Origins interlude: Late August, 1964
It is exactly 5:15 when Edie says her goodbyes to Vin and Theresa in the hallway outside the dental office. It has been a long day; Mrs. Costello had brought her two young sons in for their annual checkup and the boys were not happy to be there, and then old Mrs. Ferraro who barely speaks English had come in with her even more elderly mother who speaks no English at all. But as she heads into the stairwell and up to the third floor, Edie puts all of that behind her--this is her favorite part of the day.
She unlocks the door to his tiny apartment (someday to be their apartment) and lets herself in, as quietly as she can. She always stays quiet at first unless she hears movement; today, as she often does, all she can hear is the faint sound of the radio from the bedroom, barely audible over the evening traffic out in the street.
He almost looks like a little boy when he sleeps, curled up on his side, one foot sticking out from the untucked tangle of sheets. So peaceful, so innocent. She likes to watch him sleep.
But even more, she likes to wake him up gently, give him a pleasant start to the day. She takes a seat on the edge of the bed and smooths his tousled hair back from his face. "Tony, sweetie, time to wake up."
He mumbles something unintelligible and rolls over onto his back. After a few moments he finally opens his eyes and looks up at her, a sleepy smile spreading across his face. "Dinnertime already?"
"Marie's making pot roast," she says. "Did you sleep well?"
"Very." He stifles a yawn, stretches a bit, rubs his chin. "What time's it going to be ready?"
"Seven, so we have to be there for six-thirty. I'm making the potatoes."
"She's really putting you to work." He takes hold of her hand, toys lazily with her fingers. "But that still leaves us an hour..."
"Tony Napolitano, if I show up with my dress all wrinkled again--" she begins, with a chuckle.
"You're safe. I bought an iron."
Who can argue with logic like that?
____________________________
It is exactly 7:25 the next morning when Tony lets himself into Al and Marie's kitchen, where Marie is making pancakes. He gives her a quick hug and a kiss on each cheek before setting his lunchpail on the counter.
"Pancakes for supper," she says, amused. "How's it feel living your life backwards, Tony?"
"Pretty good," he says. "I'll be glad when it's done, though. Get back to living like a normal person, be able to spend more time with family."
"Less than a month to go," she says, patting him on the arm. "It'll be here before you know it, and pretty soon you'll miss the quiet."
And Edie comes downstairs, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear as she stifles a yawn. It can't be easy for her, he thinks, having to be up so early, but they like to have as much time together as they possibly can. Soon enough, they'll have all the time together they could want, and their own little house...
She gets a hug and a kiss on each cheek also, but more lingering than the ones he had given Marie.
"You smell like strawberries," Edie murmurs, inspecting his hands.
"I should," he says. "We did a triple batch of Strawberry Dream gelato tonight. When the truck comes around, you should try it--get some for the kids, too. You'll love it."
"Better than the regular strawberry?" she asks, taking some plates out of the cabinet and starting to set the table.
"It's like night and day," he says. "The regular strawberry's great, don't get me wrong, but this stuff--oh, just try it."
"At least the busy season's almost over, and then you'll be back to more normal hours," Edie says.
"Then maybe we'll actually see you once in a while," Marie agrees. "Not just for meals--I feel like I'm running a boarding house, here."
"We'll have you all over to dinner," Tony says. "I'll even cook. Need me to help with anything?"
"We've got it under control," Marie says. "Just go get washed up."
He passes Al in the hallway on his way to the bathroom, and they chat briefly about work. By the time Tony returns to the kitchen, breakfast is ready, at least for the adults of the household; since it's summer, little Allie and Margie get up later. They'll usually be waking up by the time he leaves to take Edie to work, and himself home to sleep.
He likes it, though. Spending time with his girl, and his favorite sister and her family. After the wedding, and after Marie has had her baby, he hopes they can all four of them go bowling together again--it may not be the most sophisticated or exciting thing around, but it was sure fun last time.
But for now, there's just work, and saving up to start their married life together.
She unlocks the door to his tiny apartment (someday to be their apartment) and lets herself in, as quietly as she can. She always stays quiet at first unless she hears movement; today, as she often does, all she can hear is the faint sound of the radio from the bedroom, barely audible over the evening traffic out in the street.
He almost looks like a little boy when he sleeps, curled up on his side, one foot sticking out from the untucked tangle of sheets. So peaceful, so innocent. She likes to watch him sleep.
But even more, she likes to wake him up gently, give him a pleasant start to the day. She takes a seat on the edge of the bed and smooths his tousled hair back from his face. "Tony, sweetie, time to wake up."
He mumbles something unintelligible and rolls over onto his back. After a few moments he finally opens his eyes and looks up at her, a sleepy smile spreading across his face. "Dinnertime already?"
"Marie's making pot roast," she says. "Did you sleep well?"
"Very." He stifles a yawn, stretches a bit, rubs his chin. "What time's it going to be ready?"
"Seven, so we have to be there for six-thirty. I'm making the potatoes."
"She's really putting you to work." He takes hold of her hand, toys lazily with her fingers. "But that still leaves us an hour..."
"Tony Napolitano, if I show up with my dress all wrinkled again--" she begins, with a chuckle.
"You're safe. I bought an iron."
Who can argue with logic like that?
____________________________
It is exactly 7:25 the next morning when Tony lets himself into Al and Marie's kitchen, where Marie is making pancakes. He gives her a quick hug and a kiss on each cheek before setting his lunchpail on the counter.
"Pancakes for supper," she says, amused. "How's it feel living your life backwards, Tony?"
"Pretty good," he says. "I'll be glad when it's done, though. Get back to living like a normal person, be able to spend more time with family."
"Less than a month to go," she says, patting him on the arm. "It'll be here before you know it, and pretty soon you'll miss the quiet."
And Edie comes downstairs, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear as she stifles a yawn. It can't be easy for her, he thinks, having to be up so early, but they like to have as much time together as they possibly can. Soon enough, they'll have all the time together they could want, and their own little house...
She gets a hug and a kiss on each cheek also, but more lingering than the ones he had given Marie.
"You smell like strawberries," Edie murmurs, inspecting his hands.
"I should," he says. "We did a triple batch of Strawberry Dream gelato tonight. When the truck comes around, you should try it--get some for the kids, too. You'll love it."
"Better than the regular strawberry?" she asks, taking some plates out of the cabinet and starting to set the table.
"It's like night and day," he says. "The regular strawberry's great, don't get me wrong, but this stuff--oh, just try it."
"At least the busy season's almost over, and then you'll be back to more normal hours," Edie says.
"Then maybe we'll actually see you once in a while," Marie agrees. "Not just for meals--I feel like I'm running a boarding house, here."
"We'll have you all over to dinner," Tony says. "I'll even cook. Need me to help with anything?"
"We've got it under control," Marie says. "Just go get washed up."
He passes Al in the hallway on his way to the bathroom, and they chat briefly about work. By the time Tony returns to the kitchen, breakfast is ready, at least for the adults of the household; since it's summer, little Allie and Margie get up later. They'll usually be waking up by the time he leaves to take Edie to work, and himself home to sleep.
He likes it, though. Spending time with his girl, and his favorite sister and her family. After the wedding, and after Marie has had her baby, he hopes they can all four of them go bowling together again--it may not be the most sophisticated or exciting thing around, but it was sure fun last time.
But for now, there's just work, and saving up to start their married life together.