Page 27 of Till Death Do Us Part

Lo and Sandro were introduced, and there was an awkward handshake then hug between them. After, Babbo directed us to the sunroom for brunch.

As usual, Isabella had outdone herself.

The sofas had been replaced with more convenient seating, and a wooden table that could sit fifty was placed in the center of the room. It had belonged to my maternal grandparents and was shipped by boat to Chicago from Sicily. The flowers I’d ordered at the Farmer’s Market graced the table, bringing the colors of autumn inside, but the rest was filled with food.

Isabella even arranged for a pancake station. A chef manned it and created them from scratch when a guest ordered. The entire room smelled like cinnamon.

“Subtle,” Joseph, Talia’s husband, said, coming to stand next to me with a plate. He nodded toward the spread of cheeses laid out on a charcuterie board. Fruits, nuts, meats, and jars of honey were placed in the most optimum spots around the cheeses.

I laughed, grabbing for a dairy-free pumpkin yogurt. “Isabella is nothing if not subtle.”

Isabella and her husband, Carlo, owned a farm about eighty-five miles outside of Chicago. The farm had been in Carlo’s family for generations. They were known for their Italian cheeses, especially their pecorino. Isabella said the recipe and method to make it were from the old country. She was proud to display all the things that came from their farm. She even had bees, so I assumed that was where the fresh honey came from.

Talia came to stand next to us, searching out the protein on the table. She had been in the Marines with Joseph at one time. He was high-ranking, and so was his father. They were a career military family. But after a couple of years, Talia decided not to enlist again. She bought a gym and began bodybuilding.

“What’s so funny?” she asked.

Joseph told her and she grinned.

“This kind of event is like a drug to Isabella.” Talia used tongs to snag some Mediterranean chicken kabobs and set them on her plate. “This is kind of odd, though.” She chucked her chin toward a stream of people entering the sunroom. “Mamma never did that. Reserve the first hour or so just for our family and his. Everyone arrived at around the same time. Isabella’s way reminds me of a funeral.”

Since Talia brought it up, I had to agree.

Isabella was wonderful at parties like this, but it was apparent she was trying to fill our Mamma’s shoes, except occasionally, she would change things up and do it her way.

She’d always been the one who craved Babbo’s approval the most. She glowed when he boasted about things she did. And the compliments flowed like water from him at parties like this.

Joseph nudged me. “You’ll be next.”

I plastered a smile on my face and filled my plate. The room was filling up, and with all the new arrivals, I knew there was going to be a line around the table. I found an empty seat and took it.

It was hard for me not to think of Felice and wonder what he’d think about all of this. I wondered how it would feel to have him here with me. It was such a sweet sight to watch Lo walking arm in arm with Sandro around the yard, getting to know him and talking about the future they were going to build together. From my vantage point, I could see he’d slipped a ring on her third finger.

“She seems happy.”

“Hmm?” I was lost in thought and failed to notice Elsa standing next to my chair, looking out at Lo and Sandro like I was.

I stood and set my plate on the seat of my chair, hugging her.

Elsa basically invited herself. I think the future historian in her wanted to witness something most people didn’t anymore. She said the mechanics of an arranged marriage fascinated her. She really wanted to get inside Babbo’s head, but I knew he’d never agree to talk to her about it.

“I’m going to get some pancakes,” she said. “Save me a seat next to you!”

Since I was done with my food anyway, I set my plate on the empty chair next to me. More people were arriving. Uncle Tito and his wife, Lola, were talking to Babbo when a group of about four or five arrived.

Babbo was lit up as if he’d eaten a candle, and he was vigorously shaking hands. He kissed the only woman in the group on both cheeks, then took her hand in his. He seemed even more excited. She said something to him and he turned, looking around the room. When he found me, I thought the smile on his face was going to blind me.

“Shit,” I muttered underneath my breath. Jack, the guy I ran into on the stairs on Halloween, was in that group.

Jack. He wasn’t intended for Lo, which meant…

Triple shit.

He smiled as he walked across the room, coming straight for me. Damn. In the bright light, it was so apparent he was another version of Felice. His features were not as bold, his eyes were different, and he had nothing on Felice’s swagger, but he was definitely a version of him. When he was close enough, he bent down and placed a soft kiss on my cheek.

“That seat taken?” He nodded toward the chair with my plate on it and stuck his hands in his pockets.

“I’m saving it for—” I looked for Elsa. She was coming back with two plates all piled with food. “Elsa. We work together at the museum.”

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