“For you maybe.” He grinned. “I’m actually relieved we’renotrelated.”
“I’m sure.” She rolled her eyes. “I wouldn’t want to be an embarrassment to your family.” She pointed at him. “And it was an honest mistake. I mean, we even look a little alike. Wavy hair, dark eyes ... must be our Italian roots.”
His expression softened. “Yeah, I noticed that too.” He paused to let another snowplow go by, then made a turn onto a road with deep snowdrifts. He slowly plowed his way through. “This is O’Harneys’ property.” After a bit of maneuvering, he pulled up to a structure hidden behind a thick curtain of blizzarding snow. “I’ll get as close to the porch as I can to let you out.”
“Thanks. And thanks for the ride too.” She reached for the door handle. “Sorry I was so mixed up about everything.”
“No problem. It was pretty entertaining.” He opened his door, then hurried to the rear of the truck to dig out her bag from the snow. She trudged through the knee-deep snow and winced at the sharp cold on her bare skin. By the time she got onto the covered porch, he was setting her bag by the front door and pointing to her now snow-covered sandals “I bet your feet are frozen. Anyway, if I don’t see you before you leave for the Bahamas, it was nice to meet ya.” He tipped his hat and knocked on the door for her. “Tell Maria I had to get moving if I’m going to clear her driveway and our other neighbors’ today.”
She thanked him as he bounded back down the steps. And suddenly the front door swung open to reveal a white-hairedwoman with a youthful face. She was wearing faded jeans and a gray sweatshirt. One of her arms was wrapped in a dish towel and was being supported by her other arm. “Come in, come in,” she said loud enough to be heard above the howling wind. “Close the door to keep the heat inside.”
Carol wheeled her bag in and closed the door. “Whew, that storm is wild.”
“I’ll say.” The woman smiled. “Welcome, Carol. As you probably guessed, I’m your aunt Maria.” She nodded toward her wrapped arm. “I’d help with your bag, but I fell early this morning—right before you called. It’s probably a sprain, so I’m icing it.”
“Oh, dear. I’m sorry.”
“It was my own dumb fault. I miscalculated a step on my ladder and took a tumble. Bad move on my part.”
“Sounds like my visit is bad timing on my part.” Carol grimaced. Hadn’t Victor mentioned something like that?
“Not at all.” Maria shook her head. “I’m thrilled to meet you.” She checked Carol from head to toe now. “You’re a very pretty girl too, Carol. You look like a real Banducci.”
“Thank you. I never thought I looked much like my mom.”
“No, she takes after your grandma. She wasn’t Italian. But you definitely resemble the Banducci side of the family.”
“Thanks.”
“Come on in by the fire.” Maria led her into the living room. “Fortunately, I got it started before I fell. It’s still warm but on its way out. I didn’t much feel like going out for a load of wood.”
“I can do that for you,” Carol offered. “I’d like to be helpful while I’m here.”
“Not in that getup.” Maria frowned at Carol’s inappropriate footwear. “My goodness, is that what you’ve been wearing out in this snow?”
“I, uh, I thought I’d be in the Bahamas by now,” she admitted dismally.
“Well, you must be freezing. You’ll catch pneumonia in those things.”
“Unfortunately, I only packed summer clothes and not many of those. My options are limited, but I can still get some wood. Just point me in the direction and—”
“Not until you get some warmer clothes on. Follow me,” Maria ordered, leading her through the comfortably furnished room. They approached a closed door. “Open that.”
Carol obeyed, then switched on the light to see an attractive master bedroom. “Pretty room,” she commented as Maria went to another closed door.
“Thanks. I redid the whole room for our fiftieth anniversary a couple years ago. Open that.” She waited as Carol did as asked. “Get one of those sweaters from that shelf, or a sweatshirt, or whatever suits your fancy,” she said. “And see those fleece-lined slippers on the floor in the corner? Don got them for me last Christmas, but I hardly ever remember to wear them. I’m not sure if they’ll fit you right, but they should work for the time being.”
Carol pulled out a warm-looking Nordic sweater with a snowflake design. “Is this okay?”
“Sure. Take whatever you like. Take a flannel shirt too. Then we’ll find you some warm socks in the dresser. I’ve got blue jeans, too, if you want. You actually look about my height. They might be a little baggy on you, but you can belt ’em in if you need to.”
Carol, fully loaded down with winter clothes, followed her aunt back to the living room, where Maria pointed to the wood-carved staircase. “There are more bedrooms up there. The first door on your right is already made up for guests, not that I’d planned on anyone anytime soon. I just like to keep it ready.The room faces south, so on a clear day, it gets lots of sunshine in the wintertime. I’d suggest you get yourself set up in there.”
“I’ll just be a few minutes,” Carol called from halfway up the stairs.
“Perfect. How are you at making coffee? I’m missing my morning java.”
“I’m a pro,” she called back. “I’ll hurry.”
