“Oh, Nick hates oysters,” Sewanee said, side-eyeing him, smirking.
Nick bit back a laugh and said to Stu, “You have regrets, then?”
“You kidding? My backseat’s full. And the trunk! Look, I loved my job, but I loved it so much my real life passed me by. Never had a woman sitting next to me for the long haul.” He flung a hand. “Never had a Sewanee sitting across the table. Never had this magnificent creature, this beautiful timepiece that I got to nurture and watch grow and who now calls me just to see how I’m doing. I mean”–he reached over and tweaked her chin–“how could a stupid job making shoes compare to one of these?” He and Sewanee smiled at each other and he mused, “It can’t. I’ll never see myself in anything other than a mirror. And now all I see is this.” He pointed to his balding head and Nick chuckled.
He took Stu in and then he looked down at the table, contemplating. “Wouldn’t it be grand if we could have multiple lives to live? Do it a few different ways and then pick the best one?”
“Oh, Nicky.” Stu gave him a fatherly smile. “All I know is–” He broke off and looked past Nick’s shoulder, into the back of the restaurant. He sat up a bit straighter. “Ah,” he mumbled. “Here we go.”
The waiter placed a gorgeous mirror-top chocolate cake in the center of their table. It had white piped writing on it. Sewanee craned her neck, looking at it upside down. “What does that say?” She glanced at the waiter, who was worrying his fingers and, for the first time that night, wasn’t forthcoming with an explanation.
“Your mother’s gotten quite good with her Italian,” Stu said, and Sewanee’s eye went to Marilyn, whose hand had gone to her mouth.
“Stu,” she exhaled.
“What does it say?” Silence. “Mom?”
“Sposami.” Marilyn barely got the word out.
Sewanee was about to say “what” once more, but then Stu slipped off his chair, got down on one knee, and pivoted toward Marilyn, bringing a small velvet box out of his jacket pocket.
“Holy shit!” Sewanee shouted and the entire restaurant hushed. She slapped a hand over her mouth, the mirror image of her mother. One of Marilyn’s hands reached for her daughter’s. Sewanee clutched her mother’s trembling hand and watched her life change.
“Marilyn,” Stu said, then his voice softened: “Love.” And Sewanee heard the sob that came from her mouth before she felt it. “You are the surprise of my life. I never imagined this old sneaker-maker would–Jesus.” He chuckled and glanced at Sewanee and Nick. “That sounds like a slur.” They all laughed through their blossoming tears and Stu turned back to Marilyn. “That I could end up having what I’d given up on. Someone who makes me happier each day than I was the day before. And I want that someone to be my wife.” He opened the box.
Marilyn stared at him. They waited. She uncovered her mouth, put her hands on her hips. “Well, other than a slice of that cake, I can’t say I’ve ever wanted anything more.” They both smiled tearfully. “Yes. I would love to be your wife.”
She stood, gave Stu a helping hand up, and he gently worked the ring onto her finger. Then they kissed, and held each other, and kissed and held each other as Nick hooted and Sewanee batted away the joyful tears streaming down her cheek. The entire restaurant applauded and Stu’s hand found its way onto Marilyn’s ass and she gave it a playful slap and everyone laughed.
A silver tray appeared next to the table, hosting four glasses of champagne. They took them up. Stu paused, steadying his voice. “It took me a lifetime to find my place in this world, but it was worth it, because it’s with you.”
They all drank and the whole restaurant cheered again, offering congratulations in many languages.
Caught up in the collective vibration of the room, Sewanee looked around and saw the waitstaff clustered in the door to the kitchen, watching, their hands up at their chests, their smiles wide as the Grand Canal.
ON THE TRIP back across the lagoon, Sewanee and her mom chose the warmth of the small cabin and Nick and Stu braved the late-evening chill, planting themselves once again next to the captain at the bow. As Marilyn told her about their next port of call, Bari, Sewanee watched Nick and Stu converse. When they docked, Sewanee saw the two men hug, a sight that felt like an extra bite of dessert.
They stood on the St. Mark’s dock, waving, as the boat took Stu and Marilyn back to the cruise ship.