I never liked going in here. It felt sacred and forbidden. This is where Nonna used to cry. Whenever she got off the phone with Aunt Rita, she would come in here, close the door, and play Elvis. I could hear her crying over The King’s voice. Sometimes she cried over the people she lost—her friends, her husband, her children. It had to be lonely for her. That’s why I came by every day.
I should’ve been enough. Why did she need a dog and Jenny? I’d always been enough in the past, hadn’t I?
The drawer Izzy referred to has two envelopes on top. I also know better than to go snooping around Nonna’s stuff. Get what you need and don’t ask any questions.
I leave Alana’s letter alone—earned respect and fear keep me from opening it. Jenny, however, hasn’t earned that right.
Heading back to my room, I use the steamer I used on my shirts to unseal the envelope.
“My Sweet Jenny,”
My heart sinks. This isn’t a letter she wrote to the dog walker about which food Kingston eats or when to take him to the doctor… vet. Animals go to the vet.
My Sweet Jenny,
The past couple of years, you’ve been the brightest spot in my otherwise dark days. I am heading toward the final years of my life, but between you and Kingston, they have been filled with joy and laughter.
For too long, you’ve hidden your true self from the world. Let others see you the way I do. Chaotic joy. Thank you for the laughter and listening over tea and cookies. I’ll be sure to bring you back something sweet.
All my love
* * *
Who is this woman?
When I came back to Nonna’s house earlier tonight, the dog greeted me at the door, his mouth wide open and his little tail curled into a tight little circle. He doesn’t wag it like most dogs. Figures I would get stuck with a defective one. Still, when he opens his mouth, he does look like he’s smiling. Weird to have someone who doesn’t even know me be happy to see me. It won’t last long.
I pushed past him and walked through the house. He followed at my heels. Jenny did say he was a companion dog. But I’m not looking for a companion. At least, not one that requires work to keep alive.
I left him on his guard perch in the kitchen and watered the spider plant. Since it’s been in my care for a couple of hours, and I’m proud to say it’s still alive, I have a little hope I can keep the four-legger on this side of life, too.
Thiago calls to me from downstairs, pulling me from wondering more about Kingston and his dog walker. “Hey, I’m going to go through Nonna’s pantry.”
“We aren’t supposed to take anything.”
“It’s for the girls,” Thiago retorts. “We have a deadline in two weeks for the pet simulator to be launched.”
Thiago runs a gaming company, and all of his employees are survivors of sex trafficking. He teaches them how to code or do some other aspect of the design or business. They get free housing, are taught in-demand skills, and earn a nice paycheck. They do have to pay for their food, though. Which he’s been supplementing whenever he can. The entire operation is very un-Mafia.
He doesn’t have the heart of a killer. I honestly think he’s been searching for a way out of the Four Families for a while. Crime is only a tiny part of his income. Logically, he should get away and focus on building a better life for his employees and family.
“Are you going to use twenty-eight ounces of oregano?”
“Take it,” I yell as I put my arms through the sleeves. My phone goes off one more time.
Dimitri: Looks like the girls are having fun. Katya sent me a picture. Wanna see?
I don’t know why he asks. He’s already attached it to his message.
I have to blink twice at it. Because there’s a certain blue-haired dog walker sitting next to my cousin. Are they all friends? What’s happening here?
Uri: Who’s the new girl?
I’m about to answer, but Dimitri beats me to it.
Dimitri: I think that’s Jenny.
Me: You met the dog walker too? Shit, does everyone know her?
