Chapter 12: Nancy

I was not surprised when Ruben said he was going over to Eddie's. I understood that he wanted to give me time with Carmine without him overhearing. I walked him to the door, whispered my gratitude in his ear and made him blush. He couldn't get out of the door fast enough. I watched him go then turned to Carmine and asked him to join me in the family room for coffee. I went into the kitchen, poured the coffee from the coffeemaker into a decorative pitcher and added two cups to the small tray I used. Carmine took his black, or at least he used to, and I used a small amount of cream. I fixed the cups and then carried the tray into the family room. I was pleased to see Carmine on the couch and I sat the tray on the coffee table in front of him and joined him on the couch. We sat at opposite ends of course.

I had thought about this meeting so many times over the years. That it would happen was never in doubt, at least in my own mind. One way or the other, I was going to tell Carmine my side of the story and let him do as he would. I had practiced over and over the words I would say. They were burned into my memory and clear as a bell. Now was the time and I had to begin. I handed him the cup of coffee, and when he took it I placed my hand over his on the cup, and looked into his eyes. I opened my mouth to begin the tale of what transpired that day, the story of what Hugo and I did and why we ended up in our bed, the whole sordid tale from the very beginning to the sad end, but that's not what came out.

What I said after all that preparation was, "Carmine, I'm so sorry for what I did to you. Can you ever forgive me?"