Page 95 of Beautiful Life

“What do you know about running a business?” Charlotte asks.

Sophia elbows her sister. “Stop it.” Then looks back to Paige. “That’s great. We’re proud of you.”

“Do you have any customers?” her dad keeps on.

“I’m so excited for you. You’ll do great,” Gabby adds.

Paige looks to Gabby and Sophia giving them a more than meaningful, “Thank you,” before throwing Charlotte a dirty look. Turning back to her parents, she explains, “Yes, I have customers. I’ve been doing it on the side for a while and I think it’s going to work out well. Although,” she screws up her face and looks straight at her mom, “I’m going to need to use your kitchen for a while. Until I get my own space.”

Lizzie, while sighing, tips her head and smiles minutely at her youngest daughter like any mother would who wants all their kids’ dreams to come true, no matter how big and unreachable they think they are. “Of course. Anything you need.”

Her dad sighs. “I guess we’ll see how it goes. We need to get you set up as an LLC right away for tax purposes. Your brother can do that for you.”

“I want to do this, Dad. I have a plan, I’m not some little kid. It’s going to be great. I already made my own logo and website. I’m naming my company Birds of a Feather.”

“What does that mean?” Charlotte chimes in.

“Are you specializing in poultry?” Rosa asks.

“It doesn’t matter what it means.” Sophia turns to Charlotte. “She gets name recognition, builds her brand, it will be better than coming up with some lame catering title making it obvious she’s a caterer.” Looking back to Paige she adds, “I love it.”

“Thank you, again,” Paige says to Sophia.

“I’ll start your paperwork tomorrow,” Tony says from beside me. I almost forget about the smoldering rings in my pocket long enough to smile at him. He and Paige can go at it like crazy but they still love each other.

She gives him a small smile. “Thanks, Tone.”

“Now can we eat?” Nic asks. “All this talk of catering is doing me in.”

“No-no,” Gabby interrupts. She’s biting her lip trying to cover her huge smile. “Um … Tony has something to say, remember?”

I feel Tony’s arm constrict around my waist and my heart races at the speed of light. I have to breathe deep to concentrate on not hyperventilating.

“Something important happened yesterday,” Tony starts and I feel him give me a little shake. “Something important to Leigh and me.”

“You’re engaged?” Paige guesses.

We both look to Paige and I let out quiet groan but I know Tony heard because he gives me another squeeze. “No, we aren’t engaged.”

I look at Tony, but he looks to his parents when he proclaims in his big strong voice, “Leigh and I were married.”

A stagnant moment of silence blankets the room, which is honestly the quietest I’ve ever experienced the Carpinos. I look straight across to Tony and Lizzy, my new in-laws, as they soak up this news. They’re both statue-still staring at Tony and I as the room finally erupts with both shouts and surprised shrieks. The eruption breaks Tony’s dad out of his shock and he looks over to Lizzy, taking her hand and squeezing it.

But Lizzy doesn’t move.

She finds my eyes and we hold each other’s gaze. Even through the chaos going on around me—excited and shocked Carpinos congratulating us and pulling us in for hugs—Lizzie and I don’t lose eye contact. She remains stalk still. Tony’s dad finally releases her hand and goes to his son. I feel my new father in-law put his lips to my cheek welcoming me to the family.

Through all this, I’m in this weird zone, held in Lizzie Carpino’s trance with the commotion close but it feeling removed and far away. Those around us finally realize Lizzy hasn’t uttered a word, which isn’t like her since she’s honestly one of the loudest of all the Carpinos. The room starts to quiet and I feel Tony’s arm come around my waist as the room again falls lifeless.

Tony’s dad grabs her hand. “Liz.”

She doesn’t look at her husband but pulls her hand from his and finally moves.

And she moves straight to me.

My heart—banging in my chest like the biggest of all the drums in a marching band—won’t slow down.

Taking my hands in hers, she states in the quietest voice I’ve ever heard spill over Lizzie Carpino’s lips, “He loves you.”

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