Chapter 1

ROSALINA'S POV

I grew up in what most would think of as a typical Italian family. An extensive family that included my grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. I had no siblings growing up, so my cousins were my siblings. My mamma wasn't too happy about the family arrangements. The place was too cramped for her and she gasped for freedom and—privacy

So, my parents and I moved out to live as a small family when I was six. Papa wasn't too happy about this and neither was my Nonno, who was the head of our large family. My mamma and Nonno never got along well and they always ended up arguing. Mamma was the only daughter-in-law who showed the grit to speak her mind, unlike Aunt Fiona and Aunt Maria who turned into voiceless dummies in Nonno's presence.

Soon I saw Nonno was happy Mamma was gone, but what he didn't like was that she took his son with her, too.

I didn't like our new house. Not even a little.

It was too dead. Too quiet. Too dull. It was then I realized how much I missed