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Mrs. Accardi’s eyes dart to my face, then drops to my left hand. “She’s wearing the ring!” she exclaims as she shoots to her feet.
“Congratulations, cara.” I’m yanked into a hug and kissed on both cheeks before Mrs. Accardi takes my left hand. “It suits you.”
When Mrs. Falco gets up from her armchair, I pull away from Mrs. Accardi and walk closer to my future mother-in-law.
“Damiano said the ring belonged to you,” I say, respect tightening my voice.
“My mother gave it to me when I got engaged. It’s of great sentimental value to me. She passed away before the wedding day.”
“Thank you for passing it down to me. I feel so honored.”
Her mouth curves with an emotional smile, and she reaches out to me.
I move closer and when our hands touch, she pulls me into a hug.
“Be good to my son,” she whispers against my cheek.
“I’ll do everything in my power to be a wife deserving of such a great man, Mrs. Falco.”
She kisses my cheek, then says, “Call me Aida. After all, we’re family now.”
An overwhelming sense of gratefulness fills my chest, and I have to fight the urge not to cry.
“Can I call you Aunt Aida?” I ask before explaining, “Just using your first name feels a little disrespectful.”
“Aunt Aida is perfectly fine, my sweet child.”
“Oh, you’re here. I’ll go get Carlo,” Mrs. Accardi says. “We need champagne to celebrate this wonderful occasion.”
When I pull away from Aunt Aida, I glance over my shoulder and see Damiano watching us.
He comes closer, his eyes flicking between his mother and me. “Did I interrupt an emotional moment?”
I quickly shake my head.
“I’m happy to hear about the engagement,” Aunt Aida says. “I wish you both a lifetime of love and happiness.”
“Thank you,” I murmur.
Damiano comes to press a kiss to his mother’s temple, then says, “Thank you, Mamma.”
She lets out a chuckle. “You won’t kick me out of the mansion now that you’re going to become Mrs. Falco?”
Caro Dio!
“No, never!” I exclaim, and grabbing her hand, I say, “Never think anything like that. This is your home.”
“She’s joking,” Damiano mutters, then he surprises the hell out of me by playfully chastising Aunt Aida, “Don’t give my fiancée a heart attack before we have an heir.”
Aunt Aida smiles at Damiano. “Oh? When can I expect my first grandchild?”
“Babies don’t fall out of thin air, Mamma,” Damiano says, the playfulness gone from his tone.
All the talk of babies has my cheeks growing warm, but thankfully, Mrs. Accardi comes rushing back into the room.
Martha also comes in, carrying a tray of glasses and a bottle of champagne.
When Carlo joins us, he grabs the bottle, and while he opens it, he says, “Congratulations on the engagement.”
