Page 91 of My Big Fat Italian Break-Up

Warren looked at me at length and finally said, ‘Mom, do everything you have to do to make things like the way they were.’

‘You’re sure? And you, Maddy?’

At that, my daughter clapped her hands and exclaimed, ‘Go for it, Mommy!’

So with their blessing, I picked up the phone, my heart in my mouth. For this to work, I needed every piece in place.

‘Sienna? It’s Erica.’

‘Oh, hi,’ she chirped, interrupted by a female murmuring in the background.

‘How’s… Nina?’ I asked, and could almost see her roll her eyes as she laughed.

‘Driving me nuts as usual. Can’t wait until this baby is born, so someone else will be the center of her attention. What’s up?’

Ironically, I needed her help to save my marriage. So I bit the bullet. ‘Sienna, I need a favor.’

‘Sure. Shoot.’

Oh, but it hurt so much to admit it. ‘Julian’s left me.’

Silence, then: ‘Hewhat? I don’t believe it! Why?’

And so, with my heart on my sleeve, I told her. All of it. Well, except for me being jealous of her (one can only eat so much humble pie).

She loyally sucked air in between her teeth and tsk-tsked. ‘And he doesn’t believe you, the stupid bugger. How can I help?’

Ah. ‘Glad you asked.’ And so I told her all about my plan. It was an absolutely batshit crazy, ‘never gonna get away with it’ plan. But I was willing to risk it all for Julian.

Silence, then a hearty laugh. ‘I love it!’

‘You… think it’ll work?’ I asked.

‘I know it will! You just leave it to me.’

‘Thanks so much, Sienna. God, I hope you’re right.’

‘I’m always right. I may be a lesbian, but I know men, Erica. And I know Julian. I’ll get to work on it pronto.’

‘Where are you now?’

‘We’re in London.’

‘Is Julian there?’

‘No, he’s at his parents’ home.’

His parents. The people he used to turn to when he was in crisis. I’d been right not to underestimate the situation. This thing was getting more and more serious by the minute.

‘OK,’ I said, closing my eyes and sending out a little prayer. Actually, it was a huge ‘I’ll sacrifice everything to You’ prayer.

I knew what I needed to do, but besides Sienna, I also needed to run it by my best friend, Paul. He’d know what to do. But five days had gone by and still no news from him. I wanted to leave him his space, but his silence was killing me. We’d never fallen out before – not like this.

He was my blood, my family, my confidante – much more than my own siblings could ever be. His happiness was important to me. I’d never meant to come between him and Alberto and needed to tell him that. And he’d have to listen. If only I had the same confidence regarding Julian. I rummaged through my bag for my phone just as it began to ring. It was Paul.

‘Paul – I was just about to call you…’ I said breathlessly.

‘I’m sorry, sunshine. I should have understood.’