Unholy Matrimony Read Online Free Page A

belly.
    “You want some eggs?” Lucille jumped up from the table. “I could make you some nice fried eggs and a little toast maybe.”
    Bernadette shook the hair out of her eyes. “Pancakes,” she said, closing the door.
    “You want pancakes? Okay, fine. You sit and I’ll get them going. But we don’t have all day. You have your hair appointment, and I have mine. And we want to leave plenty of time to get to the church so we don’t have to rush.” Lucille pushed aside the kitchen curtain. “Look, it’s a beautiful day. That’s a good omen.”
    “I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to get married.”
    Lucille didn’t pause in what she was doing—mixing flour and milk and eggs and getting some butter melting in the frying pan. If she didn’t stop, then maybe Bernadette’s words would go away. Lucille had already poured the first pancakes when she realized this tactic wasn’t going to work.
    She turned around, hands on hips. “What do you mean, you don’t want to get married?”
    Bernadette shrugged. “I just got a text from Tony. He’s on his way back from Afghanistan and wants to talk.” Bernadette twirled a piece of hair around and around her finger.
    “Are you crazy?” Lucille’s voice began to rise and she hastened to lower it. “Everything’s all set—the church, the flowers, your dress. The Towne Deli is making up the platters of cold cuts and Mrs. De Stefano and Mrs. De Pasquale have been working on the lasagnas since dawn.” Lucille paused for breath. “And what about the cake? Huh? They’re making it special just the way you wanted.”
    Bernadette continued to twirl the hair around her finger.
    Frankie, Lucille thought frantically. He’d talk some sense into Bernadette. It would all be okay. She’d just keep on doing what she needed to do, and before they knew it Bernadette would be walking down the aisle and Father Brennan would be declaring Bernadette and Taylor man and wife.
    Still, a pain was starting under Lucille’s left rib. She hoped she wasn’t having no heart attack or what her neighbor, Mrs. Esposito, had—it sounded like vagina, but Lucille was pretty sure that wasn’t it. Maybe she was just stressed out. First worrying about Frankie and then all this nonsense with Bernadette.
    As long as she kept busy and didn’t think about it, everything would be okay.
    She dished out a stack of golden brown pancakes for Bernadette, got the syrup from the fridge, and put a couple of flapjacks on her own plate. She might as well have a little something more to eat. Chances were she wouldn’t be having no lunch today on account of being so busy, and the wedding reception probably wouldn’t start until nearly five o’clock. By the time Mrs. De Pasquale put out her famous antipasto, Lucille would be starved.
    Lucille sat opposite Bernadette and watched as Bernadette demolished a stack of pancakes. At least all this drama wasn’t affecting her appetite none. Now that she was eating for two she couldn’t afford to skip meals.
    Lucille finished up her pancakes and took her dish and Bernadette’s to the sink. She rinsed them off and put them in the dishwasher. Bernadette had drifted out of the room, and Lucille could only pray that she was getting ready to go to the hairdresser and had gotten over this nonsense about Tony. He’d made it clear how he felt about marrying Bernadette and that was that.
     
    • • •
     
    Lucille had an appointment at the Clip and Curl with Rita. She’d been going to Rita for years now. Come to think of it, she’d been wearing her hair the same way for years too. Today would be no different, although maybe Rita could give her a little more lift in front and perhaps a few curls in back to make it look special.
    Lucille got her dress out of the closet—a long, pale blue gown with a square neckline and matching jacket. Lucille thought it was awfully fancy for the hall at St. Rocco’s, but Donna said she was wearing a gown and insisted that Lucille