A TWIST OF FATE
Chapter Forty-Six
Jack’s head pounded. He groaned softly to
himself and pulled the covers over his head. But there was no escaping it. He
had a hangover. He curled up in a ball, oblivious to anything but the pain in
his head.
Then, like a flash, it all came back. Where
he was and why he was there.
Pulling the covers back, he could see light
streaming into the room. It must be late he reasoned, reaching for his pocket
watch. Fabri was still snoring, sound asleep.
He open the watch, it was 9 o’clock. Not that
late, but they would have to make a move soon. Jack sat up and ran his hand
through his hair. If only his head didn’t hurt! Too much red wine, he muttered
to himself.
“Fabri, Fabri wake up.” He shook his sleeping
friend. Fabri grunted and rolled over. Jack sighed. He could feel the stress
starting to creep over him. He was just about to shake him again when there was
a knock on the door.
“Who is it?” shouted Jack.
“It’s me Theresa” came the reply.
“No, no don’t come in!” yelled Jack who was
suddenly aware he had only his shirt on. He dashed over to the door and opened
it slowly, peering behind it.
“Good morning Jack!” grinned Theresa, who
stood there holding a tray. Her dark eyes sparkled and Jack felt his cheeks
beginning to blush again.
“Hi, er, hi Theresa.” Jack paused. “I’d ask
you in but…..” he trailed off struggling what to say.
Theresa carried on grinning at Jack. She
thrust the tray forward. “Here. Mama says if you have a bad head as bad as my
father, drink the stuff in the glasses. There is juice and some breakfast. The
water will be hot enough in an hour for baths.”
“Thanks” Jack took the tray.
Theresa shrugged her shoulders and tossed her
long black hair. “But my sister has made me ask that Fabri is OK?”
“Yes, he is fine, just a little sleepy. This
will wake him up. Tell her not to worry”
“Ok I will.” Theresa hovered for a moment,
then turned to go. “See you later Jack Dawson!” she almost laughed, then ran
down the stairs.
“I don’t believe this” Jack muttered to
himself. He kicked the door shut, put the tray down and continued to rouse
Fabri from his sleep.
“Come on,” laughed Jack “This is your big
day”
He lifted the cloth off the tray. There was cheese,
ham, eggs and some bread. A jug of juice and two glasses of a brown liquid.
Jack sniffed it and recoiled from the smell. “If it smells this bad it has to
be good” he thought and swallowed it in one. It tasted foul too and he
shuddered.
“Here Fabri” he took over the glass. “Drink
this!”
Fabri rubbed his eyes and sat up. He took the
glass. “Don’t smell it just drink it!” ordered Jack. Fabri obeyed and pulled a
face as the liquid went down.
“Ugh”
“It will do you good” promised Jack. “So, how
do you feel?”
“I feel very good, well sort of good. Today,
I marry my beautiful Maria.”
“Theresa said the water will be ready in an
hour so we have plenty of time for some food.”
“OK, let’s try and eat!” laughed Fabri,
rubbing his eyes and yawning. “It was a good night though, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah” nodded Jack, remembering the
conversation he had with another restaurateur that may be to his advantage. “It
was good. I can’t remember who half those people were! And the band was good
too. I think they will do well tonight. And as for the food!”
“Rosa is very good in the kitchen. Maria
wants to learn to cook like her. But of course she can’t do all the cooking for
today, she has some help.”
Jack looked at his watch.
“We’re OK for time”.
“I wonder what Maria is doing” Fabri asked
dreamily, biting into a piece of bread. “You wait Jack, ‘til it is your turn.”
Jack smiled and thought of Rose. “we’ll see
Fabri”
“You aren’t still thinking of…..” Fabri
stopped mid sentence. He recognized the look on Jack’s face.
“Yes I am” replied Jack defiantly. “And
unless I ever meet anyone else like her then it won’t be my turn. And that is
MY choice”
Fabri sighed. “OK, OK Jack.” Trying to change
the subject he asked “Go and look in the top drawer of the dresser. Get the
black box.”
Jack slid off the bed and did as he was
asked. He got the small box and held it out to Fabri.
“Go on open it.”
Inside were two gold rings.
“They were Maria’s grandparents. He grandma
had very tiny fingers too like Maria. She left the ring for her when she died.
Guiseppe had his fathers ring and gave it to us.”
“They are really nice” Jack looked at the
shiny rings before closing the box.
“You are so lucky Fabri. I wish you two all
the best you know.”
“Yes”, replied Fabri. “I know you do.”
A few hours later, they were bathed, dressed
and ready to go. Fabri was wearing his new black suit, his hair slicked back
and white buttonhole in place. Jack had a new white shirt on and black pants,
which matched surprisingly well with a jacket he borrowed from Fabri. He too
slicked his hair back so it kept out of his face. It was already warm and they
were feeling uncomfortable with their shirts fastened. Jack had his watch
safely in his pocket. He patted his pocket to make sure it was there. He was
watching out of the window for the carriage to come and collect them.
“It’s here Fabri” Jack turned to his best
friend who was fiddling with his hair and buttonhole: anything to take his mind
off his nerves.
“This is it!”
Fabri took a deep breath and looked out of
the window. The carriage was decked with white ribbons. He wondered if Maria
was watching from a window somewhere.
“Come on then, let us go!”
They walked calmly down the stairs to the
carriage.