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With a deep breath she walked out of her rooh thethat soreet her as she reached the patio door

"Congrats! Oh my God, I’m so proud of you That was fast It took et my AA"

Rose smiled as she took in all the decorations and flowers then frowned "Yeah, but it’s just et hed "Oh, don’t worry Whatever they do, it’ll be huge and there will be tons of food"

They walked out together to where Sal stood talking to his brother Alex, Sofia’s husband Eric, and Roirls walked out and s his arms out for her

Rose felt herself blush as she leaned into a big hug froratulated one by one by the other ree with Candace Even though they were all older, well older than the guys she and her friends would ever date, they were a handsome bunch She only admitted it once to Grace but wouldn’t dare say it out loud since they were all el was closest to her in age, she always got a little tongue-tied around hi about this fa--even their wives

She felt guilty now that she’d been so angry and resentful with Sal in the beginning when Vincent first left He’d done so much for her since she’d come to live with them, and he really didn’t have to Just because she was Grace’s younger sister, he’d completely taken on the older-brother role, but many times it felt more like a fatherly role with her His brothers now acted like uncles to her, too She’d never felt so much sincere warlanced around the patio quickly taking in all the guests Her eyes came to a stop on herhere with them until Grace found her a suitable apartment There was plenty of room for her to just stay here, but Rose could tell that Sal didn’t care for her ed a bit

When she and her ex-husband Ruben separated al her move out here and work for her and Sal at the restaurant Grace only agreed because her mother said she wanted her own place She claie that was still in the honeye for the most part But ever since she’dafter another to object to with every apartment Grace and Rose had found for her

As usual Sal was the epitoest they wait until after their second baby was born to look for a place for herhe wanted was for Grace to stress about this while she was pregnant While Sal had his priorities straight--his pregnant wife’s health ca: herself

Even this brought on thoughts of Vincent Grace and now Sal and his family showered her with all the love and affection Rose needed, but Vincent’s intense and unconditional love had all but s hurt she felt about her mother’s blatant indifference for her: an indifference that carried into even today Not once had shein with her if she ever got her own place Rose knew she shouldn’t care She was perfectly content living with Grace and Sal It just seehter live with her and take the burden off her nearly needded daughter, as just now starting her own fa to do: at least for appearance’s sake Rose certainly wouldn’t take her up on it It’d just be nice to know that being part of Rose’s life even though she was all grown up noas sohter and a rise in voices coht their attention to the kitchenRose’s heart did a little nervous ju to do this, but Grace was right s and introducing hi a deep breath, she turned to Sal who sonna have tohis beer as he glanced toward Ben still uy already"

Sofia raised an eyebrow "You guys better behave Poor guy"

"Nah," Eric laughed "Let him pay his dues Lord knows I had to with this fahed, and Rose braced herself as she walked into the kitchen Ben smiled as soon as he saw her and reached his hand out She slipped her hand in his and s at Grace Let the perfor with Grace’s and Sal’s parents a bitoes it, Ben?" He reached out and shook his hand

As one by one she introduced him to all of them, she was relieved that they all did just as Sofia had asked--behaved That is until Romero started up on him

"So I heard you’re a player?"

Alex’s eyebrows shot up as did Ben’s and Rose’s