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They’d reached the door to the front office when Marianna suddenly turned serious. “May I ask you a question?” she asked.
Louisa’s stomach tensed. Things had been going so well. What would change Marianna’s mood so abruptly? It didn’t help to see the other woman looking over her shoulder for potential eavesdroppers. “Of course,” she said. “Anything.”
“Is it me, or was Nico strangely disinterested when we were talking about the baby?”
Now that she mentioned it, Nico’s reaction had been odd, especially considering how invested he had been when Marianna had first announced her pregnancy. Of course, at the time Marianna and her husband had been estranged and he had been worried about his sister’s future. “You heard him; he doesn’t want to court bad luck,” she said.
“I know, but he’s never been superstitious before,” Marianna replied with a frown. “If anything, I’d expect him to tell me superstition was a bunch of nonsense. He used to hate it whenever our mother saw one of her omens.”
“Your mother saw omens?”
“Oh, all the time. Usually after a fight with my father telling her they should make up.”
Interesting. “Well, this is the first baby in the Amatucci family. Maybe it’s making him tap into his roots.”
“Maybe. He does like tradition.”
“Plus, he’s probably distracted. He has been super busy, between harvest and helping the town get ready for the festival.” And finding time to help her.
“That is true. He does seem more distracted than usual these days.” Marianna’s frown quickly turned into a smile that was disarmingly similar to her brother’s. “At least some of those distractions are good distractions, no?”
She didn’t think that Louisa and he... The brunette’s eyes sparkled, causing Louisa’s stomach to tumble. “You said you didn’t believe the papers.”
“Oh, I don’t believe the stuff about Luscious Louisa, but you and Nico... I saw that photo of the two of you dancing.” She nudged Louisa’s shoulder. “Molto romantico.”
“It was just the camera angle,” Louisa said, shaking her head. “The two of us are just friends.”
“Friends, eh? Did he really throw a photographer off your balcony?”
Louisa sighed. “Yes, but again, it’s not what you think. He was helping me out. You know your brother. If there’s a situation that needs handling, he automatically takes charge.”
“Hmm. I do know my brother,” Marianna said with an odd smile.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing. You are completely right. My brother does like to take charge. And in this case, I couldn’t be happier.”
Meaning she still thought they were involved. Louisa would have to have Nico set his sister straight. Still, it was nice to know her friend didn’t think Louisa was out to seduce Nico for his money. Her trust meant a lot.
“You really don’t care about what they said about me...about what happened in Boston? What they implied I was doing here in town?”
“Don’t be silly. You’re not responsible for what your ex-husband did. And you’re the last person I’d call a temptress. I mean, look at what you’re wearing...” She gestured at Louisa’s jeans and green cotton sweater. “I’m dressed more seductively.”
“It’s the stiletto heels. They make everything seductive.” Louisa tried to punctuate the remark with a laugh, but tears sprang to her eyes anyway. Marianna would never know how much her faith meant. Unable to form the words, she threw her arms around the pregnant woman’s neck.
“Don’t you know you’re not supposed to get teary around a pregnant woman? My hormones won’t be able to take it and I’ll start crying, too.” The young woman squeezed her tight, then released her with a watery grin. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Wiping her own eyes, Louisa nodded. “Do you mind if I don’t walk you any farther? There might be reporters hiding across the street.”
“Of course, I understand. And Louisa?” The brunette reached out to squeeze Louisa’s hand. “I’m glad you and my brother are such good friends. He doesn’t have that many.”
Not many friends? “You’re kidding right? We are talking about the same Nico Amatucci, aren’t we?” The man with charisma to spare.
“Those are acquaintances, not real friends. He doesn’t open himself up to many people. That makes you special.”
Special. Right. Marianna’s hormones were definitely out of whack.
