Contessa (48 page)

Once we
’
re in the garage, she closes the door softly behind us.
“
Livvy, he seems so sweet.
”

“
He is,
”
I gush.

“
I know you think he is.
”
She tucks my hair behind my ear and smiles at me.
“
But I don
’
t think your dad will be okay with that. Not in his house. Not yet, okay?
”

“
I know,
”
I tell her.
“
But I love him, Mom.
”

She
’
s silent for a few seconds.
“
Yeah?
”

“
Yeah.
”

“
It
’
s a wonderful feeling, isn
’
t it?
”
she asks simply, closing the trunk after the cookies are carefully secured.

“
Yeah,
”
I say back to her, happy that she
’
s not angry at me for saying it, or mad that we kissed in front of her. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders, just telling her how I feel about Jon. She gives me a hug before we go back inside.

When I sit back down at the table, the cookie Jon had been working on is set directly in front of my chair. His gingerbread man has brown hair like he does, pretty green eyes like his, and a huge smile–
I glance over to see him grinning at me. The cookie has on jeans and a white t-shirt that simply states
“
JON
♡
S OLIVIA.
”

“
That is awesome,
”
I tell him and lean over to kiss him again. This time, it
’
s just us in the room, and I can kiss him like I really want to.

“
Was she mad?
”
he whispers as we take a breath together.

“
I think she
’
s happy for us,
”
I tell him as
I put my hands on either side of his face and pull him toward me once more.
“
And I
’
m going to save this cookie forever.
”
I get up to find a plastic container and put it inside carefully, sealing the lid. I
’
m pretty sure I have some shellac in my paint supplies somewhere and will preserve it later.
“
I
’
m going to take this to my room. She doesn
’
t think my dad will be so happy about our sweeping declarations of love.
”

“
Really?
”
he asks, biting his lip briefly.
“
Good to know,
”
he says as he holds on to my arm and stands up, pressing his lips to mine once more.
“
I love you, though, and I think the world should know.
”

“
I love you, too.
”
I take his hand in mine and pull him along with me downstairs to the basement. I know it
’
s not allowed, but we
’
ll only be down there for a second. If I can get in one more kiss, I will.

“
I see the painting
’
s still up,
”
he says as he waits at the doorway of my room.

“
I
’
m not taking it down until I
’
ve done a better one,
”
I tell him.
“
It
’
s still special to me, even now that I can see some flaws.
”

“
That
’
s great, Olivia.
”

“
This way I can study it a little more before we go this weekend. I
’
m planning to give it a shot.
”

“
I can
’
t wait to see what you do. I
’
m sure it will be spectacular.
”
He walks toward me and puts his arms around me. I can hear my mom and brother upstairs in the kitchen, which is right above my room. I know she
’
ll come look for us in a few minutes, but that means we have a few minutes.

All of a sudden, we hear the front door slam. Not shut, but actually slam. That
never
happens in our house. I can
’
t make out the words, but I can hear my dad and my cousin yelling at one another. Jon and I look at each other, knowing we have to get out of the basement before Dad catches us down here. Sadly, since it sounds like the argument is coming from the foyer, that means he
’
ll see us coming up together.

I release Jon
’
s hand when he tries to hold mine.

“
I just think it
’
s best for now.
”
Jon nods in understanding. The yelling continues, and we can decipher the conversation as soon as we get to the staircase. He follows me slowly upstairs.

“
Well, you
’
ve got two options, Brandon,
”
my dad says loudly.
”
You either pay me back for the legal expenses and whatever settlement we agree on, or you start seeing your little girl, once a week.
”

“
I can
’
t pay you back,
”
he says.
”
I didn
’
t even ask you to help.
That was Mom
’
s idea.
”

“
Then that leaves you with one option.
Be a man.
Get involved in your daughter
’
s life.
You
’
ve missed two full years of it already.
”
Jon and I stop at the top of the stairs behind Brandon. Dad looks at us curiously.

“
I never wanted a baby.
”
This makes my dad even angrier, and he focuses his energy back on my cousin, who looks pretty bad in tattered pants and a shirt that
’
s clearly too small. He
’
s unshaven and looks extremely tired.

“
Well, your actions said you did.
That
’
s what unprotected sex will get you. Why couldn
’
t you wrap it up, huh?
”

Embarrassed for Brandon, I duck my head as my cheeks redden. Jon shuffles his feet nervously.

“
Oh, my god,
”
Brandon mumbles.
”
I
’
m twenty-eight, Jack, you have no right to question–
”

“
I have every god damn right to question you.
I don
’
t care how old your license says you are, because you sure as hell aren
’
t acting like a man right now.
”

“
What, because I screwed up one time?
”

“
One time?
”
My dad laughs.
”
Because you continue to screw up, son.
”

“
Don
’
t call me
son
,
”
Brandon seethes.
”
You may think you
’
re the patriarch of this family, but you are not my dad.
”

“
No, and your dad
’
s just about given up on you entirely.
That
’
s why I
’
m here today, and not him.
Do your parents know about Sylvie?
”

“
No,
”
he says.

“
When are you going to give them
that
news?
They
’
ll want to know that a grandson
’
s on the way as well. Either you tell them, or I will.
”

“
I
’
ll tell them tonight!
”

“
Are you going to marry this girl?
”

“
Ummm.
”

“
And do you intend to raise
that
child?
”

“
Yes, Jack.
”

“
And how will you support him?
”

“
I
’
ve got a job–
”

“
Not one with health insurance. Not one that even pays enough for you to have your own place to live!
Do you know how expensive kids are?
Do you have any clue?
Oh, right. No, you don
’
t, because you
abandoned
your other child before she was even
born
!
”

“
I didn
’
t know about her until last year.
”

“
That
’
s not good enough.
That baby needs a father.
You need to get involved in her life.
You need to do it today.
”

“
Well, that
’
s gonna be a little difficult,
”
Brandon says.

“
Why is that?
”

“
Because she lives a good thirty miles away and I kinda messed up my car last night.
”

“
You what?
”

“
I wrecked my car.
”

“
Were you drinking?
”
Dad asks.
Brandon doesn
’
t respond.
If there
’
s a cardinal sin in my family, it
’
s driving under the influence. My mom appears at the other side of the foyer, behind my dad, with her arms wrapped around Trey.
“
Answer me. Were you drinking?!
”

“
Yeah, Jack, I was.
You think I was looking forward to today?
”

“
You son of a bitch,
”
my dad says, taking Brandon by the shirt collar and pushing him against the wall.

“
Daddy?
”
Trey asks, clearly scared. Jon starts toward my dad and cousin, but I hold him back, not wanting him to get involved.
I
’
d never seen my dad so angry and I didn
’
t want him to take it out on Jon.

”
You selfish, disappointing son of a bitch.
You
’
re the oldest grandchild in our family, Brandon.
Look at the example you
’
re setting for your sisters and brother and cousins.
What an embarrassment.
”

“
Go ahead!
Hit me!
I dare you, because I will sue your ass for everything you
’
re worth!
”

“
Jacks, let him go,
”
Mom says, putting her hand around dad
’
s bicep.
”
Both of you, calm down.
”

Dad glances quickly over at me and Jon and takes a deep breath.
Standing up straighter, looking at Brandon eye-to-eye, he pushes into his chest and responds angrily.
”
You
’
d have no chance against me, son.
None whatsoever,
”
my dad says in his ear, letting him go.

“
Brandon, you should go,
”
Emi says.

“
Yeah, and you let me know if I need to get my lawyers working on a case against you.
You either pay me back every penny, or you see your daughter.
”