I have decided that love is only real and true when it makes you feel safe. I am alone now, and without him, everything seems uncertain. It is then that I put on the necklace he gave me on our wedding day, and I look in the mirror and face our family history as it shimmers in the glass. It feels substantial, not just because the coral and the pearls are real, but because Gianluca gave it to me. The family heirloom connects me to the memory of him. I can touch it. It is proof that we married, that he loved me, and that for twenty-two months, he was mine.
Gianluca left me with coral and pearls and diamonds, but they were the least of his gifts to me. I have him in Alfie, who has his humor and blue eyes. I have the factory, which he bought and paid for with a house he loved but not as much as he loved me. He gave it up so I might have the Supreme Macaroni Company.
But it’s the dream that keeps me connected to him.
I imagine returning to swim in the Blue Grotto, and somehow, I know that when I do, I’ll find him there.
Acknowledgments
This book is dedicated to the memory of Violet Stampone Peters Ruggiero, my beloved cousin. Violet was born on May 18, 1926, at home on Garibaldi Avenue in Roseto, Pennsylvania, eventually marrying and moving across the street where she raised her family. She married Joseph Peters in 1951, had their daughter, Ann Carol, and was expecting their son, Joe, when her husband died suddenly of a heart attack. They had been married a little over a year. Eight years later she married Dominic “Bake” Ruggiero, and had Dominic, Connie Rose, and Phillip. Her highest dream was for the children from her first marriage to feel as one with the children of her second. She blended the families beautifully.
Violet worked as a button sewer in a blouse mill that was walking distance from her house. She loved her job, family, weekly Bingo, cleaning her house, and a stiff Manhattan cocktail before dinner. When I think of the people I most admire, Violet tops the list. She worked hard, laughed a lot, and made a big dish of macaroni every Sunday. She was an Italian girl who loved to be home. She once told me she didn’t understand people who traveled. “Everything you need is right here,” she said.
I am grateful to the brilliant team at HarperCollins, led by Brian Murray and Michael Morrison. Jonathan Burnham, my editor and publisher, has exquisite taste, a big heart, and a keen eye for detail. I believe every word he says because he says them with a British accent. Maya Ziv is his excellent right arm, and a treasure.
The marketing and publicity teams are amazing, thank you Kathy Schneider, Tina Andreadis, Kate D’Esmond, Leah Wasielewski, and Mark Ferguson. The novels are artfully designed by Leah Carlson-Stanisic, Robin Bilardello, and Eric Levy. Virginia Stanley, the queen of libraries is one in a million. Our sales reps are the best: Michael Morris, Josh Marwell, Andrea Rosen, Mary Beth Thomas, Doug Jones, Kathryn Walker, Kristin Bowers, Brian Grogan, Erin Gorham, Lillie Walsh, Rachel Levenberg, and Diane Jackson. Love our paperback team: Amy Baker, Mary Sasso, and Kathryn Ratcliffe-Lee.
Much heavy lifting at Harper’s is done by the great Laura Brown, Katie O’Callaghan, Mary Ann Petyak, Stephanie Selah, Tom Hopke Jr., Kathryn Noonan, Annie Mazes, Milan Bozic, Feeza Mumtaz, Douglas Johnson, Eric Lovaas, Frank Albanese, Megan Hodnett, David Wolfson, and Earlene Thomas. You’re a constellation of stars!
At William Morris Endeavor, I am indebted to Suzanne Gluck, Tracy Fisher, Cathryn Summerhayes, Nancy Josephson, Laurie Pozmantier, Michelle Feehan, Eve Attermann, Samantha Frank, Anna DeRoy, Becky Thomas, Alicia Gordon, Anna Graham Taylor, James Munro, Ellen Sushko, and Claudia Webb. Look no further for excellence.
In movieland, thank you Donna Gigliotti, Richard Thompson, Michael Pitt, and Lou Pitt. Larry Sanitsky at the Sanitsky Company gets the call at 2:00 a.m., always answers, and is forever wise, funny, and brilliant. At Simon & Schuster UK, my love and thanks to Ian Chapman, Suzanne Baboneau, and Nigel Stoneman.
At the Glory of Everything Company, the fabulous team led by Allison Van Groesbeck and Laura Corrigan, our amazing interns: Joie Giordano, Kathryn Haemmerle, Jillian Fata, Michelle March, Diana Vlavianos, Jodi Imperato, Samantha Rowe (with extra love to Judith Gold!), Bri Kennedy, Dana Walsh, Kelly Meehan Doig, Emily Morrow, Amanda Rodrigues, Eleanor Fisher, Katie James, Emily Homonoff, Michelle March, Diana E. Vlavianos, Hannah Spratt, Erin Brady, and Daniela Cardinale. Thank you Antonia Trigiani for the gift shop and Mary Trigiani for your digital expertise. The translations from English to Italian were done by Professor Dorina Cerghino-Hewitt of San Jose State University’s Italian Department. Thank you Gina Casella and Nikki Padilla, who make our walking tours and tours abroad the best in the world!
My evermore love and thanks to Chris and Ed Muransky, the best team—anywhere they are, I want to be.
Gratitude and love to Doris Gluck, Mary Pipino, Tom Dyja, Liz Travis, Eamonn McChrystal, Diane and Dr. Armand Rigaux, Phil and Cindy Timp, Karen and Emmett Towey, Caz and Alex Rubin, Dagmara Domincyzk and Patrick Wilson, Dan and Robin Napoli, Sharon Ewing, Adina Pitt, Robin Kall Homonoff, Jennifer Kall D’Angelo, Eugenie Furniss, Philip Grenz, Christina Geist, Joyce Sharkey, Jack Hodgins, Jake and Jean Morrissey, Mary Murphy, Gail Berman, Debra McGuire, Cate Magennis Wyatt, Ian, Ryan and Nancy Bolmeier Fisher, Carol and Dominic Vechiarelli, Gloria Zalaznick, Jim and Mary Deese Hampton, Suzanne and Peter Walsh, Heather and Peter Rooney, and Aaron Hill and Susan Fales-Hill, Mary K. and John Wilson, Kate Benton Doughan and Jim Doughan, Ruth Pomerance, Joanna Patton and Bill Persky, Angelina Fiordellisi and Matt Williams, Michael La Hart and F. Todd Johnson, Richard and Dana Kirshenbaum, Hugh and Jody Friedman O’Neill, Nelle and John Fortenberry, Val Thomas and Henry Reisch (newlyweds), Karen Kehela and Ben Sherwood, Cara Stein and Barry Rosenfeld, Laura Monardo and Mario Natarelli, Rosalie Ciardullo, Dolores and Dr. Emil Pascarelli, Eleanor “Fitz” King and daughters Eileen, Ellen, and Patti, Sharon Hall and Todd Kessler, Aimee Bell and David Kamp, Mary Ellen Gallagher Gavin, Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal, Liz Welch Tirell, Rachel Cohen DeSario, Charles Randolph Wright, Constance Marks, Mario Cantone, Jerry Dixon, Marolyn and Hank Senay.
Nancy Ringham Smith, Sharon Watroba Burns, Dee Emmerson, Elaine Martinelli, Kitty Martinelli (Vi and the girls), Sally Davies, Michael “Mickey” Morrison, Sister Karol Jackowski, Jane Cline Higgins, Beth Vechiarelli Cooper (my Youngstown boss), Max and Robyn Westler, John Searles, Gina Vechiarelli (my Brooklyn boss), Barbara and Tom Sullivan, Brownie and Connie Polly, Catherine and John Brennan, Greg D’Alessandro, Jena and Charlie Corsello, Karen Fink, Beáta and Steven (the Warrior) Baker, Todd Doughty and Randy Losapio, Craig Fissé, Anemone and Steve Kaplan, Christina Avis Krauss and her Sonny, Joanne Curley Kerner, Veronica Kilcullen, Lisa Rykoski, Tara Fogarty, Eleanor Jones, Mary Ellinger, and Iva Lou Johnson.
There’s a special place in heaven for Michael Patrick King and a table at Bergdorf’s for Cynthia Rutledge Olson, Mary Testa, Wendy Luck, Elena Nachmanoff, and Dianne Festa.
My great-aunt Lavinia Stella Perin Spadoni, “Ziwinnia,” turned ninety-one this year. She deserves a parade, as she has always been a beautiful example for all of us who are lucky enough to be her grand-nieces and -nephews. On the cover of this book is an envelope that belonged to her mother, my great-grandmother Giuseppina Covre Perin. I inherited “Ziwinnia’s” talent for never throwing anything away. Observing “Ziwinnia” has made me a better aunt to my nieces and nephews, all of whom I adore.
Thank you to my brothers and sisters, their husbands and wives, and the mighty Stephensons.
I will be forever grateful to Ann Godoff for opening the door to my literary career, and for the gift of Lee Boudreaux, who made me a better writer.
Pat and Paul Vogelsang generously provided shelter during the storm as I finished this novel. I can never thank them enough for their love, generosity, and electricity. Thank you James Horvath and Fran Minnarik, as you were the key.
So many happy customers ate at the Legendary Guido’s Supreme Macaroni Company on Ninth Avenue in New York City. The Scarola
family made good food and great memories, and inspired this title.
As I wrote this book, I lost some dear friends and family I would like to honor here. The world is not as beautiful without Carol Williams Wilson, Dolly Farino, Liane Revsin, Sue Pence, Marion Gigliotti LeDonne, Carmelina “Tiny” Roma Perin, and Mary Loyola Culhane Shaughnessy (mother of eight who made time for her book club and me). There are roses in heaven now, for sure.
Dr. Sidney Wallace was a healer, a painter, an amazing husband, father, and grandfather.
My lifelong friend Joe O’Brien, first of Scranton and then Manhattan, was the best brother and friend, and a fine actor who lit up the stage and screen with originality and passion.
Rafael Prieto was a gentle soul and as fine and loyal a friend as I have ever known.
Thank you Lucia and Tim for making our home the best place on earth. Finally, what nice Italian girl doesn’t thank her mother? Thank you, Mom, for everything you are and everything you taught me. I am so lucky fate sent me your way.
About the Author
ADRIANA TRIGIANI is an award-winning playwright, television writer, and documentary filmmaker. Her books include the New York Times best seller The Shoemaker’s Wife; the Big Stone Gap series; Very Valentine; Brava, Valentine; Lucia, Lucia; and the best-selling memoir Don’t Sing at the Table, as well as the young adult novels Viola in Reel Life and Viola in the Spotlight. She has written the screenplay for Big Stone Gap, which she will also direct. She lives in New York City with her husband and daughter.
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Also by Adriana Trigiani
FICTION
The Shoemaker’s Wife
Brava, Valentine
Very Valentine
Home to Big Stone Gap
Rococo
The Queen of the Big Time
Lucia, Lucia
Milk Glass Moon
Big Cherry Holler
Big Stone Gap
YOUNG ADULT FICTION
Viola in Reel Life
Viola in the Spotlight
NONFICTION
Don’t Sing at the Table
Cooking with My Sisters (coauthor)
Credits
Cover design by Robin Bilardello
Cover photograph by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Collection Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona © 1989 Arizona Board of Regents
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
THE SUPREME MACARONI COMPANY. Copyright © 2013 by The Glory of Everything Company. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
FIRST EDITION
ISBN: 978-0-06-213658-9
EPub Edition DECEMBER 2013 ISBN: 9780062136602
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