Chapter 28
Caterina leaned against Santo as he laughed and talked with his cousins, aunts, and uncles, enjoying the lively banter. They were visiting Santo’s aunt Rosa, his mother’s younger sister, in her modest Tuscan villa, which was nestled into the hillside and offered vast panoramic views. Unlike Caterina’s relatives, Santo’s extended family had welcomed her into the family fold. Santo had lived with several of them before he’d been sent to America just before the war to live with another branch of the family. Although he was so young he didn’t remember much about his relatives, they had quickly embraced him.
All of Santo’s relatives were in good spirits and happy to see him again. The red wine was flowing, the phonograph was blaring Italian love songs, and everyone was eager to hea
