I sat across from Leilani and Emily, sipping my latte and soaking in the warmth of the sun shining through the window of the coffee shop. It had been two months since my first date with Aurelio, and things had been going well. Really well, actually.

“So spill, girl. How’s it going with Aurelio?” Leilani asked, leaning forward in her chair.

“Yeah, we want all the juicy details,” Emily chimed in.

I couldn’t help but smile at their eagerness. “It’s going really well. He’s amazing, and we’ve been spending a lot of time together.”

“Ooh, sounds serious,” Leilani said, waggling her eyebrows.

“It is. We’ve been talking about our future together and everything,” I admitted, feeling a blush creeping up my cheeks.

“That’s so exciting!” Emily exclaimed.

Just then, my phone rang, interrupting our conversation. I glanced down at the screen and saw that it was Aurelio calling.

“Hey, sorry guys, I have to take this,” I said, stepping away from the table and answering the call.

“Hey, Mia cara. I need to talk to you,” Aurelio said, his voice sounding serious.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, feeling a knot form in my stomach.

“My family needs me back in Sicily. I have to leave Miami tonight, and I won’t have time to say goodbye in person,” he explained.

I felt a wave of disappointment wash over me, but I tried to keep my tone understanding. “Of course, I understand. Is everything okay with your family?”

“Yeah, it’s just some business that needs attending to. But I’ll be back as soon as I can. I promise,” he reassured me.

I felt a sense of relief at his words. “Okay, take care of yourself. I’ll be here waiting for you when you get back.”

“Thank you, Mia cara. You’re amazing,” Aurelio said, his voice filled with warmth.

After we said our goodbyes, I returned to the table where my friends were waiting.

“Everything okay?” Leilani asked, noticing the concern on my face.

“Aurelio has to leave Miami tonight. He’s going back to Sicily because of some family business,” I explained.

“Oh, that’s too bad,” Emily said sympathetically.

“But he’ll be back soon, and we’ll pick up where we left off,” I said, trying to sound optimistic.

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“Absolutely. And in the meantime, we’ll be here for you,” Leilani said, smiling.

I felt a sense of gratitude for my friends as we finished our coffee and chatted about other things. Even though Aurelio was leaving, I knew that my relationship with him was strong enough to withstand the distance, and I had my friends’ support to help me through it.

Leilani tilted her head, looking at me thoughtfully. “Wait a minute. Aren’t you originally from Sicily too, Aemilia?”

I take a sip of my latte and nod at Emily’s question. “Yeah, my family still lives in Sicily. We stay in touch through video calls and messages.”

Leilani’s eyes widen. “Wow, so you’re basically a Sicilian princess.”

I laugh, “Definitely not a princess, but I guess you could say I have roots there. It’s a beautiful place with amazing food.”

Emily leans in. “So, have you and Aurelio talked about visiting Sicily together?”

Leilani’s question makes me squirm in my seat, and I fidget with the hem of my shirt. I haven’t told Aurelio that I’m from Sicily, and that my family still lives there. It’s not that I’m ashamed of my roots or anything, but my family has always been involved in some shady business. I didn’t want Aurelio to think I was like them, and that’s why I never told him.

“I haven’t told him,” I admit, looking down at my hands. “I mean, I haven’t kept it a secret, but it just hasn’t come up in conversation.”

“Why not?” Emily asks, taking a sip of her latte. “It’s a big part of who you are, and if you’re serious about this guy, he deserves to know.”

“I know, I know,” I say, feeling guilty. “It’s just that my family is involved in some stuff, and I didn’t want him to think that I was like them.”

“But you’re not like them,” Leilani says, placing a hand on my arm. “And if he’s the right guy for you, he’ll understand that.”

I nod, feeling a little better. They’re right, of course. If Aurelio cares about me, he’ll accept me for who I am, roots and all. But that still doesn’t make it any easier to tell him.

The rest of lunch goes by in a blur, and before I know it, it’s time for me to head home. Leilani and Emily give me a hug goodbye, and I promise to catch up with them soon.

As I walk out of the coffee shop, I can’t help but think about how bad it looks when people find out about my family. Being part of the DiAngelo Mafia family and having my father as the Don is not something I’m particularly proud of. But it’s not something I can change, either. It’s a burden I have to carry, a weight on my shoulders that I can’t just shrug off.

I try not to think about it too much and instead focus on the warmth of the sun on my skin and the sound of the birds chirping in the trees. It’s a beautiful day, and I should be enjoying it, but my thoughts keep drifting back to Aurelio.

I haven’t told him about my family yet. I’ve been avoiding the subject, hoping that I could just enjoy our time together without any complications. But now that things are getting serious between us, I know I can’t keep it a secret forever.

As I walk down the street, lost in thought, I hear my phone buzzing in my purse. I pull it out to see a text from Aurelio.

< Thinking of you, Mia cara.

I can’t help but smile at his message, and suddenly, the weight on my shoulders doesn’t feel quite as heavy. Maybe it’s because I have someone like Aurelio in my life, someone who doesn’t judge me for my past or my family. Whatever the reason, I’m grateful for him and the happiness he brings me.

I put my phone back in my purse and continue walking, feeling lighter and more hopeful than I have in a long time.

As I approached my apartment building, my phone rang, interrupting my thoughts.

The caller ID showed my father’s name, and my heart skipped a beat. My father never called me unless something was wrong. Non di nuovo, cosa è successo questa volta? I answered the phone with a trembling hand and whispered, “Daddy?”

“Aemilia,” my father’s deep voice boomed through the speaker, and I could feel my heart start to race. I only ever heard that tone when there was trouble.