Page 437 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

“Let’s go Sera,” Sabrina says, fed up.

A stillness sweeps the room.

I should probably stir.

Act like I’m waking.

The door opens for a second time.

Closes as they leave.

A few beats of silent tension pass.

“Momma, don’t look at me like that.

“C’mon. Take Ma to bed.”

She doesn’t say anything.

I hear no one take a step anywhere.

Andrew’s voice slides closer,

“Momma, ti voglio bene, okay?

“Prendi Ma. Take her to bed.”

I feel him now.

I feel the warmth of him as he crouches down behind me. I feel his touch when he pulls the blanket up to cover my back.

“You know we love her for you, right?” Paola whispers. “And we love having her here.”

Then Maria—“Certo che la amiamo. She comes in here with the big sad eyes and all this kitchen stuff—madonn’, come on. Ormai è una di noi. She is ours now.”

A chuckle slips out of him, and I feel him sit on the floor next to the couch.

“We’re not perfect, Andrew. God knows we’re not,” Paola says. “But we try.”

The recliner creaks when Maria’s lifted out of it. “Amore mio, we make mistakes. But Allison… she is loved here.”

“Lo so, okay? I know,” Andrew says. “I’m sorry I came in hot. Thank you. For bein’ there for her.”

Everything fades quiet after they leave.

I hear Andrew pick up the remote,

shuffle through movies.

He chooses Home Alone.

I wait five minutes before faking a stir by rolling over and facing the TV.

Andrew’s sitting on the floor with his back against the couch, one knee bent, the flames from the fireplace haloing the side of his face.

Having him this close again,

smelling him, feeling the heat of him,