I’d gone into prison a kid and came out the age of an adult, but I’d never felt like one until now. My record didn’t define me, but it had left lingering effects.
I slept under two blankets at my apartment on frigid nights because I still could never shut the windows no matter how cold it was outside. Small, enclosed spaces still bothered me, and I still had trouble visiting the old neighborhood where it all happened. When old friends asked to hang out, I would ask to meet them somewhere else where I was able to enjoy their company, not contemplate what I’d destroyed.
The specters of my past and the guilt I carried were permanent. All I could do was learn how to not trip over them in the present.
“This is a nice place!”TitiSofia mused when we met her at Blystone’s front door. She kissed Victoria’s cheek before clobbering me with a hug.
“Happy birthday, Anthony.”
“Happy birthday, little cousin.” Mari whispered as she wrapped her arms around me from behind.
“Thank you, but can we not be weird and sappy in front of my girlfriend’s family and my boss?”
They each smacked my chest when they pulled away.
“Drew had to work, and all the kids are with babysitters so we can have some peace tonight,” Victoria told us before handing out menus. “Mom is in the kitchen, but Josh and Bri should be here any minute.”
“The kids aren’t coming?” I frowned as I sat down.
“They can climb all over you at the house this weekend. Poor Bruce thinks you’re the coolest guy in the world.”
“That’s because I am.” I wrapped my arm around her. “And DeDe almost likes me, I think.”
“I guess my sister and I have a type.” Victoria propped her elbow on the table, lifting a brow as she rested her head on her hand. “Brooding, tatted-up, and cranky.”
“I’m not cranky.”
“Right,” my aunt and cousin said at the same time.
“It’s my birthday, so you have to be nice to me.Allof you.” I reached under the table to pinch Victoria’s thigh.
“Sorry, we’re late. Traffic was brutal,” Josh said before he introduced himself to my family.
“Where’s Brianna?” I asked.
Josh glanced around the table with a wide grin splitting his mouth.
“Bringing your present in.”
“My present?” I choked out a laugh. “It’s that big?”
“Happy birthday, Anthony.”
My head whipped around toward my mother’s voice. I shot up on instinct, blinking a few times to make sure I wasn’t imagining her standing there in front of Brianna. She looked mostly the same. Her blonde hair had more white in it, and I noticed a few more lines around her tired eyes, but they were bright this time. Not filled with tearful worry like they were when the guards had cuffed me and led me back to my cell on her last visit. Relief and pride drifted across her features when she fell into my arms.
“How?” I croaked out as she cried into my shoulder. My surroundings blurred as I bent to lean into the crook of her neck.
“Were you always this short, Ma?”
She pushed against my chest, laughing as she first wiped her cheeks and then mine. Nothing like weeping like a baby in front of everyone on your birthday.
“Yes, but you got bigger.” She clutched my biceps. “And all these muscles.Dios mío!What are you eating?”
I chuckled and covered my eyes.
“I grew up, I guess. Grew, anyway.”
“You did. You look so good!” She framed my face, her smile souring when she noticed the tattoo on my neck. “I heard you inked yourself up.”
