Heart of the Mafia King

Picking Sides

{Maisie’s POV}

I began taking all of the tags off my clothes, before tossing them into the washing machine. I got rid of the bags, and turned on the washing machine, before heading into the kitchen, seeing Angelo putting up all of the groceries with a smile on his face. He looked happy, truly happy.

“Here, let me help with that!” I said, making my way into the massive kitchen.

“I’m almost done, just have to put up the bread.. and the bars of cream cheese that I got.” He said, smiling.

I saw the bread box on top of the fridge, and knew I wouldn’t be able to reach, so instead I walked over grabbing the cream cheese. I smiled back, walking to the fridge and placing them in the drawer. Angelo reached over my head, grabbing the breadbox and placing the bread inside. “You know..” I said, tilting my head back and looking up at him. “I could have made some homemade bread, if you’d rather have had that.”

He smiled down at me, before backing away slowly, turning back toward the kitchen island. “You still can, if you want, I don’t think any of us have ever made homemade bread. We’ve made homemade garlic bread, or banana bread, but not just regular bread.” He said, grabbing the bags and throwing them away.

“It’s really simple.. we got all of the ingredients to do it, if you want me to teach you later.” I backed up, closing the fridge door, and turning back towards him.

He turned to face me, and it hit me.. we’ve been alone this whole time, but now it was different. We are completely alone, none of his family are here, we’re not at a*****e, or in town, we’re not in the hospital. It’s just us.. and it was peaceful, calming, it was nice. I smiled at him, and he smiled back, that beautiful genuine smile. “I’d like that.” He said, leaning back against the island. “For now, are you hungry?” He asked.

I nodded. “I’m a little hungry.. I haven’t had anything to eat since before we left.”

“What would you like?” He asked, moving past me to the cabinets, and pulling out a cook book. This one was different, made in a binder, with laminated card holders inside. Each card holder had a card with handwritten recipes written on them. I walked closer, smiling down at this cookbook, one that was obviously made with love, by a family that all poured a little of themselves into it.

“This is.. beautiful..” I said softly.

“It’s a family heirloom, generations of LaRoux and Amillio men and women have recipes written in here, including me and my siblings.” He smiled, sliding it over to me.

I hesitated to touch it, as I slowly slid my hand closer to it. “A-Are you sure it’s okay for me to touch?” I asked, turning my head up to face him.

He smiled down at me, letting out a deep chuckle. “Of course it is Maisie, in fact, if you’d be okay with it, I’d like to get you to write down the recipe for those strawberry cheesecake cupcakes and put it in the book.”

“But I’m not a LaRoux.. or an Amillio..” I said, turning back to the book, my hand slowly gliding over the laminated pages.

“I know, but a good recipe would be good to share with future generations, I bet that Anna and Aurelio would love to make those cupcakes together one day.” He said.

I flipped through the pages carefully, looking through all of the recipes, trying to pick one to make. “Okay..” I said softly. “Only if you’ll let me help cook dinner for us!” I turned towards him, smiling and holding my hand out to shake his.

He turned to face me, taking my hand in his and shaking it firmly. “Sounds like a more than fair trade off.” He said, releasing my hand, and turning his attention back to the book. “But you’ll have to pick something first!”

I flipped carefully through the pages, scanning each and every page. “How about this one! We got some fresh seafood, and I’ve never had anything like this!” I said, pointing to one of the recipes.

“Cioppino, one of my favorites!” He smiled, beginning to grab the ingredients out and lay them on the island.

“So your family.. you’re all Italian, right?” I asked, smiling as I began to organize the ingredients on the countertop.

“Yeah, all of us, what about you? Your family?” He asked.

I sighed, leaning over the counter. “That’s a loaded question.. I um.. my family and I don’t get along, and to be honest they’ve never been much for finding out about our roots. So, I know we’re from the country.. small town, ranches everywhere, lots of help your neighbor, and nosy old ladies following you around.” I chuckled.

He stopped, looking down at me. “You don’t get along with your family?” He asked, placing down the last of the ingredients.

I shook my head. “No.. I.. they weren’t very supportive of my divorce.. and they were all too eager for my wedding. They liked Robert, he was well mannered, ran a business that he inherited from his father, and he was a man that was well respected, and well off financially. They thought I wasted my time going to school, becoming a doctor. They said that I didn’t need a degree, or a job, that I had Robert to take care of me.” I sighed. “When I finally broke down and told them what Robert had been doing to me, they begged me to forgive him.. to apologize for being a problematic wife..”

He placed his hand on top of mine, causing me to look up his way. “I’m sorry that they were so awful to you, you deserved better. They shouldn’t have ever said those things to you, or picked his side.”

“So you wouldn’t have picked his side?” I asked.

“Never, I’d always pick your side, no matter what.” He smiled down at me, my heart racing in my chest.

“Thank you again Angelo..” I said softly, smiling back at him.