I nodded. I didn’t really expect thanks from the other women. Old enmities aside, the men in their lives had created this shitty situation and they were right to be pissed about it.
As long as my Maddelena was happy, that was all I cared about.
‘You have an hour,bedda,’ I said, earning myself a fleet of glares. Which made me grin as I turned towards the buggy.
‘Wait.’ Maddelena hurried down, her eyes shining with happiness, unshed tears and a hint of worry. ‘How…?’
I brushed my knuckles down her cheek. ‘I’ve made sure your grandfather is occupied for the next few hours. As long as your sisters and mama don’t blab?—’
‘They won’t,’ she reassured firmly. Then she leaned close, pressed her mouth to mine. ‘Thank you,’ she repeated.
‘Sure thing. Go, have a good time.’
Maddelena
I watched him leave, my heart still racing.
Was there a time when I’d thought him a monster? Well, I knew there was a feral beast lurking beneath his Brioni suit; that came out when needed, but…
God, I loved him.
So why hadn’t I told?—
A throat cleared behind me. I turned to three expressions.
Jacinta’s was more curious than wary. Sofiya’s held the usual edgy scepticism.
My mother’s was an ocean of worry. Multiplied by a hundred. Her hand delved into the pocket of her stylish grey pants worn with her pink twinset, and I knew she was twisting her rosary, probably reciting a silent prayer.
Swallowing, I joined them, sighing when Jacinta slid her arm around my waist.
‘So you’ve gone all the way over to the dark side, huh?’ The half-joke came with the killer stare that had made her a force in the courtroom.
We stepped into the living room of the lodge that had become the hub of the Sicilian wedding dress designer who’d descended on me a week ago. Pia, a fireball as short and fierce as her name, had understood her assignment and executed it with aplomb, delivering my dream wedding dress within seventy-two hours.
That concoction was under heavy-duty guard within the closets of the master suite.
I pushed away the swell of sadness at the reminder that a week from today I would be walking down the aisle to Cesare, with no family support.
‘I guess I have,’ I responded belatedly to Jacinta.
On the coffee table was a spread of savoury and sweet dishes, including desserts fromLe Gémir. All untouched.
Sofiya followed my gaze. ‘We weren’t sure if it was safe to eat.’
‘Sof,’ Jacinta berated under her breath.
She grimaced. ‘What? Can you blame me?’
‘No, I can’t,’ I replied before she and Jac got into it. ‘But I’m happy you’re here.’ My gaze encompassed Mom, who’d been staring at me like she couldn’t work out what was going on with me.
‘Mom?’ I prompted.
She shook her head. ‘Despite all this turmoil, you seem… happy.’ The last word held a hint of wonder. As if the concept of happiness was beyond her. That saddened me. But deep inside, I also felt deep gratitude that I’d got to experience this all-encompassing, forbidden, balls-to-the-walllove.
My heart squeezed. Sitting down next to her, I took her hand. ‘I am, Mom. I didn’t think I’d get to be happy, and I know it’s not under great circumstances.’ I stopped as Sofiya snorted, and Jacinta glared her silent. ‘But I’ve accepted that I can’t go back and change how this unfolded.’ And I wasn’t sure I wanted to. ‘All I can do is move forward.’
‘I’ve accepted His mysterious ways but… this?’ Her dark brown eyes searched mine, her hand flipping over to grip mine, hard. ‘Maddelena, are you sure?’ she whispered fervently.
