I had a sneaking suspicion that Ella would have been difficult regardless of the unfortunate events of that day, all those months ago. She was loyal to a fault, and Ella loved her mother more than words could describe. The level faithfulness meant that Ella wouldn’t dare give in so quickly because she felt it was disrespectful to her mom.

That evening, I called the family and when they arrived to see Vittoria standing nervously to greet them, the range of reactions was wide.

Giada looked at her with a gasp, then she looked back at me, then back at Vittoria. And then, she flew forward to wrap her arms around Tori. From my wife’s surprised laugh and returning, clutching hug, it was clear they were as happy as the other.

Meanwhile, dad came in and greeted his grandkids with kisses and hugs and money slipped into their pockets when he thought I wasn’t looking. And when he drew Ella into a hug, he looked down at her, patted her cheek and asked, “How are you, sweetheart? You eaten?”

Ella replied with a sweet smile. “I have eaten.” That sweet smile turned caustic when she turned it on me. “An entire bowl of bullshit.” She walked away in a way that was so much like her mother, my heart ached.

Pops stared at her retreating form and said, “That kid… she’s got a mouth on her. Wonder where she gets it?” But after a moment, he narrowed his eyes on me and asked carefully, “What did you do?”

Vittoria spoke up from the open doorway. “I don’t think it’s him as much as it’s me.” My father spun to look at her. His brows rose slowly and she smiled in that honey sweet way that always had my breath catching. “Hi, papa Nunzio.”

My father clicked his tongue, shook his head and put his hands to his hips. “I should’a known.”

So much Italian drama packed into one small man.

He didn’t go to her. Instead, he held out his hands and it was a kick to the gut when she rushed over to be held by a father again, even if it wasn’t her own. My dad held her hands, squeezing tight, as he didn’t hesitate to tell her, “He’s been a goddamn bear for months. Four days ago, he smiles and I wonder what changed.” He threw me an intentional look that called me a sneaky asshole. “Now I know.”

I would have called him out if he hadn’t been right, and when he embraced Vittoria in a fatherly manner, kissing her forehead and welcoming her home, an enormous weight lifted off of my shoulders. For a moment, it hovered, but the lightness didn’t last long. It transferred to the pit of my stomach when I saw Vittoria’s eyes close and her lips tremble.