Chapter 14 - Healing Old Wounds, Paying Every Debt, and a Sunday Dinner That Smelled Like Home
Six months later, spring had arrived in Chicago.
The trees along Lake Shore Drive were blooming with white cherry blossoms, and the cold winter winds had given way to warm, golden sunshine.
Every Sunday afternoon, without fail, the tradition was honored.
Caruso’s Trattoria closed its doors to the public at 2:00 PM for private family dinner.
Sitting around the large corner booth beneath Antonio Moretti’s portrait sat my father, Arthur Reed, laughing heartily with Teresa Caruso over a bowl of homemade gnocchi.
Marco and the household staff sat at the adjacent table, treated not as employees, but as honored guests.
Luca sat beside me, dressed casually in a soft linen shirt, looking more relaxed and genuinely happy than he had in his entire life.
“Arthur,” Teresa smiled, placing a freshly baked loaf of crusty Italian bread on the table. “Your daughter tells me you’re designing a new community center for the West Side.”
My father beamed with pride. “Yes, ma'am. Thanks to Luca’s foundation, we’re building a state-of-the-art youth center and technical school on the old docklands.”
Luca smiled warmly. “The city needs real engineers, Arthur. Men who build things to last.”
I looked around the table at the smiling faces, the laughter, the incredible peace that filled the room.
A year ago, I was a terrified housekeeper counting pennies to buy my father’s medication, terrified of the powerful people who ruled this city.
Now, those same powerful people had been brought to justice, and I was surrounded by the only family that truly mattered.
Luca reached under the table, finding my hand and intertwining his fingers with mine.
May you like
He leaned in close, his lips brushing against my ear.
“Walk with me outside, Emma.”
