That's Amore (Weddings by Bella Book #4): A Novel Read online

  I turned the truck into the long, rambling driveway and paused to drink in the beauty of the quaint country scene before me. Perhaps with time, the new wedding facility would look this beautiful too. With a little work. Okay, a lot of work. But I had to believe D.J. could pull it off. He’d done wonders with other building projects, after all. Surely, knowing his emotional attachment to the old community center, he would turn it into a thing of beauty.

  Getting Rosie out of her car seat proved to be a little tough now that she’d fallen asleep. That, and she’d somehow smuggled an open chocolate bar into the seat and it had melted all over her sleeping self. What a mess. I tried to work my way around the gooey stuff, but it was impossible. Before long I was covered in chocolate too.

  “Ooh, just my kind of girl!”

  A voice sounded from behind me, though I couldn’t tell which twin it was. I turned to discover Jasmine—the one with the dark hair—and was swept away by the young woman’s beauty. Her thick black hair hung in long graceful curves over her shoulders, and that gorgeous face—really, something akin to a Mediterranean supermodel—made me sigh. I couldn’t help but think that Jasmine would’ve made a great Disney character. Oh, wait. She already had. Wasn’t Jasmine the name of the princess in Aladdin? Well, this real-life version certainly fit the bill of heroine. Tall and stately, she reminded me of a Greek statue, only more graceful. That gorgeous wealth of dark hair framed a perfectly made-up face. Yep. Supermodel.

  I sighed again as I tried to remember what it was like to be in my early twenties. Nope. Couldn’t seem to remember. And when was the last time my waist had been that size? Seemed like years ago.

  Jasmine held out her arms as if wanting to pick up Rosie. “Oh no, girl,” I argued. “Rosie’s a sticky mess. You don’t want to hold her like this.” I unbuckled my daughter’s seat belt.

  “Of course I do.” Jasmine swept my half-asleep daughter into her arms and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “A girl covered in chocolate is a girl after my own heart, you know.”

  True, that. Jasmine’s candy-making business had really taken off, from what I’d been told. And she didn’t even seem to mind Rosie’s icky-stickiness, though I did my best to wipe her off as we walked toward the house. No point in covering this gorgeous home in chocolate, after all.

  Jasmine reverted to baby talk with Rosie, who responded with a half smile, still not quite awake.

  The supermodel glanced at me. “I guess you know Lily and I are dying to know why you drove all the way out here to see us.” She led the way to the front door of the house. “Inquiring minds want to know what you’re up to.”

  She shifted Rosie to her other arm as she opened the front door and led the way inside. I gasped as I took in the Greece-meets-Texas, city-meets-country décor. Wow. I’d never seen anything like this place. If the Parthenon moved to Splendora, it would look something like this. They’d managed to incorporate the Greek elements with such flair, such class, that it all felt perfectly natural to the rest of the décor. Someone had an artful eye, for sure.

  Jasmine must’ve noticed my silence. She chuckled. “I know, I know. It’s a lot to take in. It’s still pretty new to us too. My sister Blossom did a fantastic job helping Mama with the decorating, don’t you think?”

  “Wow. Yes.”

  “You can take the Texan out of the Old Country, but you can’t take the Old Country out of the Texan.”

  “Oh, I know. All too well.” This led to a discussion about how my family had come from Italy all those years ago. I could tell Jasmine was only half listening. Her thoughts seemed to be elsewhere.

  “Bella, I hope you’ll forgive me, but I was right in the middle of a candy project when you pulled up. Do you mind if I work while we talk? I’m as busy as a one-armed paper hanger.” She laughed at her own joke. “Aunt Twila always says that. C’mon into the kitchen with me. I’ll text Lily.”

  “Text her? She’s not home?”

  “Yeah, she’s here. Upstairs, working on financial stuff for our family’s rose business. Texting is easier than hollering in this big house, trust me.”

  Big house wasn’t the half of it. It took awhile to get from the front room to the kitchen. We wound our way down a lengthy hallway, past a library, a living room, and a spacious dining room suited for a mob of people. We eventually found our way into the kitchen, and I had to laugh when I saw the mess. Jasmine was in the middle of a candy project all right, one that covered nearly every square inch of the place. Wow. Quite a contrast to the pristine décor in the front rooms.

  “After living in a double-wide for so many years, it’s wonderful to have such a big kitchen to work in. Hope you don’t mind if I keep at it.” Jasmine passed Rosie back to me, and I tried to figure out what to do with her. If I put her down in this room, chaos would ensue, so I held her.

  Lily entered the kitchen moments after Jasmine sent the text. She greeted me with a big hug and then reached for Rosie. Well, until she saw the chocolate stains. She took one look at my chocolate-covered daughter and clucked her tongue. “We need to clean up this little girl. She’s a mess.” Lily fetched a paper towel, dampened it, and made quick work of cleaning Rosie up. Alrighty then.

  All the while, Jasmine fussed at her. “Just leave her alone, Lily. She’s fine.”

  “You would think so.” Lily rolled her eyes. “Everything you own is covered in chocolate.” Her gaze shifted to the messy kitchen and she shook her head. “Honestly! Just a couple of weeks ago this place was brand spanking new and spotless. Now look at it. Not that I’ve had much time to spend in the kitchen. I’ve been so busy helping with the move.”

  As Lily continued to wash my daughter’s sticky face, she rambled on about how busy she’d been. I watched, transfixed . . . and a little perplexed. This twin’s hair was a rich, glowing auburn, quite a contrast to her sister’s long, dark locks. One of these gals had reached for the Clairol bottle, but which one?

  I got my answer seconds later when Mrs. Rigas joined us. The tall, stately woman had hair as dark as a raven. So did her husband, who entered the kitchen moments later to find out what all of the fuss was about. There weren’t any redheads in this family, so Lily must’ve decided to step out of the family box and try something different. I wouldn’t say it was working for her, but what did I know about such things? In my world, a good hair day happened when I remembered to apply hair gel and then run my fingers through my messy curls.

  Shoot. Had I done that today? Suddenly I couldn’t remember. I had managed lipstick and mascara, so that had to count for something.

  After Mr. and Mrs. Rigas headed out to the rose garden, Lily looked my way once more. “Bella, we’re so curious about why you’re here. What brings you to our neck of the woods?”

  Neck of the woods seemed an appropriate term, all things considered.

  “Yes, we’re dying to know.” Jasmine turned her attention to a plastic candy mold as she talked. I watched, mesmerized, as she poured melted chocolate from a little Crock-Pot-looking thingy into the molds. “See?” She lifted it to give me a closer look. “They’re little purses.”

  “So, this is for a customer?” I asked.

  She nodded as she placed the mold into the large refrigerator. “Yes. It’s for a sweet sixteen party. You’d be shocked at how my business has taken off.”

  “Not shocked at all,” I said, though I secretly wondered if she would have the time to co-manage the new facility and handle a candy business on the side. “You’re great at what you do. Clearly.”

  Lily released a “Humph,” then passed Rosie back to me. She turned her attention to wiping down the counter.

  “Actually, I came with something specific in mind,” I said. “I want to talk to both of you.”

  “About . . . ?” Jasmine barely gave me a glance as she continued to work.

  “You know about the new facility?” I asked.

  “Of course.” Lily nodded. “It made the cover of the Splendora Gazette.” She went off on a tangent abo
ut the local newspaper.

  “The Gazette?” Jasmine paused and I could hear the sigh in her voice. “I don’t trust that Clayton Deets as far as I can throw him. His uncle has him in his pocket.” She looked at me. “Clayton—he’s the editor—is our mayor’s nephew. Let’s just say those two are in cahoots. And you don’t even want to know what he had to say in that article about the new facility. It wasn’t good. We’ll just leave it at that.”

  I couldn’t help but wonder what she meant but didn’t have time to ask because Lily stepped between us, clearly perturbed by her sister’s comment, judging from the look on her face and her hands on her hips.

  “Why don’t you ever give people the benefit of the doubt, Jasmine?” she said. “I happen to think Clayton Deets is a nice guy. If you recall, he asked me out on a date once.”

  “In 2006.” Jasmine rolled her eyes. “You were barely in high school. And Babbas wouldn’t let you go anyway. Remember?”

  “Yeah. But I’ve always had fond memories of Clayton and his invitation to go to the Mosquito Festival, so let’s don’t be too quick to pass judgment on him, okay?”

  This bizarre comment led to bickering between the two sisters. I didn’t know who Clayton Deets was, and frankly, I didn’t care. And . . . Mosquito Festival?

  I needed to get this show on the road and get these two on the same page. “Well, here’s the deal. I have a lot on my plate.” My hand instinctively went to my belly. “I’ve got some big weddings coming up at Club Wed, and the baby will be here in January. I won’t be able to manage this facility very well from Galveston.”

  Jasmine’s eyes lit up. “Oh, Bella. Are you . . . are you asking what I think you’re asking?”

  I nodded, albeit hesitantly. “I would like you two to consider co-managing the facility with me. The three of us working together, I mean. I would still be the manager, but you two would assist me. If you’re okay with that.”

  “Okay with it?” Jasmine clasped her hands together. “I love the idea!”

  Lily mumbled something under her breath. “I’m not sure,” she said after a moment. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but Jasmine and I, well . . .”

  “What she’s trying to say is, we don’t get along.” Jasmine went back to work. “And she’s right.”

  I gave the girls a sympathetic look. “Lily, I hear you’re brilliant at the business stuff. And Jasmine’s so creative. You two might not always get along, but you’ll make a terrific team. I know you will.”

  “I’m flattered, Bella,” Lily said. “Very.” As she glanced at her sister, she flinched. “But our family already owns one business—Rigas Roses. I’m pretty busy.”

  “Mama and Babbas do most of the work for the rose business,” Jasmine argued. “And I know they would be thrilled to see us off doing something on our own for a change.”

  Lily’s expression tightened. “Yes, Jasmine. On my own.” Lily pursed her lips. “That’s just it. One of these days I want to do something on my own. Without anyone else in the family.”

  I got her meaning. She didn’t want to work with her sister. I’d been concerned about this all along. Maybe this hadn’t been such a great idea after all. Or maybe they just needed to be convinced.

  With over-the-top enthusiasm, I dove into a conversation about how I’d faced the same emotions in working with my family. “I get it, ladies. I really do. Our family runs several businesses together. Club Wed. Parma John’s. My sister-in-law runs a flower shop, which is technically owned by our family. My brother Armando works with his wife, Scarlet, at their bakery. Sophia works at a hair salon, which my mother owns in part. And my aunt and uncle have their television show, which keeps them hopping. We all work together, even when it’s hard. But we’ve managed, and I’m sure you two can get beyond any of your . . . well, problems, and make this work too. But please don’t feel compelled to say yes just because I asked. Pray about it.”

  “I will.” Lily sighed. “I promise.” Her expression brightened. “And I do have a business degree. I suppose that will come in handy.”

  “I get so tired of hearing about that degree.” Jasmine leaned against the counter, a dribble of chocolate running down her arm. “Just because you have a piece of paper on the wall doesn’t mean you have more business sense than I do.”

  Ouch. The claws were really coming out now.

  “A piece of paper on the wall?” Lily went into a fit, ranting about the four years she’d spent at Sam Houston State University acquiring said degree.

  Jasmine rolled her eyes. “That’s the problem with you, Lily,” she said. “You’ve always thought you were better than me.”

  “Better than you?” Lily slammed her hands down on the table, then mumbled something about how she’d just like to be free of Jasmine.

  “Fine. Take your business degree and go manage another business. Somewhere else.” Jasmine shrugged and reached for another chocolate. “Your life is filled with possibilities. You tell me that all the time.”

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa.” I put my hand up in the air, shocked by all I was hearing. “Are you two saying that you’re not willing to consider this? Because if that’s the case . . .”

  “Nah.” Jasmine dismissed my concerns with a wave. “This is how it always goes, Bella, just so you know. We fight. We make up.”

  “Well, yes, but this is a wedding business,” I explained. “It’s about love. Peace. Eternal happiness. Not about quarreling and bickering over who’s got more experience than who.”

  “Whom,” Lily corrected me. Her heightened color subsided, and I watched as she took a few deep, calming breaths. Not that it seemed to help much. Before long she and her sister were at it again. Boy, could I pick ’em or what? These two were perfectly willing to wreck each other, right here in their own home. What would they do to my wedding facility?

  I somehow managed to get them back on track by talking about Jasmine’s chocolates. This led to a conversation about the sweet sixteen party, and Jasmine convinced me to help her make little chocolate roses for the birthday girl. Lily took Rosie out to the garden, and by the time they returned, nearly an hour had passed. As I’d watched Jasmine work, chatting calmly with her about plans for the wedding facility, the time had buzzed by.

  Still, I needed to get going. D.J. would be waiting on me. Saying my goodbyes, I swept my daughter back into my arms. Jasmine looked devastated to see us leave. Apparently she really enjoyed my company. Lily was a little harder to read, though her offer to walk me to the door felt genuine enough.

  When we reached the hallway she looked back toward the kitchen, her brow wrinkled. “Bella, I need you to know how flattered I am that you would ask me to co-manage the facility.” She spoke in hushed tones. “I’m so honored. I hope you don’t take my concerns personally. They have nothing to do with you. It’s just . . .”

  Jasmine stuck her head out of the kitchen and wiped her sticky hands on her apron. “Wish you didn’t have to leave so soon, Bella!” she hollered. “I’m sorry to see you go. Loved chatting with you about the wedding facility. It’s going to be great. I’m loaded with ideas. Oh, and would you mind if I merged my candy business with the weddings? I’d love to display them, if you think that’s okay.”

  “Sure.” Sounded good to me. I had all sorts of vendors on board, but no one who made specialty candies.

  “Great!” Jasmine’s face lit up, reflecting her joy. “Hey, let me walk you out. We can talk about it on the way.” This, of course, led to a lengthy, energetic discussion about her candies.

  Lily sighed. “I guess we can talk later. Have a good day, Bella. I promise to pray about your offer.” She turned and walked toward the staircase, glancing back with a wistful look on her face. I understood. Working with family could be hard. Even the best sisterly relationship could be challenged in the work environment. Maybe I’d made a mistake in asking these two to join me.

  Still, from the look of excitement in Jasmine’s eyes, from the lilt in her voice and the smile on
her face, I couldn’t help but think we could iron out any wrinkles between these two sisters and make things work. I hoped.

  Jasmine followed me out to the truck and helped me buckle Rosie back into the chocolate-covered car seat, which I did my best to wipe down. I always kept a container of those wipey thingies in my car. All the while she carried on about how wonderful this new facility would be, and what a blessing to the town of Splendora.

  “Hey, I heard that your brother-in-law is opening a barbecue restaurant in Splendora. Is that true?”

  “Yep. Bubba’s wife, Jenna, is my best friend. You met her in Galveston, I think. That day you came down for our party on the Strand.”

  “Yes, I remember her. The redhead?”

  “Yes.” I smiled as we talked about my BFF. “Their restaurant is opening in November, I think. Just before the wedding facility.”

  “Perfect timing. I just love all of these new businesses!” On and on she went, talking about how my wedding facility, the barbecue joint, and her chocolate business were breathing life back into this small town. “I can’t tell you how desperately we’ve needed all of this. Sometimes I think Splendora is just going to wither up and fade away. But when we go through seasons like this, I’m hopeful again.”

  “So glad I can be part of that,” I said. And I meant it. I climbed back into the truck and turned it on, cranking up the AC. “Happy to be of service.”

  “Ooh, I know about another business you’ll love!” She clasped her hands together. “There’s a B and B near Peach Creek. Really pretty place. You need to get to know the owner. She gets a lot of brides and grooms, I’m sure. You could help her business, and vice versa. If you don’t like the B and B idea, she’s got some sweet little cottages right on the creek. Perfect honeymoon getaway for brides and grooms, and they wouldn’t even have to travel.” This led to a lengthy discussion about how it made perfect sense to honeymoon right here in the piney woods of east Texas. I didn’t argue, though a cruise to the Bahamas sounded more like my cup of tea.