“Great!” Faith laughs, hugs me once more, and jets off to talk to the rest of our sisters.
“Good, Nicky,” Gracie answers, keeping an arm around my waist. “I got the job at Lotus House teaching Vinyasa Flow while I finish up my internship with Chef Jean Luc.”
I grin. “See, I knew Crystal and Jewel would hook you up. You’re a Salerno, and I taught you everything you know.”
“Didn’t hurt that I already had my registered yoga credential prior to that.” She laughs, but I ignore it and nuzzle her close.
“How long are you going to be the right hand for the amazing, the talented…Chef Jean Luc!” I joke, rubbing her hair and making the top pouf up.
She pats it down and pushes the loose sides around her ears. Her cheeks pink up at the mention of the chef like they always have. I think she has a crush on the man, which is not good. Not only is he French, he’s also ten years her senior. Mama would have a fit.
“He’s perfect.” She sighs dreamily.
I roll my eyes, lock my arm around her shoulder, and whisper in her ear. “You gonna tell your mother that?”
She cringes. “No way. He speaks French as fluently as she speaks Italian, and never the two shall meet.”
“Uh-huh. And when he realizes you’re sweet on him? What then?”
Her body goes stiff, and she turns to me. “He wouldn’t. Jean Luc doesn’t even know I exist.”
My sister is sweet, innocent, and so gorgeous I had to beat up so many smarmy suitors in high school, my fingers were constantly bloodied. These girls have put my father and me through our paces with the boys sniffing around. Now that they’re twenty and up, there’s not much I can do but threaten their boyfriends or suitors into being respectful. I also do what I can to bring them to the gym so I can put them in the ring with a pair of gloves. Beat the fear of God into them. I know for sure, there’s no way on God’s green earth a hot-blooded male wouldn’t see the beauty in our Grace. She’s stunning.
“Well, if Mr. French doesn’t notice you and your beauty, it’s his loss. Besides, he’s too old for you.”
“Age is only a number.” She pouts.
I tip my head back and laugh. “Tell that to your mother, and see how well that goes over.”
“No need. And what about you? You haven’t brought a girl around in ages.” She nudges my arm with her elbow.
I lift the glass of wine I poured and finally take a long sip, holding it in my mouth like my father taught me, allowing the wine’s true essence to permeate my taste buds. I shrug. “None worth bringing home to all of you.”
“What’s that I hear? My boy finally find a sweet, young, Italian woman who can cook to bring home?” Ma butts in, setting the little girl down. She scrambles to her dad with a spoon slathered in red sauce running down the wooden surface.
“No, Ma, no woman.” I groan and scowl at my sister for calling me out.
My mother bats my shoulder with her potholder. “Why not? You’re a handsome man. You stop playing the field, and a good Italian girl is going to knock you off your feet!”
I chuckle and shake my head. “Ma…” I go over to her and wrap my arm around her shoulder. Her head barely reaches my sternum. “No woman could be as good as you. But I promise, when I find her, you’ll be the first to meet her, yeah?”
She smacks my belly this time. “You better not be kidding around. I’m not getting any younger. I want bambinos running around this house again. I need laughter while I’m cooking or I’m unhappy. When are you going to give me some grandbabies to spoil?”
I sigh and let my head fall. “Ma, we have this conversation all the time. When I find the right woman.”
“If you don’t keep your Italian sausage in your pants and your eyes open, you never will.”
That has all my sisters and me laughing hard. Even scaredy cat Scott chuckles. Javier doesn’t say a word, quietly sitting in the corner—the same one he has for a year. Watching it all go down. From what I understand, he has a big family, so ours couldn’t be too far away from his.
“I’m going to die an old woman with no grandbabies. I just know it. Salvatore…you bury me, and my headstone will say…died alone with no grandbabies.” She lifts her head and hands to the sky, feigning agony.
“No, you won’t, Mom. I can promise you that.” Dawn smiles huge as her husband, Lorenzo, loops an arm around her.
The way Dawn and Lo are grinning means they are about to drop a big surprise on us. One I suspected was coming. My mother wipes her hands on the towel over her shoulder, flicks off the burners, and stands in front of Dawn and Lo. My father grabs Ma’s hand and holds it to his heart. “Dawn baby, you have something to tell your mama and papa?” His voice shakes as tears hit Dawn’s cheeks.
My sister nods excitedly. “We’re pregnant!” she says, and the entire room explodes in squeals of joy.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! My baby is having a baby! Thank you, Lord!” Ma cups Dawn’s cheeks and kisses her on the mouth. “I love you. I love you so much. You’re going to be a mama!” Dawn cries and my mother cries with her. “I’m going to be a grandmother!” She kisses my sister again.
My father tugs Lorenzo to his side and puts out his other hand. Lorenzo holds on to it. “Made us really happy, son.” He claps Lo on the back, his voice lower than normal.
I watch it all go down, happy that my parents and my sister are getting everything they’ve ever wanted. A pang of sadness pierces my heart that
