“Hmm,” Cora said thoughtfully, “That is indeed interesting. I didn’t know people viewed her like that. I thought they just saw her as the other woman…and a scorned one at that. She’s so good at keeping her own counsel, my mother. You can’t tell what she’s thinking unless she wants you to.”
“Even you?”
“Even me.”
Cora was watching him intently and Paolo didn’t know why. According to the rumor mill, it had been Chantale who had left Benjamin Lafitte high and dry when she discovered his shady ways. It had taken a considerable amount of begging and pleading for her to even agree to visitation with his child; after all it wasn’t like he could go to the courts without it becoming common knowledge.
When Cora was eight though, Lafitte and his family had moved to New York and they had communicated largely by check. That much was common knowledge and it had been one reason why Cora had been the perfect target. She had an unsatisfactory relationship with her father and her loyalties were known to be with her mother rather than him. But Benjamin wanted to have a better relationship with his daughter. It would have been the perfect revenge; to take away his daughter’s affection just like Lafitte had taken away the casino he wanted. But now, with his plan come to fruition, albeit in a roundabout way, he found that he felt uncomfortable with the notion of winning this way. It wasn’t about revenge anymore; and he didn’t want there to be any doubt of that.
“We could go get some ice cream,” Cora said. “Then maybe we could… I haven’t seen all of you,” she whispered. “I want to know if you move the same way if I run my hand down your back and ass. Ah, tight ass,” she said, trying to sound more like Paolo.
Paolo gave a low laugh. “Cora, be yourself. Don’t be me. And apparently we’ve got the rest of our lives to explore everything about each other. You can get your ice cream, but me, I like pie. And I wouldn’t mind a sandwich.” He gave Cora a kiss and slowly sat up. He’d fully intended on getting all the way up, but found the quick kiss he’d given Cora just didn’t satisfy him. Or maybe it didn’t satisfy Cora. Or maybe both of them. So he gave Cora a slow romantic kiss before finally climbing to his feet.
He pulled his pants back up and gave Cora a nod to do the same, then slipped his arm around Cora’s waist as he guided Cora out of the room. “Let’s eat, shower, then–no, I have a feeling the shower will lead to more exploration and adventure. Let’s eat and then we’ll make a plan about our future bellisima, then we’ll shower and you can see and touch and wash any part of me you want. How’s that sound?”
“Sounds like a plan. Unless you eat your pie with a lot of lip licking which is just unfair by the way and makes me hotter than Hades.” Lifting her face, Cora kissed Paolo’s neck as they walked.
*****
“Hey so summer holidays are coming up and I thought that we could go to Rome so I can introduce you to my mother; and then we can go to New Orleans and you can introduce me to yours.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. Plan?”
“I don’t know. First Mace has to approve of you and I promise you, she’s not feeling too friendly.”
“Your oldest friend Mace?”
“Is there another one?”
Paolo sighed, “Okay then. Let’s do it.”
“Great. She’s meeting us tonight at Fridah’s work.”
“Excellent.”
Cora pinched his cheek, “Chin up Pablo. At least Fridah likes you huh?”
*****
Fridah’s band played Friday nights at the Mother of Dragons; a jazz bar in SoHo. She had just recently been promoted to regular saxophonist and the band was even talking about going on tour. Cora and Paolo arrived early and took a seat in a corner with an excellent view of the stage. Mace hadn’t yet arrived; she was coming from her sister’s place in Manhattan and traffic was a bitch even on her Harley Davidson.
“Your friends make my friends seem infinitely boring,” Paolo said.
“Yeah? Probably because they are,” Cora retorted with a sly grin making Paolo nudge her in the ribs.
“Agnelli. We meet at last,” Mace said appearing suddenly on the other side of the table.
Paolo stood up, “Should I have brought my guns?” he asked hands going to his hips and eyes squinting in a parody of some wild west cowboy. Mace laughed in surprise and Cora smiled to see it. They were going to get along famously.
“Well that would be awkward seeing as it’s nowhere near dawn. Perhaps tomorrow.”
“Yeah okay,” Paolo said gesturing to the seat as he sat down, “Won’t you join us?”
“Of course.” Mace said sitting down, “You gon’ buy me a drink? Cora tells me you’re loaded.”
Paolo laughed out loud beckoning to the waiter, “I think that you and I are going to be friends.”
“Hmm,” Mace replied looking doubtful, “That remains to be seen.”
*****
It was the first time Cora had heard Fridah play and she was thoroughly impressed with her skill.
“You know you’d make a fortune on the river boats,” she said when Fridah came to join them during her break.
“Forget the riverboats. What you want are the cruise ship circuits. I know a few people if you’re interested,” Paolo said.
Fridah looked from one to the other, mouth open, “Y’all are so eager to get rid of me huh? Is it so you can have louder sex in the apartment?”
Cora laughed shyly, “Are we that loud?” she whisper shouted.
“Louder,” Fridah said with a roll of her eyes.
“Why haven’t you ever said anything?”
Fridah shrugged, “It’s good to see you happy again.”
Cora’s eyes filled with touched tears.