“It’s not daddy.” Adrianna said softly, taking a deep breath. “Sit down Nikki.”
I let out the breath I hadn’t even realized I was holding and slip into the oversized armchair across from them.
“Daddy is on his way home.” My sister said. I watched her look at my mother for a moment before her eyes found mine again. “He went to see Michael.”
I looked at her confused as to why this would be sad news. It’s been years since we’ve seen Mikey. I can’t help the excitement that filters through my body at the mere mention of his name. I’ve missed him and tried to understand why he and Maryann shoved us out of their lives, but I can’t deny that I missed him. How great would it be if he finally came around and reached out to dad? A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth.
“Nikki sweetie, it’s not what you think.” My mother said sadly before looking down at the tissue she was twisting nervously in her hand. She lifted her head and looked at me with despair in her eyes. “There was a horrible accident and Maryann… well she didn’t make it.” She said her voice catching.
I stared at my mom in shock for a moment and then it dawns on me that Mikey is suffering the loss of another parent. My eyes instantly filled with fresh tears as I put myself in his shoes for a moment. Even though it’s a strong possibility given the line of work, my dad’s involved in it still tears me up at the mere thought of losing one of my parents let alone both.
“Oh my God, how is he? How’s Mikey?” I asked through my tears. My heart broke for him. It didn’t matter that I hadn’t seen him in ten years or that he hadn’t kept in touch when he promised that he would. I watched him mourn his dad all those years ago and couldn’t imagine him having to endure that pain all over again this time losing his mom. Life wasn’t fair, in fact it was sometimes cruel.
“Daddy’s bringing him home. They’re flying the body here in the morning and the service will be Wednesday.” Adrianna said.
I nodded, thinking that at least he won’t be alone. We’ll be there for him.
“I can’t believe she’s gone.” I heard my mom say just before the front door opened. We turned around and watched my dad and Jimmy walk inside. Immediately the three of us Pastore women stood to our feet seeking out Mikey but Jimmy closed the door behind him. My shoulders slumped and I looked up at my dad expectantly.
“Where is Michael?” Mom asked.
My father looked around his eyes locking with each of us briefly before he answered. “He’ll be here any minute. He’s driving with Anthony.”
“How is he doing?” I asked quickly.
“He was doing a pretty little thing when we got there.” Jimmy said from behind my dad. My father looked over his shoulder shooting Jimmy a deadly glare sending him cowering back into the hallway. My father turned back around and looked at me.
“He’s not doing too well.” He lifted his gaze to meet my mom’s. “Drinking a lot.” He shook his head, running his fingers through his hair. “I don’t know how I can help him. He hates me.”
“He doesn’t hate you Victor. He’s just hurting and to be fair, there are a lot of unresolved issues on top of all this.” My mother said, laying a soothing hand on his shoulder. I looked at my sister and wondered if she knows what the hell my mother’s talking about. She and Mikey were even closer than I was with him. Since they were the same age they had a lot more in common, especially the fact that they both considered me a tag along. What they both don’t know is that I was completely jealous of my sister. Everyone joked around that she would wind up with Mikey and she probably would’ve had he not moved. The idea of her and Mikey drove me crazy of course, that was because at ten years old I had the biggest crush on Mikey Valente. Too bad all he ever saw me as was a little girl who followed him and my sister everywhere begging them to include me in whatever it was they were doing.
I was startled from my thoughts when I heard the alarm beep three times outside the house. It’s a quirky thing that Anthony did every time he got out of his car. He hit the locks on whatever car he was driving three times. I’ll never get why he does it, but it’s his trademark and the signal that he’s arrived. Maybe he feels the need to always make his presence known who knows.