Welcome Party

Vittoria 

As a good Italian, my father surely knows how to celebrate the return of his daughter. 

I push through the crowd with a huge smile as the people keep squeezing my arm, caressing me, or hugging me to show me their affection. 

The music is playing loudly, and I can see my father chatting in the corner with his consigliere and a few capi of the territory as I wonder how they can even understand each other well enough to crack jokes. 

“Welcome home, Vi.” A man says with a smile as he gets my attention to greet me with two kisses. 

“Thank you, Gianni! I hope you enjoy the wine.” 

“Of course, I will.” 

I proceed to walk to the hall and reach the foyer with a big smile. 

Passing one of our maids, I snatch a treat from her tray, making her click her tongue. 

“Sorry, Anna,” I giggle, pushing past her and hearing her laughing as she enters the hall. 

Lifting the fabric of my gown, I climb the wide stairs to reach the upper floor. 

I walk down the hallway and enter the last room that is bathed in the reddish light of the setting sun thanks to the wide windows of the turret room. 

“What are you doing?” I ask, taking a bite of the mini Bruschetta. 

Alessio groans as he looks at me while lying in a comfy chair. “Reading. What does it look like I’m doing?!” 

“Hmm… It looks like you are missing your sister’s welcome home party. And she is very sad about that,” I say while munching. 

He squints his eyes at me. “Did you come here without any food for me? Are you for real?” 

“What am I? Your maid?” I laugh, wiping the corner of my mouth with my fingers. “Food is only for unnerdy, party people.” 

Tsking, he turns back to his book, and I let my shoulders slump. “Come on, Ale. Come party with me.” 

He ignores me, and I walk up to him, sitting on the armrest of his chair. “Are you so anxious because of your initiation ceremony?” 

“What if I fail, Vi? He chose me, and I’m going to ruin everything he worked for.” He mumbles, avoiding looking at me. 

“You won’t fail,” I encourage him, passing my hand through his black locks. “Everything will be fine. Also, you will have plenty of people at your side who will help you through everything. And Papà isn’t going anywhere, is he?!” 

Alessio groans, shaking his head to get away from me. “Ah, stop it. Nobody takes me seriously. Everybody knows that he would have made you his successor if he could-”

“But he can’t,” I interrupt him. “YOU are the right person for the job.” 

He looks up at me with sad eyes and I squeeze his shoulder. “Come on now, idiot. Time to party!” 

*** 

“If I can have a minute of your precious time,” my father smiles as he is already raising his glass of champagne to the crowd turning towards him. 

With a hearty gesture, he gets me to move to his side, and he hugs me close. “Thank you all for coming and celebrating the return home of my wonderful daughter. Even if she changed her hair, I‘m still hoping to get her to stay definitely.”

The crowd laughs and I roll my eyes as he continues with a chuckle. “As you know, my son will have his official initiation ceremony soon, and we are all happy that we can go through this event as a family. Welcome home, my love.” 

He raises his glass, getting the crowd to mirror him. 

“Welcome home, Vittoria,” they shout in unison, erupting into a celebration while I wipe a tear out of my eye. “Thank you so much.” 

As everyone takes a sip, my father presses a kiss onto my cheek, “You have been missed.” 

“Thank you,” I whisper, my happy tears falling faster, my cheeks starting to hurt because of my smile. 

He passes his thumb over my cheek gently, flashing me a warm smile before turning back to our guests. 

“I hope my daughter will forgive me for taking away a bit of her spotlight. But I will take this chance to encourage my son to speak about something he shared with me a few days ago. We discussed it for hours and hours because it is an important decision, but he finally managed to convince me, and I gave my blessing.” 

He stretches his other arm out, beckoning Alessio who reaches us with his head lowered. “My son,” he says, welcoming him in his arms. 

I hold out my hand to rub my brother’s arm encouragingly, and I can spot his nervousness in his shy smile. 

Alessio turns towards our guests, clearing his throat. I notice how he keeps balling his hands to fists, and I know that it is his coping mechanism to not begin fidgeting with his fingers. “Thank you so much, everyone! I can’t wait to serve our beloved homeland’s territory and our family. As you already know, I had asked our dear Gianni to be my consigliere, but I want to take advantage of this moment of joy to ask my sister if she would take the role of my second in command. And go through the initiation ceremonies with me.” 

He looks back at me with a sparkle in his eyes, “I wouldn’t have made it without you, and I need your strength by my side to fulfill such an honorable succession. Would you do me the favor?” 

My breath hitches in my throat as tears prickle in my eyes. I nod, gulping down the lump that would make my voice fail embarrassingly. “I would be honored.” 

The crowd erupts into loud cheering and my brother reaches me with a smile, hugging me closely. 

“Thank you,” he whispers, making me tighten my grip. 

“I’m so proud of you! Everything is going to be alright! You’ll see!”