the while ignoring her father's outraged, "Laura Marie!"
Carly's eyes narrowed while she gripped her napkin in her lap in an attempt to keep from lunging over the table and strangling the little slut. Carly wasn't even sure if her reaction was predicated on jealousy over the tramp daring to flirt with Jax or the idea that this slut, this entirely inappropriate female, was being considered as a suitable life partner for Spinelli.
"Not if I have anything to say about it," she muttered grimly under her breath, grabbing for her own glass of merlot and taking a calming sip.
Jason's own reaction to Laura's provocative remark was on par with Carly's. He stole a quick glance at Spinelli who was seated next to Sam. Spinelli's face wore a shocked expression which was a twin to the look worn by a hapless Paolo. He stared in disbelief at Laura, his mouth slightly open as though he was trying to determine if he had heard her correctly.
Laura noticed his stunned reaction and her expression was scornful as she asked him, "What, don't tell me that's not one of your favorite things to do too, Damian," it was impossible to miss the derision underlying the way she said his name, "I sure never met a real man who didn't feel exactly that way."
Sam spoke up quickly before either Jason or Carly did or said something they couldn't take back. "I think a real lady and certainly a real gentleman, such as Spinelli," her voice was icy and her eyes flashed in dislike as she glared across the table at the blond who was once again indifferently examining her nails, "Knows the right time and place to talk about such things."
"The lady is right," Giovanni's own face was as red as his younger son's was mere moments ago due to a combination of mortification and anger. "It's not acceptable for you to say such things, missy." He glanced around the table and raised the palms of his hand in a gesture of supplication, "Laura has lacked the softening touch of a mother and I have indulged her more than I should have. That's exactly why I think she needs to get married and have some children of her own. Then she will understand what it is to think of someone beside herself."
Laura shot her father a look of sheer loathing but she didn't say a word to either support or contradict his contention. Both her brothers remained silent as well. Carmine appeared to be completely oblivious to the tension around the table as he unconcernedly helped himself to olives and cheese from the platter of appetizers Carly had ordered. For his part, Paolo might as well have been carved from wood. Beyond his original mortified response to his sister's deliberately aggravating reply to Jax he hadn't uttered a word after the original introductions were made.
Sonny decided he needed to show solidarity with Giovanni, "Yeah, a man can raise his sons by himself but a girl needs a mother's touch," he was completely insensible of the irritated stares sent his way by Carly, Sam and even Laura's much more expressive exasperated rolling of her eyes, "I think both these kids can benefit from being married. It'll help them grow up." He shot a censorious look at Spinelli whose gaze was firmly fixed on his plate in an echo of his self-effacing behavior from the evening when the proposed alliance was first broached.
"Your wife is deceased?" It was Jax, the only person at the table who hadn't entirely given up on the concept of having a civilized discourse.
Giavanni looked at him with an expression of ill concealed impatience. He replied cursorily, "Yeah, she died when Paolo was still a baby. The kids grew up under the care of nannies."
Jason found himself watching Giovanni's children rather than their father. He was disturbed to see almost identical expressions of fear and revulsion on their faces as he talked without any visible signs of regret about his wife's demise. Jason exchanged glances with Sam and he was relieved to see she had noticed the edgy response of the Maretti siblings as well. Their eyes met and an unspoken understanding was exchanged between them as both their gazes focused protectively upon Spinelli's downcast head.
A/N: Reviews are appreciated