“I’ve loved seeing you together here.” Nonna beams. “You two are both beautiful people, on the inside and the outside. And you’re so in love. It makes my heart happy.”
Oh shit. My insides cramp up. Now I’m the one staring at my plate, although I’m uninterested in food at this moment.
“And I’m so glad you had each other to get through such a difficult time,” she goes on. “That will only make your relationship stronger. I love you both and I’m glad you’re happy together.”
I tug at the neck of my turtleneck sweater, my stomach churning. I peek at Carson. He lifts his gaze at the exact same moment and our eyes meet. He looks like someone is twisting a skate blade into his back.
I drop my gaze back to my waffle, casting about for something to say in response to Nonna’s comments. “Well…” I start. I fork a piece of waffle into my mouth and chew.
Nonna watches me curiously.
I swallow. “Yes,” I finally say. Something stabs my stomach. “No.” I close my eyes.
“What do you mean?” Nonna asks.
I can’t do this. I can’t keep lying to Nonna. Once more, I look to Carson for help. This time, he meets my gaze steadily in flat-lipped silence.
My chin drops to my chest. “Nonna, I have to tell you something.”
“What is it,dolcezza?” She sets down her fork.
“We… Carson and I…” This is even harder to explain now. “We’ve been separated for almost a year.”
I expect more of a reaction from her. Her forehead creases, though, and she tilts her head.
I rush on. “We’re getting a divorce.”I think.“The divorce will be final when we’ve been separated for a year. I asked him to come this weekend because I knew you would want to see him, and I didn’t want to give you this news on your birthday, and?—”
“Ayla.”
I halt and gaze at her.
“I know.”
She knows… what? What is she talking about? My brain is like a squirrel on crack, going in every direction. I stare at her.
“I know,” she repeats quietly, unsmilingly. “I know you’re getting a divorce.”
My jaw nearly smacks into my waffle. “Uh… how?”
“Please. Do you think you can keep something like that a secret in this family?”
Actually, I did. “Who told you?”
Nonna flutters a hand. “That doesn’t matter.”
“How long have you known?”
“A few months.”
“Oh.” Shame heats my belly. “I’m sorry, Nonna.”
“Youshouldbe sorry. You lied to me.”
My throat thickens. “I know.”
“And not just me. The whole family!”
“Not the whole family,” I mutter. “Mom and Dad knew, and Elisa and Bria. And Rachel.”
