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Aria gives a smile tinged with something else. Sadness? Concern? I'm not sure.
She says, "I will do my best, but I'm sure she will continue to rely on you."
Only I am not going to be there. Even if I didn't have these totally inappropriate cravings for my sister's future husband, I must get away from our father.
My plans are set. I will be leaving New York after the wedding.
Chapter 12
New York City, New York
Five Families
CATALINA
We are on our way home and I relax on the leather backseat of the family Mercedes S-Class sedan. It's luxurious and comfortable, but not armored like my father's personal SUV with a 3rdrow of seating for additional guards.
Carlotta is still talking about everything she learned from the chef and sous chefs.
"You should ask Don De Luca for cooking classes. I am sure he won't object."
Carlotta's eyes fill with hope and then they dim. "Even if he wouldn't, I don't think I could ask him for anything. He scares me."
"He's going to be your husband. You do not need to fear him."
"You don't think so?" Carlotta shivers. "He's ruthless. I bet he tortures men for breakfast."
"Don't be dramatic."
"I'm still a teenager," she sasses. "I'm allowed."
"You'll soon be married. Teenager, or not."
Carlotta frowns, but then her expression lightens. "You could bring cooking school up to Aria. She'll suggest it to her son if you tell her you think it's a good idea for me."
Not sure how we went from cooking classes to cooking school, I say, "Aria is going to be your mother-in-law, not mine."
"But you two get along so well."
"She wants to help you, Carlotta. Let her."
My sister's mouth twists in a grimace. "I suppose."
"To tell you the truth, I'm a little jealous," I admit.
"You are?" Carlotta asks, like there could not possibly be anything in her current situation to be jealous of.
"Most women would be jealous of you marrying the don."
"You're not though. I know you."
She doesn't know how I react to Don De Luca. No, I'm not jealous of her being a don's wife, but beinghiswife? I'm ashamed to admit, even to myself, that I am.
I say what doesn't shame me though. "I miss having a mom so much and now you are going to have a really kind and caring mother-in-law."
"I've never needed a mom," Carlotta says dismissively. "I had Zia Lora and I had you. I don't want a mother-in-law."
Carlotta was only four when Mamma died. She doesn't remember our mom's gentleness, her loving nature, her sweetness despite being married to a man who never accepted her for herself. Mamma had never let it make her bitter.
