Page 34 of Starts With a Bang

“Nana!” The warmth in Dom’s voice made my heart swell.

Helen wasn’t the only one who’d noticed our arrival. I clocked the reactions around the room, which mostly ranged from curiosity to joy. Only one person looked like they’d sucked on a lemon, and I couldn’t—check that—wouldn’tavoid his toxic regard. I locked eyes and figurative horns with Emerson, whose lips tilted up in a slight sneer. I’d enjoy every second of taking this disloyal bastard apart.

“Dommy!” Helen said.

Well, that diverted my attention, and Emerson was all but forgotten. I looked at Dom and mouthed, “Dommy?”

He narrowed his eyes and whispered, “Don’t you dare.”

“Oh, I’ll dare if you ever call me Stevie again.”

“Bring your young man over here to meet me,” Helen said.

Dom led me over to her and only released my hand to hug her. “I’ve missed you so much, Nana.”

“I’ve missed you too.” She pulled back and patted his cheek before turning her green gaze in my direction. Her irises were so similar to Dom’s, which only endeared her to me more. Hot pinkeyeglasses hung from a silver chain around her neck, and she put them on for closer inspection. “My word,” Helen said. “You might be the most beautiful man I have ever seen.”

“Oh, stop,” I said, even as I gestured for her to continue. The encounter earned laughs and chuckles from everyone except Gloomy Gus across the island.

“You could cut cocaine with those cheekbones,” Helen declared.

“Mom!” Janet exclaimed. “That’s so inappropriate.”

Helen glared at her daughter. “When have you known me to be any different?” She turned her attention back to me, leaning even closer. “And that mouth.”

“Yeah, well.” I pointed toward my lips, which were still puffy from the exuberant bedroom activities with her grandson. Talk about inappropriate. “This thing has a mind of its own sometimes and can get me into a lot of trouble.”

Helen cackled and waggled her brow. “Bet it gets you out of trouble a lot too.”

“Mom!” Molly Beth and Janet said in unison, though the tones of their exclamations were at odds.

Molly Beth had found the remark funny but felt obligated to chastise her mother. Janet was ready for the ground to swallow her whole. She reached for her full wineglass and took another sip.

“Mother, I organized this gathering especially for you,” Janet said. “I’ve created an itinerary of games and activities to make this an amazing holiday.”

Several groans chorused throughout the kitchen, including Dom’s. I’d wisely kept my trap shut and avoided the death glare Janet cast around the room.

“So, the least you can do is behave,” Janet admonished.

“Weorganized this holiday,” Molly Beth corrected. “And I have to say, Janet, Mom looks like a picture of health and vitality. We should all be as lucky to be so vibrant at her age.”

“Excuse me?” Helen looked between her daughters. “What’s this talk about my age and appearance? Did you expect to find me on my deathbed?”

Molly Beth crossed the room, and we got out of her way. She took her mother’s hands in hers. “You were sleeping when I arrived, so this is just the first time I get to admire how lovely you look.”

“Cut the bullshit,” Helen said. “What did Janet say about me?”

All eyes turned to Janet, who was enjoying another drink of wine. She lowered the glass from her mouth and set it on the counter. It had been completely full when we entered the kitchen, but it was now nearly three-quarters empty. “Why are you blaming me?”

“Because you and the facility director are in cahoots,” Helen said. She turned to Molly Beth once more. “Did she tell you I had one foot in the grave?”

Dom’s mother winced. “No, of course not. The facility expressed concerns that you weren’t doing well.”

“I’ve had several nurses and residents tell me they’ve heard you crying out at night for God to take you home or that you’ve claimed to see heaven,” Janet said. “If this is your last Christmas, I want it to be special. I don’t want Christian and Dom to be at odds anymore, and I…” Her words trailed off as her lips trembled. “And I miss my sister. It’s bad enough she moved to Satan’s armpit years ago, but we used to talk on the phone every day. Now, she can barely speak to me with a civil tongue.”

Molly Beth whirled around and said, “Your son—”

“Molly Beth.” Dominic’s voice was firm but gentle with his wife. “We talked about this.”

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