Chapter 19 #3
I’m the only one who hears the slight hitch of Vanna’s breath, but she recovers quickly. “You’re having a girl?”
“Yes. We got lucky at our sonogram appointment the day before last and were able to determine,” Giuliana replies.
“That’s just, fantastic …wow…” Vanna rubs her hands against her knees, then suddenly stands.
“Excuse me. I need…something.” She practically bolts from the room again, leaving Ace and me to fend for ourselves.
I’m torn between going after her this time and remaining with our son.
This prick in our living room is a fuckin’ Nero, though…
I’m not leaving Ace alone with either of them.
Ace gives them a presentation of his favorite toys for a few minutes before walking back to me. “Daddy?”
“What’s up, buddy?”
“I have to go potty.”
Fuckin’ Aces.
“Well, let’s go handle that!” I seize the opportunity and scoop Ace up and head for the hallway.
“We graduated to big boy pants a few months ago,” I tell his aunt and future uncle, even though Ace is looking at me like I’ve lost my marbles.
I’m aware he was only letting me know he had to go.
He hasn’t needed help making it to the potty in time at home for a while now.
“Dad, it’s just number one ,” he informs me as we enter the master bedroom. Vanna is sitting on the bed, hurriedly wiping her cheeks upon our arrival. The reason behind her tears simultaneously pulls at my heartstrings and slugs me in the fucking gut, but I keep my shit together for Ace.
“What’s going on?” she asks, forcing a smile for Ace’s sake as well.
I place him on his feet and give his little bottom an encouraging pat.
“Go pee,” I tell him, and he walks into the bathroom, leaving his mother and me somewhat alone for a moment.
I switch the light on and close the door behind him before approaching her.
“Are you alright?” I ask, sitting beside her.
“I’m fine,” she sighs. “I just wasn’t expecting any of this.”
“I didn’t see this coming, either.”
“I’m sure my parents are thrilled. She’s marrying a Nero and giving them a granddaughter.”
“Well, she got knocked up out of wedlock, too,” I playfully bump her knee with mine. “They couldn’t have been too thrilled.”
Vanna scoffs. “Please. She can do no wrong in their eyes, or have you forgotten?”
“No, I haven’t… I’m sorry.” But I know that’s not the reason she was brushing away tears.
I don’t know how to bring this topic up with her, but I do know now is not the time for this conversation.
I am concerned about something, though. I lower my voice and bring my lips closer to my wife’s ear.
“I’m no fan of your sister’s, Vanna, but… is she safe with him?”
“Richard isn’t Jack. Are you anything like your brother?”
“Daniel is an asshole, but he’s not a psychotic killer.”
“You know what I mean. You can’t condemn a person just because they’re related to someone.
We’re all individuals.” She lets out another stress-ridden sigh, and I can’t help but wonder if she’s also referring to someone else we know…
“Jack’s parents were happily married. Richard’s never hurt anyone, and he always did seem to have a crush on Giuliana.
Then again , so did every guy who’s ever met her. ”
“ Not every guy , Vanna.” I press a kiss against her temple.
“Besides… I made mistakes with Jack that may have influenced him to?—”
“ The fuck you did , Vanna,” I growl, a deep hatred for Jack bubbling to the surface.
“Wishing for the man you were with at the time to love you didn’t turn him into the fucking devil.
I wish you’d let that shit go.” She doesn’t say anything, and I wonder if she’ll ever stop blaming herself.
She’s so quick to forgive everyone else.
“I’m gonna find out if this kumbaya act is legit…
Something about him ain’t sitting right with me. ”
“I’m sure they’re just uncomfortable after everything that’s happened between all of us.
He loves her. He’s going to stick up for her.
You can’t take offense if he’s a little put off by you, considering everything that’s happened.
And the fact she admitted to him that she hit on you without shifting any of the blame on you, couldn’t have been easy for him to hear, let alone sit in our living room and look you in the face. ”
The sound of the toilet flushing forces us to put a pin in the discussion for now as Ace calls out from inside the bathroom, “ I’m doooone!”
Neither of us is able to suppress our smiles at Ace’s call to summon potty assistance.
“He told me number one.” I chuckle.
“Go help finish up in there,” Vanna says, patting my leg as she stands. “I’ll go see to our guests.”
“Debatable who’s got the shittier job in this situation,” I joke.
She shakes her head. “Make sure he washes his hands. We don’t have the fun dinosaur soap in our bathroom,” she adds.
When Ace and I return to the living room, Richard stands and asks for a private word on the front porch. The door barely shuts behind us before he asks, “Do you resent Giuliana?”
“If Vanna forgives her, so do I. And since you opened this door, where do your resentments lie regarding everything that’s happened?”
“For a long time, I blamed Giovanna for Jack… The pain my mother was in as a result of everything… I hated you both. It was Giuliana who helped me put things into perspective… I’ve made my peace with the fact that it was Jack who hurt everyone.”
I try not to glare at him, at least not with the amount of suspicion I’m harboring. “So, we’re all on the same page then. Your brother was a vile piece of shit and deserves to be rotting in the grave I put him in.” I can’t help but test him.
He clears his throat but retains a decent poker face. “I’m not sure I’d have put it quite so harshly… Jack made his choices. Unfortunately, we’re all the ones left suffering the consequences of those choices.”
“Some of us more than others.”
“Look, you married Giovanna. I’m marrying her sister.
We’ve both got kids with them. It’s time to let everything die with Jack, don’t you think?
” He glances away from me to peer through the picture window, then gestures inside.
“Can’t you see how much they miss being a family?
Do you really want to be the guy standing in the way of that? ”
“I’ve said from day one, I’d go along with whatever Vanna wants.”
“It’s pretty clear what they both want. You and I are basically brother-in-laws now. I never thought I’d shake the hand of the man who killed Jack, but here we are.” Richard extends his hand to me, and I can’t help but test him one more time.
Gripping his hand in a strong shake, I reply, “Well, Dick, your brother had it coming.”
It isn’t much longer before they decide to hit the road. We watch our women hug each other goodbye, then Giuliana kisses Ace’s cheek and wishes us a Happy Thanksgiving before climbing into their Mercedes and taking off.
“You couldn’t help yourself, could you?” Vanna peers up at me as we walk up the porch steps together behind Ace.
“What?”
“Richard practically dragged her out to the car,” Vanna says, opening the door so Ace can bolt back inside to the toys he still has scattered in the living room.
“Maybe he just wants to beat traffic.” I grin, following her inside.
She presses her lips together and shakes her head. “I’m so sure that’s why. You’re kind of notorious for your porch conversations, Dean.”
“Well, he might not be Jack,” I say, shutting the door behind us. “But he’s definitely a dick.”