Page 24 of Gratification in Gluttony

To hear her speak so casually about the rift between Toni and his father—between Toni and his whole family, really—tempted his temper to rise again. But he tamped it down, choosing his words carefully. “It’s more than having differences, Ma. You know that.”

“If you two just sat down and talked about it—”

“We’ve tried that!”

“Do not interrupt your mother,” she snapped, and he pressed his lips together. “You know, your Aunt Polli and I had a terrible falling out. A deep betrayal, you remember. We didn’t speak for three years. Now, look at us. Thicker than thieves, we are. Because family is important, Toni.”

“Aunt Polli stole your esthetician,” Toni said carefully, carefully. “Pa and I fundamentally disagree on nearly every core value imaginable. It’s not exactly the same thing.”

“I just don’t understand what I ever did to make you hate me so much,” she said wetly, pressing several fingers to her mouth to stifle a whimper. “My baby boy hates his family, and—”

He knew she was manipulating him, but the knowledge wasn’t enough to stop her tears from making his chest squeeze tight.“Come on, Ma, none of that. You know I don’t hate you. And I don’t hate this family.”

“It’s hard on all of us, you know. Me, your sisters.” She sniffed and dabbed daintily under her eyes with the corner of her blanket. “It’s hard on your father.”

“Yeah, well, it’s hard on me too. Ever think about that?” Toni bit out, wincing when his mother’s eyes flooded with tears. “Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. Just—I don’t want to do this, Ma. Not right now. You need to stay calm and rest. Okay? We don’t gotta talk about this.”

She nodded demurely, tipping her mimosa back and draining the rest in one go. “I’m very tired. I think I should lie down.”

“Yeah, okay.”

Toni helped her into a half-reclined position, ensuring her spinal fin slipped comfortably into the slot in the mattress. He propped her up with extra pillows, then leaned down to press a kiss to her brow.

Before he could pull away, she captured his face in her hands, smiling sadly up at him. “You’re a good boy, Toni. You know I love you.”

And he did. It just wasn’t enough.

“I love you too, Ma,” he said.

And he did. But it was also not enough.

“Rest up. I’ll come by tomorrow to check up on you, okay?”

“Okay, baby.”

With a parting kiss to his mother’s palm, he straightened and headed for the door. Toni made the rounds in the waiting room, bidding farewell to his siblings. His father hadn’t moved from his spot in front of the vast window, and Toni ignored him as he gave Mins a kiss and hugged Kat. Mins’s husband, Walli, dipped his chin in goodbye, but Mak offered a hand which Toni shook.

Flo, a bag of crisps in her grasp, gave him the warmest hug, the swell of her belly pressing into his stomach. Bett stoodprotectively over Angel as she colored, eyes narrowed at Toni as he approached. Instead of going for an embrace, Toni ruffled his niece’s hair and winked down at her.

“See you later, squirt.”

“Bye, Uncle Toni,” she said without looking up at him, thoroughly engrossed with her picture.

He didn’t bother saying goodbye to Bett. She was pointedly looking away from him. Sal was glaring, mostly at Gem, but at Toni as well. Toni held his brother-in-law’s stare just long enough to communicate his lack of intimidation before he dismissed Sal as casually as his father had dismissed him. Then he was taking Gem by the wrist of his lower left arm and walking them both out of the room.

“Bye!” Gem trilled, using three of his hands to blow obnoxious kisses to everyone in the room. “You’re welcome for the pleasure of my company.”

Toni chuckled. “You’re such a bitch.”

“And you love me for it,” Gem proclaimed confidently.

“I really do.”

When the lift closed and they started their descent, Gem looped an arm through Toni’s and squeezed. “You okay?”

“Of course, I’m okay,” Toni replied with his usual bravado.

Gem arched a chiding brow. “Toni.”

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