Page 101 of Negotiating Tactics

He meant Birdie, Aunt Clem, even Alex, and for split second, I felt the same way I had when I was a kid

Alone.

Cast out.

Dominic smacked me on the shoulder and pulled me inside.

“Aunt Clem wants to talk to you,” he said.

“What?” I asked, looking at him, my brows lifted in surprise.

“I don’t ask questions. You’ll figure out why soon enough,” he said, a little smirk on his face now.

“Birdie’s not even going to come say hi?” I asked.

“Not until you talk to Aunt Clem,” he said.

He nodded down the long hall toward the den.

I walked toward it, curious.

When I saw the tiny woman sitting in a chair that practically swallowed her, I couldn’t help but smile.

“You think I don’t look so tough?” she asked, her eyes bright with amusement.

“How many others have made the same mistake?” I responded, entering the room.

She had a rickety-looking card table in front of her with another chair opposite her.

“Have a seat,” she said.

Then, she reached for the cards that lay on the card table, her fingers moving over them nimbly.

“I was told to never play cards with you,” I said.

“Have a seat, son,” she said as she shuffled.

“Yes, ma’am,” I said, not able to stop myself from smiling.

I thought of my nonna and wished she was here.

“You know how to play canasta?” Aunt Clem said, her voice bringing me out of the past.

“Not even a little,” I responded.

She met my eyes, then gave me a quick once over. “You look smart. I know Alex wouldn’t give you the time of day if you weren’t. You’ll pick it up,” she said.

I let the remark pass without comment and watched Aunt Clem as she dealt the cards.

About half an hour later, I looked at Aunt Clem. “You’re right. I am pretty smart, but this game makes no sense at all,” I said.

She huffed. “Don’t try to weasel out now that I’ve walked you through the rules. Let’s play,” she said.

Before I could respond, I heard someone approaching, and looked over as Birdie walked in. “Did you come to rescue me?” I asked.

My sister-in-law smiled. “You on your own, Noah. I just came to check on Auntie Clem,” she said.

Birdie looked at the old woman, tenderness—and worry—in her expression.

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