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“That’s nineteen!”
“Olivia is pregnant.”
“Is she married?”
“Yes, to Luca. Luca, Marco, Lorenzo, and Maria are Uncle Massimo and Auntie Nicoletta’s children. Luca is married to Olivia, and Maria is married to Matteo, who’s Uncle Domenico and Auntie Carlotta’s son.”
“And they’re all Mancinellis?”
“Sort of. Carmine is a Ciccone since that’s his father’s last name. He goes by Mancinelli because that was his legal last name for more than half his life. His parents are married, but that’s super complicated. Uncle Domenico is the adopted second cousin.”
“So, wait. Maria and Matteo got married, but they were already related?”
“Not by blood. Uncle Domenico’s birth parents had nothing to do with theCosa Nostra. A priest arranged his adoption.”
“You said Domenico has sons. You didn’t name anyone other than Matteo.”
“Another complicated branch. His older son lives in Jersey.”
Why do I feel it’s more like they banished him to Jersey? I won’t push. It’s too confusing to add any more names to the list. I need to know all of this, but it’s a lot for me to take in without having it written down in front of me.
“Wait. Who are Pia and Natalia?”
“They’re Uncle Salvatore and Aunt Sylvia’s daughters. They’re little kids. Uncle Salvatore married in his forties.”
“Why do you call her aunt when you called the other women auntie?”
So much for not adding to this confusing litany of names.
“Aunt Sylvia joined the family when everyone my age was already an adult. All the other women have been around since I moved to America and since everyone else’s birth. Matteo’s two hours younger than Marco. Their mothers are best friends from childhood. Uncle Domenico and Uncle Massimo are best friends, too.”
“You might need to draw me a family tree.”
“In all seriousness, I will. You’re going to need to know all of this because my family members will come up.”
“And all of them areCosa Nostra?”
“There’s no way not to be in a family like ours.”
“But you're not related to them.”
“My father worked for Uncle Salvatore when we moved here. Before that and now, he works for Aunt Sylvia’s father in Palermo. He’s a Made Man. Have you heard of that before?”
My cheeks suddenly feel scorching.
“Yeah. I’ve seenGoodfellasa few times.”
He laughs. Thank God. The tension’s eased since we were in the car and while he was searching my place. Is he trying to distract me, so I don’t freak out? Whatever the reason we’re having such a casual conversation, it’s soothing me.
“Mostly right, and maybe completely right back in those days. One thing I can promise you, Fridays aren’t for girlfriends, while Saturdays are for wives. There is absolutely no infidelity in the family.”
He hesitates and seems to hold his breath before continuing.
“There’s no secret infidelity. Carmine’s parents’ marriage is—”
“Complicated.”
I interrupt him since that seems to be the word of the day when we’re talking about anything to do with him.
