“Sissy! Ava! What a wonderful surprise!” She cried and gave us big hugs.
Uncle Vito was nearly bald, very round and about an inch taller than me. Aunt Angela was slim, trim, stylish and disappeared once a year to a “spa” where she came out looking five years younger. Her forehead never moved. Botox city.
Still, she was sweet.
“Aunt Angela, these are our friends Daisy and Shirleen,” Sissy introduced as we walked into the foyer and Angela greeted Daisy and Shirleen. She was such a premier hostess, she seemed not to have any reaction at all to Daisy and Shirleen. Not that there was any reaction to be had about them, except Daisy was wearing skintight faded jeans with silver rivets up the sides, pink platform boots and a baby blue v-necked shirt that showed so much cle**age, most mothers would cover their children’s eyes at the sight of her.
Then again we found out quickly that Aunt Angela knew Daisy, they moved in the same social circles. They gave each other cheek kisses that came nowhere near the cheek.
“Come in, come in. Can I get you coffee? I have some cannoli from Pasquini’s.”
“That sounds good,” Shirleen said.
I gave Shirleen a look and then turned back to Aunt Angela.
“Sorry, Aunt Angela. We’re here to see Uncle Vito, it’s important.”
She looked at me and said, “Vito’s just about to head out to a meeting.”
No!
My gaze swung to Sissy, screaming, mutely, do something!
Sissy to the rescue. “We have to see him before he goes. It’s important,” Sissy told her then her voice lowered. “It’s about Dom.”
Aunt Angela’s mouth got tight as she looked at Sissy. Angela also thought Dom was a dickhead.
Angela made a decision and said, “Come through to the family room. I’ll get Vito.” She led us to the family room and then hot-footed it out.
“I don’t see why we couldn’t have a cannoli and a coffee while we’re waitin’,” Shirleen groused.
“We don’t have time,” I told her.
“Have you ever had a cannoli from Pasquini’s? There’s always time for a cannoli from Pasquini’s.”
In my fatty, fatty four-eyed days I’d practically lived at Pasquini’s. I’d had more cannolis, chocolate candles, napoleons and profiteroles at Pasquini’s than the entire population of Denver.
I decided not to answer. Luckily, I didn’t have to, Uncle Vito walked in.
He threw out his arms toward Sissy and me. “Sissy! Ava! Come give your Uncle Vito a hug.”
Okay, so I was a little weirded out that Luke told me Uncle Vito had ordered hits where guys ended up with bullets in their brains. Not to mention he’d kidnapped me a couple of days earlier. Still, if Sissy and Dom divorced, I’d likely not be invited to the huge family Thanksgiving dinner again. This was probably one of the last times I’d ever see him. Anyway, if he was a man who could order a hit, it was probably not prudent to dis him on a hug. So, with Sissy, I moved forward for a big Uncle Vito hug.
“How’re my girls?” he asked, leaning back and dropping his arms.
“Not good, Uncle Vito,” Sissy answered.
Vito’s eyes came directly to me.
Eek!
What’d I do?
“What’s Dom done now?” he asked.
Oh, okay, freak out cancelled. I was always telling on Dom to Uncle Vito. He knew I’d give him the truth.
Sissy and I looked at each other. Vito moved into the room. We found that he knew both Shirleen and Daisy. With Daisy, it was understandable if Aunt Angela knew her. Shirleen was a wildcard.