She takes my elbows, pulling me in and air kissing each of my cheeks. “My name is Sofia. Jacob’s mother. Come, come.” She gestures for me to come inside and hollers, “My love, Jacob’s friend is here with...” She stares at the tray in my hand and my cheeks heat.
“Oh, it’s just something I love to make... it’s peach, prosciutto, balsamic, and—”
“Ricotta orformaggio di capra?” she asks, taking the dish from me.
“Goat cheese...?” I say but it comes out like a question.
“Capra.” She nods the word with a smile. “Bene. Good.”
I smile, the air filling my lungs, leaving me unable to exhale. A man in a Chicago Bears jersey appears from down the entry with arms outstretched.
“Julia! I’m George,” he says in an American accent. JP has his eyes. “Welcome to the circus! And happy Thanksgiving.”
“Thank you—” I say, though my words are muffled in his navy jersey. I don’t hug strangers, and yet, for some strange, inexplicable reason, JP’s dad—presumably—doesn’t feel like a stranger. “Happy Thanksgiving, kiddo.”
“Thank you so much for having me. I hate to intrude on family time.” I swallow some nervous butterflies fluttering up my throat.
“Senza senso! Nonsense! You are welcome!” Sofia says, slipping her arm around my elbow and handing the tray to George. “My love, take this to the appetizer table. Let me introduce you to the family,” she says, turning to me.
We enter the main living area. The large kitchen is ornate with rich oak cabinets and a white island, quickly gathering dishes for the feast. There are three women and two men in the kitchen, and a kitchen table with two men and two women. The sectional in the family room is packed with six more adults. None of them are JP. Panic simmers as I realize how large this gathering is. I’m not sure if I should be grateful to be able to hide or intimidated by the size of the gathering.
“Hi, I’m Bianca, JP’s sister. Can I get you a glass of wine?” a woman with rich chocolate colored hair and light eyes says, approaching me.
“Sure,” I answer as the other woman in the kitchen with blonde hair and dark eyes steps closer.
“You will need at least three to get through tonight.” She grins and leans in, air kissing my cheek. “I’m Anna.”
“It’s nice to meet you both.” I plaster a smile on my face as Bianca hands me a glass of red wine.
“Is red okay?” she asks, but doesn’t wait for an answer as she keeps asking questions. “So tell us how you met JP. We know that you know Joelle from—” She makes a noise to indicate that she knows I was Ellie’s therapist. I suck in a sharp breath. “Don’t worry. Joelle’s with her new boyfriend’s family tonight and shelovesyou. She goes on and on about how Ellie’s therapist was life-changing and we should get all our kids in therapy.”
I smile but swallow so damn hard I’m convinced my tongue is sitting in my gut. I take a large sip of wine. “Joelle is great. But, I’m not Ellie’s therapist anymore, so...”
“So you can tell us all the dirt?” Anna asks with a sly smile. She must read the absolute state of horror on my face because she quickly adds, “I’m joking. Tell us nothing. But...” she begins, looping her arm in mine as she rotates me to face the great room. “We will tell you everything.”
Bianca settles next to us. “Yes. First, that’s Uncle Larry and his fifth—yes, fifth—wife, Bernadette. We love her and continue to question all of his morals.”
“He’s on our dad’s side,” Anna adds. Then points to the couple next to them. “That’s Heidi. She married into the family at some point but none of the rugrats upstairs are hers. The guy next to her is Roberto—not her husband, but he’s our mom’s brother. Zio Roberto. Flew in from Portofino last week.”
“Oh,” I say, sipping the wine again, knowing it’s doing nothing for my memory.
“Right, Heidi’s husband is Charles. Over there.” Anna points at the couch to the man with curly red hair and a Heineken resting on his knee. “Uncle Charlie is hilarious.”
“Right, but not as funny as Aunt Evelyn—God, that woman is a gem!” Bianca clutches her chest. “Here, come meet everyone! It’ll make it easier.”
“Right, and if you don’t remember anyone’s name, don’t worry. They don’t care—they’ll understand. We know we’rea lot.”
While I appreciate Anna’s sentiment, I’m still overwhelmed as I enter the family room.
“Hey everyone, this is the friend JP said was coming. Julia, this is Uncle Larry, Uncle Charlie, Aunt Bernadette, Gramma Mary, Nonna Tia, and my husband, Roy. Joe is married to Bianca—he’ll get here after his shift. He’s a firefighter.”
I nod and smile, saying, “Hello,” while they murmur hellos with bright smiles. Roy holds up a glass of bourbon and says, “And if you can’t remember who we are, just holler,hey, guy!And someone will get you what you need.”
I flash him a thankful smile, certain this is the extent of the interrogation as soon as Charlie asks, “You like football?” I nod, and he scootches over, patting the couch cushion between him and Roy. “Have a seat.”
I glance at Bianca, and she smiles. “He’s good people. I’m going to check on the lasagna.”
“You’re JP’s new lady?” Charlie asks, and I shake my head.
