“Fine,” she grumbles, taking a glass from her dad.
I smile at them, then head though the opening into the back kitchen. I grab a full champagne glass off the counter as the countdown on the TV plays loudly in the background. Moving next to Libby, I watch her eyes light up as she counts down along with the TV and everyone in the room.
“Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One . . . Happy New Year!” everyone shouts, clinking their glasses together before taking sips and kissing.
Looking down at Libby, I feel her eyes on me. My stomach knots when our eyes lock.
“Happy New Year,” she whispers.
I lean down and touch my lips to the corner of her mouth. She gasps before I pull away, murmuring, “Happy New Year, Princess.”
Without another word to her, I go over to my parents and give them each a hug.
“I’m going to miss this place,” Mom says quietly, looking around the space and at the people who have made Tony’s what it is.
“I know you will. And I know Dad will, too, but it’s time for you both to move on. It’s time for you guys to relax and enjoy life. It’s time for you two to do all that traveling you’ve been talking about,” I say as my dad wraps his arm around my shoulder.
“You’re right.”
Dad smiles, and sadness fills my chest. I might not like this place or want to spend the rest of my life running a pizzeria, but I’m proud of my parents for what they have accomplished and for the life that they were able to provide for me by working here.
Chapter 6
PRINCESS
LIBBY
“What?” I sit up in bed with my cell to my ear, blinking against the bright light of my lamp when I flip it on.
“I got married!” Fawn repeats, sounding excited.
“I thought you were in Vegas,” I say, trying to wake up enough to understand exactly what she’s trying to tell me.
“We are in Vegas.” She laughs. “We also got married.”
“Oh my god,” I whisper.
“I know,” she whispers back.
I can actually hear the happiness in her voice.
“I wish you and Mac could have been here.”
“Me, too,” I agree, still in shock. “Please tell me you have pictures.”
“Tons of them. We even got a few of them with Elvis.”
“Did Elvis marry you?” I ask while I wonder how she might have been able to talk badass Levi into that.
“No. Levi wouldn’t go for it, so we had a regular wedding at a normal chapel. But I stopped an Elvis impersonator on the Strip and made him take a picture with us.”
She laughs, and a smile twitches my lips. I can just see her talking Levi into doing that.
“God, now you’re married and Mac’s pregnant,” I say without thinking. My eyes widen as I cover my mouth, hoping I can somehow shove the words back inside.
“What?” she yells at the top of her lungs.
I slap my palm against my forehead.
“I . . . Crap. I shouldn’t be the one to tell you this, because it’s Mac’s news. She found out yesterday that she and Wesley are pregnant.”
“Holy cow.”
She can say that again. When I got home to do her hair and makeup for the New Year’s Eve ball she and Wesley were attending, I found her locked in the bathroom with five positive pregnancy tests on the counter. She was sitting on the floor in shock.
“Mom’s going to be over the moon. A son-in-law and a grandbaby—all in a year,” I mutter, picking at a thread on my comforter. Secretly, I’m a little depressed that my sisters are moving on with their lives while I’m stuck doing nothing with mine.
“Holy cow,” she repeats.
I sigh. I really should have kept my mouth shut.
“Is Mac okay?”
I close my eyes, remembering Mac resting her hand against her stomach and already looking in love.
“Yeah. She’s freaked, but happy about the news. She’s worried about telling Wesley,” I admit softly.
“Why is she worried? He’ll be happy about the baby.”
“I know, but it’s still early in their relationship.”
“True. But then again, everything happens when it should,” she says quietly.
I inhale sharply. “You’re right,” I agree.
“I should let you get back to sleep. I’m sure you need to get up early for work.”
“Yeah. I love you. Give Levi a hug from me, and tell him I said congrats.”
“I will. When we get home, we’re going to have a big party to celebrate.”
“Sounds good. Don’t have too much fun in Vegas,” I say.
Levi says something to her in the background that makes her start to giggle. I smile into the phone, then laugh as it goes dead in my hand.
I shut off my lamp and lie back down, holding my cell phone. I wonder when the heck my sisters and I grew up. It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago that we were all living in this apartment, a bunk bed and a twin bed shoved in this tiny bedroom, each of us fighting over the bathroom in the mornings to get ready for work or school. We never really stopped to think about what the future would hold. I bet neither Mac nor Fawn would have guessed that in a few short years they would be settling down and starting families of their own. I know I wouldn’t have guessed that I would be sitting here contemplating my life and what I should be doing with the rest of it. I used to think that because I loved all things beauty, I would be happy doing makeup and hair. Now I know I won’t be. I know that eventually I’m going to end up hating my job, no matter how much money I make. I don’t want that. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life being miserable just so I can live comfortably.
Then again, everything happens when it should.
Fawn’s words echo in my mind.
“It’s a new year, Libby. Maybe it’s time to risk it all and go for broke,” I say into the dark.
My stomach twists with excitement and nerves.
Yes, I think as I close my eyes and a smile curves my lips. It’s time to take a chance on something new.
“Cara! What a nice surprise.” Martina gives me a warm smile after opening the door.
“I know I should have called before I showed up, but I need to talk to you and Tony. Is he around?”
“Is everything okay?” She studies me, the smile she was wearing moments ago sliding off her face. Concern fills her eyes.
“Yeah, everything’s great.” I smile, hoping to reassure her. “I just want to discuss something with you both if you have time.”
“Okay, come on in. Tony’s in the dining room.” She lets me into the house and closes the door before she leads me to Tony, who is sitting with a cup of tea in front of him—along with an open newspaper.
“Hey, Tony,” I say when he notices me. He smiles, then gets up to kiss my cheek and give me a hug.
“What brings you here?” he asks while I take a seat across from him and Martina.
Feeling suddenly nervous, I blurt out my reason. “I want to buy Tony’s.”
Tony looks at me, stunned, while Martina’s mouth drops open.
Last night, I couldn’t stop thinking about what I want, what will make me happy. When I got up this morning, I called the Realtor who has the listing for Tony’s and found out how much they were selling the business for. Then I made a few more calls and found out that I have just enough money saved for a down payment on the business and the rent for the space—but I would still need a backer. My dad has always been my biggest champion, so I called him with my idea and asked if he could help me out. He told me that he would help out in whatever way I needed. After I got off the phone with him, I got in a cab and came straight over.
“You what?” Tony asks, trying to make sure he heard me correctly.
I look around their cozy yellow dining room, getting my thoughts in order before I blurt out anything more.
“I want to purchase Tony’s from you and Martina.”
“Cara, you work as a stylist,” Martina points out, looking worried about me.
“I do, but I don’t really like it. I love working at Tony’s. I’m happy there. I feel good about myself every time I step through the door. I feel proud and excited. I know it might seem strange because of the career I have built for myself as a makeup artist, but I love your shop. I love making pies. I want to keep working there. I want to keep feeling good and happy, and I’m happy there.” I know I’m rambling and that I don’t sound very sophisticated, as I probably should sound at a time like this.