Claire's pov

"Claire," my aunt said my name in that warning tone that all grown-ups use when kids are seconds away from being in trouble.

"You can't punish me when I tell you though, Aunt Lexie, because Uncle EJ already did and Grandfather already yelled at me too. Ok?"

Sighing, my aunt relented, "Ok, I promise I won't punish you but I can't guarantee I won't be mad."

"I hid in the SUV when Uncle EJ was going to meet with some guy," I confessed quietly, as I nervously bit my lower lip. Even though she promised, she could probably find a loophole and punish me anyway.

"CLAIRE FRANCESCA!" she shouted.

"Aunt Lexie, you promised," I reminded her. See, I knew she'd be mad.

"I know, I know, I'm sorry. Go ahead and finish the story."

"Well, it turned out to be nothing anyway because we just went to a gas station so I don't know why everyone made a big deal out of it. I did scare the crap out of Uncle EJ and the driver though when I popped up out of my seat while we were driving away. That was fun until Uncle EJ screamed at me."

"Claire, I can't believe you did that! Don't you realize how dangerous that was?" my aunt scolded me.

"Aunt Lexie, I already got yelled at plenty for that. Ok?"

"Alright, alright, I get it. I won't lecture you. What's done is done. Let bygones be bygones."

"What's a bygone?"

"Nevermind. Now why don't you tell me more about why you want to join the family business."

"Because I'm part of the family for one thing and because Uncle EJ, Dad, and Grandfather are all rich and everyone always does what they say, like they're afraid not to. That seems so cool. I want to be rich and boss people around all the time too when I get older."

"Oh boy," my aunt said, more to herself than me. She stood up and started pacing the floor. She looked like she was thinking really hard but she was worried at the same time. Turning to me, she stopped pacing and said in an extremely serious tone, "Claire, I'm going to tell you something and I want you to listen very carefully. Ok?"

"Uh, okay, I guess."

"Claire, you don't need to join the family business to be rich, powerful, or well respected. Besides, there are much more important things in life."

"Like what?" I asked, genuinely curious. I wasn't trying to be a smart-ass.

"Like love, happiness, pride in a job well done, generosity, humility, and faith."

"I can't have any of those things if I join the family business?"

"That's not what I'm saying, Claire. I'm just saying you shouldn't limit yourself to one path in how you're going to spend the rest of your life. Ok? I want you to keep your mind open to several possibilities and avenues on the road to success. The family business may seem glamorous and exciting, but keep in mind it's also the reason your father can't be here with you right now."

My aunt seemed really worried about me so I nodded and said, "Ok, Aunt Lexie, I guess I didn't think of it like that. I really wish Dad could be here with us, so I promise I'll keep my options open."

"That's all I'm asking for, sweetie. Thank you," she said smiling, as she patted my hand. "Oh my gosh, look at the time. We better start getting cleaned up for dinner. Your grandfather will have our heads if we're late."

I giggled at the ridiculousness, picturing Grandfather being so angry, he'd threaten to lop off our heads. When Aunt Lexie left to get ready for dinner, I did the same. I showered and changed and even arrived early, for once.

After we each talked about our day, the grown-ups started talking about politics and they kept talking about politics through the salad course and the entree and even during the digestif. I zoned out somewhere around my first bite of pasta. Politics is soooooo boring. My mind started to wander as I got lost in my thoughts.

I didn't realize everyone had stopped talking until I faintly heard my aunt calling my name.

"Claire, Claire, Claire. Earth to Claire," she said, waving her hand in front of my face, finally breaking me out of my trance-like state.

"What? Huh?" I asked, still lost in my head.

"I've been calling your name for the past three minutes," my aunt said chuckling. "You were really deep in thought. What were you thinking about?"

"Grandfather, how many women did you help get pregnant?" I asked innocently.

"Mi scusi (Excuse me)!" my grandfather said in shock.

"Oh fuck," my uncle said, as he bust out laughing hysterically. Seeing the look on my grandfather's face, he quickly excused himself from the table, covering his mouth on the way out to try to hide the fact he found my question hilarious.

Lorenzo promptly turned around and walked out with the dinner tray still in his hand.

Aunt Lexie tried desperately to hide the broad smile on her face.

"Francesca, what in the world are you talking about?" my grandfather asked, trying to regain his composure.

"I don't understand what's so funny. Aunt Lexie told me that she and Dad and Uncle EJ are all half-siblings because they have different mothers but the same father, you, so you must have helped each of their moms get pregnant by donating your sperm to the sperm bank, like my dad did for my mom. Right?"

"Nipotina, perché parli da matta (Granddaughter, why are you talking crazy)?" My grandfather glared at my aunt, silently demanding an explanation.

"Father, I can explain," my aunt interjected quickly, trying to diffuse the situation.

"Per favore, fallo allora, signorina (Please do it then, young lady)," my grandfather sternly ordered.

"When Claire was little and asked her mom who her father was, Anna told her that she didn't know because he was an anonymous donor at the sperm bank, where women who aren't married but really want a baby can go to receive help getting pregnant. So when she passed away, her lawyers must have tracked down who donated the sperm that helped Anna get pregnant with Claire and that's how they found out Tony is Claire's father." My aunt gave my grandfather a strange look. "Now do you understand, Father?" she asked him, like she was talking to an imbecile or a simpleton.

"Nipotina (Granddaughter), would you do your nonno a favor and run upstairs to my bathroom and bring me the bottle next to my sink that says sollievo allo stomaco (stomach relief) please?"

"Sure, Grandfather," I replied gladly. I like when he gives me little jobs to do, plus I love to rummage around in his room. He never lets me go in there.

"If you don't find it by the sink, Francesca, you'll have to look in my bathroom closet. I may have left it in there. I'm not sure, Nipotina (Granddaughter). Grazie per aver aiutato il tuo vecchio nonno (Thanks for helping your old grandfather)."

"Okay, Grandfather," I replied, happily scampering off on my snooping mission.

Lexie's pov

Father sent Claire away so she wouldn't hear our conversation.

"Alexandra, are you telling me my son perpetuated that ridiculous story Anna made up about how Claire was conceived?"

"Father, please try to understand," I tried to calm him down. I know how angry he is right now.

"Rispondimi, figlia mia (Answer me, my daughter)."

Just then, EJ walked back into the dining room. Now having composed himself, he sat down to have dessert.

"Ooh, what did I miss?" my idiotic half-brother asked, making light of a serious situation. Thankfully, our father silenced him with a pointed look.

"Yes, Father. Tony didn't want Claire to think Anna purposely kept her away from him. He thought it was better if she believed Anna's story about being artificially inseminated."

"Unbelievable! Why would Anthony do something so stupid, simply to preserve that whore's reputation?"

"Father, please keep your voice down, Claire may hear you."

Slamming his hands down on the table, he glared at me.

"Non mi dici cosa fare, ragazzina (You do not tell me what to do, little girl). Do gli ordini qui intorno (I give the orders around here). Capisci (Understand)? Non commettere più quell'errore (Do not make that mistake again)."

Biting my tongue to keep the peace, I apologized, "Mi dispiace, Padre (I'm sorry, Father). So che sei tu a comandare (I know you are in charge)." I don't want Claire to hear us arguing.

"Seriously, what's going on here?" my nosy little brother asked.

"Anna told Claire she was conceived by artificial insemination, so she didn't know who her father was. Tony allowed Claire to believe that so she wouldn't think poorly of her mother." I gave him the CliffsNotes version.

"How long does Anthony think he can keep Claire from learning the truth?" Father asked.

"I don't know, Father," I replied stoically.

"Why in the world did you play along with this preposterous charade, Alexandra? You're much too intelligent to do something so beyond idiotic."

"Because it was what was best for Claire and I was raised not to go against my older brother's wishes. Surely you can appreciate that, Father." I did little to hide the contempt in my voice, which did not go unnoticed.

My simple-minded half-brother sat there grinning like an idiot while he scooped up spoonful after spoonful of gelato, like one mindlessly consumes popcorn while viewing a movie. Enthralled, he watched our conversation play out before him. I'm so glad we can entertain him, I thought to myself sarcastically.

"Stai camminando su una linea molto sottile (You're walking a very thin line), Alexandra. Stai estremamente attento a non attraversarlo (Be extremely careful not to cross it)."

Thankfully, Claire chose that moment to announce her return as she came bounding into the dining room, declaring, "I found it, Grandfather. Here you go," she said smiling broadly, as she handed my father his box of antacid.

"Grazie, Nipotina (Thank you, Granddaughter)," he said, taking the box from her, his eyes never leaving mine. "Just in the nick of time."