Aftermath (16 page)

Giuseppe entered, looked at the bunch and went to take his ass to bed. Thank the saints he did not have children.

Alfonzo noticed Giuseppe climbing the stairs and scoffed to himself. Yeah, he should’ve listened to his gut and not Giuseppe who didn’t have any children. The village elder my ass!

Nico sat at on the arm of the sofa, nearest his son. He was so tall he had to extend his legs, “
Which one of you wrecked the car?”

“Um
...”
Evangeline began
and suddenly
Aaron cut
her off
, “I
did
.”

“
Aaron, what the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Dad…”

“Yeah…I’m listening.”

Alfonzo listened too.

“I wanted to see the Fountain of Shame and…and…”

“And a goat ran across the road.” Evangeline said in an effort to help out her brave cousin.

“A goat?”

“Um-hum,” she said shaking her
lying
pretty
little sixteen
year old head up and down.

Alfonzo found nothing humorous in their ignorance. He was a teenager once and knew they were
full of shit.
A goat my ass!
The
girls were dressed
for a party. He bypa
ssed the bull
,
“
Were you guys drinking or getting
high?”

“No!” One of the girls exclaimed. They were identical twins
and t
he make-up and style of dress hinted at their personality types
.
It
’s
irrelevant
,
anyway
, t
hey were equally held accountable for sneaking out of the house and being involved in a questionable accident. The outcome could’ve ended with a death.
He and Nico discussed punishment and a trip to the morgue they decided was an educational must for
the teenagers.
Sal
was
n’t of driving age, yet they planned to have him along for the ride since he’d snuck out, too
.

“How’d you guys get past the guards?” Nico wanted to know.

They didn’t answer. Nico scoffed, “Not telling, huh. Alright, gimme the phones.”

A chorus of pro
test
s and mumblings
of
, “
it’s not fair
,” and
“this is bogus”
and “
I just got this phone
” and
“I’m expecting an important call
,” were some of the nonsense ramblings from their mouths, yet in the end, the
devices were placed in Nico’s outstretched hand.

Nico’s answer to the moans and groans. “Be quiet.
Evie
and
Maddy
you’ll get
yours
back
before
I leave
and
Aaron, yours I’m keeping
indefinitely
.”

“But dad, I need my phone.”

“You need to breathe
. A
pparently
, you don’t know how to use a cell phone, if you did you would’ve
called
and not
Sal. You drove a car without a license and put Sal and these girls in danger. You admitted as much.”
He cocked a stern eye at his son and snarled, “So, shut the hell up
or find yourself
oxygen deprived!
”

The kid shut up
quick
.

Evangeline
clasped her hands together
and Madeline’s eyes widened at Nico’s gruff tone. Their brother Nico was
frightening. The cuts and bruises made him scarier. Their father never
spoke
harshly to them. They were his angels
, yet they flew the coop when he was only hours into the ground
.

Nico turned on the girls, “
Maddy
what happened?”

The girl
jumped at the sound of h
er name
and appeared to almost cry
.
Her voice was shaky and she stuttered.
“Yes
…yes…yes…
fratello
?
”

“
Something wrong with your
tongue, sorellina?” 

Aaron
couldn’t stay quiet for long and opened his big-mouth,
“
We told you already
dad
.
”

The kids
admired Aaron more than ever for
taking one for the team.

“
Yeah, a goat. That’s the story you’re sticking with,
huh
?”

They nodded in unison,
“Um…yes…
it’s true.”

Alfonzo chuckled,
and then
put an end to the interrogation.
Nico wasn’t going to get anywhere with the kids.
They were
sticking with the tale.
Aaron was trying to step-up and
act as
savior. One of the girls
drove
and
became
distracted,
speed, drinking, whatever made her lose control resulted in an accident
and
luckily they survived.
Sal panicked and called his
old man.
That’s the summary
. H
e was a teenager
and fabricatin
g ‘goat’ stories is what many irresponsible young people do
.

This was the ‘teachable moment’ and he’d teach their little asses an important lesson about death. It was final!
“
Let’s go party people, w
e’re taking a trip!”
Alfonzo
announced. He was
hungry,
tired and
in
need
of loving. Unfortunately, his desires had to wait, thanks to the
troublemakers
!

“Where are we going dad?” Sal’s
drowsy
voice enquired. 

“
On a field trip
to the
M
useum of
Consequences
.”

He didn’t tell the boy they were goin
g to the morgue. He wanted the older ones
to see the result of reckless
behavior.
Of course, he wasn’t letting Sal inside the building
–nah, he was far too young. The reaction
from
his cousin’s once they
saw the
corpse
of
a
teenage
accident
victim would
serve as a d
eterrent
in the future, at least he hoped.
Besides,
he wasn’t trying to traumatize
Sal
, but ensure he’d exercise common sense when
it was time for him to drive in several years.

CHAPTER S
EVEN

Sophie’s home was alive with the happy chatter of children and activity
from the Diaz’
this
afternoon.
Having the Diaz’ as guests
in her home was a
joy after the somber days alone.
A
lberti’s death struck harder than expected and during the night
s
, she cried in her pillow, completely bereft.

She washed the tomatoes in the sink, smiling at the young woman beside her
cleaning
lettuce
in preparation for
dinner. There was something on her mind judging by the silence and stiffness of her posture.

“What is wrong, Selange?”

Selange
shred
the lettuce in a large salad bowl then dried her hands, “I have to tell him, Sophie. I’m sorry, but
I can’t do it.
What you confided effects Alfonzo and I’m not willing to risk losing
him over this. I hope you understand.
”

Sophie’s frown was not
disappointment;
it came from knowing the weight she’d place
d
upon the young woman.
“I understand.”

“
Alfonzo’s start
ing
to trust me again and this will
ruin everything if he finds out I knew and didn’t tell him Sophie,
” she sighed
and shook her head from the internal conflict
, “I can’t
lay
by omission.”

“When will you tell him?”

“Soon
, very soon
.” She
would’ve told him this morning but he’d
arrived midday with Sal looking exhausted
and
he’d gone to bed.

“I see.”

They were interrupted by the sound of women’s heels clacking across the floor. They turned in unison to find Geovonna smiling upon approach and they inhaled her perfume. “Ciao
Mama
Sophie,” she greeted in her high pitched voice as she stopped to air kiss the stiff woman’s cheeks. She then turned to Selange and eyed her with a glint of jealousy. The American woman was stunning and exotic, but today her attire was rather plain. Americans!

“Hello Geovonna.” Selange said first.

“Um, ciao
. So-long, is that right?”

A prankster, Selange deduced and one with a jealous streak, “I know it’s difficult for you to pronounce correctly with your over bite. I’ll excuse the mispronunciation due to your speech impediment.”

Sophie smirked. She truly enjoyed Selange’s wit.

Geovonna crossed her arms
,
“I love
what are you are wearing. It’s very…American.”

Selange wanted to laugh. Couldn’t the woman have thought of a better rejoinder? Oh, how she missed Shanda. Her friend would’ve spit verbal fire and not some lame remark. “
Why thank you considering it’s one of the fashion capitals of the
world
.”

The woman faltered and the enhanced eyelashes bat rapidly unable to match her opponent’s quick thinking. She ‘
humphed’
then faced a smiling Sophie, “Is Giuseppe here?”

“No Geovonna.”

“Is he at home?”

“I do not know. Perhaps you might call
him
and enquire.”

“May we talk in private mama Sophie?”

“You can talk here. Selange is family.”

“This is a very delicate matter. No offense to
her
, but I do not wish to share.”

And Selange didn’t want to hear. “Please Sophie, do hear the rude woman out. The kitchen’s become polluted, anyway and I need fresh air. Just let me know when the stink is gone and I’ll return to help with dinner.” Then Selange exited.

Sophie frowned, “You are a very mean-spirited young woman.”

“Am I?”

“What is the reason you come unannounced to my home Geovonna?”

“To find Giuseppe.”

“Now that you know he isn’t here, what more is there to speak about?”

Geovonna surveyed her freshly manicure hands. The caviar fingernail polish was stunning. “You were happily married for a very long time to the love of your life. I only want the same thing.”

Sophie scoffed, “
When the time comes and you are married, we’ll revisit the conversation. In the meantime, please tell me what you want. I have guests and would like to feed them during this century.”

“Fine. I need your help with Giuseppe.”

Sophie laughed and leaned against the counter, “My help to do what?”

“To get him to marry me, of course!”

A loud chuckle escaped Sophie’s mouth, “Geovonna I cannot
assist. A man chooses, not his mother, besides I would never choose you for my son.”

Geovonna’s mouth twisted into an unattractive sneer, “Perhaps,
he will choose to marry me when he learns about your deception for all these years.”

The mirth became annoyance. “
You dare come in my home,” she marched in front of the girl, “and threaten me you insolent bitch!”

“I would never threaten the mother of the man I love. You mistake what I say Mama Sophie!”

Sophie slapped the young woman, “Get out of my home. Ora!”

Geovonna’
s hand flew to her stinging cheek, although the injury was to her heart. She struck back with venom
.
“
As you said a man chooses and not his mother. When he learns Luzo is his father and you have lied, he will turn to the woman who loved him enough to tell him the truth.”