“A New Year’s Eve wedding,” Mari said, holding Mia’s other son. They were twins, and Matteo said their names were Brando and Vittorio, but I had no clue who was who. They looked exactly alike—cuteness overload. “That’s going to be so much fun!”
“Agreed!” Scarlett smiled at me.
“Will it be possible to do the ceremony at midnight and then have a party after?” I asked, spearing a piece of banana.
The entire kitchen became quiet, and the women’s eyes kept connecting.
Aunt Lola squeezed my wrist. “You are a Fausti,” she said, her head held high. “You get whatever you want.”
“The possibilities are endless for a gown,” Pnina said. “I must start designing now!” She stood and left the kitchen.
“Speak up,” Scarlett said with a firm look, “if you don’t like where her mind is going. This is your day. Wear what you want.”
I nodded and tried to swallow the tightness in my throat. I was honored that Pnina had offered to make my dress. And she’d told me the night before that we could design it together. I also appreciated Scarlett looking out for me, though.
“Sweet!” Evelina said, touching my watch. “You’re wearing it!”
I looked down at where her hand was. She didn’t move it, just smiled brighter at me. Like the rest of these women, she was so gorgeous. And her glasses gave her an edge. I didn’t want to say something stupid around her.
“Do you want to finish your breakfast outside with me?” she asked. “I can show you how it all works!”
“Okay,” I barely got out.
She took me by the hand, like we’d been friends for years, and after we sat down, she went over all the things the watch could do. She pointed at the button to ping mom.
“That’s only for you,” she whispered. “The rest is for safety and for fun. Like the steps app—if you want to know how many steps you take in a day, that’s the one you use. All our numbers have been programmed in, too, so just say our names and ‘call’ after. The microphone will listen and do it. Well, not everyone’s number has been programmed in.”
We both became quiet, and she concentrated on her food as Rosaria passed us. She had the meanest look on her face, like she hated the world. She took her cup with her to the edge of the property and looked out at it, watching.
“If you took her and the woman who had me, Régine, and created another human being, this world would be in sooo much trouble.”
Evelina’s faced pinched. “Please tell me that was a joke, Stella.”
“I was trying…” I shrugged.
Evelina exploded with laughter, scaring me some. Even Rosaria turned a bit. She rolled her eyes and went back to whatever she was staring at.
“I wasn’t sure if it was, and if it wasn’t, I didn’t want to be rude and laugh.”
“No, it was.” Sort of.
“It was a good one. Well.” She hesitated. “If it wasn’t so true. Because the truth of it makes it bad.”
“Agreed,” I said like Scarlett had.
Evelina grinned at me. “What Rosaria told you last night…Oh!Just for the record. Mia had a talk with me. We weren’t gossiping or anything, but she didn’t want you to feel like there had been anything serious between Matteo and me. We’re all just friends. Like siblings. Like you are to us now too. I didn’t want you to not like me.”
“I do,” I said. “Like you.” After I found out the truth. Damn, did that make me mean? Not to like someone because they might have had Matteo’s attention and love?
Yeah, yeah it did. It would kill me if he ever felt the way he did about me about anyone else.
Evelina pushed her glasses up her nose and smiled at me. “Good, because I really like you too. I think you and Matteo are gorgeous together.” She sighed, looking out at Rosaria again. “That one…stay away from. I can appreciate a woman who lives in a man’s world and can rule it next to him. Tech is not very lady friendly either. But Rosaria takes it to another level. I mean, I really don’t hate her. I can understand why she wants her husband to run this family, but I don’t understand separating everyone to do it. A house divided can’t stand, you know?”
I nodded like I did.
“And who wouldn’t want their son to be happy?”
“You mean Chloe and Massimo,” I whispered.
