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“So what’s going on at FI?” Lina quickly changed the subject, preventing Emma from asking another question. “I know you can’t get into details, but anything cool you want to share with me?”
“The cool stuff is what I can’t share.” Emma would give Lina the update she wanted. But that was it. She was determined to keep this conversation on track. “Let’s just say that we don’t get much sleep and our lives are crazy.”
“Well, I know firsthand how awesome you all are. How’s Casey? Claire? Everyone?”
“Busy. Our caseload is way high. Marc’s back from his honeymoon and Patrick’s back from his family vacation, so they’re both frenetically bringing themselves up to speed. Ryan’s working on some new techno-gadgets. Hero’s being enrolled in an additional training course. All I know about it is that it’s cutting-edge, which is good because Hero always needs a challenge. And you know all the latest from Casey and Claire. We’re quite the diverse but always loyal family.” Emma made the smooth segue. “I’m sure you understand. You said your family is tight.”
“We’re like this.” Lina held up two crossed fingers, evidently content with what she’d learned about FI. “When I was younger, I felt a little smothered and overprotected. My parents have always been very much there, my mom being the head of every school committee, my dad interrogating every guy I ever dated. It was overwhelming and embarrassing for a teenager. But now that I’m grown, I get it. It’s all about love.”
Emma nodded. “My parents were protective, too. They died when I was just a kid. I still miss them.”
“You poor thing.” Lina reached out to squeeze her hand. “I’m sorry if what I said brought up painful memories.”
“Don’t be. I’m okay now, especially since I became part of the FI team.” Emma inclined her head. “Did you like being an only child, or did you ever wish you had sisters or brothers?”
“I’m a brat,” Lina said without a drop of self-censure. “I’d hate sharing my mom and dad with anyone. So it’s good that things turned out the way they did. I sometimes wonder if they would have wanted other kids. But my mom’s pregnancy was tough. It was high risk, so she was on complete bedrest for four months. It was touch and go, so everyone was holding their breath. I suspect the doctors were pessimistic that I’d make it. I was kind of a miracle baby.”
Emma dove into that entrée. “No wonder they’re so protective of you. They must have been terrified they’d lose you.”
Lina nodded. “They don’t discuss it much. I think it’s still too painful for them to relive. My mom shared the story with me when I was old enough to understand and not to be freaked out. My dad got all emotional and hugged me for five minutes. I felt very lucky, but also guilty that I caused them so much pain.”
“I’m sure their happiness ov
ershadowed their pain and worry.” Emma took a sip of her wine. “Did your mom make it anywhere close to full term?”
“She did. I was born a week early—which apparently astounded everyone, since their idea of the best-case scenario was for my mom to carry me seven months tops.”
“That’s pretty amazing. Are you a winter, spring, summer, or fall baby?”
“Winter. That was another part of the saga. I was born on February third. There was a big snowstorm that day. Of course, being the troublemaker that I am, that’s when I decided to make my grand debut. When my mom went into labor, my dad went into command-and-control mode. He called his friend the police chief and got a line of police cars to lead the way. They blasted through the snow ahead of the ambulance. I was born a half hour after the hospital arrival.”
“Wow.” Emma’s eyes widened. “Was the hospital at least close by?”
“Not really. It was Mount Sinai. From what I heard, my dad broke the land speed record. Not to mention fighting the traffic and the snowstorm.” Lina grinned. “My dad makes the impossible happen.”
“And you certainly know how to make an entrance,” Emma teased. She set down her glass and nibbled on a spare rib. She had to come across as interested but not interrogative. The last thing she needed was to arouse Lina’s suspicions.
“Was your mom okay afterwards? It must have been a tough recovery.”
“Actually, my dad says she was back to herself in no time. I guess she had to rise to the challenge of raising me.” Lina gave an impish grin, and the two girls laughed.
“You wanted to hear about the excitement at FI?” Emma teased. “That story rivals it all. Any other over-the-top life events you want to share?”
Lina’s eyes lit up. “I just realized you don’t know.”
“Know what?”
“My dad is running for the US House of Representatives. He’ll be the Republican party candidate after next week’s primaries, which I know he’ll win. How’s that for over-the-top events?”
Emma gaped. “Are you serious? That’s incredible. Why didn’t you ever tell us?”
“Because… I don’t know. We were concentrating on Brianna and catching the scumbag who was harassing her. My life was kind of on the back burner. But now that nightmare is resolved, and I’m back in the thick of things on the political front. I’m so proud of my dad I could burst.”
“I can only imagine.” Emma was processing all this as quickly as she could. Lina’s father was a public figure. That could give the team a wide avenue for exploration. “Is he already in politics?”
“Yup. He’s the Staten Island representative for the New York State Assembly. He has been for three terms. And he’s run his law practice at the same time. He’s the smartest, most high-energy person I know.” Lina wrinkled her nose again. “People say he’s charismatic and handsome. I guess they’re right. But he’s my dad. I don’t view him that way.”
Abruptly, Lina sat up straight, her mind clearly coming up with something. “I have a great idea! Next Sunday, after my dad’s win, my parents are hosting a huge party at their house. Uncle Neil—Neil Donato, my dad’s campaign manager—said I could invite a few of my friends. I’d love it if you guys could come—all of you, including Hero. He’s better behaved than most politicians.”
