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Albert walks in, bending down to kiss her on the head before taking a seat next to her.
"Meredith, darling, Did you tell her yet?" he asks abruptly.
Oh no, this can't be good.
"No."
"Tell me what?" I shift my gaze between them, feeling a sense of dread wash over me.
My mom lets out another sigh before speaking hesitantly. "Christina..."
"What?"
"Albert and I..." She pauses, swallowing hard before continuing. "We have something we need to discuss."
"Okay..." I urge her on, a knot forming in my stomach.
"Do you remember Jimmy Cosa Jr?"
"Yes..." Why the hell is my mom asking about Jimmy? Oh God, did something happen to him?
"Well," my mother shifts uncomfortably in her seat once again. "He's a nice boy...man," she quickly corrects herself. "And... well..."
She looks to Albert for support but he remains silent. "I know this may come as a shock, but in Albert’s…. culture…. arranged marriages are quite common."
"Okay?" I say, my heart racing frantically. “But you and I, we’re not part of Albert’s… culture. So what does that have to do with me?”
I lean forward and try not to panic.
Albert looks at me with a stern expression. “Christina. You became a Venitti the minute your mother and I got married.”
I open my mouth to respond but my mother interrupts.
"We've agreed, Albert and I, that you'll be engaged. To Jimmy."
"Excuse me?" I can't have heard her correctly. I blink and try to process the words coming out of her mouth.
"We think a year-long engagement would be nice; with a wedding next spring," my mother says, quietly. "Time is ticking," she adds.
Time? Time for what? I’m just at the start of my life. I have nothing but time.
That's hardly any time at all for something as significant as marriage – it's like my life has an expiration date.
“What if I say no? I’m a legal adult. I can choose to marry or not.” I ask, frantically.
“You’re getting married, Christina. To Jimmy Cosa, Jr. That’s final.” Albert says sternly.
“This is not a negotiation. Jimmy is a good boy. He’ll take care of you. I’ll see that he purchases a ring suitable for your standing and that the prenup is solid so you will be protected.”
My mother nods in agreement. I can’t believe she’s going along with this.
“But what if I say no?” I ask again.
Albert leans forward. “This is what your role is in this family. Accept it.” His words are laced with threat, and it chills me.
Or else doesn’t need to be said.
My mother reaches for me, but I shake off her hand. “Christina, this is important, honey.”
