“Evie.” She opened her arms and hugged Evie warmly.
“I’m Giovanna,” she said as she stepped back and looked at me. “And this gorgeous bug must be baby Vincent. Grandpa would have loved his namesake.”
She and Evie sat on the other side of the booth, side by side, and chatted.
The family resemblance was strong. Both had dark hair, pouty lips, and expressive dark eyes.
But where Evie was soft, vibrant, and lively, Giovanna was hard, cold, and impassive.
As time went on, Evie’s posture relaxed, like she was feeling more comfortable. She missed her sister, so I was thankful she hadn’t chosen to bail on this visit.
Giovanna hadn’t asked to hold Vincent, and though they’d both seemed to settle well into the conversation, there was still this standoffish distance between them.
It was so foreign to me. My own family was overwhelming and effusive. Especially my sisters. But even Josh had recently shocked me with his openness.
After about ten minutes, the air in the restaurant changed. There was a drop in pressure. A cold shift I couldn’t explain. Theroom suddenly felt wrong,and all my first responder instincts kicked in.
Holding Vincent to my chest protectively, I scanned our surroundings. Quickly, I zeroed in on a newcomer.
The man was in his early sixties, tall and heavyset, with a graying combover and a very fancy watch that he checked as he walked our way. He had that performative kind of authority.
I didn’t need an introduction. I knew.
“Two of my daughters in one place,” he said, his tone harsh. “What a happy coincidence.”
Every muscle in Evie’s body clenched, and Vincent began to fuss in my arms, like he could sense his mama’s distress.
Quickly, I found a binkie and rocked my little guy against my chest, making soothing shushing sounds.
All the color drained from Giovanna’s face as she turned and gave her father a fake smile. “Hi, Dad. We were just catching up.”
“You shouldn’t be here,” Evie said softly.
“Nonsense.” He pulled up a chair, making himself at home at the end of our table. “Why wouldn’t a father be able to visit his daughter?”
The smile he directed at her was wrong. Full of practiced warmth, with edges as sharp as glass. His eyes roamed over Evie, then Vincent, and then me.
“You finally convinced someone to settle for you, I see. Congratulations.”
The words landed heavily, like a blow to the gut. My instincts only grew stronger, my blood running hot and my brain screaming at me to pick this motherfucker up and throw him out of here.
I’d fought fires and rescued people from floods and car accidents. Helped men who were cornered and desperate and scared. I could read danger. But this was an entirely differentkind of danger. Psychological rather than physical. This man killed with words and enjoyed it.
“You couldn’t even tell me my grandson was visiting New York,” he said. “Giovanna had to be the one to fill me in. Really, Evangelina.” He gave her a disdainful look. “You never had any sense of propriety or gratitude.”
At the same moment Evie flinched, my jaw locked tight. It took all my strength not to jump up and tell this guy that he wasn’t allowed to speak to her like that. But I waited, sensing not just fear in Evie. This other emotion was stronger, fiercer, as it rose up inside her.
“You don’t get to do this anymore,” she said calmly, her head held high.
He scoffed. “There it is. The dramatics. You’ve always been good at making yourself a victim, haven’t you?” He shook his head. “If you would have listened to me, done what I told you, you wouldn’t have ended up with a bastard child like this.”
Evie was shaking, her eyes flashing with rage. Still, I waited, giving her a chance to stand up for herself. Knowing it was in her to do it.
“For years, I took your abuse.,” she finally said. “Believed you when you told me I was the problem. I beat myself up for every misstep and every failure. Eventually, though, I realized that you’re nothing but an abusive little man who destroys others to make himself feel good.”
Pride unfurled in my chest. Her rage, her clear controlled anger, was long overdue. Now, though, strength radiated from her body.
The bastard’s mouth curled in a humorless smile. “Abuse? It’s called fatherly love,” he spat. “All I wanted was for you to be your best. To actually amount to something, you ungrateful brat. And after all I did for you, all I paid for, you’re still nothing more than a disappointment.”
