The afternoon sun, the color of a ripe apricot, cut a ribbon of light across the polished floor. Elisabetta thought to get up from the bed, close the sheer draperies and the doors, but she was tired, the bed was warm, and the air was sweet. The scent of the fresh fields in la primavera, blossoming and green, wafted over them. She settled back on her pillow instead.
A warm breeze stirred the old wind chimes on the balcony, making a sweet tune that lulled the father, the mother, and their baby to sleep.
Acknowledgments
Michael Anthony Trigiani (1903–1968) was a good and in all ways a glorious man. My grandfather taught me how to tie my shoes, play checkers, and eat soup properly. When I was punished for being a troublemaker in kindergarten at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, my penance was to appear in the school Nativity play as the lone girl shepherd and wear a burlap sack, but my grandfather, who owned and operated the Yolanda Manufacturing Company (in Martins Creek, Pennsylvania) with my grandmother, was having none of it. Instead, he made me a gorgeous purple satin tunic. Knowing the costume might incite the peevish nun, he walked me into the school the night of the performance and charmed her. I remember his hand in mine that cold night, when he took what could have been a moment of humiliation and turned it into something beautiful and empowering.
Grandpop came from a big family (four boys, five girls). His parents emigrated from Roseto Valfortore, Italy, to Roseto, Pennsylvania, at the turn of the twentieth century. He began as a machinist in a pants factory, and worked his way up to managing it with my grandmother, until they went into business for themselves. His education took him to the eighth grade, but later he took courses to complete his high school diploma. He was fourteen years old in 1917 when a miracle occurred in Fatima, Portugal, which had a profound effect on him. His faith fueled his aspirations to make his hometown the best it could be. He locked arms with his friends to build two parish schools and a ballpark in Roseto. After years of serving on the town council, he was elected chief burgess (mayor) of Roseto in 1942. He was a director of the First National Bank of Bangor, Pennsylvania, from 1951 until his death, a feat for the son of Italian immigrants, but one that confirmed his composure, steadfast business sense, and role as a community builder.
While I have written extensively about the women in my family, I never meant to give my grandfather short shrift. He was at ease in the world, and possessed an innate elegance, which the Italians call sprezzatura. He worked side by side with his wife, Viola, who easily owned any room she entered—or could clear one when she was displeased. His love for her made him a feminist, and he was proud of her accomplishments and ambition; so much so that it was her name over the door of the factory they owned together. His family and friends relied on him; in times of trouble, it was he who showed up and took care of the brokenhearted, or just the broke. He died not long after he made me that costume, but even having known him for a short time, I’m certain he set the needle of my moral compass. I try to live right so I’ll see him again someday.
I am delighted to be published by the great, hardworking, and visionary team at HarperCollins, led by two wonderful leaders: Brian Murray and Michael Morrison. I am in awe of my brilliant editor, Jonathan Burnham. He is a writer’s dream. He has exquisite taste, the ability to press like a good coach when necessary, and he supports the work in every way to make it the best it can be. Thank you, Jonathan! Doug Jones is a superb leader and I rely on his vision and team to put the book into your hands. Thank you Emily Griffin, who works hard, sparkles, persists, and has the countenance of the aforementioned saints. Jonathan and Emily’s right arms: Mary Gaule, Amber Oliver, and Jennifer Civiletto get kisses from Carlo, too.
Kate D’Esmond is tireless, wise, and a joy, a publicist with panache. Tina Andreadis is a Greek goddess who rules all media on behalf of authors with warmth and affection. In publicity and marketing, thank you Leah Wasielewski, Renata Marchione, Emily VanDerwerken, Leslie Cohen, Katie O’Callaghan, Jennifer Murphy, Mary Ann Petyak, and Tom Hopke Jr. Virginia Stanley, director of library marketing, calls and I get on the plane. She is the queen of the libraries and my dear friend. Thank you Amanda Rountree and Chris Connolly.
Robin Bilardello designed the spectacular cover art; every detail bursts with life. Thank you to the design and art team: Leah Carlson-Stanisic, Fritz Metsch, Joanne O’Neill, and Sarah Brody.
The team that works around the clock to serve our readers, providing books to independent bookstores, chains, online, and to libraries in every manner and format to serve you, is amazing: Mary Beth Thomas, Josh Marwell, Andy LeCount, Kathryn Walker, Michael Morris, Kristin Bowers, Brendan Keating, Carla Parker, Brian Grogan, Tobly McSmith, Lillie Walsh, Rachel Levenberg, Frank Albanese, David Wolfson, and Samantha Hagerbaumer.
The paperback team, Mary Sasso and Amy Baker, are phenomenal. Thank you Tara Weikum, my great YA editor; the video team, Marisa Benedetto, Lisa Sharkey, Alex Kuciw, and Jeffrey Kaplan. The sublime audio book was produced by Katie Ostrowka and read by the incomparable Edoardo Ballerini. Thank you Danielle Kolodkin, Natalie Duncan, and Andrea Rosen in our speaker’s bureau and special markets.
Over at WME, I am represented by the petite and gorgeous tornado Suzanne Gluck. Thank you Andrea Blatt, Clio Seraphim, Clarissa Lotson, Kitty Dulin, Eve Attermann, Alicia Gordon, Sasha Elkin, Becky Chalsen, Jonathan Lomma, Evan Morse, Joey Brown, Tracy Fisher, Alli Dyer, Cathryn Summerhayes, Elizabeth Sheinkman, Fiona Baird, and Siobhan O’Neill.
Nancy Josephson has been my agent and guiding star since the start; I adore her. Jill Holwager Gillett, we are back together again and not a moment too soon! Thank you Sylvie Rabineau, Rehana Lodge, Ashley Kruythoff, Ellen Sushko, Graham Taylor, Will Maxfield, Michelle Bohan, Joanna Korshak, Chris Slager, Liesl Copland, Alli McArdle, Amos Newman, Lauren Denielak, Kathleen Nishimoto, and Hilary Savit.
The Glory of Everything Company is a small but mighty team. Thank you Sarah Choi, you’re a star. Hannah Drinkall, who has energy and pluck and patience; Doni Muransky, we still have the glow from your time here. Thank you Matthew Hong, the great designer, and Jean Morrissey, my gifted and generous partner. Our summer interns rocked the West Village; they are stars of tomorrow in writing, editing, marketing, publicity, and art—thanks and love to Oona Intemann, Emilie Kefelas, Kenneth Marciano, Arden Batista, Olivia Olson, Ashley Murray, Jania Perez, Paula Ubah, Fiona Hines, Carrie Klein, and Amy Dworsky.
Deep gratitude to the dazzling Nancy Bolmeier Fisher, executive director of the Origin Project, and Linda Woodward and Grace Bradshaw. Thank you for your wisdom Richard Thompson, Bryna Melnick, Helen Rosenberg, Donna Gigiliotti, Larry Sanitsky, Gina Forsythe, Katherine Drew, Maya Ziv, Kim Hovey, Ian Chapman, and Suzanne Baboneau.