Page 134 of Rio

“Then come back and live with us,” Rio offers.“We’re family, Mama.Nonno and Nonna are gone now.I don’t like the idea of you being alone.”

She arranges a white napkin over her lap.“I will.Not yet, but I have been thinking about it.”

“About moving back to the US?”The hope in Rio’s voice hurts.I know just how much he loves his mother, how much he hates the idea of her being so far away, and all alone.

“Don’t rush me.I’m thinking about it.”

I touch his thigh.Leave her be.

We eat, and she draws me into conversation, asking about my job—because Rio has told her—and then about the deal he’s working on.He explains about the Cazale hotel we just visited.Her questions aren’t polite filler; she’s genuinely attentive and listens and ask more questions than even my mother does.

Not that my mother worries about me much anymore—not since I’ve been FaceTiming her with Rio.

She’s more relaxed now that I’m not single.Or focused on my work to the exclusion of everything else.I heard her say this to Rio.She loves him, and is even coming to New York soon.I’m moving into a new apartment, and she’s going to stay with me for a week.I want her to get to meet him and get to know him, just like he wanted me to meet his mom.

Sometimes Isabel and Rio slip into rapid Italian before remembering I’m here.The resemblance between them is striking.It’s not just in their eyes, but in the way they listen and make you feel you have their full attention.

Halfway through the meal, Rio sets down his fork.

“There’s something else I should tell you, Mama.”

Her attention sharpens, and her hand stills as she breaks the bread.She can tell from his tone that this is serious.

“It’s about the old ...Papa,” he says, finally.His voice is calm but there’s an edge to it.

Her eyes widen.

“He had a health scare a few weeks ago.Kidney problems, and its being dealt with.”

He pauses, like he’s not sure if he should tell her more.

“Rio?”she says.

“He has stage 4 CKD, chronic kidney disease.It’s severe, but not yet total failure.”

She sets down the bread, and for a moment she doesn’t breathe.

“He has the best medical care, and he’s fine, but he’ll need ongoing treatment.Maybe even dialysis or a kidney…”

“It’s serious, then?”

“He’s not dying tomorrow, but this could kill him if it isn’t treated.”

Something flickers across her face.Pain, a rush of shock.Concern, too, but her composure calms in an instant.

“He will have the best treatment that money can buy.”

“He will, Mama.He’ll be fine.”

She picks up her bread again.“No matter what’s happened, he’s still your father, and thank you for telling me.”

I feel like this woman has known deep pain and now she knows how to school it.I can see why.She’s survived heartbreak.I can’t imagine how that would be—to be so in love with a man, only to discover he has a secret family and children and a wife.It would break my heart into so many pieces.I don’t think I’d ever be able to put it back together.

But this woman has.Rio’s gaze drops to his plate.“He’s still not an easy man, Mama.He’s still not nice or decent.”

I slide my hand beneath the table, my fingers brushing against his, and he glances at me briefly, his fingers twining with mine.I squeeze his hand, needing him to know I’m here for him.Whenever.Forever.For all time.

When I look up, Isabel is watching us.Her expression soft.“Eat,” she says gently, pouring more wine into my glass.“We’ll talk more later.For now, I want to enjoy having my son home, and I’m so happy to meet the woman who’s made him smile again.”

The way Rio looks at me makes me light up from the inside out.Sitting here, in his mother’s house, with the man I love, knowing how his early life was ripped apart by the man he loved, I feel like Rio has finally come full circle.It feels as if we’re standing at the start of a new chapter where the past no longer haunts him, and the future belongs to us both.