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ENZO
“How do you think your parents are doing with all three kids?” Annie asks.
I squeeze her hand. “Are you kidding me? Nonna’s in her glory. She’s probably just upset that Giuliana isn’t there with them.”
My wife giggles and it’s the sweetest sound in the world to me. There was a time I worried I wouldn’t be blessed with hearing that sound again.
Annie is the strongest woman I know. Her diagnosis was devastating, but she never let herself wallow in the what-ifs. Instead, she dealt with it like it was any other thing on her to-do list. Her strength and determination awed me.
“You ready to do this?” she asks.
We’re outside the ballroom of a posh hotel in Manhattan, where the fundraising party for the Young Survival Coalition is being held. We’ve all paid dearly for our table, and there will be a live auction tonight to raise even more funds. I plan to win Annie whatever she wants. She deserves it.
“Ready.”
We walk through the ballroom doors and it’s like being transported to another world. A live band plays on a stage front and center in the room, and all the tables have been positioned on the far end. They’re set with dark linens and large floral centerpieces with what looks like peacock feathers sticking out of them. I can see that each place setting has an auction paddle for when the bidding begins.
On the left side of the massive room are tables that showcase all the items being auctioned off tonight. On the right side of the room is a string of tables with a bunch of information about the charity and breast cancer research and new treatment options.
I don’t want to even think about those tables. Every time I do, I’m brought back to the terror of the day when we received Annie’s diagnosis. I swear, my wife has seemed to move past that portion of our lives much easier than I have. Every time she has a checkup with her doctor, I’m on pins and needles until she’s given a clean bill of health.
Even though she caught the cancer early—and compared to some people, her treatment and recovery was less intense—it still rocked me to my core. Prior to her diagnosis, I took for granted that we’d grow old together. Now I feel as though nothing is certain.
“Oh, it all looks so beautiful,” she says, taking in the room.
“Not as beautiful as you.” I lean in and kiss below her ear.
Her hair is pulled back and she’s wearing a formfitting black gown that fastens around her neck. She tells me it’s a halter style, but I just tell her it looks phenomenal on her.
“You sure know how to make a girl feel special.” Annie pushes up on her tiptoes and places a chaste kiss on my lips. “There’s Carm and Bella.” She points over to the auction tables.
“Should we join them?”
She nods, and I lead us through the crowd of partygoers dressed to the nines over to where my brother and his wife stand.
“Hey, guys,” I say.
They both turn from what they’re looking at.
“Oh, Annie, you look beautiful,” Bella says, and they hug hello.
“You look radiant, Bella. You’re glowing,” Annie says. They share a look that I don’t understand.
“You clean up well,” I say with a nod to my brother in his tux.
He straightens his bow tie and puffs out his chest a bit. “Always.”
“Yeah, you ate my dust that whole race. Seems like you were able to get it off.” I grin. Carm hates to lose, so I can’t resist the jab.
Carm’s eyes narrow. “Funny. What can I say? Some of us are too busy to devote hours to cardio every day. You see the advertisement on Madison? Number one broker last year.” He thumbs his chest.
I roll my eyes.
“Anything worth bidding on?” Annie asks.
“Oh my God, yes!” Bella grips both of Annie’s wrists. “Do you watch that show, The Ultimate Chef?”
Annie’s eyes widen. “Of course!”
