Page 124 of John + Siena: The Complete Duet

Silence coated the room heavily again.

A second later, Antony said, “If everyone is finished eating, I think it’s time we take this conversation upstairs.”

“I agree,” Dante said.

John looked to her—a silent question in his gaze. Siena patted his hand still squeezing her leg. “I’m fine.”

“Now.”

Their words were too quiet for anyone else to hear.

“I will be fine.”

John nodded once. “All right, love.”

Once all the men were gone from the table, the women started an entirely new conversation. Cecelia made every effort to bring Siena into the chats, and she appreciated it.

Down the table a couple of chairs, John’s other cousin turned to Siena. Catherine, her name was. Beside her sat the only man who hadn’t followed the rest—Cross.

“Are you really that good with numbers?” Catherine asked.

Siena laughed, and nodded. “Yeah, I’m really that good.”

“I can make money.”

“But you can’t hide it, huh?”

Catherine smiled. “No, I can’t hide it. I mean, someone does it for me, but it’s always good to know more people.”

Siena shrugged. “You know where to find me.”

With that, Siena felt like she might have made another friend in the Marcello family.

Only another couple dozen to go …

It was good half an hour later before the Marcello women stood to clean the table. Without being asked, Siena got up to help. She and Catherine ended up handwashing dishes while the others cleaned up the dining room and kitchen.

Cross poked his head in the entryway where there was only a couple of plates left. “Hey, babe, you want to come look at something for me?”

Catherine dropped the dishrag. “You good?”

Siena nodded. “I can handle the rest of this.”

“Thanks.”

Shortly after Catherine left, Siena realized she was all alone in the kitchen. She didn’t really mind. It allowed her quiet time to go over the events of the day.

She was lost in her own mind when someone else saddled up beside her at the sink. She didn’t realize Johnathan’s mother was standing there until Jordyn Marcello picked up one of the washed plates to dry them.

“I thought we should talk, Siena,” the woman said. “And since this is the first time my son has left your side, now seems as good of a time as ever to do it.”

Siena wasn’t sure why … but that didn’t sound good.

“What about?” Siena asked.

Jordyn set the dried plate aside. “My son. What else?”

“Considering you’ve barely spoken to me at all today, it’s not a big surprise that I’m shocked.”

The light laughter from Johnathan’s mother was unexpected. Siena found herself smiling when Jordyn winked.

“I didn’t mean to seem standoffish or cold, Siena.”

Siena shrugged. “Yeah, well …”

“But I worry about my son. All the time, and every single day. He’s thirty, so he doesn’t let me have any say now. I still worry. I wonder, though, do you?”

“What?”

“Worry about him?”