Chapter 13 #2
Leo: No. Baker was injured the same time as me. Stitchum didn’t make it.
Me: Oh, no. How many children did he have?
Leo: Three.
Leo: They’re doing okay. I keep in touch with their mom. She’s getting married in the summer, actually. Seems like the dude is a good guy. Kids really like him.
Me: That’s good at least. You keep in touch with her? Do you do that with anyone else?
Leo: All of them. I keep in touch with all the wives. It’s my duty as the first sergeant of the squad. I didn’t keep their husbands alive, so I make sure they’re doing okay now.
Me: Is that how you really think of it? Like it’s your fault your convoy hit an IED?
Leo: It doesn’t matter about the semantics, El. They died on my watch.
Me: How would you make things different, if you could?
Leo: Well, they wouldn’t be dead, for one.
Me: I mean anything else. Would you plan your route differently, or move a day later? Would you ask for more insight into the area?
Leo: It wouldn’t have mattered what time we left, or if it was a day earlier or later. The IED was already there.
Me: So your convoy would have hit it regardless, or another convoy would have hit it.
Leo: Yes.
Me: Was there any way of you knowing ahead of time about the IED? Like a local who could have told you?
Leo: Highly unlikely. They may have been able to tell us that there were IEDs in the field, but not the exact coordinates. Technology is getting better where soldiers will have equipment that can detect IEDs, but we didn’t have that when we hit one.
Me: So there would be no way of you knowing.
Leo: I guess not.
Me: So it’s not your fault.
Me: It’s not your fault, Leo.
Me: You can ignore me all you want, but you need to hear those words. It. Is. Not. Your. Fault.
Leo: Thanks, Ladybug.
Days later, I’m still not sure why Leo texted me to ask if I remembered that story or not. I’m tempted to text him to ask, but don’t feel comfortable enough. Sure, we had an amazing kiss, but I’m still rattled from it. The conversation in Purrfect Books didn’t help ease my nerves either.
So, while I’m out on a Saturday afternoon running errands with Oliver and Violet, I’m unprepared to run into Leo and his mom.
“Leo!” Oliver screams, ripping his hand out of mine to run for Leo. Thankfully, Leo catches him as I chase after him with Violet’s stroller. As I catch up, I notice Mrs. Santo’s eyes on me, not the kids.
“Ella,” she says impassively. While certainly not pleasant, or warm, I know immediately how she feels about me. Frankly, it’s warranted, and I try not to let it hurt me.
“Mrs. Santo,” I reply. Looking at Oliver, who has his arms wrapped tightly around Leo’s neck, I add, “Oliver, you can’t run away from me like that. That wasn’t a safe choice.”
“She’s right, buddy,” Leo says. “You don’t have to run. I promise I’ll always say hello.”
“I missed you, Leo,” Oliver says with an exaggerated pout, bottom lip quivering. I can’t help the major eye roll. Good Lord, he’s really laying it on thick.
“I missed you too, but I don’t want you to get hurt. Auntie Ella would be so sad if that happened,” Leo says, looking over at me, lips tipped in a small smile. When he catches me watching, he winks. Good lord. What is it with this man and winking?
Mrs. Santo doesn’t take her eyes off me. “I was sorry to hear about your sister, Ella. How are you handling things?”
“Doing the best I can, I guess.” I hate that so many people ask me this. What do they expect me to say? Well, it sucks. Sometimes I don’t want to get out of bed. I eat ramen a lot because I can barely pay the rent, but at least I kept the heat on this month. People don’t want to hear honesty.
“She’s doing better than she thinks, Mom. They’re lucky to have her,” Leo says warmly, and Mrs. Santo’s eyebrows raise almost to her hairline.
“Oh?” she asks, and Leo nods.
“Absolutely. I know Ember would be incredibly proud of her.”
A wave of emotion overtakes me. I’ve often wondered how my sister might feel about my parenting skills.
I’d never felt especially maternal, and certainly didn’t feel like having children was a must for me.
I’d enjoyed being an aunt, and after the last breakup with Leo, I didn’t expect I’d ever have a family of my own.
I love Oliver and Violet like an aunt, but they’ve become so important to me since my sister died.
They’re the family I didn’t know I needed.
I hate that their mom died. I’d give anything to get my sister back.
But I’m so thankful I’m here to step in.
“Don’t cry, Ladybug,” Leo whispers, sweeping a tear off my cheek.
I let out a bubble of tearful laughter. “I’ve wondered how Ember would rate my parenting, but never thought she’d be proud of me. Thank you for saying that. It means a lot.”
Leo cocks his head to the side. “Why do you think she wouldn’t be proud of you?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. We were very different. I was never exactly maternal, so her trusting me with her children was a leap of good faith.”
Oliver kicks his legs, and Leo sets him down. He comes to me, pulling my hand until I crouch so we’re eye-to-eye. “Mommy told me you’d be good.”
“When did she tell you that?” I ask, curiosity taking over. He’s four. She’s been gone for four months. How much could he remember from before that?
“She visited me last week, Auntie Ella,” he says matter-of-factly. “In my dream. Said you’re doing a good job.”
“In your dream,” I repeat.
He nods emphatically. “Uh-huh. She also told me to tell you that the sink eater was her fault.”
“The sink eater …” I trail off, trying to track what he is saying, then my eyes widen. “The garbage disposal?”
Oliver grins. “That’s the sink eater!”
“That was her fault? All this time I thought it was me!” I say with a laugh, shaking my head. That little snot. I thought for sure I broke it while I was washing bottles the week Violet was born. Ember vehemently denied being to blame. “I wonder what broke it.”
“A penny,” Oliver chirps.
“One penny?”
He nods. “Yup. A penny. She said it jammed in there.”
“Ladybug, why haven’t you gotten it fixed yet?” Leo asks.
“Honestly, I forgot. It’s been broken for so long, and I’ve gotten used to cleaning scraps off in the trash. I didn’t even think to call a plumber once I moved in, then it became commonplace.”
“You should have told me about it when I fixed the oven.”
“I’m not kidding when I say that I forgot. I’m too used to it now.”
Leo sighs dramatically. “I guess I can fix it for you.”
I look at him warily. “Isn’t that a job for a licensed plumber?”
His eyes narrow. “Do you really think I can tackle a broken washing machine but not install a disposal? Ladybug, I’m hurt.”
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic. You are not.” I roll my eyes, but not before I notice his grin. “How expensive are disposals? I can probably afford it next week, but I have to see how much formula Vi goes through before then.”
“She still fighting switching to solids?” Leo asks.
“Yes,” I say with a sigh. “I even started with the sweeter ones, like pureed blueberries. She’s just not on board with any of it.”
“She may not be fully ready yet,” Mrs. Santo pipes up.
Leo and I both turn to her, and she smiles, warmer this time.
“Leo didn’t like solids either. Gianna took to them like a champ, but it was a good month before he followed suit.
Try a little infant cereal mixed with formula first, then try pureed avocado.
All of my kids loved avocado. What have you tried so far? ”
“Sweet potato, apples, and green beans,” I answer, slightly confused. “The pediatrician told me not to bother with infant cereal.”
“Do you see Doctor Suggs?” she asks, and I nod. She scoffs. “That man is older than dirt and needs to retire. He said that with all seven of my children. Violet may like it, so try it. If she doesn’t, it’s fine. Mix a little of her formula in there, and it’ll be an easier transition.”
“Okay,” I murmur, slightly terrified at the change in her demeanor. “We need to get going before the post office closes.”
“Good to see you, Ella. Goodbye, Oliver and Violet,” Mrs. Santo says, waving at the three of us.
I walk away, slightly confused. Mrs. Santo began the interaction standoffishly, but ended it nicely. Does she hate me? And as Leo turned to head off with his mom, he didn’t look at me. What the hell is that about?
I walk away in confusion, annoyance, and a little bit of warmth.
Mrs. Santo Has Entered the Villa
Take a look at these lovely pictures from moments ago, captured by yours truly!
While on my way to get my weekly shampoo with Stone Dixon, I happened upon Ella Langley, Leo Santo, and matriarch Sofia Santo.
While both women appeared tense at first, they relaxed as the focused swiveled to the always adorable Violet and Oliver Langley.
I’m sure their mother Ember — God rest her soul — is looking down from Heaven with keen interest on whatever is developing between her sister and Leo Santo.
Will there be another Santo wedding in the near future? Only time will tell.