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Agnella shook her head at the memory before she continued. “He had spent years working hard, putting away for Concetta’s future. No one was going to have a grander wedding than our girl. His plan was to gift the remaining money to the couple towards the purchase of a house. In his mind, he practically had her married off, but she was defiant. All she could do was talk about going to school. Every time she spoke about it, he got angrier and angrier.

Why can’t you just accept your fate?He’d ask her.

Because that’s not my fate. My fate is to change the world.She’d argue back.

Concetta believed she could do anything. Her eyes were always full of determination. While I believed her, I was unable to convince Reginaldo to agree to a compromise.”

Agnella looked around the room, holding the gaze of each of them for a moment before continuing. “I’ll tell you all a secret. It wasn’t much, but I had a little squirreled away. The money I gave her covered her application fee. She got into the program. Oh, I can’t remember the name. As far as I remember, she was one of only two girls to get in. Concetta thought her father would be proud, but no. He was angry. The arguments those two would have. Concetta didn’t understand why he couldn’t spend the money meant for her future to send her to school. After all, she had done the hard work of getting accepted. Did I mention it was an early admittance? One night it came to a head. She got on her knees and begged her father for money to go to school. The way she sobbed. He still told her no. If she wanted the money to go to school, she would have to earn it. It was the second time in my marriage I hid something from him. My cousin got your mamma a job cleaning the office where she worked.”

“Do you remember where?” Leonardo asked, although it looked like Manny was about to ask as well.

“Of course. Your grandfather had me throw out the few Scott’s products we had on the shelf. I never told anyone, but I would slip half a can of Scott’s tomato soup into my sauce. The sauce was never the same.”

“She got a job working at Scotts?” Emmanuel asked.

“Yes. After dinner, she would work until eleven o’clock.” Agnella stopped and looked away thoughtfully. “Well, at first. Then, by the summer months, she started doing double shifts. She would work until one or two a.m.”

Eeks.Who would tell this sweet woman her daughter was most likely not doing double shifts?

“Things around the house were so tense. Reginaldo stopped talking to our daughter. Then when I thought things couldn’t get any worse. He found her bank book. The money she had saved from her job was so much. The things he said to his own daughter. He called her a prostituta. The situation seemed hopeless.”

Agnella grimaced. “Within a few months, I noticed her weight gain. She couldn’t hold any food down. Just the smell of coppa made her sick. I knew before she did. Your mamma was mad I even suggested such a thing. She claimed she was untouched. I knew better. Then one day, she didn’t get out of bed. The way she was sobbing.

I don’t know how it happened, Mamma. I was careful. So careful.

The strangest thing was, we both thought her father would go through the roof. He took it so well. At first. Until she wouldn’t name your father.

You must tell me, Concetta. I will go to him. Make him marry you. Before it is too late.

Reginaldo kept badging her for weeks until she finally broke.

He can’t marry me, Papa. He is already married.

She wouldn’t go along with her father’s plan. Reginaldo wanted to bring someone over from the old country and they would marry her and raise the baby. Concetta refused. Something broke inside of him. The night he kicked her out of our house, it was the first time he raised his hand to us. He forbid her from ever returning to the house. One of the last things he told her was not to give her bastard his name.” Agnella pressed her fingers to her lips as she looked at Leonardo, then at Manny.

She swiped away her tear. Her voice was low. “I’m sorry. I should have protected her.”

Ivy wished she could absolve Agnella, but it wasn’t her place. As a mother herself, she doubted anyone could release the older woman of the guilt she was feeling.

“Concetta called me when she moved to the other side of the country. I know she timed the call for when her father wasn’t around. My little girl told me her father was right.

Mama, I’m such a bad person.

What I have done can never be forgiven.

She wouldn’t tell me what it was. I can’t imagine what it could be. I’ve wondered for the last fifty years.”

“I think she felt remorse about separating us,” Leonardo volunteered.

Manny shot him an incredulous look, as if warning him to be quiet.

His brother sent him a mirrored stern look. “No more secrets, Emmanuel. Lives have been ruined.”

Her husband glanced at her and Frank with a probing look. When they both nodded. He conceded by nodding at his brother. Keeping the truth from their grandmother wouldn’t serve anyone.

“Concetta didn’t tell me she had twins. I wish I could have been there for her. Her call… it was the last time I talked to her. Although, over the years, someone would call, just stay on the line… saying nothing. I’m sure it was her. After the airline called telling us she died, it stopped.”

Ivy didn’t realise she was crying until Agnella stood, hugged her. “No more tears. Look at this. You all didn’t eat at all. No more sad words for now. I will bring out the primo.”

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