Chapter Twelve
After the fight that they had after meeting Angie’s friend, Bucky wasn’t sure how to deal with things. Angie seemed upset with him and wouldn’t talk to him much when he came into the diner. After trying to just talk to her, he finally caught her after a shift with some flowers and an apology.
She was walking back to the hotel when Bucky finally saw her. He took a deep breath and walked over to her quickly. “Angie…” he started.
Angie looked surprised at him and looked at the flowers in his hand then up at him. “James?” she asked quietly. “What are you doing here?” she asked as she watched him approach her.
Bucky took a deep breath and looked at the flowers then back to Angie. “I’m sorry,” he started as he held the flowers out to her. “I’m sorry for taking the situation into my own hands. I know you could’ve handled it and… I’m sorry,” he said as Angie slowly reached up and took the flowers out of his hand.
Angie took a deep breath, studying Bucky for a moment as she looked at the flowers. She smiled a little, appreciating the apology. She took his hand and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek. “I forgive you,” she said quietly as she looked at the flowers again. “And I really do appreciate that you apologized,” she said softly as she looked at Bucky with a small smile. “But I really don’t need you stepping to my rescue every time something happens,” she said, her expression showing that she was serious about that.
Bucky took a deep breath and nodded. “I’ll try to be better about it,” he said quietly, returning her smile with a small one of his own.
Angie nodded. “You’d better,” she said with a pointed look. She took a deep breath, glancing down briefly. “My parents are having all of us over for dinner to celebrate my sister’s engagement. I’d really like it if you came with me,” she said, looking up at him.
Bucky looked surprised but nodded. “When is it?” he asked, perking up just a bit at Angie even inviting him to meet her family for the first time.
“It’s Saturday night,” Angie responded, visibly starting to relax and looking up at him with a smile on her face. “Be sure to bring a bottle of wine. Especially if you want to make a good first impression on my parents,” she responded as she leaned up to give him a kiss.
“A bottle of wine for a good first impression,” Bucky repeated and smiled. “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.”
Meeting the family. That was going to be a large step in his relationship with Angie. It almost felt as nerve wracking as their first date. No, Bucky thought. It was more nerve wracking. Bucky knew he was good at talking to people, though he hadn’t actually gone so far as to meeting his girlfriend’s parents since he was in high school.
He shook off the nerves, glanced in the mirror to check his hair before grabbing his jacket and the bottle of wine Angie reminded him to bring and started to The Griffith, where he went to the lobby and made sure to avoid the second floor. Angie had dressed nice, though he expected nothing different especially if this was something important to her sister. He held the bottle in one hand, taking Angie’s hand in the other.
“You look lovely,” Bucky complimented, offering her a smile before giving her a quick peck on the cheek.
Angie offered him a small smile in return, reaching over to grab the bottle of wine her boyfriend had selected and nodded her approval. “Come on, we don’t want to be late. Mother always makes a fuss if we’re even a second late,” she remarked, pulling him out to the street and calling a cab. Once the cab pulled over, Bucky opened the door for Angie and helped her into the cab and she was quick to give the address to the driver as Bucky got in beside her.
As they rode to Angie’s parents house, Angie was stiff as a board. She loosely held onto her boyfriend’s hand and couldn’t seem to relax and only seemed to get stiffer as they got closer.
“Ang, is everything okay?” Bucky asked, giving his girlfriend’s hand a gently squeeze as she looked over at him.
Angie pursed her lips and took a deep breath, looking at their hands. “I just…we haven’t been together much since the war ended. And this is the first time I’m bringing my boyfriend home to meet my family,” she said, giving him a look. “I just want Serena to have a good engagement party and for everything to go smoothly.”
Bucky shook his head. “Everything will go smoothly,” he promised her, kissing the side of her head. “Now, Serena is the youngest. And then there’s Caterina who’s between you and Serena. And then Leonardo and Giovanni are older.”
Angie nodded, relaxing a little. “Italians are very friendly as well so just follow my lead,” she gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
When they arrived and Bucky had paid for the cab, he helped Angie out. He made sure he had the wine as he took Angie’s hand as they walked up to the house. Angie was barely able to knock when the door opened and she was greeted by a woman slightly younger but it was obvious that this was one of Angie’s sisters.
“Angie, I’m so glad you could make it!” the sister said excitedly, greeting Angie with a hug and kiss on the cheek. “And who’s this you brought with you?”
Angie let out a small laugh, returning the hug and kiss on the cheek. “Serena, this is my boyfriend, James but he prefers to go by Bucky,” she introduced. “I hope you don’t mind that I brought him along for your engagement.”
Serena’s smile widened and shook her head quickly. “It’s so nice to meet you,” she said brightly while hugging Bucky, a gesture that Bucky returned. “I’m Serena, Angie’s youngest sister.
Bucky chuckled. “It’s good to put a face to the name,” he responded. “Congratulations on your engagement,” he said as Angie led him into the house. It was a larger house though Bucky wasn’t sure what he expected with Angie’s family.
He spent some time getting formally introduced to Angie’s older brothers and their wives and making small talk with them before Angie noticed her parents and tugged his arm. “Come on James, this would be the time to meet my parents,” she said as she led Bucky over to a noticeably older couple talking with another couple.
The couple Bucky assumed that was Angie’s parents stole a glance towards Angie and her mother couldn’t help but smile at her daughter. “Angelina!” she greeted warmly, kissing her daughter quickly on the cheek. “Who did you bring with you?” she asked, earning the attention of her husband, who gave Bucky a onceover with a raised eyebrow.
“Mother, Father, this is my boyfriend, Bucky Barnes,” Angie introduced. “And James, these are my parents, Guiseppe and Carina Martinelli.”
Bucky held out his hand for a handshake though he was greeted by a hug and kiss on the cheek by Carina while Guiseppe shook his head. “It’s a pleasure to meet the both of you,” he said, offering a polite smile.
Guiseppe nodded, looking at Angie before looking at Bucky again. “So you’re the one who’s been taking Angelina out then,” he noted with a poker face so bold that Bucky wasn’t sure if the man liked him or not (though he wouldn’t imagine so). “What are your intentions with her?”
Bucky was taken aback by the question and he tried not to let the surprise show on his face as he cleared his throat. “Well, sir, I…” he started, looking at Angie before looking at Guiseppe again. “Your daughter has been very good to me and well…I don’t really deserve her but I just want to treat her with the best I can provide for her,” he said. He wasn’t sure if that was the answer her father was looking for but he stuck a cigarette in between his lips and lit it, choosing to stay silent.
Carina took notice of her husband’s silence and offered a small smile. “You two make sure you say hi to Serena and Giacomo now. And make sure Caterina is behaving,” she said, giving a strong disapproving sigh when she mentioned Caterina’s name. Angie merely nodded, dragging Bucky away to leave her parents to talk.
Angie took a breath of relief and looked at Bucky. “He didn’t tell you to get lost so that’s a good step,” she remarked as she looked around and found Caterina, chatting with Serena and Giacomo. “Caterina, have you had a chance to meet-” she started as Caterina grinned widely.
“The mystery boyfriend,” Caterina remarked, holding out her hand to shake. “I’m Caterina, the favorite sister,” she said, earning an eyeroll from both Angie and Serena.
“Caterina is our parents’ trouble child,” Angie said, throwing her sister a teasing smile. “Started working in the factor during the war and never looked back. It’s quite a surprise that she hasn’t been disowned yet.”
“Angie, you know perfectly well why that is,” Caterina remarked.
“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Caterina,” Bucky said with a small smile, shaking her hand firmly.
More pleasant small talk was made and Bucky seemed to enjoy interacting with Angie’s family before dinner was announced to begin soon. Angie tugged at Bucky’s hand and led him into the dining room where they found their seats and sat down, Bucky pulling his chair out for Angie before he sat down himself. There was another knock on the door and Carina was quick to answer it since most people were already seated.
“I’m sorry I’m late, Mrs Martinelli,” a familiar male voice said, causing Angie’s blood to run cold. She hadn’t expected anyone else to show up, noting all her family and all of Giacomo’s family was here.
Angie leaned over, her lips inches away from Bucky’s ear. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t aware my parents invited anyone else,” she said quietly and quickly, only fueling Bucky’s confusion.
“Oh no no, William, we are just starting to eat dinner,” Carina said cheerfully as she walked into the dining room with the young man Bucky and Angie had run into only days earlier. “Bucky, have you had the pleasure of meeting William? He’s a very good friend of the family.”
Bucky looked at Angie, giving her hand a squeeze as he stood up, offering a tight smile. He held out his hand to shake and luckily William spoke up for the both of them.
“Oh, we met in passing,” William said, offering Bucky a small smile and shaking the man’s hand.
“In passing, yes,” Bucky nodded. “I wasn’t aware that you went so far back.”
“Since we were kids,” Giovanni said, shaking his head as he sat down in his chair. “Our parents are very close.”
Angie gestured for Bucky to sit back down and he did, throwing a glare at William while no one could see him.
Dinner started off smooth. Serena was chatting with Angie about the wedding ceremony while William happily chatted with Leonardo and Giovanni like old friends, though they were childhood friends. Bucky listened to the conversation that varied in English or Italian. He was happy to stay quiet, listening to the conversation.
After some conversation, Guiseppe lifted his glass and looked around the table, waiting for the noise to die down. “Thank you all for being here tonight. I am very happy that one of my daughters has finally settled down with a man who loves her very much,” he said, offering a soft smile. “You make your mother and I very proud. And I believe I speak for everyone here when I wish you the best of luck in your marriage, Serena. I am very proud of you,” he said. “To Serena and Giacomo.”
“To Serena and Giacomo,” echos of voices were heard around the table and the chatter continued and William glanced at Bucky and Angie, looking at them before looking at Guiseppe and Carina, who were talking to each other and Giacomo’s parents before Guiseppe glanced at Angie.
“Angelina, are you still pursuing your little acting hobby?” Guiseppe asked, taking a sip of his wine while waiting for his daughter’s answer.
Angie glanced at her father and set her fork down gently as she dabbed her mouth with her napkin. “Father, you know that it’s not a hobby. It’s a career.”
“If it’s a career, you shouldn’t be working in a diner to make money. The least you could do is follow Serena’s footsteps and marry a nice man who will take care of you while you pursue those silly little dreams if he allows that,” Guiseppe said, glancing at Bucky before looking at Angie again. “Or become an accountant. I’d rather you do something sensible than chase a nonsense dream or live so senselessly,” he said.
“Father, it’s 1946,” Caterina protested with a sigh, picking up her glass and took a sip. “You cannot possibly expect every woman to stay home and be perfect housewives. Things are different than they were before the war.”
“Caterina, just because you’ve decided to abandon your traditional values doesn’t mean Angelina has as well,” Guiseppe said, giving his middle daughter a look of disapproval. “Your mother and I hardly approve of this nonsensical independent lifestyle with no desire of marrying. You both ought to be like Serena here.”
“Caterina’s right, Father. Times are different,” Angie interjected with a shake of her head as she sat up straighter when she felt her mother’s eyes on her. “I’m happy for Serena, really I am. Have you lost sight of why we’re here tonight?” she asked, glancing at her youngest sister with a small smile.
“And we’re very proud that Serena hasn’t completely abandoned the means of the traditions,” Carina responded, eyeing both of her older daughters. “At least Angelina is one step closer than you are, Caterina.”
“What are your thoughts on the matter, Mr Barnes?” Guiseppe asked, turning his attention to Bucky, who tried his best to keep out of the conversation that he was sure would turn into an argument if he wasn’t careful. “Do you intend to let my Angelina pursue her silly little acting hobby if you married her?” he asked.
Bucky raised his eyebrows in surprise, setting down his fork as he thought for a moment. He cleared his throat as he shook his head. “With all due respect, Sir, I don’t see that as a silly little hobby. Angie is very talented, I can see her going very far with it. Instead, I find the benefit of women being able to find a substantial career outside the home. I have a younger sister who served in the war as a nurse and now she has a strong career in the local hospital,” he explained as he picked up his glass and took a drink.
“And your parents allowed her to do that?” Guiseppe asked with a raised eyebrow and scoffed. “To be involved in the war?”
“Rebecca didn’t require their permission to do what she thought was right,” Bucky countered and chuckled. “Caterina is right, things are very different now than they were before the war.”
Guiseppe let out a chuckle, shaking his head with disapproval as he looked at Angie before looking at Bucky again. “It seems she is just about as out of control as Caterina here,” he remarked, sipping his wine.
Bucky stiffened at the negative words spoken about his sister. He set his glass down, taking a deep breath as he shook his head. “Mr Martinelli, I would really appreciate it if you didn’t speak about my sister in that way. She is one of kindest, most selfless women I’ve ever known. Just because she doesn’t follow the traditions you value doesn’t make her out of control,” he said, a bit of added volume to his tone.
Angie gave her boyfriend a look, grabbing his arm as she gave him a look. “James, don’t get into this,” she warned quietly.
Guiseppe shook his head, leaning back in his chair as he studied Bucky. “What happens when you have little girls of your own, Mr Barnes? Do you intend to raise them as wild and out of control as your parents have done with your sister?” he asked, watching Bucky’s expression go from stiff to slow growing anger. Angie took a deep breath, grabbing Bucky’s hand in an effort to calm him down with no luck.
“Mr Martinelli, I would appreciate it if you would not continue to speak of my family in the way you are now,” Bucky shot back to him. “There is nothing wrong with the way my parents raised us. In fact, the man who marries my sister would be damn lucky to be with a woman like her. Like there is nothing wrong with your daughter pursuing a career in acting because it makes her happy. There is nothing wrong with her being ambitious with what she wants.”
“There is something wrong with it when it hinders her ability to be a good housewife to you and your children,” Guiseppe responded with a scoff as he looked at Angie. “This is the man you’re going out with? Why couldn’t you find a nice Italian boy like William over here?” he asked his daughter in Italian, causing Angie to shake her head and nearly speak before Bucky spoke up again.
“So just because the life your daughter wants doesn’t fit into your perfect picture doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with the goals she has for her life,” Bucky said and took a deep breath. “There are plenty of women who have adjusted to a life where they work outside the home to help their husbands support the home. I would not force Angie into a life where she’s not happy.”
Angie looked between her father and boyfriend during this tense exchange, unable to speak even a breath of a word before she finally spoke up, her attention mostly focused on Bucky. “James, can I speak to you outside? Alone?” she asked, giving her father a look as she pushed her chair back and stood, walking towards the door without allowing Bucky to answer. Bucky nodded, standing up and following Angie out the door before closing the door behind them, silence filling the dining room. Though once the door was closed, William wasted no time in starting the conversation up again, specifically mentions of Serena’s upcoming wedding.
Bucky watched Angie cross her arms, chew the inside of her cheek and look around as she tapped her foot impatiently. “Angie, I-” he started as Angie cut him off and shook her head.
“No, I don’t want to hear it,” Angie said sharply as she studied him and took a deep breath. “I told you this was Serena’s engagement dinner and this had to go smoothly. That didn’t mean pick a fight with my father about women’s roles in the home!” she said and shook her head.
“Angie, your father asked me about my opinion and I just answered honestly,” Bucky shot back as shoved his hands into his pockets as he looked at her. “I’m not going to lie about my views and I won’t apologize for it.”
“No, James,” Angie responded as she shook her head. “This is your first impression on not just my father but my entire family. And so far, you’re blowing it. Caterina’s already pushing it with her attitude towards men and the traditional ideals my parents have. You shouldn’t have been so honest upfront. Now they’re going to think you have no regard for the traditional lifestyle and maybe if you agreed with my father about my acting being a hobby, they would have a higher opinion.”
Bucky scoffed and looked at Angie. “So you’re saying I should’ve pretended to be a traditional man who only wanted a well behaved housewife?” he demanded as he met her eyes and searched them for an answer, watching Angie’s shoulders deflate.
“That’s exactly what you should’ve done,” Angie responded as she shook her head. “Because maybe then, they would have dropped the whole situation with William. A man who truly values their traditions and seeing acting just as a frivolous hobby. At least if you could pretend for a little bit, there could’ve been a chance for something more,” she said, hanging her head in hopes that Bucky would pick up what Angie was saying.
“Could’ve been?” Bucky asked slowly, taking a step closer to Angie and tucking his finger under her chin to lift her face towards him. “No, I can fix this. Turn this around and…we can start over…” he started as Angie shook her head, pulling her face away from him.
“James, don’t you get it? It can’t work out between us. Between what happened at the club a few days ago and now you blatantly disrespecting my father’s traditions, we can’t be together,” Angie said, looking up at him.
Bucky studied her, unsure of what he was listening to. “You’re ending things because of your father’s opinion of me? That…that’s not right,” he started as Angie shook her head.
“Right or not, my father has say in whether or not you can propose and after tonight, that’s not going to happen,” Angie explained and took a deep breath. “I had fun, I really did but we have to part ways.”
Bucky opened his mouth to speak, nothing coming out as he looked at Angie. There was so much he wanted to say, take her into his arms and apologize profusely but he knew none of these would help the situation. Instead, he took a step towards her, gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before nodding. “I understand, Angie,” he said as he took a step back. “Thank you,” he chose to say, clearing his throat as he offered a tight smile. “Thank you for everything,” he said as he walked down the steps and called the first taxi, leaving Angie on the porch alone.
Angie watched him leave, tears filling her eyes as she heard the door open and the voice of Caterina. There were no words to describe the pain of watching him leave. Angie looked at Caterina, pulling her sister into a tight hug as she sobbed into Caterina’s shoulder.