She was always the life of the party, telling raunchy jokes just to make the other adults squirm and groan. Always ready to wrestle with us boys, or go shopping with the girls. The favorite aunt who was really more like an older cousin.
Now, she stood in her den, welcoming friends and family who offered condolences, dressed in a black dress and matching heels. She smiled wanly, and her eyes flickered, a tear always just on the other side.
She had married late, but not for lack of suitors. She would always say, "When I marry, it's gonna be to someone who makes me laugh, and laughs with me."
She found Tony at 38, and he was 50. They fell in love, married, and began enjoying life.
Tony had received a huge settlement from an accident, millions, they whispered, though no one dared ask. He showered her with the finest things, bought her a place here on Long Island, along with a winter condo in Boca.
I remember, when I was about 10, they took me to Disney World. They were so happy to share their good fortune and their lives. So in love, and I would smile, and think, "When it's my turn, I hope I am as happy as them."
Now, at 48, here she stood, alone. Tony suffered a massive stroke, and hung on long enough for her to have lost weight, but since she had put on some pounds in the last few years, she looked lovely and fit.
She caught me staring and winked at me, giving me that forced smile. I touched my heart and pointed to her, our sign of affection, and she returned the gesture.
Aunts, uncles and cousins were running around, making sure drinks were full, and food was on the tables, more fitting for one of our Irish wakes, than Tony's few Italian relatives would have preferred, I'm sure, but Tony had been adopted by us, as one of our own, due specifically to how he made Kate feel.
I did what I could, still thinking about the ball games we'd go to, video arcades where Tony would have rolls of quarters ready for me. And how we would laugh at the silliest things and have our own inside jokes and one-liners. At 20, I shouldn't be crying, but I think it was more sadness for Aunt Kate than Tony. She's the one who was suffering.
Sunset came, and people began filtering out, offering one last "sorry" as they left. Mom and Dad were among the last.
"Thanks again, honey," Mom hugged me, "I know you have a long drive tomorrow, but I hate to think of her alone tonight in this big house."
"I told Lou about how special they both were, so he said I could take another day, if I needed."
"He sounds like a good boss," Dad chimed in.
I smiled. "He has his moments, but he's big on family, so he understands."
Soon, it was just Kate and I, cleaning up glasses. All perishables had been put away, my suit jacket was off in the summer heat, and i said, "Why don't you sit for a while, you must be exhausted."
She smiled again. She straightened up, put her hands on her back and arched her hips forward, making a cracking sound with her mouth as she did. "These old bones need an overhaul."
At five-seven, with a 36D chest, she seemed younger than 48, even in these trying times. The splash of freckles acros her nose, gave her additional youth, and except from crow's feet from smiling so much, there wasn't a wrinkle on her. I always thought she could have ben Miss America if she could only sing!
"I can run you a hot bath? No? How about some nice tea?"
She cricked her neck. "Is there any Scotch left, or did Uncle Harry finish it off?"
"I had to make a run for more, plus vodka for Aunt Helen. We have plenty."
"Then pour me three fingers....no, make it a fistful! With ice."
I got the bottle for both of us, along with a water bottle for me. She had plopped down on the couch, finally kicking those heels off.
I paused again, getting myself under control. The last thing she needed now was a weepy kid next to her. I brought in the glasses with a large cup of ice and the bottle of Glenlivet, she and Tony's favorite.
I sat beside her and scooped the ice into her glass and poured an inch or so.
"More."
I gave her a splash more and she smiled. "Don't
hold out on me, buddy, and don't forget yourself."
I poured ample amounts of us both and Kate held hers up, then said "Here's to you, Tony, you made me laugh and you made me cry, and I will love you til the day I die!"
She drank heartily, then smiled at me again. "Okay, that's over. Life goes on, and so do we." She clicked glasses with me, and we both drank, solemnly.
She patted my leg, and said, "John, I know this may not be the time to talk about this, but have you thought about going back to college?"
"Huh? No, not really."
"I don't mean to pry, but you were always a smart kid. And when you dropped out, Tony wanted to talk to you, but I stopped him. I didn't think he should be telling you what to do, since you know, he was just my husband, not real kin."
"Kate, Tony talked to me a lot about things, he never forced his ideas, and knew if I said no, I meant it."
"Well, if it's a money thing, Tony left me... comfortable, very, very comfortable. And he wanted to offer to pay your tuition and give you a stipend to live on, like a salary. He loved you very much."
My eyes swelled again. "I loved him too, not just because he made you so happy."
Her hand patted my knee and my eyes fixated on the large engagement ring he had bought her.
"He loved taking you with us on vacations. Even last year, he wanted you to take a cruise with us, but I said, 'He's a grown man now, Tony. He doesn't want to go away with his aunt and uncle!"
I smiled, thinking she was probably right.
"He said, 'Well, we can ask, and he can say no!"
She scooped more ice and sat back, and her black dress, shorter than usually seen on a widow, moved with her. My eyes glimpsed white flesh above dark nylon stockings. My mind flashed to days at the beach, and her terrific body, how I would see other men look at her and poke each other, and get poked by their wives for looking.
When I reached puberty, she was the one who had black bras and panties in her bathroom, and sexy negligees in the bottom draw. This is how I knew she was a 36D.
While exploring when they left me there alone, I came across photos in Tony's underwear drawer, of Kate, voluptuous Kate, with her red hair, and green eyes, in different poses and outfits.
Nothing pornographic, but definitively not PG. Some in see-thru nighties, one in a red teddy bear, where I could see her nipples jutting through.
On more than one occasion, I had whipped it out and stroked, dreaming those wicked childhood dreams of lust.