Page 5 of The Mafia's Surprise Gift

“He will, won’t you, buddy?” It was a cheap move, drawing Zack into the conversation, but if this went on much longer, my mother and I would end up arguing and I was far too tired for that.

“Yes, Mom.” Zack nodded, laying handprints into the dough.

“Yes, well…” Mom sniffed sharply and grabbed at the towel draped over her shoulder. “How is work? Are you still the assistant or whatever it was at that booking place?”

“Administrative assistant,” I corrected her between soothing gulps of coffee. “And it’s a law firm, Mom. It’s going fine. The pay is good, and the people are nice. I like it there.”

“Not as nice as the job your father lined up for you,” she replied tightly.

“Well, he lined me up at a company that went bankrupt, and then there were… other factors to consider.” I’d arrived in New York, moved into my new apartment, and then learned that not only was I out of a job, but I was pregnant, too. My night of insane passion with Rocco had given me the greatest hurdle at the lowest point of my life. But I made it work.

“If you’d moved back here?—”

“If I’d moved back here,” I interrupted gently, keeping my smile fixed and my voice pleasant, “we wouldn’t have all the wonderful things we have back in the city. Anyway, I’ll let you both finish up here. Zack, baby, do you want to come into town with me?”

Zack nodded so quickly that his curls flew about his head, and affectionate laughter bubbled in my chest.

“Alright, kiddo, I’ll be just out here, okay?” Pointing out the back door, I then headed that way before my mother could say anything else. As much as our relationship was strained, Zack enjoyed spending time with his Grandma and I wouldn’t get in the way of that. As long as he was happy.

Out on the back porch, I nursed my coffee and leaned against one of the wooden beams. The back garden was blooming brightly with countless flowers I couldn’t even name, all planted by my father and carefully maintained by my mother. Something that was becoming a struggle, I suspected, judging by the few weeds and messy border lines I could see. Beyond the garden, the forest stretched out toward the lake glimmering in the distance.

I used to spend my summers camping by the forest line, pretending I was off on some sort of adventure or top-secret mission. As an adult, my own adventure turned out to be quite different. I closed my eyes and listened to the birdsong, the wind rustling the trees, and Zack’s cheery laughter from behind me.

He was a shock and a surprise, but the best thing in my life. That was the only decent thing Rocco ever gave me. The rest was all heartbreak and abandonment issues since he fucked me and then vanished. I never heard from him after that night, despite my attempts to find him and tell him I was pregnant.

He could be dead, for all I knew.

I drank my coffee and took a deep breath, soaking in the scents of clean air and muddy nature.

I missed it here. I could never admit that to my mother, but it wasn’t until I was here in the calming, small-town air and surrounded by nature that I realized just how much.

The city was full of bustle, noise, and garbage smells. Here, there was peace.

I stayed outside until my coffee was finished and peacefulness had settled into my bones, then I headed back inside just as Mom and Zack were moving the last of the cookies onto a cooling rack.

“Mom! Can I have one?” Zack asked, staring up at me with eyes that were identical to Rocco’s.

“I don’t know. What does Grandma say, hmm?” I smiled down at him. “They’re her cookies too.”

“Grandma, can I have one?” He turned those gigantic hazel eyes to Mom, and she was able to resist him just as easily as I could.

“Of course you can. That’s what they’re there for.” Mom chuckled, patting the top of his head.

Zack eagerly picked up a cookie and hopped off his small stool, eagerly taking a large bite.

“Mmmm!”

“Good?” I chuckled down at him, and he nodded.

“I’m going to pop into town now,” I said to Mom. “You want me to get you anything?”

“You can call and have it delivered, you know,” Mom said, placing the trays into the dishwasher.

“I know, but I want to walk and show Zack the town. You want to see where Mommy grew up, don’t you?” I glanced back at Zack, who was far more interested in his cookie.

“Alright, if you say so,” Mom muttered. I couldn’t pinpoint the source of her disagreement other than wanting to spend more time with Zack. “If you insist, can you take Dozer for a walk?”

“Sure.” I cast an eye around the kitchen, then toward the lounge in search of my mother’s dog, Dozer. He’d been in the family since I was a pre-teen, and I’m honestly amazed he still had life left in him.

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