Vinny & Renee

Vincent Bianchi stood outside the funeral home annoyed that he was missing the maiden voyage of his business partners’ new yacht. Marco had promised extravagant dinners, dancing and beautiful Italian women.
He ran a hand threw his short black hair and sighed, he needed a vacation. His brother came to him a couple months ago begging for sympathy. Gio had developed cancer and needed help battling it. In other words, money. Vincent agreed only because of the fact Gio was his blood, not because he enjoyed his brothers company.
         Now his mother was dead and good riddance. The old woman never helped him growing up, always critisized him for not doing better, for not settling down and having a family. That thought made him grimace. Never would he do that. If he couldn’t make it with Lisa he wasn’t going to make it with anyone.
         Lost in thought he didn’t hear the soft foot steps behind him.
~*~
         She noticed him right before she entered the funeral home. It had been five long years since he broke her heart so much that she left town. It was her mother who informed her that Mrs. Bianchi had passed away. Even thought it didn’t work out between her and Vinnie she had been close to his mother.
         Seeing him stand there in a black business suite as if bored by the situation she got up the nerve to approach him.
         He didn’t turn around when she approached him. Her palms were sweaty and her heart started to pound. Maybe it wasn’t him since he didn’t acknowledge her. She felt foolish and went to turn to leave when she heard her name.
         “Renee?”
         Vincent felt like he ran into a brick wall. Renee Graham was standing behind him like an angel. Even thought she was wearing black and her face was full of sorrow her eyes were full of life. Vincent swallowed hard, pulling on a mask. He remembered all too well the time he saw that light extinguished. At the time he had blamed himself, but that was before he knew the truth and how backstabbing she could be. Women were all the same.
         “Hello Vincent.” Renee said, now twisting the ring on her finger. Her grandmother had given it to her while she was on her death bed, she had since never taken it off. Funerals never sat well with her. “I’m sorry about your mother. It was so sudden.”
         His body stiffened and his eyes looked dead. She knew what he was going to say before the words escaped his full lips.
         “I’m not. If you ask me she deserved it.” He met her gave to prove his point, to almost challenge her to disagree.
         “Then why are you here?” She asked, accepting the silent challenge. That’s what had made them such good friends, before Lisa got in the way and forever ruined her spirit.
         “I wanted to see my cousins. Keep in good graces with the family.” He said and headed towards the door. “You know how they can be.”
         Renee stood and watched as he walked away from her. She let out a breath and looked up at the stars. Visitation hours were almost over but the way Vinny made her feel she wanted to leave, she had promised herself to stay away from him, to not let his amazing smile sway her back into his arms. Then again, he didn’t really try.
         Heading the way he went Renee promised to not stay long. In reality she wasn’t expecting Vinny to be there, she knew he and his mother was not on good terms for years.
         She wasn’t going to let her fears keep her from seeing the rest of the Bianchi family however.
         As she stepped into the heated room she was amazed at the amount of people there. From across the room she saw Vinny’s sister and father but surprisingly Gio, the younger brother, was nowhere to be found. Perhaps Mary Bianchi made enemies with both sons before she passed.
         As Renee waited in line to give her final respects she thought back to when she had first met Mary Bianchi.
         Renee sat in the passenger’s side of Vinny’s (car) as they drove down the dirt driveway to the Ranch house his parents owned.
         “My dad will no doubt be at the office, but mom and Gio should be home.” Vinny said, parking next to what Renee assumed was a brand new BMW.
         She knew the Bianchi’s were a wealthy family; Vinny in business school and next in line to run the family business. His brother and even his sister both having promising futures.
         The home was large with a wraparound porch and upon further inspection there was a customized wooden front door with the family name engraved in the top.
         When Vinny opened the door the smell of spices filled her senses and her mouth started to water instantly.
         A quick look around told Renee that Vinny’s parents liked to live simply yet tastefully.