38. Dario
DARIO
I’m uncommonly nervous as I get ready to go to dinner at Angelo’s place. It’s been two days since Liana and I had it out and made up, and I miss her and Sonny terribly.
But they’re transitioning to move back in after a few days. I can’t fucking wait. The house feels so lonely and empty without them.
This is the first time I’ll be meeting my son knowing he’s my son.
When I arrive, I ring the doorbell and it’s Sonny who answers.
“Dario!” he shouts and wraps his arms around my legs. I lean over and hug him, my heart racing.
“You got taller.”
He nods. “I grow a lot. Maybe my dad is tall. I wouldn’t know.”
My breath catches in my throat. “Yeah. About that, buddy... where’s Mama?”
Liana walks into the room, dressed simply in a pair of yoga shorts that stretch across her ass and a camisole. She looks good enough to eat, but I’m focused on Sonny.
She looks at me as if for permission, and I nod.
She crouches down to get eye-level with Sonny.
“Baby, I lied to you once.”
“Everyone tells lies,” he says matter-of-factly. “It’s important that you say sorry.”
Liana smiles, tears in her eyes. “That’s right, Sonny. And I am, very sorry. I lied to you when I said Dario wasn’t your dad.”
His eyes flick to mine and then back to her. “For real? He’s my dad?”
She nods slowly.
He looks up at me, his gray eyes flashing just like hers. “Then why weren’t you around when I was a baby?”
He crosses his arms over his chest and he looks so much like her it’s painful.
But as I look, I realize he looks like me, too—his lanky frame, his generous mouth and Roman nose.
“He didn’t know,” Liana says quickly. “I lied to him, too.”
He glances over at his mother, pouting, but then he hugs me around the legs again.
“I’m glad you’re my dad,” he says, so low I barely catch it, but I feel my chest swell with pride as I pick him up.
I don’t actually eat dinner. Instead, I snack on chicken nuggets and fries with Sonny, playing video games, playing with his trains.
He’s smart, my boy, smarter than me. He tells me about how a steam engine works and I just can’t stop staring at him, awed.
He falls asleep on my lap while we’re watching a cartoon, and I hold him for a long time, pressing my lips to the crown of his head.
Liana walks into the den, smiling. “I wanted to give you guys some time alone. He conked out?”
“Couple hours ago,” I admit. “I can’t seem to let him go.”
She smiles, sitting next to us and brushing his hair back from his face.
“He’s lovable, isn’t he?”
“He’s perfect,” I say in a hoarse whisper. “You did such a good job raising him, Li.”
She blushes. “I’m trying.”
“You’re succeeding.” I pause. “I’m still mad at you.”
“I know.”
“I could have helped you. I could have been there for you. For him.”
“I know.”
“I love you anyway,” I say, sighing. “Guess I always will.”
“I love you, Dario,” she says, putting her head on my shoulder.
We sit there for a long time until I start to doze off, and then Liana stands, tugging at my wrist.
“Let's go to bed. I set up the guest room for you. Papa’s old fashioned and won’t let us share a room.” She giggles.
“I could sneak in after he’s asleep.” I grin wickedly.
“We’ll see,” she says with a smirk, and I stand, wrapping Sonny’s long limbs around me.
When I lay him down on the bed, I still struggle to disentangle myself from him.
Finally, I leave the room, tearing my eyes from my son’s sleeping face and walking out into the hallway.
My breath comes short and for some reason, tears prick at the backs of my eyes.
“It’s okay,” Liana says, quickly taking my hands. “Just breathe with me.”
She takes a deep breath in and I try, but all I make is a wheeze. It’s like the world is caving in on me.
“It’s okay,” she says again, softly, cupping my face with one hand. She breathes in slowly through her nostrils again and I gasp in air like a dying fish, finally catching my breath.
“I love him so much,” I say brokenly. She hugs me tightly, pressing her face against my chest.
“I’m so glad you do.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask, pushing her away slightly but still holding her shoulders.
Her lip trembles. “I thought you cheated on me. I didn’t think you’d be a good father.”
That stings, even though it’s based on misinformation.
“I don’t know if I will be.”
She frowns. “You already are, Dario. Sonny was wanting to call you Daddy before he ever knew he was yours. He attached to you right away. I kept being worried you’d realize how much he looks like you.”
“Is that why you were always snatching him away from me?”
She nods. "I didn’t trust you. But I do, now.”
“You promise?” I glance over at her and put a hand in my pocket, fingering the velvet ring box. “Because I bought you something five years ago, and now I want you to have it.”
“You kept a present you bought for me for five years?” she asks incredulously, smiling softly.
“It’s a pretty important present.”
I pull out the ring box and her hands fly to her mouth, covering it.
I open it up, revealing a three-carat engagement ring, one I’ve had hidden in my underwear drawer for five years.
I’d planned to propose to her the night that Maria called. It had upended everything, and apparently, made Liana think I was cheating on her.
“You bought this then?” Her voice is muffled by her hand.
“I wanted to ask you then, Li. But then you left, and I... I just lost it, baby. I can’t live without you. You know that, right?”
“I don’t think I can live without you either.” Tears stream down her face. “You really want to stay married to me?”
I slide the ring on her finger. It’s a perfect fit, after all this time.
“More than that, belissima. I want to have a vow renewal in front of all of our friends and family. I want to show everyone you’re mine.” I pause. “Now, are you going to say yes or did you want to torture me some more?”
She laughs even though tears are streaming down her cheeks and throws herself into my arms.
I stumble backwards against Sonny’s closed door, smiling against her lips as she presses her mouth to mine.
I kiss her slowly, thoroughly.
“Come back to my room,” she says in a sultry voice, and my feet want to carry me right behind her.
“Not tonight, Li,” I say, and she pouts, looking pitiful enough to break my heart. “I want to wait until the vow renewal ceremony.”
“That could be months!” She huffs out a breath. “What if I can’t wait that long?”
I raise an eyebrow. “What’s the alternative?”
“I mean, I could call up Scott Howard...” she teases, biting her lip, and I growl and tackle her around the waist, throwing her over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
She giggles but doesn’t fight as I press her up against the hallway door, sliding my thigh in between hers. She gasps, grabbing my face and crushing her lips to mine.
I groan against her mouth and let her stick her tongue between my lips briefly before I pull away.
“Patience, belissima.”
“I’m not known for my patience, Dario.”
I chuckle. “I’ll make it up to you, baby. Just go get some rest.”
I kiss her soundly one more time before backing up and she keeps pouting up at me.
I pat her on the butt. “Go on, off to bed with you.”
She groans and stomps her foot but eventually trails off to bed.
My little brat. I look after her with what probably is the goofiest smile on my face.
“You know, I’ve never been in love, but I can see it on my daughter.”
Angelo’s voice sounds bittersweet, and startles me.
I turn around to face him.
“Yeah? I hope she loves me as much as I love her.”
“I knew it, you know. That Sonny was yours,” he points out. “She doesn’t think I knew you were sleeping together, but I always have eyes on my girl. I always thought you abandoned her, and honestly, I can’t say I wouldn’t do the same. I hated you for it, but I also saw myself in you.”
“I haven’t always been the best man,” I admit quietly, looking down at my feet.
He laughs. “Who among us has? You make my daughter happy, and that’s all I ever wanted for her. I messed stuff up with her mom. Didn’t want her to turn out like me.”
I look at him, at his wistful smile, and think about how I could have turned out like him. I could have lived my life without love, but God, who would want to?
“I asked her to do a vow renewal.”
“She said yes?”
I smile, feeling almost giddy. “Yes.”
“I’ll pay for it.”
I frown. “You don’t have to—”
“She's my only daughter, Conte. Let me do this for her.”
I nod slowly. “Alright. I’ll talk to her about venues.”
“We’ll have it here, of course. She grew up here, she should get married here.”
I smile widely. “I’ll keep you updated on costs.”
“Thank you. Now, don’t go sneaking into my daughter’s room. You may be her husband but this is still my house,” he warns, pointing a finger at me.
I laugh, holding my hands up as if in defense, and there’s a spring in my step as I walk to the guest room.
Everything’s coming together in the best way.