Page 30 of Tito
Julianna stared back at her lookalike. “You would do that? I mean you don’t have to…”
Valencia smiled at her and said, “La famiglia è la famiglia.”
Julianna stared at her. “Ok, okkkk.” She looked impressed. “You are quick with the Italian, Sis.”
“It’s in her blood,” I said.
Spreading her arms out, Valencia said with perfect mobster pitch, “Fuggedaboutit!”
We all laughed.
Chapter Ten:Babies And Butlers
Valencia
At dinner, all four of us sat together. It made sense to me as I really needed to spend more time with Julianna. All the years I’d been with O, I’d wanted a sister. Could it be that twin bond thing? Maybe? But I had the chance now to hang out with my sister and I planned on taking that chance. It did help that Tito and Romeo were so damned funny. They made us laugh a lot and we sure needed it. They got along so well too. They managed to cheer us both up and keep us distracted.
I felt like I had been through the wringer in the last few weeks. First, I had been dragged into this place while practically handcuffed. Then deposited right down in front of Tito. He never held it against me. He understood and believed in me almost from the start. I just felt so grateful to be with him. I also felt lucky to have a sister. Twin or not, I had family here. We didn’t know who our father was, but at least we knew the truth.
Thinking I’d been lied to since I was a small child and dealing with that feeling of being betrayed. This taught me well. So yes, I refused to allow my twin to go down that same path. That was why I stopped her from being so messed up over it. We were born and that had been the extent of our part in it all.
We all enjoyed the meal. Of course, we did. Zia never made anything that wasn’t delectable or straight up ambrosia. It just dawned on me that if…no, when Tito and I got married, she would be my mother in law. Could a girl get any luckier?
“You with us?”
I looked over at Tito. “Sorry. Just reflection, I guess?”
“I can understand.” He nodded as he took my hand. “You’ve had some real surprises recently.” He slid a small dessert dish over to me. “This? It will make it all fade away.”
I looked down at it.
“He is telling the truth there,” Julianna said. “The first time I got a spoonful of her Budino al Cioccolato? I was hooked.”
“Budino…what?” I asked her.
Laughing, Julianna nodded at Tito. “Just hand her the small spoon.”
“I don't think she’s tried it since she’s been here?” He nodded back at her, picked up the spoon and handed it to me.
I grabbed it then peered down at what looked like chocolate pudding.
“And I know what you’re thinking, Valen,” Julianna said. “It looks like ordinary pudding, right?”
“Yes, with whipped topping.” I laughed and dipped my spoon in. “That was my exact thought.”
Nodding, she said, “We will wait untilithappens. Then you will understand.”
I raised my gaze to her. “It?”
“Yes, a phenomenon like no other,” Romeo said with a chuckle.
Julianna motioned at me with her hand. “Go ahead.”
I raised up a spoonful and tucked it into my mouth. The very second that silky, chocolate hit my tongue I knew what they were talking about. The cream was homemade I could tell and all it did was accentuate the wonder that was this dessert. My eyes rolled up in my head. My adrenaline spiked. Flavor and texture combined allowed a little bit of euphoria to ripple through my body. I couldn’t help it, I let out a long, low moan and closed my eyes.
“Yeah!” Tito said with a laugh. “You’re gone.”
“She gets it now,” Julianna agreed. “So excuse me while I take that little spoon stairway to chocolate heaven, myself.”
