Chapter 44
MOLLY
The kitchen fills with the most amazing scents. I have a feeling that Isabella’s kitchen always has these scents: rosemary, thyme, garlic, butter.
I was already hungry when we arrived here, and now I’m positively starving. Enzo told me not to ruin my appetite, and after last night, and the early hours of this morning, oh my days, I’d worked up a huge appetite.
“I’ll take this in,” I offer, grabbing an enormous bubbling dish out of the oven. Lasagne, I think. Isabella didn’t tell me how long she’d spent cooking up this feast, but gazing at the amount of food spread across the kitchen, I think she must have started very early this morning.
Zach moves around refilling everyone’s glasses.
There is wine everywhere.
Brooke is especially animated. I’m getting to know her, but today, she’s especially bubbly. Earlier she was telling me about Mr. Whiskers, her rabbit, and wanted to know what pets we had in our classroom.
None at the moment, but she’s given me ideas.
I go back into the kitchen, just as Jett walks in.
“Can I do something?” he asks.
“You can take the bread in.” Isabella hands him a breadbasket. She touches his arm gently. “Will Brooke eat all of this? I can quickly make her something else if—”
“No. She’ll eat it all, don’t you worry. It smells delicious. Thank you, Isabella, for doing this. It means a lot.”
Isabella nods. “It means a lot to me.”
A quiet moment passes between them. I hastily pick up a steaming hot tray of what looks like roasted potatoes and vegetables and take those in. I set it down on the table. Cari comes over carrying a huge bowl of colorful salad.
She nudges me gently. “Have you heard from the school yet?”
They were all asking me about it at Cari’s café.
She invited all of us women there las week, so we all went: Raquel, Dani, Maya and Elizabeth.
It was a sedate ladies' night out. Dani wanted to have cocktails followed by dinner and she suggested her favorite place, The Midnight Lounge, I think it was called, but Raquel had work pressure and wanted something quick and simple, so it was decided we’d all go to Cari's coffee shop instead.
I absolutely love that place. I’ll be going there more often, whenever I’m in New York.
“I did, and it’s all good.” I can’t help but grin like a child, because I’m so ridiculously happy. The relief I felt when Miss T told me I could return to school was immense.
“The situation finally got resolved. The board came to their own conclusion and cleared me. I start back next week.”
Cari puts her arm around me, giving me a gentle hug. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you. Me, too. I can’t wait to get back to the children.”
“Great. We’ll have to celebrate.”
I wave a hand. “It’s not—”
“Every win should be celebrated,” Cari insists.
It hits me then.
Yes.
Every win should be celebrated..
“Come by the coffee shop again.”
“I sure will.”
“But,” she frowns. “How will it work, with you there and Enzo here?”
“Good question.” I glance over at Enzo who appears to be deep in conversation with Zach. “We’ve been talking about it, and we're going to make it work,” I say decisively.
“That’s the spirit.”
Cari and I return to the kitchen and carry the few remaining platters left to take in. The dining table looks like a feast to behold. Isabella tells everyone to come and eat. No one needs to be told twice.
Enzo grabs my hand and leads me to the table, even though I don’t need to be led anywhere. I’d follow this man to the ends of the earth if need be. We sit. For a quiet moment I take it all in.
All of us sitting around the table like this is something I never envisaged.
A big family, with so much heart and love. I’ve never sat around a family table like this before. A table that is safe, where dinner won’t turn violent without warning. Here there’s noise and teasing, there's food and chaos. I don't have to look around to scan anyone's face to gauge their mood.
I already know.
“You good?” Enzo asks. His lips brush my earlobe, making me startle. “Where'd you go?” He watches my expression. He knows my every mood. He can read me better than almost anyone.
I love this man so, so, so much.
I love my life.
My heart is full.
“Yes. I didn’t go anywhere. I’m right here.” I try to hold it together because I don't want to fall apart. I’m so overcome with emotion, I could cry.
“Hey, hey.” His gentle voice soothes me. He presses a kiss below my ear before pulling away.
Dex clears his throat. “Isabella, you've outdone yourself.” He gives her an appreciative nod.
“I say that every time you invite us over for yet another one of your magnificent feasts, but you always outdo yourself.” He holds up his glass.
“To Isabella, thank you for the feast, and thank you for always bringing us all together.”
Everyone holds up their glasses.
Isabella raises her glass. “Nothing makes me happier than family getting together. Please, everyone, eat and enjoy.”
The wine gets passed around. I pick up my fork ready to dive into culinary heaven, when Jett asks, “Could I say something?”
The room becomes quiet again.
Isabella answers. “You don't have to ask, Jett. Of course you may.”
Dex fixes him with a curious gaze. “What, dude?”
Everyone looks dumbfounded and the men start tapping their wine glasses with their spoons, urging him to speak.
Jett pauses, then scratches his chin. “I don't know,” he murmurs. “Maybe I should leave this to Cari and Brooke.”
“Can I, Daddy? Can I?!” Brooke’s excitement hasn’t abated. Cari stares down at her lap, her cheeks pink.
“They’re getting married!” Brooke cries.
The dining room turns raucous. Cries and cheers fill every corner of the room.
Cari grins, shyly, and Jett looks at her as if she is his world. The men get up to congratulate Jett.
“Show us the ring!” Raquel cries. Raquel and Dani go over. Maya and Elizabeth immediately join them. Cari holds out her hand and they admire it loudly, oozing appreciative sighs.
“Oh my days!” I gasp. I’m sitting directly opposite her and can see the big glistening round diamond. “That’s big.”
“It’s not as big as the one Jett wanted to give me,” Cari replies, moving her hand away onto her lap and away from scrutiny.
Enzo and I turn to one another, neither of us speaking. There's going to be a wedding. A family affair. Another celebration. I cannot wait.
“When?” Maya asks.
Cari and Jett chuckle as their gazes meet.
“Sometime next year, “Jett replies. “We’re still thinking about it.”
“Awesome, dude.” Rio can’t stop grinning.
“I’ll volunteer to arrange the stag night,” Dex offers.
Jett groans.
“I’m going to be a flower girl.” Brooke turns all shy. I understand her earlier excitement now.
“Is the old man invited?” Zach asks.
The room quietens.
We’re instantly reminded of him. For a moment, his absence feels like a presence because of the way everyone hushes and how the mood suddenly chills.
Jett looks at Isabella.
“It's your wedding, Jett,” she says.
He murmurs something to Cari.
Everyone starts eating.
“You put the ghosts to rest with that press conference.” Matteo lifts his glass of water and looks at Enzo.
“Right? That was a smart move.” Zach nods with approval.
“It had to be done.” Enzo shifts in his chair, angling his body more towards me. “I couldn’t have them slander Molly’s name.”
“You killed the narrative. What are they going to do now?” Dex inclines his head. “Nothing.”
“Talking about the man who started all this, has anyone heard from him?” Jett asks.
Enzo's hand stills on his fork. “I had a few words with him last week.”
For a moment, the mood around the table dips. I wonder if he's going to tell them about the photo.
“He's fine,” is all that he says.
I release the breath I've been holding. He chose not to mention it. Maybe he will one day.
Then Brooke asks another question about being a flower girl, Dex makes some ridiculous suggestion about the stag night, and the noise rises again.
Isabella suddenly gasps. She reaches beneath the edge of her plate and pulls out a small black-and-white photograph.
We all stop talking.
Her eyes will with tears. I’m suddenly worried. So is everyone else, I expect. She turns the flimsy paper around so we can all see.
It’s a black and white photograph, and I immediately know what it is.
“Oh my!” Dani gasps, her mouth a huge ‘O’.
“Shoot!” Cari cries. “Is that what I think it is?”
“What is it?” Elizabeth stands up and squints.
“Wow. That’s a … a …” Maya’s words peter out.
I look around the table and see Rio and Raquel sitting quietly grinning at one another. Isabella sees it too.
“Rio, Raquel, did you put this under my plate?”
“Guilty!” Rio smiles so widely, his face crinkles. That’s when I notice Raquel stroking her stomach.
“You’re having a baby.” Mama’s voice turns soft, almost breaking. She clasps her hands together, goes over and hugs them.
Commotion ensues. Everyone descends on Rio and Raquel at once, the room erupting into congratulations, laughter and excited chatter.
A wedding.
And a baby.
Oh my days. What a meal. What a family.
“I’m going to be an uncle.” Enzo turns to me, his face beaming, his eyes shining. I lean into him. “Yes.”
One day perhaps, one day … but I don’t want to rush too fast into the future. I want to enjoy what Enzo and I have now. Savor every little step in our journey.
His fingers find mine under the table, and his thumb brushes over my knuckles. I look around me and see the chaos and laughter. The sheer joy of family.
I want to soak in every single second and take every memory of today with me because for the first time in my life, I know exactly what home feels like.