“I don’t know what to say.” Anna glanced at Louie.
Louie rose off his recliner to embrace Tony. “Congratulations, son.” He patted his Tony’s back. “Congratulations. Carmella Russo. Well, imagine that.”
“Thanks Dad. I knew you’d understand.” Tony headed to the kitchen for a beer.
When Tony left the room, Anna scolded her husband in a murmur. “How could you congratulate him, Louie? This is dreadful news, just dreadful. It’s my worst fear.”
“Relax, Anna. We’ve been down this road before. There’s a hell of a lot that can happen between now and July. Nah,” Louie whispered. “He’ll call it off like he did the last time. Carmella. Argh. Play along. Then we won’t get blamed for not supporting him when it doesn’t work out.” Returning to his recliner, he crossed his lanky legs and let out a grunt. When Tony returned to the room, Louie turned up the volume on the television and the three watched the rest of
Jeopardy.
August 1992
“Tony sweetie, let’s plan our wedding. How many ushers do you want?” Carmella tucked in the flaps of the Chinese take-out containers.
“Well, Luke will be my best man. I’ll ask Mark, Kevin, and Pat to be ushers. Is that too many?” Tony leaned back in his chair and placed his hands behind his neck as he watched Carmella wipe the table.
“I don’t know. Katrina will be the maid of honor. But where will I find three bridesmaids?” Carmella whined, tossing the sponge in the sink. “Tom’s sisters were my begrudging bridesmaids in my last wedding.”
“Carmella, you must have an old school friend or at least one friend at work? How about college friends, a roommate maybe? There
must
be someone.”
“I have Sam, my gay friend. Women don’t like me ’cause they’re all jealous. Like it’s my fault other women’s boyfriends and husbands hit on me. That’s my fault?”
Tony wanted to avoid the nauseating topic. “Carmella, we’ll find someone.”
“How about Luke’s fiancée? Even though we’re not friendly, maybe she’ll do it because you’re in Luke’s wedding? And, maybe Pat’s fiancée also?”
Tony knew both women detested Carmella, but he conceded to keep the peace. “Okay, I’ll ask. But their weddings are close to ours. It might be too much for them. If they can’t, I can ask my cousins—Darlene, Debbie, and Diane. They might do it.”
“Oh honey, you’re my hero.” She leaned closer and kissed him. “You do love me, don’t you?”
“Of course I love you. We belong together. You know what I need. You know who I am and I love you for that.” They indulged in the amorous, loving kisses of a newly engaged couple.
*
Tony broke the news to Luke and his prospective ushers as they watched a football game at his apartment the following weekend.
“Tony, you’re kidding! You and Carmella are engaged again? Hell man, I’d hoped you learned the first time. Do you know the definition of insanity? It’s doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. That’s what you’re doing, man.”
“This time it’s different.” He snapped open a can of Budweiser and took a long swig.
“Tony, I’ve gotta be honest with you. In case you haven’t figured it out, and apparently you haven’t, Carmella’s not the one for you.” Tossing his empty beer can in the trash, Luke plopped on the sofa. “Come on man, picture your life married to
her
! Her tantrums and pouting. And that damned snobbery. Every day you’d have to put up with the way she saunters into the room with her nose stuck up in the air like the damned queen arrived. Hey guys, chime in any time.” Luke motioned to Mark and Pat.
“You’re doing fine,” Pat said, leaning back in the sofa. Mark toasted with his beer, showing his agreement with Pat.
“Hey, that’s enough! What the hell are you talking about?” Tony leaned forward in the recliner.
“Tony buddy, as your best friend, I’ve gotta talk some sense into you, even if these guys,” motioning to Pat and Mark, “don’t have the guts. Must I remind you that she was married before and it was annulled for
her
mental illness? She’s a nutcase, pal! For real, recorded-in-a-divorce-decree nuts.” Luke circled his index finger next to his temple.
“Thanks for the rundown, buddy. Now listen to me, the guy Carmella married drove her to insanity. She told me the story. It wasn’t as bad as I had said. I exaggerated because I was mad at her. It’ll be different for us. I can control her. She’s loyal to me. She loves me and I need that right now.”
“Well, I hesitate to bring up a sore subject, but what about Jackie? The last time we spoke
—
”
Tony sprang from the recliner. “I’m so fuckin’ sick of Jackie this and Jackie that! Because she had my kid, the one I never wanted, doesn’t mean we’re destined to be together.” He paced the floor in a rage.
Luke, Pat, and Mark were shocked by their friend’s vehement reaction. Luke spoke up. “No problem man. So, Carmella it is.”
Pat tried to lighten the mood. “When’s the wedding, pal? Have you set a date?”
Tony guzzled the rest of his beer and snapped open another. “July, around the time you guys are getting married.” He leaned against the wall, still trying to cool down. “Luke, will you be my best man? And, Pat and Mark, would you be my ushers?”
Luke responded first. “You know it, buddy. I’m honored.” He patted Tony’s back.
“Sure.” Pat reached to shake Tony’s hand. “Happy to.”
“Absolutely, man.” Mark reached to shake Tony’s hand.
“I hate to push my luck guys, but Luke, would Rosa be a bridesmaid? And Pat, how about Sue?”
“Ah, I don’t know,” Luke stammered. “Carmella must have closer friends to ask.”
Rosa hates that bitch.
“Yeah, that’s true,” Pat agreed.
Tired of defending Carmella, Tony said, “She doesn’t have any local friends. Forget it, I’ll ask my cousins.”
*
Tony and Carmella chose July 24, 1993 as the wedding date. Tony’s cousins agreed to serve as bridesmaids. The powder blue, capped-sleeve, V-neck gowns were on order, as were the little puffs of veil that would crown each attendant. The ushers, in brown tuxedos with baby-blue cummerbunds and bow ties, would complement the bridesmaids’ gowns, Carmella decided. A three-week honeymoon in France was booked and paid for by Carmella’s godfather. And Tony returned to his usual tactics of ducking and hiding from Gina.
May 1993
“Carmella’s delirious,” Louie told Jackie. “She was running around here the other night talking about filling the house with children. That woman’s no spring chicken. I don’t know what she’s thinking.” He leaned on the dining room table, and sipped his glass of rosé. “Ah, she’s a pip.”
“Louie, be careful what you say,” Anna cautioned. “She’s going to be our daughter-in-law.”
“Good Lord. There’s time for him to come to his senses. What does he see in her anyway for Chrissake?” Louie shook his head. “He could’ve had such a nice life with you, Jackie.”
Jackie gulped.
He never told them what happened
. “Well Louie, that’s not true
—
”
“He should have played his cards right. Louie rose from the chair. I’m getting some cheese to go with this wine. Want some?”
“No thanks, we need to go.” Jackie glanced at Gina.
When Louie left the room Anna whispered, “Neither of us is thrilled about this. But what can we do? He’s our only child. The wedding’s a few months away and it looks like they’re going through with it. For the life of me, I don’t understand.” She shook her head.
“Anna, let’s hope their marriage will make them happy and secure so we can all begin dealing with each other on an adult level.” Jackie stood up. “Come on Gina. We’ve got to go.”
“That would be nice dear,” Anna agreed, walking them to the door. “But Carmella is
…
oh, I must be careful what I say.”
July 1993
Prior to the wedding, Carmella remained on her best behavior, knowing Tony hated her tantrums. During the honeymoon, she demanded incessant attention and proclamations of love, but her outbursts were contained. And Tony kept a watchful eye when it came to things that would set her off. He wanted a peaceful honeymoon. They tread carefully as they ate, drank, and made love all over Southern France.
August 1993
A
fter the honeymoon, Carmella was psyched for battle. Tony’s parents would pay for their preference for Jackie. First priority, a legitimate grandchild from their loving marriage would diminish their preoccupation with Gina.
They desperately tried to conceive a baby—Carmella for validation; Tony for contrition. But despite their diligent efforts, no pregnancy occurred. Because Carmella was a DES daughter, her doctors thought her chances of conceiving and carrying to term were improbable.
For Carmella, the prospect of being childless resulted in increased instability and the return of her temper tantrums. For Tony, watching TV became a hazardous activity. After Carmella had hurled countless small objects at him, he registered that his wife had no appreciation for television and the beauties it displayed. He became an avid channel surfer, constantly fearing an eruption of his wife’s accusations.
Tony’s gut wrenched with the awareness of his enormous mistake. In addition to being subjected to Carmella’s emotional instability, Tony craved a child to start anew. He needed to be a father, a good father. Backtracking with Gina would require way too much courage.
September 1994
During their first year of marriage, Tony’s company was sold. As Carmella prepared dinner, he broke the news that he was being laid off.
“The first thing you’re doing, Tony, is taking that bitch to court to reduce the damned child support!”
“Court isn’t necessary. For God’s sake, Carmella, Jackie practices family law. She knows the drill. If I call her
—
”
Carmella face twisted with rage. “You’re not calling that bitch to discuss anything! The court will handle this. You got that? My father’s friend, Johnny Manning, does this kind of work. We’re calling him.”
“Fine, Carmella. But after we pay a thousand bucks to the lawyer, we’ll still end up paying the same forty-five dollars weekly for child support that Jackie would agree to if I called her.”
“I don’t give a shit! You’re
not
calling her. You’re taking that bitch to court!”
*
Jackie stood at Margie’s office door holding a piece of paper in her hand. “Tony’s been laid off, and I’ve been summoned to appear in court on March 13 for a modification hearing. I don’t have time for this shit. He’s so difficult!”
“Screw him.”
“Oh, I plan on it.”
Chuck Rodman, the firm’s owner, stopped to join the conversation. “A new case?”
“Not exactly. My daughter’s father summoned me to a modification hearing instead of calling me. I’m so freaking annoyed that I have to take the time to defend myself against him because he didn’t have the balls to pick up the phone. The guidelines are simple. We’d calculate twenty-seven percent of his unemployment check and be done with it.”
“Let’s chat.” Chuck led Jackie to his office. He sat in his forest green leather chair and put his tasseled loafers on the top of his desk. “Here’s the thing. New spouses can upset the apple cart. It happens all the time. It may pass. But for now, you have to prepare for a modification hearing. Forget that it’s personal. Play hardball. Subpoena their financial documents. Sift through everything. Find that Achilles heel. You’ll kick his butt.”
She smiled. “If I’d met you when I needed a lawyer way back when, I probably wouldn’t have gone to law school. I’d have been intimidated by the high bar you set. But I’m so grateful that I work at this firm so I can learn from the best.”
*
Jackie was motivated by Chuck’s advice. In the law library she found case law setting the precedent that a wife’s income could be used to offset the husband’s living expenses during a period of unemployment, thereby freeing the husband’s unemployment benefits for the support of a child. Jackie organized her case, subpoenaed and reviewed financial documents, and discovered that the Salvuccis had bought a vacation home in the mountains a year prior.
Hardship, my ass. I’ll show him hardship
. She also realized that the initial child support agreement had provided that Tony pay fifty percent of all health insurance costs, which she had never enforced. She couldn’t go back fourteen years, but she could claim repayment for the past three years and make him pay moving forward.
*
The night before the court hearing, Carmella announced, “I’m going to that courthouse with you tomorrow. I know Johnny said I shouldn’t go because I’m ‘not a party to the case,’” she mimicked, “but I
am
your wife and I’m going.”
“Carmella you can’t go. You’re
not
a party to the case. Jackie will be sure to exercise her right to demand that you
—
”
“That bitch has no rights when it comes to me!” Carmella pounded the kitchen table and the coffee cups shook.
“Carmella!
Please
don’t start. She has rights when it comes to this hearing, and she knows them. For God’s sake, she’s a lawyer! She’ll have you tossed out of there so fast it’ll make your head spin.” Tony massaged Carmella’s shoulders. “Honey, go to work.” He kissed his wife’s neck and whispered, “There’s nothing you can do. Let me and Johnny handle this.”
Carmella conceded. Tony sighed with relief. Carmella’s presence would provide the fuel for an explosion that would defy any efforts to control it.
*
Judge McGovern was a middle-aged woman with bobbed brown hair. Johnny Manning was an older man with dark gray hair and coarse facial features. When called, the trio approached the bench. Johnny buttoned his suit coat and began his argument, pleading on Tony’s behalf that unemployment was a hardship. “The severe decrease of income makes it impossible to afford the amount of child support payments that Mr. Salvucci has been diligently making.”
“What say you, Ms. Martin,” the judge asked.
“Your honor, Mr. Salvucci’s financial statements indicate that he’s currently making monthly payments of $650.00 per month on a vacation home in New Hampshire. I argue that Mr. Salvucci’s hardship stems from the vacation home payments, not from child support payments. He’s requesting that this court alleviate the child support payments which would essentially enable him to keep his vacation home. Wilson vs. Wilson, decided in this state, set the precedent that although a wife’s income cannot be used to provide support for an unemployed spouse’s child, it may be considered to offset her husband’s living expenses, rendering more of the unemployed spouse’s income available to meet child support obligations. Your honor, I believe that this court should consider Wilson vs. Wilson and award a support order for $105 per week.”