“I'm not going to Yale like Tommy and Joe,” Ricky went on. “In a month I'm going to be eighteen and I'm going to join up so I can do my part for the war and put it behind me. After I get out of the army, I'm going to California to work in the movies.”

“You want to be an actor?” It was the first time she thought he was making a mistake about something. The performer in her knew that he wasn't one.

He smiled. “You don't have to be polite; I know I'd stink at acting. I'm going out there to be a cameraman. The family still has a few connections in show business, and one of my grandpop's friends said he'll get me a job.”

She looked at him, his strong profile silhouetted against the background of the sky and sea. “I don't think a job working for someone else will be enough for you,” she said thoughtfully. “You need to be top dog.”

He laughed. Then he hugged her. “I'm going to work my way up, learn the ropes as I go. Being a cameraman is just the beginning. Someday I'm going to be a producer, and have my own studio.” He tightened his arm around her. “And you'll come out to California and star in one of my movies.”

“If I can get away from Broadway,” she said. Even in a daydream she didn't like the idea of anyone taking her for granted.

“Oh, I'll make it worth your while, ” he said confidently. He turned back to the ocean again. “Mom's going to hate it—me going into show business. Tommy and Joe are both going to be doctors. According to Mom, that's a noble calling. A career like that is worthy of a Gaspari.”

“I thought boys got to do whatever they wanted to do. It's girls who have rules.”

“We Gaspari boys have been privileged, you see. We have to give back. When I was seven—after I made my First Communion—I thought I wanted to be a priest. Mom loved that.”

“What changed your mind?”

He turned to her and grinned, but his face was red. “I discovered girls…”

She felt a little dizzy again, the way she had when he kissed her. “Oh,” she said, and wished she could have come up with a more sophisticated response. “What about your father? What does he want for you?”

“Dad has different ambitions. He wants us to get married—preferably to nice Yankee girls from old American families who don't know how to cook macaroni—and start a dynasty of Gasparis who go to Yale.” He shook his head. “I don't want that either. I don't want anything to tie me down.”

“Me neither, ” Lu said. And as she heard herself, she realized how much she meant it. “Mama gives up everything for us, and I hate watching her. I don't want to give up my life for anyone.”