I still heard them, and smiled as I looked out of the windows by the tub.
“Want to know why I’m so sure she’ll be okay with you guys?” Luca asked, then kissed Max.
“Why?”
“Because she’ll be happy that I’ve found someone to love.”
My brother gasped. “W-What?”
“I’m in love with you, Max.”
There was a choked up sound, and then Max’s words were muffled, probably against Luca’s lips.
A tear rolled down my cheek and I wiped it away. I felt like I could burst. If I’d thought knowing that I was loved was a lot, hearing Luca say it to Max, too, was… it was everything. Max deserved someone good and kind, and whileourLuca had very few hints of the Luca whose music we’d listened to endlessly in the past, I also kind of loved the idea of Max getting to be with his idol, because how often did that happen to people?
There were no illusions about who Luca was, of course. He was just a man. A man who loved both of us and wanted to see us happy.
I wiped my face again and walked back to them.
Luca beamed at me and held out his hand, while Max wiped at his own face, chuckling wetly. The happiness in his eyes bowled me over, and I stepped to the couch, then went to my knees in front of them.
“How is this kind of feeling possible?” I managed to say, as I wrapped my arms around them both and pressed my face into Luca’s stomach.
“I don’t know,” Max replied in a helpless tone. “I really don’t.”
“I love you both,” Luca said, just like he’d told me he wanted to. “I didn’t expect you, but I’m so glad I have you now.” Then he leaned in to kiss me and cupped my face with his free hand, the other was holding onto Max’s. “I can’t wait for my Nonna to meet you two.”
It took time to get to the Newark neighborhood Luca was from, and by the time we got to his Nonna’s house, my palms were sweating and Max looked pale.
“My parents live three blocks that way,” he told us as we walked up the steps to the front door.
The brownstone seemed to be turn-of-the-century. It stood in the corner of the lot, and the small front yard—if you could call it that—had flowerbeds on three different levels. It was clear the house had been kept well. Many others around it hadn’t been.
Luca rang the doorbell, squeezed my hand, then Max’s. “She’ll love you.”
The door opened to show… not what I’d expected, somehow.
“Luca!” The tall woman with stylish gray hair exclaimed, then pulled him into her arms.
He spoke to her in Italian, and by his own admission, I knew he didn’t know very much, so it must’ve been terms of endearment and such.
She smooched his cheeks and looked at him, her eyes filling with tears. “Oh, cuore mio. You look so good!”
He smiled, then turned his head to glance at us. “Can we come inside, Nonna?”
It was as if she noticed us the first time, even though she’d known we’d be arriving with Luca.
“Yes, of course. I’m sorry.” She stepped back to let us in and then held her hand out to me first. “It’s so nice to meet you both. I’m Stefania, this one’s nonna.” She nudged her head toward Luca who was taking his jacket off.
I shook her hand. “I’m Ben. It’s an honor to meet someone who Luca thinks so highly of.”
She oohed and grinned, her expression having a hint of her grandson in it. “You’re a charmer, aren’t you?” Then she took Max’s hand. “And you must be Max. It’s so good to meet you.”
“Likewise, Ma’am,” Max blurted out, still uncomfortable with the situation.
“None of that. Call me Nonna, Or Stefania, if you must.” She patted Max’s cheek like he was five years old, then whirled around to Luca. “You didn’t tell me they were so handsome!”
Luca burst out laughing. “How about we sit down, Nonna, before you fluster them any more.”
