THE CRYSTAL CHANDELIER that hung in the massive dining room of the Capadonno mansion twinkled gently, catching the burning flames of the candles that were set upon the dining room table. The long table was set for sixteen dinner guests with the Capadonno fine china and silver carefully placed at each setting. A Perry Como CD played at a soft decibel as Sasha smoothed the damask champagne-hued table cloth once more. Wearing an elegant cream dress with exquisite beading across the bodice, Sasha was the picture of natural elegance. With her makeup perfectly applied, and her dark hair pulled back into a sleek high bun, Sasha was barely recognizable. She had stepped out of her yoga pants and track shoes and high-toed it into the world of Italian couture. Behind her, the antique grandfather clocked boomed three times loudly, announcing that it was three o’clock. The dinner party would be starting soon.
Sasha appeared nervous as she placed a variety of piping hot dishes on the table. Every few seconds she peered up at the doorway of the dining room checking to see if anyone had arrived yet. With the exception of Michael and Arianna, Sasha was alone in the house. When the last entrée was placed in the center of the dining room table, Sasha let out a deep breath as she smoothed down her dress. Rushing out of the room, she retrieved a crystal vase from the china cabinet. She quickly filled the vase with tepid water and placed it in the center of the table. Traipsing back to the kitchen counter, Sasha unwrapped two dozen white English roses from their plastic sheath and carried them out to the dining room to be placed in the vase. As the last rose was carefully arranged, Sasha took a step back and admired her hard work. All that was left to do was sit back and wait for her family to arrive. Although most dinner hostesses would relish in the calm before their dinner party arrived, Sasha could feel herself becoming more nervous. Wringing her hands together, Sasha let out another deep breath. The sound of her exhale was drowned out by the loud shrill of the doorbell.
Sasha’s heels clicked loudly against the marble floor of the foyer as she rushed to answer the door. Swinging the massive oak door ajar, Sasha welcomed her cousin, Rumor, warmly with a kiss on each of her cheeks. Dressed elegantly in a red knee-length dress with her black curls falling over her shoulders, Rumor smiled at Sasha. Behind her, Ruin Rizzolli was pushing Rumor’s father, Sonny, in his wheelchair, both men looking dapper in black suits. Admittedly, Ruin was a tad more alert than old Sonny was, who appeared to be in another dimension entirely.
“Rumor,” Sasha said as she kissed her cousin back, “You look gorg.”
“So do you, Sash! We brought the Cristal!” Rumor said as she passed the bottle of expensive champagne to Sasha.
“Oh, my God. You didn’t have to do that!” Sasha said exuberantly as she placed the bottle down on the console table in the hallway.
Bending down to her uncle’s level, Sasha placed a caring hand on Sonny’s shoulder. “Hi Uncle Sonny, how are you feeling?”
Sonny muttered something incoherent to which Ruin replied, “I have no idea what he’s trying to say. He’s been mumbling like that all day.”
Sasha gave her uncle a sympathetic smile as she patted his hand. Unfolding back to her full height, Sasha approached Ruin to give him a friendly hug.
“So good to see you again, Richie,” Sasha said politely as she gave him a chaste kiss on his cheek.
“It’s Ruin now. Everyone calls me that,” Ruin replied. “And you look very nice as always.”
“Oh stop,” Sasha said, blushing as she waved Ruin off. “You are the first to arrive. Let’s go get Uncle Sonny set up in the dining room.
Ruin wheeled the aging gangster into the dining room and sat him at his usual place near the head of the table. Sonny sat slumped over in his wheelchair, muttering something entirely indecipherable. Catching a worried look from Sasha, Rumor waved her off.
“Don’t worry, Sash. It’s normal. He does that all day long.”
Raising her eyebrows but keeping her mouth shut, Sasha battled whether to speak up for the old man or not. Much like her father, Sasha had always been fond of her uncle Sonny. Although the media made them out to be monsters, Sasha had never witnessed it herself. Sure, she knew both men had a temper, but mostly, Sasha only knew the side Michael and Sonny wanted her to know—that of the kind, genial family man.