‘Nonno!’
‘She needs to know, Matteo. No one knows you like I do.’
‘I’ll do my best to support him and look after him,’ Sarah promised. ‘Don’t worry about that.’
‘He can’t cook to save himself. Burned toast andcafféis the extent of it, Sarah.’
They both laughed, and despite the banter at his expense, Matthew loved watching the two so at ease together.
‘I’m working on it,’ she reassured him. ‘He’s made a pavlova and sourdough so far. We have plenty of time.’
Matthew turned to look at her. ‘I have a great teacher.’
As the two shared a smile, remembering how their two first culinary adventures had played out, Andrea eyed them closely, noting the energy and closeness between them. He tried his best to stifle a knowing grin, but it was too difficult. ‘I sense great things here,’ he said. His eyes narrowed in on his grandson, his pride and joy. The sight of him beside Sarah took the edge off the cancerous pain. He found a sense of ease and release, and relaxed further down into his hospital pillows.
‘We both have lots to learn this year,’ Sarah added.
‘Nonno, did Dad tell you what’s happened?’
Andrea shifted in the bed. ‘Yes. I called my brother and had a stern word with him. Nothing can be done.’
‘It’s out of Alberto’s control,’ Matthew said. ‘It is what it is. We are just trying our best to go with the flow now.’
‘Bravi. Fate bene. There’s no point in wasting time. What do you know about thiscugino, Luca?’
‘Not much. You?’
‘Niente.’ The worry and unease returned to his eyes. ‘Just work together, you two. The D’Adamo legacy is all about family. Stay close. Listen to each other. You are all you have over there.’
‘We know, Nonno,’ Matthew said. ‘We’ll try our best.’
Angelo suddenly appeared. ‘Sarah,mi dispiace, I have a question aboutla dispensa.’
‘Excuse me, Nonno, no rest for the wicked. If I’m not back in time, let’s chat soon another time. Perhaps with a cuppa?’
‘I look forward to it,’ he said, and Sarah slipped away after blowing him a kiss.
In the privacy that the otherwise empty kitchen now afforded them, Andrea lowered his voice and said, ‘She’s going to be good for you.’
Matthew ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. ‘I know.’
‘She’s beautiful.’
‘I know.’
‘Have you had sex yet?’
Matthew’s eyes flicked back to the screen. ‘Nonno!’
‘Kind, caring, sweet. They don’t grow on trees, Matteo.’
‘I can’t believe you just—’
‘Who taught you about sex, eh? I still remember your face. Just like that, actually.’ He pointed to Matthew’s wide-eyes and open mouth on the screen.
‘I don’t want to complicate things, Nonno.’
‘Maybe you should marry this one?’
