She decided to wait a few minutes to see if her unsteadiness was just the shock of Gabe walking out on her before she tried to stand again. She didn’t know how her MS responded to stress. She imagined it wasn’t good for anybody and maybe especially for people with her diagnosis.
She sat there with her hands clasped, elbows on the table. It must have looked like she was praying. She probably should. In a few minutes, she’d be all right. She’d go back across the street and take a moment to lie down and rest before she told anybody else.
She imagined Gabe had tried to wrestle with this alone. He didn’t strike her as the type to confide in anyone. Or would he? Just about anyone in his family would listen. But she imagined that after talking to them, he’d probably offer to “do the right thing,” because it would be expected. That’snotwhat she wanted.
She took a couple more deep breaths and then pushed herself to her feet. Other than feeling a little numb, everything seemed fine until she tried zipping up her bomber jacket. She lost her balance and fell into another table. A couple of patrons jumped up and grabbed her.
“Are you all right?”
“Yeah. I’m fine,” Misty said. “I just need to make it across the street.”
“Do you need help?” one of the patrons asked. “You know…Narcan or something?”
She was shocked speechless. “No! I’m not drunk or on drugs. I’ll be fine.”
She took a few steps toward the door and paused. At that moment, the door flew open, and Gabriella rushed in.
“Misty! Honey, are you all right?”
“Did Gabe tell you?”
“Yes. He wanted to make sure you were okay, and I told him to stay right where he was. I can’t guarantee he’ll be there when we get back, but he’ll come to his senses. Don’t worry, honey.”
“There’s nothing wrong with his senses. I know what his problem is. It’s not a big deal. I can do this without him.”
Gabriella made some sound of disgust. “Let’s get you across the street. There’s no use talking about it here.”
The woman was a powerhouse. Despite being three inches shorter, she led Misty out of the restaurant with an arm firmly under her elbow, the other grasping her waist. They walked across the street that way. Misty was being lead as if she were blind. Maybe that was in her future too. Another lovely perk of MS.
The lights cooperated, and they got to the other side without incident. “If Gabe doesn’t want to talk yet, don’t make him,” Misty said.
“He’s a big boy. He can face all kinds of challenges. This included. And I don’t want you to let him off the hook. This is half of his doing.”
“I’m really not sure about that.”
Gabriella laughed. “You do know how sex works, don’t you?”
Why is everybody asking me that?
Antonio opened the door, and Misty walked up the steps, holding on to the railing just in case.
“Gabe?” Gabriella asked.
Antonio shook his head. “Not here.”
“Damn. I thought he’d man up and stick around.”
Misty straightened to her full height. “Just because he needs to think doesn’t make him any less of a man. In fact, maybe it’s a good thing he’s not here. I don’t want to talk to him while he’s upset.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Gabriella sighed. “He’s not particularly good with change at first, but he’ll adjust. He always does.”
Antonio closed the door behind them, then smiled at Misty. “I’m not sure what’s going on, but I take it my fourth son has something to do with it.”
“I don’t want his whole life to change. If he doesn’t want to be a dad, he doesn’t have to. There are plenty of men who are biological fathers and nothing more.”
“Oh no.” Gabriella shook her head hard. “No son of mine is going to be just a ‘biological father.’”
Antonio’s brows shot up. He looked shocked for a moment. His expression returned to a gentle smile quickly enough.
