Chapter 17
Maximo
“Are you okay?” Constance glances over at me in concern as I struggle to rise from my chair.
“Just stiff,” I grunt as I grab the cane I was given yesterday at my therapy appointment. “I need to walk around a little bit.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” she asks as she starts to rise from her seat at the table in my library.
“No, you and Melissa keep getting the announcements ready.” I smile down at Constance as she resumes her seat.
Melissa looks up at me with a grin and says, “You’re just tired of going through the guest list. They’re mostly your friends.
Are you absolutely sure this is everyone?
I bet there are at least three people in New York you’ve forgotten to warn to save the date.
We’ve spent the last hour just filling out cards for this gang of bikers.
What did you call them? The Savage Kings? ”
“Yeah, maybe we don’t have to invite Vanessa,” Trenton adds as he stabs a finger at the list of names in front of him. “I’m sure one of the Kings would bring her as a plus one, anyway.”
“We’re inviting her,” Constance firmly overrules him. “I don’t care what she’s been to you in the past, she’s been a friend to me.”
“What has this woman Vanessa been to you in the past, Trenton?” Melissa turns to him and asks with a teasing smile.
Trenton doesn’t answer and instead leans over and gives Melissa a gentle kiss on the cheek.
Her face has almost completely healed, and she looks just radiant as she laughs and then grabs his arm to pull him close and give him a more thorough kiss on the lips.
“I’m just playing with you. We’ve already made it clear with each other that we don’t ask too much about our past relationships,” she adds as an aside to Constance.
“I’m, uh, going to walk with Maximo.” Trenton blushes as he stands up and walks over to open the door to the library. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t fall and hurt himself.”
“You just want an excuse to go smoke,” Melissa accuses.
“That too,” he agrees without a hint of shame. “You can’t ever say I hid who I am, at least.”
“You two are cute together,” I tell him as I limp past him into the hallway.
“If your mother gets here, send her in to help us!” Constance calls after me.
I raise my free hand to acknowledge her with a wave, then make my way slowly down the hall toward the kitchen. “I need a drink,” I sigh as I laboriously work my aching hip. The last couple of weeks of therapy have been hell, but I’m slowly getting back to being the man I used to be.
“You sure that’s a good idea with the meds and all?” Trenton asks me.
“I’m not taking those damn pills,” I snort dismissively. “I did at first when I absolutely couldn’t stand the pain, but all they do is mess up my stomach.”
“And whiskey doesn’t? I mean, you did get a bullet through the liver.”
“You’d be surprised. Other than almost bleeding out at the hospital, my guts haven’t hurt nearly as much as this hip. Reach up there and get me a clean glass,” I order Trenton with a nod to the cabinet. “Besides, those opiates are probably as hard on my liver as alcohol.”
“Hey, whatever you say, boss. You’re already getting one wife. You don’t need me watching over your shoulder,” Trenton replies with a laugh.
“You and Melissa seem to be getting along well,” I comment as I retrieve a bottle from my liquor cabinet and pour two fingers worth into the glass Trenton set on the counter for me.
“I promised her I would take her out for dinner once she’s feeling better.
You know, back when she was in the hospital?
She took me up on it a couple of weeks ago and we’ve been hanging out ever since.
I need to thank Constance for that sometime.
I think she helped play matchmaker for me.
” Trenton pours himself a drink as he talks and then clinks his glass against mine. “Cheers.”
“Cheers,” I reply as we drink. I limp over to the front window by the breakfast nook when I see a shadow cross the wall, checking to see if someone is pulling into the driveway.
“Looks like Leonard is here with my mother,” I call back to Trenton.
“I’ll have Leonard prepare a room for her in the estate.
She usually prefers staying in the guesthouse, but… ”
“Eh, it’s probably best to keep her out until we clean it up a bit.
We’ve been rotating our boys in and out to provide twenty-four-hour security on the grounds for months now.
She’d probably stroke out if she saw the mess they’ve made.
I’ll go open the door for them and help with her luggage.
” Trenton downs his drink and then leaves me alone in the kitchen.
I finish mine then pour another before making my way slowly out into the foyer. When Leonard opens the door and my mother enters, she immediately breaks into a broad smile. “Look at you, Maximo. Up and around greeting your visitors. You look like you’re feeling better.”
“I am.” I hold out the arm carrying my drink and give her a one-sided embrace, being careful not to overbalance. “Constance has been taking excellent care of me.”
“Don’t I know it,” she says as she beams at me. “When you were recovering in the hospital, she wouldn’t leave your side. It made it difficult for the rest of us to plan around!”
“You wouldn’t have her any other way,” I chide her gently.
As she glances around the foyer her eyes fall on a huge crystal vase filled with flowers just to the side of the door. “Oh my, those are gorgeous! Did you get those for your bride-to-be?”
Trenton and Leonard enter the foyer behind my mother, both of them struggling with her luggage. “Please take those upstairs to the bedroom,” I wave them past us. “No,” I tell my mother as I turn my attention back to her. “The flowers are from Salvatore Bianchi. I’m sure you remember him.”
“The old white devil himself? Oh, I couldn’t forget him. He and your father butted heads more than a few times.” She smiles wistfully as though I’ve triggered some distant memory.
“He’s been sending an arrangement every week, with notes thanking Constance for her help with that business regarding his son, Gregory.”
“You never did tell me how all of that got settled. All I saw on the news was that awful Volkov woman and some of her associates were killed over at Delfino Park.”
“And I never will.” I swallow the amber liquid in my glass with a grimace. “You know I can’t talk about that sort of business. It’s settled, and that’s all that matters.”
“You say that, but I see you’ve still got your… associates patrolling the grounds. One of them scared me half to death popping out of the garden when I got out of the car!”
“Whatever it takes to keep my ladies safe,” I say with a smile before turning away to hobble back into the kitchen. “Can I get you a drink?” I offer as I place my tumbler in the sink.
“I’ll ask Leonard to make some coffee once he comes back down,” she replies. “Now, where is Constance? I want to see my new daughter and see if she’s showing any signs of a tummy yet!”
“Don’t tell her that,” I protest. “She’s already starting to run out of pants that fit.”
“There’s nothing to be upset about,” my mother scoffs. “It just means my grandchild is growing big and healthy.”
“That’s what I’ve told her too,” I agree. “Leonard,” I call out to my uncle as he and Trenton reappear at the top of the stairs. “Please make some coffee and bring it to the library. We’re going to get back to work on the save the date announcements.”
“Of course, Maximo. I’ll bring it in momentarily,” Leonard replies. “Adeline, please tell Constance what we discussed in the car.”
“I will, Leonard. Thank you!” My mother nods to him and then walks towards the library.
“I’ll be outside if you need me,” Trenton says as he pulls his vape from his pocket and steps past me, then goes out on the front porch.
I follow my mother and step inside just in time to see Constance stand and embrace her. “Adeline, thank you so much for coming to help. I have so many questions about the family and you’ll have to help me decide where to seat them at the reception.”
“I can only imagine, my dear.” My mother laughs as she sits down beside Constance in the chair that I recently abandoned. I don’t mind. I can’t stand sitting for any length of time right now. Getting up and down hurts more than walking.
“What did you and Leonard talk about in the car that you need to discuss with Constance?” I ask my mother as she looks over a seating chart.
“This, actually,” she replies as she taps a manicured fingernail to the diagram.
Our wedding may be a year away, but with the baby coming, Constance wants to do as much wedding planning now as she can.
“What to do about your cousin, Cindy. You remember Leonard’s daughter, Cindy, don’t you dear? ” she asks Constance.
Constance gives her a flat, unamused look as she holds up her arm and points to the faint scars where my cousin had hit her with a vase at Enzo and Luca’s funeral. “I have constant reminders of Cousin Cindy,” she replies with a shake of her head.
“I see you’ve still got her on the seating chart, however. I assume you intend to invite her to the wedding?” My mother directs the question at me as well as Constance.
“I intend to invite everyone in the family, including your brother Phillip and his wife. They don’t have to accept, but I’m willing to entertain their apologies for how they acted at the funeral,” I tell her.
“But as you can see, we’re still keeping them in the back of the room.” Constance can’t hide the grimace that flickers across her lips.
“It’s a good idea,” Melissa chimes in. “You want to give yourself plenty of space to keep an eye on them. Don’t put any flowers or place settings on their table, though. You might even want to consider only giving them paper plates. Doesn’t that girl Cindy have an arm on her?”
“She played softball in high school,” my mother deadpans, causing Constance to burst into laughter. I love that sound. I didn’t hear it much at the start of our relationship, but since we’ve rid ourselves of the Volkovs it’s been the constant music of my life.
When Trenton opens the door to let Leonard in with the coffee service, I limp to the table and take a seat with everyone. My head is buzzing softly from the alcohol but the throbbing in my hip has already eased, and I find that I’m not too uncomfortable as I stretch my leg out under the table.
Trenton sits across from me looking a little glassy-eyed.
Melissa leans over to whisper something to him.
As they beam a smile at each other, I can’t help thinking how lucky we both are.
Not just to have survived everything my enemies have thrown at us, including taking Constance’s father, Enzo, Luca, and Joey from us, but to find these incredible women who have accepted us, even as flawed as we are.
When Constance glances at me, her brow furrows in concern. “Are you all right?” she asks. “You look like you’re hurting.”
“I’m fine, firefly. I was just thinking of what I would do if anyone ever tried to come between any of us again.” I feel an easy smile replace the grimace I must’ve had on my face.
“Don’t worry,” she reassures me as she reaches across the table and pats my arm. “No one is going to dare to raise a hand against you. Everyone in this city knows now what will happen if they were to try.”
“Yes, they do,” I agree as I gaze into her eyes. “Even if they were brave enough to challenge me, they would never survive the wrath of my savage bride.”
Only God could have designed a woman so perfect for me, and only God can help anyone who ever dares to cross her.