Page 104 of Better Left Unsaid

It was quite a beautiful thing to witness, the way it was so easy for my daughter to accept how we could go from being like family to being family. If only I could’ve seen the light as fast as she did. But then again, wasn’t that the beauty of youth?

“Now can I have my present?” Isabella asked and looked at me expectantly as if no matter how great our news was, she wasn’t accepting it as a present. She still needed the tangible. Again, youth—you had to love it.

“I think that can be arranged.” I lifted a pillow from the couch and retrieved her real present. You know, the kind she could unwrap. “Here you go,” I said, passing the small, pink box to her. “Happy birthday, my love.”

Isabella didn’t wait but two seconds to tear into it. The satin orange bow fell to the floor first, then the torn pink paper followed, leaving a small black velvet box in her hands. She fussed with getting it to open for a second before stretching her arms out and giving it back to me.

Without a word, I opened it and watched her facial expression closely.

“A necklace!” Isabella shouted and tried to pluck it from the box. “It’s gold. Just like yours, Uncle Dom!” she said and showed him.

“I see.”

I tapped the bottom where the horn hung from the sturdy (kid-friendly) chain. “Do you know how Mommy and all your aunts have one of these?” I asked, looking her in the eyes. “Now you have one, too.”

Her eyebrows furrowed. “What does it mean again?” Her fingers kept running over the chain in awe.

I thought about what my mother had told me and all my sisters and tried to say it just the way she had. “It means you’ll have protection, strength, and, most importantly, luck. Evil can’t find you when you wear it.”

“Evil like Maddox? Because he’s coming to my party because you said my teacher made you invite everyone. So, if I wear it, will he not come? He pulls my hair.”

One shared look with Dom, and I had to fight my sudden urge to laugh at the way my daughter was so outspoken. I distracted myself by brushing through her hair with my fingers. “What did we talk about?” I asked, hoping she’d remember. “Maddox isn’t bad, he just isn’t behaving nicely. Remember, be nice, and he’ll have to be nice back. And let’s not call him evil, okay? That’s definitely not nice.”

After a second of what I could only assume was her considering what I’d said, Isabella nodded and pushed her new necklace to Dom. “Can you put it on me?”Good, bypass right past the Maddox topic.Yeah, she was definitely a Morelli—she had our key trait, brushing stuff under the rug.

* * *

Dominic

The Morellis knew how to throw a party—yes, even a kid’s party. Isabella was with her friends, having what I could only assume was too much fun with the photo booth and props. But that was all this day was about for Isabella, after all, so who could blame her?

Meanwhile, I was waiting for Maria to come out from the kitchen where she was talking to the caterers about Isabella’s cake. Her sisters were all busy off to the side, chatting about something or another, and I couldn’t help but smile. I was so happy it should’ve been illegal. But what could I say, I was a fool in love.

“You finally did it,” Angelo said as he came up beside me, his hands in his pockets, smiling, not unlike myself.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts and cocked a brow. “Did what?”

“Admitted you love my daughter. Got her to admit it,” he said and shrugged casually. “You pick.”

I pulled at the back of my neck. Maybe it really was only Maria who hadn’t had a clue about my feelings for her. “Did everyone know?” I asked, knowing he’d know what I was talking about.

Angelo raised a brow and let out a deep, throaty laugh. “Pretty much, but I like to think it’s because I’m such an intuitive father.”

I couldn’t argue with that one. “That’s probably true.”

“You know, I’ve always liked you, Dominic Deluca, but there’s noprobablyabout it,” Angelo joked and looked around. “Listen, I’m not going to get all papa bear on you, but I will say this”—he placed his thumb to his forefinger and shook his hand—“my girls are lucky to have you. Maria and Isabella deserve everything good in this world. Especially that little girl. Now, I know that’s you. Don’t screw this up.Capisce?”

“Capisce,” I intoned and saluted him. “I’m not planning on it, by the way.” And I wasn’t. I knew I could be a schmuck, but I liked to think that I wasn’t capable of being that much of a schmuck. To get the girl and screw things up royally? Now that’d be the ultimate schmuck move.

“Just one reason why I like you so much.” Angelo clapped me on the back. “Your father, not so much, but family’s family, so we need to get both sides together real soon.”

I wasn’t even surprised he’d said that about my father. Those two had never seen eye to eye. Although, between you and me, I’d say they didn’t get along because they were ridiculously similar. “I’d like that. . . my parents would like that, too. I’ll let them know.” And bymy parents, I really only meant my mother, which I think we both knew.

Angelo nodded. “Good. Just give me a little time to brush up on my chess skills. The last time I played, Santo won. I can’t have that again.”

“Yeah, and we all know how well my father reacts to winning.” Some people were obnoxious losers, but my father was an obnoxious winner. He liked to remind you of his victory. Over and over and over again.

Before Angelo could say another word, Maria finally came out from the kitchen at the same time the DJ called Isabella and her friends over for cake. The birthday song played in the background, and everyone sang along.

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