I watch her rocking in a brand new La-Z-Boy chair. The couch under my ass is leather. Funny how well she lives with only her settlement from a slip and fall accident she suffered ten years back. Was Verina sending her money? I knew Taz couldn’t afford to help. Did the supposedly disabled Gilda have a few side businesses?
“We’re in security,” I finally say, knowing she regularly speaks with my big-mouth sister.
“Is this your boyfriend?” Gilda asks, laughing behind her hand.
“Fiancé,” Dino says immediately. “We’re getting married soon.”
“Oh, really, when? Will it be somewhere close?”
“We haven’t decided,” I mutter.
Noticing me shiver, Gilda looks a little embarrassed. “Sorry about the cold, but keeping up with the heating costs got to be too much. I was going to put on a fire, but I forgot.” Gilda sighs. “My mind ain’t what it used to be.” Her eyes moisten as she looks at me. “You probably think I’m a mess.”
“What happened to Baby?”
Gilda’s thrown off by my question. Her expression freezes while she catches up to the shift in my mood. Tears are flowing again as she points to a picture on the mantle.
“He kept me company after you left. Even scared off more than one burglar. He was such a good dog, but the years caught up to him as they have with me.”
Without thinking, I stand up and stare at her. I want to yell something. Or accuse her. I want to say something, but I can’t. Frustrated, I storm out of the house and stand in the yard where Dino joins me.
“That went better than I expected,” he says, studying the street.
“She’s fucking playing me. No way can she not pay the heating bill. She’s just playing me. Me! Like I’d be stupid enough not to notice the new furniture or her fucking hair.”
Dino cups my face. “That’s who she is. That’s who she’ll always be. I know you hoped she’d magically changed, but you’re not stupid. You knew she’d pull something.”
“Yeah, but I hoped she’d wait until we visited a few times. Maybe she’d go to the wedding and fake an injury for sympathy. Fuck. I thought she’d put more effort into scamming her own daughter. It’s rude for her to half-ass it so much.”
Dino kisses my forehead. “No doubt she’s a horrible host. Didn’t even offer us coffee that she might spike so she could steal our wallets. Maybe she’d blame home invaders or squirrels.”
I laugh even though I’m still pissed. “We do have a lot of squirrels around here.”
“So her lie wouldn’t be too farfetched.”
“My family is full of losers,” I mumble, feeling like one of them.
“Naw. You have a lying, cheating mother, but otherwise, your family ain’t so different than most. Your dad was a sap, but being a nice guy isn’t a flaw. Your brother likes bad women. A lot of men have that problem. Your sister married a dork and had ugly kids. Nothing weird about that.”
Laughing again, I smack his arm lightly. “Her kids aren’t ugly.”
“They ain’t cute, Apples. I saw the pictures, and they look like their dad. Oh, well, not everyone can be good looking. I’m sure they’re lovely people, and he treats her okay.”
“He does. She made a good life for herself. Boring, but she’s happy.”
“You made a good life for yourself too. I bet even your stupid brother is happy most days.”
Smiling easier now, I look at the house. “We did have some fun times here.”
“Here’s what I think,” he says, stepping behind me and wrapping his arms around my shoulders. “You need to forgive your mom. She’s a loser, sure, but she’s who she is. Just let it go. Stop hoping for her to be more. I’m not saying I want to see her again or have her over for the holidays, but you need to let go of that bad feeling inside.”
“She’s embarrassing.”
“Mostly because you’re Romani and she’s a grifter. If you were French, would this even be an issue? She’d just be the loser in your family.”
“True.”
“Let’s go back inside and let her cry for us. We’ll say we’ll call her when we’re back in Houston and make plans for her to visit. She’ll think you fell for her bullshit. You’ll get out of there without too much drama. Hell, you can even hug her again while I snag that picture of your dog.”
Turning around to hug him, I stare into his dark eyes. “Will you snag a few pictures of my siblings and me too? I like that one where we’re eating ice cream.”
“Consider it snagged.”
“I love you.”
“As you should.”
Laughing again, I kiss him gently. He returns the kiss without pushing for passion. I’m vulnerable, and he’s my anchor. Sex isn’t what I need. His heart is what keeps me sane and brave. Dino talks a lot of bullshit, but he knows me better than I know myself now.
31
Dino
The Best Women in the World
My mother doesn’t cause the same kind of drama as Minka’s. A month after we return to Houston, I invite Mom to visit. She hates to fly and thinks Texas is full of cowboys, but she’ll go anywhere to meet her son’s future wife. I can’t wait to show Minka off, but my woman isn’t sure how to feel about the meeting.
“I’m not Italian,” she says as we wait at the airport.