Page 16 of War
Seven
“My bisnonnos still own this home,” Eli began as he walked through the cobbled pavement, leading up to a stucco home. “I loved coming here to visit when I was a kid. They always sent money specifically for me and my brothers to come see them. They told my parents there would be no excuse as to why we couldn’t see them. They’re the ones who really taught all of us Italian.”
Faith admired the history of the D’Amatos as she glanced around the old building. It was sturdy and in great condition. She reached out and touched the hard stucco walls, feeling the history underneath her fingertips. The family had survived numerous wars and battles, yet the home remained. She wondered if this would be the home her and Eli would retire in.
Eli surprised her with a trip to Italy, just the two of them for a week. Faith didn’t want to lie to her parents about where she was going so she begrudgingly told them the truth. Amy supported her daughter’s decision but had a stern talk with her about birth control and unprotected sex.
Faith turned her focus back to her boyfriend. There was a strong sense of pride when he spoke about his family, his heritage, and how he hoped to instill that same sense of pride to his children. The D’Amatos did luck out with the lottery winnings, but it was their hard work that made them into a rare success story, and not a cautionary tale.
Eli opened the front door and deeply inhaled. The saltiness of the Mediterranean Sea wafted his nostrils and he smiled. Back in New York, he would take the same deep breath and have his lungs fill with smog, pollution, and whatever leftover funk from years past.
Dozza, however, was where it all started. His elders planted their roots there, and many of his extended family traveled back home, so to speak, once a year from New York. Now it was Eli’s turn, but he wanted to do it differently.
He wanted to experience it with Faith.
He and Faith had his grandparents’ cottage to themselves for the entire vacation. He planned to cook for them, take open showers in the backyard, and make love under the Italy nightfall.
There was no other woman he wanted to experience Italy with.
“Go take a look around the home,” Eli suggested, “I’ll bring our luggage in.”
“Okay,” Faith walked around the home and was in awe at the history of it. The table and chairs were made out of old wood, yet they seemed sturdy. Old photos of Eli’s relatives adorned the walls. One photo showed a group of men in a field, making wine. Another showed a group of women sitting around a table making bread and chatting. They were laughing while holding cups of wine in their hands.
Faith lightly gasped when she saw another photo – a very young Nicola with her parents. She was likely in her early teens.
Handmade items such as pottery, rugs, and clothing were in closets and pantries. Rosary beads aligned several walls with crosses in every room, including the bathrooms.
There was one television with a satellite dish to keep up with modern times. But everything else was old, worn, and loved.
And Eli brought her there.
Faith knew Eli traveled to Italy every summer with his brothers and they all stayed with together in the very home she stood in. She closed her eyes and imagined the laughter, the dancing, the endless glasses of wine, and the pasta dishes…so many and they kept coming out.
People were singing, love flowed from room to room, and the closeness of the D’Amatos was ever present.
That was her future. That was their future.
“So what do you think?” Eli asked. “My bisnonnos’ home. Mama was born in this very room. Lived here until my nonno went into the military. Over the course of several years, he ended up in New York and well, that’s all she wrote. We’ve always kept in contact with everyone here, though. It was important to my nonno that we did.”
Faith felt special that Eli shared that part of the D’Amato history with her. He’d never said anything before. “That’s amazing.”
“It is,” Eli crawled onto the bed and pulled Faith on top of him, “you’re the only one I wanted to share that history with. It’s important to me that you know where it all started and how hard we had to work to get to where we are.”
“I do appreciate it and understand it,” Faith softly smiled, “I’m so glad you brought me here.”
“I’m happy you’re happy.” He held her waist. “Facciamo l’amore.” Let’s make love.
Desire dampened Faith’s panties. They barely touched down from the air and Eli already wanted her. “Did you want to rest some?”
“I did,” Eli slowly unbuttoned his girlfriend’s blouse, revealing her demi lace bra, “Now I’m ready for play.” He flipped her over and nestled between her thighs. Her eyes reminded me of warm, chocolate chips; the kind that’s gooey and melted when the cookies are fresh out of the oven.
He trailed his hands over her soft flesh, digging his fingers into her curves, and watched her lips purse and coo with each feeling. She was a virgin when they first met, something she’d revealed to him during their first conversation, and he’d never pressured her to do anything.
He pulled her jeans off, followed by her bra and panties before he removed his clothing. He climbed back onto the bed and laid between Faith’s thighs. “Amore mio.” He purred. “My love.”
“Shhh…” Faith softly shook her head. “Stop talking.”
Eli swept his lips over hers before he devoured them. Their tongues softly touched and played with each other before he slid down her body. He circled both nipples with his tongue, trailing it down to her small patch of hair.
