Page 59 of Love You, Mean It

“As best I can.”

“And why should I trust you?”

“Because Ellie and I want the same thing.” Theo smirked. “As the prick’s son, surely I’d look after my own self-interest, yes?” Mimi sniffed out something approximating a laugh.

“I’d imagine selling out to Mangia would take care of that self-interest quite nicely.”

“It would if what I wanted was money.”

“I’m supposed to believe it’s not?” Mimi’s eyebrow shot to her hairline. Theo rolled his eyes.

“If you must know, I have a soft spot for the old Taylor’s building. When we were kids, my brother Chase and I practically lived there. It was almost like our clubhouse.”

“Hell of a way to play Swiss Family Robinson,” Mimi spat.

“More like…” Theo squinted.

“The Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler!” I said, excitement raising the pitch of my voice. Theo smiled softly.

“That’s the one where the kids camp out in the Met, right?” I nodded. “Then yes, that’s a perfect comparison. It felt like there were a million places to explore, or hide. We’d spend hours in there, making up games I can’t even remember now…And the building itself has always been gorgeous.”

“And you’re expecting me to buy that you’ll pass up millions for nostalgia?”

“I don’t expect you to ‘buy’ anything. Idoexpect you to play along if you’re going to join us. Not for my sake, of course—for Ellie’s. After all, she’s the one who wanted you here.” He raised his eyebrow right back at Mimi. Her eyes narrowed, but I could see a hint of game-recognizes-game in the set of her mouth.

“Fine. Let’s get this over with,” Mimi conceded. “There had better be drinks.”

“Allow me to lead you to the open bar,” Theo said. “Ellie said you preferred reds? I hope Barolo’s alright.”

“The king of wines? If you’re trying to bribe us, you’re off to a great start,” Mimi said with a genuine grin.

I hung back with Ma and Mimi as we made our way back to Ted.

“Quick recap, you’re thrilled for us, yes?”

“Definitely. Theo’s a gem, treats you so well,” Ma parroted gamely.

“But it was all a whirlwind for you too,” I prompted.

“That’s just how you are!” Ma said, a genuine smile easing the tension on her face. “Trust me, that’s an easy sell.”

“And you’re going to play nice with Ted?Nomentions of Mangia.”

“The word won’t cross my lips, Ellie, but if some of that Barolodoesn’tcross them soon, I can’t be responsible for what happens next,” Mimi said sharply.

“Okay, then…here we go.” We crossed to where Ted was stillleaning against the bar, Marta now smiling at his shoulder, white wine in hand.

“Ted, this is my mother, Linda, and my grandmother, Mimi.” Ma extended her hand, which Ted took with a smooth smile.

“Thank you so much for hosting, Ted. The space is lovely.”

“Yes, wewouldhave hosted something, since usually that’s up to the bride’s family, but you were just so quick off the mark,” Mimi added, eyes narrowing as Ted turned to her. “We’d barely processed the news.”

“What can I say, we were just so excited,” he said, sipping his Scotch. “Though I must say I’m relieved to hear I’m not the only one who found this match a bit…surprising. One day my son’s playing the field, the next he shows up with a fiancée I’ve never even heard of. It’s almost enough to make a man suspicious.” He flashed Ma a vulpine smile, clearly sensing the weaker target. She gulped, but Mimi leaned in, laying a craggy hand on Ted’s suit sleeve.

“Don’t worry, I gave Ellie her first pack of birth control pills when she was in high school. No shotguns pointing Theo’s way from our direction.”

Ted frowned, clearly uncertain how to play this, but Mimi just smiled genially.

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