“It’s fine,” I said softly to Matthew. “After all, I can’t really be a part of this family if they don’t know everything, right? They’ve earned my secrets, Matthew. Just like you.”
And then I turned, and for the next hour, while everyone else snacked on olives and prosciutto and cantaloupe and all the other delicacies Mrs. Zola had provided, I proceeded to tell Matthew’s sisters and grandmother everything about myself I could think of. I started from the beginning. From my childhood on the Upper East Side and my father’s abandonment. The year I spent abroad and how I met Giuseppe. And then everything that mattered.
“That rat!” Joni squealed when I was finished. “First he tricks you into doing everything for his shitty business, then gets you to take the rap for it, and now he wants to steal your fortune too!” She covered her mouth with both hands. “I would die. I really would.”
I smiled. “I appreciate that, but it’s not really the point. I just want you to know that in part, I gave myself up for this crime to save Matthew. To put my husband away. It didn’t work, but it was my only chance to do what was right.”
“These girls,” Mrs. Zola said. “The daughters of your lover. In Firenze. What happened with them?”
I cringed. For the first time, the idea of Giuseppe as my lover made me physically ill. Maybe it was the fact that I knew his daughters and mother, had seen the pain I’d caused directly. But even more so, I suspected it was because the idea of giving myself in any way to a man other than Matthew seemed so completely wrong.
“We’re going back to see them this summer,” Matthew said. “To see the progress with the farm, the one Nina bought for them.”
I squeezed his hand. “Maybe, with any luck, to pick a wedding venue too?”
Matthew’s eyes shone before he turned back to his grandmother. “And we’re bringing Olivia. She deserves a family, Nonna. And I hope that one day, you’ll all let her be a part of this one.”
Matthew’s grandmother glanced between us, her dark eyes flicking back and forth with the speed of a pinball. It was clear now where Matthew and his sisters got their penetrative green eyes from. He said he took after his grandfather and his father, but the heart of this family was in the woman sitting at the head of the table.
And so, I tried again. “Mrs. Zola, I know it’s messy. I know my situation isn’t what you would have chosen for your grandson. We could have kept it a secret from you, just like we have to do with my family because I can’t trust them to be discreet. Not the way Matthew trusts you. But your grandson bleeds loyalty to this family. Nothing is truly real in his life if he can’t share it with you. That’s why we’re here. Out of respect and love for you and the other amazing women in this house.”
“Nonna, we’re not here to ask your blessing,” Matthew added. “We’d like it, but if we have to, we’ll do without it.”
“But, Matthew, how do you know she’s not just using you?” protested Lea, shutting up only when her grandmother held up her hand, her gold bracelets clinking as they fell down her wrist.
Matthew shook his head with frustration. “You think Nina is trying to get everything she can from me, but what you don’t know is everything she’s done to make my life better. Don’t tell me you don’t remember who I was before we met. I was a lost man, Lea. I was wandering, angry. Spent most of my time knocking on married women’s doors only to leave them the next morning. I’m sorry, Nonna, but it’s the truth.”
His grandmother, to her credit, didn’t look particularly surprised at this revelation. Nor proud, either.
“How is that any different than what you’re doing now?” Lea pointed out.
“It’s worlds different,” Matthew protested. “It took me one drink with Nina to feel like I’d found my center. Like I’d found the one person on the planet who could learn the worst about me and still see the best.” He glanced at me again, and tipped my chin with one finger. “Who could earn every secret I had and still love me for them.”
My insides warmed. Oh, how right he was.
“I…” Matthew sputtered for a moment when he turned back to the six frowning women watching us. “Look, you want something more? She even tried to pay off my debt. My mortgage, credit card debts, my student loans, all of it! I wouldn’t let her, because I’m just as proud and stubborn as every other person at this table. But she still tried. Because the truth is, she wants to take care of me, take care of us just as much as I want to take care of her.”
Frankie turned to me in shock. “Is that true?”
I shrugged. “It was my first attempt. I can’t guarantee there won’t be others, but for now I’m biding my time.”
“Well, since he’s unemployed now, I’d say the time is right,” she replied dryly.
“Can it, Frankie,” Matthew snapped. “Otherwise, I’ll toss you out of the house myself, and you can have Mike babysit you with the other kids.”
His sister just smirked over her wine.
“There’s a saying between two people who love each other,” I told him sweetly. “‘What’s mine is yours.’ Ever heard of it?”
Matthew’s mouth opened. I took the opportunity to kiss him on the cheek. A few of his sisters chuckled.
“She got you there, Mattie,” Kate said warmly, followed by a chorus of agreement from the others.
It was a good sign. The room was warming. All except for the one distinctly cold attitude.
“Mrs. Zola,” I said. “Let me put this as clearly as I can.”
I took a deep breath, which seemed to be mimicked by my
