Chapter Eighteen
Eighteen
I decided to surprise Catena, Theo, and Quint.
Each morning, I’d walk to the marina and the fish market and watch the fresh catch of the day be snatched up by various restaurants and locals. There was always a different group of fishermen at the tables, but I knew that Catena and Quint liked to get there for the earliest catch so there was plenty of time to prepare the specials.
I’d accompanied them twice before and felt ready to test out my Italian and sales skills. When I texted them both that I was going to bring back the fish today, they didn’t try to fight me, just easily accepted I’d be up to the task.
I set out to arrive before the crowds, but the market was already bustling with activity when I made my way onto the wharf. As I looked around, the scene reminded me of controlled chaos.
The sharp scents of seawater, salt, and fish filled the air. Boats were docked, and fishermen shouted back and forth in Italian to one another, haggling with different people. Big plastic crates of seafood practically overflowed, and I winced as I saw lines of creatures’ faces all staring back at me.
I shuddered and tried not to think of Finding Nemo . Or Dory.
There were giant prawns, octopuses with squiggly legs, slippery long eels, and fish in a variety of colors and sizes, all packed on ice and displayed proudly for their audience. The fishermen yelled, shook their fists, laughed heartily, or greeted their customers with open affection. The nerves in my belly tightened and I went over my Italian phrases again. I’d been practicing for this moment and really wanted to do well.
I noticed Antonio, the man Catena and Quint always went to, had a big array of fish out, but there were at least three people ahead of me, waiting to talk to him. I squinted and studied him, a stout man with a stained apron, white mustache, and grizzled face. I figured he’d recognize me since Catena had introduced us both times, and he’d nodded and pretty much sung to me in Italian like we were on a gondola in Venice rather than at a fish market.
I glanced to my right, and another man was staring at me. He had no customers, and when he caught my eye, he began gesturing me over, speaking loudly. I bit my lip, figuring Antonio would be busy and it wouldn’t hurt to just get what I needed now. Especially since it looked like the batches of seafood displays were similar.
“ Signora, buongiorno! Guardi i gamberi! ”
The other man held up giant prawns and I nodded with enthusiasm. He seemed thrilled with my response and launched into a long litany in Italian, picking up different types of fish and holding them up. I refused to look into their dead eyes and tried not to gape at a huge swordfish hanging by the side, where another fisherman looked like he was about to begin cutting it up.
Better to do the job and get out before I had to see the butchering.
I spoke slowly, pointing to the prawns, clams, and a light blue fish that Quint had snatched up before that I loved. He’d cooked it with lemon and garlic and tomato, simple and light, with a flakiness that melted in my mouth. I think it was simply called bluefish. I pointed. “That!” I shook my head and repeated the phrase in Italian. “ Posso averlo, per favore? ”
He beamed and began laughing, waving me closer. He asked me something twice, and I figured out that he wanted to know how much fish I wanted. I’d studied the numbers in Italian and knew it was by kilogram. I told him to give me three kilograms, the fish was packed up for me, and I tucked it into my overlarge bag to take to the pub. I paid the fisherman, who seemed so happy, he came around and practically hugged me, so I hugged him back, nodding, and used a few casual phrases I knew to say thank you and goodbye.
I turned to leave and noticed Antonio’s intense stare. I waved, glad he’d recognized me, but he was suddenly glaring, a fierce furrow dipped in between his brows. He shouted something at me in Italian and shook his fist, which spooked me enough that I hurried my pace and left.
Geez, I wondered what that was about.
I pushed the scene from my mind and grabbed a ride to the pub. It was a silly thing to feel excited about, but I loved being able to help in a small way. Of course, I’d done a few media posts about Bar Sciacca, touting it as the best local place to eat. I’d also given Catena, Theo, and Quint a marketing strategy session and gone over some highlights to hook patrons into choosing their restaurant over Murphy’s Pub. I thought adding a fun weeknight game, trivia, or contest would help, and they’d loved the idea.
But bringing actual product into the restaurant was more satisfying. I hoped they liked my picks.
I reached the pub and went inside. It was dim, and prep was already beginning for lunch. I greeted one of the cooks and the waitresses, then moved toward the bar, where Catena and Quint were unpacking boxes and setting out bottles of wine and liquor.
“ Buongiorno! ” I said brightly. “I have a present for you.”
Catena squealed and hurried around to give me a hug. “You did it! Oh, Aurora, thank you for doing this—it gave Quint and me some extra time to get stuff done. Bluefish!”
Quint joined her, wiping his hands on a towel and smiling intimately at me. I became a bit breathless when he neared, and then he kissed my cheek. “ Buongiorno, bella ,” he murmured against my ear. His beautiful eyes danced like we held a secret.
And we did. That kiss had kept me up all night like a teenager. I’d gone over it in my mind, finally settling into sleep with a dreamy sigh. I caught Catena’s look as she glanced back and forth between us. It was as if a lightbulb had gone on in her brain. Her eyes grew wide and she made a little gasp of discovery.
I’d intended to tell her about my crush on Quint, but now it was too late. Catena shook her head and bumped Quint’s arm. “You two have something to tell me?” she demanded.
Quint and I held matching innocent expressions. “No,” we said at the same time.
She pointed at me. “I will get the full story when we go dress shopping later. Be prepared.”
I blushed, which made her laugh. I’d gone from a hive problem to a blushing problem since I arrived. Ridiculous.
“Let us see what you brought,” Quint said. They both approved of the fish and giant prawns and immediately began discussing how to use the clams for spaghetti alle vongole .
“Did Antonio take good care of you?” Catena asked.
“Oh, I tried to go to him, but his line was long, so I went to someone else.”
Catena and Quint froze. Slowly, my cousin’s gaze swerved to me. “Wait. You didn’t buy this from Antonio?”
I shook my head. “No, there was this other guy across from him who waved me over, so I bought it there. I did good with the price. I’d taken notes from our last visit.”
My cousin paled. Quint cleared his throat and muttered something under his breath.
“What? Did I do something wrong?” I asked.
“ Merda ,” Catena said. “It’s my fault. I forgot to tell you.”
Nervousness flowed through me. “Tell me what?”
Quint’s voice was gentle as he explained. “We’ve been going to Antonio forever. You never switch suppliers at the market—it’s a great insult. Did Antonio see you?”
I buried my face in my hands. Suddenly, his reaction made sense. “Oh God. Yes. I didn’t understand, but he looked really mad and shouted at me. I just left.”
Catena nibbled on her lower lip. “We need to fix this right away. I have to go see Antonio. I’ll explain that you misunderstood and I will apologize.”
“Is it that bad? What could he do to you?” I asked.
Quint hesitated. “He can refuse to sell to us again. He could spread the word that we have betrayed him and cause a lot of issues.”
I blinked. “A fisherman can do all that? What about healthy competition?”
“This is Sicily. There is no such thing,” Catena said.
My expression must’ve shown my misery at screwing this up for them, because Quint reached out and squeezed my hand. “We will fix it. You didn’t know, Aurora.”
I snapped up to full height. “I’m coming with you. I want to apologize in person.”
“He may yell at you,” Catena warned.
“I can take it. Let’s go.”
Quint gave me a look of admiration and nodded. “ Va bene. We will go together. Let me get this fish to the kitchen first.”
We drove back and I tamped down my anxiety. I was a grown woman and I could apologize with dignity for hurting Antonio’s feelings. Even if I felt like a toddler being dragged by my mom after mistakenly insulting someone. The moment we approached Antonio, he came around his post and threw his hands up in the air, yelling something at Catena.
And then it began.
Quint got involved, and the three of them began fighting, while I stood outside the circle. The guy who’d sold me the fish crossed his arms in front of his chest and watched the whole debacle with a huge grin. When he caught me looking, he beamed, nodding proudly. A crowd had gathered around us, nosily listening to the fight and studying me with frowns and disapproving looks.
Dear Lord, I’d started a fish war.
Finally realizing I needed to do something, I dragged in a breath and shouted at the top of my lungs. “ Basta! ”
At least the emergency word made them all stop shouting. The three of them stared at me in surprise.
I faced Antonio with my hands out in supplication, palms up. “ Mi dispiace , Antonio,” I said, holding his gaze. “I did not know. I am Americana. ” I paused. Pointed to myself. “ Stupida! ”
It felt as if the entire wharf was silent, waiting for Antonio’s response.
He glared at me for a while, then his face dropped into a neutral expression. He nodded. “ Sì. Va bene. ” He rattled off something long in Italian to Catena and Quint, and then they all got in a tight circle and kind of hugged.
I couldn’t help it. I stepped in and joined them, and Antonio patted my shoulder.
And I’d never felt so good about belonging.
—
“Tell me everything.”
We were at my second cousin’s friend’s shop looking for the perfect dress. Teresa and Catena flanked me as we worked our way through displays of various dresses in silk and lace. Many were handmade, with gorgeous stitching. The owner chatted for a bit, then left us to browse and gossip.
My cousins immediately pounced.
Catena faced me. “I saw the way Quint looked at you. How could I have missed it? When did this start?”
Teresa had a big-ass grin on her face. “Quint is H-O-T. And sweet. He has not been able to find a good connection and I think you are perfect together.”
I tried not to groan. I guessed I wasn’t used to being teased or pushed to give information. Even my acquaintances were more work-oriented and rarely probed for any intimate details about Jason. “Jason and I were having issues before I came here, but I wasn’t ready to deal with them. Things got worse during this separation, so we broke up. I felt good about my decision. Not sad or depressed. Honestly, I think I was mostly relieved.”
“Good! Then this will not be your rebound,” Catena said.
I grinned at my cousin’s knowledge of girl code. “I found Quint attractive the moment we met, but it’s more than that now. Each conversation has brought us closer. What he did for Carmella was special. I…like him.”
My cousins shrieked and I laughed. Pleasure flowed freely through my veins. My mother had given this up—the close bond of siblings and cousins joking and having fun together. I felt an odd warmth as I imagined her face and her smiling at our interactions.
“Now that you’re staying for the wedding, you will have more time together,” Teresa said. She lifted a dress in black, frowned, then replaced it. “Maybe you will fall in love.”
Catena sighed. “Quint has been in a great mood lately. Have you kissed?”
I turned and pretended to study a beaded gown.
“You have! How was it? Better than Jason?” Catena asked.
Teresa jumped in. “Open mouth or closed? Long or short? Were you touching?”
I groaned. “Stop—this is painful.”
They shot me mischievous looks. “We can always ask Quint instead,” Catena said.
I gasped. “That’s plain mean.”
Teresa shrugged. “Welcome to the family.”
I half closed my eyes, then steeled myself. “He drove me home after we had dinner at his house. We took a short walk, and he kissed me while we were looking over the water, in the moonlight.” They kept up their hard stares, expecting more. “He put his fingers on my cheeks and in my hair, and it was one of the hottest kisses I’ve ever experienced. Then he politely walked me to the door and left.”
Finally, they looked satisfied. “Much better,” Catena said. “He is coming to Nonna and Babba’s tomorrow, right?”
“Yes.”
“And he introduced you to Carmella?” Teresa asked.
“Yes. She was sweet—I really liked her.” My cousins shared a knowing look. “What?”
“He is serious about who Carmella meets. Quint is known to date many women but for only a short time. He is acting very different with you.”
My heart sped up, but I tried to remain cool. After all, I wasn’t sure how this whole thing would work. I’d return to New York and he’d remain here. Did a long-distance relationship have the capacity to work? I couldn’t see how we’d be able to continue if we were separated by so many miles, even with technology.
The thought depressed me, so I pushed it aside and tried to enjoy the fact that I wasn’t alone in my feelings. I might not have Mom anymore, but my cousins were here for me, and that meant everything.
“I’m not sure how this will end,” I admitted. “But we’ll see what happens.”
“Love works its way if it is meant to be,” Catena said confidently.
“ Sì. I believe— Merda! I found it!”
I jumped at Teresa’s shout and stared at the dress she’d unearthed from the pack.
Oh, it was perfect.
The dusty rose lace dress had delicate stitching, a modest hem, and cap sleeves. The neckline was a deep V, but more of a tease than a reveal. My usual style was modern and sleek, perfect for work and after-hours events.
But this? It was a dress made for a dream. The color was rich enough to flatter my dark complexion, and the cut would emphasize my curves rather than conceal them. It screamed romance and I touched the lace with awe. “Stunning. My size?”
“ Sì , try it on,” Catena urged. “We will look for jewelry.”
“And shoes!” Teresa added.
I went to the dressing room, changed, and stepped out to look in the full-view mirror.
It was everything I’d ever want for a wedding in Sicily: modest yet sexy, classic yet unique. My cousins heartily agreed, and we spent the rest of the time matching up accessories. Nude pumps in Italian leather. A delicate gold chain choker. Earrings in bold beading that dangled playfully.
We left the store, giggling and linking arms. I couldn’t wait to be part of the wedding and stand beside my family in a beautiful dress.
I also couldn’t wait for Quint to see me in it.