“Hey, you know what, you should come to Sunday dinner as well. It will be Whitney’s first time, and although I know you two only met briefly, I’m pretty sure she’d love to see a friendly face in the crowd. And you know my ma would love to see you. It’s been too long.”
“Uh, yeah, my Sunday is pretty clear. I have a golf game with some guys from work, but we’ll be done in time. I’d like that. Tell your ma I’ll bring her a bottle of her favorite wine.”
“Perfect, I’ll let her know and I’ll text you about what time on Saturday.”
“Sounds good, brother, have a good one.”
I’d barely hung up when my phone rang in my hand.
It was my ma.
Her ears must’ve been burning.
“Morning, Ma, I was actually just about to call you,” I said warmly when I answered.
“Good morning, dear, how’s your day going so far? Did you eat a good breakfast?”
I chuckled and said, “Yeah, I grabbed a bagel on the way in.”
“From the corner deli?”
“You know it.”
“Ah, I haven’t been there in ages. I should tell your father to pick some up one day.”
“I can grab you some. I’ll bring them by Sunday morning.”
“Don’t forget the cream cheese.”
“Never,” I promised. “So, I was going to call you to tell you we’ll have two more for dinner on Sunday.”
“Wonderful. Is it Damon? He hasn’t been to the house in forever. Is he bringing a date? Nigel’s out of town again, so it’ll only be one extra place … No problem.”
“It is Damon, but I’m the one who’s bringing the date.”
The line went quiet, and I grinned as I waited for the reaction I knew was coming.
“Praise Jesus,” she whispered and then I heard her giving herself the sign of the cross, “In the name of the father, the son, and the holy ghost.”
I covered my mouth with my fist so she wouldn’t hear me laugh as I pictured her in the kitchen having to steady herself at my news.
It was rare indeed for me to tell my mother if I was dating someone, and even rarer for me to bring a woman home for Sunday dinner. In fact, Giada was the only one I’d ever brought home.
“Tell me everything … Is she allergic to anything? Is there anything she doesn’t like? Should I make my lasagna or manicotti? No, I should make my swordfish with puttanesca sauce … and tiramisu for dessert.”
“Ma, don’t stress. You don’t have to go crazy, just cook what you were already planning on making for dinner.”
“Luca Giancarlo Russo, you cannot be serious. You’re bringing a woman home for the first time in your adult life, and you tell me to make the spaghetti and meatballs I was planning for this Sunday? Do you want her to think I don’t care about my son’s happiness?”
“Jeez, Ma, she’s not going to think that,” I assured her. “Her name is Whitney and she’s a mother herself. She’s got two kids.”
“Divorced?” my mother asked.
“Yes, she’s divorced.”
“Hmmm. She’s a nice girl? How did you meet her?”
“Yes, she’s very nice. You’re going to love her,” I told her, unable to keep the grin off of my face at the thought of my two favorite women finally meeting. “We actually met initially at Campanella’s, but then she started working at the office.”
“So your father already knows? And he didn’t tell me?”
“No, Ma, don’t worry, Dad doesn’t know we’re dating. He knows her, of course, but not well. I wouldn’t ask him to keep something like that from you, you know that,” I said hurriedly, trying to save my father from my mother’s wrath.
“She should bring the children, so we can meet them.”
“Whitney doesn’t want to rush things with the kids, I’ve only recently met them myself. I wanted to give her a chance to meet all of you on her own first and then eventually we’ll bring Stella and Silas with us.”
“Okay, if you’re sure, but you know we can make room. They’d be welcome.”
“I know, Ma, but let’s take it one step at a time, okay. I don’t want to scare her off,” I said honestly. “Her divorce was pretty bad, and she was a bit skittish about even dating me, so the fact that she’s willing to come to family dinner at all is a big step. We can be pretty overwhelming.”
“Don’t worry about a thing, son. I will talk to your siblings and everyone will be on their best behavior for you and your Whitney.” She sighed and then gushed, “Oh, I’m just so happy.”
“Baby steps, Ma. Don’t get ahead of yourself,” I said lightly, even though I knew she’d be cleaning from now until Sunday dinner and planning a feast as if it were Christmas.
“Of course…”
“Okay, Ma, well, I have another meeting coming up, so I have to let you go, but I’ll call you later.”
“Goodbye, sweetheart. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I replied. Then as she hung up I realized that she was the one who called me and said, “Wait, Ma, what did you call for?”
But she was already off … Probably on her way to the market.
Twenty-Nine
Whitney
“I can’t believe you’re going to meet Luca’s family. You must be so excited,” Summer said happily, doing a little jig in her seat.
“I’d rather swallow a jar of nails than meet some guy’s family,” Margo said dryly.
I laughed so suddenly I choked on my wine and it went down the wrong pipe.
I was coughing, my eyes watering from the pain as I tried to catch my breath. Summer reached over and pounded on my back, which did nothing to help, but I appreciated the gesture.
“Jeez, Margo, tell me how you really feel,” I replied once I could speak again.
“I just did,” was her retort.
“I think it’s wonderful,” Summer said, completely undeterred by Margo’s grouchiness.
“I’m a little nervous,” I said truthfully. “It’s been a lifetime since I met someone’s family and I don’t know if I’m who they have in mind for Luca, ya know. I mean, a divorcee with two teenage kids who just went back to work … at their company, no less.”
“They’d be crazy not to love you,” Margo said, signaling to the bartender to bring another round.
We were doing drinks and appetizers tonight and so far the drinks had been flowing pretty generously.
“I think I need to order more food,” I said to the bartender as he placed another lemontini in front of me.
“What would you like?”
“I think the sliders and the spinach artichoke dip,” I said, thinking the carbs would soak up some of the vodka. “You guys want anything?”
“Mmmm, can I get some coconut shrimp?” Summer asked.
“And another order of those Rueben bites,” Margo added.
“Coming right up, ladies,” he said, then went off to place our orders.