Aftermath (23 page)

Alfonzo rubbed his eyes. The intense morning sunlight
burned. H
e had a mean hang-over
and
w
hen
Selange
called he was asleep on
Giuseppe’s sofa, drooling
like Sal.
He squinted, trying to blink the red eyes to alert status and settled on partially conscious.

It’s the
distress on
Selange’s
face
which prompted action and he hurried forward. His mother’s behavior
crossed the line,
“I’ll talk to her babe
.”

“
Okay,
” she held his arm and he stopped to hear what more she had to say, “Alfonzo
go easy on
your mom.
She’s bent out of shape because Sophie’s the one who told her about Luzo being married and
it
’s
why she left.
She’s not
listening to
reason at this point
because she thinks Sophie only wanted Luzo
for
herself
.”

“Um-hum.”

She saw his condition and suggested coffee.

“Yeah, make it black.” Then his eyes narrowed. He had a question, “Sophie told you about Geo didn’t she?”

“Yes and I tried to tell you…”

He stopped her before she delved into a long explanation. “Babe, forget it. It’s done.
It’s too early for
this
drama;
I just wanted to
make sure
that’s
the only thing you were
worried
about at dinner.
That
’s
everything, right?”

“Yes.”

“Alright babe, then we’re good. Let me go deal with my mom.”
He gave a quick peck
on the lips
, “
Good-morning.” Then his
feet were moving again in the direction of the SUV’s and she went toward the house.  He
passed one of the SUV’s and Domingo stuck his fist out
of
the window and Alfonzo met it with knuckles, “You
and the lady
alright
Domingo
?”

“I’m good, your mom is spazzing. Teresa and I
were both
like whoa. We ‘aint seen her
like
this since god-knows-when.”

Alfonzo’s
dark eyebrow inched higher,
“Yeah?”

Teresa frowned, “Yep, she
’s
bugging
‘Fonzo
. Whatever that lady did
to her
, man it must be some shit.
She woke everybody up at the crack of dawn and you know I ‘aint with this early
morning shit. Then when Selange was trying to calm her down, she wasn’t hearing it. Your mom’s wrong…I don’t care…those ‘aint her kids. Selange’s trying to be cool and not make a scene in front of the kids…but your mom’s wrong…word…I don’t give a shit…if those were my kids…let me shut-up ‘cause I swear I’m starting to get pissed!
”

“Yeah, shut-up Teresa, don’t add no more fuel to the fire. Aunt Maria’s overprotective just like my mom when it comes to their grandchildren and sometimes they get shit twisted and forget who the parents are.”

“Psst, word.” Teresa said between her teeth then crossed her arms
.

A
n e
xasperated
breath escaped Alfonzo’s lips. He
summoned emotional energy to deal with his mom
and hoped he didn’t offend the stubborn woman. Every time they got to this place of mutual understanding, something set them
adrift.
Having a migraine didn’t help the situation
, nor did the fact he knew she loved those children make it any easier. W
hen he kicked his
designer clad foot forward, it was in
determination to get
the daunting task
over with.

He
reached the lead vehicle and
tapped on the glass
. The
window rolled down
and before he could say good morning she announced
, “I am ready to go hijo. Do not try to talk me into staying another minute
!
”

“Mama, okay, but you can’t go
snatching
my kids…” he waved at Allie and Sal then the babies
. The smile was natural whenever he looked upon their faces. These were his loves
and the
ultimate happiness for a troubled man. “Hi my sweets
, buenos dias
.
You guy’s all right?
”

Sal and Aldonza nodded nervously. They could detect the tension. Children weren’t stupid and his anger at her for putting them through this grew.

“Fonzo what the woman did is despicable
…she is horrible…
”

His words were swift to censure her. In Spanish he replied, “Unless you are sinless mama, do not judge. Only God has the power to do that.”

“I would like to go home.”

“Okay mama. Let me make sure the plane’s ready first. Stay out here if you want but the kids
are coming
inside
to
say good-bye. It’s rude, plus she has been a gracious host regardless of what happened last night.
Ven
aqui
,
Salvatore
y
Aldonza
, go in the house with your mama and thank Senora Sophie for having you
!”

The
children
immediately
obeyed their father and scampered out
of
the car and
ran in the house. Alfonzo shook his head, “Mama, do
n’t take
liberties with
our
kids. Selange is their
mother and you need to respect that
. We love you mama but you cannot do what you want with our children without asking first
, comprende?”

“When it comes to my grandchildren I will
always look out for their best interest and will
veto even you, hijo.”

“Then mama we have a problem
because when it comes to
these
children Selange and I make the decisions and unless we’re both six feet under,
nobody
vetoes a damn thing
we
say
!
”
Then he stormed off.

Domingo
reached for the door handle
and his wife put her hand on his knee
in restraint.
“Ah-ah. Don’t get involved in th
at
D,
it’s
between those two.
That ‘aint your business.
If you want to do something, when we get home you need to set
your
mom straight.
”

“For what?”

“You don’t remember
what she did last weekend
?”

“Remember what?”

“She put a goddamn perm in our daughter’s hair talking about it wasn’t straight enough. Everybody in my family has curly hair, what the
heck
she trying to say my daughter’s hair ‘aint good enough or something? Maria y Carmen tanto loco!”

Domingo settled back in his seat,
‘Ah shit, now when he got home, he’d have his own mess to deal with!’

                                            
 
****

Giuseppe ignore
d
his mother’s calls
, although, he was dying
without her cooking
. F
orgive
ness takes time
. He went to Naples to visit with
Amelda
and
of course his mother had already given her the news.

I
n sisterly fashion, she reminded her big brother how much
Carlo loved and spoiled him. She was right. The bond he shared with
Carlo
was very deep. It was the love of a father for a son.
On the other-hand she pointed out, Luzo Palazzo was not the best of fathers to any of his children. “Adrianna
,
Gabriela
and
Alfonzo
were r
eared
by single mothers and
they
had
no
father in their lives
.
They do not whine about it. You have no right to complain. Love is all you were given and
feel
lucky mama gave you life you
spoiled
brat
!”

From the comforts of his bed, Matteo was being doted on by family
. Su
rrounding his bed were flowers from well-wishers and chocolates and fruits and candies as if he were
a
king. Giuseppe
stretched his legs in the chair alongside the bed
watching his little sister
change
Matteo’s
bandage
.
The
site of the wound was
reddened and the sutures
were
dry
and there wasn’t any
signs of infection.

Giuseppe smirked
f
inding his brother-in-law’s
convalescence amusing
.
Only Matteo would milk the hell out of getting shot.

Matteo chimed in, “
I agree with Amelda Giuseppe. Life is too short to
stay
ang
ry
at
Sophie.
You were not loved less, you were loved more.
The
man who loved you and took care of you is the father you will always mourn. Make peace with your mother.
She has
only
one
son
and
unfortunately that’s you!”

Amelda taped the gauze, nodding, “Yes. Mama is distraught Geo. She has cried to
m
e every night since this happened.” She rubbed her round belly, “I need both of you
on peaceful terms before the baby comes.
Por favore, do not punish
mama
anymore. She’s lost many
people;
do not be another loss Geo.”

“And if I forgive
mama
will you name your
firstborn
after me?”

“
No
Stupido!”

Giuseppe chuckled, “When are you having
these
bambini. You are very big?”

“Soon.”

Giuseppe chuckled, “Wait until I am gone before you do, I do not wish to see your privates little sister. Ugh!”

Amelda unleashed a series of vulgarities at her brother. He’d teased her since they were small and in adulthood nothing changed. “Stronzo, shut-up. No one wants to see yours
either, how
nasty
. Have a baby of your own and name it Cazzo like
its
father the dick!”

Matteo laughed.

Giuseppe
stood. He’d eaten,
enjoyed the
family
visit
,
but now it was time to go. He had businesses to oversee
, “Hurry and
climb from this bed before you become fat Matteo. I need
you
to
handle
important business
in my absence. I plan to visit my brother in America, soon
and do not trust anyone else
.
”
He
pat Matteo’s bandaged abdomen and the man grimaced in pain, “Aye, you sonovabitch!”

Amelda shrieked, “Giuseppe, he is hurt
, go now, before I become furious
!”

Lucia and the other
doters
mingling downstairs came running. Even the bodyguards burst in the room
at the loud screams emanating from his sister
. “Giuseppe you are mean!” She
yelled at h
is back and he smirked as he calmly passed the onlookers and blew a kiss at Lucia who ‘hissed’ like an irritable cat.

CHAPTER
SIXTEEN

Weeks
had
passed since Alberti’s funeral and the
drama
.
They were
home
in Puerto Rico
, s
ettled into their routines and
adjusting to new ones.
There wasn’t a dull moment in
Alfonzo’s
life and frankly, there wasn’t anything he could do about it. He balanced the abnormal and normal
and
walk
ed a
tightrope every
day between the two
.
The renovations to Selange’s house w
ere almost done and additional
safety revisions
were to ensure they weren’t any repeats of a sneak attack
.
Ah, t
hank goodness most of the damage was to the grounds and lower level
or
construction
might have last
ed
past the holidays. They couldn’t have that, not with family scheduled to come
sh
ortly
for Thanksgiving
.