She turns her attention to Andrew, waiting for him to answer. He stumbles, not knowing how much to share, so I chime in. “He’s been trying to sort through some things. He’ll have to tell you more when he wakes up, but I think he’s going to be just fine.”
Cara smiles at me over the brim of her wine glass. When I shrug, she winks to let me know I handled the situation well. Perhaps I should be upset that she makes me feel like her son rather than her sibling, but I’m quickly realizing that I never spent time learning how to interact with others without all the fake bullshit. In our home, everything’s about being politically correct and proper, but surrounded by Andrew’s family I’m left a bit unsettled. The only thing they ask of anyone is the truth.
“It seems you listened to this crazy old woman’s advice,” Mama whispers in my ear as I pile spaghetti onto the plate. I look down at the food and then to her, wondering why something so simple would earn her praise. Even in their made-for-television family, it seems a bit extreme. “Not that, you foolish boy. I mean it seems you’ve removed your head for your backside when it comes to Dominic.”
“I’m trying,” I promise her. “Sometimes I think I fuck up more than I help, but you helped me see that he’s worth the fight.”
Mama and Nona follow me into the kitchen and I hear Andrew and his older brother wish me luck with the two of them. Those guys don’t realize how lucky they are to have a mother who may be meddlesome, but uses that power for good instead of evil.
“Tony, I’m going to tell you something similar to what I told Dominic years ago,” Nona begins. She’s a frail old woman, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t scare the shit out of me. She’s the type of woman who likely compensates for her stature by reaching for whatever’s close that can be used as a weapon.
I stop wrapping Dom’s plate to give her my undivided attention. “Sometimes in life, we’re faced with difficult decisions. There are truths that make us question everything we once knew. What makes you a success in life isn’t what is or is not, but rather whether or not you can face those truths with grace. I get the feeling there are things most people do not know about you, and those who claim to love you may shun you when you stand up for yourself. The Rossi family does not operate that way. You are Cara’s brother and because you’re her family, you’re our family. Whatever anyone else thinks is unimportant as long as you surround yourself with love.”
I’ll be damned if the old woman’s speech doesn’t leave me a bit teary eyed. I wrap an arm around each of them, thanking them for the gift they’ve given me today. Between Dom and me, I’m beginning to feel like we’re meant to be the subject of a fucking Lifetime movie.
“Ma, let the poor man come and eat,” Gus yells from the dining room. All of his children burst out laughing and the sappy, tender moment disappears.
“Thank you,” I say to Nona as she kisses both of my cheeks.
“My son is right. We need to fatten you up a bit,” she chides, pinching my sides. “Our Dominic needs a man who can keep him warm at night, not this bundle of skin and bones.”
“Hey now,” I protest. The women lead the way to the dining room, where everyone is snickering at Nona’s criticism of my physique. “I’ll have you know I try to spend an hour at the gym after work every night and my grocery bill would say I’m not going to starve any time soon.”
Nona gives me one last hug before sitting and I’m taken aback by how lighthearted the mood is. It makes me wish my own family would take some lessons from the Rossis.
“Don’t mind her, Tony,” Andrew proclaims. “We all know you’re a chiseled god under those clothes, but Nona thinks everyone needs a healthy layer of insulation to get through the winter.”
“Good to know,” I respond.
Serving dishes start getting passed around the table in every direction and, more than once, someone’s left holding two dishes with a third being handed to them and everyone laughs at the chaos. The raucous conversation continues while everyone eats, and I’m not sure how any of them manage to follow what’s being said. As plates empty, Mama and Nona push seconds and thirds on everyone, determined to not have anything leftover.
It’s not until the women are clearing the table that Dom walks out of the bedroom, bleary eyed with his hair sticking out all over the place. “You should have told me it was time to get up,” he pouts. Mama and Nona rush over to inspect him, making sure we weren’t lying when we said he’s physically fine.
“Tony tried, but he finally gave up the fight,” Mama informs him. “From the looks of you, I’m tempted to shove you back into that bed for the night. You look tired.”
Dom’s shoulders slump at the observation. If she thinks he looks bad now, I’m thankful she wasn’t here earlier. There are still dark circles beneath his eyes and the color hasn’t fully returned to his skin but he does look more rested than before.
“I’m fine, Mama. It’s been a rough few days, but between Andrew, Cara, and Tony, I think it’ll all be okay.” My chest puffs out a bit hearing that Dom is including me in the group of people who will be able to help him heal. “Honestly, I think I’m going to need all of you. Can we move to the living room so I don’t feel like you’re all hovering over me?”
“Of course, Dominic. Let me warm your dinner and I’ll be right there.” Dom leans into her hand when she caresses his cheek. I haven’t heard him talk much about his family, but it seems I’m not the only one who wishes the Rossi family was the one he was born into.
“Mama, you go sit. I’ll get his dinner,” I tell her. All eyes snap to me, surprised by my offer. As far as I’m concerned, I made a promise to Andrew’s mother that I would take care of Dom if he’d let me and I fully intend to show everyone that I’m a man of my word. “Dom, do you want something to drink?”
“Coffee would be great if there’s a pot brewed. Otherwise, water will be fine.” Before following the rest of the family to sit around the fireplace, Dom reaches for my hand. “Thank you, Tony.”
Knowing what Dom is about to do, I need to figure out how I can show him that I’m here for whatever he needs from me. The pain must have been buried deep if he tried to keep it from his best friend for all these years, and that means it’s going to be hard for him to finally face. But he needs to realize that he’s not doing this alone.
The entire condo is filled with laughter as I stand in the kitchen willing the coffee to brew faster. Dom strikes me as the type who would be fine with a glass of water and wouldn’t want anyone going out of their way for him, but that’s just one more thing that’s going to change.
When I look at Dom, I see a man who’s scared to let anyone get too close for fear of them leaving him and adding to the scars on his heart. He’s right when he says that he’s damaged, but that means he needs to learn to rely on people that much more and I want to be the one to take care of him. I’ll dig and dig until I find a way to protect him.
There’s a good chance I’ll wake up a little over a week from now regretting how much I’m allowing myself to get attached to Dom, but I’ll deal with that when the time comes. With the way just about everyone in my life seems to think our meeting is some sort of cosmic fate, I figure it won’t hurt too much to see what happens.
* * *
Dom
Tony walksinto the living room carrying a plate heaping with food and a steaming cup of coffee. He didn’t have to make it just for me, but as wiped out as I still feel, I’m grateful that he did. I slide closer to Andrew on the couch to make room for Tony because I need him next to me. When he sits, his hand lands mindlessly on my leg and he jerks it away. Noticing his uncertainty, I reach out to him because I’m quickly becoming addicted to the slight weight of his hand on my body.
