Then Susanna speaks. Or rather, screams. “What?!”
“Luca is a mafia man. He wants to marry one of us. I’m not sure which. But we don’t really get a say in the matter. So suck it up, Susanna. This is happening.”
Mom sits down heavily into one of the chairs, like all the air has just left her. “I knew this day would come but I’m not ready for it.”
Instead of screaming more, Susanna goes eerily calm. “This is the solution to my problem. If I marry, then I won’t have to live here. I can make my own rules. Live my life for myself. This is great!” She claps her hands together. “Luca will obviously pick me. I mean, why wouldn’t he? Look at me.” She motions at me. “And look at you. It’s no competition.”
“I’m pretty too,” I mutter.
“Sure but not as pretty as me. Anyone can tell. And Luca is a handsome man. I noticed that right away last night. He’ll pick me and I won’t have to live in this horrible house any longer. I can make my own rules. Go where I want. Do what I want. Live life as a woman for once.”
Mom shakes her head. “Don’t be so sure, Susanna. He could pick Nina.”
Susanna gives our mom the most incredulous look on the planet. “Mom, no. He’s going to pick me. This is great news.” She skips away. That was not the reaction I had been expecting but I guess this is good. Hopefully Luca will pick Susanna since she clearly wants it. I’m not ready to get married yet and to a complete stranger on top of it all.
For the sake of everyone, Luca better pick Susanna.
Mom comes with us as we go over to Alek’s house the following day. Luca will make his decision and choose either me or Susanna to marry. My heart refuses to stop pounding in my chest. I think I might die from the nerves of it all.
Alek and Katya greet us. It’s clear Luca isn’t here yet.
I give Katya a hug while Susanna gives her the cold shoulder. Despite it being two years, Susanna has still never fully warmed up to Katya.
We all settle into the living room to wait for Luca.
“How are you two feeling?” Katya asks in her soft voice that has gotten stronger over the years since she’s been married to Alek. I know she used to suffer from severe trauma in the past. I can’t even imagine going through something traumatic. Losing my dad was hard enough but he died from natural causes. Katya’s parents died because her father murdered her mother and did it right in front of her.
Susanna flips her hair over her shoulder. “Good. I can’t wait until Luca picks me and I marry a handsome man and get to live my life for myself.”
Katya’s smile is strained as she looks at me. “And you?”
“I’m fine,” I murmur. Except, I’m not at all. If Luca chooses Susanna, that will be for the best. But what if he chooses me? Susanna assumes it’s a done deal with her and Luca but it might not be. Neither one of us knows who Luca really is. We’ve only spoken to him the one time at the club and Susanna mostly berated him for hiring a horrible bartender for the entire time. Who knows what he’s thinking?
It feels like forever for Luca to arrive but when he does, I know this is it. Everything is going to change.
The mood turns cold when Luca enters the living room. He makes a point of looking between me and Susanna, like we’re cows at auction.
Maria stands up and shakes his hand. “So, you’re the man who’s going to marry one of my daughters. I’m not happy about this but I knew this day would come. So you better treat whoever you pick right. I will stand for nothing less.”
“Of course, Mrs. Petrov. I don’t plan on abusing any one of them. Though, I am a controlling man. I will admit. I thought about it all last night. Who I would pick.”
Susanna stands up and flashes her megawatt smile. “It’s me, of course. Who else would you pick? We had chemistry when we met the other night at the club. We both know it.”
Luca’s smile is tense, which puts me on edge. This isn’t going to go well. I can feel it in my gut. “I like your spirit, Susanna. How feisty you are. And as for Nina, you have a quietness about you that is endearing.” He lets his eyes linger on me for a moment. I shift around in my seat.
Susanna frowns. “So, you are going to pick me, yes?”
“No. I am not.”
All the air in the room is sucked right out of it. I go still while Susanna sinks onto the couch, looking completely confused and defeated.
Alek gives me a look that I can’t decipher. Was he hoping Luca was going to pick Susanna as well? Or was he hoping all along it would be me?
“You’re choosing Nina?” Mom asks.
Luca’s nod is definitive. “Yes.”
“Why?” Susanna whines. “Why in the world would you pick her over me? She’s so plain in comparison.”
