Vita Mia

Chapter 5

"Why does it feel like the grim reaper just passed through here?" Ricci asks while dodging a woman carrying out a vase of wilted flowers.

"It did," Anna mumbles from the couch.

"No one died," Ashley assures Ricci when his eyes widen in confusion.

"Then why did Morticia Adams just walk out of here with funeral flowers?" He pushes for answers as he steals a few pieces of m&m's from the bag Anna and I are sharing.

"Perhaps she's a harbinger," I suggest as I hand him the note when he sits next to me.

He inspects the brief lettering and deadpans, "The Lombardis sent you dead flowers."

"I assume it's their way of welcoming us into their family," Anna grumples in disbelief.

Santino walks into the open kitchen to clarify, "They sent very-much-alive orchids, but Amata set them in the kitchen where," he looks to Marco, "our exceptional chef set them on fire."

Marco frantically defends himself, "They were so close to the stove. When I turned the gas on it was having trouble lighting, so I kept trying. And the fire flew," he gestures his hands to form an act of explosion, "all the way up and sparked on the–very beautiful might I add–orchids."

"It's okay, Marco. We keep you around for your food and personality. Just don't burn the house down, sí?" Santino chuckles, so Marco untenses his shoulders.

"Certo, boss. Don't want to be out of a job."

Santino walks over to us all sitting on the couch and is met with avoiding eyes and closed lips. "Are you all going to ignore me forever?"

Ricci awkwardly digs deeper into the cushion and stuffs his face with chocolate. I see Santino try to meet mine and my sisters' eyes, and when his train on me, I struggle to not acknowledge him.

"Tesorrucie, please look at me."

I hear his soft voice and am tempted to oblige, but I feel stuck in mirroring my sisters' actions of remaining still.

"Fine, if you prefer to remain silent, I'll speak. I'm sure you've noticed Marco preparing dinner a little early tonight."

Marco cuts in, "With cassata for dessert."

Marco smiles at Ashley's brightened expression which immediately dims when Santino continues, "It's Federico's favorite from last–"

Anna pops up from her slouch. "Their coming tonight?"

"Why so soon?" I jump in to ask.

"It's better if we all get acquainted with each other sooner than later. Our circumstance is pressing, tesorrucie." That takes the fire out of Anna but doesn't stop her from rolling her eyes when she stands up to leave. He stops all of us from dispersing, "We need this. I won't ask you to embrace it blindly, but please don't jeopardize it."

We don't assure him of our intentions as we escape up the stairs after Ricci uncomfortably bypasses our dad with a shy smile to follows us.

"Dinner is in three hours!" Santino yells from the bottom of the stairs.

I instinctively look back to acknowledge him but don't stop walking until I bump into a wall?.  "Woah, Aves," Santino's head security, Anthony, catches me and chuckles, "You should try looking up," as his finger taps my chin out of his chest to let me go.

"Any reason you all are rushing down the hall?" he asks looking at all of our anxious faces.

Ant looks over at Ricci for an explanation, but he shrugs to say, "I'm only along for the ride."