Joey waits until she walks away to say, “I’m sorry, Mom.”
“Don’t stress too much, sweetheart, we’ll get things worked out.”Therapy might be in his future to help work through everything that’s happened to him.Especially after our run-in with his father.“Now, who’s ready for Rusty’s Pizzeria?”The girls cheer loudly; Joey perks up but isn’t overly enthusiastic.
Piling into the car, everyone gets buckled up before we quickly run home to drop off our school bags, then change into something more comfortable.After switching into different shoes, I drop onto the couch, my body aching and screaming for sleep; nonetheless, I refuse to cancel plans with the kids being so excited.
We have an hour before we’re supposed to meet Carmine, so I close my eyes, hoping to relax for a few minutes.Before I know it, someone gently shakes my shoulder, and I can hear a light whispering.
“Mom, are we still going?”Kylie’s timid tone makes me blink awake, looking around, feeling disoriented.
“What time is it?”My voice cracks from my dry mouth.
“Six,” Joey replies, his concern making me groan.
“Sorry, guys.Guess I was more tired than I thought.Is everyone ready?”They each nod, their shoes and sweaters on.“Okay, great, just wait at the door.”I bite my cheek to stifle a moan as my body protests.The tightness in my back is much worse than when we got home.
Slowly, but as quickly as I can, I’m on my feet.Kylie holds my purse, while Joey has the car keys.
“I’ll buckle Emma in,” he offers, obviously noticing my unease.
“That’d be great, buddy, thank you.”
Kylie helps Em down the flights of stairs while I lock the door, and Joey sticks close to me until we’re in the lobby.I’m out of breath, stiff, and wishing just to sleep, but I push on.My body protests with every step, until I’m slumped against the side of the car as Joey helps Emma into her seat and buckles her up.After making sure everything is in place, I move to the driver’s seat and take a couple of minutes to regain my energy while Joey and Kylie settle in.
“Ready, Mom!”Kylie claps, jolting me.
I snap in my own seatbelt, start the car, and we’re on our way.We’re late by twenty minutes, and I grind a hole through my teeth so I don’t pass out from the pain, but we finally park while Carmine paces in front of the building.Dragging my purse into my lap, I dig out some Tylenol that will hopefully help me get through the evening.
“It’s Mr.Carmine!”Kylie cheers as she unstraps and stands up between the front seats before helping Emma unbuckle.
“Should we go home?”Joey asks as he opens my door from the outside.The girls remain in the back until I’m on my feet.
“Nope.You guys deserve a fun-filled evening.I’ll rest when we get home.”Forcing a smile on my face, he gives me the same look he does when he knows I’m not being completely honest.But he doesn’t push, and I’m grateful.
“Noa.”Carmine’s growl from behind me lights up all the parts of my body that pine for him.“What’s wrong?”The heat of his hand on my back soothes so much that my knees nearly give out.
“Just some soreness.I’m fine.”The lie slips out easily.
Too bad he reads through it.
“You’re lying to me,” he whispers in my ear as the kids help each other out of the car.“I’m going to let it go for now, but inside, you’ll spill.”
“Dad?”A female voice joins the conversation, and suddenly I feel frumpy watching his middle daughter, Aura, approach us.I only know it’s her from pictures Odette showed me in the past.“I guess now I know why you said this place.”A slight smile curves her lips as she takes in how her father holds me with a hand on my back and the other supporting my arm.
“Aura, this is Noa and her children, Joey, Kylie, and Emma.Everyone, this is my middle daughter, Aura.I hope it was alright to invite her.”His eyes meet mine, and I get the feeling he doesn’t concern himself with others' feelings often.
“Of course.Aura, it’s nice to meet you.Odette has told me a lot about you.”We shake hands, and her eyes pin on what she has now noticed, my pregnant belly.
“I have not heard a thing about you.”That stings a bit, but when I catch the look she’s leveled at Carmine, I realize it’s a jab at her father.“But today is a day of firsts, so tell me, who wants to go play whack-a-mole?”Joey and Emma stick to me like glue, but Kylie jumps up and down and looks to me for permission.I give it to her, so she takes Aura’s hand, and they skip into the restaurant together.
“Joey, could you keep hold of Emma’s hand while I help your mom?”Carmine asks.
Emma cuddles into Joey’s side, something she does when she’s nervous, so I figure she senses the tension between Carmine and Aura, as well as from me.
“Mom?”Joey’s hand slips into mine, and I’m brought back to when he was four and his dad was on a bender.I’d come over to bring everyone dinner on a rare day off from school.Joey and Kylie would hide behind me until our mom could calm the older man down.It took hours.
“Yeah, buddy.It’s okay, just keep hold of her and stay close, please.”He nods, and they start walking as my back spasms again.
Carmine takes my weight, cursing under his breath.“Why didn’t you call and cancel tonight?I could have come over and taken care of you guys.”
