A Teachers Story Ch. 04

Jen and I slept together and loved that night and the next.

However Sunday evening as Jen and I were in the sitting room, Josephina came to us and advised us that as Monday was the day before we were to be married, I would not be permitted to see the bride at all that day...Bad luck you know.

I began to protest when I heard a very familiar voice say, "No my dear brother, you will not see your bride tomorrow. You did it to me and now I will do it to you."

I turned and looked at the door and there he was, big as life, Marcel, my brother, with a big shit eating grin on his face. "I hope you didn't think that I would miss this, did you? I may have missed Spain, but I couldn't possibly miss this one."

I ran and threw my arms around giving him a big bear hug. Catherine was standing behind him with Yvonne in her arms.

Jen saw them and ran to them and hugged Catherine and Yvonne and then Marcel. We sat at a table and Catherine told us that she and Marcel knew that there was no way that Father Guiseppe was going to allow us to get away with just being married in Spain. "Look, she said, "We were married in a Catholic Church in Amsterdam and we had to get married again, in Santa Angela. We knew that it would be the same for you."

Marcel laughed and said, "Anyway, I owe you."

Jen looked at him questioningly and said, "Owe us?"

"Well, him," he said pointing at me. "He brought us here for our First Anniversary and was my best man again here in Santa Angela. Could we do any less for my brother?"

Jen shook her head and laughed.

"It's a bit late to have second thoughts about getting involved with such a crazy group, even though you will be getting married to Henry on Tuesday, you are already married to him... twice," Catherine giggled.

"I will never have any second thoughts about marring Ron. Even if it means that I have to be a part of this crazy group," Jen said as she threw her arms around Catherine and the two hugged. Jen looked at Catherine and said, "Catherine, will you be my Maid of Honor?"

Catherine beamed and hugged Jen again saying, "I would love to be your Matron of Honor. Because with my beautiful daughter, I may have a hard time convincing anyone that I am still a maiden."

Jen said that she was getting a little hungry and Catherine said she was too, so the five of us got up and went across the road to the Tuscany Café. Pasquale and Mina danced around us and fed us like royalty. And after dinner we sat and told them about the wedding and the reception at Gitano's.

Catherine asked about our time in Spain, with Jens grandmother and aunt. Jen and I looked at each other and I laughed and Jen giggled and turned red as a beet.

Marcel picked up on it, "Okay, tell us what happened. You know that we will not let up until we learn everything."

Catherine, Mina and Pasquale picked up on it and told us to come clean "Or else."

Knowing that we wouldn't have any peace until we told them, I went through the whole story of the bells on the ceiling. However, I left out the part of "El Hombre."

Jen looked at me and said, "I think that you should tell the complete, unedited story...El Hombre."

Everyone looked at me and Catherine giggled, "EL HOMBRE? Out with it Henry, the WHOLE story, NOW."

Red faced and laughing, I went into the story of the next day. They were all laughing so hard that people looked into the café to see what was going on. Needless to say, I was El Hombre for the rest of our stay in Santa Angela.

It was a wonderful evening. Then at about 11:50 pm, Mina got up and took my hand she pulled me out of my seat and led me to the door. "It is almost midnight. We cannot allow El Hombre to see his bride after midnight tonight. Off you go and tomorrow you and Marcel will work at the Chapel of Santa Maria. There was a leak in the roof, recently."

I leaned over and kissed Jen, long and hard. Then I went with Marcel back to the Il Duce and went to our room. Jen and Catherine would be together, tonight. When we got to the room, Marcel broke open a bottle of wine and we drank toasts until the bottle was empty. Then to bed.

The next day, Marcel and I were up early and went to the Chapel. Marcel called me Hombre, he dropped the El. We spent the better part of the morning repairing the damage to the interior of the chapel. The roof had been fixed soon after the leak was discovered.

We left the chapel a little before noon and walked back to the inn for lunch. We were covered in plaster dust. White from heat to toe. The only place that wasn't white was over our mouths, noses and eyes; where the dust mask and goggles covered.

As we approached the Inn we saw two metal chairs. This was the usual scenario; we would come back to the Inn, covered in dust. Naturally, Josephina wouldn't allow us in the Inn, "You will make dust and dirt everywhere."

We were to wash in the fountain and sit and dry in the sun. The idea was wonderful; we would get cool from the water in the fountain and then warm in the lovely Italian sun.

As I said, the IDEA was wonderful. But, the first time Josephina sent her eleven-year-old son out with a bucket for us. Marcel and I were sitting with our backs against the wall of the fountain. Angelo filled the bucket and dumped it over my head. I screamed and started to chase him.

He was screaming and laughing and running around the fountain. He dropped the bucket. I picked it up and as I ran after him I dipped it into the fountain. As I chased Antonio, I passed Marcel, who was doubled over laughing. Of course, I dumped the bucket over him.

In about two minutes we had all of Antonio's friends in the square, splashing, laughing and fighting with us. We all had a wonderful time. A tradition was born.

Thereafter when we returned from working somewhere covered in dust, Josephina, would leave two chairs if front of the fountain and Marcel and I would sit in them. The children of the village would come out with buckets and the battle would start. In a few minutes, everyone was laughing and everyone was soaked. We would be clean and after drying we were allowed back into the Inn.

Nothing was different today, we sat, we were soaked, we splashed and we laughed. God, this is the good life.

In the afternoon we painted, the plaster had dried enough to be painted. We did the work in the fresco technique, which consists of painting in pigment mixed with water on a thin layer of wet, fresh, plaster. Tomorrow no one would be able to see that the Chapel had been damaged. We finished just in time for the wedding.

That evening, Marcel and I had a late dinner. Jen and Catherine had eaten earlier. We sat, ate, drank and talked to Pasquale and Mina. Just like old times, the Godless Legionnaires were home.

We went up to our room and went to bed. This was when Jen's absence really hurt. I have become used to sleeping with Jen and missed having her body next to mine while I slept. I didn't sleep well, I wanted my Jen.

Finally, it was Tuesday, my wedding day...again. It was also the feast of Santa Angela. Thus, no one was working and nothing was open. The whole village would be in church today.

I dressed in a dark suit as did Marcel. We set out for the Chapel of Santa Maria early. We were there about 45 minutes early, so we sat in the chapel looking at all of the things we had worked on over the years and reminiscing. Santa Angela and the Chapel have a very special place in my heart, I love the place and love the people.

As we sat there, the chapel began to fill up. Everyone wanted to be at the wedding. The Godless Legionnaire was getting married...for the third time. After all of these marriages you would think they would drop the "Godless," but I guess that would always be out titles.

Father Guiseppe came in all dressed in his robes, looking splendid, almost regal. He came over to us and began to ask Marcel about Yvonne and if she had been christened. Marcel had been ready for this.

"Yes Father, Yvonne was christened in St. Nicholas Church in Amsterdam. She was baptized by Father Angelo Carione, two weeks after her birth," Marcel answered.

"Angelo Carione? Is he Italian?"

"Yes father, he was born and ordained in Rome."

"Good, good...then we know that everything was done properly," Father Guiseppe said with a smile on his face.

The wedding ceremony was scheduled for 10:00 am. Jen and Catherine arrived at 10:30 am. "Well, it's a bride's prerogative to be late."

Marcel and I stood at the front of the church and waited as the rustling and whispers of the crowd went silent and the music began to play. Josephina's husband Enrico began to sing. His wonderful tenor voice filled the chapel with "Ave Maria".

Catherine stepped out and Jen followed. She was escorted by Pasquale. Mina was holding Yvonne sitting in the first row on Jen's side. They reached the head of the aisle and Pasquale smiled at me and took the seat next to Mina.

The four of us stood there until the music and singing stopped. We then went up onto the altar and stopped in front of Father Guiseppe. He was in his glory, he raised both arms and in a resounding voice started, "We are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony." Marcel whispered, "Once again." We all giggled. Father Guiseppe just smiled.

The ceremony was not long, Jen and I said, "I do" at the right time and once again I put the ring on my wife's finger.

Finally, Father Guiseppe put his hands on our heads and in a loud voice intoned, By the power invested in me by our Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Roman Catholic and the state of Tuscany, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife." And then with a smile he added, "Or should I say, godless Legionnaire and wife." Everyone in the Chapel laughed.

Without being told, I turned to Jen and we put our arms around each other and kissed, as husband and wife...again.

When we got outside, everyone threw rice and the children blew bubbles. We lead a procession to the village plaza. It was done up with streamers and there were tables of food, wine and every dessert imaginable. Everyone in the village had made something for the feast and wedding.

The party was wonderful. We were given small presents by everyone. We danced, and ate and drank, Jen drank tea and I did too. I did have a glass of wine with Marcel and Pasquale, but I didn't want to drink while Jen had tea.

During the evening some of the older women came over to Jen and rubbed her belly for luck.

Jen and I went up to our room around one in the morning. The party had gotten quieter but most of the adults were still there. When we started for the Inn, everyone got up and wished us luck and happiness. There was a lot of teasing and off color remarks and the mandatory oysters.

Jen was exhausted, she had dozed off a couple of times during the evening. When we got to the room Jen flopped onto the bed. I heard a clanging sound. Jen looked at me and bounced on the bed. Again a clanging noise.

I got on my knees and looked under the bed. A small cowbell was tied to the springs. I untied it and showed it to Jen.

"Marcel," she laughed and she said, "We will get him."

She got up and we undressed. I pulled the bed spread and the top sheet back off the bed. Jen gasped. There was a small red spot in the middle of the sheet. I started to laugh but Jen was perplexed.

"What is that?" she asked.

Laughingly I told her, "Josephina, wants everyone to know that you are an honorable woman."

Realizing what it was, Jen looked at me in shock. "Ron, everyone in the village has to know that I am pregnant." She began to giggle, "Well I guess that it is our wedding night. So I guess it is appropriate." We got into bed and I put my arms around her and we slept.

The next morning after spending what felt like hours making love, we went down for a light breakfast.

Marcel, Catherine and Yvonne were there waiting for us. When we got to the table I threw the cowbell on the table and said, "Nice going buddy, you didn't think it would work, did you?"

Marcel truly looked surprised and stammered, "Henry, I don't know anything about that and believe me had I thought of it I would have."

Jen asked, "You're going to deny it?"

Marcel really looked puzzled and said, "Honestly, I know nothing about it."

At this point Catherine burst out laughing. She was doubled over, laughing so hard.

We looked at her and Jen blurted, "Catherine? You?"

Catherine was still laughing too hard to talk but she was nodding her head.

Marcel began to laugh and put his arm around his wife and said, "My love, you are the perfect wife. You watch out for me, take care of me and now fill in for me when I forget something. I love you so much."

When she calmed a little, Catherine told us that as Marcel was so busy with working in the Chapel, she talked to Pasquale and Mina. They gave her the cowbell. It wasn't meant to be a secret and they knew that we would be found. But it just had to be done.

After eating, we all went out for a walk around the village, doing some shopping and just enjoying the day. Marcel and Catherine would be leaving in the afternoon so we just wanted to spend as much time with them as possible.

As we left the Inn, we couldn't miss a white sheet hanging from our bedroom window. The red stain was very conspicuous. Marcel and Catherine laughed as Jen turned red.

Marcel said, "Jen, don't be embarrassed. Josephina did the same thing for us. She will have it all wrapped up for you tonight."

Catherine giggled, "Jen, I was definitely not a virgin when we came to Santa Angela, but my sheet is in the closet."

Jen moaned, "Yes but you weren't pregnant at the time."

We enjoyed the rest of our time together and they left in the early afternoon, going to the local airport and flying to Corsica and then on to Paris.

Jen and I spent three more days in Santa Angela, just enjoying the people, the sun and hiking through the countryside. I did spend one afternoon, working with Rufio, Gitano's brother-in-law fixing a gate behind his house. Rufio is married to Concetta, who is Gitano's sister.

While we worked Connie and Jen sat having iced tea and talking. She gave Connie, all of the news about Gitano and Rosa. Connie and Rosa had been classmates and the best of friends. Connie had been the Maid of Honor at their wedding.

Two days later we drove to Pisa, to the Galileo Galilei Airport and took a flight to Aéroport International de Bastia-Poretta on Corsica. We drove to Calvi and had dinner with my old Commanding Officer with the 2e Rep and his wife.

The next day we visited with some of my old comrades. They teased me about getting married, saying that I must have put a hex on Jen to get such a lovely woman to have anything to do with me. In the evening we flew out of Aéroport International de Bastia-Poretta to Paris.

Of course, we stayed with Catherine and Marcel. Marcel and I worked, getting export licenses and meeting with distributors and signing contracts.

After four days we took the train to Amsterdam. We were met by Mama and Papa and spent three days with them. They loved "El Hombre" and couldn't stop giggling when they called me that.

It was hard to leave, but Mama said that they would be in the U.S. soon for the christening.

The christening, that was something that we had avoided thinking about. Who would be the god parents?

Marcel, my brother, was the one who brought up the subject. He told me in no uncertain terms that Jen's brother, Ben should be the godfather and that June should be the godmother. He assured me that he would not be hurt at not being the godfather. What a guy.

Finally, after what seemed to be a lifetime, we boarded the plane to Baltimore.

We got back home to my apartment, Jen had given hers up as it was smaller and only had one bedroom. We didn't even unpack, just fell into bed and slept.

TO BE CONTINUED