With delicate fingers, she opened the box to reveal a single, white orchid dressed in persimmon ribbons. “Oliver. It is so beautiful. Would you please pin it on me?”
Oliver blushed ruby red. He attempted twice but was all thumbs, growing more flustered by the minute. Swiftly, Francesca’s mother extracted the orchid from Oliver and pinned it to Francesca’s right shoulder. Oliver, still in a state of embarrassment, never saw her coming.
“Oliver,” Mr. Di Nova called out. “I would like to introduce you to my wife.”
Oliver took a step back to compose himself, then slightly bowed, accepting Mrs. Di Nova’s extended hand. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“The pleasure is mine, Oliver. You are a very tall young man. We Italians are rather small compared to the people of the Midwest. Exactly how tall
