Bellissimo Fortuna (Beautiful Fortune) (23 page)

She is waiting for me. “Well I live in Miami still and have been coming up as much as I can when mom has him. I do want to be able to keep him on weekends once I get my condo kid-proofed. We can meet halfway on Fridays if that works. Also, I want to start paying something for his care.”

“Not every weekend. When I start working weekends will be my only time with him, so we can alternate. As for money, just add him to your insurance.”

“You don’t have medical insurance for him? What the hell, Callie? What are you thinking? As for the every weekend, you owe me. You stole the first eleven months from me.”

“You self-righteous son of a bitch. I didn’t steal anything from you. I made the best choices I could at the time. Sorry that you are too hardheaded to listen to the reasons. No, I don’t have a job, and I have very little money, so I don’t have insurance for him but if he was sick I would make sure he got medical attention.”

“How? How would you make sure he is taken care of when you just said you can’t afford insurance so you damn sure couldn’t afford a hospital bill?”

“Maybe my high price hooking could come in handy. You ass, for my son I would do whatever I had to. The money that hasn’t been seized is available for me so I would use it if it was for Angelo.”

“No way. That man’s money isn’t going to be used to take care of my son. I’ll call the office and add him to my insurance. Do you know what I’ll need?”

She looks down. “That’s another thing we need to work on. You’re not listed on his birth certificate.”

“What?” I’m livid now. I would never deny him.

“It was all done at a private hospital. I’m lucky my name was on there seeing as how I was using an alias.”

“Convenient. So what you are telling me is I have no legal rights to him?”

“I’ve never denied you access to him. Since I’ve come home the priority was for a relationship between the two of you.”

“Get me whatever I have to fill out to have my name added. Let me know if you need anything else. For now, let’s keep things the way they are, and I’ll let you know when I have things settled for my weekends with him.”

That went well. I can’t believe she didn’t think any of this through. I’m not on the birth certificate. That kills me. I should have been there, signing my signature proudly, not being added as an afterthought. I call my mom and ask her where to order baby shit, and she assures me she will handle it. Then the guilt hits me because it only takes me one phone call to get what I need and this whole time she has been doing it on her own without all the resources I have. No wonder she looks exhausted. Just after a few hours with Angelo, I know he can wear you out. I don’t know how she will handle it with working full-time. I have to find a way to get over this anger and do the right thing. Love isn’t something you can flick on and off like a light switch but I have been trying. Flicking love off and substituting it for another emotion . . . hatred, but I can’t fully commit to that either because Callie Locati will never be someone I can truly hate. I’m the guy whose ass I would have kicked back in the day for treating her so badly.

Angelo’s birthday party goes off without a hitch, and Callie allowed my mom to host it at her house and organize it all. I asked her not to mention it had been my idea, and I was the one footing the bill. He took his first steps the night before, and luckily, both of us had been present for it. She was picking him up after a day of interviews, and I was getting in for the weekend. I have no idea who he was trying to get to because all he kept saying was, “Ma-da-ba-ma-da.” Callie swore it was her since “ma” was first, but we laughed over it. Truly bonding over an experience with our son. I felt a sharp pain in my chest when I remembered it should have always been like that.

She had given me the paper work for insurance, and it included a birth certificate with my name on it. “How?”

“Once you signed the affidavit, I had it expedited. You needed this, and I am sorry I didn’t realize how important it would have been to you.”

“How’d you afford this? Let me pay you back.”

“No, it’s my gift for you. An olive branch of sorts. I won’t be splurging on steak and lobster, but I’ll be fine.” She gives me the paperwork and announces it’s time to leave. I figured Angelo would spend the night, but she was packing him up.

“He’s not staying?”

“Um, I didn’t think about that. Can I just bring him over when he gets up in the morning?”

“Just let him stay,” it makes more sense.

“Okay,” her voice is breaking. “I’ll get him tomorrow. Just let me know when y’all are done with breakfast.” I watch her walk out the door, looking bereft.

“Idiot,” my mom whispers in my ear.

“What? I thought I was being helpful.”

“Men,” she mutters. “That girl didn’t want to leave her baby but she was too afraid of starting another fight with you. She is doing everything she can to appease you and you are taking advantage of that. No mom wants to be away from her baby on his birthday. Can you remember one time I let you stay gone all night on your birthday? On any holiday?”

“I’m fucking up all around, huh?”

“Use that language in my house again and I’ll tear your butt up. When your son repeats that nasty word Callie will have your testicles and then no more bambinos for you. Fix it, son. Let it go. Hear her out. Let us hear her out, and then let’s mend it. Mend her. She is the most broken of us all. We’ve had each other. She’s only had herself. No matter the reasoning, when she was gone she lost a lot more than we ever did. Her whole life she has taken the shit handed to her, kept letting people pile more and more on her, but you . . . she adored and there was a point after your father she took all your shit too. Everyone has their point and I think she is at hers.”

I kiss her on the cheek. “Thanks.” She helps me pack up Angelo’s things and I drive the short distance to the beach. She is sitting outside on the porch staring at the moon and stars looking just like she did when she stole my heart. Her expression is sad, yet hopeful and her beauty makes my heart skip a beat.

“Hey,” I call.

I startle her, “What?”

“I brought you a delivery. From the smell of it he could use a diaper change.” I see her grin from her and it lights up her whole face.

“Thank you. How’d you know?”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Sometimes it’s just easier not to argue with you.” I never want her to suppress herself with me.

“I know. I’ll do better.” I meet her gaze and mean those words with all that I am. Her silent nod is all I get, and for now I’ll take her hesitation in regards to me. Seeing her carry our son over her threshold makes me ache with longing to be able to follow them inside for the night. Instead, I get in my car and drive home for the night.

Chapter 28

Callie

Calm. That’s the only way I can describe these last few months. Bronson has kept his word, not bickering with me over every little thing. I still can’t find a job teaching, so I had to take a job waitressing. Gianna has offered me money, but I refuse. My family home sold, and I signed it all over to my mom, moved her to a condo fifty miles away, and washed my hands of her. She wasn’t ready to get sober and pretty much disowned me years ago. She has plenty of money, and I’m done helping those who don’t want my help. The weekends Angelo spends in Miami are the hardest. Too much silence, too much time to reflect on where it went wrong. I try to pick up extra shifts, but they didn’t need me tonight, so now I find Bianca sitting across from me with a few bottles of wine empty, and our conversation flowing.

“So you mean to tell me the entire time you were gone there was never anyone else?”

“Never.”

“Are you going to tell me what happened?”

“In time. Please understand.”

“I do, but he doesn’t deserve it. It’s been almost six months, and he still hasn’t given you the chance. You co-exist around one another and raise your child separate.”

“It’s what he wants, I hurt him.”

She rolls her eyes, “Yeah, because he was the only one hurt in all this. You’ve always been blind to his wrong doings.”

“No, I just used to overlook them. I am annoyed at many things, but until I can hash it out with him they will stay buried.”

“Oooh, give me a preview. We can role play.”

“First, save the role playing to you and Dakota behind closed doors. Tell me what’s going on there and I’ll give you a teaser.”

“You drive a hard bargain. Where do I begin?”

“Why you aren’t together?”

“Simple, he cheated on me. He cheated less than three hours after he begged me to become exclusive and quit playing games.”

“What the fuck?”

“Now spill it.”

The wine loosens my tongue, “Why does he get to act so butt hurt over everything and I have to take his attitude when he was clearly moving on without me here. How hurt could he have been?”

“I’m not following,” she stares at me confused.

I get up and go to my closet. I grab the photos and toss them on her lap. “Fuck,” she still keeps flipping through them. “Where did you get those?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes, and you are so off base here, Callie.”

“Proof is in the pudding or in this case in the photo. That was the same smile he gave me, the same arm he draped around my shoulders. My dad gave them to me.”

“Fuck,” she repeats.

“You’ve already said that. What was her name? Is she still around?” I can’t imagine she is because I haven’t heard or seen her.

“Amy. And no, she should have never been. Y’all really need to talk.”

“You are preaching to the wrong person, Bianca. How many others were there?”

Sadly she answers me. “I don’t know. If you’re asking, did he live like a monk? Probably not. I do know these pictures aren’t what they appear, but like you said, you two need to discuss things.”

“I hate loving him. Why can’t it be easy?”

She comes to hug me. “I don’t know, Callie. I wish I could fix it.”

“God, you sounded just like him.”

“Nope, he would have just fixed it instead of wishing he could.”

“I wish he would fix my heart.”

“I do too, seems how he is the one hurting it.” I doze off with her comforting me, and the next morning she is gone. Her last semester is drawing to a close, and she has finals to study for.

Damn it. It was my weekend with Angelo and I’m adamant about being off the schedule but three girls are out and I could really use the money. Gianna is a godsend for my weird hours and is always telling me it’s not a bother. She loves the time with him. I keep looking at the clock and the crowd hoping one or the other would hurry. “Table, Callie,” the hostess tells me.

I go to take another order and I freeze. Anyone but her. “Can I help you?”

“Oh,” her eyes recognize me. Yeah, bitch I know who you are, too.

“Drinks?” I try to be cordial.

“Does Bronson know you’re back?” So she does know about me.

“Not that is any of your business, but yes, Amy, he does know.” I see her shock that I know who she is. Score for me.

“Um, just a coke for now.” I get it and bring it back to her. “So did he forgive you for all your father did?”

He talked to her about our past and my father. That is a betrayal I didn’t think he would ever breach. “How do you know about my father?”

“I know more than you think. He was very chatty in bed.” I’m going to punch her . . . then puke on her fake ass pink Gucci shoes.

“Do tell.” I smirk at her.

“Well, there was that time you were almost raped. Then the day you gave him back the engagement ring. Oh, and he popped your cherry, although I think I was better the way he was always craving it from me.” I’ve heard enough. I turn around and walk out of the restaurant. I’ve had enough and call me officially done. Done with his bullshit, done with the guilt, and pretty soon done with loving his ass.

I hurry to get my son, and his damn car is parked in the driveway. Bianca, Bronson, and Dakota are sitting on the porch drinking beer. I school my features and swallow down my anger. This isn’t the time. But he crosses the line. “If you are going to work on your weekends with Angelo why can’t I just have him?”

“Oh, sorry. It was unexpected and having bills I need to pay I didn’t think a few hours would matter. By the way, Amy says hi. She was my last customer of the evening.”

“Fuck,” Bianca whispers. I’m beginning to think her English degree is not all it’s cracked up to be.

“Amy?” he tries to pull of the whole I-don’t-know-who-you’re-talking-about innocence.

I don’t even bother to answer him and head inside, but they are all on my heels.

“She knows about her, Bronson.” It must dawn on him that I know all about his tryst.

“Wait, she was where you work?”

“Yes, now please move,” as he has moved in front of me blocking my entrance.

“Not until you hear me out.” I lose it. I bend at the waist, laughing at the hilarity of this situation. Tears of anger and amusement stream down my face.