Page 60 of Married With Malice

“I’m missing a few dozen tattoos but I’ve perfected the scruffy jaw look.” I run a hand over my rough cheek. Lately, I’ve been going a few days between dates with the razor.

Daisy continues to examine me. She has the same pretty brown eyes as her sister but without the inscrutable layers and ever changing moods.

“No, that’s not it,” she says. “You’re so serious. You didn’t used to be serious.”

She gets credit for being more perceptive than I realized.

“I’ve just had a lot on my mind lately,” I say.

Like mafia business.

And murder.

And my wife.

Daisy clucks her tongue. “Do you know what you should do? You should go see the tree.”

“The tree?”

She nods. “You know, in the city. When we were little, Mama would take us to Rockefeller Center every year and we’d always go skate at the ice rink. Anni loved going so much. She was always the best skater there and people would cheer. Those are some of my favorite Anni memories.”

I really wish it was possible to have a window into someone’s head. I’m jealous of Daisy’s memories. I’d be awestruck by the sight of Annalisa having the time of her life as she glides over the ice amid the twinkling holiday lights.

I’ve pretty much forgotten that Christmas is just around the corner, though the evidence is everywhere once I step outside the house. Anni hasn’t decorated for the season at all and I don’t know if she plans to or not.

This somehow bothers me.

“Babe!” Big Man Bowie sticks his head out of the window. “You hungry?”

“Always.” Daisy claps her hands. “Extra aioli sauce on my burger.”

“You got it. Luca, you take yours well done with Pepper Jack cheese, right?”

“Yeah, that would be great,” I say, wondering how in the hell he knew this information.

“Coming right up,” Big Man Bowie says and ducks back into the truck.

I’ll have to assume he’s drafted Monte and Nico into his assistant cooks because they haven’t emerged.

The air begins to smell strongly of sizzling meat, which draws new attention. Prospective customers step up and check out the menu on the side of the truck.

“I need to go take orders,” Daisy says. “But your food will be ready in a few minutes.”

I pull out my wallet and try to hand over my bank card but Daisy backs away and refuses to accept it.

“Family always get free food,” she says with a shrug. “And you’re family.”

“I appreciate that.” The last thing I want to do is insult her so I push my card back into my wallet. “Hey, you know I’m really happy for you, right? Bowie’s a great guy. I’m glad you two found each other.”

She pauses halfway to the truck and stares at me. An ocean breeze blows her hair into her face and she tucks it behind it her ears the same way her sister does.

“I’m happy for you too, Luca. You also found the love of your life. So did Anni.”

Her words have a significant effect, although I’m sure she has no idea as she merrily returns to the truck.

Annalisa has never said a word about love.

In fairness, neither have I.

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