“Yeah.”
“Well, you aren’t the only one who thinks that.”
When the realization hit him, he gave a sad kind of nod. “I see.”
I shared everything she’d revealed to me that night. Now I was at a crossroads, loving Sofia for the way she treated me, but also disappointed she could neglect her daughter, who needed her more than ever.
Constantine took a second to absorb all that information. He stepped away and paced the room for a few minutes, arms across his chest, his features hardened in their focus. “I said I was the favorite because of the way she would call and overfeed me and light up every time I entered the room. I didn’t realize all of this was happening with Beatrice.” He took a seat on the couch. “I wasn’t there when that asshole took off. Wasn’t there for the divorce. For any of it. So ... I just missed it all.”
“Yeah, I can see that.”
“Kinda disappointed in my mother, to be honest.”
I moved to the spot beside him. “I was surprised too.”
He was quiet for a while as he relaxed on the couch. A moment later, Medusa came back down the stairs, looked at us with that pissed-off stare, and then gave a quiet whine that clearly saidI’m ready for bed.
Constantine gave a quiet chuckle. “All right, baby girl. We’re coming.”
Medusa turned and headed back up the stairs.
“Wish kids liked going to bed like that.”
He gave a slight smile before he gripped my thigh and gave it a squeeze. “We’re going to have a sleepless eighteen years. I’m sure this kid will give me hell as karma, because I was a nightmare for my mother.”
“Nothing we can’t handle.”
He patted my thigh before he got to his feet. “I’ll have a conversation with my mother and get this sorted. But for now, let’s go to bed.”
Chapter 23
Constantine
I texted my mother and told her I was going to swing by. Gave her as little notice as possible. Otherwise, she would bake a lasagna, a full loaf of bread, make a green salad and an entire tray of cannoli, and expect me to eat all of it in a single sitting.
She opened the door for me, greeted me with a warm hug and a kiss, and invited me into her kitchen. “Are you hungry, baby?”
“No, I’m good, Ma.” I took a seat at the dining table.
As if she hadn’t heard me, she pulled a tray covered in foil from the oven and set it on the counter.
How did she pull that off?
“I had a frozen eggplant parmesan in the freezer.” She removed the foil cover and carried the dish to the dining table, placing it on a trivet in the center. Steam wafted from the dish, and it smelled like fresh tomatoes and breadcrumbs.
There was no such thing as not being hungry in this house.
She brought two plates and silverware and set the table. “Wine?”
“Sure.” I wasn’t going to fight it.
She uncorked a bottle and filled the two glasses before she served me a piece and then herself. “So how are you, baby?”
“Good, good.”
“How’s Aurelia?”
“The doctor said everything is going smoothly.”
