Page 26 of It's Always Sonny

I check my smart watch compulsively. Anita gave me the main contact’s information—a granddaughter, Emma—and I text her to confirm.

She responds at 1:30 p.m.

EMMA: Just pulling into the farm! We had a pit stop at the diner in town, but we’re almost there.

I show Jane the text, and she nods. Then she gives me a tight, nervous smile.

There must be a lot riding on this event. Apparently, some of the grandkids are wealthy and connected, so the word of mouth will probably matter. Thinking of the stakes being higher for Jane and Tripp doesn’t add any bubbles to the ulcer in my stomach, though. It’s already a gurgling, twisted mess. I want this to go off without a hitch. I want everything to be perfect for this family and for Jane and Tripp.

And for me.

It’s important to me that I do the best I can in everything I do. Some of that is from my parents’ expectations and the pressure they put on me to achieve, achieve, achieve. But part of it is who I am. I want to excel. I want to—

Wait, what did that say?

A glance at Jane’s calendar railroads my thoughts. I’m not trying to eavesdrop or peek, but her calendar is up and inches from mine, and the name that’s showing up on her phone is different than the papers Anita gave me.

Everything—and I mean everything—I’ve been given says, “Castagno Family Reunion for Nonna’s 80th Birthday.” In my head, I’ve been referring to the family as the Castagno family.

But I guess it never actually said Nonna Castagno …

My pulse races like a runaway train, a train that threatens to burst out of my chest. “Jane, why does your calendar say—”

But I don’t get a chance to call Jane on what her calendar says that NONE of my paperwork says, because the doors to the cabin burst open, and in come the first members of the family. A pretty brunette of around forty and her husband and three teen and tween kids, followed by two older women—the grandma and her sister, I’m sure.

“I’m Emma!” the pretty brunette says as she approaches Jane and me. “Emma Castagno, the oldest of the grandkids.”

“By four minutes,” one of her kids says. He’s a teenager with floppy hair who looks like he thinks he’s cool. “She and my uncle are twins, and they’ll tell you all about it all week if you let them.”

“Not the time, Noah,” Emma says with a small shake of her head. She looks at Jane. “You must be Anita.”

“No, I’m Jane. Anita hoped she’d be here to check you all in, but she and her husband wanted to get out early with that storm coming down. But this is Parker.”

“Oh good!” Emma says to me. “Anita told me you’d be our main point of contact. Thank you guys so much for putting us up this week. We had a lot of last minute changes, so you opening your venue for us is something of a miracle.” Emma turns around, waving to two elderly women. Both women are spry beyond their years. And the tiniest and oldest of the two looks familiar.

More than familiar.

No.

No.

This can’t be happening.

More people start filing in. Another family and another and another. The cabin isn’t meant to be a receiving area for this many people. And even though I knew how many people were in the group, having them all here at the same time is so much more.

And the kids. The kids add like three people each. That toddler terror is worth at least six.

That toddler terror …

I recognize that toddler terror. From the Super Bowl Suite where I last saw him.

More people come in, and while Jane stands and greets them all, I stay seated. Shock has frozen me in place.

And now I know the faces all too well.

Gabe Luciano and his family walk in, and I debate running out the back door. His parents follow. Then his older brother, Anthony, enters with his family, minus Max, who ran ahead. Then it’s Sienna and her husband. Everyone is hugging and laughing. Kids are running in, out, and all around. Teens are dispatched on babysitting duty, assigned to watch each of the younger cousins. Some grumble and roll their eyes while others jump to it. The grown-ups all take seats in the main room and around the kitchen table or even on the kitchen counters. No one seems bothered by the tight accommodations. They make it feel bigger than it is, like the cabin is coming to life and expanding along with their energy.

Jane greets them all warmly, making everyone feel comfortable and important by virtue of her even turning her stunning gaze on them.

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