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Matteo stepped aside so Papà could get a better look.
“This is our best bet. Good location. It was already a restaurant.”
“But it failed,” Papà said, his voice flat.
“I polled the people nearby and asked what they think happened, and I realize it’s not necessarily accurate, but they said it was too fancy. They wanted a more casual restaurant to get pizza with their families.”
Papà’s chest puffed out. “That would be Giovanni’s.”
“Exactly. They want what we can provide. Consistent quality and a family atmosphere. We won’t skimp on what people have come to expect from us.”
“We have to expand, or we’ll be stagnant soon. We need some way to increase revenue to continue to support you and Mamma in retirement, as well as our future families.”
Carlo was appealing to what mattered most to Papà—family. He loved the idea of us settling down and finding women we could marry and have kids with. He wanted all of us to be involved in the business.
Papà’s brow furrowed. “But what does Gia think?”
Matteo shook his head. “Gia has her own business to think about. She’s not involved in this.”
“But if it’s to support future generations, then doesn’t her opinion matter?” Papà persisted.
“She supports herself with her business,” Carlo explained carefully. “If she wants to come back, we’d find a place for her, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
“I hold out hope.”
Carlo touched his shoulder. “I know you do, but she’s happy doing what she is.”
I wasn’t sure she was happy without our father’s approval, but she was driven and successful. I had a feeling she wasn’t satisfied yet. She was always looking to expand and get better. Just like me. The only difference was, I think she was trying to prove herself to Papà, and I wasn’t sure she’d ever get what she was looking for.
“Mamma wants to travel and spend time with family. You know she does,” Matteo reminded him.
“I’ll talk to her, and we’ll have a decision before we leave. If this is what you want—”
“It is,” I said, and my brothers nodded.
“We want you to be happy. We are so proud that you three have taken over the business and that you’re happy here. I want the Giovanni name to live on.”
“And it will,” Carlo said firmly.
“We will make you proud, Papà,” Matteo said.
“You already do,” Papà said, his eyes shining with unshed tears. He was fiercely protective of his family, and he was proud of us. He just didn’t always show it.
When he left to find Mamma, Carlo said, “I think that went well.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “Me too.”
“Hopefully, he wasn’t placating us,” Matteo said.
“He wasn’t. He wouldn’t have said he’d consider it if he didn’t mean it. Plus, he said he’d talk to Mamma, and we already know she’s on our side. She wants him to take a step back. To give us more autonomy,” Carlo said.
“Thanks for doing the work,” I said to Carlo.
“That’s my job. I haven’t been this excited about something since Papà gave me this position.”
As kids, Carlo hated working in the restaurant itself. He always preferred the office and looking at the numbers. It took Papà a long time to realize his talents weren’t in the kitchen or the dining room. He studied accounting and finance in school, and his education was coming into play now.
“I’m confident this is the right move for us to make,” Carlo said.
