Page 28 of Always: A Legacy Novel

Catherine frowned, still trying to focus on her homework. “It’s all right, Ma.”

“Well, it will be.” Catrina pressed another kiss to her daughter’s head. “Just remember, we don’t talk about the family with anyone, Catherine. That’s our rule, dolcezza.”

“Got it, Ma.”

“And stop feeling so put out about that school and the people there,” her mother added with a smirk. “You’re a Marcello, Catherine. Act like it. Own it.”

“Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you.”

“Aw, Ma,” Cross muttered, and tried to wave his mother off.

It didn’t work.

Instead, Cross ended up ducking and dodging Emma’s kisses the whole way to the table. As soon as he sat his ass down, it didn’t matter. She kissed the top of his head with a quiet, Ha.

Across the table, his step-father sat with a smirk half hidden by a cup of coffee. Calisto tried to act like he was more interested in the newspaper in his hands, but Cross wasn’t stupid. His step-dad got way too much enjoyment out of Emma’s tricks.

Especially with Cross.

“Is it your birthday?” Calisto asked.

Cross shot a look across the table. “Shouldn’t you know?”

“Well, you didn’t ask for anything. You didn’t want a party. Makes me wonder if you want to pretend you don’t have a birthday this year.”

“Too old for all that shit,” Cross said as his mother slid a plate of eggs and bacon in front of him. “Save the balloons, banners, and cake for Camilla. She still likes that stuff.”

“Yes, I do!” his sister shouted on her way through the kitchen.

Camilla was loud enough to burst eardrums in the morning. Cross glared at his sister while she only smiled back at him. Who needed an alarm clock when they had Camilla Donati in the house screeching to the heavens?

“You’re too old for a birthday party, maybe,” Calisto agreed.

Cross almost shoved a bite of scrambled eggs into his mouth, but stopped last minute. “Are you saying I can have a house party?”

Calisto barked out a laugh, and pointed a finger at Cross. “Ha, no.”

“Just asking.”

He would never know if he never asked.

He would never get it if he didn’t try.

Simple enough.

“Besides,” Calisto added, going back to his paper, “you wouldn’t even invite kids your own age, Cross. You’d invite people way older than you, and I would end up with a trashed house.”

“I can’t help it that I don’t have friends my own age. I could keep them on the bottom level.”

There were three levels to the Donati home.

“The answer is no, son.”

“Never say I didn’t try,” Cross said, grinning.

“That you do.” Calisto sighed, and tossed his newspaper down. “It’s Friday, though, and you didn’t ask for a party here.”

“So?”