AllFreeNovel
Share Us
11
The moment we stepped into the tent, Hugo took off the other way like we didn’t even know each other. No one could have guessed he had stuck his tongue down my throat seconds before. It was weird to see him walk away and put distance between us after being glued to one another for twenty-four hours. Suddenly, I felt colder than I was in the winter air.
Freddy had gone out of his way to celebrate his daughter’s birthday. The white tent was fit for the party of a king, covering almost the entire lawn. From the ceiling there were strings of flowers and crystal chandeliers hanging, spreading a soft light that was dim and made the place look intimate. On the far end there was a wood stage, not very tall, where a jazz band was killing it. The woman who had the mic was dressed in a tight black suit, had her raven hair hanging all the way to her waist and scarlet red lipstick. She was just starting her own version of Mambo Italiano. Everyone turned to her when she hit the first notes. Wow, she was good. She was very, very good. Her voice sounded like all her diet was whiskey and cigars. I heard the torment in her voice when she sang about the girl going back to Napoli, and the verse made me smile involuntarily, remembering my summers in Napoli when I was little. Then the song picked up its pace, and she attacked every note just like Rosmary Clooney, and people started gathering in front of the stage to show their skill.
I saw Vincenzo spinning Lola around, feeling the song, and I waved at them when their eyes found me. Hugo had already got lost in the crowd the guests, probably finding Roman, and I knew there wouldn’t be any chance to spend time with him until we were back to the house.
Caroline appeared in front of me in a beautiful red dress, Jessica Rabbit style, with Gianna in her arms. The baby had the cutest outfit on, same color as her mother and a poppy on her head.
“Cat, you made it!” Caroline gave me the warmest smile and pulled me in for a one-armed hug.
“I’m sorry if I was late. Hugo took forever to get ready.” Not true, we had stopped to suck on each other’s faces. “He’s pampered like a woman.”
“I saw him just now. Well, it was worth the time. He is dashing tonight.”
He was more than just dashing. If I was a weaker woman, I would have swooned at the view of his ass in those pants.
“And look at you, baby girl!” I took the Gianna in my arms and kissed her chubby cheeks. She still had that distinct baby smell, and I wanted take it all in. “You’re one today, Gianna. Soon you’ll break hearts left and right, and your daddy will have to carry a bigger gun.”
Freddy’s laugh boomed from behind me.
“Don’t remind me, Catherinelle. I’m already turning gray just thinking about it. I don’t know how Gino does it with you.”
“He assigned King Kong to watch me.”
“Oh, I heard. Who can blame him? Look at you, you’re a…” He took me in from head to toe. “you’re a woman. When did that happen? I remember when your mom was trying to send you to nap, and you used to hide under the tables. It seems like yesterday, like the blink of an eye.”
“Then don’t blink, Freddy, because it will be the same with this one.” I kissed the baby again. She was just too sweet. “Hey, guys, Gino is really sorry he wasn’t able to make it. You know how much he loves this little lady, but Muse wasn’t well. She needed to disconnect from New York for a while.”
The loss that Muse suffered wasn’t a secret for anyone, and I knew they understood. To lose family was the worst curse, and if the Nuccis didn’t get it, no one did. Even if Freddy had a problem with Gino’s absence, he wouldn’t dare to say a fucking thing about it. You didn’t want to rub the boss the wrong way; it might cost you an arm and a leg. Literally.
“He already sent a fifty-year-old scotch to apologize, but I told him before there is no problem. He needs to take care of his woman. Is there talk about a wedding yet?”
“He’s ready to make an honest woman out of her.” I smiled from my heart. “But we don’t want the wedding to be marked by grief, so he decided to hold it off until she’s back on her feet.”
“Understandable. Caroline, Aunt Althea wants to see Gianna again. Why don’t I take her while you show Catherinelle to her table?”
“Sure, my love.”
I gave Freddy the baby, and he kissed me on my forehead on his way to find his aunt. Caroline and I walked arm in arm, stopping from time to time to say hello and chat with people. Everywhere around, I could hear glasses clinking, champagne bottles being popped and laughter. In the end, we made it to the table where my mom was seated along with her sister and a few other friends of hers.
“Simona, I brought your baby.”
Caroline took me to my mom like she was giving me away, and I leaned down to kiss her on the cheek.
“Hey, mom.”
“Hello, sweetheart. It took you some time to get here.”
“Sorry for the wait, ma.”
“Let me see you, honey.” She got up and pushed me away, taking me in. “You are so beautiful, my girl, but this dress shows a lot. You don’t have to prove to anyone you have legs, honey; we believe you.”
“Mom!” I cried and let my shoulders fall. “Don’t start with me.”
“I’m just saying. Say hello to everyone.”
And I did. I went around the table to kiss Carla, third wife to my mom’s cousin, Christopher; then Betty, the widow of my dad’s best friend; Gina and her sister, Rosey, they were mistresses to some of our family friends and Patty who was talking with my mother’s sister, Diana. All the ladies were dressed like we were attending the Met Gala, with expensive glamorous dresses and their wrists and necks covered in gold and gemstones.
