Lost To Us (The President’s Daughters Book 5) by Kathryn Shay

Author:Kathryn Shay [Shay, Kathryn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ocean View Books
Published: 2022-11-08T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

* * *

Harvest Day dawned bright and beautiful. November in the southern parts of Italy reached nearly the high sixties today. Bianca was grateful that the bambini would be able to go outside. She was anxious when they arrived at the Moretti’s house.

“They’re going to love you, dolcezza.” Joe said the words from the driver’s side, as he’d been given the all clear to get behind the wheel. “They’re family.”

“I know that in my head.”

“Mamma, you don’t think they’ll like us?” Nicky’s voice sounded worried.

“No, bello, I do. This is just new.”

“Let’s all go see how much her sisters are gonna love her.” Joe had a way of calming everyone down.

They rang the front bell and walked inside. Andraya had said a version of my casa, your casa before Bianca left the last time.

The hallway led to the big great room, where four women sat on the couch. Andraya stood and started toward them, but Annalise stood and held her back. “Let me.” She crossed to the four of them. “Hello, Bianca. I’m your sister, Annalise.”

Nicky blurted out, “You look like Aunt Andraya.”

Joe put his hand on his son’s shoulder. “Nicky, they’re twins.”

Seemingly comfortable with them, Annalise held out her arms. “May I?”

Bianca said, “Of course.”

Annalise clasped her close. Bianca held on. Then she turned to the kids. “You, piccoli?”

“Sí, Sí.” This from Bella.

“I guess,” from Nicky.

Over her shoulder Bianca saw Hannah approach. Dio Santo, the resemblance was eerie this time, instead of a shock.

“Mamma, you have a twin, too?” Bella asked.

“No, cara,” Annalise told her, “They just resemble each other.”

Hannah smiled warmly. “God, it amazes me even more now.”

“I was thinking that, too.”

They shared a hug. Then the last sister approached. When Hannah let go and made room for Sasha, she said, “Hi, Bianca. I’m Sasha.”

“Buongiorno.”

When Bianca reached for her, Sasha went into the embrace and burst into tears. “Oh, dear,” Bianca said.

“Don’t mind her,” Hannah said in a patronizing tone, “she cries at commercials these days.”

All the girls then hugged Joe.

Then they talked to both kids, who seemed startled by the attention.

“Where’s everybody else?” Bianca asked.

“Out in the backyard. We wanted to meet you alone.”

“Can we go out and see Mattie and Meli?”

“Sí,” Annalise said. “And my son Andy is out there too.”

They accompanied the kids outside to greet the others. To the right of a beautiful garden was a gazebo with tables and chairs set up. The mingling scents of flowers was fragrant back here. The kids went to join their cousins. Jim and Karen and another man stood and came toward the girls.

“Boungiorno,” the unfamiliar one said. “I’m Gianni Moretti, Ben’s father.”

Bianca said, “I wondered when we’d meet you.”

Joe shook hands with him.

Jim said, “You seem bewildered, Bianca. We couldn’t think of another way that would be easier to meet your sisters.”

“I’m a bit overcome. But seeing them, you all, is wonderful.”

Then Jim surprised her and took her into his arms. “Happy Harvest Day, figlia mia.”

She said back, “Happy Thanksgiving, Papà.”

* * *

Jim stood right before dinner and raised a glass.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.