At least Tony’s mama had come over to congratulate them. She knew he wasn’t a religious person and hadn’t been inside a church since Angelina’s wedding. She probably was more disappointed that he hadn’t confided in her. Even with Carm’s Papa, Tony hadn’t revealed that they’d planned to marry later that day, only that he wanted his blessing.
“Tony,” Angelina began, “I believe the next course is yours to present.”
Tony nodded and stood. As he went toward the buffet to retrieve the dish that had been kept on a warmer, he stopped beside Franco’s chair and whispered for him to cue up the song he’d asked for.
As he returned to the table with the covered dish, the catchy tune of Hank Snow’s “Squid Jiggin’ Ground” began to play. Franco and Matt rolled their eyes at the song he played every year about catching squid off the coast of Newfoundland. He’d tried to find some other song to accompany his dish this year, but that was the best.
“As I do every year, I made the calamari dish. Thanks, Angelina, for putting in the order for the main ingredient for me. And for the wonderful red sauce you had on the stove to serve with this.”
“Any time!” Most of tonight’s fish and seafood probably came from her restaurant supplier, because she could get it so much fresher than they could.
“If calamari isn’t your thing,” he looked directly at Carmella who looked a little worried, “you can pass on this course. But I hope you’ll at least give it a try. For this year’s Feast, I made stuffed calamari with red sauce.” Because the dish was too hot to pass, he went around the table serving it individually. He served their parents first, followed by Angelina and Marc, their hosts, and then made it to each of the others until he wound up at Carmella’s chair.
“Just take one and try it. If you don’t like it, I’ll eat the rest.”
“I was hoping you’d forgotten about the promise to make me squid for the Feast of the Seven Fishes.”
“Me? Not a chance. I’ve been looking forward to it.”
“Okay, just one.”
He spooned the smaller one onto her plate, not wanting to press his luck. After placing three of the stuffed calamari onto his own, he put the dish back on the warmer on the buffet and took his seat. Carmella stared at the offensive creature on her plate without touching it.
“Tony, fabulous!” Angelina leaned forward to see him better at the table. “I might have to have this recipe to add it as a special at La Casetta.”
“Glad you like it. Happy to share.” He’d found it on a web search himself.
Perhaps if he showed Carm how best to eat it. Tony cut into the breading-stuffed calamari, dredged it through some of the red sauce, and put it in his mouth. Man. This really was good!
Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as she cut hers in a similar way, only a much smaller piece, and brought the fork into her mouth. He waited. That she’d even taken that small bite warmed his heart. She wanted to please him enough to eat something that didn’t normally appeal to her.
“Tony, I never thought I’d say this in a million years, but this is actually good.”
Tony’s ego inflated a million times over. She’d tried and liked it. She finished her piece in one more bite, and he picked up one from his plate to transfer onto hers. “Here, I got an extra for you, just in case.”
“Thank you so much!”
After they’d finished this course and someone else was going around the table with their contribution to the meal, he leaned closer and said, “I’m going to have so much fun cooking for you.”
“We need to find you that dream gas stove if you’re going to introduce me to delightful dishes like this one.”
The thought of searching for their new home together gave him a sense of excitement. They had so much to look forward to in the years to come. This was only the beginning, but they wouldn’t have to wait a minute to start living together as a married couple.
Who’d have thought Tony Giardano would be looking forward to settling down with one woman? But he’d found the perfect woman for him. Fortunately, he hadn’t blown it with her. He’d spend the rest of his life making her happy and keeping her safe.
As he looked around the table, he couldn’t help but think how blessed he was. His blended family shared so much love for each other.
Well, except that it would be nice if her mama would come over and offer her congratulations at some point. Carmella wasn’t going to be totally happy until that fence had been mended.
Mama avoided Carm after dinner when everyone stood around the Christmas tree and sang along to Dean Martin’s Christmas album playing on the stereo. The albums had belonged to Tony’s papa, and after being used in a juke box at daVinci’s pub for a while, they’d come back to Angelina as a wedding gift from Rico.
Carm tried not to let Mama’s snubbing bother her, but it did. She was certain her mother would come around eventually but didn’t like the pall it had put on the beginning of their marriage.
They still had more than an hour before they’d all head to town for midnight Mass. Tony said it was a must for his mother, and Carm’s parents would have been at Mass tonight too if back in Aspen. She looked forward to turning in afterward. This had been the longest day.
“Hey, everyone,” Tony announced, “who wants to
