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Sylvia gestures for me to follow her. Enzo gives my waist a squeeze before he lets go. I watch him drift over to Carmine and Marco as I go with Sylvia. When we get to the kitchen, she gets me a glass of water before doing anything else.
“Please sit. They can be too much at first. I only had two sisters, but I still come from a big family. I’m used to the noise. But the joking — that’s just them. My family loves each other, but we are not so funny. It overwhelmed me at first, and not just because I knew so little English. They welcomed me and spoke Italian or Sicilian mostly for the first two years while I learned. They aren’t any different regardless which language they speak.”
“You didn’t speak English? That must have been a shock moving here.”
“It was. Michelle, Salvatore and I had an arranged marriage. He’d refused everyone before me, but something about the way my papa andziosdescribed me was enough for him to agree to me specifically. He knew he needed a marriage that could keep us connected to Sicily, but he accepted Papa’s offer because he said I sounded perfect. I was not so convinced. I didn’t want to leave Sicily for America. If I had, I would have come here for university. I went to France instead. Did Lorenzo tell you I’m a lawyer, too?”
“I don’t think so.”
I’ve taken in a lot of information in the past two weeks. Fuck in the past two hours.
“Yes. I went to the Sorbonne. Three years studying law as an undergrad, two years in an LLM, and then three years for a PhD. The French system is very different. I was able to return and practice in Italy because I worked in public international law. When I came here, I continued to work for my family until I knew enough English to pass the bar and go before the review boards. Now I practice corporate law and represent our family.”
I want to go back to the part about the arranged marriage, but I don’t feel like I can. Thank heavens she does.
“I told you about my career because this wasn’t some old-fashioned arrangement with a dowry and me shipped off to a foreign land. When I met Salvatore, it was lust at first sight. I have never met a man I’ve been so attracted to before even saying a word. It took me longer to admit I loved him than for him to admit he loved me. But it wasn’t because I didn’t feel it. I wasn’t used to such an expressive and demonstrative family. I spent eight years living on my own in Paris. I came home just long enough to find out my father andziosplayed matchmaker. I’m eternally grateful that they did.”
“Are they really always like this? Or are they trying to ignore the threat I brought to your family?”
“We’re always like this whenever we all get together. My daughters are asleep, but they are just as bad as the rest of them, and they’re only eleven and nine. You’ll see on Sunday if you can make it.”
“Sunday?”
“We have Sunday dinner together every week. I’m going to need a new dining room table soon. It’s getting crowded. When the weather is nice, we eat outside. I think we can do that this weekend. Would you like to join us?”
If I don’t, I’ll be keeping someone from their family. If I do, am I really imposing despite the invitation?
“Michelle, if I didn’t genuinely want you here, I wouldn’t have told you about it. Lorenzo would have. And if you can’t make it or don’t feel comfortable coming, no one will blame you for Lorenzo not coming. They can all manage missing one feast. None will starve.”
“Thank you.”
“Think about it.”
Her hand squeezes my wrist before she goes to the fridge.
“What would you like? It’s been a long night, and they never feed you probably at those snooze fests.”
Snooze fests? I guess she’s been here a while if her older daughter is eleven. But her accent doesn’t sound like she should know that slang. I laugh and join her at the fridge. I spot the chocolate cake, but I force myself to look down toward the vegetables or something like that.
“Chocolate cake it is.”
She shoulder bumps me. I look up at her.
“I was hoping you’d spot that. There are two slices left, and I’d rather you have one than let Salvatore. He’s already had four. The man is a bottomless pit, even at his age.”
The affection in her voice makes me think they have the same type of relationship as the other couples. I didn’t miss the part about Nicoletta and Carlotta having the same due dates with their second sons. I can see where Lorenzo gets it from. I doubt Salvatore needs the gym with a gorgeous wife. She pulls it out and serves both of us. I’m about to take the second to last bite when Lorenzo joins us.
“I asked you to save me a slice!”
I look at the last bite, and I really, really don’t want to share. I saved the last bite with the most frosting. Hell, I can ask for a spanking later. I savor that final forkful, and I can’t help it. My eyes close for a moment.
“Sylvia, did you make this?”
“No. Serafina did. She owns two bakeries.”
“It’s amazing.”
Lorenzo huffs.
