“That seems like a Serafini problem.”
“It’s your problem, too, because trouble within the Serafini ranks will spread out to the Roccos, too.”
“And now,” Chrissy went on, “since we’re to be family, I’d like to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Vits spread his hands. “What do you want from me?”
“You have a first-class medic on staff,” Saks said. “We’d like him to care for Chrissy’s father for a couple of days to monitor his condition. That way we can show him as back in charge, and make sure he recovers well from his surgery.”
“And you’d trust me to send this man to help.”
“Uncle Vits. It annoys my father I don’t work in the family business, but I’ll let you in on a little secret. He’s glad I’m not. Upset me and you’ll lose your most trusted advisor, and you’ll also lose your place at our dinner table.”
“That is a low blow, Anthony, threatening to withhold your mother’s food.”
“It won’t be my father pressing for it. My mother will let no one get in the way of my happiness, even if her last name used to be Rocco.”
A sigh escaped Vits’ lips as he looked to Chrissy. “You look like your grandmother. She was a beautiful woman. And a spitfire. No one was going to get in her way. You take after her, yes?”
Saks put his arm tightly around her.
“Some people have said so,” Chrissy replied with a curl of her lips.
Vits cleared some phlegm from his throat and turned his gaze to Saks. “I see you thought this out. And you could do worse than marrying this young woman.” He smiled warmly at Saks. “You always were intelligent, probably too smart to hang out with a bunch of old goombahs.” He waved his hand. “Congratulations, you two. I wish you the best.”
“And you’ll help as I asked?” Saks asked.
“Yes. Yes. You call when Serafini is on his way home. I’ll get my guy over there.”
“Thank you, Uncle Vits.”
“And one last thing. Did you get her a ring?”
“Not yet.”
“Well, I said I would get you one.” He opened the top drawer of his desk and fumbled around. Finally, he pulled out a blue velvet box.
“It’s not brand-new, but never worn.”
Chrissy stared at the box.
“Go ahead, young lady. This isn’t what I would have gotten for you, but seeing how you are so much like your grandmother, I think it’s right.”
She looked at Saks, and he shrugged.
Chrissy picked it up off the desk and opened it.
She stood stunned as she gazed at the contents of the box. It was gorgeous.
The round-cut center stone set in platinum had to be at least a carat, and the round diamonds at either side a quarter carat each. They had to be the brightest diamonds she’d ever seen. “Oh, Mr. Rocco, this is too much.”
“No, Ms. Serafini. I think this is very right.”
A tear trickled down her cheek. She barely remembered her grandmother, because she died when Chrissy was young. But this kind of ring bought on the hope of a promise not yet made by a young man meant only one thing.
He’d loved her very much.
A tear trickled down her cheek when she thought about how Vittorio Rocco lost the woman he loved and lived without her all those years. Swallowing hard she looked up at Saks, and promised herself that would never happen to him.