"Yes, it's so funny how life works out. Nico was calling you his barely illegal employee at your birthday party and now here you are as the great lady."
He really said that? To Cosima? I return her insincere smile, grateful to have them gone at last. I won’t be in any hurry to return their visit, and I hate to admit how insecure Cosima made me feel.
Heading upstairs, I intend to speak to my sister about possibly training with me. She’s been keeping to her room lately, saying she doesn’t want to be in the way of the newlyweds, but I worry it’s more than that.
Instead of Maddalena, I find Ersilia first, who’s been watching over Amadeo and Lucia while I practiced with weapons and sharpened my social knives over tea. She is still too opinionated when it comes to childcare, but her value as a housekeeper is undeniable, and we’re slowly warming up to each other.
“I would never criticize Mr. Morelli,” she begins as soon as she sees me, “But I’ve never known a boss’s wife to take up shooting.”
I silently roll my eyes, knowing she won’t see it, and settle on the floor next to the children on their playmat. “Chicago is at war. I trust my husband’s judgment.”
“My nephew is excited over the war, too young to appreciate the danger.” She raised her nephew after her sister’s untimely passing. He is grown now, a Made Man of the Trio, but it doesn’t stop her from worrying over him.
Amadeo is sitting up, happily banging two colorful rings together. But Lucia’s still on her back, looking very displeased as she tugs at her feet. “Ersilia, I told you she does not like the shoes,” I say, removing the patent leather dress shoes from my daughter’s feet.
“I know, but they look so cute with her Christmas dress.” Zeta bought the adorably frilly outfit and shoes, a grandmother’s indulgence, but I planned to save it for when we see them Christmas Day.
“They are cute but too tight. They pinch her feet,” I say of the shoes, setting them aside only to realize she’s wearing two sets of socks.“Oh Dio. Always with the socks and socks,”I grumble in Italian as Ersilia heads back downstairs.
With her feet free, Lucia is my happy little angel again. Helping her sit up, I bang on the xylophone Dante brought them this morning asan early Christmas present before passing Lucia the plastic mallet. Amadeo drops his rings, instantly drawn to something that will make more noise.
“Hey, can I join you?” Maddalena stands in the doorway of the nursery, and something about her expression rings my alarm bells.
“Of course, you can.” She sits on the floor with me, playing with the children for a few minutes. We were not raised together, and we are different people, but I’m getting to know my twin. “What is it?”
She sighs, lifting her eyes to meet mine. “I believed him when he called me beautiful.”
“You are beautiful. Do you mean Giacomo?” I ask, dread filling me.
“Yeah. I thought he was serious about a modeling career for me.”
“Have you seen him?”
“I can’t escape our watchdogs, can I?” she snorts. “I’ve been talking to him over the phone since that night when Nico… He didn’t sound like himself today, but he said he had arranged my private runway showcase for tomorrow.”
“On Christmas Eve?” I can’t picture talent scouts or modeling agents working then. Even the mafia doesn’t do more than necessary during the holiday.
“Yeah. He wants me to sneak off and meet him, saying your bodyguards would be home with their families and Nico would be too preoccupied by you and the children to notice my absence.”
Giacomo is a fool if he thinks Nico doesn’t keep a close watch on us both after the debacle at Spice. “Did you agree to meet him?”
“I did at first… until I realized how wrong it all sounded.”
“Wrong how?”
***
Hours later, Maddalena nervously watches Nico pace in his office, so I wrap my arm around her shoulders. My husband’s thoughts are closed off from me after listening to Giacomo’s plans to have my sister sneak away for a special modeling ‘party’ tomorrow night. “She did not do anything wrong,” I assert, wanting to make sure he will not blame my sister.
Nico stops pacing and blinks, his eyebrows slowly drawing together. “I did not suggest she did. Maddalena… You did the right thing telling me. You will not contact him again." Hesitantly, she nods.“Bene.Come, dinner and the children are waiting for us.”
He opens the office door, ushering us ahead of him. I know he is a master at concealing his emotions. Ordinarily. But I did not expect him to appear so unruffled. Why isn’t he angrier? Does he not care since this only involves my sister? Does it not matter when it concerns his 'barely legal employee' and her family?
He stalks behind us as we enter the dining room where Ersilia waits with the twins. Lucia is fretful in her highchair, wearing those blasted shoes again. “I told you these are too tight,” I snap, tugging them off. Ersilia doesn’t argue about how cute they are with Nico in the room, but I’m going to need to have a serious discussion with her if this arrangement is to continue.
Even once we’re seated and the first course is served, Lucia is still making whimpering noises over her pureed sweet potatoes. “She liked them last time.”
“Perhaps I could try?” Nico suggests. Smiling, I pass the spoon and watch. He is so gentle with them, showing a softer side that very few ever witness.
