Page 24
“Who knows. Using the phone in the office. Probably doing paperwork.”
“His favorite.”
“Ah, be nice.” Mom swats my arm. Ottavia Serafino is the heart of our little family, the light leftover from our childhood, or what remains of it. Losing our father nearly broke her, but Mom survived and came through the other side, still the woman that cleans up our messes and spends way too much time cooking elaborate meals. I think we’d all be dead without her.
“Actually, I’m glad it’s only us. I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Something good?”
“It’s complicated.” I roll my drink slowly. Lia’s ATV comes closer and she waves. I wave back, tightly smiling, but there’s no joy in my chest. Not right now. “You know about the marriage.”
Mom nods her confirmation. “Nobody can keep a secret from me.”
“Least of all Nico.” I sip my whisky and hesitate, watching the ice melt. “I’m not doing this for me.”
“I know that. We all do. Nico practically admitted he was terrified you’d make him do it.”
“He knows better than that.”
“But you’re having second thoughts.”
I shake my head firmly. “It isn’t that. It’s more… the girl.”
“What about her?”
“She doesn’t know yet. I’m not sure how much choice they’re giving her.”
Mom clucks her tongue. “That’s the life, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but—”
“You’ll take care of her. You’ll give her all this.” She waves a hand at our family ranch. “It could be worse.”
“Doesn’t have to be this way though. I could find something else—”
“What is there?” Mom asks, genuinely curious. “Listen to me, Bastiano. I’m not in love with the old ways. I think sometimes it’s got to change.” She gestures at the grill. “I could be making pasta and gravy, but instead? I’m a Texas lady now and I might as well embrace it.”
“That’s what we love about you.”
“And it’s what’s good about you, too. You adapt and change. You’re stubborn and a pain in my ass, but you’re protective. You do right by your people and you’ll do right by this girl. I wasn’t sure about your father when we got married—”
“Mom!”
“What? I wasn’t. Corrado was a pain in my ass. Pushy as all hell too. I think he wanted sex.”
“Jesus Christ.” I close my eyes. “Sometimes I regret talking about this stuff with you.”
“But in the end, we made it work, and you will too. I know you’ll do the right thing, Bastiano.” She touches my shoulder. “You have me on your side, no matter what.”
I glance at her dark eyes, at her easy posture, and I remember the days after the woodshed, the wine stains on her blouses, the slump of her spine, the screaming behind closed doors.
“Yeah, I hope you’re right.”
The sliding doors open and Vince appears. My brother stands stiffly, a folder tucked under his arm. His suit is buttoned to the top and his jacket looks crisp despite him wearing it all day. Dark hair, light eyes. “Mom, you mind if I talk to Bass a second?”
“Business, I’m sure.” Mom winks at me and stands. “Check on the ribs for me, darling.”
“Yes, Mother.”
