Page 81 of Single Malt Drama
Grinning, Hildie shook her head. “I was shocked when he said he was coming out to the bayou. He’s been afraid of snakes and spiders since he was a little boy.”
“I know.” I laughed. “I remember one time we were playing in the olive grove and—”
Marco’s ringtone filled the air.
“Oh geez. He forgot his phone. Honestly, I don’t know how he survived before we were married.”
Hildie laughed.
Shaking my head, I checked the number on the screen and noted the New Orleans area code. “Hello.”
The line was quiet for so long, I thought the person on the other end had hung up.
I glanced at the cell to make sure the call hadn’t dropped. “Hello?”
“Nicolina, this is Evelyn Marchionni. Is my son available?”
Until recently, I’d considered Evelyn a surrogate aunt. When I was a child, she’d graciously welcomed me into her home and treated me like one of her own—distant but present. The tone of her voice told me her feelings had changed.
“Marco isn’t here. He’s at the office today. You can try him there, Evelyn.” I glanced at Hildie to make sure she’d heard me say the woman’s name. Somehow, I didn’t think Evelyn Marchionni would be thrilled to learn her employee was visiting her outlaw son and daughter-in-law.
We’ve become Bonnie and Clyde, hiding from our parents like a couple of criminals. Hopefully, we won’t go down in a storm of bullets.
“Please tell Marco I’m coming to New Orleans at the end of the week for Enzo’s birthday. His girlfriend is throwing a surprise party, of all things. I would very much like to see the two of you there.”
“I’ll tell him.” It was strange speaking to her again. So much so, I let my curiosity get the better of me. “How is Papa Joe?”
“He’s dying, Nicolina. The stress you and Marco have caused this family is speeding up the process considerably.”
I gripped the back of the couch. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t our intentions.”
Hildie rested her hand on top of mine.
“Have you spoken to your father?” Evelyn sounded as if she was smirking on the other end of the call.
“Not since before we left for our honeymoon.” What was I thinking? I should have hung up after she asked to speak to her son. I wanted to throw the cell to the gators, but I had a sinking feeling our time here would soon come to an end—with or without the phone.
“Honeymoon. Right.” She let out a polite chuckle. “Are we really going to play this game, Nicolina?”
My mouth went dry. What does she know? “It’s not exactly luxurious here, but we’re happy.”
“You don’t have to pretend with me,” she chided.
“I’m not pretending. I love your son, and he loves me.” I glanced at Hildie and sighed.
She pressed her lips together and shook her head.
Evelyn said, “Regardless, this so-called marriage of yours has caused a considerable amount of trouble for your family and mine.”
Pacing the room, I tried to calm my spinning head enough to ask coherent questions. “If the Abruzzos fall, which family will take their place?”
She laughed the same humorless laugh as I’d heard from Enzo countless times. “That’s the billion-dollar question. I honestly have no idea.”
I wanted to believe her, but I didn’t trust her. Evelyn had spent too many years plotting and planning with my father. She had to have some idea.
Her sharp voice pulled me out of my thoughts. “What will it take to convince you and my son to come out of hiding?”
Her bluntness shouldn’t have surprised me. Much like my father, the woman made a career out of speaking her mind, issuing orders, and expecting those around her to fall in line.