Page 39 of Winter With You

Gabriella shook her head. ‘I have absolutely no time for that. My job here is to sell as many copies of that green book as I can in the hope they have to re-print again and I can demand a different cover. To convert hearts and minds. And to make sure you see everything you want to see in NYC before we have to leave.’

‘Oh, wow,’ Phoebe said as the Empire State Building came into view.

‘Agreed,’ Gabriella said. ‘Now get taking some photos. And, send one to Grandmama. Tell her that’s our hotel.’

25

VALENTINO’S, LITTLE ITALY

His mamma had wanted him to sit at the head of the table, like some kind of replacement for his father, but Luca had declined and, instead, insisted that the position was for the woman whose birthday it was. He’d smiled and said all the right things to cousins and ‘friends’ who had all had blood on their hands – literally in most cases – and he’d laughed at Steffi’s jokes and eaten as much of the food as he could stomach. It wasn’t that it wasn’t great cuisine – it was – but when you were dining with people who should be locked up inside a penitentiary it was difficult to have the appetite…

He checked his phone. Still nothing from Errol. And it had been two hours since he arrived. Could he make his excuses and leave yet? The meal was over and next it would descend into loud conversation about times gone by and he could digest that even less than the pasta pomodoro.

‘Luca, have some cake.’ It was his mother standing next to him now, a crumb and icing covered knife in one hand, a plate in the other containing one tier of her four-tier birthday cake.

‘Mamma, I have had some cake. Steffi got me a slice. It was delicious.’

‘You lie to me! You have had no cake and only half of your pasta. I’ve been watching you the whole night!’

Luca swallowed. Nothing like feeling under scrutiny and finding out you were actually under more than you even realised. ‘Mamma, you know Valentino’s portions are challenges to face and they’re not always capable of being conquered.’

‘I do know that. That is why we come here. So why are you not up for the challenge? You are sick?’ She put the plate and the knife down on the table, almost knocking over a candle, and slapped a hand to his forehead.

‘Stop, Mamma,’ he begged, shifting back in his seat. ‘I’m fine. Just busy with work and…’

‘And?’

There was nothing else. Work was everything. ‘Just work.’

‘That French woman, she works you too hard. There is never enough time for you to visit your own mother. I see less of you than your father and the government tells me how often I get to do that!’

Luca took a breath. He wasn’t going to be drawn in by the subject of his father. Couldn’t be. ‘Did you get the flowers I sent? And your gift?’

‘Both beautiful, Luca. But don’t think I don’t know when you are changing the subject.’

‘Sybille does not work me too hard. I work me too hard. You know my job is important to me,’ he answered.

‘And you know I was talking about you visiting me and, if you visit me, you can come with me to visit your father.’

Luca was already shaking his head. He got to his feet. ‘So, he’s trying to get to you too? Mamma, I told you, when Babbo went into that place, I was never going to visit him.’

‘I know, Luca, but so many years have gone by now. He is doing everything right. He⁠—’

Luca scoffed. ‘He’s doing everything right? Like what, Mamma? Keeping his cell tidy? Eating all his vegetables like a good little murderer?’

‘Keep your voice down, Luca,’ she ordered. ‘He is not in prison for murder.’

‘No. But he should be,’ he said through gritted teeth. ‘And, as I’ve said my entire life, I want no part of that and⁠—’

Firm hands were slapped to his shoulders and a familiar scent of meatballs, garlic and cigar smoke gave Luca the knowledge of who this was. Ronnie.

‘Hey, little prince, you’re getting rowdy at your mom’s party. Why don’t we take this somewhere a bit quieter?’

‘Get your hands off me,’ Luca ordered, shaking himself loose.

‘Ronnie, it’s OK, we’re just talking. Mother to son,’ his mom said.

‘That’s OK, Vittoria. But tonight you should be celebrating your birthday. Maybe let me do the talking, huh?’ Ronnie suggested.