Page 80 of Marcus

“You finally made it, did you?” Jordyn poked her head out of the kitchen with a beaming smile. “I wondered if you would.”

“Of course, I came, Ma. I said I would.”

“You’re very busy lately.”

“Is that Cella?”

Her father’s call from within the kitchen had her shaking her head.

“Yes, Lucian,” Jordyn replied, “stop yelling, my God.”

“Tell her to come help with these cross buns,” another voice yelled.

Her sister.

Lucia.

Which undoubtedly meant Lucia’s husband, Renzo, was there, too. The house really was full, which explained all the noise. Not that it bothered her. In fact, the effect was quite the opposite, and Cella smiled from the warmth spreading in her chest.

The sight of her mother had Cella happy all over again. Just like the voices of her family. Even if she was sure this dinner would be full of questions just like the ones Siena had been asking her, it didn’t even matter. Her family was only curious because they wanted her to be happy. She understood that; it was the opening up part that she struggled with.

Cella would work on that.

She had to.

“Okay, guys, you have to share,” Siena said when the kids started shouting in the other room. She pointed a finger at Cella, winking as she told her, “And you, we’re going to chat later about what I know, yes?”

“We’ll see.”

“What does she know?” Jordyn asked while Siena headed into the other room.

“Marcus,” John said under his breath.

Jordyn grinned. “Oh, yes. That. I’m very curious about that as well.”

“Me, too!”

That time, it was her father.

“Could you guys not? Or at least, one at a time and not everyone all at once, okay?”

Jordyn put her hands up. “Sorry, won’t say another word. But you should definitely invite your friend in Toronto, to dinner with us some weekend if he’d like to come. We would be happy to have him.”

“Ma.”

Her mother winked. “Just saying. And when you’re ready, we could use your help in the kitchen.”

Her brother chuckled as Cella grabbed her cell phone from her bag after her mother disappeared into the kitchen. “You know she’s just happy, right? Like the rest of us. And a little nosy.”

“Don’t worry, I know.”

“And you’re happy, too, yeah? Because of … him?”

She hesitated as she came up beside her brother in the hallway. John looked to her expectantly, waiting for her to answer him.

“If it is because of him,” Cella said, “would that be surprising?”

“No.”