fill the confines of the car and finally began to relax. He loved the song, but not many people knew he was a Beatles fan.
The song played out as they merged onto the highway and Matteo began to relax. He was tired, he’d spent a lot of time at work lately, in the car, traveling between all these damned houses, and it was wearing him down. He just wanted to go home and relax with his wife. She needed him, he could see it, but he’d been so busy lately.
Tonight, he’d make an effort to get her to talk. She’d become accustomed to bottling things up, to packing them away, with her mother, but he knew some of those closets were packed full, they had to be. She needed to talk to someone and he wanted that person to be him.
He bought a new bottle of gin and a couple of limes before he drove home. He’d get her drunk and let her slur it all out. It worked for men, right? It might not be the best idea he’d ever had, but it might let her blow off some steam, at least.
“Baby, I’m home.” He smelled her version of fajitas drifting in from the kitchen. Tequila might have been a better choice, but she seemed to have developed a taste for gin that he’d appease.
“I’m in here, Matteo.” She wore a bright smile when he came in and he could see she was a little better today. She didn’t look as haunted as she had the night before.
He leaned down to kiss her hello and lingered for a moment. “I have a plan for tonight, my luscious little honey. We’re going to listen to music and get completely smashed together. I’ve never seen you drunk, and for some reason, I’d really like to see that.”
“Think I’ll be amusing, do you?” She grinned and twisted like a happy puppy in his arms before she pulled away. “Okay, but let’s eat first.”
He didn’t want to mention anything that might put her off the idea, so he didn’t tell her she might not want to barf up fajitas later. He wouldn’t let her get that far, he decided. Just enough to get her talking, and maybe giggle.
They washed up the dinner dishes together after they ate, then he made them both a drink. “Let’s go into the living room. Let me take you on a journey.”
They both laughed at that as she did as he instructed. She settled down on the couch and grinned when he handed her a drink with a green umbrella in it. “Oh, now that’s professional.”
“I give only the best to my woman.” He raised a finger and pointed in the air before he moved to the sound system. “Now, let’s see.”
“What are you going to play for me, dear husband of mine?” She grinned and he could see it was genuine when he glanced back at her.
“Something you may not have heard. Come here, dance with me. I’ll teach you if you don’t know how, don’t worry. Come here.” He beckoned to her as the song began to fill the air.
“It’s Stand By Me. But I don’t know who’s singing it. Is that John Lennon?” She swayed with him and moved her body to the short but lovely song. “That was beautiful, play it again.”
He obliged and hit the back button on the remote control. He began to sing along as the song played and Marie stood away from him. He could see she was stunned and gave a rueful smile. “What?”
“Replay. Now. And sing that for me all over again.” She sat down on the couch, her drink now in her hands.
He didn’t want to, but she insisted. He did it, and though he felt self-conscious at first, he got into the song as it carried on.
“Matteo, your voice is beautiful! Why don’t you sing?” Her eyes were wide and her smile showed just how impressed she was. The raspy sound of her voice told him how amazed she was. He felt his cheeks go warm, and he looked down at his feet.
“I used to, back when I was in school. My aunt had other plans for me, though. I don’t do much of it anymore.” He thought about the guitar hidden away in the closet and had an idea. “Just a minute.”
He retrieved the guitar and brought it out into the living room. “Fill our glasses back up and sit down.”