Page 63 of Wild Ace

Vinny laughs. “I’m great at lifting heavy things.”

♠ ♣ ♥ ♦

Vinny and my nonno have been acting like old friends all morning. Vinny said something in Italian, and once nonno learned he spoke the language, all bets were off. I only know a little Italian, so I’m not entirely sure what they’ve been saying, but seeing them smile and laugh together…it stirs something in me.

I can see them having long talks and sipping wine while my nonno cooks Sunday dinner. I can see Vinny coming to help me at the deli and seeing it as fun and not some burden he feels he has to do to get me to like him.

I just packed a box of things to stock nonno’s fridge with, and when I come back down, I pause in the hallway, hearing my name spoken.

“Do you like my granddaughter, Vincenzo?”

“I do, sir. Very much.”

“Good. If you haven’t already figured it out yet, she’s a strong and independent young lady. But she needs someone to take that burden I know she feels.”

“I only want to make her life easier. You can trust me on that.”

“I saw the way you’ve been watching her today, and the way she’s been watching you when you’re not looking. I see. I know. It’s the beginning of something big, Vincenzo.”

“I’m hoping for that, Frank,” Vinny says, and I can hear the actual hope in his voice.

He thinks we’re at the beginning of something big?

“And since I want this to be the start of something big, I want to apologize to you, Frank.”

“What for?”

“I was trying to get Lexi’s attention by inserting my help where it turns out it wasn’t needed, and I unknowingly insulted you in the process. My help was never driven from a place where I thought the deli needed to be something different to succeed, and the last thing I wanted was for you to feel like I was insulting you. I was just trying to get Lexi to see that I was a nice guy.”

“Thank you. I appreciate you telling me. Alexis said as much, but I see now you’re a sincere man, Vincenzo.”

“I try my best to be, sir.”

“I may not like to admit it, but I’m not getting any younger. My work is my life. It’s my home. But I know change is needed. Especially if I want to remain in business.”

“Lexi won’t let anything happen to the deli, Frank. I know she loves it as much as you do.”

“She does.” I hear the smile in my nonno’s voice. “I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

“I hope neither of us has to ever find out.”

I think my heart is going to explode in my chest. Hearing them talk about me like that… I feel seen and cared for, and if I eavesdrop anymore, I may just not be able to handle it.

“Alright, nonno, I put all the food away upstairs,” I say, coming around the corner. They both look over at me from the table they’re sitting at, and I stop short, playing dumb like I didn’t hear anything. “What?”

“Nothing. We were just talking about lunch. Soppressatas all around?”

“Will you tell me what’s in that spicy red pepper spread yet?” Vinny asks, and nonno shrugs.

“Maybe one day. If you take care of my Alexis, then I’ll consider it.”

“Nonno!”

“Deal,” Vinny says, and they shake on it.

“Are you serious?” I ask, putting my hand on my hip. “You’re trading me for a sandwich spread?”

“Not trading,” Vinny says with a smile. “Just negotiating.”

---