Page 3 of Reclaimed Dreams

Chapter2

2 years ago

Jo pulled the lasagna from the oven with a little shimmy of her hips. Tonight was the night. Dom had been hinting all week that he had big news to share at the family dinner this week. She couldn’t wait.

After losing Gabe, Jo had fallen into a deep depression. She’d stopped working, stopped going out of the house at all. It had been a difficult time, but she’d clawed her way back to the land of the living. God bless grief counselors and modern medications. One core realization from that time had really stayed with her: time was not guaranteed.

She’d vowed to make the most of whatever time she had left. She had embraced a “seize the day” mentality and hoped that Dom would finally join her. She wanted to seize their future together. They weren’t getting any younger, and Jo was done being tied down to the family business. Now was her chance to finally chase her dreams. It was past time to sell it or let the kids take it over. She’d already stepped down as office manager and had put her real estate business on hold.

And tonight, Dom was going to leave Valenti Brothers as well.

Daydreaming of the future, Jo glanced at the clock. She automatically pulled a few marinated mushrooms off the antipasti tray for Sofia, who was running late, before putting the tray out on the counter. Jo hated that Fi had basically stepped in to fill her shoes at Valenti Brothers. She wanted so much more for her daughter than the fate she’d had, stuck in a job she was good at but didn’t love. Maybe tonight would free them both. She took the tray into the family room where the horde descended like a pack of wolves.

She returned to her sanctuary in the kitchen, sipping her favorite wine, the Montepulciano Dom had suggested she open tonight. Her mind wandered back to the cold California beach where she’d fallen in love with the wine and the man. She remembered that night like it was yesterday.

I love you, Jo, and we’ll figure this out. I’m not going to lose you.

He’d given her the words then, and she’d learned the truth in them over the many years of their marriage. He’d worked so hard to keep that promise. Yes, she’d made sacrifices for the family and the business too, but they’d made their lives work together.

Her mind continued to wander as she chopped veggies for the salad. If she could do anything now, what would it be? The list was long, but where would she start?

Travel was at the top of her list. She wouldn’t lie. Seeing Tony and Elena jaunting all over Europe made her wild with jealousy. She pictured Dom at her side on the balcony of an Italian villa, sipping red wine and watching the sunset. She wanted that reality. She was sure she could get him through his fear of flying for at least one trip.

Then she wanted to come home and actually spend time with the Dom she fell in love with. She hoped he was still in there somewhere, buried under the years of fatherhood and breadwinner stress. He’d gotten quieter and quieter since…well, since things had changed. Maybe having fewer responsibilities would bring the man she’d married back to her.

And she wanted to work with kids again. She’d never forgotten the joy she’d felt in her classroom, helping a child learn to read. She wasn’t quite sure how she planned to recapture that feeling now, but she’d figure that out.

She glanced at the clock again. Sofia better get her butt through that door soon or Jo was going to burst from anticipation. She was beyond ready for Dom’s announcement!

As if summoned by her mother’s anxiety, Sofia arrived, Seth in tow, razzing her.

“I was getting worried. You should have called.”

“I got caught up at the office.” Sofia leaned in to kiss her cheek in her habitual greeting.

“That office… Enough, I won’t get into that now. I hid some mushrooms in the fridge for you.” Jo patted Sofia on the back and nudged her toward the kitchen.

“You are the best mother ever. I am sorry I was late. Last-minute snag on the Chu project that I had to untangle.”

“Bah! Nothing is more important than family. Come. Sit.” She turned and yelled, pitching her voice toward the raucous family room. “Time to eat! Everyone washes.”

Jo pushed aside her guilt at having left Sofia holding her old job and hustled everyone to the table. She listened to their conversation with half an ear as she loaded the table.

“Hey Seth, where’s Zia Elena and Zio Tony?” Sofia asked.

“They decided to extend their European holiday by a week. Apparently Spain was too tempting to miss,” Seth replied.

“And Brandy?”

“She’s working the evening shift at Flipped to cover for someone out sick. She’s sorry to miss this.”

“You’ll take her a plate.” Jo scooped a square of lasagna onto a plate, setting it aside, and caught Seth wiggling his eyebrows.

“Yes, ma’am. I sure will.”

“I will call her tomorrow to ask how it was.”

His tone dropped comically like a scolded child. “Yes, ma’am.”

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