Page 74 of To Have and To Hold

Boys?

The capo dei capi and his consigliere.

Sure, Mom, boys.

Mia was the happiest I could remember.

I shook my head.

“I don’t want it to stop, Mom. I want to marry Em. I’m in love with him.”

Mom gasped. “Isabella, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you’re too young to know what love is. You’re simply infatuated. He’s an older man who is paying attention to you. You’re enchanted by the idea of love. You know nothing about the reality of marriage.”

My neck stiffened. “I’m not going to argue my age. I will ask you to remember how old you were when you and Papà married.”

“That’s irrelevant. Things have changed.”

“Did Papà propose?” I asked.

“Your grandfather Vincent spoke to my father.”

I repeated the question.

“We had a family dinner where Carmine presented me with an engagement ring. Tradition.”

“Em asked me. He got down on one knee and asked me.” When Mom didn’t respond, I went on. “There wasn’t a ring because we both knew we needed Dario’s andel Patr?n’sapproval.”

“He asked you?” she said quietly.

“He did. And I accepted.”

“That’s not your choice.”

“Why? Didn’t you say things have changed?”

“Your father barely tolerates Catalina. We’ve never invited the capo and his wife to our home. You can’t marry this…Emiliano.”

“Why, Mom?” My voice got louder. “Are you saying that if I do marry Em, my husband will not be welcome in my childhood home, or are you saying that neither of us will be? Because if you or Papà bans Em, you’re also banning me.”

The crying on the other end of the call began again. “I don’t want to lose my daughter.”

“It’s rather simple. Welcome my husband and you still have me as a daughter. That also goes for his sisters and parents.”

“Do you realize what you’re doing to us?”

“What am I doing toyou?”

“You’re beautiful, Isabella, a true treasure. Your father has entered into discussions with the Esposito famiglia in St. Louis. They’re very respected.”

I shook my head. “I don’t know them.”

“Yes, dear, you met them when we went to St. Louis for the wedding of their capo dei capi’s daughter, Emilia. Francesco Ricci is the Esposito famiglia consigliere. You and his son Aldo were friendly.”

That was who Papà mentioned. I recalled the wedding. “I was nine.”

“You’re eighteen now. He never forgot you.”

Inhaling, I decided to put a stop to this conversation. “I forgot him.”

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