Chapter 25

Saturday, December 19th, I made a video call to my mother and father with Alessandro. He was nervous about speaking with my father, but I assured him, it was my mother that he needed to win over.

My father said, “My daughter looks happy and that’s the most important thing to me.”

My mother moved him out of the way, “Looking and being happy are two different things. What about your job, the house?”

“Mom, I’ll be working with Alessandro at the company and Iyanna will live in the house for now at least.”

“You gonna have my daughter and grandbabies living in that lil boat?”

He chuckled, “No ma’am, we just bought a house, it’s nice, you’ll have your room when you come to visit.”

She smiled, “Our own room, I like that, and it’s close to the beach.” I could see her wheels spinning. All she wanted was some grandkids she could spoil. “You seem like a nice young man. I hope after that trip to visit your family in New Jersey, a trip to Georgia is next.”

“Yes ma’am. Soon, in January, after the New Year.”

“Alright,” she commented sternly.

“We’re going to let you two go, I’m sure y’all have some decorating to do.”

“Um, Elise, you know I want my room with burgundy and cream, and I need a chaise lounge with a lamp, so I can do my reading at night.”

“Yes, ma.”

The call ended and I turned to him, “That wasn’t too bad.” He smiled, “Your parents are nice. I can’t wait to go to Georgia and get some of that southern food.”

I touched his belly, “You sure you can handle collard greens, cornbread, and smothered chicken.”

He nodded, “I can.”

“Alright, sir, we’re headed to a barbeque joint for lunch, let’s go.”

Monday, we flew to Philly, where his sister Victoria picked us up at the airport. “My parents are excited to meet you, Elise,” she said as she drove.

I sat in the front seat and Alessandro sat in the back with her boyfriend. “They are?” I asked. I was slightly worried about how they would take him being with a black girl also, one with vitiligo. Even though he had it too, mine was on my face.

We arrived at the property around noon, and my heart raced. I only wanted them to be receptive to me. They lived on a large piece of land and grew a lot of their food.

He rolled the bags to the front door and Victoria opened it to let us in, “Honey they’re here,” his mother said loudly, she walked over hugged Alessandro, then stepped back and looked at me, “You must be Elise. Alex has sent us some pictures of you two.” She hugged me, “I’m Dorothy Mancini and this is my husband, Renaldo.”

He hugged me and squeezed tightly, “Welcome to our home, make yourself comfortable.” He looked at Alessandro, “Show your girlfriend to the room and the two of you come back and eat, ma is cooking up something awesome.”

We went to the room, which was set up downstairs in the basement, it was like another house. “This is nice,” I said as I plopped down on the queen-sized bed with plush blankets. It was quite the temperature change from Miami, where we hardly needed a blanket.

He sat down next to me, “Not too bad, right,” he replied as he laid back and looked into my eyes.

I laughed, “Don’t even think about it.”

He laughed, “Alright, let’s go.”

We headed upstairs to the kitchen, where I met his grandmother, Antonella, a petite, white-haired woman, dressed sharply, “Ciao tesoro mio,” she said as she kissed his cheeks and smiled, “Is this the young lady, I’m Alessandro’s grandmother.”

I hugged her, “It’s nice to meet you.”

“I’ve cooked baked ziti and for dessert, I think Angela is bringing cannolis.”

“Did someone call my name?” her voice screeched, “I’ve got cannolis.” She said as she walked into the kitchen and stared at me, “This is Alex’s girl. Nice to meet you, hun, I’m Angela. Gianni’s wife.”

“Hi,” I replied. I had never seen her except for in pictures. Average height, heavy on top, slimmer on the bottom. Gianni walked in,