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She exclaims, “Davide! I love you, my love.”
“No, Ma.” Santino’s deep voice fades, as he’s overtaken with emotions. He patiently explains that his father, Davide’s waiting for them all one day, a very, very long time away from now.
The short video ends. Santino has something that money can’t buy. From watching that clip, I soften in a way I'm not familiar with; the video has opened up my mind . . . dare I say, even my heart. All the money and assets at my disposal can’t buy what Santino has in his heart. Chewing my lip, I call Santino.
He answers, and my gaze drops. “So . . . apologizing isn’t one of my strong suits, Santino. I’m so sorry.”
“Listen, I feel like a dick for even using my ma’s situation. Toni is—”
“You don’t have to—”
“My niece.”
“Santi, who are you on the phone with, my love?” His mom speaks in Italian. She peers at the screen. “Oh, my God, you can see a person on the tiny TV! You’re a gorgeous actress.”
“No, Ma. This isn’t a tiny TV.” He rubs a hand over his face. “You just saw her.”
“Well, is she an actress?”
I’m wearing a smile as I speak to Mrs. Morelli like it’s our first time. “I wish. I’m no Sofia Loren or anything.”
I wink at Santino in the background as his mother gushes about how Loren is her all-time favorite actress. Mrs. Morelli says, “You must come over, let’s watchYesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. I’m cooking dinner now.”
“No, Ma. You’re putting my future . . .” He gets up. The tiny woman hardly comes to his shoulder in her attempt to glance at the phone.
Santino says, “My pa bought her the first big screen TV over a hundred years ago. Those are the things she remembers. TVs bigger than her brothers’ bellies. How to cook. And how much she hates her brothers now.”
I can’t get a word in as his mother excitedly replies, “Santi, don’t mention thoseputz!I have no brothers! Now, listen to your ma, invite her over!”
They talk over each other for another minute or two. In the end, the glittering tears in my eyes fade as I laugh. I promise to come over for dinner tonight with Santinoand his mother.
10
Santino
Afew hours later, there’s a knock at the door. I’m removing fresh-made pasta from a boiling pot when Toni jumps down the narrow stairs.
I call out, “I’ll get—”
“No, Santa, I got it.”
My ma’s opening the stove to get a heavy casserole pan, even though I’ve continually told her not to without me. While helping Ma, I call over my shoulder, “Okay, Antonia. Be on your best behavior.”
A few seconds later, I can hear them share a pleasant greeting when Toni mentions, “I’m the niece. The one you referred to as a bitch.”
Gina gasps. “I’m so …”
“No, it’s okay. Nonna said worse things.”
I stalk into the living room with my arms folded. “Toni, don’t make me—”
Gina softly cuts in, “She has a point.”
Before I can drink in Gina’s beautiful shape, my niece chuckles. “I’m not upset, Gina. I just had to see your face when you realized …”
“Toni,” I growl. “That’s my sister Mina’s daughter.”
“Oh, am I meeting . . .”
