He frowns at me."I know him better than you do."
"Ok, but he doesn't override Brutus."
"Agreed, but he does override Antonio."
That revelation surprises me, but before I can question him about it, the music stops, and Zita stands.Everyone falls quiet and listens."Liotine men, it's time to draw straws."
Aurei kisses my cheek and tells me, "We'll be right back."
"Where do you go to draw them?"I ask as they rise.
"Outside."
All the men, young and old, filter out the dining room and exit to the patio through the door the DJ came in.All the women sit tight until the doors are closed.Then Zita says."Liotine women, are you prepared for Karaoke tomorrow night?I hope one of you will take the title this year!Please tell me we have some real doozies chosen for them to sing."
Karaoke?Oh boy!
I lean across the table and ask Vanessa."Is this an annual event?"
She smiles and nods."Big Al loved to sing.When Luciana was alive, he sang 'Love Story' to her, then when she died, he sang it to her picture."
"Oh my!How romantic!"
I look back to Zita and see that Oriana is leaving the table.She walks right past Mia and Gio without speaking.I try not to notice as my eyes follow her that they are shooting daggers at me with pure unadulterated hate.
Great.Now Enemy #1 has recruited Enemy #2.
Zita makes her way around the table to where I am, and she sits down in Aurei's chair."There's no need to ask if you are having a good time.It's obvious you are."
My face flushes.Not a bright embarrassed red, but definitely pink, and she laughs."It's quite alright, honey.We have waited a very long time for our super picky son to finally find a woman he cares enough about to bring to our family to meet.His actions speak louder than any words could.He has dressed you in the color that his grandmother wore to this family gathering each year, and he has taken you onto the dance floor."
I'm gobsmacked by her words!I open my mouth to speak, but no words come out.She chuckles and pats my hand."That's a lovely necklace you are wearing too."My eyes widen, and now she laughs at me."It's not my mother's if that is what you just thought, but I'm wondering if there is an inscription on it?"
Now my heart starts to race, and the blood drains from my face."Yes, ma'am.It's in Italian.I don't know what it says.He hasn't told me yet."
She nods, then asks, "Do you sing?We need to win Karaoke tomorrow night.I'm hoping you sing as beautifully as you dance."
I smile, "I can hold a tune."
"Good!I expect you to join in the competition then.I really want to win.The men have had bragging rights for the past couple of years, and Bob loves to rub it in."She rolls her eyes.
I grin at her."I'll think about it."
"Excellent."She stands."Each person picks a song to be added to the playlist.It's supposed to be top secret, but we are a very competitive group, and everyone cheats.No one admits it, though.The first person to sing will be a man chosen by the men, and he will sing the first song randomly selected from the playlist.Only he will see the next song to be sung, and he will choose a woman to sing it.That's how the game is supposed to be played, but it doesn't always work out that way.Some like to sing, so they sing more than one song.The crowd applause picks the winner, but you get five extra points if no dogs howl during it, and the DJ gets 5 points per vote.He is usually very drunk by the end of the evening, so the dogs are in charge."
I crack up laughing."What kind of dogs?"
She laughs too."The hounds that live in the barn."
"Oh, lord!"
"I bring earplugs."She pats my shoulder."The men will be returning in a little while.I need to make sure our worst singers aren't participating, and our best ones are ready.Excuse me."
As she walks away, I ask."How long does the drawing take?"
"Not more than an hour."
"An hour?"
