“Moretti Properties—”
“How do you deal with the guilt of kicking people out of their homes?”
“Dad! Let Luca talk!” I sat up in my seat, ready to jump up if need be. Luca’s hand squeezed my thigh under the table.
“It’s okay Sasha, your dad’s just concerned about the city, as he should be.” Luca looked across the table at my dad and smiled. “It’s true. My father wasn’t always conscious of the needs of the people that live in the city, but I’m actively trying to undo the damage our developments cause. I make a point of offsetting any new development with affordable housing options. Part of what makes the city so great is the diversity in the neighborhoods. It would be terrible if we lost that in the name of revenue.”
“Dad, where is this coming from? The last time I was here for dinner, we argued about whether gentrification was really an issue.”
“Sasha, I may not believe that left-wing bullshit, but I know you do. I’d hate for you to compromise your ideals for a man.”
What a mind fuck. I didn’t even know what to say. Dad and I had never seen eye to eye politically, but now he was vetting my boyfriend? Part of me was a little impressed, considering how much research he had to do to put on this little farce.
“Why don’t you leave the leftist political vetting to me?”
Dad’s lips twitched. “Deal.”
After a beat of silence, mom swooped in. “Luca, how old are you?”
“Thirty-five.”
“I bet your mom is anxious for you to settle down. Give her a few grandbabies?”
“Mom!”
Luca laughed. “My mom adores my nephew Dante and can’t wait to have more grandkids.” He leaned forward like he was telling a secret. “Don’t tell your daughter, but I’m excited to have a brood of my own. I was one of two, but I’d love to have three or four.”
This dinner was taking a turn. Luca’s feelings on kids weren’t surprising, but I’d never put myself in the equation. My mind reeled with how easily I pictured us with kids.
With sparkling eyes, Mom sighed with delight. “That’s wonderful. Greg, isn’t that wonderful?”
Dad grunted and lifted his chin my way. “Maggie, some people are still growing their careers and need to focus on that. There’s always time for a family later.”
My education and career were two spots of pride for my dad. Both my parents were very Catholic, so my love life had always been a point of contention, but now I understood what my dad hated most was the idea of me wasting my MBA or career on being someone’s wife and mother.
Frowning, Mom said, “If you wait too long, you lose the chance to have the family you want.” She looked atLuca, and in a strained voice, said, “I always wished we could’ve had more kids.”
“I can understand that, Mrs. Mitchell. And I can assure you both that I would never want to leave my partner with any regrets,whether it be because of careers or children.” Luca looked at me, eyes soft with apology. With his shoulders tense and his smile slowly dropping, I grabbed his hand and squeezed.
Smiling broadly at my mom, I said, “I hope you made your apple pie for dessert.”
And with that, we moved on to the less touchy subject of religion.
* * *
“You were a big hit.” I shimmied out of my skirt, tossing it in the corner of Luca’s room.
He eyed my pile of clothes with a little frown. “Please, your dad couldn’t have hated me more.”
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I yanked my tights off, purposefully whipping them into Luca. “Not true! Imagine if we told him I was knocked up. You’d be dead.”
“You’re not wrong.” Luca came over and sat next to me. “I’m sorry if I played along with your mom too much. What I said was true, but I’m sure I freaked you out.”
I reached back and unclasped my bra. “If I’m honest,I was more freaked out by how easily I could picture us with kids.”
Luca framed my face with his hands, turning me toward him. A timid smile pulled at his lips. “Really?”
“Really.” I covered his hand with my own, leaning my cheek into his palm. “I told you I love you, but more than that, I like you. The days I see you are better than the days I don’t. I see a future here, Luca,and that scares me. I’ve never felt this way.”