Willow shakes her head, those perfect lips still clamped shut. She manages to squeak out, “No, uh, not at all.”
Ma looks back to me, her face brightening with happiness. “Benny, your father went to thedoctora while back,” she puts such a strong emphasis on the word doctor that I immediately understand what she means. “He had some tests done to make sure he was in good health…”
“I got Viagra,” he says bluntly, pointing down to his lap. “You just happened to walk in during our maiden voyage.”
“Pops.” I nearly scream it. I don’t know how much more of this I can take, but then it hits me.
Ma’s trying to tell me that Pops is okay. I look to her for assurance. “So, that was all about this?” I put my hand out palm up, and then I raise just my index finger nice and slow, to imitate a growing erection. “Everything is okay?”
“Everything is great,” Ma assures me.
“I’m not so sure it’s great.” Pops frowns and fidgets in his seat. “Does anyone know how to turn this thing off?”
“Pops.” I rub my face so hard I hope my eyes get ripped out of my head so I can’t see my dad squirming around because his dick won’t get soft.
I hear Willow giggle beside me. “Honestly,” she says, “if having your son walk in on you doesn’t do the job, I don’t know what would.”
I turn to Willow, and both my parents stare at her. Then, like someone clicked a switch, all four of us burst out into laughter. Ma slaps the table to hold up her weight, and my father looks like he’s actually in pain, which he probably is.
Willow wipes tears from her red cheeks, she’s laughing so hard, and I have to get up and pace the room because I give myself the hiccups from lack of air.
Finally, when we all calm down, Ma comes around the table and hugs Willow’s shoulders. “Well, welcome to the family, Willow. After all this, I think you’re officially a Bianchi.”
By the time Pops’s hard-on decides to make a graceful exit, it’s nearly ten o’clock. Willow and Ma are upstairs looking at something Ma’s sewing. I’m in the kitchen with my pops alone, thankful that he can stand and walk without having to follow his erection around.
“So, Pops,” I say. “You had Ma worried as hell. Everything check out with the doctor?”
Mario nods. “Because of my age, my local doctor wanted some special heart tests. Then those people sent me to urology, and it just went on from there. Anybody and everybody got a look at my junk before they’d put me on any medicine to help in that department.” Pops shrugs. “I guess it’s a good thing, but I had more people with their hands down my pants than I did when I was single.”
I groan, but Pops continues.
“Clean bill of health. A starter dose of some meds to help me in the bedroom, and we’ll see if things improve. Although…” he looks at me, lifting a thick silver brow. “Nothing kills the mood quite like your son and his new girlfriend walking in on the fun. I may have to take a double dose next time.”
“Please, God. Pops, can you not? I’m thrilled you’re okay, but I never, ever want to get this close to your sex life again.”
“You know, son, if it weren’t for your mother and I having such a great time in the bedroom, we wouldn’t have made four kids.”
“Pops, I don’t thinkmyheart is healthy enough for this kind of stress.” I shake my head and breathe a deep sigh of relief when he changes the subject.
“So, Willow…” he says. “It’s been a long time since you brought a woman home to your parents. Is it serious? I didn’t even know you were seeing anyone.”
I don’t know how to answer his questions, but I do what I always do with my folks. I tell the truth. “She’s amazing,” I say, not able to stop a grin from covering my face. “She’s brilliant and funny. I learned today she’s incredibly resilient.”
I glare at Pops, and he chuckles.
“We’ve known each other a couple months, but she’s only in Star Falls a short time.”
Pops’s smile fades away. “How short?”
I shrug. “A year, tops.”
Mario claps a hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry. Where does she live full time?” he asks. “Would long-distance be an option?”
I shrug again. “There’s a little more,” I tell him. I explain the age gap. The fact that she doesn’t want to have kids. That her business might put mine out of business.
“And yet, you brought her here,” Pops says. “To meet us. She means something to you, Benny.”
I nod. “I think so.”
