Page 55 of Amadeo
“That did not answer my question, Deo.” She smiled while shaking her head.
“You should have been here for their wedding,” I went on. “They had a huge Moon Pie wedding cake. Like ten tiers high and I was never so glad to hear that they skipped the marshmallow and used cream frosting instead.”
“Deo!” Gia said as she laughed. “What the heck is a Moon Pie?”
I laughed too and shook my head.” “I would rather show you. I think Dante had a case of them shipped here. Maybe 2 of them? Let’s ask Zia and see if she knows where they are.”
We actually ended up helping Zia with clearing the table and taking dishes back to the kitchen. Yes, she had two maids helping her but we just loved being around my aunt. She kept us laughing and her stories were always fun. A little housework was good for the soul, Zia had said after we were done.
The kitchen was suddenly empty except for me and Gia.
Zia then popped back in through the door. “Oh, Deo, I forgot to give you an answer. There are 2 cases of Moon Pies in the pantry. I have to help the housekeeper. See you two at lunch.” The swinging door shut with a whoosh.
I went over to the pantry then opening the door, I halted.
Tito stood there.
I stared at him.
He stared back.
“Ok, cuz. Why are you in the pantry?” I asked him. “I never saw you go by us. We’ve been in the kitchen for an hour.”
From behind him, someone else stepped up from beneath the floor.
Turning, Tito took Valencia’s hand, helping her up.
Valencia gasped when she saw me.
“Deo?” Gia said from behind me. Then she stepped in next to me.
Now all four of us stared at each other.
I looked into Tito’s eyes and asked, “What’s going on?”
Tito slowly shook his head, then he looked beyond us. “Dr. Ribisi, can you shut the door?”
Turning, Gia did so. When she turned back, she looked as confused as I felt.
I waited. He had to tell me sometime.
He glanced over at Valencia and nodded. “Let’s go back down.”
Her eyes widened.
“I trust Deo and the doctor will do what doctors do.”
Valencia pressed a lever under the shelf and a noise could be heard, like a scraping.
Gia and I kept staring at them. Our confusion was huge.
Valencia then stepped down under the shelf and took another step, then she disappeared.
“What the fuck?” I exclaimed.
Tito raised his hand at me. “Remember when I hid out at the lake and you found me?”
I looked from the vanishing act of Valencia over to him. “What?”
