The dayafter Ren’s parents arrived, they said they weren’t up for touring around. I would’ve loved spending more time with Ren’s father, but man, oh, man was her mother scary.
The wedding was in two days, and I was concocting something special for the ceremony. After getting a resounding yes from the girls about the idea, I set things in motion.
I made a plan with Vicky to take Ren and her mother for a spa day the day before the wedding. I had something I wanted to do without Ren knowing, so I waited until Vicky texted to say they’d left the cottage before heading there.
Gathering my courage, I took a deep breath, stretched my neck back and forth like a boxer getting ready for a match, and rang the doorbell. When no one answered, I waited a few minutes and rang it again. Suddenly, Mrs. Valenti opened the door with a scowl that would’ve sent any Girl Scout running for the hills. She wasn’t supposed to be here, and I could almost feel my resolve slipping.
Putting on my best smile, I said, “Good morning, Mrs. Valenti. How are you doing?”
She narrowed her eyes and answered, “Renata is not here.”
“I,I know. I’m actually here to speak to your husband, if that’s alright. I thought you might be out with the girls.”
Why aren’t you out with them like I planned?I wanted to ask.
She wore her hair short and styled much like the Granny Squad, which made her look older than she was. Or maybe it was the permanent scowl. She’d look so much younger, not to mention more approachable, if her mouth weren’t in a straight line. I wondered how she did that. It looked painful.
Mrs. Valenti wasn’t as tall as Ren, so I hunched over slightly, trying not to tower over her. She didn’t seem the kind to appreciate that sort of thing.
Looking me up and down, she finally stepped back enough to let me inside. “Why would I waste my money on something I can do myself?”
I wanted to ask her how she would give herself a massage, but decided I wanted to stay alive, so I let it go.
“Thank you. I promise not to take up too much of your time.” I walked to the living room, and she followed.
As she glared at me, I hunched even further, but my back was starting to ache. We stood there in an awkward staring contest, I was reminded of how Ren’s gaze seemed to see into my soul. The difference was that she had a warmth about her that her mother didn’t seem to possess. She seemed able to melt the sun.
Thankfully, Mr. Valenti stepped into the room, a book in his hand, surprised to find me standing in the living room, staring at his wife.
“Michael? Are you here to see Renata? Vicky took her out for a few hours. Something about a girl’s day or spa day,” he said. Leaning to look behind me, no doubt wondering why Iwas hunched over like a Neanderthal, he asked, “Are you feeling alright?”
“Me? Oh, yes, sir. Never better. And I’m not here for Ren.” My lower back was starting to spasm, and Mrs. Valenti was still staring. Good grief, this woman would scare off a grizzly bear.
Aren’t you supposed to stand taller when faced with one? I wonder what she’d do if I lifted my hands over my head like I’d seen them do in movies?
“Ah, Lucia, che succede?” he asked, looking back and forth between us.
“What’s going on?” she repeated. “I have no idea. I’m watching your future son-in-law crouched over like a cat. I was waiting to see what he was here for.”
I stood up straight, discreetly stretching my back. “Sorry, I wasn’t sure what was happening either,” I mumbled, feeling like an idiot. I also hadn’t missed her use of the term ‘your son-in-law.’
Mr. Valenti snorted. “My wife seems to have that effect on people. Come, Michael, please have a seat.”
Breaking her intense gaze, she sat on a chair on the other end of the living room from where I sat, grateful not to look directly at her unhappy expression. It gave me insight into how Ren grew up and made me understand her better.
“So, what can we do for you?” he asked, sitting on the sofa with me. His salt-and-pepper hair was all that revealed his age. He was still a handsome man. Strong jaw, kind eyes, easy smile. The little time that I’d spent with him was enough to know I liked him.
“Well, sir. I’d like to do something special for Ren tomorrow. You see, we’re writing our own vows. The ceremony won’t be elaborate, but that was something we both agreed would make it special,” I said, trying to ignore the sigh coming from my futuremother-in-law. Or was it a growl? Wow, she made Wolverine look like a lamb.
Stop comparing your mother-in-law to scary, furry animals, dude.
“Sorry,” I said, my attention back on Mr. Valenti. “I was saying I need your help with my vows.”
A loud scoff came from the other side of the room. “You can’t even write your own vows to our daughter, Mr. Walker?”
I was starting to lose my cool, but I took a deep breath and smiled. “No, you misunderstand,” I said as kindly as I could. “I knowexactlywhat I want to say to your daughter. But I want to say it in Italian.”
You could’ve heard a pin drop. It was as if all the air had been sucked out of the room. Ren’s mother was finally rendered speechless, her mouth comically hanging open in shock.
