My mother turns back to my dad. “Lorenzo, I knew you would either lie or be cruel. But now that you know the truth about Giovanna’s paternity, and she is safely out of the house and under Tommy’s protection, I’m leaving you.”
She drops the bomb lightly, like she’s suggesting they get Chinese food on the way home.
“What?” My father pales, jerking his gaze to hers. “Why?”
“Oh Lorenzo. I know you’re only worried because you know that I have a controlling stake in the businesses, and most of the money is mine. Don’t worry, dear. I’ll take care of you in the manner to which you’ve become accustomed. You are the father of my child.” She heads to the door, deftly stepping over Una’s body. “Well, maybe not quite the manner to which you’ve become accustomed. But you never fuck me, and I’m not interested in supporting all your other dependents, so you’ll take what I give you and like it.”
My father rises abruptly, knocking over the counter stool.
My mom wags her fingers at me. “I love you, baby. If you need anything, let me know, but right now, I think your man requires your attention.”
58
Tommy
Twins.
Finding out Berto was the rapist.
Finding out Una orchestrated it all.
Hearing Aurelio was father to us both, then learning that was a lie.
Watching her mother kill Una.
Watching her mother leave her father.
My girl’s been running on pure adrenaline for more than 24 hours, her nerves stretched thin as wire. As soon as I finish doing what I can to relieve her stress in the bedroom, I send for Dr. Rossi.
He moves the ultrasound wand across her stomach and studies the screen. When the steady thrum of two heartbeats fills the quiet, my lungs finally start to work again.
The heartbeats are strong, and as soon as Gi sees that they’re okay, she settles back on the couch, exhausted, closing her eyes.
I keep my eyes glued to the screen. “Show me who is who?” I swear it looks like a mass of gray blobs oozing together and apart randomly, like a lava lamp.
“Here is your little girl.” Dr. Rossi moves the wand and taps the screen. “This is your little boy.”
Yeah, I still don’t see it, but I nod, glad that he does.
Giovanna lifts up suddenly on her elbows. “I’ve made a decision.”
My brow furrows. “About the babies?” I squint and tilt my head at the screen like it’s an optical illusion to see if that helps me see them. It doesn’t.
“When we were together, you always slept inside me; you were either behind me or under me. But when I came back, you didn’t do that.”
“Baby, I just wanted to respect—”
“It’s okay,” she says, cutting me off with a dismissive wave. “The point is that after you rescued me, I stayed awake for hours at night staring at your back tattoo. I used to trace the tree split open by the lightning bolt to help me go to sleep. After awhile, I began to feel like it represented me, what I went through. Iamthat tree. Or I was. Fragile, vulnerable. The lightning is what happened to me, but it’s also what I realized about myself afterward: I am not my trauma. I own it, but it is not who I am.”
I nod, but I’m not sure where this is going. Dr. Rossi hands me a towel to clean the jelly off her belly, and I take it, gently wiping her bump.
Gi continues. “I’m not my father’s daughter. Tommy, I’m not even your girl. I’m my own person. I spent a year traveling and figuring that out after I left Antonio. I thought that kidnapping ruined all my progress, but it didn’t. It solidified it. I am whole again. That old vulnerable me is gone. I am stronger now.”
“You are, Gi,” I say, swallowing hard. She’s been through so much, and I’m so proud of her. And now, she’s carrying our babies. She’s fucking amazing.
“I want a variation of that tree on my back, Tommy. I want the spindly tree split open on the bottom and a strong oak tree growing out of it. That’s what I am now.” She puts my hand on her belly and smiles. “And instead of one lightning bolt, I want three.”
“You want me to carve all that into your back and make it scar?” My heart melts for this woman. She’s fucking perfect. The love of my life, the mother of my children, and now she wants me to scar her, marking her so that the world will see that she’s mine. Forever mine. “I can do that for you, sweet girl.” I can barely choke the words out.
