He grinned before he took a drink.
His mother returned with a casserole dish that contained eggplant lasagna along with a bowl of salad and a basket of bread. The casserole could easily feed twenty people. “I know it’s a lot for the three of us, but I know Con loves leftovers.”
“You got me there, Ma.” He held up the bottle of wine and silently asked her if she wanted some.
She nodded.
He filled her glass before he corked the bottle again.
Sofia glanced at me, a smile on her lips when she noticed my empty glass, like she was still thrilled by the news days later.
Constantine broke the ice without preamble. “Aurelia told me she’s pregnant.”
Her eyes lit up instantly, and moisture coated the surface. Her hands came together and moved over her heart. “Oh thank god. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to get through this dinner otherwise.” She got toher feet and came around the table to hug her son. “My boy, I’m so happy for you.”
He stood up to embrace her, a skyscraper compared to her small size. He held her against him and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Thank you, Ma. And thank you for always being there for her. I really appreciate it.”
“You know I love her like a daughter.”
They talked to each other like I wasn’t in the room. I watched them together, loving the fact that Constantine was always good to his mother. That he was a man in every way, but still a mama’s boy at heart.
Constantine pulled away and gently rubbed her back. “Congratulations.”
“Congratulations to you,” she said. “Now it’s time we celebrate.”
“Will you stay here in Taormina?” Sofia asked hopefully.
“Definitely,” Constantine said. “It’s a great place to grow up. A small village with a tight-knit community close to family. Can’t think of a better place.”
Sofia beamed, an internal light glowing from her skin. “I hope it’s a girl. Already have two grandsons.”
“Me too,” Constantine said. “Hard to imagine raising a son.”
“Yes, they’re a handful.” She sliced her fork through her lasagna. “The two of you almost gave me heart attacks on a daily basis. All the girls you would sneak into the house and late nights out on the boat, that Virgin Mary statue you two knocked over ... I don’t miss those days.”
Constantine chuckled. “Sorry about that.”
“Beatrice was easy. Always a nice girl. Doesn’t make the best decisions, but still a breeze compared to you two.”
“If that’s the case, then why am I your favorite?” Constantine teased.
She rolled her eyes. “I don’t have a favorite.”
“Right, right.” He grinned before he took a drink of his wine.
I noticed the way they talked about Edric indirectly. He was part of the conversation but never mentioned by name. It seemed like the loss was still devastating, even after all this time.
“If you have a daughter, she’ll be magnificent,” Sofia said. “Beautiful like Aurelia and tall like the two of you. She’ll be a model in Milan by the time she’s eighteen.”
“I’m sure that’s true—except the model part,” Constantine said. “She’ll be too smart to stand still for pictures. She’ll be doing something more worthwhile with her time. Running a business or being an athlete or traveling the world.”
I liked that Constantine wanted more for a daughter we didn’t even know that we were having. That he wanted the same for her that he’d want for a son.
“And if it’s not a girl, just keep going until you get one,” Sofia said.
Constantine gave a quiet chuckle. “That’s hard to picture, honestly. I like having siblings, but it’s hard to imagine having more than one. I selfishly just want to love one kid and give them all of me.”
Sofia smiled. “You already sound like a father, honey.”
