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I gesture in the air. “Everything, basically.”
“Everything is a lot.” She leans back and stretches her legs. “I’m not going to offer advice since I’m not remotely qualified, but I will say that I’m happy you joined the family.”
“Even though I was going to marry your husband first?”
“Oh, yeah. If you hadn’t run away, I wouldn’t have fallen for him the way I did. Have I thanked you for that yet?”
“Nope. You made me dig a hole.”
“That was your thanks. And you’re welcome.”
I laugh with her and it feels good. “There really are too many brothers in this family, huh?”
“Seriously, it’s overwhelming. Not to mention all their guy friends and the Capos and the soldiers and whatever. Way too much testosterone.”
“I’ll help you balance that out.”
“That’s what I’m hoping.”
“Can I ask you a weird question? And please don’t take it the wrong way.”
“Now I’m too curious to say no.”
“Are you happy? In this family, I mean. With Renzo and stuff.” I shift uncomfortably in my chair, and before she can answer, I keep talking. “I know you’re not from a family like this. But I am, and maybe I’m used to all this crazy mafia stuff, but I’m having a hard time acclimating to all the changes. I mean, everyone’s being really nice, but they’re not my brothers and sisters and cousins and all that. Are you happy here? Can I be happy too?”
Her eyebrows raise and she takes a moment to respond. I’m feeling a little embarrassed after opening myself up like that to her, but Maddie makes me comfortable enough to be vulnerable. But after some thought, she nods.
“I’m happy,” she says. “I think it’s easier for me in a lot of ways. You’re right that I’m not from a mafia family, but in a lot of ways, that’s an advantage. I don’t have anything to compare it to. And I love Renzo, his mother, everyone. Even Saul and Carlo. I don’t know Gian that well, but I’m sure I’ll love him too with enough time.”
I nod and lot out a long, pent-up breath. “I’m happy to hear that.”
“I don’t know all the details about what’s going on with your father and stuff, but from what Renzo’s told me, he’s being a real dick. But if you and Gian care about each other and you want to make it happen, don’t give it up for anything. That’s all I can say. Finding this place with Renzo was hard, but it was really worth it.”
I blink rapidly to stop myself from crying and have to drink more sparkling water to wash the lump down my throat. We lapse into amiable silence for a little while until Maddie starts to casually talk about the garden again, mostly pointing out plants, noting their names, and going into a little detail about how much work it took to get them in the ground.
It’s a nice afternoon. I forget about my problems for a while. Gian’s on my mind, but I can pretend like everything between us is totally mundane. No war, no fake marriage, no pissed-off father, no confused cousin. Only a man I might be falling for.
“This was nice,” I say an hour later as we walk back into the house together.
“It really was.”
Renzo’s waiting inside. He’s in the kitchen looking at a laptop and glances up as we enter. His lips press down and he nods to me. “Allegra.”
“Don Rossi.”
He rolls his eyes. “No need to be formal.”
“I know. Just wanted to see your reaction.”
Maddie laughs and gives her husband a kiss. “She planted a bush.”
“Of course she did. You make everyone plant a damn bush.”
“It’s a family tradition.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Wait. Everyone planted one?”
“That’s right.” Maddie beams at me. “Even Renzo dug a stinking hole. Even Gian did one.”
