Page 57 of Till Death Do Us Part

Halfway down the hall, Corinna lifted her hand, and we stopped walking.

A woman stepped out of a room off to the right. She wore a crown and held a scepter. A purple velvet robe hung from her thin shoulders. She held her chin up and her eyes looked down on us. She looked at Corinna as if to say, “Introduce us.”

“Queen Mafalda of Chicago, I would be pleased to introduce you to John Maggio and his stunning lady friend, Roma.”

Felice stepped in front of Corinna and gave a proper neck bow (from the head only), called her “queen,” and then handed her a box of bomboloni. She opened them, nodded, then handed them to the nurse in scrubs who stood close.

Then she looked straight at me.

I was mentally prepping myself for this moment. I averted my eyes and gave a small curtsy. Then I gave her a slight smile and held my breath. She made no effort to hide the fact that she was scrutinizing me.

“You shall proceed,” she said in a very dignified voice, pointing her scepter at us.

Felice gave me a quick grin, and we followed behind Corinna to the dining room. I was introduced to Nonna Silvia, who was pleasant, but like Felice had said, extremely bitter. It was almost as if she wore it as a perfume. The frown lines around her mouth were severe.

“John told me you don’t eat meat,” Corinna said, pointing to a couple dishes on the table. Lunch was served family style. “I made those for you.”

“Thank you so much,” I said to Corinna as she handed me a plate with what looked like a big square of eggplant lasagna.

Nonna Silvia pointed her fork at me. “They say cutting meat from your diet can prolong your life.”

I nodded, wiping my mouth, about to respond when she continued.

“I’m determined to outlive my ex-husband. He’s a lowlife who left me for a woman half my age. I’m determined to outlive theputtanatoo. She was having an affair with him while we were married, and she knew it. I can’t enjoy my life until both are gone.”

“That’s understandable,” I said.

Corrina covered her mouth with a napkin, hiding her smile. Felice grinned as he stabbed a piece of meat.

Nonna Silvia pointed her fork at Felice. “I like her, John.”

I’d made it past Nonna Mafalda with my head intact, and I got a compliment out of Nonna Silvia. So far, this visit felt like a win.

“Roma’s father is good friends with Alfonso.” Felice relaxed in his seat. “Emanuele’s arranging her marriage to Jack.”

Nonna Silvia’s fork crashed to her plate. Corinna looked up slowly from hers. I squeezed my fork. Why did he have to bring that up?

“Your father is Dr. Emanuele Corvo?” Corinna whispered.

I nodded, not sure what else to do or say.

“Good.” Nonna Silvia’s voice was fierce. “Hurt them where it counts, where they can’t heal or recover. You wound the Maggio pride, you mortally wound them. Thatputtanatoo. It’s about time someone knocks her off her high horse. Though I have to say—” she sighed wistfully, looking at me “—you’d give her some competition. She doesn’t like women who are superior to her.”

“John and Roma brought bomboloni.” Corrina got to her feet. “I’ll put coffee on.” She rushed out of the dining room.

Felice stared at the clock on the wall, his face made of stone. No expression whatsoever. His arm was draped over the back of my chair, and his fingers drummed against the wood.

What the hell was he thinking? Why did he have to make dinner so awkward? The mood went from welcoming to tense in the space of those few words he’d said.

I didn’t know what to do, so I got up and started clearing the table. Corinna had some of the dishes on a dining hutch when we’d arrived. I brought them back so we could make room for dessert. She came back with a moka pot, small cups with saucers, and the bomboloni arranged on a platter.

When she’d noticed what I’d done, she thanked me. I could tell Felice’s news had shaken her, though.

Conversation was slim duringdolce. Corinna asked me questions about work, but other than that, the table was silent.

Silence was the most uncommon dish at an Italian Sunday dinner.

Felice declined dessert, opting for espresso only. Nonna Silvia decided to take hers in the room with Nonna Mafalda. I almost felt the need to excuse myself to the bathroom. Maybe Corinna wanted to lay into Felice for not telling her before.

---