Page 27 of Babies at Coconuts

Chapter 21

“What? How?” Suzy’s mouth fell open. “You just landed yesterday and we had the rehearsal dinner last night.”

“You don’t know much about Italians, do you? We’re resourceful.”

Suzy stared at her flip-flops. “Actually, my dad is half-Italian.”

“He’s living? Why isn’t he here?”

Shame covered Suzy like a thick fog. “It’s a long story. A very long story. I love my dad—and my mom—but they didn’t support me after my sister slept with . . . Never mind. I don’t want to discuss this on Jon and Fernando’s happy day. Suffice to say, my parents aren’t aware of the wedding. I think they live in Banff, Canada, now anyway.”

Mama Gia shook her head and tsk tsked. “Family is the most important thing. Oy vey. Nothing’s more important.” She placed her hands on Suzy’s shoulders. “Your parents should be here for this momentous occasion.”

Tears filled Suzy’s eyes. She knew she had made a mistake in not inviting her parents but it was too late now. They could never get here in time from another country. While dealing with her still-new marriage, mostly bratty stepdaughter, and the wedding, she had refused to add to the stress by inviting her parents since they weren’t exactly on speaking terms.

Suzy felt Mama Gia’s dark eyes pierce her but pushed through her guilt and shame. This woman is not going to ruin my only child’s wedding. In an attempt to brighten the situation, Suzy said, “Let’s get back to the wedding and food situation. I found the cutest oversized scallop clam shells to hold the food. The white containers will look adorable and go with the beachy theme.”

“Spaghetti and meatballs might look odd in a clam shell but whatever.” Mia Gia shrugged as she glanced around the parking lot. “Where are my boys?”

Tense, Suzy rubbed her shoulders. I know she wants to be involved in her son’s wedding. I’ve got to make this work. Spaghetti and meatballs will look ridiculous for the island theme but maybe no one will care. Hell, I care. Alex would stand up to Mama Gia but what’s the point? Suzy draped white, pristine tablecloths over several more tables and muttered to herself every step of the way. Alex would tell Mama Gia to back off and in no uncertain terms let the woman know exactly who the wedding planner was. But I’m not Alex.

Suzy kept working while Mama Gia punched numbers into her cell. She hollered, “Where are you, boys? Hurry up. Mama’s not gonna tell you again.”

Before she put her phone away, brakes screeched and sand flew everywhere. Suzy rubbed her eyes from the dust as Mama Gia ran to the car.

Swinging the car door open, Mama Gia poked her head inside. “It’s about time you got here. Do I have to do everything?” When Frankie stepped out she thumped him on the head.

“Ow.” Frankie covered his head with his hands.

Vinny climbed out of the back seat and tried to avoid his mom. She ran around the car and thumped him too.

“Ma.”

“You boys need to help your mama. Your brother’s getting married today.”

Luigi took his sweet time getting out of the car. Mama Gia glared at him. Luigi simply strode toward his mother, bent down, and offered the top of his head. She smacked it and then embraced her sons in a group hug. Kissing each of them, she said, “I love you boys.”

“We love you too, Mama.”

“What can we do?” Frankie asked.

Mama Gia pointed. “Start by setting up those white chairs. Theater-style, right, Suzy?”

Suzy nodded, glad to have the help so Ken wouldn’t have to do it alone since Bill still hadn’t shown up. “Please leave a four-foot aisle down the middle. Thanks, guys.”

Vinny grabbed four chairs at a time, two under each arm. “Done.”

Suzy turned toward the seafood bowls she had purchased, placing some on clear risers and leaving a few at table height. Reaching for a cooler Artistic Blooms had provided, she clutched already-arranged tropical Bird of Paradise bouquets in orange glass vases and placed them on the food, cake, and gift tables. Marc, the owner of Artistic Blooms, had an emergency water leak at the shop but had worked through the night to provide massive orange bows for the backs of each chair end.

Wondering what food Mama Gia and her boys had brought, Suzy ignored her worst suspicions as she placed colorful beachy hibiscus flowers around each serving bowl.

Suzy waved Izzy over. “Will you put the umbrella drink holders near those empty silver ice buckets?”

The teen shrugged. “Okay. Want me to go inside and get ice?”

“It’s too soon.” Suzy peered up at the bright, glaring sun. “It’s surprisingly hot for a spring day. The ice will melt but if you’ll do that later or ask Gus to help when I give you the signal that would be great.”

Izzy nodded, put her cell in her purse, and took a handful of tiny drink umbrellas.

Suzy pointed toward Izzy’s purse. “Keep your cell handy. I might need more translations.” She winked at her stepdaughter and stepped over to the sandy, makeshift dance area. Cupping her mouth with her hands, Suzy shouted, “Will two of you guys come over here and smooth out the dance floor? When the DJ arrives, remind him to start playing the Jimmy Buffet and Kenny Chesney songs we selected to set the beach tone.”

“No problem,” Luigi answered.

Suzy’s heart raced as she considered the seafood buffet she had planned. She had ordered Jon’s favorite lobster-stuffed ravioli, blackened grouper, wild grain rice, roasted asparagus with almonds, and salads with tomatoes and artichokes. Counting the number of clam shell containers, her eyes widened as Mama Gia waddled toward her with a gigantic stock pot. Oh, my God.I’ve got to know how Mama Gia made this food—and when and where she cooked it.

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