Page 40 of Of Grief And Gratitude

I tossed him the wine opener, and he quickly slid the cork from the bottle before pouring three glasses. My father’s guard wasn’t allowed to drink on duty, but the rest of us sipped while Mamma berated us for our poor life decisions. She put me to work browning chicken in a pan to serve with the pasta as she rolled the dough out by hand and cut it into long, even strips. Cosimo manned the pot of water, dropping pasta in and spooning it out when properly cooked.

My mother tested a noodle and nodded her approval, lovingly patting Cosimo on the cheek. “See. You can do it.”

He gave her one of his rare smiles and moved the pot of water from the stove. It didn’t take long for Mamma to mix up carbonara sauce and toss the pasta in it to create a creamy coating. When Riona knocked on the door, she was preheating the oven to keep things warm.

I didn’t have time to change into something nicer than jeans, so I hoped my casual attire wouldn’t bother Riona. I jogged to the door and opened it, frozen for a moment as I took in her red ponytail, flowy yellow top, and jeans that hugged her curves dangerously. She’d gone for casual with sneakers and held her jacket draped over her arm.

“Hey,” she greeted me with a tentative smile. “You going to let me in?”

I tore my eyes from the sea of blue I stared into. “Yeah, of course.”

She waited for me to move before stepping inside and realizing we weren’t alone. She waved to my mother and brother. “Oh, hi. It’s nice to see you again.”

“Riona!” My mother practically tackled her, pulling her into a tight embrace and kissing her cheeks. “I insisted on helping with dinner, even though Romeo knows how to cook.”

“It smells amazing.” Riona hung her coat up and wandered toward the kitchen. She sniffed the food, and Cosimo poured her a glass of wine. She took a sip and nodded, her fiery hair bobbing. “Thank you.”

My mother struck up a conversation with Riona, and soon they were both laughing together. She fit in with us, even if we seemed to be opposites. I forgot the purpose of her visit and leaned against the counter, listening to the chatter.

“When Romeo was small, he followed me everywhere,” Mamma told her. “That was before he knew it was better to follow his big brothers around. One day when I finished my bath, I could not find him. I searched and finally discovered him in another bathroom, soaking in a bubble bath just like I liked to do.”

I closed my eyes as they laughed, feeling my face heat from embarrassment. Even Cosimo snickered, startling Riona. His face dropped back into that dark mask.

“Are you all staying for dinner?” Riona asked as she pulled plates out of the cupboard.

“Oh, no,” my mother waved her off. “You two spend some time alone. Come, Cosimo. You can have dinner at home tonight.”

He nodded and slipped his laptop into his black leather shoulder bag, meeting her by the door after she’d said goodbye to Riona, whispering something in her ear.

She tugged on my chin, and I lowered my head to hear her better. “Marry this one, figlio mio. She is a good girl. She belongs. I like her.”

Avoiding a response, I kissed her cheeks and hugged her. “I’ll see you later, Mamma.”

Cosimo and my father’s man escorted her out, leaving me alone with Riona, who was already plating the pasta and chicken. She looked at me sheepishly. “Sorry, I’m starving, and this smells incredible.”

“Help yourself.” I took my plate and glass, set them at the dining table, and pulled out the chair next to mine for Riona.

“I want the recipe for this,” she said after sitting and shoving a large bite into her mouth, moaning with pleasure. Eating with her might be torture.

I took a bite and understood what she meant. It was the ultimate comfort food, transporting me back to simple Saturday afternoons as a child when we’d help make pasta and Mamma would make carbonara. There was never boxed macaroni and cheese in our home growing up.

“You’d be surprised how simple it is,” I told her between bites.

“Simpler than a baked potato or ramen?” Riona asked. “That’s what most of my diet consists of right now.”

I frowned at what sounded like a poor college student’s diet. “Are we not paying you enough?”

“It’s not that.” She laughed. “I’m trying to save as much as possible since I’m not sure what I’ll do after I fix you. So far, you seem to be making leaps and bounds in improvement.”

Everything came back to my fucking reputation. In general, I didn’t ascribe to regret. Things happened, and you had to live with the fallout. For the first time, I wondered if living for only myself was the right move. When Riona looked at me with that proud smile, I wanted to do whatever I could to see it again.

“I haven’t changed much,” I said dismissively.

She surveyed my place. “I know it didn’t look like this last time I was here.”

“My mother,” I offered. “She said something about it needing to look like a home.”

“She’s not wrong. Having the right surroundings can help your energy stay positive.”

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