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"I knew it." She leans forward with her elbows on the table. "Who is he?"
"No one you know." I glance away in Massimo’s direction, only to catch him staring at me.Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.I look away, keeping my gaze trained on my sister.
"Did you meet him in LA?"
"Maybe."
"Not in LA, then. Closer to home? In this city?"
"I’m not saying anything."
"So that’s how you managed to make it to my engagement. You were already in the city."
"I’d have come from wherever I was; you know that."
Her face cracks in a wide smile. "I do. And I’m so pleased you’re here." She flicks a coy glance in Massimo’s direction, then back at me. "I think I’m going to be so very happy with him."
"How do you know? You just met him."
"When you know, you know," she says in a soft voice. "There’s something about him that I find very reassuring."
"Wait until you get to know him better," I say under my breath.
"What was that?" My mom shoots me a dirty glance. "It’s bad enough you’re not ready to get married; don’t scare off your sister who’s doing the right thing."
"Fine." I raise my hands. "I didn’t mean anything, okay? It’s just—" I turn to Celia. "How can you marry someone you don’t love?"
"Love, shmove." My mother huffs. "You young people put too much importance on what’s essentially a fleeting emotion."
"What else is it about?" I frown.
"Security? Protection? Someone who can take care of you and make sure you never want for anything material?"
I gape. "What about everything emotional?"
"That’s why you have children, and sisters, and girlfriends—"
"And aunts," my aunt pipes up.
"So, according to you, the only reason someone needs to get married is for money, and then for sperm donation."
"Do you always have to be this gross?" My mother eyes me with disgust.
"Just repeating what you told me, Mamma," I drawl.
"I thought, at least, now that you’ve learned your lesson, you’d be more amenable to settling down. Seems I was wrong."
"Why, because I’m scared because you think no one will want me now? Is that why?"
My mom pales. "You know I didn’t mean to hurt you by saying that. I was simply pointing out the obvious."
"Gee, thanks. Like I don’t get enough of it every time I look at myself in the mirror."
"Livvy." She sets down her spoon and turns to me. "You know you’ll always be beautiful to me."
"You have a funny way of showing it, Mom."
"I am your mother; it’s why I have to watch out for you. I only want to see you settled."
