"Oh, let me see that," her mother said, turning around. She took the bottle and peered over the top of her glasses at it. "Oh, it is my favorite! What a sweet, thoughtful boy."
"Yes, we really should go say hi," Nik said, smiling innocently.
Drew held up a hand. "You leave him alone. Between your groupie husband and Uncle Gino he's got his hands full." She pulled out a beer from the refrigerator and popped off the top, then took it back out into the living room. She was surprised but pleased to see Heath smiling at something her father was saying, smiling genuinely and broadly. He looked up when she approached and his smile widened.
"Thanks," he said, taking the bottle from her.
"Get your Uncle Gino one more, too, hon," Uncle Gino called, lifting his empty bottle. Drew smiled and reached over to take it from him.
"Yes, Uncle Gino," she said and got her uncle another beer. When she returned to the kitchen, her mother was taking the caprese salad she'd made and placing it into a serving bowl.
"Sweetie, set the table please. Nik—get the antipasti ready. Toni—slice the bread."
"Yes, Mom," was the collective response. Drew knew that setting the table meant everything but the dinner plates, as her mother personally insisted on dishing up and serving each person their plate. Her mother always cooked all of the food, except for when the girls would trade off weeks making a side or a dessert, and she always ate last and very quickly, to make sure that everyone's plate stayed full. Drew would have objected, but her mother seemed to love taking care of everyone; her grandmother had been that way, and hers before her. It was just part of the family tradition.
"And now, we're ready to eat," her mother was saying brightly, and Drew's stomach involuntarily clenched up. During the meal was the time when the new guest would be peppered with questions and assaulted with veiled threats.
Nik and Toni were smiling at her, and Toni actually rubbed her hands together.
"Be nice," Drew whispered. She'd meant for it to come out as a demand but it sounded like a plea.
Her sisters exchanged a look and Nik drew her finger across her throat.
Chapter Fifteen
Mrs. Carnevale went to personally collect the men for dinner.
"You bums want to eat, you better come now," she called good-naturedly to them. A moment later, the men filed into the dining room from the living room, Mr. Carnevale rubbing his hands together in anticipation.
The room was small, just big enough for the large oak dining table and all of the chairs, plus a smaller table for the kids. They typically sat in the exact same places every time, and Drew noticed that an extra chair and place setting had been wedged in right next to her normal place. She caught Heath's eye and smiled and pointed to the chair next to her. He nodded and walked around beside her. Her father sat at the head of the table, and Uncle Gino sat at the other end. Her mother sat to the left of her father and Drew to his right. With the odd number of people at the table it was a little awkward, but Drew moved over as far as she could without intruding her father's space to give Heath enough room.
"Let me go get the kids," Nik said, and for the first time, Drew realized with a jolt she hadn't seen any of her two nieces and two nephews. She had completely forgotten about them, so stressed with the introduction of Heath to her parents and sisters.
"Where are they?" Drew asked.
"Outside in that little play area for kids, on the other side of the courtyard."
She returned in a few moments with her son and daughter, Mia and Dominic, and Toni's two children, Dante and Ramona.
"Hi, guys!" Drew exclaimed, kneeling down to allow the four small children to barrel into her. "I didn't see you outside. Why were you being so quiet?"
"Hide and seek," Mia informed her.
"Who won?"
"Me!" Dominic shouted.
"No, me," Dante whined.
"Enough," Toni said, bringing her fingers to her temples.
"Auntie Drew," Ramona whispered, her eyes furtively going to Heath, who was watching them with his arms folded over his chest and a half-smile on his face. "Who is that?"
"Who?" Drew asked, pretending she didn't know who Ramona was talking about.
"Him," she whispered back, pointing a small finger at Heath.
Drew glanced back and smiled up at him. "Oh, him? That's my friend. Heath."
"Heath," Dominic repeated.
Heath knelt down next to Drew. "Hey, little man," he said. "What's your name?"
"I'm Dom," Dominic said.
"That's Dante and Mia," Drew said, gesturing to her niece and nephew. She wrapped an arm around Ramona's waist. "Can you tell Heath your name?"