Page 44 of Unrestricted
"Your father is threatening to bring that woman to your Aunt Ava's wedding in October."
Adriano goes deadly still. "What?"
"He wants to take her to a family wedding, Adriano." Her voice is controlled but her fingers tighten around her fork. "To New York where everyone will see."
"What is he thinking?" Adriano demands.
Giuliana looks at the plate of food in front of her and sets down her fork. "He says unless I lose ten pounds he won't be seen in public with me."
"The man's a fucking asshole!" Benito gives a glimpse of the frightening man beneath the suit.
Giuliana pats his hand. "You can't say that about your father."
"Why not? It's true. He treats my mother like shit and now he's being an asshole to you."
His mother? Now I'm confused. Adriano introduced Benito as his brother and there's definite warmth between him and Giuliana.
"Benito is the son of my husband's first mistress," Giuliana explains. I'm surprised she's being so open about that to me considering we've only just met. "But I have always had the greatest affection for Benito and his mamma, Helena, is a wonderful woman. She didn't deserve to get caught up in my feckless husband's web."
"Wow." This is hard to wrap my head around. "But you and Benito seem so close."
"We are." Giuliana says fondly.
"My father tried to deny responsibility for me when my mother was pregnant," Benito says. "Maurizio wasn't interested in me until I was old enough to be useful to him. It was Giuliana who made sure my mother and I wanted for nothing."
"You're a truly remarkable woman," I can't help saying.
"Nonsense," Giuliana shakes her head. "I did what any woman would do."
Adriano and Benito both scoff at that. "I don't think that's true, Mamma."
She shrugs. "Well, anyway, about the wedding. Helena was a saint but this new mistress of his, she's…" Giuliana throws her hands up in the air as if there isn't a word harsh enough for what this woman is. My mother makes the same gesture when she’s run out of polite things to say.
"I'll speak to him."
"Benito already spoke to him. It didn't work."
"I'll speak to him," Adriano repeats. "You will be coming to the wedding, Mamma. Whether he does or not depends on him."
"But they're his family, Adriano."
"Who was the invitation made out to?" Benito asks.
"Signore and Signora Volante," Giuliana replies.
"There you go, Mamma. They invited you specifically. Not Maurizio plus whatever whore he's fucking."
Giuliana lets out a sob, clearly overwhelmed by the whole thing.
Adriano mutters something undoubtedly unpleasant under his breath and Benito stabs his chicken like he imagines it's his father. My family has had its moments over the years but the Volantes take dysfunction to another level.
"What will you wear to the wedding?" I ask.
Giuliana looks at me, her face brightening a little. "Oh, I found this beautiful gown. It's a deep red with beading at the neckline." She takes a breath. "I'm not sure about it now. I've put on a little weight recently."
I want to ask her where because from what I can see this woman is perfect. Yes, she has curves but they're all in proportion. She's like a nineteen fifties bombshell.
"I'm sure it will look amazing on you," I say. "Red would be a good color on you."
