Page 60 of There Are No Words

“Sorry,” Bianca said, trying to save it. “It’s just so rare, especially because we are based right here in New York.”

“It’s okay. I just don’t have much use for fashion or fashion magazines. I’ve been out of work because the place I was the receptionist for closed up earlier this year,” Jade explained andcrossed one leg over the other. “Anyway, what’s up with this magazine of yours?”

I shook my head, needing to get this back on track. “Do you mind if I tell you a little story, Jade?” I asked.

She shrugged, seemingly not caring one way or the other.

But, just the same, I launched into the story of why we were sitting in her apartment and didn’t leave out a single detail.

* * *

“I don’t understand. I’m your half sister?” Jade asked, laughing and looking at each of us again like we were off our rockers. Her eyes widened, though, by the time they fell back on me. “Oh, this is serious?”

“I can send you the file from the investigator if you want to look at it,” I said, reaching for my phone in my purse.

Jade put her hand on my wrist and stopped me, though. “No, it’s okay. I mean, sure, I guess I’d like to see it, but later. I believe you. I’m just in shock. I never expected to know my birth parents.”

“Well, technically, you won’t know them,” Perla reminded her. “Since they’ve both passed, but you’ll get to know us, if you’re willing to.”

Shaking her head, Jade stood up. “I don’t know. I mean, do you really need another sister?”

Wow, that was wicked because she sounded just like Bianca. I shrugged. “The more the merrier. Can you not use family?”

Jade spun on her heel. “I mean, Jake would tell you I could.”

“I know you said Jake is your best friend, but is he also your boyfriend?” I asked, noticing the distinct lack of a ring on her finger.

She laughed. It wasn’t the first time she’d done that since we got here, but it was the first time I’d picked up on the fact that she sounded just like Bianca when she did—high-pitched. It was almost uncanny. That was two for two, if you were keeping score.

“Definitely not. Just my best friend. We grew up together, but besides him, I don’t really have any friends, so I could definitely use more people in my life. Or so he’s always telling me. I guess family qualifies.”

“Some might say family’s better than friends,” Maria noted and smiled from her perch on the arm of the couch—the only place she could fit on the small love seat that was crammed with my pregnant ass, Bianca, and Perla.

“Regina Morelli’s daughter, eh? Fashion mogul? I’m kind of surprised,” Jade said, obviously still thinking about everything she’d heard today. “Sisters,” she added, closing her eyes and shaking her head. “It’s a lot to take in.” Then she sighed and looked around again. “But a good lot, you know?”

I nodded. I knew exactly what she meant, and I had a feeling my other sisters did, too.

Jade smiled and for the first time since we came face to face, I noticed one other thing about her. . . when she smiled, she looked a little like Mom when she was younger. I’d seen it my whole life in pictures, and I knew that look. Jade had it.

I blinked, trying to keep my emotions in check, and turned my gaze heavenward. I smiled, hoping that Mom was looking down and she was happy.

Your daughters are all together, Mom. It’s a big, fat Italian reunion.

* * *

“It’s late. You should get some sleep,” Brady commanded and walked to his room as soon as we finished dinner, which was unusually late thanks to the traffic Maria hit on the drive back from Jade’s.

I followed his lead and walked to my room, wondering if suddenly he was changing his mind about spending another night with me. “Yeah, you’re right.” I yawned and covered my mouth with my hand. “Thanks for having dinner with me tonight.” He’d intentionally come home early to eat with me, which I thought was sweet. It was just another sign that maybe my tarot card reading was onto something.

With a hand on his doorknob, he turned to me. “Yeah, of course.”

Before he could go into his room and shut the door, I whispered, “Brady?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you not staying with me again tonight?” I asked, terrified he’d say no. I wasn’t sure what would’ve caused him to change his mind, but I felt I needed to ask.

“I am but thought you might need some time to unpack everything that happened today.”

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