Page 69 of Bobby

“After yesterday, Mama has decided that despite what you or I might want, we’re meant to be. As such, no unmarried man, other than my brothers, may attend lunch today.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“That’s Mama. Ever since Milly found a man, she’s been relentless in getting the four of us boys married off. We all thought that with Tommy getting together with Payton, she would at least give us some reprieve. But it only seems to have made her want to double down.”

“So your mama thinks you and I are like… permanent?” I whisper the word with a quick glance in the back seat. Each girl is busy in their own world. The bus games I have on hand for when we need to go somewhere for a long while are working great for the car ride. They’re just small toys in different pouches, but Bobby claimed I was brilliant, and I didn’t have the heart to tell him I took the idea from a mom group I follow on social media.

“Mama knows nothing about us. She got your name from my brother Vinny, who got it from Danny or even Tommy. Vinny’s the oldest and will throw even Mama under the bus if it would keep her from pestering him about setting a wedding date and finally settling down.”

“Because he’s the firstborn?”

He keeps nodding. “And runs the famiglia,” he adds with a side glance in my direction. Not sure if he’s testing the waters or not with what I know. Which isn’t much about the famiglia, but I’m smart enough to piece things together. And if he’s talking about it, even if it’s just a little, then he must trust me or see this going somewhere long-term.

“So, your mama doesn’t know about…?” I gesture between us with a finger wave.

“No.”

I release the breath I was holding and nod while looking out the window. My mouth almost pops open again when I see the iron gate just as we pull in.

“Not yet,” he adds with a smirk and a wink my way as I glance at him before he talks quietly to the security team.

“What are they doing?” Ivy asks with a critical eye, following the men of the security team who circle our car and use mirrors to look under the carriage.

“Just making sure we aren’t bringing any unwanted visitors inside my mama’s estate,” he says easily enough while tapping the steering wheel.

“Like bugs?” Lily asks with a wrinkled nose I notice in the rearview mirror.

“Yup. Like bugs,” I say as I glance at him, and he gives me a reassuring smile.

Bombs. They’re looking for bombs. I’m not an idiot. I’ve seen enough on TV and know enough to understand why someone would check under a car. Is this something I should be worried about in all cars or just the ones going to his mother’s home?

He moves his hand from the gearshift to my leg for a brief squeeze before putting the car in Drive once the security team gives him the all clear to drive forward.

“Wow. Your mama lives in a castle,” Lily says as she gets out of the car with wide eyes.

Ivy is slower to get out. She hasn’t thrown up since before the end of my nap yesterday, and she kept Bobby’s mother’s soup down. The woman even insisted on staying to make sure Ivy took to it before leaving—though not before practically forcing me to agree to come to lunch with them today.

I help Ivy, and Bobby takes Lily’s hand as we walk as a unit to the front door. Thank God for small blessings, as no one greets us as we enter. I saw the cars, so I know others are here. I can only hope Payton is one of them. A friendly face would be welcome, as I feel like I’m in the crosshairs of a firing squad.

But it’s short-lived, as four steps in, Bobby’s mother is there with a giant grin on her face, followed by the man from the elevator who Bobby said was his brother. I don’t remember his name, though.

“Willow, dear. So happy you could make it.” She grabs me into a tight hug, ignoring my stiffness, thankfully. I don’t recall the last time someone hugged me in a nurturing capacity. It leaves me frozen for a second.

“And how are my angels?” She looks at each girl. “How are you feeling, Ivy, sweetie?”

“I’m okay, Mrs. Leone,” she says with a small smile, using the name I coached the girls to use on the way over here.

“Angel, call me Nonna. And this is Bobby’s brother, Daniele.”

“Danny,” the man interjects with a nod to all of us.

“Like the restaurant?” Lily asks Mrs. Leone, pulling a laugh from me.

I attempt to cover it with a cough that no one believes. “The what, honey?” I ask.

“Nonna. Like Da Nonna Leone?”

His mother raises an eyebrow. “Oh, I guess not exactly like that. Well, you can call me Nonna or Nonna Cynthia if you find it too confusing to keep me and the restaurant separate in your head.”