7.
C ONSTANCE
“Did the boys get settled in?” I asked my dad’s girlfriend, Bex, after she answered my video call.
“Uh, yeah, after they told us all about how much they love Colorado and a family of what sounds like rabid degenerate children.”
“They’re not . . .”
Bex shook her head before she said, “I’m sure they’re not, but when they told us some of the stories they’d heard, it sounded like they might even be more feral than the kids around here.”
I giggled before I said, “The entire family is insane, and it’s amazing !”
“So, are your new friends the parents of the kids that Rory and Freddie were hanging out with?” Bex asked.
“No. My friend Natty has a boy named Landon, and her cousin has a daughter named Pepper. They’re Gianno and Giovanni’s age. Rory and Freddie were playing with some of the older children who belong to their cousins.”
“It sounds like a large family.”
“I believe it is. I haven’t met nearly all of them yet, just enough to confuse me about who is who. I can’t keep up with who’s a sibling and who is a cousin, especially since I meet more people every time we hang out.”
Bex looked away from the screen for a minute and smiled before she said, “I’ll make sure and give you the phone when we’re finished.” When Bex looked back at me, she said, “Mona and your dad want to talk to you.”
“Good! I was surprised Mona didn’t come, too, but Rory said she would rather stay home than travel with the circus.”
Bex laughed before she said, “He’s right. Mona had a wonderful week off and came back looking relaxed and refreshed.”
“Did you and Dad have fun without the younger boys there?”
“We flew down to Florida for some sand and sunshine.”
“No wonder you look so tan and healthy!”
“Thanks for keeping them for us. I know they’d be fine with their guards, but I just didn’t want to leave them alone for that long.
Vigo and Nick are always in and out, and the thought of Rory and Freddie being left out of all the fun made me feel awful.
And, of course, since Gianno and Giovanni went, too, your aunt and uncle got to come with us.
They brought the baby, but that’s much easier to handle than taking the twins along too. Your offer was perfect timing.”
“My offer?”
“To watch the kids.” The look on my face must have said what my mouth didn’t, because Bex gasped before she asked, “You didn’t insist on watching the kids so we could all go?” When I slowly shook my head, Bex’s eyes narrowed as she looked away from the screen.
I heard my dad say, “You asked if I knew any way we could get away for a little while, so I figured it out!”
“You sent our children halfway across the world without . . .”
“Technically, Stan’s our child, too, so . . .”
“Don’t argue semantics with me, Rico! I’m not done talking about this.”
“I don’t know why. It’s not like talking about it is going to change anything!” Dad retorted.
“Bex!” I said loudly so she’d pay attention to me again instead of trying to kill my father with her laser beam stare.
When she looked back at me, I said, “It was quite a surprise to find them here when I got home that day, but I loved having them here and can’t wait for them to come back again. I want all of you to visit soon!”
“You’re really going to stay in Colorado?” Bex asked. When I nodded, she said, “I hate having you so far away, but you look happier than I’ve seen you in a long time, Stan. I’m glad to see it.”
“It’s gonna suck not being able to pop in whenever I want and missing out on all of our Sunday dinners, but I really like it here.”
“You can always FaceTime us while we’re together and visit whenever you want. This will give you the opportunity to make your own traditions in your own space.”
“I know. I’m looking forward to that. As a matter of fact, I’m hosting my own Sunday dinner this weekend, and I’ve invited my new friends and whoever else they want to bring. I’ll be cooking some authentic Italian food for them.”
“That sounds like so much fun!”
“I’ve never thrown a dinner party before.”
“You’ve cooked Sunday dinner for everyone before, though, which, considering the numbers we’ve got when everyone gets together, is substantial enough to be called a dinner party. You’re going to wow them with that food and have them begging for more.”
“Thanks, Bex.”
“So, we’ve talked about the happy stuff. Now tell me how Park and Sully are doing.”
When my smile faltered, I saw Bex frown, but I was quick to say, “They’re doing great. Park’s progress has been amazing. The doctors think he’ll be home within three months.”
“Home? He doesn’t have any family, does he? Should we help him by looking for a place . . .”
I shook my head to interrupt Bex. “He’ll be living here.”
“Stan,” Bex whispered.
“When you see my house, you’ll understand why I bought it. Park and Sully will have their own suite, just like Ciro and the girls.”
“Is Sully close to being released?”
“No,” I said sadly. “But maybe someday. Until then, Park can live downstairs so I can make sure he’s got everything he needs until he can live on his own.”
“You’re serious about this.” It wasn’t a question, so I didn’t say anything.
Bex sighed before she said, “I feel like you’re just setting yourself up for a lifetime of heartbreak, Stan.
Park may never remember what you had with him and Sully.
Honey, you know that he’s not going to be able to . . . He can’t . . . He’s not . . .”
I interrupted Bex’s stammer by saying, “Sully’s never going to be able to care for himself, Bex, and Park may not be able to care for him alone. Yes, things have changed, but that doesn't mean I love either of them any less; I just love them differently.”
“Promise me that you’re not going to miss out on opportunities to live your life because you’re focused on wishing things could be different.”
“Wishing won’t change anything. Just because they don’t realize how things could have been between us doesn’t mean the promises I made suddenly disappear.
” Bex opened her mouth to say something, but I shook my head.
“My heart doesn’t hurt the way it did before, Bex.
I still love them, but it’s a different love.
Now, when I watch Park reach out and touch Sully’s hand, I see a man who loves the other so much that it changes the air around them.
I used to be part of that, but now I watch from the sidelines.
The world is an ever-changing place, and someday they may not need me anymore, but they do right now.
I know you remember when I used to sit by their bedside night and day, but I don’t do that anymore, Bex.
I’m starting a new life here. I’m making new friends.
” I bit my lip before I said, “I think I have figured out what I want to do with my life.”
“It better be more than just taking care of them,” Bex warned.
“I was approached by one of the hospital administrators about being interviewed for a PSA about the hospital and all the good they do. He mentioned that they’d be using it for fundraising and awareness.
When I asked him how they planned to format the video and what they wanted to showcase, he told me the most blah idea ever and I called him on it.
He asked me if I knew anyone that could make it more visually interesting so it would garner more attention, and I told him I had experience from my AV classes in high school and some classes I’d taken in college.
He must have taken me seriously because one of the board members called me the other day and asked me to go to lunch with her next week to discuss fundraising ideas.
When I asked her if she was hiring someone for the job, she said, ‘We weren’t planning on it until you came along. ’”
“Your face lit up while you were telling me about that. I think it sounds like a terrific opportunity! Spread your wings and fly, sweetheart. You’ll kick ass at something like that.”
“Thanks, Bex.”
“And, of course, there’s the added bonus that it would get you out of the house and into the world where you can meet even more people.”
“There’s that too.” I grinned before I said, “And you know what?”
“Tell me.”
“She doesn’t even know my last name, so she doesn’t know who I am. That means she’d be hiring me for me and not because she thinks it may get her into the good graces of my family.”
“How does she not know your last name?”
“The nurses and therapists seem to be under the impression that I’m married to Sully, probably because I’ve got power of attorney and I’ve never corrected them. They call me Mrs. Geco.”
“That must hurt.”
I shrugged before I admitted, “It did at first, but it’s gotten easier. Now they just call me Constance.”
“Well, no matter what they call you, I’m glad that you’ve got an opportunity to do something that makes you happy. I know you’ll rock it like you do everything else.”
“You’re a pretty great stepmonster, Bex.”
“Shh. Don’t tell anyone, or they may kick me out of the evil stepmothers club.”
“Your secret is safe with me.”
“You’re a Romano. Of course it is.”
◆◆◆
RIN
“What are your plans for the day?” Branch asked as he sat down on the step near my feet.
I set my book aside and shrugged before I said, “Not much. I thought I’d take a ride later, maybe grab a bite somewhere. What’s up with you? Wanna join me?”
“Why don’t we take a ride and join the girls at their friend’s house for dinner?”
“Not sure we should bust in without an invitation.”
“From what I understand, the invitation was for Dilly, Natty, Charlotte, and Tana to bring whoever they wanted for dinner and maybe have a game night afterwards.”
“I don’t know, man. Some of their friends are a little out there.”
“The one from New York seems pretty chill,” Branch said slyly.
“What do you know about her? Tana damn near took my head off when I asked, and Natty said she was staying out of the middle of things, so she wasn’t any help.”
“Well, cousin of mine, I got a personal invitation from your sister, who said I could bring whoever , and I think today’s your lucky day.”
“No shit? She’s having our family over for dinner, and my sister didn’t think to invite me?”
“I’m sure the invitation got lost in the mail.”
I looked over at the door of my sister’s apartment and said, “Sure it did.”
“Do you wanna go or not?”
“Fuck yeah, I do!”
“Let’s go for a ride and then we’ll show up a few minutes before dinner and blindside that sister of yours. That’s always fun.”
“If it’s so fun, then why don’t you ever go toe-to-toe with her?”
“I’ve got my own set of problems, man. Charlotte is always up in my shit about something, and don’t even get me started on Flora and Fauna.
I said something to Hunter about what a pain in the ass they were, and he said I should have seen them when they were children.
Micah and Corbin both agreed. Thank God I’m the baby and they were mostly nice to me, at least until I moved out and they considered it their job to hover. ”
“I don’t know where they get that from, because your mom isn’t like that. I’m sure they do it just to fuck with you.”
“Dad said it was something I’d have to put up with for the rest of my life because Aunt Sin and Aunt Freya still get all over him about things sometimes.”
“Uncle Styx is the expert when it comes to those two, just like Papa has Tana’s number. I think he’s the only one that can talk her off the ledge when she’s on a tear. Me, Dad, and Ian run for the hills, but Papa wades right in with no fear at all.”
“He was a firefighter for ages. My guess is he’s sort of immune to the demon flames.”
I burst out laughing and said, “I’m going to have to tell him that. I’ll make sure Tana overhears just so I can get her all riled up.”
“We can roast marshmallows or something,” Branch suggested.
“Who else is going to dinner at Stan’s?”
“Probably everyone.” Branch shrugged before he said, “Everyone plus you now.”
“I wonder where she lives.”
“She’s staying at that lodge up on the mountain.”
“If that’s the case, then she can definitely handle a big crowd like our family. That place is massive. I can’t imagine what it costs to rent the place for a dinner party along with paying to stay there.”
“I know, right? Are you ready to ride?”
“Let me get my boots on and lock up my place.”
“Meet you at the gate,” Branch said as he stood up and walked toward his own apartment.
I went inside so I could at least change my shirt. I wasn’t exactly one for dressing up - I avoided it at all costs, but I wanted to at least try to make a decent impression - or as much of one as I could make in a T-shirt.
My lazy Sunday plans had changed, but I was excited to see where they may lead.
By the time I got to the gate to meet Branch, our cousins Ethan and Tanner were waiting with him. We meandered around town until I led them up one of our favorite mountain roads and then back down.
I loved the scenery and the twists and turns of the road. I was usually relaxed and chill by the time my ride was over. But that wasn’t how I felt today when we got to the bottom of the mountain and Branch took the lead to guide us to Stan’s place.
No, I wasn’t relaxed at all. For the first time in a very long time, I was excited about something other than a badass tattoo or the smile on someone’s face when they saw the new equipment I’d customized for them.
Today, I was excited to see the elusive New Yorker and get another dose of that sass I found so damn sexy.
Maybe this time I’d be able to talk to her for longer than just a few minutes. If I was lucky, I may even get the chance to ask her out.