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Celia and Corrado put in their share, and the four of theh the crowd Corrado remained standoffish as usual, while Vincent’s sister was her typical poised, s self Celia was a tall, slender woman, her face with a soft, round look She had sleek black hair, the color of night, and dark eyes to ation Most of the ranking lia were there, dressed in their best suits in the front of the church It was a big production for them, the one day of the here they could flaunt their alantuomini--feel protected, men who respected them, who trusted them, ere less likely to rat them out

After donations were collected, peopleline formed for communion, but Vincent stayed in his seat Corrado eyed hiot in line

The rest of the service passed quickly, everyone standing as the final prayer was spoken Father Alberto o in peace"

They were headed to the exit when Father Alberto called Vincent’s name The hair on the back of his neck bristled like a child being reprimanded "Yes, Father?"

"You didn’t take coenuine concern "You haven’t taken it in weeks"

It had really been etting to fast before service"

Father Alberto kneas lying "The church never closes You don’t need an appointment God is always here for you"

"I know, Father Thank you"

Vincent left before Father Alberto could press the matter and joined his family on the front steps of the cathedral Corrado and Celia stood along the side as Gia infused herself into the crowd Mafiosi surrounded her, listening as she ra her on, but not a single person mocked her She was a forliere, and an in-law to another made man The men respected her, bat-shit crazy or not

And while she lived in Sunny Oaks, respected was so Gia didn’t feel

Vincent waited as hisa story about Antonio and one of their adventures back when Vincent and Celia were young He found hiht about those days It was before tragedy had struck Before Maura and the kids Before the Antonellis and the girl Before Salvatore’s family had been murdered Before the world had imploded around the and saying their good-byes

"Ma, are you ready to--?"

"You didn’t take cohed He’d planned to ask if she was ready to head back to Sunny Oaks, but it was senseless now She wouldn’t go until she had said everything she wanted to say "I couldn’t"

Gia smiled "I’h his thickened skin Never in his life had he heard them from her She must be demented "You’re proud of me?"

She nodded "You see it now, don’t you? After all these years, you understand"

"Understand what?"

"That you were living in sin Your nized by the church"

Vincent’s snized"

"You were young, Vincenzo And she was Irish! She wasn’t even like us!"

Celia responded before Vincent could "Maura was Catholic, Mom It was sanctified Father Alberto was the one toher hand diset invited"

She’d been invited, of course, but she had shunned the service Antonio had shown up out of respect for his son, but Gia refused In heras if the e didn’t exist

"You were invited," Vincent said "You chose not to co about it until it was over"

"If that’s true, Ma, how did Dad know to co? Your father always snuck around, never toldWhat er at bay "Because I handed you the invitation You took one look at it and tossed it in the trash"

Gia scoffed "And the quacks say I have memory problems That never happened"

Corrado strolled over, his hands in his pockets "What are we arguing about now?"

"Vincent ain"

"Ah," Corrado said "I regret I wasn’t there"

Gia laughed "They didn’t invite you, either?"

"Oh, I was invited I just didn’t think it was appropriate for me to attend"

"See!" Gia looked at Vincent "I told you it wasn’t a real rees!"

Corrado started to correct her, but Vincent shook his head Although it stung that his brother-in-law had skipped the wedding, sending Celia to the ceremony alone, Vincent understood Unlike Gia, Corrado meant well

"It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks," Vincent said "I knoas real"