Page 92 of Say It Isn't So

Bianca

You know thosemoments in life when you feel like you’re walking the plank, but it’s inevitable, so you hold your head high and put one foot in front of the other anyway?

This was one of those times.

I’d promised myself that if Knox and I became more than friends, I would tell my dad. That as soon as it happened, I would be honest with him.

Knowing that didn’t make it any easier.

But I had to do it. He deserved to know the truth. We were family, and family was always honest with each other. Plus, I didn’t want to sneak around with Knox, hiding him from my dad. We’d kept things under wraps in Paris and by my way of thinking, that was long enough. But what choice did I have really? Was I supposed to just pick up the phone and call him? How would that conversation have gone?Oh, hey, Daddy, yeah, Knox and I are going to give this thing a go, and I figured all of this out while we were in Paris for fashion week.

That conversation would have gone over like a lead balloon.

Which was why I’d decided to wait to tell him until I got home and things got back to normal.

Taking the veal parmesan that Maria brought over out of the oven, I thought about what I wanted to say. I wasn’t looking to start a war, so I knew the meal would help. Food and wine made everything better in this family.

Before taking our wine glasses to the table, I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans.I have to do this. It’s going to be okay.

It so wasn’t going to be okay.

I picked up my phone, needing my sisters.

Bianca:SOS

Perla:What’s up?

Bianca:I’m telling Daddy about Knox tonight.

Maria:Did you heat the veal?

Bianca:Yeah.

Allegra:What does that matter?

Maria:It’s a delicious distraction. He can’t be mad when eating my veal.

Perla:You’re insane and I mean that in the most loving way possible.

Bianca:Can we focus, please?

Maria:It’s going to be fine. Stick to your guns. Follow your heart.

Perla:Any other platitudes you can give her, Maria?

Maria:It’s good advice. She knows she has to do this, she’s just nervous that he’ll be mad. But, Bibi, if you remember what you want, it’ll be fine.

Bianca:From your mouth. . .

Allegra:We support you.

Bianca:Okay, I think I hear him coming.

Allegra:Then get it over with. We love you!

I could do this.

It’ll be fine. Stick to my guns. Follow my heart.Maria’s words played on loop in my mind. Whatever was going on with her these days was making her one bullheaded cookie and I was so glad for it. I’d have to find out what that was about, but right now, I needed to stay focused.

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