She felt freer than she had in
She was so excited, she could And it showed in her work. She was so excited that her customers’ tips were much larger than usual. The extra money during the week almost made up for what she’d miss in tips on Saturday night.
Saturday morning, she woke up early, excited about the night ahead. She had a hair appointment, again, courtesy of Sal. It was scheduled for two o’clock so she decided to have a leisurely morning. She rode to the Old Post Office Pavilion and bought a cup of coffee and a newspaper. She sipped her coffee and spent the whole morning reading every article possible.
At one-thirty, she took a cab to the hairdresser and allowed herself to be pampered for the day. This was one thing she loved Sal doing for her. Each time she accompanied him to a corporate function, he arranged for a manicure, pedicure, facial, and for her hair to be styled. By the time she left the salon at four o’clock, she felt like a new woman.
There was a small skirmish with the hair dresser who wanted to put white flowers in her hair, but Antonia realized that Sal had told her what type of dress she’d be wearing and corrected the idea. The woman completely changed directions with the hair. Instead of piling it on top of Antonia’s head with ringlets coming down and baby’s breath accenting the dark curls, she twisted the heavy mass into a twist at the nape of her neck, allowing the long curls to float delicately down her back.
She rode home in another cab, cringing at the expense, but thought it was well worth the trouble, knowing what her helmet would do to her newly styled hair.
Instead of meeting her family at the house, she called at the last minute and told them she’d meet them at the restaurant. If she knew her brother, he’d force her to march upstairs to her room and change clothes at the first sight of her black dress.
Michael, who answered the phone, reluctantly agreed to meet her there.
She was the first one to arrive for a change. So, when everyone else entered the restaurant, she was at the bar sipping a martini. Her brother Carlo was the first to see her and he smiled warily at her appearance. Antonia was too nervous to look at her brothers as they filed into the restaurant behind Carlo, each of them coming to a stop as they surveyed her dress. None of them had said a word.
They were immediately led to their table by the hostess. Antonia set her martini glass down in front of one of the places and pulled her chair out, still avoiding her brothers’ eyes. It was Sal and Carlo who took the chairs next to her. And Antonia braced herself for the upcoming dinner.
“Is that the dress I paid for?” Sal asked quietly as soon as he sat down, his deep voice right next to her ear.
Antonia couldn’t speak. He was angry, as expected. She nodded her head and plastered a smile on her face.
Sal nodded. “I don’t believe it’s the one I picked out, is it?” he said next.
Antonia shook her head. “No. I didn’t think the pink tulip really fit my personality.”
“What tulip?” Michael said. “What are you talking about?”
Antonia squared her shoulders. She would not be intimidated by her brothers, she told herself. She had been preparing herself for this all week. “The pink dress you had chosen for me is no longer appropriate for someone of my age. Admit it Sal, you want me to be sixteen and I’m not willing to go back in time.”
“We’ll discuss this later tonight,” he said.
The dinner progressed and her brothers discussed the latest week’s business. Antonia even gained enough courage to offer her opinion on some of the subjects being discussed. But when her brothers dismissed her contributions to the conversation, Antonia gave up.
When they entered the ballroom at eight-thirty, Sal handed the coats to the clerk, all except for Antonia’s shawl. All her brothers approved as they nodded in unspoken agreement. Apparently, Thomas and Michael had discussed Antonia’s dress, and therefore her further defiance and lack of responsibility, during the ride from the restaurant.
Antonia shrugged her shawl back onto her shoulders, smiling slightly and shaking her head at the irony of her brother’s actions. She’d seen him looking at Georgette at Cesar’s, but when it came to his sister, no one was allowed to look. If he only knew the times men had tried to flirt with her while she was working, he’d have a stroke.
They made their way to the table reserved for them, shaking hands along the way. Antonia’s shawl fell off her shoulders, but there wasn’t anything Sal could do as she had her arm tucked into his. Apparently, he felt she was safe as long as she was attached to his side.
Finally reaching their table and champagne was distributed. Once a toast was drunk, each of her brothers moved off to find dance partners among the crowd. Antonia could tell Sal wanted to keep her here in the corner of the room, but his manners kicked in and he also extended his arm to Antonia.
Antonia left her shawl on the back of the chair and accepted her brother’s arm, allowing him to lead her onto the dance floor.
The orchestra started with a simple waltz and, since Antonia loved to dance, she allowed herself to forget Sal’s irritation and lost herself in the dance.
After a few minutes, she said softly, “I’m sorry I hated the dress you chose for me.”
“Are you?”
Antonia nodded but he refused to look down at her so she spoke her agreement. “Yes, I am,”
“Are you sorry that I hate it, or are you sorry that you chose something completely inappropriate?” he asked, not looking at her.
Antonia laughed, sensing his anger was dissipating slightly. Her dress was completely appropriate, just not for Sal’s baby sister. “You got me there. I’m only sorry I didn’t like the pink tulip,” she said.
That got his attention. “You said that at dinner but I still don’t understand what you are referring to?” he asked, finally looking down at her.
“The giant tulip you chose for me. The one with about fifty yards of fabric.”
“It was beautiful and appropriate,” he said and looked away again.
Antonia laughed again. “Sal, look around you. My dress is not any more revealing than many other women’s here tonight. You just hate the fact that I’m an adult. It terrifies you.”
Sal took a moment to look around and indeed, there were several women who were wearing variations on Antonia’s dress. But he refused to budge. “It’s not appropriate for you.”