Susan Mallery - The Marcelli Bride

Darcy stared after her. “Am I being set up?”

Brenna chuckled. “Oh, yeah. Big time. Get used to it. Grandma Tessa’s been trying to marry Joe off for the past three years. Matchmaking is a way of life in this family. As the president’s daughter, you’re something of a catch.”

She wasn’t sure about that. “If Joe’s your brother, why does he have a different last name?”

“Ah, that’s one of our more interesting stories.” Brenna tucked her hair behind her ears. “My parents met and fell in love in high school. Neither set of their parents approved-young love never lasts and all that. So when my mom turned up pregnant, the families pressured her to give up the baby for adoption. Which she did.”

Darcy had expected to hear about a child from a previous marriage. “So he was raised by someone else?”

Brenna nodded. “It’s really sad. His adoptive parents were great, but they were killed when he was pretty young. He went into foster care. My sisters and I never knew about him. My parents married right out of high school and are obviously really happy together, but they were crushed to find out what Joe went through. But we found him, and now he’s one of us.” Her smile faded. “At least that’s the goal.”

Darcy shifted on the bed. “I didn’t mean to pry, I just wondered.”

“Makes sense. Grandpa Lorenzo gets on him to change his name to Marcelli, but Joe resists. He’s still holding back, not ready to be one of us. Which is probably more than you wanted to know, huh?” Brenna slowly pushed to her feet. “I’m going to leave you to unpack. I have some wine I need to check on. See you at lunch.”

“Okay. Thanks for the information on the family.”

Brenna smiled. “There’s so much more, but I don’t want to scare you off on your first day. But I’m sure Katie, Mia, and Francesca will be visiting before long. Brace yourself. Remember what I said about drinking wine. It really helps.”

Joe did his best to duck out of lunch. The last thing he wanted was a big family meal and a lot of questions about his career-as in why wasn’t he leaving the navy to move to the winery-and his love life-had he met someone, when was he getting married and having babies? But when he opened the back door to make his escape, he saw Grammy M and Gabriel arriving, and he could no more run out on her than he could back a car over a puppy. Tessa might perform the strongest cheek pinch on three continents, but Grammy M’s warm smile and lilting Irish voice got him every time.

“Joe,” she said warmly as she climbed out of the large yellow Cadillac. “I’d heard you’d come home. It’s been far too long since we’ve set eyes on you.”

He walked down to hug the tiny, old woman. “I’ve been busy.”

“Too busy for those who love you most?” she asked gently. “’Tis a sad thing when a grandson stays away.”

“I’m here now,” he told her.

“So I see. Along with the president’s daughter. Who would have thought. Is she pretty?”

Joe didn’t want to think about Darcy Jensen or the fact that he’d been aware of her from the first second he’d seen her. “She’s okay.”

Gabriel got out of the car and reached for his cane. “That Lauren’s a real looker. I can’t say much about her sister. Still, a kidnapping had to take some of the starch out of her sails.”

He limped up to join Grammy M, then took her arm. “Step aside, sonny,” he snapped. “I’ll be escorting my woman to lunch if you don’t mind.”

Grammy M giggled. “Oh, Gabriel. Don’t talk like that in front of the young people. You know it makes them uncomfortable.”

“My grandson doesn’t mind,” Gabriel said with a cackle. “He likes knowing the family plumbing still works at my age.”

Joe winced. He was with Grammy M on this particular topic.

He followed the older couple into the kitchen, where he found it in the usual Marcelli chaos. Tessa and Colleen carried huge bowls and platters of food to the dining room. Nic had arrived. He managed to call out a greeting to Joe as he helped a very pregnant Brenna out of a chair. Marco carried in several bottles of wine, then paused to kiss his mother-in-law on the cheek. The action caused Tessa to notice that Grammy M had arrived.

“So you’re here,” Tessa said in a chilly voice.

“I wanted to meet Darcy,” Grammy M told her serenely. “So she could see we weren’t all rigid and judgmental.”

Tessa bristled. “I’m not sure you should be around a young woman like that. You could send her down the dark path to hell.”

Marco headed for his mother while Joe took Grammy M by the arm.

“Let’s get you and Gabriel seated,” he said, leading her into the dining room.

“Nowhere near the likes of her,” Grammy M said. “She’s turned cruel and difficult. It’s amazing what old age will do to a body.”

Gabriel leaned close. “She’s jealous.”

Grammy M smiled and patted his hand. “Perhaps. I just…” Her voice trailed off. “No use crying over spilled milk, as my nana used to say. ’Tis her loss.”

Brenna waddled into the room. “You’re both stubborn,” she said as Nic wrapped his arm around her thick waist. “You two have been friends for what, thirty-plus years? Why let things get in the way now?”

Grammy M picked up her napkin. “Ask Tessa. She started it. Tellin’ me I had to choose between her and Gabriel. As if she resented my happiness. That’s not friendship.”

Nic patted Brenna’s shoulder. “Did I tell you not to get involved? Did you listen?”

“I hate that they don’t talk. It’s not right.”

Tessa bustled into the room. “Sit everyone. The food’s all ready. Brenna, you’re there, with Nic beside you. No, save that seat. It’s for Darcy. She’ll be across from Joe.”

Everyone turned to look at him as he held in a groan. Shit. He’d been home less than twenty-four hours and this was Tessa’s second attempt at matchmaking.

Marco came in with a tray of pasta. Colleen followed with baskets of bread. Joe retreated to the kitchen, thinking if he helped carry things maybe he could escape being the center of attention for once.

An unnecessary plan, he realized when he returned and found everyone focused on Darcy Jensen as she entered the dining room.

She still wore the fitted sundress she’d had on when she’d arrived. The black and white fabric hugged slender curves. He preferred women on the lush side of the scale, but she wasn’t bad-looking. And she smelled good. He’d always been a sucker for that.

“If this is lunch, I’m not sure I can face dinner,” Darcy said into the silence. “It, um, looks delicious.”

“It is,” Brenna told her. “And you’re probably one of those disgusting women who can eat what she wants without gaining a pound. It makes me want to hate you, but I won’t.” She waved toward Grammy M. “Darcy, I don’t believe you’ve met my maternal grandmother and Gabriel. We call her Grammy M, short for Mary-Margaret O’Shea. Gabriel Reese is her-”

“Paramour in sin,” Tessa snapped. “That’s right. They’re living together without the benefit of marriage.” She made a quick sign of the cross. “So have a seat.”

Marco jumped to pull out Darcy’s chair. Brenna introduced Nic while Colleen hustled her mother-in-law into the kitchen, no doubt to warn her to back off. Joe made himself busy at the buffet, opening bottles of wine.

Lorenzo walked into the dining room and took his place at the head of the table.

“Damn fool idea to have a big meal in the middle of the day,” he snapped. “No one will want to work later.”

“I was planning to take a nap anyway,” Brenna said cheerfully. “I have to, what with not sleeping at night. Here’s my question. Why nine months? Why can’t pregnancy last three months, or four? Isn’t that enough? I know I’m ready.”