At a center table in Café Spiaggia, Angela Augustino rolled her eyes as Christine and Mary Ann Campagna ranted about their general distaste for their sister in law, Lisa, while simultaneously continuing their usual sniping game of one upsmanship. Lunch with the Campagna wives was tiresome on a good day. Unfortunately, it had already been anything but a good day; Isabella was late, as usual; and Sylvia was already well into her second Bloody Mary. That left Angela to smile, nod, and try not to make her eye rolling too noticeable. She was Joseph Augustino's wife and that established certain expectations for conduct.

"Did you get the invitation for Mari's party? Can we say tacky?" Mary Ann Campagna asked.

Christine Campagna laughed raucously. "They're renting a bounce house! If that doesn't scream middle class, I don't know what does," she said.

Angela took a gulp of her water. She knew that despite their sniping Christine and Mary Ann were both a bit envious of the 3-million-dollar home in Minnetka Dr. Paul Campagna had moved his family into roughly nine months earlier. She also knew better than mention any of that. She glanced over at Sylvia who had finished her second Bloody Mary and was signaling their waiter for a refill. It was definitely going to be a long day. Her husband might be the one who took a blood oath but clearly, she was the one who deserved hazard pay!

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Isabella Mancusi stepped into Café Spiaggia fifteen minutes after noon laden down with shopping bags. She loved to shop! For Christmas her husband, Salvatore, had given her a t-shirt which proclaimed, when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping. The whole family had shared a chuckle at that. Her husband knew her so well. Or at least that was her story, and she was sticking to it. Salvatore had often told her that one of the things he admired most about her was her discretion.

With a quick glance, Isabella spotted her party, dumped her parcels onto the unsuspecting Maitre D' and then made her way across the restaurant with the confidence that being Salvatore Mancusi's wife gave her. At least on her good days!

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Christine Campagna made sure she was the first to stand to give Isabella Ventimiglia Mancusi a hug and exchange air kisses when she saw her approaching the table. Never mind that the woman was almost thirty minutes late when she had made a noon reservation, she was married to the current head of the Chicago Outfit. Salvatore Mancusi commanded, and frankly demanded, respect and by extension his wife usurped the same benefits.

"Isabella, it is wonderful to see you. I am so glad you could join us before you left for the summer house," Christine said. The Mancusi Family had some lake house on the shores of Lake Michigan. They frequently spent most of July and all of August there to escape the oppressive Chicago heat. Her own husband, Michael had been up there a few times when there had been concern that the phone lines weren't secure, and business couldn't wait. Christine herself had never been invited to the big Clam Bake they hosted each August but was optimistic that 1997 might be the year for that.

"It is as if the summer has gotten away from us. Are you all set to head up there on Saturday?" Christine's sister in law Mary Ann asked.

"Unfortunately, we may not be going at all this year," Isabella said.

"Well, that is just a shame. Is everything alright?" Mary Ann asked, a little too eagerly, in Christine's opinion.

Isabella didn't respond but Angela Augustino sent a sharp look in Mary Ann's direction. Or at least Christine hoped it was in Mary Ann's direction.

"Bobby's wife is still in the ICU at Chicago Mercy. Remember, I mentioned that we should all contribute towards a tasteful floral arrangement," Angela said.

"Oh dear, do they think she will be alright?" Mary Ann asked.

"Apparently, she has a touch of the flu," Isabella said flatly. Her facial expression conveyed how ridiculous she felt it was that Claudia should need to be in the hospital at all, let alone intensive care, due to the flu.

It wasn't exactly a secret that the Mancusi Matriarch hadn't been in favor of her son's choice of bride. The poor woman had been hospitalized due to palpitations at least three times during Bobby and Claudia's very brief engagement. Reportedly she had been admitted to a NY hospital with stress gastritis after their wedding. Christine had heard that she had been taken directly from the reception via ambulance due to cramps. She had also heard that none of that had deterred Isabella's son from leaving for three weeks in Italy for his honeymoon.