AWAKENING (Alfonzo) (7 page)

“Yes, it’s best that way.”

“And Uncle, where is he on this trouble with Alfonzo?”

“He is aware.”

“Aware, but he allows him to
battle
business
wars without
giving aid, a
h, it angers me.” Indignant, Giuseppe dropped his fork in his empty plate, “I
will go see Alfonzo.
Unlike, the rest of you, I cannot do nothing for
him
.”

“Sometimes, nothing is best. You go there and Alfonzo’s troubles worsen. Alberti will intervene when necessary.”

Giuseppe threw his arms over the back of the chair and sighed. “Mama, why do you allow Alberti to toy with him? Papa took me to Calabria and told me about our history years ago. Alfonzo should hear it, too.”

“You were born in our ways, Alfonzo was not. It has taken some time for him to adjust to things. When the time is right, he will be told.”

“The moment his legal matters are resolved I plan to tell him if you or Alberti do not. I tire of this
secrecy
.
Papa,
would have
done the same
.”

“Your father trusted his brother. Alberti is not toying with anyone, he’s merely
making certain th
e
family discourse between Nico and Alfonzo is
over
before he tells
him
.”

“And
it may
take
an eternity. Alfonzo has no idea Nico is his first cousin.” Giuseppe spoke candidly, “He believes there is no chance of the babies being his –but there is a possibility they are. Why keep him in the dark?”

“You men and your egos
–huge
boys every one of you
!
”

“He has a right to question the paternity.”

“He certainly does, however, it was his option to divorce his wife and not request a
paternity test. It is not our business.”

“You favor Nico in this, don’t you?”

“I favor the children.”

Giuseppe wasn’t buying it. His mother always sided with Nico
. “Eh, where is the bastard child anyway, fucking some other man’s wife?”

“Right here, you little shit!”

Sophie frowned. She forgot to warn Giuseppe, she’d invited Nico to stay a few days before he went off again. She had not seen him in months after the ‘incident’ and wanted to be certain he was okay. Also, she’d gotten wind of a very important meeting and advised Nico it was in his best interest to attend.

Giuseppe was on his feet, “What are you doing here?”

“He is a guest and you will behave!” Sophie
scolded her son.

“Where were you hiding
cugino
, under a rock?”

Nico stood only feet away from the muscular younger man.
Five years separated them, yet to Nico Giuseppe was nothing more than a spoiled boy.
“You should have spanked him as a child
Aunt
Sophie, so, I would not be forced to do it, now.”

“Be careful bastard
!
”

Nico walked causally
closer
to Giuseppe. He had several inches advantage and could look down at the surly man.
They were chest to chest separated only by a sheet of invisible paper. Nico’s chest was broader, his reflexes honed to a killing precision. It is in their lethal stance, strikingly handsome Giacanti looks and dark countenance, one could see their relation.
Except, Nico was the most seasoned of the two.
“Or, what will happen? You do not intimidate me Geo, save your useless threats for your
frightened
flunkies!”

“
Fermalo
,
Nico
,
Geo
both of you
sit down
!
You will not fight amongst yourselves like children. Why do you two do this…aye?”

Giuseppe scowled, “When this dog is gone, I will visit again, ciao!”

He stormed from the patio and Nico laughed, “
So long you fucking brat!” He shout
ed
after the man then turned to his aunt. “
Sí
,
zia
, a
beating is long overdue for that one!”

“
Silienzioso
,
seduto
!”

Nico sat. He was accustomed to Giuseppe’s tirades. He
’s
nothing but a
boy
in men’s clothes
with his empty threats
. Perhaps,
he would deliver the spanking for
his aunt. Now
,
that the child was gone, Nico shared an update
, “I spoke with Alberti
. The
meeting is postponed
for two weeks.
In the meantime, I’m going to visit my children
,
I’ll return
to attend
.
”

Sophie nodded. “
Sí
, one day you must bring the boys to visit.”

“One day, I will.”

She nodded knowingly, “Give Selange my regards.”

CHAPTER THREE

“Ooh mom, you look pretty!” Sal exclaimed when
Selange came into view. Earlier she’d gone to the salon, pampered herself for a change and planned to have dinner with Jessica at this chic new restaurant
downtown.

She adjusted the strap on her red dress and smiled nervously, “You really think so, sweetie?”

The boy’s eyes sparkled, “
Sí
, I like it.”

She click-clacked across the floor in the high heel shoes to the sofa and gave the boy a hug for the compliment. “You’re the best. Mom needed that.”

Anita smiled, checking out the young woman from head to toe. Selange looked stunning. Yes, and it was about time she went out and had some fun. “You go and enjoy. Go.”

Selange gave Sal a quick kiss then waved with her diamond clutch bag at Anita, “Call if you need me.”

“I doubt it, bye.” The woman replied and Selange smirked then disappeared through the door, but not before blowing Sal a kiss. 

Crazy Nicky was her driver for the evening, he insisted. As she fastened her seatbelt he peered in the rearview mirror at her, “Checked the place out beforehand. Nice choice of eatery boss lady.”

“It wasn’t my
choice;
Jessica decided she wanted to go.”

“Good choice, nonetheless.”

She nodded and relaxed as he drove from the estate.
Feeling good about doing something
which
didn’t involve children.
It was nice of Jessica to invite her to dinner. Their babies were a few weeks apart and Selange suspected the girl wanted to desperately get out
of
the house, too.

She took a phone call from Shanda on the drive and smiled at the sound of her friend’s high-pitched shriek, “
G
et the fuck outta
’
town, you hanging out, ah
shookie-shookie
now. Okay, listen. Get blasted. Go hard, girl and shake that ass.”

“Shanda, you’re crazy.”

“
Psst
, I’m real. Everybody else is goddamn crazy.
Frontin
’ like their shit
doesn’t
stink. Look, I’m coming out there and we
’re
going to hang. I need some dick.”

The blunt statement resulted in a shake my head moment, “What happened with
whats
-his-name?” Selange gave up on memorizing any of the men Shanda dated a long time ago. None of the dudes lasted six months, wait, make that three months.

“Chump and cheap.
The minute you ask me for gas money for your Mercedes, you
gotta
’ go.”

“Ah, that sucks.”

“No it doesn’t, at least I find out these things before I fall too deep
.
Better early than after baby.”

“True.”

“Speaking of which, how’s the cuties?”

“They’re good.”

“Except for that cry-baby Angelina.
When I get there, let me deal with her for a few days.
Bath, food and down.
None of the holding and rocking and cooing shit.
Spoiled ass.”

“She can’t help it. The doctor says she’s colicky.”

“A medical term for cry-baby with gas.
I’ll fix her.”

Selange grimaced, “I’m scared already for my baby.”

“Eh, she’ll survive. Since when have I harmed any kids?”

“I know you’re full of shit. The minute you come, you spoil them worse than I do. “

Shanda’s cheerful voice became softer, “How are you coping?”

“Much better.
I think I’ve finally accepted it’s done. It’s like I had to mourn or something.”

“That’s not unusual.
I’m glad to hear you upbeat again. You know I adore your ex-hubby and want whatever you want but you’ll meet somebody who’ll love you again. You’re lovable and that’s what got your ass in trouble in the first place.”

“Oh,
alrighty
then.
Remind me. Do I remind you of your shit?”

“Constantly, but I have a hard shell, you don’t. Shit rolls off me, it sticks to you.”

“Maybe, that’s because I wasn’t with my husband a couple of months. We were together for years.”

“Don’t get sensitive. Anyway, go have fun. Have a few shots on me and I’ll see you next week Friday. I’ll call when I board the plane.”

“No problem.”

“Oh-oh Selange you there?”

“Yes, what happened?”

“Send one of those young fine dudes to pick me up at the airport and girl whatever you do, don’t ride along
.”

“I ‘m not going to ask why.
I can imagine what you
r
horny
butt’s thinking
.”

“D-
i
-c-k,
say it with me girl. One time now,
d-
i
-c-k
!” Shanda rapped
.

“
You need therapy, get off the phone, I’ll talk to you later.” She
chuckled. Her friend had nothing but a one track mind.

Shortly,
after that Selange arrived at the restaurant.
Crazy Nicky headed for the valet parking but Selange stopped him. “Do me a favor this once Nicky, wait in the car. I would like to en
joy dinner without you hovering. Just give me this, okay?”

“But,” he started to recite all the reasons it wasn’t safe then relented, “alright but here,” he reached in the glove compartment for a snub-nose pistol, “take this. Put it in your purse.”

She laughed then opened the sparkly clutch and showed
Crazy Nicky her revolver.
“Loaded and ready.”

“Ah, you don’t say boss lady. Alright, I’m
gonna
’ be across the street with my eyes on things. Go enjoy your dinner.”

“Thanks, Nicky.”

She climbed out and he watched
her
shapely
silhouette
enter
through
the polished doors and smiled. He liked that lady, she had class. One of the parking attendants rushed over, “
Sir ,
you can’t park here.”

“I know,
do I look like I can’t fucking read? Relax, I’m moving kid!
”

                                      
*
***

Jessica waved at Selange from a table on the westerly side of the dimly lit restaurant
-lounge
. Selange bypassed the hostess, “I see my party, thanks.” Then she scurried over and hugged the girl.

As usual, Jessica’s enthusiasm traveled to her vocal chords, “OMG, look at you
mami
, hot-damn you bounce back
like a rubber
-
band after having kids. That’s
loco
!”

Patrons turned in their direction and Selange ignored their curious gazes. Jessica was Jessica. In a way she reminded Selange of
Shanda.
Sometimes, the women failed to censure their words or the decibel, but she learned long ago, not to give a damn about what other people thought. Friends matter more than judgmental strangers. “You look hot
yourself,
I have my
Spanx
holding it together
.”